We are almost there! Wrestlemania is shaping up to possibly be the biggest and possibly greatest of all time.
At this time of year, every year, I look forward to the show of shows and get as excited as a kid at Christmas time. Sometimes, it can feel like wasted happiness once that last match has finished and it's all done with. "That's it. Good bye. I'll be back for your money next year!" Kinda like Christmas some years.
But THIS year! This year is going to be big and as important a night as WCW's fold to the WWE. I feel like WWE has the potential to pull off something that will change it forever.
The matches on paper look great and every one has the ability to change the pace, direction and future of the Superstars involved if not the whole WWE.
Will it all be as big as I hope? We have to wait and see but let's have a look as to why I think this Sunday could be so important.
That's the hashtag! #SexyBoyNo1. Let's make it quite trendy. As some of you may know I have a little goal to try and get the IWC masses, novelty lovers, old wrestling fans, music buyers to get Shawn Michaels' WWE theme music to get to Number 1 in a music chart, at the least grab a Top 40 spot.
To make this ....Boyhood dream a reality we all need to spread the word and keep in mind Monday 31st March. This is the date that purchases of the track will count towards the official chart and make that dream come true.
All you gotta do to help achieve this is just download the Sexy Boy track on iTunes on Monday 31st March or before April 6th.
I don't really have any motives for starting this than just something fun that the IWC can do together and just get wrestling noticed by the people who would normally pass on by, get remembered by those who have forgotten and just to celebrate Wrestlemania week with Mr.Wrestlemania himself good ol' HBShizzle Shawn Michaels.
We've got a couple of weeks to get this moving and noticed, so help spread the word, its 99p, use the #, use the link, get people on it!
*Warning: This may come across as rantish, nonsensical and not the usual style I post. That's because I'm going on 3 hours sleep, being robbed of 20 quid from a billion dollar company and just going on a bender on twitter with anyone that'll listen!*
Now by the Royal F'N Rumble I don't mean it like EC F'N W but more like Miley F'N Cyrus.
Normally I am upbeat, positive and always try to find the silver lining, but watching this years Rumble has got me, well, wanting to trap my wobbly bits it the kitchen drawer.
TNA has been doing more harm than good in a lot of people eyes recently, so I just wanted to remind myself and anyone who feels TNA still has a chance or anyone who is a TNA fan how good it has been at times.
Now these moments may not of changed TNA for the good or the bad, these moments may not be remembered by many but to me they are great moments for the company.
5
Hogan is TNA
Number 5 makes it to the list simply because of the significance of the main man involved. Almost 4 years ago the Immortal Hulk Hogan went and joined TNA, I never heard or read anything about this happening until it actually was announced on October 27th 2009.
Hogan carrying considerably more good stock back then, going to TNA was either a well grabbed signature in the Impact Zones filing cabinet or desperation from a "money and spotlight grabbing" aging Hulkster.
Either way when I heard about this I was amazed, shocked and had to watch the January 4th 2010 episode of Impact to see Hollywood turn up in the number 2 promotion. In my eyes if anything can get you to watch TNA it's got to be a good thing!
So here it is the go home RAW before Heck in a Cell. Leading into PPVs RAW normally delivers a wrestle light, segment heavy kind of show maybe to protect talent and leave us wanting the physicality more at the PPV. With the contract signing between Bryan and Orton I think there is a good chance that we may not see either of the two in a actual match tonight.
So what can RAW offer us before entering the Devil's Playground.
Personally I love a big brawl to end a RAW going into a PPV, it leaves things evenly matched between opponents as it's not a one on one situation. With contract signings usually ending in chaos, I wouldn't be shocked, but would be happy to see Bryan, Orton, Michaels, Triple H, Big Show, Cody & Goldie and The Shield in a huge brawl to sign out the show.
I must be doing something right because Kinny Killa and Sugs asked me to join them on their Sunday Segue Podcast. This weeks episode is a four man effort as @TopRopeElbow joined us to shoot the breeze on last Monday's RAW and give out Battleground predictions.
Battleground isn't exactly going in with all the bells and whistles but that shouldn't stop you enjoying the actual show. There is a few opportunities for advancements and new chapters from tonights card involving a number of Superstars.
Ziggler VS Sandow
I'm going for a Ziggler win here. Just by the logic that the briefcase is extra weight on the owners shoulders, making it harder to seemingly kick out. But will this Kickoff match be the last we see of Mr. Money in the Bank tonight?
To paraphrase the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln,
You can please some of the people some of the time, All of the people some of the time, Some of the people all of the time but you can never please All of the people all of the time.
Right now in within the IWC this is true in regards to the WWE and it's a great shame. 2013 has shaped up to be a truly remarkable year for WWE with the use of new talent, making good use of established names and heading in a new direction. Keeping well within their PG shackles they have proved they can still make for brilliant TV and top flight action.
Prior to 2013's momentum the IWC and the Universe was up in arms, screaming for a new face to take over from Cena. Of course we had the Summer of Punk but Cena was still taking charge in most of that, champion or not.
Many of us felt disgruntled, feeling like the WWE was ignoring its "key & most important" fan sector. Truth being WWE was just doing what its always done in cycles and thats pull in its new fan base. The future fan base, without which they wouldn't be able to entertain anyone let alone the "key & most important" fan base.
If you're a twitterer there's a very good chance you've seen a tweet or two today professing that the Attitude Era needs to come back and use "real" wrestlers.
Today I had the pleasure of recording my first podcast to be broadcast with the @SundaySegue lads.
Kinny and Sugs gave me the opportunity to chuck in my two cents on the WWE from Wrestlemania to now.
I was so happy that these guys went out of their way to invite me on their show, it's this supportive, positive and friendly side to the IWC that gives me hope in wrestling fandom.
Kinny and Sugs normally will run down the weeks happenings in the WWE, mostly RAW with Smackdown in 60 seconds and a brief touch on nXt and news and rumours. They have a very honest opinion and don't shy away from what they think!
That's right. Wrestling fans who not only think for themselves but will actually voice their opinion. You don't need to agree with them on everything they say, that's what is great about opinions, you can have your own.
But I do urge you to go and give Sunday Segue Podcast a listen on iTunes and get to know the guys from the UK.
Thanks again to Kinny and Sugs for giving me the chance to guest on their show!
Over the last couple of episodes from @AEPodcast they have pointed something out that has got me thinking.
Now let's not get it twisted, these guys are genius. The whole format has got such a brilliant hook, niche....gimmick? Kevin, Billy and Adam take a step back to the beginnings of some the WWE's best years and tell the stories of the Attitude Era's PPVs and touch on the RAWs and I'm guessing Smackdowns to come. The trio from England and Ireland (maybe N.I, I'm not too sure? Sorry Kevin) are as funny as the idea of a pet coon, whipping a government mule until he's God damned broken in half!
Each episode is seamless with telling us how each PPV unfolded with a nice pace of comedy and, well, almost a play by play commentary.
I personally would like to ask Attitude Era Podcast if they would ever do a minute for minute full commentary, to say, Wrestlemania XV? I would love it and I hope other AEP supporters would love it too.
SummerSlam is only bested by Wrestlemania in my opinion both in historic value and importance.
It has been home to many great and memorable moments and is one of the big four monthly shows, never dropped or moved around the calendar and has always held a certain amount of significance even in its early days.
Tonight sees SummerSlam on its 26th birthday, further solidify its status as the "Biggest event of the Summer" with a main event that has got me itching to see. The potential pay offs that could happen are everything a Attitude fan could want, with the McMahons and Triple H playing extras in the John Cena / Daniel Bryan feud over the WWE Championship and Randy Orton lurking in the shadows with his MiTB briefcase in tow, this could really be a landscape changing night.
During the go home episode of RAW John Cena teased a little .... Attitude Adjustment (seriously no pun intended)...of his own and gave Bryan a dry slap in retaliation over being told he wasn't a wrestler. Is this a little heel tease?
I'm dying to see a new side of Cena as much as the next guy, but I don't see it happening in reality. Partially down to the rumour he's taking time off after SummerSlam. It wouldn't make much sense turning just to leave, surely it'll be the anticlimax of the Summer if it did happen. Maybe a heel return but can't see him leaving as one.
Either way tonight could be the start of a new chapter in Cena's lengthy career (It's gone from 10 years strong to 12 years in 6 months apparently)
Mr. COO, Triple H who has a great SummerSlam history is the appointed official so the 1-2-3 is actually in his hand. Hunter has the power to help or screw who he wants here, even it's helping both superstars from getting screwed by McMahon or McMahons.
Triple H may call it straight down the middle to the last second and then screw either guy. Could Trips actually be on side with McMahons all along?
It maybe his role on the PPV could be for after the main event, he may call the Cena vs Bryan match down the middle just to screw the winner and assist Randy Orton to win after he cashes in.
I'm not claiming any of this is true or will happen. Hell I'd love none of this to happen so I can actually be shocked and happy with paying for this event.
The main event is what I'm really hyped for but with Punk and Lesnar about to put on a solid punch up I'm hoping at least two matches tonight will leave me hanging on for RAW tomorrow night.
John Cena squaring off against The Undertaker has already happened a few times through the mid 2000s but John Cena vs The Undertaker at Wrestlemania has never happened.
Will this ever happen? Could this ever happen? 'Taker may not have too many matches left and with the somewhat ambiguous situation involving The Shield, the white hot Daniel Bryan and Brock Lesnar looking for trouble there could be some other opponents for 'Taker to go for.
Would WWE or its fans benefit from pitting super Cena against The Deadman?
I believe given the right angle it could be oh so more than epic.
Personally I would love to see this match happen and have spent a few commutes to work thinking about how this could go down.
Respect
Hustle, Loyalty and Respect. It's what Cena is all about and it could play a part in this match up. If Cena decided to take the challenge to Undertaker he say it's all about respect and wants to have the honour to try and beat the streak.
This week on Twitter I got involved in a conversation with @IfinRatedR and @VegasKustom about WWE ignoring its core fan base and investing too much time and effort in the younger fan base.
I'm 26 years old, I have been watching wrestling (mostly exclusively WWE) for the best part of 21-22 of these years and I was questioning do WWE care about people in the same bracket and older? Or are they focused solely on the CeNation Army munchkins?
Honestly, I feel it is both.
Unless you've just crawled out of the boiler room of you will know that WWE is PG. This simply means, of course it is directed at the young audience. Over the past several years WWE has changed from the blood soaking - boobie bouncing - weapon wielding - bird flipping - gritty - bonkers world it once was. It now prefers the family friendly - hand clappy - lady skipping - shiny glossy world.
This to me still doesn't prove that WWE has lost touch with the older bunch. Not even close.
Sure we can bang on all day about Cena running the place in Superman mode for the kids to cheer and adore, but we had Hogan doing the exact same thing! Sure the Hulkster only had two colours at the time but he still came out in the brightest yellow and reds, was all wholesome and all patriotic, put across messages of goodness and was cleaner than a DDP smile.
Being a wrestling fan you may of heard of a guy who has won championships, been on TV almost every week over the past 10 years, appears on least 11 out of 12 PPVs, gets mixed reviews from fans around the world and has worked as hard as anyone in the WWE today. In my opinion he's still not given the credit he deserves, the guy is a work horse and does whats asked of him, in what seems to be, every instance. You know exactly who I mean, but before you go saying "Ugh! Had enough of reading about this guy and what everyone thinks of him" don't worry. I'm not gonna bang on all day about Michael Cole, as the title suggests I'm here to talk about John Cena. To be exact I wanna talk about the potential and idea of Cena turning heel. If you have ever been on twitter and seen anything about Cena on there, chances are it's about one of a few things; 1. Cena is WWEs god and can do no wrong and is the best of the best of the best of the bestest best! 2. Cena sucks and needs to be heel by next week or I'm tuning out 3. Cena sucks and needs to die. Now point number 3 needs to stop. If you are wishing death upon a performer for doing their job, a job you would wear your own testicles as earrings to do, you are a shabby human being and need to do some thinking about your own life. Points 1 and 2 have some real merrit to be discussed further. Whether you like him or not, whether you buy into the character or not, there is no reason to totally discount the first two points.
