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!!!"

Elimination Chamber Predictions

Eimination Chamber PPV Predictions

02.20.11

Non-Title Match
Alberto Del Rio vs Kofi Kingston

This match really means nothing since the title is not being defended. I can't imagine Kofi winning against the challenger for the World HeavyWeight title at Mania either. Most likely some sort of outside interference by Del Rio's ring announcer but in the end I see the win by submission.
Winner- Del Rio

Elimination Chamber Match for #1 Contendership to WWE Championship
John Cena vs Randy Orton vs R Truth vs Sheamus vs John Morrison vs CM Punk
The survivor of this match goes on to Mania to challenge for the title. The most logical winner would be a face if Miz remains the champ. Cena will most likely prevail but I think Morrison would be the better choice. A Miz/Morrison feud heading into Mania just sounds better than anyone else. But I can't go against the obvious pick.
Winner- John Cena

Elimination Chamber Match for the World HeavyWeight Championship
Edge (c) vs Rey Mysterio vs Kane vs Wade Barrett vs Drew McIntyre vs Dolph Ziggler
This match just got a little more interesting because of the removal of Ziggler. The winner goes on to face Del Rio at Mania so just like the other EC match I see a face walking out victorious. I hope they add someone else to this match to even things out as well. Maybe Big Show, Christian, or even Jack Swagger. Could we have the Edge vs Del Rio match that we've been expecting or does Rey face off against his old rival? I think Rey is the better choice for a Mania build up so Edge can finish his feud with Ziggler.
Winner- Rey Mysterio

WWE Championship Match
The Miz (c) vs Jerry Lawler
It makes me cringe to think that Lawler could win the title. I like the King but his time has long long long past to hold any title belt. I see Michael Cole getting involved somehow to allow the awesome one to retain his title and head to Mania as the champ.
Winner- The Miz

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.

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.

A Look Back & Forward

Welcome to a special new year edition of The Daily Slam! Let's take a look at the year 2010 in wrestling and what's possible for 2011.

The past year saw a lot of fresh faces in the WWE while some older ones went off into the shadows. The Nexus was formed from season one NXT and ran wild on Raw. They made their presence know the first night and ended the year with a continued feud with Mr John Cena. There were some new champions in Jack Swagger and The Miz after both cashed in Money In The Bank briefcases. Also, Kane won the championship and held it for months while defeating his brother, The Undertaker, multiple times. HBK retired and HHH took off the year following Extreme Rules ppv. Bret Hart returned and defeated Vince McMahon at WrestleMania. Daniel Bryan (Bryan Danielson) was fired then rehired and has become the United States champ. What a year it has been but I predict better things to happen in 2011.

Stating tonight on Raw, 1/3/2011, The Miz will defend his WWE Championship against his former tag team partner John Morrison in a falls count anywhere match. Could the "Rockstar" win his first main event title tonight to bring in the new year? Doubtful but it should be interesting to see how Miz holds onto the gold. Elsewhere in the WWE, CM Punk has stepped from away from the commentary table and started a feud with Superman Cena. That alone sparks a lot of interest but let's throw Nexus onto the fire. That's right, CM Punk and Nexus are in cahoots together. If the Straight Edge Superstar is the new leader of the "We Are One" clan, how will this effect the rest of the locker room? And does this mean the members must also be Straight Edge because I know David Otunga parties a lot. He is "A-List" and all.

The Rumble is approaching so everyone will begin to throw out their predictions for a winner. My predict: Triple H. The WWE loves to have injured stars return at the Rumble so this fits perfectly. If not then I'd love to see Jericho return and win to solidify him as a top 5 greatest WWE Superstar of all time.

The night after WrestleMania, which is always Raw, usually does some big tv ratings for WWE and it looks like their capitalizing on that fact. The new return of Tough Enough will premiere before Raw on that night. I imagine NXT will be a thing of the past after this season but the WWE is still pushing the new star envelope. The original Tough Enough was very entertaining so this sparks my interest. Let's hope they don't go all MTV Hills on us and start scripting what the young hopefuls say and do.

What I am expecting for the year 2011 in WWE? 
Triple H returns to tv but as a heel
Jericho returns to feud with Christian in what will be feud of the year
The Miz gets burried like Punk did after his 1st title reign but bounces back around Summer
The Nexus goes through a few more transitions before complete dismantle by end of Mania
Wade Barrett and Alberto Del Rio will be the only 2 first time Champions of the year
LayCool introduces Awesome Kong as their body guard
Justin Gabriel goes face and becomes the next Evan Bourne
Evan Bourne returns but becomes future endeavored
The IC and US titles will be Unified
Kevin Nash makes at-least one cameo appearance on WWE TV

Well that is my year end/ new year special Daily Slam. Let's all hope the WWE steps it up and makes 2011 better than the past few have been. Thanks for reading.

T.L.C. Predictions

 My Predictions for the WWE TLC Pay Per View on Dec 19th 2010.

#1 Contender Ladders Match
John Morrison vs Sheamus

The Shaman of Sexy seeks to dethrone the newly coronation King of the Ring in a contest of ladders. While both Sheamus and Morrison have completely different styles the ladder match plays to both of their strengths. Morrison has a platform to jump off of and Sheamus can use the ladder like a hammer to hit JoMo with. John is amazing on his own, but with a ladder I expect him to do some amazing acrobatics to help justify his #1 contender status. While Sheamus isn't anything to sneeze at he won't continue his legacy that he started last year at TLC. Morrison has a date with destiny at the Royal Rumble when he faces off against his former partner in crime.
Winner: "The Monday Night Delight", John Morrison.

Tables Match
Beth Phoenix/Natalya Neidhart vs LayCool

This must be a first; a diva's tag team tables match. It's going to be harder for either member of LayCool to put Phoenix through a table then for Beth to do the same. It isn't easy being skinny I guess. LayCool definitely isn't defenseless with their advantage on the experience front. Also there's a question of unity; can Beth and Natalya trust each other or will Beth want to make a statement with WrestleMania on the horizon?
Winner: Heart of the Phoenix

Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match
Dolph Ziggler (c) vs Kofi Kingston vs Jack Swagger

I always thought Ziggler and Swagger would make a great tag team. Kingston would make the best use of the ladder of the three however Swagger will soar to an IC title reign.
Winner: The All American American Intercontinental Champion

Chairs Match
John Cena vs Wade Barrett

Such a big match wasted with a stupid gimmick. Then again they're both big guys and could do some damage with a chair. Normal booking would have John get his revenge and that's the safe bet. Still, Barrett is the breakout star of the year and I wouldn't count him out. While I think the booking has been rushed I want to give a shout out to Barrett getting so pissed at Otunga that he would reinstate Cena to force Otunga in a match with him.
Winner: The women and the children aka John Cena wins

World Heavyweight Championship Tables, Ladders, Chairs Match
Kane (c) vs Edge vs Alberto Del Rio vs Rey Mysterio

Kane has been a dominate champion even though they've made him look like a bitch recently, Edge is the undisputed master of TLC matches, Rey can fly and Del Rio has been on a roll. I think Kane wins and starts a heel vs heel feud with Alberto Del Rio.
Winner: Kane

WWE Championship Tables Match
The Miz (c) vs Randy Orton

Last year Sheamus shocked everyone by defeating Cena and becoming the new World Champion in a tables match. The surprise win came earlier this year when Miz cashed in his MITB briefcase. The question is can Miz do to the Viper what Sheamus did last year to Cena? The answer is yes! The Miz will retain and it will be Awesome.
Winner: The Miz

WWE TLC Pay Per View Predictions

PPV Predictions 12.17.10

Here are my predictions for this Sunday's WWE TLC pay per view from Philadelphia, Pa.

#1 Contender Ladders Match
John Morrison vs Sheamus
These two square off for the third time to resolve this feud and it's for a shot at the gold. Sheamus may be the new king of the ring but Morrison looks to be on a good roll as of late. Could be a show stealer in my opinion and in all honesty needs to be a platform for Morrison. If he wins this match and Miz retains the title, we could have Miz vs Morrison at Royal Rumble. That makes me excited. Just Sayin.
Winner- John Morrison

Tables Match
Natalya (c) & Beth Phoenix vs Laycool
This makes me wonder if this is Vince's way of matching the knockouts cage match from impact last week. Just a thought to ponder. Anyways, I love this match-up. Two strong divas vs two sly/cunning ones. Beth and Nattie have a huge upper advantage and that makes me think they will lose. Somehow that gorgeous Lalya will figure out a way to save Michelle McCool and in the process send Nattie through a table.
Winners- LayCool

Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match
Dolph Ziggler (c) vs Kofi Kingston vs Jack Swagger
A good triple threat match with three veterans of this type of stipulation. Swagger is a revent MITB winner so he knows how to overcome ladder matches with the odds against him. Ziggler has been champ for a long time and has no real reason to drop the belt unless he moves to the main event. Kofi is just Kofi and honestly doesn't need the title at this point. I'm pulling for Ziggler here just because if he loses the belt, he might be lost in creative over the next few months heading towards Mania.
Winner- Dolph Ziggler

Chairs Match
John Cena vs Wade Barrett
The re-hired John Cena gets his revenge against foe Wade Barrett. Wade actually asked for this match though. The big concern here is will Nexus get involved. I don't see how they wouldn't want to help out their leader and destroy the man who has been beating them down. This is a match where the odds will be stacked against Cena and yet he finds away to prevail. This chapter has been written before many, many times.
Winner- John Cena

World HeavyWeight Championship Tables, Ladders, Chairs Match
Kane (c) vs Edge vs Alberto Del Rio vs Rey Mysterio
You throw two heated feuds together into one big match and the result will be nothing short of impeccable. Edge and Mysterio will do some high risk maneuvers while Kane and Del Rio can cause some ground damage to their foes. This should be one brutal match with possibly an unexpected twist. Before I thought Edge would finally beat Kane but now with the Rey and Alberto in the mix, I might be leaning towards a first time champ in Del Rio. The man has made such a huge splash since coming to WWE and is deserving of the spotlight. It would just be a major twist in the business. The Rated R Superstar is still my odds on favorite.
Winner- Edge

WWE Championship Tables Match
The Miz (c) vs Randy Orton
It's so weird to type the Miz as champion but in a good way. The Miz has looked like such a beatable champion that I feel he has to win this one. There is a reason you have Alex Riley around so you can use him as a distraction. Orton would win a lot of his matches with help from Legacy so I don't see why Miz wouldn't do the same. Plus I am really pulling for this Miz vs Morrison match at the Royal Rumble next month. It's hard to go against my favorite wrestler over the last 3 years but this is the Miz's time to shine.
Winner- The Miz

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..."

All Hail The King

The Daily Slam 12.03.2010

Sheamus is the King, the Viper is a no show, Cena doesn't need a job, a recent WWE release and much more.

Roll the openning banner...

The WWE put on one hell of a jam packed 3 hour Raw this past Monday. The biggest thing was the return of King of the Ring tournament. I had originally predicted Del Rio or Morrison to win but I'm okay with Sheamus. No one should be surprised that Triple H's golden boy walked away victories. The only thing I have a grife with is that there was a double count-out which resulted in an automatic finale spot for Sheamus. Logically how does Morrison stack up against a past WWE Champion who only had to wrestle one match when John won two hard fought bouts earlier in the night. Good tournament overall in which I wouldn't be surprised to see it return next year around the same time. "I'm King, Fella!"

For the second week in a row, the WWE Championship was on the line. No Randy Orton didn't ask for a rematch (in which he is entitled to) because he was not at Raw. Apparently the Viper is having some neck problems and had an MRI on it during the week. This is terrible timing for him to be banged up since he needs to help elevate the Miz into a top main eventer. On the other hand, Jerry "the King" Lawler was ready dust off his boots and step into the ring with the new Champ. Jerry was awarded his first ever Championship & TLC match. Even though Lawler is up there in age, those two put on one hell of a story. Alex Riley and Michael Cole getting involved in the bout made the match even more incredible and showed that the Miz is champ that can be beaten by anyone. It should be interesting to see how the Miz keeps his title for the upcoming months.

John Cena had a busy night on Raw even though he is no longer on the payroll. First he took out McGillicutty backstage then had no problem hopping over the wall and taking out Heath Slater. Lastly, him and his band of brothers beat down the other members of Nexus in the back. He successfully gave Justin Gabriel an Attitude Adjustment on to the hood of a car. I think that creative is dropping the ball a little bit on this whole angle. Cena should have been held off of tv for a couple of weeks and had a mystery person taking out Nexus members backstage. I miss Nexus being a powerful faction cause now it's all focused around Cena and has become boring.

Diva Break...

Yesterday brought some sad news from Titan Towers as the Ballin' One was given his walking papers. Yes the man known as MVP was released and wishes him the best in all future endeavors. I wouldn't get too upset about it though because he asked for this. Mr. Porter hasn't been too happy with his direction in the company and asked for a release. I can't imagine there are any hard feeling on either side. I am sure we will see MVP on tv shortly as he is one of the most underused wrestlers for the past 5 years. I can see him in TNA and would be an incredible addition to their roster. He is a true inspiration to anyone who is given a second chance in life and follows their dreams. "Ballin!!!"

The show Tough Enough will be returning some time in 2011 but until then another season of NXT has been cast. The only person I recognize right away is Byron Saxton who has done some broadcasting for the WWE/ECW brand. The pros are the most interesting group. Ziggler, Bryan, Masters, DiBiase, Truth, and Del Rio. Not sure why Del Rio is a pro since he is still fresh to the WWE but it should be interesting to see the interaction between all the pros in this season. I'd also like to congratulate Kaitlyn on winning the NXT Diva version. That is her above... you're welcome.

Finally, I switched over the Superstars last night and witnessed a great show of wresling talent. The main event was David Hart Smith and Tyson Kidd. These two put on probably the best free tv match I have seen in awhile. The crowd seemed really into it as well which really put it over the top. I know these two have been around each other for years and years so it's expected that their chemistry would spill onto the mat. I could watch these two square off for a good 10 minutes every week.


Thanks for reading and as always...

The Champ is Awesome!

Welcome to another edition of the Daily Slam! Survivor Series is over and the landscape has changed dramatically in the WWE. The Miz cashes in, King of the Ring tournament is set for next week, LayCool is missing something, and John Cena says goodbye. Plenty of things to get to so let's get started...

Just when you thought the WWE was going to put the strap around Wage Barrett's waist they throw a curve ball into the mix. The awesome one cashed in his MITB briefcase and took the gold from Orton to become the new WWE Champion. The former reality star has been getting a lot of media coverage with his win and I think it's well deserving. Him winning the title has had mixed reactions from the fans. I am on the positive side of this decision from the creative team. It's good to see someone how has had to work his way up the ladder and prove himself not only to the fan base but the veterans in the locker room. He doesn't fit that usual champion mold which is why him winning is great for the business. It appears that Morrison is turning more and more into the Jannetty of the former tag team of Miz n' Morrison. The Awesome one is the new top dog on Raw and I can't wait for his first promo.

On Raw, there were qualifying matches for next week's 3 hour KOTR Raw special. The participant are Morrison, Daniel Bryan, Big Zeke, Sheamus, Alberto Del Rio, Kofi Kingston, Drew McIntyre, and Cody Rhodes. I could see any one of these superstars winning the crown to be honest. Del Rio sticks out the most in being able to use the win to propel his character to the next heel level. To be honest, I'm disappointed that Swagger is not able to win cause he would be my first choice out of the entire roster. Should be a good tournament non the less and I'm just glad they brought it back.


Diva Break...

The beautiful duo of Layla and Michelle McCool were denied access to Raw because they no longer hold the unified Divas title. Nattie Neidhart won the title at Survivor Series with some help from good friend Beth Phoenix. I'm glad to see Beth's return and I hope that her and Natalya get to tag together on SD to spruce up that division. I'm sure Layla and McCool will be looking to regain their gold so I'm sure we will get to see some good rematches.

The big buzz on Raw was about John Cena's departure from WWE. Since he rewarded Orton the title and not Barrett, Cena has been fired from the company. At first I believed that he would be taking some time off. Maybe even until after Royal Rumble but just in time for WrestleMania. But apparently Cena announced on his twitter account that he bought tickets for the Raw show next week in Philly. If his interference during the title match on Raw was any indication, his feud with Barrett is far from over, an employee of the 'E or not. I'm guessing he will be sitting ring side and taunt the Nexus members all night. Also the WWE has been advertising a "Juan Cena" on upcoming house shows. Would Cena put on a lucha libre type of mask so he can stay on Raw? I honestly don't hate that idea. To be honest, it sounds hilarious.

Until Next Time...

... I'm Just Sayin!

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

Raw Goes Old School

Welcome to another end of the work week edition of the Daily Slam! The WWE is at the beginning of the WrestleMania long hall. After this Sunday there is only 3 pay per views until the grand daddy of them all. Things will sure to be heating up in the next couple of months before the 'E heads to Atlanta. While we still have some time til then, this week the WWE held the first ever Old School Raw. The Nexus tag team got #1 contenders, Daniel Bryan faced Jack Swagger with some good ol' commentary, and Piper's Pit had some main event guests. All this and much more so let's get started...

The inevitable happened on Raw. The Hart Dynasty finally came to a crashing halt. Tyson Kidd turned on his best friends and looks to be going after that heel image. This is a bad bad move to split one of the few legit tag teams but I like Kidd being the heel coming out of this for now. Remember that when they started together, they were a heel team. I'm curious to see how these two do in single form.

Speaking of tag teams, Vladimir Koslov and Santino beat the Usos to become the new #1 contenders for the tag titles this Sunday at Survivor Series against Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater. With such a small list of possible opponents for the current champs, I don't mind the goofy team of Vlad/Santino getting a shot. I don't see the Nexus duo losing but winning might be because of some outside interference.

The match of the night on Raw was Swagger vs Bryan. Then you throw Jim Ross on the commentary and it's the greatest thing possible on free tv. It was a good back and forth match with Daniel Bryan winning with a brutal kick to Jack's head. I hope these two are on the same show in the very near future because more matches between them will show how good technical wrestling can be.

Divas Break...

Piper's Pit was featured at the end of Raw and had some great dynamics. Rowdy Roddy Piper made the main event for Survivor Series look more important than the creative team has for the past three weeks. Piper told Cena that by him handing Barrett the belt, it's like a slap in the face to all the older wrestlers who never held the prestigious WWE Championship. All the dynamics between Piper, Orton, Cena, and Barrett made the Survivor Series ppv sound worth the money alone. At the end of the segment, Orton gave Cena an RKO but was hit but John's Attitude Adjustment following. Cena then gave Barrett one as well to end the show. What will Cena end up doing as the guest referee this Sunday?

In some TNA Wrestling news, Eric Young has signed a new contract with the company which is a wise choice on TNA's part. He may not be main event level yet but when you have a roster full of old timers, his time to shine is inevitable. Lacey Von Erich has asked for her release from the company which makes me sad. One of the hottest knockouts apparently wasn't too happy with her progress and wants to try other venues. Also, last night on Impact current TNA Champ Jeff Hardy defeated Raven which means he is now fired from the company. I am really starting to enjoy Jeff's new heel gimmick and I'm a little disappointed that the 'E didn't try this out.

Until Next Time...

I'm Just Sayin!

A-List in Hot Water

Welcome to this weeks edition of The Daily Slam! We are coming to the end of the 2nd week in November which means Survivor Series is only 9 days away. This weeks topics include "A-List" Otunga facing John Cena, The Nexus took on Team Orton, MVP has a shot at gold, and departures from the business. Roll the banner...

Apparently David Otunga aka A-List aka Mr. Jennifer Hudson is testing the water of becoming a leader in the Nexus clan. He lead the group to SmackDown last week and was successful at beating down individuals but fell short to win a team vs team match. On Raw, Barrett was none to happy with Otunga's efforts so he threw him into a match against other Nexus member John Cena. John won the match easily leaving Barrett to the decision of giving Otunga one last shot. A-List faces Edge on SD tonight and if he loses, he will be kicked out of the Nexus faction. Even if Otunga beats Edge, there is a lot of tension building up with Barrett and Otunga and it will be interesting to see if David lashes out. He could even cost the bare knuckle brawler his shot at the WWE title.

Speaking of those who wear a big N on their chest, they took on Randy Orton and a team hand picked by the anonymous general manager. The Nexus won but only because of betrayal involving The Miz. The current MITB holder gave the current champ a skull crushing finale allowing Barrett to pick up the victory. The Miz shows once again that he is the top heel and that his mind is on the gold at all times. Even if Barrett wins the title at Survivor Series, he lose it seconds later to a weasel lurking around the corner in Mike Mizanin. Also, the new stipulations for the WWE Championship match at Survivor Series are win by pin-fall or submission only. Has Barrett ever showed any form of submission maneuvers in the past? Hell his finishing move is weak so his submission moves should be something interesting to see.

Diva Break...

Just when you thought things were looking down for the "ballin" one on the blue brand, he gets some new theme music and now a shot at Intercontinental gold. MVP hasn't been on the receiving end of wins as of late so it's good to see him get a new shot at something and even a single ppv match. I can see him and Ziggler having some good back and forth matches so Dolph possibly losing the title to MVP at Survivor Series wouldn't be a bad thing since a rematch is a given.

Some off screen news this week; William Regal made an announcement overseas that his time in the ring is coming to a close soon. He through out that word "maybe" but I feel its inevitable. With all this young talent being brought in, someone like Regal is being lost in the mix. I don't remember the last time he had an actual one on one match on Raw. If Superstars had its own roster he would be the face of it that's for sure. With CM Punk being sidelined due to injury it appears that Sir William is being placed into a feud with his protege Daniel Bryan. I can't express how excited I am to see these two square off for hopefully a good 15 min match. If Regal is looking at hanging up his boots, I imagine he will stick around the WWE and help develop young stars. If tough enough does return, he should be the first person considered to be a coach.

Another person that has been let go by TNA due to contract talks. Eric Young has left the company and maybe heading to the indy circuit or RoH I would imagine. The WWE might be a good fit for Mr. Young even though they'd repackage him with some crazy name. I always thought Eric has good ring presence but was always misused with some stupid TNA creative direction. He should tell Desmond Wolfe to leave TNA and those two join CM Punk & Daniel Bryan in the 'E as a new 4 person stable. Oh how I could only see greatness coming from that idea.

Last thing on my mind is next week's "Old School" Raw. The WWE is bring back the old theme and some old faces to the Monday night show. There are many confirmed guests but I have my own list of hopefuls such as Jake "the Snake" Roberts, The Brooklyn Brawler, and last but not least....Sid Vicious. I will mark out if any of those 3 appear on my tv screen.

Well that's it for this week. Until Next Time...

... I'm Just Sayin!

Special Guest Referee

Welcome to another edition of the self proclaimed greatest column written on this blog, The Daily Slam! After a one week hiatis, I am back with another week ending post with my thoughts on the current state of the wresting entertainment industry (mostly WWE). The main focus this week is John Cena's big dilemma going into Survivor Series, the Hart Dynasty's fall from grace, Lita makes a teeny-tiny-pee-wee return, and Vince wakes up from his coma. All this and maybe a little a bit more..... roll the banner!

Heading into one of the original "four big ones" pay per views, Survivor Series, we have a match of epic proportions. If you thought John Cena being in Wade Barrett's corner at Bragging Rights was bad enough for current WWE Champion Randy Orton then shit just hit the fan. Cena has been assigned to be Special Guest Referee for the Barrett/Orton rematch which entails some extra motivation for Cena to help the leader of Nexus. If Wade wins the gold then Cena is vanquished of his current duties to the Nexus faction and can be on his merry little way. On the flip side, if Orton retains the title then Cena will be fired on the spot via Wade Barrett. Not sure why Wade has that kind of control but apparently he is the all mighty ruler when it comes to John's contract. I thought he was just his slave but apparently he has Cena's job in his hands as well. Definitely makes for an interesting concept.

With this Nexus is in charge of Cena storyline and being somewhat in control of what happens a lot on Raw, it makes me curious as to who the mystery GM is and why he/she allows it to continue. I am beginning to think that the anonymous person will be revealed soon and I have a hunch as to who the person will be. She goes by the name of Stephanie McMahon. Her and her hubby, Triple H, have been off of tv for quite some time now and their return should be approaching shortly. I don't see the Game sitting out of the major pay per views coming up such as Royal Rumble and WrestleMania. I think Steph will reveal herself as the GM and HHH will be standing next to her proclaiming that he was also pulling the strings. This could lead to the story of they were responsible for Nexus attacking Vince resulting in his coma and also taking out the Undertaker. Could we get Taker vs Triple H at Mania? Maybe Jericho returns and reveals them to be the GM's since he said he knew who it was before his departure setting up a HHH vs Jericho match. Ponder this for a second.... on Raw, after Vince's sudden awake from his coma they show Steph waking up from a terrible dream that was what we just witnessed with Vince. Triple H assured her that her father was still brain dead and she seemed happy about that. Looks like the start of a Steph/HHH heel story to me.

Speaking of bizarre things to happen on Raw, Pee Wee Herman was the guest host, him and the divas played twister, and Big Show is apparently his cousin who dresses like him. Okay none of those are actually bizarre enough to top the return of Lita. Yes one of the greatest divas/woman wrestlers in the industry made a quick cameo along side Pee Wee. It was the "WTF" moment of the week and it has people speculating on a possible return. Could Lita bring some much needed spark to the Divas division? Is this Vince's way of saying TNA can have Mickie James cause Lita is back? Or was this a one shot deal for some quick cash? I'm banking on option three (no pun intended) since the divas division is nothing like it was when Lita was there and Mickie serves no threat to the WWE by joining TNA. I'd love to see a return by the high flying diva but I'm not about to get my hopes up.

Diva Break...

The rise and fall of the Hart Dynasty is a short lived tale. Uncle Bret helped them reach the top of the mountain and win the unified tag team titles but now Tyson Kidd and David Hart Smith are on different wave lengths. Honestly I don't know which one is leaning more towards the heel side since they both could play that role well. I'd prefer Kidd since he'd probably end up being a jobber as a face. This is the worst possible timing to split up the only real tag team on the roster but it appears that Vince is on a one way course to end the tag team division all together. Make me miss the good old days of the Headbangers, Legion of Doom, New Age Outlaws, the Acolytes, the Hardyz.... I could go on for awhile but you get my point. We live in a time where teams are just thrown together at random and hope it makes for a good showing. At least the Harts were the last to hold the true WWE tag titles. 

Some sad news recently reported is that CM Punk is going to be out of action for about 3 months while recovering from a hip injury. Terrible timing for the Straight Edge superstar seeing that he was looking for a fresh start on Raw after being traded from SD. Looks like the Punk/Bryan possible feud will be put on hold. I'd rather see it at Mania anyways.

In some TNA Wrestling news, it seems that they are finally seeing the potential that Matt Morgan has by placing him in the championship bout this Sunday against the newly crowned Jeff Hardy. On no level do I believe Morgan has a shot at winning the gold but it's still nice to see them making some positive moves. Most likely we will see some sort of interference to help Jeff win the match to help push the Hardy heel persona. Also Kevin Nash looks to be out of TNA and looking right back at his old stomping grounds. He tweeted some interesting comments as of late to insinuate his desire to return. He posted "Vince let me in the Rumble if I win i get taker at mania. If I lose I’ll join the kiss your ass club the next raw…………….DEAL?" I'm all for a Nash return but only for the reason that WrestleMania is in Atlanta this year. I do not wish to see him getting title shots mid summer. Too many young stars need the spotlight right now.

That is all for this week. Until next time....

.... I'm Just Sayin!

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!

SmackDown Take Over

Welcome one and all to another edition of The Daily Slam! The Bragging Rights pay per view is this Sunday and it looks like SmackDown has the momentum. Teddy Long takes out the mystery GM, huge roster battle royal, Daniel Bryan challenges Dolph Ziggler, and Goldust continues his dominance. Let's get to it...

Teddy Long took over this past Raw. Not only did he unplug the annoynomus Raw General Manager but he called the shots and I must say I was overall pleased. No more Micahel Cole saying "and I quote..." for one night is soothing to my ear drums. Teddy announced a captain vs captain match (Miz vs Big Show) to main event the show but ended up changing it to a Raw vs SD battle royal. The finish was kind of surprising. Edge and Big Show stood tall to give the blue brand the extra momentum heading into the Bragging Rights show.

John Cena tagged with Randy Orton to take on Husky Harris & Michael Mcguilicutty. Even though Orton/Cena got the win, the champion was on the wrong end of the track after the bout. Nexus took out Orton which helps Barrett going into his title match on Sunday. Cena is looking more and more of a follower to the Nexus leader which could result in us seeing a new champion. Cena must listen to Barrett's every order or else in which leads us to one question.... what does Cena do for Barrett when the cameras are not on? Just kidding, this is a PG show. But seriously, Orton is at quite a disadvantage in his title defense since Cena and Nexus will be looking for the opportunity to give Wade a helping hand.

Dolph Ziggler could be facing his toughest opponent to date this Sunday and good thing it isn't a title match. Daniel Bryan issued the challenge and Ziggler gladly accepted followed by trying to take out Bryan. Unfortunately for him, Daniel locked in the LeBelle Lock in what could be a preview for their match. Will we have one more member of the "You Tapperd Out" club? Can Mr Ziggles and his cougar Vickie take out the American Dragon? That's the one match on the card that I am most excited about seeing. Also, Bryan has some sick dance skills.

There was a squash match that involved the one and only Zack Ryder. That's not suprising. What is suprising though is that he got his ass handed to him by the golden one... GOLDUST! This man has been steam rolling through the company as of late. First he steals DiBiase's million dollar belt. Then he proposes to his rookie diva. Next he is dominating a mid carder in 30 seconds. Also, Ted tried to pull a fast one over Goldie but was hit with the Final Cut and left the million dollar son laying on his back motionless. Goldust looks to be in the best shape he's been in for the past few years and is getting a little storyline to keep the fans interested. Glad Vince is showing his appreciation for one of the hardest workers in the company.

This week's Slam is a little shorter than most but be sure to check out my ppv prediction for this weekend. I would also like to throw out a good luck to Brock Lesnar for his fight this Saturday against Cain Velasquez. Lesnar is one of the only reasons I watch UFC and I hope he silences all these doubters once again via first round submission. Team DeathClutch all the way!

Until Next Time...

... I'm Just Sayin!

SmackDown's New Home

Welcome to another edition of The Daily Slam! Tonight is the premiere of Friday Night SmackDown on the SyFy channel, the Hell in a Cell pay per view is this Sunday, Christian has surgery, and LayCool better prepare for the new #1 contender. Let's get started...

The biggest news of the week is tonight's live show of SmackDown. The blue brand has found a new home for itself and hopefully opens up more opportunities for the WWE's talent. SD has been the brand that focuses a little bit  more on the wrestling side rather the entertainment which most of us prefer. The show was robbed of high level talent in this year's draft but have managed to keep things very fresh and has had the upper hand in matches for the better part of 2010. With this move, I see Vince putting a little more focus on the show and maybe bringing some of the Raw main-eventers over to SD to draw in bigger ratings right off the bat. For instance, John Cena and the Nexus faction will be on the show tonight which should draw in much attention since Barret and Cena have a match this Sunday. Anything can happen on a live show so maybe we'll even see a title transfer tonight. Some say Dolph Ziggler might be the next heel-to-face superstar and with turmoil with him and Vickie, tonight could be the launching point for Dolph,.

On a sad note for SmackDown, the show has lost one of it's favorite superstars for at least 4 months. Christian had surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle and will most likely be off air for quiet some time. This comes at the worst possible time for the blue brand as Christian has been a solid anchor in the ring on Friday nights and someone will need to step up their game to fill those shoes. The show will need Rey Mysterio to come back or as I already mentioned, maybe a Dolph Ziggler face turn. But speaking of Captain Charisma, this leaves him out of action almost til Royal Rumble. Could an epic return happen like they did with Cena and Edge? Or what about this feud between Edge and the mystery GM? Christian could reveal it was him the whole time and set up a WrestleMania match for those two. Then Jericho returns to help Christian win. Okay, way ahead of myself but it would be epic on many levels.

Over on Raw this week we saw Natalya win the Divas Battle Royal for her shot at the newly crowned Unified Divas Champion, LayCool. This is long overdue by Raw writers to put Natalya in the Divas title contention. She is one of the better in-ring workers that the company has and yet she's been a valet for a majority of the year. If any diva is to take the belt from the Flawless duo, I hope it's Natalya as it would be her first reign. If not, then at least keep a feud alive long enough for Beth Phoenix to return for those two to team up against LayCool. That could be a fun divas tag match which is the opposite of whats on WWE tv in the divas division as of late.

Diva Break...

Also on Raw, we witnessed the possible end to one's long career. Chris Jericho had his skull punted in from Randy Orton. In the past this means that character will be taking some time off due to the seriousness of the "laced up boots to the side of the cranium" kick. Chris has been leaning towards taking some much needed time off so he can tour with Fozzy and rest his body. The man of 1004 holds is the best in-ring wrestler on the roster and it is a huge blow to the WWE  with his vacancy. After buying and watching his new biography, I don't believe he is finished with wrestling in one bit. The new Chris Jericho/anti-Y2J gimmick is still somewhat fresh and I can't imagine he wants to go out like that. On the dvd he does say that when he leaves the business, it's going to be by physically being removed ala kicking and screaming. Chris wants no hero's goodbye like Flair or HBK did. He is a man who is true to his character and deserves the up most respect for his talent in and out of the ring. I wish him well with all of his future plans and hopefully he returns sooner than later.

Other than all the buzz being around SmackDown tonight, it's on what will be the outcome of one particular match this Sunday at Hell in a Cell. Wade Barrett versus John Cena is a major match depending the outcome. We have 3 possible scenarios; Cena wins and Nexus disbands, Barrett wins and Cena joins Nexus and disbands them internally, or Barrett wins and Cena turns heel to lead Nexus. Unless there is some kind of bullshit twist that Vince throws in there, we will be witnessing a new direction for either one man or 5 men. I like the Cena turns full blown heel and leads Nexus. It's almost Hogan/nWo type deal yet its somewhat new as well. If the group disbands, I can only see Barrett and Gabriel sticking around for the next few years. But if Cena is a part of the group and helps pull all the members over, it could mean all new possibilities for Slater, Otunga, and Tarver. Also, Cena could pull in some new members. I kind of miss Husky Harris being around. So much athleticism for such a big guy.

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!