The Colts of INDIANAPOLIS are the new world champions- don’t you love it how everybody has to rub in the Indy name of it?
The Shows:
RAW
The Deadman on RAW- and no, the writing didn’t cause it:
The topic of the week here has to be the deciding factors for Wrestlemania. The Undertaker shows up for the past two weeks to tease which belt he’s going after- and he’s made his decision: The Smackdown gold. Which leaves RAW’s spinning title up for grabs. Many speculated a triple threat of Edge- HBK- and Cena, OR a four-way adding Orton into the mix. While that sounded like the plan, it looks like WWE is pulling the trigger for the Michaels/Cena match. Weather this be a face versus face or someone turning heel is anyone’s guess, it looks like this may be the headline for WM. Not that I’m complaining as I think this match has the possibilities of being a good one- as all things, we’ll just have to wait and see.
Overall- it looks like RAW is trying to pick itself up in the WM buildup as the proof was shown in this week’s show with more wrestling and less talk. I’m interested in seeing how this feud will play out for the title- or if they’ll shake up and add another corner to it.
Rating: B
ECW
“The Bullet in the headâ€Â:
I was never really worried about the ECW brand, because well one it’s a WWE product- and two, because as a FAN, I believed (while not fairly well) that it wasn’t terribly horrible. But with the recent add on of MTV’s new Wrestling Society X fighting in the last half-hour of the show- and Vince’s sudden take of turning the product around or putting the proverbial bullet in the head, I’m starting to worry. I seriously don’t know what their plans are- but I don’t see how they can change the product around when they already changed it a complete 360 from the original ECW. Here’s a wacky idea: maybe people aren’t that interested because it’s the same thing we see on the Big Red and Blue every week, just an hour shorter. People need something different from the rest- and ECW should be well ECW. And truth be told, I honestly think the sudden rush to drastically change things is because Vince knows this- and the addition of WSX premiering just added some pressure. People want different- hell I decided to flip the channel and check out WSX- and I was entertained.
So now we got ECW Originals versus the New Blood. Is it me- or didn’t someone already try this a while ago? WCW anyone? I’m not too hot on the idea because it seems that Vince wants to really squash the Originals just to send a message- and I’m worried that’s how its going to turn out. Plus, what- there’s like only 4 ECW Originals after WWE fired them all a few weeks ago?
Rating: C
Smackdown!
Vince leaves no stone unturned:
I’m guessing Vince felt a little lonely this week as he had to plaster his image on every brand this week with relentless force. First RAW- then ECW- now to Smackdown. This show wasn’t at its best comparing it to the previous editions- with the only saving moment being the Chris Benoit/ Finlay match. But onto the bigger angle of Smackdown- the World Title. Undertaker chose the blue belt and now Batista has to defend it. And here come the questions- will Batista drop the belt to UT- or will he end the Deadman’s WM streak? Will this be another face versus face match- or will Batista go heel? Intriguing ones yes: how they will be answered is anyone’s guess.
Did anyone notice how in the last column I was sorta pimping Mr. Kennedy as the #1 contender? Well did anyone notice how Mista Keeeeeennnnneeeedddddddddyyyy was going against Vito? Ouch.
Rating: B
TNA
Pulling the disappearing act:
Sting is going about his old tricks again and lurking in the shadows. First last week Sting disappears from the ambulance- and now we have the hiding in dark places where he’s hanging in the rafters wearing Abyss’ mask. The prison yard match has an interesting sound to it- but it’s one of those gimmick matches that has to be seen first before you can pass judgment. Then again it could be just another lame gimmick match.
The Cage/ Angle drama continues as Cage and AJ get the jump on Joe and Kurt rounding out the end of Impact this week. Not much from the show- but it at least carried over from the previous weeks and grew on the feuds it has right now.
Rating: B-
The Extras:
— The Cheap Shot:
Originality is getting to be real hard these days- as we see rehashes of movies, TV shows, etc. and wrestling is no different. But that’s why you have a creative team- to either put a very good interesting spin on old stuff or to come up with something new and entertaining altogether. But yet, we don’t get any of that. And as each week passes, I see the same thing over and over again which tends to lose my interest. Vince coming out and placing his iron fist down on everything has been tired for a long time. And now we’re starting to see this develop once more in full swing over on the ECW side. I understand- and I have sympathy, but if you are intent on rehashing things- at least try to make it seem as if you guys are trying.
The Wrap-up:
— Football Fix:
All that matters is that I got the final big game correct. The Colts came out and plain and simple took it out on the Bears and won this game with brute force. Manning and Dungy finally win their championship to get that monkey off their backs and Manning won’t have to look like that lovable loser anymore. Plus- yes the Bears’ defense was a letdown, but no one can tell me that a lot of the blame can’t go towards Rex GROSSman. This guy isn’t the future and he only got there because of the D that didn’t show up. I would have trusted Kyle Orton better in that position more than I would Grossman.
