This Week in ‘E – Miz-ter Money in the Bank, Raw Guest Hosts, WWE Hirings

Money in the Bank is in the books, Undertaker’s return still looks questionable and Bunkhouse Buck makes his long awaited debut on WWE TV.

Opening Witty Banter
I’ve got nothing to report this week. It’s getting close to bedtime and once again I am running behind schedule. I took in Money in the Bank last night and it was a fun show, but nothing overly exciting. Both women’s matches and the tag title match were criminally short. And while both ladder matches were fun, it’s obvious that eight men in one of those matches is too much and the ninja style of attacking one at a time isn’t all that. The main event was decent enough, Justin Gabriel needs kudos for taking that man-sized bump off the top of the cage. But Kane picking the World Title was a pleasant sight and well overdue for the definition of a company man. And how awesomely obnoxious is Miz going to be lugging around that briefcase and the US Title?

Let’s take some ‘E…

The News of the Week
Speaking of Kane, it seems as The Undertaker may not be back in time for SummerSlam as he is still recovering from that broken orbital bone and a variety of nagging injuries. The working plan for SummerSlam was to promote Undertaker and Triple H’s big returns, but no it looks as if neither will happen. Tonight’s RAW and tomorrow’s SmackDown should go a long way in determining what direction they actually decide to go with “The Biggest Party of the Summer.” Kane’s move to the World Title may have been part of this new plan put into place.

While it would be easy to use their two cornerstones returns’ to market SummerSlam maybe this help Creative get creative in making SummerSlam something fun and unique this year.

Speaking of Undertaker, a fan sent into PWInsider about sign confiscation at SmackDown last week. He wrote, “Just wanted to pass along the word about the SmackDown taping last night in Louisville that my “Michelle McTaker” sign had been confiscated by the WWE during the Layla/Baretta vs. Masters/Kelly Kelly match despite being held up several times throughout the night. Many of the superstars that were in the ring waiting for their match to begin or were on stage for NXT noticed my sign and either laughed or shrugged their shoulders nervously. Just shows the power of the WWE to hide relationships and the amount of power the Undertaker has backstage with the rest of the guys.”

I guess that doesn’t surprise me. Undertaker has been the most heavily kayfabed character in a long, long time so I can see how WWE wouldn’t think a sign like that would be funny, even if it is.

And in our biggest non-story that got turned into a huge story of the week, (like last week’s “no chops” thing), the glorious tones of Jim Ross were removed from that awesome “Yessir we promised you a great main event” opening that is in front of every WWE production these days. Ross’ awesome “It’s not over yet” and “What the world is watching” have been replaced by soundbytes from Michael Cole and John Cena. In addition the cast of characters was changed again, most notably including Ultimate Warrior, Harley Race and Sheamus off the top of my head to replace those guys that all make up TNA’s roster now. Originally JR tweeted about from the gym and was a sad panda, but then after having time to digest he realized it wasn’t a big deal.

That thing has been edited constantly since it debuted and will continue to be edited. I must say I’m going to miss JR’s calls in there too, but it’s a 20 second spot. It’s not a big deal. Just as long as they keep that bad ass “great main event” line and the “look out here” and “Andre the Giant” calls it will be all good in my book.

There are no more guest hosts booked for RAW throughout July, giving fans a ray of hope that abomination would quietly go away. But apparently the host thing is just on hiatus (read: couldn’t get someone). Here’s what they posted on dot com.

“Upcoming Raw guest hosts
Written: July 12, 2010

From comedians to politicians to musical performers to professional athletes, Monday Night Raw’s guest hosts are some of past and present’s finest entertainers. The WWE Universe, therefore, can expect this trend to continue as more and more of the most popular celebrities are hopping aboard to serve as Raw special host.

Check back here as new Raw special guest hosts are announced, and be sure to tune in Monday nights when the biggest stars from all over the world have the opportunity to take over as Raw’s special guest host.”

Dammit…At least Santino and The Bellas jobs will be saved for awhile.

WWE rehired a couple former developmental talents this past week as both Aaron “Idol” Stevens and Ryan O’Reilly were re-signed to the company. Stevens was a big star in OVW who got called up to SmackDown in the summer of 2006 with KC James as his partner and Michelle McCool as his manager. Man that seems like a lifetime ago. He was let go sometime 2007 but has been working in consistently since then, doing a lot of Puerto Rico recently. O’Reilly was previously under a developmental deal and worked in both Deep South Wrestling and Ohio Valley. He was set to be brought up to the RAW brand in 2008, but then asked for his release. He didn’t want to be apart from his girlfriend Krissy Vaine, who was on SmackDown for all of a week in 2007 before she too asked for her release.

Having never seen O’Reilly work I have no real opinion on him, but good job on coming back. As for Stevens he could also be a serviceable mid-card guy but The Gatecrashers and The Dudebusters are kind of in his role already right now on SmackDown.

In more hiring news, Mikey Whipwreck, who runs the Long Island training school that produced Curt Hawkins and Zach Ryder, has been contacted by WWE to become a trainer, but no word on whether Whipwreck has accepted.

It’s crazy to think that the skinny dude from ECW’s ring crew fifteen years ago is now a trainer himself. But Ryder and Hawkins have turned out alright, so he props to the guy if he can continue his career on the big stage.

Bryan Danielson (or perhaps more famously known as Daniel Bryan) has been telling people that WWE owns the “American Dragon” trademark, so he can’t use it. He has also been assuring promoters that he will return deposits if he signs with WWE and can’t make their shows.

Yeah that Dragon moniker is pretty badass and I’m glad someone has it locked up.

This past week on SmackDown, the man playing Jack Swagger’s daddy was the former Bunkhouse Buck of mid ’90s WCW fame. He was also more widely known as Jimmy Golden to older fans.

I hope they keep him around as a character for a while. Swagger could get some good mileage out of having his Daddy around, not unlike Cowboy Bob mentoring Randy Orton back in 2005 – 2006. Plus Golden is an industry veteran who is bound to know a thing or two on how to help Swagger. Plus maybe we can see some sweet Bunkhouse Buck action on WWE TV now.

The WWE Chris Jericho DVD, which has been the most talked about, debated and anticipated DVD set in a long, long time will be released be released on September 21 and will be titled “Breaking the Code: Behind the Walls of Chris Jericho.”

This is what, the third?, rumored title for this set? I’ll get real excited when the match list is finally released.

In more DVD news, the official synopsis of the WWE Best of the High-Flyers DVD has been released:

“Some of the most exciting moments in sports entertainment history have come through the air. High-flying Superstars have always brought fans to their feet, from “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka, the Killer Bees, the Rockers, Rey Mysterio, Billy Kidman, and more. This 3-DVD set, “Best of the High Flyers”, collects some of the greatest aerial displays in sports entertainment history. The dozens of matches in this collection represent the “Crème de la Crème” of WWE, WCW, ECW, WCCW, and more.”

Woah, Billy Kidman gets a namedrop. Apparently he’s been cashing in on that influence he has now as a FCW trainer. I’m pretty stoked for some Koko B. Ware action myself.

Speaking of high flyers, WWE and Vince and Linda McMahon all have until August 11 to officially respond to Martha Hart’s lawsuit regarding the use of Owen Hart’s likeness and footage in WWE-related materials.

So there probably won’t be any Blue Blazer on that High Flyers set will there be?

The first round of info regarding WrestleMania XXVII has been released by the company in regards to travel packages:

– The WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will take place on 4.2.11.

– WrestleMania XXVII will take place on 4.3.11

– WWE Monday Night RAW will take place the night after WrestleMania XXVII, 4.4.11, at the Phillips Arena.

– WrestleMania XXVII travel packages were released today. Included in the three day package is the following:
A WrestleMania ticket in the first 10 rows
The take-home collectible chair
Tickets to two AXXESS sessions
A ticket to the Hall of Fame ceremony
A ticket to a private autograph session with a WWE talent the day before WrestleMania
A $25 merchandise gift card

– If you get the four-day travel package, you get all of the above, as well as a ticket to RAW the following night.

ATL or bust, baby!

Wrestler of the Week
Week of July 12 – 18: Kane
All I can say is a hearty congratulations to The Big Red Machine. Sometimes it’s just nice to see a company man finally gets his day in the sun. I don’t think anyone could have guessed that Kane would have lasted over a dozen years as a character in WWE, let alone remain relevant and a threat. Last night at Money in the Bank he did one of the last few unused logical options for the briefcase by cashing it in just minutes after he won it. Now sitting as the face of the blue brand he is in highest profile position in many years. Not counting that ECW Title run that may or may not actually be a “world” title, it’s been a staggering twelve years since he was last a World Champion. I mean I had never seen a guy get more mileage out of a 24 hour World Title reign than Kane. This win last night was well deserved and long overdue.

RAW’s On Tonight!
Tonight’s RAW from Tulsa, Oklahoma will be guest host free. C’mon, they’ve got Jim Ross right there just begging to be guest host, am I right? As for the show, there will be plenty of fall out from last night’s Money in the Bank pay per view and the first steps of building to SummerSlam, which they have done a fantastic job of rebuilding as a top level pay per view. Sheamus is still WWE Champion thanks to those pesky Nexus kids. I’m sure he, John Cena and The Nexus will all have plenty to say about things. Plus The Miz won his own Money in the Bank contract last night and it’s seriously only going to make him even more obnoxious and awesome. I must say I never saw it coming with him, but I’m so glad I was wrong. Plus there might actually be some wrestling too, but who knows about.

On Last Week’s Episode…
Let it roll…

Evans and Kelly are feeling invincible tonight…

Young and wild…

Marshall, Pruett and Wheeler burn it to the ground…

How They Rated
SmackDown! (7.2.10) – 1.7

Superstars (7.8.10) – .64

A.M. RAW (7.11.10) –

RAW (7.12.10) – 3.3

NXT (7.13.10) – 1.11

This is Boring, What Else is There to Read?
Glazer explains it all, kind of like Clarissa used to do.

Ditch goes reminiscing.

Dr. TNA tells Dixie Carter what’s up.

In Case You Didn’t Spend the $40
PK was all over Pulse’s coverage of Money in the Bank.

Here are the quick ‘n’ dirty results:

Kane won the Money in the Bank Ladder Match to earn a World Heavyweight Championship match.

WWE Divas Champion Alicia Fox beat Eve Torres.

Unified WWE World Tag Team Champions The Hart Dynasty beat The Usos.

World Heavyweight Champion Rey Mysterio beat Jack Swagger. Then Kane came out and cashed in his Money in the Bank contract and pinned Mysterio to become the new World Champion.

WWE Women’s Champion Layla beat Kelly Kelly.

The Miz won the Money in the Bank Ladder Match to earn a WWE Championship match.

WWE Champion Sheamus beat John Cena in a steel cage match.

Roundtable Results for Money In the Bank
Here’s some Roundtabley goodness for Money in the Bank. Huge congrats to Kelly for going a perfect 7-0 on her first time out. Well done lady!

Roundtable Champion: Kelly Floyd: 7-0 (7-0)

The rest:
Andrew Wheeler: 6-1 (201-121)
Raffi Shamir: 6-1 (162-130)
Mark Allen: 5-2 (210-118)
Kyle Sparks: 4-3 (18-12)

Mark has been a columnist for Pulse Wrestling for over three years now, evolving from his original “Historically Speaking” commentary-style column into his current Monday morning powerhouse known as “This Week in ‘E.” He also contributes to other ventures, outside of IP, most notably as the National Pro Wrestling Examiner for Examiner.com and a contributor for The Wrestling Press. Follow me on Twitter here.