~Last week on Smackdown, The Undertaker and Batista fought to a no-contest, Big Show got laid out by The Great Khali, Cherry upset Victoria and MVP beat Tommy Dreamer. This week's episode is headlined by The Undertaker vs. Batista rematch for the World Heavyweight Title.
-The show starts with "La Familia" (Edge, Chavo Guerrero, Smackdown General Manager, Vickie Guerrero, Bam Neely, Zach Ryder, Curt Hawkins and Teddy Long). Edge says he'll be the new World Heavyweight Champion after he wins his match at Backlash and he says Chavo Guerrero will beat Kane to be the new ECW Champion.
-Randomly, CM Punk comes out and reminds everyone that he holds the Money in the Bank briefcase, meaning he can receive a world title shot whenever he wants within the next year. GM Guerrero announces that it'll be Edge vs. CM Punk later that night.
-Shannon Moore picks up a win over The Miz.
-Natalya runs through Cherry.
-Matt Hardy and WWE US Champion, MVP, have a confrontation before their match at Backlash. Hardy says he's gonna win the belt and MVP doesn't like that.
-So, MVP hits Hardy in the face with the belt. Take That!
-Edge defeats CM Punk.
-Vladimir Kozlov beats on some chump.
-Shawn Michaels, who has a match against Batista at Backlash, interferes in his match against The Undertaker.
-This leads to The Undertaker winning the match and retaining the World Heavyweight Title.
John Morrison was on commentary during the Miz/Shannon Moore match and he had some pretty funny lines. They should replace Coach and put Morrison in instead.
Cherry still has horrible theme music.
Speaking of Cherry, she got completely handled by Natalya this week. In my opinion, Natalya had a solid in-ring debut and I'm excited to see more matches featuring her.
Although the Big Show/Great Khali match at Backlash will probably be pure garbage, there was a pretty good highlight video of the Show/Khali feud shown. I think this is going to be way better than the actual match.
That was a solid segment with MVP and Matt Hardy! I know Hardy's gonna take that title though.
Vladimir Kozlov is the man!.
The last 5 minutes of the Edge/CM Punk match was just awesome. The crowd was so into it. I think it was the match of the night.
WWE Backlash Preview ~WWE's latest PPV event, Backlash, is gonna take place later tonight. Here's the announced card:
WWE Title Fatal Four Way Match Randy Orton (champion) vs. Triple H vs. John Cena vs. JBL
World Heavyweight Championship Match The Undertaker (champion) vs. Edge
ECW Championship Match Kane (champion) vs. Chavo Guerrero
Batista vs. Shawn Michaels Special Guest Referee: Chris Jericho
Big Show vs. The Great Khali
WWE United States Championship Match MVP (champion) vs. Matt Hardy
12-Diva Tag Team Match WWE Women's Champion Mickie James, Maria, Ashley, Michelle McCool, Cherry & Kelly Kelly vs. Beth Phoenix, Melina, Jillian, Layla, Victoria & Natalya
Right off the bat, I'm looking forward to the Michaels/Batista match because Shawn Michaels can make anyone look good in a match and because I wanna see what Chris Jericho is going to do.
Of all the title matches going on, the only title switch I see is in the US Title match between MVP and Matt Hardy. I don't think MVP really even needs the belt anymore, because I think he's still a strong performer and has enough credibility without the gold around his waist. At this point, I think Hardy needs it more, especially since he is just coming back from an injury.
I'm interested to see how Randy Orton retains the WWE title this time. I know that it's possible that he could lose, but I'm digging the "Age of Orton" and I think he'll get a decent run with the title, maybe at least until August.
I'm also interested to see just how bad Big Show vs. Great Khali is going to be.
More Screwups with Mike Adamle ~Once again I would like to point out that I am optimistic about Mike Adamle improving as a play-by-play "analyst" on ECW, but these videos highlighting all his mistakes are just too funny to me. Here's all his screwups from the latest episode of ECW.
WWE Featured on Larry King Live ~On Wednesday, various stars from the WWE were on CNN’s “Larry King Live” to hype up Wrestlemania 24.
Featured on the show were WWE Owner, Vince McMahon, Triple H, John Cena, WWE Intercontinental Champion, Chris Jericho, Big Show and Floyd Mayweather. A full transcript of the show can be found here.
I happened to catch the show and I thought it was pretty entertaining and everyone came across really well. Mayweather kind of alluded to ending his boxing career and becoming a full-time pro wrestler (which would be ridiculous).
Also, video of Larry King beating down Vince McMahon was shown.
Overall, it was good stuff.
3/27 TNA Impact Results ~This week's LIVE episode of Impact is TNA’s answer to WWE’s Wrestlemania 24 (both of which are in Orlando this week). I’m expecting a solid show, but we’ll see.
-The live show starts with a brawl between Booker T and Robert Roode. Peyton Banks and Traci Brooks get involved just before security comes down and breaks up the fights.
-TNA Management Director, Jim Cornette announces that it’ll be Booker T vs. Robert Roode in a match that will be chosen by the TNA fans via text messaging. The choices are a Last Man Standing Match , an I Quit Match , and a First Blood Match. I would really like to see a Last Man Standing match.
-Johnny Devine defeats Alex Shelley in an X-Division Escape Qualifier match. Devine joins TNA X-Division Champion, Jay Lethal, Curry Man and Sonjay Dutt in the match, which will take place at Lockdown.
-TNA shows WWE wrestler, Robbie McAllister (real name Dereck Graham-Couch), in the crowd. He was obviously trying to hide from the TV cameras.
-Team 3D congratulate Johhny Devine on his win and they warn Sting, who’s supposed to be making his return to TNA on this episode, that if he stays away from them, they’ll stay away from him.
-Homicide, Hernandez & Salinas (LAX) beat Scott Steiner, Petey Williams & Rocha Khan.
-Clips of Samoa Joe training for his TNA World Title match against Kurt Angle at Lockdown are shown.
-TNA World Champion, Kurt Angle (once again rocking the ankle tape), has a sparring session with TNA Tag Team Champions, Tomko & AJ Styles.
-Christian Cage, Rhino and Kevin Nash come down to the ring during the sparring session and challenge Angle, Styles and Tomko. Team 3D comes out and they get involved.
-Sting makes his return to TNA and clears the ring. It’s announced that it will be Cage/Rhino/Nash/Sting vs. Tomko/Styles/Team 3D in the show’s main event.
-Booker T beats Robert Roode in a First Blood match.
-TNA Women’s Champion, Awesome Kong, successfully defends her title against ODB.
-Team Cage beat Team Tomko in an 8 man tag match.
-After the match, James Storm, who was last seen on the wrong end of the horrible Elevation X match at Destination X last month, comes out of nowhere and smashes a beer bottle on the head of Sting and helps Team Tomko beat down Team Cage.
I had no idea who the hell Dereck Graham-Couch was when he was first shown (TNA didn’t mention his WWE name probably because of copyright issues). I didn’t find out who he really was until I read a report on Wrestleview.com revealing the guy's identity. This is Robbie McAllister, by the way.
According to what I’ve read, Robbie or Dereck or whatever he wants to call himself, had that “I’m so dead” look on his face because WWE informed their wrestlers not to be seen socializing with any of the TNA talent during the weekend. It would be sad if this ends up costing him his job but he should have never put himself in that position in the first place.
Booker T gave a decent interview concerning his match with Robert Roode…until he started talking about wanting Roode’s blood. Pretty disturbing if you ask me.
TNA is building the Angle/Joe match at Lockdown as a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight. If that is the case, it could turn out as either really good and innovative or really bad and awkward. I think Angle and Joe can pull it off, but it all depends on how the crowd at Lockdown take to it because there are lots of aspects of MMA that pro wrestling fans may not understand.
That was a real solid match between LAX and Steiner/Williams/Khan. I’ve become a real fan of LAX over the past couple of months, especially Hernandez (who’s being billed as the “Mexican Superman”, nice). I think they are just so exciting.
That was a sick ending sequence in the 8-man tag main event, which I enjoyed a lot more than I thought I would.
Overall, I thought it was a pretty decent show from TNA. No “Super” Eric Young though but that’s ok.
3/28 ROH "Dragon Gate Challenge II" Results ~Ring of Honor held the first of their two shows this weekend in Orlando featuring talent from Japan's Dragon Gate promotion. Here's what went down.
-ROH World Champion, Nigel McGuinness beat Delirious in a non-title match.
-Ruckus & Jigsaw (The Vulture Squad) defeat Sal Rinauro & Kenny King.
-Austin Aries beat Genki Horiguchi in a ROH vs. DG match.
-After the match, Jimmy Jacobs, leader of the Age of the Fall, tries to get Aries to join his group again. Tammy Sytch comes out and tries to get Aries to join her instead. Aries says he doesn’t need either of them and leaves.
-Kevin Steen & El Generico beat Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino in a ROH vs. DG match
-Shingo & BxB Hulk defeat Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black in a ROH vs. DG match.
-The Briscoes beat Dragon Kid & Ryo Saito in a ROH vs. DG match.
-Go Shiozaki, Erick Stevens & CIMA beat Davey Richards, Roderick Strong & Rocky Romero (The No Remorse Corps.)
Despite what Aries said on the show, I think he will end up joining a group. I think he has the look to fit in with the AOTF but I hope (and have a feeling) that he’ll join Tammy Sytch. I know I would if I were him.
Kevin Steen & El Generico, Steen in particular, has been on a role lately racking up tons of wins. This is a good thing considering Steen won a ROH World Title shot tournament a few weeks back, so he’s being built as a legitimate threat to Nigel McGuinness and the ROH title. I’m not too familiar with Kevin Steen as a singles wrestler but in the tag matches I’ve seen him featured in, I think he’s very good and for a big guy, he sure can fly.
~The show starts with a 4 man over-the-top-rope challenge featuring Kane, Mark Henry, The Great Khali and Chuck Palumbo. These guys will be 4 of the 24 man competing in a battle royal at Wrestlemania 24 where the winner faces ECW Champion, Chavo Guerrero right after.
-Mark Henry wins the match. Chavo Guerrero tries to attack Henry but that doesn’t work out too well.
-Assistant General Manager of Smackdown, Teddy Long, announces that Eve Torres is eliminated from the Smackdown Diva Competition, which leaves Michelle McCool and Cherry as the final two. Victoria and Maryse, who were eliminated from the contest in the past two weeks, make fun of Eve for losing. Long says that there is going to be a “Wet and Wild Water Fight” between the five women.
-Kofi Kingston, Jesse & Festus defeat WWE Tag Team Champion, The Miz, Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch.
-Batista beats Snitsky in two seconds.
-Michelle McCool & Cherry defeat Victoria (rocking scuba gear) & Maryse in the match of the night. Ok, that was a lie.
-A match between WWE Intercontinental Champion, Chris Jericho and WWE United States Champion, MVP, ends in a no-contest when the referee stops the match for no reason. Afterwards, Jericho hits MVP with a ladder, which symbolizes the Money in the Bank Ladder match the two will be in at Wrestlemania.
-Undertaker pops out of a casket in the ring and chokeslams Edge into it to end the last WWE show before Wrestlemania.
I really liked the Morrison/Punk match. I’m so hyped for the Money in the Bank ladder match!
Jesse and Festus have a really cool theme song called “Biscuits and Gravy”. I can't get the song out of my head.
That “Wet and Wild” match was pretty much soft-core porn; I don’t know why I was expecting something else.
Batista has a match with Raw’s Umaga at Wrestlemania, yet WWE is really dropping the ball in terms of interaction between the two. On one show, the two end up brawling (as evident from this week’s Raw, where Batista sneak-attacked Umaga) and then on the next show, they do nothing with it (as evident on this week’s Smackdown, where Umaga failed to show up to even the score). These inconsistencies, I think, have killed the build for this match.
-Snitsky *sigh* picks up the win for his team. I honestly don't remember who was on his team but I know it wasn't Tommy Dreamer, who got pinned by Snitsky.
-Not content with the beating he just got, Tommy Dreamer challenges ECW Champion, Chavo Guerrero, to a non-title match. Guerrero accepts.
-Mike Knox & Layla defeat Stevie Richards & Kelly Kelly.
-To the surprise of no one, Chavo Guerrero beats Tommy Dreamer in a non-title match.
-Afterwards, it seemed like the whole world came out to jump the ECW champ after his win.
I thought the opening tag match was pretty fun to watch and it seems like everyone got a chance to shine...
...But, SNITSKY? Snitsky picks up the win?!? Why this guy?
Carlito and Shelton Benjamin had a really solid match and I think it was match of the night.
part 1
part 2
You know who I wish was featured more on ECW, Layla El. I don't think I have to say anything else.
I believe it was Dave Chappelle who once said “everything looks cooler in slow motion”. A part of John Morrison’s entrance has him standing at the top of the entrance ramp while the wind is blowing his hair and fur coat in slow motion. I know Morrison wasn't even on the show last night, the entrance sounds pretty goofy and I’ve been trying for months to continue hating on it, but I’ve officially thrown in the towel. I want an entrance like that (with the oversized fur coat and sunglasses).
Wednesday Wrestler Spotlight
~This week's spotlight is on a wrestler who I find to be very entertaining and charismatic and he could also be wrestling the last match of his career this Sunday.
"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair
Personally, I'm not old enough or eager enough to watch pro wrestling from the 1980's in order to fully know or have an appreciation for everything Ric Flair has brought to the business.
Although, Flair has spent the latter part of his career in WWE, I was first exposed to the man known as "The Dirtiest Player in the Game" by watching World Championship Wrestling (WCW).
My first impressions of him were that he was the man with the million bathrobes who said "wooo" a lot.
Here are some of the "bathrobes" in the Ric Flair collection
Like this one
And this one
And this one
As for the "wooo"s, I don't think an explaination from me would do it justice, so I'll have Ric Flair explain it himself.
In the years that I've seen Ric Flair, I've learned that he is a pretty damn good showman and I honestly can't remember ever seeing a Ric Flair interview or promo where he wasn't enthusiastic or giving 100%. As a matter of fact, he would give so much in his interviews that at times, it kind of seems like he's going overboard.
Nevertheless, Flair is a former 16-time World Champion, considered a living legend in pro wrestling and I'm pretty sure if he is going to wrestle his last match at Wrestlemania this Sunday, I know he'll go out with a bang. Wooo!
