*WWE and pro wrestling discussion topic*

[Obecorp]

I'm actually gonna see Smackdown/ECW tonight live from the Verizon Center in Washington DC. I'm expecting a fairly decent show. I am not really expecting much from the Last Man Standing Match that Taker and Khali is gonna have tonight, but from the commercials they are airing in this area, they are billing a Booker T-Batista championship matchup before Summerslam for the main event. I'm guessing it may only be a 5-minute match that will probably end in a no-contest that will just hype up their match at Summerslam more. The ECW side should be fairly decent though. CM Punk is gonna be in action, plus they have the triple threat ladder match. That is probably the best main event that ECW has put out since it's been in the Sci-Fi Network.

I didn't watch TNA's Hard Justice PPV, but I heard the triple threat falls count anywhere match was the match of the night. Samoa Joe probably deserved to win, and hopefully he will eventually get a shot at Jarrett soon. As far as Christian Cage turning, I saw it coming. Believe it or not, I agree with it too. I always bought him more as a heel than as a babyface. This should set up a pretty good feud between him and Sting.
_________________
[img:5f924247e9]http://obecorp.com.ru/banner.gif[/img:5f924247e9]

[Rob1981]

Hard Justice looked like a mess to me. The fire delayed the card, and the matches didn't seem that great. They cancel a 4-way team match, and keep a women's match? That's a bit dumb, and certainly shows the bookers don't know what they are doing at times.


Summerslam is this Sunday. It looks somewhat better than Hard Justice, but we will see. It's obvious Big Show will probably face Sabu, and lose the title to him. At least Undertaker/Khali is off the show, even though Undertaker deserves to be on the card. Hopefully Vince fires or sends Khali to OVW soon, and finds someone decent for Undertaker to feud with. As of now, there is 7 confirmed matches:

Raw

WWE champ Edge vs John Cena (Edge can lose the title on a DQ)

DX vs McMahons

Mick Foley vs Ric Flair (I Quit match)

Hulk Hogan vs Randy Orton


Smackdown

World champ King Booker vs Batista

Rey Mysterio vs Chavo Guerrero


ECW

ECW champ Big Show vs winner of Sabu/RVD/Kurt Angle match


I can imagine 1 or 2 more matches being added, so there is hope for either an I.C title match and at least one tag title match.
_________________
http://strategywiki.org/wiki/Main_Page
Video game guides.

[Obecorp]

I actually saw the Smackdown and ECW shows live on Tuesday. The shows themselves had it's moments, but over all, since it wasn't a PPV, I wasn't into it as much as I usually have been in the previous live events I've been to. I thought the ladder match between Sabu and RVD was pretty good though, even though I did expect a little more considering Kurt Angle was originally supposed to be on it, plus they botched a few moves during that match. The Last Man Standing Match was actually alright too, but the Undertaker carried the whole match. It seemed a lot better when I watched it on TV, as I did live though, since during the live show, the ending seemed a bit weak because I wasn't able to tell if Khali was busted open.
_________________
[img:5f924247e9]http://obecorp.com.ru/banner.gif[/img:5f924247e9]

[Obecorp]

As far as Summerslam goes, here are a few of my thoughts...

Edge will retain his belt, even though it's in Cena's hometown. I think they are gonna do some angle where Cena gets DQ'd because of his hatred for Edge. Besides, since his movie is coming out soon, it's probably better for him to just have a high profile feud, than actually holding the belt and enduring even more of a schedule on top of the one he already has. Besides, I still think it's ridiculous how the WWE tries way too hard to force fans to cheer for Cena.

Booker T will retain against Batista. IMO, they didn't do a good job building up this feud heading to the PPV, so my guess is that it will continue. Hopefully though, Booker T will be given a chance to hold the belt for a while.

I think the Chavo vs Rey match may have a potential to being decent, but it can also have the potential to go down the crapper. IMO, it could be the Edge vs Matt Hardy match from last year's Summerslam. I can't believe that Vickie Guerrero actually agreed to go through with this angle. It's pretty disrespectful to Eddie's memory, as was parts of Rey Mysterio's title reign.

Ric Flair vs. Mick Foley will probably be the best match of the night. A lot of people are expecting a lot from this match, and I think they should deliver. They aren't the best wrestlers, and both are way past their prime, but they both have shown they can still put on great matches. I see Mick winning this, or both will be so incapacitated that the match will be stopped by default.

DX vs. McMahons, I don't care too much. They've already milked this cow too much, and it needs to end. DX will probably win.

Hogan vs Orton. I don't care too much of this either. Hogan will probably win since he never loses in SS. But seriously, IMHO, Hogan has had his time, and he should probably stay retired.

Sabu vs. Big Show. Sabu should win. The experiment with Big Show as ECW champion has failed, and not many fans are buying it.

As far as matches that I think will be added to the card, I think the triple threat match for the US title that was supposed to be happen in GAB will take place in SS. Possibly, the tag-title match with Kendrick and London vs that new team might take place too (although I see it possibly happening more on a future Smackdown episode, possibly in its debut in the new CW network). Kane vs. Johnny Nitro may happen as well, but since there was absolutely no buildup, a matchup in a future episode of Raw may be more realistic.
_________________
[img:5f924247e9]http://obecorp.com.ru/banner.gif[/img:5f924247e9]

[Rob1981]

Summerslam took place tonight...


SPOILERS (since some countries haven't aired it yet I believe..)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Quick results: Chavo Guerrero beat Rey Mysterio (after Vicki Guerrero distracted Rey, allowing Chavo to get the upper hand and win), ECW champ Big Show beat Sabu, Hulk Hogan beat Randy Orton, Ric Flair beat Mick Foley in an "I Quit" match, Batista beat World champ King Booker by DQ, DX beat The McMahons, WWE champ Edge beat John Cena.


My thoughts: Eh, pretty predictable PPV. I'm surprised they kept the belt on Big Slow, that's a mistake. The DX and McMahon match was a joke with all those run-ins at the start, then Umaga coming out...and Kane coming out and fighting with him (to possibly start a Kane/Umaga feud I guess). Foley/Flair finish was stupid: Melina was about to get hit with a barb wire bat...so Foley said I quit to stop it from happening. I expect these lame things at the lesser PPV's... not one of the "big four" PPVs.

Plus... there was no U.S title match, no Women's title match, no Cruiserweight title match and no tag titles matches. No Ken Kennedy, Undertaker, and I could keep going for a bit. This Summerslam just wasn't as good as I originally expected.

Undertaker's 14 straight Summerslams (92-05) streak ends (thanks to Great Khali's crappiness). I think they should have done it even though Khali is horrible. Look at SS 1993: Undertaker fought Giant Gonzalez, a crappy wrestler...and it didn't hurt 'Taker's career or make Summerslam bad.

Well hopefully the final of the big four is alot better: November's Survivor Series (one of my personal favorite PPV's). I'm still hoping for the day they have tons of elimination matches again: but I doubt it will happen this year.
_________________
http://strategywiki.org/wiki/Main_Page
Video game guides.

[ajfo]

Yeah, I thought there might have been a couple more title defences at least...definitely lacking overall

[Rob1981]

Jeff Hardy returns on Raw tonight. Right now my guess is he will last about 2-3 months, and that's all. Also on Raw, it's expected it will be Foley's last appearance in WWE for a bit.


Rey Mysterio and Chavo Guerrero are expected to feud for at least a month more (or longer). DX and The McMahons feud isn't over either. I hope DX/McMahons ends at Survivor Series at the latest. I don't want to see this feud continue into next year and end at Wrestlemania or anything like that.


At the Unforgiven PPV in September, it's likely Edge will face John Cena again... this time in a TLC match.
_________________
http://strategywiki.org/wiki/Main_Page
Video game guides.

[Obecorp]

I definitely agree with a lot of the things that Rob1981 said. The PPV itself seemed to lack a good amount of substance, and it was pretty predictable overall. However, the "I Quit" match, was still a hell of a match as expected, despite the odd ending. Foley and Melina are pretty good friends in real life (since Foley has long always been trying to help Melina "get over" in his blog even long before Melina even came to Raw), so I guess it just shows his good guy/caring side that Mick Foley always had. I think that there must be something wrong in the industry if the WWE was pushing him to be the "heel" in this feud, while pushing Ric Flair to be the "face". During the buildup of this feud, IMO Foley clearly had the edge on Flair promo-wise, and he lost? That I don't understand.

I'm also surprised they kept the belt on Big Show. The true ECW fans don't buy him as champion. Honestly, I don't know if fans would buy him as champ anytime soon. But, I guess that they kept the belt on him to give him a chance to prove himself more. They need to put him in more hardcore matches so he can win some fans over, and get rid of this "non extreme rules" match stipulations that they have. As I said before, ECW will never be the passionate and innovative brand that it was, if they have "regular" matches, and not distinguish themselves from the other WWE brands.

I also felt that Undertaker not being there (due to Khali's suckiness) was pretty disappointing. But, I was glad I saw him live in the event I went to. But, it looks like his feud with Khali may be over. Thank God! Kennedy was there, but it sucked they could only use him as a run-in in the DX match. I was also disappointed they didn't add the US triple-threat title match that I speculated earlier. I think that may have helped the card a bit. I'm guessing they may put that match in the Smackdown CW Network debut episode. But, it looked like they had a full enough card as it is.

I am really hoping though that Cena would get some time off TV, to possibly promote his upcoming movie. It is true that he is a draw since many people come to either boo him or cheer him, but I lose more and more respect for the WWE everytime I see their blatant attempts to try to get the fans to cheer for him, either through the commentators (most especially through Jim Ross), and website and creative writers. It gets really sad everytime I see a respectable guy like Jim Ross saying in his columns something like, "I don't see why Cena continues to get booed..." in a pathetic attempt to try to get the more knowledgeable, real fans to cheer for him. IMO, Edge should be the champ for a while anyway. He has really come along as a character that people would like to watch.

A Kane and Umaga feud will probably take place, seeing what happened yesterday. We'll probably see some of it in Raw tonight when Umaga might end up running-in during Kane's IC title match. Umaga really ain't that impressive (IMO, he is just WWE's weak answer to Samoa Joe), and Kane would probably be a right person to get in a feud with to hopefully end his winning streak.
_________________
[img:5f924247e9]http://obecorp.com.ru/banner.gif[/img:5f924247e9]

[Obecorp]

[Rob1981]

Well after Raw tonight, a few things are clear:

Mick Foley is now "fired" according to the storylines. Other possible Unforgiven matches now include: Carlito vs Randy Orton, and Spirit Squad vs Jim Duggan+Eugene and/or Highlanders.


Tonight's Raw felt like the DX show to me. I don't know the exact amount of time they were on the show tonight, but it seemed like way too much. They could've easily done one or two more matches in all the time that was wasted with DX.

A new WWE title belt is now held by Edge. Cena's spinner is gone, and replaced by Edge's spinner. So it's now a safe bet Edge will have the belt a while, since the title belt has "R rated superstar" on it. Eh, I'm sick of custom belts for the champ. In my opinion, it just lessens the title and reveals who will be champ for a while.

Next week Raw will be on Sci Fi on Monday, because the USA network is airing the US Open in Raw's time slot.


In Smackdown news, this Friday marks the 7th anniversary of when the show started (August 26 1999, even though April 29 of that year is when the show debuted as just a special.). On Raw, they showed a 24/7 clip of the first Smackdown broadcast. It seems like when it comes to milestones, Smackdown is usually ignored. Seeing how they haven't said a thing about it on Smackdown (that I know of at least), I somehow bet it won't be announced on the show.

Tomorrow's ECW main event has been announced: Big Show vs Sabu in a rematch from Summerslam.
_________________
http://strategywiki.org/wiki/Main_Page
Video game guides.

[Obecorp]

[Rob1981]

Several new WWE DVDs are coming out in September: Brian Pillman and History of the WWE championship.


I will probably pick up Pillman for sure. Here is just some of what is on it:

vs Jushin Liger (First ever match on Nitro)

with Austin vs Shane Douglas+Ricky Steamboat- 93

with Austin doing "Flare for the Old" segment (parody of Flair for the Gold segments, that Ric Flair use to do in WCW)

vs Eddie Guerrero- January 96 Clash of the Champions

Plus much more, including a Thundercage match and a War Games match. I'm hoping most matches are complete (with the exception of TV ones obviously, since commercials cut in during some). It's mainly WCW matches (since he spent most of his career there), with a little WWF as well.

In November, a DVD for a true legend will be coming: Rowdy Roddy Piper. Matches from NWA, WWF, WCW and even his early Portland days are on it. Plus many Piper's Pit segments: some of Piper's best work in my opinion.

In a new WWE rumor, it's possible Mick Foley could face Vince McMahon at next year's Wrestlemania. I certainly hope it doesn't happen. Vince (and all McMahons) shouldn't be wrestling in matches at the biggest event of the year anymore. There is more than enough top stars in WWE that should be on the show. Owners shouldn't be in action anymore, period.

Also it's confirmed that several of the Diva Search contestants are indeed signed, and will be in OVW pretty soon. This was predictable, since they have done this with the other Diva Searchs in the past.
_________________
http://strategywiki.org/wiki/Main_Page
Video game guides.

[Rob1981]

In big WWE news today, Kurt Angle was released due to personal reasons. This was decided by Angle himself, he asked for the release and got it. An article on WWE.com confirmed this.


I wonder what is going on? I know he was injured, but other than that, I haven't heard anything. This is a big blow to WWE (and the ECW brand as well). Angle was one of the top stars in WWE, hopefully he returns to action someday.


Smackdown is tonight, I didn't read all the spoilers: but I do know several people will be returning.
_________________
http://strategywiki.org/wiki/Main_Page
Video game guides.

[Obecorp]

[Rob1981]

Jeff Hardy faces Randy Orton in a match to determine a #1 contender to the I.C title.

Hardy hasn't been back long, and is already getting chances for titles? I think that's stupid. WWE should wait and see if he actually lasts, before putting him in contenders matches and/or title matches.


Jimmy Yang's new gimmick for Smackdown could actually work and be funny, if done well.
_________________
http://strategywiki.org/wiki/Main_Page
Video game guides.