Over the past several hours, it's been reported that Edge will be dropping his World Heavyweight Championship on this week's Smackdown due to a torn pectoral muscle. This is yet another case of the injury plague for the WWE. The big question is, who will win the title? Batista? Kane? Mark Henry? MATT HARDY?
Here's my prediction: Smackdown will hold a battle royal main event this week to find the new champion. The winner will end up taking on Kane at the Bash.
Who do I think should win? Kane. He's a fantastic wrestler, he's great to watch, his entrance is awesome, and it would be fun to watch him terrorizing the Smackdown locker room during his title reign. Also, as much as Kane has dominated in the WWE, he only has one world title reign to show for it...and it lasted only a day.
Who do I think will win? I'm putting my money on Batista. I can see a Batista-Khali title feud followed by a Batista-Henry feud. This is sad, since I feel like we've seen this all before.
At this point, I think that even Matt Hardy would make a better champ than Batista. Batista just doesn't do a great job with the belt...Cena does much better. Why not give someone else a shot? Hardy would be a great way to go.
Who do you think will be champ? Slap a comment on the board.
Drew Arnold, writing for The Irish Whip
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Edge To Drop His Title On Smackdown
Thursday, July 12, 2007
What Could Be...
Ben and I have always been in favor of a brand merger. Here I will analyze the pluses and minuses of a brand merger, and I will tell you the "dream feuds" that we could be seeing if there were a brand merger.
A brand merger can be seen as a good thing and a bad thing. For one, a brand merger would cause the main show to either be 3 hours long or be on television two nights of the week. That is a horrible thing, because either way the fans would get way to much of the same superstars...whether it is at the same time or spread out among a week. Also 2-3 brands helps WWE let superstars develop instead of just sticking them in a mid-card spot for 10 years.
However, there are some pluses to a brand merger as well. For die-hard fans, 3 hours would provide for some LONG matches. If you have watched the Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels 60 minute Ironman match without pausing it...then a brand merger is up your alley. Also, even though the fans would get way too much of the superstars, there would be some instant classic feuds. And THAT ladies and gentlemen...is the point of my article. I will give you 5 feuds that we could be seeing right now...if there were a brand merger. Giddy up.
1. Edge vs. CM Punk
This feud would provide some CLASSIC matches and some classic promos as well. CM Punk is awesome on the mic (check Ring of Honor because WWE doesn't let him do much) and Edge is second to only Mr. Kennedy on the mic. Picture a title match at Wrestlemania between these two...I get chills. This feud actually may happen, because WWE HAS to move CM Punk, it's just a matter of where and when. What have I not talked about...oh yeah the wrestling.
CM Punk has a great wrestling background in Ring of Honor. He and Samoa Joe were basically the two faces of that brand. He has been in a 5-star match (according to Dave Meltzer) against Samoa Joe in ROH, and I wouldn't doubt him being in another one or two before he retires.
Edge might be the most versatile wrestler there is. Think about it...he is the master of the TLC match, a two time Money In the Bank ladder match winner, he beat Mick Foley in a Hardcore match, he is the World Heavyweight Champion as a singles wrestler, is a 12-time champion as a tag-team wrestler, and is the only superstar EVER to have held all 6 major titles on RAW and Smackdown. This would be huge.
2. Randy Orton vs. Kane
Not much explanation is needed here. Kane=Legend...Randy Orton=Legend Killer. Kane is a legend that I believe Orton hasn't killed yet (correct me if I'm wrong because I'm going off of my memory) and I think it would be a great feud. I say this because the Orton-Taker feud was insanely cool and The Undertaker and Kane are very similar...but very different at the same time.
Kane is not the best wrestler on Smackdown, but he makes up for that with his excitement and the fact that he is classic. (Remember I am calling him "classic" and "a legend" although he is only a 1-time World Champ...and he only held the title for a day...however he deserves these titles).
Randy Orton is a GREAT up and comer. He is 27 years old and has been with the company for about 5 years and he is already a triple crown champion. He has developed into a very snake-like and sneaky superstar with his new prelude to the RKO, and so we would be seeing the monster versus the mysterious. This feud would be a great way to put over Orton, and it would give him another name on his list of "Legends Killed".
3. Jeff Hardy vs. Rey Mysterio
My personal favorite match up involves two stars who radiate excitement from their bodies. They are beloved by almost all fans (that would be a problem...one might need to be a heel...) because they are athletic as hell. Many fans would be in awe during their entire matches because of their creativity and their ability to do anything.
Rey gives it 110 percent every match. I have yet to see him just go half way in a match. The 619 is the most creative thing in wrestling...ever...end of story. I can't wait for his return, and hopefully these two will wind up in a match down the road.
Jeff is just as exciting as Rey...but he is more daring. He is basically a stuntman in a wrestling suit. Who else has done multiple Swanton Bombs off of 20-foot ladders? NOBODY. Not Sabu, not Rey Rey, not even RVD. I also believe that he is the first person to put somebody through a ladder.
Overall this would be probably the most exciting feud possible. I actually wouldn't mind if this feud went on longer then Cena-Edge...and that is truly saying something...
4. Mr. Kennedy vs. Ric Flair
I'm not going to go too into detail with this one, because I feel that the general population can grasp on how sweet it would be. I see this as a "pass the torch" feud that has dueling promos every night (Kennedy promo on his mic at the beginning of the show, Flair freaking out promo at the end of the show). End it with a great match at Wrestlemania...and you have an instant classic.
As I said before, this would be a great way to pass the torch from Flair who has dominated the wrestling business his whole career...to Mr. Kennedy who will dominate soon.
5. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels
Yes ladies and gentlemen, we are going a little old-school. This is a feud that I have always LOVED. These two have been in some classic matches (Hell In A Cell) and I think that they have a few more left in them. There is no need to give their biographies because everyone knows these two.
Actually now that I think about it, why not DX vs. The Ministry of Darkness? (extremely cheesy sounding I know). But WWE is in talks with X-Pac right now. Why not have DX (Triple H, Shawn Michaels, X-Pac, add two more like Ric Flair and Sandman (haha)) vs. The Ministry of Darkness (The Undertaker, Edge, JBL, Ron Simmons, and Viscera)?...That sounds extremely cheesy and extremely attitude era-ish...so I'm going to stop.
These feuds would fuel a brand merger and cancel out the negatives. This merger will probably never happen...or if it does then it is far in the distance...but these feuds are still possible via superstars switching brands.
Monday, July 2, 2007
RAW Preview
Well, WWE really has to start over. Their McMahon death storyline was shot down by Chris Benoit's legitimate death, so the "main event" storyline is out the window. We do, however, now know the two main events for The Great American Bash:
John Cena vs. Bobby Lashley for the WWE Title
Edge vs. Rey Mysterio for the World Heavyweight Championship
So on RAW tonight, I can only assume that a Cena vs. Lashley rivalry may begin. Look for those seeds to be planted tonight.
WWE.com also notifies us that Santino Marella will once again be defending his Intercontinental title against Umaga. It would not surprise me to see Umaga take back the belt. Just like for Wrestlemania, his being the Intercontinental champ adds some legitimacy to him being in a main event-type match, this time against Jackass at SummerSlam. On the other hand, WWE may want to continue Santino's "miracle" title defenses. If this is the case, then look for him to win via interference, maybe from Maria or the Jackass crew?
Also, we'll see the continuation of a feud that I love...Carlito vs. Sandman. I don't even want them to fight a match, I just want to see Carlito interrupted by the Sandman's entrance. I think this feud will be going the "hardcore" route and make Carlito pay some dues.
Drew Arnold, writing for The Irish Whip
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Superstar Categories
When Ben proposed this post to me, I was very excited. If you have ever played NBA Live 2007, all of the players are in categories (dunker, long range shooter, inside scorer, etc…). This post categorizes the top 5 stars in each brand and then 5 legends into the categories of crafty, powerhouse, legend, experienced, future star, athletic, great heart, exciting, and creative. Of course superstars can and will be in multiple categories.
Rey Mysterio, Triple H, and The Undertaker have been omitted due to their injuries.
Smackdown’s Top 5
1. Edge: The current top Smackdown superstar is not yet a legend, but he is definitely experienced. He has won the WWE championship 2 times, the World Heavyweight Championship 1 time, the Intercontinental Championship 5 times, he is a 12 time tag-team champion, and claimed the title of “Mr. Money In the Bank” twice. He has been in some famous feuds (Matt Hardy, John Cena) and has been in a few memorable stables (The Ministry of Darkness, Rated RKO). He has a great heart as well; he makes all of his matches fun to watch, because he never gives up (see the hardcore match against Mick Foley). Edge is also very exciting (watch him in the MITB Ladder Matches) and he provides a side to wrestling that we sadly rarely see anymore. You could also consider Edge a future star (he’s actually two days younger than MVP). He has many more bright years with the company.
2. Batista: The first thing that you think of when you see Batista, is that he is a powerhouse. I would definitely NOT call him experienced, seeing how he has only been wrestling with WWE since 2002. I would also not call him the future, seeing how he is 38. And although he may not be the best wrestler in the company, he sure is exciting. His spinebuster is extremely fun to watch, and it gets me pretty amped.
3. MVP: Let me start out by saying he is one of the big three stars that I consider “future stars”. I will also definitely call him exciting, because for a while, his feud with Chris Benoit was the only thing that kept me watching Smackdown. MVP is definitely athletic too. His gimmick is even a cocky athletic guy.
4. Ric Flair: Flair falls into many categories. He is definitely a legend. He won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship for the first time in 1981 by beating Dusty Rhodes. He is an 11 time world champion, and has won countless awards. He is also definitely experienced...being in the wrestling business since the 1970s, and being in countless classic feuds (Lex Luger, Terry Funk) and stables (Evolution, The Four Horsemen). He was also extremely exciting in his prime (and he still has his moments now...like vs. the Big Show on ECW). Flair also has a reputation of being extremely crafty to win at any cost. You know someone is crafty when the low blow is part of their regular moveset.
5. Kane: The Big Red Machine is definitely experienced (being in wrestling since the mid-to late 90s). He is a 10-time Tag-Team champion, a two-time Intercontinental champion, a one-time Hardcore champion, and a one-time WWF champion. He is also a powerhouse (7 feet tall, 326 pounds). Kane is extremely exciting too…when his entrance music hits I get extremely pumped up.
RAW’s Top 5:
1. John Cena: Cena debuted in 2000 (I wouldn’t normally call someone experienced who has only been in the business for 7 years…) however he is experienced. He has won the United States Championship three times, and has won the WWE Championship three times. He has been in numerous matches with great superstars…yes he has been in some great matches (vs. Edge at Unforgiven, vs. Michaels on Monday Night RAW). Also, he is a definite powerhouse. Before wrestling he was pursuing a career as a bodybuilder. Also, at Wrestlemania XX he managed to lift the 507 pound 7-foot monster over his head twice. Cena (or Cena’s gimmick) never gives up in matches. He come out on top in singles matches with Umaga, The Great Khali, Shawn Michaels, The Big Show, Kurt Angle, JBL, Chris Jericho, Edge, RVD, Booker T, etc…This shows his great heart.
2. Bobby Lashley: Nobody is more of a powerhouse than Bobby Lashley. All you have to do is look at this man to find out what I’m talking about. He is extremely exciting too. His spear is not near the excitement level of Bill Goldberg’s, but his regular power moves are fantastic. Also, in his match vs. the late Chris Benoit at the first 3-hour RAW, he showed us a side of him that we rarely see, the amateur wrestling side of him. Benoit and Lashley put on a very enjoyable match. And yes ladies and gentlemen, he is a future star. He is only 30 years old, and he has already been built up to the main event slot.
3. Randy Orton: I’ll start out by saying he is extremely exciting. He is doing this thing that I love now. He waits on the ground with his opponent while stalking them like a wounded animal. This sinuously smooth precursor to the RKO is very snake-like and very intimidating. It reminds me of The Rock getting ready to deliver the Rock Bottom. He (in my opinion) is probably tied with Mr. Kennedy for the biggest future star. He is only 27 years old (younger than MVP, CM Punk, Mr. Kennedy, and Lashley) and he is already a Triple Crown Champion (won the World Heavyweight Championship, Intercontinental Championship, and Tag-Team Championship). His moveset is very creative. I love his DDT that he does off of the ropes and his huge dropkick.
4. Mr. Kennedy: Ken Kennedy will be the Stone Cold or The Rock of the future. This man is above and beyond what we refer to as a future star. You can’t call this man boring. He is extremely exciting and creative. His creative side kicks in with his ring entrance. I can’t think of another ring entrance that I like better than his (please comment if you think of one). And excitement basically radiates from this man’s body. I decided not to keep this one very long, because you can just read any of our other posts to get the point.
5. Jeff Hardy: Jeff Hardy is hands down the most exciting superstar (now that RVD has left) in the WWE. The Swanton Bomb is probably one of the tightest moves in wrestling, and the whisper in the wind gets the crowd going just as much. Also, how can you talk about Jeff Hardy and not say he’s an athlete? The man did a front flip (Swanton Bomb) off of a ladder through a table with Bubba Ray Dudley on it. He can also be a future star (he is only 29)…but I am not sure since all of his stunts may take a pretty hard toll on his body after awhile.
ECW’s Top 5:
1. CM Punk: CM Punk (along with Mr. Kennedy) IS the future. He has the title of “future star” written all over him. He made his WWE wrestling debut on June 24, 2006…and he has already fought for the ECW title twice (elimination chamber and Vengeance). He also has his upcoming title shot against Johnny Nitro…I pray to God that he wins. He and his finishing moves are extremely creative (G.T.S., Anaconda Vise, and my personal favorite…the Pepsi Plunge). I would say his matches are exciting, but the ECW crowd doesn’t usually get into it…which is a topic for a later date.
2. Johnny Nitro: I would first like to ask…why is this man the ECW champion? His second match as an ECW superstar (first being a squash against Nunzio) is a title match that he wins. BAD IDEA (but again, another topic for another time). He is without a doubt a future star being only 27 years old and being in the main event slot for ECW in his 3rd year with the company. You could also consider him athletic…if you were searching for another thing to say about him.
3. Elijah Burke: Yet another future star in ECW. Only 29 years old, and he has had a huge part in ECW. Although his team with Sylvester Terkay was the most boring thing on Friday night, he excels greatly as a singles wrestler. The Elijah Express and the Elijah Experience are cool, but they don’t get him into the category of exciting. However, they will help him get into the creative category.
4. Marcus Cor Von: Here is the powerhouse of ECW. Monty Brown…I mean…Marcus Cor Von is HUGE. His bicep is probably larger then my head. He definitely falls into the category of exciting. The Pounce is my favorite finisher by a big dude. Although the Alpha Male is 37, he has a few great years ahead of him (but not enough years to call him the future).
5. The Boogeyman: Here’s a fun fact that I found interesting: he is 42 years old! I never would have thought that he would be that old. Well, now that I got that out of the way…he is definitely exciting, and definitely creative. Name another superstar that eats worms. Also, it is occasionally fun to see him pop up out of nowhere and scare the pants off of people.
Legends Top 5: (in no order)
1. Bret Hart: Well…he is under the “legends top 5”…so I guess it’s pretty obvious that he’s a legend. In WCW he won the US Title 4 times, the World Heavyweight Championship 2 times, and the World Tag-Team Championship 1 time. And in the WWF/WWE he won the WWF Championship 5 times, the Intercontinental Championship 2 times, the World Tag-Team Championship 2 times, and he was recently inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. He was definitely exciting in the ring as well. When he locked in the sharpshooter the crowd went wild. He also had a great heart. He lasted over an hour in his famous match against Shawn Michaels, and he had many other great matches (see our Top WWE Matches section).
2. The Rock: There is nothing about this man that is boring. He has the most unnecessarily elaborate finishing move of all time (the people’s elbow) and has created almost all of the famous wrestling catchphrases in our time (know your role, and shut your mouth). This man is the epitome of exciting in and out of the ring. Again, he is in the legends category…therefore he is a definite legend. He won the WWF/E Championship 7 times, the Intercontinental Championship 2 times, and the Tag-Team Championship 5 times. He also has a great heart. His match at Wrestlemania against Steve Austin was a classic display of his heart. His heart is also shown in ANY of his matches against Mick Foley. Also, he is EXTREMELY creative. Who would think to themselves “today…I’m going to create a 30 second prelude to an elbow…”
3. Steve Austin: Again, there is nothing about this man that is boring. You never know what to expect from him on any given night. He could bring a beer truck through the entrance ramp, or he could plan his own beer bash even. This man, along with The Rock, IS exciting. Also he is a legend. He is a 6-time WWF Champion, a 2-time Intercontinental Champion, a 4-time Tag-Team Champion, and the winner of 3 Royal Rumbles.
4. Hulk Hogan: Just like Stone Cold and The Rock created the word exciting, Hulk Hogan created the word legend. He is the ultimate WWF/E/WCW that absolutely everyone knows. He is a 6-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, a 6-time WWF/E World Heavyweight Champion, a 1-time Tag-Team Champion, a 2-time Royal Rumble Winner, and a WWE Hall of Famer. He also has a great heart (see vs. Andre the Giant or any other match where he “Hulks Up”). He is not as exciting as The Rock…but he is nonetheless very exciting. I’ve never really been into his finisher (the Hogan leg drop), because it’s basically like doing a “clothesline from hell” or “the big boot”, but it was cool in the 80s.
5. Shawn Michaels: Already, he is a legend. He is a 3-time WWF Champion, a 1-time European Champion, a 3-time Intercontinental Champion, a 4-time Tag-Team Champion, a 1-time World Heavyweight Champion, and a 2-time Royal Rumble Winner. He shows his great heart in his classic iron-man match against Bret Hart. His Superkick comes out of nowhere, and that is what makes him one of the most exciting superstars in wrestling today.
If you didn’t notice, the powerhouses (Cena, Lashley, Batista) are moving up in the world of wrestling, when it should be the exciting and athletic superstars (Jeff Hardy, Edge, Kennedy) in the limelight. WWE needs to keep a nice balance of these superstars to maximize their success. WWE also needs to keep good relations with their legends, so their legends will come back and have instant-classic feuds.
That’s all for me folks. As always…post comments.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Thoughts on the Draft
Alright, the draft is over, there were a few interesting changes and an exploding limo.
Let's talk about it.
First, I'll go over the draft picks themselves.
Raw
Bobby Lashley-This seems to be about the only guy anyone here at The Irish Whip predicted right. While somewhat of a big draft change, the guy has practically been a Raw superstar since before Wrestlemania. He should bring a little more entertainment, and hopefully continue to improve his abysmal promo and mic work.
King Booker-Alright, some people want him to return to "Booker T", and I would not throw a fit if that happened. Honestly, though, I think he pulls this gimmick off rather well. Having him on Raw should also be entertaining, I wouldn't even mind a King Booker/John Cena feud sometime.
Snitsky-Oh lord, I liked it better when "It wasn't his fault". I can only hope old rumors do not come true of an eventual Snitsky/Cena match.
Mr. Kennedy-Oh man, I did a little research on some of The Irish Whip's older posts since I am new. It is quite obvious that Kennedy is loved, and you know what? I am right there with you, I love this guy and he is going to be one of the faces of the company in the future.
Smackdown!
The Great Khali-I actually almost made this pick simply because I wanted him off of live T.V. This is terrible news for Edge and Smackdown!, but good for Raw to get rid of him.
Torrie Wilson-Wow. This was a wasted pick, very lame. They could have saved any women draft picks they wanted to do for this upcoming "supplementary draft"(Which is now apparently on Sunday).
Chris Masters-It makes since to switch him to another show, he was not very useful on Raw. However, Masters is no Chris Benoit, King Booker, Mr. Kennedy, or possibly even a Boogeyman! Smackdown! continues to get the shaft with this pick.
Ric Flair-I love Flair, he is a great guy and I've always thought that it is astounding the schedule he still keeps with the WWE. Smackdown! will allow him a little more freedom maybe, even some time off, and maybe we'll see him get a crack at the title.
ECW
The Boogeyman-Eh, WWE needed a "Science Fiction" character for the Sci Fi network to be happier, so now they do. Maybe he can actually show us he can wrestle on Tuesday nights.
Chris Benoit-I was hoping and praying that Benoit went to Raw. The more I thought about it, I knew they would send him here, and it is not terrible. He is an amazing wrestler, and hopefully he does for the young guys on ECW what he has done for MVP. Also, if he is not the ECW Champion within the next several months, I'll be severely disappointed.
Overall, I thought the show was very O.K. for what it was built up to be. Raw got stacked, Smackdown! got the shaft, and ECW is still just kinda there. Cena/Edge could have been alot better, although still good. Carlito/CM Punk was good, and Benoit/Lashley was good.
Now, one last topic. Vincent Kennedy McMahon. Well, I do think that they did a little too much of the "Appreciation Night" stuff throughout the show. Probably could have cut the likes of Bob Costas and Mark Cuban(even though Cuban is awesome!) from the show. As far as Mr. McMahon's limo exploding, well, I was impressed and excited. Those were my first reactions, anyways. I thought "Wow, they just killed the T.V. character Mr. McMahon, and it was pretty cool". Then I started reading WWE.com reports of his body being missing and such, and I got worried. I do not mind if it ends up being a storyline where he returns, as we all know Vince has some weird ideas. What I am scared of, however, is if he does some "resurrection" or something since they are reporting that his body missing. Also, I would think it rather dumb if they end up saying it was "suicide". I know these ideas seem unlikely, but they just hit my brain and I can't shake them. Hopefully he will either stay dead, or it will have been a trick, ploy, or something like that. It seems more likely that it will have been a trick or ploy anyways! Either way, we are about to have a "Who blew up Vince" witch hunt among the three shows. Look for Ashley, Lashley, Cena, etc. to be blamed. Basically, anyone who Vince has been a complete asshole to in recent months.
Alright, sorry to ramble on for so long guys! Tell me what you guys think. Well, that's all I have up my sleeve for now!
-Jesse
Thursday, June 7, 2007
An Overview Of Brands
First off, I'd like to say hello to all who read this. Along with Lee, this is my first time writing here. I thought I would take the chance to give a short overview of how I think things are going.
ECW
Now, despite what alot of people say, I feel that this show has had its moments, and by moments, I mean occasional flashes of something being ok. For instance, this past week, I actually enjoyed ECW. CM Punk and Matt Striker had a very solid match, and I think the Major Brothers are decent in the ring. As for The Draft coming up, I have heard rumors spreading of a possible Benoit/Mysterio addition to ECW. This could mix things up.
SMACKDOWN!
Honestly, this is my favorite show right now, hands down. I love MVP, I think he is a great talent and he can also talk (it seems like there are fewer and fewer good talkers nowadays). His feud with Benoit was absolute money. Honestly, I hope the rumors about CM Punk being drafted to Smackdown! are true, because I'd love to see a CM Punk/MVP feud for the U.S. Title. Edge is THE BEST heel in the company right now, no arguing that in my personal opinion. Hopefully we can get someone else in the title scene with Edge other than Batista.
RAW
I must admit, this week's new angle with Vince being all "messed up" in the head had me laughing, in a good way. Maybe he can now generate some actual heel heat, instead of "I want you off my T.V. heat." It seems like Bobby Lashley should just permanently be on this show over the last few months, and come draft, maybe he will be. I am not a John Cena hater, but rather, I believe they have booked him poorly, and his "Marine" gimmick is terrible. I believe him to be a hard worker who is always improving. Besides the fact that The Great Khali is terrible, all I will say is this.....a guy has actually died after a botched move with Khali. Yikes! Granted, it IS Wikipedia, but it seems like a pretty legit story, as it says it wasn't his fault.
As far as Paul Heyman is concerned, Wrestleview.com recently had a report stating that Vince threw out Heyman's name at a creative meeting to see what everyone thought. So, even though I still think it's unlikely, maybe we will see him show up yet again!
Well, The Draft seems to be a much needed "mix up" for the three brands and I hope it does create more interesting angles. I hope. You never know with the mind of Vincent Kennedy McMahon. I hope to hear from you guys, tell me what you think! That's all I have up my sleeve for now!
-Jesse
The Need For A Draft
All right...I may have done a post like this in the past, but the trend is continuing. WWE has HORRIBLE champions (see left). The only good champs that they have are Edge and MVP (and a case could be made for Melina). The fact that the only good champs are from Smackdown makes it seem like Smackdown would be the top brand. However the problem with the Smackdown is that all of the champs are heels! (Edge, MVP, Chavo, Deuce and Domino). In fact, among active and weekly Smackdown superstars, heels outnumber faces 19 to 8. Also, throughout the whole Smackdown roster (active/unactive), heels outnumber faces 22 to 16. A successful brand has a mixture of heels and faces as champions. THAT is why Smackdown is the number two brand (notice how RAW has two heels and two faces as champions).
Let's take a little scroll through the current champions.
The question for RAW is...who is the better champion? Santino Marella or Melina...I'll give it to Melina. Cena's wrestling skills leave much to be desired, nobody likes Cade and Murdoch, and Santino Marella won the Intercontinental Championship in his first match. I didn't realize, until I thought about it, that Melina...the Women's Champion...is the best champion...on the top brand of wrestling. This sounds crazy, and many may disagree, but she is actually better in the ring then John Cena. If it isn't Melina, then it is Santino...but we don't know enough about him yet to judge.
ECW has Bobby Lashley...and you know what we feel about him.
Smackdown has Edge (FANTASTIC), MVP (FANTASTIC), Chavo Guerrero...whom I hate with a burning passion because he decided to go through with being part of a storyline that had to do with his late uncle Eddie, and Deuce & Domino...who have the privilege of having a gimmick that is almost as stupid as someone wrestling as a vampire...
This is why WWE needs a draft. Even if there weren't all of the major injuries that have recently taken place, WWE would need to mix things up. This draft should boost tv ratings temporarily (because people will want to see what new storylines they get to feast upon). I don't see a bad thing that could come out of a draft (if you disagree then please comment). Thanks for reading.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Learning To Photoshop
Check out the hands of "Edge" in the new Vengeance poster. A decent high school yearbook staff knows how to photoshop correctly, but apparently, the WWE does not. If they could've screwed up Lashley or Cena, we wouldn't have a problem here, but making a mistake with the only competent wrestler on the promo is just unforgivable. The Irish Whip has been making fun of this promo for months and now it's gotten even worse.
This promo was released a few months ago, right after WrestleMania 23. Since the mistake (which has been floating around since Lashley lost his belt to McMahon at Backlash in April), the WWE has slowed its release of promos. The furthest released promo is currently the one for The Great American Bash, which will be held in a little over a month. Rey Mysterio is on the front.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
One Night Stand Predictions
Tomorrow night's PPV has the best card that we've seen since Wrestlemania. A lot of these matches are tough ones to call, but let's get down to it.
Kane vs. Mark Henry
Lumberjack Match
Why do they keep making a great entertainer like Kane lose to such crappy wrestlers? I don't know, but I think it will happen again.
Winner: Mark Henry
Randy Orton vs. RVD
Stretcher Match
This should be an awesome match. Now, it's "common knowledge" that this will be RVD's last match with WWE (at least for a while) but it is also known that Vince McMahon doesn't like the fact that everybody knows this. I don't think that will make a difference. Look for RKO to "kill the legend" of RVD.
Winner: Randy Orton
CM Punk, Sandman, Tommy Dreamer vs. Elijah Burke, Marcus Cor Von, Matt Striker
Table Match
This should also be a good match, but I think it's a pretty easy one to call. Look for CM Punk's push to continue and for the New Breed to continue to fall apart.
Winners: CM Punk, Sandman, Tommy Dreamer
The Hardys vs. World's Greatest Tag Team
Ladder Match for the World Tag Team Championship
This, along with the stretcher match, will probably be the match of the night. Now it would not surprise me at all if Haas and Benjamin won the belts somehow, seeing as WWE wants the Hardys to each be singles wrestlers. I think that Matt and Jeff will keep the belts at One Night Stand, though.
Winners: The Hardys
Melina vs. Candice Michelle
Pudding Match
It was made a non-title match...because Candice Michelle will win it
Winner: Candice Michelle
Edge vs. Batista
Steel Cage Match for the World Heavyweight Championship
This match seems pretty straightforward. Edge has been guaranteed a long title run, and it is extremely possible that Batista will be drafted to RAW soon. So...
Winner: Edge
Vince McMahon vs. Bobby Lashley
Street Fight for the ECW World Championship
I really don't like this storyline, but thankfully I think it will end tonight. Bobby Lashley "overcomes the odds" and wins the ECW title back.
Winner: Bobby Lashley
John Cena vs. The Great Khali
Falls Count Anywhere Match for the WWE Championship
I really think that they'll go all out in this match. Cena can be more hardcore than people give him credit for, and I think we'll see that in this match. I also think we'll see him retain, setting up for a Cena-Batista feud in a few weeks.
Winner: John Cena
There it is! As always, please post your responses and especially your disagreements. I will write a One Night Stand reaction and see how I did.
Drew Arnold, writing for The Irish Whip
Sunday, May 27, 2007
WWE Notes
So I know that I've been bad about giving you guys your stolen article of the week, WWE Legend, and Top 5 list that you've all become accustomed to. But with all this UFC 71 business going on, it's just been crazy around here. Phones ringing off the hook, bricks going through windows; its chaos, really. But never fear! I'm here with your SMACKDOWN recap, RAW preview, Saturday Night Main Event preview, and One Night Stand preview.
Let's get started! On Friday, Batista speared all his opponents to win the right to face Edge at One Night Stand. Although the Batista-Edge feud is in its infancy, I think it will be a successful one. Throw in the fact that their match will be inside the confines of a steel cage, and this becomes something worth looking forward to. Edge had an awesome promo on SMACKDOWN (he needs to speak every single week, he's that good) while proclaiming himself to be the greatest champion ever.
Benoit and MVP had a nice little segment which ended in three German Suplexes (there's a name for this succession, but I can't remember it). I love this feud and I actually think it's the best thing going on SMACKDOWN. The rivalry between a brash, young Superstar and a wily veteran is something that will always resonate with sports fans.
There was some sort of tag team action, but I'm relatively positive it was not entertaining. I'm tired of non-descript teams (Taylor and Regal) facing badly-gimmicked teams (Deuce and Domino). Also, what is going on with Matt Hardy's push? They're having him beat everyone in sight (including Mr. Kennedy a few weeks ago), but they aren't doing anything with it. He hasn't claimed a feud, demanded a title shot, or anything that would designate a typical push.
This week's RAW should be decent, with Cena and Lashley teaming up against Khali, Umaga, and Shane-O in 2 on 3 tag match. Shane apparently has a huge announcement to make, but I just expect it to be extreme stipulations or additional matches. Usually, I don't like it when the WWE teams people who have no business being together (Cena and Lashley), but I care so little about these feuds, I'd much rather have them kill two birds with one stone and make more time for the tag team matches.
I know, I can't believe I said it either. I'm actually excited for the tag matches! Being this close to the PPV, the WWE doesn't want to give too much away or have anyone get hurt, so you can't expect much from some of the bigger ticket wrestlers. And so, the burden of good matches will fall on the newly-developed tag teams. Expect to see heel and face development and lots of interference. Maybe an 8-man brawl at some point? I hope so. The WWE is teasing a Cade and Murdoch heel turn, but I don't think it will happen. There's a really nice balance of power right now in the tag division (no injuries!) and I expect the WWE to capitalize on this.
I have no idea why they would have Saturday Night's Main Event just ONE DAY prior to a PPV. They aren't even scheduling big matches for it, which makes sense, since they don't want wrestlers to get hurt. So far, I've seen two matches, only one of which I can recall: Finlay and Hornswaggle vs. Boogeyman and Little Boogeyman. Now who wouldn't want to see that? Perhaps they're using this to appease the wrestlers who didn't make the cut to be included in One Night Stand. Who knows?
One Night Stand, on the other hand, despite being held in Jacksonville and not featuring any of the ECW Originals, is shaping up to be a decent card. I think we need to stop pretending that this is an ECW PPV and just accept it for what it is -- a general WWE card with extreme rules. Can anyone even tell me what brand Lashley is on anymore? Anyway, this card features a Street Fight between Vince and Lashley for the ECW Championship, a Falls Count Anywhere match between Cena and Khali for the WWE Championship, and a Steel Cage match between Edge and Batista for the World Heavyweight Championship. Two of these matches should be good. We know that Vince can put on a show (see Valentine's Day Massacre of 1999) and Lashley is improved. Edge makes his matches good, no matter who he is facing, and he'll need to be as good as ever if he plans to make Batista look like a real wrestler. I have faith in Edge, though, and I think this will be the best match of the night. The disappointment, of course, is the Khali-Cena match. I expect a double count out a la Backlash 2007. They can't give the most decorated belt in Sports Entertainment to (gasp!) The Great Khali...can they? Check out this prediction from my award-winning article "One Night Stand Officially Sucks Before It Happens": "I wouldn't be surprised if there were matches featuring no ECW extremists at all."
With most of their talent on the disabled list (see our new polls on the right!), it is more important than ever that the WWE correctly manages its remaining wrestlers. The next two weeks will give us a very good indication if this is going to happen. If mismanaged, the post-WrestleMania slump could easily continue until SummerSlam in August.
A note to our readers: next week, the url for The Irish Whip will be changing to irishwhip.blogspot.com instead of benanddrew.blogspot.com. Please change your bookmarks accordingly.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
SMACKDOWN Preview & RAW Notes
With The Undertaker and Mr. Kennedy sidelined, it looks as though there will be very little development of new storylines tomorrow night on SMACKDOWN. Barring any earth-shattering event, I would expect to see a continuation of the Edge/Batista and Benoit/MVP feuds. Of course, we know that Finlay, Kane, and Mark Henry will be competing in a fatal four way with Batista to determine the #1 contender to Edge's title, but I wouldn't bank on anyone other than The Animal leaving as the victor. Batista is the Cena-like investment for SMACKDOWN, and the writers wouldn't have him step aside so someone like Mark Henry can get a title shot. And who'd want to see a Mark Henry/Edge feud anyway? Barring a good promo or two from the Rated-R Superstar, it would be a waste. And so, expect to see more of the same tomorrow night from the WWE. Even with Edge switching brands, it isn't enough to keep this show afloat. And with The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, HHH, and Mr. Kennedy all suffering from injuries and accounting for exactly 68% of the talent in the WWE, Vince is in trouble.
There's little news on the RAW front, and so I'd expect more "continuation" (McMahon/Lashley, Cena/Khali) along with additional role changes (Carlito becomes stronger heel, Cade & Murdoch become stronger faces). It shouldn't be an non-entertaining RAW, with more One Night Stand matches being made and stipulations being revealed. Also, the recent development of the tag division should provide for an interesting match/interference or two. I always did love that palindrome-style RAW logo.
Actually, I brought up RAW just so I could mention that the episode on June 11th will be THREE HOURS LONG. That's right; three hours. I'm not even going to touch this one.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Here Comes The Money
If you have read the comments of the past few blogs, you might notice that I have mentioned Shane McMahon. I have mentioned how great he would be on any brand, but especially ECW.
Shane has a history of extreme. He has fought in a hardcore match against Steve Blackman, a no holds barred match against the Big Show, a street fight against Kurt Angle, a street fight against Shawn Michaels, and an ambulance match against Kane. (There are many more including the handicap Hell In a Cell, and the Iron Man match against the Big Show, but I am just too lazy to get the links to them).
He also takes as many risks as any extremist I've ever seen. Let's be real here. ECW needs reviving, and we have Shane McMahon who (correct me if I'm wrong) is one of two wrestlers who have ever gone coast to coast..the other being RVD (the best athlete in wrestling). How can WWE let his talent go to waste? How can they let him just appear in his father's corner? Yes I know he has a job other then wrestling (the WWE Executive Vice President of Global Media), but he is exciting and he is creative. His entrance is hilarious, but cool, and his moveset is nothing short of amazing. In fact, Shane should be the main heel of this new Corporation that the McMahons have going.
Let me ask you readers a question. Would you rather see an extreme rules match between Vince McMahon and Lashley, Umaga and Lashley, or Shane McMahon and Lashley? If you said one of the first two, I would love to hear your reasoning.
Think of Shane as a singles wrestler on ECW. Shane vs. CM Punk, Shane vs. Elijah Burke. Although to some, these two matches may not sound as enticing as CM Punk vs. Elijah Burke, I think that Shane could bring some serious heat.
Let's put it this way...Shane would be as good in ECW as Chris Benoit, Edge, or Rey Mysterio (two of whom came FROM ECW). You have to give a man some respect when he jumps off of a Titantron...three times.
Like I said before, if you disagree, then tell me. Hell, you aren't going to hurt my feelings.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Judgment Day Results/RAW Predictions
Let's check in and see both what happened and how Drew did in picking the outcomes:
Carlito vs. Ric Flair
Ric Flair wins with a clean submission due to Figure Four Leglock.
Drew's pick: Ric Flair
Winner: Ric Flair (1-0)
Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Orton
Randy Orton wins due to Michaels being unable to compete.
Drew's pick: HBK
Winner: Randy Orton (1-1)
Elijah Burke vs. CM Punk
CM Punk wins by pinfall following a kick to the stomach.
Drew's pick: Elijah Burke
Winner: CM Punk (1-2)
Chris Benoit vs. MVP for the United States Championship
MVP wins U.S. Championship following two straight pinfalls.
Drew's pick: MVP
Winner: MVP (2-2)
Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon, and Umaga vs. Bobby Lashley for the ECW Championship
Bobby Lashley wins match by pinning Shane McMahon; however, does not recover belt as McMahon was not covered.
Drew's pick: Bobby Lashley
Winner: Bobby Lashley (3-2)
Edge vs. Batista for the World Heavyweight Championship
Edge wins match via roll-up pin.
Drew's pick: Edge
Winner: Edge (4-2)
John Cena vs. The Great Khali for the WWE Championship
John Cena forces The Great Khali to tap from the STFU.
Drew's pick: John Cena
Winner: John Cena (5-2)
Drew finishes off the night with an impressive 5-2 record. Although Drew wasn't able to comment on the "match" between the Hardyz and Cade/Murdoch, I can assure you that our favorite North Carolinian would have chosen Jeff and Matt, thus making Drew's record for the evening a stellar 6-2.
Some of Drew's best calls include the MVP-Benoit match, where MVP won in two straight falls, and the Cena-Khali match, where Khali was forced to tap. As far as the former is concerned, it was a significant outcome due to the fact that we are trained to expect 2 out of 3 falls matches to reach that last match. I can't tell you the last time it didn't go to the third. I think...the Mick Foley/Ric Flair match last year? Maybe. Either way, in addition to proving Drew correct, this win really puts MVP on center stage and fuels this feud for some great matches in the future. Don't forget, MVP was trained by Chris Benoit. These guys really know how to put it on.
As far as the Khali match, Drew was dead on about it being used as a tool to get Cena over. The WWE is hyping this submission like it's Hulk Hogan slamming Andre the Giant or Barry Horowitz finally winning a match (extra points if you know who Horowitz is). Again, that STFU proves to be the most formidable submission in all of wrestling. And it's put on so cleanly each time!
No real disappointments for Drew here. Burke/Punk was a toss up by definition and news of the Michaels injury came after Drew posted. The idea that the WWE would use Orton's match to punish him seemed dead-on to me.
So this brings us to the second portion of tonight's post: tomorrow's RAW.
Since many of the matches weren't from the RAW brand, this PPV of very little consequence has almost no bearing on RAW tomorrow. After all, the only title change was from the SMACKDOWN show. Obviously, Cena will do a promo about how great he is, and someone will need to disagree in order to create a feud for the summer. It obviously won't be Michaels, due to the injury. Expect to see Orton "injure" him tomorrow night. Triple H won't be back in time, so he's out. I think the fans spoke loudly about The Great Khali, so I'm praying we've seen the last of him and he'll go play with Mark Henry or someone else. If all my calculations are right, this leaves us with Randy Orton? No way the WWE would reward him with a title opportunity, so I'm going to go out on a limb and say that (if not tomorrow, then soon) we will be seeing an episode of RAW is JERICHO very soon. After all, Cena was better as a heel, and who do the fans like better than Y2J? Maybe The Rock, but my point is, the list is short. Watch out for Jericho's return in the following weeks.
This is the part where I'd make some comments about the Intercontinental belt, but there wasn't a match for it tonight. Maybe I'd choose to go on to the Tag Team belts, but really, am I going to sit here and discuss Cade and Murdoch with you, our fine readers? Please, I'd rather sleep with Mae Young. Okay, well maybe not that... Unfortunately, wrestling fans, it looks as though the Heavyweight title is going to be the only subject of importance as we roll into a few more meaningless PPVs, culminating with Summerslam in August.
With little else to talk about and someone named Timbaland performing a new song on RAW tomorrow night, I'd like to make a little prediction of my own: RAW WILL SUCK.
Instead of watching, why not spend your night commenting on my hilarious Ahmed Johnson post which only took a little over and hour to finish, just so no one could read it. I'm not bitter, though...
Judgment Day Predictions!
FIRST AND FOREMOST: Take a look at the Judgment Day poster on the right. Kane is featured on it, yet Kane is not even booked for a match on this PPV - will he make some sort of impact? Keep an eye out for that.
Let the predictions begin! Let's go on down the card:
Carlito vs. Ric Flair
This is a cool feud. I think Ric Flair will eventually want to put Carlito over, but I also think that they'll want to drag out the feud beyond this PPV.
Winner: Ric Flair
Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Orton
We've heard rumors that HBK and Cena will be holding a feud this summer, which leads me to believe that HBK will pick up the win here. This might also be a good way for WWE to punish Orton for his recent actions.
Winner: HBK
Elijah Burke vs. CM Punk
I was going to pick Punk, but then I realized that there's no way for him to move up in ECW with Lashley vs. Snitsky being the next championship feud. This leads me to believe that the Burke vs. Punk feud will continue, and it's fine by me. Through some cheap method (maybe interference from Cor Von?)...
Winner: Elijah Burke
Chris Benoit vs. MVP for the United States Championship
So I've picked MVP to beat Benoit for the past two PPVs...I'll pick him again. He and Benoit put on AWESOME matches and I think the feud will continue.
Winner: MVP
Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon, and Umaga vs. Bobby Lashley for the ECW Championship
This is the match that will put Bobby Lashley over...I'm not sure how well a feud with Snitsky will follow this.
Winner: Bobby Lashley
Edge vs. Batista for the World Heavyweight Championship
If WWE wanted Batista to be the World Heavyweight Champion then they would have had him beat Taker in that cage match. I think Batista will be feuding with Mark Henry anyway while Edge feuds with...Matt Hardy.
Winner: Edge
John Cena vs. The Great Khali for the WWE Championship
This one is actually very tough to call. I think that the purpose of this feud is to try to get Cena over to the point where he's not booed anymore, so if Cena lost and then won it back in the next couple of months then that might really put him over. Yet I've learned...never bet against Vince's guys. (Also: look for some interference from HBK to help Cena pull out the victory)
Winner: John Cena
That's the card! Post your responses, especially your disagreements. I'll post a follow-up to the PPV to see how I did.
Drew Arnold, writing for The Irish Whip
Saturday, May 12, 2007
A Few Suggestions for the WWE
The other day I was thinking that WWE is just misguided. They don't know what the fans want (or so it seems) and they just have no direction. So I decided that I would compile a list of suggestions for the WWE.
1. No 2-hour shows. I am a firm believer in this because it would decrease the amount of segments where Cryme Tyme steals money from Eugene, or hopefully even decrease the amount of Bobby Lashley's promos! An hour and a half is enough time to put on a show for the fans and keep them interested.
2. Roster changes. To go along with the smaller time-slot, roster changes would need to be made. Ben did something like this as one of the first posts, but I am going to do my own, cause I think it would be fun. Here's what the rosters should be:
RAW: EDGE, Carlito, Chris Masters, MVP, Cryme Tyme, John Cena, Kane, Johnny Nitro, Randy Orton, HBK, CM Punk, HHH, Umaga, and Santino Marella (if he can wrestle like people say)
Smackdown: Batista, Matt Striker, London & Kendrick, Bobby Lashley, Chris Benoit, Finlay, Shelton Benjamin, King Booker (we will get to him later), Mark Henry, Mr. Kennedy, The Miz, The Great Khali, The Undertaker, and William Regal.
ECW: The Hardyz, Rey Mysterio, Super Crazy, Ric Flair (although this seems weird, he put on one of the best shows in new-ECW history against the Big Show), Balls Mahoney, Shane McMahon, Kenny, Elijah Burke, Kevin Thorn, Marcus Cor Von, RVD (gone), Sabu, Sandman, Tommy Dreamer.
This would leave each roster with 15 main members. With adding 1-2 jobbers to each roster, WWE would have enough to put on wonderful shows every monday, tuesday, AND friday nights.
3. King Booker...needs to be Booker T again. His 15-minute entrance is something to fall asleep through. He is not wrestling currently due to an injury/surgery, and I pray every night that he will come back as his old self. Can you dig it sucka? (had to do it)
4. Title Feuds:
RAW: Edge vs. HBK vs. MVP
IC: CM Punk vs. John Cena
I dont really want to make up new tag-teams
Smackdown: Chris Benoit vs. Mr. Kennedy
US: Mark Henry vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Bobby Lashley (don't say anything about this)
ECW: Shane McMahon vs. Sabu
TV Titles (brought back): Rey Mysterio vs. Marcus Cor Von vs. Elijah Burke
Tag Titles (brought back): The Hardy Boyz vs. Sandman & Dreamer
5. BRING BACK PAUL HEYMAN!!! If WWE is going to be successful with ECW, it needs to be guided by Paul Heyman. He knows what's right, he knows what the fans want, and most importantly he knows what's extreme.
Basically, this post is worthless and nothing like this would ever happen. But it was fun to type and I hope you enjoyed it as well. If you disagree with anything that I said then post a comment!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Thank you!!!
"But the good news for me is really, really bad news for Edge. He took something from me…took advantage of my unfortunate situation. Now he and everyone else have just a short amount of time to worry about what I’m going to do when I get back."
Kennedy title run in the near future?! We'll see. All I know is that an Edge vs. Kennedy feud would be classic, and it would lift up Smackdown ratings for sure. We'll see how it all plays out.
By the way, like Ben said, you people need to be commenting! We write tons of articles and we are up to date on wrestling news...We know you guys are out there, just comment so we can get some feedback. Thanks.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Guys I Like
So I know we spend the majority of our time on here bashing wrestlers, decisions, cards, and anything else we can get our hands on, but the truth is, I love the WWE. I wouldn't watch it if I didn't. It provides a kind of scripted entertainment which few of the greatest classic sports moments can rival. Taking all of this into consideration, I decided to make a list of guys who I just like.
Edge: A fantastic wrestler, trained by Stu Hart and Dory Funk Jr. (you guys know I put a ton of stock into the trainer(s)) has emerged as THE complete wrestler in the WWE. He can take bumps, he can give bumps, he can technically wrestle till hell freezes over, and boy can he work that mic. The best on the mic since DX and The Rock, Edge has vastly improved from a non-speaking "enigma" to someone I actually want to listen to. I think I'm still laughing from his Money In The Bank segment in which he referred to King Booker as "King Booka" and asked Matt Hardy "Why are you here?"
Johnny Nitro: Another naturally gifted athlete, Nitro has the unique ability to adapt to his opponents style, creating matches that are just fun to watch. A co-winner of the third season of Tough Enough, Nitro reminds me of a young Shawn Michaels. Charismatic, athletic, and all the tools needed to be a force in this business for another decade.
Kenny: I get shit from Drew for this, but I honestly like Kenny. I think that if he wasn't pigeon-holed into these shitty gimmicks, he'd be well-respected instead of a huge joke. Actually, I think he would've made a nice fit in the newest DX. Kenny was trained by Killer Kowalski and that in itself is enough for me to trust that he knows what he's doing. The WWE just needs to give him, not Chris Masters, the push. (It only took me half a post to start bashing the WWE's decisions...back to positivity...now.)
The Miz: Shut up, Drew. I love The Miz. What isn't there to like about a genuine guy who has always wanted to be a wrestler? It's like if I were good looking and strong and worked really hard and one day, I made it into the WWE. The product would be the creation of the ultimate face, which is what The Miz brings to the business. He's someone everyone can love. I know he was trained by Al Snow, who is no Killer Kowalski, but I still think he's got enough appeal and ability to have a successful career.
Marcus Cor Von: Whether you want to call him Monty Brown, The Alpha Male, or MCV, this guy (trained by Stu Hart and Dan Severn) can flat out put on a show. He showed us this during his match with CM Punk, another one of the most highly touted recruits the WWE has. In that match, however, it was Cor Von, not Punk, who ran the pacing of the match and looked like he had been in the company for ten years. Cool moves, a fun gimmick, and ability (rare for one of McMahon's big men) are what make MCV one of my favorites.
RVD: Do I even need to explain this one? Who doesn't like RVD? The last man to really stand up to Vince and the influx of non-extreme wrestlers into ECW, RVD has one of the most innovative move sets I've ever seen. He's like a more athletic Shawn Michaels, if that's even possible. RVD is the Jesus of wrestling; there's no move you could explain that he couldn't pull off. He always puts on a show for the fans, even when he's in the midst of contract negotiations, and I know I'll miss him greatly in a few months.
The Sandman: This drinking, smoking, overweight extremist has to be one of the most interesting men to ever step into the squared circle. From his entrance to his look to his general lack of interest in the match itself, The Sandman is always worth watching. Is he a good wrestler? Not even close. Does he have the physique of any of the other men on this list? Hell no. If I could choose four men to put into an extreme rules match, would The Sandman be one of them? You bet.
For the love of RVD, PLEASE write comments to our blogs. I'm not talking about the other writers who post on my stuff to make me feel good about myself; I'm talking about all you out there who read us on a daily basis. Let us know you're out there! Tell us if you agree. Yell at us if you don't. We don't really care; we just want to hear from you!
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Notes from ECW
The Marcus Cor Von-CM Punk match was awesome. They are probably the two most talented guys on this roster and I love Cor Von's finisher, the Pounce. This was easily my highlight of the night; I just wish the match lasted a little longer. When the lists of wrestlers who have these two men are combined, it reads like a "Who's Who" of technical wrestling: William Regal, Finlay, Stu Hart, and Dan Severn. Those trainers could make The Great Khali watchable, that's how good they are. Also, I don't care at all that the picture of Cor Von is from TNA. He's doing the Pounce and that's all I needed to see.
The Edge announcement was bizarre. I can't remember the last time I saw a "news ticker" during a WWE broadcast. I guess it makes sense with both Kennedy and Taker out of the title picture. Does this mean Edge will head to SMACKDOWN and feud with Batista or Mark Henry? God, I hope not. Is it just me, or does Edge look like a female in this picture?
So it looks like the new breed has dissolved into two singles wrestlers (Thorn and Punk) and a pseudo-tag team (Striker and Burke). Know is nowhere to be found, which is sort of disappointing considering all the good things I've heard about his wrestling. It's possible that Cor Von joins the Burke faction, but it seems more likely that The New Breed was a temporary stable designed to oust The Originals and that's about all.
Quote of the night: "That announcement will haunt me forever"-Joey Styles, referring to when McMahon was announced as ECW Champion.
OR
"My future is in fresh blood." -Kevin Thorn
Match of the night: Marcus Cor Von vs. CM Punk
Move of the night: The Elijah Experience on some no-name guy
Best promo of the night: The extreme expose, Kevin Thorn tarot card reading
Worst promo of the night: Lashley telling police "I guess you're gonna have to arrest me!"
Best pairing of the night: Shane McMahon and RVD
The Feuds We Could Be Seeing
Jared's post really got me thinking: is it the WWE's fault that the programming sucks or is there just not enough talent to go around? After a quick trip to the Superstars page, I'm convinced that this is all their own doing. Let's take a look at some of the feuds we could have:
WWE Championship: Edge and Shawn Michaels. The styles of these two guys go together perfectly. Remember how good Michaels made Cena look a few weeks ago in their Iron Man Match? Well, picture him with Edge, one of the most improved wrestlers of the last 5 years. They would absolutely kill each other for the title, both have really good mic skills, and are recognizable figures in sports entertainment (unlike The Great Khali, who I still can't believe we're being forced to waste space on).
Intercontinental Championship: This is where I would like to see guys such as John Cena and Randy Orton. They're decent wrestlers with decent mic skills...fighting for a decent belt. I've always been a fan of stacking this division with the fearsome foursome (Jeff Hardy, Shelton Benjamin, Johnny Nitro, and Carlito), but I don't think any of them other than Jeff are ready for it. They've all held the belt and have been absolutely forgettable as champions. Perhaps this is due to a lack of matches which showcase their abilities (ladder, cage, etc.), but for now, I'd rather see them holding the...
Tag Team Championship: Yep, I want all of the foursome in the Tag Team division. I remember when Tag Team matches were the highlight of RAW, compared to now, where they're stuck in the basement. Reintroduce Cryme Tyme and get them some serious ring work. They remind me of the Dudleyz and would fit perfectly with Matt and Jeff Hardy. I would then put Nitro and Carlito together to make some super-heel team (as Cryme and Hardyz are strong faces) and stick Shelton Benjamin with a new partner altogether. The result would be four strong teams. Fatal Four Way anyone?
My point is that the WWE has enough talent to go around, it just needs to figure out how to use it.
