DaveyBoy’s Wrestling Menu – Survivor Series Predictions, Raw + Flair As Champ?
Submitted by DaveyBoy on Wednesday, November 22, 2006 at 3:54 AM EST
THE WRESTLING MENU #206
Welcome one and all to the 206th edition of The Wrestling Menu, the column that is sure to satisfy your taste buds when it comes to discussing all things wrestling.
Here I am back on Wednesday morning with my more standard column following on from my 3 pronged attack on the Ric Flair DVD. I am DaveyBoy... The man that scores more touchdowns than LaDainian Tomlinson & is so glad that he was randomly given the 3rd draft pick in fantasy football this year to choose him with. By the way, being that this year is the first ever time I have played Fantasy NFL, can someone tell me if 10 wins & 1 loss is good so far this season...???
Well, since I last wrote a non-DVD Review column, a couple of things have caught my eye in the wacky world of professional wrestling. And while the WWE have been over to the UK for a couple of solid television shows, it's been TNA that has been defining wacky of late. My head has genuinely been spinning with regards to the X-Division Title... It seems like it was just last week that Senshi was the champ & now he is 3 times removed from that position. Now I admittedly cannot view the product, but that seems like some real nonsensical booking right there.
And the 'Genesis' pay-per-view wasn't exactly booked much better. It is obvious that TNA were relying on Angle vs Joe to carry the entire event, with a little help from LAX vs AMW. Don't get me wrong, I think TNA are indeed in a tough position right now in that they have to convert casual fans into regular ones. That was one of the reasons why I could forgive them for hot-shotting the X-Division Title to AJ Styles. But what was exactly the point of having him hold the title for so little time?
Oh well, I can only hope that TNA get things right booking-wise in the new year, because right now, they appear a little confused with anything that is not Angle vs Joe! Hell, I am confused with whether or not LAX are still the tag champs & who the hell the World Champ currently is!!! Are they trying to claim that Abyss has just won the title by disqualification when there was no such stipulation for the bout...!?!?!?
You know, ever since LOP's mainstay columnist Mr.Tito retired from column-writing last month, I have had the occasional email asking me "When are you going to start writing columns like Tito..???" I'm not 100% sure what that means since we are different people, but maybe those last 3 paragraphs were sufficiently Tito-like for some of you readers out there!
Anyway, just in case you forgot, this is DaveyBoy... The Column Writing Machine... Mr Wednesday Morning & now... it's on with the show.....
APPETIZERS – Flair As Champ?
Over the past couple of weeks, I have written 3 separate columns reviewing Ric Flair's 'Ultimate Collection' DVD set in detail. If you have yet to read at least my conclusion on that set, you may still do so by clicking on the following link: http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2006_/articles/1163889529.php . Within that column #205, there are also links for my reviews of the first 2 discs of the set.
It was great looking back through the career of one of the true legends of professional wrestling. But it was especially good for someone like myself that had practically no experience of viewing WCW or NWA prior to the mid 1990's. And it was prior to the mid 90's when Ric Flair undoubtedly graced us with his best work in the ring. So seeing some of those classic matches (not to mention feuds) against Rhodes, Windham, Sting & Steamboat were as much informative & interesting, as they were entertaining.
Toward the end of the 3rd disc of the set, a very good extended chapter takes a look at an impromptu May 2003 World HeavyWeight Title bout that Flair had against fellow heel Evolution member Triple H. This was a tremendously pleasant surprise of a bout which was booked to perfection in that it made many fans (whether live or at home) actually feel as if Flair would pull off the upset win on the night. In fact, in my review this past weekend, I stated that there was "... a super close 2 count that almost has the crowd rushing the ring!"
That was genuinely the way it felt to me both on the night & even 3 years later watching the match again on this DVD. In the days, weeks & months following the bout, there was some very good discussion around the internet as to whether Ric Flair was worthy of another (17th) World HeavyWeight Title reign. Those that had previously been in favor of it used this bout, it's quality & the crowd reaction to prove their point. While those against it couldn't help but think twice at the evidence put forward at the time.
Now, some three & a half years later, the question remains. It may have died down a little of late, but with a recent World Tag-Team Title reign (no matter how short it was), the debate has picked up a little once more. So, I will once more pose the question: Is Ric Flair deserving of another World Title reign (whether it be the World HeavyWeight Title or the WWE Championship)...???
My answer is quite simply NO. In fact, I have been against it since Flair re-entered the WWE some 5 years back. Yes, that memorable night in May of 2003 did make me think twice for a few moments, but I feel that the correct decision was made that night on Raw, as well as ever since. Those in favor of another title reign will cite a few facts that I cannot argue with. They are (in no particular order): (a) The watering down of World Titles since there are now 3 in the WWE, (b) that an experienced wrestler such as Flair can beat anyone on his night, and (c) a legend such as Flair deserves another title reign before he retires.
Like I said, I cannot argue with any of those 3 reasons. And I may seem like a complete ba$tard for saying this, but I don't believe any combination of those 3 factors merits a World Title reign for such a veteran wrestler that is well past his best. Yes, Flair can still wrestle a more than decent short to medium length bout. He has proven that this year. But in a semi-realistic way, Flair has no business being ranked anywhere near the best wrestler in the business here in 2006. In fact, he shouldn't be anywhere near the title that John Cena currently holds & the only way he should be given such a shot is if it were to be handed to him in an extraordinary fashion, as was the case in his bout against Triple H in 2003.
MAIN – Raw Review
I have actually had this week off from work, so since we get Raw on a Wednesday afternoon (Tuesday night U.S time) in Australia, I thought I would take this rare opportunity to review this week's episode of the WWE's live offering. I felt that it was an extremely important show for the WWE in that (a) Raw has been pretty ordinary of late, and (b) the Survivor Series ppv which looks good on paper hadn't really been given much (effective) promotion over the past couple of weeks on WWE programming.
You should all know the drill with my television reviews by now. For those that don't, basically do not expect anything too detailed & the only time I get too serious is when something really pi$$es me off. So if that's not a cue for Shelton Benjamin being defeated by Mickie James or The Boogeyman, then I don't know what is!!!
- Team Cena begins the show in the ring... Then Team RKO take up position in the crowd... As do Team Flair & Team DX, as HBK takes the thoughts out of my head with his comment about "starting the Royal Rumble now". Triple H then speaks for a while (of course) & even gives CM Punk a compliment. But if you looked closely, you would have seen H hand Punk a note. I paused the frame & then magnified it... The note said "Don't even think about using my finisher from the top-rope"!
This all leaves the entrance ramp open for Team Big Show, which allows Cena to put forth the idea of all 6 teams going at it now. But Vinnie Mac graces us with his presence & calls off the impromptu bout by making the main-event of the night an '8 man Captains Tag-team Match'! Very good opening segment that decently put over 3 matches at the upcoming ppv & set up what should be a terrific television main-event.
- Well it looks as if we will be getting some inter-brand bouts tonight which is a good idea to further promote Survivor Series during the final week. Sabu takes on Umaga first up & the Samoan Bulldozer pretty much squashes the ECW Original in a rather short bout. Effective in putting over Umaga, but very ineffective in highlighting Sabu's strengths. The odds for the homicidal, genocidal, suicidal one surviving on Sunday have blown out to double figures following this performance!
- Next up we get a segment featuring Torrie Wilson, Jerry Lawler, Chris Masters & Carlito. The live crowd seemed to like it, but it seemed like total filler to me. Furthermore, I'm not really anticipating any potential match-up that could come from all of this. Seems like it's all an excuse to keep Carlito busy for mine... but on the undercard of all places!
- A couple of handy backstage segments involving Nitro, Hardy, Flair & The Spirit Squad lead up to the pre-advertised Ladder Match for the InterContinental Title between champion Jeff Hardy & challenger Johnny Nitro. Jeff strangely chants for himself at the beginning of this terrific bout that wouldn't have looked out of place on any ppv card (including WrestleMania).
There was some great use of ladders during this title match, yet there wasn't anything that one could consider too un-naturally spotty. Highlights included a dropkick from off the ladder by Nitro, a missed Swanton onto a ladder from Hardy (which genuinely drew an "OUCH" from me), a sunset-flip into a powerbomb off a ladder & a top-rope legdrop over a ladder from the champ. Hardy retains following that final move & both men's stock surely go up in the eyes of the majority of fans following this bout!
- Backstage, Todd Grisham (who appears to be back to playing a face character after a 1 week heel turn in the UK last week) interviews Dusty Rhodes & his chopped up forehead. Seriously, Hong Kong Phooey must have taken his machete to the American Dream somewhere along the way! Dusty rhymes a little & then heads out to the ring where he takes care of Nicky (thank goodness they didn't sacrifice Johnny) in rather short time. Slow-paced & uneventful filler, but then again... Wasn't most of Dusty's matches...???
- Cryme Tyme remind Edge & Maria of Whitney Houston backstage next. This was not one of the rookie tag-teams best segments thus far, but in general, I think their over-the-top face characters are getting over successfully. A little surprisingly, it is big Shad Gaspard that is impressing on the microphone hitherto. Sorry folks, I love the word "hitherto" & feel the need to throw it in every now & then. Pronounced "hith-er-2" (not hit-her-to), it means "up until this point of time". I am your teacher DaveyBoy Stryker!
- Lita vs Mickie take 19 is up next. This time Mickie is blindfolded. Unfortunately, this 'against-the-odds' angle has not helped a great deal in getting Mickie's face character over. Lita wins swiftly with her version of the DDT & a rough looking moonsault. Afterwards, the woman's champion calls herself "the most dominant woman ever" & "revolutionary", in basically announcing her retirement after Survivor Series. The real-life emotion actually brought something out of Lita with this promo. She still struggles on the mic, but her forcefulness, intensity & confidence were improved on this occasion.
- It's main-event time now & I'm going on record now as saying that I will never like the mixing of Orton & Edge's entrance themes. And this time I won't change my mind. Seriously, it's like trying to listen to 2 people talk about different topics at the same time... You just want to knock one of them out! Anyway, Cena & Flair attempt to defeat the heels all by their lonesome, before the faces dispatch Edge & The Big Show individually.
We come back from a commercial break & finally get to see the heels getting in some offense. HBK plays the face-in-peril for what seems like an eternity, before he counters an RKO & finally gets the hot tag to Cena who dominates Kenny. The match breaks down from there & the faces remove The Big Show from the equation, before Cena F-U's Kenny for the pin. Afterwards, every man & his dog get in the ring to end the show. This main-event was a touch disappointing for mine in that it gave every indication to be building up to something & then just ended. Having said that, it was still better than most Raw main-events over the past few months & did an effective job in hyping the upcoming ppv.
Overall, this was a pretty good episode of Raw. Let's not overrate it comparatively due to some of the crap we have had to watch of late, but is was sufficiently entertaining & effective in hyping the upcoming ppv. At the end of the day, that's all I can ask for from a weekly television show. The opening & closing Survivor Series promotions were good, while the mid-show Ladder Match was better than we have any right to expect for free. Elsewhere, it was unmemorable filler, but nothing worthy of changing the channel too quickly. Plus, why would you want to watch Eli Manning get his over-rated a$$ handed to him? In fact, I think it may have been Shelton Benjamin at QB for the Jaguars, as the last place he would be seen nowadays is on Raw!!!
DESSERT
Survivor Series Predictions
Earlier this month at Cyber Sunday, I went 7 from 7 with my world-famous PPV predictions. I actually realized today that I did those predictions in a special weekend edition of 'The Wrestling Menu', so maybe that was the secret behind the successful recipe. I thought of withholding this column until the weekend, but I just like the insignificance that the moniker 'Mr Wednesday Morning' conveys... LOL!
TEAM FLAIR (Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Sgt Slaughter & Ron Simmons) vs THE SPIRIT SQUAD (Kenny, Johnny, Mikey & Nicky): This has remained an 8 man elimination match despite the fact that 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper has withdrawn from the bout due to being hospitalized last week. Ron 'Faarooq' Simmons has been called in to join the ranks of Team Flair in beating down the Green Machine. This bout is solely here to get the live crowd involved & therefore it should open the card. If booked in an entertaining fashion & kept short, it could well be relatively successful. But definitely keep your expectations low here. I don't have a great deal of doubt that the legends will get the win, with probably Flair & Rhodes both surviving. Winners: Team Flair
CHRIS BENOIT vs CHAVO GUERRERO for the United States Title: As much as there has been criticism of the booking of both of Chavo's most recent feuds (whether because of his push or the Guerrero name), it's fair to say that he has been booked fairly successfully of late. And while characters such as Benoit's & Chavo's will never set the wrestling world alight, this has been a decent midcard storyline that should result in a decent midcard ppv match here. I'm sure it's happened, but I can't recall these 2 ever hooking up against each other in a singles ppv bout, so it will be interesting to see what kind of quality they can conjure up come Sunday. While I do feel it is too early to move the US Title on once more, this is Chris Benoit & the WWE love using him as a transitional midcard champion. That, plus the fact that storyline momentum is pointing to Chavo tells me we will have a new champ. Winner: Chavo Guerrero
TEAM CENA (John Cena, Rob Van Dam, Bobby Lashley, Kane & Sabu) & vs TEAM BIG SHOW (The Big Show, Umaga, Finlay, MVP & Test): That heel team reminds me of some of those late 1980's teams that used to fill up The Survivor Series. Who could ever forget the team of Andre, Bundy, One Man Gang, Butch Reed & Rick Rude? Funnily enough, that team defeated the Hulk Hogan captained team back in 1987 & it wouldn't totally surprise me to see the heels cause the upset here (especially since Cena got the pin on Raw). This is one of those bouts that looks as if it could be a total train-wreck on paper, but will probably be quite good due to the 10 man elimination format. No-one will be asked to do too much on the heel team, while they will all be given enough breathers to keep the pace moving. This could be a good time & place to have Cena be pinned by Umaga to further their feud, but I'll play it safe & say that Cena comes back from a 2 or 3 on 1 disadvantage & ends up as the sole survivor. Winners: Team Cena
LITA vs MICKIE JAMES for the Women's Title: Following some terrific booking in the Women's Division during 2006, the WWE has let itself down with this feud. It's clearly the correct feud to have gone with & it was even the correct decision to have Mickie initially chasing the title from the despised Lita. But they have made such a non-event of Mickie's face character that many fans simply don't care. And these 'against-the-odds' television bouts of late have not worked simply because they have been so ridiculous. I said it last month & I will say it again; These 2 should be able to put on a decent bout. Now they just have to do it! A few weeks back I would have had Mickie odds on to win the title here. Now I'm not so sure, but will presume that the WWE will stick with their original plans. Winner: Mickie James
THE UNDERTAKER vs KEN KENNEDY in a First Blood Match: This has appeared to be the prototypical Undertaker feud of the past 2-3 years with the dead man not exactly contributing a great deal. But in this case, he hasn't had to. This is because Kennedy (in what is undoubtedly impressing the WWE) has stepped up promo-wise & has almost made this feud interesting on his own. Hopefully, he has also impressed 'Taker so much that these 2 can get the best out of themselves on the night & improve on their good No Mercy match. I wouldn't put the house on it, but it's a possibility & the 'First Blood' stipulation could just add that variety required to bring about something different to take this bout a step further in the right direction. The stipulation also opens the door for a fluke win to the heel & it would probably be wise booking. But this is The Undertaker & you can only expect a set number of losses from him per year! Winner: The Undertaker
KING BOOKER vs BATISTA for the World HeavyWeight Title: I have mixed feelings about this entire feud & match-up, so I don't even know what I want to happen, let alone what will happen in this bout. In a way, it's been wise booking for the WWE to keep these 2 away from each other in the ring, but always crossing paths outside of the ring, over the past couple of months. It was always going to end in a title match here, but where to now? I think that all depends on the match quality here & it's about time these 2 really stepped up. Neither has been ordinary this year, but nor have they been anywhere near outstanding. Well, it's time to take a step up now as both men are getting the crowd reactions that the WWE wants & 'good' simply won't cut it in what is basically a co-main-event of a 3 brand ppv. It may be a risky booking move to keep the title on Booker, but I have a feeling that the WWE are going to bleed his charcater dry for every month that they can (maybe as far as WrestleMania in over 4 months time)! Winner: King Booker
TEAM DX (Triple H, Shawn Michaels, CM Punk, Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy) vs TEAM RKO (Edge, Randy Orton, Mike Knox, Gregory Helms & Johnny Nitro: Due to the talent involved & the variables associated with this 10 man elimination match, I feel this will be the main-event of this pay-per-view. I also don't see how the heels can get the victory here, unless the WWE want to continue Randy Orton's Survivor Series streak for some reason! Once more, the 10 man format should really make this match a very good one & throwing in The Hardyz along with Nitro & Helms will only make this better. If booked correctly, this could really be a nice mix of wrestling & entertainment that satisfies all but the DX haters. If anything, this match deserved a stronger build-up, but I'm quite confident that the fans will all still go home happy come Sunday night. Winners: Team DX
Ok, so there we have this year's version of The Survivor Series. I think it's a pretty good looking card that has only been letdown by it's build-up. But I suppose that is going to happen when you try & squeeze 4 ppv events into 6 or 7 weeks!!! Due to the length of the two 10 man elimination matches on the card, I think the WWE will actually stick to the 7 bouts listed above. And when you look at those 7 matches, pretty much every one of them could be very good. I suppose it would be an outside shot for the opener & women's matches to rate above 7 out of 10, but there is a possibility if booked & performed well. The other 5 bouts have the potential to be anything & I think it's fair to state that the elimination matches usually end up being very well handled. So despite the relative lack of build-up for this event, I am quite looking forward to it & don't think it wll disappoint come the night.
That is all for column #206. If you would like to send me feedback on any of the 3 topics that I have discussed today, you may do so by emailing me at DaveyBoy123@bigpond.com. As per usual, I will reply to everyone. But if you are an LOP Forums member, it would be much appreciated if you could leave feedback on my thread at http://www.lopforums.com/showthread.php?t=217&page=2
Next week in 'The Wrestling Menu', I will obviously have my review of the Survivor Series ppv. But because the WWE have decided in their infinite wisdom to run back-to-back pay-per-views, it's also time to predict another event. So if they announce a card that consists of more than 1 match, I will have my 'December To Dismember' predictions here for you all. Other than that, who knows what else I will serve up to you. As per usual, my column will be posted at the same Wednesday time on the same LOP channel. Until then, this is DaveyBoy signing off & asking you to remember that dinner is best served in 3 courses.
DaveyBoy’s Wrestling Menu. 2002-2006
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