The ECW Report

By Paul Smith

paulsmith3010@gmail.com

Welcome to The ECW Report and I am your host Paul Smith.

The Pre Game: Okay so a fair bit to talk about today. Bragging Rights. Nothing overly offensive, but nothing blow away either. The Miz vs Morrison match was good, but I’d like to see another one because I actually think that they can do a little better. The women’s match was one of the best WWE have put on for quite some time and that isn’t necessarily a complement, but in this case it is, as this was a decent match. The World Championship match was a lot of fun to start with, lots of cool little characterisation points, and it petered off towards the end a little. The Batista/Rey thing was a little predictable, but still Dave cut a good promo and it was a good time. The 14 man thing wasn’t as messy as I had feared but at the same time it kind of felt like everyone just got their shit in and then “oh, look Big Show betrayed RAW” match over. And then the Ironman match…it was decent in parts but either really boring or really stupid in others, pretty much proving the hypothesis of many; that if these two are given an hour, the results aren’t going to be good. I liked some of the drama but the formula of 3 minutes of wrestling and then 12 minutes of stunts, rinse and repeat didn’t really do it for me. Overall, decent show but very skippable, which I fully expect the buyrate to reflect when it comes out.

RAW wasn’t a good show in general, with the booking of the last match and of Legacy in particular being absolutely downright FUCKING STUPID, but I was very pleased to see Kofi Kingston get a shot at a feud with Orton, and I’m so pleased he got to cut a promo like he did towards the end of the show. I can’t help but get excited when they start elevating new talent, and look like they are going to be doing it the right way. However, as it is WWE, we’ll have to wait and see how this is followed up on. I was gonna talk a little about Smackdown too, but I’ll do it next week probably, to avoid spoiling anything for anyone.

Hogan to TNA. If he puts over the younger main eventers and upper mid carders, great. If he pops some ratings and buyrates on a sustained basis, great. If he bases the show around himself, buries everybody, brings in Brutus Fucking Beefcake, that’s not cool, man. While Hogan IS pro wrestling to people who are only barely aware of these massive guys rolling around in their underwear, he is old to the point where he needs to use that rub for the good. I just can’t help getting this whole Four Horsemen (of the apocalypse) feeling, that all of these dark stars are aligning to create havoc: Russo, Ferrara, Bischoff, Hogan, Nash. Is this the death of TNA? Probably not, as Bischoff doesn’t have Turner’s money to absolutely burn through, but I will need to see it before I believe it with regard to it doing the company any good whatsoever. Anyway, those are my few little notes about the situation, as I’m sure Kendra will have a more considered, less sweary and thoughtful analysis of this news come Thursday night/Friday morning.

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ECW is taped and rolling from Rochester, New York the home of former ECW SUPAHSTARRR!!!!! and CHIKARA regular Colin Delaney.

On with the show.

We begin things to a hype video for Yoshi Tatsu’ ECW title shot tonight. Following this is our titles now with even more Christian posing.

Slightly less new voice lady welcomes Tony Atlas, who brings out Abraham Washington whose guest tonight will be the Generic Manager of ECW, Tiffany. So I guess they paired together two of the people who I least enjoy speaking on this program. Nice work guys. I still wanna know which critics are acclaiming this shit. He’s still a pimp. Tonight Abe is gonna stop running his mouth apparently. Someone’s watching over me, and out comes Tiff who has new slutty music. She’s insatiable and needs to find a boy. Fiddle factor will have increased I’m sure for many people. Abe has jungle fever, which disturbs me no end. Abe obviously reads my blog as he says Tiff’s administration has been criticised for the lack of ECW at Bragging Rights (and Hell in a Cell, but that was implied, right Abey?). However, she cites John Morrison and Kofi Kingston, who got their starts on ECW (Johnny Nitro went the way of Chris Benoit, clearly) as reasons how ECW had an impact. Yeah pick the two men who got pinned last night. I mean CM Punk had a World title match and THE MIZ actually won his match, and he did establish himself properly first on ECW, even if he didn’t start there, compared to Morrison who worked as a tag specialist on Smackdown and then as a singles guy on RAW, with a lot of success, before coming to ECW. Tiffany says next year ECW will have a bigger impact at Bragging Rights. We move onto Sheamus, and he apparently didn’t want to be on ECW, but Sheamus has to have one more match on ECW before moving to RAW. It will be against Shelton Benjamin. Anyway, Regal and his Rocky Villains interrupts the small talk to demand another ECW title shot. Wow this guy is stuck on repeat. Tiffany says no. Regal says he is losing his temper, but Tiffany asserts her authority, saying he may never again get a shot at the title. Tiffany hopes we enjoy the show as the Abraham Washington Show tragically comes to an end. Not before William Regal looks like he’s about to Incredible Hulk out of his clothes and destroys the Washington set though. Intriguing.

At ringside Josh Matthews has been joined by Barack Obama for commentary. Oh wait no, it’s the FCW commentary guy, Byron Saxton, filling in for Matt Striker. We recap our #1 contender’s match of Thankyou vs WooWooWoo, before looking at a video package of Yoshi Tatsu. You know a title challenger is credible when they have to show a video package in case people don’t know who he is.

It’s apparently Halloween week on wwe.com. I attempted to care, but you know how these things go.

Sheamus vs Shelton Benjamin
Sheamus, after so long it breaks my heart to see you go. LEAVE THE MEMORIES ALONE. Oh wait no, you were here for a little while before allegedly buddying up with Triple H, who got you moved onto the big time. And nobody knew who you were. Oh well. Anyway, on a serious note, I was enjoying this feud with Shelton, and it’s a shame that we’re going to have to see it get killed off so quickly. ‘Savannah’ is backstage with Shelton Benjamin. Shelton says that he got pissed off with Sheamus, and that maybe like Sheamus said his career is mediocre. But Shelton thought, who is this guy? He’s going to make Sheamus respect him. Not a particularly well delivered promo in this writer’s opinion. Slightly Less New Voice Lady sounds like a little girl to me, while Byron Saxton sounds like he’s doing his commentary from a helicopter. The usual basic stuff to start, but this is a hateful feud so it’s done with aggression. Shelton clotheslines Sheamus to the outside before hitting an awesome split legged Asai moonsault from the ring ropes. Breaktime~! On our return, Sheamus is having his arm rammed into a cornerpost. Benjamin then snaps the arm off the ropes. However, Sheamus turns things round and rams Shelton backfirst into the steel post before ground and pounding him back in the ring, following up with a knee drop and a REAR CHINLOCK, don’t use that on RAW dude, you don’t want to infringe on that VINTAGE VIPER gimmick. Wackiness aside, Sheamus hits a tilt-a-whirl bodyslam for a two count. Sheamus uses the ropes to deliver a knee drop for another two. Byron Saxton is doing well so far, but I don’t feel any enthusiasm yet. He just kind of spouts cookie cutter WWE announcer phrases like ‘best pure athelete’ and ‘utitlising that ___’ every now and then. Sheamus grounds Benjamin with chinlocks. However, because this was getting a little too exciting, Shelton gets up and hits an AWESOME overhead belly to belly throw. They exchange right hands before Shelton hits a running jumping crossbody block. Shelton hits a corner splash, misses a spinning enziguiri, before hitting a nice bridging German suplex for two. Sheamus snaps Benjamin’s neck off the ropes before kind of anticlimatically finishing Shelton with a bicycle kick.
Winner: Sheamus

Opinion: Good match for Sheamus to go out on and kind of a tantalising preview of what could have been. So while that was a fun way to start the show, what does this do to help both Shelton Benjamin, who has just been beat by a RAW guy and ECW who just had one of their top wrestlers beaten by a guy on his way out? There wasn’t a way to do that without hurting someone, so I’ll take this match for what it was and that was a good TV match. **1/2

Almost as if to counter this though, we will presumably make a new star with Christian vs Yoshi Tatsu later on.

Rosa Mendes is pleased to be on ECW. She’s been doing girl things much to the boredom of Gregory Helms. Greg only said hello! Paul Burchill and Katie Lea arrive though, telling Rosa to leave. Burchill tells Helms to meet Burchill in the ring next week. What a fresh new matchup. Apparently it will be the last confrontation, just like Cena/Orton. So maybe the week after that Burchill will lay out Tyler Reks and everyone will chant HURRICANE, HURRICANE. Maybe not.

Saxton is quite a smooth talker to be fair. Anyway ECW is now showing the Bragging Rights match between RAW and Smackdown. Nothing like self promotion eh? My main problem with this shit is who watches ECW, but doesn’t watch either RAW, Smackdown, the PPVs or more than one of those to find out this kind of thing?

Savannah is backstage with Christian. Christian says Yoshi is the most deserving challenger, and that he will be a champion in years to come, but not tonight. Yoshi tonight learns the most important thing to learn: how to cope with defeat.

Christian (c) vs Yoshi Tatsu, ECW Championship Match
I miss Christian’s sparkly hoodies. And wow another Slightly Less New Voice Sighting. And another! Madness, I tell you. Saxton does a good job building up this as Yoshi’s biggest match to date, which it of course is.  They do the formal ring introductions to try and pretend that the ECW Championship is a real world title. Handshake to get things off to an HONOURABLE beginning. They circle each other and Yoshi goes for strikes. Armlock takedown gets a one for Tatsu. They wrestle for a little while and the first impact move comes when a flapjack follows a leapfrog and drop down segment. Christian gets two off a springboard sunset flip. Yoshi hits a HIGH back body rop before a rolling senton for a two count. Backslide by Yoshi. It’s fresh to have this amount of pace early in a fifteen minute+ WWE TV match. Yoshi gets two from a rollup as we go to a break. Back in, things have slowed down and we’re seeing holds. Big elbow from Christian, who goes up top but gets punched to the outside by Yoshi. Yoshi misses a slingshot press (rookie mistake type spot). Christian however hits diagonal springboard splash from the inside rope to the outside. They both beat the referees count at eight. Christian gets a two count. Yoshi hits a standing crossbody and gets a nearfall. Snapmare into a head vice by Christian. Christian hits a neckbreaker from a reverse DDT position before Christian starts wrenching the neck. Yoshi counters out of a super tornado DDT and goes up himself and hitting the super spinning wheel kick for a two count. Yoshi starts winding up kicks, finishing up with a dropkick. He hits the ROARING ELBOW for a nearfall. Christian gets up to try and twist into the Killswitch but Yoshi gets a kick before being drop toe holded/held into the ropes where Christian stands on him before slapping him, going through his spots. Missile dropkick, and Christian goes for it again but Yoshi counters into a jackknife cover, which gets a close nearfall which the crowd bought, and not unreasonably so. Diving double knee into a snapmare reversed into a Christian reverse DDT which gets another two count. Yoshi hits a kick before being hit with the springboard sunset and Yoshi rolls through and gets a knee to the face and a rolling pin for another two. Amazing stuff this is. Yoshi went for the high roundhouse, reversed, Killswitch reversed, pendulum kick by Christian, SHORYUKEN and we build to the killswitch. Christian manages to hit it and that’s finally enough to get the three
Winner and still ECW Champion: Christian

Opinion: Phenomenal match, which I think could be my ECW TV match of the year. Lots of nearfalls, well paced, nicely executed and tons of action, topped off with the crowd being way into it, and that’s the thing that helps in a way that can’t be said enough. What also makes this cool is that Christian keeps defending the title against these newer wrestlers and that after a while it doesn’t seem unreasonable that these guys are challenging. And this way when one of them actually wins, it will be a surprise and it will be awesome and it wont look stupid. Christian as a wrestler may be a bit formulaic in his matches, but his execution, charisma, workrate and putting over of younger wrestlers even in winning is something that ECW will sorely miss when the time comes for Christian to go to one of the big two. ***3/4

Post match Apollo and Ivan beatdown on Christian and Yoshi. Regal gets in the ring and demands a hellish DOUBLE URANAGE. The power of the Iron Curtain and the tribal fury of the Guyanage as one! Scary. Regal poses with the ECW title as we go off air.

This was an awesome episode of ECW. When you have two matches, they both have to be good, and when one’s good and the other is great, you’re onto a winner. Hopefully Yoshi will have a feud with somebody else while Christian is once again occupied with Regal, maybe Dreamer or somebody and then come back for another title match even stronger than ever. Solid if a little unspectacular showing from ECW newcome, announcer Byron Saxton, but while he gets used to calling an arena show every week I’m sure he will develop more personality like Josh Matthews did.

This episode of ECW earns a thumbs up.

Until next time, I have been Paul Smith. Thanks for reading.

Hello people who read prediction blogs it is I, Paul Smith alongside once again the man from the Blue Blog, Chris Jacks, for another slice of Talent Exchange pie. This time we have another first time ever to follow Hell in a Cell, as we get the inaugural ‘Bragging Rights’. Now, can this show beat Cyber Sunday, traditionally one of the worst WWE shows over the year that has previously only rivalled The Great American Bash in terms of mediocrity? In all honesty the card here doesn’t look fantastic and neither does the fact that over 33% of this PPV (1 hour plus video packages and entrances of a 2hr45min show) is taken up by two wrestlers who I generally find exceptionally boring to watch, in Randy Orton and John Cena Anyway, I as ever will be watching and below you will find my take on what could happen on tonight’s show.

Hey everyone and welcome to another fully loaded edition of the Talent Exchange, this time taking a look at the all new WWE pay per view: Bragging Rights. This pay per view replaces Cyber Sunday, which is certainly not a bad thing as Cyber Sunday was usually a horrible pay per view, remember Batista beating Jericho for the title last year in one of the most over booked matches ever?… anyway whilst there are only 5 matches on the card tonight I am expecting them all to deliver. Sadly the cable in the hotel I am staying at during my cousins wedding does not have Sky Sports, so even though this would usually be a free pay per view here in the UK, if I want to watch it live I am going to have to shell out $40 for the WWE web stream! Nice to see ECW is once again being completely ignored on this show! Yoshi vs Christian would have been a great addition to the card but sadly we have to wait till Tuesday for that one! Anyway lets get on with our picks!

Paul Predicts: Interbrand Champion vs Champion Match: Intercontinental Champion John Morrison vs United States Champion The Miz

The Miz may think he is awesome but he has nothing on us as if you look back to The Talent Exchange from HIAC, you would see that both Chris and I predicted this match would occur. I think this match all ties nicely together with them being former partners on opposing show with the midcard title equivalents around their waists; it makes a very nice fit. Miz has improved beyond all recognition in the last couple of years and Morrison has been awesome for the last three or four, so this should be a very good singles match, and it’s a shame we’ve had to wait so long to get it, but at least both guys have had chance to establish themselves on their separate brands. If this was going to go longer as a feud I would give this to Miz but I suspect that this will be it for now, and as such I’m going for a John Morrison victory, possibly by DQ or count out or something stupid like that, to protect both guys.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: John Morrison

Chris Predicts: Interbrand Champion vs Champion Match: Intercontinental Champion John Morrison vs United States Champion The Miz

This is the match I have wanted to see ever since Morrison and Miz were split up in this year’s draft. Since then Morrison has turned babyface, become the biggest rising star in WWE and had the best TV match of the year with Rey Mysterio, whilst after initially being buried by John Cena, The Miz has come back strong with some excellent performances culminating in his US title win on RAW. This match could well be a vision of a future Wrestlemania main event and I am as excited to see this as I was to see Triple H vs The Rock in their ladder match at Summerslam 1998. As long as this match is given a good twenty minutes it could easily steal the show. If I do end up ordering the WWE Web Stream it will be because of this match. As for a winner I am going to have to go with Morrison as he has been on such a roll recently I do not see it ending here, but even with a Morrison win I am sure the Miz will come out of this looking great as well!

Chris’ Predicted Winner: John Morrison

Paul Predicts: Smackdown vs RAW Diva Tag Match: Team RAW (Melina, Gail Kim & Kelly Kelly) vs Team Smackdown (Natalya, Michelle McCool & Beth Phoenix)

If they’re gonna put the divas on PPV at least having four of the best workers they have in the match makes it a whole lot better than it would be. I think the Divas trade has worked well as before Melina and McCool were stuck in an endless feud on Smackdown but now with Beth and Mickie there, we look to be getting somewhere as far as actual stories go. I’m also certain we’re going to move somewhere into beginning those stories with this match and I think that some bickering on the Smackdown team will lead to the RAW ladies getting the victory, also tying up the best out of three RAW vs Smackdown series they have going on the show. What I do fear is that this won’t get enough time and will end up messy and stupid because they’ll have to get their stuff in in about three minutes.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: Team RAW (Melina, Gail Kim & Kelly Kelly)

Chris Predicts: Smackdown vs RAW Diva Tag Match: Team RAW (Melina, Gail Kim & Kelly Kelly) vs Team Smackdown (Natalya, Michelle McCool & Beth Phoenix)

Kelly Kelly aside these are five of best wrestling divas in WWE and perhaps the world especially Gail, Natalya and Beth. I am actually really excited to see this match as it could be the first time Gail Kim is unleashed and allowed to show the amazing skill she showed in TNA. This match hasn’t been built particularly well and there is some slight dissention in Team Smackdown, with Beth making it clear she has her sights set on the Women’s Championship. How good this match ends up being largely depends on how much time it is given. With Cena and Orton taking up a third of the card I am worried both this match and Miz vs Morrison may be treated as something of an afterthought but hopefully that wont happen. This could be WWE’s strongest diva match of the year but could also be just as bad as the diva tag match from Survivor Series last year (the one where the divas just rushed into the ring hit their finisher and were tossed out) I hope it is the former and we see some outstanding female wrestling action to try and restore some pride in their division! As for a winner I would say Team Smackdown is a far superior wrestling team but the fact is this would give Smackdown the overall Bragging Rights from winning two out of three matches and we all know how much Vince prefers RAW and how small of a priority Smackdown is too him. My head says team Smackdown but my gut says Team RAW so I am going with RAW here.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Team RAW (Melina, Gail Kim & Kelly Kelly)

Paul Predicts: 7 Man Interbrand Tag Match: Team RAW (DX, Cody Rhodes, Big Show, Kofi Kingston, Jack Swagger & Mark Henry) vs Team Smackdown (Chris Jericho, Kane, Matt Hardy, Finlay, The Hart Dynasty & R-Truth)

Chris gave me the one word that sums this one up for me when I look at it in his prediction: CLUSTERFUCK. There is no way that this is going to be a cohesive match, especially when it probably won’t get a whole load of time due to the Ironman, and especially when Team Smackdown changing two days before means that they pretty much look really stupid. I also have to say this is stupid when they could do this exact same thing at Survivor Series which is based around big multiman tag matches. Due to the nature of this match, I can’t really see it being of any real quality, but if you like seeing lots of stars and sort of stars in a match, then this one could be for you. I personally think that something will go down with Big Show screwing Team RAW and giving the match to Smackdown, to set up DX vs Jerishow for the titles either at Survivor Series or the next show if they choose to extend the feud into a Survivor Series match before doing the title shot. I think your Finlays and R-Truths and probably even Matt Hardys are only in there because they for some inexplicable reason did a four way for the Smackdown title, taking out three of the top talent you could have put in the team to give it some star power. Anyway, I look to The Hart Dynasty to make a name for themselves in their PPV debut, and overall I think Team Smackdown takes this one, but not because they are necessarily the better team.

Paul Predicted Winner: Team Smackdown (Chris Jericho, Kane, Matt Hardy, Finlay, The Hart Dynasty & R-Truth)

Chris Predicts: 7 Man Interbrand Tag Match: Team RAW (DX, Cody Rhodes, Big Show, Kofi Kingston, Jack Swagger & Mark Henry) vs Team Smackdown (Chris Jericho, Kane, Matt Hardy, Finlay, The Hart Dynasty & R-Truth)

I actually have my own theory as to why Team Smackdown was changed for this match. Ziggler is a huge star on the rise and McIntyre and Escobar are two new stars WWE have high hopes for so they did not want to feed them to DX in this match whereas they are more than happy to job out the likes of Finlay, R-Truth and sadly Matt Hardy. Despite the wealth of talent present here I fear this match may turn into a bit of a clusterfuck as there will no doubt be so much interference and brawling outside the ring that it may be hard to keep track of what is going on inside the ring! I do see Big Show turning on his team but I still do not see it as enough to stop Team RAW emerging victorious here as I cannot believe that Triple H would be happy to put the likes of Hardy and Finlay over on ppv. Hell we all remember what he has done to Jericho pretty much every time he steps in a ring with him! The teams may break down and squabble amongst themselves but hopefully there will be enough decent in ring action to make this one worth watching. I am delighted the Hart Dynasty are on PPV and I am looking for a very strong showing from them! I also fully expect DX to get the winning pin with the old superkick, pedigree combination.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Team RAW (DX, Cody Rhodes, Big Show, Kofi Kingston, Jack Swagger & Mark Henry

Paul Predicts: Fatal Four Way Match For The World Heavyweight Championship: Undertaker © vs Batista vs Rey Mysterio vs CM Punk

Okay so Undertaker’s challengers are a guy he’s beaten twice in title matches successively and only lost the first one due to a screwjob and then two guys coming in off time out, whose only PPV appearance has been not winning the tag team titles. Zuh? Not only that but this match hasn’t even got a story with Batista and Rey barely interacting with Punk or Undertaker outside of the Punk/Tista match a couple of weeks back. This is two separate stories being thrown together for no real reason. I think that in this match Batista turns on Rey, goes heel and sets up that program, but I do not think that that will be a title feud. Where I think this match will actually go depends on Taker’s MRI he was reported to have earlier this week. I think that either Taker can just retain or there will be a big ruckus following Batista’s heel turn and that Punk will sneak in for a fluke pin. Personally, with Taker looking weak and him being put in a four way so he doesn’t have to take the fall (or more specifically so that Rey can) I’m going to go for the former. I also think that it would be reasonable to do Rey taking the fall for Batista, but I am going to bet against that, this time round.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: CM Punk (new World Heavyweight Champion)

Chris Predicts: Fatal Four Way Match For The World Heavyweight Championship: Undertaker © vs Batista vs Rey Mysterio vs CM Punk

This match has not been built very well at all. Batista and Rey were added to the mix for no real reason and have spent the last few weeks sucking up to each other on Smackdown. Undertaker and Punk have continued their issues which were further advanced with their excellent match on this week’s Smackdown. With Long, Armstrong, Punk and Vince all trying to screw The Undertaker I am not sure he will be keeping hold of his belt here, especially since he is in such terrible physical shape. Putting the belt back on CM Punk makes no sense to me, seeing as he only lost it a month ago but WWE Creative have shown no sense with booking recently so perhaps this is not as far fetched as it sounds. Another possibility, albeit an unlikely one, is Batista turning on Rey and pinning him for the win, setting up Batista vs Rey for the title for a few months, whilst Punk and co continue their feud with Undertaker separately. With all the ‘Bromance’ and sucking up Rey and Batista have been doing recently I am really sensing some kind of swerve else all that mushy crap would have been for nothing. The more I think about it the more I see Batista leaving as champion after turning on Rey, as much as I don’t want to see it!

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Batista (new World Heavyweight Champion)

Paul Predicts: Iron Man Match For The WWE Championship: Randy Orton © vs John Cena

Out of all the wrestlers they have, Randy Orton is a guy I can barely stand for one minute in the ring, nevermind an hour. He can put in a decent match character wise very occasionally, but in an Ironman match, you have to be able to wrestle. Something neither Orton nor Cena can do for a sustained period of this length. The only consolation is that this is allegedly the last encounter between these two and if that is the case I don’t know whether seeing them fight for an hour is a bullet I’m willing to take. Of course there is always the Cena leaves RAW if he loses thing which makes this somewhat interesting, as they would have to give away the title again to keep him in it. I don’t know where to go here, but my thoughts are that WWE reasons that Cena = Ratings, and since they are losing people in key demographics such as 18-34 y/o males to Monday Night Football and that they have been beaten one week by The Ultimate Fighter, I have to reason that Cena takes this one, likely from a 2 or 3 fall deficit, that Superman himself will have to overcome in the last 10 minutes of the match.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: John Cena (new WWE Champion)

Chris Predicts: Iron Man Match For The WWE Championship: Randy Orton © vs John Cena

Whoever wins, we loose! Of all the wrestlers on the current roster there are perhaps four or five I would want to watch wrestle for an hour and none of those are John Cena or Randy Orton. This match has been built well with some good work from both Cena and Orton on RAW, props especially to Cena for making it look like last Monday’s clash with Triple H was his last match for the brand. However I do not agree that it is THE rivalry in WWE, both Jericho vs Mysterio and Punk vs Hardy were better in my opinion. I am not looking forward to seeing this, Orton is an excellent heel and plays his role well but he is SO SLOW and BORING to watch in the ring that sometimes I feel it is like watching a match in slow motion. Endless stomps, chin locks, head locks and staring at Cena when he is down is a recipe for a very boring match. Then of course Cena has one of stalest move sets in the company! These two need to do something very different here in order for this match to be entertaining or a success. I think Orton may take an early advantage here and maybe get a one or two falls on Cena but of course there is no way WWE would EVER put Cena on Smackdown or ECW so of course Super Cena will battle back and overcome the odds once again. I think Ted DiBiase could well get involved at some point during this match, perhaps coming down to save Orton but accidentally cost him the title leading to some serious vengeance on RAW next week. This match will almost certainly close the show and could well send all of us British viewers to sleep if it is too slow and boring. However I am really hoping Cena and Orton go out and blow us all away with a fantastic match that will FINALLY put an end to this rivalry once and for all. I think they should have had a loser leaves the brand stipulation just so these two do not meet again for years to come!

Chris’ Predicted Winner: John Cena (new WWE Champion)

Hopefully I can continue my strong showing from Hell in a Cell, but really who knows. With this show not looking particularly amazing, the best I can hope for is that this is bearable and that the matches that look decent actually really deliver. Until next time I have been Paul Smith, and I will see you on Wednesday to see how Yoshi Tatsu does in his quest to become ECW Champion.

Well there you have it, another bunch of predictions. Hopefully I will do a bit better this time round than at Breaking Point! Whilst there are only five matches on the card I do not look for anything else to be added here as Cena vs Orton is going on for so long. I hope you all have a great week and I shall be back next weekend with Chris Reviews Smackdown!

The Smackdown Report

By Paul Smith

paulsmith3010@gmail.com

Welcome to The Smackdown Report and I am your host Paul Smith.

The Pre Game: Okay, a fair bit to get through this time out. I haven’t written on this website for over two weeks and missed my ECW from the week previously. I’m not going to make any excuses, all I can say is that I’m very sorry and I should be able to return to business as usual starting with this report.

Also, I would just like to say thankyou to the almost Godfather of the WNW Blog Spot, RAW is Blogged writer, Luke Parks who has announced he will vacate his post here at the end of the year. Luke is I am sure one of the most read sections of the site and his funny and well written coverage will be missed. On the few occasions I have had chance to talk to him in the comments and in the PPV live chats, he has been a funny guy who is very cool to talk with and as such I wish him good luck in his future endeavours…so to speak.

On a similar note, I, like Chris, have received a few emails asking whether I am going to apply to take over the RAW Blog. This depends on my schedule, as it stands now, I can’t afford to stay up and write the blog live (I have to be awake four hours after RAW ends my time) and I then have a stupidly long day the day after which would make the blog later. However, by the time Luke leaves us I will be onto semester 2, and I will have to try and evaluate nearer the time, as I would be interested in the blog (as long as you guys weren’t vocally against it of course) but only if my timetable allowed me to do it justice.

In the last of administrative notes, thanks to Chris Jacks for his as always awesome coverage of ECW this week. He can now finally take comfort than in while the Smackdown I usually step in and do is an extra good one, he somehow got the ONE time that Chris Jericho appears on ECW and actually wrestles too for his blog this week.

Now, TNA Bound For Glory. I decided a couple of days later to check it out. I generally enjoyed the show. I was loving the extra spotty Ultimate X match until the spot at the end which completely soured me on the match. I didn’t want to see people doing bumps that Daniels took to themselves. Morgan vs Angle though was very good and I unlike a lot of people enjoyed the Lashley vs Joe match as it was something different and probably more to do with me being a Joe mark. Whether or not doing the referee stoppage ala actual MMA was a good idea for a pro wrestling audience remains to be seen though. So that match sums up my feelings really. Generally a pretty good show as far as the in-ring goes but the booking was a little weird in pretty much every match, but its TNA and that’s the way they roll.

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Smackdown is taped and rolling from Columbia, South Carolina, the home of the late and the great Fabulous Moolah ~!

On with the show.

We begin with our title screen and theme. I think I prefer it to the old one. After some pyrotechnics FUCKING Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler welcome us to the show and pimps out Batisterio vs Kanericho for later on. JR is ‘under the weather’ apparently. Well if that isn’t ever the sweeping statement. Chris Jericho interrupts my anger though.

We get a view of Team RAW vs Team Smackdown. We’ll see. We get a recap of the big brawl segment (which may well have an impact on a certain tag match later on) between the two teams. Jericho says that on Sunday he will further his legend by winning the 7 on 7 match as team captain. Jericho says he will ensure the men on his team are worthy of being on his team. JTG comes out for some reason and says gay jokes and stuff. He explains that Shad is sick (perhaps). Jericho doesn’t appareciate being in the same team as him, and says that JTG doesn’t understand how much of an honor it is to be in the same ring. However, just to overbook this a little more, Vickie Guerrero comes out as official consultant of Team Smackdown, she welcomes the future of Smackdown, Eric Escobar. People care. Except not at all. They’re all booing the shit out of Vickie. Eric says that he heard a lot of talk from DX, but after he wins the 7 on 7 match, they will never forget the name ERIC ESSSSSCOBAR. This somehow brings out Dolph Ziggler, perhaps because he already knows so much about introducing himself and his name and such. Dolph say no, and also says ecuse me (see what he did there). Dolph argues that he will be responsible for winning the match. JTG says Dolph knows nothing about winning after his IC contender matches and that he dumped Maria. And wearing a ridiculous coat, out comes Drew McIntyre. Drew says that Jez shouldn’t worry about losing because he was handpicked by Vince McMahon himself. McIntyre says he should have been captain, which brings out Kane. Kane says that none of these guys are worthy of fighting alongside Kane, and Jericho says him too. Jericho says that there will be a four on five match to determine who will really be in the team. And that match will be next.

JTG, Eric Escobar, Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre vs Finlay, The Hart Dynasty, Matt Hardy & R-Truth, Bragging Rights Qualifier
I don’t think I got chance to mention how stupid having this 7 on 7 is, the show before Survivor Series. Oh well. Tyson Kidd and JTG will start. JTG gets a no count off a leapfrog fameasser and in comes Finlay. Finlay basically mauls JTG around for a little while before Ziggler tags himself in. Ziggler works some basic strikes but gets short armed by Finlay. Ziggler gets posted and goes over the top before we go to a break. When we come back Eric Escobar is holding a chinlock on Finlay. Finlay armdrags Escobar down but Escobar takes back over and McIntyre comes in. McIntyre works some stomps before Ziggler comes in again and rolls up Finlay. Ziggler gets a two off an elbow drop. Ziggler holds a chinlock with Finlay stretching for a tag. McIntyre comes back in and stomps away. Ziggler is back in and holds a bridging chinlock and is distracted allowing Matt Hardy to tag in, and he pummels Ziggler before flapjacking him for two. Scoop slam and a second rope axe handle for a two count. Hardy nails Ziggler with the side effect but the pin is split by Escobar. Jtg comes in with an elbow and basically everything breaks down as everyone goes to the outside. JTG looks to finish Matt but Finlay hits him with the shillelagh before Hardy pins JTG with the Twist of Fate giving the win to the new team, shuffling up the Smackdown Seven.
Winners: Matt Hardy, Finlay, The Hart Dynasty and R-Truth

Opinion: Well that wasn’t an especially good match, but the booking is the more interesting part. Vince blowing up over how Team Smackdown looked on Monday is understandable and to be honest apart from trying to maintain a RAW being mostly faces and a Smackdown being mostly heels dynamic, they probably should have went with that team to begin with, considering how green McIntyre and Escobar are. Ziggler though deserves a place on the PPV and its a shame he wont get one now. *1/2

CM Punk is backstage with Scott Armstrong, who says that he ruined his reputation at Breaking Point. Punk says that that is selfish and that this is all about him. Long says he could lose his job and maybe even his life. Punk doesn’t understand why they’ve changed tune and Armstrong says name is all you have. Vince is at the door and says that he and Armstrong need to talk. The fix is out.

Morrison is walking backstage, in preparation for his match with Mike Knox, which is next.

They pimp Kane/Jericho vs Batista/Mysterio again.

Intercontinental Champion John Morrison vs Mike Knox, Non-Title Match
Digital John Morrison will of course face off with Digital The Miz at Bragging Rights. We also look at The Miz beating Marty Jannetty. Mike Knox is shown talking about abdominal pain. Thankyou good doctor. Things really begin with Knox’s cool crossbody before a pumphandle slam for two. He locks in an adbdominal stretch. What’s cool is that so far his offence has effected what he talked about in his promo. Rollup for two by Morrison before a chop block. Leg lariat by Morrison before a running knee for two. Morrison runs into a massive bicycle big boot from Knox, Morrison ducks an attack from Knox who hotshots himself and ends up getting dragged into the corner and hit with starship pain.
Winner: John Morrison

Opinion: Short match, and while it was a good one, I don’t think it made Morrison look especially awesome, which you’d think would be the plan going into a PPV match. **

After the bell, Morrison gets on the mic and says that while Miz is trying to prove he isn’t Marty Jannetty, that Morrison is going to show that he is John Morrison. Can’t argue with that.

Submission match will be a little later on for the WHC.

The new members of team Smackdown are backstage. Jericho says they should follow their leadership. The team all express how much they want to beat RAW. Jericho wants them to watch as they beat Batisterio.

Mickie is backstage with Mae Young, and Michelle McCool says its a shame that Mickie didn’t make the team but that Beth and Natalya are more talented than Mickie. Mickie says Michelle is scared that she’ll take the Women’s title. Beth comes in to say she is thrilled about being part of Team Smackdown but that is also coming after the title. Mae slaps Michelle. She loves that shit.

We get taken back to the fun Batista/Mysterio match from last week. We get it shown that Batista had his shoulder up. Backstage Rey tells Tista that he and his kids learned something they didn’t know about Batista after watching the ‘I Walk Alone’ DVD set. They then playfully argue about who is going to win the title at Bragging Rights.

Rey Mysterio & Batista vs Unified Tag Team Champion Chris Jericho & Kane
Michael Cole wants to be Batista. Jericho and Batista begin things. Jericho pays for slapping Batista as he eats clotheslines and the like. Mysterio comes in and they do a double team nut dropkick. Snapmare by Mysterio before a sliding leg drop for two. Drop toe hold into the ropes but the 619 is blocked by Kane. After a break Kane has a backbreaker stretch on Mysterio. Jericho comes in and kicks him after a Kane backbreaker. Jericho does his usual dick schtick. Rey hits his lucha wheelbarrow bulldog and both men are on the floor. Kane is tagged in and he blocks a tag on the other side. Jericho mauls Mysterio with the ref’s back turned. Kane hits a mare and hits a massive dropkick on the mat. Jericho comes back in and rams Mysterio into the corner. He hits a delayed vertical suplex for a two count. Jericho gets rana’d to the outside and Batista calls for the tag. Double tag and Batista goes to town on Kane hitting him with a corner clothesline, a diving shoulder block and a spinebuster. As Batista goes for the powerbomb on Kane, Jericho enziguiris him, but as Jericho goes for the codebreaker he gets hit with a spinebuster too. Kane then hits a big boot and posts Batista. Mysterio runs in, but ends up chokeslammed for his troubles. However, Kane turns round into the spear which enough for the three count.
Winners: Batista & Rey Mysterio

Opinion: Fun little match, that was like the others, a little short. However, from a booking standpoint, I think this match was counterproductive, as it didn’t really build Rey as a title challenger and it made the captains of Team Smackdown, generally look bad. That being said, from a ring work perspective, this was good. **

Armstrong, Vince, Teddy and Punk are backstage. Punk and Vince are excited. Vince is proud of Punk, wants to give Teddy a gold star and tells everyone to do their job. Vince can smell Autumn and he can feel change and that something is imminent and says what starts here ends at Wrestlemania. Vince sucks off Wrestlemania a little before saying Bob Armstrong, (Scott’s Dad) could be in candidacy for the Hall of Fame. He tells Scott to keep that thought in the championship match. Armstrong has a look on his face that suggests that this time he will do the right thing. Strange segment.

Mickie James vs Layla
Ay ay ay. This was kind of your usual diva fare with lots of screaming and light strikes and stuff. Interesting stuff was Mickie taking the Flair flop, and Layla hitting a crucifix rollup and a sidewalk slam. Mickie hit a neckbreaker for a two count. Mickie then hit a nice spinning high kick for the win.
Winner: Mickie James

Opinion: Well that was what it was. More interesting than normal but it felt more like it was on there just to get the girls on the show 3/4*

A tribute video is shown of the frankly mad Captain Lou Albano. RIP.

The Bragging Rights theme is the usual generic hard rock we’ve all come to love.

They show a hype video for John Cena vs Randy Orton for the FINAL time apparently. Give 12-18 months and I’m sure we’ll be doing this again. To be fair, the hype video makes the feud seem more epic than it actually is.

‘Old’ King and Cole hype the Bragging Rights card.

CM Punk w/ Teddy Long & Scott Armstrong vs The Undertaker (c), World Heavyweight Championship, Submission Match
I never like World Title matches days before PPVs, but they didn’t really seem to want to make the four guys in the PPV match look like they have a cohesive issue, so here we are I suppose. Punk before the match says he could beat and humiliate everyone in this arena. It makes him feel strong to know that he could reduce all the viewers to tears, but none of that is a powerful as knowing that he’s about to make Undertaker tap out for the second time. He says he knows all of the crowd’s lives are horrible and that their bastion of light is an Undertaker victory, one that he cannot get. Taker is in his Attitude Era garb again. Nice touch when Undertaker hesitates in handing Armstrong the title, not trusting him after last time round. Undertaker knocks down Punk with a straight right and pummels him with more straight rights in the corner. Undertaker hits a scoop slam but Punk ducks an elbow and goes straight for the anaconda vice. Taker escapes and after a break Taker throws Punk around at ringside. Punk is thrown on the announce table. Undertaker went for a diving big boot while Punk was on the apron but Punk moved and Taker booted the ropes. Punk beats on Taker on the outside before throwing him into the steel stairs. Punk gloats on the outside and goes for the slingshot clothesline but gets caught in a goozle which he gets out of. Punk and Taker exchange strikes with Taker seemingly getting the advantage. Corner charge by Taker before snake eyes and a leg drop. Taker fed the arm and went for Hell’s Gate but Punk rolled away. Taker goes up for OLD SCHOOL and Teddy approaches the ring, distracting Taker and allowing Punk to counter. Punk hits the high knee bulldog combo, with a big smile on his face. Punk asks Teddy for his chair and Teddy gives it to Armstrong. Punk snatches it from Armstrong and ends up having it booted in his face. Taker chokeslams the hell out of Armstrong for a reason I don’t really understand (who’s calling the submission now). Taker motions for Teddy’s death but Punk chairs Taker in the gut and twice in the head. Punk puts Taker in the vice, and Teddy tries to call for bell and as another ref makes the ring, Taker reverses into the Hell’s Gate and Punk taps to give Undertaker the win and the title retention.
Winner: The Undertaker

Opinion: Very interesting story being told and I enjoyed the ringwork when they weren’t just brawling too. Kinda makes Punk look stupid for Sunday but I suppose this is a different story to the one theyre gonna tell on Sunday anyway. We will have to see what happens, but as a main event, I enjoyed the story, the characterisation and the ring work. **3/4

While some of the matches weren’t that exciting, I enjoyed the build towards Bragging Rights even if some of the decisions made regarding that seemed a little bit off. But overall, I enjoyed watching the show, so:

This episode of Smackdown earns a thumbs up.

Also, myself and Chris who usually does this here blog, will be back again tomorrow with The Talent Exchange.

Until next time, I have been Paul Smith. Thanks for reading.

The ECW Report

By Paul Smith

paulsmith3010@gmail.com

Welcome to The ECW Report and I am your host Paul Smith.

The Pre Game: No pre-game this week, it would normally be PPV thoughts but they’re already in a blog, so check them out if you’re interested.

-

To open tonight’s show we get a recap of guest GM William Regal’s antics last week. I don’t know why this needed recapping. Except maybe Yoshi pinning Regal…maybe that will play into later things somehow. Hmm…

Next comes our title screen, now with more Sheamus looking menacing.

How will the last 48 hours affect ECW asks Josh? Well since they were nothing to do with it, PROBABLY IN NO WAY IN THE SLIGHTEST. Anyway new voice lady who sounds kind of like Tiffany welcomes william Regal and his really big friends in red to the ring.

Regal sends his best wishes to Tiffany while she recovers. In the face of dire consequences apparently, Regal makes himself the #1 contender to the ECW title before being rudely interrupted by Zack Ryder. Ryder says he can’t do that because last week Regal cost his team the match, bro. After some arguing, Christian comes to tell us what to do and what to think. Thanks man. He takes the urine out of the pair before determining that neither deserve the #1 contendership bringing out the evidence of the janitor, Tony Atlas and Yoshi Tatsu. The janitor changed the urinal cakes, achieving something, and therefore a more deserving #1 contender, pleasing Lo Fez as I think his name was. Tony Atlas is a WWE Hall Of Famer and has a laugh, and is also therefore more deserving. And then we have Yoshi, who you know, won that match last week. He is therefore most deserving. Bill tries to argue but is slapped down. The peeps let us know that we should keep calling him Bill. Thanks guys. Christian determines Yoshi as the true #1 contender. Yoshi is very grateful. But it’s not up to Bill, nor Chris, as he brings out Tiff, who has recovered from her FUCKING CAR CRASH in one week with just a broken arm.  Tiffany thanks Regal for filling in, but she is back to do her job and various other bullshit Universe propaganda statements. She hasn’t decided who is the #1 contender. All three potential contenders will prove themselves tonight, with Ryder vs Christian, Yoshi vs Regal and Kozekiel will have a tag match next.

Vladimir Kozlov & Ezekiel Jackson vs Tommy Dreamer & Goldust
I keep expecting Tony Chimel, but I get new lady instead. Strange. Anyway, looking at those four names and we may indeed apply some bowling shoes if this match was a pair of feet if you catch my fairly blunt and obvious drift. Takedown by Koz on Dreamer, who tags in Goldust after some general pounding. Remember the old APA t-shirt that had ‘Always Pounding Ass’ on it? yeah, that was pretty homoerotic. Anyway after some generic action we have Goldust hitting a running knee on Big Zeke who responds by falling out of the ring and eating an apron cannonball from Dreamer. On the outside Goldust manages to post Zeke and roll him in the ring. Dustin is distracted by Kozlov though and gets knocked to the outside and beaten by Kozlov for a two count. In comes the ‘Moscow Mauler’ himself to deliver some more beatings. Joyous. Decent belly2belly by Kozlov who grounds and pounds ‘Dust. He locks a waistlock top make things interesting I suppose before bring Zeke in again. Zeke locks in the chickenwing he has taken to using and hits a falling lariat on Goldust. Back up and Goldust hits his falling uppercut, tags in Dreamer who gets a top rope clothesline and mat blockbuster and a standing crossbody for a two by Dreamer. Dreamsy hits a neckbreaker for two. Dreamer gets distracted by Kozlov and ends up hit by the Guyanage for the three count.
Winners: Ezekiel Jackson & Vladimir Kozlov

Opinion: Not a pretty match, nor a particularly exciting one, but I suppose it served to keep the heels strong. *

Regal fellates Tiffany to try and swing the contendership his way. Tiffany thinks Cena upon losing his Ironmatch would come to ECW. That would certainly change things. Tiff basically tells Regal to shut up and get ready for his match.

Next is the RAW Rebound, because even when I purposefully don’t watch this show, I CANNOT ESCAPE.

Yoshi Tatsu vs William Regal
Yoshi is still wearing his Misawa pants. That means we will get various references to burning hammers and such from Striker. When he somehow fits in emerald frosion, only then will I be happen. Regal does some subtle things to show how little time he had to prepare for his match, his trunks not being done properly and his bootlace being undone. Nice. Yoshi comes straight in with punches though. He continues with strikes and a dropkick. We’re calling his roundhouse a Super High Jumping Kick in an homage to Japanese/English translations I suppose. After some grappling Regal again goes to his lace. Yoshi goes for a suplex but Regal gets a headlock out of it. Eurocuts by Regal before what looked like a botched side Russian sweep, but apparently Yoshi tried to counter it. Is that like the new ‘modified’ or something? Anyway, after a break we get the rolling snapmare and a kick to the chest by Yoshi, but Regal throws Yoshi out after catching him on a crossbody. Yoshi takes a face of announce table before being rolled back in. Yoshi comes back with kicks but is floored by a punch to the face. Regal puts on a crossface. Regal hits a nice butterfly suplex before going back to a chinlock. Yoshi counters a knee into a dragon screw before peppering Regal with strikes and getting a nearfall off the roaring elbow. Yoshi looks gassed, but all the same he goes up and misses the super spinning wheel. Regal runs into the SUPER HIGH FRONT KICK though and Yoshi wins. Does this make Yoshi #1 contender? Oh well, it’s not like that’s getting on PPV any time soon. This, plus Regal will gripe next week by his leg apparently being under the rope.
Winner: Yoshi Tatsu

Opinion: Decent match there that got both guys over. Some nice action too. **1/4

Post-match the Roundtable is out to be big and stuff.

We get a recap of the Shelton/Sheamus stuff that’s been nicely building recently. So rather than have that ECW feud on ECW, that match is coming to Superstars.

Zack Ryder vs ECW Champion Christian, Non Title Match
Zack Ryder is out in what Chris Jacks called lingerie, and I have to say I agree with him. It appears the British guy, the Guyanan guy and the Russian guy will stay at ringside for this one. They haven’t left long for this third installment of this rivalry. Arm work to start with as normal on ECW matches for some reason. Ryder trips him and Christian just ends up knocking him down. Ryder jacknifes Christian but he turns into a sunset flip like cover. Christian eurocuts Ryder and then unleashes the SHORYUKEN. Ryder catapults Christian’s throat into the bottom rope before basement dropkicking Christian out of the ring. When we come back, Ryder is working over really interesting chinlocks. They exchange right hands, which Christian wins, but Ryder gets a headbutt and the leaping fameasser. In the ropes Ryder is kneeing Christian and Ryder ends up getting a two count off of a back elbow. Bro. Maybe I should call Ryder’s elbows elbros. Maybe not. Ryder returns to his beloved chinlock, but ends up getting hit with the Edge-O-Matic. Christian hits him with a spinning wheel and a couple of forearms. He stands on Ryder in the ropes and slingshots to the outside for a right hand before hitting a high crossbody for a two count. Pendulum kick and super tornado DDT gets a two after a short delay. Ryder counters the Killswitch into the TIGER DRIVER and that somehow gets a two. yeah the Zack Attack would have got him but the Tiger Driver is just small potatoes. Why the fuck does this guy constantly do chinlocks and then randomly bust shit like that out!? Christian backbody drops Ryder outside from the apron and then goes up top for a massive dive. However, the Roundtable take advantage and kick the shit out of Christian, leading to a DQ.
Winner: Christian, DQ
Loser: People who don’t like endless bullshit.

Opinion: Nowhere near as good as their other matches, and the DQ finish only adds to that, but still a pretty decent match. **

Post-match Ryder gets pissy and also gets kicked the tar out of. Heels pose, which seems to happen a lot on this show.

Well, this show was pretty good, three decent matches and I don’t really know where we are with the #1 contendership, meaning that I would want to tune in next week to see what happens, but I have to watch it every week anyway, so…you know.

This episode of ECW earns a thumbs up.

Until next time, I have been Paul Smith. Thanks for reading.

By Paul Smith for WrestlingNewsWorld.com

The Undertaker vs CM Punk
Probably a good choice for opener, in order to spread the cell matches around a little bit, the first bout was the Hell in a Cell match for the World Heavyweight Championship. Now don’t get me wrong, this was an enjoyable match and in fact quite a good match, but this didn’t feel like a Cell match in execution. This felt like a normal match which the giant cage surrounded. CM Punk’s work of Taker’s knee and then the Deadman’s subsequent selling of it were well done, and so were the nearfalls, such as the one from the Last Ride in the corner. I also enjoyed some of the spots they did such as CM Punk’s attempt at his knee strike bulldog combo on the apron which Taker countered. I also enjoyed CM Punk reversing Old School into what was effectively the Go2Sleep, and I think that was the intent judging by Punk’s reaction to the two count, but the crowd nor announcers seemed to pick up on it.All the same though, this felt like a match with a cage around it rather than the usual great Cell match we get, so while this was still an enjoyable match, it still was very much underwhelming especially considering the rather flat finish of chokeslam>tombstone>pin. I was also surprised to see them not play off the Hell’s Gate really, considering it was unbanned and after all the controversy at Breaking Point. While I still think CM Punk was hot as champion and they may end up regret having lose cleanly here, there was no real way of having Punk win and there was no way of having Taker lose again, if you get my meaning. We shall have to see where the latest Undertaker World Title reign will take us. ***

Dolph Ziggler vs John Morrison
Next up was the Intercontinental Championship match that never was at Breaking Point. This was what was widely expected to be the ‘workrate’ match of the nioght and it certainly was. They built slow with some mat grappling, before going on to some nice rope sequences before getting to the big moves. This was a very exciting match with lots of believable near falls, and they hit their moves with stunning fluidity. Minor complaints are that there wasn’t a whole lot of a story being told, but they weren’t really given one too work off of. Also for the length of time they had, there was probably a little too much mat wrestling as this began to lose the crowd a little , but only because of the length of time the match had, and they won them back eventually all the same. If or when Ziggler will win the title is to be determined but his performances are getting better and for me this was his most impressive PPV showing yet. ***1/4

Then the ninja turtles arrived. Fantastic.

Alicia Fox vs Mickie James
Next in what was probably the least anticipated match since Kane vs Khali, came the Diva’s title match. At this point I realise there’s a ‘Where’s My ECW Title Match?’ sign in the audience. What followed was an inoffensive, thankfully short divas match, that did quite well in the time it got, apart from Mickie once again botching her jumping DDT finish. Keeping the belt on Mickie was pretty much the only way to go here, because even though Alicia shows some promise, she’s still really too green to be able to carry the women’s division on RAW. 3/4*

Chris Jericho and The Big Show vs Batista and Rey Mysterio
In my opinion, post draft WWE have done a great job (as well as respective holders) in rebuilding the meaning of their tag team and intercontinental championship belts, and with respect to the tag team belts, that continued with this event in a fantastic tag team match. This match had it all, and the best part about it was that even when Batista and Big Show were in there, the guys opposite them made sure that it was still a good match in how they were used. The sections with Mysterio and Jericho were great as expected, and we also got one of the hottest and best home stretches to a WWe tag team match for a long time, with some great spots with the 619s, the double spear on the outside and then the knockout punch finish, which although we’ve seen similar before, is a great way to end a match. I also really enoyed the commentary on this match. JR and Todd Grisham did really well to put over literally everything, from each individual wrestler, the wrestlers as teams, the moves and even the crowd. From a ’smart’ fan perspective it was going to be interesting, as much like Punk vs Undertaker, it was hard to have anyone lose, with Batista being Batista, Rey making his return and Show and Jericho doing so well with the belts. This ended up being a great match and mainly because of CM Punk vs Undertaker being a disappointment more than a bad match, this tag match became my favourite match of the night so far. ***3/4

Randy Orton vs John Cena
Now this is where match order got a little bit odd. To me, no matter the booking of either match, this had to be the main event really, now this feud has developed enough to be properly blown off in Hell in a Cell, having it here doesn’t have the same effect. However, the reason for this became clear by the end of the match, as they don’t usually like to go off the air with a heel win unless it’s a majorly important one and here, Randy Orton choked Cena out and then punted him to regain the WWE championship. This was actually a solid if not really exciting match, that wasn’t really a Hell in a Cell match either, but this one had more of a story and more history to build off which made up for the lack of brutality and at least made it feel like a big match. While the match did keep fading away into the usual plodding fare we expect from Randy Orton, there were some bright spots, like Cena’s aggressive throwing of the stairs at Orton, the nearfalls we got from the Attitude Adjustment and the RKO and the interesting way Orton choked out Cena to get to the finish. While, I did predict this result based on this week’s TV and the ‘no more rematches’ clause, I don’t see what the point of the switch was other than to sadly create another John Cena/Randy Orton match, probably now at Survivor Series, and sadly even with a month and a half break, this feud has really long since ran it’s course. Ah, so we’re just going straight to another match at Bragging Rights then. While the Ironman format will freshen things up, if this is a 1 hr Ironmatch match…oyy..who really wants to see either of these guys wrestle for an hour? **3/4

R-Truth vs Drew McIntyre
Drew McIntyre made his full WWE wrestling debut, marking it with a win against established mid carder R-Truth. They were given five minutes and it was frankly fairly unspectacular. In my opinion McIntyre wasn’t give enough offense to properly get himself over as the badass heel they want him to be, and while he bumped around well for Truth, a little heat of his own wouldn’t have hurt. The older male section of the crowd (who had been smarky all night) chanted boring on and off throughout, which definitely didn’t help matters. The match itsself was solid, but it didn’t give me enough to see the future World Champion in the young Scot just yet. *1/2

The first really interesting backstage segment came with Randy Orton and his Legacy, and it worked well to put over Hell in a Cell and showed just what Legacy have turned into after spending so long as Orton’s lackeys.

The Miz vs Jack Swagger vs Kofi Kingston
When he came out, Miz had a microphone, and promised to become US champion, and he complained about having to win it in Newark, New Jersey, where all sewers lead to. Miz asked the mayor to ban him from the city so he’d never have to come back. basic cheap heat promo. Jack Swagger now has gloves for those that care. This was a good match, but not great as it was more a collection of spots than a story or supreme wrestling match, but when the mid card is as negelcted as it is on RAW this was all you could ask for really, and I did enjoy it. I was surprised to see Kofi retain but it’s good to see how much confidence the writers or bookers have in him, but now I think Miz and Swagger will have to move onto other things, as Kofi has beaten them both now on a couple of occasions. Obviously, in hindsight, Miz won, pretty much negating this match. Go figure. **3/4

D-Generation X vs Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase
Now, as much a big deal as DX is, and as much a good way to get Legacy over as this is, this should have swapped places with Cena and Orton in my opinion. With this being said, this match had a story interesting enough to justify it being the main event. Things started hot with a wild brawl outside the cell, and Triple H being laid out and then locked out of the Cell, leaving Legacy to have what must have been 15 minutes alone with a one legged Shawn Michaels, whose knee had been attacked with a chain beforehand. What followed wasn’t an amazing wrestling match, but good storytelling and booking. I enjoyed the sadistic nature of Legacy’s beatdown and their smack talk during and I think both Hunter and Shawn worked their facial expressions well. This for me, was match of the night and an appropriate to end the feud, and while Legacy do look a little stupid for not just pinning HBK, it works from a storyline point of having them making the mistake of enjoying the beatdown too much. ***3/4

Overall, this was an excellent show, as everything delivered, and the things I didn’t expect much from, weren’t bad at all. Overall I’d recommend finding a way to see this show if you didn’t on Sunday and contrary to what I expected, the three Cell match format actually worked out well.

Thanks for reading, WWE Hell in a Cell 2009 gets a thumbs up.

Until later on today with The ECW Report, I have been Paul Smith.

Welcome once again Prediction Enthusiasts to another action packed edition of The Talent Exchange, with I, ‘ECW Guy’ Paul Smith and my accomplice in predictions, ‘The Man That Reviews The Friday Night Show’ Chris Jacks. So WWE has finally decided to be merciless and we now have Hell in a Cell as our early October PPV offering. Personally, I think that the three cell matches, especially not in amazingly heat filled feuds will kill the gimmick as the big draw as it once was, but it will be a while before we can truly see whether that is the case. Bad Cell matches are few and far between, and that is why I am trying to be optimistic towards this show. The lack of an ECW match also shows how important that brand is. So with that said, onto the predictions.

Hey guys. I know I am cutting it pretty fine with this one but I was so exhausted when I got in from work earlier I fell asleep and only woke up a short time ago. My predictions will not be hugely detailed here so I am sorry but things are so busy for me right now and I hope you don’t think any less of me. I always try and give my all but 35 days in a row is seriously hard work… I am not even going to be able to watch the show tonight as I am up at 6am tomorrow so I will have to check out the replay when I get home tomorrow night.

Paul Predicts: R-Truth vs. Drew McIntyre

Well this one is apparently a last minute addition to the card. And at least they’ve built to a PPV match instead of just throwing it on there. Dew must be popular backstage with a PPV debut, a Vince McMahon rub and a lot of promo time for a new guy. What’s also funny is that this must be R-Truth’s first PPV appearance since the Royal Rumble. Poor guy. Anyway, I assume this will be a quick match used mainly to get Drew over, especially with R-Truth getting the upperhand on the beatdowns the last couple of weeks.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: Drew McIntyre

Chris Predicts: R-Truth vs. Drew McIntyre

Despite the late addition the feud between these two has been built really well and Drew McIntyre has impressed the hell out of me on Smackdown. He can talk, has a good look and is very talented in the ring (as seen in FCW) so hopefully this hould be a really good match. There is no way Drew is not going over in this one on his PPV debut!

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Drew McIntyre

Paul Predicts: Divas Championship Match Mickie James © vs. Alicia Fox

Mickie James has been in some of the worst women’s matches I’ve ever seen in the last few weeks, and couple that with a popped implant and the fact that Alicia Fox is still green as hell…I really fear for this match. This is gonna be straight up awful. Hopefully this will go quick or it will really kill the crowd. As for a winner, I don’t think Alicia carrying the women on RAW is a good move now or a good move ever.
Paul’s Predicted Winner: Mickie James (retains Diva’s championship)

Chris Predicts: Divas Championship Match Mickie James © vs. Alicia Fox

This one has train wreck written all over it and this should have been Michelle and Melina instead. Alicia has actually looked pretty decent lately but as Paul pointed out Mickie has been in some of the worst women’s matches ever. That match from RAW on Monday with Rosa rivals Bella vs Bella for worst match of the year. Mickie has backstage heat, implant problems and has had a fairly long (by today’s standards) reign so I see a title change here. Sure Alicia is green in the ring but so was Maryse when she won her first title and she came out ok

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Alicia Fox (New Divas Champion)

Paul Predicts: Triple Threat Match for the United States Champion Kofi Kingston © vs. The Miz vs. Jack Swagger

At least creative has tried to make something of a story with these three guys, and I can only commend them for that even if the actual story has been a little dodgy. The thing is, it’s been a long time since I’ve actually wanted to see a RAW midcard match from a story perspective rather than a ‘this could be a good match’ because of the workers involved. That pattern still hasn’t changed here. Ever since he’s won the title I’ve predicted Kofi losing the title but this time I really really believe it. I think The Miz wins here, just to freshen things up a little bit.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: The Miz (New United States Champion)

Chris Predicts: Triple Threat Match for the United States Champion Kofi Kingston © vs. The Miz vs. Jack Swagger

This has been an enjoyable feud and the US title actually means something again. I am with Luke on the belt stealing thing kind of sucks but I real like the animosity between heels in Miz and Swagger. I actually think Swagger is well above US title status and depending on the result of the WWE title match, may even get a main event run. I see The Miz finally capturing the gold here and possibly having an inter-brand champion vs champion match with John Morrison at Bragging Rights which would be awesome!

Chris’ Predicted Winner: The Miz (New United States Champion)

Paul Predicts: Unified Tag Team Championship Match Chris Jericho & Big Show © vs. Batista & Rey Mysterio

I think that while the actual feud coming in has been lacking this time round with Batista just being ownage and Jerishow just losing all over the place to various different people, the actual match could be one of the best yet of this tag reign. Jericho and Mysterio we know have good chemistry after their incredible feud earlier this year. I also quite like Jericho and Batista’s work and I think of Jericho as one of the few people that can still carry Big Dave to a decent match. And of course for the casual and younger fans they get to see the big Big Show lock up with little rey Mysterio and of course another shot at seeing the battle of the big with Batista. With few other teams for JeriShow to feud with, I see there being a rematch to this so for this match, even while I think Batista and Rey could end up champs again, I’m gonna give it to JeriShow.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: Chris Jericho & Big Show (Retain Unified Tag Titles)

Chris Predicts: Unified Tag Team Championship Match: Chris Jericho & Big Show © vs. Batista & Rey Mysterio

Well at least Batista is not in the title hunt… lets see if he can manage more than two wrestling moves in this match! I think as long as Show and Batista’s involvement is kept to a minimum this has the potential to be a show stealer as we all know how well Rey and Jericho work together. Whilst I do not see anyone pinning Batista on his return to PPV (or any other time for that matter), there is no way Rey and Batista are walking out as champions. It will probably be an innovative KO Punch once again. Perhaps as Rey goes for a 619 or something leaving Jericho to get the pin

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Chris Jericho & Big Show (Retain Unified Tag Titles)

Paul Predicts: Intercontinental Championship Match John Morrison © vs. Dolph Ziggler

While I expect nothing but a great match out of these two, the feud coming in just hasn’t been as solid as I would have expected. The pair’s mic work has just been a little sub par and at the end of the day WWE relies on you to be able to carry a feud with that stuff when you’re on TV once a week. Anyway, Dolph looked strong, pinning Morrison this week and we pretty much know what that means right? I can see this being an enjoyable match with perma-contender Dolph being on the losing side of things once again and I could see that leading to a Miz vs Morrison, US vs IC, RAW vs Smackdown match at Bragging Rights.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: John Morrison (retains Intercontinental Championship)

Chris Predicts: Intercontinental Championship Match John Morrison © vs. Dolph Ziggler

Great minds clearly think alike as Paul has the same thoughts about me for the Bragging Rights match! I actually cannot remember such a tough match to predicts as this! This match has show stealer written all over it and it is great to see John Morrison finally back on pay per view where he belongs. I do not see Ziggler going over here because it is too early into Morrison’s run to end it just yet. The key thing will be to have him looking strong in defeat which I am sure will happen and this feud can then be put on hold till perhaps Survivor Series where Dolph can finally claim the belt and Morrison can be promoted to the main event.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: John Morrison (retains Intercontinental Championship)

Paul Predicts: Hell in a Cell Match: D-Generation X vs. Legacy

Time for young Cody and Ted to cut their teeth inside the Cell then. And apparently DX have never been in Hell in a Cell, according to Jerry Lawler. Which would be okay if he meant as a team but EVEN THEN, he is forgetting (not unreasonably actually) the cell match DX had against the McMahons and Big Show. With their promo last Monday, DX have made this feel all like a big joke, which a Cell match should never be, and that has radically lost my interest in this one. I can’t see Legacy going over in this feud and if there’s any justice this will be the end of the feud and as such I think DX picks up the victory here.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: DX

Chris Predicts: Hell in a Cell Match: D-Generation X vs. Legacy

This is the best feud in WWE right now in my opinion. Ted and Cody look like legitimate stars now and as long as Hunter does not let his ego run riot this should be a very good match and probably one of the best of the night. I actually think DX will put Legacy over here to set up a final showdown at Survivor Series next month. I cannot wait to watch this when I get home tomorrow!

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Legacy

Paul Predicts: Hell In a Cell Match for the WWE: John Cena © vs. Randy Orton

So coming off what was a good match last time round doesn’t change the fact that this feud has overstayed it’s welcome and has been massively overlong and overdone. So having rematch number one million wont help things, especially when youre supposed to really care about a feud to put it in Hell in a Cell (making all of these feuds bad choices to put in there). So while I expect this to be somewhat entertaining (maybe a little optimistically), I don’t know who the winner is going to face outside of the usual suspect of TRIPLE H. All the same, Randy Orton got AA’d on top of a cage and pinned after a tombstone all in one week. He’s a total bitch if he loses this one.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: Randy Orton (New WWE Champion)

Chris Predicts: Hell In a Cell Match for the WWE: John Cena © vs. Randy Orton

Here we come to the worst feud in WWE. I am sick of these two going at it. I am sick of Cena’s same old promos and non selling and I am bored of Randy Orton taking fifteen minutes to walk to the ring! Can anyone see Cena losing this? He always overcomes the odds etc but Orton has been booked as a total pussy and needs some vengeance. Plus we come to the biggest problem with RAW right now: this is Orton’s last shot at Cena whilst Cena is champion so after that who is there to step up and challenge Cena… Jack Swagger is the only other heel of any note on RAW right now but I don’t want to see him fed to Cena. Of course with the interbrand stuff at Bragging Rights the next challenger is not an immediate problem but other than Orton there is no legit heel to challenge for the belt unless of course DX put over Legacy and then Ted or Cody could arguably claim a shot against Cena. Hmm tough call due to WWE’s lack of new stars but would they really switch the belt so soon… I am going with The Immortal John Hogan for the win.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: John Cena (retains WWE Championship)

Paul Predicts: Hell in a Cell Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk © vs. Undertaker

So once again we look at the situation of it not looking wise to take the title off CM Punk while he is doing so well and is over as a heel, but also how do you have him beat the legendary Undertaker, a guy most of the fans wont accept as being on the same level as Punk. Interesting situation, and I really don’t think, unless we get another screwjob, there is any way of Punk retaining here. I was nearly swung by the lack of a ‘guaran-damn-tee’ from Rock, which is usually a tell that what will happen will happen, but with everything else, I just have the feeling that Punk loses, which I don’t know, will probably lead to Taker vs Batista Part 793720582 somewhere down the line. This feud hasn’t been quite as good as I would have liked, but at the end of the day, it’s the Hell in a Cell gimmick that is supposed to draw here, not the feuds.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: The Undertaker (New World Heavyweight Champion)

Chris Predicts: Hell in a Cell Match for the World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk © vs. Undertaker

A lot of people seem to forget Taker put over Brock in HIAC and I see no reason why he wont do the same for Punk here as a win for the only straight edge world champion in history will really cement his place at the top of the pile in WWE. I hope this match headlines and I hope it gets a decent amount of time unlike at Breaking Point. This wont be exactly clean, hell I would not be at all surprised for Vince to come out and screw Taker since he has been hinting he was behind the whole Montreal thing! Hell maybe even Vickie and the debuting Eric Escobar will interfere, who knows, but I do see a CM Punk victory

Chris’ Predicted Winner: CM Punk (retains World Heavyweight Championship)

So there you have it. If I had my way there’d be a double title change at this show, which shows just exactly what I expect from WWE these days. Unfortunately, I wont be able to attend the Live Chat tonight due to a new schedule that would mean waking up three hours after the PPV had ended my time, just to get to University on time. So I may be unable to get to a live chat until at least Armageddon/Tables Ladders and Chairs in December and then we will have to see my timetable for the next semester. Anyway, enjoy the show and see you soon for some ECW action.

I will be not be able to make the live chat either due to my crazy work schedule. Hell I am not even watching the show till tomorrow. This is the first one I have missed live for a couple of years so that sucks. I hope you all enjoy it and have a great week!

The ECW Report

By Paul Smith

paulsmith3010@gmail.com

Welcome to The ECW Report and I am your host Paul Smith.

The Pre Game: Not a whole lot of news I wanna talk about this week, so I’m gonna say a few words on Randy Orton. I have previously said I find his wrestling and stalling to be annoying, his character to be grinding and his promos absolutely fucking boring. And people have told me “yeah, he’s doing a good job, being a heel, making you hate him”. But the thing is I don’t hate the guy. I just don’t want to see him wrestle. The point of a heel is to make me want the babyface in question kick the everloving shit out of him. But I don’t. From a mark perspective I just wanna see my favourite babyface wrestle somebody else. Feel free to further discuss this in the comments if you want.

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ECW is taped and rolling from Boston, Massachusetts the home of everyone’s favourite really hairy dude ALBERT.

On with the show.

The show opens with William Regal telling us Tiffany has been in a car accident. Perhaps they did it for The Rock. Anyway, due to his experience, William Regal has been appointed GM, but the board of directors has forbidden him to make any decisions regarding the ECW title, guaranteeing that ECW just wont exist at Hell in a Cell. He turns the main event from Christian vs Zack Ryder into Christian vs Zack Ryder into a brutal handicap match, adding the roundtable to that match. Joyous.

Next comes the opening credits now with even more Regal looking like somebody urinated in his tea.

The introduction of Tony Atlas means that my luck is officially out as we get the second straight week of Abraham Washington killing the heat of the show. His guest is John Morrison, whose intercontinental title match must be ECWs adopted match for the next PPV. How sweet. What a nice foster brand ECW is. JoMo is dressed down as he makes his way out. They pimp out WWEshop. Morrison apparently likes the show. Abe pimps The Dirt Sheet. Tony Atlas does The Miz bit. This is odd this week. Ziggler reminds Morrison of Miz in that they both think they will win gold this Sunday. Morrison says he will retain until Ziggler becomes half as good as he thinks he is. This leads to DOLPH ZIGGLER coming out in white lepoard print and pink trim. Beautiful. Abe does some Dolph Lundgren/Rocky IV jokes. We get the grand return of Mr Ziggles at this point which ABSOLUTELY dies with the live crowd. Atlas tries to make the joke but actually calls him Mr Ziggler. Before Dolph gets to say anything though, the segment is over. Clearly the Pat Patterson thing stopped his mic time short. Awful, as always.

Zack Ryder checks in with his team mates before finding out that the match has become an 8 man with Ryder, Roundtable vs Yoshi, Goldust, TOMMY DREAMER and Christian. You know Ryder is questioning Regals managerial abilities…it.

Paul Burchill w/ Katie Lea vs Shelton Benjamin
Katie Lea looks like well, actually just a straight up prostitute this week. Shelton is attacked by Sheamus in the aisle before he gets to the ring. Shelton gets posted on the outside as refs take Sheamus away. Shelton gets rolled into the ring and ends up once the match starts kicking out of a brutal Saito suplex. Knee drop by Burchill. Various strike attacks by Burchill who continues working the left arm/shoulder. Before the break Benjamin gets posted in the injured shoulder and rolls to the floor. When we come back Burchill has Shelton grounded and continues working the arm. Nothing much of note happens until Burchill gets another side suplex before working the arm again. Shelton reverses a brainbuster into a kind of blockbuster neckbreaker for a double KO spot. Shelton tries to come back with strikes but takes a stiff elbow and some kicks to the shoulder. Burchill is knocked down from the top rope, but Shelton struggles to get the the top and as such misses a fliping senton which gets Burchill a nearfall. Burchill carries on working the arm, but when he goes off the ropes Shelton hits paydirt for the win.
Winner: Shelton Benjamin

Opinion: Decent match, with some good arm selling and working over of the arm, but not as exciting a match as you would think you would get from these two. **

They hype the eight man for later on. They then hype Hell In A Cell for Sunday. This means because ECW has no match they’re gonna air a shitload of video packages. So this is basically WWE Afterburn or whatever those shitty shows are called.

The face team is backstage. Christian lines up his troops as if this were a war. He tells Dreamer he needs to step up, and the same for Yoshi, with much thanking. Christian tells Goldust he’s an important part of the team, despite being a freak.

William Regal, Vladimir Kozlov, Ezekiel Jackson, Zack Ryder vs Goldust, Tommy Dreamer, Yoshi Tatsu & ECW Champion Christian
I believe this is the first time Yoshi has main evented other than the battle royal. Additionally, he is still wearing his green tights in tribute to Misawa. Ryder and Dreamer start. Armdrags and and armbar by Dreamer who tags in Goldust who hits an atomic drop and a knockdown for a one. Ryder tags in Kozlov and Goldust tags in Yoshi who proceeds to get mauled by Kolov. Lots of kicks to an incoming Zeke who misses an elbow, a charge and gets takes out Goldust who tagged in. Regal is in with knees and a forearm for one. Eurocut by Regal who tags in Ryder. Ryder takes the fall down uppercut, and a Jerichodog before tagging in Christian who hits the SHORYUKEN. Ryder went for the Zack Attack but instead ate a reverse DDT. Dreamer comes in and hits a double team sidewalk slam with Christian’s assistance for two. Batista esque bodyslam by Dreamer but eventually Ryder is able to tag in Regal as we go to break. Coming back we have a standing chickenwing by Zeke on Dreamer. He beats away as do his heel counterparts on Dreamer, before tossing him and hitting a massive bodyslam. Zeke tags in Kozlov who rams Dreamer. Regal comes in and calls Dreamer ruddy pathetic before beating him down. Dreamer gets a warm tag to Christian but a tagged in Big Zeke throws hiom to the ropes leading to Kozlov lowbridging him. Christian gets suplexed in off the apron, delayed I might add. Lots of slams by big Zeke, before he tags in Regal who gets a two count. Kozlov comes in with strikes for two. Backbreaker rack by Kozlov. Kozlov hits a release fallaway slam and tags in Ryder. Ryder hits his brutal and exciting BODYVICE. Kozlov ends up coming in. Kozlov basically beats down Christian until he misses two charges in the corner and goes down to a missile dropkick. Kozlov tags Ryder and Christian gets the hot tag to Yoshi who bombards him with kicks, a lariat, a roaring elbow, the diving the double knees, rolling snapmare and a nice spinning wheel from the top but Zeke stops the count as we BREAKDOWN~! Christian hits a dive on most people and in the ring Yoshi hits the roundhouse on Regal for a three count.

Winners: Yoshi Tatsu, Christian, Goldust and Zack Ryder
Opinion: Pretty good match with lots of cool characterwork and some decent action at the start and the end. Surprising result too, but it’s cool to see Yoshi being put over here as it is kind of an instant elevation. **1/4

While the action in general was good tonight, with nothing to build to, the whole show felt kind of pointless. I don’t see why ECW is being screwed over so often on PPV but I don’t see a lot of things in this company sometimes. This is increasingly strange with the next PPV apparently being based around RAW vs Smackdown matches for the most part. So out of defiance for ECW, this weeks show gets a…

This episode of ECW earns a thumbs in the middle.

PS – I know I said I should have sorted my internet problems out by now but that combined with a more hectic schedule has again plagued me this week. Things SHOULD settle down, so I’m giving it a couple of weeks, and if my problems continue, I will leave this post and give the blog up to Richard to give to somebody else so you guys don’t have to wait for your report for so long ever week.

Until next time, I have been Paul Smith. Thanks for reading.

The ECW Report

By Paul Smith

paulsmith3010@gmail.com

Welcome to The ECW Report and I am your host Paul Smith.

The Pre Game: Okay, due to a lack of internet over the past week (moving house), this is late, and I am sorry but my internet is stable now and I should be able to do my blog in time every week now especially as University return buzz is dying down too. As I say I haven’t had internet access so my knowledge of current goings on is spotty at best so I’m not going to insult your intelligence by talking about things that my knowledge on isn’t complete.

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ECW is taped and rolling from Tulsa, Oklahoma, the home of GOLDBERG, GOLDBERG, GOLDBERG who due to a mix of his own egotism and Triple H’s love of the big shiny thing he uses to keep his trunks up had his WWE career fizzle out anticlimatically with an awful match at Wrestlemania XX

On with the show.

Tonights proceedings begin with our title screen, now with more Katie Lea soliciting sex from emo pirates.

Straight up pimping of Christian vs Zack Ryder for the ECW Championship.

Tony Atlas is out and so is the dark feeling in the pit of my stomach as Abraham Washington joins him soon afterwards for The Abraham Washington Show. Some people actually go for the applause sign so either stupid and obedient or clever and sarcastic. Atlas chooses to laugh. You know like some kind of bizarre hillbilly. The guest on tonight’s timekilling is Sheamus looking sort of normal and maybe even a snooker player if not for the 1950s flat cap going on. Anyway you know how this goes Abraham makes jokes about the gimmick (paleness) and Sheamus makes jokes about how much Abe sucks. We then move onto some generic statements about the relevant feud. Lucky Charms jokes. Shelton comes out in an awful shirt. Hair dye jokes. Cancellation joke. Shelton then cuts his own promo on Sheamus about teamwork. Sheamus responds with a joke about stealing. Racist? Possibly. Shelton then brings out a family tree of Sheamus involving, Carrot Top, Bozo the Clown, Pippi Longstockings, Ronald McDonald and yeah they then brawl to the soundtrack of Tony’s laugh to bring this awful shit to an end.

Yoshi Tatsu is shown making his way to the ring. Against who? Paul Burchill that’s who!

Paul Burchill w/ Katie Lea vs Yoshi Tatsu
Okay for those keeping score Katie Lea is this week dressed as a Hell’s Angel, Final Fantasy prostitute. They open by working each other’s arms before Yoshi gets a one off a trip. Sunset flip also gets a one for Yoshi, who follows up with a dropkick and a clothesline over the top leading to a plancha to the outside. Back in Yoshi is distracted by Katie Lea on the top rope which leads to a super Fisherman’s buster which somehow only gets one? You can get a two count off a clothesline but a top rope leg hook brainbuster gets one? Whatever. Anyway, Burchill slows this down just in case you were getting too interested in the match before catching Yoshi with a Samoan drop, or as it is known in Samoa, a drop. Burchill hits a Bubba bomb into a full nelson on the floor. Yoshi rolls through off the ropes though for a two count. Kick combo from Yoshi before a spin kick and the rolling snapmare, into another kick before he goes up top and hits a super spinning wheel for two. Burchill goes up top, bringing Yoshi with him before knocking him down again. Burchill hits what I think was a diving knee drop (the camera work wasn’t good) for a close nearfall. Yoshi counters a slam and Burchill runs right into Yoshi’s roundhouse kick finish.
Winner: Yoshi Tatsu

Opinion: Good little TV match and it continues the trend of awesome short Paul Burchill matches. As good a six minutes of WWE wrestling that you are going to get really. **3/4

Striker is shown dancing to Yoshi’s music to Matthews general disgust. They talk up the ECW title match and remind us of last week’s battle royal.

As such ‘Savannah’ talks to Zack Ryder briefly backstage. Ryder earned his opportunity and after tonight you can call him the ECW champion, you know it.

Burchill and Katie Lea are angry backstage. After Paul storms off Greg Helms joins Katie who says Helms is playing mind games, leading to Burchill (Paul) beating down Helms.

Legion of Job vs Ezekiel Jackson & Vladimir Kozlov w/ William Regal
The jobbers here are Dustin Brady and Brandon Young. So yeah, Kozlov and Zeke have clearly progressed so far from their ECW early days. Anyway as usual the men in red do power stuff and the jobbers bump around for them. The finish is Ezekiel lariating the shit out of black trunks jobber and then guyanageing the dude. SKWUMCH. After the bell Kozlov uranage’d the other one.
Winners: Ezekiel Jackson & Vladimir Kozlov SQUASH

Rundown the Hell in a Cell card. Should be a decent show even if Hell in a Cell is cheapened by the fact that it’s more just Rematches in a Cell.

Backstage William Regal reminds Goldust they have a match on Superstars (which has already occurred). Goldust gets called a joke and Regal say’s he is the only with the honor to be ECW champion.

Next up, ECW title match, but first Smackdown Rebound. Wow, this is like an endangered Rhino being sighted.

Christian (c) vs Zack Ryder, ECW Championship Match
Okay so an estimated 12/13 minutes of TV time left for this. Apparently Christian entering first is mind games. I’m glad someone bothered to offer an explanation for one of my real pet peeves. If Stone Cold didn’t get to come out last in Texas for Wrestlemania then nobody should get to come out last as challenger. Anyway, Zack Ryder’s ring jacket and his tights clash badly. I know it. Ryder is headbandless. Massive slap by Christian gets the crowd popping. That left Ryder really red. Headbutt by Ryder, bro but Christian comes back with strikes. Ryder, however takes back over before getting rana’d and thrown to the outside. Christian went for a plancha, didn’t get it but was quick enough to react, get a suicide dropkick and a quebrada to the outside. Christian hits an uppercut before getting taken off the top rope going into the break. Back in and Ryder hits a back body drop for two two counts. Springboard sunset flip by Christian gets two. Apparently Ryder’s career mirrors Christian’. Yeah I did enjoy Ryder’s groundbreaking tag ladder matches at Wrestlemania in the early 21st century. Anyway after posting Christian, Ryder gets two before getting a body scissors and chinlock combo. Ryder gets a knee to the stomach to a running Christian for two, before th suplex onto the top rope and then a knee smash to the face to a hanging Christian for a two. Ryder goes back to the body scissors, with added headbutts. Ryder gets a top rope something countered into a flapjack for two. Christian does his stand on the back in the ropes thing before getting hip tossed in off the apron. Zack missed the running leg drop and gets countered into a reverse DDT and a running knee. Christian hits a springboard dropkick, misses a diving something and reverses the Zack Attack into a turnbuckle catapult. Ryder counters the springboard sunset into a straight cover. Christian hits the pendulum kick and another springboard dropkick. Ryder counters the killswitch into a knee smash, before a dodging a high crossbody and hitting the running leg drop for a nearfall. Ryder used the ropes in a pin attempt before being hit with the reverse hotshot, the SHORYUKEN and then finally the Killswith for the title retention. Post match Regal makes his way to the ring and says that sooner or later he will be the #1 contender and the new champ but Regal gets interrupted by a massive slap which causes Regal to bail as we go off the air.
Winner: Christian

Opinion: Awesome match that will have done Ryder the world of good. Not as good as the last one in my opinion, as it didn’t click to start with, but it got good later on. ***

Two great matches plus a squash works as a formula for me, and I will want to see where the Regal re-emergence into the title picture goes.

This episode of ECW earns a thumbs up.

Until next time, I have been Paul Smith. Thanks for reading.

The ECW Report

By Paul Smith

paulsmith3010@gmail.com

Welcome to The ECW Report and I am your host Paul Smith.

The Pre Game: Okay quickly sorry for this being a day late, I’m sure many of you, like me, suffer from migraines, but for a couple of years I have suffered from what a doctor told me were ‘abnormally severe’ migraines, and occasionally my head hurts to the point where I am literally reduced to being in bed for a long period of time and yesterday was such a day. If you’ve ever had a migraine you will know that they can go on for a long ass time and sometimes up to three days but I seem to have gotten away with waking up with only a mild headache so I’m gonna try and get this out to you now.

Okay so, Jeff Hardy. Chris Jacks has taken a supportive stance and is willing to go by the old innocent by proven guilty thing, and I know he was a big fan of him when he was younger (as was I although I would have been even younger) and while I actually really respect Chris’ opinion, I have to completely disagree. There are only so many chances you can give this dude. He has failed a drug test twice and then TWO WEEKS after leaving WWE he is actually arrested with opiates in such large quantity that Nort Carolina considers him to be trafficking them due to the sheer amount he had. I wont comment on the steroids as for all I know they were medicinal and the trace of cocaine doesn’t look great either, but this guy has a serious problem and he needs to be rehabilitated, if he escapes this drug trafficking charge that is and doesn’t go to prison. The reason I would be angry with him is because he completely let down all of his fans. He was a role model to all the little kids we see in day glo paint and neon armbands in the Smackdown crowd shots. He apologised to them when he came back off his Wrestlemania suspension, he had to defend them against the evil claims of CM Punk, and not only that but they would have defended him and in fact have seen live reports where young Jeff Hardy fans have argued to the teeth for him against older CM Punk fans taunting them. And is this the example he chooses to set? Well bullshit. Jeff Hardy was positioned as a top babyface and someone younger fans can look up to despite his troubled past. He was given a chance to shoulder even more responsibility to the WWE fans than most wrestlers get and he blew it in my eyes. If he had or has a problem he needed to speak out and get it sorted before he assumed that kind of position. He is permanently over, so losing his spot wouldn’t be a huge issue, he is rich from having a long career WWE and even TNA, and being in World Champion or title contender top card spots for some of both of those stints. If WWE ever hires this guy again, then they might as well piss all the politics and baby kissing they do as a result of their ‘Wellness Policy’ away. People are getting around it. And it’s all well and good having it, but whats the point if it means nothing.

Breaking Point was a mixed bag for me. The main event finish was a pile of shit, what was the point of rehashing that. They booked themselves into a corner and showed it with the cowardly writing that went on for that main event. The John Cena/Randy Orton match I enjoyed. I was listening to The Wrestling Observer radio show that was on after the show and Dave Meltzer was talking about how this wasn’t a normal WWE match. This was just a great story, with Orton working well as a dick heel and Cena being the fiery babyface. The welts on Cena’s chest told the story. I didn’t like it to start with but when I rewatched it and took it in properly, I think both guys worked their asses off and produced one of the better matches of their career and as Meltzer said this worked better as an I Quit match because it wasn’t just a wrestling match with someone saying I Quit at the end; it was as Lawler put it Orton torturing Cena and trying to find his breaking point so to speak, and just not being able to get it done, and then tapping like a wimp as soon as he had any pressure on him, which is great from a character standpoint. Plus I really enjoyed the ECW match, and while I think Bill should have won, it made me wonder if Summerslam could have been even better if they had made time and added that match to that show. DX putting over Legacy was good too, but as far as crowd brawls go, this was pretty average but the finish was quite unique.

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ECW is taped and rolling from Hamilton, Ontario, CANADA~! the home of esteemed jobber Iron Mike Sharpe. There you go.

On with the show.

The show begins with a video recapping what happened at Breaking Point, showing Zekelov getting removed from ringside and the match that came.

We follow this up with the title screen, now with more Tyler Reks being uncharismatic.

To begin things tonight Generic Manager Tiffany makes her way to the ring. No that wasn’t a mistype. Tiffany while being stupidly attractive has an absolutely terrible delivery. She is interrupted in whatever shit she was saying by Bill Regal with Big Zeke and V-Koz. Billy boy says Tiff looks lovely tonight. You charmer you. Regal says having been a GM before he needs to come out and offer advice about her decision from Breaking Point. We want wrestling chant. Yes we do. He asks why the two gents were banned from ringside last Sunday. Tiff over pronounces something about keeping the match fair. Regal says the decision was rash and it caused Regal grief in his preparation to wrestle and as such Regal needs another rematch. Tiffany says that as a former GM that he understands why he can’t have a rematch, and that he will not be allowed one, but tonight in the main event they’re gonna shove everybody into a battle royal to crown the new #1 contender. Regal isn’t going to be getting ready for the battle royal, but actually has a match, right now.

William Regal vs The Hurricane
In Soviet Russia, Hurricane stands back for you!!! Bad joke. Anyway Regal is wrestling in his suit but without the jacket. Hurricane starts out stiff and throws Regal over the top rope. On the outside Hurricane takes a dive and back inside delivers a back body drop. Regal comes back with forehands but gets taken down by a crossbody mount + punch combination. Hurricane hits a straight vertical suplex for two as Striker debates the identity of The Hurricane. Striker meanwhile throwns in a ‘Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now’ Smiths/Morrisey reference for Regal again. That’s one of my favourite songs. Anyway Hurricane does something completely new with uh..a high crossbody and Regal tries to bail but as Hurricane comes back into the ring he gets knocked out by the knee trembler. As Regal walks away, Paul Burchill comes in and hits a jackhammer on Hurricane.
Winner: William Regal

Opinion: Decent enough while it lasted. Too short to be any good really though. *

Goldust apologises to Yoshi Tatsu for last weeks failure and Yoshi asks for an English lesson. However, Goldust starts his stuttering and Yoshi copies it. Hilarious. Zack Ryder comes in and bes a douchebag leading to him asking Yoshi whethe he can say loser, to which Yoshi replies Zack Ryder. Are you serious, bro!? Woo woo woo you know it bitch.

They pimp the program destroying Smackdown return of Batista. How will the Smackdown landscape change? Not good, Matt…not good.

Burchill is backstage and ‘Savannah’ asks him about his actions. Burchill says that Hurricane is Greg Helms and he hurt Katie Lea. Burchill will expose him.

The special guest ring announcers for the next match are The Bella Twins. I see. Well this justifies their employment. In no way whatsoever. They don’t even do it especially well.

Yoshi Tatsu vs Zack Ryder
Matt Striker for the second week running sings Radio quietly in the background. I hope you brought extra underwear Yoshi. Woo woo woo. Ryder decides it’s never too early for restholds but this leads to some decent arm work from both guys. Not arm work as in working the arm but some tussling over an arm lock. Jap arm drag by Yoshi and they indulge in some sexy dragon rolling for a two count. I love that shit. Ryder takes over as Yoshi comes down on his head from the ropes. After a couple of pin attempts Ryder locks in a chinlock. Back suplex gets a two for Ryder. Ryder cinches in the crippler crossface which doesn’t phase the crowd, but he switches into another chinlock anyway as the fans chant for Yoshi’s comeback. However, it’s blocked into a reverse STO type deal into another chinlock. Nice roaring elbow by Yoshi leads to a double KO spot. Kick combo, diving double knee but Ryder blocks the rolling mare with an elbow. However, Yoshi nails him with the Frankensteiner for a near fall. Ryder hits a kind of diving inverted fameasser to a standing Yoshi but Yoshi knocks Ryder out with a kick.
Winner: Yoshi Tatsu (thanks Bellas)

Opinion: Pretty good match, but once again short and a bit chinlockky. Something is amiss though, perhaps we’ll see what later on? **1/4

They pimp out Rematch In a Cell. Demonstration of how this gimmick is being wasted. Go back two years and tell me two guys at the level of Ted and Cody would ever get in there.

Battle Royal, #1 Contenders Match
For those scoring at home the participants before the break are Shelton Benjamin, VLADIMIR KOZLOV (without bath robe), Ezekiel Jackson, Tommy Dreamer, Goldust, Tyler Reks…oh yeah he’s deserved this shot and Sheamus (now without the intro to his song). We come back to Yoshi Tatsu making his entrance and Paul Burchill follows before Zack Ryder completes the lineup and I’m pleased to see he’s still selling his head. He is headbandless though. He must mean business. And nothing says vile structure like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Christ. Anyway I’m not gonna be able to play by play this properly until we get a few down, you know it’s guys pretending to eliminating each other anyway. They all pair up to start. Benjamin exploderplexes Burchill out. You this is kind of boring even for a battle royal. And there’s stupid shit which always annoys me in battle royals like Yoshi going for a springboard spot and Dreamer stopping Sheamus eliminating Reks despite it being against his interests. Benjamin nearly goes out and has to use his strength to hand on to the top rope. Staredown with Kozlov and Zeke as we go to break. During the break Kozlov fallaway slammed Tyler Reks out of there and Yoshi Tatsu went out somehow during them showing the replay. Apparently Zeke just tossed him out. Dreamer saves Goldust getting eliminated (grr) with a hot flurry to liven up the crowd a little. About five minutes left here I think so they wasted the time in spreading out the eliminations so they could go all batshit at the end it seems. Benjamin paydirts Ryder and throws out a stunned Sheamus. Zeke then threw out Shelton but he hung on again and when Zeke came back to finish off, with Tommy Dreamer’s assistance Shelton reverse rana’d Jackson out from the same position and still managed to hang on. Sheamus ruins the athleticism party though by coming and clubbing Shelton off the apron. That leaves us with Dreamer, Goldust, Kozlov and Ryder. On the floor Benjamin and Sheamus have another pull apart brawl. Cliche four ay corner staredown. Faces and heels pair up with Goldust and Kozlov and Dreamer and Ryder. They swap over and Goldust gets some clotheslines on Ryder and the feint fall uppercur and thinks he’s eliminated Ryder who hung on and then nearly got thrown out again before finally lowbridging Goldust out of the match. Nice spot there. Meanwhile Kozlov belly to bellies Tommy Dreamer. Dreamer lowbridges out Kozlov and then Ryder tosses Dreamer out, which is actually a pretty identical finish to that RAW #1 contenders battle royal where the final three were Miz, Trips and Cena, which I think was the one that led to the 3 Stages of Lukewarm match from Judgment Day (I think).
Winner: Zack Ryder

Opinion: The battle royal definitely got better as it went on, but the talking point is Ryder as #1 contender. This is a good move as Ryder is a massive dick, but his work has got better and we’ve already seen him have a good match with Christian. I believe his title shot is next week, which is something to look forward to, but I think it would better put him over, even in defeat to have him get his shot at the Hell in a Cell PPV. **

The premise for tonight’s show was simple and all of the feuds right now are very simple and just require a basic thing about either competition or just a simple rivalry to get by, and on a one hour show with quite a lot of guys to get over, that’s a good thing. Yoshi vs Ryder was fun and even though the Battle Royal wasn’t that great, barring the rumble they never usually are but it was relatively entertaining and changed things up a bit.

This episode of ECW earns a thumbs up.

Until next time, I have been Paul Smith. Thanks for reading.

Hey prediction fans, it is your favourite British double act back once again with another Talent Exchange, and I am your as always gracious co-host Paul Smith joined again by the Supernova of the Smackdown Universe (definitely running out of these), Chris Jacks. So yeah this year September brings us a PPV that is an actual word in the first ever Breaking Point. This was the best among a selection of woeful names WWE fans were asked to vote on a couple of months ago and it is the first ever submission themed PPV event put on by the company. I have mixed feelings about this as it will be an interesting gimmick and there are a couple of matches I’m interested in seeing, but I can’t see how this is playing to your strengths when you have a roster with two wrestlers approximately that use a submission finisher. Oh well, I am tentatively interested in seeing how this show plays out.

Hey everyone and welcome to another fully loaded edition of The Talent Exchange. WWE Breaking Point is a new concept and one I am very much a fan of with all of the “main events” being submission matches. The fact that the ECW title match is not a submission match and yet DX vs Legacy is says it all really! I am enjoying WWE implementing themes to their pay per views and feel it will help buy rates and attract more casual fans to see these speciality matches. I know I am already psyched for HIAC next month as well as TLC in December! Tonight’s card suffered a major blow when Morrison and Ziggler was dropped as alongside Punk vs Undertaker that was my main incentive to order the show. However the reason given for this is at least a credible one as they want to build a solid feud rather than rush out a pay per view match. Pity the US title and Miz and Kofi do not warrant the efforts from RAW Creative that Smackdown Creative put in with Ziggler and Morrison. On paper the majority of this show seems pretty clear cut with the odd exception so without further ado lets move on to our picks

Paul Predicts: US Title Match: Kofi Kingston © vs The Miz

A lot of people are upset about this getting the green light ahead of Morrison/Ziggler. I’m okay with it as I’m fairly sure it will be a decent match and it gives time for Morrison and ‘Mr Ziggles’ to actually develop a proper rivalry for their bout which is allegedly now scheduled for Hell in a Cell next month. Honestly, I haven’t seen a lot of this feud but from my understanding it’s been about random matches also occasionally involving Carlito and Jack Swagger and Miz declaring his interest in the title, and randomly getting the match here. I’ve usually picked Kofi to lose in his matches but this time I really think he will, as now Miz definitely has a job and he also needs a belt to make his big talk worth taking seriously.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: The Miz (new United States Champion)

Chris Predicts: US Title Match: Kofi Kingston © vs The Miz

Since returning under the guise of the Calgary Kid, The Miz has been on something of a roll and made his intentions for Kofi’s title well known. He missed his chance in a Fatal Four Way match the other week but presumably his pinfall win in the tag match on Superstars earned him another shot. I have to give RAW Creative some credit here they have really done a good job building The Miz back up as a legitimate star after jobbing him out to Cena. Kofi has had a decent US title run without ever really getting much mic time but he has defended the belt and defended it well on numerous occasions and I think the time is right to strap The Miz as he has certainly earned it for all the hard work he has put in since moving to RAW with his excellent anti-Cena promos and then his more recent matches with the likes of Bourne etc. If given a good 15 minutes this could be one hell of a match as both men work a fast paced style that should be well suited to one another. I am going with The Miz here not only because he deserves it but because he is awesome!

Chris’ Predicted Winner: The Miz (new United States Champion)

Paul Predicts: Singapore Cane Match: The Great Khali vs Kane

So, out of everything going on, on Smackdown, this is the undercard match? They seem to have given up on the actual story to this feud and have just random pre or post match attacks, but the weapons should hide some of absolute awfulness that will likely come with this match. Hopefully this will be kept as short and if not sweet as inoffensive as possible. I’m gonna for Khali.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: The Great Khali

Chris Predicts: Singapore Cane Match: The Great Khali vs Kane

The build for this match leading into Summerslam was very good and the match at that show did not suck quite as badly as everyone thought it was going to. However the build for this match has been nowhere near as good with both Khali and Kane pretty much doing what they did before only with the addition of the canes. I have to admit though giving Khali a cane will allow him to hide his incredibly limited and downright awful wrestling skills and hopefully this one will be kept short and to the point. Khali was standing tall on Friday which leaves me thinking (but praying otherwise) that Kane may win this one and the feud will continue but I really, really hope that Khali finally gets some payback and this one is put to rest and more deserving actual wrestlers get a chance on pay per view!

Chris’ Predicted Winner: The Great Khali

Paul Predicts: ECW Championship Match: Christian © vs William Regal with Vladimir Kozlov & Ezekiel Jackson

So we finally get the rematch from their emotional rollercoaster of a match put on at Summerslam. You know the seven second thing they gave ten minutes to two days later on ECW anyway to get to this match. I’ve enjoyed the whole Roundtable thing and this feud has actually been continually booked well and after the match I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, the match should be pretty good, should it actually happen. I don’t think Christian is done with ECW but I also think that to keep this going Regal needs the win here. It might be a bit of a stretch and I’m actually going against my gut and out on a limb instead, and I’m going for William Regal to win here, probably with some Ezekimir Jackslov interference.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: William ‘Bill’ Regal (New ECW Champion)

Chris Predicts: ECW Championship Match: Christian © vs William Regal with Vladimir Kozlov & Ezekiel Jackson

I am hoping and praying that these two actually get a proper match this time and are able to deliver the great, technical match we all know they are capable of. This should really be a submission match especially seeing as how Regal has been employing the Regal Stretch again as of late. I fully expect there to be plenty of interference here as Kozlov and Jackson will make their presence felt and no doubt Dreamer will come to defend his friend. Christian has had a solid if unspectacular second run as ECW champion but I believe ECW Creative are on to a very good thing with Regal’s Roundtable and I think we may see a title change here although personally I would hold this off until HIAC next month. What could save things for Christian would be if a third member joined his crew to even things out against the Roundtable and I think this may be happening tonight giving us some old school faction warfare for the next few weeks on ECW.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Christian (retains ECW Championship)

Paul Predicts: Unified Tag Team Title Match: Jeri-Show vs Team Cool Aid (MVP & Mark Henry)

Random pairing, but continuing the mirroring of the little and large element in the teams is a good idea, and it’s good to keep two RAW guys warm that they might just one day do something with. I’ve enjoyed Jericho and MVPs RAW matches (indeed I actually just watched that match on this week’s RAW instead of the whole show) and of course Mark Henry vs Big Show is like an explosion of terrible, but I expect Henry’s involvement at all will be kept to a minimum perhaps except doing a half speed hot tag assault on Chris Jericho. Anyway, I can only see a win here for Jerishow, but as I said, it keeps Mark and Montel doing things and also builds up the tag titles to have the champions defeating different opponents along the way, having now beaten the Colon’s, Legacy, Cryme Tyme and if my prediction is right MVP/Mark Henry too.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: Jeri-Show (Retain Unified Tag Titles)

Chris Predicts: Unified Tag Team Title Match: Jeri-Show vs Team Cool Aid (MVP & Mark Henry)

I call them Team Cool Aid because they both wear red and Mark Henry actually bears more than a passing resemblance to the Cool Aid Dude. Anyway RAW has done a really good job building this one up with some excellent one on one encounters between MVP and Jericho which have been the best moments on RAW by a long shot. The exchanges between Big Show and Mark Henry, not so much but still probably the best we were going to get from the two giants. This is another match that really should be a submission match seeing as how Jericho (Walls of Jericho) Big Show (Colossal Clutch) and Mark Henry (Bear Hug) all have submission finishers and I remember MVP using a variety of submission moves when he faced Flair a couple of years ago. However obviously the tag match between DX and Legacy is more of a “main event” than the actual tag title match so there you go. This one should be very good as long as MVP and Jericho work most of the match which I am fully expecting them too. I also expect Jericho to be over as anything seeing as we are in Canada. Big Show and Chris Jericho are doing a great job as tag champions and until Shawn and Hunter decide they want a run with the belts I do not see them dropping them. I expect to see another innovative finish here with Big Show nailing MVP with the KO Punch from the outside in some fashion allowing Jericho to pick up the win

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Jeri-Show (Retain Unified Tag Titles)

Paul Predicts: Submissions Count Anywhere Match: DX vs Legacy

So, Shawn Micahels and Triple H. Submission finishes. Montreal. I smell a rat. There is according to the dirt sheets going to be a screwjob at some point in this show and while it could easily be Punk/Taker, I would say given Shawn’s reputation in these circumstances and how much they like to play off the Montreal screwjob anyway, I’d see it getting put in here. This has the potential to be quite interesting though and while I’m not sure about a submission PPV to start with, submission count anywhere is a gimmick that I’m quasi-looking forward to seeing (perhaps morbid curiosity as much as anything). I can see DX getting screwed in some capacity here and that way Legacy can finally get a win somewhere, anywhere and those green and black scoundrels wont look too much worse for it. Interesting idea that probably wont happen: The Hart Dynasty could screw DX as repayment for all those years ago, leading to a feud between the teams that had been talked about apparently. More likely however, is DX & Batista vs Legacy (inc. Randy Orton) or some kind of variant. I’m gonna remain positive about the match though and pick Ted and Cody.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: Legacy

Chris Predicts: Submissions Count Anywhere Match: DX vs Legacy

These guys had one hell of an outing at Summerslam and I am expecting no different here. The fact that submissions count anywhere mean this one should spill out all over the building and as JR suggested on Smackdown, possibly even into the streets of Montreal. Legacy have looked much better in recent weeks and I think are finally getting some credibility back after months and months of jobbing. The problem I see here is that neither Rhodes or DiBiase use submissions in their arsenal whereas Hunter uses The Indian Deathlock, Crossface and Finger Four and Shawn uses the Finger Four, Sharpshooter and Crossface. All of this points to a DX victory which I think would be a huge mistake from WWE Creative as Legacy really need a win here not only to keep the feud alive but also to make their young stars look like legitimate threats. I am thinking at HIAC we will see Legacy vs DX & Cena HIAC match where the guy picking up the pin will win the WWE title which will feature the implosion of Legacy so I am going to stick by my guns and go with Legacy for the win here perhaps after some interference from a combination of Bret DiBiase, Dusty Rhodes and Ted DiBiase Snr and obviously Shawn tapping out because Triple H would not do the job here.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: Legacy

Paul Predicts: Submission Match for the World Heavyweight Championship Match: CM Punk © vs The Undertaker

Now this is a match I am looking forward to, not only as a wrestling match, but just because as a ’smart’ fan, I have no idea how this is going to go. As somebody who has followed CM Punk for a long time, to see him get to the point of a feud with the Undertaker is really cool. Because in my opinion unless you’re a really tall or big guy (I’m looking at you Heidenreich), you don’t get put in an Undertaker feud if you’re a pile of shit. I’m looking forward to seeing these two wrestle, and although they’ve only really had two weeks or so to build to this match, they used that time effectively. As I said, what makes this interesting is that it doesn’t make sense for Undertaker to go into the next PPV as Champion (Hell in a Cell) as he tends to look better as challenger in that stipulation, plus it should really be too soon for Taker to take the title as CM Punk can go nowhere from that point. However, Undertaker tapping? Ugh, no. He did it once to Kurt Angle. And even then he was pinning Angle simultaneously. Even then he was in Biker mode, where he was actually made to look like a mortal human being, and he didn’t devour people’s souls and all that lovely stuff. So if I had to pick a winner I’m gonna go for CM Punk, but this could well be a less than clean finish, such as Undertaker passing out or getting laid out or just anything so that he doesn’t have to tap.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: CM Punk (retains World Heavyweight Championship)

Chris Predicts: Submission Match for the World Heavyweight Championship Match: CM Punk © vs The Undertaker

Wow here is one match I am really looking forward too. It is fresh and new and never been done before and despite the huge size difference between the two I am expecting some great things in the ring between these two. This match has been built well and at the moment Undertaker has always been one step ahead of Punk which defiantly leads me to believe the Only Straight Edged World Champion in WWE history will be retaining his championship tonight. Many people are doubting whether or not Undertaker would actually tap out to Punk but unlike the WWE commentary team I remember Undertaker tapping to Kurt Angle a few years ago so it could happen. Unlike Triple H and Batista, The Undertaker has no problem putting over legitimate stars and a win over the Deadman would solidify Punk as a main event star for years to come. A win for Taker at HIAC makes far more sense (although I would argue Undertaker does not need the title at all at this stage of his career) so Punk should defiantly go over here but I am not expecting it to be a clean tap but more than likely the Undertaker will be knockout and unable to respond to the referee’s three count and probably after some underhand tactics involving weapons etc. I am not expecting any outside interference here other as Punk has no real allies on Smackdown and seeing as the ridiculous amount of interference likely to take place in the main event this should be kept just as a one on one match. Great things should come from this and I fully expect this to be one of my favourite matches of the year so far.

Chris’ Predicted Winner: CM Punk (retains World Heavyweight Championship)

Paul Predicts: I Quit Match for the WWE Championship: Randy Orton © vs John Cena

Does anybody give a fuck? No? The build to this has been…well…the same build you’d have if these two were wrestling anybody else. Orton cheap shots people with his oily vanilla cronies, and Cena delivers promos about he wont quit and all that dull stuff. So. Another conundrum. Will John Cena utter those immortal words, “I Quit”? I reply with one word. No. Additionally while Cena wouldn’t be my ideal choice as champion, Orton has actually had the belt for a decent amount of time (in WWE terms) and I at least (and I’m sure some others too) have become thoroughly bored by his reign. That damned viper Orton will finally get his comeuppance most likely in John Cena’s clunkily applied version of the STF.

Paul’s Predicted Winner: John Cena (new WWE Champion)

Chris Predicts: I Quit Match for the WWE Championship: Randy Orton © vs John Cena

I am going to be honest I have absolutely no desire whatsoever to see this match. The build has been ok but I am tired of Cena’s lame promos saying he will never back down blah blah blah. You all know I am a big fan of Cena but I am incredibly tired of his character. Randy Orton has had a very dull reign as WWE Champion and I think it is time for a change. I saw a trailer for this match as Cena is billed as “The Unstoppable” John Cena, figures! Besides does anyone really think John Cena will say I Quit??? Unless WWE pull a TNA and recycle their storylines by having Orton beat Cena senseless and play a tape recording of Cena saying I Quit. I am expecting a tonne of interference and a brawl all over the arena between these two. Legacy, Bret DiBiase and DX will probably all get involved at some point but the result I think will be John Cena finally recapturing the WWE title but you know what that might not be a bad thing, Jack Swagger may get elevated here or Batista may turn heel and a heel Batista vs Cena is something I would actually pay money to see. Also an I Quit match without blood will be nothing like as effective as one with blood but the brawl should be a good one but after this and the inevitable rematch at HIAC (as I mentioned earlier I think it will be Legacy vs DX & Cena HIAC match where the guy picking up the pin will win the WWE title which will feature the implosion of Legacy) Orton and Cena should stay far apart from each other!

Chris’ Predicted Winner: John Cena (new WWE Champion)

So, there you have it. We’re all predicted out. Due to my computer being as reliable as British Rail (or your geographical equivalent) at the moment, I may not be in the Live Chat tonight but I should be able to be stable in time for next Wednesday for some awesome ECW action as always. So until next time, stay safe and don”t get arrested, I have been Paul Smith.

Well there you have it. I am both surprised and appalled that once again WWE have completely neglected their women’s division and hopefully this will be rectified next month. Teddy Long promised Vince something excellent on Smackdown so we may see some twist along the way which as long as it is not Batista coming to Smackdown (please, please, please Smackdown Creative do not allow this!) it could be entertaining. I will be back with Chris Considers Breaking Point tomorrow as I am filling in for Richard once again. I hope you all have a great week!