Looking Ahead
Well f*ck me sideways and call me Katie… what a shake up to the new year eh? Two new World champs! Who’d a thunk it?!
News… in the Present!
In a recent interview on WWE.com, The Rock mentioned that he never wanted to do a “dream match” with Shawn Michaels. Heat between the two superstars goes back to 1985 when Rock was 13 and went after Shawn at a show due to how HBK acted in the lockeroom. In 1997, the story continues, as HBK said to HHH that “anyone but The Rock” should be in the main event vs. Austin at Mania XV.
Handbags at ten paces ladies!
Foley’s last indie date was the 11/19 tribute to Starcade where he refereed the Terry Funk vs. Dustin Rhodes match. After that, per his WWE deal, he’s allowed flexibility in outside projects. He turned down a national radio gig since he thought four hours a day was a bit much, and he’d rather spend that time with his family.
Fair play to a man with is head firmly screwed on.
WWE Cruiserweight Champion Kid Kash’s injury has been confirmed to be a broken arm, suffered from a kick by Tony Santarelli at a Deep South Wrestling show last week, according to PWInsider.com. Some interesting booking was experimented with at a recent house show where Kid Kash appeared in a non-wrestling role, leading to DQ finishes in matches between other cruiserweights who were said to be fighting for the title, due to Kash’s injury.
Interesting angle. Doubt it’d fly very well on WWE TV though. Well.. it might. It’d either make the fans increase their opinion of the Cruiserweight strap because Kid Kash wants it so badly that he’s willing to interfere in matches over the title with a broken arm, or it’d make the title dive even further down the ladder of crap-that-no-one-cares-about.
Eric Bischoff, who is signed to a six-figure deal, will likely be back in some capacity. No word on when, although his most direct ties to talent on the RAW roster are his currently suspended “nephew” Eugene Dinsmore and Three Minute Warning, who returned to action at this week’s RAW tapings.
Why is everybody so whoop-de-doo over 3MW coming back? I hated them. Rosey was ok, but Jamal just plain sucked. Also, Bisch needs to come back and replace The Coach in the announce booth. He could do a damn good job of trashing the new GM, if we ever get one, and constantly complain about the way things are run, and what he’d have done given the chance.
Former TNA prospect Sonny Siaki should be joining the WWE roster soon, having been brought in with influence by Dusty Rhodes.
Cool. He’ll make a good jobber to the stars.
According to numerous sources, says PWInsider.com, Vince McMahon had a long discussion with Joey Styles about his announcing, as he was not happy with him straying too far from “WWE style” of calling matches. Vince prefers more focus on the stories being told and less on the actual wrestling.
Joey’s commentary has been spot on recently, and it’s still a breath of fresh air to Raw. Vince has to do what he thinks is right though, and Joey is a smart guy, so I doubt this will cause too much hassle right now. In the future though, it might prove to be a turning point in the relationship if he is asked to alter his style too much.
From the “don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone” file, PWInsider.com is also reporting that WWE is looking for ways to bring Jim Ross back into the fold in some capacity. So far there’s no indication as to what role that would be and whether or not JR would accept it. Ross is reportedly feeling better and recovering from his operation. He was last seen on WWE TV when fired by Linda McMahon a few months back.
I really don’t know what I’d do given the situation. Probably shift him over to SmackDown! and have him as the 3rd announcer maybe. Or maybe just keep him off screen altogether from now on, and have him maybe teaching the ‘B’ show announcers, or even just keep him in the office or something. I don’t know..
Crystal Ball for Raw
This Monday night on RAW, for the first time ever, Edge will put his newly-won WWE Championship on the line in a TLC Match. His opponent will be 16-time World Champion Ric Flair. Is the Nature Boy primed for another reign on top? Or will the Rated R Superstar’s experience in TLC Matches carry him over Flair? Watch RAW to find out.
What. The. Fuck… I’ve always loved the idea for a 1 on 1 TLC match, but not involving a World Champ who’s pretty injury prone, and an old although awesome performer who’s better days are well behind him. If they let them go at it with no interruptions then it might be something to see, but I’ve got a sneaky suspision that The Wigger Man will interfear in some way, because there’s no DQ’s.
The new World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels have had some of the best matches in WWE history. They are considered two of the best all-around performers that the sports-entertainment industry has ever seen. They delivered an instant-classic at WrestleMania 21, and Angle walked away with the first victory in what would turn out to be an extended rivalry.
Their match at WrestleMania was an interpromotional one, but after Angle was drafted to RAW in the Draft Lottery, it was just a matter of time before they locked horns again. The rematch was at Vengeance, and while the match was another classic, the result was different as HBK picked up the big win.
Mr. McMahon then put a smile on every WWE fans’ faces when he announced a third match between the two for the big WWE Homecoming last October. To make things even more interesting, though, he made the rubber match a 30-Minute WWE Iron Man Match. The two battled to the point of exhaustion for 30 minutes, and in the end, they both scored two falls apiece, and the match was ruled a draw.
After HBK and Angle had a falling out during a tag team match on RAW, Mr. McMahon thought it would be the perfect time for HBK vs. Angle IV. And who could argue? Don’t miss RAW Monday night in what is sure to be another instant classic between these two amazing competitors.
So.. do you think we’ll see Kurt defending the World Title too? I doubt it, but it would be great if they did. I’m going with HBK defying Vinney Mac and winning the Rumble, setting up an Angle – HBK World Title match at WrestleMania by the way.
And Kane, Chavo Guerrero and Shelton Benjamin all qualified for the Royal Rumble. It was also announced that Rob Van Dam would make his big return to the squared circle in the Royal Rumble Match. Who else will qualify for the Royal Rumble? Tune in to Monday Night RAW at 9/8 CT on the USA Network to find out.
I’ll go out on a limb and say a combination of Trever Murdoch, Big Show, Viscera and Rob Conway. Take your pick.
The Nearest WWE PPV
ROYAL RUMBLE (RAW & SmackDown!)
Sunday, Jan. 29, 2006
American Airlines Arena, Miami, FL
Latest PPV Related News / Rumors
With John Cena interfering in the live sex on Raw last week, does he still have a title match at The Royal Rumble? I’m guessing this issue will be addressed on Raw tonight, unless they drop the storyline. It’d be funny if Cena causes Edge to loose the title to Flair, and the 3 of them have a Triple Threat at The Rumble. If only…
There’s talk of Cena winning the Rumble, and those chatting folk are probably right on the money. It’s smart from a business point, just because of all the Merchandise he moves, but I’d shift him over to SmackDown because as I’ve said previously, the tech crew can drown out the Booing and add some Cheering in so it looks like the crowd still supports him.
But then who do you feud with Edge after he’s done with Flair? One person springs to mind, and he’s the same guy who’s I’m currently feuding with Edge in my EWR game. That person is… HBK.
In storyline land, they could play off the mini-feud they both had sometime last year (I think). A prolonged feud with HBK could do wonders for Edge, and during that time they could either push somebody like Shelton or Kane up to Upper-Mid Card level, or just bring somebody over in the draft. And don’t forget RVD, who’ll be back after the Rumble.
The Card So Far
The Royal Rumble Match
Raw: Rob Van Dam, Kane, Chavo Guerrero, Shelton Benjamin
SmackDown!: Bobby Lashley
WWE Championship Match
Edge (c) vs. John Cena
The Score So Far
Looking Ahead PPV Score: 5/10
The World Title match will be great just to see the crowd reactions. I’m also looking forward to the Rumble match itself, to see if they do the Smackdown vs. Raw spot. Loved that.
PPV Predictions
The Royal Rumble Match
Winner: HBK
I really want to see HBK vs. Angle for the World Title at WrestleMania. But sadly I don’t think it’ll happen. The Wigger Man will probably win, then get booed the shit out of.
Edge vs. John Cena
My gut is saying Edge, for now.
Looking Behind
Some stuff you should really go read:
The Anti-Pulse
Brain Spill: Worst Winner Ever
Contradicting Popular Opinion: The Bottom 100
The Saturday Swindle Substitution
You Complete Bar Steward!
The aura is fading…
Any comments, questions, praise, abuse and lovin’ go to my email address, which is at the top next to my name.
See you all next week, and thanks for checking me out!
Danny Wallace.
The ‘Sponsored Sound’ for this week is: The Editors – Munich.
