WWE Will Have HUGE Success This Summer. Here's Why:

Right now, WWE seems to be in a bit of a lull. A couple factors go into this: they are coming off the backend of Wrestlemania and they a suffering through some major injuries to some major superstars. The good news for WWE is that both of these problems will solve themselves at around the same time...this summer.

Think of this:

Over the course of the next couple months, we will see the return of some major superstars. Rey Mysterio, Triple H, and (my favorite) MISTAAAAAA KENNEDY will all be returning and receiving main event roles in WWE programming. There are also reports that WWE would like to sign Chris Jericho in time for Summerslam. These main event superstars can provide much better mainstream interest than Bobby Lashley, the Great Khali, or Batista ever could.

Also, WWE should be emerging out out of its post-Wrestlemania lull around this time. Huge main eventers + huge stages like Summerslam = Success for the WWE.

I'm looking forward to this summer's WWE programming. I truly think that if WWE handles its storylines properly then over the course of the next year it will return to being a fixture of pop culture. Post your thoughts...

Drew Arnold, writing for The Irish Whip

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Overrated/Underrated Superstars

Since the Matt Hardy post generated a good deal of commentary and Drew reminded us all of the classic literary form of the list, I thought it would be fun to combine both and take a look at the most overrated and underrated wrestlers currently employed by the WWE.

Overrated wrestlers:
5. King Booker. He used to be a good wrestler in his WCW days, but age and a terrible gimmick have taken a serious toll on the man who used to delight us with that spinning thing. He shouldn't be anywhere near a title shot.

4. Umaga. I know he's from the family that produced The Rock, Rikishi, The Wild Samoans, and Yokozuna, but he's just not interesting to watch. Thank God that the powers that be prevented him from ever beating Cena for the title.



3. Matt Hardy. See previous post.

2. Batista. Another one of McMahon's over-muscled favorites, Batista features a limited move set and virtually no mic skills. Without his huge push, he'd just be another Chris Masters.

1. John Cena. The current champ spends his time defeating future legends with a crappy finisher and generally not being able to wrestle. His good mic skills make him a serviceable champion, but not a good wrestler, and certainly not the Hall of Famer he is painted to become.

Underrated wrestlers:
5. Kenny. I think Kenny has been mishandled. First, he was put with the misfit Spirit Squad. Next, he was forced to wear pink tights and main card RAW. What we really have here is a young Owen Hart: whiny, athletic, and trained by the best (Stu Hart and Killer Kowalski, respectively).

4. The Undertaker. I know, I know. How could one of the most decorated champions of all-time make it onto my underrated list? Well, people still doubt The Dead Man. Every year, there are more and more groans about the age and ability of Taker, and yet he continues to show up, most recently evidenced by his over-the-top-rope dive onto Batista at WrestleMania 23.

3. Shelton Benjamin. Another case of names gone wrong (Does anyone know anyone named Bobby Lashley or Kenny Dykstra?!). Benjamin, a two-time state wrestling champion and Ohio Valley product, has all the moves and the looks to make it big in the WWE. Now all he needs is a name and a push.

2. Carlito. Carlito has a downright nasty move set and yet he's stuck with Ric Flair. I know that the Flair dynamic was supposed to make him a better wrestler and more recognizable, but he didn't even make WrestleMania this year. Missing chances to perform on the greatest stage in the world is going to hurt Carlito in the long run, keeping him as one of the most underrated wrestlers.

1. Mr. Kennedy. Yes, the future of the sport (according to Drew's list) is also the most underrated (according to me). Again, I have a problem with the generic yet odd gimmick name. Mr. Kennedy has a unique mix of power, speed, and flight which is seen in few wrestlers. Some of the most versatile (Rob Van Dam, Shawn Michaels) can combine two, but not three. Kennedy needs to develop a more defined personality so he can avoid showing up on this list in a few months.


Please comment on the board with your own lists.

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WWE's Future Superstars: My Top Ten List

WWE’s Future Superstars: My Top Ten List

Firstly, I would like to say that I sincerely believe that WWE will be as big a part of pop culture as they were during the Attitude Era within the next few years. They have some stars on their way up who are great wrestlers but also more importantly have great gimmicks and mic skills.

Who will be the top ten WWE superstars in five years? Here they are:

1. Mr. Kennedy– I honestly think he will be the face of WWE in five years. I can only imagine what the hallways of middle schools will sound like with so many kids yelling, “Mistaaaaaa Kennedy! Kennedy!”
2. Edge – He is clearly a fantastic heel and a great wrestler. He’ll be around.
3. Randy Orton – I would say that he’s still “on his way up.” He’s almost at the top…look for the Legend Killer to be WWE champ again soon.
4. Rey Mysterio – I almost forgot to put him on the list. He is apparently set for a huge push upon return from his injury, and WWE never forgets that a huge amount of its fans are Hispanic…and they love Rey!
5. CM Punk – This straight-edge Ring of Honor product has certainly paid his dues and he is probably the best pure wrestler on this list (seriously). He is already hugely popular as well, and look for him to work with…
6. Colt Cabana – Also a product of Ring of Honor, Cabana has the same amount of charisma that CM Punk displays, if not more. He just recently signed a developmental deal but I would expect him to be a star soon.
7. Elijah Burke – Unlike another writer for our blog (Jared), I think that Burke has a ton of potential. “If Elijah said it, it must be true” – what a great line.
8. Bobby Lashley – I’m very saddened to say, as I’m clearly not a fan of Lashley. But he is currently the (somewhat unworthy) recipient of a MASSIVE push that should keep him around for years.
9. MVP – Great on the mic, a great wrestler (as seen with Benoit), great gimmick. He, Kennedy, Benoit, and Taker are my reasons to watch Smackdown.
10. Johnny Nitro – Awesome to watch in the ring and a great heel. He and Melina could be similar to how Edge and Lita were.

Now, this isn’t to say that guys like HHH and HBK won’t be around, of course. They’ll still be main event guys, how could they not be? However, it would not surprise me at all to see Cena booed out of wrestling and into a full-time acting career. I also think that Batista will be more or less phased out.

It was also difficult for me to not include Carlito and Shelton Benjamin on this list, but due to their supposed “attitude problems” they are at a disadvantage.

Post responses / correct me. Tell me what you think. Did I seem to forget anybody?

Drew Arnold, writing for The Irish Whip

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