Professional Wrestling (WWE, TNA, ROH, etc)

[Andrew]

RAW is Austin rating: 3.7
TNA Impact rating: 0.8

It's the final Impact before a PPV too, bad news for TNA all around. It's a shame as far as giving WWE some competition, though given how Hogan has been boasting that the fans go where he goes and that their ratings will triple, it's kind of funny to see him proven wrong. Dixie Carter posted a Tweet that seems to address the matter and I guess she has a point about patience, but the declining ratings in the Monday night time slot should suggest to them that there's a lot of room for improvement and overall there needs to be less Hogan and other old-timers. They're just not drawing.

[JaoSming]

Yea I saw that, worse ratings than their normal Thursday night draw.

Granted, they were going against STSA and buildup to WM so I mean can you really expect them to take ratings away right now? /optimism


I've developed a sense of 'dont give a fuck' with the ratings. It does make me worried that they may try more gimmicks to get ratings, but once they realize people switch the channels when Flair starts bleeding another pint of blood hopefully they just keep him a bit more sane and no more hogan storylines of wanting to wrestle again. Hogan in a Vince McMahon role can work. Easy E in a role of, I guess a GM works as well. Some power but can be underminded.

Are you guys getting sick of the DQ/Count Out/Dirty endings to ~95% of Raw matches yet?

I guess in my head the actual in the ring wrestling needs to be treated like a job to the wrestlers and feuds develop during that. Lately it's just been selective booking and story (soap opera) segments, there needs to be a lot more wrestling on the shows and not just feud building.

[buzzy]

I haven't been watching many WWE shows lately, but I agree on the premature/dirty endings to the matches.

It's rarely that you can think that the better man won tonight, usually a heel uses dirty tactics to win his matches. But I guess that's what makes a heel a heel.

[Andrew]

Both companies are fond of overbooking matches and convoluting angles. It definitely gets old pretty fast.

[Klayface]

Anyone else think its time the WWE brought an end to the whole "draft" thing? It made sense when it first happened, but now that they don't have as many of the big names that they HAVE to push like they did at the time I think its really unnecessary.

[Andrew]

I'm all for ending the brand split and unifying titles as necessary, though I don't see it happening anytime soon. Indeed, I've pretty much given up hope on that happening in the forseeable future as splitting the roster in two allows them to push two world champions and run more house shows in different areas.

[Christian.]

I'd like to see Smackdown vs Raw days in which the PPVs are brand exclusive.

[Chino]

WWE.com is reporting that the following has officially been added to WWE's Wellness Policy:

"WWE has eliminated using folding metal chairs to 'strike' an opponent in the head. The WWE penalizes through fine and/or suspension the following: The intentional use of a folding chair to 'strike an opponent in the head. Any blow to the head that is deemed an intentional act."

No more chair shots in the head!

[Andrew]

I'd like to see Smackdown vs Raw days in which the PPVs are brand exclusive.

Buyrates for the secondary PPVs weren't as good so that's not going to happen. Having never been a huge fan of the brand split, I prefer PPVs with the entire roster. That way neither brand has to tread water for a month to advance and blow off angles, there's more inter-brand stuff and it just makes for a better card. Some of the single brand cards that were being featured were quite weak.

WWE.com is reporting that the following has officially been added to WWE's Wellness Policy:

"WWE has eliminated using folding metal chairs to 'strike' an opponent in the head. The WWE penalizes through fine and/or suspension the following: The intentional use of a folding chair to 'strike an opponent in the head. Any blow to the head that is deemed an intentional act."

No more chair shots in the head!

Kind of limits any no-DQ gimmick matches - especially Tables, Ladders and Chairs - but for the health and safety of the wrestlers, it's by no means a bad idea. As the tests on Chris Benoit's brain have demonstrated, it's one of the riskier spots in the business especially when you have someone like Benoit who would sometimes take it right to the skull instead of blocking it with their hands. They've taken their time implementing such a rule though, which allows us to cynically theorise that it's mainly being done to further Linda McMahon's political aspirations but at least the talent benefits.

[Christian.]

Little by little, WWE is trying to get rid of "extreme".

[buzzy]

no shit.


Of course the banning of headshots is a great move concering the wrestlers' health, Benoit being the prime example of brain damage.

But just as heads driven into the ringpost, steel steps and anything else, chair shots to the head are supposed to be blocked with your hands - I wouldn't see a problem if they'd do it properly.
That and if it's something special, unlike TNA, don't use them every week and reserve them for Hardcore matches and storyline defining moments.

[Klayface]

I hate how the WWE have made their programs PG. I get that they want it to be a family show, but it just doesn't work out.

[Andrew]

I don't much care for it either, though I think they could still put on a quality product while being PG. It's just a matter of aiming the product at the entire family while keeping it kid friendly, rather than just aiming it at the kids.

[shadowgrin]

Just tried watching Smackdown (no idea if it was last week or the recent episode) and damn is it horrible. Where did WWE get that McIntyre guy? His off-ring 'acting' is pathetic, I've seen highschoolers do better than him. Switched channels immediately.
Thank god for March Madness.

[buzzy]

Yeah I haven't been watching WWE programming in quite some time.. This should be the best time of the year, but I don't feel tempted to tune in, honestly.

In the meantime, some conspicious 'coincidences' are being talked about:
WWE's 'Over The Limit' PPV is scheduled to take place on May 23rd this year, the exact date of Owen Hart's death from 11 years ago. The weird thing is, besides his brother being active again, that the show the incident happened was named 'Over The Edge'. Add to that, Edge being on the 'Over The Edge' Poster and the conspiracy is perfect.

[Lean]

Someone will die in that PPV. *shivers*

[Lean]

I was laughing so much at this:

phpBB [video]

and this:

phpBB [video]

[Andrew]

Not the best timing there.

I'm not all that keen on Drew McIntyre's push either. As important as it is to have fresh faces and build new stars, if done poorly or too quickly or with the wrong individual the attempt is bound to be a disaster. Sheamus got a huge push way too quickly and McIntyre's also being pushed a bit too hard. It wouldn't surprise me too much if he won MITB at Wrestlemania.

[Azzdogs]

Those video's were hiralious. Also agree with Andrew that they push the young people way to quickly up the ladder. I do like Sheamus better than McIntyre though.

[JaoSming]

TNA is having lots of production botches again, stuff like the wrong tron video for the wrong wrestler, weird cameras, missing run-ins or where the hell people disappear to.

Still really entertaining to me though.

And it looks like we do have a new "Goldberg" in TNA. Wicked goldberg-esk squash match with Rob Terry

[buzzy]

It's that time of the year again.

As I said I haven't been watching much WWE programming lately and that fact will probably affect some of my predicitons, but here they are nevertheless:


Unified Tag Team Championship
Big Show & The Miz vs. John Morrison & R-Truth

Not much build to this match, could very well be the dark match of the night, as they did last year. I think John Morrison will get a big push in 2010, and I predicted him to win Money In The Bank some months ago, but I don't think he and R-Truth are going to win the Tag titles. It looks like they are too high on Miz right now and I don't expect them to slow down on him just yet. It'll probably go downhill for Miz's character sometime when Daniel Bryan beats him for the US Title out of nowhere - it really looks like they plan some big payback for Bryan they way they're booking him on NXT. I think he's 0 and 5, getting humiliated week in and week out.
Sorry for the digression, Miz and Show will win this one, perhaps with a JoMo heel turn or even a Joey Mercury return.
Winners: Big Show & The Miz


Money In the Bank
Drew McIntyre Vs Kane vs. Christian vs. Evan Bourne vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. MVP vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Matt Hardy vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Jack Swagger

10-man Ladder match for the first time, I really hope the increase of participants won't hurt the match and it stays the spotfest it's been and won't turn into a big clusterfuck.
Aside from the fillers, it's really between Christian, McIntyre and maybe Kofi.
Rumors are that the winner would cash it in the same night, which would make most sense if Christian is the one to win it. The IWC would most definitely wet their pants on a three way feud between Christian, Edge and Jericho over the Heavyweight title.
Christian is also my pick, but I wouldn't be surpised if McIntyre is going to grab the case, seeing how they've made him look weak over the last weeks and telling us how he's going to do something big at WrestleMania.
So in the end it's between Christian and Drew in my eyes, and I really hope common sense prevails over backstage politics here and Christian is the one to win the contract.
Winner: Christian


CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio
The stipulation is that if Rey loses he must join Punk's Straigh Edge Society. They dropped the original idea of Hair vs. Mask because of its predictability. I think we will see a good match, Rey will deliver and make CM Punk look great. In the end though I can only see CM Punk winning it, with the help of the SES and force Rey to join them. It's the only way this feud can go on and I think Rey being in this group against his will could lead to a nice story and ultimately some disagreements between the other members themselves. Imagine Rey and Punk winning the Tag Titles while despising each other, I know that there have been endless stories of the same theme, but I still like the thought behind it.
Winner: CM Punk


Triple Threat
Randy Orton vs. Ted DiBiase vs. Cody Rhodes
This one is a tough one to call, IMO. A Randy Orton win would do absolutely nothing for Cody and Ted's characters but if either one of them wins it buries the other one. So unless the decide on one between Ted and Cody to be the next star, (which definitely would be Ted) I see Randy picking up the win, but just barely. I really don't know where they are going from here, I just hope they won't drop the ball on either one as I think Cody has just as much talent as Ted, perhaps even more.
My prediction: After a beat down from Ted and Cody on Orton, the two start fighting and Orton picks up the pieces and sneeks up the win.
It'll also be interesting to see if they turn Randy face for good.
Winner: Randy Orton


Triple H vs. Sheamus
Uncharacteristic for Triple H to not be featured in a World Title match at Mania, the first time since WrestleMania X-Seven and his match against Undertaker (aside from his absence from Mania 23 of course), and then against someone like Sheamus. Their friendship is well-documented and it Trips shows a lot of confidence in Sheamus with this match. Triple H will make him look good, but he will win it nevertheless.
Winner: Triple H


No Holds Barred
Bret Hart vs. Vince McMahon
Only one logical outcome for this match, and probably the most predictable one - Bret will make McMahon tap out to the Sharpshooter, finally getting closure.
It will most certainly be a boring ass match though. I can't say I'm looking forward to a No Holds Barred match without blood and chair shots to the head between a 52 year old and a 64 year old guy.

Batista and John Cena getting involoved would only work if the Hart/McMahon match is the last match on the card. I could see Cena as the new WWE Champ celebrating with Hart to close out the show.
Winner: Bret Hart


World Heavyweight Championship
Chris Jericho vs. Edge
Could very well steal the show. Can't say the build-up has been great and neither can i say I'm a fan of face Edge, but they are two of my favorite wrestlers and I'm sure they won't disappoint.
Now the thing is that everybody is banking on Edge to win it but in order for this feud to go anywhere, Jericho simply needs to retain. They need to show that Jericho is not only keeping the belt warm for Edge, and isn't only a transitional champion between Edge and 'Taker, otherwise he can't be taken seriously anymore. I mean, has he even defended the title once? There's no doubt that Edge will win the Title in this feud, but it definitely has to happen at different point in time.
I expect a great match with alot of back and forth action and I hope to see the WWE make the right decision.
Winner: Chris Jericho


The Streak vs. Career - No Disqualification
The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels
There are several ways this match can go to and I'm looking forward to it. The added No DQ stipulation just screams interference. What's most likely going to happen is Triple H interfering, turning on HBK and costing him the match, which would not only make him the biggest heel in the business by retiring Shawn Michaels, it would also make much more sense now that Triple H is so low on the card, because he would be standing in the spotlight later on anyway.
Shawn Michaels would hang up the boots, but I can see him return in one way or another.
What I can't see though, is Shawn Michaels ending the streak.
It will be a great match once again, no doubt, but I don't think it will be able to compete with their classic matchup from last year.

One unlikely way would be Bret Hart screwing Michaels and retiring him, but I think Hart's contract only goes until WrestleMania, it would be impossible for Hart to leave on that note, IMO.
Winner: The Undertaker


WWE Championship
Batista vs. John Cena
The biggest indication of Cena winning the match and the title back is the WWE's tendency to trade off matches. And since Batista won their encounter at SummerSlam in 2008, it would be Cena's time now.
Yeah, I'm not looking forward to the wrestling per se, the story behind the matchup is what keeps it interesting though.
I can see it being the last match on the card, with Cena closing out the show as new Champ. It's been some time since a heel had the last word on a WrestleMania.
Only thing I hope is that the PPV won't end on a stale note as it has last year.
Winner: John Cena


Final thoughts:
Overall plenty of matchups, the amount of matches to title matches ratio has to be one of the lowest in 'Mania history though.
I'm looking forward to the PPV, matches like MITB, Punk/Mysterio, Cody/Ted/Orton, Taker/Michaels and Edge/Jericho could all be very entertaining.

Would like to see you guys' predictions.

[Andrew]

Unified Tag Team Championship
Big Show & The Miz vs. John Morrison & R-Truth

I'm with you on this one. I don't think they'll end ShowMiz's run just yet, I reckon they'll continue to push John Morrison as a singles competitor and perhaps R-Truth as well, though I expect Morrison will go further.
Winners: Big Show & The Miz


Money In the Bank
Drew McIntyre Vs Kane vs. Christian vs. Evan Bourne vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. MVP vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Matt Hardy vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Jack Swagger

Since Drew McIntyre's struggle to qualify for MITB was fleshed out into an angle of sorts, I really wouldn't be surprised if he gets the win here and an ill-fated main event push. I think WWE is too eager to try and build some young stars with Sheamus and McIntyre being prime examples, but nevertheless it seems that's the way the winds are blowing so he's my pick. Orton complained about Kofi over one botch (nice work, Randy; guess you learned from one of the best politicians in HHH) so he's probably going to have to work his way up to the main event again. Matt Hardy seems doomed to the upper midcard in WWE, Shelton Benjamin likewise, Swagger seems to have fallen out of favour as have Ziggler and MVP, Evan Bourne's too small for McMahon to give a big push to and Kane doesn't need the rub. If McIntyre doesn't win it then I could see Christian doing so but I'll stick with McIntyre.
Winner: Drew McIntyre


CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio

Rey's apparently taking time off after Wrestlemania so I could see him being forced to join the Straight Edge Society, refusing to remove his mask and simply getting the hell beaten out of him to write him off TV for a while, culminating with an angle with Punk on his return in which he gets revenge. I'll take Punk as well.
Winner: CM Punk


Triple Threat
Randy Orton vs. Ted DiBiase vs. Cody Rhodes

They've written themselves into a corner here. Orton kind of has to go over because he's turned face, but at the same time if he does then all the work they've done building up DiBiase and Rhodes has been wasted. I guess they could have Orton win because Legacy can't decide who gets to pin their former mentor, but I don't think this angle has gone well at all. They botched a prime opportunity to turn DiBiase face and it cost them. I couldn't pick between Rhodes and DiBiase and I don't think McMahon and creative will either. I'll say Orton too.
Winner: Randy Orton


Triple H vs. Sheamus

Sheamus got the last word in on RAW which usually telegraphs the job at the PPV, and I just don't see him going over HHH this soon in his career, even with his WWE Championship run. I think he'll be made to look credible but he's taking the fall here.
Winner: Triple H


No Holds Barred
Bret Hart vs. Vince McMahon

Does anyone else wonder if McMahon would dare arrange a screwjob finish? The thought has flickered through my mind a couple of times during this angle but hopefully sanity prevails and this one goes as planned. The Hitman gaining revenge with the Sharpshooter seems to be the logical way to end things here. Predictable, but it's what everyone wants to see and what should happen. It won't be one of Bret's five star classics, but it'll be good enough for what it is.
Winner: Bret Hart


World Heavyweight Championship
Chris Jericho vs. Edge

I agree that Jericho retaining would make a lot of sense, but I think with Edge's surprise return we'll see a title change. Of course, how long that reign lasts depends on how healthy Edge is and whether he's ready to work the dates and matches required of one of the major title holders. I could see him winning it at Wrestlemania and losing it back at the next PPV or even on Smackdown. Whatever happens after Wrestlemania, I think Edge will go over.
Winner: Edge


The Streak vs. Career - No Disqualification
The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels

Apparently this one's still up in the air but Taker is being advertised for post-Wrestlemania shows while HBK isn't, and HBK has been hinting heavily at possibly retiring for real, or at least an extended hiatus. That would seem to point to Taker going over. It's also the logical conclusion of the angle as HBK has been at Taker to accept the match, cost him the title and once again proven himself immune to Taker's mind games and kind of a step ahead of him. He also picked up the win over Kane on the last RAW before Wrestlemania...I'd be very surprised if they have HBK end Taker's streak and then take an extended leave or retire. If they're ever going to end Taker's streak, it seems the wrong idea to have a guy who won't be around get the honour. Picking Taker, and really hoping they go that way.
Winner: The Undertaker


WWE Championship
Batista vs. John Cena

I agree that Cena is likely to get the rub here and since Batista won the belt from Cena due to McMahon's executive intervention, it seems likely that Cena as the face - well, the guy who's booked as the face, even if that reaction isn't universal - will get revenge and the title here. Perhaps both McMahon and Bret will interfere, I'd kind of like to see Hart come out and be a part of Cena's celebrations. It might actually garner a decent face reaction if he's out there for that.
Winner: John Cena

[Lean]

Well honestly I'm only watching WrestleMania because of the Undertaker-HBK match and Bret's match. I just don't see fit for 'Taker being the one to "end" HBK's career because Triple H comes to mind. I, too would be most surprised if HBK beats 'Taker and consider it his final match. (I just think that HBK will hang it up, especially because a new HBK DVD was released).

And if so... HBK to TNA then?

[Andrew]

Remember that Edge "ended" Taker's career back in 2008, allowing him to take a hiatus. They could very well do the same with HBK.

[Lean]

...and Foley's career was ended so many times before. I forgot about that.