Street Fighter X G.I. Joe #1 Review

Street Fighter X G.I. Joe #1 | Writer: Aubrey Sitterson | Artist: Emilio Laiso | Colorist: David Garcia Cruz | Publisher: IDW Publishing

I’ve always been a G.I. Joe fan, and the number of hours I logged in playing the various incarnations of Street Fighter II for Super Nintendo would blow your mind. So naturally, I was all smiles when a crossover was announced, pitting these two franchises against one another.

While this is nothing new in comic books, there are so many facets of the world warriors and our great American heroes that seem tailor-made for one another. How could this go wrong? Continue reading “Street Fighter X G.I. Joe #1 Review” →

UFC Review: The Count tops The Spider in London

Fans tuning in on UFC Fight Pass this past Saturday were treated to a main event showdown that encapsulates the sport and spectacle of scripted melodrama that was all too real. Michael Bisping toppled Anderson Silva with grinding determination while showing no sign of bewilderment over the status and application of Silva’s combative brilliance.

In the first two rounds, Bisping was busier, constantly moved forward, and kept his head on a swivel, which diluted Silva’s counterstriking. Bisping even dropped Silva, twice, something no one felt he had enough power to administer. Bisping was on his way to winning the third round until the last 15 seconds took a bizarre turn.

Bisping lost his mouthpiece and informed the referee, and it appeared that Herb Dean was stepping in to halt the action to recover the mouthpiece. Bisping stopped fighting, looked down at the mouthpiece, and Silva walloped him with a picture-perfect knee to the head. Silva walked away as the buzzer sounded, believing he had won the fight.

Bisping was down and seemed to be out. Silva celebrated on top of the cage with his corner joining in, all while Dean vehemently yelled, “The fight is not over.” Once Silva got the message, he was agitated but ready to fight while the crimson mask of a wobbly Michael Bisping stained the octagon canvas.

The fourth and fifth-round saw Silva catch Bisping with a shot below the belt, and Silva received a karmic eye poke in return. Bisping looked like something out of a horror film as the blood seeped into his left eye. Blood be dammed, the unwavering Brit withstood Silva’s onslaught, including a Superman punch and a front kick to the face, while constantly tagging Silva’s chin.

The judges unanimously scored the bout 48-47 for Michael Bisping. Silva did more damage, but Bisping out landed him in the pocket where most of the fight occurred. Silva did his usual histrionics to no avail, and you’d think he would have learned his lesson after his loss to Chris Weidman.

This was an incredible fight where both fighters walked the razor’s edge. The mixture of star power, action, excitement, and controversy made for a special event that should only serve the UFC’s digital streaming service well going forward.

To summarize this fight, I would like to steal a phrase from the film White Men Can’t Jump. Silva wanted to look good first and win second. Bisping just wanted to win, and he did.

Why Do WWE Fans Dislike Roman Reigns?

Here is a clip from the latest episode of The Raw Deal where Frank Dee and I breakdown the fans dislike of Roman Reigns.

Click here to listen the show in it’s entirety as we discuss Shane McMahon’s return, edgy content, and a special announcement about a new show coming to Gerweck.net.

The Path to Justice Looks at Lex Luthor

There are several characters in DC Comics’ stable of heroes and villains who will make their long overdue debut on the silver screen when Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theaters on March 25^th. We will also be introduced to different versions of familiar characters with a new actor stepping in to fill the role.

Jesse Eisenberg will be the next contestant to play Superman’s arch nemesis, Lex Luthor. While the Academy Award nominee (The Social Network) has a diverse body of work on his résumé, the reaction to his casting has been met with mixed reviews. Some are cautiously optimistic that Eisenberg will fit the bill. Others find the 30-year-old Eisenberg is too stark of a contrast to the older and more established actors who’ve played the part.

Then there was a vocal group of fans who were extremely let down when learning that Bryan Cranston wasn’t even offered the role after rumors had him all but confirmed. Plus, Director Zack Snyder’s youthful “Wunderkind” description of this incarnation was hard for some people to swallow.

Old, young, hair or no hair, Jesse Eisenberg is tasked with making this mere mortal become the Man of Steel’s most villainous foe. There are many actors who’ve played a more traditional Lex Luthor. Most of them found a way to bring the character to life whether his superior intellect shined, or his ruthless nature highlighted his adulterated evil in various forms.

Click here to read the entire column at Forces of Geek.com

Shane McMahon’s Shocking Return to WWE

Wow, what a turn of events that occurred on Raw this past Monday! Shane McMahon made his unexpected return to WWE after a 6-year absence and received one of the loudest audience reactions in recent memory. If that wasn’t shocking enough, Shane will stand inside Hell in a Cell across the ring from The Undertaker at WrestleMania in a featured bout that absolutely needs to close the show.

In a segment where life imitated art, Shane put Stephanie McMahon on blast for the company’s falling stock prices, low television ratings, and the string of wrestler injuries. The Air-Jordan-wearing executive also stated that he “never lost his place in line,” which is contrary to why Shane reportedly left WWE in October of 2009.

Click here to read the entire column at Gerweck.net: Pro Wrestling Since 1997

WWE Fastlane 2016 Review

WWE FastLane 2016 | Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland Ohio

– Kalisto defeated Alberto Del Rio in a 2 out of 3 falls match to retain the U.S. Championship

It’s a shame this match was on the pre-show because these two worked very hard to put on a great match. Del Rio sacrificing the first fall by hitting Kalisto with a chair was something a true villain would do. Del Rio’s intensity was on point and Kalisto sold everything like he was getting killed. Del Rio showed even more frustration after Kalisto scored the second fall. Strategy turned to frustration as the steel chair that served Del Rio well could have been his undoing if he can’t keep his emotions in check.

– Sasha Banks & Becky Lynch defeated Naomi & Tamina via submission

The match was a little clunky at first, but got better as it went along. Lynch is a lot better of a wrestler than the casual audience gives her credit for. Banks kicked out of Naomi’s Rear View in a good near fall spot. The finish was a double submission with Banks applying the Bank Statement and Lynch locking in the Dis-arm-her for the win. This keeps both women strong should one or both get placed in the Diva’s title match at WrestleMania. Continue reading “WWE Fastlane 2016 Review” →

John Cena Returning Soon?

Earlier this week, John Cena sent out a cryptic tweet suggesting that he might return to WWE earlier than expected. Check out my report at the official YouTube channel of Gerweck.net

Thoughts on the Final Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Trailer

The final trailer Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice dropped yesterday, and it’s perfect in every way! Not only does it show that the marketing is now clearly on the fight we’re paying to see, it also primarily focuses on Batman. Sounds kind of unfair considering he shares the marquee with Superman. Nope, and I’ll tell you why.

We’ve already seen what Superman brings to the table as a character in Man of Steel. This trailer gave us our first real peak at what kind of Batman we can expect. He was the supreme fighting machine in every way imaginable, and it was awesome!

Batman blocking Superman’s punch is the money shot of the trailer. The look of disbelief on Henry Cavill’s face absolutely sells this moment to the highest magnitude. It tells us that %$#@ is about to go down and that March 25th can’t get here fast enough!

Click here for my special look at Frank Miller’s Batman: The Dark Knight Returns at Forces of Geek.com

Thoughts on Titus O’Neil’s Suspension

In an odd turn of events, WWE suspended Titus O’Neil for “unprofessional conduct” due to an incident during the final seconds of the WWE Network stream of Daniel Bryan’s retirement celebration. O’Neil is seen “playfully” grabbing Vince McMahon by the arm right before he was shoved by McMahon in retaliation.

Continue reading “Thoughts on Titus O’Neil’s Suspension” →

Daniel Bryan Retires from Wrestling due to Injuries

Yesterday seemed as if it was going to be just another day in the world of professional wrestling with a new episode of Monday Night Raw on the horizon. Then, all of a sudden, a particular tweet from a particular wrestler changed all of that. 20 words, or 137 characters, informed the world that Daniel Bryan has retired from professional wrestling. Continue reading “Daniel Bryan Retires from Wrestling due to Injuries” →