Wrestling 11/30

Zmans Wrestling Top 10 for 11/30

1. Wow where has the time gone? Is it really almost the end of the year? Well happy holidays to all and welcome back to Zman's wrestling blog. Lets kick things off this week with the Survivor Series results. Edge wins...awesome swerve. Cena wins...eh, but looks like theyre taking him to be the leader of the kid friendly WWE.

2. Great work on Impact this week. Team 3D gave a heartfelt promo and joined the Frontline. Interesting move and this storylines actually picking up steam and whatnot. Well done TNA.

3. Also, sick match this week with Jack Swagger and Tommy Dreamer on ECW. Great job to both and I am extremely impressed with the All-American American.

4. Alex Shelly has a main event feel to his character this week. If the Guns split up, I see big things in his future. Figure next week they'll be involved in some altercation with Foley.

5. Interesting comments by Regal this week about CM Punk. He really is putting him over, but Punk's been a world champ already, so I dont know how much he needs it. One major thing though is that I would try to take the tag belts off him and Kofi if theyre gonna give him an IC title match with Regal. Give em back to Rhodes and Manu even.

6. Sure it's random as hell, but I just saw Hurricane Helms' new tattoo on his back, and it looks sick. Probably one of the best tats on a wrestler in a while besides for Punk's pepsi logo. With the downward push of Kendrick and MVP, maybe Helms can get a nice sized push now.

7. Cool match this week on FCW with a 20 man battle royal to determine a contender for Sheamus. Joe Henning and Sheamus seem to both have what it takes for the big time. And Sheamus will already have a made feud with Finlay when the time comes for it.

8. Just read Tomko resigned with the WWE. Gonna go out on a limb and predict instead of MITB we will have a fatal fourway for the Smackdown Championship, featuring a Hardy, another Hardy, Edge, and Christian.

9. Just putting this out there, I actually care bout Hulk Hogan's CCW now. I'm rooting for Butterbean. Him and Bonaduce actually look like they could make it in the WWE if they really wanted. Yeah I remember Butterbean's stint from Wrestlemania a while back, but just a thought.

10. Its time for...............YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK!!!
This week I take you to the debut of the Phenom, the Deadman, whatever else you want to call him. Enjoy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUrtX8JnpI

Wrestling 11/23

Zmans Wrestling Top 10 for 11/23

1. Hey all and welcome back. Sorry for the delay in the post, but here we go. Big issues with this new Jeff Hardy angle. Too many times I have woken up and seen someone dies or passes out in the wrestling biz. No need to make it into an angle WWE. Storyline has no purpose whatsoever.

2. Armandoooo Alejandrrrrrrro Estrrrrrrada got released this past week. Great mouthpiece and never should have been taken away from Umaga. Woulda made a great stable captain.

3. Interesting ROH PPV taping last night, with Joe coming back to beat Tyler Black. Happy to see Joe back helping the promotion that made him a star. Always good to give the new guys a rub too.

4. Just read over 50 WWE stars have been released this year, and with this economy they are looking to trim the budget even more. Good lord. Bad news I guess for Deuce, Snitsky, Gavin Spears, and Ricky Ortiz.

5. DJ Gabriel debuted this week, a.k.a. Steve Lewington. Always good to see the WWE give new guys a chance, but whats up with the dancing gimmick. Solid finisher with the second rope European uppercut, but the dancing needs to stop. Who is he? Curry Man?

6. Speaking of TNA, I would like to see them pushing some new stars as well. I feel like Ive been over this a ton of times, but get rid of the James's, see ya Rhino, later Shark Boy, and bring up guys like Doug Williams and figure out a way to bring in Danielson and Nigel from ROH.

7. Also heard this week that blog fave THE Brian Kendrick is a big Pot user. Not cool in my book buddy. You have a strong career ahead of you, so don't let a drug habit be what slows down what could be a very impressive career.

8. Personal high week for me as I started a new job and was published in two of the best internet sites for wrestling, PWInsider and Worldwrestlinginsanity. Check out my articles if youve got a chance.

9. Want some Survivor Series Predictions? Here we go.... 1. Jericho steals a W over Cena 2. Hardy over HHH and Kozlov 3. RAW Women, Beth Phoenix sole survivor 4. Team Batista, Matt Hardy and Batista sole survivors 5. Team JBL, Miz and Morrison sole survivors 6. Taker over Big Show

10. YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK!!!
Found this cool little piece from Dustin Runnels collection. Figure now that WWE has resigned Goldust for the empteenth time, lets see him as the character Seven in WCW. Enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfqP18ik0oE

Wrestling 11/15

Zmans Wrestling Top 10 for 11/15

1. Welcome back to the blog of a man published on PWInsider!!! Check out my Christian Cage column. The man left TNA Thurs, but I have a problem with how they wrote him out. They kept commenting on him going to WWE. If I'm a TNA fan who likes Christian, I'm going straight to the WWE to follow him.

2. Best show of the week is Smackdown. Holy crap what happened to Jeff Hardy. Last week he went psycho, and this week he went full blown extreme. Looks like someone on the Smackdown side of creative really liked the Dark Knight and decided to mold Hardy after the Joker...

3. Solid match too this past week with Matt Hardy and Finlay. Impressed fully with both of them. Hardy really has turned it up this year and has steadily become actually one of the best wrestlers in the WWE today.

4. Survivor Series matches were announced this week. I was semi right, but didn't expect the inclusion of Regal. I actually would like to see Miz and Morrison reign supreme in one of the matches, but with HBK in the picture it might be doubtful.

5. Dont really know what kind of direction they are going in with the Guns and the Young Lions. I do like the Guns, but you can't make them heels in a group with all faces, just doesnt work like that. At the tapings next week, AJ and Joe get to pick out two partners. Maybe it will be them?

6. Two more releases this week in Elijah Burke and Kenny Dykstra. Both excellent wrestlers who should land on their feet elsewhere. Bet Burke returns, but I doubt we see Dykstra for quite some time.

7. Interested to see when Gail Kim debuts in the WWE. I'm guessing on Smackdown since rumor has it that Victoria wants to retire soon. Maybe pair her with a returning Edge and Christian.

8. Predicting that by the end of the year, the WWE also tosses Thorn, Snitsky, Deuce, and Ortiz. The latter's match on ECW this week was pretty bland, not gonna lie.

9. Interesting that TNA is putting Rhino back in the main event picture, facing Kurt Angle. Obv I can't see the War Machine winning, but nice to see some new faces in the title hunt.

10. Youtube clip of the week goes too.........Well, theres a big fight tonight between Randy Couture and Brock Lesnar. Found a cool little clip of a sick match between Lesnar and THE Brian Kendrick, where Kendrick actually blades. Enjoy and cya next week
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-EyUj9sQhI&feature=related

Wrestling 11/8

Zmans Wrestling Top 10 for 11/8
1. Hey all and welcome back. Best show of the week honors go to TNA this week. Solid overall show and I like how sides have been drawn with the MEM and Young Lions I guess they're going with. Interested to see though if they go with a Team 3D heel turn.

2. Two other quick TNA comments. This whole Bashir-Rhino feud stinks. Bashir can be a much better character than the reincarnate of Muhammed Hassan, and I have no idea what Rhino's role is now. Also have a beef with the quick turn of Rhaka Khan. She couldve been a viable contender to Kong, and is immediately turned heel against the bland Taylor Wilde. Bummer.

3. Other big news of the week is that Jericho is champ again. This a) cements him for the HOF in my book b) got the belt off Batista which is always a good thing and c) made me laugh because I thought Batista would win for sure, but felt if Jericho wanted to win he couldve easily jumped out of the cage and they would have no choice but to make him champion.

4. Lets look at some WWE releases this week. Super Crazy was a little surprising, but I have read he was the one who asked for it, so I guess best of luck in Mexico. Chuck Palumbo had a nice little feud with Jamie Noble, but once they turned him heel it sealed the deal. Paul London was probably the most upsetting. He was a solid wrestler, but I guess he was too bland and never got over. We have a winner in the London/Kendrick push contest my friends.

5. As much as I hate to say it, Runjin Singh and the Great Khali make me laugh hard every week. Not a fan of the kiss cam segment itself, but Runjin's actions while they are happening are priceless. Just keep an eye on him is all I am saying.

6. I read somewhere a while back that Ricky Ortiz's push should have went directly to Colt Cabana. And I whole heartedly agree. Ortiz is bland as bland can be and the crowd seems to be turning on him very quickly. Predict hes out of the company by the new year.

7. Lot of talk of leavings this week, so lets get some positive news in here. It's been semi reported of Low Ki's dealings with the WWE thttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRONNXaW0gAhis week. Awesome pick up if they are able to get him. The more wrestlers we can get in there and the less Snitskys, the better.

8. Wanted to talk bout this for a while, so how about predictions for MITB Five? Lets go with participants Benjamin, Morrison, Miz, Swagger, Truth, Bourne, Kennedy, and Kingston. From that group, it would be a hell of a match and I give the nod to the Gold Standard.

9. Some TNA predictions for this weeks PPV. Sting over AJ in some kind of screwy finish, Joe over Nash, Guns over Beer Money, Bashir over Rhino, Angle over Abyss, Jay Lethal winning that X division thing, Booker over Christian, and Wilde and Roxxi over Kong/Saied.

10. YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK TIME!!! With the release of Paul London, we could see a rematch of this cool match in TNA, except without the CM Punk interferance. Enjoy...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRONNXaW0gA

Wrestling 11/1

Zman's Wrestling Top 10 for 11/1

1. Hey all and welcome back. First on the agenda is the unfortunate injury to Evan Bourne. Looks like he will be back around Royal Rumble time. Could make him a great surprise entrance, but you hate to see this injury happen. I do believe though we will see him back in great shape around Wrestlemania time as he competes in Money in the Bank.

2. I disagree with the decision to take the belt off my man Chris Jericho. Not cool WWE. Cage match between the two should be interesting though and I am excited to see how that goes down.

3. Great segment this past week on ECW with Miz and Morrison. Never thought I'd say that the two of them have become mandatory viewing, but kudos to them for a great segment. Still think DX will massacre them, but ironically enough, all this work has sufficiently pushed them in my eyes.

4. Cool ending of TNA this week with Scott Steiner joining the MEM. Still hate seeing the Stinger without facepaint though. And it appears that the three members that AJ and Joe recruited for their side will be the Motor City Machine Guns and Petey Williams. Cool move as I am a big mark for the Guns.

5. Forget if I mentioned this before, but I would love a Monty Brown comeback in either the WWE or TNA. Just a literal blindside run-in with him hitting the POUNCEEEEE on an unknowing foe. Could make for an awesome moment.

6. ROH changed their head booker this week. Not that big a deal to me as I do not regulary follow the company, but if the new guy in charge can publicize the organization a bit more, then I am all for the switch.

7. I say before the end of the year, we will see TJ Wilson, DH Smith, and Natalya debut on Smackdown. If they are the New Hart Foundation remains to be seen, but I can see them debuting quite soon on MyNetwork.

8. Congrats to Punk and Kofi as the new tag champs. Each have held 2 out of the 3 major belts on RAW since the summer and it is well deserved. Let's see them defend it now and perhaps move onto a feud with Randy Orton later in the year.

9. Charlie Haas as the GlamaHaas was fantastic. Great job with the new gimmick Charlie, keep it up.

10. Youtube clip of the week!!! Let's go with one of my favorite matches of all time, Edge vs Cena post New Years Revolution 2006
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgON_k9nTiw

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