?Reported by Dale Mills of WrestleView.com

On Saturday, February 26, 2005 at 3:03 PM EST

Evening all. You know the drill, It's In This Very Ring....

Another great week in the world of wrestling started out with what I thought was a very enjoyable PPV. No Way Out. So, that's where I'll start.

We all knew that No Way Out was going to serve only as a PPV that would help shape the road to WrestleMania and we all knew that it was really just going to be a more supercharged SmackDown rather than a full blown PPV all of it's own. Which as it turned out, it was. Also we all really kind of knew how the PPV was going to turn out and who would win what. And to a certain extent, we were probably all correct. But what I did like about the PPV was even though the WWE were probably aware that the outcome of most of the bouts on the PPV could be seen a mile off, they still made the effort to make the match endings less obvious. Especially with the two biggest bouts on the card. Cena Vs Angle in the Number one contenders match and The Big Show Vs JBL. How many of us believed that HBK was going to get involved in Angles match at the PPV? Quite a few I would expect. And I bet the majority of us were well surprised when Cena won clean and booked his place in the WrestleMania main event. How many of us thought that JBL was going to retain against The Big Show at the PPV? Yes, I would say about Ninety Nine percent of us then. But how many of us expected the match to end with a very dramatic bump by Bradshaw through the canvas and for him to crawl from under the ring. Close to no one I would think. So you can't fault the WWE for trying their best to make the PPV as memorable as possible when they could have just phoned it in. The same can be said about the grapplers themselves too. It would have been so easy for the wrestlers to view No Way Out as a complete B show and just toss it off. But to be fair to most of the guys involved, they gave it their all. Which again, can't be faulted. Only the outcome of the Luther Reigns Undertaker match I had a problem with(As well as those God awful Diva segments which just killed the crowd. Less said about those the better). Why oh why is the Undertaker never booked to put anyone over at all ever? Luther was just beginning to find a little momentum in his first ever solo venture when he ran in to the big brick wall known as the Undertaker. 'Taker would have lost absolutely nothing in losing to Luther and Reigns had everything to gain from a high profile win against a big name. I guess the only thing I can think of is that they wanted 'Taker to look strong before Mania because he is going to put over some on at the big show(yeah right). But, all in all, a really enjoyable PPV which by the end of the show had helped paved the way to WrestleMania and set up the following night's Raw as must see TV. Mission accomplished.

Raw on Monday was another fantastic show in a run of fantastic shows that has been going on for quite some time now. It was the night of the big payoff. Big Dave chose Monday night to finally pick what brand he would be on and which champion he would be facing. Deep down we all guessed that Batista would end up facing his former Evolution running buddy HHH, but the 'Powers That Be' did a great job of making it seem very possible that 'The Animal' may just jump to SD and take care of that pesky no good cowboy JBL. As you may or may not know I have a real problem of guys just showing up/swapping brands without warning or explanation. It makes a mockery of the whole separate brands idea. But when it is done in such a way in that it has been promoted as the enemy has invaded and they are promoted as equals I don't mind so much. For the first time ever I finally found my self seeing Raw and Smackdown as separate brands. But it was to be Raw all the way for 'Tista and a sweet powerbomb on HHH through the contract signing table was the exclamation point on the fully fledged face turn and a great way to end the show. Match of the night honours easily went to the bout featuring HBK and Randy Orton Vs Edge and Christian. Despite the fact that no one ever acknowledges E and C as brothers anymore and the King's memory loss(Edge and Christian were partners again only a month or so ago)the match was great from start to finish. My only gripe, and it's a little one(ooooh matron)is that Christian got pinned again(Glenn was so not pleased). After losing to Orton clean last week ok Raw in an absolute barn burner I would have though that Chrissy would have gotten away with JOB duty this week. Oh well. Maybe that big push is still just around the corner for Captain Charisma. MOhammed Hassan looks set to be in his first real proper feud with Chris Benoit. At least a match with Benny should guarantee that the in ring action should be top notch. Which is a good thing where MOhammed is concerned because at this moment in time, as good as his mic work and promos are, his matches thus far have blown. If a match against Benny(maybe at Mania) can't bring the best out of Hassan then maybe it would be time to take a trip back to Ohio Valley.

This Monday also saw the debut of 'The Masterpiece' Chris Masters. He was really, really fighting a losing battle even before he stepped in to the ring. A couple of generic 'posing' vignettes doesn't really tell the fans much. Then dissing the 'Nature Boy' Ric Flair led to some boos from the crowd. Then a ring entrance with pyro not unlike Randy Orton's wouldn't have sat well with fans of the 'Legend Killer' in the arena. Not the best of starts. But with all that behind him, the 'Masterpiece' had the chance rectify any early thoughts of him and his gimmick by wowing the crowd with his first Raw performance. Perhaps not. Dull, boring and bereft of any heat whatsoever. Not what Chris Masters or the WWE would have wanted at all. The fact that he was facing perennial Jobber Steven Richards didn't help matters but Richards cannot be blamed for Masters archaic lumbering style. Masters last chance at debut redemption was his finisher. We all know how a good finisher can often make up for a couple of poor minutes beforehand. It was not to be as the WWE looked to give Masters possibly the worst finisher ever. The Full Nelson. You could have heard a whole sewing box of drawing pins drop as Masters applied the move. Chris Masters debut wasn't a work of art and it sure wasn't a Masterpiece. More like a Master-bate. because it was just plain wank. I guess things really can only get better from here on in.

It's that time again. WrestleMania is fast approaching and the rumours and stories are coming at us at a hundred miles an hour. so with that in mind I have scoured the 'Net to gather and bring you all that you need to know. Welcome to the Rumour Mills.

In preparation for his in ring return, back in North Carolina, Matt Hardy has added two extra sides to his trampoline modified ring.

Hogan will be inducted in to the WWE Hall of Fame.

Orton will face 'Taker at Mania as a face because he prefers the role of face despite the boos, jeers and all round indifference to him since he was dropped from Evolution.

Hogan will be teaming up with his daughter Brooke to take on the combo of Steph and Vince.

Stacy Keibler has dumped Andrew 'Test' Martin. Reports indicate that she's feeling a little Randy.

Hogan will be facing Steve Austin at Mania.

The next film to be parodied by WWE in their WM ad campaign is No Holds Barred.

Hogan will be facing Randy Savage at Mania.

Scotty 2 Hotty's bio being removed from WWE.com appears to be a mistake as he is booked to work the April European tour. great.

Hogan will be facing Sting at WM.

Orton was overheard saying that he was pleased that Batista got the push he should have and is main eventing at Mania.

Look out for more from the Rumour Mills next week.

That's me done for now. Take it easy.

D

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