After taking a break to deal with some personal problems, I’m finally back. I must admit that I’ve not been following very closely over the past few weeks, but I’ve gone back and looked into everything that I missed out on and I’ve got a few things to comment on. For the sake of keeping this article from getting too far out of control, I am going to only comment on WWE land for now, saving my ppv pics for TNA’s Bound For Glory for my next piece.
So, we’ve had a chaotic few ppvs, and after a walkout, Triple H has been replaced by my John Laurinatis. We also got to see the WWE Championship hop to John Cena for two weeks before Del Rio was able to steal it back with the help of a good lock and a pipe. Things are really chaotic, but not necessarily the kind of chaos that is good for business.
It is becoming obvious that WWE is starting to really get into a new movement to try and put some new faces into the big storylines, which is a very good thing. The inclusion of Miz and Truth as of late has made for some entertaining television. The walkout and the sheer number of people involved in pushing for it was a fresh change. But there are some holes in the story that must be addressed.
John Cena is getting yet another WWE Championship match at Vengeance, while CM Punk is teaming up with Triple H to take on Awesome Truth. I just have to ask why John Cena is getting this spot AGAIN. The fans that dislike Cena largely feel the way they do because he is always in the main event picture as either the champion or the challenger. Cena does not need the title to be relevant. Del Rio needs to be made to look like a strong champion. If he were to get a clean victory over Cena, or at least dominate him the way he did Edge in their feud, it would do wonders for his career.
Triple H and CM Punk have gone from hating each other to teaming up. I would be completely against this idea, but the two have made it clear that they do not like each other, and are only working together to take out a common enemy. I’ve read complaints about CM Punk not being treated as a main event guy, but I have to disagree. He is being teamed up with one of the top stars in WWE history. They are selling CM Punk as being every bit as good as Triple H is.
Speaking of CM Punk for a moment, Anybody that thinks his push is ending should try to understand that CM Punk is one of the top merchandise sellers that the WWE has right now. Vince McMahon cares more about making money than ANYTHING else, and therefore, as long as Punk is able to keep himself relevant and selling merchandise, he will have nothing to fear regarding a push. Punk has been a focal point of Raw ever since the infamous worked shoot he cut leading to the Money in the Bank ppv.
This past Monday’s episode of Raw had an exciting opening segment, but it seemed to quickly go downhill from there. Triple H getting the support of Cena, Punk, and Sheamus was a solid way to get fans behind those men, and the impromptu match was really exciting. I was hoping that they would let them go for a good twenty minutes before something happened, but Vince McMahon made his return to tv to end the match and ruin the evening. Before I go on, I must point out that the expression on CM Punk’s face and his response to being asked to be timekeeper and commentator was priceless.
So Triple H is relieved of his duties as C.O.O. and Mr. Laurinatis is brought in as the interim Raw GM. When did the laptop resign of get fired? I don’t remember the laptop being future endeavored. We were then treated to the announcement that CM Punk was not going to be in the title match, and that the men who were fired by Triple H and that had everyone worried, were brought back to the company like everything was just fine. I still wonder how both Sin Cara 1 and 2 were able to suddenly be rallied together in the midst of their feud to engage in the walkout.
There are far more questions right now than answers. One still must wonder where Kevin Nash is. Laurinatis has the ability to rehire him now and let CM Punk face him in the near future, so expect that to keep Punk out of the title picture for the next few months. I don’t see this as their way to keep him away from the belt forever though. I have a suspicion that CM Punk is being built up for a possible WWE Championship match at Wrestlemania.
As it stands, I’m interested to see what happens with this big conspiracy theory, but some things already are starting to seem a bit too obvious, so lets hope for a good swerve to keep things fresh and fun.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
Pipebomb #3: No Surrender and 9/11
I’ll be covering two big topics in this edition of the Pipe Bomb. I was originally intending to just write up a prediction piece for TNA’s No Surrender, which is coming up this Sunday, but then I started thinking about the actual day that this event is taking place on. So this is a two part article, and I’ll start with this Sunday’s pay-per-view.
So, we have four matches announced for this Sunday. You heard me right. No Surrender is coming up in a few days and the only title match that we know is going to happen is Brian Kendrick vs. Austin Aries for the X division championship.
This line of thinking used to work for ECW to promote their events, but that was during a time when the promotion was white hot. TNA is certainly anything but white hot right now. They are putting all of their money on this “Bound for Glory Series” paying off.
It figures that my first piece covering pay-per-view predictions would be stripped down to four matches announced. I am very skeptical of TNA’s booking theory for this event, but I am going to disregard my thoughts on that for now and go ahead and predict this event.
Bound For Glory Series
James Storm vs. Bully Ray
This match doesn’t feel like it has the firepower behind it that a series like this should have at this point in the game. Bully Ray is a good heel, but he doesn’t have the name value that he had as part of Team 3D. James Storm is part of an amazing team, but he has no track record as a singles star. None of the guys in this series really do. I think Bully Ray will make this match pretty brutal, but other than some possible big bumps, I don’t see much happening.
James Storm will get the win.
Bound For Glory Series
Robert Roode vs. Gunner
Gunner? Seriously? This guy came in out of nowhere and has been given a pretty good push. He still does not feel like a guy who should be this far up or even in a tournament. Robert Roode, however, has all of the tools to become a main-eventer. No-brainer here, despite some possible interference from Immortal and Fourtune, Robert Roode wins. TNA can’t resist teasing the split of Beer Money.
Matt Morgan vs. Samoa Joe
We’ve seen this before. Matt Morgan is a monster in the ring. He’s got size, strength and a mean streak. Samoa Joe is giving up size, but has intensity to make up for it. This reminds me of Taz vs. Bam Bam.
I think Samoa Joe will pull this out, if only because TNA needs Joe right now even more than they need Matt Morgan.
TNA X Division Championship
Brian Kendrick vs. Austin Aries
This is the only match announced for No Surrender that I really care about. Brian Kendrick has been doing a good job as TNA Champion, and Austin Aries is an amazing athlete. This is an example of GOOD booking that many people will point out seems to be lacking in TNA. I think Kendrick will retain, but this rivalry is far from over.
Now, TNA needs to do something big to make this event a success, as it doesn’t feel like an event worthy of charging money for. Let’s hope TNA surprises us in a way that doesn’t make us groan. (EDIT) TNA has announced Sting vs Kurt Angle for the TNA Championship at No Surrender. This should be a good match, but there is no way sting will win. His focus is on Hogan.
This event is taking place a decade after 9/11/2001. Let’s look back up north at WWE. Vince McMahon is undeniably a patriot. He is very proud to be an American. When the attacks on the United States happened, WWE was preparing to tape an episode of SmackDown. That taping would be delayed for only two days, which is something that WWE has been criticized and praised for.
Vince McMahon could have easily just canceled SmackDown for that week and nobody would have faulted him for it. The country was in a state of panic. Concerns of more attacks loomed overhead and people were afraid to do big gatherings. Vince McMahon and WWE put on the first large public gathering after the events of 9/11.
Most people do not remember a match that took place at that event, but anybody who saw it can likely tell you about Vince McMahon’s opening promo and Lillian Garcia’s singing. The event was not about the matches. It was all about showing that America will not live in fear.
WWE has been bashed so many times for so many different things. I will always give them props for taking the first step in getting this country to start operating again. This also started the wheel rolling for “Tribute to the troops”, which is an amazing show of appreciation to the troops who fight to keep this country safe.
As WWE fans, we often get irritated by the storylines and other things that take place. It is the acts like the 9/13/2001 episode of SmackDown that help remind us of why we love WWE.
So, we have four matches announced for this Sunday. You heard me right. No Surrender is coming up in a few days and the only title match that we know is going to happen is Brian Kendrick vs. Austin Aries for the X division championship.
This line of thinking used to work for ECW to promote their events, but that was during a time when the promotion was white hot. TNA is certainly anything but white hot right now. They are putting all of their money on this “Bound for Glory Series” paying off.
It figures that my first piece covering pay-per-view predictions would be stripped down to four matches announced. I am very skeptical of TNA’s booking theory for this event, but I am going to disregard my thoughts on that for now and go ahead and predict this event.
Bound For Glory Series
James Storm vs. Bully Ray
This match doesn’t feel like it has the firepower behind it that a series like this should have at this point in the game. Bully Ray is a good heel, but he doesn’t have the name value that he had as part of Team 3D. James Storm is part of an amazing team, but he has no track record as a singles star. None of the guys in this series really do. I think Bully Ray will make this match pretty brutal, but other than some possible big bumps, I don’t see much happening.
James Storm will get the win.
Bound For Glory Series
Robert Roode vs. Gunner
Gunner? Seriously? This guy came in out of nowhere and has been given a pretty good push. He still does not feel like a guy who should be this far up or even in a tournament. Robert Roode, however, has all of the tools to become a main-eventer. No-brainer here, despite some possible interference from Immortal and Fourtune, Robert Roode wins. TNA can’t resist teasing the split of Beer Money.
Matt Morgan vs. Samoa Joe
We’ve seen this before. Matt Morgan is a monster in the ring. He’s got size, strength and a mean streak. Samoa Joe is giving up size, but has intensity to make up for it. This reminds me of Taz vs. Bam Bam.
I think Samoa Joe will pull this out, if only because TNA needs Joe right now even more than they need Matt Morgan.
TNA X Division Championship
Brian Kendrick vs. Austin Aries
This is the only match announced for No Surrender that I really care about. Brian Kendrick has been doing a good job as TNA Champion, and Austin Aries is an amazing athlete. This is an example of GOOD booking that many people will point out seems to be lacking in TNA. I think Kendrick will retain, but this rivalry is far from over.
Now, TNA needs to do something big to make this event a success, as it doesn’t feel like an event worthy of charging money for. Let’s hope TNA surprises us in a way that doesn’t make us groan. (EDIT) TNA has announced Sting vs Kurt Angle for the TNA Championship at No Surrender. This should be a good match, but there is no way sting will win. His focus is on Hogan.
This event is taking place a decade after 9/11/2001. Let’s look back up north at WWE. Vince McMahon is undeniably a patriot. He is very proud to be an American. When the attacks on the United States happened, WWE was preparing to tape an episode of SmackDown. That taping would be delayed for only two days, which is something that WWE has been criticized and praised for.
Vince McMahon could have easily just canceled SmackDown for that week and nobody would have faulted him for it. The country was in a state of panic. Concerns of more attacks loomed overhead and people were afraid to do big gatherings. Vince McMahon and WWE put on the first large public gathering after the events of 9/11.
Most people do not remember a match that took place at that event, but anybody who saw it can likely tell you about Vince McMahon’s opening promo and Lillian Garcia’s singing. The event was not about the matches. It was all about showing that America will not live in fear.
WWE has been bashed so many times for so many different things. I will always give them props for taking the first step in getting this country to start operating again. This also started the wheel rolling for “Tribute to the troops”, which is an amazing show of appreciation to the troops who fight to keep this country safe.
As WWE fans, we often get irritated by the storylines and other things that take place. It is the acts like the 9/13/2001 episode of SmackDown that help remind us of why we love WWE.
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