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Post by thecaptain15 on Jan 23, 2009 10:00:07 GMT -5
Figured I'd bump this up to get the conversation going on probably my favorite PPV.......
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 23, 2009 10:37:25 GMT -5
Its mine as well. Thanks for finding this old one, bringing it back out of the mire. Midget Mike is coming over Sunday, we are going to watch some NHL All-Star action and then settle in for the Rumble. As it will be too cold to venture outside in the back for a drink and a cigar, I am going to pull out at least one vintage Rumble for earlier viewing and enjoyment.
Really looking forward to the show, especially the Rumble itself!
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Post by sancho231 on Jan 23, 2009 14:54:54 GMT -5
So whats the deal with the rumble it self? isin't there like 9 open spots???
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 23, 2009 15:05:12 GMT -5
They dont make a big deal about who is in it anymore. There is really no fanfare, they just gloss over the names. I do remember chuckling when they said there are only four ECW wrestlers in the Rumble. I would think there will be some splashes made, we'll see. But they have turned attention from who is actually in it, to focusing on the guys who everyone knows has a shot at winning it.
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Post by cactusjames on Jan 23, 2009 15:09:30 GMT -5
Well there's still 8 or 9 spots left, I'm sure some more ECW guys will find there way into it. But this Rumble is stacked. Lots of star power throughout so it should be fun, a real good chance this could be a great card.My picks:
Cena retains, I'm going Edge, I think they'll be one title switch, but I won't be shocked if it the change happens at No Way Out. Swagger retains, Beth retains, and Orton wins the Rumble.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 23, 2009 15:20:58 GMT -5
Some very safe picks there, James.
While I too would imagine more ECW guys would find their way into the Rumble, they mentioned on last weeks ECW that they would have "four representitives from ECW in the Rumble" specifically.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 24, 2009 10:18:16 GMT -5
Interesting piece on Randy Orton splashed on ESPN.com, of all places, this morning. How careful do you have to be when punting your boss in the head?
Well, if you're Randy Orton, the most hated heel in the wrestling industry and your boss is billionaire bad boy Vince McMahon, the answer (backed up by the sick thud of replay) is not so safe. And that's just how WWE wanted to lead into their second biggest pay-per-view of the year, with Orton kicking McMahon in the head to the shock/cheers/boos/disbelief of the millions of Raw fans who scrambled for their DVR remote to watch the kick again.
"If you watch the replay, I wasn't too careful. I definitely let him have it," Orton admits when talking about what transpired Monday night. "My wife DVR'd it for me because I had to watch it for myself. My foot still hurts. And if that's the case, I'm sure he has a nice migraine right now."
ESPN caught up with Orton as he prepared for the 30-man Royal Rumble match to talk about what it's like playing the role of a heel, the story behind his new tats, and the future of The Legacy.
Here's what the best punter since Ray Guy had to say:
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ESPN: How did growing up in a house where your dad (Cowboy Bob Orton) was one of the top heels of his day, prepare you for life as "the bad guy"?
Randy Orton: I have to put my father over because he really taught me a lot, especially when it comes to out-of-the-ring psychology and how to react when you're approached by fans after a show or in the airport. It might sound silly, but a lot of those things come into play when you're playing a character. You meet people outside of the ring, and if you act a certain kind of way, then they really believe that this guy is a bastard. They want to watch, tune in, buy tickets to see me get my ass handed to me, and I think that's why I'm in the position I'm at right now, because I understand that. I understand the psychology of the sport, especially inside the ring. From bell to bell, from when my entrance plays and I step through that curtain, people have to wonder what's going on inside that guy's head. And my theme music, "Voices", describes my character to a tee. When I walk to the ring, I hear voices telling me what to do and sometimes it's not the right thing, but it's definitely damn entertaining.
ESPN: From yourself to Cody Rhodes (son of Dusty Rhodes) and Ted DiBiase (son of The Million Dollar Man) to older guys like The Rock, it seems like the second and third generation stars just have such an edge both inside and outside of the ring. Why is there such an advantage to being a legacy?
Randy Orton: When you grow up in the business as a fan and as the son of someone who wrestles for Vince and wrestles for WWE, you see a lot of backstage stuff and how the wrestlers interact with each other. When I was a kid, these wrestlers really took me under their wing when I got to travel with my dad during the summers. I was so young, traveling with my dad when I was five, six, and seven years old, but I look back and I was so lucky because the guys who are coming up now, most of them only got to watch wrestling on television as a fan. What's different about me, I was bred for it.
ESPN: Your career really started to turn the corner after you joined Evolution with Ric Flair, Triple H and Batista. How did Flair and Triple H help you in your career?
Randy Orton: I have to give props to both Triple H and Ric Flair. When I was a part of Evolution, we rode together from town to town and that was a great experience for me because while my father taught me quite a bit about out-of-the-ring psychology, Flair and Hunter, I really learned a lot from them about how to perform inside the ring. Being involved in tag matches with them and seeing how they react to certain situations that come up in the ring, it became second nature to me. I got to wrestle against people like Shawn Michaels and Goldberg with Flair and Hunter in my ear teaching me right from wrong, pointing out my mistakes. But a big part of that was also me being good enough to correct that mistake and not make it again. Learning from my mistakes at the same time being criticized by Triple H and Ric Flair made me what I am today. Without them, I definitely wouldn't be here right now in this position.
ESPN: Is traveling on the road with Ric Flair the rock star lifestyle it's made out to be?
Randy Orton: Oh my god, yeah. Everything is five star with that guy, from the hotels to the wine and champagne. Before I was married, before I was with my wife, I was traveling with Ric Flair and women were everywhere. It was crazy. The lifestyle he leads, he's the wheelin', dealin', kiss-stealin' son of a gun. He's Ric Flair and there's no one like him, there won't ever be another like him in the wrestling world again. No one will match up to Ric Flair and how he lives. He's a great man and a great tutor of the game. And of course, Triple H is right there too, giving me all the little tips. He loves this business. He is one of those guys who was a fan growing up, but it's different with him because he got it so quick, the understanding of how everything works and the psychology you need to have in the ring and with the fans.
The key is dictating what the fans do rather than letting them dictate what you do. It's a completely different universe when you're in there with Triple H and Ric Flair. Learning from the best, you will eventually become the best if you have the talent already, if you have that potential. And I think that's what they saw in me. They saw that third generation kid who loved the business, had the hunger to be the best, and they took advantage of that and taught me so much. God thank them because without them, I wouldn't have been the three-time World Heavyweight champion, Intercontinental champion, tag champion, three-time Survivor Series sole survivor, and I believe I'm going to add Royal Rumble winner after Sunday. I have big hopes.
ESPN: Is the Royal Rumble a fun match to be in because of all the new match-ups, or is it something that is more dangerous than it looks because of all the big bodies that could land on you from any angle?
Randy Orton: It's definitely dangerous. If you get knocked down, if you take a bump in that ring, you have so many feet walking around, so many big guys ... if the Big Show lands on you when you're on the ground, you're not getting back up. He'll pick you up like a sack of crap and toss you over the top rope. I think that's where Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase come in handy. They are the eyes in the back of my head.
ESPN: Your RKO is one of the most spectacular finishing moves in the sport. What do you think it is about the move that makes it something everyone looks forward to seeing, even if we are supposed to hate you?
Randy Orton: It can come out of nowhere. In the air, on the ground, crouched down, setting up for it, it's just something that's unexpected, and when I hit it, you're not kicking out. It's a great move because I can do it to everybody. Since I don't need to pick you up, I can hit Big Show with it, I can hit Rey Mysterio with it. I can do it on the run, if you're back behind me, from either side ... it's the perfect move.
ESPN: You took some time off recently due to injury, and when you came back you were covered in tattoos. Is that a look you always wanted?
Randy Orton: Hell yeah, I've always wanted sleeves. Tattoos are addicting, and I used to have this tribal tattoo, but I was never really happy with it. I wanted to get the sleeves, and when I did get hurt, it wasn't that bad of an injury and I was able to move around just weeks after the bone started to heel. I figured, shoot, this is the best opportunity I've got to sit down and get some work done. I got about 50 hours put into my arms. It's a wash, where it's a faded art. I have a bunch of skulls and roses, and I have a little rose that's colored in that's actually a tribute to my daughter Alanna Marie. They all have their own little meanings to me personally, and I always liked the look of sleeves. I'm really glad I did it.
ESPN: Are the new tats something you want to see updated in your video game character when WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010 rolls around?
Randy Orton: For sure. I've actually already taken the studio shots for the new game and the new action figure. The next game should definitely have all my new tattoos.
ESPN: You mentioned Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase earlier and how The Legacy is watching your back. Any hopes to add a new member, and if so, wouldn't Stephanie or Shane McMahon have about the best legacy in the business if you wanted to add one of them?
Randy Orton: I never really thought about that, but that's a really good idea. I would actually like to make the group one more man strong. I would like to have four guys in my group because I think four is that magic number. We need a big guy. Someone we can count on to be the heater. Someone who is an unstoppable force and an immovable object. Someone similar to how Batista was in Evolution. So yeah, I'm still recruiting for The Legacy but I don't think Shane McMahon and Stephanie are too happy about what I did to their dad Monday night. We'll have to wait and see what comes of that.
ESPN: Are there a lot more legacy kids in WWE's development system?
Randy Orton: Mike Rotunda has two boys who are in FCW, the WWE's developmental system. Then of course there was (Superfly) Snuka's son who had his shot, but he's out. Afa the Wild Samoan's son had his shot, but he's out. One guy I've been looking at really closely is Harry Smith. He's Davey Boy Smith's son, and he's a big, young kid who has that hunger. He's a strong boy, and I think he's at that age now where he's learned from some of the mistakes he's made in the past. He originally debuted as DH Smith, but he's a completely different person right now. I have my eye on him, but we'll have to see what the future holds. I need one more guy, but he has to have wrestling in his blood and he has to have that potential to one day follow in my footsteps. I won't settle for anything less.
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Post by sancho231 on Jan 26, 2009 0:44:03 GMT -5
good Rumble, i'm re watching it now, not the best. I liked the ending and glad HHH did not get the win. fuckin rey did Great job as did Priceless, i'll post more when i 'm less drunk. thanks Capt.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 26, 2009 8:58:27 GMT -5
I liked this show. I also liked the Matt turn, I had called that as a possibility the morning we found out "Jeff was attacked in his hotel"
I wonder if the next plan is to see Matt and Edge vs Jeff....and Christian.
I thought the show was entertaining, and some of it was predictable but I have no regrets coming off this years Rumble.
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Post by MSBNYY on Jan 26, 2009 9:26:59 GMT -5
Sounds like an ok PPV. I just didn't have time to get it, but I'm sure it was good. I actually am not a fan of the Matt Hardy turn. This kind of thing has been done before, and it was so predictable, it's boring. I would have much preferred Christian being Jeff's tormentor. THAT would have been cool. Matt Hardy being the culprit just made me roll my eyes.
Really glad Orton won the Rumble. Laughing at Santino breaking the record for shortest time in the rumble, though sad to see Warlord lose his legacy.
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 26, 2009 9:37:00 GMT -5
The turn makes sense on so many levels. For one thing, it changes things up for Matt Hardy. He was stuck in nuetral, its time to advance his character. This can be a very good thing. Last time Matt and Jeff split, it was 2001 and it was not done full-fling, and abandoned. This can surely work.
I still see big things for Christian, and maybe even in this feud.
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Post by MSBNYY on Jan 26, 2009 9:45:56 GMT -5
Point taken on Matt, but the whole, "brother turning on brother" thing has been done. Yes, it shakes it up for Matt, and yes, he was stale, but geez--a feud with JEFF? Yawn.
I really hadn't considered the idea of Christian entering as a face and feuding with Edge.
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 26, 2009 10:28:51 GMT -5
In all due respect, what would you rather have Matt do? Continue fueding with Mark Henry? Its all been done. He has not wrestled his brother in 8 years, and they have done it a total of ONCE.
Its time, and it will be fine. I am very much looking forward to it.
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Post by MSBNYY on Jan 26, 2009 10:42:22 GMT -5
No matter who he feuds with, Matt is a nonentity. Brother v brother feuds bore me.
Nothing will ever top the Bret/Owen feud. Best brother v brother of all time.
So in the week I was gone, was there any update on whether Christian was actually signed?
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 26, 2009 10:53:12 GMT -5
Balls, stop comparing things to something that happened over 15 years ago. Time moves on. This is the time to do this, the storyline makes total sense - Jeff has overcome his demons to become a World Champion, and Matt is stuck in his shadow. And now he is lashing out. Wrestling 101.
As to Christian, nothing is officially announced as WWE is keeping things close to the vest, but from all accounts he is done with TNA and should appear on WWE TV soon.
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Post by cactusjames on Jan 26, 2009 10:58:44 GMT -5
Couldn't disagree more, when have they done a brother vs brother and one brother tired to kill his brother and girlfriend? Honestly, I was so waiting for Christian to come out, even though I knew where it was going when Matt came out, I still thought it was cool. My only thing is, Matt is terrible on the stick so for him to be the heel and have to carry the work load mic wise in explaining himself can be brutal. But i think the matches will be good and and at least now you want to see Matt Hardy.
I agree he was bland, I won't say nonentity, he was ECW champ afterall, but now he has a money feud set up, he's far from a nonentity. And if Christian had signed, he would have came out last night.
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Post by MSBNYY on Jan 26, 2009 11:00:25 GMT -5
For me, if you're in ECW, even as champ, you're a nonentity.
Like you said, Matt's not that great on the mic, and might have trouble pulling it off. I guess we'll see where it goes.
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Post by cactusjames on Jan 26, 2009 11:03:09 GMT -5
But the point of having the ECW belt is that your aren't a nonentity. You have the ECW belt because you're not the Boogeyman of DJ Gabriel.
And by the way, Sheriff, looks like my HBK/Taker prediction for Mania might be true afterall. How do you like dem apples?
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Post by MSBNYY on Jan 26, 2009 11:12:36 GMT -5
What happened to make you think HBK v. Taker could happen?
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Post by cactusjames on Jan 26, 2009 11:20:58 GMT -5
I've thought it all along, even though Tom thinks I'm nuts. But last night after a last minute prep talk from JBL, HBK goes to leave the locker room area and standing right behind him is Taker, who said to him something like to get to heaven you must go through hell. Something like that, I did catch it all the way he mushes two words together. But yeah, look for Taker to be collecting HBK's soul or whatever. It's not so nutty now is it Tom?
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Post by MSBNYY on Jan 26, 2009 13:01:40 GMT -5
Interesting--but that would mean HBK would have to be the full heel by then, which is fine. Of course, it also could mean HBK loses, since Taker's streak is what it is.
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Post by thecaptain15 on Jan 26, 2009 16:24:05 GMT -5
Good Rumble. Orton winning is no surprise......I agree that once Matt came out you knew what was going to happen. I like the Matt turn as this will advance his career..I wonder if this will be Mattiitude v2.0...LOL..I also knew HBK was going to level both of them..... Of course I loved the RVD cameo..guess they are saving Christian for a run out on Smackdown...... Now the real road to Wrestlemania begins...Anyone going? I have Ringside tix but not sure if I am selling or going or both.....LOL
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 26, 2009 16:27:21 GMT -5
I dont think they are going in that direction with the Matt turn...this seems to be a darker, more dangerous sort of heel turn. At least I hope so.
RVD confessed to having an "open door" policy with WWE, so you'll see him making these appearances. But he's not coming back.
Cap, you got to go to Mania so you can see Chris Jericho vs Mickey Rourke!
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Post by thecaptain15 on Jan 26, 2009 16:33:44 GMT -5
Yeah I didn't think they were going th mattitude "joke" route hence why I said LOL...I think this will be darker and real good for him..If only he was a better on the stick..Yeah I know about the RVD open door policy..he did it before..I just wish he woould come back..I think he got the biggest pops in The Rumble outside of Hacksaw Jim Duggan....They were going nuts for Duggan..it was too funny......
I noticed they did a promo for The Wreslter on the some of the shows last week are they really angling a Mickey Rourke match? Also I wonder how Stone Cold will be worked in as with him going into the HoF you know he has to make an appearance...
One last thing..does anyone get more out of a second and a half than Santino.....He is just comic gold.......
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Post by thecaptain15 on Jan 26, 2009 16:35:16 GMT -5
OK I just saw this.....
Actor Mickey Rourke, star of the critically praised "The Wrestler", will be involved at Wrestlemania is a storyline that will apparently involve Chris Jericho.
Rourke made comments tonight at the SAG awards directed at Jericho, "Chris Jericho, you better get in shape," he said. "Because I'm coming after your ass!".
On a side note I will probably go see The Wrestler on Wednesday.....
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jan 26, 2009 16:35:29 GMT -5
Well, part of the reason for RVDs huge pop is that he was in his hometown. Not that he would not get a lot of love elsewhere, but that was simple heat.
Rumors today is that Rourke is on board for something at Mania, and apparently he already "called out Chris Jericho" on the carpet at some awards show just last night, so he is already building it.
As to Austin, he will most likely do a wave from the ramp, or a run-in - he wont be wrestling at Mania.
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Post by thecaptain15 on Jan 26, 2009 16:37:24 GMT -5
Yeah I figured a run in or guest ref....something along those liines
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Post by thecaptain15 on Jan 26, 2009 16:55:19 GMT -5
From The Sun in the UK:
OSCAR nominated and Golden Globe winning actor Mickey Rourke has signed up to make a special appearance at Wrestlemania 25. The star of the hit movie “The Wrestler” has been lauded for his phenomenal appearance in Darren Aronofsky’s flick, and in an interview with Access Hollywood confirmed that he will be in Houston for WWE’s flagship event.
“The boys from WWE called me and asked me to do it,” Rourke told US TV show Access Hollywood.
“I said ‘I want to’. I’m talking with Rowdy Roddy Piper about it.”
This appears to mark a major turnaround by WWE boss Vince McMahon, who was said to be furious at the tone of the film and declared his dislike for it on being given a special screening.
However, the rest of the wrestling world has embraced the film, in particular Rourke’s portrayal of broken down grappler Randy “The Ram” Robinson, and it seems Vince has chosen to put aside his own feelings and do what’s best for the company.
The nature of Rourke’s Wrestlemania appearance is as yet unclear, although he did appear to cut a mini-promo on one of WWE’s big stars.
“Chris Jericho, you better get in shape. Because I’m coming after your ass." He said.
Celebrity involvement is one of Wrestlemania’s selling points, with Donald Trump managing Bobby Lashley and shaving Vince McMahon’s head two years ago and last year boxer Floyd “Money” Mayweather stepped into the squared circle with Big Show.
If Rourke were to wrestle, it wouldn’t be the first time that an actor in a wrestling movie has stepped between the ropes.
In 1989 Tom “Tiny” Lister played Zeus against Hulk Hogan in the film “No Holds Barred” which was a critical and financial flop.
It didn’t stop him stepping in the ring several times opposite Hogan during the latter part of the year, including at two Pay Per Views. More recently and more famously, WCW hired an actor to wrestle – with disastrous consequences. David Arquette, husband of “Friends” actress Courtney Cox, was in the WCW-produced movie “Ready to Rumble” and appeared on Nitro to promote it.
Somehow or other, he ended up winning the title and helping to seal WCW’s fate as a doomed entity.
To Arquette’s credit, he donated all the money he made from Wrestling to the families of Owen Hart, Brian Pillman, Darren Drosdov and Brian Hildebrand.
However his wrestling tenure will be remember for all the wrong reasons.
If Rourke steps into the ring you can bet that WWE will receive major mainstream publicity for Wrestlemania, something they crave this time each year.
And if he does lace the boots up for real, Chris Jericho would be an ideal opponent.
2008 was a major year for Jericho. Returning from an absence at the back end of 2007, he turned heel and had the most memorable feud of the year – maybe the decade – with Shawn Michaels, and justifiable won the Slammy Award for Wrestler of the year.
His charisma, acting ability and confidence on the mic would make him the perfect antagonist for Rourke to work with.
Jericho’s reward for his great work may well be a marquee special attraction match with Rourke. And the mouthy Canadian may well be silenced by the “Ram Jam” at Wrestlemania.
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Post by MSBNYY on Jan 26, 2009 18:40:14 GMT -5
Jericho would not be a good opponent. An actor is beneath him. You need at best, a midcarder.
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Post by 4dogg on Jan 26, 2009 18:50:31 GMT -5
im sure it will be some kind of tag match
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