|
|
|
Pro's from the Palace (#210) - Cyber Sunday Picks, your emails, & more. |
» Reported by Mike Siciliano of WrestleView.com
» On Saturday, October 27, 2007 at 11:15 AM EST
With Cyber Sunday coming up tomorrow, I guess it's time to do some picks. This one is difficult as we're trying to figure out the stipulation and the winner and loser, but let's do this anyway, and see what comes up.
REY MYSTERIO vs. FINLAY
Choices of Weapon on a Pole Match, Stretcher Match, or No DQ Match
Ok, I said it was going to be the weapon on a pole match, because I thought it was obvious. With that being said, I am not going to PICK that in this column, because as a fan, I want a stretcher match. I think personally regardless of whatever stipulation is chosen, Mysterio is at a distinct disadvantage because his style and Finlay's clash incredibly, and I don't think Mysterio can harness the ECW extreme lucha libre style he may need to survive this type of encounter, whatever it is. Finlay is just too damn intense and sadistic to overcome in this scenario. I give the dupe to the fighting irishman.
WINNER: Finlay
TRIPLE H vs. UMAGA
Choice of a steel cage match, first blood match, or a street fight
When you sit back and look at the stips available, isn't it basically a re-work of the same match? I mean, a street fight is weapons galore, blood everywhere, which is the same thing for first blood, and although the weaponry would be significantly less in volume, the blood and possible gore in a cage match is always prevalent. With that being said, I want a street fight, so this thing can go brutal all over the arena. Kudos to both men for a very good segment on Raw last week also involving the tiny McMahon. Umaga's a beast, nothing short of it, and Triple H has brought his brutality to a level I am enjoying incredibly. Win or lose, intensity is the name of this match, and that's something I personally cannot get enough of. I'll give Triple H the dupe, barely, but he's going to earn it the hard way.
WINNER: Triple H
MVP vs. Matt Hardy
Choice of a MMA match, a boxing match, or a wrestling match
First off, it's being reported elsewhere that this is for the US title. I seriously doubt it. I checked WWE.com to see if its listed as a title match, and it's not. SO, let's get back to the business at hand. I don't think after the months on end of these two bickering as tag team champions that they're going to go with the next round of MVP vs. Hardy with the title on the line until a major PPV next time out at Survivor Series. I think this is the final test leading up to the title match between the two, and hopefully, the tide will turn in Matt's favor at that time. Currently, though, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they're re-working this for an MVP win in possibly an MMA match, to try and save the wear and tear on Matt's face, after Matt ate a knee brace from Rey Mysterio on Smackdown last week. I could be wrong. I think it will be a wrestling match, but this one is potentially available for a curve due to Matt's condition. ONE way or another, MVP takes this chapter of the rivalry that will not die.
WINNER: Montel Vontavious Porter
ECW Championship
CM PUNK vs. BIG DADDY V, THE MIZ, or JOHN MORRISON
Talk about picking poison here. The Miz has been so involved with the girls of Extreme Expose, that he personally has no business in this match as a candidate. If anything, Burke should've been a choice instead of Miz, because A) he can go at a better pace with Punk, and B) he's more deserving. But Burke is nowhere to be found, and Miz is a choice. Frankly, if he wins the vote, Punk wins in a walk. Then you got the Daddy. As much as Daddy would be a formidable champion, I see some things coming down the pike for the monster in the battle royale next week on ECW, and a potential major league feud brewing with Kane, which I think is money. V with the title is risky at this time, and something I don't think the WWE is prepared to do. So, unfortunately, that puts the dupe on Morrison, and that scares me even more because I read reports once Punk won the belt that he was a transitional champion until Morrison came back. With the Doors wanna be back in the fold, is this the end of the Straight edge champion? I hope not. I am picking not, but frankly, I am scared to death that it may be.
WINNER: CM Punk
World Heavyweight Championship
BATISTA vs. THE UNDERTAKER
Choice of referee from Mick Foley, John Bradshaw Layfield, or Stone Cold Steve Austin
I would not be the least bit surprised to see Austin win the voting to come back to WWE, and make hell in this match, and then get thrown in to this mid ring deal with Santino Marella on Raw. It's not worth the price of tea in China, but it wouldn't surprise me. Foley, I don't even know why his name is mentioned. He has had ZERO references outside of JBL's rants on the program, and he's got no vehicle to shrill or promote. Meanwhile, JBL has been making like a politician from hell, and has been taking one hell of a beating. The dynamics between Batista and Undertaker are off the charts, and adding JBL to the mix just increases the spectrum of unpredictability, and I love it. Batista has the best of him brought out by Taker, and I would not be the least bit surprised of two things. 1. JBL annnounces he's returning to active competition in a war with either Batista or the World Champion, and 2. The World title changes hands at this time.
WINNER: The Undertaker
WWE Championship
RANDY ORTON vs. MR. KENNEDY, The Intercontinental Champion JEFF HARDY, or SHAWN MICHAELS
Throw Kennedy out right now. He has a feud blossoming with Jeff, and I think the result of this vote will further intensify that beginning feud. While Kennedy a few months ago was ready for world title contention and a reign at the top, now, with his credibility in the toilet, his best shot at gold is Jeff Hardy. Period.
Jeff Hardy pulling off another cinderella story like he did vs. the Undertaker for the undisputed title in that ladder match would be nothing short of compelling. Hell, I'd pay to see Hardy hold both belts, if even for 24 hours, just to stick it to the internet. But, unfortunately, the chances of that are slim.
Which leads up to the obvious matchup. Orton vs. HBK. I'm not really sure how to handle this. If I thought HBK could handle the responsibility and the schedule of being champion, I'd pick him in a second, but I don't think his heart is really back in the game yet. I think he was pulled back by Triple H by the coat hairs, kicking and screaming, when the WWE went in to crisis mode after Cena went down with the torn pec. With all that being said, I expect a terrific match, but alas, I expect the legend killer to retain the title. I don't see a viable contender for Orton on the horizon until they get him together with the Game, or until when Bobby Lashley returns to action. At this present point and time, I think it's a lock the champ retains.
WINNER: Randy Orton
I have a few other things I need to get off my chest.
First, how dare TNA take the world heavyweight title off Sting in two days. Yeah, I know, on television it was two weeks, but let's be honest, people, it was two days. Sting now feels like Rhino when Rhino had the belt for two days before Jarrett took it back. And what's the good of putting the belt on a man who's facing some rough waters ahead outside the ring. TNA already gave themselves a black eye in credibility when they signed Pacman Jones, and putting the belt back on Kurt Angle is just that, another shot in the credibility bank, which is dangerously low if you ask me from a TNA perspective. I lost a lot of respect for Kurt Angle, because all I have seen from Impact broadcasts is Kurt Angle turning in to a TNA version of an Evolution Triple H. And It doesn't work unless you have the flanking suits with the ammo to back it up, i.e. when H had his guns with Flair, Orton, and Batista, or Flair and the Horsemen. Angle trying to dress like a business man just makes him look like a fool. And it tarnishes a terrific career.
One last thing on TNA, it's REPULSIVE to me that they're bringing Kevin Nash back in to the fold to wrestle in a stipulation match where he technically could become the World Heavyweight Champion. I LOOK to be in better physical condition to wrestle than Nash does, and that's just desperation from where I sit, and frankly, it's also appalling.
Next week I go to ROH in New York, Glory By Honor VI, night 2. I was at Glory By Honor IV when Bryan Danielson began his legendary reign as ROH World Champion by beating James "Jamie Noble" Gibson. I hope to get as good a show saturday night 11/3 at the Manhattan Center as I did a few years ago at Sports Plus. I hope maybe if you're going, ya look for the big palooka in the glasses and sports jersey in the back of the building, and come up and say hello. I will be writing an extensive review of that show in the coming days.
On another website I've been reading about some of the conventions being promoted all over the country, and how poorly they've been turning out. As a man who went to nearly 30 autograph sessions back in the day, I can tell you this. Reports like this from scum who couldn't add 2+2 make fans like me want to stay home, which is bad news for the talents, because chances are they need these types of gatherings to further their income, and they shouldn't be punished because the promoter got a 54 in basic high school Math. I know this is out of left field, but I had to say something. I won't say the site's name in this, but if you want to see what I'm talking about, I'll give it to you in an email reply.
I got 17 emails I saved from the response to my last column on the 'predictability' of this pay per view. Some of them were less than stellar. Allow me the chance to show you.
I hope you get what's coming to you for the garbage your 'preach'. There's nothing inhuman about the WWE other than people like you who do nothing but rip into it. I remember you crying about Rey Mysterio getting his head squahsed like a grape because of your child, pathetic. I doubt you'd complain about a movie doin't that, or a cartoon. Go watch that waste of time Ring of Honor and leave the WWE alone if you don't like what they are doing.
I only wish this person would take the time to try and read all of my work. She has some points that make sense, and at times I often contradict myself, but I think I'm speaking for the general consenus. If I'm not, well, c'est la vie. I'm trying.
My friend Nicholas, who appears regularly at Mopsquad.com, a site I am also a staff member of, has something a little different to say...
this year's Cyber Sunday sucks, at least when it comes to the "unexpected" factor. In the past, while a lot of the fans' choices for stipulations, opponents and what have been anticipated, there have been a lot of unexpected results, too. That's not going to be the case with this Sunday's pay-per-view, especially when it comes to the two main events. If the fans truly decide these things, we all know Stone Cold will be the guest referee for Batista/Taker and Shawn Michaels will be Randy Orton's opponent in the WWE Title match. Double yawn.
But do I think the whole Cyber Sunday concept should be scrapped? In a word, no. There are still a few unexpected elements that make the pay-per-view enjoyable. While the majority of the matches have an aura of predictability, there are also matches where we still don't know what will happen, like Mysterio/Finlay and MVP/Hardy. Those are the matches that'll make this pay-per-view worthwhile, at least in my eyes.
Personally, if I were to tweak the WWE pay-per-view schedule, I'd go back to having brand exclusive pay-per-views in addition to the multi-brand "Big Four." Granted, they might have to wait until a few stars come back from the IR or suspension, but I still think it would be doable and profitable. It'd allow both brands extra airtime in building angles for the bigger events, without the risk of becoming stale. Having both brands (I don't consider ECW a brand) appear on pay-per-view every month is overkill
My friend Andrew thinks a little differently. And my answer to his last statement here is simple. Yes, the world is full of what you say it isn't, but that's coming from a life long pessimist.
You seem to think that WWE has fixed it's own polls? It's INCREDIBLY niave for a well educated wrestling fan (which I assume you are), to believe that WWE would fix the Cyber Sunday polls. Why would WWE bother premoting a PPV that "gives the people the power" if they're going to rigg the results? There's no reason for it at all. I mean honestly, I'd expect that sort of a response from someone who's never seen 5 minutes worth of wrestling "because it's all fake".
Look at it hypothetically, what if Jeff Hardy did somehow win the polls, and he did challenge Randy Orton. He's lose. It's no sweat off of WWEs back, sure it's obvoise they'd prefer to have Michaels main-event but their world is hardly going to collapse if the fans throw a curve ball. Likewise I don't think Rey Mysterio and Finlays match is a "virtual lock". What wrestling fan in their right mind would vote for a weapon on a poll match over a stretcher match? If you think the WWE will rigg the polls just to starve its fans of a stretcher match, think about it, if the WWE really didn't want to put a stretcher match on PPV they simply wouldn't have made it an option. It's that simple.
My point is, the real world isn't filled with conspiracies.
A very poignant letter came in from someone who emailed me for the first time, I believe her name is Suzanne.
I am a 1st time responser but not reader anyway while I too was glad to see December to Dismember go and atleast see New Year's Revolution from WWE's pay per view schedule (although I wouldn't have minded them keeping it and using the name for a special SMACKDOWN to go along with the special RAW they tape to air over the hollidays) I however do not think that they should get rid of any of the gimmick PPV's including Cyber Sunday. Although I do agree it is too close to the Survivor Series so it should be moved to a different month.
I agree with you that WWE makes it obvious who they would like the fans to vote for to wrestle or referee certain matches just as they make it clear what gimmick matches that they would prefer the fans would pick. I completely disagree with you on your notion that they rig the voting. The reason beyond the obvious fact that it would be very much illegal to do so just as it would for a game show, I have read many different interviews from many former WWE wrestlers after they are let go and every single one of them say that it is not a rigged vote and since they are asked after they were fired they would have no reason to lie. Lastly all you would have to do is look at the 3 options for the ECW World title match to know that it is not rigged because if it was Tommy Dreamer not the MIZ would be one of the options and last years PPV where Flair and Piper left WWE Tag Team Champions when it was clear that WWE wanted Dusty and not Roddy to tag with Ric for that match.
I believe that most fans believe like you that if John Morrison is chosen to wrestle CM PUNK that CM PUNK will leave the PPV as a former champion and most fans do not want that to happen so I would be surprised if the WWE gets what they want in that match.
In conclusion I do think that they do need to do things someone differently when putting this card together because in my opinion that has been the biggest problem with the PPV. I believe the 2 RAW matches sre the only 2 that makes sense although I would have changed the cage option to Hell in a Cell.
The changes that I would have made is I would have said that if Jeff Hardy is not the person picked to wrestle Randy then Jeff would defend his Intercontinental title against the other guy that wasn't chosen to wrestle Randy.
The ECW title match the only change would be swapping the MIZ for Tommy Dreamer.
The World Heavyweight title match I would totally change. It would be Batista vs either Finlay, Rey, or Khali.
Then I would let the fans pick a match either MVP vs Matt Hardy for the US title or MVP and Matt Hardy vs the Borhters of Destruction for the World tag titles.
I would have also added Cade and Murdock vs either the Highlanders, London and Kendrick, or the Worlds Greatest Tag Team.
The last match I would have added would be Chavo Guerrero vs Jamie Noble vs Shannon Moore for the Cruiserweight title in either a Tripple Threat, 3 Way Dance, or Ladder Match.
And lastly, what would some email responses be, without one from my junior contributor, Rocky D.....
I'm like you this whole Cyber Sunday pay per view should be
scrapped altogether. The theory that the fans get to pick to matches
to me is somewhat skewed because I have a feeling the WWE finds a way
to fix the votes to get the matches they want to book instead of what
the fans really want.
A pole match is definitely likely with Rey and Finlay because if
Finlay still has that Shelagh with him you know it will find a way to
end up on a pole as the stipulation in that match. Personally I'm like
you I would love to see a no DQ match or a stretcher match because Rey
can go hardcore I believe which would truly end up being a show
stealer. MVP Vs. Hardy will definitely be a wrestling match because
like you said we've seen the boxing match and that was a disgrace an
MMA match will never happen because the WWE is trying to keep its
fanbase off the MMA bandwagon and if they did go that way they would
find a way to really do it a misjustice.
Triple H vs. Umaga with what you said about Triple H wanting a street
fight makes it a slam dunk. John Morrison will be the likely
challenger for CM Punk because wasn't it thought that Morrison would
be getting a quick title shot after his return from either suspension
or injury I can't remember which one but the point is with the other
two choices so undeserving it is a slam dunk they go with Morrison and
take the belt off of Punk. I personally would have like there to have
been two choices for this match, One of course being who the
challenger would be and second whether or not this match would be an
Extreme Rules match. I thought the WWE was going to limit extreme
rules matches not get rid of them altogether. The fact that there
hasn't been an extreme rules match in what seems like ages has also
played a factor in the drop of ECW.
JBL is the likely choice for referee in the Batista V. Undertaker
match because of the comments and shots JBL has taken recently, and
your right it is a damn shame he is being put back into the ring
because love him or hate him he has really taken off as an announcer.
The final match being promoted with Randy Orton Vs. either Hardy,
Kennedy or Michaels shouldn't even have the other two choices because
yeah it is a slam dunk that Michaels will be the selection. Why else
would they have Michaels return and kick Orton's teeth down his throat
if there wasn't going to be a match there. By the way Orton did a hell
of a job in my opinion selling the kick by Michaels. I see Michaels
winning that match and having his last go around with the WWE title.
I've got a thought for you: do you think it would be great to see
Michaels win the title carry it for a little bit then be defeated
by.......... The Nature Boy Ric Flair to give Flair the last go around
that he deserves. In the end you've hit the nail on the head, the
whole idea for Cyber Sunday really is terrible and it should be
scrapped.
The sad thing is Survivor Series really struggles because all you see
is rematches coming out of Cyber Sunday and nothing new. Survivor
Series should see fresh new challengers for titles and the return of
more Survivor Series style matches whether they be 4 on 4 or 5 on 5.
Those matches made Survivor Series what it used to be and should be
brought back
Ok. I love the emails. Keep them coming. On occasion, I'll print a few here. Some I'll print on my blog as well.
I'm on a little R&R from the job, so if the blog is a little inactive, cut me some slack, OK?
Click here for my blog.
Click here for my email.
Thank you for reading.
Note: The opinions of this column do not reflect those of the administration of this website.
Back To WrestleView.com
|
|
|
