Looking Ahead – 23rd May 2006
A warm hello to you, reader person, who has decided to check out this little column here on IP called “Looking Ahead”, where I take a look at the upcoming PPV’s for Raw, Smackdown, and currently ECW.
I received an email a few days ago asking why I don’t cover TNA PPV’s in here. There’s a simple reason for that… I basically don’t have the time to keep up to date with it. Raw, Smackdown and the recap shows are shown over here in England pretty much at some point everyday, whereas TNA shows are a couple of weeks behind the US ones, so it would involve a lot of time reading the spoilers/downloading the shows, etc that I don’t have.
So that pretty much sums up why I only concentrate on the WWE shows.
With that frequently asked question answered, let’s get cracking. But first…
Check these links out!
Craig Russell takes a look at The Season That Was, and the Season Ahead.
Matt Basilo checks in with the latest Case of the Mondays.
Look at all those Reviews.
Mark B Plays the Lame.
Gloomchen and her TTTT’s.
Stevie Murry looks on the Bright Side.
Vin’s Alternate Reality.
And lastly, go read the Judgment Day Round Table and see how well I did!
Sorta…
SMACKDOWN
Judgment Day Thoughts
JBL vs. Rey Mysterio – World Heavyweight Championship Match
They blew, in my opinion, one of the best angles that could have happened this year. By having Chavo turn on Rey (either with him siding with JBL or not), it could have shot Chavo straight into an upper-mid card position on the roster, we would have seen some outstanding wrestling matches, and we’d have a lengthy feud on our hands for maybe half a year. Half a year of Chavo vs. Mysterio matches? Yes please!
But, instead, the opportunity was squandered. They COULD do the turn on Smackdown this week, or somewhere in the near future, but for me Judgment Day would have been the ideal setting to pull the trigger.
I was also semi-shocked at the result as well. I was so sure of a JBL victory. Damn WWE creative ruining my Roundtable predictions.
KOTR Tournament Final – Booker T vs. Lashley
I wasn’t really paying attention to this match to be honest. I was in the process of cooking a delicious Hawaiian Pizza, so my mind was elsewhere sadly. It didn’t look too bad though. I liked how Finlay interfeard in the match as well. This will obviously lead to a continued Finlay – Lashley feud, which will be pretty damn good, take my word on it.
MNM vs. London & Kendrick – WWE Tag Team Championship Match
Wow, didn’t see the Melina and Nitro firing coming, that’s for sure. At least now there’s a way for both of them to wind up on Raw. They could either wait until Raw gets a new GM (if they ever do), or Melina could seduce Vince into letting them have their jobs back. And we all know how Vince likes to piss about with the various Divas.
The Undertaker vs. The Great Khali
Taker pinned CLEAN with a boot to the head. A BOOT to the head. That’s not even Khali’s finishing move is it?!? What Vince must have said to convince the Dead Man to do the job is beyond me. All I hope is that Taker gets his revenge somewhere along the line, probably SummerSlam at a guess, and sends Khali back to wherever he came from. Obscurity, hopefully.
Kurt Angle vs. Mark Henry
Good match, although I shouldn’t be too surprised really. Kurt’s a wrestling God after all.
Gregory Helms vs. Super Crazy – WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match
Big props to Creative for letting them go at it for 15-20 minutes. I loved this match. This, the Benoit-Finlay and Tag Match were a great way to start off the show.
Chris Benoit vs. Finlay
Top quality match, loved every second of it. Glad to see there was no sight of the midget.
Melina vs. Jillian
Good filler match, and I was glad to see a solid women’s match not involving Trish, Mickie or Victoria.
Overall, I’m glad I bought this PPV.
ECW
Next PPV – ECW One Night Stand; 11/6/06
The Announced Card
RVD vs. John Cena
Well, the rumors that appeared before Raw yesterday seemed to be true. ECW was heavily involved in that particular episode. I can’t help but feel a little disappointed at the crowd response though, especially at the point when RVD revealed he’d cash in his MITB title shot at ONS. Maybe it’s because it was one of the worst kept secrets in wrestling this year, who knows.
It will be EXTREMELY (sorry… had to get it in somewhere) interesting to see how well Cena and RVD mesh as opponents.
Ever since this angle began life kicking around the rumor mill, I’ve been racking my brains trying to figure out how the WWE Championship can still remain in the WWE if RVD wins, and the answer is.. it can’t. Therefore, I’m going to state right here, right now, that RVD will loose at One Night Stand.
There’s no way John Cena will beat RVD cleanly however. My guess is that there’ll end up being a big brawl outside of the ring at the end of the match, with ECW vs. WWE heels, and then Edge will spear RVD to cost him the win (because he wants revenge for Foley turning on him earlier on in the show). Then he can spear Cena for good measure afterwards, setting up the Cena-Edge feud for Vengence.
And they say TV and Computer Games have ruined our imagination. Lies… all lies.
Mick Foley & Edge vs. Tommy Dreamer & Terry Funk
Well, the balls started rolling on the ECW revival. I still think this will be a master plan of Foley’s to get Edge into One Night Stand just so he can turn on him again and beat the living shit out of him. Now THAT would be HARDCORE!
Speculation…
Now that MNM have split up, everybody thinks that Joey Mercury will join the ECW brand, and I’d have to agree that he’d fit in rather well. If he turned up wrestling on One Night Stand, I’d book him against either Tajiri or Sabu, due to the fact that both could have great high-flying matches with him. Or better yet, throw them all together in a three-way dance.
RAW
Next PPV – Vengeance; 25/6/06
The Announced Card
No Matches Announced Yet
Speculation…
Edge vs. John Cena for the WWE Championship
Now it’s official that RVD will be facing Cena for the Championship at One Night Stand, this looks likely to be the main event for Vengeance. About time too, as I think everybody is screaming for something new in the main event scene, and the previous Edge-Cena short rivalry felt very fresh and intriguing.
The McMahons’ vs. DX
With all the DX spoiler slip-ups and what not happening over the past few weeks, it’s safe to say that we’ll be seeing HBK & HHH team up again. As per usual though, I like to look beyond the current feuds, and I’m still pushing my theory of HHH teaming up with the McMahon’s to “destroy” with HBK once and for all.
The Spirit Squad vs. The Odd Squad
It amazes me how brilliant the Spirit Squad gimmick has done on Raw. I didn’t give it a chance when I first heard about it, yet they’re so friggin awesome inside and outside of the ring that it’s caught on, and now everybody raving about them and rightly so.
Anyway, enough about my love for the SS, this is about TSS vs. TOS. They might as well put the tag straps up for grabs. Give the casual fans more and more reasons to buy the PPV, that’s what I say.
5 albums to listen to between now and next week’s column:
1. Paul Oakenfold – A Lively Mind
2. Snow Patrol – Eyes Open
3. Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Stadium Arcadium
4. Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere
5. Dirty Pretty Things – Waterloo to Anywhere
That’s everything I think.
Take care, and I’ll see you next week.
Danny Wallace.
