On the heels of the Royal Rumble here we are are the height of the start of the Road That Leads to Wrestlemania!
Or something.
So for those of you who read last week’s column, you know I said that they need to keep Hassan away from both Austin and Hogan if god forbid one or both of them decide to step into the ring ever again. Well then we post this piece of news that you shouldn’t take for gospel, but it’s disheartening to me anyway.
Oh well. If they do that, you can forget about any momentum he was having.
Have you downloaded my exclusive interview with Hillbilly Jim yet? Get it HERE!!!
Where do you guys weigh in on this? WWE Live Journal community post You can only post if you’re a member, so don’t go flaming that guy or me for that matter.
Last week I asked: “What are the rules for a “Falls Count Anywhere” match?” and a lot of you were close but no one hit the nail on the head. It was kind of a trick question though because while they haven’t had one in a long time, the WWE doesn’t even seem to agree with itself.
The WWE.com website (thanks to ABarker20) say this:
Anything goes in a Falls Count Anywhere Match. Very often, the action spills
out to the concession stands, to the bathroom or even outside the arena. When
this happens, the referee must follow the action, as a fall can count
absolutely anywhere.
Recommended Viewing:
WrestleMania X – Randy Savage vs. Crush
Backlash 2004 – Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley
If you were to watch those matches, you’d see two matches with two different sets of stipulations. In the Wrestlemania X match, once you pinned your opponent you were given 60 seconds to make it back to the ring. If you could answer to the count and the other person couldn’t, then you won. Backlash was simply a pin the guy anywhere you want match. This week’s question won’t be a trick one though. Promise.
Andy Goss suggested some smart booking with Hassan, where he essentially suggested that HBK basically say that while Hassan blames America for blind hatred, he is committing the act himself. I ask YOU, the Inside Pulse reader to answer this question yourself. I’ve set up a spot on the forums for this discussion and you can be a part of it here:
Andy also weighed in with this:
— blatt@4sternstaging.com wrote:
> in an area like the Northeast or in California where
> people actually think
This line ticked me off for two reasons.
1. It makes the usual political bs assumption that Republicans are hick morons and Democrats are somehow more educated. Some of the most closed-minded bigots I’ve met have been anti-Catholics from Hollywood that my friend and former 411 correspondent Tim C. has introduced me to.
2. This is wrestling. Wrestling fans aren’t real thinkers anyway. They introduced him in Huntsville not because it was a Republican state, but because that’s where they were. That’s why Vince fears gray — because an unsure crowd is a quiet crowd, and a quiet crowd is Vince’s biggest nightmare.
Please consider these thoughts when you reply.
Andy
Well, I think you’re thinking a little more broadly that I am. The crowds in the Northeast and to a degree California are different. Kinda like the crowds in Canada to a degree. They don’t always go for what’s put in front of them. Edge defeated Randy Orton at Vengeance and got booed out of the building. Orton got cheered. Last RAW in New York Benoit got booed when facing Batista. Now Batista got cheered, that’s a given lately, but Benoit got booed. These are the same people who exploded at Wrestlemania XX.
Now what I was saying was in reference to the wrestling crowds. But I have to disagree with you about one thing. They debuted Hassan in the South because they knew their demographics. For THIS particular case, a New York debut would have suited almost as well, but they were arguing over a military matter and that’s a bigger issue in Republican states. That’s demographics. He wouldn’t have gotten the same response in San Francisco or Seattle or Los Angeles or Toronto.
But that’s just my opinion. Thanks for writing twice though!
This weeks’ question: 50 words or less, what did you think about the Royal Rumble PPV?
#1 comes from the Royal Rumble
The Royal Rumble
It’s pretty obvious that I loved this year’s actual Royal Rumble match, and the whole damn column is dedicated to it. I don’t think I need to say more than that.
#2 comes from RAW
“I like your shoes”
Man, that Snitsky can be creepy when he want to be. It’s also interesting to see them that the exac opposite approach they did with HHH/Steiner and let these guys go at it each week. I fear that I’m the only person that still cares about this feud though.
#3 comes from Smacokdown!
Spike Dudley vs. Shannon Moore vs. Paul London vs. WWE Cruiserweight Champion Funaki – Royal Rumble qualifying match
Anything where Paul London gets a bigger spotlight than he does on Velocity is a good thing. I think so anyway. IT’s unfortunate they can’t put him vs. Akio on Smackdown, but what can you do? That’s why I watch Velocity anyway.
Skip Download of the Week
My suggestion from my week of downloading
Not too much this week. I’ll suggest the following matches though:
Last week’s suggested download
OWEN_HART_VS__JUSHIN_LIGER.ASF
Because sometimes you forget how good Owen was.
1992 Benoit V Liger.wmv
This was a match of their that was NOT featured on Benoit’s DVD. It’s a suggested download to any Benoit fan, or Liger fan, cause, knu know, they’re in that match. But it’s a good overall match with some good pacing in it.
Have a suggestion? E-mail me not only the match, but where I can get it from and why you like it as well.
DECONSTRUCTING THE ROYAL RUMBLE
So it’s longest match every year, it involved the most participants every year, and it’s always one of the PPV highlights. The Royal Rumble. We’re gonna take a look at this year’s Rumble a little differently than you’re probably used to, a little more nostalgically.
How can I be nostalgic about something that happened 5 days ago? Watch me!
Man I loved that Rumble this year. So those of you who are looking for negativity because this is the internet can go stick where La Resistance keeps their flagpole!
Let’s face it, you know who won so you’re not exactly coming here for a play by play. Raven West and Scott Keith are your men for that. I’m here for analysis, and most likely over analysis for that matter.
We started with what Wrestlemania XX ended with, Eddie and Benoit in the spotlight. Neither one of these guys are gonna give an inch when it comes to one on one so we’re guaranteed some good wrestling and brawling, as these guys can do it both. The question was answered as to who the crowd loves more if there was doubt, Eddie is on top of the heap at the moment. At least outside of Canada. You could nearly feel the excitement Benoit was feeling as he knew he’d have some good wrestling, at least for 90 seconds.
#3 is Puder, who receives his initiation on live TV as Eddie and Benoit don’t hold back on him even a little bit. And Puder takes it like a champion, and doesn’t get in one offensive move. How satisfying was that?
#4 was Hardcore Holly, and while I loathe him in the ring, I knew he was about to take apart Puder, and the friendly competition between Eddie, Benoit and Sparkplug was fun to watch. Oddly enough Holly shows some charisma, which is rare for him. And once Holly Alabama Slams Puder and eliminates him, Holly himself is eliminated. Just like Heyman used to say, accentuate the positive, hide the negative.
#5 is the Hurricane, who serves as cannon fodder for Benoit and Eddie. One of these days I’ll get around to this year’s trade situation. Eddie tries to eliminate Benoit, who shows Eddie he’s no chump. They go back to beating on and eliminating the Hurricane.
#6 in Kenzo Suzuki, who we know won’t make much of an impact, but serves his purpose as someone who won’t be quickly eliminated and will start to fill the ring in. Tazz is the first to break out the “shades of the Dynamite Kid” for Benoit. Benoit tries to eliminate Eddie, but doesn’t pursue it further, just to tell Eddie to pay attention.
#7 is Edge and attacks everyone, starting the real “every man for himself” feel to the match. This also starts everyone ineptitude to throw ANYONE out of the ring anymore. They need to figure out new ways to create tension, because it just doesn’t look like they are trying sometimes. Two faces, two heels and they stay that way.
#8 is Rey Rey and he quickly eliminates Kenzo. Think back to the tension between Eddie and Rey that was all building towards this match. Come to think of it, that included Booker T as well. Shame about RVD getting hurt because they would have pushed him in the Rumble to the Final Four instead of Rey (I think). The Eddie/Rey/Benoit fighting allows Edge to gather himself as..
#9 is Shelton Benjamin who runs to the ring and keeps the in-ring energy up who goes after Edge, followed by Eddie and back to Edge as Eddie tries to eliminate Benoit, who’s trying to eliminate Rey. More teasing of eliminations as
#10 is Booker T. Everyone in the ring is on, or was on Smackdown in the past year. Benoit, Booker T, Shelton, Edge, Eddie, and Rey. Bischoff comes down to push the Raw vs. Smackdown feel and I love it. Some more brawling as
#11 is Jericho. Jericho again picks the pace up and goes after the guy who took his last IC title. More brawling as the ring is starting to get full and Teddy Long comes out to push the Smackdown! guys.
#12 is Luther Reigns and starts crudding the ring up. The action slows down with Luthers addition, but this pushes the Raw vs. Smackdown mini rumble as they guys square away 4 on 4. This was another great moment of the Rumble as they somehow managed to put the advertising to good use. A few more almost eliminations as
#13 is Muhammad Hassan, who participates in what I think was the highlight of the Rumble. All the guys put aside their feuds to focus on what they think is the important issue of Hassan being wrong. And this couldn’t have been booked any better. How is Hassan gonna fight off 8 guys? He’s not. He lasts all of a few seconds before he’s given a 619 and dumped by all 8 guys.
#14 is Orlando Jordan, who goes after Reigns, and it makes sense. Who’d have thought halfway through we still have good continuous booking? OJ did very little to pick up the pace of the match as we have 9 guys in the ring and it’s nearly time for a big man to hit and make some mass eliminations. Jericho’s nearly eliminated by Shelton as
#15 is Scotty 2 Hotty and he should be happy to simply make it to the ring. Well, he doesn’t have much to be happy about as he never made it to the ring after Hassan assaulted him before he got there. Looks like Scotty’s gonna fall victim to the “if you can’t make it into the ring before the guy after you does, you’re eliminated” rule.
#16 is Charlie Haas as the World’s Greatest Tag Team is reunited. This was a great opportunity to have them turn on each other, but the opportunity is wasted. Charlie Hass would make a good addition to Evolution, don’t you think? Orlando and Reigns are eliminated right before a Rumble-Roonie by Booker T. Booker T is then given the boot from Rey Rey AND Eddie. Jericho, Benoit, Edge, Rey, Eddie, Shelton, and Haas as we’ve cut away the useless fat when…
#17 is Rene Dupree. Renee goes after Smackdown guys as the confusion between Haas and Rene begin as the World’s Greatest Tag Team star their momentum as Shelton goes to the top rope and then gets eliminated. Dummy, never go to the top during a Rumble.
#18 is Simon Dean. The mid-card is starting to fill the ring now as Edge eliminates Eddie Guerrero and #1 is gone. Simon Dean gets into the ring right before
#19 is HBK who picks up the pace (much needed) and goes for Edge as per their match earlier, but quickly eliminates Simon Dean. It’s moments like this where you can still see that HBK is still one of the top guys as he goes through the Rumble. The one thing that I don’t get is why Edge and HBK weren’t all over each other the whole time they were in the ring together. Theoretically, Edge should still want to eliminate HBK as bad as he wanted to beat him earlier. HBK eliminates Haas unceremoniously as
#20 is Kurt Angle who tears through everyone with suplexes and Angle Slams. The ring is clear for a moment between HBK and Angle as they go through an exchange which ends with Angle getting eliminated after sweet chin music. HBK thinks nothing of it, but you know that Angle can’t let this lie.
#21 is the Coach, who is playing the part of “more fodder” tonight. JR and Tazz acknowledges that the Coach doesn’t belong in the match. He proceeds to hide for most of the match. Tazz marks out for every JR-ism as he gets happy to hear the term “scalded dog”. Michaels, Edge and Jericho could all be competing to eliminate each other, or at least Jericho and Edge going for Michaels because of the feuds over the Royal Rumble. Never mind that thought as
#22 is Mark Jindrak, who comes down as Angle comes back in and eliminates HBK. The rules don’t say anything about being eliminated by someone who’s an active participant, just over the top rope. Last year Angle got Goldberg, this year HBK. Even in their small interaction, you know a match between those two would be great as they both can still go. After that match is hinted at for Wrestlemania, they’re separated by Dean Malenko, Fit Finley, Johnny Ace and referees. Midcard heaven in the ring as
#23 is Viscera. Pretty much everyone sells for Viscera for some reason I can’t figure out. JR makes the Yokozuna reference as
#24 is Paul London. His ring slide is interrupted by Rene Dupree, who French Tickles above him, and then Jericho French eliminates him and mocks the Tickler. Benoit has Viscera in the corner and three guys can’t eliminate Jindrak as
#25 is John Cena who picks up the pace and clears everyone out of the center of the ring to face off against King Mabel. By now Eric and Teddy have completely disappeared, and I’m not sure why. Cena gets Viscera over the top rope, which isn’t THAT much of a great feat, he hit the FU twice on the Big Show as
#26 is Snitsky. The match has needed a big man for 10 entrants now. Snitsky clears the ring again and squares off with London which leads to my favorite spot of the night where London shows off his “Getting his ass kicked” skills on a bigger scale than Velocity. He was fine by the way. Cena and Snitsky stare down as Cena as
#27 is Kane as Tazz makes the obvious conclusion that sitting that close to the pyro is dumb. Tazz remembers when he was a wrestler and got eliminated by Kane in less than 10 seconds. Now THIS is what I love Kane for and I wait for it every year. Kane choke slams, Edge, Benoit, Cena, Jericho, Rey (one armed) and eliminates Jindrak one armed, before the Kane/Snitsky fighting starts and Kane takes a Coat Hanger as
#28 is Batista. Now my fantasy face off happens immediately as Batista eliminates Snitsky. Fantasy face off #2 as Batista and Kane face off as Batista DEMON BOMBS KANE!!! POWERBOMBED KANE! Jericho is dumped Gorilla press style and Edge is nearly eliminated as
#29 is Christian with Goat Boy in tow. Christian goes after Cena, who had some “beef” with earlier. Kane gets 619’d then FU’s over the top rope as Cena and Rey decide to team up and as
#30 is Ric flippin’ Flair, who takes his time getting to the ring, intelligently. Flair and Batista team up and Flair feeds Batista Coach into a spine buster as Flair eliminates Coach, Flair feeds Christian to Batista for another spine buster into a Batista military press elimination. Flair and Benoit square off as chop heaven as Batista take care of Benoit with a spine buster and Flair eliminates Benoit. Flair goes for Batista next. Now THAT’S great ring psychology. Flair, who had been taking the credit for Batista’s work by eliminating the guy’s that Batista had beaten up then goes for Batista. Think of all the different angles they can go with that. Did Flair do it on his own volition, or did Triple H put him up to it, cause Trips had already retained his title. Flair begs off and Edge and Rey dropkick Batista. Edge goes after the old guy and eliminates him.
Now we have our final four as Edge, Cena, Batista and Rey are left. Two Raw, two Smackdown! as we have essentially three faces and a heel here. Each of the men are seeming to take their spots very seriously. The Raw and Smackdown! guys start off facing each other, and for good reasoning. If they want to eliminate someone, they would go after the man who they know best, someone they’ve faced in the ring before. This is past Raw vs. Smackdown, this is past face vs. heel. This is about attaining that top spot at Wrestlemania, and since we appear to have two lame-duck champions, who is gonna walk out of Wrestlemania with the title. What I like about the pacing here was the guys abilities to know when to stay out of the way. Cena and Batista stayed down until Rey was eliminated by Edge. Edge went after the recovering Cena and Batista, which suits his character well because he’s currently blinded by the glory that he thinks he deserves instead of playing it smart.
The last two are Cena and Batista as suddenly everyone who was watching had no idea who was gonna come out on top. The crowd makes the face off intense. Cena nearly eliminates him in an FU like he eliminated Snitsky, but Batista is too strong and fresh for that. Batista goes for the Demon Bomb as Cena reverses it over the top rope and we’re left with a Bret Hart/Lex Luger situation. The individual referees (two Raw, two Smackdown!) essentially test the waters raising each guys hands. Cena got the bigger crowd reaction as
#31 is Vince. Well, not really but he hurt his knee on the way in and was forced to sit in the ring to make his presence felt. More fighting amongst the referees as Vince looks confused. It would have been a nice touch to have the referees start eliminating each other over the top ropes, but it was 10:57 and the PPV needed to be over by 11:00. Batista eliminates Cena and Cena eliminates Cena before Vince announces that the match has to be restarted. I can only wonder what they were really planning for the ending. This would be where a really cool commentary track of the DVD could come into play, but we won’t know THAT much about the booking. Batista dumps Cena and wins a great Rumble.
See ya next week, same Blatt time, same Blatt channel.
