I guess this is it. I am having a difficult time putting into words how this feels. I know this isn't goodbye yet, I love writing so much that any hiatus hurts me. I know it would have been easy to give all my predictions on ShowStoppers and moved on. The pick blog always brought me luck so that is why I decided to write one more. I told Larry and John on Showstoppers I will go out on perfection. I think the WWE has done a decent job with the build up towards the Rumble. The only gripe I have is how the Sheamus Randy Orton WWE title match came about. The road to Wrestlemania starts with the Rumble.
Women's Title Match
Michelle McCool (c) vs Mickie James
Michelle McCool has been making fun of Mickie for weeks now. The McCool James feud has finally made the Women's title relevant. I don't think McCool is the best wrestler and is well behind the in ring skills of Mickie. The skills Michelle lacks in the ring, she backs up with her mic skills. I believe the WWE will put together a Mickie, Beth Phoenix and McCool match for Wrestlemania. They would make a great showing for the Diva division. Mickie would need to be the champion walking in at that match. I think Layla will get involved in the match somehow. She will screw up and cost Michelle the title. My pick is a new Women's champion Mickie James.
ECW Title Match
Christian (c) vs Ezekiel Jackson
I talked about Christian losing this match and then winning the Rumble later on in the night on ShowStoppers. I know there is no chance for this to happen since I don't write for the WWE. I thought it would be a great idea though. Ezekiel is a nice complementary wrestler. He has a nice look but he isn't championship material. Christian will be in the Money in the Bank match at wrestlemania. The roster on ECW doesn't have a guy to headline with Christian at Mania. ECW needs Christian more than Christian needs ECW. The peeps are screaming for Christian to be on a big show. He deserves it and will once the draft comes around again. I can't go against one of my FWF wrestlers. My pick is Christian to retain his title.
World Heavyweight Championship Match
The Undertaker (c) vs Rey Mysterio Jr.
If you remember the 2008 Royal Rumble, you will recall Rey was in a World Heavyweight Championship match with Edge. I am having the same thoughts I had back then for this match. Rey is a filler between Edge and The Undertakers match at Wrestlemania. Now Rey is a filler between The Undertaker and Shawn's rematch at this years Wrestlemania. I have no problems with this match since I don't think Taker and Rey have been in a one on one contest. The Undertaker doesn't have much more he can give so I think it makes sense if the WWE puts him against guys he has never faced. I can hear Larry screaming "Cena has never faced Taker and you didn't want that at Wrestlemania." I know and that is true. I didn't want to see that and still don't. Rey will face Punk at Wrestlemania in a hair vs mask match. Taker will retain the title at the Rumble.
WWE Title Match
Sheamus (c) vs Randy Orton
The news breaking today is Randy Orton signed a brand new ten year contract with the WWE. Thank you Randy. You are one of my favorite wrestlers right now and I would hate to see you go anywhere. You have blossomed into a special athlete in the squared circle and it's a pleasure to write about you on the Raw blog. I know some fans have a hard time seeing Sheamus walk around with the WWE title. He hasn't been on Raw for even 6 months and is now the man on the show. Sheamus's push was to fast and the main reason he got the push was HHH. My wish is to have Randy steal the show and prove to the WWE he can make Sheamus look like a real champion. I would like to see Orton work the match as a face and have Sheamus beat him up make a comeback only to fall short and break the fans hearts. I have said it for weeks, I think Legacy will break up this Sunday at the Rumble. Dibiase could cost Orton and then Orton beats him up. Dibiase is the face and Orton is the heel. I wonder how the fans would react if Legacy turned on Orton and started beating his ass. Would you have sympathy for Orton's character or feel the attack was necessary? I go with the first and I would start to root for Orton. The WWE has many choices this Sunday with the direction Orton will go. The one thing I know for sure is Triple H will face Sheamus at Wrestlemania for the WWE title. All the Sheamus haters won't be happy to read that. My pick is Sheamus retains and Legacy breaks up for good.
The Royal Rumble Match
30 men which is to many to list
I know you want a rundown on why the Rumble match is so cool. Ok click here. The Royal Rumble match is one of the most innovative matches in the WWE. The 2008 Royal Rumble may have met its match because this years match has even more stars. As I said before with Orton, the WWE has many paths to go down. John said a guy like Jericho and that would be awesome because I love Jericho. I think it would make more sense for him not to win, beat Taker at No Way out and face a a returning Edge. Edge, if healthy, could comeback and steal the victory from everyone. He has stolen victories in the past but I don't see it here. Edge is going to come back and most likely face Jericho one on one at Mania. The Animal could.. I can't even write it. Batista has no chance. I think the writing has been on the wall for several weeks. Triple H or Shawn Michaels are going to win the Rumble. The reports have Sheamus vs HHH at Wrestlemania so HHH makes a great choice. If HHH wins then I wonder how Shawn would face Taker at Mania. The rematch between Shawn and Taker will happen because Shawn will win the Rumble. HHH can get his match with Sheamus another way easily. The WWE would have to come up with a bigger storyline if HHH wins. I'm going with Shawn Michaels to become only the second man ever to win the Rumble three times. Shawn will be "the one".
I promised perfection and that is what you are going to get with my predictions. I want to thank everyone for your continued support of my blog since I started. Larry and the entire crew at BBSD have been so nice to me since I moved back to Iowa. I know BBSD will get along without me for a few weeks. I also know Tuesday's without a Raw blog won't be the same. I promise this is not a goodbye. I will be back and when I do, I will continue to be the best damn WWE blogger on the planet. I hope you enjoy the Royal Rumble this Sunday. I know I will be watching. I will have a hard time not being able to write my frustrations, joys and opinions on the WWE. As Bret said a few weeks ago on Raw about how we never forgot about him, I hope no one forgets me because mark my words, I WILL RETURN.
J Call
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Raw 1-25
I apologize for this being late. I had my Raw blog done last night after the show. My computer decided it would delete it and I had some Internet problems. If you listened to Showstoppers, you know this is my last Raw blog for a while. I'm moving and won't have the Internet for at least a month. Ok, enough of that crap lets get to some WWE action. I didn't care about the host, I wanted to see Bret. The WWE's go home show before the Rumble was missing something.
I thought opening the show with DX was a good move. I was getting tired of seeing them ending the show with the celebrity host. The match itself was a solid contest with plenty of in ring action. The ending was to predictable though. Legacy can't get on the same page and it showed later in the night with their backstage promo with Orton. I have said it several times, Legacy is heading for a break up at the Rumble. I feel DX might be doing the same. If HHH or HBK win the Rumble, the focus will be on being single wrestlers instead of a stable. I like each guy when they are separate. DX is old and stale. I want the Game and the ShowStopper then DX. I hope I get to see that after the Rumble.
I didn't fully understand why the WWE would have MVP lose to the Big Show. He needs a push and his feud with the Miz has been a great addition to Raw. Oh what to do with the Big Show? Show seems to flutter around and has no where to go. The WWE wanted to showcase him as a dominate big man, its to late. Big Show loses every single big match. Show needs to be one of the final 5 men in the Rumble match to make him look strong again. I understood why MVP lost once Miz was pinned by Kofi. The match between Kofi and Miz made sense in my eyes. You need to keep Kofi on every single Raw so he isn't lost in the shuffle. Since MVP distracted Miz to lose, the feud is still strong. They both lost and will continue to banter back and forth. I would like to see a free match between MVP and Miz on Raw in two weeks. The match could be given 20 mins to tell a good story.
Vincent Kennedy McMahon pissed me off tonight in a genius move. The WWE is smart and I have a feeling Bret is the brains behind this story. I want Bret to come back every single week. If he did, then it wouldn't mean as much. Bret will come back every other week or even once a month and its a great move. The fans are screaming for Bret and that's the reaction Vince wants every single week. The feud is a slow burner and it's perfect. Also Cena getting involved was a nice added touch. Cena is the face of the WWE and it makes sense he came out to be the voice of the old wrestlers. The Vince Bret feud has had HBK, HHH, Cena and Taker all involved so far. I don't know who else you bring back now except Bret. My luck on my final Raw blog Bret doesn't show up but will be back next week.
I'm with the King, if Maryse offered me French lessons I would jump at the chance. She is the hottest Diva in the WWE right now. The match with Eve wasn't great. I didn't expect much since it was a match with Eve. I called the Diva tournament finals a few weeks ago. Gail Kim and Maryse make the most sense. Fox is missing something and Eve can't wrestle well enough yet to be a champion. I hope the finals match is next week and is given time. I don't think the WWE could drown the Diva's more than have another lame 4 minute match for the Diva title after building up a nice Tournament.
The Main Event of the evening with Cena and Sheamus was a nice idea. I think it failed miserably though. The most memorable moment of the night was the picture perfect RKO by Randy Orton. I thought the match was more typical Cena crap. The WWE would have been smart had Orton been the guy on top when Raw went off the air. They never give the heels the opportunity because they want the fans to go home happy. Well you can do something AFTER THE CAMERAS ARE OFF!!!! The fans can go home with a face laying out the heel after Raw is over. It really isn't that difficult. Instead we see Cena raise his arms in the air to make all the kids under 10 believe he will win the Rumble. I hate, I mean I love to tell you Cena won't win the Rumble.
You should be listening every single week to ShowStoppers. The boys had a special guest this week along with my cameo appearance. The hosts will also be live before and after the Rumble. I will have my final blog for sometime up on Thursday. I will be giving my predictions on the Rumble. I enjoy writing this and its hard to stop now. This is not goodbye but see ya later. Stay tuned for all the Rumble coverage on BBSD.
J Call
I thought opening the show with DX was a good move. I was getting tired of seeing them ending the show with the celebrity host. The match itself was a solid contest with plenty of in ring action. The ending was to predictable though. Legacy can't get on the same page and it showed later in the night with their backstage promo with Orton. I have said it several times, Legacy is heading for a break up at the Rumble. I feel DX might be doing the same. If HHH or HBK win the Rumble, the focus will be on being single wrestlers instead of a stable. I like each guy when they are separate. DX is old and stale. I want the Game and the ShowStopper then DX. I hope I get to see that after the Rumble.
I didn't fully understand why the WWE would have MVP lose to the Big Show. He needs a push and his feud with the Miz has been a great addition to Raw. Oh what to do with the Big Show? Show seems to flutter around and has no where to go. The WWE wanted to showcase him as a dominate big man, its to late. Big Show loses every single big match. Show needs to be one of the final 5 men in the Rumble match to make him look strong again. I understood why MVP lost once Miz was pinned by Kofi. The match between Kofi and Miz made sense in my eyes. You need to keep Kofi on every single Raw so he isn't lost in the shuffle. Since MVP distracted Miz to lose, the feud is still strong. They both lost and will continue to banter back and forth. I would like to see a free match between MVP and Miz on Raw in two weeks. The match could be given 20 mins to tell a good story.
Vincent Kennedy McMahon pissed me off tonight in a genius move. The WWE is smart and I have a feeling Bret is the brains behind this story. I want Bret to come back every single week. If he did, then it wouldn't mean as much. Bret will come back every other week or even once a month and its a great move. The fans are screaming for Bret and that's the reaction Vince wants every single week. The feud is a slow burner and it's perfect. Also Cena getting involved was a nice added touch. Cena is the face of the WWE and it makes sense he came out to be the voice of the old wrestlers. The Vince Bret feud has had HBK, HHH, Cena and Taker all involved so far. I don't know who else you bring back now except Bret. My luck on my final Raw blog Bret doesn't show up but will be back next week.
I'm with the King, if Maryse offered me French lessons I would jump at the chance. She is the hottest Diva in the WWE right now. The match with Eve wasn't great. I didn't expect much since it was a match with Eve. I called the Diva tournament finals a few weeks ago. Gail Kim and Maryse make the most sense. Fox is missing something and Eve can't wrestle well enough yet to be a champion. I hope the finals match is next week and is given time. I don't think the WWE could drown the Diva's more than have another lame 4 minute match for the Diva title after building up a nice Tournament.
The Main Event of the evening with Cena and Sheamus was a nice idea. I think it failed miserably though. The most memorable moment of the night was the picture perfect RKO by Randy Orton. I thought the match was more typical Cena crap. The WWE would have been smart had Orton been the guy on top when Raw went off the air. They never give the heels the opportunity because they want the fans to go home happy. Well you can do something AFTER THE CAMERAS ARE OFF!!!! The fans can go home with a face laying out the heel after Raw is over. It really isn't that difficult. Instead we see Cena raise his arms in the air to make all the kids under 10 believe he will win the Rumble. I hate, I mean I love to tell you Cena won't win the Rumble.
You should be listening every single week to ShowStoppers. The boys had a special guest this week along with my cameo appearance. The hosts will also be live before and after the Rumble. I will have my final blog for sometime up on Thursday. I will be giving my predictions on the Rumble. I enjoy writing this and its hard to stop now. This is not goodbye but see ya later. Stay tuned for all the Rumble coverage on BBSD.
J Call
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The Black Hole
I have been reading almost every person on BBSD writing about sports. Larry is talking Tiger and his 18 hos. Eric is ready for spring to get here so his Cubs can have another losing season. John is blaming everyone and their dog for the Cowboys choke job in round 2. I have love the passion of sports on BBSD and the bloggers. As you know, I am an avid writer on all things WWE. I thought I would change it up and go for this whole sports thing. Since Eric and John were talking about their favorite team, I figured I would speak on behalf of the Raider Nation, the real Raider nation not Red Raiders John. I have thoughts on many NFL topics and before I would get to the Raider nation, I need to address the Nation of One.
The Buffalo Bills fans have to be excited to hear about their new head coaching hire. I have hit the message boards, searched high and low on the Internet to find some outrage. I have yet to find any Bills fans. None! Where the hell are you? Please, come out and complain about this hire. You have all the rights in the world to complain. Bill Cowher gave Chan a recommendation and that was all that was needed to get Buddy Nix and Ralph Wilson to hire this guy. Bills fans should be outraged by this boring hire. You already had one of the most mundane coaches in Dick Jauron. He wouldn't fire me up unless you poured gasoline on my ass and lit it on fire. General managers hiring coaches who have had long stints off hasn't worked in the past. Joe Gibbs wasn't a bad hire for the Redskins. On the other hand, I remember Art Shell's corpse as the Raiders head coach a few years ago. I have no confidence in this hire and neither should any Bills fans, if you can find one. Feel free to email me if you are out there, mccall316@yahoo.com. I would love to hear from you. A quick prediction before I move on, Gailey is fired within 2 years.
I need to say a few things to John in response to his Cowboy blog he wrote last week. First of all, I love your passion John. You might be the biggest homer when it comes to the Cowboys and you don't hide it. You seemed to blame everyone. The one person you blamed the most was Jerry Jones, though I need a real reason. I'll give you a few. As a fan of the worst run franchise in all of sports I know how to blame an owner. So here goes:
One thing is for sure I would blame Jerry Jones for keeping Wade Phillips when he needed to throw big money at Mike Shanahan last off season. Wade Phillips is not a head coach. I don't give a crap if he won a playoff game this year. He is not a head coach. Mike Shanahan is a head coach but not a General Manager. Jerry needed to bring Wade into his office after Mike was fired and give him an option. I talked about this last year when I was doing the sports show on BBSD with John. Jerry should have told Wade, 'I'm going to try and hire Mike. The truth is we need a guy that can help our offense and gain confidence in Romo. Wade, you have been a loyal coach to this team. I don't want to lose you. I want you to stay on as defensive coordinator because you have helped them immensely this year.' Wade, like a puppy, would have nodded and went with it. Instead, you missed the boat on Mike and he is working for your rival and Jerry extended Wade's contract. Brilliant! While I'm here: I don't see the difference between drafting Darrius Heyward Bey and trading 3 picks for Roy Williams. You could have had a much more effective football player than another cry baby Wide Receiver. Roy had 596 yards 7 tds and was invisible in some games. I'm not saying Bey is any better because we all know Oakland blew the pick by not selecting Crabtree. I went back and looked at some of the players in the first round taken after the Lions selected Brandon Pettigrew with your first round pick. The Cowboys could have used that pick on Michael Oher, Percy Harvin or Clay Matthews to name a few. Now ask yourself, as a Cowboy fan who would you rather have? A left tackle for the future, a highlight reel Wide Receiver and return man, a solid sack happy linebacker or Roy Williams. Obviously, Jerry knew best. After you read all of that, Cowboy fans are nodding in agreement. I will take a wild guess that next years season ends in another disappointing loss and John and all Cowboy fans will be pissed again. No need to think of who to blame next time. All you have to do is look in the owners box inside Alien Stadium.
Alright, I am done ranting on those two subjects it's time to get to the Oakland Raiders. I love the Silver and Black. I will for the rest of my life. I'm one of the workers on the ship while our captain is steering with his eyes closed. I'm going down with my captain. The so called sources have no idea if Crazy Al is hiring a new head coach or keeping Cable. I haven't a clue what Al will do which is why I call him Crazy Al. I would like to see Tom Cable get one more year. Cable got my vote when he blamed Russell for his work ethic and inability to be an effective quarterback. The fact that Russell left for Vegas is another reason he is Ryan Leaf without the anger issue. If Al was smart (he isn't) he would dump this piece of crap now and pay him not to be near the locker room. Russell would be happy not to work for Oakland much like Conan O'Brien on NBC. The Raiders have another high draft pick and I doubt Al will make a great choice. History is proving over and over, he can't draft a solid player any longer. The only pick I agreed with was Darren McFadden. Darren has shown signs of promise and should get more touches. The list is endless of bad coaching hires as well. If Al has a lot of money, throw it all at a big time head coach. The only problem is no real head coach wants the job. I know there is no chance for Cowher or Dungy. What is the best chance for the Raiders? The obvious is hope for Al to sell the rest of his shares of the team and hope for new management. The other is something I can't bring myself to hope for but most Raiders fans are hoping for the worst for Al's health.
I came up with an idea, Oakland should hire Rich Gannon to be the new QB coach before Rich reached out. I am dead serious I text friends about it. My idea would have come true had Bernie, er Al, said no thanks. Al complained about Rich's comments on Russell earlier in the year. Rich was right on all targets. Russell is a lazy piece of crap and Gannon knows what it takes to win and be a leader. I believe Rich wouldn't be able to teach Russell. Bruce Gradkowski is a whole other story. Is Bruce the future? The jury is still out on that. I for one would have jumped at the chance for Rich to teach Bruce. They are similar style quarterbacks and have the same work ethic. The other big name I could see the Raiders going after is McNabb. OK, I know Al will go after Vick instead but give a guy some hope. McNabb would be a perfect fit in Oakland. Philly is contemplating whether to trade him or not. I say a 2nd and 5th round pick gets them to bite. Donovan would help the young wide receivers, give advice to the young quarterbacks and have no pressure to win more than 8 games. One more idea before I end this: Hire Jim Zorn to help out the quarterbacks, dump Russell and draft Tony Pike, QB from Cincinnati, in a later round. I don't know what it is about Pike. I guess you would call it a hunch. I think Pike is going to be a solid quarterback given the right place and opportunity.
I know I am throwing out many different scenarios. Can you blame me? I am on a sinking ship right now. I won't jump off in any scenario. I hope someone can throw me a life raft and can save me. By the end of this years draft, I'll be neck high in water and ready to vent again.
J Call
The Buffalo Bills fans have to be excited to hear about their new head coaching hire. I have hit the message boards, searched high and low on the Internet to find some outrage. I have yet to find any Bills fans. None! Where the hell are you? Please, come out and complain about this hire. You have all the rights in the world to complain. Bill Cowher gave Chan a recommendation and that was all that was needed to get Buddy Nix and Ralph Wilson to hire this guy. Bills fans should be outraged by this boring hire. You already had one of the most mundane coaches in Dick Jauron. He wouldn't fire me up unless you poured gasoline on my ass and lit it on fire. General managers hiring coaches who have had long stints off hasn't worked in the past. Joe Gibbs wasn't a bad hire for the Redskins. On the other hand, I remember Art Shell's corpse as the Raiders head coach a few years ago. I have no confidence in this hire and neither should any Bills fans, if you can find one. Feel free to email me if you are out there, mccall316@yahoo.com. I would love to hear from you. A quick prediction before I move on, Gailey is fired within 2 years.
I need to say a few things to John in response to his Cowboy blog he wrote last week. First of all, I love your passion John. You might be the biggest homer when it comes to the Cowboys and you don't hide it. You seemed to blame everyone. The one person you blamed the most was Jerry Jones, though I need a real reason. I'll give you a few. As a fan of the worst run franchise in all of sports I know how to blame an owner. So here goes:
One thing is for sure I would blame Jerry Jones for keeping Wade Phillips when he needed to throw big money at Mike Shanahan last off season. Wade Phillips is not a head coach. I don't give a crap if he won a playoff game this year. He is not a head coach. Mike Shanahan is a head coach but not a General Manager. Jerry needed to bring Wade into his office after Mike was fired and give him an option. I talked about this last year when I was doing the sports show on BBSD with John. Jerry should have told Wade, 'I'm going to try and hire Mike. The truth is we need a guy that can help our offense and gain confidence in Romo. Wade, you have been a loyal coach to this team. I don't want to lose you. I want you to stay on as defensive coordinator because you have helped them immensely this year.' Wade, like a puppy, would have nodded and went with it. Instead, you missed the boat on Mike and he is working for your rival and Jerry extended Wade's contract. Brilliant! While I'm here: I don't see the difference between drafting Darrius Heyward Bey and trading 3 picks for Roy Williams. You could have had a much more effective football player than another cry baby Wide Receiver. Roy had 596 yards 7 tds and was invisible in some games. I'm not saying Bey is any better because we all know Oakland blew the pick by not selecting Crabtree. I went back and looked at some of the players in the first round taken after the Lions selected Brandon Pettigrew with your first round pick. The Cowboys could have used that pick on Michael Oher, Percy Harvin or Clay Matthews to name a few. Now ask yourself, as a Cowboy fan who would you rather have? A left tackle for the future, a highlight reel Wide Receiver and return man, a solid sack happy linebacker or Roy Williams. Obviously, Jerry knew best. After you read all of that, Cowboy fans are nodding in agreement. I will take a wild guess that next years season ends in another disappointing loss and John and all Cowboy fans will be pissed again. No need to think of who to blame next time. All you have to do is look in the owners box inside Alien Stadium.
Alright, I am done ranting on those two subjects it's time to get to the Oakland Raiders. I love the Silver and Black. I will for the rest of my life. I'm one of the workers on the ship while our captain is steering with his eyes closed. I'm going down with my captain. The so called sources have no idea if Crazy Al is hiring a new head coach or keeping Cable. I haven't a clue what Al will do which is why I call him Crazy Al. I would like to see Tom Cable get one more year. Cable got my vote when he blamed Russell for his work ethic and inability to be an effective quarterback. The fact that Russell left for Vegas is another reason he is Ryan Leaf without the anger issue. If Al was smart (he isn't) he would dump this piece of crap now and pay him not to be near the locker room. Russell would be happy not to work for Oakland much like Conan O'Brien on NBC. The Raiders have another high draft pick and I doubt Al will make a great choice. History is proving over and over, he can't draft a solid player any longer. The only pick I agreed with was Darren McFadden. Darren has shown signs of promise and should get more touches. The list is endless of bad coaching hires as well. If Al has a lot of money, throw it all at a big time head coach. The only problem is no real head coach wants the job. I know there is no chance for Cowher or Dungy. What is the best chance for the Raiders? The obvious is hope for Al to sell the rest of his shares of the team and hope for new management. The other is something I can't bring myself to hope for but most Raiders fans are hoping for the worst for Al's health.
I came up with an idea, Oakland should hire Rich Gannon to be the new QB coach before Rich reached out. I am dead serious I text friends about it. My idea would have come true had Bernie, er Al, said no thanks. Al complained about Rich's comments on Russell earlier in the year. Rich was right on all targets. Russell is a lazy piece of crap and Gannon knows what it takes to win and be a leader. I believe Rich wouldn't be able to teach Russell. Bruce Gradkowski is a whole other story. Is Bruce the future? The jury is still out on that. I for one would have jumped at the chance for Rich to teach Bruce. They are similar style quarterbacks and have the same work ethic. The other big name I could see the Raiders going after is McNabb. OK, I know Al will go after Vick instead but give a guy some hope. McNabb would be a perfect fit in Oakland. Philly is contemplating whether to trade him or not. I say a 2nd and 5th round pick gets them to bite. Donovan would help the young wide receivers, give advice to the young quarterbacks and have no pressure to win more than 8 games. One more idea before I end this: Hire Jim Zorn to help out the quarterbacks, dump Russell and draft Tony Pike, QB from Cincinnati, in a later round. I don't know what it is about Pike. I guess you would call it a hunch. I think Pike is going to be a solid quarterback given the right place and opportunity.
I know I am throwing out many different scenarios. Can you blame me? I am on a sinking ship right now. I won't jump off in any scenario. I hope someone can throw me a life raft and can save me. By the end of this years draft, I'll be neck high in water and ready to vent again.
J Call
Monday, January 18, 2010
Raw 1-18
Last week, I was pissed after Raw went off the air. DX and Tyson was way to predictable. The hosts tonight are Don Johnson and Jon Heder. Raw is a special night with The Undertaker giving HBK an answer on whether they will wrestle one more time at Wrestlemania 26. I have a feeling it will be a no. I hope Raw provides us a much better ending then last weeks crap. I forgot on the Raw blog last Monday to write something in the first paragraph. I will shock you since I am going to talk about TNA and their pay per view last night.
TNA opened up their pay per view showing off their brand new four sided ring. Oh wow, I am so excited to see you drop something that made you different than the WWE. TNA had a six sided ring and it was unique. I know it is a small thing but it still made them different. Fans get mad at the WWE for being bland and boring. TNA could have capitalized on that by showcasing their original talent and add a few big names. I felt they had done that with Jeff Hardy, Kurt Angle and Sting. Now they are WCW. Why would I turn over to watch them if the same guys who ruined WCW are running TNA? Last night, there were so many shots of Hogan and his hot daughter to make you sick. By highlighting Hogan, Flair and Bischoff, TNA is heading down the wrong path. TNA is going to have to make sure not to focus on only Hogan and Flair. You have a lot of talent and can't bury them under the old guys. I would have preferred TNA signed Paul Heyman than Bischoff. Heyman has showed he can write and be creative. Great job last night TNA. In my opinion, you are now WCW Jr. I'm happy to get that off my chest.
You can never go wrong with Vincent Kennedy McMahon opening up a Raw. Vince is always fun as the heel. I've never actually hated Vince even in the Austin era. I had said Raw was going to be special and I never would have thought The Undertaker would have showed up in the first segment. I was reading reports Taker is having a hard time moving around with his bad back. I hope for our sake he can go until Mania and take a very long hiatus much like last year. Wrestlemanias are not the same without the Phenom. It's true Taker was there and he had Bret's back if you read the stories. I like the storyline Vince playing the coward. The fans will have a hard time figuring out who to root for again this year. Do you pick Undertaker or HBK? I like both men and will be happy to enjoy another match between the two at Wrestlemania. The Undertaker seems to be playing the heel. Last year, their story was focused on both being faces. I thought having the Undertaker back down from a challenge was strange. Has he ever said no to a fight? Shawn might go ahead and win the Rumble now. The match would mean even more if the title is on the line. However, it does seem like Shawn would almost have to beat him now. I don't see how Shawn could win the Rumble and have the world title shot and fail again. I never thought the Undertaker's streak would be in jeopardy but it could be now.
Something neither Showstoppers or I discussed last week was Cena's winning streak. Cena had come out a few weeks ago after he lost to Sheamus and said he would never lose. I heard Cena is having problems with his back now and may need surgery. As I said above about the Undertaker, the WWE needs Cena for Wrestlemania. I don't see how Sheamus beating Bourne again helps the champ. At least the focus turned towards Orton. The fans seem to be cheering for Randy more each week. His opponent makes it easier for fans to start liking Orton more. My real problem was how the WWE goes to commercial. They have the champ and challenger have a stare off and instead you go to commercial with a lame backstage skit. I would have rather seen that open after the commercial break. The WWE title needs to be showcased and not take a backseat. The WWE should have something more about Orton and Sheamus later on.
Swagger is getting creamed on Raw. I am embarrassed for the guy. He can't buy a break. If this continues, the crowd is going to become even more bored with him. The only way he gains some credibility is if he can hold his own at the Rumble and throw a few people out. He won't because I am sure he will be eliminated right away. The WWE knows how to build them up and tear them down.
You know what would have been better than Justin Roberts announcing the co hosts. If Justin Roberts would have said here are your hosts for Raw, two guys you couldn't careless about. Miami Vice was great 10 years ago and Napolean Dynamite was cool 4 years ago. Jon Heder is playing the heel very well. He got the fans pissed with his Kiffin rant. (Who I can't stand) I am so sick of hearing Miz say really. I was hoping MVP would have gotten a shot at the US title at the Rumble. Instead Miz let us all know he is one of the entrants in the Rumble. The WWE is finally showing off the Big Show again. At least you could tell Heder was having fun. Miz and MVP continued their feud without having a match. I have to wonder when the WWE will put them in the ring to compete.
If you get a chance, go back and listen to Lawler call Randy Orton, Randy Savage. Jerry needs his eyes checked. I bet Vince was screaming at him in the headset. I have to say I was happy to see Legacy get a tag match this week. One week they are on the same page, the next week is a different story. The WWE needs to make up their mind on what they are going to do with Legacy. I followed John's reaction to every bump and couldn't see a problem. I did notice he was in a limited role before the commercial break. I had a feeling once Raw returned that Kofi would give Cena the hot tag and end the match. Tag team matches seem to be scripted the same damn way every week. I get that you have to get the crowd into it with a hot tag. Cena and Kofi picked up the win and Legacy has more tension in the ring. Next week, they will be back to normal.
I was over come with joy when Hornswaggle and Heder were added in the mix the Main Event. I wanted to see DX and Hornswaggle end Raw again. I am calling it before it happens much like last week. Let the fans go home happy. The WWE switched it up tonight with the Divas. The tournament will return next week. I have been raving that the tournament has given some promise to the Divas division. I thought having a tag match a week before the semi finals was a great idea to give some focus on all 4 girls. I don't mind any of the Divas except Eve. She isn't a solid wrestler and will most likely lose next week. The finals needs to be Gail and Maryse.
I praised it last week and I will again this week. The WWE picked a great song to go along with the WWE. Shawn Michaels might be the hero at the end of the Rumble. HHH and Vince's backstage segment all but seals the deal Bret will return next week. My guess is he will upstage Vince and this thing will heat up even more.
I got my wish since the WWE decided to show off Randy Orton. Chris Masters got some new music. Randy didn't get to show off to much tonight. The match was quick with an RKO. I liked the finish to the segment. Sheamus needs to have some momentum and make Orton look a little weak. Randy is a great heel and frankly I am surprised the fans are cheering for him the way they are. I like Orton but more as of a heel. If you are going to break up Legacy, Dibiase should be the face.
The Miz is finally getting a match on Raw. I guess the WWE had no idea what to do with Show except throw him a new partner. I have complained way to many times about how I don't like the celebrities getting involved in the show. Classic example is tonight's show. Heder looked sick and so did the two sweet chin musics. I can make it official now. The Raw writers are trying to piss me off. The end of Raw was the same damn thing as last week. I was saved by the mic skills of HHH and Cena. You had to know Cena was going to be in the Rumble match. The WWE should make sure Big Show throws out about 10 guys and establishes dominates again. (That was a nice side joke for John). The ending was a little different since now there is some tension between HHH and HBK. I get tired of seeing DX go around and do nothing but throw a joke once in a while. I'm sorry I get bored with that same old crap. The Rumble is all about going out there for yourself. The WWE is going to have a lot of guys who could win the match. We know Big Show won't, but the other 3 guys could. Cena needs a rematch and could win. HBK wants The Undertaker and the only way that happens is if he wins. HHH wants back on top and has requested to take on Sheamus at Wrestlemania. The road to Wrestlemania is a curvy one. Raw makes me feel like the Rumble match won't be have a predictable winner.
Next week, USA is teaming up with the WWE and having the two characters from Psych host Raw. As long as they don't wrestler, I don't mind a little cross promoting. The WWE should keep the focus on the Rumble and the two championship matches rolling throughout the next two weeks. I like the story lines going into the Rumble with one exception. I don't care much for Rey vs Undertaker. The WWE did this a few years ago with Edge taking on Rey. You know the match will be a solid contest, that is not my point. My point is Rey should be in the Rumble match instead of a filler. No one will believe Rey is going to win and it's a waste of talent. I will be back next week and I hope Bret Hart is as well.
J Call
TNA opened up their pay per view showing off their brand new four sided ring. Oh wow, I am so excited to see you drop something that made you different than the WWE. TNA had a six sided ring and it was unique. I know it is a small thing but it still made them different. Fans get mad at the WWE for being bland and boring. TNA could have capitalized on that by showcasing their original talent and add a few big names. I felt they had done that with Jeff Hardy, Kurt Angle and Sting. Now they are WCW. Why would I turn over to watch them if the same guys who ruined WCW are running TNA? Last night, there were so many shots of Hogan and his hot daughter to make you sick. By highlighting Hogan, Flair and Bischoff, TNA is heading down the wrong path. TNA is going to have to make sure not to focus on only Hogan and Flair. You have a lot of talent and can't bury them under the old guys. I would have preferred TNA signed Paul Heyman than Bischoff. Heyman has showed he can write and be creative. Great job last night TNA. In my opinion, you are now WCW Jr. I'm happy to get that off my chest.
You can never go wrong with Vincent Kennedy McMahon opening up a Raw. Vince is always fun as the heel. I've never actually hated Vince even in the Austin era. I had said Raw was going to be special and I never would have thought The Undertaker would have showed up in the first segment. I was reading reports Taker is having a hard time moving around with his bad back. I hope for our sake he can go until Mania and take a very long hiatus much like last year. Wrestlemanias are not the same without the Phenom. It's true Taker was there and he had Bret's back if you read the stories. I like the storyline Vince playing the coward. The fans will have a hard time figuring out who to root for again this year. Do you pick Undertaker or HBK? I like both men and will be happy to enjoy another match between the two at Wrestlemania. The Undertaker seems to be playing the heel. Last year, their story was focused on both being faces. I thought having the Undertaker back down from a challenge was strange. Has he ever said no to a fight? Shawn might go ahead and win the Rumble now. The match would mean even more if the title is on the line. However, it does seem like Shawn would almost have to beat him now. I don't see how Shawn could win the Rumble and have the world title shot and fail again. I never thought the Undertaker's streak would be in jeopardy but it could be now.
Something neither Showstoppers or I discussed last week was Cena's winning streak. Cena had come out a few weeks ago after he lost to Sheamus and said he would never lose. I heard Cena is having problems with his back now and may need surgery. As I said above about the Undertaker, the WWE needs Cena for Wrestlemania. I don't see how Sheamus beating Bourne again helps the champ. At least the focus turned towards Orton. The fans seem to be cheering for Randy more each week. His opponent makes it easier for fans to start liking Orton more. My real problem was how the WWE goes to commercial. They have the champ and challenger have a stare off and instead you go to commercial with a lame backstage skit. I would have rather seen that open after the commercial break. The WWE title needs to be showcased and not take a backseat. The WWE should have something more about Orton and Sheamus later on.
Swagger is getting creamed on Raw. I am embarrassed for the guy. He can't buy a break. If this continues, the crowd is going to become even more bored with him. The only way he gains some credibility is if he can hold his own at the Rumble and throw a few people out. He won't because I am sure he will be eliminated right away. The WWE knows how to build them up and tear them down.
You know what would have been better than Justin Roberts announcing the co hosts. If Justin Roberts would have said here are your hosts for Raw, two guys you couldn't careless about. Miami Vice was great 10 years ago and Napolean Dynamite was cool 4 years ago. Jon Heder is playing the heel very well. He got the fans pissed with his Kiffin rant. (Who I can't stand) I am so sick of hearing Miz say really. I was hoping MVP would have gotten a shot at the US title at the Rumble. Instead Miz let us all know he is one of the entrants in the Rumble. The WWE is finally showing off the Big Show again. At least you could tell Heder was having fun. Miz and MVP continued their feud without having a match. I have to wonder when the WWE will put them in the ring to compete.
If you get a chance, go back and listen to Lawler call Randy Orton, Randy Savage. Jerry needs his eyes checked. I bet Vince was screaming at him in the headset. I have to say I was happy to see Legacy get a tag match this week. One week they are on the same page, the next week is a different story. The WWE needs to make up their mind on what they are going to do with Legacy. I followed John's reaction to every bump and couldn't see a problem. I did notice he was in a limited role before the commercial break. I had a feeling once Raw returned that Kofi would give Cena the hot tag and end the match. Tag team matches seem to be scripted the same damn way every week. I get that you have to get the crowd into it with a hot tag. Cena and Kofi picked up the win and Legacy has more tension in the ring. Next week, they will be back to normal.
I was over come with joy when Hornswaggle and Heder were added in the mix the Main Event. I wanted to see DX and Hornswaggle end Raw again. I am calling it before it happens much like last week. Let the fans go home happy. The WWE switched it up tonight with the Divas. The tournament will return next week. I have been raving that the tournament has given some promise to the Divas division. I thought having a tag match a week before the semi finals was a great idea to give some focus on all 4 girls. I don't mind any of the Divas except Eve. She isn't a solid wrestler and will most likely lose next week. The finals needs to be Gail and Maryse.
I praised it last week and I will again this week. The WWE picked a great song to go along with the WWE. Shawn Michaels might be the hero at the end of the Rumble. HHH and Vince's backstage segment all but seals the deal Bret will return next week. My guess is he will upstage Vince and this thing will heat up even more.
I got my wish since the WWE decided to show off Randy Orton. Chris Masters got some new music. Randy didn't get to show off to much tonight. The match was quick with an RKO. I liked the finish to the segment. Sheamus needs to have some momentum and make Orton look a little weak. Randy is a great heel and frankly I am surprised the fans are cheering for him the way they are. I like Orton but more as of a heel. If you are going to break up Legacy, Dibiase should be the face.
The Miz is finally getting a match on Raw. I guess the WWE had no idea what to do with Show except throw him a new partner. I have complained way to many times about how I don't like the celebrities getting involved in the show. Classic example is tonight's show. Heder looked sick and so did the two sweet chin musics. I can make it official now. The Raw writers are trying to piss me off. The end of Raw was the same damn thing as last week. I was saved by the mic skills of HHH and Cena. You had to know Cena was going to be in the Rumble match. The WWE should make sure Big Show throws out about 10 guys and establishes dominates again. (That was a nice side joke for John). The ending was a little different since now there is some tension between HHH and HBK. I get tired of seeing DX go around and do nothing but throw a joke once in a while. I'm sorry I get bored with that same old crap. The Rumble is all about going out there for yourself. The WWE is going to have a lot of guys who could win the match. We know Big Show won't, but the other 3 guys could. Cena needs a rematch and could win. HBK wants The Undertaker and the only way that happens is if he wins. HHH wants back on top and has requested to take on Sheamus at Wrestlemania. The road to Wrestlemania is a curvy one. Raw makes me feel like the Rumble match won't be have a predictable winner.
Next week, USA is teaming up with the WWE and having the two characters from Psych host Raw. As long as they don't wrestler, I don't mind a little cross promoting. The WWE should keep the focus on the Rumble and the two championship matches rolling throughout the next two weeks. I like the story lines going into the Rumble with one exception. I don't care much for Rey vs Undertaker. The WWE did this a few years ago with Edge taking on Rey. You know the match will be a solid contest, that is not my point. My point is Rey should be in the Rumble match instead of a filler. No one will believe Rey is going to win and it's a waste of talent. I will be back next week and I hope Bret Hart is as well.
J Call
Monday, January 11, 2010
Raw 1-11
Lets be honest, last week I was a homer for the WWE. I am a huge mark for Bret Hart and was happy he came back. Was it the biggest deal in wrestling history? No, but it was the biggest deal on Raw in a long time. Raw was a solid show in the ring and out. Vince will certainly address what happened last week. Sheamus needs an opponent set up for the Rumble. I can be harsh on the WWE at times. My summer Raw blogs and some of the celebrity guest hosts Raws can attribute to my anger. Now is the time the WWE starts to put it all together. The road to Wrestlemania is heating up. The Rumble is where it all begins. We have a few weeks to get there and I can't wait to see where it goes.
I read Jim Ross's blog and he said Tyson was a huge fan of the WWWF back in the day. He may be an idiot at times, he is a real wrestling fan. The fans gave him a very nice ovation. He seemed pleasantly surprised as was I. "Mike Tyson is standing in Stone Colds' ring", one of the most memorable quotes ever. Wrestlemania XIV was one of the most important events in wrestling history. A great move by the WWE to have Sheamus come and get in the face of Mike. I thought for sure Cena would have interrupted. Cena screwed up talking about the Vikings and Packers. I would say I love Orton getting into the WWE title mix. However, he and Legacy need to solve their problems first. Kofi getting in the mix is a better idea. Minnesota fans are funny with their loud Randy chants. They know a good wrestler when they see one. Sheamus trying to back out of the Rumble is stupid. His character isn't a wuss. He is more of a head on kind of guy. Orton vs Cena vs Kofi later tonight. If the WWE were smart, they would keep Cena out of the title match. Give the shot to Kofi so fans can truly believe he is a main event star.
Alicia Fox vs Kelly Kelly. I wanted to see the bracket for the Diva Tournament right away. The WWE never showed how it was setup. The WWE is using the Divas on Raw and Superstars to highlight the tournament. Kelly Kelly has been improving her in ring skills. I saw a few nice moves from her tonight. Alicia moved on. I'd give her about a snowballs chance in hell to win the tournament.
Legacy's shots on The Marine was outstanding. The WWE takes 2 under card guys and throws them together as a tag team. Evan was impressive last week against the champion. The shame is Legacy doesn't have a real tag team to feud with for sometime. Legacy has been a nice tag team and had they been together back in the early 2000's when Dudleys, E&C and the Hardys were together, Legacy might have meant something more. The Cross Rhodes is proof Evan Bourne is the best seller in the WWE. No tension between Legacy after they pick up the victory. I'll say it again, Legacy will break up in the Rumble match. I know there is talk about having Dibiase vs Orton at Mania. Rhodes needs to be in that match as well.
Great acting by Tyson with Jericho. Tyson will turn on Jericho and knock him out tonight. DX will make up with Tyson and Jericho will get screwed. You think I'm writing this after Raw but I wrote this right before the Bret Hart recap from last weeks Raw.
The WWE Hall of Fame is the most special night of the year. We know Stu Hart is going in for sure as Vince announced that last week. How can you top Stone Cold last year? Jack Swagger said he was going to go undefeated from October until December. His streak lasted 2 weeks. Now I am suppose to believe he will win the Rumble. Yeah, I am sure you will get it done. Swagger lost to Santino. What has this kid done to kill off all his momentum? Swagger needs a change of scenery. Once the draft comes, Jack needs to go to Smackdown. Morrison can come to Raw and Swagger can be an Intercontinental Champion.
I would have rather seen the Triple Threat Match to end the show. The WWE title is the most important thing on Raw. The story should be the main event. The story early made sense because Cena and Kofi are fan favorites. I would rather see Kofi get aggressive and take out Cena. The fans got behind Kofi because of the mean streak he showed during his feud with Orton. The look on Orton before his nasty DDT is priceless. His mannerisms are perfect for his character. Cena's scripted comeback is getting old. He needs to switch up from time to time. Dibiase didn't even do anything when he came in. I think something went wrong at the finish of the match. Orton looked pissed and I couldn't tell if it was towards Sheamus in character or not. A heel heel feud for the WWE title. I wonder how the fans will feel and cheer for in the feud.
The Miz had a great backstage to in ring promo. He had plenty of passion in his voice. My only problem with Miz is the lack of wrestling he has had in the past few months. He needs a long program and MVP is the perfect opponent for him. MVP needed a program as well. MVP got real with the fans tonight. Miz didn't take the boot very well. The promo between the two and the fight is what this feud needed. Great job by both men to get us interested in the feud.
I thought Katie Lea was on ECW. The WWE moved her over without even saying anything about it. Eve needs to improve considerable in the ring. Maryse takes on Eve next week along with Gail Kim vs Alicia Fox. I'll go out on a huge limb and say Maryse and Gail Kim will be in the finals. The WWE is trying to make the Diva title mean something and it will when Kim and Maryse finish the tournament. The match cannot be the same 4 minute match we have seen the entire tournament. The final match needs time to develop to make it more important to the fans.
The WWE picked Hero by Skillet as one of their theme songs for the Royal Rumble. Great theme for wrestling. Vincent Kennedy McMahon makes a bold statement that Bret will never been seen again. I highly doubt that sir. I wondered where the story would go. Now I have an idea. Bret will sneak into the arena sometime and start beating Vince's ass. Perhaps Stephanie will come back and say she hired Bret. One way or another, Bret will show up on Raw very soon. I have a wish for the WWE. Vince, you read the blog every week. Will you make sure Bret shows up on the February 15th edition of Raw? That particular Raw will be special for me because I will be live in the arena. Raw will be in Des Moines Iowa February 15th and I would love to see Bret live in person. Thanks Vince.
I remember writing a few paragraphs above about Tyson screwing Jericho by the end of the evening. I write this live so I was predicting the future. Next week will be special if Undertaker shows up. If he says yes, the Rumble is even more unpredictable. Even though Jericho has been "banned" he is refreshing for Raw. I'm so tired of Hornswaggle. Oh wow who would have thought Tyson would turn on Jericho? I never saw that coming. Raw ends in a way to predictable fashion.
Speaking of predictable, make sure you tune into Showstoppers this week. I make a cameo appearance and I predict John and Larry's best Rumble. I predict on here that both hosts will love the ending for Raw as well. I have no clue why Don Johnson and Jon Heder are hosting next weeks Raw. Besides the most predictable finish on Raw in quite sometime, I thought the show was solid. Bret will show up next week on Raw.
J Call
I read Jim Ross's blog and he said Tyson was a huge fan of the WWWF back in the day. He may be an idiot at times, he is a real wrestling fan. The fans gave him a very nice ovation. He seemed pleasantly surprised as was I. "Mike Tyson is standing in Stone Colds' ring", one of the most memorable quotes ever. Wrestlemania XIV was one of the most important events in wrestling history. A great move by the WWE to have Sheamus come and get in the face of Mike. I thought for sure Cena would have interrupted. Cena screwed up talking about the Vikings and Packers. I would say I love Orton getting into the WWE title mix. However, he and Legacy need to solve their problems first. Kofi getting in the mix is a better idea. Minnesota fans are funny with their loud Randy chants. They know a good wrestler when they see one. Sheamus trying to back out of the Rumble is stupid. His character isn't a wuss. He is more of a head on kind of guy. Orton vs Cena vs Kofi later tonight. If the WWE were smart, they would keep Cena out of the title match. Give the shot to Kofi so fans can truly believe he is a main event star.
Alicia Fox vs Kelly Kelly. I wanted to see the bracket for the Diva Tournament right away. The WWE never showed how it was setup. The WWE is using the Divas on Raw and Superstars to highlight the tournament. Kelly Kelly has been improving her in ring skills. I saw a few nice moves from her tonight. Alicia moved on. I'd give her about a snowballs chance in hell to win the tournament.
Legacy's shots on The Marine was outstanding. The WWE takes 2 under card guys and throws them together as a tag team. Evan was impressive last week against the champion. The shame is Legacy doesn't have a real tag team to feud with for sometime. Legacy has been a nice tag team and had they been together back in the early 2000's when Dudleys, E&C and the Hardys were together, Legacy might have meant something more. The Cross Rhodes is proof Evan Bourne is the best seller in the WWE. No tension between Legacy after they pick up the victory. I'll say it again, Legacy will break up in the Rumble match. I know there is talk about having Dibiase vs Orton at Mania. Rhodes needs to be in that match as well.
Great acting by Tyson with Jericho. Tyson will turn on Jericho and knock him out tonight. DX will make up with Tyson and Jericho will get screwed. You think I'm writing this after Raw but I wrote this right before the Bret Hart recap from last weeks Raw.
The WWE Hall of Fame is the most special night of the year. We know Stu Hart is going in for sure as Vince announced that last week. How can you top Stone Cold last year? Jack Swagger said he was going to go undefeated from October until December. His streak lasted 2 weeks. Now I am suppose to believe he will win the Rumble. Yeah, I am sure you will get it done. Swagger lost to Santino. What has this kid done to kill off all his momentum? Swagger needs a change of scenery. Once the draft comes, Jack needs to go to Smackdown. Morrison can come to Raw and Swagger can be an Intercontinental Champion.
I would have rather seen the Triple Threat Match to end the show. The WWE title is the most important thing on Raw. The story should be the main event. The story early made sense because Cena and Kofi are fan favorites. I would rather see Kofi get aggressive and take out Cena. The fans got behind Kofi because of the mean streak he showed during his feud with Orton. The look on Orton before his nasty DDT is priceless. His mannerisms are perfect for his character. Cena's scripted comeback is getting old. He needs to switch up from time to time. Dibiase didn't even do anything when he came in. I think something went wrong at the finish of the match. Orton looked pissed and I couldn't tell if it was towards Sheamus in character or not. A heel heel feud for the WWE title. I wonder how the fans will feel and cheer for in the feud.
The Miz had a great backstage to in ring promo. He had plenty of passion in his voice. My only problem with Miz is the lack of wrestling he has had in the past few months. He needs a long program and MVP is the perfect opponent for him. MVP needed a program as well. MVP got real with the fans tonight. Miz didn't take the boot very well. The promo between the two and the fight is what this feud needed. Great job by both men to get us interested in the feud.
I thought Katie Lea was on ECW. The WWE moved her over without even saying anything about it. Eve needs to improve considerable in the ring. Maryse takes on Eve next week along with Gail Kim vs Alicia Fox. I'll go out on a huge limb and say Maryse and Gail Kim will be in the finals. The WWE is trying to make the Diva title mean something and it will when Kim and Maryse finish the tournament. The match cannot be the same 4 minute match we have seen the entire tournament. The final match needs time to develop to make it more important to the fans.
The WWE picked Hero by Skillet as one of their theme songs for the Royal Rumble. Great theme for wrestling. Vincent Kennedy McMahon makes a bold statement that Bret will never been seen again. I highly doubt that sir. I wondered where the story would go. Now I have an idea. Bret will sneak into the arena sometime and start beating Vince's ass. Perhaps Stephanie will come back and say she hired Bret. One way or another, Bret will show up on Raw very soon. I have a wish for the WWE. Vince, you read the blog every week. Will you make sure Bret shows up on the February 15th edition of Raw? That particular Raw will be special for me because I will be live in the arena. Raw will be in Des Moines Iowa February 15th and I would love to see Bret live in person. Thanks Vince.
I remember writing a few paragraphs above about Tyson screwing Jericho by the end of the evening. I write this live so I was predicting the future. Next week will be special if Undertaker shows up. If he says yes, the Rumble is even more unpredictable. Even though Jericho has been "banned" he is refreshing for Raw. I'm so tired of Hornswaggle. Oh wow who would have thought Tyson would turn on Jericho? I never saw that coming. Raw ends in a way to predictable fashion.
Speaking of predictable, make sure you tune into Showstoppers this week. I make a cameo appearance and I predict John and Larry's best Rumble. I predict on here that both hosts will love the ending for Raw as well. I have no clue why Don Johnson and Jon Heder are hosting next weeks Raw. Besides the most predictable finish on Raw in quite sometime, I thought the show was solid. Bret will show up next week on Raw.
J Call
Monday, January 4, 2010
Raw 1-4
The night I have waited weeks for has finally arrived. No, I am not talking about TNA debuting a Monday night show. I'm talking about Bret Hart returning to the WWE. My heart has been pounding all day filled with excitement. Raw should be an incredible show tonight. The show will feature some very good matches and story lines. My Christmas present and my dying wrestling wish comes true tonight. I'll say it one more time, if you are looking for me to talk about TNA, it's not going to happen. First, I want to answer a question I received earlier today in a text message.
I have a friend, Chris, who use to watch wrestling back in the attitude era. He text me and asked, "Why did it take so long for him to come back? I won't dive into all the details but here is some of the basics as to why we had to wait over 12 years for this day to come. (I got a lot of this information from Bret's book and other stories) The truth is Bret couldn't trust Vince. After the screw job, Bret was bitter. He wanted a proper send off and never received it. Bret had a contract that stated he had creative control on the final 30 days with the WWF. Vince changed things constantly. Bret was fine with giving the title up before leaving. His only problem was dropping it to Shawn. At first, Bret didn't even have that problem. In front of all the boys in the locker room, Shawn told Bret he would never job to him. Bret was furious and said there was no chance he would pass the torch to Shawn after a comment like that. We all know how it ended. Bret was with the WWF for 14 years and gave them everything he had and Vince screwed him out of what should have been a beautiful moment. Bret did comeback for the Hall of Fame. He was still bitter even then. Shawn left the commencement before Bret's speech to avoid confrontation. Now, it looks as though the past has become just that. Everyone has moved on, slowly, and the wounds have healed. Bret is one of the most passionate people ever in the wrestling business. He was born into it. I hope tonight is the start on a road to having the proper ending Bret rightfully deserves.
I didn't have to wait long. Bret looked great for a guy who had a horrible stroke. What a great pop he received. We never forgot Bret! Oh my! Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart in the same ring together again. I can't believe this. Finally they got together again. I could feel the electricity in the ring with Shawn and Bret. I love Shawn saying he had a hand in it. Shawn almost came to tears talking about the greatest Iron man match of all time. I felt the sincerity in Shawn's voice. The handshake was a beautiful moment for all wrestling fans. The hug was even better. I agree with both men, their careers should outshine the screw job. I guess the confrontation between Bret and Vince will happen later in the show. What a moment for fans around the world. The hatchet between Shawn and Bret is buried in the first moments of Raw. I was happy to see every second of that moment. As a wrestling fan, I am ready for the entire screw job to go away. I don't think you have to ask how much I loved the first segment of Raw.
The injury to Melina really sucks. The WWE did a great job of doing something special with the Diva title instead of doing some lame battle royal. The tournament is a great idea and may make the Diva division matter on Raw. I still think Maryse should be the new Diva champion. She has been the best Diva on Raw since returning in November. Maryse moved on in a decent match with the Bella twins. I wonder if the WWE is toying the idea turning Maryse face after the interaction with Miz.
Could 2010 be a big year for MVP? Well it couldn't be worse than 2009. MVP needs a nice big push to start off the new year correctly. WWE hasn't done much with Swagger either. The fatal four way match was a nice contest. Henry was used to perfection tonight. He is the big guy and everyone had a hard time to handle. I really liked the fatal four way match even if I thought MVP was going to win. MVP and Miz should have a nice long feud. The first match should happen at the Rumble.
Jericho and Hart in the back was fun. Jericho has a ton of respect for Bret. Jericho did wrestle with Stu in the dungeon. My two of my favorite wrestlers of all time with a quality backstage promo. Showstoppers hosts hate Jericho, yet I love him. His character is so much fun to watch.
Santino dressed as Jericho was priceless. Santino always finds a way to showcase his comedy ability ever week on Raw. Why does DX treat Hornswaggle like a ewok from the Star Wars films?
The semi main event with DX and JeriShow one last time. Big FWF points up for grabs in this contest as all 4 men are part of John and Larry's rosters. I thought Larry bringing up HBK name as the Rumble winner was an interesting point. I had always thought Orton was going to win until story lines seemed to change lately. I tend to agree with Larry that one of the members of DX will win the Rumble now. Big Show suplexing two men is a extraordinary move. I remember when I was backyard wrestling, a suplex looks easy, but is a much more difficult move to pull off. I can't imagine trying to take two men over at the same time. Jericho mocking Hogan was a highlight to remember tonight. I remember back in WCW how Jericho was so irate at Hogan for holding him back. I think Jericho has shown in the past ten years, he deserved a top spot in WCW. The tag match we got tonight was exactly what I had hope to see the first time. DX and JeriShow put on a great contest. As a wrestling fan, I wanted more wrestling and got it in that contest. I thought for sure it was over when Y2J hit the codebreaker. DX keeps the belt and one can only assume the reason JeriShow didn't is because Edge will be ready for Mania. Larry gains points and John loses more in the FWF standings. Jericho really hammed it up for the crowd when he was leaving. My only question is where does this leave the Big Show for the rumble and lead into Wrestlemania?
Sheamus heads towards the Rumble without a challenger. Wow Bourne got to use the microphone. Bourne plays the underdog role so well. No way the WWE would give Evan a shot at the WWE title at the Rumble. First time ever someone kicked out of Air Bourne. I have said it before Bourne could lead a hell of a new cruiserweight division in the WWE. If Cena isn't getting a title rematch at the Rumble, who the hell will face Sheamus?
The WWE did a nice job talking about Dr. Death Steve Williams. He should be inducted into the Hall of Fame for being such a great athlete and wrestler. I can only think of one man to induct him and that is Jim Ross. I think that would be a very touching farewell.
The final match between Kofi and Orton. The WWE is sewing up a lot of story lines and start fresh for the Rumble next week. I had hoped this feud would go on longer. The good thing is these two have great chemistry with each other and have had solid matches. The feud has really elevated Kofi in the eyes of many fans. I think I heard some boos tonight for Kofi. I have no idea why the fans would turn on Kofi. Could Kofi's future start resembling the Rock? Fans hated the Rock in the beginning and when he turned heel, he let everyone know how he felt about us. A nice segue into Showstoppers topic for Segment 2. John and Larry will talk about the Top 5 heels of all time. I will also make a special guest appearance. Raw has had a lot of great in ring performances tonight. Raw needed to step up with TNA trying to become strong competition. A wonderful finish with Orton blocking Trouble in Paradise and hitting a quick RKO. Kofi needed the victory more but the real story going forward is the tension between Legacy. Kofi should get a spot into the Rumble and Money in the Bank at Mania.
Vincent Kennedy McMahon out to have the other confrontation with Bret. The compelling story between Vince and Bret had been laid out a long time ago. Yes Vince, I wanted to see Bret lock on the sharpshooter. Vince in usual heel fashion wanted an apology. Vince and Bret had a nice work shoot, meaning it felt like a shoot only it was all a work. No chance in hell Bret and Vince still hate each other if Vince can get Bret to come back. Vince's story about how Bret earned it was all true. Vince giving Stu a nomination into the Hall of Fame is a very cool deal. Bret should be the inductor. I knew it was coming. Vince kicking Bret is setting us all up for something special. The WWE couldn't give to much away but the road to Wrestlemania is going to be a rough one for Vince McMahon. Bret and Vince will wrestle in some kind of match at Mania. The ending made me think if Vince was being honest when he thanked Bret? I'm really happy Shawn won't be apart of this entire angle. That story was done and over with. The real story is between Vince and Bret. I believe by the time Wrestlemania rolls around the fans will be ready to see Bret beat Vince's ass.
I'm shocked Mike Tyson is hosting Raw next week. I had no idea the WWE would ever bring him back. Raw next week will start to show us where the WWE is headed to the Rumble. Cena was absent tonight since he was the coin flipper at the Fiesta Bowl. I'm sure he will have a say who wrestles Sheamus at the Rumble. I enjoyed Bret being back in the WWE. I was so excited at work people wondered what the hell was wrong with me. After Raw, I can't wait to see what happens next. When will he show up again? The only thing to wonder about after tonight is how did TNA do competing against Raw? TNA brought in everyone they could while the WWE put on a solid wrestling effort and a believable story. The ratings should be out by Wednesday. Will this be the first shot towards a new Monday night War? We will all find out soon enough.
J Call
I have a friend, Chris, who use to watch wrestling back in the attitude era. He text me and asked, "Why did it take so long for him to come back? I won't dive into all the details but here is some of the basics as to why we had to wait over 12 years for this day to come. (I got a lot of this information from Bret's book and other stories) The truth is Bret couldn't trust Vince. After the screw job, Bret was bitter. He wanted a proper send off and never received it. Bret had a contract that stated he had creative control on the final 30 days with the WWF. Vince changed things constantly. Bret was fine with giving the title up before leaving. His only problem was dropping it to Shawn. At first, Bret didn't even have that problem. In front of all the boys in the locker room, Shawn told Bret he would never job to him. Bret was furious and said there was no chance he would pass the torch to Shawn after a comment like that. We all know how it ended. Bret was with the WWF for 14 years and gave them everything he had and Vince screwed him out of what should have been a beautiful moment. Bret did comeback for the Hall of Fame. He was still bitter even then. Shawn left the commencement before Bret's speech to avoid confrontation. Now, it looks as though the past has become just that. Everyone has moved on, slowly, and the wounds have healed. Bret is one of the most passionate people ever in the wrestling business. He was born into it. I hope tonight is the start on a road to having the proper ending Bret rightfully deserves.
I didn't have to wait long. Bret looked great for a guy who had a horrible stroke. What a great pop he received. We never forgot Bret! Oh my! Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart in the same ring together again. I can't believe this. Finally they got together again. I could feel the electricity in the ring with Shawn and Bret. I love Shawn saying he had a hand in it. Shawn almost came to tears talking about the greatest Iron man match of all time. I felt the sincerity in Shawn's voice. The handshake was a beautiful moment for all wrestling fans. The hug was even better. I agree with both men, their careers should outshine the screw job. I guess the confrontation between Bret and Vince will happen later in the show. What a moment for fans around the world. The hatchet between Shawn and Bret is buried in the first moments of Raw. I was happy to see every second of that moment. As a wrestling fan, I am ready for the entire screw job to go away. I don't think you have to ask how much I loved the first segment of Raw.
The injury to Melina really sucks. The WWE did a great job of doing something special with the Diva title instead of doing some lame battle royal. The tournament is a great idea and may make the Diva division matter on Raw. I still think Maryse should be the new Diva champion. She has been the best Diva on Raw since returning in November. Maryse moved on in a decent match with the Bella twins. I wonder if the WWE is toying the idea turning Maryse face after the interaction with Miz.
Could 2010 be a big year for MVP? Well it couldn't be worse than 2009. MVP needs a nice big push to start off the new year correctly. WWE hasn't done much with Swagger either. The fatal four way match was a nice contest. Henry was used to perfection tonight. He is the big guy and everyone had a hard time to handle. I really liked the fatal four way match even if I thought MVP was going to win. MVP and Miz should have a nice long feud. The first match should happen at the Rumble.
Jericho and Hart in the back was fun. Jericho has a ton of respect for Bret. Jericho did wrestle with Stu in the dungeon. My two of my favorite wrestlers of all time with a quality backstage promo. Showstoppers hosts hate Jericho, yet I love him. His character is so much fun to watch.
Santino dressed as Jericho was priceless. Santino always finds a way to showcase his comedy ability ever week on Raw. Why does DX treat Hornswaggle like a ewok from the Star Wars films?
The semi main event with DX and JeriShow one last time. Big FWF points up for grabs in this contest as all 4 men are part of John and Larry's rosters. I thought Larry bringing up HBK name as the Rumble winner was an interesting point. I had always thought Orton was going to win until story lines seemed to change lately. I tend to agree with Larry that one of the members of DX will win the Rumble now. Big Show suplexing two men is a extraordinary move. I remember when I was backyard wrestling, a suplex looks easy, but is a much more difficult move to pull off. I can't imagine trying to take two men over at the same time. Jericho mocking Hogan was a highlight to remember tonight. I remember back in WCW how Jericho was so irate at Hogan for holding him back. I think Jericho has shown in the past ten years, he deserved a top spot in WCW. The tag match we got tonight was exactly what I had hope to see the first time. DX and JeriShow put on a great contest. As a wrestling fan, I wanted more wrestling and got it in that contest. I thought for sure it was over when Y2J hit the codebreaker. DX keeps the belt and one can only assume the reason JeriShow didn't is because Edge will be ready for Mania. Larry gains points and John loses more in the FWF standings. Jericho really hammed it up for the crowd when he was leaving. My only question is where does this leave the Big Show for the rumble and lead into Wrestlemania?
Sheamus heads towards the Rumble without a challenger. Wow Bourne got to use the microphone. Bourne plays the underdog role so well. No way the WWE would give Evan a shot at the WWE title at the Rumble. First time ever someone kicked out of Air Bourne. I have said it before Bourne could lead a hell of a new cruiserweight division in the WWE. If Cena isn't getting a title rematch at the Rumble, who the hell will face Sheamus?
The WWE did a nice job talking about Dr. Death Steve Williams. He should be inducted into the Hall of Fame for being such a great athlete and wrestler. I can only think of one man to induct him and that is Jim Ross. I think that would be a very touching farewell.
The final match between Kofi and Orton. The WWE is sewing up a lot of story lines and start fresh for the Rumble next week. I had hoped this feud would go on longer. The good thing is these two have great chemistry with each other and have had solid matches. The feud has really elevated Kofi in the eyes of many fans. I think I heard some boos tonight for Kofi. I have no idea why the fans would turn on Kofi. Could Kofi's future start resembling the Rock? Fans hated the Rock in the beginning and when he turned heel, he let everyone know how he felt about us. A nice segue into Showstoppers topic for Segment 2. John and Larry will talk about the Top 5 heels of all time. I will also make a special guest appearance. Raw has had a lot of great in ring performances tonight. Raw needed to step up with TNA trying to become strong competition. A wonderful finish with Orton blocking Trouble in Paradise and hitting a quick RKO. Kofi needed the victory more but the real story going forward is the tension between Legacy. Kofi should get a spot into the Rumble and Money in the Bank at Mania.
Vincent Kennedy McMahon out to have the other confrontation with Bret. The compelling story between Vince and Bret had been laid out a long time ago. Yes Vince, I wanted to see Bret lock on the sharpshooter. Vince in usual heel fashion wanted an apology. Vince and Bret had a nice work shoot, meaning it felt like a shoot only it was all a work. No chance in hell Bret and Vince still hate each other if Vince can get Bret to come back. Vince's story about how Bret earned it was all true. Vince giving Stu a nomination into the Hall of Fame is a very cool deal. Bret should be the inductor. I knew it was coming. Vince kicking Bret is setting us all up for something special. The WWE couldn't give to much away but the road to Wrestlemania is going to be a rough one for Vince McMahon. Bret and Vince will wrestle in some kind of match at Mania. The ending made me think if Vince was being honest when he thanked Bret? I'm really happy Shawn won't be apart of this entire angle. That story was done and over with. The real story is between Vince and Bret. I believe by the time Wrestlemania rolls around the fans will be ready to see Bret beat Vince's ass.
I'm shocked Mike Tyson is hosting Raw next week. I had no idea the WWE would ever bring him back. Raw next week will start to show us where the WWE is headed to the Rumble. Cena was absent tonight since he was the coin flipper at the Fiesta Bowl. I'm sure he will have a say who wrestles Sheamus at the Rumble. I enjoyed Bret being back in the WWE. I was so excited at work people wondered what the hell was wrong with me. After Raw, I can't wait to see what happens next. When will he show up again? The only thing to wonder about after tonight is how did TNA do competing against Raw? TNA brought in everyone they could while the WWE put on a solid wrestling effort and a believable story. The ratings should be out by Wednesday. Will this be the first shot towards a new Monday night War? We will all find out soon enough.
J Call
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