Sunday 28 October 2012

WWE Hell in a Cell 2012 Preview

Hell in a Cell will take this place this sunday at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. At the minute, there is only 6 matches announced so a few interesting matchups. Let's take a look.

We don't have a YouTube pre-show match. Instead, we get John Cena (yay) coming out to address the rumours surrounding his situation with AJ and AJ resigning her position as RAW General Manager. Yeah...I don't really care.

Anyway, back to the card. Randy Orton will take on Alberto Del Rio. I'm not sure about this one as I can see both guys winning but I'm going for Randy Orton to win this one.
Predicted Winner: Randy Orton

The Divas Championship will be defended in a triple threat match as Eve is challenged by Kaitlyn and Layla. This match has (shockingly) a story behind it with the whole "who attacked Kaitlyn?" thing. I'm a big fan of Kaitlyn and I would love to see her become the Divas Champion. However, I can't see that happening til at least Survivor Series; so I'm picking Eve to win.
Predicted Winner: Eve

Kofi Kingston will defend his Intercontinental Championship against The Miz. Based on their previous encounters, this could be a good match. I would love to see the Most Must-See WWE Superstar in Miz-tory win back the title. However, I think it would be a dumb decision. Therefore, I'm going for Kofi to retain his title here.
Predicted Winner: Kofi Kingston

The Tag Team Championships will be defended as Rhodes Scholars (Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow) challenge Team Friendship Hell No (Kane and Daniel Bryan). This is a match that I'm really looking forward to. Team Hell No are too popular right now and it would be a stupid decision for them to drop the belts. So, I think they will win.
Predicted Winners: Team Hell No

The World Heavyweight Championship will be defended as The Big Show challenges Sheamus. This match is for some fucked-up reason not in the Cell. That seems stupid to me. Anyway, I can't see Big Show winning so I think Sheamus will win. Although, I won't be surprised if Dolph Ziggler cashes in his MITB briefcase soon afterwards.
Predicted Winner: Sheamus

The main event will be for the WWE Championship as CM Punk  defends the title against Ryback. This is a very interesting contest. If this happened six months from now, I wouldn't mind it. However, the only main event person Ryback has faced has been The Miz and I can't see him being involved in a 25-30 minute match. Despite that, I think this could be a good match and I think that Punk will retain the title.
Predicted Winner: CM Punk

I won't get to see the event live so I will watch it during the week, so I hope you enjoy the event.

Friday 26 October 2012

TNA Bound for Glory 2012 Review

TNA's flagship event, Bound for Glory, took place last Sunday at the Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. How will TNA's version of Wrestlemania fare? Let's start the review.

We start with the X-Divsion Championship as Zema Ion is challenged by Rob Van Dam. Both guys use a lot of high-flying offense and Ion gets some momentum by sending RVS from the top turnbuckle to the metal crowd barrier followed by a somersault dive. RVD tried to go for a monkey flip but Ion drops RVD's face onto the top turnbuckle. RVD gets back the momentum and hits the 5-star frog splash to get the win and become the new X-Division Champion. It was a good match although I thought that the ending seemed to be a bit hurried.
Winner: Rob Van Dam                                                                                              Predictions: 0 for 1

The next match is for the Television Championship as Magnus challenges Samoa Joe. Joe gets some offence in before Magnus hits a cheap shot while the referee is admonishing Joe. Magnus hits a Michinoku Driver. Joe gets back the momentum with a powerbomb into a pin; and when Magnus kicked out, Joe applied a STF. Magnus tried to reach for the ropes but Joe locks Magnus' arms into another submission move. Magnus gets out of it by getting his right leg to the rope. After a little more back and forth, Magnus tries a figure four leg lock. However, Joe uses this to apply a rear naked choke with Magnus down on the mat to get the win. This was another really good match and it would be nice to see a rematch between the two.
Winner: Samoa Joe                                                                                                    Predictions: 1 for 2

Next up is the match that I was really looking forward to as James Storm takes on Bobby Roode with King Mo(?) as the Special Guest Enforcer in a street fight. I'm really surprised that this match is on third as I thought it would be the penultimate match of the night. The match goes to the outing after a couple of minutes and King Mo has a stare down with first Roode then Storm. Storm attempts an Eye of the Storm that would have sent Roode through the announce table. However, Roode gets out of it and slingshots Storm into the ring post, busting him open. The action goes into the ring and we get some back and forth between the two involving a dustbin, steel chairs and a kendo stick. The action then goes into the raised entrance way and they start to hit each other with dustbin lids. Roode hits an Double A Spinebuster sending Storm onto the entrance way. The action goes to the announce table and Roode spears Storm from the announce table through the Spanish announce table. Wait, hang on? When did TNA start having a Spanish announce table at ringside? Anyway, I digress. Back to the match. King Mo gets involved when Roode starts to intimidate Senior Official Earl Hebner and pushes Roode into a Codebreaker by Storm. Storm then hits the Last Call but he only gets a 2 count. Storm tries for another Last Call but Roode throws Storm into a steel chair that was wedged between the middle and top turnbuckle. Roode then grabs some thumb tacks and spreads tem over the mat, then he tries to super-plex Storm onto them. Storm pushes Roode off the turnbuckle onto the tacks then does a Macho Man Elbow Drop to get a 2 count. Roode grabs some beer bottles and tries to smash one over Storm's head. However, Storm hits a low blow and proceeds to smash a beer bottle over Roode's head. Storm then hits the Last Call to get the win. Even though the match did look extremely brutal, especially with Storm bleeding profusely, it was a really, really good match and one of the best matches TNA have done all year.
Winner: James Storm                                                                                                 Predictions: 2 for 3

The next match is between Joey Ryan and Al Snow, in which if Ryan wins, he will get a full-time contract. Snow effectively gives Ryan a bit of a wrestling clinic and gets out his doll head. Ryan then get some momentum but Snow stops that relatively quickly. We get a ref bump then Snow continues his assault on Ryan outside the ring. A returning Matt Morgan comes out and destroys Snow with a Carbon Footprint. Morgan rolls Snow into the ring and Ryan pins him to get the win. It was an ok match as it had a very slow pace. Despite that, I like Ryan's character so it's nice to see more of him.
Winner: Joey Ryan                                                                                                     Predictions: 3 for 4

The Tag Team Championships were on the line as Kazarian and Christopher Daniels were challenged by Kurt Angle and AJ Styles and Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez. The action went back and forth with Styles getting worn down. Angle gets the hot tag and German suplexes Daniels then Kazarian. Angle applies the ankle lock to Daniels but is stopped by Kazarian who get hit with a German suplex. The action goes to the outside with AJ doing a moonsault to Daniels and Hernandez. Chavo tries the Three Amigos on Angle but is stopped half way through with an Angle Slam. Daniels hits the Best Moonsault Ever on Styles but Styles kicks out at 2. Styles hits an inverted DDT. Hernandez hits Daniels with the Border Cross followed by the Frog Splash by Chavo to get them the win and become the new Tag Team Champions. I really enjoyed this match and it was a surprise to see Hernandez and Chavo win the match. As for the other teams, they will probably continue their never-ending feud.
Winners: Hernandez and Chavo Guerrero                                                                Predictions: 3 for 5

The Knockouts Championship was next as Tara challenged Miss Tessmacher. Tara uses the referee to gain an advantage over Tessmacher. Tessmacher tries to get back some momentum and tries a flying elbow drop but misses. This gives Tara the chance to hit the Widow's Peak to get the win. Afterwards, she decidates to her boyfriend Jessie from the US version of Big Brother. No, I don't know who the fuck he is either, as evidenced by the "Who Are You?" chant from the crowd. Anyway, well done to Tara on winning the Knockouts Championship.
Winner: Tara                                                                                                              Predictions: 4 for 6

The next match was between Sting and Bully Ray taking on two members of Aces and Eights. Aces and Eights come out with Joseph Parks (brother of Chris? You know, Abyss?) and chain him up to the guard rail, giving Sting and Ray the opportunity to attack Aces and Eights. Ray hits one of them with a piece of the Spanish Announcers Table but then gets thrown into the steel steps and Sting misses with a Stinger splash, giving Aces and Eights the opportunity to gain the momentum. Sting gets dominated for a while but he goes for the Scorpion Deathlock but is hit on the back of the head. Ray gets the hot tag and hits Aces and Eights with lots of punches. Ray is about to use a steel chair but he's hit with a low blow by a third member of Aces and Eights. Parks manages to break the handcuff and starts to beat the crap out the third member and they fight to the back. Meanwhile, Ray and Sting hit the Doomsday Device and then decide to grab some tables. Unfortunately, a fourth member of Aces and Eights hits Ray with a Spinebuster, sending him through a table. Ray gets pinned and Aces and Eights get the win. Afterwards, the rest of Aces and Eights come out and beat up Sting and Ray. Hulk Hogan comes out and does his Hulk no-sell to the fourth member. They unmask him, revealing him to be Devon(!!), shocking Ray, Sting and Hogan. The group promptly decide to commence operation GTFO, leaving the TNA guys reeling over what has happened. I quite enjoyed the match and was shocked that Devon is one of the members of Aces and Eights. I think TNA were planning to make Devon the leader. However, I don't think he can be that guy as evidenced by the fact that at the following Impact, they mention that he isn't the leader. Anyway, I'm interested to see where they go from here.
Winner: Aces and Eights                                                                                            Predictions: 5 for 7

The main event for the TNA World Championship was between Jeff Hardy and Austin Aries. Hardy puts Aries in a leg scissors and Aries gets out of it by doing a handstand and jumping out of it. Aries starts to be dominant before Hardy hits a vertical suplex for a 2 count then later on throws Aries into the steel steps. Hardy misses with a Whisper in the Wing, giving Aries the chance to hit a Macho Man Elbow Drop. Aries tries for the Brainbuster but it's reversed into a sit-out front suplex. The match goes back and forth and Aries hits Hardy with two suicide dives then Aries applies the Last Chancery, which Hardy gets out of by getting his leg on the bottom rope. The action goes to the entrance ramp and Aries does a neckbreaker sending Hardy's head onto the entrance ramp. The action goes back into the ring and Hardy hits the Twist of Fate for a 2 count. Aries hits a jumping top rope hurracarrana, followed by a flying dropkick and a Brainbuster. However, Aries only gets a 2 count. Hardy hits another Twist of Fate followed by a Swanton Bomb to get the win and become the new TNA World Champion. I really enjoyed the match, although I was surprised to see Hardy win the match.
Winner: Jeff Hardy                                                                                                     Predictions: 5 for 8

I thoroughly enjoyed Bound for Glory. At the minute, I think it's TNA's best PPV of the year so far (after Slammiversary) and the crowd really made the event more enjoyable. I have no problem with them having Impact at the Impact Zone. However, I feel that they need to have their PPVs over the country as it does seem that their best PPVs seem to be when they are out of Orlando. The matches were all enjoyable, especially the Storm/Roode match.

If I had a small ciriticism, I don't think that the Hardy/Aries match should have been the main event. It's good that TNA 99% of the time end their PPVs with the TNA World Championship. However, you want your main event to be the most important story going into the PPV. The story between Hardy and Aries was not as big as the stories between Aces and Eights; Storm and Roode; and the never ending feud between Angle, Styles, Kazarian and Daniels. If your main event is not the main story, it can bring down the PPV down a bit. Despite that, it was still a great PPV.

Monday 15 October 2012

TNA Bound for Glory 2012 Preview


TNA's flagship event Bound for Glory is taking place at the Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. How will the event fare? Let's look at the card.

Joey Ryan will take on Al Snow and if Ryan wins, he gets a TNA contract. I find it funny that the one guy who didn't get a contract from Gutcheck has been on TV the most. I feel that Ryan will win this, otherwise what was the point?
Predicted Winner: Joey Ryan

Samoa Joe will defend his Television Championship against Magnus. Whilst I'm being biased and want my fellow Brit Magnus to win, Joe has only recently got the title and it might be too soon for him to lose it. Therefore, I'm going for Joe to win here.
Predicted Winner: Samoa Joe

The Tag Team Championships will be defended in a triple threat with  Kurt Angle and AJ Styles and Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez challenging Christopher Daniels and Kazarian. I can see this being a decent match with a few close calls. I think that Daniels and Kazarian will win and hopefully end this never-ending feud between them and AJ Styles.
Predicted Winners: Christopher Daniels and Kazarian

Tara challenges Miss Tessmacher for the Knockouts Championship. I'm a fan of Tessmacher but I think she will lose here and Tara will be the new Knockouts Champion.
Predicted Winner: Tara

Zema Ion will be defending the X-Division Championship against Rob Van Dam. This is a tough one to call. I can see RVD winning and have Ion complain about him being over the weight limit. However, I can't see that happening so I'm going for Ion to probably cheat his way to victory.
Predicted Winner: Zema Ion

Sting, as well as getting inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame, will team up with Bully Ray to take on two members of Aces and 8s. The invasion angle has not been as interesting as I thought it would be. I think that we will see a swerve involving Bully Ray and see Aces and 8s win the match here.
Predicted Winners: Aces and 8s.

James Storm will take on Bobby Roode in a match that I am really looking forward to with King Mo(?)  as the Special Guest Enforcer. I know that TNA went in a different direction but I would have loved this match to have been the main event for the TNA World Championship. It has a great story going into it and it would have had an amazing ending. I think this match has the potential to be the match of the night and I think that Storm will be victorious here.
Predicted Winner: James Storm

The main event will be for the TNA World Championship as Austin Aries (the best thing in TNA right now) is challenged by Bound for Glory Series winner Jeff Hardy. This is also another match that has the potential to be the match of the night. It would be nice to see Hardy win it but TNA has ended their last two Bound for Glory events with the heel going out on top. Whilst Aries is a babyface, he will be the heel going into this match and I can see him doing a heel turn and retaining the title.
Predicted Winner: Austin Aries

I'm quite looking forward to it and I have a twitter buddy (@DXDONMEGA) who will be in attendance. Due to the TV deal that TNA have in the UK, I won't get to see it until Wednesday night. Anyway, hope you guys enjoy the show.

Saturday 6 October 2012

Fav Five: August and September 2012

Don't you hate it when work stops you doing what you love? Thanks to work, I have not been adding to the blog as much as I would like. In light of that, like I did earlier this year, I have decided to combine two months of the Fav Five into one article. So, here is the Fav Five for August and September 2012.

August 2012

5. Tyler Reks
Unless he changes his mind, this will be the only time that Tyler Reks (real name Gabe Tuft) will be in the Fav Five. His decision to retire so that he can see his daughter grow up and not miss the milestones has enternally gained my respect and I'm sure a lot of people will agree with me. It's a shame that WrestleZone's Mark Madden (who used to commentate on WCW) used that to criticise the WWE in a bizarre article in which he made Reks the wrestler of the year.
4. Paul Heyman
I love Paul Heyman. He is one of the best people on the mic that I ever seen and he was criminally underrated when he was commentating with Jim Ross in 2001. His alliance with Brock Lesnar really helped to progress the feud with Triple H, especially with Lesnar's limited appearances.
3. Kane
Kane has been stagnant at times over the year but the decision to pair him with Daniel Bryan is starting to look like a master-stroke as their Anger Management segments have been really funny.
2. CM Punk
CM Punk has been a lot better to watch since he took out the Rock at RAW 1000. I find it hard to boo him because he has a very valid point about the way he has been treated while he has been WWE Champion. I hope he continues to be for the foreseeable future, instead of John Cena overcoming the odds at the first attempt as per usual.
1. Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan has been awesome to watch over the year and his character development has been really interesting to watch, as well as his segments with Kane.

September 2012

5. Michael Cole
Michael Cole has been annoying to listen to over the last year and a half. However, his professionalism at the time of Jerry Lawler's heart attack has really silenced a lot of the critics. Maybe his background as a war reporter may helped him in that situation but you can't deny what he did.
4. Kane
The segments with Daniel Bryan are getting better and better and better. I do find it weird sometimes seeing Kane do comedy but it's so refreshing to see.
3. Paul Heyman
I thought we saw the end of Heyman when Brock Lesnar quit. However, his alliance with CM Punk and the way it was revealed means that he will be on our screens for the foreseeable future and I'm certainly not complaining.
2. CM Punk
"The Best in the World" has been fun to watch. I find it weird that legends such as Mick Foley are coming out to say that Punk needs to earn respect and I personally think that he has already done that. Despite that, Punk, along with Heyman, are one of the best things to watch right now.
1. Daniel Bryan
I never saw Daniel Bryan as a person who could do comedy but his segments with Kane are the thing that I most look forward to at the minute. Plus, I find them saying "I'M the Tag Team Champions" absolutely hilarious.