Wrestling 10/25

Zmans Wrestling Top 10 for 10/25

1. Hey all, welcome back. First on the agenda today, Kung Fu Naki. I like it. It is always nice to see someone get a repackaged gimmick, especially when they have been with the company so long. Changing a look for a veteran could go a long way. Look at JBL and Big Daddy V. Both long tenured lower card nobodies transformed into heavyweight stars. It's a pretty original idea that I like a lot.

2. Also, we finally got some clarity this week in TNA. So Nash, Sting, Booker, and Kurt are all part of a faction called 'The Main Event Mafia'. Solid name, next stop t-shirts! haha. Obviously their first targets were Joe and AJ, who were left beaten and bloody this past week. They need two more members to join them though to even the sides. I suggest LAX or the MCMG, but looks like it could end up being Matt Morgan and Abyss, not bad picks either.

3. Don't exactly know where theyre going with the Great Khali's new gimmick. He likes to hook up with fat girls? Thats it? I think after a while, he's gonna get fed up with Runjin Singh and toss him out, maybe leading to a feud where he brings back Umaga.

4. Just read on one of my favorite wrestling sites that Dos Caras will make his WWE debut at the Royal Rumble. Cool. I would make sure to promote it first though, seeing as not too many people know exactly who the man is. Perhaps a mental feud with Rey Mysterio first to prep his debut in the match.

5. So EliteXC just closed their doors. That makes you know who a free agent. The countdown is on then for the WWE and TNA to who signs Kimbo and either makes him a wrestler or the Special Guest Enforcer. Personally I'm leaning towards the company that signed Pacman Jones, even though he couldn't wrestle a lick.

6. Meanwhile, talk about throwing dirt over the grave of Lance Cade's WWE release. Not only was it sudden, not only have they not since even slightly mentioned his name again, but now they go and give his theme music to Jack Swagger. Ironically enough, I think all the plans the WWE had for Cade in 09 have suddenly moved to the Oklahoman on ECW.

7. Cyber Sunday Predictions : Jericho over Batista with Stone Cold as ref, Triple H over Hardy, Matt Hardy over Bourne, Punk and Kofi over Priceless, Big Show over Taker in TKO, Santino over Honky, R Truth over Benjamin via DQ, and lets go with Mickie winning the halloween contest.

8. Random side note, but I like the inclusion of WWE stars on the Sci Fi halloween specials. I also like the Miz being on it this year, following in the steps of CM Punk and Elijah what the hell happened to me Burke.

9. Watching TNA and the WWE this week led me to wonder, when was the last time a guy openly bladed in the WWE? I can't remember a time since the Jericho-Michaels match at the Great American Bash, and even that comes into question cause it might have been legit. Just saying.

10. Youtube clip of the week time! Earlier I spoke about Dos Caras, and one of the treats of YouTube is seeing his previous work. Enjoy a short tribute video to the soon to be debuting star...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YALeJKqBUQ4

Wrestling 10/18

Zmans Wrestling Top 10 for 10/18

1. Three straight TNA Bound for Glorys, three straight times Sting has won the world title. Must be in his contract or something. Looks like now he will be moving onto a feud with AJ Styles. Should be a good match and I'd be happy to see AJ in the title picture, it's well deserved.

2. Here is my anti-TNA rant. Kevin Nash is the most delusional wrestler in TNA. And he should be so lucky to be called a wrestler given his limited move set. Creed is/was a rising star before the terrible squash match last impact. I swear if Nash goes over Joe, the Samoan Submission Machine needs to pack his bags and head to the WWE.

3. The big WWE news of the week was Lance Cade's release. Def was shocking, as I thought he was one of the guys they were building the future to, but after reading JR's blog, now I understand what happened. Hope he gets the help he needs and returns back to the ring soon.

4. Also just heard Johnny Devine quit TNA. He had made himself surely noticeable in recent weeks, but after almost accidentally killing Jimmy Rave with his Divine Intervention finisher, maybe him leaving is for the best.

5. I had a good week with all my favorites winning some matches. CM Punk beat the RAW champ and had his music play off the show, so least he still has some cred. Evan Bourne also qualified for Cyber Sunday. Very interesting move by the WWE. Doubt he beats Hardy for the belt, but what a match that could be.

6. Speaking of the youngsters, I don't know who KaceCC is on YouTube, but I want to thank him for putting on all the FCW clips from the first two televised episodes. Very cool to see the new wrestlers like Sheamus, Nemeth, Henning, and such.

7. Hurricane Helms new gimmick is officially annoying. He's picking on the same people every week, and when he comes back I hope those people gang up on him and get back at him for his stupid little 'quips'.

8. The Jackass thing seemed to fall pretty quickly when it aired on Monday. It was cute I'll give them that, especially the dance off with Party Boy and Big Dick Johnson. Seemed like more people want to destroy it than give it a chance though, so I dont know how much more of it we will see.

9. Personal note: I met the greatest techinical wrestler of all time this past Saturday, Bret the Hitman Hart. Hell of a guy, and the books fantastic. Well written and quite engrossing. So it was a huge highlight for me and I sure am glad I made the trek out to go see him.

10. Youtube clip - Speaking of the Hitman, I remembered this insane promo HBK gave on RAW a while back and wanted to share it here. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-IeavUJdUA

Wrestling 10/11

Zman's Wrestling Top 10 for 10/11

1. Great ladder match last Sunday between HBK and Chris Jericho. With so many ladder matches recently, innovative spots are hard to come by. The way they had a tug of war with the belt while still entangled on the hook was pretty cool and something new for me anyways. I disapprove though of Michaels wrecking Cade the next night. That should have been his next feud, not a one night steel chair beatdown.

2. Interesting comment this week by Team 3D. In so many words, they said for the monster's ball match, they would be bringing back flaming tables. My guess is that the monster Abyss goes through it, with Team 3D capturing the tag belts.

3. Dolph Ziggler (Nic Nemeth) just got suspended for breaking the wellness policy. HA! This reminds me of two things. First is when DH Smith was called up to RAW just to be sent straight back to developmental for breaking the wellness policy, even though he app broke the policy weeks before. Second it reminds me of a guy with a similar physique who constantly flexed and found his way out of a job...Chris Masters.

4. I might be in the minority, but I kind of like this Khali-Knoxville feud. Fantasy booking alert! This monday, Knoxville issues Khali a Cyber Sunday challenge. The fans can pick anyone from the Jackass clan to face Khali at the PPV. This builds up to the blowoff of the feud at Survivor Series, with Knoxville, Bam, Steve-O, Dunn, and Pontius vs Khali, JBL, Regal, Swagger, and a returning Samoan Bulldozer.

5. Let me throw one more potential Survivor Series match out there, since it's one of my favorite PPV's of the year. Punk, Kofi, Bourne, and Cryme Time vs Orton, Rhodes, Dibiase, Miz, and Morrison.

6. Quick question for TNA. What is the main show of the year...ie their Wrestlemania? Is it Bound for Glory or Slammiversary? Just confused since they hype them both like it is their biggest show of the year.

7. Bound for Glory predictions - Joe over Sting with Joe turning heel at the end, Angle over Jarrett, Christian over Booker/AJ, Team 3D for Monster's Ball, Rhino's team for Bimbo Brawl, Roxxi over Kong/Wilde, Creed over Bashir, and Jay Lethal in Steel Asylum.

8. I spoke a little while back about wanting to see Nigel/Danielson make the leap to the WWE or TNA. Well same now goes for the Briscoes. I doubt WWE would know how to use them though, and if they do break up LAX, the Briscoes would be a welcome addition.

9. The new method of Cyber Sunday voting sucks. Cyber = internet/computer. It's not called "Texting Sunday." You're alienating those outside the US and charging people to vote? Bad move by the WWE.

10. Youtube clip of the week. Previously I've shown a Chris Harris shoot, a cross ring superkick, Rikishi messing up twice, and Lashley in Japan. This clip is my favorite NWO clip when they ran roughshed over the whole company. Enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9ghpTsAueI

Wrestling 10/4

Zmans Wrestling Top 10 for 10/4

1. I've been taking TNA to task lately...and seems like I'm gonna have to do it again. Sting is a legend, one who has always worn facepaint. Do not show him without it. The facepaint is part of his aura, we don't need to see the man behind him.

2. Now for Mick Foley. Loved the beginning of the promo where he bashed the greatest wrestler in TNA, that being Cute Kip! All kidding aside, my problem began where he spoke of Edge, Undertaker, Cena, HHH, Michaels, and Jericho live on TNA. I would never ever mention cross promotion talent. What happens if there is a new fan watching the product, wanting to see who Foley is talking about, and switches from TNA to WWE for good? I understood his point, but there are other ways to go about it.

3. Hands down the funniest thing I saw in wrestling this week was during the eight man tag match on Smackdown where Hornswoggle put on Kendrick's jacket and did his funky dance. I dont know why I was so delighted when he did it, but I was laughing for a good five minutes after. Kudos to whoever thought of that idea.

4. Kind of surreal on Smackdown this week to see Punk team with the Colons. Wasnt it just a few months ago where Carlito lambasted Punk on the mic in an uncensored format, leading to him jobbing for months at a time. Still a solid match with five 2nd generation stars in it.

5. Is it bad that Santino, Charlie Haas, and R Truth are all starting to get old for me? This especially bodes poorly for Santino, as he is probably going to continue the Honk-a-meter for another 50 or so weeks.

6. Normally I would say the 2nd generation stable needs to promote itself better, ie I want t-shirts, more promos, a solid beatdown of someone to make them stand out. Problem is, every time Randy Orton gets on the mic, its sounding like he's getting a face pop. This could throw a wrench into the plans of the leader for the children of the second generation stars.

7. Some No Mercy predictions: HHH retains over Hardy, Jericho retains over Michaels, Hardy retains over Henry, Batista over JBL, Mysterio over Kane, Taker over Big Show, and I'm going out on a limb saying Candice over Pheonix. If I may play booker, I think Santino may cost Phoenix the match, resulting in a double turn for Candice and Beth Pheonix.

8. Quick sidenote, but I am really enjoying this feature on WWE.Com with the top ten betrayals in wrestling history. I thought Evolution turning on Orton would be at 1, but it was actually 8. I'm guessing now the Montreal Screwjob might be one, but who knows.

9. I want to try to find some positive in TNA, so let's try. I like the addition of Rhaka Khan to the Knockout roster. I like the pushing of Jay Lethal to the upper echelon of stars. I like the Motor City Machine Guns, even if they are turning heel. Oh and Robert Roode will be a singles heavyweight champ next year, bank on that. His promo this past week was outstanding.

10. YouTube clip of the week...Interesting find here. A match from Japan featuring Elijah Burke's Knock Out Tap Out teammate and Donald Trump's best friend. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rBlFI1-oT4