By: David Stephens of WrestleView.com
Ousta! Welcome back to the only WrestleView column covering topics both nowhere yet everywhere at once. If you are new to the column you are probably going to hate me for the first couple weeks, but then you are going to hit a point where you say ‘oh wait a minute, I think he gets it’. Don’t worry, that’s exactly how it is designed to be. This column is all about gut reactions and traveling thoughts. As the great Andy Kaufman once said: “I just want real reactions. I want people to laugh from the gut, be sad from the gut, or get angry from the gut”.
One Positive Thing
I have read an impressive amount of negativity surrounding the happenings of Wrestlemania 26. I have to admit that I was a bit taken aback by the sheer volume of complaints. The reason I was so baffled is because I legitimately think that Wrestlemania was a tremendous PPV. From top to bottom, I was thoroughly entertained. I’ve decided to dedicate this week’s column to highlighting some of my favorite moments from the PPV. Match by match I will pick out “one positive thing” that stuck with me.
Big Show & The Miz def. John Morrison & R-Truth
The Big Show finally picks up a win! Making his ninth Wrestlemania appearance, the Big Show snaps his losing streak to help his team retain the Unified Tag Team Titles.
Randy Orton def. Cody Rhodes & Ted Dibiase
This match has exemplified itself as what will most likely be a “turning point” in the career of Randy Orton. After years as a hated heel, Mr. RKO captured a victory, as well as the hearts of many fans.
Jack Swagger wins Money in the Bank
My favorite thing about this match? Kofi Kingston using the broken ladder as stilts, and then almost scaling a solo ladder to capture the briefcase. I was cracking up the whole time.
Triple H def. Sheamus
HHH as a wrestler typically in the Wrestlemania Main Event was relegated to mid-card. Yet, he showed that when it comes to ‘mania, “mid-card” is just a label for a time period. This match was quite good and put to rest the doubts as to whether or not The Game had any fuel left in the tank.
Rey Mysterio def. CM Punk
On the grandest stage of them all, CM Punk cut a fantastic promo on the 70,000 fans in attendance and their so-called lack of morals and ethics.
Bret Hart & Co. def. Vince McMahon
The best part of this match wasn’t the long deserved vindication, but the inclusion of the one group I have spent the past year and a half yearning to see utilized. The Hart Dynasty! Judging by the happenings on RAW this past week, their involvement in this match is the sign of great things to come.
Vickie Guerrero’s team win the 10-Diva Battle Royal
So what’s the one positive thing to take from this match? That freaking frog splash. No matter how much bleach I pour in my eyes & ears, I can’t shake the image. (*note, not recommended that you use bleach in this manner, besides it won’t work anyway, trust me*)
Chris Jericho def. Edge to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
My hat gets tipped to the WWE for defying the expectations of most fans by having Jericho retain the Title. The one thing that sticks with me is that crazy post-match Spear off the announce table and through the barricade. Yikes!
John Cena def. Batista to become NEW WWE Champion
Undoubtedly the best match that these two have ever had against each other. Regardless of the legions of haters both of these guys have, they put on an unbelievable match and proved why they are at the top of this business.
The Undertaker def. Shawn Michaels
The end-all-be-all moment for me in this match was when Shawn was struggling to get to his feet before the final Piledriver. The remark from The Deadman for Shawn to “stay down” was so against his character that it showed the deep respect he had for his opponent. It was an epic ending to an amazing show.
What’s in the News?
My opinions are in italics
All news is gathered from WrestleView.com unless otherwise noted
TNA President Dixie Carter has commented on Shawn Michaels’ retirement along with an indirect comment on Impact’s ratings. Dixie attributes Impact’s low ratings to Michaels’ “retirement”. Carter wrote the following on her Twitter page. “Thank goodness he can only retire once…hopefully. Shawn, congrats on an amazing career!”
I actually thought that was kind of funny. She’s got jokes!
According to a report by Prowrestling.net, Bret Hart stated in a recent interview that he never intended to wear his pink and black ring gear in his match with Vince McMahon at Wrestlemania 26. Hart said he didn’t want to wear his old ring gear because he wasn’t in the same shape as he was the last time he wore them and didn’t want to ruin his legacy. He added he wanted the pink and black to be remembered for great wrestling matches.
’tis a respectable reason
Jim Ross has a new blog up on his official website where he addresses his current status with WWE and seems to hint that his broadcasting days with the company could be over. “As for me, life is good and I am healthy and happy. For those that have erroneously written or assumed that the reason that I did not announce at WM26 was because of health concerns, that assumption is incorrect, I’m happy to say. Broadcasting wrestling in WWE is likely history for me but there are many other areas to which I can contribute in WWE and those options, among others, will be weighed over the next month.”
from what I have seen they are looking to use him in a role similar to that of how Mean Gene Oaklerland was used. It could work. I certainly miss that style of backstage interviews before matches
Ms. Teschmacher, the new female character on TNA, is played by former WWE Diva Brooke Adams. Adams was a former member of “Extreme Expose” with Kelly Kelly and Layla.
so THAT’S where Brook has been! I’ve been missing her since she left ECW
Prowrestling.net is reporting that The Nasty Boys are no longer with TNA Wrestling. It was reported earlier that X Division star Consequences Creed is also gone from TNA.
NOOOOOO!!!! Not the Nasty Boys! They were really cracking me up each week. I’m actually going to miss them …who is Consequences Creed? (joking!)
Rey Mysterio’s ring entrance ran into a big issue during Wrestlemania 26 last night. According to a report by The Wrestling Observer, Mysterio was supposed to shoot out from under the stage, but the elevator that was being used didn’t work. He ended up having to climb out from under the stage. It was covered up quite well by WWE during the PPV broadcast.
aha, I knew something was odd in that entrance. Still no explanation for the smurf costume
Tickets for WWE’s upcoming Summerslam PPV on August 15 in Los Angeles are already on sale. According to The Figure Four Weekly Newsletter, the plan is for Summerslam to be held in Los Angeles every year unless plans change. Last year the Hollywood press pushed the show a lot and those within WWE had the opportunity to rub shoulders and make connections with important individuals in the film and entertainment industry.
this could be good for mainstream exposure
In addition to TNA President Dixie Carter, Eric Bischoff also responded to comments made by Vince McMahon who referred to the TNA product as “tawdry” during a recent interview. “So according to reports, Vince McMahon, the guy who wanted to watch his son-in-law perform a sex act on a dead body, asked me to make out with his wife AND daughter, owns a boat called ‘Sexy Bitch’and wanted to me to promote ‘Hot Lesbian Action’ on his show considers TNA ‘tawdry’…come on Vince, you are a lot of things (and many that I admire) but don’t be a hypocrite.”
haha, he actually does have a point
Wrestlicious has signed TV deals with more stations throughout the US
wtf?
Bill Goldberg has continued to discuss his negotiations with WWE and a possible return to wrestling over on his official Twitter page. “My desire to return to the wrestling world in any capacity is based on the fact that if I continue to let my issues with the business stand in the way, I’d be very selfish. Times have changed and I don’t work for people anymore. I work with them. I control my destiny. Depriving the fans and my family would be a shame.”
Most likely a legends contract, but he hasn’t ruled out one last match as his son has never seen him wrestle. On a side note, Goldberg is a lot of fun to watch on this season of Celebrity Apprentice
Ratings
RAW 3/29: 3.7
iMpact 3/29: 0.6
NXT 3/23: 0.9
Superstars 3/25: 0.93
Quick Results
RAW March 29th
-Christian def. Ted DiBiase in a Legends Lumberjack Match
-Eve, Mickie James, Beth Phoenix, Kelly Kelly & Gail Kim def. Divas Champion Maryse, Women’s Champion Michelle McCool, Layla, Alicia Fox & Vickie Guerrero
-The Hart Dynasty def. Unified Tag Team Champions Big Show & The Miz
-WWE Champion John Cena & Randy Orton def. Batista & Jack Swagger
TNA iMPACT March 29th
-X-Division Tag Team Match: Shannon Moore & Kazarian def. Doug Williams & Brian Kendrick
-TNA Knockouts Championship First Blood Match: Tara (c) vs. Daffney
-Non-Title Match: “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles w/Ric Flair & Chelsea def. “King of the Mountain” Jeff Jarrett
-Handicap Match: “Black Machismo” Jay Lethal def. Beer Money Inc.
-Desmond Wolfe w/Chelsea def. “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero
-Main Event 6-Man Tag Team Steel Cage Match: “Showtime” Eric Young, “Charismatic Enigma” Jeff Hardy, & “Whole F’N Show” Rob Van Dam def. The Band (Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, & Syxx-Pac
NXT March 30th
-R-Truth, Matt Hardy, CM Punk & Wade Barrett def. Christian, Carlito, William Regal & The Miz
-David Otunga wins an Eight-Man Battle Royal
Superstars March 25th
-CM Punk def. JTG
-Rey Mysterio def. Tyson Kidd
Smackdown March 25th
-Intercontinental Champion Drew McIntyre, Kane, Matt Hardy, Shelton Benjamin and Dolph Ziggler def. Kofi Kingston, MVP, Christian, Evan Bourne and Jack Swagger (10-Man Tag Team Match)
-Women’s Champion Michelle McCool, Divas Champion Maryse, Vickie Guerrero, Layla and Alicia Fox def. Beth Phoenix (Five-on-one Handicap Match)
-Unified Tag Team Champion Big Show def. R-Truth (Disqualification)
So ‘that’s a wrap’…. Love it? Hate it? Disagree with everything I said? Just want to chat wrestling? I’m always up for reading your thoughts so send them ’em on over.
Look for the newest edition to the WrestleView Radio Network: “The Teacher’s Lounge” featuring Anthony Valvo (From the Desk of Mr. V) and myself this Saturday!
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