Tuesday, June 30, 2009

A Fatal Decision for the Diva's Championship

Maryse won the Diva's Title on December 26, 2008, making her the longest reigning Diva's Champion in history.

How did she accomplish such a feat?

By dodging as many title matches as possible. Her reign is impressive but her defense record is pathetic. Since then, she has successfully defended her title against Maria and Kelly Kelly - who are, let's face it, not the greatest wrestlers. Since drafted to RAW, Maryse has avoided Mickie James for obvious reasons.

Mickie James is not only a four-time Women's Champion, but she has also has an impressive winning record against the likes of Trish Stratus, Lita, Victoria, Melina, and "The Glamazon" Beth Phoenix. A match against James would be a guaranteed loss.

Maryse, knowing full well the danger of losing her title, interfered with the Diva's Battle Royal by spraying hairspray in Mickie's eyes - leaving Kelly Kelly to eliminate Mickie for a future title opportunity. Thankfully Mickie would have another opportunity during a Fatal Four Way Match to determine who would face off against Maryse at Night of Champions. This match was women's wrestling at its finest with an impressive array of wrestling maneuvers and close calls. Mickie attempted a Reverse Mickie-DDT (standing tornado DDT), but was put in a chin lock by Rosa Mendes - who was then put in a chin lock by Kelly Kelly. Each of these competitors were determined to challenge Maryse for the Diva's Championship.

Beth Phoenix - a favorite to win the match - would have won after she placed Kelly Kelly in the Glam Slam - an elevated chicken-wing wheelbarrow facebuster - but Mickie disrupted the count and disposed of Beth over the top rope where she was knocked out cold.

Mickie finally executed the Mickie-DDT on Rosa Mendes; thus, making Mickie James the #1 Contender.

In the weeks leading up to Night of Champions - How will Maryse prepare herself for the toughest confrontation in her career? Maryse's safest bet for retaining would be to intentionally disqualify herself. She would lose the match, but she would leave still the Diva's Champion.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Randy Orton Victorious in Hell

After firing Trump, McMahon unleashed his anger on a beaten and bruised Randy Orton, notifying him that he would defend his title yet again at The Bash. Orton pleaded McMahon to show mercy – since he had just been through a brutalizing Last Man Standing match. McMahon remembering full well of how Orton showed him no mercy when he punted him in the head proclaimed that the match would be a two out of three falls match known as the Three Stages of Hell.

A regular wrestling match
A falls count anywhere match
(And if needed) A stretcher match

This match is considered so physical it has not been contested in six and a half years, during the Attitude era. Triple H set out to destroy Orton and to reclaim his title – becoming a fourteen-time champion. He deliberately cost himself the first stage by attacking Orton with a steel chair. However, The Game, thinking ahead, quickly locked Orton with a pedigree outside the ring to win the second stage. The King of Kings assumed to have had the match won as he rolled Orton on a stretcher to the finish line, but he was stopped by the other members of Legacy. The Game did his best to ward off team Priceless only to be laid to rest on the stretcher. Orton survived the three stages of hell but was knocked face down on the steel entrance ramp by the Cerebral Assassin.

The Miz Gets a Reality Check

The Miz finally had his opportunity to face off against John Cena in a main event match at The Bash. On Mizanin’s first day on RAW, he made a compelling argument of how the WWE pushes a number of wrestlers to main event pay-per-views month after month, year after year.

The worst superstar, in his opinion, is John Cena. He sees Cena as all hype generated by kids and the cougars who love him. The Miz has been waiting for his shot at greatness, to prove that he belongs in the WWE as a singles competitor; but he doesn't want to stop at Championship status, he also wants to star in movies and be seen on the covers of magazines the world over – in other words, he wants to become a wrestling icon. Despite an impressive offense from the Chick Magnet, Cena made short work of him with his patent Five Knuckle Shuffle followed by the Attitude Adjustment for an easy 3 count victory. The loss that the Miz suffered should not deter him from his goal since he has the arrogance to make a great heel.

However, he still has to work his way up the business, win more singles matches, and win a mid-weight title before attempting to win the big one.

Jeff Hardy Robbed Again

The tension between these two have been emanating ever since CM Punk cashed in Money in the Bank against a newly crowned Jeff Hardy at Extreme Rules. Jeff has never been one to live in the past, but Punk’s deceptive use of the briefcase has left Hardy brooding over his loses.

Punk lives a Straight-Edge life – no drugs or alcohol – because he doesn't need substance to get high; rather he gets high on defeating the competition. Despite such a noble lifestyle, Punk has been booed by the fans over the controversial title win. The one-on-one match with a fully prepared Jeff would determine a fair fight for the coveted World Heavyweight Championship.

The match saw a myriad of counters and attempted finishers, but it would be Jeff that would connect with the Twist of Fate and soar through the air in a crowd deafening Swanton Bomb to become the new World Heavyweight Champion. However, the ref revoked his decision because Punk’s foot was under the ropes. A devastated Jeff continued the match but an eye stricken Punk accidentally kick the ref; thus, ending the match with Jeff the winner and Punk still champion. Jeff furiously attacked Punk with an assault of punches claiming that Punk did it on purpose. Referees were quick to pull Hardy away.

But the question remains: Did Punk really kick the ref by accident, or did he see his Championship slipping away?

Michelle McCool Indeed Strikes Twice at The Bash!

McCool, since the draft, has held all the momentum and has finally done what she has set out to do, to become the first Diva to have won the Women's and the Diva's Championships.

The Women's title has always been exclusive to RAW, leaving Smackdown, for the longest, without a title.

But last summer, McCool won Smackdown's exclusive Diva's title at The Great American Bash.
Thanks to the Draft, the titles have switched brands - giving certain Divas the opportunity to become a Double Women's Champion.

McCool became victorious with a distraction from her ring-side partner, Alicia Fox, along with a devestating Faithbreaker.

With Melina down, will Gal Kim and Maria step up and challenge the new Women's Champion, Michelle McCool?

Chris Jericho and Edge: The Canadian Coalition

Ever since Wrestlemania, the Colons became the Unified Tag Team Champions. It has always been mentioned that the Colons were obligated to defend the titles on all three brands; however, until tonight, the titles have been isolated to RAW matches.

GM Teddy Long, pressured by McMahon to shake things up, changed the scheduled title match between Priceless and the Colons to a Triple Threat by introducing a newly formed Tag Team - Edge and Chris Jericho.

Edge, a nine-time World Champion, is now a twelve-time Tag Team Champion. He is a master of deception but also of choosing his tag team partners - lately through egos. Edge, along with Christian, revolutionized the tag team division by defeating the likes of the Hardyz and the Dudleys. Sucess would strike twice in Rated-RKO when he joined with Randy Orton to capture gold and dominate D-Generation X.

Tonight, Edge completes the trifecta by teaming up with yet another Canadian - Chris Jericho. Jericho is no stranger to gold - especially unified. He is the only man in history to pin both Stone Cold and the Rock - on the same night - to become the Undisputed World Champion. It is also clear that Jericho is no stranger of losing a match early on in the PPV - only to come back to win gold. Overall, Teddy Long has been a decent General Manager, but McMahon's influence is working beautifully.

Kane Returns; Dolph Ziggler Triumphs

The Great Khali and Dolf Ziggler were set to have yet another match, but this time it would be a no Disqualification Match.

Dolph Ziggler, once a part of The Spirit Squad under the name Mikey, has since returned to the WWE with a new hair style and a horrendous gimmick.

The Great Khali once a nightmare has turned playboy. His wrestling technique and catalogue of wrestling maneuvers are below beginner level - at best. However, Khali is considered a wrestling hero in India, and has been accepted by the fans.

This card was considered a filler until the Big Red Machine decided to raise hell and brutalize the Punjabi Giant - leaving Ziggler to collect the win.

Welcome back Kane, its high time to make an impact.

Chris Jericho Discovers Mysterio's a Two-Faced

Jericho has been playing mind games with Mysterio as of late. During a championship rematch - the 3 for all edition of RAW - Jericho retained his ninth Intercontinental Title by attempting to remove Mysterio's mask and changing it into a quick Code Breaker victory. However, things would become interesting when Mysterio agreed on Jericho's stipulation.

"You are going to take off that mask and you are going to take it off forever. Because if you want another chance at the Intercontinental Championship you're going to have to put something up that's very dear to you. Something that defines who you are. Something that is the very essence of what Rey Mysterio is. At the Bash, I'll put up my Intercontinental Championship if you put up your mask." - Chris Jericho (Smackdown 6/19/09)

Jericho's downfall came when he attempted to unmask the Master of the 619 - only to find another mask. Rey capitalized on the momentum with a 619 to secure his second Intercontinental Title reign.

Tommy Dreamer is ECW!

Dreamer has successfully defended his ECW title, twice.

Tommy finally became ECW Champion at Extreme Rules by defeating Christian and Jack Swagger in a Triple Threat Hardcore Match and has since proved himself worthy of bearing the gold.

Interim ECW GM Tiffany has been fair in delegating matches but has also pushed Tommy to the limits - to give the people what they want.

And what the people wanted was a massive ECW main event worthy of PPV.

The ECW Championship Scramble match does to all the competitors as the stipulation implies - Scrambling to get the final pin-fall to become Champion. Dreamer had his hands full against three former ECW Champions and an Irish man set on turning his career around. However, after several pin-falls amongst the other competitors it would be Tommy Dreamer that would walk out of Sacrament still your ECW Champion.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Michelle McCool to Strike Twice at The Bash?

This sunday, Michelle McCool has the opportunity to become the first ever Diva to hold both the Diva's and the Women's Titles.

Does McCool deserve the recognition?

Last year's Great American Bash marked McCool as the inaugural Diva's Champion by submitting Natalya in a not-so-impressively named MAD'T (Make a Diva Tap).

Yet, near the end of her title reign, McCool claimed to be the best that the Women's Division had to offer.

But after a champion vs. champion match against -then Women's Champion- Beth Phoenix, Michelle proved to be more talk than brawn.

Now with Melina, the current Women's Champion, on Friday Nights, McCool believes she can capitalize and rewrite history again.

McCool's credentials include: former Florida School Teacher, Inaugural Diva's Champion, and an impressive new Finisher-to-Pinning combination known as the Faithbreaker (Belly to belly inverted mat slam). However, the move was copied from TNA's A.J. Styles' Styles Clash, who sometimes can do it from the second rope.

Is the Women's Title in Jeopardy?

McCool may have a mean streak, but Melina is a three time Women's Champion who has defeated the likes of Mickie James and Beth Phoenix - possibly the two greatest women's competitors in the division today - for the title on separate occasions. In addition, she has the most impressive finisher from the two, The Last Call (Legtrap sunset flip powerbomb), which no Diva has been able to kick out.

If McCool believes she can become Women's Champion, she will have to rely on brute force to outsmart and evade Melina's Last Call.

And if Melina expects to retain the Women's Title, she will have to avoid body and head scissors that can easily be converted into the Faithbreaker.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

CM Punk Cashes in on Hardy!

After a grueling Championship Ladder Match at Extreme Rules, CM Punk seized the opportunity and left Jeff Hardy asleep on the canvas. So how would the WWE Universe respond to such an act?

"There is no doubt that CM Punk is a favorite in the WWE, but Jeff Hardy is a sentimental favorite" - Jim Ross (Smackdown 6/12/09)

It is no secret that Jeff Hardy has faced adversity after two suspensions, and being betrayed by his older brother, it all seemed worth it when he unstrapped the title atop a fifteen-foot ladder.

Just last year, CM Punk cashed his first Money in the Bank against, then 5x World Champion, Edge. A moment so unforgettable that it later awarded him a WWE Slammy for OMG Moment of the Year. But as J.R. mentioned, Jeff is a sentimental favorite because he represents the screw-ups of the world.

But will Punk turn heel?

On Smackdown, Edge confronted and accused Punk of emulating and looking up to, none other than, the Rated-R Superstar.

"You call this unique lifestyle, Straight Edge? HELLO? You named it after me. You cashed in your Money in the Bank, successfully, twice! Just like me. But here's the news flash Punk, you never have been and you never will be me!" - Edge (Smackdown 6/12/09)

Since becoming Champion, Punk has had some heel attributes. During a Triple Threat Match for his World Heavyweight Title, Punk took advantage of Jeff's finishers and covered Edge for the pinfall. That same week on Smackdown, Punk knowingly capitalized on Jericho's assault by connecting with the GTS on Mysterio. This weekend at The Bash, Jeff will contend for Punk's World Title, as part of his rematch clause.

Will Hardy regain his World Title or will the Age of the Straight-Edge Superstar, CM Punk be among us?