Professional Wrestling (WWE, TNA, ROH, etc)

[Null17]

that was surprising. I never thought they'd actually give him the ball. hope he doesn't fuck it up.

[Andrew]

It's the most surprising thing they've done in a while, I figured they'd have Edge hold onto the belt into the New Year and be the heel champion heading into Wrestlemania once more, or even put the belt back on HHH before then. The time was right to do it though.

[buzzy]

So I watched Armageddon..
I really enjoyed the WWE title match, the spear through the table was pretty darn sick, and I guess Jeff deserves it. I just wonder how long he'll be holding it, I don't think it's going to be any longer than WrestleMania.

On a personal note, I think Vladimir Kozlov should be given the ECW belt so that he can be transfered to ECW. He's fading out of the WWE title picture anyway, and I think he would have more effect on ECW.

So, I know it's long way to go to the Royal Rumble, and we don't know yet who's participating in matches, but who do you guys think is going to win it?
I'm counting on a heel this time, maybe Randy Orton.

[Lean]

I'm more inclined in seeing HBK as a champ again. My bets are on him on the coming Rumble, should he compete.

[Andrew]

Apparently they haven't given up on Kozlov though. I really think they need to do something with his character though, the monster foreign heel who wins a bunch of squash matches and calls Americans soft/fat/lazy has been done so many times before and is kind of passe. Giving him a manager wouldn't be a bad idea, someone who can compensate for his lack of mike skills as they did with Umaga's character when he was repackaged and reintroduced a few years back.

[Andrew]

There might not be anything to it, but I saw mention of a possible HBK/Taker match at Wrestlemania 25 with the rumour being that HBK is currently pushing for it, which I think would make a great match and one most appropriate for Wrestlemania's 25th anniversary. With Stone Cold likely to headline the Hall of Fame Class of 2009, it could be a big year though Wrestlemania rarely fails to deliver across the board in my opinion.

[Lean]

That's definitely fine with me. And I think that will be enough to watch WrestleMania. The last moments of the 2007 Rumble still is one of the best finishes of the Rumble.

Just watched Armageddon (damn only yesterday, Christmas Eve), the WWE title match looked great. And an Edge-Hardy feud might get underway. Wonder how they'll put HHH out of the picture.

[buzzy]

Read that Hardy's next feud for the title will probably be Big Show, guess that leads to a HHH-Edge side storyline.

Some creative writer of WWE was released and he spoilt like the whole storyline for HBK's and Taker's 'Mania machup (and I was stupid enough to read it). If they don't change their plans, Kane will be a big part of it and will play Michael's bodyguard or something like that. Can't remember it all though, and I don't want to spoil everyhing.

Oh and if somebody watched Raw last Monday, which was taped in Toronto, you notice that the Canadian crowd is the complete opposite of the usual American ones. Cena got booed, as well as CM Punk. Punk had a match with Chris Jericho in which Jericho got all the pops.

After Raw went off the air this happened:

After RAW ended last night, they did yet another Street Fight where John Cena pinned Chris Jericho in a short match to keep the title. Before the match started Jericho got on the mic and told the fans that he was born in the US and was forced to live in Canada by his "abusive" parents and as soon as he was older he got out of Canada. He also said that those people who are cheering him can take their cheers and "shove them where the sun doesn't shine" which got him booed.

I love this guy

[Andrew]

They didn't have anything about that on WNW which is a pretty reputable source these days. Where abouts did you see that leak?

[Lean]

Jericho is finding ways to get booed. Amazing

[shadowgrin]

I <3 Jericho.

[Andrew]

He's had success as a face in the past but he's just outstanding as a heel.

[Chino]

Jericho is the man on finding ways to have the crowd hate him.

Some creative writer of WWE was released and he spoilt like the whole storyline for HBK's and Taker's 'Mania machup (and I was stupid enough to read it). If they don't change their plans, Kane will be a big part of it and will play Michael's bodyguard or something like that. Can't remember it all though, and I don't want to spoil everything.

I saw that leaked script two weeks ago and it will be great if ever they will do that storyline but there is a very small chance that they would follow it probably because most of the people knew about it.

[Andrew]

They could still go ahead with Taker/HBK but go with a different build and leave Kane out of the proceedings.

[buzzy]

Jeff Hardy's title reign could be a rather short one, as I read spoilers of Christian Cage returning to WWE and costing Jeff the match at the Royal Rumble an favor of Edge.

Dunno if it's legit, but what is sure is that Cage will be returning rather sooner than later.

[Andrew]

I read that too. It wouldn't surprise me too much if he dropped the belt to Edge at the Royal Rumble with Christian returning but I think the short, multiple reigns these days really diminish the value of the major belts. I remember when Mick Foley (as Mankind) and The Rock traded the WWF title back and forth in early 1999 and thinking it was a bit silly with The Rock becoming a three time champion within a couple of months of winning it for the first time and we're seeing a similar situation with Edge, who's now a six time champion (three World Heavyweight, three WWE Championship reigns) and a twelve time tag team champion.

Frankly I'm a bit bored seeing Edge as the champion anyway. He's a great worker and he's become a fantastic heel but it's too much of the same thing. The current storyline also makes little sense as we're supposed to simply forget the falling out with Vickie Guerrero, who's still amazingly over but I'm a little tired of as well.

[Lean]

If they put the title back on Edge, it's Wrestlemania XXIV all over again.

[buzzy]

^ I Don't think so as I think Taker's gonna have his match with HBK, no?

But I agree with you Andrew, the multiple title changes within some months are kinda silly.
And as much as I love Edge, I don't want him to get the belt back as well, he's a lazy ass in the ring lately. Give Hardy some more months and make him lose it at Wrestlemania. I don't think there will be another reign for him in the near future anyway, so make the Jeff Hardy fans happy some more months.

But, honestly, I think they'll give it back to Edge at the Royal Rumble.

[Lean]

I notice that the recent posts don't concern Raw's champion.

If they follow the trend to have a heel champ at Wrestlemania then, JBL?

[Andrew]

^ I Don't think so as I think Taker's gonna have his match with HBK, no?

Doesn't look like it, apparently HBK was pushing for it but it's not expected to happen at this point. More likely, he'll end up working a program with Umaga. I can't say that one interests me too much, I know the Umaga character has gotten over but I'm pretty bored with it. Considering that Undertaker rarely talks and Umaga never does, that's going to be one weird build to a PPV match.

I notice that the recent posts don't concern Raw's champion.

If they follow the trend to have a heel champ at Wrestlemania then, JBL?

Ugh, please no. I think Cena will probably keep it through Wrestlemania, especially if they end up with a heel champion over on Smackdown.

[RKO]

I was hoping for a Undetaker v. HBK match at Wrestlemania and it still might happen. There have been talks that Undertaker might win the Royal Rumble and HBK costs JBL the title and somehow HBK gets the belt, so then the Undertaker has to obviously choose which chanmpionship he wants to go after and he will choose the World Heavyweight which will set up a storyline with HBK and the Undertaker.

But I do not think that will happen and I'm kinda hoping that it doesn't. And here is the reason why. For an Undertaker/HBK storyline, they should give them at least 5-6 months leading to Wrestlemania and the loser reire match. They should start that somehow at Survivor Series of '09 and have them battle each other all the way to WM.

As far as Cena is concerned, I'm a huge fan but I think that a heel should have the WHC. The show is more interesting. I know you all remember Evolution and when Triple H had the title, it seemed impossible to beat him with all the help from Ric Flair, Batista. They should do something like that with Randy Orton and his stable. The Legacy which is him, Cody Rhodes and I think Ted DiBiase will be in it when he comes back. Give the title to him and let him keep it for awhile and then he loses it and that's when all the drama starts.

I think this will be a good year for the wrestling entertainment, even though its getting more fake every week, it is still interesting at times.

[Andrew]

I don't know about that, despite being in their 40s there's been no indication that Undertaker or HBK will be retiring in the near future. Undertaker probably won't be headed to RAW anytime soon as he and HHH have gotten past their issues and his current girlfriend (Michelle McCool) is a Smackdown worker so working for the same brand allows him to travel with her and spend time with her on the road. I could see him entering the WWE championship picture again though, possibly with a Royal Rumble win or victory in the Elimination Chamber at No Way Out.

Most likely, I reckon Umaga will end up eliminating Taker in the Rumble leading them to feud possibly through Wrestlemania or at least up to No Way Out where they might end up as the finalists in the Chamber.

[Chino]

http://www.wrestlezone.com/article.php? ... =233602386

I wonder who's next in the line.

[Andrew]

I doubt anyone major as they'd no doubt go straight to TNA as soon as they could. I expect a few more lower card/"enhancement" wrestlers are on the bubble. With the WWE reportedly trying to trim 10% of its workforce, anyone expendable isn't safe at the moment.

[Andrew]

I've read that to further comply with WWE's new PG-13 approach, John Cena's FU will be renamed "The Throwback" and they'll also going to stop referring to his STF as the STFU. Jim Ross has spoken out in favour of the changes and taken a subtle jab at people who complain about these changes in his latest blog and while I certainly respect him and his opinions, I think it's fair enough for fans who are in an older demographic to feel a bit uneasy with changes that seem to take the edge off and make things more "kiddie".