Kevin Nash recently made some comments in an interview with grantland.comthat has drawn the ire of wrestlers and fans alike.
“When Benoit and Guerrero hugged [at the end of Wrestle Mania XX], that was the end of the business,” “Has business been the same since that Wrestle Mania? Has it come close to the Austin era? Has it come close to the nWo or the Hogan era? You put two fucking guys that were great workers that were the same height as the f***ing referees, and I’m sorry, man. Are you going to watch a porno movie with a guy with a three-inch dick? Even if you’re not gay, you will not watch a porno movie with a guy with a three-inch dick. That’s not the standard in porno films. So you put a 5-foot-7 guy as your world champion.”
“They’re not bigger than life (CM Punk and Daniel Bryan). I bet they could both walk through airports and not be noticed unless they have a gimmick shirt on and the belt.”
It’s hard for me to not be romantic about professional wrestling when matches like Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena come along. This was an amazing spectacle, with every element executed to perfection. Lesnar’s entrance alone with his MMA gear and bad intentions scowl screamed, “Here comes the pain.”
It’s official folks. Brock Lesnar will wrestle John Cena at Extreme Rules on April 29th in Chicago, Illinois. This will be Lesnar’s first WWE match in eight years and his first professional wrestling match in 4 ½ years. The WWE’s ineptitude to book talent the right way is staggering. You can’t book Lesnar like he is everybody else. The ratings have already suffered as they were down 3 points from last week . He has a presence unlike anyone on the roster and the legitimacy to boot. The company’s booking formula of everyone sounding and looking the same is bordering on obsolete.
Brock Lesnar made his return to the WWE after eight years and delivered an F5 to John Cena to close out Monday Night Raw. He didn’t cut a promo. Just circled the ring before attacking Cena. Lesnar signed a one year deal with the promotion over Wrestlemania weekend. The crowd inside the American Airlines Arena went bonkers when Lesnar’s music hit. People were jumping up and down like kids on Christmas morning.
– Triple Threat WWE Tag Team TitlePre-Show Match:Promo & Epico defeated The Usos and Tyson Kidd & Justinian Gabriel to retain the titles.
– World Heavyweight Championship: Sheamus defeated Daniel Bryan in 18 seconds to win the title when he nailed him with the Brogue Kick as soon as the bell rang.
– Singles Match: Kane defeated Randy Orton by chokeslaming Orton off the second turnbuckle.
Intercontinental Championship: Big Show defeated Cody Rhodes to win his first IC title when Show knocked him out with the WMD Punch.
The showcase of the immortals is upon us once again as the 28th installment of Wrestlemania takes place this Sunday in Miami, Florida. The main course will consist of two world title matches, Hell in a Cell and the biggest professional matches to come down the pipe in years. (Column I wrote for gerweck.net)
The build for Wrestlemania is heating up with six big matches announced.
The Rock vs. John Cena
Hell in a Cell: HHH vs. The Undertaker
WWE Title: CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho
World Heavyweight Title: Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus
Intercontinental Title: Cody Rhodes vs. Big Show
Randy Orton vs. Kane
Those matches are enough for any wrestling fan to throw down their $54.95. With such a stacked line up already would any other match just be a let down? There will be a Divas’ match added to the card and the drama between Teddy Long and John Laurinaitis will probably culminate with a five man tag to determine one General Manager. Look at the current roster of wrestlers to see who doesn’t have a match yet.
– John Cena is getting closer and closer to embracing the hate as he and Kane will wrestle in a “Last Man Standing Match” at the Elimination Chamber Pay-Per-View on 2/19. The male audience has been disillusioned with Cena for years. This story line has made him more aggressive which is essential in order to engage fans going into his feud with The Rock at Wrestlemania. The WWE has done a fantastic job with getting people to start caring about Cena vs. Rock instead of just caring about a Rock match at Mania.
-Daniel Bryan defeated Big Show and Mark Henry in a Triple Threat Steel Cage Match to retain the World Heavyweight Title.
The Finish: Bryan and Show battled on top of the cage and Show held on to Bryan with one arm as he dangled above the floor until Show could no longer hold him and Bryan dropped to the floor for the win.
-Beth Phoenix, Natalya & The Bellas defeated Kelly Kelly, Alicia Fox, Eve & Tamina in an eight-person tag team match.
The Finish: Beth Phoenix pinned Kelly Kelly with the Glam slam.
Backstage, Zack Ryder being rolled up in a wheelchair and a back brace. John Laurinaitis walks up welcoming Ryder to a special room he has setup for him. Laurinaitis says whatever Ryder wants he will provide adding, “Woo Woo Woo…You know it!” Eve walks up and tells Laurinaitis she hopes he gets fired tomorrow on Raw.
-John Cena vs. Kane went to a double countout
After the bell rings, the fight continues with Cena hitting Kane with what looks to be a trash bin. They brawl to the backstage area as Kane slams Cena down face first over a production box. Cena tosses Kane into a few trash bins. Kane grabs a chair and drives it into the gut of Cena. Kane cracks it over his back and then gets in one more shot to the head. Kane sees Zack Ryder’s room and kicks down the door. Kane uses his hand to suffocate Ryder and then rolls him out of the room in his wheelchair. Kane wheels Ryder back inside the arena and dumps him near the ring. Kane tosses Ryder inside the ring and Eve runs in trying to get Kane to stop. Kane picks up Ryder and connects with a Tombstone Piledriver as Eve drops to her knees in shock. Cena hits the ring and starts throwing rights at Kane. Cena attempts an AA, but his back gives. Kane with a chokeslam on Cena. Kane leaves the ring smiling as Eve attends to Ryder. WWE officials hit the ring to check on Cena and Ryder. Ryder is put on a stretcher as Cena sits up looking on upset.
A video package runs hyping The Rock and John Cena’s preparation for their match at Wrestlemania 28. Both videos were really well done
– Brodus Clay defeated Drew McIntyre in another squash match.
CM Punk defeated Dolph Ziggler to retain the WWE Championship.
The Finish: The referee is down as Punk gets the Anaconda Vice locked on. On the outside, Laurinaitis is checking on the knocked out referee. Ziggler was tapping out and the referee was still down. Punk yells at Laurinaitis. Ziggler attempts a rollup, but Punk rolls through and has Ziggler beat for a second time as the crowd counts the pinfall out loud. Laurinaitis puts the referee back in the ring. Punk and Laurinaitis argue. Punk gets Ziggler up for the GTS and hits Laurinaitis out of the ring in the process. Punk with the GTS on Ziggler, hooks the leg and the referee is still trying to recover. Punk yells at Laurinaitis saying “the next GTS is for you clown shoes!” Punk has Ziggler up for another GTS, but Ziggler counters in mid-air with a Fameasser. Ziggler covers and gets a close two. A frustrated Ziggler starts kicking and punching away at Punk. Punk catapults Ziggler into the corner and connects with the GTS. Punk covers Ziggler, Laurinaitis jumps in the ring and counts the pinfall along with the referee.
The Royal Rumble Match
The final two were Chris Jericho and Sheamus. Sheamus yells, “Come on fella!” Lock up and Sheamus drops Jericho. Sheamus tosses Jericho to the corner attempting to toss him over. Jericho is holding on to the bottom rope. Jericho kicks Sheamus away. Jericho with a missile dropkick. Sheamus with a backbreaker over his knee on Jericho. Jericho counters a powerbomb attempt and clotheslines Sheamus over. Sheamus holds on. Jericho with a dropkick to Sheamus. Sheamus is clutching to the bottom rope. Sheamus with a springboard shoulder block taking out Jericho. Sheamus tries tossing Jericho over. Jericho hangs on and elbows Sheamus. Sheamus catches Jericho with a high elbow. Jericho drops Sheamus and gets the Walls of Jericho locked in. Jericho breaks the hold. Sheamus gets to his feet. Sheamus tosses Jericho over. Jericho holds on with his feet nearly touching the floor. Jericho sends Sheamus into the corner. Jericho is getting up on the top turnbuckle. Sheamus is attempting a superplex. Sheamus falls off crotching himself on the top rope. Sheamus nearly eliminates himself, but holds on. Jericho rolls in. Jericho with the Codebreaker on Sheamus. Jericho with right hands to Sheamus against the ropes. Jericho has Sheamus hanging over the top rope. Jericho slaps Sheamus repeatedly. Sheamus pushes Jericho away. Sheamus catches Jericho, tosses him over and Jericho again nearly gets eliminated hanging on. Jericho stands up and Sheamus catches him with the Brogue Kick to eliminate Jericho.
Winner of the 2012 Royal Rumble: Sheamus
My Thoughts: While it was surprisingly refreshing to see Sheamus win the Rumble, the overall event left a lot to be desired. It was a good event but not a good pay per view. Cena and Kane was pretty good and I feel Dolph Ziggler shut up a lot of people in his match against CM Punk. The only good things about the Rumble match were Cobra vs. Mr. Socko, Kofi Kingston’s walking hand stand to avoid elimination and the back and forth between Jericho and Sheamus to end the show. There was not enough seriousness and way too much of that Vince McMahon entertainment/comedy crap. Too many entrants that no one cared about to even get you exited especially when it was hyped up that “Every WWE Superstar could be eligible for the Royal Rumble” Man, the selection committee must have been high.
Look at this list of several Rumble participants and tell me if you thought any of them were going to headline Wrestlemania?
Alex Riley : Done nothing since his feud with the Miz in June of last year.
Justin Gabriel: I forgot he was on the roster.
Ricardo Rodriguez: It was kind of funny but why am I paying for this?
Jerry Lawler: Why?
Ezekial Jackson: Can’t believe he still has a job.
Jinder Mahal: Crickets
The Great Khali: Who cares
Booker T: Again, Why?
Michael Cole: One more time, Why?
Kharma: Glad shes back…….Could have saved her return for Raw though.
Jay Uso: More crickets and looked completely lost in there.
Welcome to the first installment of my Wrestling Soap Box where I will rant, rave, analyze and make bold predictions on the latest happenings in “sports entertainment”.
– If anyone wanted the blue print on how to make the worst horror movie ever than watch this weeks episode of Raw. Kane played the role of Jason Voorhees while Zack Ryder and Eve Torres played the innocent victims being chased through the woods. They ran from him all episode and found shelter in Ryder’s rental car, only to discover that a tire was slashed. Did they run? No. Did they try to find another car? Nope. Did they call the police using Ryder’s cell phone that he was Tweeting all night from? Oops, I wasn’t supposed to notice that…….and no. Ryder tried to change the tire while Eve hid in the car while screaming in fright. I’m sorry but if I was Eve I would have bounced a long time ago.
RingsideLogic.com 