http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/blog.php?13939-The-Punk Wrestling News and Discussion - eWrestlingNews.com Community en Mon, 20 May 2013 14:25:39 GMT vBulletin 10 http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/blog.php?13939-The-Punk http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?45352-The-Punk-UFC-159-Bones-vs-Sonnen-Review Sun, 28 Apr 2013 12:52:04 GMT After beating Jon Jones soundly with his better picks, tactics and overall coaching ability on TUF, "The American Gangster" Chael Sonnen hopes to take the one thing that truly matters; Jones' UFC Light Heavyweight title. It won't be easy though as in just two years "Bones" has decimated the 205 pound division, leading many to believe the young champion should consider a move up to Heavyweight. With a win over his adversary tonight, Jones will equal Tito Ortiz's record of 5 title defences. Could a record tying win here force the champion to relinquish his title and pursue new opponents, and if so, could this be the last time we see the ageing Sonnen in an Octagon title scrap? Lets fight!

Bout One - Lightweight
Pat Healy vs. Jim Miller

Very few fighters can scrap as well as Jim Miller. Following his Fight of the Year bout with Joe Lauzon in December, the New Jersey native welcomed former Strikeforce mainstay Pat Healy back to the Octagon for the first time in seven years...and fans weren't left disappointed. Showing great striking and grappling Miller took the first round but Healy soon found his stride and began to dominate with some nice and potentially match ending submission attempts. A testament to the heart of both fighters, the bout entered the final round where Healy began to pick Miller apart with ground strikes before choking him out with a rear naked choke. Great performances from both who got this card off to a very strong start. Healy has made a serious statement to the rest of the division with this victory. Great to have him back in the UFC.

Winner: Pat Healy via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in Round 3

Fight Rating: ****/5

Bout Two - Light Heavyweight
Vinny Magalhães vs. Phil Davis

For newcomers to the sport, the sound of a Wrestler vs. Jiu-Jitsu fight may sound appealing but to the more knowledgeable fight fan, they rarely make for entertaining bouts. Luckily for us, Phil Davis wasn't about to play the ground game as he fought the fight he wanted to and kept the action on the feet. Magalhães had plenty of opportunities to tie his opponent up and pull guard but for reasons unknown, failed to do so. With the ground game nullified, Davis showcased good, but not great striking skills and picked his Brazilian adversary apart with quick jabs. Magalhães had no answer, couldn't find his way into the fight, couldn't utilise his considerable skills and, unsurprisingly, lost via unanimous decision. Davis is continuing to improve after his first career defeat to Rashad Evans last year and could very well be on the cusp of another top 10 opponent. Much more entertaining than a typical fight of this kind but the one-sidedness of the bout took away some of the enjoyment.

Winner: Phil Davis via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Fight Rating: ***/5

Bout Three - Heavyweight
Cheick Kongo vs. Roy Nelson

Put two guys possessing devastating knockout power together in a fight and it will rarely go the distance. Roy Nelson once again proved this by dropping the Frenchman with haymakers just two minutes into the fight and continuing his impressive run of form. Kongo never got going as he was pressed against the cage by his grappling expert opponent. The win could put Nelson into genuine title contention, and he knows it. A fight like this isn't usually graded for entertainment value, but for the quality of the finish...and what a finish it was!

Winner: Roy Nelson via KO (Punches) in Round 1

Fight Rating: ***.5/5

Bout Four - Middleweight
Alan Belcher vs. Michael Bisping

With all the pre-fight trash talk and a fiery weigh-in confrontation, many had this co-main event picked as the show stealing fight of the night. Unfortunately this fight will be remembered for all the wrong reasons as Britain's Michael Bisping picked up the decision victory after accidentally poking Belcher in the eye, forcing the American to withdraw. It was going to be Bisping's night regardless though; he dominated his opponent throughout with better boxing and cardio. "The Count" is not known for knockout ability so one here was a pretty tall order. Instead we got an eye poke, a poke which looks to have seriously injured Belcher, who needed retina surgery in 2010. Hopefully he will be okay and uses the time off to re-think his fight approach. He was outmatched here and made to look pretty average against a man who has been a longtime underachiever himself in the organisation.

Winner: Michael Bisping via Technical Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) in Round 3

Fight Rating: ***/5

Bout Five - Light Heavyweight Championship
Jon Jones (c) vs. Chael Sonnen

Let's set the record straight: Chael Sonnen wasn't handed this fight for no reason. When Dan Henderson suffered an injury just before the ill-fated UFC 151, Sonnen did what no other Light Heavyweight would do and offered to fight the champion on 8 days notice. The champion, for reasons still fully known, declined at the time, setting the stage for this main event title match. Basically Sonnen tried to save the cancelled card and thus rightfully deserved his crack at the 205 pound king. Unfortunately for him though Jones wasn't to be denied his record tying 5th title defence as he showcased his powerful wrestling, punishing elbows, brutal ground and pound attack and heavy knees which all resulted in a quick stoppage victory for the champion. Sonnen looked game early on a threw some good knees but those questioning Jones' wrestling skills were soon silenced as "Bones" took his Geco Roman specialist opponent down with relative ease. It was a result we all really knew was inevitable but Sonnen gave it his best shot and deserves credit for the attempt. Where the two go after this is still up in the air but one thing is for certain: Jones can rule this division for the rest of his career if he wants to.

Winner and STILL champion: Jon Jones via TKO (Punches) in Round 1

Fight Rating: ***.5/5

Post-fight interview with the champion shows that he sustained a horrific injury to his big toe during the bout. Click here to see the image. Ouch!

Overview: UFC 159 had the unfortunate task of following UFC on Fox 7 and ultimately failed to match the quality of last week's card. That's not to say it wasn't all bad though as a number of the bouts presented were pretty decent and largely lived up to expectations. 159 will probably be better known for the large number of gruesome injuries suffered over the course of the evening; including the prelims, we saw four separate injuries with three of those ending their respective fights. Referee blunders didn't help either!

Rating: ***/5

KO of the Night: Roy Nelson
Submission of the Night: Pat Healy
Fight of the Night: Healy/Miller

Thanks for reading. What did you think of UFC 159? Comments below!

For more WWE and UFC reviews and live coverage of each event, check out The Punk by going to www.thepunk.org. You can also follow me on Twitter @ThePunk2012. Cheers!

]]> The Punk http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?45352-The-Punk-UFC-159-Bones-vs-Sonnen-Review http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?45263-The-Punk-Wrestlemania-29-Review Mon, 08 Apr 2013 19:10:30 GMT Wrestlemania is to wrestling fans what Christmas is to children. Since 1985 it has been the number one wrestling event of the year and has become, to... Wrestlemania is to wrestling fans what Christmas is to children. Since 1985 it has been the number one wrestling event of the year and has become, to most fans, almost as big as the Superbowl. The last couple of years have seen WWE struggle to craft decent storylines heading into the event and this year has been no different. Regardless however, this year's instalment features a number of highly anticipated bouts including Triple H and Brock Lesnar, Undertaker and CM Punk and, of course, the rematch from last year's main event, The Rock and John Cena. Can Wrestlemania 29 exceed our expectations, or is this year's show of shows destined for failure?

We begin with a video package looking at the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy which devastated the New York/New Jersey area late last year. Narrated by New Jersey governor Chris Christie, this package paid tribute to the strength of the people while also honouring those who lost their lives during the crisis. Nicely done.

We are LIVE from the Metlife stadium in New Jersey. The fears of a snowy, freezing Wrestlemania hasn't stopped over 80,000 people from packing out the stadium. The set looks amazing too. Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler and JBL are our commentary team for the evening. For the first time in ten years, no America the Beautiful to open the show. Justin Bieber must have been unavailable.

Match One - Six Man Tag Match
Sheamus, Randy Orton & Big Show
vs.
The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns)

Probably the best match to open the show. Team Orton, Sheamus and Show showed unity before the match but this soon went out of the window as Sheamus and Orton tagged between themselves without giving the giant a look in. The Shield, up to their usual tricks, controlled for most of the match but perhaps for the first time since their debut in November, looked vulnerable to the attacks from their opponents. Big Show proved to be the weak link here and ultimately cost his team the match by refusing to save Orton from being pinned after a huge spear from Reigns. Most expected The Shield to go over here but despite the signs, few predicted at Show, not Orton, would be the one to cost the faces victory. A great scrap which had the fans hooked from start to end. Last year's opening match was an insult so nice to see WWE getting back on form with their important curtain-raiser.

Winners: The Shield via Pinfall (Spear)

Match Rating: ****/5

Post Match: Show and Orton argue. Big Show hits Sheamus with the KO punch, and then lays Orton out! So much for the Orton heel turn rumours.

First Rock/Cena promo of the evening. Expect a lot of these throughout.

Match Two
Mark Henry vs. Ryback

Vince McMahon LOVES meatheads so a match of this kind was inevitable considering the talent available. Mark Henry and Ryback's feud coming into the match was surprisingly good, well...as good as it could be. I was expecting a faster paced match with Ryback getting most of the offense and the eventual win. This never happened. Mark Henry actually dominated this slow match by utilising hugs and throws. Many assumed that this match would be used as a 'Mania moment device for Ryback who would lift Henry into the Shellshocked for the victory. This kinda happened but ended with Henry falling on his opponent and getting the three count. Ryback has now failed to win in a PPV match since October. Disappointing match with the wrong man going over. Ryback really needed this more than the 41 year old Henry.

Winner: Mark Henry via Pinfall (Squash?)

Match Rating: **/5

Post Match: Henry marches back to the ring and ends up getting Shellshocked by Ryback! Ryback wins by attrition! Why they couldn't of had that as the actual matches' finish is beyond me. This segment wasted time that could have been given to something else. Still an impressive sight though seeing Henry get lifted and slammed like that.

Match Three - WWE Tag Team Championship
Team Hell No (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler and Big E Langston w/ AJ Lee

Despite only getting about nine minutes, this tag match was surprisingly decent. Mixing scrappy brawling with technical wrestling, the two teams probably gave us the best traditional tag match seen for some time at a Wrestlemania. AJ and Dolph began the match recreating Bryan and AJ's ill fated 'Kiss of Death' from last year which nearly saw Bryan redeem his 18 second loss. Big E impressed in his debut, showing off his strength against Kane who conversely looked almost like a bystander here. Perhaps time for the 'Devil's Favourite Demon' to call it day? The champions picked up the win with Bryan hitting Ziggler with the diving headbutt. Decent, brief match. Big E is kept looking strong and the loss for Ziggler could be used as a smokescreen for a possible cash-in later.

Winners and STILL champions: Team Hell No via Pinfall (Diving Headbutt)

Match Rating: ***/5

Match Four
Fandango vs. Chris Jericho

Uneducated fans annoy me sometimes. Fandango's character hasn't flopped. Far from it actually. His refusal to make a proper debut in the weeks leading to 'Mania worked perfectly as a way to generate attention and heat from viewers. In this match with Jericho, Fandango proved that he truly belongs in the WWE as the two delivered one of the best matches on the undercard. Jericho's willingness to help develop younger talent was evident here as he helped ease Johnny Curtis' nerves and expertly disguised a wrestling lesson as an entertaining back and forth encounter. Fandango, as expected, went over with a crafty roll up which has hopefully silenced a lot of his Internet warrior critics. I'm expecting big things from the dancing superstar this year.

Winner: Fandango via Pinfall (Roll-up)

Match Rating: ***.5./5

Recap of The Miz submitting Wade Barrett to win the Intercontinental Championship for the second time. It should be noted that Barrett's reign was ended at 99 days. That's a bummer.

Another video package for the upcoming Rock/Cena match. Yawn.

P Diddy/Puff Daddy/Diddy/Sean Combs/Snoop Dogg takes to the stage for a mini-concert. Better than Kid Rock's at 'Mania 25 but still a horrible waste of time. WWE cares more about mainstream exposure, relevance and acceptance than it does developing it's future talent. Makes me sad when I think about it for too long.

Match Five - World Heavyweight Championship
Alberto Del Rio (c) w/Ricardo Rodriguez vs. Jack Swagger w/Zeb Colter

Jobber entrance for Swagger? What's the point in the elaborate entrance? At least the match isn't opening the show I guess. Despite the strong beginning of this controversial rivalry, it has fizzed out considerably in recent weeks. Zeb Colter's pre-match promo fell pretty flat, a sign that this programme between the two has run it's course. The match itself was a disappointment with Del Rio and Swagger both attempting to win the match with their respective submission finishers. The participation of Colter and Ricardo was thankfully kept to a minimum as the focus stayed with the actual combatants. The submission reversals at the climax of the match were pretty entertaining and quite reminiscent of Punk/Jericho from last year. Del Rio brought the match to an end with a cross armbreaker in the middle of the ring, causing the tap from the 'Real American'. Could this be the last time we see Swagger for a while? He needs to pay his dues after that DUI last month so I reckon it could be.

Winner and STILL champion: Alberto Del Rio via Submission (Cross Armbreaker)

Match Rating: ***/5

No sign of a Ziggler cash-in! I thought this would have been a certainty considering his loss earlier in the evening. WWE really missed an opportunity here to shock in what has been a pretty predictable evening so far. Perhaps he'll do it on Raw? We'll see.

Match Six
CM Punk w/ Paul Heyman vs. The Undertaker

Of all the matches heading into Wrestlemania, this had the greatest build by far although I wonder how WWE originally had it before the tragic passing of Paul Bearer. With classic matches with Shawn Michaels and Triple H in the four 'Mania's prior one was wondering how this match with Punk would fare by comparison. My concerns were subsided as 'Taker and Punk delivered the match of the night. A tense back and forth contest saw Punk dominate for large periods, just like his two predecessors. For the first time ever I found myself doubting whether the streak would survive as Punk countered 'Taker's offense, hit every move he had...including some of 'Taker's own and even put his adversary through the announcers table with an amazing elbow drop from the top rope. Ultimately, 'The Phenom' would come back and hit Punk with two tombstone piledrivers to win the match and go an unprecedented 21-0. Right up there with The Undertaker's greatest 'Mania matches. The loss could actually do Punk more good than expected as this performance cemented his status as the undisputed best full time performer in the company. Living Colour performed his theme too. That was seriously epic.

Winner: The Undertaker via Pinfall (Tombstone Piledriver) - Undertaker is 21-0 at Wrestlemania

Match Rating: ****.5/5

Another video package for the Cena/Rock match. Just in case you forgot it was on tonight.

Match Seven - No Hold Barred Match - Should Triple H lose, he must retire
Brock Lesnar w/ Paul Heyman vs. Triple H w/ Shawn Michaels

The other match with a decent build up carried on the momentum from the last bout as Triple H and Brock Lesnar clashed in an intense 25 minute brawl. I'll forget that Triple H was basically coming out retirement for a retirement match and focus on the positives! Lesnar finally got it right third time round as he brutalised his adversary with a well balanced mix of wrestling throws and MMA strikes. Dominating for the first half of the match, Lesnar literally chucked Hunter all around the arena before the action settled down in the ring. It wasn't until the final 10 minutes that this match went from good to excellent; Triple H managing to grab Lesnar's arm and snap in the Kimura lock. Lesnar's screams and tap teases and escapes took the match into unpredictable territory, that was until Michaels took Heyman out with a Sweet Chin Music though! Triple H followed the submission torture with a sledgehammer to the face and a pedigree for the win. A great, violent match far superior to their Summerslam main event and miles better than the Extreme Rules match last April. Out of all the main evening part timers, Lesnar is the only one I hope we see a little more of in 2013.

Winner: Triple H via Pinfall (Pedigree)

Match Rating: ****/5

The Hall of Fame class of 2013 is bought out to nice pops, well, everyone except Donald Trump anyway. Amazing to see Bruno Sammartino finally in the hall. No one has deserved it more and it's a real shame that it took this long.

Justin Long announces that the attendance for Wrestlemania 29 is 80,676. This breaks the the attendance of both Summerslam '92 and Wrestlemania 23 and becomes the WWE's highest attendance since 1987's Wrestlemania III...that's if you still really believe that they got 93,173 fans in the Silverdome!

No mixed tag match before the main event? Oh well.

Match Eight - WWE Championship
The Rock (c) vs. John Cena

Cena gets booed more than I have heard since Chicago in 2011. Rock gets a warm reception as usual. Twice in a lifetime was always destined to be inferior to last year's match. We all knew that Cena was going to win clean and despite the brief moments of doubt, our predictions were spot on. It's quite hard to try and rate this match, the chemistry between The Rock and Cena is apparent and some moments which played as flashbacks to last year were quite clever but having Cena kick out of THREE Rock Bottoms? Hard to believe, even for Super Cena! The last 15 minutes pretty much boiled down to the two hitting and countering and using the other's finishing moves. It was a really strange thing to see. Despite an evening hyping the match, it just didn't have the epic feel that it had last year. The crowd seemed to share my sentiment as for the longest time were completely unresponsive to what was happening in the ring. A polarising match which in all fairness needed to end the way it did; the crowning of a WWE champion who can actually appear on programming each and every week. That saved it for me.

Winner and NEW champion: John Cena via Pinfall (Attitude Adjustment)

Match Rating: ***.5/5

Cena and Rock hug it out, just as I predicted as a firework barrage ends the show. Meh for Cena/Rock, yay for fireworks!

Overview: Wrestlemania 29 had the potential to be amazing but the utter predictability of the whole evening reduced my enjoyment of it. No Orton heel turn, no Ziggler cash-in and not even a whiff of a turn from Cena left marks and smarks alike feeling a little robbed. What did surprise however was the even feel of the card. Instead of last year's 18 second and 5 minute cameo matches, we saw a lot of matches which crossed the five minute mark, leaving the main event matches much less time than usual. Still, they largely impressed with Triple H/Lesnar and 'Taker/Punk being the best matches of the night. The show will likely split fans down the middle but we all know that WWE does polarising better than any other sports/entertainment organisation!

Match of the Night: Undertaker/Punk.
Move of the Night: Cena nearly makes the same mistake two years in a row.
Lowlight of the Night: Henry wins by falling on Ryback. Really?

PPV Rating: ****/5

What did you think of Wrestlemania? What was your favourite match or moment? How can WWE improve for Wrestlemania XXX? Leave your comments below! Thanks for reading and don't forget to follow me on Twitter @ThePunk2012. ]]> The Punk http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?45263-The-Punk-Wrestlemania-29-Review http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?45159-The-Punk-UFC-158-St-Pierre-vs-Diaz-Review Sun, 17 Mar 2013 14:33:25 GMT Georges St-Pierre vs. Nick Diaz isn't just a fight. It's the culmination of a near three year long war of words between the two. The UFC has been set on these two fighting each other since early 2011 but through a comedy of errors and injuries, the long-awaited bout has been delayed...until now. Also on the card is the almost equally anticipated fight between two other Welterweight contenders, Carlos Condit and Johny Hendricks. UFC 158 promises a complete shakeup of the 170 pound division...but who will emerge as it's champion and challenger? Lets fight!

Bout One - Lightweight
Colin Fletcher vs. Mike Ricci

A strange inclusion the main card, especially with Patrick Côté fighting in the prelims. These two entered the promotion with strong performances in TUF: The Smashes and TUF 16 respectively. A poor first fight which was mostly contested on the feet, Fletcher was unable to find the range needed to execute his unorthodox striking game. Ricci fared better thanks to superior wrestling skills and ground and pound and despite failing to impress, thoroughly deserved the decision victory. Not a great way to start such an anticipated event.

Winner: Mike Ricci via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Fight Rating: **.5/5

Bout Two - Middleweight
Chris Camozzi vs. Nick Ring

Another fight that probably should have been relegated to the prelims, Camozzi and Ring engaged in an eventless 15 minute encounter which few will remember before long. Ring's game plan was to jab and move and for the most part he found success until he slowed in the second round. Camozzi on the other hand, was able to withstand the Canadian's offense, landed some offense of his own and controlled position in the Octagon, doing enough in the process to earn him a close split decision victory. Probably not a fight I would want to see booked again...ever.

Winner: Chris Camozzi via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Fight Rating: **.5/5

Bout Three - Welterweight
Nate Marquardt vs. Jake Ellenberger

Let the Welterweight shakeup commence! The first in the 170 pound trilogy kicked off with the former Strikeforce champion Marquardt meeting a man with arguably the best knockout power, other than Hendricks, in the division. Ellenberger didn't need a lot of time to back up that claim as he withstood some stiff leg kicks from Marquardt before dropping him with a brutal combination of haymakers just after the three minute mark. With a couple more wins like that, Ellenberger could finally break into contendership. The Canadian crowd, baying for violence, were given a healthy dose with this brief, but entertaining fight.

Winner: Jake Ellenberger via KO (Punches) in Round 1

Fight Rating: ***.5/5

Bout Four - Welterweight
Johny Hendricks vs. Carlos Condit

The fight we all knew was going to be the fight of the night. Hendricks and Condit may not have originally been paired together when the card was created but the two looked made for each other at the conclusion. A fight that went the distance, Hendricks utilised his speed and heavy hands and dominated the former interim champion for the first two rounds. When striking failed, he switched to his superior wrestling and for the longest time, had a 100% takedown success rate. Condit still looked dangerous thanks to his flying knee attacks and relentless movement on the ground but in the end this was Hendricks' night. Wildly entertaining, multi-dimensional scrap which could even be another contender for fight of the year so far.

Winner: Johny Hendricks via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Fight Rating: ****.5/5

Bout Five - Welterweight Championship
Georges St-Pierre (c) vs. Nick Diaz

Anyone hoping for either a Diaz upset or a more striking orientated St-Pierre was probably left pretty disappointed at the conclusion of this highly anticipated main event bout. The promotional material for the event had stated multiple times that the longtime champion was going to give the challenger the worst beating of his life. Anyone who believed this must be pretty unfamiliar with GSP. Without a single finish since 2009, the Canadian did what he does best by taking Diaz to the ground and dominating him with unmatched wrestling. Surprisingly, GSP did allow Diaz opportunities by engaging in some standup action but the man from Stockton was simply unable to do anything of significance. A five round sweep for St-Pierre in a fight that was always destined to end this way. We were hoping for a surprise and the best we got was GSP not keeping the entire fight on the ground. Still, a decent main event bout which was enhanced somewhat by the electric Montreal crowd.

Winner and STILL champion: Georges St-Pierre via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)

Fight Rating: ***.5/5

Overview: Hendricks/Condit stole the show before GSP beat Diaz in a pretty predictable fashion. No real 170 pound shakeup either although Hendricks/St-Pierre will be a huge bout. If "Big Rigg" can't dethrone GSP, it would be likely that St-Pierre will retire as champion. Once again the final bouts saved the night for the UFC. The opening two bouts shouldn't have been here and it would have been much better to have had the Cote/Voelker and Mein/Miller bouts on the main card.

PPV Rating: ***.5/5

KO of the Night: Jake Ellenberger
Submission of the Night: N/A
Fight of the Night: Hendricks/Condit

Thanks for reading. What did you think of UFC 158?

Follow me on Twitter @ThePunk2012. Check out more reviews by clicking here. ]]> The Punk http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?45159-The-Punk-UFC-158-St-Pierre-vs-Diaz-Review http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?45045-The-Punk-UFC-157-Rousey-vs-Carmouche-Review Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:31:38 GMT UFC 157 is a historical event. A couple of years ago, outspoken president Dana White affirmed that there was no place for women in his... UFC 157 is a historical event. A couple of years ago, outspoken president Dana White affirmed that there was no place for women in his organisation...ever. Women's MMA has been unfairly labelled as a gimmick and a sport that females have no right to compete in. Our world is changing and so too is Dana White's attitude. This event sees the first ever Women's bout in UFC history as the ultra popular "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey defends her title againt perennial underdog, and the first openly gay fighter in the UFC, former Marine Liz Carmouche. With an unblemished record consisting of six wins out of six, all by the way of an armbar in the first round, can the Olympic medalist Rousey continue her winning ways or will Carmouche pull off one of the biggest upsets ever? Lets fight!

Bout One - Welterweight
Robbie Lawler vs. Josh Koscheck

Making his first Octagon appearance in almost a decade, Robbie Lawler's return matched him against the former number one contender, veteran wrestler Josh Koscheck. Once considered the Mike Tyson of MMA, Lawler started quickly and brightly by utilising his superior standing game. Koscheck, eager to get the fight to his preferred position, did so but ate a couple of nasty ground shots before referee Herb Dean abruptly called for the stoppage. A questionable call but it was clear that Kos was rocked and failed to have his hands up. Lawler's return couldn't have gone any better in this short, but exciting upset opener.

Winner: Robbie Lawler via TKO (Punches) in Round 1

Fight Rating: ***.5/5

Bout Two - Welterweight
Josh Neer vs. Court McGee

Considered one of the weaker bouts on the card before the event started, these two combatants went all out in a surprisingly decent midcard slugfest. McGee, making his first appearance in the Welterweight division, dominated the fight using his cardio and strength to negate the attempted haymakers from his opponent. Neer is a well rounded fighter but looked out of his depth against McGee who was also hoping to avoid a three fight losing streak. With the expected cull of over 100 fighters imminent, this could very well be the last time we see "The Dentist" in a UFC promoted bout.

Winner: Court McGee via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Fight Rating: ***.5/5

Bout Three - Bantamweight
Ivan Menjivar vs. Urijah Faber

After Faber's disappointing last outing, he needed a strong performance to stay in the crowded Bantamweight title picture. This bout may have been lopsided in the bookies eyes but Menjivar is still a difficult fight for anyone. Unfortunately for "The Pride of El Salvador" Faber obviously didn't get the memo. Blitzing his beleaguered opponent with nasty grounded elbows and relentless transitions, "The California Kid" didn't need long to take Menjivar's back and was eventually able to transition into an excellent standing rear naked choke which inevitably lead to the tap. An quick but exciting fight and impressive stuff from Faber who looks hellbent on completing his trilogy with reigning champion Dominick Cruz.

Winner: Urijah Faber via Submission (Standing Rear Naked Choke) in Round 1

Fight Rating: ****/5

Bout Four - Light-Heavyweight
Dan Henderson vs. Lyoto Machida

Considered by traditionalists as the real main event for the evening, these fans were silenced however after 15 minutes of disappointment. Both men have a history of engaging in classic fights but that's not what we got here. Machida, well advised of Hendo's brutal knockout power, took a leaf out of Carlos Condit's playbook as he ducked and avoided the aggressive onslaught of his American opponent. "The Dragon" was able to score with some trademark kicks and takedown defence and in the end, his minimal work was enough to secure a tight split decision. Henderson's frustration mirrored our own. Poor stuff.

Winner: Lyoto Machida via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Fight Rating: **/5

Bout Five - Women's Bantamweight Championship
Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Liz Carmouche

As if those opposed to this fight being the main event instead of Machida/Henderson weren't silenced already, they certainly were here. Deafening ovations for both fighters meant they had won before the historic bout had even begun! Rousey has won each of her six previous fights by armbar and has spent less than 10 minutes in a cage in her career. Carmouche didn't let this faze her however as she dashed out to meet her champion adversary in a wild exchange. Rousey, looking to take the fight to the ground quickly was then caught out and nearly submitted when the "Girlrilla" took her back and locked in a deadly looking neck crank. "Rowdy" wasn't to be denied, however, and the fight eventually went to the ground where the champion locked in her signature armbar to end the fight just before the bell. The main event lived up to it's hype and both combatants did themselves, and their gender proud, proving once and for all that women have a rightful place in this great sport.

Winner and STILL champion: Ronda Rousey via Submission (Armbar) in Round 1

Fight Rating: ****.5/5

Overview: A historic event which largely lived up to expectations. The main card was able to match the excitement of the brilliant preliminary bouts too! The Machida/Henderson fight ironically was the biggest disappointment of the night as the women stole the show with a gritty, exciting encounter. A night of submissions over knockouts, UFC 157 was an exciting watch and a triumph that should act as an inspiration to the legions of aspiring fighters, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

PPV Rating: ****.5/5

KO of the Night: Robbie Lawler
Submission of the Night: Urijah Faber
Fight of the Night: Bermudez/Grice - PRELIM BOUT. If you didn't see this bout, make sure you do. A possible fight of the year contender.

That'll do it for now. Hope you've enjoyed this entry. Feel free to leave your views and feedback in the comments section. For more news and reviews on MMA, WWE, Film and TV, head over to my site by clicking HERE or follow me on Twitter. Cheers! ]]> The Punk http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?45045-The-Punk-UFC-157-Rousey-vs-Carmouche-Review http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?45012-The-Punk-Elimination-Chamber-Review Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:09:58 GMT Christmas is only 7 weeks away for wrestling fans. Yes, Wrestlemania 29, unquestionably the biggest pro wrestling event of the year is fast... Christmas is only 7 weeks away for wrestling fans. Yes, Wrestlemania 29, unquestionably the biggest pro wrestling event of the year is fast approaching. WWE Elimination Chamber has been used for the last few years as a launch pad for key matches to be made. This year's card is filled with that same potential but with WWE set on a rematch between The Rock and John Cena, can the rest of the card produce any surprises?

We are live-ish from New Orleans and the crowd is hot for this popular PPV. Lilian Garcia jumps straight into the action without a visit to the announcers table.

Match One - World Heavyweight Championship

Alberto Del Rio (c) vs. Big Show

For the second time in as many months, a world title match gets us underway. Unlike their initial PPV encounter at the Rumble, Show/Del Rio II lacked the same bite as it's predecessor which is completely understandable considering the nature of this return match. Despite this, the two participants still work well together and this was manifested in a pretty decent back and forth curtain jerker. Show's offense seemed a little more counter based than usual and the match did become a little repetitive towards the end with Del Rio utilising his signature armbreaker submission a few too many times. A botched finish didn't help the overall match rating either. More than anything, Del Rio and Show never fail to engage the crowd, which is probably the reason for their continued pushes within the organisation.

Winner and STILL champion: Alberto Del Rio via Submission (Cross Armbreaker)

Match Rating: 3.5/5

Match Two - United States Championship

Antonio Cesaro (c) vs. The Miz

This match had all the ingredients necessary to be a quality midcard match and thats what we got for the most part. Cesaro continues to impress with every passing event and once again put on a great showing against his injured opponent. The match had an old school feel to it, thanks mainly to the injury targeting cliche and the numerous traditional holds and moves utilised by the reigning champion. As with the first match however, the ending was poor. Not because of a botched move like last time though, this match came to an abrupt end when the Miz was disqualified for accidentally landing on Cesaro's man bits. A weak ending to an otherwise great match. Lets hope the two have an opportunity to square up again in seven weeks time.

Winner and STILL champion: Antonio Cesaro via DQ (Illegal Low Strike)

Match Rating: 4/5

Backstage: Kane and Bryan discuss their strategy for the upcoming chamber match. Could we see Team Hell No split tonight?

In the Arena: The chamber begins to lower as Jack Swagger makes his entrance with Zeb Colter in tow. The two cut a pretty decent promo which manages to generate heat from the crowd. Swagger has looked great since making his return and actually has an outsiders chance in this match.

Match Three - Elimination Chamber Match - Winner faces World Heavyweight Champion at Wrestlemania 29

Jack Swagger vs. Kane vs. Mark Henry vs. Randy Orton vs. Chris Jericho vs. Daniel Bryan

In recent years, the Elimination Chamber has been a way to get either John Cena or Triple H to the main event of Wrestlemania. The chamber has always been promoted as a last resort where combatants place their bodies, and even their careers on the line for a shot at the big time but previous matches have lacked the urgency and importance you would usually expect. Simply put, we haven't seen an exciting, completely unpredictable chamber match in a long time, and that surprisingly changed last night.

For nearly 30 minutes, six superstars beat the living hell out of each other in a contest which rekindled the spirit of the first chamber matches. Every participant was allowed their time to shine, especially Mark Henry who entering last, proceeded to annihilate his competition. Orton's slow heel turn might have started to show signs of acceleration as he refused to co-operate with Jericho and Team Hell No look like they are on course for a collision at Mania. Swagger's win comes as a slight surprise; his return has been executed very well but to compete for the title just over two months after a repackage? We haven't seen this kind of push since Ryback!

Winner: Jack Swagger

Full Elimination Results

Daniel Bryan (1) by Mark Henry (6) via Pinfall (World's Strongest Slam)
Kane (4) by Mark Henry (6) via Pinfall (World's Strongest Slam)
Mark Henry (6) by Randy Orton (5) via Pinfall (RKO)
Chris Jericho (2) by Randy Orton (5) via Pinfall (RKO)
Randy Orton (5) by Jack Swagger (3) via Pinfall (Roll-up)

Match Rating: 5/5

Match Four - Six Man Tag Match
The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns)
vs.
John Cena, Sheamus & Ryback

If you know WWE by now then you would be forgiven for thinking this match would only end one way. John Cena has buried a lot of talent over the years with the Nexus being the most famous. The Shield impressed in their last outing at TLC and this match, despite the more traditional setting, proved no different. Even with the tagging rule established, the trio used their gang warfare work ethic to great effect, dismantling their Superstar opponents with relative ease. While not boasting the same carnage seen in their last match, the clever use of tagging and interference tricks resulted in an entertaining and chaotic contest. The dominance of Cena, Sheamus and Ryback kept the feeling that a turnaround was inevitable but it never came. Reigns, the difference maker here, took Sheamus out with a HUGE spear through the barricade and then popped up again with another on Ryback, gifting the team a massive upset victory. Did John Cena job to a team of "Rookies"? Impossible!

Winners: The Shield via Pinfall

Match Rating: 4/5

In the Arena: Dolph Ziggler, Big E and AJ Lee make their way to the ring for a promo. Booker T quickly interrupts Ziggler and makes an impromptu match, stating that his opponent is a man who can do everything the "Showoff" can and a little more. Please, please be Christian. Please.

Match Five
Dolph Ziggler vs. Kofi Kingston (Dammit!!)

Don't worry folks, I'm sure Christian will turn up at some point this decade. Despite my reservations over the opponent, Kingston and Ziggler have tremendous in-ring chemistry so a quick filler match between the two made perfect sense. As you would expect from the two, this match was fast paced and featured plenty of exciting offence from both with big moves from Kofi and some wonderful selling from Ziggler. The result was pretty predicable but didn't stop this from being a nice little surprise.

Winner: Dolph Ziggler via Pinfall (Zig-Zag)

Match Rating: 3.5/5

Post match beatdown of Kingston by Big E. Don't know what the point was unless we are actually going to see Langston wrestle on a regular basis?

Backstage: Brodus Clay and Tensai plug the new WWE action figures (That look absolutely shit if you were wondering). Clay then makes fun of Tensai before they finish the segment with a dance. Painful viewing.

Match Six - Divas Championship
Kaitlyn (c) vs. Tamina Snuka

Another quick match with both competitors attempting to make the best out of their limited ringtime. Kaitlyn and Snuka are actually the more talented on the Divas roster so it might be interesting to see these two engage in a longer bout down the line.

Winner and STILL champion: Kaitlyn via Pinfall (Spear)

Match Rating: 2/5

Match Seven - WWE Championship - If the Rock gets disqualified or counted out, CM Punk will automatically win the title
The Rock (c) vs. CM Punk

I thought last months Royal Rumble was a great way to kick of the year. A lot of fellow fans who didn't appreciate Punk's great, but ultimately doomed title run ending didn't for this exact reason. At the end of the day and as much as I hate it, WWE is a business now where wrestling doesn't matter anymore; it's all about making those blockbuster matches happen. The Rock vs. Cena II is a massive match with a lot of financial potential so it would be mad for the organisation not to run with it. Not taking anything away from the participants, Punk and Rock wrestled a good match filled with multiple near falls and clever reversals, but again it never felt like the champion was ever going to lose. Add to this a really annoying referee angle which conveniently benefitted The Rock and an inadvertent, seen it way too many times, title shot to the head of Paul Heyman, this rematch was another extremely predictable affair. WWE even showed a graphic advertising Rock/Cena II mere seconds after the match ended!

Winner and STILL champion: The Rock via Pinfall (Rock Bottom)

Match Rating: 3.5/5

Overview: Despite it's flaws, mainly the main event match, Elimination Chamber was an entertaining PPV featuring a few surprises in it's quality matches. Each and every performer appeared to put in the efforts expected of them which, in turn, made for a number of memorable moments. We are now certainly on the Road to Wrestlemania, a road which will probably be predicable as ever...but fun filled nonetheless.

Match of the Night: The Elimination Chamber. Without question.
Move of the Night: Roman Reign's devastating spear on Sheamus.
Lowlight of the Night: The finale of The Rock/Punk and the immediate hyping of Rock/Cena II.

PPV Rating: 4/5

That'll do for this month folks. Hope you enjoyed this, slightly controversial review. Remember to check out the site and, if you want more misinformed opinions and news, follow me on Twitter. ]]> The Punk http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?45012-The-Punk-Elimination-Chamber-Review http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?44905-The-Punk-UFC-156-Aldo-vs-Edgar-Review Sun, 03 Feb 2013 13:50:18 GMT Superbowl weekend usually brings out the best in most other American sports and the UFC is no different. Featuring a stacked card including a number... Superbowl weekend usually brings out the best in most other American sports and the UFC is no different. Featuring a stacked card including a number of bouts that might result in number one contenders being crowned, and what can only be best described as a dream title fight. Jose Also has looked unstoppable since being brought over in the WEC merger in 2010 but former Lightweight champ Frankie Edgar represents perhaps his toughest challenge yet. Will Edgar have the answer for Aldo? Lets fight!

Bout One - Flyweight
Ian McCall vs. Joseph Benavidez

As you would have guessed, this Flyweight match up between the two highly rated combatants was yet another fast paced scrap. Benavidez utilised quick but effective kicks for the duration of the fight and was also able to stop the majority of takedowns from "Uncle Creepy". McCall did find some success with some nice ground and pound work but his Alpha Male opponent showed great defence in this area. Always one of the most exciting fights on any MMA card, this Flyweight bout again went the distance and the final decision was a fair one.

Winner: Joseph Benavidez via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Fight Rating: ****/5

Bout Two - Welterweight
Demian Maia vs. Jon Fitch

An interesting bout which matches the best submission grappler in the UFC versus the fighter with the best submission defence. Both fighters enjoy long, grinding fights so it was no surprise that this one went to the ground almost immediately. What did surprise however was that Maia's complete domination over his wrestling based opponent Fitch did succeeded in avoiding the multiple choke attempts from his Brazilian opponent but had nothing to counter the vastly superior grappling. A great display of grappling and an even greater example of why the ground game is so important in MMA. Maia takes the UD and is still undefeated as a Welterweight.

Winner: Demian Maia via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Fight Rating: ***/5

Bout Three - Heavyweight
Antonio Silva vs. Alistair Overeem

If it wasn't for a failed drugs test last year, it would be quite possible that Alistair Overeem would be Heavyweight champion by now. That never happened and the Dutchman has had to start all over again. Antonio Silva is all that stands in the way between him and a shot at Cain Velasquez's title. Overeem began the fight in an overconfident manner, utilising knees in the clinch and doing his best to keep the fight standing. His biggest mistake? Showing nothing but contempt for his opponent's underrated knockout power and superior jiu-jitsu skills. We didn't see much of the latter but Silva definitely used the former with devastating results. Silva caught Overeem up against the fence and literally proceeded to knock the former Strikeforce champion's head off his shoulders. A massive win for Silva who might get another shot at Cain thanks to this upset. It was far from the most impressive fight of the night but it more than made up for this thanks to it's highlight reel finish.

Winner: Antonio Silva via KO (Punches) in Round 3

Fight Rating: ***/5

Bout Four - Light-Heavyweight
Antônio Rogério Nogueira vs. Rashad Evans

If you thought that this bout would produce fireworks then you were sorely mistaken. This co-main event fight between the legendary Brazilian boxer and the wrestling/striking hybrid might just go down as one of the worst main card fights in UFC history. Almost completely contested on the feet, Evans failed to utilise his superior wrestling and opted instead to slug it out with the former Pride combatant. This could have been a really bad idea but Little Nog didn't seem to capitalise on this tactical error and the two proceeded to engage in a battle of half-powered jabs for the entire 15 minute fight. Nogueira managed to eek out the decision victory but it could have easily been a draw. No damage to either fighter physically but the fight may have damaged their chances of any title shots in the near future.

Winner: Antônio Rogério Nogueira via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Fight Rating: */5

Bout Five - Featherweight Championship
Jose Aldo (c) vs. Frankie Edgar

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how great the card was because this was the fight we all wanted to see. As probably one of the hardest fights to predict, I had Edgar going over via Split decision...and I was almost right! A fast paced fight, as to be expected, the champ and his challenger engaged in 25 minutes of striking with very little going to the ground thanks to Aldo's brilliant takedown defence. Edgar usually takes a lot of punishment in his fights and this bout was no different. Aldo's stikes were able to hit their mark and there were times these strikes could have easily ended the fight. Edgar hung in there however and arguably won the last two rounds with the third causing great debate between fight fans. Aldo surprisingly took a pretty one-sided UD victory but Edgar's heart and determination means that he will surely have another shot at the title very, very soon. A fantastic fight and a great way to end the night.

Winner and STILL champion: Jose Aldo via Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)

Fight Rating: ****/5

Overview: UFC keep the quality shows coming after their strong 2012 finish. UFC 156 contained upsets, highlight reel knockouts and showcased almost every single aspect of MMA. The co-main event was bitterly disappointing but the performances by the other fighters more than made up for this little hiccup.

PPV Rating: ****/5

KO of the Night: Antonio Silva
Submission of the Night: Bobby Green - PRELIM BOUT
Fight of the Night: Aldo vs. Edgar

Check out The Punk for more reviews on MMA, Wrestling, Movies and Televison.

Follow me on Twitter @ThePunk2012 ]]> The Punk http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?44905-The-Punk-UFC-156-Aldo-vs-Edgar-Review http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?44874-The-Punk-Royal-Rumble-Review Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:26:45 GMT Hey everyone! Punk here with a review of the polarising Royal Rumble event. The Royal Rumble event has been a favourite event for many wrestling... Hey everyone! Punk here with a review of the polarising Royal Rumble event.

The Royal Rumble event has been a favourite event for many wrestling fans since it's inception back in 1988. The build up to Wrestlemania, the unpredictable nature of the eponymous battle royal and even, like this year, a high profile title match. The Rock has returned to challenge long time champion CM Punk in a match that has been in the making since the 1000th episode of Raw back in July. Also hoping to book a place in the Wrestlemania main event is John Cena who hopes to join an elite group of competitors to have won the Rumble on multiple occasions. Who will emerge as champion? Who will emerge his challenger?

We are live-ish in Phoenix, Arizona for the 26th annual Royal Rumble! Michael Cole is joined at commentary as usual by Jerry Lawler and the always brilliant JBL.

Match One - Last Man Standing Match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Alberto Del Rio (c) vs. Big Show

Backstage segment featuring Ricardo Rodriguez marking out after seeing Bret Hart. Pointless yet funny.

If you've missed Smackdown the last couple of weeks then you've missed on a pretty decent rivalry that has been brewing between these two. This latest match between the two eclipsed their first and for the longest time, looked to have stolen the show. It's quite a feat for either competitor to be involved in such a decent match but they gave it their all. Show looked brutal with his offence and there were a couple of occasions that I thought the title would be switching hands once again. Del Rio has become a completely new superstar since his face turn last month and coupled with some new offensive moves, might have found a way to become relevant again. Some crazy bumps and ringside destruction ensued but in the end Del Rio retained the title thanks to Ricardo Rodriguez's timely use of duct tape. A familiar finish it may have been but the rest of the match was fantastic. A perfect way to start the show.

Winner and STILL champion: Alberto Del Rio

Match Rating: ****/5
Backstage: Promo featuring Dolph Ziggler, AJ Lee and Big E Langston. Was in danger of becoming a standard heel promo from the "Show Off" until Big E grabbed the mike from Matt Striker and delivered a unique, mock interview with Ziggles. A bizarre segment but it's nice to see WWE doing something different with one of their resident meatheads.

Interesting segment featuring a number of Royal Rumble participants delivering old school promos about how they fancy their chances in the match. A nice touch but it feels like an attempt to stretch the show out a bit.

Match Two - Tag Team Championship
Team Hell No (c) vs. Team Rhodes Scholars

These two teams have met a number of times but this match was easily the best of the bunch so far. Standard tag offence from both teams who again demonstrated great chemistry with one-another. Solid match overall. Team Hell No pick up the win and retained the titles which came as a slight surprise as I thought that the two would have disbanded to pursue their own Wrestlemania storylines. Perhaps a new feud is in store between them? Time will tell.
Winner and STILL champions: Team Hell No

Match Rating: ***/5

Backstage: Kane and Bryan open their Rumble cards which inform them of their number of entry. Usual banter between the two. Could this be the beginning of the dissension mentioned above?

Segment featuring the various festivities over the Royal Rumble week. The most interesting section focused on the NXT tournament which saw Bo Dallas book a place in the Rumble match. This kid is a great prospect, lets hope is contribution in the match lasts more than a couple of minutes.

Match Three - 30 Man Royal Rumble Match
This year's Rumble match was the arguably the best in years. Nothing seemed completely unnecessary, the match wasn't too long, boasted some great surprise performances from Chris Jericho, Goldust and even featured a cameo appearance from the Godfather and a strong debut from NXT's Bo Dallas. John Cena entered at number 19 which obviously meant the predictability quickly began to assert itself but at least he didn't enter at number 2 like what was almost universally expected. Everyone seemed to make the best out of what time (Or little obviously for the lower tier talent) was afforded to them. Sure, Cena won like every person on the planet knew he would but that aside, a much better Rumble than last year's and the best way possible to get the road to Wrestlemania started...even though we know it'll just be Cena/Rock II.

Winner: John Cena (19) last eliminating Ryback (30)

Match Rating: ****/5

Rumble MVP: Dolph Ziggler

Backstage: Pre-match promo from The Rock. The Rock's promos for a long time have seemed a little stale and overused but this was raw and emotional and not what you would usually expect from "The Great One". The crowed seemed to lap it up anyway and were left buzzing with anticipation for the main event...

Match Four - WWE Championship - If The Shield interfere, CM Punk will be stripped of the title
CM Punk (c) vs. The Rock

Finally, the talking stopped and the action began. No more Rock concerts. No more pipebombs. Just the champion and the challenger in what was largely a fantastic match. For a man who wrestles one or two matches a year, The Rock looked fantastic in the ring and was able to hang with Punk for the entirety of their 25 minute long match. The only issues with this match for me was the actual finish and result; why would you want to make your champion, a champion who has held the title since late 2011, look so weak compared to what is essentially a part-time competitor? The simple answer is money and the need to book a rematch that WWE thinks we all want to see. I don't mind that Punk lost to The Rock, I just wished they did it in a manner that allowed the former champion to come out looking as strong as possible. The apparent interference from The Shield was also a little odd; why would Vince McMahon, with no proof whatsoever that it was actually them, strip Punk of the gold? Why would McMahon also then completely make a U-turn on his decision and restart the match just because The Rock said so? Like I said, the match itself was fantastic but the writing and logic behind it was pretty poor.

And so it is, the great WWE title reign of CM Punk has come to an end at 434 days. I'm glad it's over in a way as Punk can now look to solidify his status as a top superstar without the gold. It will also be an interesting couple of months for The Rock as WWE champion. He'll surely need to make more regular appearances in the ring...and not via satellite!

Winner and NEW champion: The Rock via Pinfall (People's Elbow)

Match Rating: ****/5

Overview: Predictably booked but executed very well for the most part, this year's Royal Rumble will surely become one of the most hotly debated WWE events ever. Was it good? Was it flat out awful? That's your opinion to make and you are welcome to it. I thought it was a good way to start out the year. Yes, some elements may not have added up properly and the results may have been predictable and slightly offensive but I've learnt over the years that WWE will alway do what is best for business over actual fan satisfaction...and that will never, ever change.

Match of the Night: CM Punk vs. The Rock. Fantastic match let down only slightly by the questionable restart.
Move of the Night: Another year, another Kofi Kingston Rumble stunt!
Lowlight of the Night: Cena wins. Again.

PPV Rating: ****/5

Thats all for now! Thanks for reading and remember to check out The Punk for more things WWE and UFC related.

Oh...and I'm on Twitter too! ]]> The Punk http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?44874-The-Punk-Royal-Rumble-Review http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?44366-The-Punk-UFC-155-Dos-Santos-vs-Velasquez-II-Review Sun, 30 Dec 2012 15:18:52 GMT Hi all, Punk back with my second blog! Now I know that UFC and MMA in general is completely separate to Pro Wrestling and some might bemoan the... Hi all, Punk back with my second blog! Now I know that UFC and MMA in general is completely separate to Pro Wrestling and some might bemoan the inclusion of this article on a wrestling site but if EWN.com can cover the event then surely I can post on it! Hope you enjoy and let me know what you think in the comments section.

Thirteen months ago Cain Velasquez was the seemingly unstoppable force in MMA but then came Junior Dos Santos; A young Brazilian with a huge heart and even bigger knockout power. Dos Santos won that night and, along with the title, took away Velasquez's aura of invincibility. Their rematch is hotly anticipated and will fittingly close out 2012. Velasquez has said on multiple occasions that he wasn't at his best when the two first met so will the Mexican-American grappler be able to prove that was the case or will Dos Santos continue his regin of dominance? Lets fight!

Bout One - Middleweight
Derek Brunson vs. Chris Leben

Both fighters entered the Octagon with a lot to prove. For Leben it was all about regaining the momentum he had before his suspension from the organisation over a year ago. Former Strikeforce wrestling prospect Brunson just wanted to get his first win after taking the fight on short notice. History will record that Brunson got just that but the fight was nothing short of a disaster for both men. Brunson quickly utilised his powerful ground game but in the ensuing rounds looked completely spent...as did the veteren Leben. Brunson continued with the takedowns and did just enough to secure the win. Awful way to start the night.

Winner: Derek Brunson via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Fight Rating: */5

Bout Two - Middleweight
Alan Belcher vs. Yushin Okami

These two first met way back in 2006 with Okami dominating thanks to superior grappling skills. Both men have improved considerably in the six years since but it was still Okami who was able to control the fight by suffocating Belcher on the ground and against the cage. A hard fought match which, while not the most entertaining for bloodthirsty fans, was a great advertisement for the importance of wrestling in this industry.

Winner: Yushin Okami via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Fight Rating: ***/5

Bout Three - Middleweight
Costa Phillipou vs. Tim Boetsch

Phillipou may have been a late replacement for Chris Weidman but he deserved the spot thanks to a decent winning streak. Boetsch likewise has been a force since dropping to the division from Light-Heavyweight. Unfortunately it wasn't to be Boetsch's night after a sustaining a broken hand early in the bout, nasty cuts to the face thanks to an accidental headbutt and another accidental poke to the eye. It was clear by the third that the American, despite his heart, was unable to continue and referee Kim Winslow was wise to stop the bout when she did. An important, but forgettable win for Phillipou who will surely now face Weidman in a title eliminator bout next.

Winner: Costa Phillipou via TKO (Punches)

Fight Rating: **/5

Bout Four - Lightweight
Joe Lauzon vs. Jim Miller

If fans were complaining about the poor showings before this match, they certainly weren't after! This instant classic scrap between the two highly ranked Lightweight fighters completely stole the show. Both fighters are noted for the skill on the ground so it might have surprised many that a good majority of the fight was contested standing. Miller started furiously, delivering a devastating flurry of punches and kicks which quickly produced one of the nastiest cuts in recent memory on his opponent. From there the bout just became a complete bloodbath with both fighters struggling to work thanks to Lauzon's extreme blood loss. Lauzon showed great heart though and continued to fight and nearly even stole the fight late in round three with a brilliant flying heel hook and guillotine which would have surely stopped Miller if there was more time on the clock. An amazing, amazing fight and surely a contender for fight of the year.

Winner: Jim Miller via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Fight Rating: *****/5

Bout Five - Heavyweight Title
Junior Dos Santos (c) vs. Cain Velasquez

They say revenge is a dish best served cold...well Velasquez obviously prefers his frozen as he maintained his composure and focus in this, a five round mauling of the champion. In a match which looked worlds apart from their initial encounter, Velasquez used his superior wrestling and cardio to stunning effect, completely overwhelming Dos Santos. Many expected a tougher fight but no-one could have predicted what was seen at the end of the first round; A dazed and shell-shocked Dos Santos struggling to find his way to his corner. Velasquez didn't relent and kept the heat on the champion for the entire 25 minutes but Dos Santos showed amazing resiliency to the offence and the fact he remained in the fight for the duration is a testament to his considerable talent. The end result was a forgone conclusion - Velasquez is back...and will surely remain champ for a long time if this performance is anything to go by.

Winner and NEW champion: Cain Velasquez via Unanimous Decision
(50-45, 50-43, 50-44)

Fight Rating: ****/5

Overview: The first three bouts on the card may have disappointed but the co-main event and main event fights more than made up for this. Lauzon and Miller saved the event by putting on an MMA clinic and will hopefully be awarded for their efforts with title shots down the line. Velasquez fully deserved the win after his relentless domination of the former champ. With the two tied at 1-1, lets hope we get a third match soon to complete the trilogy. A great way for the UFC to finish 2012...hopefully we get more of the same in 2013.

PPV Rating: ****/5

KO of the Night: N/A
Submission of the Night: N/A
Fight of the Night: Miller vs. Lauzon

Thanks for reading. For more reviews and reviews, check out http://the-punkblog.blogspot.co.uk/ or follow me on Twitter @ThePunk2012.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year and a prosperous 2013. ]]> The Punk http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?44366-The-Punk-UFC-155-Dos-Santos-vs-Velasquez-II-Review http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?44277-The-Punk-TLC-Tables-Ladders-amp-Chairs-Review Wed, 19 Dec 2012 01:53:00 GMT Hey guys! The Punk here with my first ever wrestling post...be kind! With silly stories, poor match making, ridiculous pushes, baffling face/heel... Hey guys! The Punk here with my first ever wrestling post...be kind!

With silly stories, poor match making, ridiculous pushes, baffling face/heel turns, an ungodly amount of John Cena title shots and main event matches it could even be argued that 2012 has been one of the worst years in a long time for the WWE. Not is all bad though. CM Punk has seen his title reign become the longest since Hulk Hogans reign in the late Eighties and the emergence of The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Regins) has afforded the organisation a chance to right the wrongs of the original Nexus run.

TLC is the last PPV of 2012. Can the WWE go out strong and redeem themselves slightly or will the night turn out like so many other lacklustre shows from this year?

The show begins a fitting tribute to the 26 women and children horrifically killed over the weekend. This tragedy has affected a lot of people and it's nice to see these lives being honoured in the best way a wrestling company can. A bell toll for each victim.

Michael Cole, JBL and Jerry Lawler are the commentary team for this evening. If they are as good as last month's Survivor Series this could be quite a fun evening!

Match One - Tag Team Tables Match. Winners to receive title shot.
Rey Mysterio & Sin Cara vs. Rhodes Scholars

Nice to see Cody Rhodes back after the nasty injuries sustained last month. He also seems to have grown a very awesome moustache in the meantime and actually looks like a young Rick Rude! The match itself was a surprisingly solid start with plenty of decent spots for all competitors. Sin Cara still manages to amaze with his ability to pull off crazy moves but yet struggle with basic moves such as running properly. Still, you can't really knock the fella for his crazy bump - being pushed off the top rope by Rhodes mid-springboard through two tables below. Great finish. Rhodes and Sandow look better than ever while in stark contrast, the end could be neigh for Mysterio and Cara.

Winners: Rhodes Scholars

***/5

Shield promo to hype the unorthodox six man TLC match for later. Pretty much just a rehash of their previous "homemade" promos but it still gets the message across. Dean Ambrose is just magic in his delivery. Really glad these guys got called up to the main roster after years of waiting.

Match Two - United States Championship
Antonio Cesaro (c) vs. R-Truth

Much of the same from last month from both of these competitors in what was essentially a way to get Cesaro on the show. Not taking anything away from the veteran R-Truth but this match was a foregone conclusion before the night even began. Typical offense, finish and heat generation from the Swiss. At least it still looks pretty cool though.

Winner and STILL champion: Antonio Cesaro via Pinfall (Neutralizer)

**/5

Backstage: Dolph Ziggler interview. If this guys loses tonight I'll be watching TNA from next week. Promise.

Promo Time! The Miz emerges for an impromptu edition of Miz TV! Joy. His guests are 3MB, perhaps the most unconvincing team thrown together since 3 Count. Miz calls them a train wreck and he's not too far from the truth. All three men then start on the Spanish announcers for no apparent reason. This then brings out Ricardo Rodriguez and Alberto Del Rio...who have obviously turned face? 3MB get the better of the two before rolling both into the ring...while the newly face turned Miz did nothing? The Miz then finally gets involved before a match is made: 3MB vs. The Miz, Alberto Del Rio and a mystery opponent.

A horrible, horrible segment that simply served to turn ADR face.

Backstage: Team Hell No continue to hype their match. Standard stuff here. Their chemistry is still there but the humor is sadly all but gone.

Backstage...again: Wade Barrett discusses taking away Kofi Kingston's nine lives? Okay then.

Match Three - Intercontinental Championship
Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Wade Barrett

It's quite hard to believe that this is Barrett's first singles PPV match since his tables match with Randy Orton LAST YEAR! Anyways, a decent midcard match filled with plenty of exciting counter wrestling. Barrett's style looks great and actually works great with the offence of Kingston's. The ending looked a little awkward though with the Brit's Bullhammer being countered into a Trouble in Paradise kick. Still a good effort from both.

Winner and STILL champion: Kofi Kingston via Pinfall (Trouble in Paradise)

***/5

Promo Time! CM Punk and Paul Heyman discuss Punk's condition, Ryback and his reign as WWE Champion. It's strange to see the title out of action at a PPV but also just as nice to see the WWE happy to keep this awesome reign going. Typical Punk genius here as he and Heyman attempt to berate an largely supportive crowd.

Match Four - Six Man TLC Match - Win by Pinfall or Submission only
The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns)
vs.
Team Hell No & Ryback

The Shield may have saved WWE's year. Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins, two highly skilled former indie stars, along with Anoa'i family member Roman Reigns have entertained more than anyone else this year which is mad considering they only made their first appearance last month.

This match was insane. 25 minutes of absolute carnage involving almost every single ladder, table and chair in the arena. Announcers tables smashed and not even the crowd barrier was safe from the football tackles of Reigns. The match featured some crazy bumps resulted from ladder falls, flying clotheslines (Ambrose may be WWE's newest best seller after THAT), gang beatings a plenty and most importantly, gripping drama. This might be the most violent match since the beginning of the PG era.

All participants must be credited for their efforts in making this match one of the year's best. The Shield are here to stay...lets hope the WWE don't drop the ball this time.

Winners: The Shield via Pinfall


*****/5

Match Five - Divas Championship
Eve (c) vs. Naomi

After that brilliant match I didn't even care that a divas match has been crammed onto the card. Eve retains after a surprisingly good debut performance from the Funkadactyl Naomi. Quick, clean-ish and managed to keep Eve looking pretty strong as champ.

Winner and STILL champion: Eve via Pinfall (Swinging Neckbreaker)

**/5

Backstage: Big Show interview. Show has been extremely impressive since winning the world title and his two matches with Sheamus have been quite entertaining so far. A pretty impressive heel segment from the giant.

Match Six - Chairs Match for the World Heavyweight Champion
Big Show (c) vs. Sheamus

As mentioned above, these two have put on a pretty decent feud so far with both showcasing their hard hitting and brawling over actual wrestling. This match was foreshadowed last month after Sheamus hit Show with a whopping 31 chair shots after their match at Survivor Series. There was no crazy chair shot frenzies this time but the match was still able to make for decent entertainment despite the chair match being one of the weakest match types around. More hard offense from both in a back and forth battle which was let down slightly by a silly finish featuring one of the most ridiculously oversized chairs ever.

Winner and STILL champion: Big Show via Pinfall (Chair shot)

***/5

Backstage: John Cena and AJ segment. AJ is hot by the way.

Match Seven - Six Man Tag Match
3MB (Heath Slater, Jinder Mahal & Drew McIntyre)
vs.
The Miz, Alberto Del Rio and...The Brooklyn Brawler!

I don't know whats weirder; Seeing 3MB participate in the penultimate match of the evening or seeing the Brooklyn Brawler actually win a match! A quick one here simply to generate a good local pop and to solidify the face turns of both The Miz and Del Rio. Entertaining but hardly unforgettable.

Winners: The Miz, Del Rio and The Brooklyn Brawler via Submission (Boston Crab)

**/5

Match Eight - Ladder Match for Ziggler's Money in the Bank Contract
Dolph Ziggler vs. John Cena

Dolph Ziggler is a future world champion so I was extremely annoyed and worried when Cena was booked into this match with the contract on the line. It was all set up for a Cena win but thankfully the writers got it right this time...kinda!

I don't quite understand why the match was promoted as a ladder match when it really just became a TLC match quite quickly with multiple tables and chairs being utilised by both participants. A weird skirmish between AJ and Vickie also took up valuable minutes of the match with Vickie showing her growing skills by COMPLETELY NO SELLING a Five Knuckle Shuffle from AJ. Horrible stuff!

Apart from that, the match was a great way to end the year. A dramatic match created from the scraps of a rubbish storyline, an unexpected ending and for once the right guy actually won!

Winner: Dolph Ziggler

****/5

Overview: Less filler and more killer than most of the shows this year, TLC displayed the potential the WWE still has to create constant quality. Sure there were some matches here that lacked in various departments but when compared to shows such as No Way Out and Over the Limit they actually look pretty good. This year ending PPV clearly demostrates that there is hope for the current product.

Match of the Night: The Shield/Ryback/Team Hell No. Unbelievable match.
Move of the Night: Seth Rollin's fall of the ladder looked nasty...and awesome!
Lowlight of the Night: Divas Match.

PPV Rating: ****/5

Thats all for now! Comments and feedback appreciated. In the meantime, why not check out my site - http://the-punkblog.blogspot.co.uk ]]> The Punk http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?44277-The-Punk-TLC-Tables-Ladders-amp-Chairs-Review