by Alfonso Colasuonno
Overall - While it doesn't have the highest high points of the previous two Wrestlemania's, this is probably the best Wrestlemania to date. The fact that it didn't revolve around Hogan might have something to do with it. Macho Man gets his chance to shine and win the world title in a tournament to determine the new undisputed champion after a fast count led Andre the Giant to beat Hulk Hogan. This is the first time we see Demolition, The Ultimate Warrior, and the Million Dollar Man at a Wrestlemania. Overall, an epic Wrestlemania.
Invitational Battle Royal - While it wasn't as exciting as Wrestlemania 2's Battle Royal, I've always been a sucker for battle royals. Sneaky win for Bad News Brown over Bret Hart here.
Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs. Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase - Hacksaw Duggan's always been a technical master, apparently...I'm amazed that the man has had one gimmick, a meatheaded patriot, his entire career (albeit 2000 WCW he joined Team Canada unwillingly)
Dino Bravo v. Don "The Rock" Muraco - Watch the original Rock. I prefer the Maivia version, myself.
Greg Valentine v. Ricky Steamboat - Ricky comes out with his young son. He loses in an upset to Valentine. Surprisingly average match from two great performers.
The Natural Butch Reed v. Randy Savage - Savage's first win of many on the night. I think Butch Reed's best days were with Ron Simmons in Doom in WCW.
One Man Gang v. Bam Bam Bigelow - A short, but quality match between these two big boys. A chance to see OMG before he became African Akeem.
Rick Rude v. Jake the Snake - Probably the best match of the card. A 15 minute draw.
Hercules v. The Ultimate Warrior - The Warrior didn't look too powerful in his Wrestlemania debut, but manages to get the win regardless in controversial fashion.
Andre the Giant v. Hulk Hogan - Both men get eliminated from the tournament in this match. I preferred the main event at Wrestlemania III to this match.
Don Muraco v. Ted DiBiase - Ho-hum. A boring match.
Greg Valentine v. Macho Man Randy Savage - A quality match, with Savage getting his second win of the night by scooping up The Hammer when he was about to put on the Figure 4.
Honky Tonk Man v. Brutus Beefcake for the Intercontinental Title - The second best match of the night, after Rude-Jake the Snake. I never realize how quality a performer Brutus Beefcake was until I started watching these old Wrestlemanias. He's not anything flashy but he gets the job done in surprising quality.
The Islanders and Bobby the Brain Heenan v. The British Bulldogs and Koko B. Ware - This was interesting seeing Bobby the Brain wrestle. He didn't do too horribly either.
One Man Gang v. Macho Man Randy Savage - One Man Gang blows his chance at the title by nailing Macho Man with Slick's cane. Boo.
Demolition v. Strike Force for the Tag Team Championship - Demolition - WWF's answer to The Road Warriors. I think they were an exciting tag team. Here they win the titles from Tito and Martel.
Macho Man Randy Savage v. Ted DiBiase for the World Title - Macho Man wins his fourth match of the night in a fairly good one against the Million Dollar Man. However, credit the assist to Hulk Hogan for slamming DiBiase with a chair when he had a sleeper on the Macho Man.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wrestlemania 2 and 3 Reviews
by Alfonso Colasuonno
WRESTLEMANIA II -
Overall - A major improvement over the first Wrestlemania and almost an hour longer. This is where the WWE starts coming into its own. It still has its established stars in Andre the Giant, Roddy Piper, and Hulk Hogan and adds Randy Savage to the established cast of stars in a great undercard match.
Don Muraco v. Paul Orndorff - Weird match, in the fact that Paul Orndorff is a face for practically the only time in his career. Ends in a double countout.
George the Animal Steele v. Randy Savage - A real thrill of a match. Definitely steals the show. The Animal's unorthodox style and overwhelming fur gave quite the challenge to Randy Savage. I definitely think George the Animal Steele looked like an interesting wrestler. Wish I saw more of his matches.
Jake the Snake v. George Welles - Jake the Snake as a heel against a no-namer. Boring.
Rowdy Roddy Piper v. Mr. T in a boxing match - I actually liked this one a great deal, too. Didn't have a clean ending with Piper getting DQ'd. Still, a lot of action from two men unfamiliar with boxing. They still put on a good show.
Velvet McIntyre v. Fabulous Moolah - a squash match for Moolah. I guess this is when the WWE began under a minute diva matches...
Nikolai Volkoff v. Corporal Kirschner - Who's Corporal Kirschner? He seems like the sire of later luminaries like Cobra of the feud with Sgt. Craig Pittman fame. Anyway he trounces the Russian in a flag match.
20-Man Battle Royal with NFL players - Refrigerator Perry looked good, but is anyone really going to beat Andre the Giant in a battle royal? Very fun match that came down to Andre v. the Hart Foundation.
Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake v. The British Bulldogs - The British Bulldogs in their first PPV match on Wrestlemania. A solid but unspectacular match.
Hercules Hernandez v. Ricky Steamboat - You can't really go wrong with a Ricky Steamboat match. Solid.
Adorable Adrian Adonis v. Uncle Elmer - Triple A has got to be the most grotesque wrestler ever. Wearing a dress to the ring on his fat body. Gross.
Terry Funk & Hoss Funk v. Tito Santana & The Junkyard Dog - Believe it or not, Terry Funk put on a match that wasn't that great. Put the man in a hardcore match or don't let him wrestle at all. I'd rather watch him vs. Dangerous Devon Storm in Starrcade 2000 when he looked like a corpse but damn if he didn't use hardcore items.
Steel Cage Match for the WWE Championship - Hulk Hogan v. King Kong Bundy - Bundy proved to be a good challenge for Hogan. I liked the cage match a lot. Hogan once again dominated a big man (Andre, Vader, Earthquake, Big Show, etc.)
WRESTLEMANIA III -
Overall - A little bit of a drop off from Wrestlemania II. Here we see Randy Savage in a classic against Steamboat, Piper as a face, and Andre squaring off with Hogan. Unfortunately, there's a lot more filler on the card than on Wrestlemania 2.
Can-Am Connection v. Magnificent Muraco and Cowboy Bob Orton - Quick. If you can tell Tom Zenk and Rick Martel apart I'll give you 5 dollars. No cheating by checking Google Images.
Billy Jack Haynes v. Hercules in a Full Nelson Challenge - A pretty good match, but unfortunately it ends in a double countout, like all matches when unsure of who to give a push to.
King Kong Bundy, Lord Littlebrook, and Little Tokyo v. Hillbilly Jim, Little Beaver, and the Haiti Kid - It's clear King Kong suffered a major fall after losing to Hogan as he's relegated to a match with midgets. Nice to see Little Beaver get destroyed by King Kong.
Junkyard Dog v. Harley Race - Harley Race is a master wrestler and he puts on a good show against the JYD.
Rougeau Brothers v. Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine - The face turn for Beefcake in an otherwise uneventful match.
Loser Gets His Head Shaved Match - Roddy Piper v. Adrian Adonis - Piper shaves Adonis head partways and he looks even worse than before. Why are they using Piper in this fashion against a loser like Adonis?
The Hart Foundation and Danny Davis v. The British Bulldogs and Tito Santana - Good action. Nice to see two of the star tag teams of the 80s square off. Danny Davis - apparently a former ref turned bad (Nick Patrick - I wonder where that angle came from?) - only took advantage at the most opportune times.
Natural Butch Reed v. Koko B. Ware - Why is Koko B. Ware a Hall of Famer? Filler.
Ricky Steamboat v. Macho Man Randy Savage for the Intercontinental Title - A classic. Great wrestling from two guys in their prime. Two stars are born.
Jake the Snake v. Honky Tonk Man - Solid match. Could have been a lot better, though. I think it's funny how they originally (not in this match) planned to have Honky as a face but he was routinely booed.
Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff v. Killer Bees - Though I'm always up for ethnic heel action, this match was a bore.
Hulk Hogan v. Andre the Giant for the World Championship - A great match, albeit slow paced (as any match with Andre is). I'm sure it really put Hulkamania over to beat a guy who hadn't lost in his entire 15 year career.
More to come soon!!! Wrestlemania IV is next!
WRESTLEMANIA II -
Overall - A major improvement over the first Wrestlemania and almost an hour longer. This is where the WWE starts coming into its own. It still has its established stars in Andre the Giant, Roddy Piper, and Hulk Hogan and adds Randy Savage to the established cast of stars in a great undercard match.
Don Muraco v. Paul Orndorff - Weird match, in the fact that Paul Orndorff is a face for practically the only time in his career. Ends in a double countout.
George the Animal Steele v. Randy Savage - A real thrill of a match. Definitely steals the show. The Animal's unorthodox style and overwhelming fur gave quite the challenge to Randy Savage. I definitely think George the Animal Steele looked like an interesting wrestler. Wish I saw more of his matches.
Jake the Snake v. George Welles - Jake the Snake as a heel against a no-namer. Boring.
Rowdy Roddy Piper v. Mr. T in a boxing match - I actually liked this one a great deal, too. Didn't have a clean ending with Piper getting DQ'd. Still, a lot of action from two men unfamiliar with boxing. They still put on a good show.
Velvet McIntyre v. Fabulous Moolah - a squash match for Moolah. I guess this is when the WWE began under a minute diva matches...
Nikolai Volkoff v. Corporal Kirschner - Who's Corporal Kirschner? He seems like the sire of later luminaries like Cobra of the feud with Sgt. Craig Pittman fame. Anyway he trounces the Russian in a flag match.
20-Man Battle Royal with NFL players - Refrigerator Perry looked good, but is anyone really going to beat Andre the Giant in a battle royal? Very fun match that came down to Andre v. the Hart Foundation.
Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake v. The British Bulldogs - The British Bulldogs in their first PPV match on Wrestlemania. A solid but unspectacular match.
Hercules Hernandez v. Ricky Steamboat - You can't really go wrong with a Ricky Steamboat match. Solid.
Adorable Adrian Adonis v. Uncle Elmer - Triple A has got to be the most grotesque wrestler ever. Wearing a dress to the ring on his fat body. Gross.
Terry Funk & Hoss Funk v. Tito Santana & The Junkyard Dog - Believe it or not, Terry Funk put on a match that wasn't that great. Put the man in a hardcore match or don't let him wrestle at all. I'd rather watch him vs. Dangerous Devon Storm in Starrcade 2000 when he looked like a corpse but damn if he didn't use hardcore items.
Steel Cage Match for the WWE Championship - Hulk Hogan v. King Kong Bundy - Bundy proved to be a good challenge for Hogan. I liked the cage match a lot. Hogan once again dominated a big man (Andre, Vader, Earthquake, Big Show, etc.)
WRESTLEMANIA III -
Overall - A little bit of a drop off from Wrestlemania II. Here we see Randy Savage in a classic against Steamboat, Piper as a face, and Andre squaring off with Hogan. Unfortunately, there's a lot more filler on the card than on Wrestlemania 2.
Can-Am Connection v. Magnificent Muraco and Cowboy Bob Orton - Quick. If you can tell Tom Zenk and Rick Martel apart I'll give you 5 dollars. No cheating by checking Google Images.
Billy Jack Haynes v. Hercules in a Full Nelson Challenge - A pretty good match, but unfortunately it ends in a double countout, like all matches when unsure of who to give a push to.
King Kong Bundy, Lord Littlebrook, and Little Tokyo v. Hillbilly Jim, Little Beaver, and the Haiti Kid - It's clear King Kong suffered a major fall after losing to Hogan as he's relegated to a match with midgets. Nice to see Little Beaver get destroyed by King Kong.
Junkyard Dog v. Harley Race - Harley Race is a master wrestler and he puts on a good show against the JYD.
Rougeau Brothers v. Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine - The face turn for Beefcake in an otherwise uneventful match.
Loser Gets His Head Shaved Match - Roddy Piper v. Adrian Adonis - Piper shaves Adonis head partways and he looks even worse than before. Why are they using Piper in this fashion against a loser like Adonis?
The Hart Foundation and Danny Davis v. The British Bulldogs and Tito Santana - Good action. Nice to see two of the star tag teams of the 80s square off. Danny Davis - apparently a former ref turned bad (Nick Patrick - I wonder where that angle came from?) - only took advantage at the most opportune times.
Natural Butch Reed v. Koko B. Ware - Why is Koko B. Ware a Hall of Famer? Filler.
Ricky Steamboat v. Macho Man Randy Savage for the Intercontinental Title - A classic. Great wrestling from two guys in their prime. Two stars are born.
Jake the Snake v. Honky Tonk Man - Solid match. Could have been a lot better, though. I think it's funny how they originally (not in this match) planned to have Honky as a face but he was routinely booed.
Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff v. Killer Bees - Though I'm always up for ethnic heel action, this match was a bore.
Hulk Hogan v. Andre the Giant for the World Championship - A great match, albeit slow paced (as any match with Andre is). I'm sure it really put Hulkamania over to beat a guy who hadn't lost in his entire 15 year career.
More to come soon!!! Wrestlemania IV is next!
Wrestlemania 1 Review
by Alfonso Colasuonno
My sister recently bought me the first ten Wrestlemanias on DVD. I thought I'd review them for those checking out this blog. So far, I've seen Wrestlemania, Wrestlemania 2, and Wrestlemania III. Today, I'll review Wrestlemania 1.
WRESTLEMANIA
Tito Santana v. The Executioner - a short match to start off the card. Nothing really special here.
King Kong Bundy v. S.D. Jones - a monster squash for Bundy. He looked mighty impressive and mobile for a big man.
Matt Borne v. Ricky Steamboat - Nice to see Steamboat in action, but not one of his best matches.
David Sammartino v. Brutus Beefcake - Just a nice paced match. The best of the card. I wonder what happened to David Sammartino. Probably blacklisted with his dad Bruno.
Greg Valentine v. Junkyard Dog - Solid match. JYD is definitely an unorthodox wrestler.
Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff v. Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo - This was a good match. Sheik and Volkoff drew some great nationalist heat.
Big John Studd v. Andre the Giant - this was a 15,000 dollar slam match. Was it supposed to be shocking that a man Andre's size could bodyslam a man Studd's size? The other way around would be a shocker.
Leilani Kai v. Wendi Richter - I think this was better women's action than the Divas matches of today. I wonder why WWE has such terrible women's wrestling compared to TNA. It's like they are half-assing it. Why even bother.
Hogan and Mr. T v. Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff - A solid bout to close the show. I really think the first few Wrestlemanias - Hogan carried the show.
Overall - A solid PPV to start the Wrestlemania legacy. However, the action left a lot to be desired.
My sister recently bought me the first ten Wrestlemanias on DVD. I thought I'd review them for those checking out this blog. So far, I've seen Wrestlemania, Wrestlemania 2, and Wrestlemania III. Today, I'll review Wrestlemania 1.
WRESTLEMANIA
Tito Santana v. The Executioner - a short match to start off the card. Nothing really special here.
King Kong Bundy v. S.D. Jones - a monster squash for Bundy. He looked mighty impressive and mobile for a big man.
Matt Borne v. Ricky Steamboat - Nice to see Steamboat in action, but not one of his best matches.
David Sammartino v. Brutus Beefcake - Just a nice paced match. The best of the card. I wonder what happened to David Sammartino. Probably blacklisted with his dad Bruno.
Greg Valentine v. Junkyard Dog - Solid match. JYD is definitely an unorthodox wrestler.
Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff v. Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo - This was a good match. Sheik and Volkoff drew some great nationalist heat.
Big John Studd v. Andre the Giant - this was a 15,000 dollar slam match. Was it supposed to be shocking that a man Andre's size could bodyslam a man Studd's size? The other way around would be a shocker.
Leilani Kai v. Wendi Richter - I think this was better women's action than the Divas matches of today. I wonder why WWE has such terrible women's wrestling compared to TNA. It's like they are half-assing it. Why even bother.
Hogan and Mr. T v. Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff - A solid bout to close the show. I really think the first few Wrestlemanias - Hogan carried the show.
Overall - A solid PPV to start the Wrestlemania legacy. However, the action left a lot to be desired.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
My Perspective
By Alfonso Colasuonno
SMACKDOWN
So, not only is Mike Knox back on Smackdown, but his weird intellectual bent that Jim Ross has been playing up seems to be in full effect. I like it.
How about that? CM Punk finally won a match for a change as he pinned John Morrison in the last edition of Smackdown. I like his new hardline image but how can you take him seriously as a #1 contender to the title when he keeps losing repeatedly to JoMo, Edge, and Jeff Hardy.
I like the idea of turning Matt Hardy face and reuniting the Hardy Boys. However, is anything going to come of this with Jeff likely leaving the WWE after Summerslam? I can't believe I'm saying this, but hopefully Jeff'll sign on for a few more months to see where it goes with his brother.
Slam Master J is a complete joke. However, he's a lot funnier than the old gimmick of Jesse. I'd like to see Slam Master J just become a total jobber a la Santino. Be the Smackdown equivalent of Santino in comic relief.
I was right on in calling for Ricky Ortiz to get the pink slip. He'll be missed. Heh.
R. Truth is electric. I think they should give Ziggler the IC title at Summerslam and have him feud for it with Truth. Mysterio maybe can be moved up to the #2 face behind John Morrison and feud with CM Punk for the title and/or #1 contendership.
I like the gruesomeness of the new Kane - Great Khali clips. I hope these guys are on for Summerslam.
Is Melina not the most absolute gorgeous diva in WWE? While the diva action is not nearly as good as the TNA knockouts, I always am eager to see Melina in action. Rawr.
I still think Jericho is the best mic worker in the WWE today but I'd like to see him turn face again. Maybe turn on the Big Show?
I found out that Finlay is in his 50's. I guess he's the lone exception to the McMahon's youth policy promotion.
I like the Word Up segments with Cryme Tyme. They tend to be amusing. Mainly for the humiliation of Slam Master J.
I like the angle of Mr. McMahon putting Teddy Long on ice. I think McMahon is the best heel in the WWE. But then again, who likes their boss?
RAW
Surprisingly, the idea of guest hosts of RAW isn't bringing the show any better ratings. I was quite the critic of Monday Night Raw until they brought in the guest hosts. While some hosts are more subdued (I mean would anyone want to see a show all about Sgt. Slaughter?) the Shaq episode was just hilarious even if his comments about Christina and Fat Boy were puerile. As for Jeremy Piven, he made wrestling look bad by not even knowing that it was Summerslam instead of Summerfest. He deserved getting thrown around by Cena after that gaffe. As for Sgt. Slaughter - he plays the part of the ugly American as well as anyone (and was that a Hacksaw sighting!)
I'm getting tired of the fact that for the last 4-5 years no one other than Batista, Orton, Triple H, or Cena is getting heavily promoted as a major WWE title holder. I think if Vince McMahon wants to make his product improve he has to take chances. Why not promote a Kofi Kingston or a Jack Swagger or even a Mark Henry into the title match at a PPV?
So it's off to dopes to infinity for The Brian Kendrick. Supposedly his attitude and drug abuse cost him his job in the WWE. I think he'd be great in TNA or ROH. I hope he gets a new job soon. I really think he has a great future in this business if given a solid push.
Chris Masters is back. Does anyone care?
We haven't seen Festus in a while. I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing. With him and Santino being pushed to the side, Raw loses its comedic value.
I'm personally glad Eugene was once again given the pink slip by WWE.
Why does Kelly Kelly get a 7-11 Cup. Has she even been a title holder before? Besides I think there are better looking divas than her (Michelle McCool, Maryse, Jillian, and Melina come to mind)
I wonder how Lawler's mayoral candidacy is going. Best of luck to him on that.
Am I the only one who whenever they announce the name Primo thinks of crack and pot mixed together or am I just living in the streets for too long?
The Miz is back on RAW. Personally, I'd have liked to see him moved back to ECW. I think he and Christian could have had a great feud for the ECW title. Either way, glad to see him back on programming.
Last, but certainly not least, DX is back. Shawn Michaels absolutely suffered under the serious gimmicks with Jericho and especially JBL in the last year or so. Best to see him in his role with DX where he shined brightest. I'd like to see DX versus Jericho and Big Show for the titles.
ECW
I'm still waiting on a match between Ezekiel Jackson and Vladimir Kozlov. I think it would be nice to see these two heavyweights go at it.
Is Abraham Washington ever going to wrestle? Or does he just talk a good game?
Hurricane Helms is almost as stupid a gimmick as Super Eric and the Prince Justice Brotherhood.
I've never seen anyone as pale as Sheamus before.
Tyler Reks is the definition of a shooting star. He'll be gone in mere minutes from the world of pro wrestling.
Shelton Benjamin as a face is a great move. I think he'll be ECW champion soon enough. I think he's a great talent and it's a shame to see him banished to the wasteland of the WWE.
All I can say about Zack Ryder is he strikes me as quite common for a Long Islander.
TNA
World Elite strikes me as just as a midcard version of the Main Event Mafia.
I know Bobby Lashley is a dual sport athlete but I'd like to see him in a few matches in TNA sometime soon.
Eric Young is a heel now and perhaps leader of World Elite. And still no one cares about him.
I really think Kevin Nash is the best mic worker other than Jericho in the business today. I loved his title match signing with Mick Foley where he admits, once again, it's all about the benjamins.
Does anyone really think the Outlaw Jethro Holliday has a chance against Abyss. I think Abyss needs a title shot at Kurt Angle. Why is every other face in a feud with the MEM and World Elite and he's stuck battling Stevie Richards.
AJ Styles if floundering in mediocrity. I think he's got a dynamic future if given the chance. I'd rather see AJ vs. Matt Morgan for the TNA title than guys like Sting or Foley in the picture when they should bow out gracefully (However, Sting is set to retire very shortly)
I think Cody Deaner has watched too many hours of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour.
Daniels and Daffney are completely misused by TNA. They are great talents who are floundering around doing nothing. Another example of TNA's ineptness and why they can't challenge WWE.
Is Jeff Jarrett going to be cut from the umbilical cord of his that is TNA? Maybe then TNA can get serious and compete with the WWE.
I enjoyed seeing Rhino gore Jesse Neal. Stupid rook.
I really hope Matt Morgan gets the title from Kurt Angle. I like the heat betweeen Morgan and Angle at the last TNA episode over Morgan being ordered to help Angle retain the title if he wanted to be in the Main Event Mafia. Hopefully, he won't be another Samoa Joe.
Sarita is amazing. I've never seen a female wrestler with the amazing high flying antics of her. She reminds me of Jushin Liger!
If nothing else, Team 3D will always be the best tag team ever in mic skills.
SMACKDOWN
So, not only is Mike Knox back on Smackdown, but his weird intellectual bent that Jim Ross has been playing up seems to be in full effect. I like it.
How about that? CM Punk finally won a match for a change as he pinned John Morrison in the last edition of Smackdown. I like his new hardline image but how can you take him seriously as a #1 contender to the title when he keeps losing repeatedly to JoMo, Edge, and Jeff Hardy.
I like the idea of turning Matt Hardy face and reuniting the Hardy Boys. However, is anything going to come of this with Jeff likely leaving the WWE after Summerslam? I can't believe I'm saying this, but hopefully Jeff'll sign on for a few more months to see where it goes with his brother.
Slam Master J is a complete joke. However, he's a lot funnier than the old gimmick of Jesse. I'd like to see Slam Master J just become a total jobber a la Santino. Be the Smackdown equivalent of Santino in comic relief.
I was right on in calling for Ricky Ortiz to get the pink slip. He'll be missed. Heh.
R. Truth is electric. I think they should give Ziggler the IC title at Summerslam and have him feud for it with Truth. Mysterio maybe can be moved up to the #2 face behind John Morrison and feud with CM Punk for the title and/or #1 contendership.
I like the gruesomeness of the new Kane - Great Khali clips. I hope these guys are on for Summerslam.
Is Melina not the most absolute gorgeous diva in WWE? While the diva action is not nearly as good as the TNA knockouts, I always am eager to see Melina in action. Rawr.
I still think Jericho is the best mic worker in the WWE today but I'd like to see him turn face again. Maybe turn on the Big Show?
I found out that Finlay is in his 50's. I guess he's the lone exception to the McMahon's youth policy promotion.
I like the Word Up segments with Cryme Tyme. They tend to be amusing. Mainly for the humiliation of Slam Master J.
I like the angle of Mr. McMahon putting Teddy Long on ice. I think McMahon is the best heel in the WWE. But then again, who likes their boss?
RAW
Surprisingly, the idea of guest hosts of RAW isn't bringing the show any better ratings. I was quite the critic of Monday Night Raw until they brought in the guest hosts. While some hosts are more subdued (I mean would anyone want to see a show all about Sgt. Slaughter?) the Shaq episode was just hilarious even if his comments about Christina and Fat Boy were puerile. As for Jeremy Piven, he made wrestling look bad by not even knowing that it was Summerslam instead of Summerfest. He deserved getting thrown around by Cena after that gaffe. As for Sgt. Slaughter - he plays the part of the ugly American as well as anyone (and was that a Hacksaw sighting!)
I'm getting tired of the fact that for the last 4-5 years no one other than Batista, Orton, Triple H, or Cena is getting heavily promoted as a major WWE title holder. I think if Vince McMahon wants to make his product improve he has to take chances. Why not promote a Kofi Kingston or a Jack Swagger or even a Mark Henry into the title match at a PPV?
So it's off to dopes to infinity for The Brian Kendrick. Supposedly his attitude and drug abuse cost him his job in the WWE. I think he'd be great in TNA or ROH. I hope he gets a new job soon. I really think he has a great future in this business if given a solid push.
Chris Masters is back. Does anyone care?
We haven't seen Festus in a while. I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing. With him and Santino being pushed to the side, Raw loses its comedic value.
I'm personally glad Eugene was once again given the pink slip by WWE.
Why does Kelly Kelly get a 7-11 Cup. Has she even been a title holder before? Besides I think there are better looking divas than her (Michelle McCool, Maryse, Jillian, and Melina come to mind)
I wonder how Lawler's mayoral candidacy is going. Best of luck to him on that.
Am I the only one who whenever they announce the name Primo thinks of crack and pot mixed together or am I just living in the streets for too long?
The Miz is back on RAW. Personally, I'd have liked to see him moved back to ECW. I think he and Christian could have had a great feud for the ECW title. Either way, glad to see him back on programming.
Last, but certainly not least, DX is back. Shawn Michaels absolutely suffered under the serious gimmicks with Jericho and especially JBL in the last year or so. Best to see him in his role with DX where he shined brightest. I'd like to see DX versus Jericho and Big Show for the titles.
ECW
I'm still waiting on a match between Ezekiel Jackson and Vladimir Kozlov. I think it would be nice to see these two heavyweights go at it.
Is Abraham Washington ever going to wrestle? Or does he just talk a good game?
Hurricane Helms is almost as stupid a gimmick as Super Eric and the Prince Justice Brotherhood.
I've never seen anyone as pale as Sheamus before.
Tyler Reks is the definition of a shooting star. He'll be gone in mere minutes from the world of pro wrestling.
Shelton Benjamin as a face is a great move. I think he'll be ECW champion soon enough. I think he's a great talent and it's a shame to see him banished to the wasteland of the WWE.
All I can say about Zack Ryder is he strikes me as quite common for a Long Islander.
TNA
World Elite strikes me as just as a midcard version of the Main Event Mafia.
I know Bobby Lashley is a dual sport athlete but I'd like to see him in a few matches in TNA sometime soon.
Eric Young is a heel now and perhaps leader of World Elite. And still no one cares about him.
I really think Kevin Nash is the best mic worker other than Jericho in the business today. I loved his title match signing with Mick Foley where he admits, once again, it's all about the benjamins.
Does anyone really think the Outlaw Jethro Holliday has a chance against Abyss. I think Abyss needs a title shot at Kurt Angle. Why is every other face in a feud with the MEM and World Elite and he's stuck battling Stevie Richards.
AJ Styles if floundering in mediocrity. I think he's got a dynamic future if given the chance. I'd rather see AJ vs. Matt Morgan for the TNA title than guys like Sting or Foley in the picture when they should bow out gracefully (However, Sting is set to retire very shortly)
I think Cody Deaner has watched too many hours of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour.
Daniels and Daffney are completely misused by TNA. They are great talents who are floundering around doing nothing. Another example of TNA's ineptness and why they can't challenge WWE.
Is Jeff Jarrett going to be cut from the umbilical cord of his that is TNA? Maybe then TNA can get serious and compete with the WWE.
I enjoyed seeing Rhino gore Jesse Neal. Stupid rook.
I really hope Matt Morgan gets the title from Kurt Angle. I like the heat betweeen Morgan and Angle at the last TNA episode over Morgan being ordered to help Angle retain the title if he wanted to be in the Main Event Mafia. Hopefully, he won't be another Samoa Joe.
Sarita is amazing. I've never seen a female wrestler with the amazing high flying antics of her. She reminds me of Jushin Liger!
If nothing else, Team 3D will always be the best tag team ever in mic skills.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
My Perspective
by Alfonso Colasuonno
ECW
I saw William Regal tell Yoshi Tatsu that he hates foreigners yesterday on ECW. Ironic, considering this Englishman said that in Roanoke, Virginia....Still, I think this angle might be becoming developed since Regal's comment to Kofi Kingston about how it'd be better for him to represent the US Title than a Jamaican. Let's hope this racist angle is pulled off better than JBL giving the Nazi salute.
The Abraham Washington Show is definitely must-see-TV. I wonder what kind of competitor he is in the ring. I'd like to see Abey Baby get started in a feud against Tommy Dreamer.
Definitely don't know what ECW is going to do with their women's division with only 3 stars...could we see the Bellas turn on each other, again?
When is DJ Gabriel returning to ECW? I swear he was the second coming of Alex "Berlyn" Wright!
Goldust is as useless as ever. Definitely have to agree that he hasn't been a factor in the WWE since intimidating Razor Ramon.
Is a Vladimir Kozlov feud against Ezekiel Jackson possible? There was a tease of it last night. I personally think the days of Russian mega heels are over. Try Kozlov as a face - if only as an experiment.
Too bad Finlay isn't on ECW anymore. I'd like to see a Finlay-Sheamus feud.
William Regal and Paul Burchill might make a good tag team....
RAW
Raw is once again the flagship of the WWE Universe. There's been a lot of improvement on the show in the last month or so. I really like the idea of guest hosts, as it really alleviates a lot of the problems of depth in the superstar pool that Raw has. That said, ZZ Top on RAW was lame.
Anyone else as excited about the 6 man match for the US Title. First off, Kofi Kingston is a delight to watch in the ring. The Miz is just awesome! Jack Swagger really has the potential to be a great heel for years to come. I like Carlito's heel turn too. However, the Big Show and MVP are sort of floundering. The Big Show is really just used as a tool because of his size to show how amazing your top-of-the-line guys on RAW are by beating him. MVP was also rumored to be challenging Orton for the belt at one point but now is apparently an afterthought.
It's a shame to see Beth Phoenix as a non-entity in the Divas title picture. She really has more talent than most of the other Divas in WWE.
How great would it be if Jericho's tag team partner was Randy Orton at Night of Champions? I think it would clear the way for a feud between Orton and DiBiase and give DiBiase the chance to develop into a star in his own right.
Personally, I think Hornswoggle's matches are painful to watch. When he and Chavo Guerrero are going at it, I just feel like I'd taken some Seraquil.
I like Mark Henry's push. While I don't know how well he'll go over as a face in the long run, I think his dominance of Jericho and Orton is putting him in good position for a title contendership if Orton manages to hold on to the belt.
The Brian Kendrick losing to Lawler (could you believe his dropkick at his age?) is just one more nail in the coffin for Kendrick. What a waste of his talent.
Lastly, for those who've been in the loop for awhile...doesn't Monday Nitro sound a lot like Monday Night Raw if pronounced in a Southern accent?
SMACKDOWN
Where's been Mike Knox on the last few editions of Smackdown? I'd like it if they play us his intellectual proclivities. I don't mean turn him into another Dean Douglas...but it would be nice to see a smart face for a change.
Have you ever seen a champion lose as often as CM Punk has recently? He's been pinned twice by John Morrison, forfeited a match to Edge, and lost via disqualification to Jeff Hardy.
Speaking of Jeff Hardy, his contract is about to run out....I think his mic skills are terrible...I don't think he'd be a big loss to the WWE.
I love the Edge face turn. I think when Edge returns, and with John Morrison, Smackdown has two faces that don't insult fans' intelligence (i.e. Cena, Batista, J.Hardy)
I'm surprised that the Hart Dynasty isn't getting over in their feud against Cryme Time. To think that the son of Davey Boy Smith, the daughter of Jim the Anvil Neidhart, and the last graduate of Stu Hart's famed dungeon is 2-2 against Cryme Time....is disappointing to say the least.
Dolph Ziggler is the likely choice for Jericho's tag team partner; but for once, WWE, surprise me!
Jesse as the eternal wanksta is a gimmick that is going over with me quite well. Who'd have thought the son of one of the Fabulous Freebirds would be more akin to Eminem than the dudes from Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Jim Ross remains the best announcer currently in the business.
When are they going to start using Matt Hardy? I think it's kind of funny how he destroys Jeff Hardy in a brother vs. brother feud, and then gets drafted to RAW and used as a mid-carder while Jeff wins the title.
When will they give Ricky Ortiz the pink slip already...the rally up gimmick is lame!
I don't really get the whole Pretty Ricky gimmick they are giving R. Truth. I also don't get why he hasn't been in contention for the Intercontinental Title yet.
Has there really ever been a worse wrestler (and I use that term loosely) than The Great Khali?
WWE just isn't the same without The Undertaker (or Shawn Michaels)
TNA
It's a low down dirty shame that first Shane Douglas, and now Raven, are gone from TNA. Why even bring them in to tease the fans in the first place if you weren't going to stick by them.
So the Main Event Mafia controls all the (major) belts. Now what? Here's where things can get interesting. I can't wait to see what happens next...
Sheik Abdul Bashir hasn't really been used much lately in TNA. I think he has potential to be a great X-division champion.
Somehow, I don't understand the idea of your most powerful knockout being used as a face in the case of Awesome Kong.
Bobby Lashley signed on to TNA....wonder how they'll use him.
I don't really understand the idea of half-heartedly doing an anti-American faction with the British Invasion, Kiyoshi, and Sheik Abdul Bashir, when Kiyoshi and SAB aren't even used in the fed much.
I really think TNA needs to remold the Legends belt into their secondary title instead of something associated with Legends. I think The Monster Abyss is one of the few TNA originals to really go anywhere lately with the MEM's domination. Maybe he should challenge Nash for the belt.
I think Beer Money, Inc. - if they stick together - could one day be considered one of the great tag teams in line with your Steiners, Road Warriors, and Dudleys.
I really think TNA should get Hulk Hogan. Like Vince said, Kurt Angle just isn't a channel changer.
Taz as Samoa Joe's trainer....whoo....I think that was a pretty good move for TNA.
ECW
I saw William Regal tell Yoshi Tatsu that he hates foreigners yesterday on ECW. Ironic, considering this Englishman said that in Roanoke, Virginia....Still, I think this angle might be becoming developed since Regal's comment to Kofi Kingston about how it'd be better for him to represent the US Title than a Jamaican. Let's hope this racist angle is pulled off better than JBL giving the Nazi salute.
The Abraham Washington Show is definitely must-see-TV. I wonder what kind of competitor he is in the ring. I'd like to see Abey Baby get started in a feud against Tommy Dreamer.
Definitely don't know what ECW is going to do with their women's division with only 3 stars...could we see the Bellas turn on each other, again?
When is DJ Gabriel returning to ECW? I swear he was the second coming of Alex "Berlyn" Wright!
Goldust is as useless as ever. Definitely have to agree that he hasn't been a factor in the WWE since intimidating Razor Ramon.
Is a Vladimir Kozlov feud against Ezekiel Jackson possible? There was a tease of it last night. I personally think the days of Russian mega heels are over. Try Kozlov as a face - if only as an experiment.
Too bad Finlay isn't on ECW anymore. I'd like to see a Finlay-Sheamus feud.
William Regal and Paul Burchill might make a good tag team....
RAW
Raw is once again the flagship of the WWE Universe. There's been a lot of improvement on the show in the last month or so. I really like the idea of guest hosts, as it really alleviates a lot of the problems of depth in the superstar pool that Raw has. That said, ZZ Top on RAW was lame.
Anyone else as excited about the 6 man match for the US Title. First off, Kofi Kingston is a delight to watch in the ring. The Miz is just awesome! Jack Swagger really has the potential to be a great heel for years to come. I like Carlito's heel turn too. However, the Big Show and MVP are sort of floundering. The Big Show is really just used as a tool because of his size to show how amazing your top-of-the-line guys on RAW are by beating him. MVP was also rumored to be challenging Orton for the belt at one point but now is apparently an afterthought.
It's a shame to see Beth Phoenix as a non-entity in the Divas title picture. She really has more talent than most of the other Divas in WWE.
How great would it be if Jericho's tag team partner was Randy Orton at Night of Champions? I think it would clear the way for a feud between Orton and DiBiase and give DiBiase the chance to develop into a star in his own right.
Personally, I think Hornswoggle's matches are painful to watch. When he and Chavo Guerrero are going at it, I just feel like I'd taken some Seraquil.
I like Mark Henry's push. While I don't know how well he'll go over as a face in the long run, I think his dominance of Jericho and Orton is putting him in good position for a title contendership if Orton manages to hold on to the belt.
The Brian Kendrick losing to Lawler (could you believe his dropkick at his age?) is just one more nail in the coffin for Kendrick. What a waste of his talent.
Lastly, for those who've been in the loop for awhile...doesn't Monday Nitro sound a lot like Monday Night Raw if pronounced in a Southern accent?
SMACKDOWN
Where's been Mike Knox on the last few editions of Smackdown? I'd like it if they play us his intellectual proclivities. I don't mean turn him into another Dean Douglas...but it would be nice to see a smart face for a change.
Have you ever seen a champion lose as often as CM Punk has recently? He's been pinned twice by John Morrison, forfeited a match to Edge, and lost via disqualification to Jeff Hardy.
Speaking of Jeff Hardy, his contract is about to run out....I think his mic skills are terrible...I don't think he'd be a big loss to the WWE.
I love the Edge face turn. I think when Edge returns, and with John Morrison, Smackdown has two faces that don't insult fans' intelligence (i.e. Cena, Batista, J.Hardy)
I'm surprised that the Hart Dynasty isn't getting over in their feud against Cryme Time. To think that the son of Davey Boy Smith, the daughter of Jim the Anvil Neidhart, and the last graduate of Stu Hart's famed dungeon is 2-2 against Cryme Time....is disappointing to say the least.
Dolph Ziggler is the likely choice for Jericho's tag team partner; but for once, WWE, surprise me!
Jesse as the eternal wanksta is a gimmick that is going over with me quite well. Who'd have thought the son of one of the Fabulous Freebirds would be more akin to Eminem than the dudes from Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Jim Ross remains the best announcer currently in the business.
When are they going to start using Matt Hardy? I think it's kind of funny how he destroys Jeff Hardy in a brother vs. brother feud, and then gets drafted to RAW and used as a mid-carder while Jeff wins the title.
When will they give Ricky Ortiz the pink slip already...the rally up gimmick is lame!
I don't really get the whole Pretty Ricky gimmick they are giving R. Truth. I also don't get why he hasn't been in contention for the Intercontinental Title yet.
Has there really ever been a worse wrestler (and I use that term loosely) than The Great Khali?
WWE just isn't the same without The Undertaker (or Shawn Michaels)
TNA
It's a low down dirty shame that first Shane Douglas, and now Raven, are gone from TNA. Why even bring them in to tease the fans in the first place if you weren't going to stick by them.
So the Main Event Mafia controls all the (major) belts. Now what? Here's where things can get interesting. I can't wait to see what happens next...
Sheik Abdul Bashir hasn't really been used much lately in TNA. I think he has potential to be a great X-division champion.
Somehow, I don't understand the idea of your most powerful knockout being used as a face in the case of Awesome Kong.
Bobby Lashley signed on to TNA....wonder how they'll use him.
I don't really understand the idea of half-heartedly doing an anti-American faction with the British Invasion, Kiyoshi, and Sheik Abdul Bashir, when Kiyoshi and SAB aren't even used in the fed much.
I really think TNA needs to remold the Legends belt into their secondary title instead of something associated with Legends. I think The Monster Abyss is one of the few TNA originals to really go anywhere lately with the MEM's domination. Maybe he should challenge Nash for the belt.
I think Beer Money, Inc. - if they stick together - could one day be considered one of the great tag teams in line with your Steiners, Road Warriors, and Dudleys.
I really think TNA should get Hulk Hogan. Like Vince said, Kurt Angle just isn't a channel changer.
Taz as Samoa Joe's trainer....whoo....I think that was a pretty good move for TNA.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Heroes of World Class: The Story of the Von Erichs (DVD Review)
By Alfonso Colasuonno
A while ago, for my good friend and contributor to this site, Russell Jaffe's birthday - I bought him a DVD entitled "Heroes of World Class: The Story of the Von Erichs." While browsing through the sports section of Best Buy I knew I had to get something good for Russell - something to catch his eye - as he'd soon be leaving New York City for brighter pastures in Iowa City. I think I hit the nail on the head with this DVD.
Flash forward to two months later, I was stirred to pick up the DVD for myself. Honestly, I was rather ignorant of the Von Erich family. I had known they were a cursed brood in wrestling lore. However, prior to the DVD catching my eye that May day when shopping for Russell, I had never even heard of World Class Championship Wrestling. I was even somewhat ignorant of the extent of the fact that the NWA was a loose confederation of pro wrestling in various territories in the United States - of which WCCW was one of them. The DVD rectified to a large extent my ignorance of this groundbreaking wrestling family and their promotion.
The DVD introduced me to the world of such stars as the Von Erich family, Gino Hernandez, The Fabulous Freebirds (of which I best knew Michael Hayes as Dok Hendrix in the WWE and as a character in the old NES World Championship Wrestling video game), Bruiser Brody and "Gentleman" Chris Adams (of who I'd seen in mid-90s era AWF television programs). The comprehensive and informative look at the history of WCCW - when it was the toast of Texas and the world - syndicated in 25 countries and picked up in 85 world markets - to the downfall after the string of deaths that occurred connected to the promotion of wrestlers gone before their time - starting with David Von Erich tracked the rollercoaster ride of one Texas promotion that could have been where the WWE is today if things had turned out a little differently.
One facet that I found highly interesting was the territorial system of pro wrestling prior to the WWE's explosion and branching out of the NYC market. Wrestling had a definite regional flair to it that made a Ric Flair coming to Texas or a Kerry Von Erich coming to Atlanta a huge draw. In the modern era, we take it for granted that we can view our favorite WWE or TNA stars no matter where we live in the United States (or in many places abroad) but once wrestling promoters held swaths of territory in which their promotion was the only one featured at the time in arenas. I found that to be just one of the startling changes between the modern and previous eras of pro wrestling.
As the DVD nears its end, I was overcome with a profound sense of sadness as the deaths rattled on and hard luck of countless wrestlers involved in the promotion were illustrated. From Bruiser Brody's homicide in Puerto Rico to Gino Hernandez' probable forced overdose of cocaine after hanging out with shady characters - the sense of grief was overwhelming. This voyeuristic documentary played all the strings in this wrestling's fan's heart with its first-hand look at the rise and fall of this promotion. I felt through interviews with stars like Gary Hart and Skandar Akbar that I really got to see the humanity in the wrestling world behind our television heroes and the glitz and glamour.
While the DVD was terribly depressing, it was definitely worth watching in order to enlighten my Yankee mind of the history of this distinctly Southern piece of Texas wrestling and state history. The DVD made me grateful to have most of my loved family and friends alive and mourn those who've passed on. All this from one wrestling video. I just expected to watch a bunch of matches. I came away with much more. The actual wrestling clips were rather minimal - as that was not what was set out to cover in this DVD. Instead, this haunting piece teaches us a lesson in grief. The stirring story of the demise of the Von Erich brood brings us an appreciation of having our loved ones here. Particularly, the fall of David Von Erich, with his special flair - he could have been one of the biggest babyfaces in pro wrestling history - saddens all of us fans of pro wrestling.
Perhaps the most depressing part of the DVD is Kevin Von Erich - the lone survivor - taking us back to the old Sportatorium in Dallas and recounting all his memories at the arena in better times. The Sportatorium, like the ECW Arena after it, truly was a wrestling arena of great majesty, albeit humble in appearance.
Overall, what I took from this most terribly depressing DVD is to be grateful for all that you have around you. I was left touched. Truly a work of great artistry and a compelling addition to any pro wrestling fan's DVD collection.
A while ago, for my good friend and contributor to this site, Russell Jaffe's birthday - I bought him a DVD entitled "Heroes of World Class: The Story of the Von Erichs." While browsing through the sports section of Best Buy I knew I had to get something good for Russell - something to catch his eye - as he'd soon be leaving New York City for brighter pastures in Iowa City. I think I hit the nail on the head with this DVD.
Flash forward to two months later, I was stirred to pick up the DVD for myself. Honestly, I was rather ignorant of the Von Erich family. I had known they were a cursed brood in wrestling lore. However, prior to the DVD catching my eye that May day when shopping for Russell, I had never even heard of World Class Championship Wrestling. I was even somewhat ignorant of the extent of the fact that the NWA was a loose confederation of pro wrestling in various territories in the United States - of which WCCW was one of them. The DVD rectified to a large extent my ignorance of this groundbreaking wrestling family and their promotion.
The DVD introduced me to the world of such stars as the Von Erich family, Gino Hernandez, The Fabulous Freebirds (of which I best knew Michael Hayes as Dok Hendrix in the WWE and as a character in the old NES World Championship Wrestling video game), Bruiser Brody and "Gentleman" Chris Adams (of who I'd seen in mid-90s era AWF television programs). The comprehensive and informative look at the history of WCCW - when it was the toast of Texas and the world - syndicated in 25 countries and picked up in 85 world markets - to the downfall after the string of deaths that occurred connected to the promotion of wrestlers gone before their time - starting with David Von Erich tracked the rollercoaster ride of one Texas promotion that could have been where the WWE is today if things had turned out a little differently.
One facet that I found highly interesting was the territorial system of pro wrestling prior to the WWE's explosion and branching out of the NYC market. Wrestling had a definite regional flair to it that made a Ric Flair coming to Texas or a Kerry Von Erich coming to Atlanta a huge draw. In the modern era, we take it for granted that we can view our favorite WWE or TNA stars no matter where we live in the United States (or in many places abroad) but once wrestling promoters held swaths of territory in which their promotion was the only one featured at the time in arenas. I found that to be just one of the startling changes between the modern and previous eras of pro wrestling.
As the DVD nears its end, I was overcome with a profound sense of sadness as the deaths rattled on and hard luck of countless wrestlers involved in the promotion were illustrated. From Bruiser Brody's homicide in Puerto Rico to Gino Hernandez' probable forced overdose of cocaine after hanging out with shady characters - the sense of grief was overwhelming. This voyeuristic documentary played all the strings in this wrestling's fan's heart with its first-hand look at the rise and fall of this promotion. I felt through interviews with stars like Gary Hart and Skandar Akbar that I really got to see the humanity in the wrestling world behind our television heroes and the glitz and glamour.
While the DVD was terribly depressing, it was definitely worth watching in order to enlighten my Yankee mind of the history of this distinctly Southern piece of Texas wrestling and state history. The DVD made me grateful to have most of my loved family and friends alive and mourn those who've passed on. All this from one wrestling video. I just expected to watch a bunch of matches. I came away with much more. The actual wrestling clips were rather minimal - as that was not what was set out to cover in this DVD. Instead, this haunting piece teaches us a lesson in grief. The stirring story of the demise of the Von Erich brood brings us an appreciation of having our loved ones here. Particularly, the fall of David Von Erich, with his special flair - he could have been one of the biggest babyfaces in pro wrestling history - saddens all of us fans of pro wrestling.
Perhaps the most depressing part of the DVD is Kevin Von Erich - the lone survivor - taking us back to the old Sportatorium in Dallas and recounting all his memories at the arena in better times. The Sportatorium, like the ECW Arena after it, truly was a wrestling arena of great majesty, albeit humble in appearance.
Overall, what I took from this most terribly depressing DVD is to be grateful for all that you have around you. I was left touched. Truly a work of great artistry and a compelling addition to any pro wrestling fan's DVD collection.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
1 Month Later - An Update (Finally...)
by Alfonso Colasuonno
RAW
I know I've been critical of RAW lately...but they have had a string of three really good episodes in a row. First the multi-branded RAW was saved by the diversity of matches from the brands. Last week's was amazing - adding The Donald and aggressively placing Vince in his role of heel worked magnificently. As for yesterday - the addition of Jack Swagger to RAW made me a lot more excited about the program's future, well that combined with the good showing of The Miz, who is a really talented worker.
A rumor heard from my friend James Boesen is that RAW will eventually go with Ric Flair as GM. As for now, Vince is sticking with Trump's idea of guest hosts, which seems pretty cool.
I have to say that while Trump was an amazing, albeit short-lived, promotional trick...I was disappointed that Vince didn't sell RAW to Stone Cold, Hogan, or Flair. All of those superstars have enough money to make the storyline plausible. Even Randy Savage, longtime nemesis of Vinnie Mack would have been solid.
I think Trump's trade really did a lot to revitalize the RAW brand. Evan Bourne - while he has zero mic skills should be interesting. I'd like to see him feud with The Brian Kendrick. Jack Swagger brings some enthusiasm to RAW. Mark Henry is another solid US title contender. Gail Kim should bring a solid challenger to Maryse's Divas title...along with Mickie James.
Is Mark Henry actually going to be used as a face? It's almost as strange seeing him posturing to the fans after demolishing Orton as it was to see Kozlov doing the same the last time he was spotted on ECW.
The never ending saga of Randy Orton v. McMahon brood/Evolution might finally end. Things are getting a little testy between him and Ted DiBiase. Hopefully, by Summerslam they'll be feuding. I'd also like to see John Cena win next week. Cena v. Orton should be a nice main event at Night of Champions.
The Miz looked really solid in his match against Cena last night. He could use a push. Even if it's just to the US title ranking. I'd really like to see The Miz team with the underutilized The Brian Kendrick or maybe Jack Swagger.
The first RAW in a while without Santino. I think he should turn heel again.
SMACKDOWN
I like the new direction for the straight edge superstar CM Punk. Personally, I think he's making Jeff Hardy seem like a whiny jerk.
Edge + Jericho as a team is an interesting concept. However, I think the WWE should do more to develop two tag teams with lots of potential as a unit - DH Smith + Tyson Kidd and Priceless. One other team that could have been put perhaps in the same unit is Shelton Benjamin + Charlie Haas...but unfortunately they were broken up....although I think Shelton has championship potential now in ECW. As for the Colons and Cryme Time....I don't think anyone takes them seriously.
I also think the Hart Dynasty on Smackdown is a great move. I think it's only a matter of time before they get tag team gold around their waists.
Anyone see John Morrison beat CM Punk. I think he is the next Shawn Michaels. He has loads of charisma and is an incredible in-ring performer. The Starship Pain finishing move is incredible. Someone should give him a chance to face Punk for the title.
Jesse actually made an appearance on Smackdown and was as hokey as ever. Here's a no-talent who needs to be released from his contract.
TNA
Shane Douglas is gone almost as soon as he came into TNA. That's a shame. He's an incredible performer. Oh well. Back to high school history class for the Dean.
I really like the direction the Main Event Mafia has taken with kicking Sting out and bringing Samoa Joe in with the promise of big bucks. I think it puts a fresh spin on the MEM. I never thought Sting would last in the group...the giveaway? His high-fives to fans. I want to see Samoa Joe rip Sting apart.
Whatever happened to all the amazing outfits Daffney used to find? Still she's my all-time favorite female wrestler. Hail the Scream Queen!
RAW
I know I've been critical of RAW lately...but they have had a string of three really good episodes in a row. First the multi-branded RAW was saved by the diversity of matches from the brands. Last week's was amazing - adding The Donald and aggressively placing Vince in his role of heel worked magnificently. As for yesterday - the addition of Jack Swagger to RAW made me a lot more excited about the program's future, well that combined with the good showing of The Miz, who is a really talented worker.
A rumor heard from my friend James Boesen is that RAW will eventually go with Ric Flair as GM. As for now, Vince is sticking with Trump's idea of guest hosts, which seems pretty cool.
I have to say that while Trump was an amazing, albeit short-lived, promotional trick...I was disappointed that Vince didn't sell RAW to Stone Cold, Hogan, or Flair. All of those superstars have enough money to make the storyline plausible. Even Randy Savage, longtime nemesis of Vinnie Mack would have been solid.
I think Trump's trade really did a lot to revitalize the RAW brand. Evan Bourne - while he has zero mic skills should be interesting. I'd like to see him feud with The Brian Kendrick. Jack Swagger brings some enthusiasm to RAW. Mark Henry is another solid US title contender. Gail Kim should bring a solid challenger to Maryse's Divas title...along with Mickie James.
Is Mark Henry actually going to be used as a face? It's almost as strange seeing him posturing to the fans after demolishing Orton as it was to see Kozlov doing the same the last time he was spotted on ECW.
The never ending saga of Randy Orton v. McMahon brood/Evolution might finally end. Things are getting a little testy between him and Ted DiBiase. Hopefully, by Summerslam they'll be feuding. I'd also like to see John Cena win next week. Cena v. Orton should be a nice main event at Night of Champions.
The Miz looked really solid in his match against Cena last night. He could use a push. Even if it's just to the US title ranking. I'd really like to see The Miz team with the underutilized The Brian Kendrick or maybe Jack Swagger.
The first RAW in a while without Santino. I think he should turn heel again.
SMACKDOWN
I like the new direction for the straight edge superstar CM Punk. Personally, I think he's making Jeff Hardy seem like a whiny jerk.
Edge + Jericho as a team is an interesting concept. However, I think the WWE should do more to develop two tag teams with lots of potential as a unit - DH Smith + Tyson Kidd and Priceless. One other team that could have been put perhaps in the same unit is Shelton Benjamin + Charlie Haas...but unfortunately they were broken up....although I think Shelton has championship potential now in ECW. As for the Colons and Cryme Time....I don't think anyone takes them seriously.
I also think the Hart Dynasty on Smackdown is a great move. I think it's only a matter of time before they get tag team gold around their waists.
Anyone see John Morrison beat CM Punk. I think he is the next Shawn Michaels. He has loads of charisma and is an incredible in-ring performer. The Starship Pain finishing move is incredible. Someone should give him a chance to face Punk for the title.
Jesse actually made an appearance on Smackdown and was as hokey as ever. Here's a no-talent who needs to be released from his contract.
TNA
Shane Douglas is gone almost as soon as he came into TNA. That's a shame. He's an incredible performer. Oh well. Back to high school history class for the Dean.
I really like the direction the Main Event Mafia has taken with kicking Sting out and bringing Samoa Joe in with the promise of big bucks. I think it puts a fresh spin on the MEM. I never thought Sting would last in the group...the giveaway? His high-fives to fans. I want to see Samoa Joe rip Sting apart.
Whatever happened to all the amazing outfits Daffney used to find? Still she's my all-time favorite female wrestler. Hail the Scream Queen!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
