Looking Ahead
Six days until another “season” of wrestling comes to a close. Six days until dreams are reached, legends made, feuds are ended. Six days…
Six days away until I have another chance to f*ck my body clock up. Now it’s officially springtime, the sodding birds all decide to gather outside my window and chirp and squawk their little collective heads off. Not very nice when you stay up until 4am to watch Raw and PPVs. The Bastards.
“DEATH TO BIRDS!” I say.
Strange way to start a column off I know, but meh, roll with it.
In an idea inspired by me pilfering things from work, I’ve decided to rob Eric Szulczewski (that right?) blind and use his idea of posting links first thing into the column. It’s probably not his idea (might have stole it from FLEA, who knows) but it works, and it’s a change. And change is the enemy of complacency. Which is why you MIGHT see a shake up of the format of this column sometime soon.
Then again, depending on how complacent I am, you may also not.
Anyhoo, cast your eyes (or eye, for our pirate friends) over these here articles.
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WCW Special – Part 1 – Eric S Looks Back, Part 2 – David B’s Retrospective, Part 3 – Steve M’s Awesome WCW’s Return Fantasy Booking, Part 4 – Jed S’s WCW & ECW Book Reviews, Part 5 – Tommy P’s Video Game Wars, Part 6 – Neely’s look back at the final Nitro, Part 7 – Ken Anderson’s Final Nitro Redux
All the above are must-reads in my opinion. Various Peoples memories and takes on what was probably the biggest thing to happen in this industry in the last 10 years.
I also had Home Alone 2 for the Gameboy, like Burnside. I, however, thought it rocked, only paling in comparison to Mortal Kombat and The Flintstones. Good times.
Bambi Pivots towards WrassleMania.
An Alternate Reality from Vin.
Jeremy Lambert with TNA at Ringside.
Another shameless plug for Myself.
And one for Lucard.
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On another note, I just got my tickets to the next 1PW event here in the U.K., ‘Know Your Enemy’, where the very first 1PW Tag Team Champs will be crowned. PLUS, the main reason I’m going… The return of THE IMPACT PLAYERS!
Tickets are selling well apparently, so grab yours sharpish.
News… in the Present!
In an interview with the Calgary Sun, Bret Hart has said that he will walk out of the Hall of Fame Ceremony if he sees HBK, and also he will not be involved with WrestleMania in any capacity.
Bullshit. It’s all a work. Time once and for all to let the cat out of the bag.
The Nearest WWE PPV
WrestleMania 22 (RAW & SmackDown!)
2nd April, 2006
Chigaco, IL.
The Card So Far
WWE Championship
John Cena vs. Triple H
Triple Threat Match for World Heavyweight Championship
Kurt Angle vs. Randy Orton vs. Rey Mysterio
Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Shelton Benjamin vs. RVD vs. Ric Flair vs. Finley vs. Matt Hardy vs. Bobby Lashley.
No Holds Barred Match
Mr. McMahon vs. Shawn Michaels
Casket Match
The Undertaker vs. Mark Henry
Hardcore Match
Edge vs. Mick Foley
United States Championship Match
Chris Benoit vs. JBL
2 on 1 Handicapped Match
Booker T & Sharmell vs. The Boogeyman
World Tag Team Championship Match
Kane & Big Show vs. Chris Masters & Carlito
WWE Women’s Championship Match
Trish Stratus vs. Mickie James
Playboy Pillow Fight
Candice Michelle vs. Torrie Wilson
WrestleMania Predictions / Fantasy Booking / Etc…
WWE Championship
John Cena vs. Triple H
I still can’t be sure about who’s going to win this. On one hand, you’ve got Cena being booed to shit by the RAW/PPV fans, yet that could easily be solved by shifting him over to SmackDown during the draft (and editing the sound). That would mean though that Triple H will win the WWE World Title, because I think Vince finally realised that the WWE World Title should be on the flagship show, and the World Heavyweight Title should be on SmackDown.
And on the other hand, you’ve got Cena
Honestly though, from my standpoint, WWE seems to be plugging Trip’s 10 World Title wins just a bit TOO much. So I’ll go with Triple H.
Triple Threat Match for World Heavyweight Championship
Kurt Angle vs. Randy Orton vs. Rey Mysterio
Mysterio will win this. I’m pretty certain about that.
This might be a good place for Kurt to take a leave of absence to rest his body. They could have Angle look really pissed off after the match because he got beat by Mysterio, then he could do a disappearing act for a couple of months due to the shame, then make his return in full revenge mode, to feud with Mysterio in time for SummerSlam.
Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Shelton Benjamin vs. RVD vs. Ric Flair vs. Finley vs. Matt Hardy vs. Bobby Lashley
This is a bit of a mix-and-match situation, but as long as we see some ladder spots as well as some old school wrasslin’, I’ll be a happy drinker.
As for the winner… RVD is my pick. Finley would be a good and unexpected choice, and so would Flair, but RVD has the least direction coming out of Mania. No way Hardy’s limping out the winner. Same goes for Lashley. Shelton’s got the IC title, so there’s no point in giving it him either.
No Holds Barred Match
Mr. McMahon vs. Shawn Michaels
HBK to pick up the win here, but not before putting on a cracking good match. Seeing as how Vince is involved, they may JUST have Cena get involved in the match somehow. He’ll get shit on from a great height like, but still… he’s going onto a feud with Vince now isn’t he?
BTW, just for shits and giggles, I think they’ll play Bret Hart’s theme music towards the end of the match, but Shane O’Mac will walk the isle instead.
Casket Match
The Undertaker vs. Mark Henry
Ding, Dong, the fat guys dead. Or will be after the match anyway.
Anybody else notice they’ve got rid of Diavari just before Henry makes his departure from the WWE. Also, this will be two guys Diavari’s managed who’s succumbed to the Deadman.
Hardcore Match
Edge vs. Mick Foley
Unlike his match with Carlito, I’m confident Foley will be bringing his A game for this match. Foley could pick up the win here, but it’s doubtful. Edge needs the win more than he does.
United States Championship Match
Chris Benoit vs. JBL
From some reports I’ve glimpsed at on the old t’internet, this has good potential to be a MOTN candidate.
If Benoit wins, he’ll destroy any momentum JBL had. However, if JBL wins Benoit’s title reign will be something of a joke.
Flip of the coin decides this one… heads Benoit, tails JBL.
The coin is flipped… and rolls off under the desk…
TAILS! JBL it is.
2 on 1 Handicapped Match
Booker T & Sharmell vs. The Boogeyman
As soon as the announcement of the handicap match was made, I knew Boogey would definitely win. Probably by a count-out victory, but still.
World Tag Team Championship Match
Kane & Big Show vs. Chris Masters & Carlito
If Big Show & Kane retain the tag titles, they may as well burn the tag titles for all I care. At least if M&C win, it gives them something do to and they use the “Tag Partners that don’t get along” gimmick/angle for a while.
WWE Women’s Championship Match
Trish Stratus vs. Mickie James
FINALLY, the turn happened, now we get to see this match after all. If there’s any sense left in the world, Mickie will beat Trish, prolonging the feud a little while longer. If Mickie doesn’t win, then there’s been no point at all to the immaculate slow-burn of the feud.
Playboy Pillow Fight
Candice Michelle vs. Torrie Wilson
Piss break match. That’s all that needs to be said.
Draft Lottery
Every week until whenever they do the draft, I’ll be bringing you a recommendation for somebody to be moved.
This week.. it’s Chavo Guerrero
He doesn’t really fit in with Raw, and he could be the one guy to beat Gregory Helms for the cruiserweight title.
The aura is fading…
And so comes to end the last Looking Ahead before WrestleMania. Sad I know. However, I’ve no time to f*ck about remeniccing about years gone bye or any crap like that. I’ve got the first series of American Dad, and the latest episodes of South Park, Lost and Scrubs all sitting there, just waiting for me to watch them.
So I’m off. Enjoy Mania. Adios!
Danny Wallace.
The ‘Sponsored Sound’ for this week is: Hundred Reasons – Kill Your Own
