Taz: A Look Into The Path of Rage

Like many wrestling fans in Massachusetts, I discovered ECW while stumbling onto the Spanish channel at 1:00 a.m. I salivated over the brutality on my TV screen set as wrestlers hit each other with steel chairs and putting one another through tables as if it were going out style. Fans threw weapons into the ring, cussing illustrated the diversity of sentence structure, wrestlers mentioned other promotions by name and rabid fans who wanted blood were as common as a headlock.

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Wrestlemania is taking Shape, Is The Rock a Heel and More.

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.

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Ultimate Comics Spider-Man # 7 Review

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #7 | Writer: Brian Michael Bendis | Art: Chris Samnee | Publisher: Marvel Comics | Price: $3.99

Brian Michael Bendis has done a masterful job of providing comic book fans with a feel good story that follows a character you love to cheer for.
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UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson Preview & Predictions

(column I wrote for gerweck.net)

It took eleven years, two months and eight days for the Ultimate Fighting Championship to make the journey back to Japan. This is Zuffa’s first foray into the land of the rising sun and they endured numerous cultural, political and criminal road blocks along the way that stemmed from their acquisition of Pride back in 2007. The MMA market in Japan is a cracked shell of what it once was as its glory days when the grandest events and the best fights on the planet took center stage. Fans are used to their MMA events encompassing a professional wrestling atmosphere. Dana White has gone on record stating there will be no mention of Pride or any hint of theatrical spectacle to UFC 144. This is the time for the company to introduce a new business model that, hopefully, a new generation of MMA enthusiasts will latch on to. This Saturday we will be treated to 4 hours and 7 fights on pay-per-view instead of the usual three and five.

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Nick Diaz Tests Positive For Marijuana After UFC 143 Loss to Condit

Today, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Keith Kizer, released the e-mail below to members of the media:

“The following athletes were tested: Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit, Fabricio Werdum, Josh Koscheck, Renan Barao, Ed Herman, Dustin Poirier, Max Hollaway, Matt Riddle, Henry Martinez, Edwin Figueroa, Alex Caceres, Matt Brown, Chris Cope, Rafael Natal, Michael Kuiper, Stephen Thompson and Dan Stittgen. All results received thus far have been negative, except Mr. Diaz tested positive for marijuana metabolites. A complaint for disciplinary action against Mr. Diaz has been filed.“

This is the second time Nick Diaz has tested positive for Marijuana in the state of Nevada. The first time was on 2/24/07 when Diaz defeated Takanori Gomi via submission. The victory was changed to a no contest when Diaz’s drug test came back positive for Marijuana. Diaz is currently not licensed to fight in the state of California due to skipping out on a pre-licensing drug test thus, canceling a Strikeforce title fight against Jay Herion. Diaz was quoted in a 2009 edition of the Los Angeles Times saying “I can pass a drug test in eight days with herbal cleansers,” “I drink 10 pound of water and sweat out 10 pounds of water every day.”

He no-showed several press conferences leading up his October title fight against GSP. The UFC removed him from the bout as punishment for not fulfilling his contractual obligations to promote the fight. This drug test renders Nick Diaz a liability to the sport. Millions all over the world want to see Diaz fight. He should be a millionaire by now and fans all over the world will never get to see him in he mega bouts because he can’t put the blunt down. This is his second offense and that usually carries a 12 month suspension. In my opinion, he is unreliable as a professional fighter and the UFC should just release him.

“My Victory Over You Means Nothing” A Look into The Undertaker vs. HHH

(Column I wrote for gerweck.net)

On Raw, HHH told the world why he rejected the Undertaker’s challenge to a rematch at Wrestlemania 28. HHH said there was always a chill that went up his spine when he was in his presence. Last week, he didn’t feel the same way as he looked into his eyes and instead felt sad for him. He knows what type of beating he gave the Undertaker last year and now he knows the dead man’s limit. HHH said he would take him out once and for all and suggested that this may be what Taker wants but he won’t be the guy to do it. As HHH leaves, his music stops and the lights go out. A video message form the Undertaker airs stating his victory over HHH means nothing as he stares at images on a wall of him being carried out ala Ray Finkle style. He offers him one more chance at immortality and vows this is not over.

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Red Lanterns #6 Review

British professor Jack Moore has dealt with a lifetime of torment and ridicule. He buried his anger, thinking he could keep his feelings in line. Things change for Mr. Moore as the instrument of rage selects him and begins a harrowing transformation of the mind, body, and perhaps, soul. Moore tries his best to fight it as a tidal wave of awful memories floods his mind.

Reminders of the past begin to chip away at his consciousness until Jack realizes he can no longer control himself as he’s encountered the one thing that can make him the monster he hid from everyone: A Red Lantern ring.

Meanwhile, Atrocitus and Bleez fight each other for leadership of the Red Lanterns as many of the Lanterns watch on, rooting for one over the other.

The crux of the story is Moore’s emotional struggle as the power ring plays the devil’s role on the shoulder, telling him to embrace the hate.

There was nothing special or bad about the artwork as it did a great job orchestrating Milligan’s script. It is detrimental to our mental health to keep things bottled inside because eventually, you will snap.

The red ring was drawn to Moore like a moth to a flame, and the end result produces the first human Red Lantern.

Grade: A-

UFC 143 Results: Condit wins Interim title.

Prelims

Stephen Thompson defeated Dan Stittgen via switch kick KO at 4:13 of Round 1

Rafael Natal defeated Michael Kuiper via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Matt Riddle over Henry Martinez via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Matt Brown beat Chris Cope via knockout at 1:19 of the 2nd Round

Edwin Figueroa defeated Alex Caceres via split decision (28-27, 27-28, 28-27) Caceres lost 2 points due to two low blows he landed.

Dustin Poirier defeated Max Holloway via submission in the 1st Round

Main Card

Ed Herman defeated Clifford Starks by submission via rear-naked choke at 1:43 of Round 2

Renan Barao defeated Scott Jorgensen via unanimous decision 30-27 across the board

Josh Koscheck defeated Mike Pierce via split decision 28-29, 29-28, 29-28

Fabricio Werdum def. Roy Nelson via unanimous decision 30-27 across the board. (Werdum displayed improved striking that kept Nelson at bay)

Carlos Condit defeated Nick Diaz via unanimous decision 48-47, 49-46, 49-46 to become the UFC Interim welterweight title.

After the bout Nick Diaz said about the loss

“I’ve not going to accept the fact that this is a loss,” Diaz said. “I pushed him back the whole fight, I walked him down, and I was the guy on top.

“You guys pay me a ton, but I don’t think I’m getting enough to keep going on. … I don’t need this shit. I pushed this guy back the whole fight. … I don’t want to play this game anymore.”

Fight Bonuses $65,000 each.

Fight of the Night: Nelson vs. Werdum

Submission of the Night: Dustin Poirier

KO of the Night: Stephen Thompson

My thoughts:

I was a close decision that will be disputed by some. I scored the fight 48-47 for Nick Diaz with him winning rounds 1,2 and 5 and Carlos Condit winning rounds 3 and 4. Condit usually fights for the finish but after the the second round he realized the only chance to win is to become a point fighter. He also looked shocked when his name was announced which tells the story. Judge Junichiro Kamijo gave Carlos Rounds 1,3 & 4 while judges Patricia Morse-Jarman & Cecil Peoples gave Condit Rounds 1,2,4 & 5. Another Greg Jackson play it safe fencing match gets the win but fans lose as it wasn’t the war we hoped for. It will be interesting to see who Gregg Jackson chooses to corner when Condit fights GSP in November.

Fight-Metric stats:

Condit out-struck Diaz in the fight by a 159-117 count overall, and a 151-105 number in “significant strikes.

In strikes to the head and body, Diaz landed 111 to Condit’s 91.

In strikes to the legs, it was Condit 68, Diaz 6.

Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit Preview & Predictions

The Ultimate Fighting Championship continues their Superbowl weekend tradition to provide MMA fans with a memorable encounter. Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz will unquestionably set the Mandalay Bay Event Center on fire with action and excitement as the sport’s top welterweight fighters will go to war at UFC 143. It’s a tale of two fighters who couldn’t be more different outside the cage and harness the same killer instinct inside the cage. Nick Diaz perfectly put this fight into perspective when he stated “You’re more in danger of losing a decision to St-Pierre; you’re more in danger of losing your teeth to Condit”

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The Undertaker Returns, Mike Tyson, John Cena and TNA Impact

– 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.

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