$heriff Tom
Administrator
Groom ba ya ya ya
Posts: 16,173
|
Post by $heriff Tom on Mar 19, 2009 9:11:15 GMT -5
Heres the thing, though. Test, from all accounts, went through the rehab. Apparently he was trying. Goes back to the arguments we have seen on this board many times - addiction is a bitch.
Not everyone who takes pills, drugs, or whatever, is doing it cause they simply want to. Sometimes they cant help themselves.
Test is an idiot, in some ways around this. He was young, his condo was paid for, he had tons of money in the bank as he saved well, and he was working on his schedule, with an aspiration to be a personal trainer. He dated bombshells like Kelly Kelly and Stacey Kiebler. He had a lot to live for, and threw it away.
|
|
|
Post by cactusjames on Mar 19, 2009 11:18:14 GMT -5
That's not my problem, I had a tough time writing points around that same thought, addiction sucks, I firmly believe that, just in this case, he's a guy who was very vocal about his stance on the drug use in pro wrestling. If you're against something, why take it then? I don't like certain things so I don't do it.
There just isn't anything to learn or take from, this because obviously, nothing was working for him and/or he just didn't give a shit, he'd say what he'd have to in order to get TV time including lying about his intake. Based on everything that has come out, including the interview, I can't believe this was just a slip up and it cost him big. It seems to me he knew how bad the shit was and it still didn't stop him from taking it anyway.
He said he was at x amount of funerals last year and he doesn't want to be like those guys, but it still didn't stop him, all his knowledge on it and all the death around him, he kept putting holes in his ass. This isn't some sad wrestling death, it's the same as some junkie dosing too much, just that this junkie used to be on TV so people care. This is in no way similar to Eddie, or nearly as shocking or tragic than Owen. This is just some asshole shooting off at the mouth and everything he was "against" killed him. It's not hard to see how full of shit he was despite the rehab. They found a pharmacy in his place, he wasn't on the up and up and no one should learn anything from this death, just that some guy who play the saint was anything but.
|
|
MSBNYY
Administrator
El Guapo
Posts: 15,545
|
Post by MSBNYY on Mar 19, 2009 11:51:51 GMT -5
Test definitely had a lot to live for. And yeah, it's ashame he couldn't beat the addiction, but with all the money he had, he should have invested in the rehab. People DO beat addictions.
I can see how you can say this is nothing as bad as Owen. But I don't think the same can be said with Eddie, who drugged himself to death too.
|
|
$heriff Tom
Administrator
Groom ba ya ya ya
Posts: 16,173
|
Post by $heriff Tom on Mar 19, 2009 12:02:43 GMT -5
but with all the money he had, he should have invested in the rehab
Have you not read the stories?? He HAS been in rehab, funded by the WWE. In fact, he had a scheduled "check-in" with the facility a couple of days after he was found dead.
|
|
MSBNYY
Administrator
El Guapo
Posts: 15,545
|
Post by MSBNYY on Mar 19, 2009 12:07:45 GMT -5
Go back to rehab then. It obviously didn't take.
|
|
|
Post by cactusjames on Mar 19, 2009 12:52:12 GMT -5
Again, i don't see how the problem is it didn't work for him, that happens to people with more than Test. Why isn't the problem this asshole knew it wasn't working for him, but he still carried the flag for being clean and surviving the grind? He was gun ho about not being a stat and he is one?
And Eddie I see differently, maybe it's biased but Eddie wasn't down and out, he was still main eventing. yeah he was doping but that's as sudden of a death as can be. And to his credit, his drug use wasn't as bad as it had been. I see that more being the wear and tear that finally made him reach his total mileage, as opposed to say someone who OD's because they're just getting fucked up. Eddie is way different than Test in my book only because Eddie didn't shy away from his shit like Test did, Eddie said he screwed up and was trying to make it right. Test said he was trying to get right and in reality wasn't. If the rehab stay didn't work, fine, but don't sit there and say you're doing things differently than you really are. Eddie didn't do that, Test did. Eddie is a way bigger loss and way different circumstances. Yeah one plus one always equals two, both had the drug use in common, but Eddie can't be lumped in as some beaten down old man who doped himself up too much. Eddie could still go, Test was really on the grind doing fucking gymnasiums.
|
|
MSBNYY
Administrator
El Guapo
Posts: 15,545
|
Post by MSBNYY on Mar 19, 2009 13:30:56 GMT -5
I still really don't see the difference, especially the part where you say Eddie acknowledged it and tried to make it right. Drugs got both of them, unless my facts are wrong, which is certainly possible. Yeah, Eddie was still main eventing and could still go. I will definitely give you that, but I don't know if that's as important--at least in this issue.
|
|
|
Post by cactusjames on Mar 19, 2009 13:47:54 GMT -5
Well what's better, having a problem and being honest about it and openly discussing it, or saying you're taking care of it and actually not doing a thing? Eddie said he was fighting everyday, he said it was a struggle and you got the impression he had his wits about him, he wasn't hiding it. You can simplify it that it's drugs so it's open and shut. But there's more to it with Eddie because he was still main eventing and he wasn't acting like he beat anything, he said it was a fight every single day, it's more endearing to know he was as you saw him, it's discouraging to know someone tried to fight the good fight and was as insincere as they come.
|
|
MSBNYY
Administrator
El Guapo
Posts: 15,545
|
Post by MSBNYY on Mar 19, 2009 14:09:49 GMT -5
It's hard to say if either was doing anything about it. How do we know Test's efforts were less than Eddie's? I'm not saying they were or weren't. I really wouldn't know. Maybe Test fooled himself. Hard to say. But we don't know what Test was doing behind the scenes.
|
|
|
Post by cactusjames on Mar 19, 2009 14:30:06 GMT -5
We know Test lied about staying clean. He was acting like he was out of the shit and he wound up dead. He fucking lied about it and deserves zero sympathy.
|
|
MSBNYY
Administrator
El Guapo
Posts: 15,545
|
Post by MSBNYY on Mar 19, 2009 15:21:41 GMT -5
But couldn't you argue similar things about Eddie? Is it really THAT different? I'm not defending Test at all. I agree that assuming it went down the way we think, he deserves zero sympathy. I just don't see the two cases as all that different.
|
|
|
Post by cactusjames on Mar 19, 2009 17:28:19 GMT -5
If you think the Eddie death is the same as Test, you're nuts. Just because drugs are involved doesn't mean one death has more of an effect on the industry than the other. Eddie was more on the up and up and more sudden, albeit due to being so heavily featured, than Test, Eddie had a way bigger impact than Test. And unless I'm mistaken, Eddie died of an OD off pain killers, which you can be subscribed. He just did a bad mix, Test had a pharmacy in his condo. In that case it's different alone. But if I'm wrong, it's still different because Test was in rehab, we knew he had issues, Eddie was doing 100% fine from most sources. How is it similar?
|
|
$heriff Tom
Administrator
Groom ba ya ya ya
Posts: 16,173
|
Post by $heriff Tom on Mar 19, 2009 17:36:57 GMT -5
Eddie on the up and up? ?? What fucking source are YOU using? Eddie was doing drugs till the damn day he died....there are consistent rumors that his buddes - Benoit included - helped empty the room. Did you not SEE him up to his death? He was bursting out of his skin! You name it, and Eddie was doing it! Holy crap, you need to do your research.
|
|
MSBNYY
Administrator
El Guapo
Posts: 15,545
|
Post by MSBNYY on Mar 19, 2009 18:10:23 GMT -5
And if Tom's right, then again, is it really that different?
|
|
$heriff Tom
Administrator
Groom ba ya ya ya
Posts: 16,173
|
Post by $heriff Tom on Mar 19, 2009 19:52:52 GMT -5
Oh, believe me, Tom is right. Ironically, just a few minutes ago, I was reading this weeks Wrestling Observer, and even in those pages they snickered at the belief that Eddie - the reason for the "wellness policy" - was clean. It just was not true.
|
|
|
Post by cactusjames on Mar 20, 2009 2:50:13 GMT -5
First off, Merlin, never said he was clean, I said he has said he struggled daily with his addiction. And yes, I'm fully aware of the rumors that Chavito and Benoit got rid of shit to save some face for him, but he was way more honest about his shit than Test. Test acted like he was on the right path and he was all cool for beating the grind. Test lied when he was the opening match for cards performed at gyms. Eddie did the full 300 a day grind, said he was in the middle of a battle but working at it and making it work, while main eventing ppvs. Never once did Eddie act like he was a saint, and when i say up and up, as someone who has seen DVDs and interviews, he was never dishonest about his constant fight. However, there's a interview with Test acting like he got into some deep shit, got out of it and wanted to help younger kids steer clear of the path he went down. And he was nothing but honest about his struggle.
Yeah, in terms of honesty when it comes to the up and up, Eddie was way more on the up and up than Test. You've seen all the interviews and DVDs about Eddie, you can't tell me Test was more upfront with the problems he faced than Eddie.
|
|
$heriff Tom
Administrator
Groom ba ya ya ya
Posts: 16,173
|
Post by $heriff Tom on Mar 20, 2009 7:19:58 GMT -5
Wow, I dont even know where to start with this one. There are just so many arguments to be made.
Before that, you are going to crap on Test for not "being honest" and shrug off Eddie? Did you read Eddie's book? While he said he was struggling, he lied. He said he was clean, it came out the whole time he wrote that book he was using.
but he was way more honest about his shit than Test. Test acted like he was on the right path and he was all cool for beating the grind.
James, you have a Torch subscription. Have you not read all the words Test said? He said he was in terrible pain every damn day, cause of his broken neck with the plate in it, and a bad back. Steroids he had no apologies for - he said all along they should be legalized.
The addiction he was fighting was pain pills. Obviously he lost. I find it amusing you feel the need to rip the guy apart while humping the corpse of a dead man in Eddie Guerrero, who was one of THE worst drug abusers in wrestling. You think rehab failed for Test....rehab failed for Eddie AT LEAST THREE TIMES!!!!!!!!!!
|
|
MSBNYY
Administrator
El Guapo
Posts: 15,545
|
Post by MSBNYY on Mar 20, 2009 7:40:08 GMT -5
It would be interesting, if you have time, to quote some passages from Eddie's book on the subject to see if he said anything similar to Test's interview.
|
|
$heriff Tom
Administrator
Groom ba ya ya ya
Posts: 16,173
|
Post by $heriff Tom on Mar 20, 2009 8:17:21 GMT -5
Ill pull some stuff out, no problem. If for no other reason to watch James spin around like a top trying to justify all of it.
|
|
MSBNYY
Administrator
El Guapo
Posts: 15,545
|
Post by MSBNYY on Mar 20, 2009 8:56:41 GMT -5
I'd be curious to see if there's a comment similar to the one Test made that got James mad. Something about how Eddie didn't want to be another statistic and acknowledging the deaths of other wrestlers.
|
|
|
Post by cactusjames on Mar 20, 2009 11:49:00 GMT -5
Never said Eddie was a saint, never said said did everything right. And I also never said what I was saying is fact, it's just my take my opinion. My opinion on Eddie won't change no matter what quote you cite, and I'll never agree the death of Test does more to wrestling than Eddie, the way he was beloved and how he was still at the top of his game, it's cray talk to think it's one in the same.
Fine I can agree with you, Eddie was junkie and a nobody and was an awful person. He never told the truth and it was just a normal day around WWE when he died, just like Test. Is that what you want to hear?
|
|
|
Post by cactusjames on Mar 31, 2009 12:18:54 GMT -5
Newest edition of my world famous blog, Wrestlemania edition. I think I'm going bust out a few this week, I should have enough blogs within the next week or two, with Mania 5 days away, and TNA the following week with Lockdown. I'm going to cover the build up to Lockdown as well as a review of the PPV that night. And Mania will be the same, I'll do a few blogs this week all about Mania, then after the 4 hour event Sunday review it and go over it, hope some of you can join along. So this week, a shit load of Mania blogs, and next week two on Lockdown. Depending on how it goes, I'll probably do a PPV review every month for each, and if I had HDNet, I'd do the ROH taping, although from most accounts no one missed anything on the debut show. But, that's for another time. Time to get to business.
So going into Raw last night, I don't thin I'm alone in saying the excitement level was not really there. With the exception of a few matches, there could really be complaints about the buildup as well as the match on paper. I am sort of depressed by that, I remember for years the week leading up to it was too long, as all you could do is countdown till Sunday. But instead of going over the card, I want to wait till both go home editions of Smackdown and ECW. This blog will be dedicated to past Wrestlemania memories. Seeing as this is my 15th Wrestlemania(I've seen the others before WM 10 on the box set, but as a live viewer), it may not be as many as some of you, but I still think I have the longevity to rate some of the best Manias and matches.
Easily, my favorite match is the same match that's been voted by numerous sources as the best Mania match of all time, but hands down, the Iron Man Match from Wrestlemania stands out. Obviously, certain matchups have been more popular, such as Hogan and Andre, Hogan and Warrior, and Hogan and Rock, it's safe to say none of those matches matched the in ring action quite like the Iron Man match. And trust me, this is totally being unbiased. But the buildup was great to the match, two of the most popular wrestlers of that time main eventing in a match that was guaranteed to be an hour. It took on a bigger meaning seeing as by that time, the 45 minutes, hour long matches have been sort of a lost art. Not many matches would go as long, compared to not just past Manias, but all wrestling cards. Even being 13 years ago, it seemed like a throwback match to the classic bouts we all know in wrestling history. So the sheer fact this match was going to be at least an hour gave it a different feel than past main events at the big show.
Beside the fact HBK was doing the whole boyhood dream angle, and Bret was the fighting champion, and a proven winner, the anticipation of the match may only be topped by Hogan and Rock. Now, while you can say, the match wasn't that exciting till the last 7 minutes or so with all the near falls, now in hindsight you couldn't ask for a better match due to the ring psychology. We all know how it ended, and we all know why it means so much to me, but big picture, it's one of the most important matches ever, not just at Mania. It ushered in the fact that smaller guys could main event and carry the ball with the departure of some of the bigger drawing names. It cemented The Hitman as one of the best ever and catapulted HBK to superstar status.
My second personal favorite is Savage vs one of the newest inductees to the HOF, Ricky Steamboat. Now while there were no hurricanranas or moonsaults, the match on a technical level is probably equaled to the iron man match. Of course that's not a shock since back then the IC title was only for the smaller guys who could really wrestle and it showcased real talent and skill on how to tell a story. Of course the surprise ending with Steamboat winning made the match even bigger, but at that time, you didn't really see classics like that with the era being dominated by the big, muscular. cartoonish characters. So the match was very important in terms of making the mat classic more acceptable in WWF. Now, instead of Mania being all about the celebs and special attraction matches, now people expected to see the best of the best at Mania, you could now expect to see the best of both worlds, larger than life battles as well as technical, psychological mat classics.
It's really hard to think of another match to fill in, at least for me. I could easily go with HBK/Jericho, HBK/Angle, any of the ladder matches, either WM 10 or the TLC matches from years later. Andre/hogan probably the most significant match due to what it did to WWF and the business as a whole could and should probably take it. I'm partial to Bret vs Owen from Wrestlemania 10 as well. Although I did enjoy sitting and watching Eddie vs Angle from WM 20, maybe because I was there live, but that stands out as a true great Mania match, and the other main event from WM 20, although we don't like triple threats I tend to like HHH/HBK/Benoit triple threat more than the one where Mysterio won it. I could also sit and watch Bret vs Piper for the Intercontinental Title at Wrestlemania 8. Also Savage vs Flair for the WWF Title from the same card. All of those matches have claim to being one of the best Mania matches of all time, it's just really hard to pick them in order because I'd have to sit and watch it again to fully remember, those are just the ones on the top of my head.
But if that was hard, picking the best card is probably harder. The first Mania had a pretty weak under card, it was really all about the main event, as was Wrestlemania 2. Three was pretty good, the card with Hogan and Warrior was pretty solid, but none of the matches really paid off. I could make an argument for Wrestlemania 9, but that ending pisses me off to this day and is just one of those really bad examples of the business being exposed by that self centered douche Hogan. Even though I fully understand making sure the fans go home happy at Mania, that was just bad, and at some point you have to say, maybe the bad guy SHOULD win once in a while, just to keep it fresh. Cause now when a heel goes over at Mania, it comes across as a swerve for the sake of doing a swerve, like HHH and Orton this year, but that's for a later blog.
I think overall the Mania I have to go with as being the best card, where maybe a match didn't seem good on paper but really delivered and matches that looked good on paper and didn't disappoint, this was tough and this is totally biased based on my own enjoyment factor is Wrestlemania 22. 3 matches were sub par, but not really that bad. You had Cena vs HHH for the WWE Title, the other triple thread between Orton, Angle and Mysterio for the world title, which was pretty good although predictable. HBK vs Vince, and I don't care who you are, if you can get a 5 star match out of Vince McMahon, you're pretty damn good and HBK came up big when I, of all people, was one of the people who thought it was just going to be plain bad. You also had Edge vs Foley in a hardcore match, that of course was the match that had the crazy spot where Edge speared Foley through the second rope through a flaming table. RVD won the money in the bank. Then it got a little iffy, Taker vs Mark Henry in a casket match, wasn't terrible but nothing too memorable from those two. JBL beat Benoit in a US Title match, which is a match I felt could have been better, but due to the stiffness of the match, the down and dirty approach, wasn't boring or bad by any means. The worse match of the night was Kane and Big Show vs Carlito and Chris Masters for the World Tag Team Titles. Mickie James beat Trish for the Women's strap in a very good match between two of the best working Divas ever. Boogeyman for some reason was given a spot on the card, I feel bad for Booker to this day he had to do the job this time around. And a ho hum Playboy Pillow Fight between Torrie and Candice, pretty much the match for the horny guys.
i have to go with that one due to the matches being star studded as well as the in ring action being very entertaining, sans a few boring matches, but on any PPV card, if three matches are clunkers and everything else is above average, I think you have to consider that a success. I know you could go earlier and pick a card because of how it affected the company and business after, based on delivering a good show, that Wrestlemania is up there on my list.
So later this week, I'll go over each and every match on the card. I'll discuss the expectations for each match as well as the buildup. I'm going to save a blog for predictions only because I want to wait till after Smackdown and get all the hype in there. I also want to do a blog on just predictions because there's a lot of variables that go into it, so I want to be able to talk about the booking side of it, and don't want to confuse the buildup for how I would book the matches. Thanks for reading, hopefully we can start putting these things in their own locked thread and we can use this thread to either praise of bash each installment, and please share some of your personal favorite Mania matches and cards. I'd also love to hear what some of you hope to get from this years Mania, meaning how you would like to see everything go down to make it a 5 star card in your eyes.
Until next time, this has been Cactus James, who never has much on his mind.......except when I wear a hat....................no thoughts.....................just a hat.
|
|
$heriff Tom
Administrator
Groom ba ya ya ya
Posts: 16,173
|
Post by $heriff Tom on Mar 31, 2009 12:34:12 GMT -5
Ill comment more on this, piece by piece, but I need to start with the "favorite match" part.
I respect your take on that Iron Man Match - I really need to see it again. I remember it being ok....it was not as good as advertised. You KNOW that is not just me saying that - its a going take. It was dragging, especially in the beginning, as if the guys thought they needed to conserve energy. I think the Hennig / Bock 60 minute match was twice as good.
On top of this, people were leaving during it - this is not me talking, its documented, and you can see it by watching the crowd during the match. A lot of people were bored, or turned off. It did not have the "drama" they were going for.
The Austin / Bret double-turn match is the best Mania match out there- Steamboat and Savage was right up there, but looked too choreograped at times, like acrobats tumbling around. Personally, the Batista / Taker match a couple of years ago floored me on how good it was.
|
|
MSBNYY
Administrator
El Guapo
Posts: 15,545
|
Post by MSBNYY on Mar 31, 2009 13:28:09 GMT -5
Hard to say what my favorite WM match. For the most part, WMs are usually disappointments to me, though sometimes there are exceptions. I wouldn't consider the Iron Man match anywhere near my top though. I have no issue with James picking that one. HBK is his favorite wrestler, and that was the match that got him the belt for the first time. But for me, it was boring. Not that I don't get the whole, 60 minutes, no falls thing, but it was a disappointment. I wanted to see LOTS of falls. It would have been more exciting to me.
Hogan/Rock would have won hands down, if not for the fact that Hogan lost.
Given my age at the time, the first WM main event may take it for me. I would really have to look over past cards to really get a list of matches that I remember well enough to put on any all time list.
I was in attendance at either 1 or 2 WMs--not sure which. I know I was at WMXX.
My big live WM memory was easily booing the shit out of Lesnar and Goldberg. It was incredible being apart of that kind of hate.
|
|
|
Post by cactusjames on Mar 31, 2009 22:44:09 GMT -5
" I have no issue with James picking that one. HBK is his favorite wrestler, and that was the match that got him the belt for the first time."
Except that's not the reason I picked it. I agree with Tom, the Austin/Bret match is up there, I knew writing it I was forgetting a match and that's the one, I think it's up there as one of the best no doubt. I just don't think the in ring action of that match, or any other match, equaled what happened in the Iron Man match. I don't blame you for wanting a bunch of falls, and I remember as a kid expecting a lot of falls, which is another reason it stands out to me. The fact that because it was an hour and you expected there to be tons of falls, instead you saw two great technical wrestlers go toe to toe for over an hour. I don't think anyone expected what they gave and in my opinion weather your a fan or not, you can't deny that what they did deliver was something creative. I don't know, in my opinion they did something different for the time, at least to me. If Doink the Clown could go an hour and did what Shawn did in the match with Bret I'd still pick that match. But I can't disagree with Bret and Austin.
|
|
|
Post by cactusjames on Apr 3, 2009 16:35:58 GMT -5
The Finale of the Wrestlemania blogs. I was going to space it out, but I want to go into the buildup for each match as well as how I'd book it, but I can't do that without making my predictions too so I thought screw it. Now, I'm not being biased in my bookings of the matches, I'm not booking it to please James, I'd book it so that it'd be entertaining and interesting to the average viewer, as well as logical for the pure wrestling fan. In simpler terms, this is what would make the most fucking sense.
Now while some can argue this shouldn't be the last match, for all intents and purposes, it's sort of common sense the last match is going to be HHH defending the WWE Championship vs Randy Orton. They could put Edge, Cena and Big Show last, but it's probably going to be these two. And I can't complain, the buildup has been tremendous. The intensity of this rivalry, due to the personal nature of it, has been great. Remember back to HBK and Jericho and how great that feud was, and a big part of that was because of how personal it was. The HHH/Orton fe3ud is right up there in terms of how personal the rivalry is. Yeah, it was a little hack the way HHH broke into Orton's house, but I won't bash it and criticize the angle like some did, I won't buy into the questionable material malarky because 1), they have to come up with new ways to keep classic angles fresh. And B) it's not like we're talking about Katie fucking Vick here. Orton has played his heel character flawlessly, he's on top of his game right now, he's been getting high praise and as a uber fan of all heels, Orton has been a master as of late. HHH has also been good being the serious badass who's fighting for his family. Early in his reign he was the cocky I'm better than you face champ, now he's 180'd the bitch and is kicking ass and taking names fighting for the honor of his wife and family.
How would I book it? First off I wouldn't make it the last match, but more on that later. This would be the 2nd to last match for me if I were making out the card, and I'd have Orton go over. Logistically it makes the most sense, he's too good now not to put the strap on him. But if it's the last match, the face always wins. And you have to do it that way too, because a swerve for the sake of a swerve sucks, and no one will be happy with that. Then at Backlash Orton finally goes over and gets given the ball once again. But I'd book it so it wasn't the last match and Orton could win and get even more momentum and news bragging points for his character. Plus it'd be nice to start putting over Legacy as a force to be fucked with. The WWe gold on Orton plus Tag Gold for Cody and Ted would be qa big boost for all 3 at this time of the year. But my prediction is HHH.
Next is the triple threat for the World Title. It was only this past Monday did they finally realize we should put focus on the title, not the stupid love triangle. The buildup hasn't been good in this feud at all. They have done good setting up the points that Edge is crazy and will do anything, Big Show is near unstoppable when he's on a roll and Cena has the deck stacked against him, but he's always going to put up a fight and keep it close. That's all well and good, but it's Wrestlemania and it's the WORLD FUCKING TITLE MATCH! Christ on a trampoline you think they'd realize Big Show and Vickie have no chemistry together and no one cares about a love triangle. They're pushing it with Vickie's character basically making her look like a sleazy fucking whore. But again, they have time to do all that, but then only on Monday shift focus to the fact all three also want the title. Bad move, bad booking, but at this point it's second fiddle to two other matches. So why not make two heels go over? I'd make this the 3rd to last match and have Edge win, it'd be good for his character to have some more credibility, instead of always snaking his way into the title, something I don't mind, but pulling out the win at Mania makes him look more legit than JUST a chickenshit heel. But because the odds are stacked against Cena, the Rocky like character comes from behind, defies the odds and wins the title.........blech. Big Show is a dark horse, they could put it on him and have it taken off him at Backlash, but I honestly think it'll be either Cena or Edge, which ironically enough are the only two who should be in this match.
The next match I'll cover is the match I feel should be the main event. Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels, face vs face, good guy vs sort of of good guy, either way you term it, fans leave happy. That's the whole point of Mania, this way it creates a little doubt and speculation with the title matches, And it's not like Mania hasn't ended with a non championship match before, but I digress. This feud has been really fun, both guys have been good on the mic, even Taker. The reversal of the mind games has been a cool twist as well with HBK getting inside of Taker's heard and getting the best of him a couple of times. I think this should be the match of the night, Taker has had a good streak of having some strong Wrestlemania matches and being in there with someone who can really step it up as well should help Taker. These guys just have great chemistry, and when you can keep two of the biggest stars in the company away from each other in a one on one match for 11 years, it makes the match seem really important. This, more than any other match, has that big match feel to it, and i think it's going to be magnified when the cameras are rolling. my prediction is the same as how I'd book it, make it seem like Taker's streak is done for him to pull it out just barely. Give the fans a big scare but don't mess with wrestlings version of the 56 game hit streak.
The IC title match should have been given more time to develop, but at least were getting an IC title match on the show. And they sort of did a good job building up suspense for the match with Rey pulling out the victory on monday. I think this will be another good match, as well as another match that I'd book the way I think it will go, with Rey winning. I think it's a big set up, Rey won Monday so no way he does it again, the swerve for the sake of a swerve. But because Rey would be getting the IC, screw it, he'd be an awesome Intercontinental Champ. In fact I'd also book Rey to defend the IC Belt the next night on Raw against Michaels, he loves doing the job to Rey and it'd be one hell of a start to putting some meaning back in the belt, it sort of be like an old throwback IC title match back from like Superstars or whatever back in the day.
The Hardy vs Hardy match has been blah. I think it was a big letdown having Matt be the one behind everything and not Christian. I think that sucked the air out of it only because you know Matt isn't going to kill Jeff's dog. But I think this will be a terrific match, I like the Extreme Rules stip as well. This should be a total spot fest, but as with most Hardy matches, there's a rhyme and reason behind each spot so I think it should turn out well. I think Jeff will go over, and i can't say I blame them but if you want Matt to be taken serious again it'd be wise to have him go over. It'd be fun to see another MVP/Matt feud for the US Title, this time with the roles reversed. But Jeff does need steam to be back in the title hunt, no matter which belt ends up on Smackdown.
The Tag Unification bout is a nice touch too, and I don't think the Bellas will play much of a factor, and I'm glad, i wanna see these two teams go at it for 10 minutes. It's very nice that were getting and IC championship match as well as a Tag Championship match, it's giving some importance back in the belts because it's saying these belts are worthy enough to be on the biggest card of the year. I like Miz and Morrison here, and I think that's how it'll go on Sunday as well.
The Money in the Bank Ladder match is always a fun one, and since the first one I don't think there's ever been a bad one. It's a total spot fest but it seems as if you see new shit in that match every year. There's a few favorites, CM Punk obviously, since he won it last year. MVP is a favorite, as well as Shelton. I think they're setting it up for either Shelton or Kane to win it, but I'm going to out on a limb and pick Christian. I know Vince isn't a fan and almost didn't want him in the match, but the writers feel he should be in it, and I have a feeling they know they can get good stuff from him if he's in the title picture. He just came back, the draft is coming up, giving him MITB could lead to many intriguing angles and several strong feuds. There's a lot of options with him winning it, I feel that's the best way to go, do I think it will happen, no, but it'd be nice if it did.
Jericho and the legends are another blah match. The buildup has been fun, but you know the legends are going to win and Jericho is just going to look like a cry baby and a wuss. Oh yeah the fact he's losing to guys half crippled does nothing to the image of a former world champ. Idiots.
And the Diva Battle Royal should not be pretty from a wrestling standpoint. From the male standpoint it'll be very pretty. I'm liking Gail Kim, almost for the same reason as Christian, get the ball rolling with the newest additions to the roster and put them over early. Here's hoping Gail goes to Raw at the Draft so we can see Beth. Mickie and Gail on the same roster. Those 3 would make a solid Women's division on Raw me thinks.
That about does it, if you didn't agree with anything I said this week I at least hope you had as much fun reading it as I did writing it, a-ha ha ha hahahaha. In all seriousness, enjoy the show Sunday, if you can check back after Wrestlemania to see my show run down. Sunday is like Christmas to a wrestling fan so I hope you all get what you want out of it. Peace Out Girl Scouts.
And BTW, there's at least 5 or 6 of these things now, isn't it about time we get the blogs in one locked thread and have this one to discuss them? Just a though, doesn't hinder me in any way from writing em.
|
|
MSBNYY
Administrator
El Guapo
Posts: 15,545
|
Post by MSBNYY on Apr 5, 2009 15:31:40 GMT -5
Excellent blog again. I agree UT should go over HBK, though for me, this match didn't have nearly the heat it has for you. I'm rooting for UT because of the streak, or otherwise, I wouldn't care. The streak is awesome.
I wish you were right and HHH/Orton is not last. It's the main event match I actually want to see, because it has the best buildup on the card by far. I cannot see HHH losing this match. I can't think of an example where a top level face had this kind of match and lost.
I'm very curious to see what Steamboat can still do in the ring. I always thought he hurt himself to the point where he can't go anymore. I don't know how the match works.
Is it--3 on 1, or is it like a Survivor Series where Jericho has to wrestle a 6 man tag?
Steamboat is the hero right now. Piper is the biggest legend, but Steamboat is the new HOFer, and the one getting the big honor and attention, so if I were to pick a legend to save the day, it would be him. Besides, Piper has one hip and can't seriously work a match.
I don't want to see Piper pinned though. I would like to see either Piper get counted out/DQ'd, or even taken out before the match. Snuka can get pinned fast. Assuming Steamboat has something left, within 5 minutes or so, I would like to see Piper and Snuka out of there, and have it seem like he has no chance against Jericho. Then I would like to see Steamboat actually put out a decent match. Not expecting what he was 25 years ago, but something that the crowd and announcers can sell. Either have Steamboat pull out a win, or have him put up a great and valiant fight. If Steamboat doesn't win clean, get it to the point where Jericho, after a great effort by Steamboat, hits the walls of Jericho, is about to go for the pin, and thanks to interference by the other legends, Steamboat gets a rollup.
|
|
|
Post by 4dogg on Apr 5, 2009 16:09:30 GMT -5
i think piper turns on his 2 HOF partners and holds mickey rourke while jericho slaps the shit out of him
|
|
|
Post by cactusjames on Apr 17, 2009 12:41:46 GMT -5
I know it's late, but totally worth it. We have a lot to cover in this edition of my nameless blog(suggestions welcomed). We got the draft to get into from Monday night, as well as the Supplemental draft held two days ago(I covered it in the draft thread in case you missed it Wednesday). But, what kind of writer would I be if I didn't start with the return to the ring, of my namesake, Cactus Jack. I'll also go into detail on the other matches on the TNA Lockdown PPV this Sunday, where all the matches are fought in the 6 sides of steel. And last, but certainly not least, I'll have predictions for UFC 97, being held tomorrow night.
So, it was kind of a no brainer when Mick Foley signed with TNA a few months ago, he would dabble in the ring again. However, I don't think anyone expected him to be in the title picture against world champ Sting. I know I didn't, but I'm still very pleased with buildup to said match. You get a little bit of a wrestling history lesson while being entertained by Foley, as to his credit, Sting. He's stepped up his promo work recently, and his sit down interview with Mike Tenay was very well done. The twist in this match is that no one knows who Sting is facing, lovable good Foley, or the ever dangerous Cactus Jack. The final sell last night was excellent. Cactus set up Sting by playing the Main Event Mafia theme song only to attack the world champ from behind, while still verbally smashing him. He showed that he is more dangerous than ever, seeing as he has a lot of pull in TNA, being an "executive shareholder". I think the match should be really fun, not a classic catch them as catch can match, but with it being held in a cage, that gives Foley something else to use in the match, just another ingredient. Obviously they won't make Foley look bad, but I can't see putting the title on him, although it wouldn't surprise me. It would make for good TV to see the unstable Cactus Jack/Mick Foley as shareholder and TNA champ.
The other big match is Team Jarrett vs Team Angle where a roof lowers down onto the 6 sides of steel and tons of weapons are involved. It's also like War Games from WCW where nthere will be a man advantage for Team Angle. Two men start off, and after a few minutes another member of a team enters. Because of last night, Team Angle has the one man advantage. The big news is the return of Curry Ma...errr.....Christopher Daniels. But, the big storyline in this is, where does Jeff Jarrett's loyalties lie, with the Front Line or the MEM? The participants are for Team Angle are Angle, Booker T, Scott Steiner and Kevin Nash vs Team Jarrett has Jarrett, AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels and the new serial killer in TNA, Samoa Joe. I expect to see tons of big spots in this match, and it isn't much of a prediction, but Jarrett turns, something I called a few months ago and Tom said wouldn't happen....that's been happening a lot recently. It's a curse always being right.
We can breeze through the other matches, Team 3D vs Beer Money for the New Japan Tag titles (3D) and Beer MoneyBeer Money put a beating on Balls Mahoney and Brother Runt(Spike) last night and turned this match of mutual respect into a revenge match. I go with Beer Money. Awesome Kong defends the Knockouts title vs Angelina Love and Taylor Wilde, Kong got her hair cut by The Beautiful People last night, she's pissed, and she retains. X Division Title Match Suicide defends against 4 or 5 guys. I'm not crazy about Suicide but I don't see them giving up so quickly. There's another chick match for Queen of the Cage between Daffney, ODB, and two others who I'm forgetting but this hasn't gotten much attention other than with ODB's boyfriend Cody Deaner. The only other match worth mentioning is Eric Young vs Danny Bonaduce, but that's on the free preview show half hour before the event, also to be contested in a cage. I have no clue what to expect but I'm looking forward to it.
Now we move on to the draft. Now, nothing crazy happened, however I felt this was a very strong draft. Of course you can question why was this person moved and why wasn't that person moved, but overall, I think it turned out well. Raw got all the star power, but Smackdown isn't hurting per say. With not as many top flight guys, they will have to create new stars. But with guys like Punk, Jericho, Rey and Morrison, to join guys like Edge and Taker, we could see some very good match ups. Smackdown will still be the wrestling heavy show, but Raw is the big winner. FIVE top babyfaces on one roster, you have HHH, HBK, Cena, Batista and MVP. Dark horse to be a break out is Mr. Kennedy. He's always getting injured so hopefully if he stays healthy, you can see him get more invovled. I like The Brian Kendrick on Raw, as well as Miz, hopefully they aren't thrown into the jobber to the stars role. The only sticking point, other than Christian not being moved, is the hit the Tag division took. They moved Carlito and Primo to Raw, Cryme Tyme to Smackdown and they split up Hawkins and Ryder, which isn't that big of a deal, but with very little teams for the Colons to face, that is the only negative I take out of the entire thing. I think with the moving they did, it also forces guys to be more active, guys like CM Punk, HBK and Jericho will have more active parts in feuds and storylines than being relegated to mid card top act. Now, they have the chance to really stand out and offer a lot.
As always, time will tell if they did good with the draft, and anything they don't like you can expect to see fixed without any reason why it's allowed. The Divas thing I think is stronger, although I would have liked Gail Kim to be on the same show as Mickie and Beth, she could have some good matches for Melina for the Women's title.
Finally, we do predictions for UFC tomorrow night. Anderson the Spider Silva vs Thales Leites for the middleweight title is going to be a fucking fantastic fight. I really like Leites and Anderson is the best pound for pound fighter in the world. Almost anything can happen in this fight, as both guys are great strikers and have great ground games. This might be Silva's toughest challenge to date and I'm looking forward to this almost as much as I would a Brock vs Fedor fight. I gotta go with the champ in this one, it's hard to bet against him. And the only other fight I know on the card is Chuck Liddell vs Shogun Rua. I think if Chuck loses he's done. He can't get stopped anymore, he's been turned off twice in his last two fights, you only can take that so many times. Shogun could move up the Light Heavyweight with a win, it very well could be his biggest fight. I' don't think Chuck is a safe bet, even though he's good, it just seems like he's out of place now and he's been taking a beating like he's never taken before. He needs to get out before he gets hurt, so I'm predicting and hoping for a Shogun win so Chuck can hang it up, it's sad it's ending on not only a losing streak, but fights in which he was just outmatched, Chuck is one of the best ever, but it's time to hang it up and hopefully he gets knocked out and realizes it. I wish it didn't have to be that way, but at this point I don't know what much else Chuck can do.
Thanks for reading, be sure to check out all the good-ly-ness this weekend. If you can follow along as I'll be covering TNA, and possibly UFC if I'm by the comp. And oh by the way, I have to have like close to 10 of these, can the mods make me feel important and start up the thread for blogs only, in case I need to go back and read a past blog, it'll be a pain to read through post of us discussing it. I leave you today with a joke...what's the difference between a woman and a toilet? You don't kick a toilet in the stomach and flush an abortion down a woman. Thanks for reading again, and God speed.
|
|
MSBNYY
Administrator
El Guapo
Posts: 15,545
|
Post by MSBNYY on Apr 17, 2009 13:31:02 GMT -5
Another well done blog. I kind of wish we did this earlier.
You have an interesting point with Raw being face heavy. Other than Orton, are there any real top heels on Raw right now?
What would you think about a turn of one of those top babyfaces? Of that group, Batista might make a good choice. His history with Orton would make them a pretty cool force, and a turn at Backlash could set up some good feuds with HHH. Even if Batista didn't re-team with Orton, individual and separate feuds with the faces might be cool.
And I see we agree about Christian. I am so not following ECW to the point where I have no clue if Christian was brought in as a face or heel. If he's a heel, I think a move to Raw is a must.
I think you're right about Liddell. He's having a rough go of it lately.
Now that Ultimate Fighter is back, we should rev up the MMA thread again.
|
|