Looking Ahead – 8th August 2006
In my opinion, one of, if not the hardest part of writing a column/article/blah is thinking of something to start it off.
No luck today.
Have A Gander…
Burnside with the Anti-Pulse. Fresh Prince > Marvin Gaye.
Off the Beaten Path from Travis.
Monday Night Rabble and The NeelDown Raw Zone have both your Raw Recaps, if like me, you missed Raw last night.
Vin Tastic’s Alternate Reality is a really good read this week (as per usual). Seems he loved the London & Kendrick vs. Pitbull’s opening match at the GAB as much as me.
Myself with the third-to-last EVER edition of You Complete Bar Steward!
RAW & SmackDown! (& ECW?)
Next PPV – SummerSlam; 20/08/06
The Announced Card
Randy Orton vs. Hulk Hogan
The general consensus is that Hogan’s pulling a power-play and has probably been asked to do the job, but refused to do so and has bailed on the match. Personally I don’t think that’s the case, it’s just the WWE simply trying to cover their backs and not have another Great American Bash fiasco on their hands. If Hogan doesn’t do the match, it’s pretty obvious the replacement should be Jerry Lawler, because he’s the only person who they can play off with having recent heat with Randy.
John Cena vs. Edge – Title can change on DQ Match for the WWE Championship
If I had to put money on the outcome of this match, I’d go with Edge walking out the Champ. They can easily continue this until Survivor Series at the least, just by Edge somehow sneaking out a win here. Personally I can see a ref bump, Edge trys to smack Cena with a steel chair, but Cena grabs it off him and twats Edge with it. The ref sees that, and DQ’s Cena. Edge retains, the feud can continue, everybody’s happy. Except the fans (DQ endings on PPV’s are a cop-out)… so don’t put the match on at the end and it’ll come off perfectly.
De-Generation X vs. The McMahons
I like it how Vince and Shane seem to be one-upping DX over the last few weeks, which is giving them a chance to look strong going into the match. This They might even win too.. with the help of Umaga and/or the Spirit Squad.
Mick Foley vs. Ric Flair – “I Quit” Match
I only caught the first 40 minutes of Raw last night before I flaked out, so I didn’t see these two guys go at it promo-wise. Damn tired-ass body. Anyway, apparently they once again stole the show, and now we’re getting an “I Quit” match out of them. Hooray! I can’t see this being a technical show-stealing wrestling match, but I can see there being a fair amount of brutality and possible bloodshed. Think about it, it’s GOT to be a brutal, vicious match that’s got to last for at least 40 minutes, because we’re talking about Ric Flair and Mick Foley… two greats in the world of wrestling, each trying to get the other to submit, accept defeat, scream for the match to stop, or however you want to put it. I’ve a sneaky suspicion that Foley might end the match short, which will garner more heat from the fans and Flair himself. That would be as funny as f*ck, but pretty shitty in terms of anticipation for the match.
I really hope they can carry this feud another few months, finally ending it at Survivor Series, but then again I don’t think they can keep the constant flow of goodness, like they have been doing so far, up until then.
Speculation…
Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero
I think this feud needs to be pushed a little bit harder, but other than that, I love it. I think this will be the match that will make or break Chavo as an upper-tier guy, and I’ve every confidence he’ll succeed. I also see them carrying it on until Survivor Series, where Chavo could “injure” Mysterio, forcing him to take some time off, in storyline land. That way Rey can get knee surgery, and the feud can sort of continue with a fresh, ready-to-go Chris Benoit returning to keep Chavo occupied until next years WrestleMania where the Mysterio-Chavo feud, along with all this Eddie stuff, can finally be laid to rest.
Batista vs. King Booker
I think the short-lived Batista-Kennedy feud is over, so a match with King Booker for the title is a good a place as any to start his Main Event push. Booker needs to hold on to the title for a little while longer yet, maybe even as far as WrestleMania, before being taken down by Batista.
The Undertaker vs. The Great Khali – Last Man Standing
We’ll have to wait until tonight/tomorrow for the spoilers, but I’m pretty certain that Khali will accept, because as I said last week, if Khali doesn’t accept the Last Man Standing stipulation, he’ll look like a right pussy.
William Regal vs. Finlay vs. Lashley vs. Ken Kennedy
By adding Kennedy into the mix, it might make it a little more interesting and exciting. Yeah, not many people are keen on Ken, but I think he’s got some potential. Not main event potential, but he could become a solid mid-carder/upper mid-carder in years to come. Him winning the US title would be a good start, but I’d prefer Regal to get a run with it, as a Finlay-Regal feud would be awesome.
Kenny & Johnny vs. Mikey & Nicky vs. Cade & Murdoch vs. The Highlanders
What better way to get some exposure for the tag teams on Raw and the titles in general than by having a good old fatal four-way tag match. This could also be instrumental in the collapse of the Spirit Squad, laying the seeds for a face turn from Kenny & Johnny (the two guys with the most potential, in my opinion).
Johnny Nitro vs. Kane – IC Title Match
No love for Shelton. The dude has the moves, an awesome look, but no current gimmick or personality. I hate the “Shades & Shirt” thing he has going on at the moment, something which I think every bland person has done when Creative have run out of ideas. “We’ve nothing for you at this time, but you’re good in the ring so we’ll throw the usual ‘Shades and Shirt’ on you, giving you the general cocky/arrogant/cool look. Hey, it worked for Rocky back in 1999, so it’ll work now”.
Wrong… oh so wrong.
What do you think of Shelton’s gimmick? Should he be repackaged, or simply carry on being the generic arrogant person that he currently is? Shoot me an Email.
Back to the match, with Kane rumored to be retiring early next year, a nice little IC title run would be a nice way of saying “Cheers for the hard work”. Personally, I’d ask him to hang on until WrestleMania, where The Undertaker can retire Kane in a Buried Alive Match, or something like that. Yeah, we’ve seen it all before, but there’s just something there with the two of them that I can’t place my finger on.
Big Show vs. Sabu – ECW World Title Match
This is strikingly obvious, unless they go with Big Show vs. Kurt Angle. I think Angle might just turn heel on Sabu tonight, furthering the “f*ck Sabu” thing they have going on at the moment. A heel Big Show vs. heel Kurt Angle match would be shat on by the crowd (if they can turn Angle enough for him not to get cheered), however it would open up a good spot for Sabu to run in during the match and cause further friction. A double run in attack from Sabu & one RVD would be a good feud to play out for a few months too. That could work.
RAW
Next PPV – Unforgiven; 17/9/06
The Announced Card
N/A
Speculation…
Just a list of matches/feuds we might see at Unforgiven. I particularly like the idea of splitting up the Spirit Squad for good, in some sort of “Losing team gets fired” match at Survivor Series, so a tag match between the two “teams” would be a good way to start, and to build some more tension.
Edge vs. John Cena for the WWE Championship
Trish vs. Lita
Umaga vs. Triple H
Kane vs. Shelton Benjamin for the IC title
Kenny & Johnny vs. Mikey & Nicky
1PW
With only a couple of weeks left until the next 1PW event, I thought I’d give an update on the current card and provide some thoughts, as when WWE host co-branded PPV’s it makes my job pretty hard, because as per usual there’s none-to-minimal focus on anything other than the Big Four PPV’s which means I have nothing to work with. So it’s 1PW to the rescue.
Next PPV -Invincible; 19/8/06
The Announced Card
Six Man Elimination Match
Steve Corino, Tracy Smothers & Chris Hamrick vs. Abyss & Team Supreme
Teddy Hart & Spud vs. Sterling James Keenan & Matt Hyson
Masato Tanaka vs. “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson
Doug Williams vs. Nigel McGuinness
Samoa Joe vs. Jay Phoenix
First Blood Match
Ulf Herman vs. Iceman
1PW World Tag Team Titles Match
Jonny Storm & Jody Fleisch vs. Team SHAG (Burridge & Cabana)
Pac vs. Jimmy Rave
Austin Aries, Roderick Strong & Matt Sydal vs. SUWA, Darkside & El Ligero
Andy Boy Simmonz Open Challenge 3
Check back next week for my comments and thoughts on this awesome-looking show.
The Last Bit…
I recently got the “Straight Shootin’ with Lance Storm” DVD, and was very impressed. I’m a mark for Storm, and a mark for shoot-interviews in general, and it hit the spot on both accounts, so go give it a view. I think ROH have some sort of sale on too, so go grab some DVD’s and put some money in peoples’ pockets.
Stay hungry…
Danny Wallace.
