Category: Editorials and Features

WWE Raw Reaction (7/21/2014): Highlights, Lowlights & Random Thoughts

Tonight’s episode of Raw took place at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida and featured a total of nine matches. Rapper Flo Rida made an appearance and performed in front of his hometown fans while the Beast Incarnate Brock Lesnar made his return to hype the upcoming program between him and John Cena at SummerSlam.

Roman Reigns took on Kane and Randy Orton in a Handicap match Bray Wyatt took over the Highlight Reel. Stephanie McMahon got arrested and the Miz took on Dolph Ziggler just one day after winning the Intercontinental Championship.

A lot, and I mean a lot, happened on tonight’s show so without further ado, here are my overall highs, lows and random thoughts on the 7/21/2014 edition of Monday Night Raw:

BEST MATCH: Dean Ambrose vs. Cesaro was the Best Match of the night. I didn’t necessarily enjoy the finish, but I understand why it was done. Ambrose has been booked as a lunatic who doesn’t care about wins or losses and wants to inflict pain and justice upon his opponents. There were some good spots and both men worked hard to put on a good performance. A close second place for match of the night was the Miz vs. Dolph Ziggler. The crowd seemed to be more into Miz vs. Ziggler, but from a wrestling standpoint, Ambrose vs. Cesaro deserves the award.

WORST MATCH: Nikki Bella vs. Alicia Fox, Rosa Mendes, Cameron and Eva Marie was the Worst Match of the night. Thanks to Brie Bella and Stephanie McMahon, the overall segment was surprisingly good, but the bout lasted about a minute and looked like a 4-on-1 mauling. I’m actually stoked to see what happens between Stephanie and Brie. Do you guys really think that they’ll have a match at SummerSlam? Let me know in the comments section.

UPSET OF THE NIGHT: Zack Ryder defeating Fandango was the Upset of the Night. Granted, it wasn’t a clean victory, but when Ryder pinned Fandango, Michael Cole and JBL went crazy and were in disbelief – that’s how big of a moment it was. Dolph Ziggler defeating the Miz was the runner-up for the award, but come on; we gotta give it to the Long Island Iced Z!

MOST SHOCKING MOMENT: Although it was expected, Brock Lesnar returning to Raw was the Most Shocking Moment of the night. Triple H shaking Paul Heyman’s hand and then exchanging pleasantries with Brock Lesnar was an interesting and unexpected moment. However, the Game needed Heyman’s plan C and appears to be pleased with the main event of SummerSlam. Stephanie McMahon being arrested was another shocking moment, but you can read more on that in the “Final/Random Thoughts” section of the article.

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July 21, 2014
WWE Battleground: Absolute Rubbish

WWE held its annual Battleground pay-per-view last night. It was the second incarnation of the event and featured a total of six matches on the actual card and two additional matches on the pre-show.

On paper, the event looked more than solid and seemed like it would be one of the best shows of the year. Things quickly took a turn for the worse, however, and the WWE dropped a massive turd on its fans last night. The event was clearly slopped together and featured some of the laziest storytelling fans will ever encounter.

Lana and Rusev received some serious heat last night after referencing the recent Malaysia Airlines crash. It will be interesting to see if the WWE takes a step back after receiving criticism from multiple news outlets.

The company also pulled a total bait and switch on fans that paid to see the event. The most anticipated match of the night for many was Seth Rollins squaring off with former Shield partner Dean Ambrose. Prior to the event, the match had been heavily advertised and was clearly one of the main reasons fans were tuning in.

Instead of holding the match, however, Triple H cancelled the contest and threw Dean Ambrose out of the building, eventually awarding the victory to Seth Rollins due to forfeit. Fans were expecting an absolute classic of a matchup, but instead were treated to a few backstage brawl segments that were nothing special, and amounted to the same thing fans can see for free each week on Raw.

Last night, the WWE basically told the fans that this matchup was too good to take place at a crummy pay-per-view such as Battleground and will be saved for SummerSlam. Honestly, fans should feel cheated after what they saw with the Ambrose/Rollins program last night.

July 21, 2014
WWE Battleground 2014 Reaction: Highlights, Lowlights & Random Thoughts

WWE’s seconds annual Battleground PPV took place in Tampa, Florida and featured a total of eight matches (including the pre-show). The main event pitted the WWE World Heavyweight champion John Cena in a Fatal Four Way match against Kane, Randy Orton and crowd-favorite Roman Reigns.

Also highlighting the card was the personal battle between Mr. Money in the Bank Seth Rollins and his former Shield brethren Dean Ambrose. Due to Bad News Barrett’s injury, the WWE Universe also witnessed a 20-Man Battle Royal that crowned a new Intercontinental champion.

Although Battleground may have been a predictable PPV, there were still two outstanding matches worth admission. So without further ado, here are my overall highs, lows and random thoughts on WWE Battleground 2014:

BEST MATCH: It was a toss-up, but the best match of the night was the first of the night, which was the Usos (c) vs. Luke Harper & Erick Rowan for the WWE Tag Team Titles. These two teams competed in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match and stole the show with countless false finishes and good old fashioned, energetic hard work. All four competitors in the match shined…including Erick Rowan. The second best match of the night was the main event Fatal Four Way WWE World Heavyweight Championship war that took place between John Cena (c), Kane, Randy Orton and Roman Reigns. I feel that the crowd could have been into the bout more and made a bit more noise, but overall it was a very solid main event despite many people frowning upon John Cena retaining the title.

WORST MATCH: Fandango vs. Adam Rose was the worst match of the night and thankfully, it took place on the pre-show. I thought that the pre-show was supposed to convince and hype the WWE Universe into buying/subscribing to the PPV? These two have absolutely no steam and I thought that this was a good moment for them to prove their worth and put forth a good performance. Unfortunately, they weren’t given very much time and Adam Rose is still failing to get over with the crowd.

UPSET OF THE NIGHT: Without a doubt, Chris Jericho defeating Bray Wyatt was the Upset of the Night.Y2J and Bray had a good, hard-hitting match, but it featured a few mistakes and awkward moments. Without those botches, it could have been an instant classic. Anyways, some may not view Jericho defeating Bray as an upset, but considering Y2J has been out of action for a while, and the fact that Bray has looked strong ever since his debut, I consider it to be an upset. Hopefully the Jericho win leads to another match between these two at SummerSlam. If so, I guarantee both men will put forth a smoother performance and overall better match.

MOST SHOCKING MOMENT: There was no Brock Lesnar or hardcore surprises at Battleground, however, the Miz winning the Intercontinental Championship, and the way he did it, was absolutely perfect and was an overall shocking moment. It appeared that Sheamus and Dolph Ziggler were the only two superstars left in the Battle Royal, but about five minutes before Ziggler eliminated Sheamus, Michael Cole referenced the fact that the Miz was thrown under the tope rope and wasn’t officially eliminated from the match. When Ziggler eliminated Sheamus, the crowd popped and Ziggler thought he had won. Unfortunately for Ziggler and his fans, the Miz slithered back into the ring and threw a distracted Ziggler over the top rope, shocking the WWE Universe and winning the Intercontinental Championship.

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July 20, 2014
WWE Battleground 2014 Preview and Predictions

The top superstars in the WWE will compete at this Sunday’s Battleground pay-per-view. Headlining the event is a fatal four-way matchup for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

In all, there are eight matches scheduled for the event, and nearly all of the company’s titles will be up for grabs. Here are my predictions for Sunday’s Battleground.

Cameron vs. Naomi (Pre-Show Match)

These two have been at each other’s throats since the breakup of the Funkadactyls. Cameron has become increasingly problematic for Naomi, as she continues to rack up wins and have success in the Divas division. I think Naomi will finally put the Funkadactyls by hitting the Rear View for the win.

Winner: Naomi by pinfall

Intercontinental Championship Battle Royal

This should be one of the most exciting matches of the night, as a number of viable contenders will be battling to become the new Intercontinental Champion. Bad News Barrett will also be on hand to present the title to the new champ.

It would appear that only a few of the entrants have a legitimate chance at winning the title, including Sheamus, Cesaro, Dolph Ziggler and Bo Dallas. I think it comes down to Dallas and Cesaro at the end, with Cesaro ultimately coming out on top. An attack or provocation by Barrett could also turn Cesaro face once again and start a feud, as it appears his days as a Heyman guy are nearly over.

Winner: Cesaro

The Usos (Tag Team Champions) vs. The Wyatt Family (2-Out-Of-3 Falls Match)

These two teams have been battling one another for what seems like forever at this point. I think this is the point where the Wyatt Family finally breaks through and strikes gold. The teams will split the first two falls before the Wyatt Family becomes the new Tag Team Champions after Luke Harper hits a clothesline to win the third fall.

Winner: Wyatt Family by pinfall

AJ Lee (Divas Champion) vs. Paige

I’m not really sure what the plan is with this one. It appeared that they were trying hard for a double turn on the night of AJ Lee’s return, but the crowd wasn’t really having it. The two have now developed into so-called “frenemies.”

This should be a close matchup that will hopefully receive at least five to ten minutes. AJ Lee will struggle throughout, but will ultimately come out on top after locking in the Black Widow and forcing Paige to tap out. Don’t be surprised if Paige attacks AJ after the match in an attempt to turn her heel.

Winner: AJ Lee by submission

July 19, 2014
WWE Battleground: Solid from Top to Bottom

Battleground is just around the corner and the card has been officially finalized. Overall, there are eight matches scheduled, with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship being defended in a Fatal Four-Way main event.

Over the past few years, some fans have complained that the WWE has not put enough focus into the so-called “B-list” pay-per-views (anything not named Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam, or Survivor Series), and rightly so. Last year’s edition of Battleground is the perfect example of the WWE phoning it in for a pay-per-view.

It is rumored that Cena and Lesnar will meet at SummerSlam. Does this mean that a Cena win is inevitable?

That event saw a vacant title remain vacant after interference from the Big Show, and the undercard was pathetic to say the lease (aside from the Rhodes Brothers/Shield matchup that stole the show). Fans voiced their dissatisfaction by not only complaining about the finish of the event, but more importantly by refusing to purchase the pay-per-view in the first place. The 2013 edition of Battleground registered only 114,000 buys, which is the second lowest total in the last 17 years.

Thankfully for fans, the WWE can no longer get by putting in little effort, as their goal is to now attract as many subscribers to the WWE Network as possible. This has led to increased focus on events that would have previously been neglected, such as Battleground. This year’s event has shaped up nicely, however, with several entertaining contests that actually have legitimate backstories scheduled to take place.

The most entertaining contest of the night will likely be Dean Ambrose against Seth Rollins. Since the Shield dissolved a few weeks back, Ambrose has been intent on exacting revenge from former partner and current Mr. Money in the Bank, Seth Rollins. There is no doubt that Rollins and Ambrose will steal the show at Battleground, as they are two of the best workers in the game and know how to tell a story.

July 17, 2014
5 Questions Following Monday’s Raw (7/14)

Last night’s Raw was the final episode before this Sunday’s Battleground pay-per-view. The Battleground card was finalized with the inclusion of Jack Swagger vs. Rusev and AJ Lee vs. Paige for the Divas Championship.

Overall, the go-home episode of Raw was fairly entertaining and featured a number of notable segments. However, although many questions were answered, a few still remain. Here are five questions that need to be answered following this week’s edition of Raw.

5. Can Swagger stay over as a face?

The most over superstar this week on Raw was definitely Jack Swagger. The crowd really ate up the USA-Russia détente segment, with thunderous “USA!” chants ringing throughout the arena.

It appears that Swagger’s face turn is proving to be a success, but can he maintain the momentum after ending his program with Rusev? It is a natural rivalry between Rusev and Swagger, so it will be interesting to see where he goes after his match at Battleground. One thing is certain, though: both superstars are getting over during this program, which makes me hope that it is prolonged for a bit longer following Battleground.

4. Is Heyman planning to ditch Cesaro?

Cesaro competed against Big E last night on Raw. Notably absent during the match was Cesaro’s advocate, Paul Heyman. Brock Lesnar is scheduled to return to television within the next few weeks and will definitely be competing at SummerSlam, leading some to believe that the Heyman-Cesaro partnership will soon be dissolved.

This could go a number of ways. The best-case scenario would be for Heyman to continue to represent both superstars, sparking jealousy between the two before starting a feud. This seems rather unlikely though, considering Lesnar will almost certainly challenge for the title at SummerSlam. My hope is that the two are not separated without a legitimate backstory being provided, similar to the Ryback-Axel-Heyman breakup last fall, as it would amount to a pointless alliance for Cesaro.

July 15, 2014
WWE Raw Reaction (7/14/2014): Highlights, Lowlights & Random Thoughts

Tonight’s episode of Raw took place in front of a hot Richmond, Virginia crowd and featured a total of eight matches, including a massive six-man main event between John Cena/Roman Reigns/Dean Ambrose and Randy Orton/Kane/Seth Rollins.

Cena started off the show by cutting a promo, hyping the upcoming Battleground PPV. Shortly after Reigns interrupted him, Ambrose was beat-down backstage by team Authority, teasing that he may not be able to compete in the main event. The main event was later changed to a 2-on-3 Handicap match.

The WWE Universe also witnessed the return of Ric Flair and finally found out the secret behind Sting’s cryptic “7.14.14” tweet. So without further ado, here are my overall highs, lows and random thoughts from the 7/14/2014 edition of Monday Night Raw:

BEST MATCH: Despite a promising main event between big name WWE studs, the match that stole the show for me was the Miz vs. Sheamus. There weren’t any outstanding matches tonight, as is the case with most episodes of Raw before a PPV, but Miz and Sheamus delivered and the crowd seemed really into it. Also, the Miz picked up the win, which was a nice, surprising twist.

WORST MATCH: Bo Dallas vs. the Great Khali was the worst match of the night. It’s damn near impossible to get an average match out of Khali, so it was a good thing that the bout lasted less than three minutes long. Bo was entertainingly annoying and did his job well and I liked the finish – but compared to the other matches on the card, Bo vs. Khali was the worst.

AJ Lee vs. Eva Marie was the second worst match of the night. I’m not sure why Eva is competing in one-on-one matches and not being protected by wrestling in tag team bouts, but honestly, she didn’t do that bad. It’s nice to see Eva hit some actual wrestling moves, like a backbreaker, but overall, it was still an underwhelming match.

UPSET OF THE NIGHT: Without a doubt, the Miz defeating Sheamus cleanly was the upset of the night. Miz has been a revelation since returning to WWE and a win, especially a clean win, over Sheamus makes him an instant threat to the entire roster. I know Miz isn’t everyone’s cup of coffee, but a win over Sheamus is a big deal and I don’t think many fans saw it coming.

MOST SHOCKING MOMENT: Even though we all knew Sting was going to make some sort of impact on Raw tonight – it was still a shocking a moment, at least to me. Sure, he didn’t appear live on Raw, but I don’t think anybody thought that he would actually make an appearance on the final Raw leading up to a “B” level PPV. Sting’s return to WWE should come a week or two before SummerSlam – but that’s just my opinion!

Anyways, that WWE 2K15 trailer featuring the Stingmon gave me goose bumps. It was simple, chilling and effective. This was the first time Sting was shown on Raw in some way shape or form and it’s without a doubt a historic moment. There is still no confirmation of Sting officially signing a contract or Legends deal with WWE, but after being shown on the WWE Network, having an official t-shirt on WWE Shop, and becoming the pre-order bonus for WWE 2K15 – it’s inevitable that we will see him. Hopefully soon…

July 14, 2014
WWE Network: Ahead of Its Time?

With the launch of the WWE Network, Vince McMahon took a somewhat revolutionary approach to delivering content by almost completely circumventing cable providers. There has been major backlash from the ostracized cable providers, with Dish and DirecTV choosing to cut WWE pay-per-views as a sign of defiance due to lost revenue.

One would assume that the WWE would be raking in the dough by cutting ties with middlemen cable providers. That has not been the case thus far, however. Instead, recent reports indicate that the company has lost between 45 and 53 million dollars this year alone.

The WWE Network is an amazing product, but can it lure enough subscribers to be a success?

The recent budget woes have resulted in the WWE instituting a number of budget cutting measures. Most importantly, a number of WWE talents have been terminated, including Josh Matthews, Brodus Clay, and Drew McIntyre. Additionally, it seems as if the WWE is trying to nickel and dime its superstars in an attempt to save money by adopting a policy that fines athletes for not appearing in professional attire or showing up to the arena a minute late.

In order to simply break even, the WWE has said they would need at least 1 million Network subscribers. The press release after WrestleMania reported that there are 667,287 subscribers, far short of the goal of 1 million. There is even speculation that the next press release could see fewer subscribers, due to the fact that the WWE cancels accounts that do not have sufficient funds at the time of withdraw.

While that seems unlikely, it does seem like the WWE has a long way to go before breaking even, let alone actually turning a profit. This leads one to wonder if the WWE Network is ahead of its time.

July 12, 2014
Chris Jericho: Putting Over the Next Generation

Chris Jericho made his much anticipated return to Raw two weeks ago, where he took out the Miz before the Wyatt Family promptly disposed of the Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla. Since then, Jericho has entered into a program with Bray Wyatt, with both superstars cutting promos on one another in recent weeks in order to build up their match at Battleground.

It is no secret that Jericho is one of the sport’s all-time greats. He was the first Undisputed WWE Champion and has headlined pay-per-views for well over a decade.

Wyatt and Jericho have competed in the past. Will they be able to one-up themselves at Battleground?

Despite his past accomplishments, Jericho has not had much success in the ring in recent years. Y2J notched a 1-5 record during pay-per-views last year, with his only victory coming against Fandango at Extreme Rules. However, despite his recent failures, his latest run with the company has solidified his spot at one of the best of all time.

Whereas other superstars are weary of putting over younger talent, especially when it means diminishing their own legacy, Jericho has shown that he is more than willing to lose clean in order to put over the next generation.

Jericho’s willingness to put over young talent will work well during his feud with Bray Wyatt. While feuding with John Cena, Wyatt lost two of the three matches, and needed a ton of assistance during his only victory. Some argue that Wyatt came out of the program stronger than he went in – an assertion that is certainly debatable.

While the jury is still out on whether Wyatt benefitted from his feud with Cena, it seems hard to imagine that he will not come out stronger after feuding with Jericho. There are a few reasons why Wyatt will benefit from working with Jericho.

July 11, 2014
WWE Raw Reaction (7/7/2014): Highlights, Lowlights & Random Thoughts

Tonight’s episode of Raw took place in Montreal, Canada and featured a total of eleven matches, including a first ever one-on-one meeting between the WWE World Heavyweight champion John Cena and Money in the Bank briefcase holder Seth Rollins.

Canadian icon and WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart graced the WWE Universe with his presence and cut a promo. Of course, he brought up the Montreal Screw Job, but it was a nice moment. Also, WWE continued to promote current on-going storylines leading up to Battleground.

Last week’s episode of Raw was one of the best and most exciting in recent history. Did this edition live up to last week’s high standards? Without further ado, here are highlights, lowlights and my random thoughts on the 7/7/2014 edition of Monday Night Raw:

BEST MATCH: The opening bout between the Usos and the Wyatt Family was the best match of the night. There were two other matches that could have stolen the show, but they failed to do so for a couple of reasons. First, Randy Orton and Dean Ambrose gave it their best effort, but it was clear to see that the two didn’t have very much chemistry, at least when it comes to singles action. Also, the Dean Ambrose botch wasn’t a crowd-pleasing moment.

Chris Jericho vs. the Miz could have been special, but the match didn’t last as long as I hoped. John Cena vs. Seth Rollins had the most promise, but they weren’t given enough time to do anything memorable and the obvious interference by Kane and Randy Orton ruined the match for me.

What was your favorite match of the night?

WORST MATCH: AJ Lee/Paige vs. Naomi/Cameron was the worst match of the night. Aside from the main event and the tag team match between the Usos and the Wyatt Family, there weren’t any real standout matches. However, this bout stood out for all the wrong reasons and it was a poor showing amongst the four Divas involved. Bo Dallas vs. El Torito was a close second for the worst match of the night award because at least the crowd was somewhat into it.

The worst segment of the night was the Nikki Bella/Alicia Fox disaster, but I don’t think there was an opening bell and nobody was declared the winner. Therefore, Idon’t consider this to be a match; otherwise, it would have won the award.

UPSET OF THE NIGHT: Kofi Kingston defeating Cesaro was the upset of the night. I know that Kofi defeated Cesaro last week on Raw, but I didn’t expect him to do it again and I don’t think the fans/crowd did either. I see Cesaro winning the Intercontinental Title at Battleground and Kingston falling into obscurity once again, but at least Kofi is living in the moment now.

To quote the great Mike Adamle, Kofi be Jamaican me crazy.

MOST SHOCKING MOMENT: I expected Randy Orton to defeat Dean Ambrose in their match tonight, but I was anticipating Seth Rollins to screw Ambrose over, resulting in Ambrose losing cleanly. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Ambrose has been really hot as of late and Rollins costing him the match would have protected Ambrose a bit more. Also, it would have spiced things up and furthered the Ambrose/Rollins feud.

July 7, 2014
2014 Second Quarter Matches of the Year

We are a little over halfway through the year. With Money in the Bank behind us, the WWE will now focus on building up its second biggest pay-per-view of the year, SummerSlam. With that said, I felt it would be interesting to look at the top five matches from the second quarter of 2014. I included full match videos and highlights where possible, but WWE licensing restrictions made it difficult at times. (I also apologize for the terrible music in a few of the videos.)

5. Dolph Ziggler vs. Bad News Barrett (April 14^th Raw)

Dolph Ziggler is rarely given more than ten minutes to perform anymore, so it is definitely worth enjoying when he is given enough time to show off his talent. In this match, Ziggler squared off with Bad News Barrett in the first round of the Intercontinental Championship tournament. Both superstars put on a great show, with Barrett ultimately winning after hitting a Bad News Bullhammer Elbow. The action was fast paced in this contest, with both guys showing why they have main event talent. This would start Barrett’s push to win the title, although he would of course later be stripped as a result of injury. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdwcxG9A8UU

4. Daniel Bryan vs. Kane (Extreme Rules)

This would end up begin Daniel Bryan’s only title defense, as he was stripped of the title just a few weeks later due to injury. He made the most of his time with the strap, however, by engaging in a great contest with Kane. Of all the matches on the list, this is definitely the one that had the most old-school feel to it, with the action spilling to the back of the arena at one point. Bryan also used a forklift to help secure the victory by delivering a diving headbutt from the top of the vehicle. Ultimately, the match was a throwback to the Attitude Era, providing fans with a simultaneous glimpse into both the past and future of the company. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ReEU8WzzQo

July 6, 2014
5 Ways to Make SmackDown More Relevant

Since its launch in 1999, SmackDown has been an integral piece in the WWE television puzzle. The program originally aired on Thursday night before switching to Friday night in 2005, serving as the perfect complement to Raw during much of its time on air.

At first, the programs were advertised as equals, especially during the brand extension era where superstars competed on either Raw or SmackDown exclusively. Storylines were progressed on both Raw and SmackDown and it even seemed like the latter was becoming the company’s top program for a while. However, much like a high school science experiment that is being conducted by the head of the Phish fan club, something went terribly awry.

The program is now a shell of its former self, airing in the Friday night death slot and featuring contests that would barely interest the most diehard WWE fans, let alone casual viewers flipping through the channels.

Although the program continues to receive decent ratings, it is easily surpassed by Raw each week, with Raw featuring nearly double the viewers on most weeks. There are a number of reasons why Raw continues to thrive while SmackDown becomes more irrelevant with each passing week.

Here are fives ways to make WWE SmackDown more impactful.

5. Ditch the Rematches

One of the biggest complaints about the current state of SmackDown is that it does little to differentiate itself from Raw. The program frequently features rematches from Raw, ultimately making the program inconsequential because it offers nothing fresh.

If the WWE hopes to turn the program into must-see television anytime soon, it would be wise to book matches that are unique to SmackDown, instead of frequently featuring the same matches that aired on Raw just a few days prior.

4. Air the Program Live

Although the announcers do their best to try to disguise the fact that SmackDown is a taped program, fans that follow the product closely are well aware of the fact that SmackDown is taped on Tuesday night.

The results are quickly posted online each week, making it easy for fans to scan through a blog post in order to see what happened. This also means that no truly shocking events will occur, as the spoilers would ruin the buzz that comes with a big return or a title change. A live program would give fans something of value to watch each week, as opposed to a taped program where the results are available three days before it airs.

July 5, 2014
40 WWE Botches That Still Make us Laugh

Whether it’s finishing moves, promos or segments – everybody loves a good botch. I know 40 is a big number, but trust me when I say that this list was trimmed down quite a bit. Humorous botches and unintentional moments from the past decade are featured in this piece, so brace yourself. For the sake of the article I had to five a time-frame, therefore,, the botches that are featured in this piece take place from 2004-2014.

Now, I didn’t add Brock Lesnar dropping Hardcore Holly on his head/Lesnar’s failed Shooting Star Press or mistakes like that. As most of us already know, Holly broke his neck and Lesnar got a concussion. Both are serious injuries and while the botches may have been humorous at the time and will always be remembered – it just isn’t right to laugh about them…at least in public. As far as I know, nobody was severely injured during the taping of these mishaps.

I understand that this is a completely random post, but I think that sometimes the IWC, including myself, needs a break. We all need a day off from arguing about who should or shouldn’t be pushed or lashing out about Seth Rollins’ new ring-gear. So sit back, relax and just enjoy some genuinely funny botches and accidents. This list is in no particular order. Enjoy.

BETTER THAN PERFECT

We start things off with one of the funniest promos in WWE history. Granted, Curtis Axel has come a long way since this debacle, but he will never hear the end of the genesis of McGillicutty.

MIKE ADAMLE – WWE HALL OF FAME 2015?

http://youtu.be/BeFiIl4i5lc

New WWE fans may not remember Mike Adamle. But looking at the clips in the compilation, I have one thing to ask WWE – what on earth were you thinking?

ALBERTO’S BUCKET LIST

http://youtu.be/U_EkCJxaw2M

Alberto Del Rio is one of the most talented in-ring competitors in WWE today and his feud with the Big Show was fairly memorable. However, the most memorable part of this feud may have been this botch.

RANDY ORTON #1

I’m a big Randy Orton fan. Sure, he may be boring at times, but the Viper dominates his competitors, as well as this list full of botches and humorous mishaps.

AJ LEE/NATALYA & THAT FIRED REFEREE

I highly doubt that this is the sole reason why former WWE referee Marc Harris was let go. However, this is the moment he will always be remembered for.

HANGOVER

CM Punk and Chris Jericho had a tremendous feud and series of match back in 2012. During this classic heel promo, Y2J accidentally slips and really hears it from the crowd. Perhaps he had some of that Jack before this segment?

THE MAN FORMERLY KNOWN AS SIN CARA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBCKnNu2TFo

To no surprise, the original Sin Cara has made this list. As of today, I believe he is known as Mistico and is competing in Mexico. If you ask me, he should stick to the comic books.

BOOKER T < CM PUNK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywKkvLf8DpY

At the time, Booker T was the managing manager of Raw. He interrupted CM Punk during a promo and we all know that’s a big no no. Booker T has since learned from this mistake.

DOLPH ZIGGLER?

Dolph Ziggler is an internet darling, and rightfully so. However, no matter how over he is and how well he sells, I had to include this rare mishap, which is actually pretty funny if you ask me.

THE INFAMOUS TENSAI INCIDENT

There are no words to describe this botch. I cringe every time I view it and at the time I felt horrible for Ryback because we all knew he could hit the move. But on that night it just wasn’t happening for him.

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July 5, 2014
Jack Swagger: A Shot at Redemption

Today is the all-important day where Americans celebrate their independence by consuming large amounts of alcohol and grilled fare. No WWE superstar claims to have America’s best interests in mind more than Jack Swagger.

The so-called Real American, accompanied by his founding father Zeb Colter, has advocated an isolationist domestic policy that is free of illegal immigrants. Along the way, Swagger has made national headlines by entering into a feud with conservative radio host Glenn Beck.

It appeared that Swagger was in the midst of a massive push while bickering with Beck, having just defeated accomplished stars such as Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, and Daniel Bryan to earn a chance to compete against Alberto Del Rio for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 29.

Swagger and Colter made national news in 2013 after attracting the attention of Glenn Beck.

Unfortunately for Swagger, he was arrested for DUI and possession of marijuana, ending what could have been a classic feud between a border-protecting nationalist and an immigrant Mexican. Del Rio defeated Swagger at WrestleMania and the Real American was quickly shifted out of the main event scene.

Since aligning himself with Zeb Colter, Swagger has always acted as a heel, often using cheap heat as a way to get his character over. However, it seems as if a face turn could be just around the corner.

In recent months, Rusev has been dominating the WWE roster, taking out superstars such as Big E, Kofi Kingston, and R-Truth. Much like Swagger, Rusev has also used cheap heat as a way to build his character, praising Vladimir Putin and Russia along the way.

Rusev was up to his usual antics this past week when the crowd actually started chanting for Jack Swagger. Colter and Swagger defended America by taking out Rusev and acting as faces for the first time since joining one another. Unsurprisingly, Colter cut an amazing promo on Rusev and Lana, perfectly setting up what could be an entertaining feud.

July 4, 2014
WWE Raw Reaction (6/30/2014): Highlights, Lowlights & Random Thoughts

Tonight’s episode of Raw took place in Hartford, Connecticut, featured a total of nine matches and was packed with a number of surprises. The Authority revealed that John Cena was on the cover of WWE 2k15 and also announced the main event of Battleground.

Michael Cole dropped some unfortunate news on the WWE Universe by announcing that Bad News Barrett will be out of action for a few months thanks to a separated shoulder. However, Vacant is the new Intercontinental champion and will defend the title in a Battle Royal at Battleground.

The Miz and Chris Jericho returned to WWE programming and the Wyatt Family targeted and attacked Y2J. Also, AJ Lee returned to Raw and won the WWE Divas Title from Paige. There is a lot to talk about, so without further ado, here are highlights, lowlights and my random thoughts on the 6/30/2014 edition of Monday Night Raw:

BEST MATCH: There weren’t any outstanding matches tonight on Raw, but WWE made up for it with outstanding promos, returns, segments and overall, one of the most exciting episodes in quite some time. However, to me, the best match of the night was Seth Rollins vs. Rob Van Dam. RVD looked inspired and put forth a great, high-flying performance against Rollins, who was as solid as always. A close second for best match of the night was the Usos & Sheamus vs. the Wyatt Family in six-man tag action.

WORST MATCH: I didn’t think anything would be worse than Nikki Bella vs. the Funkadactyls, but the Great Khali vs. Damien Sandow was clearly the worst match of the night. The bout lasted about four seconds long and Khali got a lukewarm reaction from the crowd. What a surprise. The Punjabi Playboy hit Sandow with a chop to the head and immediately pinned him. By the way, Sandow was dressed up as Vince McMahon.

MOST SHOCKING MOMENT: I don’t even know where to start. This edition of Raw was full of twists, turns and a number of surprises and shocking moments. Probably the most shocking sequence of events was a returning Chris Jericho interrupting and attacking a returning Miz, and then the Wyatt Family attacking Y2J. Also, AJ Lee made a surprise return, challenged Paige to an impromptu Divas Title match and won the bout cleanly. It also appears that AJ Lee and Paige have switched roles by completing a double face/heel turn.

It’s worth mentioning that Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter answering Lana and Rusev, and possibly turning face in the process, was another shocking moment. I’m hesitant on calling this a full-fledged face turn because this is a new rivalry – and the rivalry just makes sense considering Swagger and Colter are “Real Americans”. Regardless, Swagger and Colter were incredibly over and the crowd even chanted “let’s go Swagger”. When was the last time we heard that?

Also, Raw ended with a bang as Triple H called for Seth Rollins to cash in his MITB briefcase on a knocked out John Cena, but Dean Ambrose was there to make the save just in time.

SUPERSTAR/DIVA OF THE NIGHT: Damn, this category is very difficult to determine considering everything that went on during Raw. However, I have to give this award to AJ Lee due to the fact that she returned to WWE and immediately won the Divas Title. I am extremely intrigued to see what happens between Chris Jericho and the Wyatt Family, but Paige just edged Jericho out for the award due to the fact that AJ won a title upon her return. Perhaps I will start giving out both a superstar of the night and a Diva in the night award from now on?

June 30, 2014
WWE Money in the Bank 2014: Highlights, Lowlights & Random Thoughts

WWE’s fifth annual Money in the Bank PPV hailed from the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts and featured a total of eight matches. Once again, the United States and Intercontinental Championships were not defended at the PPV, but the WWE Universe was rewarded with two Ladder matches.

The traditional MITB Ladder match and an eight-man Ladder match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship were the most promoted bouts and for the most part – both delivered – well, at least one of them did.

So, without further ado, here are the highlights, lowlights and random thoughts about Money in the Bank 2014:

BEST MATCH: Without a doubt, the best match of the night was the first bout for the MITB briefcase. All six competitors (Bad News Barrett injured, did not participate) in the match gave it their all and the match emphasized the Rollins and Ambrose feud perfectly. There were some outstanding spots, mainly involving Seth Rollins, but unfortunately, I think we can all agree that the ending was a bit underwhelming. The Usos vs. Luke Harper & Erick Rowan was arguably the second best bout of the night.

WORST MATCH: Summer Rae vs. Layla with Fandango as the Special Guest Referee was the worst match of the night. This bout was so bad that the crowd started chanting “CM Punk” – and that chant was so last week. Personally, I wasn’t too upset with action, considering Layla and Summer Rae are fun to look at. Layla picked up the win after kicking Summer… IN THE FACE!

BEST PROMO: Excluding the pre-show there were only two promos/segments tonight. One was with Stephanie McMahon and the Bella Twins while the other was Dean Ambrose calling out Seth Rollins. Which one do you think was better?

Ambrose went all out with his handheld camera and talked smack about Seth Rollins. Ambrose warned Rollins that he was going to grab the MITB briefcase and that his “daddy” (Triple H) was going to be upset. It was a solid promo.

CROWD CHANTS: When the former WWE World Heavyweight champion came out to the ring, the crowd chanted “Daniel Bryan”, “YES” and “NO”. After a joke Daniel Bryan made about Bo Dallas, the crowd chanted “boner”. During the WWE Title match the crowd chanted “this is awesome”. The crowd chanted “holy shit” after Ambrose hit Rollins with a Super Plex off the top of a massive ladder. During Rybaxel vs. Goldust/Stardust the crowd chanted “feed me more” as Ryback was setting up the Meat Hook Clothesline. During Summer Rae vs. Layla the crowd chanted “CM Punk”. The first two chants during the WWE Title Ladder match was “let’s go Cena” and “Cena sucks”.

BEST COMMENTARY LINE: “I’m not even going to call that! That is absurd” – JBL talking about an Adam Rose spot.

June 29, 2014
WWE Money in the Bank 2014 Preview and Predictions

The WWE’s brightest stars will attempt to cash in at this Sunday’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view. Two ladder matches will main event the program, with one being held to declare a new WWE World Heavyweight Champion. In addition, former champion Daniel Bryan will address the WWE Universe during the pre-show.

Here are my predictions for this Sunday’s event.

Summer Rae vs. Layla (Fandango Guest Referee)

I was never the biggest Fandango supporter, but I definitely thought he would be doing something bigger than referring a divas match a year ago. He has regressed over the past year and lost a lot of momentum. This will likely be the bathroom break match of the night, and Fandango will play a major role in the outcome, of course. Summer Rae will win this one by either rejoining Fandango or using him to influence the outcome of the contest before abandoning him.

Winner: Summer Rae by pinfall

Rusev vs. Big E

These guys performed well together at last month’s Payback, even though they were given less than four minutes total. They will hopefully get a little more time during this one, allowing both superstars to showcase their strengths.

I think Rusev will ultimately win this one, but Big E will also look strong during the match. Big E cut a passionate promo on last week’s Raw, so it appears the WWE wants to showcase him a bit more. Both guys will look good, but Rusev will force Big E to tap out in the end.

Winner: Rusev by submission

Stardust and Goldust vs. Ryback and Curtis Axel

The Rhodes Brothers storyline has been moving slowly over the past few months. It first looked as if the two brothers were going to feud with one another, with Cody searching for an adequate replacement because he felt Goldust deserved better.

He eventually rebranded himself as Stardust and the two have been on a winning streak ever since. They will continue to look strong on Sunday, picking up the win after Cody hits his Diamond Dust finisher on Curtis Axel.

Winner: Stardust and Goldust by pinfall

June 28, 2014
7 Potential Feuds Coming Out Of WWE Money in the Bank

With eight superstars in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship ladder match and seven in the Money in the Bank contract ladder match, the future is very intriguing.

With eight superstars in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship ladder match and seven in the Money in the Bank contract ladder match, the future is very intriguing.

Someone is walking out of Boston with the WWE World Heavyweight title. Whoever wins has to be careful though. Because lurking behind them will be someone else with the Money in the Bank briefcase. The two winners of these matches will have a microscope on them. Many of these stars have a long history with each other. From the three members of The Shield to Attitude Era stars like Kane and Rob Van Dam, WWE fans could see some fantastic feuds come from the outcomes of these matches.

At Money in the Bank 2010, Kane won the briefcase and become the first and only superstar to cash in that very same night. History could repeat itself this year, except this time the title can change more times. The WWE World Heavyweight title will change at least once since it is currently vacant. However, it could change twice in the same night if the Money in the Bank winner cashes in like Kane did four years ago. This would expedite a feud between superstars in each match.

With that said, here are seven fantastic and intriguing feuds that could begin thanks to the outcomes of the two ladder matches at Money in the Bank 2014.

June 26, 2014
5 Questions Heading into Money in the Bank

Money in the Bank is only a few days away, and it appears that the card is all but set. There are two ladder matches scheduled so fans can enjoy double the fun. Leading into the event, most questions have been answers, but a few still remain. Here are five questions that need to be answered heading into Money in the Bank.

5. Should Big E Be Given More Time to Speak?

This past week on Raw, Big E cut a rather passionate promo on Rusev. During his Intercontinental Title run, Big E was never really given an opportunity to connect with fans, leading many, including myself, to believe that his run with the title was stale.

However, after seeing him on Raw last week, I think that he could be one of the top superstars if booked properly. Instead of writing Big E cookie cutter promos that bore the fans, he should be given more time to speak freely and be himself as he did on Raw. If he had been given this opportunity while he still held the title, he could still be holding the strap today.

4. Will Bad News Barrett Compete?

Bad News Barrett was unfortunately the one receiving the bad news this week after separating his shoulder during a SmackDown taping. It seems that Barrett cannot avoid the injury bug, as he has been known to go down to injury at the worst possible times.

There has been no official announcement regarding his status for this Sunday’s pay-per-view, but it seems as if he will have to sit out while his fellow competitors attempt to win at shot at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. One can only hope that he recovers quickly and gets back in the ring, especially considering how successful his latest push has been.

June 26, 2014
WWE RAW REACTION (6/23): Highlights, Lowlights & Random Thoughts

WWE’s Money in the Bank “go-home” episode of Monday Night Raw (Raw 1100), took place in Washington, DC and featured a total of ten matches, including a first ever one-on-one meeting between Seth Rollins and Rob Van Dam.

As always, the Authority was power-hungry tonight as the WWE Universe witnessed Stephanie McMahon “wrestle” Vickie Guerrero, and Triple H announced the remanding six competitors that will join Seth Rollins in the traditional MITB Ladder match this upcoming Sunday.

Also, Bray Wyatt, Randy Orton, Alberto Del Rio and Cesaro went to war with John Cena, Sheamus and Roman Reigns in a 4-on-3 Handicap match, which of course, was a main event rematch from SmackDown. With that being said, here are the overall highs and lows from the 6/23/2014 edition of Raw:

BEST MATCH: While the main event was entertaining, the best match of the night was the Intercontinental Championship match between Bad News Barrett (c) and Dolph Ziggler. These two were given a decent amount of time and both men looked like a million bucks.

Ziggler sold the hell out of every physical maneuver Barrett unleashed upon him and even kicked out of Winds of Change and Wasteland. There were countless near-falls and Barrett looked flawless throughout the entire bout. Barrett retained the IC Title after hitting a devastating Bull Hammer elbow.

WORST MATCH: There were a lot of doozies out there, but in my opinion, the worst match of the night was Big E vs. Damien Sandow, who was dressed as Abraham Lincoln. Big E and Sandow’s match lasted about 2-3 minutes, which was the same amount of time as Jimmy Uso vs. Luke Harper and Bo Dallas vs. Titus O’Neil. Like I said, there were some pretty disappointing matches.

BEST PROMO: There were some outstanding promo segments tonight on Raw. The opening segment between Stephanie McMahon and Vickie Guerrero may be subjective, but I was enthralled by the promo work these two women displayed. I was especially impressed with Vickie, who didn’t screw up, paid homage to Eddie and got a big pop from the crowd.

Seth Rollins’ promo before his match with RVD was strong and when RVD came out to interrupt him, both superstars made the WWE Universe laugh with some genuinely funny jokes. However, the best promo of the night goes to Dean Ambrose, who looked and acted like a man possessed. The other promos mentioned were top notch, but Ambrose’s had the most emotion.

BEST COMMENTARY LINES: “You have to be a stud to play badminton” – JBL. “I’m not sure if anybody’s noticed, but this is not an eclipse in front of our announce table, it’s just Paul Heyman” – Jerry Lawler.

SUPERSTAR/DIVA OF THE NIGHT: Dolph Ziggler was the superstar of the night after putting forth a brilliant performance against Bad News Barrett. Seth Rollins cut a great promo and there were some other superstars that excelled, but Ziggler was the biggest standout in my eyes.

Also, I have to mention that this is probably going to be the last time we see Vickie Guerrero on WWE in quite some time. Whether you love or hate her, you gotta respect her for being an entertaining heel for almost a decade.

June 23, 2014
WWE Money In The Bank: 10 Fun Facts About The PPV

This upcoming Sunday, WWE will be showcasing its fifth annual Money in the Bank PPV from the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. There are two Ladder matches scheduled to take place and both bouts have major implications.

Superstars participating in the first Ladder match will be competing for the coveted Money in the Bank briefcase,which contains a contract for a WWE World Heavyweight Title shot at any time for up to one year. The second bout will be the first of its kind – a 7-Man Ladder match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

Throughout its five year history, the Money in the Bank PPV has given the WWE Universe some unforgettable and unpredictable moments. Please keep in mind that the very first WWE Money in the Bank PPV took place in 2010, while the MITB Ladder match originated before that time.

With that being said, here are 10 fun facts about the Money in the Bank PPV:

Undertaker, clearly frustrated at the fact he has never wrestled at MITB

1. THE UNDERTAKER HAS NEVER PARTICIPATED

In 2010, the Undertaker successfully defended his World Heavyweight Championship at the Royal Rumble. At the Elimination Chamber PPV, Taker dropped the title to Chris Jericho and continued his historic feud with Shawn Michaels.

After ending HBK’s career at WrestleMania 26, the Deadman missed the next six WWE PPVs and re-emerged at Night of Champions. Since then, Taker has made sporadic appearances, but has always competed at WrestleMania.

Cena is looking forward to winning his first World Title at MITB

2. JOHN CENA HAS NEVER WON A CHAMPIONSHIP

John Cena has an overall record of 2-2 at the PPV and it may come as a surprise, but the face of the WWE has never won a championship belt while competing at Money in the Bank.

In 2010, Cena failed to capture the WWE Title after losing to Sheamus in a Steel Cage match. In 2011, he came up short in one of the most memorable matches in professional wrestling history against CM Punk. In 2012, Cena won the MITB Ladder match for a WWE Title contract and in 2013, Cena successfully defended the WWE Title against Mark Henry.

Sure, he’s successfully defended the championship back in 2013, but Cena has never been a newly crowned champion at the event. This fact was interesting to me since he’s had two chances to do so. Will history repeat itself next Sunday in Cena’s home state of Massachusetts?

Kane tried the corporate thing out…he quickly got over it.

3. KANE IS THE ONLY SUPERSTAR TO CASH IN HIS MITB BRIEFCASE AT THE EVENT

The WWE needed to make a splash at their first annual Money in the Bank PPV back in 2010. While the event had some lackluster bouts, there were still some intriguing surprises. In the first match of the night, Kane scratched and clawed his way to victory by securing the SmackDown MITB briefcase.

Three matches after the first MITB bout, Rey Mysterio successfully defended his World Heavyweight Championship against Jack Swagger. After tasting defeat, Swagger attacked Mysterio in frustration. Seconds after Mysterio tapped out in pain to the Patriot Lock, Kane came in to make the save. He got a huge pop from the crowd and eventually chased Swagger backstage.

Unfortunately for the Master of the 619, that wasn’t the last time we saw the Big Red Monster. Kane’s music and pyro hit and Rey knew what was coming as he clenched onto his World Title. After hitting a massive Choke Slam and unnecessarily following up with a Tombstone Pile Driver, Kane became the new World Heavyweight champion. It was one of those “wrong place at the wrong time” moments for Rey Mysterio. Nothing personal.

4. REY MYSTERIO AND KANE HAD THE SHORTEST MATCH

Rey Mysterio vs. Kane at Money in the Bank 2010 is the shortest match in the PPVs history. The bout lasted just 54 seconds.

5. JOHN CENA AND CM PUNK HAD THE LONGEST MATCH

John Cena vs. CM Punk at Money in the Bank 2011 is the longest match in the PPVs history. The bout lasted 33 minutes and 44 seconds.

June 23, 2014
WWE Money in the Bank: Potential Disappointment

One week from today, WWE’s annual Money in the Bank pay-per-view will be held in Boston, Massachusetts. The event has quickly become one of the most anticipated programs of the year, as it provides exciting action and sets up the storyline for months by allowing a WWE superstar to stalk his prey while holding a contract for a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match.

There will be two Money in the Bank ladder matches this year. One will be held for the vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship, and the other will be a traditional contest for a shot at the title. The first contest will feature perennial title contenders such as John Cena, Randy Orton, Sheamus, and Alberto Del Rio, as well as up-and-coming stars such as Roman Reigns, Bray Wyatt, and Cesaro.

It seems like John Cena is once again the favorite to leave Boston as the champ.

The second ladder match will feature Seth Rollins, with the rest of the lineup to be determined in a series of qualifying matches. Thus far, only three matches have been announced for the entire pay-per-view, and with only one week left before the event, one has to wonder how the WWE will tie everything together in such a brief period.

Other than the two ladder matches, a matchup between the Usos and Luke Harper and Erick Rowan of the Wyatt family is the only confirmed contest on the card. It seems apparent that Dean Ambrose will be one of the participants in the traditional ladder match. Potential options also include those who did not qualify for the championship ladder match, including Bad News Barrett, Dolph Ziggler, and Rob Van Dam.

The two ladder matches will soak up a large portion of the roster, meaning the midcard will have to pick up some slack in order to fill up the three hours of airtime. Rumored contests include Cody Rhodes and Goldust vs. RybAxel, Rusev vs. Big E, and a Divas Championship match involving Paige and all or part of the Funkadactyls.

June 22, 2014
5 2014 FIFA World Cup Stars and Their WWE Counterparts

Whether you like it or not, the World Cup has been hogging our TV screens and will continue to do so until July 13. As a retired soccer player (at the tender age of 18) and life-long fan of the sport, I have been thoroughly impressed with the action that has taken place.

Already, this tournament has had incredible drama and goals are being scored at record pace. So, if you’re still not a soccer fan after witnessing the brilliant and eventful tournament, I’m afraid there is no hope. Perhaps you’ll change your mind when the USA wins a World Cup…in the afterlife.

Not only have I been a life-long soccer fan, but professional wrestling has been a big part of my life as well. Wrestling and soccer are polar opposites, but they just so happen to be my favorite sports and nothing beats the drama that takes place on that field and inside that squared circle. So, why not bring the two together?

I encourage all of you to please have an open mind and with that said, here are five World Cup studs and their compatible WWE tag team partners.

NEYMAR AND DOLPH ZIGGLER

http://youtu.be/37Wah1lW7sw

So far in group play, Neymar has been a standout player at the World Cup. He’s young, talented and the Brazilian can make some outstanding runs and score mesmerizing goals. However, Neymar is also known for his flopping/diving, or better yet, selling ability.

Dolph Ziggler may be one of the most underutilized wrestlers in WWE history. He’s won the World Heavyweight Championship twice, but neither title reign felt memorable. Ziggler is known for being a workhorse for the promotion, but better yet, the Showoff has been known for his outstanding selling ability.

Neymar and Dolph Ziggler show off their skills whenever possible and would be an interesting pairing. They are arguably the best sellers in their respective sport and are fan-favorites,well, for the most part. Neymar and Ziggler would be a babyface tag team that would put forth above-average performances each and every match. They would win the Tag Titles once or twice and plus, the ladies would love them.

LUIS SUAREZ AND CM PUNK

Luis Suarez has to be the most controversial soccer player walking the earth today. He is coming off of knee surgery that he had just one month ago and in his first game back, at the World Cup, scored two goals which knocked England out of the competition. Suarez is extremely passionate about the sport of soccer and leaves everything on the field. But, as stated before, the Uruguayan is no stranger to controversy.

In 2011, Suarez was given an eight-match ban for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra and just last year (2012-2013 season), Suarez was suspended for 10 matches at the end of the 2012 season for biting, yes, biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic on the arm.

Suarez was suspended for the first few matches of the 2013-2014 English Premiere League season, but still managed to net 31 goals in 33 matches, which is an absolutely unbelievable achievement. The man missed 5 games due to the suspension and still became the leagues top scorer…by ten goals!

As all of you know, CM Punk has apparently walked out of WWE, but he is still under contract and the WWE is still selling his merchandise, so I say he’s fair game for the article. Anyways, Punk is the self-proclaimed Best in the World and thrives on being a rebellious.

In 2011, the Straight Edge Superstar cut one of the most revealing and passionate promos in WWE history. At the time, Punk’s contract was about to expire and he was threatening to leave the company with the WWE Championship at the Money in the Bank PPV. Less than three weeks after the infamous promo, Punk and Cena worked a five star rated match in Chicago, where Punk won the championship and “left” the WWE.

In 2012, during his infamous 400+ day title reign, Punk left a Sacramento, California arena through the crowd, something that he’s done before in his hometown of Chicago. However, Punk ended up punching a fan in the face after the fan (and a group of fans) put their hands on him. You can view that awesome and revealing video here.

Thinking about Suarez’s biting skills and Punk’s wrestling ability, these two would make a formidable tag team. Both athletes have taken a lot of heat from fans, but still remain in the upper echelon of their profession. Luis Suarez and CM Punk would be an outstanding heel tag team that would win multiple championships.

June 21, 2014
The Shield: Great Expectations

The WWE dog pound is a lot emptier after the dissolution of the Hounds of Justice. Since leaving the Shield, Seth Rollins has adopted new entrance music and wardrobe, trading in his Shield garb for attire that resembles something Catwoman would sport.

Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns, although still affiliated, have also distanced themselves from one another. Ambrose debuted new ring gear, now wearing a pair of jeans and a white tank top. It appears that the only member of the Shield who will continue to wear the riot gear the group has become synonymous with will be Roman Reigns.

Reigns found a way to gain entry into the Money in the Bank main event. Does he have a chance to come out victorious?

Speaking of Reigns, he is also the only member of the Shield who will compete in the Money in the Bank ladder match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at the next pay-per-view. Although it seems unlikely that Reigns, a man who has never held a singles title in the WWE, would win the championship, he has to be considered one of the favorites after looking at his competition.

In my opinion, the best way to further the feud between Reigns and Triple H would be to have the Game screw Reigns out of victory at Money in the Bank, possibly by helping Randy Orton secure the title once more.

Reigns has not seemed too interested in exacting revenge from former partner Seth Rollins, instead allowing Dean Ambrose to handle the situation. This has set up a storyline between the two, with Rollins and Ambrose attacking one another on multiple occasions over the past few weeks.

This week on Main Event, Seth Rollins announced that there would be a second ladder match at this month’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view, this one a traditional ladder match for a title shot. Rollins also announced that he would be the first entrant in the contest.

Thus far, no other competitors have been announced for the match, but with Rollins and Ambrose feuding, it seems obvious that Dean will be one of the superstars vying for a title contract next Sunday. If handled correctly, Ambrose and Rollins could pull off one of the greatest feuds in recent history.

June 20, 2014
5 Questions Following Monday’s Raw (6/16)

This week’s Raw took place in the dump of a city known as Cleveland, Ohio. The card featured a total of six matches, including two contests to finalize the field for the Money in the Bank championship ladder match.

Most notably, this week’s Raw saw Roman Reigns and John Cena punch their tickets for Money in the Bank, while Vickie Guerrero and Stephanie McMahon bonded with one another. As always, a few questions were answered, but many still remain. Here are five questions that need to be answered following this week’s edition of Raw.

5. Will Seth Rollins get a new theme song/attire soon?

Seth Rollins furthered his feud with former partner Dean Ambrose last night, and it seems apparent that the two will square off at Money in the Bank. Since joining the Authority, Rollins seems to have lost a bit of momentum.

Most importantly, it feels like Rollins needs new attire, as he is currently still sporting his Shield gear. His new theme music also does not fit him well, but there are rumors that it could change in the near future. Ultimately, the situation shows how haphazardly his heel change was handled, as there was not even a plan in place for new ring gear or decent entrance music.

Update: Photos: Seth Rollins’ New Ring Gear

4. How long will Adam Rose last?

There are rumors that Vince McMahon is not too keen on Adam Rose. He seemed to be over last night, with the crowd loudly singing along to his theme song for the first time that I can recall.

Rose defeated Fandango in a mixed-gender tag team contest. There was a bit of irony during the match, with Rose essentially being the same character that Fandango was a year ago. We all know what has happened to Fandango during the past year. Where will Rose be a year from now, and most importantly, will he still be with the company?

June 17, 2014