Category: Television

  • WrestleMania 31 Recap- Brock Lesnar Is The Greatest Thing Ever

    WrestleMania 31 Recap- Brock Lesnar Is The Greatest Thing Ever

     

    With a pre-show like this, why not make WrestleMania five hours?

    The tag match was seven guys going balls out in the ring. I expected nothing going in, but got a Tower of Doom, slingshot backstabber off the top rope and a midget getting put in the Sharpshooter. Too bad half the stadium was still outside getting in line to see it. Cesaro gets a second Mania win. Things can’t be all bad.

    “Big Show has never won a battle royal.” With that said halfway through the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, I knew the outcome. It wasn’t the fact they said it once, it was that they continued to say it. The Mizdow split from Miz got the reaction you expected even though it made Sandow looked like a fool. Why don’t you work with Miz to eliminate Big Show, then turn? Logic, I know. The actual match had its moments. Show eliminating New Day was fun and should have put a “return to sender” sticker on them. Turn them heel, already. Ryback got in his offense. In the end, Show winning isn’t bad. Just…there.

    And Axelmania is still running wild.

    Seven guys, twenty ladders and be careful with Daniel Bryan.

    A story released last week that the WWE is concerned about Daniel Bryan’s health so that is why he has been out of the main event picture. And if we have listened to CM Punk’s interview with Colt Cabana, the logic of putting Bryan in a ladder match makes complete “WWE sense”. I will say I was right in calling that this would open the show and that Bryan would win to get the crowd in a good mood. All of them worked their asses off. Dean Ambrose may actually have new personality from now on because I am pretty sure he had a major concussion after going through that ladder.

    The ending with Bryan and Ziggler basically doing  “bro you headbutt me and I’ll headbutt you, first guy to die loses” was so, so great.  We know they are headed for a program and this was a great way to get some Ziggler resentment started after he beat Bryan twice in a row.

    It’s ok, Seth. Things will get better.

    Like I said in predictions, Orton was due this one. He lost the title last year, lost at 29 and 28. Throw him a bone. What felt off about this was that it felt like a long Raw match, not a WrestleMania-type match. I blame that on WWE and the squandering of the story over the past month. The thing that IS a WrestleMania moment is this:

    Sorry, Evan Bourne. You are now officially erased from WWE memory. What we had to hold onto was your Shooting Star Press into an RKO, but now this has taken over that spot. I love it because it shows forethought by Orton’s character. He know what Rollins finishing move is, when he sees it coming use your weight to launch him. As I said before…logic. You don’t find it in wrestling often, but when it shows up it is like a ice cold drink on a hot day.

    This is the most overbooked, Vince Russo finish in WrestleMania history…and I loved every fucking minute of it.

    Let’s me be up front; the match itself before all the shenanigans was actually good. Both HHH and Sting went out there and showed there is a reason they had long runs on top. I especially loved the HHH knee that Sting no-sold and then beat his chest. The 1997 in me got excited again.

    When the clusterfuck started happening it was the clusterfuckiest clusterfuck ever clusterfucked. DX comes out to save HHH. nWo comes out to help Sting (don’t think about them being friends with HHH or the fact Sting spent time trying to destroy them), Shawn Michaels comes out and hits Sting with Sweet Chin Music.

    Jesus H. Christ, if ever there was a time for Buff Bagwell to take time off from being a gigolo and come back, THIS WAS IT!

    People may be upset that Sting did the job. He was going to do the job anyway if he faced Taker, so he was destined to start (finish?) WWE 0-1. Maybe this was HHH’s way of getting his win back from Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania 12.

    And there is no forgetting this…ever.

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    #Wasthisenoughofachance?

    The problem with Divas matches at WrestleMania is that all the matches are big so there is no real place to put the match and be fair. After the Orton/Rollins match seemed like the best place, but WWE isn’t psychic. For all they know those two could have tore the house down and the Divas match would have still been fucked. Instead, it goes on after the biggest match in WrestleMania history, star power wise.

    The match itself was pretty good. I thought Paige and Nikki’s match from last week’s Raw was better. I am all for long Divas matches. Just give them the same courtesy you give your other big stars and let them hit every finisher in the book multiple times and get the crowd on their feet.

    Here is hoping next year’s Mania has AJ, Paige, Charlotte and Sasha Banks involved. Perchance to dream.

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    Riding on a tank > plastic Terminator suit

    Look at that. Bask in it. How glorious is that? I swear if Rusev came out on that tank and then BEAT CENA, I would have changed my profile pic on every social media site to Putin riding a horse shirtless and proclaimed my love for Mother Russia. I would have bought Yakov Smirnoff t-shirts.

    The problem I had was not with the match, or with Cena winning. It was that the ending had no drama. One AA and a three count. No kick out with Cena questioning what will it take to beat this undefeated behemoth. Just another Cena ending like we have seen over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.

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    Hi, I’m The Rock and I am here to help fill twenty minutes so the sun can go down more.

    Here is my problem; HHH just had a big match with Sting an hour earlier. People have waited fourteen years to see Sting and HHH can’t even sell any effect of the match because he is back in the ring in suit and tie to set up next year’s Mania with The Rock. This is the part of his character I do not like. Be a wrestler, fine. Be a suit, fine. If you are going to do both at least give them both the attention they deserve.

    As far as The Rock goes, he is always there to give time where WWE needs. This time he had some backup with Ronda Rousey coming from the front row to hip toss HHH and put her hands on Stephanie which is what happens in one of my fan fictions that I haven’t written, but think about a lot. A whole lot.

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    One healthy looking deadman

    What a difference a year can make. Undertaker looked sickly at WrestleMania 30 and that was before he got a concussion five minutes into the match. This year he showed up looking like what we have grown used to over the past six or seven years. I still maintain that he should have lost last year because of the good it did for Brock, Now we see the good it did for Undertaker. People cared about his WrestleMania matches again. There was no certainty that he would win. When he pinned Bray Wyatt the crowd gave a real pop because their hero had returned to form.

    Bray loses nothing with the loss. It is not like last year where the push-killer John Cena worked his magic. Where they go with Wyatt from here is important. He carried the builup to WrestleMania. He needs somewhere good to go from here.

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    Brock Fucking Lesnar

    I will get to the ending, but I need to say this first. Brock is the best. Just the fucking best. To everyone that complains about his part-time schedule and that he is a waste. Go fuck yourself. He is worth every dollar he is paid and ten times over. A man that can eviscerate anyone and you still can’t look away. Even his facial expressions when he started to realize Roman might actually beat him was great. He may not have started out in this industry as a wrestling lover and he may not love it now, but he will go down as one of the greatest to ever be. Get used to it. Suplex city, bitch.

    I thought someone from NXT booked the match because it made complete sense. Brock went all Summerslam on Roman for 15 minutes basically beating his ass seven ways to Sunday and had fun doing it. Roman showed he can be dominated and still come back and be a threat to win. He may not be ready now in many eyes (mine too) though I will admit last night showed he is really close.

    That ending. If you thought your fantasy ending that you talked about with your friends was stolen last night, join the group. It was the best ending available besides Brock hitting Roman with five F5’s and pinning him in four minutes. Brock doesn’t take a loss and has a beef with Rollins. Reigns had his dream stolen from Rollins when he was so close to beating the unbeatable and he has a beef with Rollins already from The Shield breakup and now Rollins has fucked his dream like they were inmates on Oz.

    Rollins is the man who in five years has gone from ROH champion to NXT champion to WWE World Heavyweight to close WrestleMania. He is the type of champion that is very beatable yet should keep the title for a long time because he can weasel his way to victories every month. Not to mention he is the new Shawn Michaels and can wrestle a broomstick and make it look good.

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    Don’t fuck it up, WWE. (Their going to fuck it up aren’t they?)

  • WrestleMania 31 Predictions

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    Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal

    This match is a big deal. Cesaro won it last year with full fan support and it launched his career into….yeah. Ok, that is the writers fault, but you see where I am going with this. There are those who should win because of the exposure and big moment it will give them. Damien Sandow and Curtis Axel come to mind. There are those that had big pushes and this would keep that going.  Ryback comes to mind. Then, there are those who don’t need to win this match, but will because it is what the WWE does. That will be your winner.

    Winner- Sheamus returns and fellas everywhere. A great, big Irish “meh” follows.

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    Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match

    Say what you will, I have enjoyed the rotating IC title theft stuff. Oh no, it makes the title actually have time on Raw and look like superstars want to win it. God forbid. Talent wise, this match is ridiculous. Six of the best workers in WWE and that is not a slight to R-Truth. He is no slouch, either. Ziggler and Bryan are the favorites since it looks like they are headed for a feud. Ambrose will do four or more slingshot clotheslines, Harper will hit Swamp Chin Music and Stardust will be there even though he should have a singles match with Goldust. Bryan winning will put the crowd in a good mood since I think this will open the show.

    Winner- Daniel Bryan has another Wrestlemania moment, albeit smaller than last years.

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    AJ & Paige vs. The Bellas

    I really wish this was a fatal four-way for the title. It seems like every WrestleMania we always get a Divas tag or a battle royal with no real emphasis on the championship. The way you make fans start caring is to show that you do too. Paige and AJ should get the win, but I am going with Bryan’s other half and Cena’s better half.

    Winner- The Bellas let us know we can look, but can’t touch.

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    Seth Rollins vs. Randy Orton

    Talk about a match that should feel way bigger. Orton was gone for months selling the ousting* by The Authority due to a few Curb Stomps by Rollins.

    *filming a movie

    WWE waited to build this by wasting a few weeks of Orton rejoining The Authority which made fans go a bit tepid even though they knew where it was headed. Orton is 4-7 at WrestleMania’s so a win here would be good and make up for him losing to Kane at WrestleMania 28, which I still shake my head at. Rollins loses nothing by the loss since he still is a threat with the Money in the Bank contract.

    Winner- Randy Orton punches the ring and hits a Diamond Cutter.

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    Bray Wyatt vs. The Undertaker

    If we were going by selling a feud, Bray Wyatt should be the second man to beat Taker. Despite a few hokey turns, Wyatt has gone above and beyond on the mic which has to be the hardest thing to do week after week when you have an opponent that has not been seen in a year. I still think Brock winning last year was the right call which means that this year Bray is set to lose at Mania again to a big name. Unlike last year, losing to Taker will not be a push killer. Only Cena can pull that off.

    Winner- Undertaker makes up for last year (concussion, I know) and gets back in the win column.

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    John Cena vs. Rusev for the United States Championship

    America, fuck yeah. Coming along to save the mother fucking dayeeeyeah. That should be the only sentence. How great would it be for Rusev if he beat Cena? His winning streak would be validated more than ever and it would bring the OMG moment of the night. Sure, he can lose to Cena at Extreme Rules, but no one cares about that years from now. They will remember him beating Cena at WrestleMania.

    Like I said, how great would that be?

    Winner- John Cena shows Rusev that freedom cost a buck o’ five.

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    Sting vs. HHH

    This is the right match for Sting for his first, hopefully not last, match in WWE. We all want him to face Undertaker, but HHH can work with anyone. Both guys are up there in age, yet the big stage is where they thrive. I expect a slow start that builds to a great final few minutes. I hope they don’t overplay the whole “bat vs. sledgehammer” thing because it makes HHH look like a moron (even by wrestling story standards).

    Winner- Sting kicks out of a pedigree, beats his chest, Stinger Splash, Scorpion Death Drop. 1,2,3.

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    Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

    The match that people (including me) have crapped on since the Royal Rumble turns out to be the most unpredictable WrestleMania main event in a while. Brock’s announcement of his re-signing is the best thing WWE could have hoped for. The match has a variety of possibilities opened up now. Will WWE have Reigns win clean? No, that would be damaging to what they have spent the past year doing with Brock’s buildup. Will Brock win clean? Quite possibly. It would only help further his place as an unbeatable monster and help whoever eventually beats him (even Reigns later on). My thinking is that we get a Paul Heyman betrayal and double-turn. Embrace the boos for Reigns and pair him with Heyman who can bring the voice Roman is still lacking. Brock gets a rematch at Summerslam as a face and becomes even bigger than he is now. Hard to imagine, but I think it could happen.

    Winner- Roman Reigns woooahhhhs his way to a win, with Heyman’s help.*

    *I picked this, yet I do not want it. Full disclosure.

  • Wrestling Isn’t Wrestling. Max Landis’ Wrestling Magnum Opus

    Screenwriter Max Landis has released his sort-of, quasi-follow-up to The Death and Return of Superman, which is possibly my favorite YouTube video ever.

    Sorry, cats doing…anything.

    Now, his focus is on wrestling, of which Landis is a lifelong fan. If you follow him on Twitter you know he has had this idea swimming in his head for a long time and the fruits of that labor are here with his video, Wrestling Isn’t Wrestling. He takes a similar approach to his Superman video in explaining the career of his favorite wrestler, HHH.

    If you are a lifelong fan (like me), you have probably already watched it. If you are not a fan, Landis (in my opinion) made this video for you, to show the uninitiated why it is that we love this “fake” “sport”. It is every bit as brilliant and hilarious as Death and Return was and I hope that you give it a watch.

    At least watch it to see how many guest stars you can find. Yes, Macaulay Culkin is there.

  • WWE Raw Review (Not In Memes) 3/2/15

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    As I said the night after WrestleMania 29, I think all Raw’s should be in New Jersey. Yeah, insert your “dirty” state joke here, but the Jersey crowd knows how to put on just as good a show as WWE. Up until last night Axelmania was only something people like me enjoyed and by me I mean fat, cynical, lifelong wrestling fans that know the son Curt Hennig has talent and personality out the ass and yet, WWE’s best use of him was in a tag team with Ryback.

    New Jers-ians? ites? showed Axel the love last night, and sure it was mostly as a fuck you to Cena, but I will take any kind of love over apathy.

    Speaking of Cena. Who wrote last night’s segment with Stephanie saying what fans have wanted to hear for a decade? I want to kiss them full on the mouth. Maybe take them out for a nice seafood dinner and here’s the rub; I would call them again because Stephanie spent five minutes emasculating the “face” of WWE. Yes, it was buildup for Cena’s eventual win over Rusev and I don’t care. That segment will go into my infinite replay file with Punk’s pipebomb, Vince Russo’s Bash at the Beach ass rape of Hogan and anything having to do with Paul Heyman on the mic.

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    Good segue, right?

    Heyman proved again why he is the Jesus Christ of the wrestling promo. Give him five loaves and two fish and he will feed the whole fucking wrestling world. No Brock on the show? Worried he may no show WrestleMania? Bring him a challenge. Give him two mics in a row that don’t work? He welcomes this shit. Yell at an audience member that he didn’t mention Andre the Giant because he is dead? He feeds off of your hate. He is Paplatine. Brock is his Darth Maul. Yes, Maul will get killed off because Roman needs to look strong, but Heyman will move onto the next. It’s what the greats do.

    How wonderful is it when celebrity guests know wrestling? I think this should be a prerequisite for being on Raw. Give them a test (multiple choice, essay, scantron, whatevs) and if they pass they can host a show. Jon Stewart grew up in Jersey watching Bruno tear the house down? We would love to have you do your thing. Jeremy Piven thinks Summerfest is in August? Get the fuck back to 2003 when you mattered. We have better things to do.

    Stewart and Rollins worked well together proving, once again, that Seth can work with anyone and make them look good in the ring. I weekly regret ever thinking he was going to be the weak link in The Shield breakup. I don’t compare people to Shawn Michaels often. Seth reminds me of Shawn in his early singles career when he was heel and you knew it was a matter of time before he was the man.

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    I love the IC title stuff right now. I know there are some who will poo poo on it, but it is giving the illusion that many guys want to be the champion heading into WrestleMania. Making a title look wanted before the biggest show of the year. What a novel idea.

    With how ever many guys are in the IC title ladder match (4, 6, 8?) will we have double duty pulled by some guys for the Andre the Giant battle royal? Looks that way.

    As the days close in on WrestleMania it looks like there will be no NXT presence there and this makes me sad. I didn’t need a title match or anything but reward some of the guys for making NXT the best brand you have by putting them on WrestleMania somehow. If they are in the battle royal, that is a better rub than not being there at all. Come on, I need Tyler Breeze using the selfie stick on the big stage.

    That last sentence could have went a hundred different ways.

    Dick commercials are the shampoo commercial of this years WrestleMania. Can Edge and Booker T do commentary during the Miz/Mizdow match?

    Bray Wyatt burned a casket. No word on if John Denver’s country music award was in there.

    Car-Ramrod

    Good day to you, sir (or ma’am).

  • Daredevil Netflix Series: The Only Question that Matters

    Am I excited about the new Daredevil series from Netflix?

     

    Yes.

    Oh. Mother. @^*#. YES.

  • Bayley’s Gonna Hug You. WWE’s Best Current Themes

    During the early 2000’s WWE began using their growth from the Attitude Era to branch out and have bands record themes for superstars. Sure, there were some wrestlers who kept their music, mostly done by Jim Johnston, but larger stars such as HHH, Stone Cold, Kane, Undertaker and Edge were given themes by large bands including Rob Zombie, Motorhead and Disturbed.

    Over the past couple of years it seems like WWE is going back to “in house” themes for their superstars. Now we still have guys like Randy Orton, HHH and RVD keeping their themes because themes connect to certain superstars and should not change. Jim Johnston still does themes here and there, but most of the newer ones have been passed off to CFO$, a duo that is bringing house themes back while making sure they are just as good as any band.

    Here are the best of the current roster.

    Kevin Owens

    Owens always says he will fight anyone, anywhere. Hearing this as he comes to the ring you know that there a fight is about to happen. Point taken.

    Dean Ambrose

    I will admit I was not sold on this theme when Ambrose first went solo. Let it be a lesson that first impressions do not always last.

    Adam Rose

    His character wasn’t given the time to develop enough before he was called up to Raw. Know why? Because his theme is so damn catchy WWE tried to Fandango him into popularity. Stop being lemons, everyone.

    Sami Zayn

    This theme is Sami Zayn. You here his personality in it, the beat seems to match the way he walks to the ring and even though it sounds nothing like it, a chorus of ole’ chants adds so much.

    Bad News Barrett

    Any theme that allows the superstar to incorporate their tagline in the music is a bonus.

    Titus O’Neil

    Here is the catch-22. I don’t like rap music. I like Titus’ theme. I don’t like rap music. I like Titus’ theme. I don’t like rap music…and so on.
    http://youtu.be/oIH0THmB7mo

    Baron Corbin

    Get past the beginning that sounds like Chuck Palumbo is back and you have yourself a good theme for the silent aggressor.

    Paige

    Like Kharma before her, Paige’s theme is one you sit up and pay attention to. Having Paige on screen doesn’t hurt either.

    Finn Balor

    From the buildup at the beginning to the stops in the music allowing Balor to pose like a God, this music completes his WWE transformation.

    Sasha Banks

    Sasha’s character is an entitled bitch. What do you hear when you listen to this theme? Answer: bingo.

    Bayley

    Let’s end on a happy note and dammit that is Bayley. Come on. Bring it in. Hugs all around.

     

  • WWE Raw Review (Not In Memes) 1/27/15

    Since Superstorm Sandy’s bitchier sister dropped her load of “Let It Go” on the northeast, Raw was cancelled for a weather event for the first time ever. It may have been a blessing in disguise.

    Anyone who watched the Royal Rumble was expecting more of the same that the Philly crowd started. Three hours of booing the Rumble winner, booing John Cena, cheering Daniel Bryan and a host of chants. I was looking forward to it. Instead we got a show from in-studio with Michael Cole interviewing superstars, JBL giving Jim Cantore reports in the snow and Lawler trying not to eat nuts because, diverticulitis.

    If there is one focal point to pay attention to it is the fact that WWE knew how the Royal Rumble looked. No one could avoid it with the backlash getting mentions by every major site including USA Today and Time. You know, the places where they want to be mentioned, but not because of this reason. In response, a genius idea happened.

    Enter Paul Heyman.

    During the Reigns/Lesnar segment Heyman used the gift God (or Satan) gave him and he used his vocal skills to salvage the main event of WrestleMania. With no audience to take over, Lesnar, Reigns and Heyman were compelling. Did it solve the problems brought out at the Royal Rumble? No. There are too many. It did give hope that this match can be saved by March 29th.

    WWE should thank heaven for the snowstorm and hell for Paul Heyman.