Well, it has happened again. Congratulations Daniel Bryan. You have gotten over with the crowd despite the WWE not wishing you to. And because of that, I fully expect them to screw you up as a character and bury you sooner rather than later. Do I agree with this? No. But if Zack Ryder is any indication, Daniel Bryan better watch out.
Showing posts with label Wrestlemania 28. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wrestlemania 28. Show all posts
Friday, April 13, 2012
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Quick Thoughts on 2 Big Names Rumored for Wrestlemania
Come Wrestlemania time, rumors start flying about potential surprise appearances and finishes to matches. I would say about half the time these rumors actually happen and half the time nothing comes of anything. Lots of people just throw stuff at the wall and hope it sticks, but there are times when rumors actually have a bit more credibility to them, and it seems like this is the case with at least one of these names rumored to appear.
So I'm giving you a warning: If you want to be surprised at Wrestlemania, stop reading. If not, continue on and get my thoughts on potential two big returns.
So I'm giving you a warning: If you want to be surprised at Wrestlemania, stop reading. If not, continue on and get my thoughts on potential two big returns.
Monday, March 26, 2012
The RAW Truth Review for 3/26/12
It's time for another RAW Review, the last one before Wrestlemania. Get ready for a lot of promo packages and heavy hype heading into Mania, as well as a likely physical confrontation between The Rock and John Cena.
Wrestling? To Start The Show?
An actual wrestling match to start the show? Kane/Daniel Bryan vs Randy Orton/Sheamus. Orton and Bryan started, with Orton doing his version of the Garvin Stomp. Bryan ate a clothesline. Orton tagged in Sheamus but Bryan immediately tagged in Kane. Sheamus chopped Kane's leg but Kane countered with a back drop. Sheamus caught Kane with a knee then hit a top rope battering ram. Sheamus charged at Bryan but Bryan jumped off the apron. Kane hit an upper cut that sent Sheamus to the outside, then Bryan hit a jumping knee drop off the apron on Sheamus heading into commercial.
Wrestling? To Start The Show?
An actual wrestling match to start the show? Kane/Daniel Bryan vs Randy Orton/Sheamus. Orton and Bryan started, with Orton doing his version of the Garvin Stomp. Bryan ate a clothesline. Orton tagged in Sheamus but Bryan immediately tagged in Kane. Sheamus chopped Kane's leg but Kane countered with a back drop. Sheamus caught Kane with a knee then hit a top rope battering ram. Sheamus charged at Bryan but Bryan jumped off the apron. Kane hit an upper cut that sent Sheamus to the outside, then Bryan hit a jumping knee drop off the apron on Sheamus heading into commercial.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Yes, Why I'm Already Thinking About Wrestlemania 29
Wrestlemania 28 is a week away. One of the most anticipated matches of all time, The Rock vs John Cena, i taking place. Triple H and The Undertaker are going to go at it inside Hell In A Cell. Chris Jericho and C.M. Punk should put on a very good 20 minute wrestling match and Daniel Bryan vs Sheamus should be good at well. When it is all set and done, this may be one of the better Wrestlemanias of all time.
The problem is, as those who read my RAW reviews can figure out, I haven't been a fan of much of the build. Outside of C.M. Punk/Chris Jericho, nothing is standing out to me. HHH/Undertaker is boring, Rock/Cena hasn't gotten out of second gear, and I couldn't care less about this whole GM storyline. While all the matches will deliver, which is what people will remember most, the lacking build will always stick out in my mind.
The problem is, as those who read my RAW reviews can figure out, I haven't been a fan of much of the build. Outside of C.M. Punk/Chris Jericho, nothing is standing out to me. HHH/Undertaker is boring, Rock/Cena hasn't gotten out of second gear, and I couldn't care less about this whole GM storyline. While all the matches will deliver, which is what people will remember most, the lacking build will always stick out in my mind.
Monday, March 19, 2012
The RAW Truth Review for 3/19/12
As we continue on the Road to Wrestlemania, it is time for another live RAW Truth Review. Hopefully, the build picks up for HHH/Taker tonight, because I'm starting to lose interest.
Rise Above Alcoholism
C.M. Punk came out with a very serious look on his face. They replayed Jericho calling out Punk for being straight edge because his father was a drunk. Punk told everyone that Jericho wasn't here tonight, but Punk said that was a gift, because Jericho pissed him off last week by calling his father an alcoholic. Punk said it is true, but not his story to tell. Punk said the fact that he said it in front of the entire world is what pissed him off. Punk said there isn't a person watching this that hasn't been effected by alcoholism. Punk said Jericho only wants to get in his head and under his skin to have an advantage heading into Wrestlemania. Punk said Jericho doesn't understand him at all, because it is in his DNA to kick Jericho's ass now. Punk said that Jericho forgot to tell the finish of the story, that his father beat his demons and is working to get better. Punk said Jericho is an obstacle and that he is going straight through him at Wrestlemania to prove that he is the Best In the World.
Rise Above Alcoholism
C.M. Punk came out with a very serious look on his face. They replayed Jericho calling out Punk for being straight edge because his father was a drunk. Punk told everyone that Jericho wasn't here tonight, but Punk said that was a gift, because Jericho pissed him off last week by calling his father an alcoholic. Punk said it is true, but not his story to tell. Punk said the fact that he said it in front of the entire world is what pissed him off. Punk said there isn't a person watching this that hasn't been effected by alcoholism. Punk said Jericho only wants to get in his head and under his skin to have an advantage heading into Wrestlemania. Punk said Jericho doesn't understand him at all, because it is in his DNA to kick Jericho's ass now. Punk said that Jericho forgot to tell the finish of the story, that his father beat his demons and is working to get better. Punk said Jericho is an obstacle and that he is going straight through him at Wrestlemania to prove that he is the Best In the World.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
The Three Most Likely Endings for Rock vs Cena
Its getting hard to believe that we are only three weeks away from a match that was made almost a year ago. In the two weeks we have gotten of Rock/Cena promos so far, I feel confident in saying that they have not disappointed yet. Two weeks ago, The Rock was owned by John Cena. Cena just looked more confident and unafraid, and actually looked like he belonged in the same ring with Rock. While who got the better between the two this week is in the eye of the beholder, I personally think Rock did. Rock's "History" promos were very entertaining, and it was The Rock of old that we all liked growing up as wrestling fans. Cena wasn't bad. He was still better than he has been in recent months.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
WWE Elimination Chamber Preview
Yes, that's right. There is a WWE PPV this Sunday. It is the most RUTHLESS structure in WWE. Two matches in one show too. This Sunday is the WWE Elimination Chamber PPV. If you ask me, it is one of the weakest Elimination Chamber PPV line-ups in a while. And that all has to do with the lack of star power in both Chamber matches, especially in the Smackdown one now that Randy Orton has been taken out of the match. And Orton's replacement is an absolute joke.
Even with the "debate" this past Monday on RAW, there are only two real threats to walk out of the RAW Chamber match as WWE Champion. Oh, and then there is the great conclusion to the John Cena/Kane saga when they go at it in an Ambulance Match. That whole drama took another interesting twist this past week on RAW. Then there is some Divas Match too.
Even with the "debate" this past Monday on RAW, there are only two real threats to walk out of the RAW Chamber match as WWE Champion. Oh, and then there is the great conclusion to the John Cena/Kane saga when they go at it in an Ambulance Match. That whole drama took another interesting twist this past week on RAW. Then there is some Divas Match too.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
The Wrestlemania Super Bowl
It is Super Bowl week. If you watch ESPN you know that. About half of SportsCenter for the last week has been Patriots/Giants talk. My Super Bowl Preview is up so take a look at it.
Often, people say that Wrestlemania is the Super Bowl of the WWE and Sports Entertainment. There is no denying that fact. Wrestlemania is held in large stadiums every year and they either sell-out the stadium or come very close to it. The fact that the WWE can still get that many people into one place with wrestling not as popular as it once was says a couple things. It says that WWE still has a ton of loyal fans willing to come out to Wrestlemania no matter what. I went to Atlanta for Wrestlemania last year and it was a great experience. Once in a lifetime. I really wanted to go this year, but the monetary funds were not there for me. Selling out a large stadium also shows that people will travel out to Wrestlemania if the card looks like a "big time" card, like this year's certainly does. We are getting Rock/Cena, HHH/Taker, Punk/Jericho and possibly Shaq/Big Show. That looks like a mega card certainly worthy of a Super Bowl like title.
Often, people say that Wrestlemania is the Super Bowl of the WWE and Sports Entertainment. There is no denying that fact. Wrestlemania is held in large stadiums every year and they either sell-out the stadium or come very close to it. The fact that the WWE can still get that many people into one place with wrestling not as popular as it once was says a couple things. It says that WWE still has a ton of loyal fans willing to come out to Wrestlemania no matter what. I went to Atlanta for Wrestlemania last year and it was a great experience. Once in a lifetime. I really wanted to go this year, but the monetary funds were not there for me. Selling out a large stadium also shows that people will travel out to Wrestlemania if the card looks like a "big time" card, like this year's certainly does. We are getting Rock/Cena, HHH/Taker, Punk/Jericho and possibly Shaq/Big Show. That looks like a mega card certainly worthy of a Super Bowl like title.
Monday, January 30, 2012
The RAW Truth Review for 1/30/2012
Another week, another live RAW Review. Lets hope that this isn't as bad as last night's Royal Rumble.
Could This Be A Decent RAW Wrestling Show?
John Laurinaitis came out to start the show. He had a big smile on his face as he shook hands with fans at ringside. John Laurinaitis said a wise man told him that it is ok to make mistakes, as long as you don't make the same one twice. He said that he truly believes he will become the permanent GM of RAW. He complimented his performance at the Royal Rumble. Laurinaitis went over the WWE Championship Match at the "Elimination" PPV. That's what he said. The match is C.M. Punk vs Dolph Ziggler vs Chris Jericho vs Kofi Kingston vs Miz vs R-Truth. He then announced that tonight is Beth Phoenix vs Eve, Kofi Kingston vs Miz, Dolph Ziggler vs Randy Orton and C.M. Punk vs Daniel Bryan.
Could This Be A Decent RAW Wrestling Show?
John Laurinaitis came out to start the show. He had a big smile on his face as he shook hands with fans at ringside. John Laurinaitis said a wise man told him that it is ok to make mistakes, as long as you don't make the same one twice. He said that he truly believes he will become the permanent GM of RAW. He complimented his performance at the Royal Rumble. Laurinaitis went over the WWE Championship Match at the "Elimination" PPV. That's what he said. The match is C.M. Punk vs Dolph Ziggler vs Chris Jericho vs Kofi Kingston vs Miz vs R-Truth. He then announced that tonight is Beth Phoenix vs Eve, Kofi Kingston vs Miz, Dolph Ziggler vs Randy Orton and C.M. Punk vs Daniel Bryan.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
How Close Is A John Cena Heel Turn?
So if you're like me, you have to be wondering: What has the WWE been doing with John Cena these last couple weeks? Two weeks ago, he appeared after Survivor Series just to talk about the crowd's reaction to him in MSG and to break-up Miz & R-Truth. Last week? He appeared on the opening segment of RAW with Roddy Piper. Piper basically called out Cena for not caring about some fan's negative responses to him. Piper slapped Cena and basically challenged him to stand up for himself. Instead? Cena "rose above hate" and walked away. The interesting thing is that after all of this, Cena did not appear on the rest of the show.
There have been a lot of people clamoring for a John Cena heel turn for a while now. Cena is arguably the most interesting character in WWE history when it comes to fan reactions. Ever since John Cena won the WWE Title at Wrestlemania 21, fans kept losing more and more interest in him. Cena's first reign lasted over a year, and by the end of it, fans were sick of seeing him come out on top every night. Not only that, but the WWE began to water down his hip hop character. They made him more of a kid friendly character. The WWE saw Cena as their future corner stone of the company, so they had to make his character suitable for that. It's a different era compared to when The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin were on top. The WWE feels their target audience is the youth demographic, but that's something that can be argued every day. The 17 and under crowd isn't buying your PPVs.
There have been a lot of people clamoring for a John Cena heel turn for a while now. Cena is arguably the most interesting character in WWE history when it comes to fan reactions. Ever since John Cena won the WWE Title at Wrestlemania 21, fans kept losing more and more interest in him. Cena's first reign lasted over a year, and by the end of it, fans were sick of seeing him come out on top every night. Not only that, but the WWE began to water down his hip hop character. They made him more of a kid friendly character. The WWE saw Cena as their future corner stone of the company, so they had to make his character suitable for that. It's a different era compared to when The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin were on top. The WWE feels their target audience is the youth demographic, but that's something that can be argued every day. The 17 and under crowd isn't buying your PPVs.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
What Might Wrestlemania 28 Look Like?
Well, we have almost reached the quarter pole in the build to Wrestlemania. We are just a little over 4 months away until the WWE invades Miami for Wrestlemania 28. Unlike any other Wrestlemania before, we actually know what the main event willl be with The Rock facing off against John Cena. I don't like what the WWE has done with the build so far. Granted, Rock has only been around for two live shows since the match announcement, but I think they could have done a bit better with the Rock/Cena interaction at Survivor Series. I don't think this match will be for the WWE Title, and that's a smart thing. Why waste the WWE Title in a match that doesn't need it?
The one positive about Rock/Cena is that it allows the WWE to take some risks in their other matches. Rock/Cena should get the Wrestlemania buy rate over 1 million, unless the WWE really screws it up. That means the WWE can take risks with the WWE and World Title matches. Now, we know that Daniel Bryan is suppose to cash in his Money in the Bank World Title opportunity at Wrestlemania. It will be a real stretch if actually keeps it that long. The WWE has just started building up Bryan, and I don't know if they can make him into a threat in time for Wrestlemania. But like I said, the WWE can take a chance like that.
Then of course their is The Undertaker. We haven't seen The Undertaker since Wrestlemania 27. He's had hip and back surgery during his break, but it is rumored that he is healthy and ready to go for Wrestlemania 28. That's another big match for Wrestlemania. The Undertaker is looking at 20-0 if he wins this year. My guess is that this could be his final Wrestlemania, so either Undertaker retires 20-0 or someone goes down in history as the man who ended the streak.
And finally, there is that whole "It Begins" YouTube video that hijacked the WWE Twitter pop-up on RAW this past Monday? Who's it for? No one really knows. It could be for The Undertaker again. It could be Chris Jericho. It could be someone we aren't even thinking about. Some people say Chris Jericho isn't coming back after a stall in contract negotiations. Others think that those are just rumors thrown out there to get people off the trail. There is no real hint in that video to give people an idea of who it is.
So, lets take a look at a possible Wrestlemania 28 Match Card.
Divas Championship: Beth Phoenix (c) vs Kharma
If I'm doing my math right, Kharma should be back right in time for Wrestlemania. There is no one else that would really interest me in a Divas contest at Wrestlemania. You could turn Natalya or Beth face, but it wouldn't do as much as having Kharma back would. Kharma and Beth could actually have a good Divas match and should keep the crowd entertained, unlike a Kelly Kelly or Eve match. This would probably be the best match possible, as it involves the two Divas fans would care most about in a match.
Sheamus vs Alberto del Rio- Winner Gets A World/WWE Title Shot at Extreme Rules
This is a simple case of two guys pretty much having nothing else going for them. Sheamus has been getting a monster push as a face, but the Smackdown main event already has two faces in it for me. Alberto del Rio, meanwhile, can't get an extended reign as WWE Champion. Del Rio can't get past the shadow of C.M. Punk or John Cena. It's almost like Del Rio has peaked as a character. The move from Smackdown to RAW really hurt ADR, while the move from RAW to Smackdown has helped Sheamus. It is a fresh match-up here as these two have never faced off one-on-one to my knowledge. I'm sure these two could put on a good match. The added stipulation makes fans care about the match more.
Intercontinental Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs Goldust: Title vs Career
This is a match that Goldust, aka Dustin Rhodes, has been campaigning for. Dustin wants to close this last chapter in his career and what better way for him to go out than on the big stage against his baby brother. Rhodes is a start on the rise in the WWE and he is trying to bring the IC Title back to respectability. Dustin Rhodes won the IC Title multiple times as Goldust in his WWE Career, so having him try to regain the Title while putting his career on the line would be something interesting. Now of course, Cody would win this match. He is suppose to feud with Booker T in the coming months, and of course Booker and Goldust have a history. Another situation of right place, right time for these two.
Shaquille O'Neal, Big Show, Zack Ryder vs The Miz, Christian, Jack Swagger
The WWE likes to have some kind of celebrity involvement every year at Wrestlemania. Rumor has it that they were pushing for NBA stars Dwayne Wade and Lebron James at one point, but NBA Labor talks are on-going again and there is hope that the season can be saved. That leaves limited options. Shaq is retired from the NBA, is a fan of the WWE, and is still in shape enough to move around in the ring. Throw in Big Show, and you have two of the tallest athletes in the world. Zack Ryder would be perfect to interact with Shaq as well. On the heel side, Miz can talk a big game and Christian can play the cocky heel well. Swagger gets added because of the Awesome Truth break-up, otherwise R-Truth would be here. Shaq would definitely get the WWE the positive PR they love.
World Heavyweight Championship: Mark Henry (c) vs Daniel Bryan vs Randy Orton
Oh Randy Orton, you just love to find your way into our World Title matches. I had a tough time deciding what to do with Orton. At one point I had him up against Alberto del Rio. Then I had him against Brodus Clay before I decided to take Clay off the card. If Chris Jericho were coming back, I might have him against Orton because Orton is the one who put Jericho out of the WWE with his punt to the head. But I don't think Jericho is coming back, so I put Orton in the World Title match. Orton could fight Bryan for the right to be added to the World Title match at Wrestlemania. Despite the opportunity to take a risk leaving Bryan in this match one-on-one, I think Vince McMahon will like it better if Orton is in it as well to add to the star power of the match. I don't know if Bryan wins or not. He has the makings of the first MITB winner to cash in and lose. At this point, Henry would be considered dominant and losing the Title here would be a big story, but it would be bigger if it was Bryan winning.
WWE Championship: C.M. Punk (c) vs Wade Barrett
Yes, the Barrett Barrage is in full effect. If I were a betting man, I would put my money on Wade Barrett winning the 2012 Royal Rumble. It seems that the WWE is finally fully behind pushing Barrett as a future main eventer. What better way to complete than to have Barrett win the Royal Rumble and co-headline Wrestlemania? Again, it is a risk that the WWE can take with Rock/Cena already happening. Punk is winning over more fans as the days go on. Ideally, I would have hoped that the WWE would stretch Punk/HHH all the way out here, but they shot that storyline to hell. There's also a bit of history between Punk and Barrett, as Punk was the man who kicked Barrett out of the original Nexus. I've always been high on Barrett, and I think if the WWE keeps up this push of his, people would buy him as a main eventer come Wrestlemania. Punk is obviously a great worker and should get the best out of Barrett.
The Undertaker vs Dolph Ziggler
Sure, this probably sounds a bit nuts. Why would Undertaker return to take on Dolph Ziggler? Well, who else do you think Taker would face at this point. With HHH wrestling as much as he has, the mystique of a Taker/HHH rematch is gone. I thought of Alberto del Rio, but he is already an established main eventer that doesn't need the rub of facing Taker at Wrestlemania. I thought about Barrett and Cody Rhodes, but I think the matches I have them in make more sense. You would think Taker would want to face a big star, but there is no one left. C.M. Punk is a possibility I guess, but Punk is turning into a big babyface, and I think the fans would actually end up booing Taker in this instance. Then you look at Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler has pulled double duty the last two PPVs. He put on a great match with C.M. Punk this past Monday on RAW. You could argue that he is the second best worker in the WWE right now behind C.M. Punk. Ziggler has improved greatly on the mic as well. All Ziggler needs to do is come out and challenge Taker, do it for a couple weeks before Taker shows signs of being around. While Ziggler isn't a main eventer, he's a young guy who you might think could break the streak because he could use the rub to launch him into stardom. I'm sure the match itself would be just fine as Taker always brings his A game to Mania, and Dolph has been on fire in the ring lately. Do I think Dolph ends the streak? Probably not. I think the Streak is Taker's legacy, and it is never broken. But just facing Undertaker at Wrestlemania will do wonders for Dolph's career.
The Rock vs John Cena
Obviously this is happening. It is one of the few dream matches that has not happened yet but will on April 1, 2012 in Miami. I'm interested to see how often The Rock appears on WWE TV in the build to Wrestlemania. I think he would have to appear at least every other week in order for the build and match to be worth it. If Survivor Series is any indication, Cena will get booed out of the building in Miami. Survivor Series also showed that Rock still has it in the ring and that the match definitely will be fun to watch. I still give credit to Vince McMahon and whoever else it was that convinced The Rock to come back for this. The match will be good, and the atmosphere in Miami will be electric. It's the big type of match that warrants the main event of Wrestlemania label.
Couple of Notes
-I left HHH off because I don't think he's needed here, plus I couldn't think of anything for him at all.
-I don't know if Rey Mysterio will be back in time from his knee injury to take part in Mania this year.
-The person I'm disappointed I left off most was R-Truth, but again, I couldn't find anything for him.
That's all from me today.
Until Next Time,
Justin C
Follow Me On Twitter @JCWonka
The one positive about Rock/Cena is that it allows the WWE to take some risks in their other matches. Rock/Cena should get the Wrestlemania buy rate over 1 million, unless the WWE really screws it up. That means the WWE can take risks with the WWE and World Title matches. Now, we know that Daniel Bryan is suppose to cash in his Money in the Bank World Title opportunity at Wrestlemania. It will be a real stretch if actually keeps it that long. The WWE has just started building up Bryan, and I don't know if they can make him into a threat in time for Wrestlemania. But like I said, the WWE can take a chance like that.
Then of course their is The Undertaker. We haven't seen The Undertaker since Wrestlemania 27. He's had hip and back surgery during his break, but it is rumored that he is healthy and ready to go for Wrestlemania 28. That's another big match for Wrestlemania. The Undertaker is looking at 20-0 if he wins this year. My guess is that this could be his final Wrestlemania, so either Undertaker retires 20-0 or someone goes down in history as the man who ended the streak.
And finally, there is that whole "It Begins" YouTube video that hijacked the WWE Twitter pop-up on RAW this past Monday? Who's it for? No one really knows. It could be for The Undertaker again. It could be Chris Jericho. It could be someone we aren't even thinking about. Some people say Chris Jericho isn't coming back after a stall in contract negotiations. Others think that those are just rumors thrown out there to get people off the trail. There is no real hint in that video to give people an idea of who it is.
So, lets take a look at a possible Wrestlemania 28 Match Card.
Divas Championship: Beth Phoenix (c) vs Kharma
If I'm doing my math right, Kharma should be back right in time for Wrestlemania. There is no one else that would really interest me in a Divas contest at Wrestlemania. You could turn Natalya or Beth face, but it wouldn't do as much as having Kharma back would. Kharma and Beth could actually have a good Divas match and should keep the crowd entertained, unlike a Kelly Kelly or Eve match. This would probably be the best match possible, as it involves the two Divas fans would care most about in a match.
Sheamus vs Alberto del Rio- Winner Gets A World/WWE Title Shot at Extreme Rules
This is a simple case of two guys pretty much having nothing else going for them. Sheamus has been getting a monster push as a face, but the Smackdown main event already has two faces in it for me. Alberto del Rio, meanwhile, can't get an extended reign as WWE Champion. Del Rio can't get past the shadow of C.M. Punk or John Cena. It's almost like Del Rio has peaked as a character. The move from Smackdown to RAW really hurt ADR, while the move from RAW to Smackdown has helped Sheamus. It is a fresh match-up here as these two have never faced off one-on-one to my knowledge. I'm sure these two could put on a good match. The added stipulation makes fans care about the match more.
Intercontinental Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs Goldust: Title vs Career
This is a match that Goldust, aka Dustin Rhodes, has been campaigning for. Dustin wants to close this last chapter in his career and what better way for him to go out than on the big stage against his baby brother. Rhodes is a start on the rise in the WWE and he is trying to bring the IC Title back to respectability. Dustin Rhodes won the IC Title multiple times as Goldust in his WWE Career, so having him try to regain the Title while putting his career on the line would be something interesting. Now of course, Cody would win this match. He is suppose to feud with Booker T in the coming months, and of course Booker and Goldust have a history. Another situation of right place, right time for these two.
Shaquille O'Neal, Big Show, Zack Ryder vs The Miz, Christian, Jack Swagger
The WWE likes to have some kind of celebrity involvement every year at Wrestlemania. Rumor has it that they were pushing for NBA stars Dwayne Wade and Lebron James at one point, but NBA Labor talks are on-going again and there is hope that the season can be saved. That leaves limited options. Shaq is retired from the NBA, is a fan of the WWE, and is still in shape enough to move around in the ring. Throw in Big Show, and you have two of the tallest athletes in the world. Zack Ryder would be perfect to interact with Shaq as well. On the heel side, Miz can talk a big game and Christian can play the cocky heel well. Swagger gets added because of the Awesome Truth break-up, otherwise R-Truth would be here. Shaq would definitely get the WWE the positive PR they love.
World Heavyweight Championship: Mark Henry (c) vs Daniel Bryan vs Randy Orton
Oh Randy Orton, you just love to find your way into our World Title matches. I had a tough time deciding what to do with Orton. At one point I had him up against Alberto del Rio. Then I had him against Brodus Clay before I decided to take Clay off the card. If Chris Jericho were coming back, I might have him against Orton because Orton is the one who put Jericho out of the WWE with his punt to the head. But I don't think Jericho is coming back, so I put Orton in the World Title match. Orton could fight Bryan for the right to be added to the World Title match at Wrestlemania. Despite the opportunity to take a risk leaving Bryan in this match one-on-one, I think Vince McMahon will like it better if Orton is in it as well to add to the star power of the match. I don't know if Bryan wins or not. He has the makings of the first MITB winner to cash in and lose. At this point, Henry would be considered dominant and losing the Title here would be a big story, but it would be bigger if it was Bryan winning.
WWE Championship: C.M. Punk (c) vs Wade Barrett
Yes, the Barrett Barrage is in full effect. If I were a betting man, I would put my money on Wade Barrett winning the 2012 Royal Rumble. It seems that the WWE is finally fully behind pushing Barrett as a future main eventer. What better way to complete than to have Barrett win the Royal Rumble and co-headline Wrestlemania? Again, it is a risk that the WWE can take with Rock/Cena already happening. Punk is winning over more fans as the days go on. Ideally, I would have hoped that the WWE would stretch Punk/HHH all the way out here, but they shot that storyline to hell. There's also a bit of history between Punk and Barrett, as Punk was the man who kicked Barrett out of the original Nexus. I've always been high on Barrett, and I think if the WWE keeps up this push of his, people would buy him as a main eventer come Wrestlemania. Punk is obviously a great worker and should get the best out of Barrett.
The Undertaker vs Dolph Ziggler
Sure, this probably sounds a bit nuts. Why would Undertaker return to take on Dolph Ziggler? Well, who else do you think Taker would face at this point. With HHH wrestling as much as he has, the mystique of a Taker/HHH rematch is gone. I thought of Alberto del Rio, but he is already an established main eventer that doesn't need the rub of facing Taker at Wrestlemania. I thought about Barrett and Cody Rhodes, but I think the matches I have them in make more sense. You would think Taker would want to face a big star, but there is no one left. C.M. Punk is a possibility I guess, but Punk is turning into a big babyface, and I think the fans would actually end up booing Taker in this instance. Then you look at Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler has pulled double duty the last two PPVs. He put on a great match with C.M. Punk this past Monday on RAW. You could argue that he is the second best worker in the WWE right now behind C.M. Punk. Ziggler has improved greatly on the mic as well. All Ziggler needs to do is come out and challenge Taker, do it for a couple weeks before Taker shows signs of being around. While Ziggler isn't a main eventer, he's a young guy who you might think could break the streak because he could use the rub to launch him into stardom. I'm sure the match itself would be just fine as Taker always brings his A game to Mania, and Dolph has been on fire in the ring lately. Do I think Dolph ends the streak? Probably not. I think the Streak is Taker's legacy, and it is never broken. But just facing Undertaker at Wrestlemania will do wonders for Dolph's career.
The Rock vs John Cena
Obviously this is happening. It is one of the few dream matches that has not happened yet but will on April 1, 2012 in Miami. I'm interested to see how often The Rock appears on WWE TV in the build to Wrestlemania. I think he would have to appear at least every other week in order for the build and match to be worth it. If Survivor Series is any indication, Cena will get booed out of the building in Miami. Survivor Series also showed that Rock still has it in the ring and that the match definitely will be fun to watch. I still give credit to Vince McMahon and whoever else it was that convinced The Rock to come back for this. The match will be good, and the atmosphere in Miami will be electric. It's the big type of match that warrants the main event of Wrestlemania label.
Couple of Notes
-I left HHH off because I don't think he's needed here, plus I couldn't think of anything for him at all.
-I don't know if Rey Mysterio will be back in time from his knee injury to take part in Mania this year.
-The person I'm disappointed I left off most was R-Truth, but again, I couldn't find anything for him.
That's all from me today.
Until Next Time,
Justin C
Follow Me On Twitter @JCWonka
Sunday, October 30, 2011
The WWE's "Youth Movement": 6 Months Later
So about 6 months ago I wrote a blog piece talking about the supposed youth movement that was happening in the WWE. During one of his conference calls, Vince McMahon said that the WWE was in a youth movement face and that they were going to focus on pushing the young talent that they had in the company. You can read that full piece here: http://jctopropereport.blogspot.com/2011/03/jcs-take-analyzing-wwes-youth-movement.html
Well, it's been a little over 6 months since I wrote that column, and to say things didn't exactly go as planned might be a little bit of an understatement. Lots of factors probably went into that. One: nobody saw C.M. Punk coming. He had been stagnant for years, and all of the sudden he just exploded onto the main event scene and looks to be there to stay. I didn't think it would ever happen. Another factor into all of this is the success that was The Rock's return. The Rock helped Wrestlemania top 1 million buys. Many people also didn't expect The Rock to agree to wrestle at Survivor Series, Wrestlemania, and whenever else he agrees to wrestle. Then of course there was the big Vince McMahon/HHH/CEO storyline that brought back Kevin Nash and basically needed to involve the veteran key players.
But with that being said lets take a look back, and a look forward, to see what is in these stars' futures.
Well, it's been a little over 6 months since I wrote that column, and to say things didn't exactly go as planned might be a little bit of an understatement. Lots of factors probably went into that. One: nobody saw C.M. Punk coming. He had been stagnant for years, and all of the sudden he just exploded onto the main event scene and looks to be there to stay. I didn't think it would ever happen. Another factor into all of this is the success that was The Rock's return. The Rock helped Wrestlemania top 1 million buys. Many people also didn't expect The Rock to agree to wrestle at Survivor Series, Wrestlemania, and whenever else he agrees to wrestle. Then of course there was the big Vince McMahon/HHH/CEO storyline that brought back Kevin Nash and basically needed to involve the veteran key players.
But with that being said lets take a look back, and a look forward, to see what is in these stars' futures.
JOHN MORRISON
What I Said 6 Months Ago
-After The Miz and Alberto del Rio, I think John Morrison would have to be considered the next breakout star in the WWE.
-Morrison's parkour style gives him a unique offensive move set that makes him different from any other star in the WWE.
-Many people are comparing John Morrison to Jeff Hardy. That is a fair comparison. Obviously Morrison has his personal life in better order than Hardy.
-So when does the WWE pull the trigger on John Morrison? If it was up to me, I'd say SummerSlam.
Morrison was the first name on my list, so that's why I start with him. To say things have taken a turn for the worse for Morrison is quite the understatement. Morrison appeared to still be in for some type of push after Wrestlemania, but his behavior during the lead up to Wrestlemania really effected all of that. Morrison apparently had problems with Trish Stratus being in his match rather than his real life girlfriend Melina. Melina was apparently in Morrison's ear, and because of that he gave the cold shoulder to Stratus. That's a big no-no for a young guy looking to breakout in the business. Morrison still was in the main event of the next PPV, Extreme Rules, but it never really amounted to anything. Morrison dealt with a neck injury that made him miss most of the summer. But after that? He's basically been a flashy jobber since his return.
John Morrison's backstage reputation has been nothing to write home about if you believe the stories you hear. He apparently did everything Melina asked him to do. Vince McMahon was also apparently never that high on Morrison, mostly because he didn't believe Morrison looked like a guy that could "win a real fight." It pretty much seems like Morrison's main event opportunity has come and gone. If he stays with the WWE and re-signs, I highly doubt he gets any closer to the main event than he was. I will firmly say this right now: John Morrison will never be WWE or World Champion.
Dolph Ziggler
What I Said 6 Months Ago
-I don't think I've been more impressed with the overall improvement of one wrestler in the ring like I have been with Dolph Ziggler in the last few months.
-When Dolph Ziggler first debuted with his new gimmick, I thought there'd be no way he would get to where he is today. "Hi, I'm Dolph Ziggler." just seemed very stale and bad. But to his credit, Dolph has done very well over the last couple months.
-I don't have an exact scenario to play out for Ziggler, but I do think he will have the World Title again before the end of 2011, with Survivor Series being my first guess as to when he will win it.
Well, obviously Dolph Ziggler won't be getting his next World Title reign at Survivor Series. I hate having to consider this Dolph's second reign, because his hour long reign on an episode of Smackdown meant so much. But that's not to say that Dolph won't be getting one in the near future. Dolph still has all the potential in the world. He's one of the WWE's best workers in the ring, probably in the Top 5. And in the past few weeks, Dolph has been given more time to talk on the mic. And you know what? He is doing a hell of a job coming off as a serious threat. Dolph is apparently getting praise backstage for carrying the bulk of his program with Mason Ryan. I'm sure the WWE brass actually sees potential in Ziggler.
I think Ziggler was hurt when he was forced to move to RAW. If Ziggler was on Smackdown right now he would probably have more of an opportunity to main event. But on RAW, he plays second fiddle to John Cena, C.M. Punk, Alberto del Rio, Miz and HHH. Ziggler has held onto the United States Championship for a while now, but sooner or later he has to lose it if the WWE gets serious about moving him up the card. With Rock/Cena headlining Wrestlemania, the WWE can take risks about who will appear in their World and WWE Title matches. Ziggler doesn't scream main event, but he's somebody the WWE could take a chance on in one of those spots. I would be very surprised if Ziggler hasn't had a World or WWE Title run by the summer of 2012. The guy definitely deserves it. A WWE Title program with C.M. Punk would be a great thing to watch.
SHEAMUS
What I Said 6 Months Ago
-Even though he won the King of the Ring Tournament, he hasn't done much with it. First of all, he looks like a goof wearing the king attire. Second of all, he hasn't done anything worthy since winning it
-I think the best thing that could happen for Sheamus right now would be a move to Smackdown. There is nothing left for him on RAW.
-Sheamus is the type of guy that if re-established properly can be a top wrestler in this company down the line. He has the ability to slide into the main event slot and hold his own with the top guys in the company. Sheamus is in the position where instead of worrying about his next title reign, he needs to worry about re-establishing himself as a threat in the eyes of fans who now look at him as an afterthought
I don't know if anyone I wrote about has gone through a bigger resurgence than Sheamus. When I wrote about Sheamus 6 months ago, he was on a big losing streak. HHH demolished him on RAW in minutes, and he wasn't even on Wrestlemania. He wrestled Daniel Bryan in a dark match on the show. Sheamus eventually got his much needed move to Smackdown. At the time I suggested feuds with Rey Mysterio, Edge, and The Undertaker. Well: Rey moved to RAW, Edge retired, and Taker disappeared after Mania. All hope seemed lost for Sheamus, but little did I know his Irish luck was about to change.
In July, Sheamus turned face when he challenged Mark Henry to a match at SummerSlam. It was as simple a face turn as you could imagine. All he did was go into the ring, look at Henry, and say "I'll fight him." And to my surprise, Sheamus has gotten over quite well as a face. His reactions from the crowd are great, and Sheamus has seemed to embrace his role as a face. You can tell he is enjoying himself in front of the crowd. Once Henry finishes up his program with the Big Show, I wouldn't be surprised if Henry revisits his feud with Sheamus. Sheamus is over and he seems like the next logical choice for Henry to move onto.
WADE BARRETT
What I Said 6 Months Ago
-It's a shame that it died the way it did. It would have been nice and refreshing to see a dominant heel faction on top of the WWE. But there is no denying that Barrett showed his worth to the WWE long term as a main event talent. He was outstanding on the mic while he was on top.
-If he can stay strong enough in the eyes of fans, I could see him as the leading candidate to win next year's Royal Rumble and headline Wrestlemania.
-Barrett needs to continue to improve in the ring. He already has the talent on the mic to be in the main event, now he just needs to add a bit more to his in ring work in order to maintain his status as a top guy now and down the line.
Wade Barrett has been very up and down this year. The Corre pretty much was a minuscule version of the Nexus. It never amounted to anything. Barrett won the Intercontinental Title but never really did much with it. He was jobbed out to Ezekiel Jackson and never really did much this summer. He did beat Daniel Bryan at SummerSlam. I thought Barrett might have been a prime candidate to win the Smackdown Money in the Bank but it didn't come to fruition. Now Wade Barrett is going through what he is calling his "Resurrection." Hopefully it leads to something. At this point, I will take an actual program with someone. I've seen house shows where Barrett is scheduled to face Randy Orton. That's a good start.
Hopefully this Resurrection does lead to something for Barrett. I really enjoyed his work as leader of Nexus. His mic skills haven't gone anywhere and he can still put on a good match with the right partner in the ring. A program with Randy Orton would do wonders for Barrett's ascent up the card. He may not win the program, but if he won a match or two over Orton, it would be great. Barrett's problem is that he has some competition on Smackdown for the next top spot with the next guy on my list. But if Barrett continues his "Resurrection," we may see him on top sooner than you think.
CODY RHODES
What I Said 6 Months Ago
-It will take some work, but Cody's gimmick is very much over as a heel right now.
-His mic work with this Dashing gimmick is very good. I didn't think the gimmick would last this long, but Cody is doing a tremendous job of making it work.
-Cody Rhodes is somebody I can see in the Spring or Summer of 2012 as a man ready to finally compete for a World Title, and ready to win it as well.
I think one could argue that Cody Rhodes is ahead of everyone else on this list. Rhodes continues to take his gimmick to the next level. He did a great thing in bringing back the old school Intercontinental Title. Rhodes has also looked very strong during his program with Randy Orton. Sure, he didn't win his match at Vengeance, but the program seems to be continuing on Smackdown. Rhodes has gone from a goofball gimmick to a gimmick that is a serious threat and one that the fans have to take seriously. Rhodes isn't going away anytime soon as he continues to fine tune his character.
The problem Rhodes is facing right now is that he is stuck behind Mark Henry on Smackdown. Rhodes is actually benefiting from all of the time he is getting on RAW. It is exposing him to the people who don't watch Smackdown. Rhodes might actually benefit from a permanent move to RAW. Programs with John Cena, C.M. Punk, and maybe even Zack Ryder all sound like good ideas. I thought Rhodes had a good shot of winning Money in the Bank this year, but obviously that didn't happen. Rhodes time will come. I would peg Rhodes and Barrett as two dark horse candidates to win the Royal Rumble. Even if he doesn't win the Royal Rumble, I think Rhodes is World Champion by the Summer of 2012.
DANIEL BRYAN
What I Said 6 Months Ago
-Daniel Bryan is a favorite amongst the "smart" wrestling fans. Bryan is everything they like. A good worker in the ring capable of putting on an entertaining match with anyone.
-From my standpoint, I think Daniel Bryan has the potential to be a main event guy. From a WRESTLING standpoint, he reminds me a lot of Chris Benoit. I know that's a name people hate to bring up, and I'm sure there will be people who hate me for using him to compare with Daniel Bryan, but they do have some similarities.
-I think Bryan is the type of guy who can main event Wrestlemania if built up like Benoit was during his run to the World Title at Wrestlemania XX. I would say to watch for the Summer of 2012 or maybe even as late as Wrestlemania 29 for Bryan's first main event title run.
Well, it looks like I was off by a full year with Daniel Bryan's push. Of course that is if the WWE decided to go through with Bryan's push. Daniel Bryan surprised everyone with his win of the Smackdown Money in the Bank briefcase. I didn't see it coming at all. There was no indication at all that Bryan even had a chance of winning. Not only did Bryan surprise with his MITB win, but he surprised many by actually announcing when he would cash in. Bryan said he believed surprise cash-ins on vulnerable opponents did nothing, so he decided to cash in his MITB Briefcase at Wrestlemania.
But since Bryan won the MITB Briefcase, he's gone on a bit of a losing streak. He hasn't had any set program for a while. Some people think a heel turn may be on the horizon, but Smackdown is already filled with young heels and Bryan doesn't need to fall behind them. While the WWE can take the risk of having Bryan in the World Title match at Wrestlemania, it also doesn't scream "World Title Match." Now of course, a David vs Goliath type match with Bryan taking on Henry could be quite interesting. I think Bryan needs to be built back up a bit more though before anything can happen. At this point, no one is buying him as a World Champion. Bryan needs a major face lift in the next couple of months.
That's all from me this week.
Until next time,
Justin C
Follow Me on Twitter @JCWonka
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Re-Booking the RAW Main Event Scene
Let me start of by saying one thing: Unlike a lot of people, I don't absolutely hate where this entire Triple H/COO/Walk Out storyline is at right now. The WWE could be in a lot worse shape right now. Some people hated the walk out. I didn't. It was something different. Some say the babyface wrestlers are made to look like wimps by doing this. I don't think that at all. To me, that is just marks over-analyzing things. If you don't like the place and/or environment you are working in, you do something about it. In this case, it was unified showing of no confidence in Triple H. I also like the uproar Miz and R-Truth are causing. Their arrest scene from Hell in A Cell is something that brought back shades of the Attitude Era with cops taking them off in handcuffs.
But, to say that the WWE didn't screw a few things up during these past few months would be wrong. For one, they brought back C.M. Punk too soon. They also hot shoted the WWE Title one too many times, which just makes the Title look like a toy prop rather than something with meaning too it. And while I'm still waiting to see where the walk out storyline is going, it could have been played out longer or been held off for a bit or not done at all. So, with that being said, I'm going to re-book the WWE, starting from after Money in the Bank. I would keep the ending of Money in the Bank exactly as it was, with C.M. Punk leaving as WWE Champion.
-After Money in the Bank, Vince McMahon announces a WWE Title Tournament to name a new Champion. Instead of having two rounds of matches in one night. The end of the night ends with Vince McMahon in the ring, about to fire John Cena. But Triple H comes out and announces that he is COO, and Vince has been relieved of his duties. The next week is the semi finals and finals of the WWE Championship Tournament. But instead of Rey Mysterio winning, it is Alberto del Rio. As Del Rio is celebrating his Title win, Triple H comes out at the end of the show to congratulate him. He also names ADR's opponent for SummerSlam, a man who was held out of the Tournament and has every right to have his re-match for the WWE Title. Obviously, that man is John Cena. Triple H, meanwhile, doesn't get too involved with things yer as COO. He just sits back for a while and makes some few minor changes.
-At SummerSlam, Del Rio and John Cena go one-on-one. I would book it very similar to their match at Night og Champions. In the end, however, Ricardo's interference backfires, and Del Rio eats an AA and John Cena picks up the win. The next night on RAW, Rey Mysterio has his match for the WWE Championship with John Cena. Cena wins, and at the end of the match, C.M. Punk returns and has his staredown with John Cena to close RAW. I know they wrote off Rey Mysterio with his match against Alberto del Rio, but you could do that the next week with Del Rio taking out Rey by a vicious attack. I would probably keep Del Rio off of RAW after SummerSlam then have him attack Rey the next week.
-Night of Champions arrives and we get Punk/Cena 2. Having this match here probably would have helped spike the buyrate a bit more than Punk/HHH did. HHH is still the special guest referee. During the build to NOC, Miz and R-Truth are still going on about their Conspiracy angle. During the match, Miz and R-Truth make their way down to the ring. HHH goes out to stop them. During this time, Cena gives Punk an AA and has him pinned, but HHH is distracted. After Cena pleads his case, Punk hits the GTS on Cena for the win. Miz & Truth go for a post match beatdown on Punk, but HHH, Punk, and Cena all fight them off. As Punk stands alone in the ring, Kevin Nash appears and Powerbombs Punk, allowing Del Rio to come out and cash in his Money in the Bank contract on Punk and regain the WWE Championship.
-With only two weeks to book Hell in A Cell, Triple H still announces the Triple Threat Match. Kevin Nash still states that he received a text message saying to take out the winner of the WWE Championship match, but instead of not saying who, Nash says it was John Laurinaitis. Laurinaitis denies it. HHH warns Nash to stay away from Hell in A Cell. On RAW, Miz & Truth attack Cena and Punk again. HHH suspends Miz & Truth for their actions at NOC and RAW. At Hell in A Cell, Del Rio retains the WWE Title just like he did at the PPV. With the Cell raised, Cena makes his way back in, but so do Miz, R-Truth, and Kevin Nash. WWE officials, security, and superstars try to get in to the Cell, but are unable to until the bolt cutters arrive. Nash, Truth, and Miz surrender and are arrested. Surprisingly, however, Del Rio is left untouched by the attack. But no one notices because of the chaos the three men caused.
-With Vengeance approaching in three weeks, it is still too short of a time to lead to something big. Some people begin to question whether or not HHH can be COO. HHH makes Cena/Del Rio at Vengeance, as well as Kevin Nash/C.M. Punk with two stipulations: If Nash wins, he gets a contract. If Punk wins, he gets a WWE Title shot at Survivor Series. Triple H warns Miz & Truth not to interfere or their indefinite suspension turns into a permanent firing. Punk defeats Nash. In the WWE Title match, two men in masks and hoodies jump Cena with the ref down, and put Del Rio on top of Cena for the win. Triple H rushes the ring to try to prove that it is Miz & R-Truth, but Truth and Miz come in through the crowd and stare down HHH as he watches on in shock not knowing what to think.
-With Survivor Series approaching, John Cena starts to interact with The Rock more. But he also has a problem with Miz & R-Truth. The Rock says that he agrees with Cena that Miz & R-Truth need to be stopped. The two men from Vengeance and Miz and R-Truth jump Rock and Cena in the ring. As the show ends, it is revealed that the two men are Cody Rhodes and Wade Barrett. The next week on RAW, HHH announces that at Survivor Series it will be the team of Miz/R-Truth/Nash/Rhodes/Barrett against a team of Rock/Cena and whoever else they recruit to join their team. If Miz and Truth's team wins, they get their jobs back. Rock and Cena choose Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan, and Zack Ryder. As HHH continues to point the finger at Laurinaitis, C.M. Punk begins to question whether HHH really is the one to look at here.
-Survivor Series arrives. During the WWE Title match, Punk hits the GTS on Del Rio for the apparent win, but the referee misses Del Rio's foot on the ropes. HHH comes out and points it out on a replay to the referee. He orders the match re-started, and Del Rio picks up the win with the cross arm breaker after Punk puts up a valiant fight to get out of it. The 5-on-5 match gets down to Rock/Cena against Miz/Truth/Nash. Nash gets eliminated after an AA/People's Elbow combo. All four men left are in the ring. Cena goes for a shoulder tackle to Miz but he ducks, and Cena takes out Rock instead. Miz hits the Skull Crushing Finale and Rock is eliminated. Cena gets Truth to tap out to the STF. While it is down to Miz and Cena, the ref gets taken out by another missed Cena shoulder tackle. HHH comes out to get a better look. With both men down, HHH enters the ring. But instead of taking out Miz, HHH pedigrees Cena and throws Miz on top for the win. Punk comes out to take out HHH, but Del Rio attacks and the rest of Team Miz comes out. The show closes with HHH, Miz, R-Truth, Nash, Alberto del Rio, Cody Rhodes, and Wade Barrett standing in the ring, arms raised, as the New Corporation is formed. HHH fires Laurinaitis the next night as he wants total control over the WWE.
-At TLC, Punk upsets Del Rio in a Ladder Match to win the WWE Title. Despite HHH's best attempts, Punk retains the Title at the Royal Rumble before finally losing it to Del Rio at Elimination Chamber. Cena and Rock team again at the Royal Rumble to take on Miz and R-Truth, but this time it is Rock who accidentally takes out Cena and allows Miz and Truth to pick up the win. Of course during all of this Punk continues to go at HHH on the mic. Punk challenges HHH to a match at Wrestlemania, but HHH says he has to go through Miz, R-Truth, Cody Rhodes, and Wade Barrett to get to him. Punk does successfully, and we get the FIRST Punk/HHH match at Wrestlemania, with HHH's COO Title and Punk's job on the line. Del Rio takes on Randy Orton for the WWE Championship. Cody Rhodes & Wade Barrett team up to take on Sheamus & Sin Cara. And Miz? He challenges The Undertaker.
-So if I had booked the WWE, my Wrestlemania would look like this:
The Rock vs John Cena
C.M. Punk vs Triple H: IF Triple H loses, he is forced out as COO
WWE Championship: Alberto del Rio vs Randy Orton
World Heavyweight Championship: Mark Henry vs Daniel Bryan
The Undertaker vs The Miz w/R-Truth
Sheamus & Sin Cara vs Wade Barrett & Cody Rhodes
Throw in some mid-card and Divas matches, and there is your Wrestlemania. Again, this obviously won't happen because I didn't book the WWE this year. As stated earlier, I have no problem with the walk out angle. I just would have done things differently. I hope you enjoyed this piece. I had a fun time writing it.
Until next time,
Justin C
Follow Me on Twitter @JCWonka
But, to say that the WWE didn't screw a few things up during these past few months would be wrong. For one, they brought back C.M. Punk too soon. They also hot shoted the WWE Title one too many times, which just makes the Title look like a toy prop rather than something with meaning too it. And while I'm still waiting to see where the walk out storyline is going, it could have been played out longer or been held off for a bit or not done at all. So, with that being said, I'm going to re-book the WWE, starting from after Money in the Bank. I would keep the ending of Money in the Bank exactly as it was, with C.M. Punk leaving as WWE Champion.
-After Money in the Bank, Vince McMahon announces a WWE Title Tournament to name a new Champion. Instead of having two rounds of matches in one night. The end of the night ends with Vince McMahon in the ring, about to fire John Cena. But Triple H comes out and announces that he is COO, and Vince has been relieved of his duties. The next week is the semi finals and finals of the WWE Championship Tournament. But instead of Rey Mysterio winning, it is Alberto del Rio. As Del Rio is celebrating his Title win, Triple H comes out at the end of the show to congratulate him. He also names ADR's opponent for SummerSlam, a man who was held out of the Tournament and has every right to have his re-match for the WWE Title. Obviously, that man is John Cena. Triple H, meanwhile, doesn't get too involved with things yer as COO. He just sits back for a while and makes some few minor changes.
-At SummerSlam, Del Rio and John Cena go one-on-one. I would book it very similar to their match at Night og Champions. In the end, however, Ricardo's interference backfires, and Del Rio eats an AA and John Cena picks up the win. The next night on RAW, Rey Mysterio has his match for the WWE Championship with John Cena. Cena wins, and at the end of the match, C.M. Punk returns and has his staredown with John Cena to close RAW. I know they wrote off Rey Mysterio with his match against Alberto del Rio, but you could do that the next week with Del Rio taking out Rey by a vicious attack. I would probably keep Del Rio off of RAW after SummerSlam then have him attack Rey the next week.
-Night of Champions arrives and we get Punk/Cena 2. Having this match here probably would have helped spike the buyrate a bit more than Punk/HHH did. HHH is still the special guest referee. During the build to NOC, Miz and R-Truth are still going on about their Conspiracy angle. During the match, Miz and R-Truth make their way down to the ring. HHH goes out to stop them. During this time, Cena gives Punk an AA and has him pinned, but HHH is distracted. After Cena pleads his case, Punk hits the GTS on Cena for the win. Miz & Truth go for a post match beatdown on Punk, but HHH, Punk, and Cena all fight them off. As Punk stands alone in the ring, Kevin Nash appears and Powerbombs Punk, allowing Del Rio to come out and cash in his Money in the Bank contract on Punk and regain the WWE Championship.
-With only two weeks to book Hell in A Cell, Triple H still announces the Triple Threat Match. Kevin Nash still states that he received a text message saying to take out the winner of the WWE Championship match, but instead of not saying who, Nash says it was John Laurinaitis. Laurinaitis denies it. HHH warns Nash to stay away from Hell in A Cell. On RAW, Miz & Truth attack Cena and Punk again. HHH suspends Miz & Truth for their actions at NOC and RAW. At Hell in A Cell, Del Rio retains the WWE Title just like he did at the PPV. With the Cell raised, Cena makes his way back in, but so do Miz, R-Truth, and Kevin Nash. WWE officials, security, and superstars try to get in to the Cell, but are unable to until the bolt cutters arrive. Nash, Truth, and Miz surrender and are arrested. Surprisingly, however, Del Rio is left untouched by the attack. But no one notices because of the chaos the three men caused.
-With Vengeance approaching in three weeks, it is still too short of a time to lead to something big. Some people begin to question whether or not HHH can be COO. HHH makes Cena/Del Rio at Vengeance, as well as Kevin Nash/C.M. Punk with two stipulations: If Nash wins, he gets a contract. If Punk wins, he gets a WWE Title shot at Survivor Series. Triple H warns Miz & Truth not to interfere or their indefinite suspension turns into a permanent firing. Punk defeats Nash. In the WWE Title match, two men in masks and hoodies jump Cena with the ref down, and put Del Rio on top of Cena for the win. Triple H rushes the ring to try to prove that it is Miz & R-Truth, but Truth and Miz come in through the crowd and stare down HHH as he watches on in shock not knowing what to think.
-With Survivor Series approaching, John Cena starts to interact with The Rock more. But he also has a problem with Miz & R-Truth. The Rock says that he agrees with Cena that Miz & R-Truth need to be stopped. The two men from Vengeance and Miz and R-Truth jump Rock and Cena in the ring. As the show ends, it is revealed that the two men are Cody Rhodes and Wade Barrett. The next week on RAW, HHH announces that at Survivor Series it will be the team of Miz/R-Truth/Nash/Rhodes/Barrett against a team of Rock/Cena and whoever else they recruit to join their team. If Miz and Truth's team wins, they get their jobs back. Rock and Cena choose Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan, and Zack Ryder. As HHH continues to point the finger at Laurinaitis, C.M. Punk begins to question whether HHH really is the one to look at here.
-Survivor Series arrives. During the WWE Title match, Punk hits the GTS on Del Rio for the apparent win, but the referee misses Del Rio's foot on the ropes. HHH comes out and points it out on a replay to the referee. He orders the match re-started, and Del Rio picks up the win with the cross arm breaker after Punk puts up a valiant fight to get out of it. The 5-on-5 match gets down to Rock/Cena against Miz/Truth/Nash. Nash gets eliminated after an AA/People's Elbow combo. All four men left are in the ring. Cena goes for a shoulder tackle to Miz but he ducks, and Cena takes out Rock instead. Miz hits the Skull Crushing Finale and Rock is eliminated. Cena gets Truth to tap out to the STF. While it is down to Miz and Cena, the ref gets taken out by another missed Cena shoulder tackle. HHH comes out to get a better look. With both men down, HHH enters the ring. But instead of taking out Miz, HHH pedigrees Cena and throws Miz on top for the win. Punk comes out to take out HHH, but Del Rio attacks and the rest of Team Miz comes out. The show closes with HHH, Miz, R-Truth, Nash, Alberto del Rio, Cody Rhodes, and Wade Barrett standing in the ring, arms raised, as the New Corporation is formed. HHH fires Laurinaitis the next night as he wants total control over the WWE.
-At TLC, Punk upsets Del Rio in a Ladder Match to win the WWE Title. Despite HHH's best attempts, Punk retains the Title at the Royal Rumble before finally losing it to Del Rio at Elimination Chamber. Cena and Rock team again at the Royal Rumble to take on Miz and R-Truth, but this time it is Rock who accidentally takes out Cena and allows Miz and Truth to pick up the win. Of course during all of this Punk continues to go at HHH on the mic. Punk challenges HHH to a match at Wrestlemania, but HHH says he has to go through Miz, R-Truth, Cody Rhodes, and Wade Barrett to get to him. Punk does successfully, and we get the FIRST Punk/HHH match at Wrestlemania, with HHH's COO Title and Punk's job on the line. Del Rio takes on Randy Orton for the WWE Championship. Cody Rhodes & Wade Barrett team up to take on Sheamus & Sin Cara. And Miz? He challenges The Undertaker.
-So if I had booked the WWE, my Wrestlemania would look like this:
The Rock vs John Cena
C.M. Punk vs Triple H: IF Triple H loses, he is forced out as COO
WWE Championship: Alberto del Rio vs Randy Orton
World Heavyweight Championship: Mark Henry vs Daniel Bryan
The Undertaker vs The Miz w/R-Truth
Sheamus & Sin Cara vs Wade Barrett & Cody Rhodes
Throw in some mid-card and Divas matches, and there is your Wrestlemania. Again, this obviously won't happen because I didn't book the WWE this year. As stated earlier, I have no problem with the walk out angle. I just would have done things differently. I hope you enjoyed this piece. I had a fun time writing it.
Until next time,
Justin C
Follow Me on Twitter @JCWonka
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)