Sunday 23 August 2015

WWE SummerSlam 2015 Preview

WWE summerslam 2015 poster.jpeg
SummerSlam 2015 takes place this evening at the Staples Center in...wait. It's not in Los Angeles? Oh right, this year it's in the Barclays Center in New York. With Undertaker deciding to get his revenge against Brock Lesnar, does this have the potential to be the best PPV of the year? Let's look at the card.

The Prime Time Players will defend their Tag Team Championships against The Lucha Dragons, Los Matadores and The New Day(sucks) in a Fatal 4-way. This could be a good match and it's hard to see who could win it. I'm going for the status quo and think that the Prime Time Players will keep their titles.
Predicted Winners: The Prime Time Players

The Intercontinental Championship is on the line in a triple threat match as Hollywood Miz and The Big Show challenge Ryback. Ryback has been ok as Champion so far and I can't see him losing this so I'll think he'll retain.
Predicted Winner: Ryback

Kevin Owens will face Cesaro  in a match that I'm looking forward to seeing. Both men could win this but I'm going for Cesaro to win here.
Predicted Winner: Cesaro

The team of King Barrett and Stardust take on the team of Neville and Stephen Amell. This is an interesting one to watch. Neville and Amell will obviously win here but it's a big ask of Neville to carry him through this. Hopefully it will go well.
Predicted Winners: Neville and Stephen Amell

Team B.A.D., PCB and Team Bella will face each other in a three team elimination match. I've not seen very much of the Divas Revolution so far but I'm excited for this match. I can see WWE being assholes and letting Team Bella win. However, if they have any fucking sense, they won't. Personally, I think that PCB will win.
Predicted Winners: PCB

The team of Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper will face Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns. This is another match that I'm looking forward to seeing. I think that Ambrose and Reigns will win.
Predicted Winners: Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns

Dolph Ziggler will face Rusev in what could be a good match. I'm going for Ziggler to win here.
Predicted Winner: Dolph Ziggler

Randy Orton will face Sheamus in a match that I couldn't give a fuck about. However, I have to predict a winner so fuck it, Orton to win.
Predicted Winner: Randy Orton

Undertaker will get his chance of revenge against Brock Lesnar. Hopefully this will be a better match than the one they had at Wrestlemania XXX. Anyway, unless WWE want to shock the world again, Lensar is not winning this.
Predicted Winner: Undertaker

Oh look, John Cena is challenging Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. I'm quite looking forward to it. I would love for Rollins to win here but I think it will be Cena wins and becomes Champion once again (yay)
Predicted Winner: John Cena

I know I'm massively behind on my PPV reviews. Work and other matters has meant I haven't seen Battleground yet. Hopefully, I will get up to date with my reviews in the next fortnight. Until then, have a good time watching the show,

Tuesday 4 August 2015

Rowdy Roddy Piper (1954-2015)

Roddy Piper and Bret Hart interviewed pre match by Mean Gene 

Roderick George Toombs, better known as Rowdy Roddy Piper, passed away on the 31st July. He was 61. Piper was trained by Gene LeBell, Leo Garibaldi, Tony Condello and Joe Fiorino and made his debut in 1969 against Larry Henning, the grandfather of Curtis Axel. After spending time in the NWA and Georgia Championship Wrestling, he joined the WWF in 1984. He is best known during this time for being in a rivalry with Hulk Hogan and main eventing the first ever Wrestlemania with Mr Wonderful Paul Orndorff as they faced Hulk Hogan and Mr T. He went on to win the Intercontinental Championship in 1992 and be the special guest referee for the main event of Wrestlemania X. Piper left the WWF for WCW in 1996 and was there for 4 years. He then made occasional appearances from 2003 to 2015 in the WWE, with him being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.

My first memory of Piper is also one of my favourite ever matches. Piper was facing the challenge of Bret Hart for the Intercontinental Championship at Wrestlemania VIII and the match is absolutely amazing. There was also the added element of Piper being friends with the Hart family. I also liked the fact that Piper was from my home country of Scotland. I know that that's not true (Piper was born in Saskatoon, Canada) but by the time I found out, I didn't care.

Piper was also known as an actor with his most famous role being in They Live, where he spawned the catchphrase “I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass, and I'm all out of bubble gum”. Piper also appeared in various movies and TV shows such as Walker, Texas Ranger, The Outer Limits and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Piper's legacy is one of the best villains and talkers in professional wrestling history. His segment, Piper's Pit was innovate as it was in an atmosphere where only the people like the World Champion got to talk. Dave Meltzer described Piper as “one of the key figures in the growth of WWF. In particular, he helped power the success of the first Wrestlemania”. Piper is a wrestler that has been loved by many generations of wrestling fans and he will be sorely missed by everyone.

Piper leaves behind a wife, five children and a grandchild.