A Week of Returns

The Daily Slam

02.24.11

-Elimination Chamber results
-Cena goes old-school
-A shocking return, another return, and one more return.... wait and another one?
-Projected WrestleMania card
-USA! USA! USA!

First off, I'd like to welcome you to The Daily Slam! This column has been on hiatus for a few weeks due to me moving back East, starting a new type of career, and my desktop computer completely crashing. But for the few lucky readers that I might read this, the phoenix has risen from the ashes just as many superstars this past week have. I'd also like to thank whomever it was that put the Elimination Chamber online in a free live stream that allowed me to watch. It was a great ppv for the WWE heading into the grandest stage of them all.

As I mentioned, the EC ppv was one of the better ones recently. Most of the internet armchair wrestling fans predicted John "Superman" Cena to win the Raw chamber but huge congratulations go out to Edge for becoming the first person to retain their championship in an elimination chamber match. True fact, look it up. Not only did the chamber matches help set-up the Mania card, but they also added fuel to some other fires with the other superstars. The interaction between CM Punk and Randy Orton was incredible. If this feud had the WWE Championship on the line it would be even more intriguing. Miz vs Lawler was suprisingly good I thought for it having a 60+ yr old in the match. Throw in two returning stars in the mix and it was an overall great show.

Diva Break...

Last week on Raw, The Rock owned Cena in his non-PG rated promo. Poking fun of his fruity pebble t-shirts and his hand waving signature saying. DJ made a huge buzz through out the wrestling community with his "burns" on the face of WWE and speculation is still running wild about a possible Rock vs Cena match. The new #1 contender didn't take these words too kindly as he went back to the Doctor of Thuganomics
and ripped Dwayne Johnson by ripping into almost every movie he's made. I usually roll my eyes during a Cena promo but this one had me turning up the volume and laughing out loud. "I wasn't talking trash Rock I was talking truth, you left us hanging high and dry to play a fairy with a tooth?!?" That line should be made into an anti-Rock t-shirt for Cena to wear. I don't see these two ever facing one another but I have a funny feeling that Rock will help Cena beat Miz for the title. It just feels like we will see another Tyson turns on DX moment. Not that Dwayne is on the Miz side for this whole ordeal but it just has that possible feel-good segment that Vince likes to create for the fans.

WrestleMania always brings us something different such as special guests starts or returning wrestlers that spice things up. Vince will do just about anything to help boost the buyrates and leave the fans ultimately pleased. This year is having no exception. First we get the return of the movie making Rock, followed by a healed up Christian and Trish Stratus at the ppv who could both become involved at Mania. Then on Monday we get the result of the awaited 2.21.11 promos with the Undertaker taking 10 min to walk down the entrance ramp. That alone got the fans in an upraor but when Triple H walked out it was noticeable that he was the bigger star that night. It appears Taker vs HHH is on tap for the show and maybe another career on-the-line stipulation or guest referee is a huge possibility.

With WrestleMania only a little over a month away, we have a general idea of what the card will look like. So far we will see John Cena vs The Miz for the WWE title and Edge vs Alberto Del Rio for the World HeavyWeight title. I think one of those matches will get a change such as The Rock becoming "special guest enforcer" to the WWE title match. Also, a possiblility of Christian and/or Ziggler becoming involved in the other title match in some form. The other big match will be Taker vs HHH. Will the career be on-the-line for the "Game"? I still have my doubts. The Big Show vs Wade Barrett looks to be on tap as well as Cody Rhodes vs Rey Mysterio. I don't think either the US or IC title will be defended as both champions will most likely be involved the MITB ladder match if there is one. No word has been given yet since the MITB ppv got great reviews last year. If there is a MITB match then I would have Kofi, Bryan, Swagger, Morrison, Sheamus, DiBiase, Kane, McIntyre, and a returning Bourne. Lastly, one match that I am most excited for will be Randy Orton vs CM Punk is some capacity. Either single pinfall or maybe some stipulation. I'd prefer a last man standing. Overall, this year's Mania card will be an amazing one in which I can not wait to order.

Other big news from Raw was the next inductee into the Hall of Fame class of 2011 that happens the night before WrestleMania. Joining HBK this year is "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan. This is so well deserving as "Hacksaw" is so well embraced by the fans over all these years and a great presence in the wrestling community. We can go 3 years without seeing him on tv and once his theme music hits and he is shown with a 2x4 in one hand and the US flag in the other, you are compelled to begin the U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A chants. It's almost uncontrollable if your part of the live audience. Congratulations to the 1st ever Royal Rumble winner, a survivor of kidney cancer, and a true American, Mr. James Duggan. "Hooo!!!"

Royal Rumble Predictions

Pay Per View Predictions 01.29.2011

These are my predictions for the Royal Rumble this Sunday from Boston, Mass.

Divas Championship 2 on 1 Handicap Match
Natalya(c) vs Michelle McCool & Layla
After a successful title defense against Melina on Raw, Nattie has to face her two biggest rivals once again. Either Vince doesn't think Melina deserved the ppv match or he believes LayCool are just a better fit. I personally think Natalya is representing the Divas title great but LayCool without the title just doesn't seem right. I can see LayCool winning here to start the possible feud with Beth Phoenix heading into Mania.
Winner- LayCool

WWE Championship Match
The Miz (c) vs Randy Orton
A lot of people like to bash The Miz for not being the typical champion but with the help of Orton, he has represented the title very well. Miz is playing that beatable champion part perfectly. This is one of the more memorable feuds for Orton over the year and I give both men incredible kudos for staying relevant during the whole Cena vs Nexus charade. I don't see Miz going to Mania as the champion but I don't think he loses here either. The Elimination Chamber ppv is a perfect setting for him to drop the title so he can proclaim he wasn't officially beaten for the gold. Alex Riley puts Miz at a huge advantage here and I just can't bet against him. He is well..... Awesome!
Winner- The Miz

World HeavyWeight Championship Match
Edge (c) vs Dolph Ziggler
I figured this to be an easy win for Edge. That was until Vickie added the "No Spear Allowed" stipulation which means if Edge uses his finisher then Dolph becomes the new World Champ. Being at that disadvantage, does Ziggler actually have a legitimate shot at winning his first main title. He was an incredible IC champ, he has been a work horse for the company over the last 6 months, and he is dating the current interim SD General Manager. All those signs would leave me to believe he has everything it takes to walk away with the gold around his waist. But here's the only problem; would Vince honestly allow Miz and Dolph to hold the 2 prestigues titles with his biggest pay per view right around the corner? And therein lies the problem. If this was at SummerSlam I would give the nod to Ziggler. Unfortunately, this is just bad timing for the young star. He has everything that it takes to be the face of the blue brand but I just don't see it happening at this ppv.
Winner- Edge

40-Man Royal Rumble Match
This is being advertised as the biggest Rumble in history. The 24th Royal Rumble now has 10 extra participants which to me only men one thing... more jobbers who don't stand a chance. But oh well. It could be the best match of the year as it really never disappoints. We haven't had a multiple Rumble winner for quite some time. The five past winners are Edge, Orton, Cena, Taker, and Mysterio. Orton and Edge are in title bouts so neither one can become muliti winners. Mysterio doesn't have the right story right now to win. Taker can never be counted out but I don't think he is going to be in the title picture at Mania. That's if he even makes it to Mania with all of his reoccurring injuries. That leaves me with Cena. All signs lead right to the Chain Gang leader winning this. For one, the Rumble is in Boston in which is where he is from and second, he has been the focal point of Raw since the beginning of Summer ala feud with Nexus. How about Triple H though? He has been rumored to make his return this Sunday. I can see him coming in just to eliminate Sheamus and re-spark that feud heading into Mania. Christian, Evan Bourne, and Chris Jericho could all make returns as well which is why this match is so damn special. Out of the 40 superstars, I must narrow this down to 5 possible winners. My top five are CM Punk, John Cena, John Morrison, Sheamus, and Alberto Del Rio.
Winner- John Cena

Ready to Rumble

The Daily Slam 01.28.11

World Champ vs WWE Champ, Cena pulls another shenanigan, Rated RKO returned, and possible Rumble returns.

The Miz and Edge were in a champion vs champion match on Raw that saw Ziggler interfere for a DQ finish. This was a solid match that helped extend the feuds of each individual. Dolph Ziggler was on commentary for the match up until he decided to blind side Edge. During the beat-down though, Randy Orton came out for retribution against the Miz from last week's attack. This was a great bout over all and I can see these two having a feud down the road before Edge retires possibly in 2012.

Over on SmackDown though, the former tag team Rated RKO took on the Miz and Ziggler. This match alone is why SD is the better show week in and week out. The chemistry of all four superstars was superb. Even the finish with Edge getting the pin on Ziggler was perfect heading into their ppv match. Vickie threw a twist into the match though, Edge is no longer allowed to use his finisher the Spear or else he forfeits the title to Dolph. Will Edge pull out an old finisher or submission move to win. I'd like to see him use the Killswitch is respect to his friend/brother, Christian.

Punk and Barrett almost had a match if it wasn't for the special guest referee, John "Lame-Ass" Cena. I know I give Cena a lot of negativity in this column but honestly he makes Raw unbearable to watch sometimes. He double disqualified both stars due to "excessive language on a PG show". This removed both Nexus and Corre from the Royal Rumble match. Thankfully the Raw GM chimed in to overrule that put both factions into this Sundays bout. I understand that Cena is just doing his job out there but I can also imagine he gets a lot of say in the direction of his character. Every week it seems he just gets cheesier and cheesier. I hate to say this, but I miss the old white rap star Cena who lived the HLR gimmick. He just seems like an over grown child these days.

Diva Break...

We here at The Daily Slam (well myself I guess) consider the Royal Rumble match the one must see every year. The WWE always manages to bring in a few surprised every year. Over the past few years, it seems like a wrestler who has been sidelined due to injury miraculously returns to a huge ovation giving them instant "face" status. There are only a couple of superstars who are on IR right now that could make a big impact on Sunday. The big three are Christian, Undertaker, and the most expected is Triple H. All three have feuds to jump right back into if they do make an appearance. Christian was taken out by Alberto Del Rio, Taker of course by his brother Kane, and Triple H needs his revenge against Sheamus. All three of those feuds could be WrestleMania matches so I can definitely see at least two of them showing up. I am banking on HHH and Christian. If Taker is set to wrestle Barrett as Mania then his return can wait until closer to Elimination Chamber ppv. A rumor circulating around the inter-webs is that a former world champ will make his return at the Rumble. No not Chris Jericho (cause that would be fucking epic) but the 5-time, 5-time., 5-time, 5-time, 5-time WCW champion.... Booker T. Apparently he was set to make an appearance somewhere this weekend and it has been suddenly canceled. Could be a total coincidence but then again it wouldn't surprise me. Vince is a slick son of a B.

Some more news has emerged for the reinvented WWE Tough Enough Show coming soon on USA Network. I wasn't sure who they would get to host the show. I was leaning towards a seasoned veteran like a Val Venis or William Regal. But with the announcement of UFC bringing in Brock Lesnar to teach on The Ultimate Fighter, it appears that Vince wanted to bring a household name to his reality show. He found the one man that can draw in viewers like no other, Stone Cold Steve Austin. Having Stone Cold host this reality wrestling show the hour before Raw can only draw more of a ratings boost and bring in huge advertisement money for the show. Great move by both parties. I wish a certain someone who also became a huge star courtesy of the WWE would give back to the company once in awhile. I think we all know who I'm talking about.

Well that is all for this week. Short and simple. Check out my pay per view predictions. Thanks for reading.

Week of Suprise Attacks

The Daily Slam 01.21.11


Punk took on John Cena, Randy Orton was attacked by The Miz, the biggest Rumble ever, Teddy Long is on injured reserve, and when will the Undertaker return?

The main event from Raw this week was the showdown between John "Superman" Cena and the "Cult Leader" CM Punk. To be honest, this match was great to see. Both wrestlers superstars had good looking offense and I wasn't sure which way they were going with a finish. That was until some Batista look-a-like showed up and gave Punk a boot to the face and then took out Cena. CM Punk get the win naturally by disqualification and it looks like the Nexus has a new member. His name is Mason Ryan from WWE development, FCW. He has the right build to be the muscle in Punk's faction. It appears the dismissal of Gabriel & Slater didn't hurt the group after all.

Another blindside attack came from the hands of The Miz and his loyal sidekick, Alex Riley, to Randy Orton after his match with Ziggler. The Miz left the Viper laying on the ground and showing he has the upper hand at this point before their match in less than two weeks. All the matches at the Royal Rumble so far are straight one fall matches so I can definitely see this one getting a stipulation. This attack leads me think Orton is going to ask for a No DQ match which will allow Riley to interfere but also allow weapons in favor of Randy.

It's been announced that this year's Royal Rumble match has been changed to a 40 participants and not the traditional 30. Being advertised as the biggest Rumble ever but could it end up being the worst? The added 10 superstars means you are adding almost the rest of the roster who isn't involved in the main title matches. Hopefully Yoshi Tatsu can beat his time last year of :29 seconds. The reason for the additional ten is probably a result of all the new young faces in the company. It's being called the biggest but I highly doubt it won't be the best.

Diva Break...

Over on SmackDown, some big news was the surprise attack that occurred to Teddy Long. Resulting from the beat-down sent Teddy straight to the hospital. The new group formed by Wade Barrett, Corre, quickly cleared their name from any speculations. That can only mean two things; either it was them so they can once again prove that they are superior or it was Ziggler so his cougar girlfriend, Vickie, would be in charge from now on. This could mean a huge disadvantage to current champion Edge. I can see this being just the thing that Dolph needs to take the belt away from Edge. Looks like an intriguing story-line to me.

There are a lot of rumors floating around that the Undertaker has hand picked his WrestleMania opponent and the lucky choice is Wade Barrett. If this is true, then Barrett has been given a golden opportunity and should feel grateful. If Taker is set to go at the Grand Daddy PPV then it appears he will be making a return very soon. Possibly at the Rumble and no later than the Elimination Chamber ppv. Barrett and Nexus did help Kane bury his brother back at Bragging Rights so maybe this feud will help answer some questions.

Well that is all for this week. Thanks for reading.

Nexus Initiations

The Daily Slam 01.14.11

CM Punks leads the new Nexus, HBK is a first ballot Hall of Famer, Royal Rumble title matches, and some TNA news.

All the talk from Raw was about how CM Punk is turning the Nexus into a SES 2.0. The members were required to complete specific initiations into the group. I must admit that Husky Harris taking a strap to the belt multiple times must have hurt like a bitch. The red welts show his devotion to the Straight Edge Superstar. I was a little surprised by the choice to remove Gabriel and Slater from the group though. Fear not fans because those two have joined their former leader, Wade Barrett, over on SmackDown. After a brutal attack on the Big Show by the new group with newcomer Ezekiel Jackson, it appears that we have another Nexus faction. This sure sparks my interest to seem if the two groups will feud. This is all David Otunga's fault by the way. He just couldn't take anymore John Cena beat downs on behalf of Wade Barrett. Pussy.

The other big news from Raw this week was the first inductee in the class of 2011 WWE HOF. The Showstopper, Mr. WrestleMania, the Heart Break Kid... Shawn Michaels. I must admit that I have a problem with this. Shawn is one of the greatest in-ring performers of all time but he hasn't been out of the ring for a complete year yet. I understand that personalities like Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler were inducted while still being on television but let's face it, they weren't retiring any time in the near future. I was really hoping for a WCW HOF ceremony. People like  Harlem Heat, Arn Anderson, the Steiner Bros, DDP, Scott Hall & Kevin Nash, and the Icon... Sting. Having HBK being inducted right away kind of eliminates a WCW themed HOF which disappoints a lot of fans. I hope the rest of the inductees don't get pushed into the HBK shadow for this year.

Diva Break...

So far, Randy Orton will get a chance to win the WWE Championship back from The Miz and Dolph Ziggler will face off against Edge for the World HeavyWeight Title. Both of these matches are perfect for this time of year. You have two well developed veterans helping put over younger talent right in time for WrestleMania. I've become a huge fan of Ziggler's work inside the ring over the past year and he deserves this push to the top. If he would become champ, with Vickie by his side, he has a better chance of standing out than Swagger ever had a chance to. At this point, I don't see The Miz or Edge dropping their titles but it's possible at the Elimination Chamber ppv next month. I honestly saw Del Rio winning his first major title before Dolph but with Vickie by his side, it's only a matter of a few matches before he holds gold. I think it would have been better to see him both as IC and World Champion. Just to rub it in a little more.

Now some TNA news bites. I have to throw out a congratulations to the one and only asshole, Mr Anderson....... Anderson. he is your new TNA Wrestling Champion. It is well deserved and I'm sorry his first major title is in TNA and not the WWE. Now that he has been able to stay healthy for a long period of time, he is getting that push that someone with his in-ring ability and mic skills should get. I doubt we will be seeing Ken back in a WWE ring in the next decade because of how he was let go but perhaps he is enough of a draw to help put TNA to that next level. Jeff Hardy was never going to propel that company to where they should be by now. Legal issues always bring a black cloud over projected hopes & dreams. Bad decision by Dixie, very bad. Speaking of Hardy, Matt Hardy made his debut over the weekend. I'm glad to see Matt back in the ring and happy. His departure from the 'E was also on bad terms but I think he brought a lot of that on himself. I hope Matt all the best in his new role.

Well that is all for this week. Thanks for reading.

Slammy Award Shockers

The Daily Slam 12.17.10


WWE finishes it's ppv card for Sunday, Cena is re-hired, Orton faced a former WCW Champion, the winners and losers of the Slammy awards and much more.


Unleash the banner!!!

Let's start of the today's Slam with a recap of the Slammy Awards from Monday. Sometimes these 3 hour shows can drag on but surprisingly Raw went fairly smooth for an awards show. To be honest, Cena doesn't deserve the Superstar of the Year award but that was fan voted so it comes as no shocker. The biggest disappointed was Pee Wee Herman winning the Guest Star Shinning Moment. William Shatner was the talk of the town after his appearance on Raw when he sang the entrance songs. It was epic on so many levels in my opinion.

Other rememorable wins were CM Punks winning the Despicable Me Slammy which allowed him to showcase more of his incredible promo skills. It appears that he will have a ready made feud once he fully recovers some time soon. Then the angry Miz girl winning the Reaction of the Year Slammy. Miz stealing the trophy from her was hilarious. I'm sure she actually had a great time backstage talking to all her heroes and I bet the Miz told her he really is a nice guy (just not to tell anyone).

Wade Barrett was practically forced to rehire his arch-nemisis, John "Superman" Cena, or he would face the possibility of being thrown out of Nexus. Not everyone was happy with the outcome of this decision since he threw David Otunga under the bus by placing him in a match with Cena. The "A-List" was dominated and humiliated since the Nexus members didn't even stand by to watch his match. This whole situation is beginning to drag out to much and get confusing. Barrett is the leader and shouldn't be pushed into decisions. I'm sure there are other low card wrestlers wanting a shot in Nexus if the current members refuse to take orders from Barrett.  Also, I am a fan of what Nexus represents but this feud with just one man in the company is getting old and drawn out. It was more enjoyable when it was Nexus vs the Raw locker room. Creative needs a reboot on this angle.

Mr Cena getting his job back wasn't the shocker of the night though. The appearance by one former WCW Champion, David Arquette, was not only unexpected but comical. He gets thrown into a match alongside A-Ry to face off against Randy Orton. I applaud nonathletic hollywood pawns who dare step into the ring with wrestlers who are on top of their game. You may call it fake all you want but having a man power bomb you through a table from 6 feet up in the air can't feel like a tickle from a goose feather. I bet the detective from Scream felt a little soreness in his back the next morning from that move. I must admit, I am a little jealous.

Diva Break...

Other notable notes from Raw was the one and only Dashing Cody Rhodes getting a clean pin-fall over Mark Henry. This might not mean much to most people but remember that Henry is a former ECW Champion (it still counts in my book) and a big freaking specimen. I'm glad to see that Rhodes is silencing his critics who thought DiBiase was the better wrestler from Priceless. I credit his performance due to him being so damn.... Dashing. There was supposed to be a rubber match (that means 3rd times a charm) featuring John Morrison and Sheamus. These two apparently hate each other so much that the match had to be moved to the TLC ppv. The match was made into a #1 Contenders ladders match. This bout alone could steal the whole show and I bet it will. Could this finally be the push Morrison needs? Will we have Miz vs Morrison at Royal Rumble? Will Skipper and Gilligan ever get off that damn island? So many questions will be answered soon enough.

Let's move on to the B-Show (if B means Better than I mostly agree). The World HeavyWeight Championship match at TLC has been changed to a fatal four way and will feature Kane vs Edge vs Alberto Del Rio vs Rey Mysterio. At first I opposed this idea but looking at the TLC card, it has become a little too congested. By moving the Del Rio/Mysterio match into the main event it allows for a much better bout since it features some high risk takers. Let's face it, Edge always performs well in TLC matches so now you throw Rey Rey into the mix and I'm sure Del Rio will hit some high spots. Should be a brutal match to watch and I for one will rent the dvd when it comes out for this match. The Edge/Kane feud has become a little soggy in my opinion but only because it shows Kane as being too weak. Now with Paul Bearer out of the picture maybe he will return to kicking some major ass.

That is all for this week and be sure to check out my WWE TLC pay per view predictions.

"And I Quote..."

Survivor Series Prediction

Welcome to my pay per view prediction for the annual fall classic, Survivor Series. This ppv was on the chopping block but is now the host of the biggest storyline of 2010. Here are my predictions on the current card for this Sunday.

John Morrison vs. Sheamus
These two should be in a traditional survivor series match but atleast it's some way to get them on the card. Morrison needs a good push to the main event level and maybe a feud with Sheamus is a way to do it. No matter what the outcome is, these two need to be injected back into the title picture in some capacity. A win here helps Morrison more than it would help Sheamus.
Winner- John Morrison

WWE United States Championship Match
Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Ted DiBiase (w/Maryse)
A throw together match last minute for the 2nd most prestigious title on Raw. Stupid booking on the part of creative team. Bryan was supposed to feud with CM Punk before he was injured but having DiBiase inserted is ridiculous. At least have a #1 contender match to somewhat make it more deserving. No way does Bryan lose this match.
Winner- Daniel Bryan

WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
Dolph Ziggler (c)r vs. Kaval
The season two winner of NXT will take his title shot against the man who has perfect the sleeper hold. After watching a couple of Ziggler/Bryan matches recently, Kaval & Dolph should not disappoint. I'm a little torn of who should win here. On one hand, Ziggler has brought some good attention to the IC Championship but now it's time he moves on to the main picture. Kaval needs to hold a title to get some credibility in the WWE. If they don't have anything for Dolph in the near future than I would prefer he hold onto his gold.
Winner- Dolph Ziggler

2 on 1 Handicap Match for WWE Unified Diva's Championship
Michelle McCool & Layla (c) vs. Natalya
I've been picking her to win the Divas title for the past few pay per views and she always disappoints. Is this third times a charm? I hope so. With the Hart Dynasty splitting up, there is no need for Nattie to pick sides if she is the Divas champ and defending her title all the time. Double sharpshooter for the win.
Winner- Natalya

WWE Tag Team Championship Match
Nexus (Justin Gabriel & Heath Slater) vs. Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov
One of the most bizarre tag title matches in a long time. the Nexus duo should win here but if not I wouldn't be all that suprised. Just the thought of Koslov and Santino holding the titles makes me laugh which might be what creative is after.
Winner- Gabriel & Slater

Team Del Rio vs. Team Mysterio
Alberto Del Rio, Jack Swagger, Drew McIntyre, "Dashing" Cody Rhodes & Tyler Reks vs. Rey Mysterio, The Big Show, Kofi Kingston, M.V.P & Chris Masters
The one and only traditional tag team elimination match on the card. Looks like a good match-up of good guys vs bad guys. I see this coming down to Mysterio & Del Rio with Mysterio picking up the victory.
Winner- Rey Mysterio 

World Heavyweight Championship Match
Kane (c) vs. Edge
It's good to see the Ultimate Opportunist back to his old tricks. Even though Kane has been on such a hot streak as of late, Edge has the upper hand going into this match. With the distraction of Edge kidnapping Paul Bearer I think this is where Kane loses the gold. He was supposed to drop the belt to Taker but due to an injury that wasn't possible. I see Edge winning here and there being a 4 way ladder match at TLC next month.
Winner- Edge

WWE Championship Match (Free or Fired, Win by Pin-Fall or Submission Only)
Randy Orton (c) vs. Wade Barrett (w/ John Cena as Special Guest Referee)
A match full of stipulations. No Disqualification! No count out! Nexus banned from ringside! How is it possible for Barrett to win? Oh yea, he has an ace up his sleeve. If John Cena wants to keep his job then he must award Wade Barrett the WWE Championship. If Cena screws Orton from his gold then he will be relinquished from being Barrett's lackey for good. Thus will be a match full of close calls and most likely some outside interference. Even though Nexus is banned, I see the Miz getting involved in some capacity. I don't know if allowing Cena to be fired (kayfabe) is a good choice due to how the general audience would react. My prediction is that somehow Orton gets knocked out by outside interference which allows Barrett to pick up the win.
Winner- Wade Barrett

BraggiNg Rights PPV

Raw vs SmackDown. Red vs Blue. Carrot Top vs the Smurfs? This is the one pay per view a year when the brands face each other for superior bragging rights. There is a goofy Sir Stanley Cup trophy knockoff involved as well. Last year the Blue brand won the most matches to earn the trophy and the ego boost. Here are my predictions for the Bragging Rights ppv of 2010.

Brand vs Brand Match
Intercontinetal Champion Dolph Ziggler vs US Champion Daniel Bryan
This could be the one match that stands out to make this show worth watching. I give Bryan more credit than anyone on the roster as of late and it is so well deserving. Other than that bullshit squash match against Sheamus a couple of weeks ago, he has looked good in either his matches or promo work since returning at SummerSlam. Ziggler is another person high on my list of must see wrestlers in the business. He holds gold on SmackDown, dating an authoritative figure on that brand, and is destined to be around for a while as long as his ring work continues to grow. These 2 will mesh well together and we should get some dramatic close call finishes. I'd like to see Daniel win here but I have a feeling there will be some interference that swings in Dolph's favor.
Winner- Dolph Ziggler

Divas Championship Match
Layla (c) vs Natalya
Nattie gets another shot at team LayCool after that bullshit finish last ppv. Too bad they wont be given more than 5 min to wrestle because I think they could surprise some people with their move sets. I think this might be the perfect time for LayCool to drop the title. Layla loses the match and Michelle  puts her down so much that Layla turns on her. Either that or maybe a return by Beth Phoenix to help Nattie win to set up some good diva tag matches between the four. Either way I think Neidhart gets her first title reign on Sunday.
Winner- Natalya


7 on 7 Brand vs Brand Elimination Match
Team SD- Big Show (captain), Edge, Rey Mysterio, Jack Swagger, Alberto Del Rio, Tyler Reks, & Kofi Kingston vs Team Raw- The Miz (captain), R-Truth, John Morrison, Santino Marella, Sheamus, CM Punk, & Ezekiel Jackson
There are a lot of new faces in this year's match compared to the last. Some big surprises on both as well. Reks and Santino will be the first eliminated as neither really deserve to be there. This leaves some good match-ups. Raw's team overall doesn't look as strong as their competition but SmackDown has a lot of feuds going on within themselves that I think will ruin there chances. Hatred between  Del Rio & Mysterio and Edge & Swagger will jeopardize them winning the trophy this year. Raw has the one key player on their team that will out shine everyone and his name is The Miz. Not only is he cunning when it comes to winning big matches (ala MITB) but he has that Alex Riley guy in his back pocket who can distract a SD wrestler long enough to help Miz pull out the victory. Plus it helps put Miz over even more into the Awesomeness category (not like he needs it).
Winner- Team Raw

Random pic of hottness...

WWE Championship Match
Randy Orton (c) vs Wade Barrett (w/ John Cena)
One of the best champions over the past few years vs the possible future of the company duking it out for the prestigious gold. Orton has looked strong since defeating Sheamus for the belt but Barrett has had some major wins in his column as of late. Wade defeated the great John Cena last ppv in which forced Cena to be his little slave boy. With the C-Nation now part of Nexus, this could be the one chance Barrett has at defeating the Viper. I never thought Sheamus would win the title at such a short period in the company so I can't rule out the chance for the leader of Nexus this Sunday. Now put Cena in his corner and he now holds the bigger stack of chips against the current champ. Hopefully it ends up Cena either costing Barrett the title or Orton RKO'ing Wade and Cena one after another to get the pin fall.
Winner- Randall Orton


World HeavyWeight Championship (Buried Alive Match)
Kane (c) vs The Undertaker
A little surprised at this type of match in the PG era but it is a good way to end this current feud. One person will be buried and result in (most likely) some time off. If Kane loses, I think he takes a mini vacation and returns at Rumble or if Taker loses then have him only be gone for a few weeks and return to cost Kane his title at the next ppv. I love Kane's title reign as it has been well deserving for such a long career and this could be the perfect way to lose the title. To his brother in a match that suits both characters. Undertaker looks to be making his last run in the business so maybe a title reign for the next couple of months would be fitting. Also, Taker is one of the best to put over young stars and losing the title at a ppv to an up-and-comer could work.
Winner- The Undertaker

Until Next Time... I'm Just Sayin!

Orton Reigns Supreme After NOC

Welcome to another edition to The Daily Slam! With only two weeks in between pay per views, the WWE must set up matches quickly and that is just what they have done. John Cena will get his one on one match with Wade Barrett but it comes with a heavy stipulation. Sheamus wants his title back from Orton, The Miz isn't finished with Daniel Bryan, and Chris Jericho's losing streak continues. All this and much more so let's get rolling...

Even though we have a new WWE Champion on Raw all the buzz going into Hell In A Cell is the match between John Cena and the leader of Nexus, Wade Barrett. If Cena wins then the faction that has been causing so much of a stir on Raw all summer, Nexus, must disband. But if Barrett pulls out the victory then Nexus grows only stronger because Cena must join the group with the big yellow "N" on their chest. Having this stipulation between these two makes this match the must-see bout on the ppv card at the moment. I hate to see Nexus break up so soon but with the injury to Sheffield and Darren Young being kicked out leads me to believe that a singles run is in Barrett's near future. This way it allows Otunga, Gabriel, and Slater opportunities in the mid card and tag division as well. If Cena is forced to join the Nexus though, it could be the development of a heel Cena or he could just make things worse for Nexus by being inside the group. Either direction the 'E goes with, it could lead to huge story-lines.


The Viper has won the WWE Championship once again and it was well deserved since he was the most dominate in the ring at Night of Champions. Sheamus wants his rematch and it will happen at Hell in a Cell which is perfect way to end this feud. I can't see Orton losing but I can see a certain MITB briefcase holder getting involved. It would be a great way to end one feud and start another one instantly. I know I'm getting way ahead of myself but it's how I would book it.


Diva Beak...

Another feud that continues on Raw is Daniel Bryan and The Miz. Since he 'tapped-out out at NOC, he is looking for any way of retribution against the American Dragon who comes out to the theme of "Ride of the Valkyries" now which reeks of awesomeness. Bryan lost to Edge on Raw with help from Miz but the GM reversed the call. This helps piss off Edge and doesn't hurt the creditability of the new United States Champion. I can't wait for Bryan/Miz part II at the next ppv.


And last from Raw, Chris Jericho who was supposedly done with the company after NOC lost another match against John Morrison. Chris was booted from the Six-pack challenge match early and it seems that he has lost a step or two. I don't think we'll see much of Chris after Raw next week as he tours with Fozzy and rests up his body. He helped put Morrison over before he takes time off which just shows once again what a first class company man Chris can be. I'm sure once he returns to tv, he'll get right back in the title picture as he should and hopefully gets another great story leading into 'Mania. Also, next week is the release of Y2J's dvd set in which I am most excited about.


The new dynamic tag team of Dashing Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre are on fire as of late by winning the titles and successfully retaining the titles on SD against the Harts. This is a smart move to put the belts on these two as heels can always make the titles look more important than faces can, most of the time. AS long as the new champs show up on Raw from time to time and help promote the tag division more, then I am for them carrying the belts for a long time.


Diva Break... 

Alberto Del Rio has struck once again by taking out Christian this time (kayfabe). Captain Charisma has a torn pectoral muscle and is need of surgery. This puts him out of action for almost 6 months. This is just terrible timing since the move to SyFy for SmackDown means they need the best on the roster to shine and Christian is probably in the top 3 of most entertaining on the SD brand.


At-last, he has returned. No not the Rock, not Austin, not even the Brooklyn Brawler..... I'm talking about Paul Bearer. When Undertaker's long-time manager who carries the urn that gives the Deadman his evil powers has once again graced us with his presence. This in my mind is how they can have the Undertaker beat Kane cleanly with his hell strength back in his soul. I love how great Kane has been since Money In The Bank ppv when he won the title. He has had great matches and even better promos. Now with Paul Bearer in the midst of this feud, I can easily say this is a well deserving way for Kane's title reign to end and you can mark this point in WWE history of a great story-line for the Big Red Machine. Too bad this isn't all happening on Raw though cause it deserves as much coverage as possible. Once again shows why SD is the more superior show even if most fans won't admit it.


Well that's all for this week which means....

... and I'm just sayin!

Night of Champions Predictions

This Sunday the WWE presents their yearly Night of Champions pay per view in which every title must be defended.. These are my predictions for the matches as of right now as the card is always subject to change.

CM Punk vs Big Show
This match really serves no purpose on a ppv dedicated to only titles being defended. Hopefully this is WWE's way of ending this feud so these men can either get into the main title picture on SD or take some time off. The Big Show should lose this match and focus on promoting his upcoming film, Knucklehead, and CM Punk should come out looking strong and take SES to the world title match next ppv. Show has had the upper hand against SES lately so Punk needs to win this one cleanly.
Winner- CM Punk

WWE Tag Team Title Match
Hart Dynasty vs ?
I think they will throw Dashing Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre against the Harts but I wouldn't be suprised if it was a 4 way tag match. Santino/Koslov and maybe the Uso Brothers could be involved that way. I didn't realize that the Harts have had the belts for 5 months now and maybe that's because the titles are never defended. If they change hands I want Rhodes and McIntyre to hold them but only if that means we get  those two on Raw on a regular basis. But since there are no opponents as of yet, I must give Bret's apprentices the nod.
Winner- Hart Dynasty


Unification Lumber-Jill Match
WWE Divas Champ Melina vs WWE Women's Co-Champ Michelle McCool
So the WWE has ruined the divas divison and this is their way to make things a bit more interesting. I would have preferred Divas tag titles but who would Maryse want to team with to win those. Melina is always strong in the ring but McCool has that little fiesty partner always lurking to help interfere. Either Layla helps Michelle win and they feud over who is the real champ or Layla costs McCool the match and they feud that way. Either turnout it should be the demise of LayCool down the road.
Winner- Michelle McCool

Random pic of hottness...

IC Title Match
Dolph Ziggler vs Kofi Kingston (Dolph will lose title if counted out or DQ'd.)
When I originally wrote this prediction I had Kofi pulling out the win mainly because Ziggler has only managed to hold on to this title by pulling shenanigans. That in itself should mean a clean victory over Kofi would legitimize him as a good IC champ. Plus Kofi wears a head band around his neck and that just bothers me on so many levels. Ziggler needs to either take Kofi out with a sleeper hold (which is so epic for the win since it's such a basic move) or the Zig-Zag. No help from Vickie, that hot ass cougar in his corner, or that new eye candy Kaitlyn.
Winner- Dolph Ziggler

US Title Match
The Miz vs Daniel Bryan
If there was one match that made me want to purchase this ppv, it's hands down this one. There is only one problem; it won't last for more than 10 min. There are so many matches on this card that this one will get a limited amount of in ring time to really put on the performance that both these men are capable of doing. Other than that, it's still a must-see match-up. I hope Alex Riley some how gets involved in this match so Bryan has an excuse for a rematch at Hell in a Cell ppv next month. That's where Bryan should win the title so Miz can cash in his briefcase.
Winner- The Miz (because he's awesome and I can't argue with that)

World HeavyWeight Title Match (No Holds Barred)
Kane vs The Undertaker
A brother's feud that has been reopened, but in PG! These two men have had epic battles in the past but the attitude era is over so no more catching each other on fire or burying the other one alive. This will be a good ol' fashioned squared circle beat down. The odds are always stacked against the Undertaker's opponents in any match but it seems like Kane's title run has been very dominant. After watching the Deadman struggle to beat CM Punk last week on SD, I don't see how they can give Taker the belt. The little brother needs to prevail this time.
Winner- K A N E ! ! !


Random pic of hottness....

Six Pack Elimination Challenge Match for WWE Title
Sheamus vs Edge vs Chris Jericho vs Randy Orton vs John Cena vs Wade Barrett
This is the hardest call of the night. Not only because of six possible winners but six possible story-lines that could result. Sheamus could win and finally look like a strong champ since he always seems to win out of luck (Irish luck that is) and maybe result in Triple H returning to challenge him. Edge could win since he hasn't been champ in a long time which could make things interesting. Have Ryder become his lackey once more and do his dirty work. If Jericho wins then it just proves once more that he is the best at what he does. I love Y2J with the belt because it puts his heel character at even a higher level. Orton winning the championship is almost too obvious. I would like to see him champ but rather at Survivor Series than NOC. But if Raw wants to improve ratings against Monday night football then having your most "over" wrestler with the strap could be a good thing. If Cena wins then I will shake my head in displeasure. He doesn't need or deserve the title at this time. Cena as champ really serves no purpose story-line wise other than Nexus being involved. Barrett seems like the biggest long shot but it would really put Nexus at a whole new level. Wade with the title would make Nexus this era's 4 horseman type of faction. If Barrett would win the title than the other members need to capture other gold like the US and Tag Titles to really put them over. My gut says to play it safe with Sheamus retaining but I really love the concept of Barrett being champ.
Winner- Sheamus


Until Next Time...

 ...I'm Just Sayin!

Sheamus vs. The World

Welcome one and all to another edition of the Daily Slam! There hasn't been a new post fore the past 4 weeks due to vacationing and lack of motivation. Also, some blame must go to my supporters and that number is very little so you know who you are. Anyways, recently in the world of wrestling/sports entertainment, Sheamus gets 5 competitors for the title, Kane needs to fear his brothers revenge, Daniel Bryan is making life difficult for the Miz, and the Harts get new bronze (?) titles along with new #1 contenders. This and much more on this week's edition of the.....

Since the Celtic Warrior walked out of SummerSlam the victor, has been given some terrible news. This past Monday he defended his WWE Championship successfully against a great competitor in Zack Ryder. Unfortunately, the mystery GM didn't find Sheamus's victory good enough so he has issued a six-pack challenge at Night of Champions ppv. The superstars who will get an opportunity at Sheamus's gold (his belt not a pot) are Edge, Jericho, Orton, Cena, and Wade Barrett. Now I don't feel it's right not to allow Barrett to take on Sheamus one on one but I guess the guys behind the show don't think those two can carry a main event match alone. I think having Orton thrown into the mix for a triple threat match would be better and have Cena, Edge, and Jericho continue a feud with the rest of Nexus. By having all these members in one match could hurt the rest of the card. Having two members of Nexus win the "new" WWE tag titles and defend them against Edge & Jericho would have been more interesting than the approach at this time. I don't want to rush to judgment so I'll have to wait and see how this all unfold until I completely go all negative.

The Undertaker is returning to SmackDown tonight and looks like the Deadman will be looking for sweet revenge on his brother. I think someone should tell him that it's really Rey's fault. Kane got the upper hand at SummerSlam by choke slamming Taker so chalk that one up on the board. Unfortunately Kane is still losing in the long run. I imagine we'll get a good promo by Taker about how Kane is going to straight to hell or something in that nature. Odds are that it will be Undertaker vs Kane at NOC.

Speaking of SmackDown, Alberto Del Rio made his in ring debut last week by beating Rey Mysterio with an Arm Bar. Hell yes! Glad to see someone win with something different for a change. Those two had great in ring chemistry and I can see why the WWE is so hyped up for Del Rio. He'll be holding that IC title before you know it. Of course he might have to make love to Vickie first but there's always a price to pay these days.

Daniel Bryan made his epic return to the WWE at SummerSlam and reignited his feud with the awesome one, the Miz. Bringing him back was the right choice and perfect timing. The Miz and Bryan should put on some good matches in the following weeks and I can only imagine the US Title being defended at NOC with Daniel Bryan being in the mix somehow. If I was to purchase this ppv, that would be the sole reason right there. Also, Bryan put people in one hell of a crossface. I remember when HBK was the only one allowed to use that move. Oh how the tides are changing.

The Hart Dynasty was recently given new WWE Tag Titles and the design are awesome but the color is disgusting. They remind me of old Roman royalty but made cheaply. The bronze colors just don't work. They're as bad as that god awful platinum ECW championship. WWE needs to hire a whole new graphics department. Other than my disgust for the color, I like the idea of one set of titles but I would prefer if the Harts would show up on SD as well. Santino and Koslov beat the Uso brothers to become the new #1 contenders for the Hart's tag titles and I'm not all against this idea. I know it makes the division look like a joke but that's nothing new. Koslov is solid in the ring and Santino has in ring presence, even if it is getting his ass beat most of the time. Once this match is over, I highly suggest Nexus getting into the tag title picture.

Diva Break...

News from the 'E is that the lovely Serena has been released. No official statement has been posted on their website that I am aware of but things don't look good for the bald diva. She just made her in-ring debut and gets the boot a week later. Apparently she wasn't living the straight edge lifestyle off camera while is grounds for getting the pink slip. This news makes me deeply sad and hopes they bring her back her back with a full head of hair with a new gimmick. I mean if Tiffany gets fired then there is really no divas on SD what so ever.

With only 2 episodes to go and three competitiors remaining, it appears that Kaval is the front runner to win season II of NXT. He has to be the fans front runner in votes but I can still see Vince pulling a fast one on us and giving the win to someone who looks more like a main eventer. Alex Riley and Michael McGillicutty are more of what the WWE looks for in new stars but Kaval has been getting over with the fans so much more that he will be on the main roster no matter what the outcome is. I just want Michael to reintroduce himself with his real name and reference his father (Mr. Perfect).

Until Next Time...

... I'm Just Sayin!

MITB Fallout

Hello one and all and welcome to another edition of The Daily Slam.We are only days removed from Money In The Bank ppv and plans for SummerSlam are already unfolding. Randy Orton looks to win the WWE Championship back but who will he face? Also, can anyone stop the newly crowned champ Big Red Machine? This and much more so let's get on with it...

If anyone who purchased the Money In The Bank pay per view didn't feel like it was worth the money than I feel bad for you. That last couple of WWE ppv's have been somewhat dull and that's typical post-WrestleMania time but this last Sunday's show was a good one. First off, Kane wins the SmackDown MITB match which was a shock to most. Then he cashes it in after Rey Mysterio successfully defends his title against Jack Swagger to become new champ. Followed by a damn good Raw MITB ladder match which the Miz may have won but I give big props to John Morrison for taking some devastating hits. Overall, with having to diva matches and the boring tag title storyline involved, I say this ppv delivered on all measures. Yes the WWE Championship cage match was a big lackluster but I figured that was gonna happen since Nexus was going to get involved. Still the right person won the match, thankfully.

The following night on Raw, they start off the show with a big #1 contenders match involving Orton, Edge, and Jericho. The Apex Predator won which is the right call since he can help Sheamus along as a legitimate champion more than Cena ever could. I wonder how many boots to the face Randy will take over the next few weeks. I don't know why the WWE doesn't have a gimmick match to get into the main event at SummerSlam like they do for WrestleMania ala the Royal Rumble winner. I think it would build the SS show more by having a huge match to determine who faces the champ at the company's biggest blockbuster of the Summer. Just food for thought.

The big question is though, who will be the WWE Champion walking into SummerSlam. Since the Miz won the MITB briefcase, he will be on a constant prowl to take the title from Sheamus at any sign of weakness. When he laid-out the Irishman on Raw and told the ref to ring the bell, I thought we were going to see a new champion right then and there. It would have been the biggest night of the Miz's career life and I bet he would have cried. I bet John Morrison wishes he could have been drafted to Raw two years ago instead of the Miz.

Diva break...

On the blue brand, Kane won the MITB match followed by winning the World title from Rey and becoming the first ever man to hold all three title in the WWE; the WWE title, World Heavy title, and ECW title. That is until the Big Show does right around the same time his movie comes out. So yea, around October I believe we'll see that happening. You'd figure Jack Swagger would be the man to take a run at Kane for his new championship but it looks as if the 'E wants Rey to get his rematch at SummerSlam. I don't like this booking so far but hopefully Swagger can be thrown into the match for a triple threat bout.

It appears that not only will Cena take on team Nexus, but he has recruited a team of people looking for revenge. Aligning with the chain gang leader is Edge, Jericho, Morrison, the Great Khali, and Evan Bourne Bret Hart. That's right, everyone's favorite old ass, pink and black wearing, sharpshooter using, revenge filled asailant is back. Remember when Nexus put Bret in the back of a limo and crashed him into like 6 different cars? Well he is all healed up and ready for a fight. I was expecting a handful of other guys to be in this match but I guess with the Undertaker and Triple H out of SummerSlam, the WWE needed to insert a legend to fill in. I only want to see one outcome of this match as of right now.... all 6 members of team Cena lock in all 6 member of team Nexus in Sharpshooters, simultaneously. The crowd would go ape shit.

Michael McGillicutty won the obstacle course of NXT which means he is safe from elimination on next week's show. Michael, I think has the best shot at winning this season. He's a 2nd gen wrestler with good in ring skills. He's not too bad on the mic and he is is the son of Mr. Perfect. Still not sure when they wouldn't leave him with the Hennig last name. Speaking of NXT, as of right now McGillicutty and Kaval are the FCW tag champs and Alex Riley is still holding onto the FCW Championship title. I don't recall any of the season one guys being title holders in development and being on the NXT roster at the same time but I could be mistaken. Doubtful though.

Knockout Break...

 This week I sat through an entire episode of TNA iMPACT. I have to say I was somewhat surprised by the talent. Oh wait, other than Bischoff phoning in, him and Hogan were no where to be scene. That explains the good show then. I like how the tag title are being determined with a best of 5 matches stipulation. Also, with Beer Money up 2 wins already, I expect MCMG to put on some good matches. The match between Samoa Joe and Jeff Hardy was actually just starting to get good until the 10 minute time limit was reached. I commend TNA to sticking time limited matches but these two kinda deserve more than 10 minutes. It means a rematch will be in the future but I feel the whole thing was unnecessary.  At the end of iMPACT, Dixie introduced the crowd to the ECW Originals and granted them their very own pay per view. This means Hard Justice is now HardCore Justice and a bunch of ECW stars will be returning for one last night. Well we've all been feed that lie before so I expect atleast half of them to stick around TNA for the rest of 2010. I just want to see Sabu fight one more time and I'll be happy. I also wasn't too thrilled with the way Tommy Dreamer spoke about "the other company". They bash the WWE like it's the devil. Last time I checked, those wrestlers are independent contractors which means if you don't like the job your in then you can leave. Sorry you had to be paid a bunch of money and be the face of a Tuesday night show Tommy, you piss poor sport. I always had big respect for Dreamer and his extreme ways but sticking around WWE for all those years only to bad mouth them on public television leave me with a negative look on his character.

Until Next Time...

...I'm Just Sayin!

Money In The Bank Preview

This Sunday, the WWE is taking their fan favorite concept match from WrestleMania and forming it's very own Pay Per View gimmick. The Money In The Bank matches have given us some of the greatest "Oh My God!" moments and has been a launching pad for so many young stars. Would Edge, CM Punk, and the latest winner Jack Swagger been given such a huge push without their victories? Who's to say. But by holding a  briefcase that grants them a championship match at anytime & anywhere, it's the perfect opportunity to win a top title. Will Edge or Punk once again walk out victorious or will a new main eventer be born by standing tall on top of the ladder? My Pay Per View Predictions...

UNIFIED TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The Hart Dynasty(c) vs. The Usos
 This feud has been dragged out so much as of late and hopefully this match ends the sharade. The Uso's are the new bullies on the block and even though are very talented on the mic, they haven't shown anything too special in the ring (at least in tv matches). The only way I see the Harts dropping the titles is a.) Tamina gets involved and the finish is dirty or b.) the 'E wants the a rematch to happen at SummerSlam. I still lean towards the Harts and the beautiful Natie to pull of the 'W'.
Winner- The Hart Dynasty


DIVAS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Alicia Fox(c) vs. Eve
Apparently the WWE is really big on Alicia's work and look. Tall, beautiful, and bad ass finishing move. It doesn't really matter who walks away the winner because Melina will be back any day now and she's top diva in my book. I'll say Fox pulls out a foxy finish.
 Winner- Alicia Fox


WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Layla(c) vs. Kelly Kelly
I don't get how they announce them as co-champions on SmackDown but yet Layla has to defend her title solo. Doesn't seem fair. I hate to see LayCool lose the gold but Kelly Kelly is so over with the crowd that they don't even remember Mickie James anymore. Layla should retain but this will be my shocker of the night.
Winner- Kelly Kelly

Diva Break...

WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Rey Mysterio(c) vs. Jack Swagger
Rey suprised us all by winning the title at Fatal 4Way since he's was rumored to be taking time off to heal up. By having the masked warrior winning, it seems that Rey is healthy enough for a title run and I don't see any reason for him to lose the gold right back to Swagger. If the Undertaker was to return next month then I'd say Swagger wins here so they could feud. If Rey drops the belt then it was a poor choice for him to win in the first place.
Winner- Rey Mysterio


STEEL CAGE MATCH FOR THE WWE CHAMPIONSHIP
Sheamus(c) vs. John Cena
The somewhat boring guy vs jar of mayonnaise. I would prefer seeing Sheamus walk into SummerSlam the champion but without Cena in the main event could lower buy-rates for the WWE. Having Sheamus lose the title would make his second reign look even more like a fluke then his first did. I say let the young cat walk into the Summer's biggest stage as the champion to see if he has what it takes to become top heel. And if this match is last on the card, maybe a suprise "cash in" could happen and a first time champ could be crowned. That'd shock the hell out of some fans.
Winner- Sheamus


RAW MONEY IN THE BANK LADDER MATCH
Randy Orton vs. John Morrison vs. Mark Henry vs. Evan Bourne vs. Ted DiBiase Jr. vs. Chris Jericho vs. Edge vs. The Miz
This is the more top "dogs" match and will probably be less hardcore than the SD version but after seeing Orton RKO Bourne mid-air, I think this match could the better of the two. All these guys will probably hit their finisher atlerast once if not multiple times. Randy doesn't need a briefcase for a title shot, he's the viper and does what he wants anyways. Morrison is almost there but winning won't put him over. Henry doesn't have a shot in the dark. Bourne is a rising star in the company and his stock keeps growing in popularity. I could him winning only to be the first MITB holder to lose when he cashes in. DiBiase would look good holding a gold briefcase and rub it in everyone's face. Plus, Maryse gives him an upper hand in my book. Jericho, like Orton, really doesn't need to win since he's always a contender. Also Y2J might be taking time off this fall to tour with Fozzy so it doesn't make much sense for him. This leave Edge and Miz. My two favorites to be victorious for different reasons. Edge because he has mastered this type of match and has made "cashing in the briefcase" so damn interesting. I mean, there is a reason he's called the Ultimate Opportunist. The Miz on the other hand, with the win, would bump up to the next level which is where he needs to be as a legitimate threat for the WWE Championship on any night. He's done everything correct in the 'E since his arrival and I think it's his time. He's almost followed the footsteps of Edge in a sense. I think Edge has the best odds of winning but I'm going with the "Awesome" one.
 Winner- The Miz

SMACKDOWN MONEY IN THE BANK LADDER MATCH
Big Show vs. Matt Hardy vs. Christian vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Kane vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Dolph Ziggler
Even though this match has two "big guys" involved, there will be some serious high flying spots. With Hardy, Christian, and Kingston all being big time risk takers, this match will make it worth spending the money. I don't think it will steal the show but these guys will put on one hell of a performance. I can cross off Matt Hardy and Ziggler since neither are in any spot to deserve a title match. Rhodes also seems like a very unlikely winner even though he is Dashing. The Big Show falls in that same category of guys who really don't need to hold a briefcase for a Championship bout.  This leaves Christian, Kingston, and McIntyre. Kingston is a top face on the blue brand but I think still has a long run  of IC Champ before his big break. McIntyre is the so-called "Chosen One" so it could make sense for him and I prefer heels holding a title contract because their mischievous. But, I have to say not only does Christian look like the odds on favorite but damn it, he deserves to win. Ever since returning to WWE, he has put on some of the best matches, put over plenty of younger talent ala Sheamus and Swagger, and has always been in most fans eyes as a top contender. He no longer deserves to be treated like the Jannety of E&C and needs his own spotlight. By winning and cashing it in on Raw against Edge (if he was champ) would be one of the greatest moments in the 'E's history. If Rey leaves due to injury soon, Christian could take over as a top face on SD other than the Taker. There are so many possibilities with Captain Charisma winning that I don't see why Vince wouldn't want him to. He's my choice and I'll be royally pissed if he doesn't walk out vivtorious.
Winner- Christian

Until Next Time...

... I'm Just Sayin!

The Nexus Runs Wild

Hello one and all and welcome to another edition of The Daily Slam. This week I do a quick recap of Raw with my take on story-lines, what's expected this Sunday, and other tidbits going on in the sports entertainment business.

Let's get started...

Throughout this week's edition of Raw, The Nexus had confrontations with Yoshi Tatsu, Evan Bourne, and John Morrison all backstage. Inevitably all three were beat down like little bitches to prove a point that Nexus will take out anyone that they feel deserve it. There's nothing like a good 6 on 1 ass whooping followed by them standing over you in dominant fashion. I see where they want to make Nexus look unstoppable but backstage beat downs are not the way to do it. They should interrupt matches or even right after a bout has ended and just beat the living piss out the wrestlers in the ring. The WWE is doing a good job building these guys but putting them in front of the audience instead of the titan-tron would come off much better. The final match ended with Nexus beating John Cena in a handicap match. Having the faction win was the right choice and it makes Nexus look dominant even though it was six on one.

With the help from the Miz, R-Truth was replaced in Raw's Money In The Bank ladder match by Mark Henry. Not sure if that's best pick on the roster but it does give that match their "big guy" which means people working together to take him out. Well that's what you'd imagine but the Miz proved he can do this on his own followed by tossing garbage all over his body. With all the other contenders having their own mini feuds; Edge/Orton, Jericho/Bourne, Morrison/DiBiase, I don't see how Miz isn't the hands down favorite to win the briefcase.

Diva Break...

Speaking of mini-feuds leading into MITB, the Randy Orton vs Edge match on Raw did not disappoint. The heel got the victory via help from another heel. This followed by Jericho taking out Edge with the Codebreaker followed by Orton taking out Jericho finished with Bourne hitting attempting a Shooting Star Press but was caught mid-air by the Viper who delivered a vicious RKO. With this shocking maneuver, Orton just won himself a Slammy award.



Other Rasslin' News...

It has been confirmed that Triple H had surgery on his arm recently which may delay his return. With SummerSlam next month, I doubt the King of Kings will be facing off against Sheamus as expected. This is good and bad news. The good is that this means the continuation of newer stars are the main focus going into the Summer's biggest show like Sheamus, Evan Bourne, and Nexus. The bad is that with him and Taker both on the shelf, can these young guys be enough to draw in the buy rates that the WWE needs to make a profit. Oh hell what do I care, I love seeing Sheamus and Jack Swagger in title matches.

Melina has been cleared to step back into the four sided ring. She was supposed to return the other day in OVW but was told she would not be on the card. I don't see her being left off of tv for too much longer. They can only have so many matches involving Gail Kim, Eve, Alicia Fox, and Maryse. Or can they?!?! Melina returning is a blessing from God for all of us. And with that news...

Diva Break...

The WWE has yet to announce any more guest hosts for Raw for the month of July. Even though that is in itself great news, they posted on their website that the guest host concept will continue. I don't know if the WWE just doesn't have the time/writing for the guest hosts right now or not enough "celebs" want to be part of the show. I think a little time off from this idea is a good thing so they can focus more on the build towards SummerSlam. I haven't noticed an increase in tv ratings lately so maybe the concept has run it's course. At least until they get the Rock to agree for a one time appearance.

Semi-Spoilers Alert; on this week's edition of Friday Night SmackDown... CM Punk gets his masked ripped off by the Big Show, which in my book means must see television! Also, Jack Swagger has a special guest accompany him to the ring but it doesn't end well.

Well that is all for this week. I will post my Money In The Bank Pay-Per-View predictions tomorrow. I leave you with one last diva picture.

I just couldn't resist posting a Trish Stratus performing Yoga pic. I miss her so much.

Until Next Time... 

... I'm Just Sayin!