Professional Wrestling (WWE, TNA, ROH, etc)

[BZ]

Speaking of the original Razor Ramon, a return to the ring would seem unlikely given his current weight.

Holy shit That's absolutely absurd considering he used to look like this:



I know he drinks alot... but geez.

[Andrew]

I know, he's in sorry shape to say the least.

Anyone else catch RAW this week? I thought Rock's cameo was the highlight, if only because it was one of the more original and entertaining promos of any wrestler, former or current, in the last few years.

[Isaiah]

The Rock was at RAW last Monday night and did a pre-recorded cameo on the TitanTron. He talked about his thoughts on the McMahon-Trump match and said that he guaran-damn-tees that McMahon will have his head shaved bald!

That bit was totally unscripted.

[Andrew]

As I said, it was one of the more entertaining promos in the last few years.

[BZ]

As I said, it was one of the more entertaining promos in the last few years.

With the way WWE has been after the Rock and Stone Cold left.. I think that was the ONLY entertaining promo in the last few years.

[shadowgrin]

I'm hoping HBK will be put over at Wrestlemania, leading to the return of the classic belt, or a design that resembles it. Anything without a spinner would be a step in the right direction.

If HBK wins, I still see the spinner belt. Just vandalized DX-style.

[[Q]]

wrestlers under investigation for steroids... shocking.
ok first off, how do they not even mention HHH & Vince McMahon the most obvious users of steroids?? c'mon now... Vince is a rich white man who probably never worked out in his life, let alone at his age. and when he goes and wrestles, somehow he's huge!

and the list includes Randy Orton, Rey mysterio, Edge, The Hurricane, Eddie Guerrero, and Kurt Angle.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070320/ap_on_sp_ot/steroid_raid

[Andrew]

As I said, it was one of the more entertaining promos in the last few years.

With the way WWE has been after the Rock and Stone Cold left.. I think that was the ONLY entertaining promo in the last few years.

Well, yeah. Although, Austin's promos are usually entertaining whenever he returns (particularly the one he cut on Stephanie in October 2005) and the promo that Flair, Piper, Dusty Rhodes and Arn Anderson did in the lead up to Cyber Sunday last year was good as well in my opinion. I guess the common theme is that they're all veterans who know how to cut a promo and work the crowd...even in a pre-taped vignette.

If HBK wins, I still see the spinner belt. Just vandalized DX-style.

Probably. Can't hurt to dream though; after all, I'm still holding out hope they'll realise the brand split needs to end or be scaled back. Getting rid of the brand-only PPVs is a good start.

[Andrew]

Anyone care to make their predictions for Wrestlemania 23?

Undertaker vs Batista (World Heavyweight Championship)

Both the title matches are difficult to call this year because you can make a strong case for both the challengers and the champions. With the World Heavyweight title match, Batista can be put over as a dominant champion by being the one to end the Undertaker's streak and retain his championship against a character who's pushed as one of the most difficult opponents in the WWE. However, given the buzz that people are losing confidence in Batista and making unfavourable comparisons to the Ultimate Warrior, I think Taker is going to get one last run. The rub that would be given to the person who breaks the streak would be better used on a younger main event wrestler. Taker's also in the midst of his best run in a few years, so I think one more title reign is in order.

Winner: Undertaker

Shawn Michaels vs John Cena (WWE Championship)

This one is perhaps even more difficult to call. I think the WWE would be in favour of giving HBK one last title run the same as they would with the Undertaker, but Cena is one of the most protected stars in the business. He's also undefeated at Wrestlemania himself, which sets up a possible match with Edge and/or the Undertaker down the road with two streaks and possibly a title on the line. I would like to see HBK win the title but I think that might happen at Backlash instead.

Winner: John Cena

Battle of the Billionaires: Bobby Lashley w/Donald Trump vs Umaga w/Vince McMahon

I'm guessing pretty much everyone will be making the same pick in this one and it seems 99.9% certain we'll get it right, too. Unless Trump feels like trying a new look, Vinnie Mac is getting his head shaved and Lashley's monster push will continue. Stone Cold is going to stun Vince at some point, probably so Trump can haul him into the barber's chair. Remarks will be made about Vince finally giving the fans what they want.

Winner: Bobby Lashley/Donald Trump

Money in the Bank Ladder Match

The Hardys are going to provide some awesome spots, probably involving Edge as a tribute to some of the great ladder matches from earlier this decade. There's a few likely scenarios but I think they're going to go with Edge, making him a two-time winner. If he wins the match at the expense of Randy Orton, it will fuel a short post-split feud and give him an opportunity to face John Cena at Wrestlemania 24 in a match that could be billed as streak vs streak for the championship. With Edge and Cena both winning at Wrestlemania 23, they can slowly begin the build towards next year.

Winner: Edge

ECW Originals vs the New Breed

I'm guessing there'll be a few extreme spots on route to a New Breed victory. From the sound of the rumours that have been swirling, the ECW originals seem to be copping the blame for ECW's lack of success and as such the WWE will be looking to push the new ECW talent while releasing the Originals in the near future.

Winner: New Breed

Melina vs Ashley (Women's Championship)

Word is that this match will be Melina's last chance to prove herself, given how she's rubbed people backstage the wrong way and done little to curb her attitude or improve her image amongst her peers. Ashley seems more likely to walk out of Wrestlemania with the title, if only because it means the WWE can release Melina or punish her without having to worry about doing anything with the belt. The match itself won't be a classic.

Winner: Ashley

Kane vs The Great Khali

This better be a short match. Kane's among the better workers as far as the big guys are concerned but Khali is pretty much only good for squashing jobbers (and the occasional person he shouldn't). Some sort of stipulation might have made the match a bit more entertaining. I have a feeling Khali's push will continue.

Winner: The Great Khali
Loser: The fans

Chris Benoit vs Montel Vontavious Porter (US Championship)

Chris Benoit's apparently headed back to RAW so he'll probably drop the belt to MVP, allowing him to be pushed in the midcard on Smackdown. It's a shame Benoit is so misused but hopefully this move will allow him to re-enter the main event scene on RAW. I'm guessing this match will open the show and go at least ten minutes, with MVP perhaps cheating to pick up the victory.

Winner: Montel Vontavious Porter

I'll probably have to review my predictions after RAW and Smackdown this week since as we all know, the wrestler who gets the final word in before the pay per view is usually the one doing the job. They'll probably try to make it ambiguous as far as the title matches are concerned though.

[Lean]

I remember the Wrestlemania 22 feature you posted last year.

World Heavyweight Championship: Undertaker
WWE Championship: John Cena (I'm smelling a Detroit Screwjob here)
Money in the Bank: King Booker
Benoit vs. MVP: Benoit
Kane vs. Khali: This will be one of the most boring matches perhaps.

[BZ]

You pretty much nailed it on the head there Andrew with the predictions, most of the matches will probably result in what you predicted. And I hope they do too, especially with the Undertaker-Batista World Title match. As for the Money in the Bank ladder match, I'd like to see CM Punk take the case, simply because his style is unique compared to the numerous other wrestlers in the WWE today.

And since we're on about Wrestlemania, IGN posted an interesting read on the 20 greatest matches of Wrestlemania article:

http://sports.ign.com/articles/775/775590p1.html

[Andrew]

Good article, thanks for posting. Can't say I disagree with any of the picks. Good to see Bret Hart vs Owen Hart up there at number four. Definitely a great match to watch, one of their best encounters during their feud in the mid 90s which also has to rank up there as one of the best angles in WWF/WWE history.

[Lean]

Might I ask how Owen Hart died?

[Mazzocchi]

Might I ask how Owen Hart died?

On May 23, 1999 Hart fell to his death in Kansas City, Missouri, during the WWF Over the Edge pay-per-view event. Owen was in the process of being lowered into the ring from the rafters of Kemper Arena for a booked WWF Intercontinental Championship match against The Godfather. In keeping with the Blazer's new 'buffoonish superhero' character, Hart was to be lowered to just above ring level, at which time he would release himself from the safety harness and then comically fall flat on his face. He had performed the stunt only a few times before, and was worried about performing the stunt at Kemper Arena due to the height involved (Owen had a fear of heights). Something went wrong with the stunt and Owen fell from the catwalk and died from his injuries less than an hour later.

One of the saddest moments in the WWE

[Lean]

I searched for videos on Youtube, and I found a 15-second clip of a wrestling match which ended up on a crash of a wrestler. Probably this is Owen's final match.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQn9MMGnvVg

Is this it?

[J@3]

That's not Owen Hart, it's some random other guy.

[BZ]

I searched for videos on Youtube, and I found a 15-second clip of a wrestling match which ended up on a crash of a wrestler. Probably this is Owen's final match.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQn9MMGnvVg

Is this it?

That was actually Vic Grimes falling down, thanks to New Jack (one of the most twisted and sadistic wrestlers ever). For more clips like that, I'd recommend

http://www.wrestlinggonewrong.com

Lots of wrestling botches and screwups.

[BigKaboom2]

I like Andrew's picks except:

1. I see Mr. Kennedy winning the Money in the Bank after Edge and Orton get distracted with each other somehow.

2. I think the ECW Originals will win - it's obvious that none of the New Breed are over with the fans and never will be as long as they continue having matches with no foreign objects and no extreme spots whatsoever like Lashley.

3. Benoit jobbing to MVP depresses me, but if he is indeed returning to RAW, that prediction is probably correct. One of my top 5 favorite wrestlers of all-time.

[BZ]

2. I think the ECW Originals will win - it's obvious that none of the New Breed are over with the fans and never will be as long as they continue having matches with no foreign objects and no extreme spots whatsoever like Lashley.

Over or not, I think it is highly unlikely that the Originals would win it, when all of them are constantly jobbed and squashed like no tomorrow. Vince Mcmahon wouldn't build up a feud like that to have the New Breed lose everything, he'll just continuosly shove them down wrestling fan's throats until they have no other choice but to accept what they have. The fact that Sabu and Sandman are going to be released sometime in the near future, it all adds to the unlikelyness that the Originals will take it.

[Andrew]

1. I see Mr. Kennedy winning the Money in the Bank after Edge and Orton get distracted with each other somehow.

That's a likely scenario as well, the MITB match is hard to pick this year because half the participants could feasibly win. However, I'd be a little surprised if they throw away Edge's win streak at Wrestlemania because of the possible matches that could be booked down the road. That's why I'm going with Edge winning, I think they'll want to keep that streak alive.

2. I think the ECW Originals will win - it's obvious that none of the New Breed are over with the fans and never will be as long as they continue having matches with no foreign objects and no extreme spots whatsoever like Lashley.

That's true, but I think this is going to be another case of WWE creative forcing characters onto the fans in the hopes they'll get over. Supposedly the originals are copping the blame for ECW's shortcomings and McMahon is keen on making the new vision of ECW work. The originals should be the ones to pick up the victory, but since rumour has it that most of them will be gone sooner or later it seems doubtful that they're going over.

3. Benoit jobbing to MVP depresses me, but if he is indeed returning to RAW, that prediction is probably correct. One of my top 5 favorite wrestlers of all-time.

No question. If it allows him to move on to (well, back to) bigger and better things then it will be worth it in the long run. The loss shouldn't hurt Benoit as he always manages to get over; he's just that good.

In other news, Jim Ross rounds out the Hall of Fame inductees this year which I think is fantastic. No matter how many times he's been ousted - both in real life and in kayfabe - he's always been brought back and that's a testament to how good he is and how difficult he is to replace.

[Lean]

Yeah, at last J. R. got his place in the Hall. I remember what he said when Undertaker chose Batista as Wrestlemania opponent:

"And Undertaker chokeslams Batista straight to hell!!!"

[[Q]]

I searched for videos on Youtube, and I found a 15-second clip of a wrestling match which ended up on a crash of a wrestler. Probably this is Owen's final match.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQn9MMGnvVg

Is this it?

That was actually Vic Grimes falling down, thanks to New Jack (one of the most twisted and sadistic wrestlers ever). For more clips like that, I'd recommend

http://www.wrestlinggonewrong.com

Lots of wrestling botches and screwups.

there is some fucked up shit on that site.
Sabu getting his arm cut open by barbed wire.

nice find though. definitely interesting for any wrestling fan.

[BigKaboom2]

I went through Wrestling Gone Wrong.....New Jack....good grief.

I didn't think about Edge's undefeated streak - they haven't really been hyping that too much but it could certainly play out that way. I was just thinking that the rift between Edge and Orton would play out there, but maybe he'll spear Randy in the middle of an RKO or something crazy like that and grab the briefcase. It seems like Kennedy was getting a huge push two months ago, but it's cooled off considerably since then, so I really have no idea.

If they made the ECW show resemble the old ECW shows at all, wouldn't that be a step in the right direction? I don't know what they're going for with that show, but there's nothing extreme about it.

[Lean]

If they made the ECW show resemble the old ECW shows at all, wouldn't that be a step in the right direction? I don't know what they're going for with that show, but there's nothing extreme about it.

I noticed that the only ECW Original who won the title is Rob Van Dam. I feel that this brand extension of the WWE will be dissolved in time.

[BigKaboom2]

RVD with the win over Burke on Sci-Fi.

http://rajah.com/base/node/7558