http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/blog.php?9224-RatedATB Wrestling News and Discussion - eWrestlingNews.com Community en Mon, 20 May 2013 16:06:51 GMT vBulletin 10 http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/blog.php?9224-RatedATB http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?41319-The-Wrestling-Reaction-Raw-and-Wrestlemania Tue, 03 Apr 2012 20:32:58 GMT What’s poppin folks! RatedATB back at it once again! What a week it’s been in this crazy world of professional wrestling. It’s been a week of... What’s poppin folks! RatedATB back at it once again! What a week it’s been in this crazy world of professional wrestling. It’s been a week of excitement, disappointment, and shock. We saw a historic Wrestlemania, and one HELL of a Raw. I know I said I was going to do a Wrestlemania review, but I figured everyone was gonna do that, and I was right, so I figured I’ll just give a quick rundown of what I thought, as well as bring back the Raw Reaction, and give me thoughts on the best Raw in sometime. This time around I’ll do the Raw Reaction with a different format, and hopefully it’ll go over better than before. I won’t waste any more time, so without further ado…

As for Wrestlemania, I think it was a very good show. Of course I was upset at first with Daniel Bryan and Sheamus, but after Raw last night I think that might have saved his career if anything. I didn’t enjoy any of the skits at all, and I think the time could’ve been added to the World Title Match. Of course I enjoyed the big three matches, especially HIAC and Punk/Jericho. People say the crowd was dead for Punk/Jericho but I don’t think that was the case. I read somewhere from someone who was there who said the crowd was into the match, but was merely sitting back and savoring it, as opposed to reacting to it. The undercard was alright, I enjoyed Kane/Orton and I’m glad Kane got the win, he definitely deserves it, however, I’m not quite sure where Orton goes from here. It isn’t customary to see a face lose at Mania the way Orton did and come back storyline wise. The IC title match was meh, not bad, not good. I would’ve rather it have the 18 second finish but that’s just me. Last but not least Team Johnny vs. Team Teddy was alright, it kept entertaining and the right team won so it’s all good. Overall, it was a pretty good Mania that lived up to its expectations in my opinion.

This week’s Raw was without a doubt, one of the best I’ve seen in a long while. I usually enjoy Raw, but there was just an electric feel to this show. That is of course thanks to the crowd. This crowd made Raw feel like it used to, and I just hope that WWE took notice. Daniel Bryan was the star of the night and he only made a short appearance. The crowd WANTS Daniel Bryan, it’s obvious; I just hope WWE recognizes what they have and let this unfold to something huge. I also hope the crowds at each Raw after this keep it going. Keep the YES! chants going loud, and keep chanting Daniel Bryan, it will eventually work. Just ask Ryder.

There was a lot to be happy about on this Raw. The Rock claimed he would one day be WWE champion, and I don’t know how people can complain about this. People wanted Rock back, he came back. Then they complained he was taking the spots of younger wrestlers. Well the younger wrestlers aren’t ready yet, and you know it. If Rock wants to come back, let him come back. He’s proved he can still go, and I hope he does win the WWE title, it would bring a lot of meaning and prestige to it. Saying that everyone wants the title, even someone from Hollywood wants to come back to hold it. And if he’s going to be champion that means he has to be there every week, which is what everyone wants isn’t it?

The action on Raw was pretty solid. I enjoyed the U.S. title match and it told a decent story. Not to mention having Santino successfully defend the title is good for the belt and I think Santino brings some importance to that title. He’s obviously the most over mid carder and people love him. I wasn’t impressed with Lord Tensai, at least not yet, I think he’d be better off just coming in as A-Train. The Japanese gimmick doesn’t really work for a guy like him, since he’s…you know…not Japanese. I’ll give it some time though, I think with time he can make it work.Match of the night was without a doubt, and shockingly CM Punk vs. Henry. The crowd helped this in a lot of ways but it also told a great story and Punk sold the back brilliantly. I’m also glad to see Jericho and Punk continuing, and Jericho sold the feud beautifully with the bit with Jack Daniels. Last but not least I think Ryder and Miz put on a pretty solid match as well. Ryder looked strong, even if he lost, and Miz got a much deserving win.

Then we had the final segment. What a strong way to end Raw. Cena delivered a great promo and I think he’s starting to head in a new direction. I don’t know if it’s a heel turn, but it’s definitely a change, and hopefully for the better. I’d also be lying if I told you I wasn’t excited for Lesnar. Even with the crowd spoiling the return, and after reading the dirt sheets I STILL marked out when his music hit. It was a perfect return, the crowd was HOT, he made an impact, and it was a moment that we will never forget. My only complaint is the amount of dates he’s going to work. Two shows a month for only a year seems a bit unfair, the crowd wants to see him, and I don’t think it’d be too much to ask for him to at least be at Raws and ppvs. Maybe things will change as it’s only a minimum, but still I’m sure people would love to see more of him, I know I would.

So, two amazing nights of wrestling in a row make for a very happy wrestling fan. In fact this week reminded me why I’m a wrestling fan and I’m happy that I stuck with this crazy form of entertainment. On a side note, I’m having internet troubles and had to go to a place with wifi to put this up, but I can’t see myself doing that a whole lot, so this might be my last blog for a while until I can fix these Internet troubles. Until next time folks, be well, be safe, and have a great week. Deuces! ]]> RatedATB http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?41319-The-Wrestling-Reaction-Raw-and-Wrestlemania http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?41224-Top-10-Wrestlemanias Wed, 28 Mar 2012 19:16:55 GMT What’s poppin folks! RatedATB back at it again, with the final installment in my Wrestlemania Mini-Series! These have been some of the best blogs I... What’s poppin folks! RatedATB back at it again, with the final installment in my Wrestlemania Mini-Series! These have been some of the best blogs I have put out and definitely the best received, whether you agreed with my opinions or not it got people talking and that’s all I aim for in this crazy world of blogging. We end the final week with probably the most important. We’ve been over all the highs and lows of the glorious history of Wrestlemania, and we finish it on a high note. I run down the Top 10 Wrestlemanias of all time, in the order I think they deserve to be in. This was by far the most difficult blog I’ve ever written, especially in this Mini-Series and I have to say I’m happy with the end result. I re-wrote this almost every day since I did the first blog in this series so that shows how important I took this. I’m not gonna waste any more time, let’s dive right into what in my opinion are the best Wrestlemanias of all time. Without further ado…

10. TIE – Wrestlemania 22 and Wrestlemania 25
I juggled these two for about a day last week as I continued to finalize my list and I couldn’t decide which I liked better, so I decided to make it a tie. Some people may disagree with either of these being on the list, but I felt they put out an equal amount of highs and lows. On Mania 22’s side, you had the amazing Edge/Foley hardcore match that without a doubt stole the show. Then you had HBK/Vince that did everything it should have and sent the crowd home happy. Combine that with two great, albeit different in stature main events and you have one hell of a show. On 25’s side, take a fun MITB, a surprising outing from Ricky Steamboat, a surprisingly good Triple Threat between Cena, Big Show, and Edge, a hard hitting Extreme Rules match between the Hardys, and in my opinion the greatest match in Wrestlemania history between Undertaker and Shawn Michaels and you get a successful Wrestlemania, even if the main event was disappointing. I couldn’t leave these two off the list because they were both great shows that are overlooked for many different reasons. 7.5/10 and 7.5/10

9. Wrestlemania 23
I’ll be honest when I say that I wasn’t looking too forward to this show. I was at a point where I despised Cena and Batista and everything they touched. Why? Maybe because I was a teenager that thought he knew everything but that’s neither here nor there. Sure there were 2 or 3 duds on this show, but looking at the grand scheme of things you gotta give the devil it’s due. Taker vs. Batista shocked me to great avail and gave me a whole new respect for the Deadman and even Batista. The MITB match was spectacular and the spot where Jeff crashed onto Edge still gets me jacked. Then you had Cena and HBK closing the show in one hell of a match that I didn’t expect to get. At the time I was disappointed with the outcome being the HBK mark I was, but hindsight is 20/20 and you can’t argue that the match was really good. Nothing else can be said about this show other than it was surprisingly better than I ever thought it would be. 7.75/10

8. Wrestlemania 14
This is one of those Manias that didn’t really have a stand out match, but also didn’t really have a bad match. The only really bad match was Rock/Shamrock, but it made sense considering they didn’t want to kill Rock, but also wanted to give Shamrock a lot of cred. The Undertaker/Kane match is always held in high regard, even if it wasn’t the most technically sound match it was still really good. The psychology and story alone sets it in high regard and it was very well built. The main event speaks for itself, with Shawn pulling out a gutsy performance. Sure it wasn’t what it could have or should have been, but it was still a good match and the ending is really what mattered. Stone Cold celebrating with Tyson after he knocks Shawn out, all the while JR is shouting “STONE COLD, STONE COLD!” just sends goosebumps down my spine even to this day. 8/10

7. Wrestlemania 18
This one kind of sits in the same boat as 14 being that it didn’t really have a bad match, but this one DID have a standout match. Your opinions of the match itself or not, the crowd made it special and wrestling isn’t just about a catch-as-catch can style match. Rock and Hogan put on the performance that they should have and it delivered in many different aspects. The rest of the card saw a lot of fun 1 on 1 matches that were really just filler, but didn’t disappoint. If one thing hurt this Mania it was lack of time given to some of the under card matches. Another thing people hate is the main event, however, I think the match itself was fine, the crowd was just so dead and all the heat was lost. Not as good a Mania as the years it is sandwiched in between, but still a damn good show that still holds up in my honest opinion. 8.25/10

6. Wrestlemania 3
This is the Wrestlemania that set the standard of what a Wrestlemania should be. The show started off hot with the Cam-Am Connection against Bob Orton and Don Muraco, and kind of fizzled off with a few duds in between, but eventually picked back up. Everyone of course remembers and reveres the Macho Man/Steamboat classic of a match that became the measuring stick to what a Wrestlemania match should be. Then you had the main event, which let’s all be honest wasn’t quite as good as Savage/Steamboat, but was good in its own regard. It had the heat, the story, and the psychology to put on a match that is still talked about to this day. The slam alone sets it apart and keeps it talked about, and your opinion on it or not it will go down as one of the most memorable main events in history. A fun show with two matches that are revered as classics makes for a great Wrestlemania. 8.25/10

5. Wrestlemania 10
This is a Mania that started off hotter than any other show in the history of wrestling. It was the show that began with Bret vs. Owen and it my friends is a classic. It was also the first Mania to hold two World Title matches, one being Yoko/Lugar, and the other being Yoko/Hart. Neither of which were anything to write home about, however I will say the Hart/Yoko had an excuse to be slow considering the two had already wrestled earlier in the show. However what really sets this show apart is the fact that it holds the first ladder match Wrestlemania would see, and set the standard to what a ladder match should be. Shawn Michaels started stealing the show at Mania with this match, and even though he lost, he and Razor put on one of my all time favorite matches that still holds up to this day. Another really fun Mania with two 5 star matches, along with an emotional show ending celebration from Bret and the babyfaces make for a memorable show. 8.5/10

4. Wrestlemania 21
I fought tooth and nail between this one and 10 to be in this spot. I know I’ll get loads of heat for putting it so high on the list but this was a great Wrestlemania. It opened up hot with a great match between Rey and Guerrero and just kept rolling. It’s home to the first MITB ladder match ever and what a match it was. Everyone looked like a million bucks coming out, especially Benjamin. Then you had Orton and Taker in one of Taker’s better Wrestlemania matches that saw some great stuff from both men, including Orton’s chokeslam counter into the RKO. Then you had Shawn vs. Kurt, and what a spectacular match these two had. Say what you want but this match is a classic, no doubt about it. These two went hard from start to finish and I will always hold this match in high regard. Where this Mania fails is the two main events. Had these matches delivered this would probably be considered top 2 or 3 Wrestlemanias, but in my opinion this Mania had one of the best undercards in Wrestlemania history, without a doubt. 9/10

3. Wrestlemania 24
At this point in my life as a wrestling fan I was becoming burned out. I was not looking forward to this show whatsoever, and I thought it was going to be awful, I really did. I don’t know what made me order the show, but I did and I was so glad I had. We started off with a hard hitting match between Finlay and JBL and kept it rolling with a crazy MITB that saw Punk get the briefcase, which I didn’t expect. Follow it up with a surprising match from Show and Mayweather that wasn’t all that bad, and actually pulled out what I can honestly say a good 3 star performance. Keep it going with an emotional classic between Flair and Shawn that many people may say was overrated, but Shawn made that match a lot better than it probably would’ve been, considering the stage Flair was in his career. Finish it off with a really good WWE title match, and an awesome match between Edge and Undertaker and you have a classic Wrestlemania. For not thinking it would be much better than Wrestlemania 9 that isn’t half bad. 9.5/10

2. Wrestlemania 19
This was the hardest one to place believe it or not. This Wrestlemania will go down as my all-time favorite, and in my opinion the best Wrestlemania of all time, but I don’t think I could’ve put it above my choice for number one without receiving any kind of heat. This was top to bottom an amazing show, with only one bad match featuring Taker vs. Big Show and A-Train. Take it off and distribute the time to Mysterio/Hardy and this would easily be the greatest Mania ever. You had a classic between Michaels/Jericho, a surprisingly good Street Fight between Hogan and McMahon with the surprising appearance from Roddy Piper, and the final time we would see Stone Cold in a ring as an active wrestler. Triple H and Booker put on a good performance, even if the wrong guy won, and Angle and Lesnar put on a classic main event that would have received a perfect 5 had it not been for the botch at the end. Yes folks this was a stellar Wrestlemania that kept you entertained from start to finish. Even the Diva match was good! I will always hold it in high regard and remember it as my all-time favorite Wrestlemania. 10/10

1. Wrestlemania 17
Yes folks, the one you all probably assumed would cap this list off. Even if I think 19 was better in some ways I couldn’t justify this not being the number 1 spot. In all honesty the only thing that put it over the top was that the main event was better. Rock and Stone Cold put a lot of build into this match and it was such a huge match at the time. Usually at Mania I get bored by the time the main event comes around, as bad as that sounds lol, since the show is so long amd there’s so many good matches. But this was an exception because these two kept you glued to the screen from bell to bell. The end was the most shocking thing I would ever see as a wrestling fan and even if it turned out to be a flop of a storyline, it was monumental at the time. Other memorable matches include Taker/HHH, Benoit/Angle, Y2J/Regal, TLC 2, and even Eddie Guerrero/Test put on a good match. I could talk all day about each individual match but there’s nothing to say that hasn’t already been said about this show. This show raised the bar as far as Wrestlemania goes and set the standard to what Wrestlemania should be: lots of great matches, emotional moments, and just a damn good night of wrestling. 10/10

Well folks there it is. That’s my list and that’s the end of my mini-series. I hope you all enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing and I hope it got everyone excited for Wrestlemania because I know it did for me. This will be my last blog before Mania so I hope everyone enjoys it and folks keep in mind that we are all wrestling fans and at the end of the day that’s all that matters. So please when watching just sit back and enjoy it. That’s the only way you will enjoy it and that’s if you let yourself be entertained by it. It’s a good card so put away the smark in you and don’t watch it to critique it, watch it to enjoy it. That’s my little rant on the matter I suppose haha. I was going to do a predictions blog on this but I’m sure everyone and their grandmother will do so, so I will not be doing that. I will be giving my thoughts on the show, so if you want look out for that either Sunday night or Monday during the day, whenever it decides to process I guess. Well that’s it from me folks, I hope the people who are going to Miami have a good time and enjoys the show. Until next time folks, be safe, be well, and have a great week. Deuces! ]]> RatedATB http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?41224-Top-10-Wrestlemanias http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?41158-Top-10-Worst-Wrestlemanias Wed, 21 Mar 2012 03:17:07 GMT What's poppin folks! RatedATB back at it again with another installment in my Wrestlemania series. With Mania getting closer and closer, many people are talking about how this is a boring card and there's a lot of bathroom matches. To them I say that's "FACKIN BOOLSHIT!" to quote the Iron Sheik. This Mania card is miles ahead the following 10 Manias I'm about to list. Yep that's right we count down the top 10 WORST Wrestlemanias of all time, in what might be a controversial list, but I'll leave that up to you folks. Without further ado...

10. Wrestlemania 2000 (16)

The first Wrestlemania I would ever see. As a child I thoroughly enjoyed it, seeing all of the biggest stars in the WWF showcased on the grandest stage of them all. Even at a young age I knew how special Wrestlemania was. And yet we got an abysmal card. In fact it was the only Wrestlemania in history to not feature a traditional 1-on-1 match. I will say the Triangle Ladder Match is a classic and the Benoit/Angle/Jericho match was a good one as well, the rest just felt clustered. I want to say I loved the main event, but as I said in one of my previous Wrestlemania blogs, it was an overbooked mess and the wrong man won. 4/10

9. Wrestlemania 12

Funny how a ppv that provided one of the greatest wrestling matches in history can also be regarded as a terrible show. Remove the Ironman match and the back lot brawl and you get some very forgettable stuff folks. Warrior squashing a young HHH in a few seconds is just one example of how badly this ppv went. I will say the back lot brawl between Piper and Goldust was great stuff and very revolutionary at the time, but it and the Ironman can only bring this up so high on the list. 4/10

8. Wrestlemania 13

Much like 12, this Wrestlemania provided one of the greatest matches in Wrestlemania history. But unlike Wrestlemania 12, it is very forgettable. This ppv is filled with matches that just fell flat in my opinion and never really took off. I don't think anyone truly cared at this point and it was a dark time for the WWF. Not to mention one lackluster, boring main event between Sid and Undertaker that didn't really have any heat nor did it have any true aftermath, leaving no one to really give a shit. This Mania had an amazing match between Hart and Austin that is regarded as a classic but it wasn't enough to save this show from failing. 3.5/10

7. Wrestlemania 15

I want to like this Mania. I really do. However there was NOTHING worth mentioning from this show at all. Rock and Austin was a good match but honestly was the worst of the 3 these two did together, and that was about it. This was one of those Manias that didn't really give any time to the matches to let them develop and get people excited, and it just didn't feel like a huge deal. The highlight of the night was Stone Cold winning the title back, which don't get me wrong is great, but this was at a point were they were really getting momentum and ruling the world of entertainment, and they delivered one lackluster ppv that didn't feel the least bit special. 3/10

6. Wrestlemania 6

When you mention this Mania you automatically think of the main event. Yeah, in my opinion concerning who was in it, it was a great main event. Yet when you look at the rest of the card, all you see is disappointment. With 14 matches this is one of the largest Wrestlemania cards in Wrestlemania history, and therein lies the problem. Too many matches is a BAD thing. Yes everyone works hard and deserves a spot on the card, but most of these matches were one on one. How hard would it have been to combine some of these, or leave them off entirely? If you go back and look, only 2 matches went over 9 minutes. 2/14 folks, 2/14. 2.75/10

5. Wrestlemania 7

Yet another Mania that was saved by an excellent match put on by Warrior and Savage. However, looking at the rest of the show, it doesn't take a wrestling genius to see just how bad this show was. Hell a lot of the matches didn't even hit the 5 minute mark. The main event was blah, even if it did have a TON of heat behind it. I really don't have much to say about this Mania. Nothing outside of Hogan/Slaughter and Warrior/Savage were given much time to develop and the whole show suffered for it. 2/10

4. Wrestlemania 2

Boy the first two Wrestlemania's were just not that great. The first Mania was obviously a success, and it was a no brainer to hold Wrestlemania 2. However the show's claim to fame was the fact that it was held in 3 different cities. Other than that you didn't really have too much to ride home about. The main event was boring, the undercard was boring, and the show in general was just that...boring. Apples and bananas...that was a test to see if anyone actually reads what I'm writing. It seems that people skip over what I write, and then complain about a choice that I made even if it contradicts an explanation I give. Anyway back to Wrestlemania 2, it was such a let down because 1 was such a success and it's obvious there was a huge expectation from this one that just let everyone down. 1.5/10

3. Wrestlemania 5

Some people might disagree, but I disliked this Mania. The main event was great and all, not really regarded as a classic like other Mania main events, but still good. The problem was this ppv was so damn long. Another one of those 14 match Manias that could've done without at least 4 matches to give more time to other important matches. This is a problem with most of the early Wrestlemanias considering they had huge rosters of people and wanted to get as many of the wrestlers on as possible, and while they do deserve it, I'm surprised they didn't just do the battle royal at the time. 1.5/10

2. Wrestlemania XI

Ok. Where do I begin. I will start off by saying I did enjoy Diesel/HBK and thought it was a decent outing between the two. That being said...the REST of this card was ASS. For god's sake it was headlined by Lawrence Taylor and Bam Bam Bigelow. No disrespect to Bam Bam, the man is a legend, but this was in no way shape or form deserving of being the main event of Wrestlemania. The match itself was alright, not a complete disaster, but the fact that it was the main event tells the story of how bad creative was for the WWE at the time. Such a forgettable event to say the very least. 1/5

1. Wrestlemania IX

Alright folks. The creme dela creme of shit. The show started off with a decent match between HBK and Tatanka, but it just went downhill from there. A whole crap ton of bad finishes and shitty matches filling the night up until the biggest piece of cow manure I have ever seen take place on a professional wrestling show outside of TNA or the dying days of WCW. Hulk Hogan coming out and winning the title from Yokozuna after Yoko had just defeated Bret was absolutely 100% unnecessary and just shows you how much greed Hogan had. Not to mention the fact that he was on his way to WCW, giving absolutely no merit to him pulling this off. It was a slap in the face to everyone involved and Hogan is BS for pulling it off. 0.5/10

Well folks there ya have it! We're winding down on this little mini series with the final blog being next week, focusing on the top 10 Wrestlemanias. I'm sure it'll be controversial but hey, F it is what I say. Not sure where I'm gonna go from here blog wise, I might start the Raw Reactions back up but that remains to be seen. Also on a side note. To the people who want to dispute any choices I make in these lists that fine, just read each section before doing so. I'm convinced people see something and without reading my side of it they just jump all over it. But eh, whatever, do what you want. I hope you enjoyed the read folks, and until next time it's been real, it's been fun, but it hasn't been real fun. Deuces! ]]> RatedATB http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?41158-Top-10-Worst-Wrestlemanias http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?41091-Top-10-Wrestlemania-Moments Wed, 14 Mar 2012 02:49:14 GMT What's poppin folks! RatedATB back at it again with the third installment of my Wrestlemania mini series. We're getting closer and closer to Wrestlemania and what a better list to keep this going than a top 10 Wrestlemania Moment list? These are for those moments that when you think of a certain Mania, these instantly pop up, without question. I wont waste your time in the intro, so without further ado...

10. Wrestlemania XX - Benoit and Eddie Celebrate

What more can you say about this? Two WELL deserving wrestlers closing out Wrestlemania hoisting up the top two championships in wrestling. It's the equivalent of Punk and Bryan holding todays titles, except that much more meaningful. These two men fought all over the world, wrestling in every single major promotion before winning/successfully defending the richest prizes in the game at the most hyped up Mania of all time. They both put on excellent matches and it's a shame that this moment is buried and technically doesn't exist anymore. (Thanks to Jericho for the line!) But to me this moment will never die, and I wont forget it as long as I live.

9. Wrestlemania VII - Macho Man and Elizabeth Reconcile

Now I wasn't even alive when this happened, so if you're a little upset that this is a little bit too low then I do apologize, but it didn't impact me as much as it did others because I wasn't around to witness the build to it. Following an incredible show saving match, Savage and Elizabeth reconciled to the delight of fans around the world. It would be an emotional moment for fans at the time seeing wrestling's first couple resolve their differences and see Savage hoist Liz on his shoulders to the applause of fans throughout the arena.

8. Wrestlemania 25 - Shawn Michaels Kicks out of the Tombstone

This is something I don't think anyone saw coming. This was one of those Taker Mania matches you just couldn't predict, which is what made it so great. You legitimately thought Shawn could win the match and end the streak. I thought more than ever that Shawn had it when he kicked out of the Undertaker's tombstone, something that is a VERY rare thing to see. I can only think of one other instance in which it happened, and that would be when Taker took on Kane at 14. The look on Taker's face when HBK kicked out was just pure genius. Just straight up "what the HELL do I gotta do to end this?". The crowd erupting at the sight made it even more special and I can remember thinking the streak was done. However, we all know that wouldn't happen, but that didn't take anything away.

7. Wrestlemania X7 - Edge Spears Hardy

The single move that would've cemented Edge's legacy if he would've retired in 03 from that neck injury. Sure he did it before on a Raw, but this one was on the grandest stage of them all, and this one has been played in almost every Edge and Wrestlemania highlight since then, which speaks volumes. Not that this match needed this spot, but it definitely put it way over the top and made this match the measuring stick to all ladder matches following. I remember marking out so hard when this happened, thinking Edge had broken Hardy straight in half. Seeing all the flashes of cameras and hearing JR freak out like only JR can just send goosebumps down my spine everytime I see this.
Honorable Mention for a tie - Edge Spears Foley through a flaming table.

6. Wrestlemania X7 - Stone Cold Joins Up with McMahon

When McMahon walked out during the match I'm sure everyone expected a screw job, but no one saw this coming. No one expected these two men joining forces after their lengthy history, and to be honest it was brilliant - at first. Sure the aftermath would, let's face it, flop, the moment was amazing and the most shocking moment I can honestly remember seeing. Heyman's infamous line of "Stone Cold has sold his soul" still gets me, it was perfect. JR sold his shock beautifully and made this seem like the biggest deal ever, which to be honest at the time it was.

5. Wrestlemania 13 - Stone Cold Refuses to Tap Out

Can't leave this one off. Austin's 3:16 speech put him on the map, but this match kept him there. Following the speech, Austin didn't really go on to do much...until Bret returned. The two had one of the greatest matches of all time and at the end of the day, the two switched roles and Austin left the babyface, while Hart left the heel. How did they do this you ask? Take a gander at the picture I posted. Austin refusing to tap out to the sharpshooter and only losing because he physically couldn't continue showed what a true badass Austin was and solidified him as one for years to come. The picture you see above is another one of those clips that has infinite replay value and continues to show to this day what Wrestlemania is all about.

4. Wrestlemania X - Bret Hart Closes Wrestlemania

Sure the match between Yoko and Hart was slow and to be blunt boring, but the aftermath is all that mattered. This was one of the greatest closing sequences we would see at Mania. Following the victory we would see an emotional celebration with the crowd applauding Bret for his hard work, and seeing the locker room poor out with babyfaces all coming out to congratulate the leader of the new era in wrestling. Vince said it himself, go back and listen! Then you had Owen come out and the look on his face told the entire story and would set up an awesome cage match between the two at Summerslam. I remember watching this on tape as a kid and loving every second of it, Bret deserved it after the debacle from the previous year...but I'll save that for the next blog.

3. Wrestlemania III - Hogan Slams Andre

I know, I know. When I think of this match all I can think of is overrated. However you have to take into consideration the significance of this. From what I understand this was the first time Andre was taken off his feet, or at least slammed, and it was also followed by his very first loss. It's the clip that is played over and over and over in any Wrestlemania highlight package, intro, or list, and I had to show it some shine, even if I despise Hogan and everything he stands for nowadays.

2. Wrestlemania XIV - STONE COLD! STONE COLD! STONE COLD!

Talk about Hart ushering in a new generation, that can't even touch this one. Shawn and Austin put on one hell of a match considering the shape HBK was in, and what would follow was nothing but a goosebumpfest (did I just make up a word?). The crowd was going crazy, JR was going even crazier (see title of this section), Tyson had knocked out Austin, and Austin was officially the man. The torch had officially been passed, and this set up one hell of a year for the WWE that many people talk about to this day. Tyson raising Austin's hand was the perfect cap off to a pretty good Wrestlemania.

1. Wrestlemania XII - Shawn Michaels Achieves the Boyhood Dream

Shawn Michaels is hands down my favorite wrestler of all time, no question. He is Mr. Wrestlemania and you cannot dispute that. He defined that role on this night. From his grand entrance, to putting on one of the greatest matches I've ever had the pleasure of watching, to achieving a dream, this was the Mania that gave him near legend status. It's a story everyone can relate to. Someone who doesn't necessarily fit a certain mold set by society achieving a dream that you had as a child, it just works. It's done in movies, on tv, and especially in wrestling. I still have goosebumps when I watch his victory celebration and hearing McMahon in the booth saying "The boyhood dream..has come true....for Shawn Michaels!" It's another one of those clips that is replayed over and over and rightfully so. It is without a doubt one of the greatest moments in not just Wrestlemania, but WWE and wrestling history. Period.

Well folks, there you have it! My thoughts on the best moments that define Mania. Did I leave one off that you enjoyed? Leave it in the comments, I'd love to hear some of your favorite moments, just be respectful. Remember it's my list, and it's the moments I enjoyed or think deserve to be recognized. I'll see you folks next week with my top 10 Worst Wrestlemania list. So until next time, it's been real, it's been fun, but it hasn't been real fun. Deuces! ]]> RatedATB http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?41091-Top-10-Wrestlemania-Moments http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?41026-That-Wrestling-Blog-WWE-Needs-another-ECW Thu, 08 Mar 2012 18:31:36 GMT What's poppin folks! RatedATB back at it again with another edition of That Wrestling Blog! I wasn't going to do another blog until I did the next part of my Wrestlemania mini-series, but this is something I wanted to touch upon. In my honest opinion, I think WWE needs another show like ECW to get the younger talent over. And no I'm not talking about NXT, or at least the current NXT. I think we need another show that has a lead figure head, a championship, and one or two veterans to help get the young talent over. I wont explain everything in this paragraph, so without further ado...

So let's take a quick look back at 2006. ECW was just revived and they did everything in their power to make it look like a credible show. Guys like Big Show, RVD, Test, and Hardcore Holly, along with ECW Originals such as Sabu, Sandman, and Tommy Dreamer were great in helping young guys such as CM Punk, Elijah Burke, and many more look like credible wrestlers. As the years went on they ditched the ECW idea, kept the name, and made it a bigger production of an FCW. It introduced guys like Jack Swagger, Sheamus, Evan Bourne, and Kofi Kingston who all became huge parts of ECW and later moved on to great success on Raw and Smackdown. They kept the veterans, using guys like Chavo Guerrero, Mark Henry, Matt Hardy, Christian, and Finlay, who all had a huge part in making the younger guys look like credible mid-card, upper-mid card, and even main eventers. It also gave announcers a spot on the show, and helped them polish up their work and got them ready for the bigger shows. It even helped out referees and announcers. Needless to say, ECW was an awesome place to display young talent and get them ready for the big time.

Now you can make the argument that NXT is doing the same, but it just isn't. They don't have those veterans that are credible enough to get the young talent over, and it isn't broadcast on a national network. The only talent you can make the argument of being veterans are the already established WWE stars like Tyson Kidd, Reks/Hawkins, etc.. Yet none of those guys have the credibility to be known as veterans and can't really get anyone over because they themselves aren't over. What they need is to become the next ECW, and here's some steps they should take to make it such.

First and foremost they need a championship that people can fight for. Nothing gets people over like winning a championship, or having the credibility to chase it. Doesn't have to be fancy, NXT Heavyweight Championship is good enough, but they need something. They also need a wrestler credible enough to hold such a belt. If it were up to me, I'd send Wade Barrett over and have him start out as NXT champion. I know that would tick people off, but like it or not he's not ready for a world title, he just isn't. Have him go back, say he won the first NXT competition, and that makes it his right to be champion. Let him get his feet wet as a champion before he goes anywhere near a world title. And it's not like it'd be him and a bunch of rookies, I'd have credible opponents for him, put like Bourne on the show, maybe even someone like a Booker T. He could be a great older guy that helps these younger guys out, getting them used to a bigger stage. Doesn't HAVE to be Booker, that was just an example. Maybe put Big Show over there, he did well in ECW.

Secondly they need a figure head, which they did do and I'm glad they did, and it's Regal which I think is perfect. Although I would like to see him as one of the Veterans to help the young guys out, I would love for him to even be NXT champion and feud with Barrett at the beginning, that to me would be the perfect feud to get this show going. I think the commentary team is fine, and if I'm not mistaken it's Regal/Matthews? I think the two do well together but I don't like the idea of Regal doing both GM and announcer so maybe get Stanford in the booth? He does well in my opinion, and it would be a nice way to get him more known.

Third and most important they'd need the roster, which would be see the current roster, and throw in Evan Bourne, Barrett (only for a short while. Have him come in, dominate, drop the belt, move up to the main events on Raw/Smackdown) Zack Ryder (he's not doing anything on Raw, and since he's so over he could be decent at getting other people over and it would bring interest to the show), and bring up a few FCW talents such as Seth Rollins, Antonio Cesaro, Kassius Ohno, and Dean Ambrose. Maybe cut a few people, like JTG, Slater, and maybe even Johnny Curtis...the guy does nothing as far as I'm concerned.

I know this is a long shot, but I definitely think this is necessary to happen. Guys like Rollins will never get over in WWE if they don't have a way to get recognition. You know he wont thrive on a Raw or Smackdown, and going on the current NXT will do nothing for him. A third brand is necessary, and I'd even end the brand separation between Raw and Smackdown, and make NXT the second brand. Give it distinction from the main show. And again with Barrett, it would be temporary and it would help get his feat wet as a proper main eventer. Think of the credibility he'd have going in as already having held a top championship, without damaging any cred to himself or the World/WWE title. Giving the title to him too soon would only make any future championship win seem tarnished. I know a lot will disagree with me but he is NOT ready for a world title right now, and giving it to him would only hurt him, and that is brutal honesty. I'll leave it at that because that's a whole other blog. Until next time folks, it's been real, it's been fun, but it hasn't been real fun. Deuces! ]]> RatedATB http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?41026-That-Wrestling-Blog-WWE-Needs-another-ECW http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?41004-Top-10-Most-Disappointing-Wrestlemania-Matches Wed, 07 Mar 2012 03:29:28 GMT What's poppin folks! RatedATB back at it again with the latest installment of my Wrestlemania mini series. Last week I touched upon my top 10 favorite matches in Wrestlemania history. This week however, we look at the matches that had great hype and interest, but just didn't live up to expectation. I would like to point out to the people that had disagreements with last weeks list. Those matches were ranked on how much I liked them, not the best matches in Wrestlemania. It would have been a different list if that were the case. Anyone back on to this blog. I was going to do worst matches but there's so many that this was just easier to decide. Also I'd like to point out that I don't base the level of disappointment on match ratings. A match can still be good but not live up to standard. Regardless, this is my list, and without further ado...

10. Wrestlemania 26 - Money in the Bank

Money in the Bank is one of those matches that used to be one of the most anticipated matches at Wrestlemania. Each year it seemed the match could easily be match of the night, and they always provided exciting moments. This year however seemed to be missing something. There was no match defining spot, nor was there really anything memorable about this match. Also considering the fact of who was in the match, you'd think we would have had the BEST MITB of all time. In my opinion this would have been an acceptable MITB had there been one huge spot and if the right guy won. In a perfect world, Christian would have walked away with the win here, and Edge would have won later on, and we'd have got them over the Summer in a feud. Instead we saw the caareer burial of Swagger. Needless to say, this match was a disappointment. 2/5

9. Wrestlemania 27 - WWE Championship - John Cena vs. The Miz

Now, this would be higher up if the build to this had been better, but it was pretty mediocre. What made this match disappointing was the fact that it never really picked up, and the finish was a complete disaster, and is the sole reason in my book why this Mania wasn't a critical success. I never expecting a Flair/Steamboat classic out of these two but what we got was unacceptable considering the two have proven capable of putting on good matches. The restart was highly unnecessary, only killed the match, and to top it off the crowd was more into Rock than the match itself. This match proved, at least to me, that Miz isn't really ready to carry the company and honestly deserves the depush he's been receiving. 1/5

8. Wrestlemania XIX - World Championship - Triple H vs. Booker T

Before I get into this I'd just like to say that I enjoyed this match and thought that it was actually pretty good. What I didn't like was the ending. In my opinion there is no reason why Booker shouldn't have won here. He was already mad over, and HHH basically ran him down the Raw before Mania, and beating him here made Book look like shit. Not to mention the crowd was pretty dead during this match, and it probably would've helped this match out tremendously if they were more into it. The ending came almost a little too quick and I remember being pretty upset when Booker lost. 2.5/5

7. Wrestlemania 2000 - WWF Championship - Triple H vs. The Rock vs. Mick Foley vs. The Big Show

Talk about your overbooked mess. This match was a disaster. I loved it originally but looking back...holy shit. In all honesty it should have just been Rock/HHH, and it would have been far superior. If it were up to me I'd have done that, kept Show face and had him team with Kane against DX, then put Rikishi with Too Cool to face the Radicalz. I think the swerve at the end was nice, but they put too much into this and it just suffered. Not to mention the fact that Rock should have walked out champ, it's a shame he's never had that Wrestlemania championship win, because this would have been the perfect place to do it. 2/5

6. and 5. Wrestlemania 21 Main Events

This was the night that was supposed to blast these two into the main events, which it did, however the matches were incredibly disappointing. Cena/JBL was a precursor to what we'd see for the next few years when it comes down to Cena getting his ass kicked and then making a come back at the last second to get the win. The match was about 12 minutes and Cena saw little offense. As for Batista/HHH, in my opinion it was just about 15-20 minutes of boring. These two matches were the only thing from making this one of the greatest Wrestlemanias ever. 2/5 and 2.5/5

4. Wrestlemania XX - Undertaker vs. Kane

There was so much hype around this match. Everyone wanted to see Taker return, and everything from the build up, to the promos, and the return itself was phenomenal. Then we got to the match. Everyone remembers their Wrestlemania 14 encounter, and most people have great things to say about it. This however was nothing more than 9 minutes of Taker dominating Kane. We got no aftermath between the two in the weeks or months following, and the two didn't even mention each other until they reunited in 06. And people wanted to see them go at it this year...glad that they will not be doing that. 1/5

3. Wrestlemania 26 - Bret Hart vs. Vince

This match in all honestly was a disaster. I know people didn't expect a classic by any means, but there was 12 years of history between the two, and I thought for sure we'd at least get something entertaining, or something similar to HBK/Vince from Wrestlemania 22. However this was most certainly not that. All this did was show that Bret isn't 1/4 the man he was and left an embarrassing mark on his legacy. I know this brought closure to the feud, but I would have been fine if they had left the two alone. I know that I shouldn't expect much from a 60+ year old man, and a retired wrestler that went through a stroke a few years prior, but I surely thought we might get more than 20 chair shots and a crappy sharpshooter. Dud.

2. Wrestlemania XX - Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar

I'm sure everyone expected this match to go somewhere on this list, and maybe it's a bit too high, but I have major problems with this one. First off this was probably one of the biggest attractions to this show. Second we had Stone Cold as the special ref, and you knew he'd have something good in store. Third, we all knew it wouldn't be technical, but I, along with others, expected one physical brawl, and that just isn't what we got. Instead we got 7 minutes of a stare down, and then about 7 more minutes of rest holds, a few finisher trades, and one disappointing match. It was no secret that the two were on their way out, and I'm sure if they had stayed and gave two shits about the match this would have been so much better, but this just left a sour taste in your mouth when it was done. Considering we had two huge monsters that probably could have delivered a 3 or 4 star match, this sure was a huge let down. Dud.

1. Wrestlemania XXV - WWE Championship - Triple H vs. Randy Orton

Boy, Trips has been on this list quite a bit. I remember being HUGELY let down on this one. This had probably the best build up to a title match since Wrestlemania 20, and it just never got off. I remember looking more forward to this than HBK/Taker just off of the build alone, and I couldn't believe how boring this was. Considering the two had proven track records of putting on good matches, with each other let alone, and it being the main event of Wrestlemania, you'd think we would have had a great match. However, time restraints, a dead crowd, and the abrupt finish really hurt the overall feel of the match. Orton has said in an interview that he thinks the match suffered from lack of being able to use weapons and such, which I can see, but I don't know how much that could have helped this let down. 2/5

Well folks, there you have it, my opinion on the top 10 most disappointing Wrestlemania matches. Of course this list could be interchangable, and I'm sure people are going to have their gripes with it, but so be it. I'll see you folks next week with my thoughts on the top 10 Wrestlemania moments, so be sure to look out for that. Until next time it's been real, it's been fun, but it hasn't been real fun. Deuces! ]]> RatedATB http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?41004-Top-10-Most-Disappointing-Wrestlemania-Matches http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?40919-Top-10-Wrestlemania-Matches Thu, 01 Mar 2012 05:14:28 GMT What's poppin folks, RatedATB back at it again! I haven't done too many blogs here recently, so I thought I'd start up a little mini series. Seeing as we're so close to Mania, why not do a themed Mania blog each week? This week I'll be discussing my top 10 favorite Wrestlemania matches. I figured I'd try my hand in the little top 5/10 blogs considering I enjoy so many of them on here (looking at you Mr. Knox and a few others) and what a great way to start off than with this. So, without further ado...

10. Wrestlemania XXVI - WHC - Edge vs. Chris Jericho
I know what some of you are thinking. But these are two of my all time favorite wrestlers and I was so jacked when I found out they would be facing off at Wrestlemania for the World Title. This was a really good match that I think will go on to be a forgotten classic. It had everything from near falls, to reverses, great in ring psychology, a storied rivalry and much more. People hate on it for the unexpected ending but it made sense considering with where they went concerning the World Title. Was it the right way to go? Maybe not but that's a whole other rant. The aftermath made for a nice Wrestlemania moment however, and I gotta show love for one of my favorite matches of all time. 4/5

9. Wrestlemania XIX - WWE Championship - Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar
This might go down as one of the best pure wrestling Wrestlemania matches ever. Knowing the story now of what went down behind the scenes it really puts into perspective of what these two men were going through. I think this was one of the last highly built Wrestlemania main events, and when I say that I mean one that was built months in advance. When you think about it this match was pretty much set when Heyman screwed Lesnar. I think the match itself was outstanding and had it not been for Lesnar's botch I would've given it a perfect 5/5. 4.25/5

8. Wrestlemania 12 - Ironman Match - Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels
What can you say about one of the greatest matches in wrestling history. This match literally saved one shit Wrestlemania and made it a memorable event for years to come. These two put on a wrestling clinic and popularized the Ironman match. This is the match that made me appreciate wrestling as an art and opened my eyes as a kid to the wonders that this business can provide. Even in the darkest of eras we can still find a near perfect wrestling match, from two amazing performers. 4.5/5

7. Wrestlemania X7 - WWF Championship - Stone Cold vs. The Rock
Wrestlemania 16 was the first Wrestlemania I ever got to see, but Wrestlemania 17 was the first one I saw as it happened and what a Wrestlemania to start on. This match defined what a great main event should be. Two guys who want to just be the absolute best and will do whatever it takes to get there. It had the perfect story and the match itself was explosive from start to finish. They put each other through hell and had my attention from bell to bell. Out of the 3 Rock/Austin matches this is by far the better one, and completely blew the first one out of the water. I'll never forget the shock finish and how it pretty much changed the WWF forever. This match will truly be remembered as one of the greatest main events Wrestlemania will ever see. 4.5/5

6. Wrestlemania 13 - I Quit/Submission Match - Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold
This match literally saved a SHITTY Wrestlemania. If this match hadn't taken place Wrestlemania 13 would have gone down as probably the worst Wrestlemania ever, bar none. However it happened and thank god HBK was a little girl at the time or WWE as we know it might be a little different. The image of Austin screaming in pain and reusing to quit is one of the most intense moments in all of WWE history and really is what made the final turn of Austin into a good guy. 4.5/5

5. Wrestlemania X7 - TLC - Edge and Christian vs. The Hardy Boyz vs. The Dudley Boyz
This match will go down as one of the greatest ladder matches of all time and in my opinion is well deserving of that honor. These men put each other through hell and back and we saw some of the most innovative spots ever at the time. My favorite moment may just be the big Spear on Jeff while he's hanging from the belts. Not much else you can say about this other than the fact that it was an exciting match to watch and still holds up to this day, and really raised the bar as far as ladder matches are concerned. 4.5/5

4. Wrestlemania X - IC Title Ladder Match - Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon
Before there was Edge and Christian or the Hardy Boyz, there was Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon, and god damn it if these two didn't set the standard for ladder matches. In my opinion this is the perfect ladder match. There was drama, high impact action, and plenty of surprise moments. This match really was ahead of it's time and is by far one of my favorite matches of all time, without a doubt. As a kid watching this on tape I actually rooted for HBK and was a little upset when he lost, but how can you hate the Bad Guy? Beautiful match and if you haven't seen it then I don't think you can call yourself a WWE fan, much less a wrestling fan. 5/5

3. Wrestlemania 20 - Triple Threat WHC - Shawn Michaels vs. HHH vs. Chris Benoit
The culmination of 18 years of hard work. I know a lot of people might bitch about Benoit being in here, but this isn't top 10 humanitarians, it's top 10 matches and you can't have such a list without tossing at least 1 Benoit match in. Going into Wrestlemania as the first ever triple threat WM main event could be stressful, but they couldn't have picked 3 better wrestlers to pull it off. This had about 3 different feuds thrown into one match and just made the whole thing that much better. I remember marking the fuck out when Benoit won and I was super happy to see him and Eddie closing the show as WWE's world champions. It was definitely a surreal moment and a perfect finish to an amazing match. 4.75/5

2. Wrestlemania 21 - Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels
Take the greatest performer the WWE has ever seen. Throw in the best pure athlete the wrestling business has to offer. Put them in a ring and watch magic happen before your eyes. I can say without a doubt that this is my all time favorite wrestling match, and I can watch it over and over and never get tired. These two put on a wrestling clinic and wrestled in my eyes a perfect match. My two all time favorite wrestlers putting on my all time favorite wrestling match. You just can't go wrong. 5/5

1. Wrestlemania 25 - Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker
This list wouldn't be justified without including at least 1 Undertaker match on here. I don't think there was any doubt that this match would be number 1, it is for sure the greatest Wrestlemania match of all time. I remember hoping that this match would happen, and when it was announced I just couldn't wait, I knew it would steal the show. Little did I know that would be an understatement. This match had it all, near falls, drama, suspense, crowd reaction, psychology, you name it. I remember being shocked as ever when Shawn kicked out of the Tombstone, I thought for sure he'd end the streak. But of course, no one does and Undertaker prevailed yet again. I still get goosebumps watching this match, which is the true mark that this match is outstanding and should be studied by every aspiring/current pro wrestler. 5/5

So there you have it folks. Of course some matches could be higher/lower and are interchangeable, but that's what's so great about Wrestlemania. You're always guaranteed at least one great match that immortalizes superstars and gives them historic careers. Also keep in mind people these are my opinions and I know that some matches are rated a certain rating but aren't necessarily ranked according to their match rating. That's because it's a list of my favorite matches and favorite doesn't always mean best. Until next time folks, it's been real, it's been fun, but it hasn't been real fun. Deuces! ]]> RatedATB http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?40919-Top-10-Wrestlemania-Matches http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?40763-2012-Elimination-Chamber-Reaction Mon, 20 Feb 2012 04:07:52 GMT What's poppin folks, RatedATB back at it again with my Elimination Chamber Reaction. As usual I wont waste any time, so without further
ado...

1st Match - Raw Elimination Chamber
A little surprised they started off with this one, that must mean a swerve is in place for the SD Chamber. Also on a side note I'm digging the stage, they've recycled the same stage every year since December to Dismember lol. Anyway on to the match...this match was awesome, and I mean AWESOME. They gave it a ton of time to allow all of these great wrestlers to make an intense, hard hitting match. All of the chamber interactions made for some cringing moments and everyone, especially Ziggler, took their fair share of bumps. I also really liked the bit where Punk kicked Jericho out of the Chamber, it added some nice drama to the match that just worked. Gotta say I thought Jericho was going to take this one, but the way they ended it imo was perfect. Jericho didn't get a definitive win over Punk and vice versa so their match at Mania didn't lose any appeal from having the two fight too long in the match beforehand, so that's always good. Gotta give the match a 4/5, definitely one of the better Chamber's I've seen in a while, some great, GREAT stuff.

Seeing Seth Rollins in that Cena package was the best part of the whole thing haha.

2nd Match - Diva's Championship - Beth Phoenix vs. Tamina
Not too bad of a match! Probably the best Divas match in years. These two got some decent time and managed to do some good stuff. I honestly wouldn't have minded this to go a little while longer either, but I did enjoy seeing two actual womens wrestlers go at it. 2.5/5, can't complain at all.

Lauriniaitis Segment -
What a waste of time lol. Not to mention a wasted return for Christian. I don't see what the point of that was other than all of a sudden they want Johnny Ace to be on both shows...and for what? No one wants to see that, the guy can barely talk. What has he done to constitute such a push? Ugh...

3rd Match - Smackdown Elimination Chamber
Why is this not closing the show? Anyway, this was a pretty good match. Not the best Chamber, nor was it better than the Raw Chamber, but it was still entertaining. Obviously they were limited having two giants in the match, but at least they got Khali out as soon as possible. The final moments made for some good drama, and the crowd was NUTS for Santino. I honestly wouldn't mind seeing the guy used as a more mid card talent seeing as the fans love him so much. I just want everyone to realize that Daniel Bryan is going to Wrestlemania as the World Heavyweight Champion...that's just huge folks. I'll give the match 3.5/5, some good stuff and they did well with the Chamber itself. Especially with Big Show breaking into Bryan's pod, I've never seen that before which was nice.

4th Match - U.S. Championship: Jack Swagger vs. Justin Gabriel
We all knew there'd be an impromptu match but I'm glad it was the one it was. Finally seeing the U.S. title being up for grabs is nice, especially on the ppv, and it makes Swagger look good to have a definitive win. Would've liked to see this go a little longer but hey, what can you do. I also would've liked for this to be announced prior to the show...but again...what can ya do? 2.5/5, could've went longer, but hey...nah nvm.

5th Match - Ambulance Match: Kane vs. John Cena
Weird seeing this end the show. Would've preferred a Chamber to end the show but that just isn't up to me now is it. This match wasn't too bad. You can't have been expecting something extravagant, but for what it was and who was in it I enjoyed it. Pretty predictable finish but I will say the end was pretty cool to see. Kind of curious to see where Kane goes from here and I strongly hope he doesn't go into a feud with Ryder. Also it's finally it. We're finally going into full Mania mode. I'm looking forward to this years, I'll be honest. I hope it doesn't disappoint, that's for damn sure. This match gets a 3/5, nothing to go out of your way to see, but definitely not a bad match.

Match of the Night - Raw Elimination Chamber

All in all this was a pretty damn good ppv. I'd recommend checking it out, or at least the two Chamber matches, and I'd give the ppv a solid 7.5/10. I have to question the positioning of some of the matches and I'd have had Smackdown open the show, put Cena/Kane where the Smackdown Chamber was, and have Raw close the show, but the card layout seemed a little screwy, but that's just my opinion. Well folks, that's all, it's been real, it's been fun, but it hasn't been real fun. Deuces! ]]> RatedATB http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?40763-2012-Elimination-Chamber-Reaction http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?40641-Book-It-Bringing-Back-King-of-the-Ring Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:17:46 GMT What's poppin folks! RatedATB back at it again with first addition of Book It, where I take certain feuds or matches and book them the way I think would be interesting. I hope to continue this series, and I'll take requests as well, so if there's anything you'd like me to book, as far as feuds, matches, or even ppvs, just send me a request in the comments and I'll take it under consideration.

Now, to the topic on hand. I think I'm not alone here when I say the WWE should really consider bringing back the King of the Ring (which from now on will be referred to as KOTR) ppv and not just the tournament, which has been active every two years since 2006. It's an awesome idea in that it develops feuds, has potential to end a few, and can make the career of a single superstar in one night (Stone Cold, Lesnar, Angle), or help a superstar wet his feet in upper mid card or main event feuds (Edge, HHH). I think this year would be the perfect year to bring back the ppv, especially with the June ppv up in the air. I'd also revive the stipulation where the winner gets the main event of Summerslam, this year being against the champion of his choice. One last thing, this is assuming that both Sheamus and CM Punk are the champions at this point and time in the WWE.

We start out coming off the heels of Over the Limit. Whoever is Raw's GM comes out and talks about how they want to make this summer more exciting than any other summer has been in years and has discussed a collaborate idea with Teddy Long. They want to bring back the King of the Ring ppv, mentioning the stipulation where the winner gets the choice of champion at Summerslam. Eight superstars from Raw and eight superstars from Smackdown will battle it out over the next few weeks, until we get to the final four, who will all face at the King of the ring ppv itself. Raw will feature Miz, R-Truth, Kofi Kingston, Alberto Del Rio, Rey Mysterio, Kane, Dolph Ziggler, and Jack Swagger, while Smackdown has Christian, Big Show, Daniel Bryan, Mark Henry, Cody Rhodes, Wade Barrett, Sin Cara, and Ted Dibiase. I'm leaving Cena/Orton out because I'm just going to assume they're gonna be in the title picture and they don't really need this anyway. The brackets will appear at something like this

Miz vs. Rey Mysterio
R-Truth vs. ADR
Kane vs. Kofi Kingston
Ziggler vs. Swagger

Big Show vs. Henry
Dibiase vs. Rhodes
Christian vs. Sin Cara
Daniel Bryan vs. Wade Barrett

We'd get one or two matches from each show a week until like I said they had the final four appear at the ppv. On the Raw side we'd see Miz get a win over Mysterio in the Raw main event after some interference from Ziggler, the story being they've been feuding, and we'd see Rey even the odds in Ziggler's match the next week setting up a match between the two at the ppv. We'd get an upset victory from Kingston and ADR knocking Truth out of the tourny as well, bringing us to this:
-Miz vs. ADR
-Kingston vs. Swagger

Miz gets the better of ADR and Kingston gets yet another victory by knocking Swagger out, giving us Kingston and Miz at King of the Ring on the Raw side. As for Smackdown we see Show and Henry go to a double countout giving us a bye for the first match. Christian (returning as a face) is able to knock Sin Cara out after a long hard fought match. Dibiase appears to be getting the victory in his match but Rhodes uses the IC title while the ref is out and manages to get the win and goes all the way to the semi-finals. Daniel Bryan and Wade Barrett put on a great match but Barrett reverses the label lock into the Wasteland and is able to move on, giving us this:
-Rhodes going on
-Barrett vs. Christian
Barrett and Christian wrestle in the main event of the Smackdown either before KOTR or two weeks before, depending on the scheduling they have for the ppv. Christian ends up getting a win and moves on to the ppv giving us:
Miz vs. Kingston
Rhodes vs. Christian

I apologize for not going into HUGE details here, but I'm only allowed so much space lol. Anyway we get to the ppv and it opens up with Miz/Kingston. The two go for about 10 minutes when it appears that Miz is gonna take it when out of nowhere Kingston reverses the SCF into the Trouble of Paradise and manages to make it to the finals. Rhodes and Christian goes about the same time a few matches into the show. Rhodes is about to do the same to Christian that he did to Dibiase but Christian is able to get a roll up and knocks Rhodes out moving into the finals setting up Kingston/Christian for KOTR Winner. I know people might be upset with Kingston going that far but he'd give us some good matches and he deserves to be in the spot so just live with it.

Anyway we get Christian/Kingston the match before the main event. It goes about 20 minutes and it's a pretty even match, looking like either could win. Each trade finishers and near falls, both pulling out all the stops. They each try to do the rope swing kick and all sorts of fun stuff when Christian gets the better of Kingston and wins King of the Ring, sending him to Summerslam against whoever he wants. Kingston shakes his hand and leaves King Captain Charisma to soak up all the glory. He ends up winning the World Title and has a much deserved long reign as a face champion...the one he's deserved for many many years.

Well there you have it, the way I'd enjoy seeing KOTR return. You could make the argument that no one really got made but when you look at it Kingston made it all the way to the finals and looked strong in the match so you have an instant threat in the upper-mid card/main event, and we made a few feuds out of it too. Not to mention it went to a guy that genuinely deserves it and I feel that even though he's held two world titles, he isn't taken seriously as a main eventer. Anyway, I'd love to hear feedback and some suggestions for any future edition of Book It. Until next time folks, it's been real, it's been fun, but it hasn't been real fun. Deuces! ]]> RatedATB http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?40641-Book-It-Bringing-Back-King-of-the-Ring http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?40573-Royal-Rumble-Reaction Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:06:11 GMT What's poppin folks, RatedATB back at it again with my thoughts on this years Royal Rumble. I'm not gonna waste any time so without further ado...

Match #1 - Steel Cage World Heavyweight Championship - Daniel Bryan (c.) vs. Big Show vs. Mark Henry
Not the greatest match, but it was ok for what it was worth. You had two big men, one of which was injured, and little D-Bry so you can't have expected a Flair/Steamboat classic or anything. I liked the cage interaction, they did a few cool spots with it and it came off nice. I also really liked the ending. The strength of Show holding him up the way he did at that height is impressive, I don't care who you are. 3/5 for the match, nothing spectacular but it definitely was entertaining.

Match #2 - Beth/Natalya/Bellas vs. Eve/Kelly/Tamina/Alicia Fox
Gotta love impromptu, unplanned divas matches...feel the sarcasm. I'm surprised by this one, it had time and it wasn't even that sloppy, with the exception of a few moments with Kelly. Everyone got time in the ring and they were able to put on a decent little outing. 2/5, not too many complaints from me and that's probably the highest rating I've ever given a Diva's match.

Match #3 - John Cena vs. Kane
That's the ending I was pretty much expecting, and while I typically despise finishes like that on a ppv I'm glad that's the way they went here. A win for Cena would've ruined the feud and a win for Kane would have felt weird so a no contest seems like the right choice. The match itself was alright, typical Cena and typical Kane, but it worked for a bit and the after brawl added a little to it so I wont knock it too hard. Again what did you expect a 5 star classic? I'll be nice and give it a 2.5/5, it did what it needed to do for the story and wasn't really awful, but it wasn't really great either.

Match #4 - Drew McIntyre vs. Brodus Clay
Wasn't Drew fired? Why can't they just bring him back in and give him a rejuvenated push rather than make him lose to everyone? That seems like a better way to get someone over as a threat but that's just me. This whole show has really only been ok and this match did nothing to change that. I'm not bashing this match but it really was unnecessary and did nothing for McIntyre. 1/5, nothing to be proud of at all.

Match #5 - WWE Championship CM Punk (c.) vs. Dolph Ziggler w/ Johnny Ace as Special Guest Ref
I really wish Laurinaitis wasn't a part of this. Had he not it would have been far better than it was. Not saying it wasn't good. There was a lot of great moments in this match and these two worked well together, but Johnny Ace took away every time he got involved. It was honestly just an overbooked mess and would've rather they used Vickie interference than Laurinaitis as ref. 3/5 for the match, could've been 4 if Johnny Ace wasn't a factor. I genuinely thought this would be better than it was, but I guess I underestimated the amount of Laurinaitis we would get.

Match #6 - 30 Man Royal Rumble
I KNEW IT! HA! I said it all along! Sheamus ftw! His entire push lead to this win and I just KNEW they were gonna give him the win. This was a very good Rumble match. There were a few entrants that I disagreed with, like Rodriguez and Duggan, but that's just me. The final moments with Sheamus and Jericho were very good and I honestly didn't know who would win, but I'm glad I called the Sheamus win all along. I'm guessing he's gonna go for the World Title and I'm also assuming Bryan is gonna drop the World Title by Mania because I don't thin they'd do these two twice in a row, but I'll be cool if they do, I think Sheamus and D Bryan would work well together. However, I'm gonna go ahead and say that either Orton or Christian win the title before hand and defend against Sheamus. Also I was NOT expecting Kharma to be back tonight, but I guess it is about time for her to return, pretty cool imo. 4/5, definitely a good Rumble.

Well there you have it, we are officially on the Road to Wrestlemania. Not the greatest ppv ever, but it definitely wasn't bad. I kind of wish I hadn't ordered it, at least until the Rumble match itself, but that's what people order it for anyway so whatever. I'll give it a 7/10, some ok stuff, but the Rumble is what made it enjoyable. Until next time folks it's been real, it's been fun, but it hasn't been real fun. Deuces!

On a side note. I will not be posting a Raw Reaction tomorrow or most likely ever again. I started doing it when I started blogging because no one else was doing it and I thought it'd be a good way to get my name out on this site. Now however, I'm a featured blogger so my name is already kinda out there. Not to mention the fact that now there are 3 or 4 other people doing the exact same thing and it doesn't make sense for me to keep doing it, nor does it need to be reviewed 5 times a week. So instead I'll be introducing 2 new blogs. One will be a week in review where I discuss Raw, Smackdown, Impact, and other random news going on through the week. Another is going to be called "Book It" where I book certain scenarios. I'll be taking requests if anyone wants me to book a match or feud and I'll probably start it this week or next. Please don't take this as me being arrogant or anything, but you have to understand that we don't need 30 blogs floating around talking about the same thing. Also don't take this as me thinking my Raw Review was the shit or anything, honestly it never got that many comments or feedback anyway lol, I just wanted to clarify to the people who did read my reviews and liked them why they wont be up anymore. ]]> RatedATB http://www.ewrestlingnews.com/community/entry.php?40573-Royal-Rumble-Reaction