-  Tonight's RAW is commercial free.  Should be a little more entertaining to watch with matches going a little longer.  I know I will appreciate that.  As for Sacrifice, looks like a bunch of unanswered questions for Thursday night.  Why advertise Sting vs. Jarrett, build it up, waste time on TV, and then can't deliver when you know Sting has been injured for a month??!?!?   Blackhawks 1, Sharks 0.  I love it.  Cue the opening video.

-  Speaking of Raw's opening video, is it me, or does it look like the old Saturday Night's Main event video?  Your hosts are Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler.  Tonight, Sheamus faces John Cena and Buzz Aldrin is your guest host.

-  What a better way to get a huge pop, than kicking off Raw with "Canada's own", Bret Hart.  And of course, he is so beloved in his home country that a fan holds up a "Brett Hart" sign.  Bret can't believe that the Miz would have the nerve to challenge him to a match tonight.  He called up WWE HQ and said book the match.  Bret takes a shot at wrestlers overstaying their welcome.  He said he won't be wrestling anyone tonight.  Out comes Chris Jericho to an almost equal pop as Bret.  Jericho wants to know why did Bret even comes back to the WWE in the first place.  He calls Bret a has-been and the ultimate hypocrite.  Bret says Jericho is the biggest hypocrite.  He says he couldn't deliver a proper headlock and Bret's brother having to teach him.  Jericho says he was much better than Bret ever was.  Jericho says that no one wants Bret around.  Crowd chants they want Bret.  He says Bret is too scared to take on the Miz.  He says that Bret's father would be ashamed of him.  Bret changes his mind and tells Jericho to let Miz know there will be a match tonight.  Jericho says Bret is going to get himself intentionally disqualified.  He dares Bret to make it no DQ.  Bret accepts.  Bret says he is no hypocrite and promises that he will walk around Young Street with the US title around his waist.

-  Tonight is Pick Your Poison between Randy Orton and Edge.  They will pick each other's opponents.  WWEShop.com has a commercial similar to the Geico commercial.  Great Khali, Runjan Singh, and Hornswoggle.  Yeah, you can figure out the rest.

Pick Your Poison Match
1.  Edge vs.  Christian
-  Edge attempts to cut a promo to start, but Christian comes out to Edge's surprise.  Lockup goes to a stalemate.  Second lockup and Edge works the arm.  Christian sends him off and hiptoss gets 1.  Edge up and slaps Christian.  Edge bails and Christian chases him around the ring.  Edge nails Christian coming back in.  Christian off the ropes, slides under Edge and slaps him back.  Second shot sends Edge laying across the 2nd rope.  Christian stands on the back and hop over the top for an uppercut.  Edge blocks it and Christian hits a basement dropkick throught the ropes.  Christian WILL FLY!  Edge up first and throws Christian into the barrier.  Christian back in at a 9.  Edge stomps him coming back in.  Edge grabs the arm and puts a knee into Christian's elbow.  Christian asks for the crowd's help and calls spots in the ring.  Christian off the ropes and Edge shoulderblocks him down.  Edge goes back to work on the arm.  Christian is down and Edge drops an elbow on Christian.  Edge plants his feet on both sides of the shoulder and pulls back.  Christian tries to fight out and Edge pushes him back down.  Christian rolls through again and clamps on a headlock.  Edge up and Runs Christian into the corner.  He wrenches Christian in between the ropes and drives Christian back in the ring, shoulder first.  Edge covers and gets 2.  Edge wraps the arm around the top rope and Christian breaks free and slaps Edge in the face.  Both men go to the top and Christian knocks edge off.  Christian nails a Tornado DDT.  Cover gets 2.  Christian punches Edge repeatedly in the head and hits a flying forearm.  Christian charges the corner and Edge puts up an elbow.  Edge charges and eats a face plant.  Christian off the 2nd rope and hits a missile dropkick.  Cover gets 2.  Christian measures Edge and goes for the Killswitch.  Edge escapes and Christian lays him out on the ropes and hits the uppercut.  Christian up top and misses the frog splash.  Impaler DDT by Edge gets 2.8.  Edge misses a charging boot and Christian with a roll up gets 2.  Edge knocks Christian into the bottom rope and measures for a Spear.  Christian boots him in the face and sunset flip gets 2.8!!!!  Christian grabs Edge and Edge drives him faces first into the mat.  Edge measures for a Spear again.  Misses and Christian goes through the ropes and kicks dge down.  Flying elbow.  Killswitch and Edge sends him shoulder first into the post.  SPEAR!  That will finish off Christian @ 12:06.  (God damn that was great.  Even Edge's ring psychology by working the arm and the arm being Christian's downfall.  A-.)

-  Randy Orton is on the Titantron and says that is not who Edge was supposed to face tonight.  All of a sudden out comes the UNDERTAKER!

PICK YOUR POISON MATCH
2.  Edge vs. The Undertaker
-  Fortunately Taker's entrance gives Edge some time to recuperate.  Edge doesn't want to get back in the ring.  Ref counts Edge out even though he is standing on the apron.  Edge drops to the floor and loses the match via COUNT OUT @ 0:39.  (DUD)

-  Christian throws Edge back in the ring and Undertaker chokeslams Edge back in the ring.  Taker leaves and raises his fist to pay tribute to Bad News Brown.

-  After a Over the Limit commercial, we see Maryse looking at a magazine with Trish Stratus.  She says she is not Canadian.  She is French Canadian.  She continues talking shit while Eve Torres comes up behind her and attacks her.  Referees pull apart.

-  Now we see Buzz Aldrin talking to his wife, Lois.  In walks Vickie Guerrero saying that she is the GM.  Buzz says that she walked off last week and her replacement will be here next week.  Apparently Buzz is pimping his new iPhone app.  In walk the Bella twins.  They escort Vickie out of the arena.

-  Now we see what Batista did to Mark Henry from last week.  So.....out walks Mark Henry for a match and is sporting the biggest ace bandage I have ever seen.  Batista runs up from behind and breaks a 2X4 across his back.  He beats on Henry on the outside of the ring and throws him into the ringsteps.  Henry is out and sprawled across the steps.  Batista asks for his spotlight to come on and poses on all the corners.

-  WWE Raw is commercial free, but now a word from our sponsors.  A Mastercard commercial spoof about R-Truth and his troubles with Ted DiBiase comes on.

3.  Ted DiBiase (with Virgil!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) vs.  Yoshi Tatsu
-  I have made many a Virgil joke in my day, but the man can barely walk.  Tatsu is way too excited for being about to job.  DiBiase starts and takes him down and works the arm.  DiBiase backs him in the corner and elbows Yoshi.  Yoshi off the ropes, flips off the arm, and dropkicks DiBiase down.  Cover gets 1.  DiBiase up and peppers Yoshi in the corner.  Yoshi whipped into the corner and tries to hop over DiBiase, but DiBiase hits a gutbuster on Yoshi.  Cover gets 2.  DiBiase clamps down on a chinlock.  DiBiase charges the corner and Yoshi elbows him.  Yoshi comes back and kicks DiBiase in the mouth.  Yoshi hits with kicks and a double knee in the corner.  Rolls through with a snapmare and kicks DiBiase in the chest.  Cover gets 2.  Yoshi off the ropes and runs into DREAMSTREET @ 3:09.  (Short, but action packed.  C+.)  DiBiase says that Virgil will be in his corner this Sunday.  He tells R-Truth if he can't buy it, he will beat it.  Virgil has to hold the ropes for him as he walks out of the ring.

-  Over the Limit is this Sunday and CM Punk faces Rey Mysterio.

-  In the back, Miz is seen talking to Chris Jericho.  Josh Matthews tries to get a few words with him and he cuts his own promo on his way to the ring.  Miz promises to make Bret Hart tap out to the Sharpshooter.

WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP
NO DISQUALIFICATION
4.  The Miz vs.  Bret Hart
-  Bret sporting the Calgary Hitmen jersey and gives his shades to a kid at ringside.  Bret goes after Miz and Miz bails.  Miz tells him that he doesn't trust Bret.  He says that he paid some people to neutralize the Hart Dynasty.  Out comes William Regal and Vladimir Kozlov.  Hart Dynasty come through the crowd and attack Kozlov and Regal.  Jericho comes through the crowd and jumps in the ring.  In the ring steps, Natalya.  She slaps Jericho.  Miz goes after her and Bret clocks Miz.  Jericho nails Bret.  In comes DH Smith.  He clotheslines Jericho out of the ring.  Miz nails Smith and throws him out the ring.  Miz kicks Bret.  He sets Bret up for the Sharpshooter.  Tyson Kidd hits a missile dropkick and takes out Miz.  Hart Attack on Miz.  Bret puts the Sharpshooter on Miz.  Miz taps out and BRET HART IS THE NEW WWE UNITED STATES CHAMPION @ 3:53.  (How do you rate that?  Seriously?)  Michael Cole's comments about Back to the Future are as gay as his old goatee.

-  Commercial free Raw takes another break to pimp the Wrestlemania DVD.

-  Back on Raw and Michael Cole isn't too pleased with Bret Hart's victory.  Now we go back 2 weeks and see Sheamus's attack on John Cena.

-  Now a word from our sponsors.  A Dos Equis spoof involving Santino Marella.

5.  Layla, Michelle McCool, & Maryse vs.  Eve Torres, & The Bella Twins
-  McCool has a Women's title too.  Jesus.  Maryse attack Eve and their teams have to pull them apart.  Bell rings and Layla headlocks Eve.  Layla rolls up Eve for a 2.  Eve with a Samoan drop and covers for 2.  Neckbreaker by Eve and cover gets 2.  Bree Bella tags in and Layla rolls her up for 2.  Bree on the apron and gets kicked off by McCool.  Back in and she drives a knee into Bree.  Layla tags back in and misses a legdrop.  McCool tags back in and Nickie tags in.  Nickie hits her with a short arm elbow.  A couple of dropkicks and the crowd is dead.  Basement dropkick on McCool.  Cover gets 2.  Nickie knocks Maryse and Layla off the apron.  Nickie misses a senton off the 2nd rope.  Maryse tags in and hits the French Kiss for the win @ 3:40.  (Crowd hated it, but the match was OK.  D+.)  After the match, Maryse and Eve tussle it out until they are pulled apart.

-  Josh Matthews is standing by with John Cena.  Crowd boos Cena.  Cena cuts the same old recycled promo about either you are against me or with me.  Cena vows to take Sheamus out.  If Batista beats him Sunday, Cena doesn't deserve to be champion.

PICK YOUR POISON MATCH
6.  Randy Orton vs.  Jack Swagger
-  Swagger goes behind Orton and takes him down.  Lock up and Swagger with a waist lock.  Orton elbows out and slams Swagger down.  Swagger up and kicks Orton low.  He pushes him back in the corner and rams his midsection.  Orton comes out and drops Swagger across his back.  Orton Stomp, but misses the kneedrop.  Clothesline by Swagger gets a 2.  Swagger clamps down on a chinlock.  Orton up and puches free but Swagger hammers him.  Orton out of the corner and clotheslines Swagger.  Swagger bails and kicks Orton on the outside.  He slams Orton into the announce table and stops on his way back in.  Orton catches him in between the ropes and tries for the DDT.  Swagger escapes and slams Orton down.  Swagger now hits 2 Vader bombs.  Orton rolls to the outside.  Swagger hits the ropes and knocks Orton off the apron into the announce table.  He kicks Orton on the outside of the ring.  Now slams the back into the apron.  He rolls Orton back in and cover gets 2.  Swagger goes back to work on the chinlock.  Orton elbows out and then Swagger with an overhead Belly to belly.  Swagger misses the Vader bomb and Orton kicks him in the ribs.  Orton clotheslines Swagger twice and then a deep powerslam.  He catches Swagger between the ropes and DDT's Swagger to the canvas.  Cole yells "VINTAGE".  Orton is poised to strike and in comes Edge for the DQ @ 7:20.  (Another good offering from Orton.  DQ finish wasted a great match.  B-.)  RKO for Swagger and Edge hits his spear on Orton.

-  Another promo, this time for NXT.

- Let's pimp Over the Limit:
1.  Unified tag Team Titles:  Hart Dynasty vs. Miz & Jericho
2.  Punk's hair vs. Mysterio in the SES:  CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio
3.  World Heavyweight Championship:  Jack Swagger vs. Big Show
4.  Edge vs. Randy Orton
5.  WWE Championship, I Quit Match:  John Cena vs. Batista

-  Out comes Buzz Aldrin to NO pop.  Buzz cuts a little freestyle to the crowd yelling WHAT?!?  Buzz doesn't realize he is in Canada and is talking about President Obama.  Finally, Long Island's own, Zack Ryder comes out with Alicia Fox.  He would rather be in America than Canada, WOO WOO WOO YOU KNOW IT!  Ryder says that they didn't even walk on the moon.  Buzz says he punched the last guy out that did.  They show video of it.  HA!  Stiff shot!  He books a mixed tag, Ryder and Fox vs. Gail Kim and Evan Bourne.

7.  Zack Ryder & Alicia Fox vs. Evan Bourne & Gail Kim
-  Ryder grabs Bourne and gets dropkicked down.  Ryder from behind and hits a sit out on Bourne.  He stomps Bourne, until Bourne kicks him and rolls him up for 2.  Fox comes in and gail takes her down.  Bourne with a basement dropkick on Ryder.  Kim with a missile dropkick on Fox.  Fox up and tosses Gail Kim to the outside.  Back in and a cover gets 2.  Gail Kim with a bridge cover gets 2.  Kim hits a jawbreaker and Ryder comes in.  Bourne in and hits a jumping kick.  He charges the corner and Bourne snaps him down.  Bourne goes up for the Shooting Star and Fox rolls Ryder out.  Bourne dives on Ryder.  Kim hits the Meet Defeat on Fox for the win @ 3:25.  (Very fast paced, not bad.  C+)  Buzz moonwalks after the match.

-  Jack Swagger meets Big Show, Sunday.  Next week, Jon Lovitz guest hosts Raw.  Now with a word from our sponsors.  Another Geico spoof with Goldust.  Does Goldust make an awkward blind date?

MAIN EVENT
8.  Sheamus vs.  John Cena
-  Cole wonders since Sheamus took out Triple H, if Triple H will ever return.  Hopefully not.  Also, am I to assume that Raw is permanently going with the white ropes?  Bell rings and we have a lock up.  Sheamus backs Cean in and drops him.  He kicks Cena until the ref pulls him back.  Cena up and knocks Sheamus around and hits a charging elbow.  Sheamus thrown outside and Cena throws him into the steps.  cena picks him up and throws him into the other steps.  Cena goes for a trifecta and Sheamus whips him into the barrier.  Sheamus hits a knee to the face.  Back in the ring, cover gets 2.  Sheamus knocks Cena into the ropes and hits a European uppercut.  Cena, sternum first into the corner and Sheamus hits an axe handle to the back of the head.  Cover gets 2.  Cena up and hits an overhead suplex.  Cena sends Sheamus shoulder first into the ring post.  Sheamus climbs back in the ring.  Attitude Adjustment and Sheamus elbows out.  Urinage over the knee gets 2.  Sheamus off the ropes and Cena hits a sidewalk slam.  Cena runs into an elbow and is out on the apron.  Sheamus hits a running knee to the head of Cena.  Cena tries to get up and Sheamus hits him again with another knee.  Sheamus misses a 3rd and Cena comes in.  Attempted bulldog and Sheamus throws Cena down.  Sheamus slams him headfirst into the table on the outside.  Back in, cover gets 2.  Sheamus measures and hits a knee to the head.  Sheamus picks up Cena on the apron and clubs him across the chest.  He picks Cena up and does it again.  Cena rolls back in hits a flying shoulder tackle.  Cena with a turning slam.  YOU CAN'T SEE ME, 5 Knuckle Shuffle.  Attitude Adjustment attempt and Sheamus holds on the ropes.  Cena dumps him and Batista is there for the spear and DQ @ 9:19.  (C-.  Very slow paced.)  Batista hits 3 spinebusters on Cena.  He picks Cena up for a Batista Bomb and instead hooks in a Regal Stretch.  He yells for Cena to say he quits.  Cena screams in pain as the show ends.

FINAL THOUGHTS...
-  I thought this was an excellent show.  The Bret Hart win was a little unexpected.  I know I wasn't the only one who was waiting for Danielson to come out.  Edge/Christian was far the best match of the night.  Even the Divas put on some good action.  That, TNA, was a go-home show.  Total time of action:  43:31.

Here’s what I’d like to see, and you can tell me if this is a stupid pipe dream.  I’d like to see a redone version of the classic World Championship Wrestling format from the 80s, with these guys. Small set, intimate crowd of hardcore marks, let them talk about how great they are and how many women (or men, it’s the 21st century, whatever) they’re gonna fuck when they’re World champion.  Oh, and by the way, [insert wrestler here] is a dirty shithead and I’m gonna kick his ass.  Then they fight.  Maybe some weeks the World champion actually does stop by and defends the title against someone from the show, just to emphasize that it’s a shared universe (see what I did there?) and show what they’re fighting for. 

Because as it is, I have no fucking idea what they’re fighting for. 

Hey Scott,
I've got a question for you and for the blog:
How the hell does NXT actually work? When people get "eliminated," do they just go back to FCW? Were all of them even from there? If they're all getting called up eventually, how are they going to explain it? I liked what Danielson did in his "farewell" promo this evening, but they can't use that for everyone. I give him a pass for it since his internet presence and history were very largely acknowledged and very much a part of his angle, but for anyone else it would be like when Sean Morely wasn't allowed to be in the IC Title battle royal since he wasn't a former IC champ, but Val Venis was allowed, or when they kept coming up with goofy ways for fired Alliance members to stick around after the InVasion angle ended (Lance Storm the janitor!).
And about the challenges: does WWE have wrestlers who they want to win the challenges, and therefore everyone else has to throw them? Did Wade Barrett reallyslip off the monkey bars twice, or did they tell him to? This approach couldn't work for all the challenges (Talk the Talk and selling programs, both of which were determined by the audience), so even as someone who's been a smark for years now, I admittedly can't get my head around how this particular show works. It's like it's this weird mix of shoot and kayfabe.

Having never watched an episode (it doesn’t air in Canada) I couldn’t get into any kind of in-depth discussion on the subject, but I’d say from everything I’ve read that it can best be summed up by “an interesting experiment that went totally and completely wrong”.  The Danielson losing streak was set up from day one to build to a US title win over the Miz, and that went out the window at some point, and really left the rest of the show totally pointless from the sounds of it. 

So I'm watching the Bobby Heenan Snow's very first installment from Prime Time Wrestling.  His first guest was the greasy nerd, Jamison.  I remembered him from later being a manager (if you can call him that) for the Bushwackers.  I never saw him again after that and wondered if he was a writer for Vince, or just some random guy they called up every once in a while for Heenan to bust on.  The identity of this guy intrigued me so I looked him up last night.  Apparently there is a controversy that he is some comedian named Andy Kindler.  Then Dave Meltzer said it wasn't.  Do you have any light you can shed on who this guy really is? 

I think I’ve had this discussion before, but basically you’re asking the wrong guy about Jamison.  Here in Canada we had zero exposure to Prime Time Wrestling at that point, and that was his only place on TV until they suddenly stuck him with the Bushwackers on the main syndicated shows.  The announcers were like “Ha ha, it’s Jamison!” as if we were supposed to have any earthly idea who this person was.  It was actually a major plot hole in a company where they normally showed recaps and video packages of even the smallest occurrence on another show.  Then he went away again and I forgot about him and stopped caring. 

So anyway, no, I have no idea who he was. 

Hey Scott, Bill Chase from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada here.  Been a fan since I was 4, I'm now 27.  Here's something I put together recently, I hope you enjoy.

Lugered, def:
(1) An invented wrestling term, where someone is hyped up so big for a major title win, and then it doesen't happen derailing momentum to epic amounts of failure.
(2) Derived from wrestler, Lex Luger.
(3) Triple H has "Lugered" more people than anyone.

When Edge returned as a babyface recently, the response was a million times better than I initially anticipated. The reactions were there, and the whole "Spear" gimmick, as hokey as it may seem, was over with the fans. When you've been a heel as long as Edge has, not to mention a top heel for five years, you need something, to really put you over the top. With a hot new babyface, you have to strike while the iron is hot, and the WWE had a golden opportunity. Would they blow it, would Edge get...Lugered?
What does that mean exactly? Getting Lugered, well I'll tell you.
Of course, as you may have already figured out, it related to the one and only Lex Luger. Luger was a 30 years old, but he looked like he was in his 20's still, with an intense physique, and motivated work ethic, as 1988 rolled around. A huge angle took place, as Luger parted ways earlier in the year from The 4 Horsemen, he was the young gun, and his star took off. The 4 Horsemen, as you mostly know, was of course the infamous faction, lead by Ric Flair since the mid 80's, in the NWA. Luger's departure from the Horsemen, sent fans rallying behind the man known as "The Total Package". By mid 1988, Luger was neck and neck with Sting, as the top babyface.
The highly anticipated Great American Bash PPV, for the NWA took place, with Luger getting a title shot at Flair. A sold out crowd at the Baltimore Arena, and a wide PPV audience, watched in deep anticipation. Luger and Flair put on a fantastic match, and the ending outraged fans. Luger had started bleeding during the match, and it grew excessive, so bad in fact, that as Luger seemed to be on the verge of victory, the ref stopped the match, and fans were livid, thinking Luger was unjustly screwed.
Now things are still good here, because it sets up a HUGE rematch, months down the road, at the NWA's biggest PPV show of the year, Starrcade. Luger was just ONE step away, from becoming a huge star for a company with many problems. NWA was on a downswing and company head, Jim Crockett, was ready to sell the company to Billionaire TV mogul, Ted Turner. The company needed someone to really behind, in terms of a babyface, and while Flair was still a draw for the company, they couldn't merely just put all there eggs in one basket for one wrestler. So the fans were finally going to see Lex Luger take off into the stratosphere, after an unjust loss in there eyes. Starrcade was NWA's Superbowl of wrestling, much like Wrestlemania for the WWF. After SIX MONTHS of buildup, this was it, and the anticipation was high. The rest of the show was poorly built on TV, but it didn't matter, the fans wanted to see Lex rise to the occasion.
So then came the big night, and Lex & Flair put on a spectacle of a match, that still ages well to this day. Lex seemed well in control, when all of the sudden, at the 30 minute mark of the match, he put Flair in the torture rack submission, when his knee gave way, and Flair scores the pin with his feet on the rope...so that was it? Flair won?? No! That's not how that match was supposed to end? What the heck? This was Lex's big shot at the top, and they blew it, they were ready to make him a star, and they blew it! How could they do this? Now Lex was looked at as a choker, and the guy who couldn't win the big match. Now all of the sudden, what happened at the Bash doesen't seem like a fluke anymore. Almost a full year of buildup, and THAT'S what they give us??
The fans deemed Luger as the guy who couldn't get it done. And soon after, his babyface heat was fading extremely quick. He was turned heel, and Flair soon dropped the belt to Ricky Steamboat in a fantastic match, but Steamboat was hardly a guy, that you should be marketing as your top babyface, he's fine as a mid-carder, but possessed about as much charisma as an old dust mop. And of course, by Summer who was the top babyface? Ric Flair. The company continued to suffer, despite a great feud Flair had with Terry Funk.
And you know what? This wouldn't be the LAST time, the company screwed up with Luger. Let's get one thing straight here, and hopefully shut the smarks up. Luger was not a marvel technician, he was more like what John Cena is today, he had a style that worked for him, and could have a damn good match, as long as he was motivated. Lex had strong motivation despite what had happened. And by 1991, the company was in worse shape than ever. Sting was already a big star, but with Flair now jumping off the sinking ship, headed to WWF, the former NWA, now called WCW, needed more than just one. So again, Luger was a babyface, was gaining momentum as one, and was set to win the belt against Barry Windham at "The Great American Bash". The Bash event, known as the "Flair Protest Show", as fans chanted "We Want Flair" throughout the whole thing, was a complete and utter disaster, and hit whole new levels of awful. But at least Lex was going to have his moment. He had it alright, he became WCW champion...and turned heel after the match, in a move that made absolutely NO sense! Aligning himself with heel manager Harley Race. You can actually hear the fans collective annoyed groan at all this. So yet again, Luger meant nothing in a general sense. Business plummeted even worse for WCW, ultimately leading to Luger's departure from the company in February 1992, dropping the belt to Sting.
Lex ended up in WWF, in 1993. After months of playing a character known as The Narcissist, a heel which nobody cared aboout, he was turned babyface. Lex's work ethic had become downright awful, and unmotivated. However, now deemed the new "American Hero", supposedly the succesor to Hulk Hogan, after bodyslamming heel Yokozuna in a bodyslam challenge, he was put on "The Lex Express Tour", sure in hindsight the whole thing seems phony, but it was working, it was definitely working well, despite the overhype. By the time Lex was ready for his WWF Championship Match with Yokozuna, the fans were behind him, I can't refute that. This was Luger's one and only shot, due to a stipulation in the contract. Luger won the match...by count-out. Blowing his one and only shot. Yes, now a new company managed the screw things up. Luger celebrated this like it was a HUGE victory, when it just looked idiotic and mornic...in that order. Luger again was seen as the guy who couldn't get it done. Even moreso, during ther next match with him and Yoko at Wrestlemania X. Luger's WWF career never recovered, and he was back in WCW come late 1995, in perhaps the most infamous jump of all time.
Luger managed to become a pretty big star, during the Monday Night Wars, even having a memorable title win, only to lose it in a week. His work ethic was at times atrociously bad, but still maintained a following, and was a major key for WCW in this era, but around 1999, he was just another old guy, fans didn't want to see get pushed. Luger's legacy was that he was indeed a star, but not the star he was supposed to be.
Now some of you may be thinking, "But Bill? If you know all this, than why did the fans deem Lex a choker?". It's quite simple really, wrestling is dominated by two aspects of fans, The Marks, and the Casuals. Yes, even the Casual fans, outnumber the Smarks. See they don't see the bigger picture, and I don't blame them for that. They merely want to just watch it, and that's that. And casual fans, and regular marks aren't going to say, "Oh well, Lex was screwed over by the company". They don't work that way. Sure, they know it's pre-determined, but look at from a real perspective, just like a TV show or a movie. The fans lose hope in a good guy who can't get it done.
See, this is what bugs me about fans who complain about Bret Hart's actions heading into Survivor Series '97. It may not have as much siginifance as it does today, but wins and losses in BIG match situations, MATTER, it can make, break or kill momentum, for ANY wrestler, even someone as famous as Bret Hart. Drawing power, even babyface he can dwindle. Fans need a reason to cheer, and for that matter, BOO someone. At first yes, it was all about Shawn's demeanour why Bret didn't want to lose, but it was more so about the circumstances behind it, and how the buildup was put together, and a loss would make Bret look even worse than he had on TV in the weeks leading up to it. That later overtook Bret's thought process as the primary concern. He was more than willing to return it, just as long as he could get the upperhand in that leg of the feud.
Had John Cena lost to Batista at Wrestlemania, after the whole feud built aroound the fact that Cena had lost to him previously, and was doubting even his own chances of winning, had Cena lost, the fans would've looked at Cena as the guy who lost because he had no faith in himself. Why should we cheer a guy who doesen't even believe he can do it?
What would've happened if Shawn Michaels DIDN'T have a crippling back injury, and Steve Austin lost to him at Wrestlemania XIV? All that momentum would be wasted.
Now yes, it's different for established main eventers like Bret Hart, Steve Austin & John Cena, Lex was a high profile mid-carder in the midst of catching fire. But my point is...MOMENTUM! It can kill momentum, and have different consuquences. Now let's go back to our buddy Edge.
Edge & Chris Jericho, were both top heels who formed a mega heel tag team winning the Tag Belts. However, disaster struck as Edge suffered a devistating legit injury. And at this point, Edge was actually getting cheered in certain markets, even outside of Canada. The whole plan of the feud, from what I read, was for Edge to go babyface. But his injury, only meant they needed to rework the whole thing with the same destination. Most smarks knew right away, Jericho would be champion going into Wrestlemania, and Edge would be the challenger. Edge cut a heartbreaking promo on the titantron regarding his injury, but than Jericho, like the snake he is, interrupted it live at the arena, and berated someone who weeks before he called his best friend, and openly mocked him, sending a fury into Edge. At the Royal Rumble, Edge returned after no word for MONTHS, and won the Rumble, sending the fans into a frenzy. Despite questions of wether he could make it as a babyface, he started catching fire, Jericho became champion at Elimination Chamber, and that was that, it was all set anr ready to go.
Edge was going to get his long awaited revenge, and have a run as babyface champion. He was a guy, who like Luger, was a top babyface fans wanted to poor full faith into, but needed that extra hump to get over. Sure, he was already a champion many times as a heel, but this was solidify him as a new charismatic fan favourite to the fans. And Edge...lost! Yes, he lost after a belt shot, and Jericho hit his finisher. Edge then did a heel move after the match looking like a sore loser. But I thought to myself, hopefully he'll get his comeuppance at Extreme Rules. Nope...Jack Swagger, the Money in the Bank winner, a questionable move in itself, became CHAMPION, by cashing in on an injured Chris Jericho. Yes, that's right, a guy who's biggest victory at that point was over Matt Hardy, became champion, they just slapped the belt on him, while Edge & Jericho will fight in a cage match, as Edge's revenge just seems like a "ho-hum" plot now.
So yes my friends, Edge did indeed get....Lugered!
While Edge's babyface heat, hasn't quite dwindled yet, as Luger's seemed to start instantly....my fears for his future are ever-present.
Now here's the thing. A guy like Edge, who's been constantly on TV for the last 12 years, who's face is known to any wrestling fan in that time frame, and even as a mid-carder, was always solidly push, needs to give people a REASON, to want to get behind him. I don't get how the WWE can't see this? How do you think top stars are created? How do you think top babyface main eventers are created? Certainly not by dropping the ball at the biggest stage of them all, and competing in a match, in a PPV that has constantly drawn low numbers.
Debates about Edge aside, there was no question in my mind, he has everything it takes to be the guy it looked like he was going to be. But instead they slap the belt on a guy, who has barely been on the main TV programs at all in the months leading to it. How the WWE would pass up Edge getting the big win, in order to slap a belt on a guy who has no business holding it, causes me, and to be quite honest, even the CASUAL fans, to scratch there head in bewildermint. One of the things that has hurt the WWE badly, is there inability to make there mind on who they're pushing, and when they finally do make up there mind, it's and eye rolling decision like Swagger. This is a milliom times worse, than NWA putting the belt on Steamboat rather than Luger, at least Steamboat had main event level credibility, in my opinion, he was just the wrong guy for the time. If Steamboat was ever going to be champion, it should've happned five years before that.
But is Edge the first to be Lugered?
Go back to 1995. Shawn Michaels was ready for the main event. He'd been 110% ready for at least a year, and worked hard and paid his dues for 10 years, to be "the guy". Shawn was a heel, but had a strong cult following, and was even catching momentum with the casuals, and the marks. He'd won the 1995 Royal Rumble. The company was in rough shape, despite having some solid star power, and building those stars around Shawn, could start to pay dividends for the comapny. The fans wanted to cheer a heel champion, his cocky persona was deemed cool. He was set to face his former on-air, and real life best friend, Diesel. Who had started out as Shawn's bodyguard, but became a big star, and won the belt right after he split from Shawn, enraging his former friend in the process. Diesel was a guy who the WWF was screwing up with from the get go, his badass character, was being watered down, to being a 7 feet tall, smiling babyface. Snore. (Sidenote: Even before Austin, fans wanted a change). At Wrestlmania XI, Shawn was riding high, and got a babyface reaction as he made his way out. Shawn had worked his tail off to get the big win, and CLEANLY hit his finisher. But the ref was incompacitated. The ref came in counted 2, and Diesel got his shoulder up, and what started out as a 50/50 crowd, was pissed at that finish, and werefully on Shawn's side. Shawn lost, and people were outraged. It killed what little moentum Diesel had left, and they had to start again with Shawn. They turned Shawn babyface, with his cocky persona still in tact. Diesel caught fire later in the year, as a "Tweener" (babyface/heel, simulatniously), but was eventually fed up, and jumped to WCW. Shawn became champion, but soon found himself being watered down as well, but maintained his legacy, by becoming a fantastic performer. Perhaps the best of all time. If it had been ANYONE but Shawn in this exact situation, he would've become another great wrestler that never was....
Believe it or not, WCW did something similar, while they were still very hot. And further proving my point, that main eventers, aren't immune to being Lugered. And who was it with? Sting. Yes, the guy who for many years was the only one drawing a penny for WCW. Sting was the franchise player for WCW by the time 1992 rolled around. But being a franchise player for WCW in 1992, is the equivelant of being the franchise player for The Pittsburgh Pirates or New Jersey Nets today. Despite this, he was a superstar. But in 1994, things changed as the one and only Hulk Hogan stepped foot in the company, becoming champion instantly. The two remained allies, but the seeds for there HUGE showdown were planted a lot sooner than you think...YEARS sooner. Despite there partnership and friendship, dissension lived among the two of them, with who they alligned themselves with. By late 1995, it was thought that week in and week out on "Nitro", one would soon betray the other, and who would be the first to do it. In early 1996, Hulk took a sabbatical. When Kevin Nash (aka Diesel), and Scott Hall (aka Razor Ramon), made it look as if they were invading on behalf of the WWF, deemed
The Outsiders. The angle was HUGE, and started putting WCW on top. Sting was helping lead the war, for WCW. Along with The Macho Man and, ironically, Lex Luger. They challenged the two, plus a mystery partner, to a match at Bash at the Beach. The partner didn't arrive yet, but the two said he was there in the building. Luger was taken out of the match. Hulk Hogan made his return...and did the unthinkable, turning heel. The nWo was born, and WCW became hotter than ever. The nWo's smarts, outdid WCW, as they started to play games with them, bringing in a "Fake Sting" to there faction, claiming it was really him, even fooling Lex. Sting insisted it wasn't, but nobody believe him. During an 8-man war games match between the WCW and nWo, the real sting came in, obliderating everyone, including his imposter, staring at Lex, saying "To hell with you, and everyone". Leaving his team, to get beaten. Sting felt betrayed, not just by Hogan, but even by his own friends, and allies. He said, goodbye on "Nitro" the next night and disappeared for months. Without a sign. By early 1997, Sting with long black hair, and facepaint resembling Brandon Lee in the hit film "The Crow", started appearing on the rafters, pointing his baseball bat to all of WCW. While the world awaited to see Sting's true alliegance, it later became clear he was in it for himself. As he did attack the nWo, numerous times, but also his WCW mates. But it later became clear, while he was clearly a dark-hearted-loner now, his primary target...was Hogan. So it became official, Starrcade '97, the biggest event in WCW's history...Hogan vs. Sting.
The match was Sting's first since that night at War Games. Nearly a year and a half before this. The match was awful. The timing of both guys was off, Sting had definite ring rust. But even that could've been let go had they sequence it properly. Sting got offence for the first few minutes, and Hogan started to dominate. Than in the biggest botch in wrestling history, referee Nick Patrick, who was formally alligned with the nWo, either a) screwed up what was supposed to be a fast count or b) Sting forgot to kick out or the unlikely c) both. It appeared Sting had choked and Hogan had won. Sting had been LUGERED, because we didn't know exactly what happened. The newly arrived Bret Hart, who had referee privelages that night, restarted the match, in a move fans did not understand, and Sting won, the championship! Confused? Now you know how I felt watching the stupid thing unfold. Sting was champion...the damage was done. Sting never fully recovered from this. As most fans saw it as the heel Hogan getting screwed over, and Sting not being able to do it on his own. Had the ending not been screwed up, it would've worked. But even so, it should've been just a straight win for Sting. So yes, Sting won the match, and title and STILL managed to get Lugered. The PPV buyrate was enormous for WCW setting a record, meaning a record audience saw this debacle. WCW was also dominating WWF at this time. WWF was already building momentum, at the time, but were soon neck and neck with the company, and in less than year, beating them completely in every category. This was the begning of the end for WCW, who went out of business in 2001. Yes, Sting getting Lugered, started the DEATH OF A WHOLE COMPANY!
The Rock, ALMOST got Lugered himself. Again, nobody is immune to this. The fans awaited the Rock's big win at Wrestlemania 2000. FINALY, after months of being screwed over by Triple H and the "McMahon-Helmsley Regime", the Rock was finally going to get his big win. I'm going to ignore the stupid buildup, of ALL the McMahon's being involved in what should've been a one on one match, betwen Rock & HHH, who were so hot at the time, were more than capable of drawing a huge number, into a four way match, which included the supposedly retired Mick Foley and The Big Show. Triple H and his wife Stephanie McMahon, would screw the rock over for months. Then Shane McMahon joined the fray, and created his own challenger in the Big Show. Mick Foley got one last chance thanks to Linda McMahon, and The Rock, had the big boss himself, Vince by his side, who was growing tired of his daughter's power hungry antics. Dumb buildup aside, the WWF was so hot at the time, nobody cared, they just wanted The Rock to become champion. And after Show and Foley were eliminated during the big match, Vince betrayed him! **sigh**. Rock lost on the biggest stage of the year. Rock got Lugered.
Thankfully, getting Lugered, may not be immune to any wrestler, but is thankfully curable. Some may have deemed the Rock a choker, who shouldnt've trusted a McMahon, however, others saw The Rock as someone who get screwed over, but his chance to redeem himself would come 28 days later at "Backlash". And he did just that, winning the title. Both events drew record numbers. But if Rock were to get Lugered TWICE in one month, I'd hate to see the buys for the next PPV.
Next up is a major victim, who'd been screwed over countless times, but didn't truly get Lugered until he came across, ironically Ric Flair's "best friend" Triple H. That is RVD! Rob Van Dam had an insane amount of natural charisma, and high energy, building iconic status in the original ECW. He caught fire instantly, arriving in the WWF, during the ill-concieved invasion angle in mid 2001, as he was one of the few bright spots of that period. By the fall, the WWF seemed to get it, as RVD got a big win over Steve Ausitn on Smackdown in Toronto (which I attended). And was set for a title match at "No Mercy". Rob lost, but wasn't really Lugered, there wasn't enough hype, and it was overbooked anyway. Rob was inexplicably buried for a while, but became I-C Champion, and engaged in a fun feud with Eddie Guerrero, and later the likes of Chris Benoit. Finally however, Rob was getting his shot. At the World Heavyweight Title, occupied by Triple H. This was it, after a year of waiting, fans were ready to see Rob take his spot at the top. It didn't happen, due to Flair aligning himself with Hunter. Rob wasn't really deemed a choker I suppose, but his career never did fully recover, and wouldn't reach main event status again, until about 2006, when a combination of being his own worst enemy and more politics derailed his momentum, causing him to get fed up, and leave the company in 2007. Just this past Monday night, Rob became the new TNA Champion, in what is probably one of the better moves the company has made.
Another Triple H victim, Kane. Kane played a vicious heel for years, and flip flopped the heel/babyface more times than I care to remember. But by 2002, he had a new spruced up look, and was getting over quite well as a babyface. But then he had to endear one of the most idiotic, and moronic storylines, to ever come across the wrestling business. The whole Katie Vick angle, someone that Kane killed accidentally, when he was a young wrestling student, in a car crash. Yes this negated Kane's ENTIRE character, and killed the story of being 'Taker's brother. Anyway, this whole fiasco, which included Triple H dressing in a Kane mask, and violating a mannequin that's supposed to be a dead body, mercifully was going to end, ironically, at No Mercy. So Kane could win the belt, that be that, and the storyline will never be spoken of again. Kane lost, after all that B.S., and months later was unmasked, and he's been awful ever since.
Yet, Another Triple H victim, who got Lugered was Booker T. Booker had been deemed a joke, during the Invasion angle, being the but of the Rock's verbal jabs, and getting humiliated in a grocery store (yes I'm serious) by "Stone Cold" Steve Ausitn. But he had the strangest, yet most entertaining career revivial, teaming up with the bizarre Goldust, as the two comedically entertained the fans, and became the most over tag team in the company. After the WWE decided to split the two up, Booker was riding high in popularity, winning a #1 contenders battle royal in Toronto (again, I attended). And was set to go after Triple H at Wrestlemania XIX. Booker was widely hyped as this being his big chance to get back on top. Booker lost, in a very anti-climatic match. Booker's heat died quick, and eventually turned heel. And then turned babyface again, then turned heel again, doing the hiliariously over the top King Booker gimmick in 2006, before leaving the company for good, fed up with the politics by 2007.
Bill Goldberg, was a superstar, when WCW was still hot. He was the only guy under the age of 40 that became a tried and true main eventer for WCW during this period. How could this guy not be a star? His first match, we think he's a jobber there to put over Hugh Morrus, who was in the midst of a decent mid-card push. But he anhilates him. And doesen't speak a word to Mean Gene afterwards. The mystery of Goldberg, seemed so cool, fans love mystery in a character (Undertaker), and were instantly captivated by this man. Destorying wrestler after wrestler, before he was finally getting to beating the upper echelon of the card. And did the unthinkable in July of 1998, defeating Hollywood Hulk Hogan to become WCW champion. His undefeated streak was huge, and he drew insane amounts of money for WCW. However, idiocarcy prevailed, much like it did many times in WCW, and Goldberg's streak, now at 173-0, was killed by Kevin Nash, a very popular babyface yes, but deemed less worthy once Nash took a dive the next week for Hulk Hogan turning heel again. Goldberg never recovered. But he got a second chance, in WWE. Arriving amidst fanfare in 2003. He was off to a good start, but endeared idiotic backstage vignettes with Goludst, never has a blonde wig ever been more fatal to a wrestler's career. Either way, Goldberg could still be salvaged. He had his chance, a the Summerslam 2003 show, to become champion. With the acception of Kevin Nash (still wouldn't put him over), Goldberg squashed everyone in the chamber, Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, and finally his sights were set on Triple H. The crowd was going bananas thinking finally after a YEAR, the Game was finally going to get it. Nope, Ric Flair threw in a sledgehammer, and Goldberg lost. He became champ a month later, but it didn't matter, as Triple H continued to bury this poor guy. He was gone by March of 2004.
Randy Orton was destined to be a star, from the moment he walked in the company in 2002. After a mind boggling backward booking killed him for the longest time in 2004, he was revitalized by The Undertaker in 2005. He became champion again eventually in 2007, but didn't have that little extra something to make him a tried and true megastar. Orton had the it-factor, thtat's for sure. But he was like a 500 piece puzzle, nearly complete, but four or five pieces were missing. The thing that was missing, was that big victory, the one that everyone remembers. The one that legacies are built off of. Like Flair's over Harley Race. Hogan's over Andre. Warrior's over Hogan. Taker's over Hogan. Bret's over Yoko. Shawn's over Bret. Austin's over Shawn. Rock's over Foley. Cena's over JBL. Batista's over HHH. You get the idea. Despite beating numerous main event level stars, not many of those victrories seemed overly significant. Orton was somewhat burned out by 2008, forming what seemed to be a ho-hum faction known as Legacy. But one week before the big Royal Rumble. Orton, who's devistating punt to the head, has put wrestler's out of action. Back talked Mr. McMahon, and before McMahon was about to unlease a fury on Orton, the youngster smacked the boss down, and PUNTED him! Orton had huge momentum going into the Rumble, and the angle had everyone talking. Orton won the rumble with help form his stablemates, in what had to be the smartest Rumble victory ever. Orton had dynamite heat going into Wrestlemania facing the champion Triple H. He had beaten up most of the McMahon family, taken them out before he finally targeted, the son in law. Triple H. Orton was riding high...and then he lost. Orton would win the belt mere weeks later at "Backlash", getting a clean pin on the Game, but it seemed less significant, due to the fact it was during a six-man tag. Orton tried hard the rest of 2009, in an eye-rolling feud with John Cena, but seemed to be a lost cause when 2010 rolled around.
However, the angle that began the split of Legacy, helped Orton recover. In ways that even I didn't see coming. It seemed as though the plan was for the youngsters Cody Rhodes & Ted Dibiase Jr, to go babyface, but Orton was getting mad cheers by the begining of 2010. Rather than make Orton look like an idiot, he caught his supposed protege's, plotting to betray him, and he beat them to the punch, making Orton look smart. And he then proceeded to defeat both of them heavily at Wresltmenia 26. Now Orton's popularity is soaring high and who knows where he could go from here.
So Edge isn't the only one, but I have a bad feeling the Luger affects may linger in his case? Or will he recover like Orton seems to be doing? I don't know.
Yeah, I'm sure people got "Lugered" before even Luger did. But his seemed to be the first most famous case on a national level. Sure some even ended up worse off than Luger himself did. And yes, Lex still had a decent career. But like many others, lncluding Edge, and the many I've named. We'll always wonder, "What could've been".

- Live from Phoenix, AZ

- Your hosts are Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler & Matt Striker

Unified tag team titles: Big Show & The Miz v. R-Truth & John Morrison

Morrison dropkicks Miz to start and the faces hit legdrops for two. Truth hits Show with a leg lariat, but walks into a fallaway slam. Show pounds Truth down and goes up for a pump splash, but Morrison kicks him down and Truth gets two. Morrison comes in and runs wild on Miz, but misses Starship Pain, giving MIz two. Morrison counters the Stroke for two, but Show tags himself in with the KO punch to finish at 3:22. Really, that was it? *1/2

Ted Dibiase v. Cody Rhodes v. Randy Orton

Not sure how this is a triple threat match when it seems to be more clearly a handicap match. Orton dumps Rhodes , but gets dropkicked by Dibiase to set up the Legacy beatdown. They take turns pounding away on him, but Orton tosses Dibiase for a comeback. Rhodes with an Alabama Slam for two, but Legacy erupts for some reason and brawls to the floor. They look like such geeks here. Orton comes back with clotheslines and powerslams, but Dibiase stops the RKO. Rhodes accidentally nails Dibiase with a pescado, and Orton brings both geeks back in with the DDT. Orton sets up to finish Rhodes, but then changes his mind and punts him instead. RKO kills Dibiase dead at 8:58. Holy cow did Legacy ever look like the jobbiest pair of jobbers who ever jobbed there. This didn't work at all, but the crowd was very into Orton so there was that. **

Meanwhile, Santino Marella bites into a magic Slim Jim that turns Jillian Hall into a series of wacky people. Yeah.

Money In The Bank: Kofi Kingston v. MVP v. Evan Bourne v. Jack Swagger v. Shelton Benjamin v. Matt Hardy v. Dolph Ziggler v. Kane v. Drew McIntyre v. Christian

Kane is sporting an impressive shiner before we even start. Big trainwreck to start and everyone climbs the ladder until Swagger and Hardy are left. Kofi knocks them off, but Christian monkey-flips him into a ladder in the corner. Christian climbs, but gets zig-zagged to the mat. Ziggler goes up and MVP brings him down. Kane brings MVP down, but all the black guys gang up on him in the corner. Shelton clears the ring and climbs, but Swagger knocks him off, then Bourne comes off the top onto him. Bourne looks eerily like Eddie Guerrero in standard definition. Weird spot with Christian and Matt sandwiching Swagger between two ladders while he stands under the main ladder. That leads to Christian fighting it out with Bourne on a ladder ramp. Evan wins that and climbs, but Hardy takes him down, then takes a sick backdrop bump onto the horizontal ladder. Everyone gets car crashed to the floor and Kane beats on Dolph in the ring. A couple of poor ladders get murdered, so Kofi takes a broken one and uses it as stilts in the most innovative spot I've seen in years. Sadly, Drew comes in after doing nothing, gets rid of Kofi, and climbs. Matt Hardy thankfully gets rid of him and makes his attempt, but Christian makes the save. They fight it out and Christian brings him down with the inverted DDT. Christian and Swagger fight for it next, and that gives Swagger the case at 13:39, after he takes forever to unhook it. Well that's a waste of a briefcase as it stands. This was the same as it always is, a bunch of cool spots and sick bumps. ***1/4

Next month: Extreme Rules! Presented by KFC! EXTREME CHICKEN!

HHH v. Sheamus

HHH being this far down the card worries me. They trade shots in the corner and HHH goes for the Pedigree, but Sheamus backs off quickly. Sheamus pounds away, but HHH hits him with a suplex and kneedrop for one. Sheamus bails, and HHH clips him on the way back in and follows with the figure-four. Sheamus makes the ropes quickly to break, and sends HHH into the stairs as Matt Striker tries to get "Ace of Spades" over as a new nickname for HHH. Really? Is this a thing now? He's already the King of Kings, does he need the whole damn deck of cards? Sheamus takes over with a pair of backbreaker variations and stomps a mudhole in the corner. Axehandle gets two. Sheamus slugs away for two and goes to a chinlock, but HHH makes the comeback. He goes up and Sheamus tries to bring him down with the Razor's Edge, but HHH slips out. Sheamus gets a pump kick for two. HHH gets the spinebuster for two. Sheamus bails to the apron and gets a pump kick there, but KICK WHAM PEDIGREE finishes him at 12:05. I'd say Lawler's "70000 people just witnessed a classic!" was a bit much, but this was fine. **1/2

CM Punk v. Rey Mysterio

Rey is paying tribute to the Na'vi tonight instead of his usual superhero garb. I was looking forward to an Iron Man outfit, too. Oh well. Punk attacks, but gets taken into the corner. Rey hangs himself in the Tree of Woe and gets abused by Serena, and Punk drops him onto the stairs for good measure. Back in, Rey comes back with a bodypress, but Punk turns it into a powerslam for two. Punk ducks a low kick and rolls him up for two. Punk with the high kick for two. Rey comes back with a somersault DDT off the top, which looked pretty cool. Punk blocks the 619 and Rey escapes the GTS. Rey makes it to the apron and goes up with a frog splash, but that misses and Punk gets two. High knee in the corner sets up a powerbomb attempt, but Rey reverses into the 619. Serena throws herself on Punk to stop it, but Rey hits it on the other side instead and finishes with the big splash at 6:30. Kind of surprised they'd blow it off so fast without even going down the "Rey goes straight edge" road. It was also pretty short, like everything else tonight thus far. I did enjoy the "big stadium match" feel they gave it. **3/4

No Holds Barred: Bret Hart v. Vince McMahon

Really there's only one possible finish here. So Vince decides to stack the deck beforehand, bringing out the entire Hart family as his enforcers. Well I'd expect that from Diana and Bruce and especially Smith, no doubt, but I though Natalya was made of sterner stuff. And Bruce is the special referee, still wearing his stupid sunglasses. But Bret reveals that they were already onto him and now the Harts will screw Vince over. So Bret attacks and chokes Vince down, and the Hart Dynasty immediately drags Vince out and kicks his ass. They add a Hart Attack from the top rope to the floor, and back in Bret drops elbows on him. Vince bails again and the Harts drag him back out from under the ring, but now he's got a crowbar. Bret gets it away from him without much trouble and beats him down ("That's an international object!" declares Striker), and he teases a Sharpshooter before going back to the crowbar for a bit. And then he stomps on Vince's nuts a few times, which always adds an extra star to the rating. Bret grabs a chair and takes a seat while Vince recovers, then lays waste to Vince with the chair. Like, Rock-Austin from WM 17 tribute time. Never let it be said that when it comes time for Vince to get his ass kicked, he doesn't go out and give it his all. And finally the only thing left is to make him tap to the Sharpshooter at 11:09. Everyone said all they wanted as Bret kicking Vince's ass for 10 minutes and then making him tap, and that is what was delivered to the letter. If this was in Canada the heat would have been off the charts the whole time. But it wasn't. Wasn't really a match and it's not fair to rate it as such, but it was about *1/2 given the physical conditions of both guys.

Smackdown World title: Chris Jericho v. Edge

Edge puts him down with a pair of shoulderblocks as Cole notes Jericho is a six-time World champion. That can't be right, can it? Edge gets a flapjack and goes for the spear early, but Jericho bails to escape and heads back in for a baseball slide. Back in with a Jericho backdrop suplex for two. We hit the chinlock and Jericho pounds away in the corner, but misses a blind charge. He comes back with a suplex onto the top rope, but misses a dive and gets sent into the announce table. Back in, they fight on the top and Edge faceplants him for two. He goes up with a flying bodypress, rolled through for two. Jericho tries the Walls, but Edge powers out and gets a sunset flip for two. Jericho tries the Codebreaker and gets sent into the corner to block, but Edge tries a spear and Jericho turns it into the Walls. Edge reverses into a small package for two. Lionsault misses and Edge gets the Edge-O-Matic for two (am I the only one in the world who still calls it that?), but Jericho with an enzuigiri for two. Edge hits the Impaler for two. Jericho gets a forearm off the top and sets up for his own spear, but walks into Edge's boot. Edge tries his own, but walks into the Codebreaker. Well really, he waited for the crowd to chant "spear", what did he expect? That gets two. So now we get to the meat of the match, as Jericho starts stomping on the Achilles tendon and then gets the Walls again (wouldn't an anklelock be more apropos?), then turns it into a half-crab on the injured ankle. Edge channels his inner Dan Hardy and makes the ropes, then rolls up Jericho for two. Cactus clothesline puts them both on the floor, and the ref is bumped. Jericho nails Edge with the "championship" and gets two. IT'S A FUCKING BELT, MICHAEL COLE! A championship is an abstract concept, that is a BELT. Codebreaker finishes clean at 15:43. Really? That was actually looking it was going to be a good 20-25 minutes once Jericho started working the ankle. Oh well, Edge is boring as a babyface anyway. They really need to have the Royal Rumble winner actually win one of these years, though. This wasn't "close the show" great, but it was never boring and the finish totally made sense. I'm also glad to see Jericho get his first Wrestlemania win since, what, 2001? ***3/4 Edge snaps afterwards and spears Jericho off the announce table, showing that he's a sore loser as well as a choker.

Layla, Vickie Guerrero, Maryse, Michelle McCool & Alicia Fox v. Beth Phoenix, Eve Torres, Mickie James, Gail Kim & Kelly Kelly

Man, Vickie is the like best sport ever. All the good girls beat on Vickie in the corner (triggering an impressive screech from Vickie) and then all the women get to do their finishers. This leaves Beth with Vickie, as Vickie has a panic attack in the corner before getting rescued by McCool. The heels actually send Vickie to the top for a "hog splash" that gets the pin on Kelly at 3:20. I'm sure Eddie was flattered to have that tribute paid to him. DUD

- Quick question: Why are they using an Audioslave song from 6 years ago as an "official theme"? Did they overpay usage rights and need to burn off some airplay or something? The band doesn't even exist anymore!

RAW World title: Batista v. John Cena

Cena's ridiculous entrance this year: A military honor guard. Because he once played a former Marine in a movie. Batista looks trimmed down and it works well on him. They do the lockup battle and Batista gets a headlock, but Cena reverses to his own. Batista clotheslines him out of the corner and pounds away, then adds a boot from the floor. Cena fights back with a suplex and a bulldog for two. He goes for the FU early, but Batista reverses into a sloppy DDT for two. Big boot gets two. We hit the chinlock and they slug it out until Cena backdrops out of a facelock. Cena makes the comeback (7 minutes in?) with his usual run of stuff, but it turns out that Batista CAN see him, and hits him with a spinebuster. Cena reverses into the STF, but Batista makes the ropes without too much trouble. Batista spears him for two. They fight on the top and Batista goes down, allowing Cena to hit the five knuckle shuffle off the top. Batista comes back with the powerbomb for two. Cena tries the FU, reversed by Batista, reversed again by Cena to the FU for two. The crowd is going apeshit for this stuff. They're really doing the big superhero v. supervillain match well. Cena goes up and tries the legdrop, but he lands in a spinebuster. Batista goes for the bomb, but Cena rolls through into the STF. Batista taps at 13:29 to give the title back to Cena. These guys have mad chemistry together, especially in a big match situation like this one. ****

- The two title matches would make this a thumbs up show on their own, so anything that the main event delivers will just be gravy.

Streak v. Career: Undertaker v. Shawn Michaels

Shawn fires away with chops in the corner, but eats Snake Eyes and a big boot. Corner clothesline and Taker tries to go Old School, but Shawn pulls him down. A second try hits, however. Taker pounds away in the corner and sets up for the tombstone, but Shawn slips out and fights for a crossface. Taker fights that off, but nearly takes the superkick before slipping away. Shawn decides to work on the leg in the corner, but Taker slugs him down and clotheslines him to the floor. That sets up a tope attempt, but Shawn slides in and clips the knee to stop him. Taker tosses him and runs his back into the post, then drops the guillotine legdrop on the apron. Back in, Shawn takes him down with a figure-four, but that only seems to make Undertaker really, really mad. He reverses the move and Shawn releases, and they slug it out. Shawn puts him down and kips up, but it's a chokeslam for two. Tombstone is reversed into an anklelock by Shawn, so I guess that's why Jericho couldn't have it. Taker kicks him in the head a few times to break, but Shawn clotheslines him to the floor and follows with a moonsault. Taker catches that and tombstones him on the floor, and you have to figure that's not good for Shawn's career. An EMT runs down to check on Shawn, but Taker beats him up and rolls Shawn back in for two. Last Ride, but Taker's knee gives out and Shawn gets two. Looked bad. Shawn goes up and drops the elbow, but Taker gets his knee up to block and Shawn takes the bump on his ribs. Ouch. Taker tries Hell's Gate and Shawn rolls it over for two. They both struggle up and Shawn superkicks him for two. Shawn cues up another one, but Taker catches it and counters to the Last Ride for two. That was a giant near-fall. A frustrated UT tosses Shawn and preps the announce table, but Shawn escapes a powerbomb and superkicks him onto it instead. And given that it's Wrestlemania, Shawn can't resist a moonsault from the top, which puts Taker through the table. He even hits the knee, which is either a great bit of psychology or a lucky miss. Back in, Shawn adds one more superkick…for two. This match needs Jim Ross so badly. Shawn wants another one, but Taker chokeslams him. No cover, as he opts for the tombstone instead, and that only gets two. The crowd is just going insane now. Taker's had it and he pulls the straps down, but he stops because he doesn't want to end Shawn's career. Just awesome facials from Shawn, as he gives Taker's throat-cutting gesture right back to him, and then slaps Taker. And that's it, as Taker tombstones him extra-super-duper hard for the pin at 23:57 to end it. If this was Shawn's last match (which it's not), he went out with another Wrestlemania classic. However, I just don’t think it was as good as last year because the expectations were so high.  ****1/2 Now hopefully he doesn't go to TNA and job to Hogan again.

The Pulse:

Everything that was supposed to deliver, delivered, and the main event was suitably epic and had the clean finish we needed. Huge thumbs up this year!

You’ve heard the phrase “tie a rocket to his ass” with regards to pushing a new star, I’m assuming.  If not, it basically means what it sounds like:  You have someone you want to make a top guy, so you attach him to a figurative rocket and launch him.  Sometimes he flies, sometimes he blows up.  If you happen to be a fan of the person getting that rocket push, then you’ll have some pretty significant emotional investment in him and will want to continue watching the product as a result.  For example, back in 1991 Bret Hart had gotten a couple of failed singles pushes but built up a fanbase, and when the Hart Foundation split for good suddenly Vince gave him the rocket push and you, as a fan, could feel that this was the time that he would get a real shot.  Which he did.  Ditto for Shawn Michaels in 1995, as love him or hate him at the time he was shoved further up the card with every show and you can feel the star power growing around him.  My personal favorite was The Rock, as in 1998 it was like watching your favorite underdog sports team suddenly evolve into a contender right before your eyes.  It’s exhilarating as a fan, because you can say “That’s my guy, I was a fan before he was this awesome.” 

Now, nobody gets pushed, much less rocketed.  Sheamus won the title in a silly gimmick match, didn’t get to defend it successfully against anyone of note, and then lost it in a multiple man match without Cena getting his revenge.  People start to get behind Kofi Kingston and WWE turns around and basically gives up on him, and now he’s not even on the Wrestlemania card.  Miz & Morrison are the hottest team in the business since the Hollywood Blonds, but they want both guys as singles wrestlers, so they split up the team at their peak and turn them into midcarders.  Now they’re both in tag teams again, at basically the same level.  CM Punk wins the World title, turns into a great character, and then gets killed dead by Undertaker.  And on and on.  Anyone you get behind as a fan will inevitably let you down because WWE will no longer allow anyone to break out.  They don’t care about Cena’s heel/face crowd problems because they don’t care if people like Cena.  They’re selling the WWE brand, not Cena.  If Cena is insanely over and sells some merch for himself, bonus for him, but he’s got to make sure to mention that WWE Universe (tm) in every pre-written promo and how he wants his legacy (tm) to be part of the WWE Hall of Fame (tm).  They’re no longer concerned with making stars, they’re concerned with making money.  And that’s fine for them, I can totally respect that and I don’t blame Vince one bit for going to the middle of the road.  However, for me, I prefer UFC because if I’m a fan of Brock Lesnar, I know that if he goes out and kicks everyone’s ass in every fight, he’ll make HIMSELF a huge star until someone MAKES him give up the title.  You see the difference?  Brock might let me down eventually, but it’s from his own actions (or his wacky diseases), not because someone decided that he’s won enough lately and it’s time to push Shane Carwin now instead.  That’s what the Rock and Steve Austin felt like in 1998 – two guys going out and TAKING their destiny because they wanted it.  I don’t know what anyone on TV now really cares about, and that’s why I don’t want to watch them on a weekly basis.

Rant over.

Disc 1

Stu Hart
Falling in Love
The Promoter
Hart House
Riches to Rags
All in the Family
Hart Foundation / British Bulldogs
Stampede Sold
Dean
International Spotlight
Family Feud
Canada’s Family
Struggles Within
Family Tragedy
Third Generation
Reflections

Special Features
• Stu the Athlete
• Helen’s Car Accident
• Terrible Ted the Wrestling Bear
• A Letter from Dean
• Stu vs. The Tiger
• A Hart Family Thanksgiving – 1987
• Helen Throws in the Towel
• Owen the Prankster
• Chris Jericho’s Flight with Owen
• The Uninvited Guest
• Bret “Hit Man” Hart Returns to WWE
• Post-Raw Celebration (Raw – January 4, 2010)

Disc 2

Introduction with The Hart Dynasty

6-Man Tag Team Match
Keith Hart, Bruce Hart & Bret Hart vs. The Kiwis & Dynamite Kid
Stampede Wrestling – May 1979

Stampede Arrives in WWE

World Tag Team Championship Match
Hart Foundation vs. British Bulldogs
Boston Garden – November 1, 1986

An Unforgettable Match

Intercontinental Championship Match
Bret “Hit Man” Hart vs. British Bulldog
SummerSlam – August 29, 1992

The Hart Family in a WWE Ring

Family Feud Match
Bret “Hit Man” Hart, Owen Hart, Bruce Hart & Keith Hart vs. Shawn Michaels & His Knights
Survivor Series – November 24, 1993

Brothers vs. Brothers

Bret “Hit Man” Hart & Owen Hart vs. Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner
Florence, SC – January 11, 1994

Ripped Apart at the Seams

World Tag Team Championship Match
Bret “Hit Man” Hart & Owen Hart vs. The Quebecers
Royal Rumble – January 22, 1994

Disc 3

Sibling Rivalry

Steel Cage Match for the WWE Championship
Bret “Hit Man” Hart vs. Owen Hart
SummerSlam – August 29, 1994

The Hart Family Settles It in the Ring

Bret “Hit Man” Hart & British Bulldog vs. Owen Hart & Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart
Raw – November 7, 1994

Decorated in Gold

European Championship Match
Owen Hart vs. British Bulldog
Raw – March 3, 1997

Front and Center

10-Man Tag Team Match
Bret “Hit Man” Hart, Owen Hart, British Bulldog, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart & Brian Pillman vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin, Ken Shamrock, Goldust & Legion of Doom
In Your House: Canadian Stampede July 6, 1997

Border Wars

6-Man Tag Team Flag Match
Bret “Hit Man” Hart, Owen Hart & British Bulldog vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin, Undertaker & Dude Love
Raw – July 21, 1997

Passing the Torch

WWE Unified Tag Team Championship Match
The Hart Dynasty vs. D-Generation X
SmackDown – December 25, 2009

The Best is Yet to Come

Just a question for you...
Being that you have lived in Canada your whole life, what is it like to have socialized health care?  I guess I ask since Obama wants to jam universal health care down the throats of us as Americans (the equivalent of Vince McMahon pushing the steroid freaks as World Champs, and I agree, Ezekiel Jackson probably will be one on either Smackdown or RAW, no matter how bad a wrestler he is).  Is it really effective, or is it really as bad as I've heard?  Just wanted to get your perspective on it.  Thanks.

The thing is, we as Canadians don’t tend to think much about health care because we don’t have to.  Thankfully I’ve never had serious medical issues in my adult life, but the times where I’ve had to make trips to the hospital (like the wacky time they thought I had meningitis) I found the system to be perfectly easy to deal with and everyone professional.  Plus I have 100% drug coverage through work, so I never worry about prescription costs either.  Would I want to suddenly be worrying about whether I have coverage in exchange for getting a non-essential procedure done a bit sooner?  Hells no.  Yeah, the system has flaws, but at the end of the day I don’t have to think about where I’m going to go if I’m sick, and that’s good enough for me.

Otherwise I hope you are enjoying Presidents Day here in the states or Family Day in Canada!

Wrestlemania IX: An Event of Epic Proportions

From Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 4, 1993

Hosted By Jim Ross, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and Randy Savage

WWF Tag Team Champions: The Megamaniacs vs. Money Inc.

This is the final WM broadcast for “The Brain” and the only time Savage was in the booth. Even Ross takes a couple of years off after this one as Vince blamed EVERYONE for such a bad card. For those of you stuck in a hole the Megamaniacs are Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake while Money Inc. are Ted DiBiase and…Mike Rotundo/a as I.R.S. Hogan is sporting a black eye and urban legend says many things about this – my favorite is Randy Savage popping him for having an affair with Elizabeth or causing their divorce or something. In reality the Hogan-Savage relationship has been begging for a tell-all book and the only opinion on it I think I could trust died a few years ago. I might try it myself, I live right in the Tampa Bay area so there’s no shortage of locker room guys I can talk to. The heels attack right away but Hogan and Beefcake clean house easily. I have to say Savage’s commentary is giving some cryptic hints about the injury and the eye looks NASTY. A jetski accident eh? IRS goes to town on Beefcake and the heels quickly get to work. DiBiase with a couple of chops and an elbow to floor Beefcake. Hogan tries to get the refs attention and that allows Money Inc. to do more dastardly tricks. DiBiase tries for a second-rope shot to Beefcake’s steel-protected face and hurts his hand in the process. So Beefcake brings the heels heads together but DiBiase rams Beefcake’s head to the buckle. No effect, he must have some Samoan in him. Beefcake tries it to DiBiase with much more success. Tag to Hogan and he pounds on DiBiase with the 10 corner punch and adds some ground and pound. Classic Hogan clothesline and more ground and pound from Hulk. Tag to Beefcake and the double big boot. Beefcake with the super stomp and a bodyslam. Tag back to Hogan who lands the second-rope axe handle. Hogan and Beefcake play pong with DiBiase and Hogan clotheslines him over the top. IRS comes in and gets the same treatment so Money Inc. says “screw it” and leaves the ring. Quick rules change as the official says if Money Inc. leaves the ring they will lose to the titles. DiBiase tries for a thumb to the throat and chokes Hogan over the middle rope and IRS does the same with the tag rope while DiBiase distracts the ref. DiBiase chokes him out as well. I like this strategy actually and they continue doing it…forever. Million Dollar dream time, so there was a method to the madness in this case. Hogan fights the hold to little success and Beefcake eventually outsmarts IRS to get the ref on HIS case and slaps the sleeper on DiBiase and both men are out. Ok, DiBiase had the million dollar dream on Hogan for like four minutes and he survives, Beefcake had the sleeper on DiBiase for like 30 seconds and he’s dead. Hogan is up at eight and both make tags but Hogan gets the hot one. Beefcake catches IRS with the running high knee. Beefcake gives DiBiase an atomic drop that sends him over the top, he drops IRS with a couple of super right hands but DiBiase catches Beefcake in the back with the Halliburton suitcase and that puts an end to that bit of offense. Elbow drop by IRS and a tag of DiBiase. A couple of knee drops from the Million Dollar Man and he tries to rip Beefcake’s mask off. A shot to the throat from DiBiase and he finally takes the mask off. And now this is great because every shot to Beefcake’s face brings horror to the crowd and he can oversell it to death. Money Inc. quick tags to death but finally Beefcake catches them with a double clothesline. Beefcake opts for the sleeper on IRS instead of the tag. DiBiase tries to break the hold and drops Beefcake, IRS and the ref. IRS tags and Beefcake finally makes the hot tag and Hogan is ready to rumble. Big boot for DiBiase and he gives IRS a ball shot before grabbing Beefcake’s mask and clubbing both men with it. Of course the official is still out so Jimmy Hart puts on a referee’s jacket and makes the count himself. Huh? So Danny Davis comes in to clear up any confusion and awards the match to…Money Inc.? Huh? Oh well. Afterwards Jimmy Hart beats up Davis. I guess absence makes the heart grow fonder because I liked the match way more this time around.

(Money Inc. def. Megamaniacs, disqualification, **1/2. This was actually a pretty decent tag match with plenty of action and a decent effort from all involved. Wow.)

But we’ve got another Main Event.

WWF Championship: Bret Hart vs. Yokozuna

And Bret gets to close the show for the first time…sort of. Now if you look at the promotional poster for this card, Bret Hart is the only face on it so the common thinking is that The Hitman will win this one. And given what happened during the altercation he had during the Wrestlemania brunch with Lex Luger, there was no reason to think Bret wasn’t going over here and starting a program with Luger. In hindsight that was a MUCH better alternative to the reality.

Yoko is a svelte 505 pounds here. Bret just dives in head first and hits a dropkick to corner Yoko. He wails away in the corner so Yoko casually shoves him off. Hart fights back but a chop to the throat stops that and a running shoulder sends Hart to the floor. Yoko lays the bare foot to Hart but the Hitman ties Yoko’s foot to the ropes and jumps on him with the ground and pound. Yoko is still tied so Hart drops the middle rope elbow and whaddya know, the crowd is really responding to him. Two clotheslines by Hart but he gets rocked with a shoulder tackle on the third attempt. Elbow drop by Yoko and body slam. Yoko is moving well and he hits the MASSIVE fat-assed legdrop of death. It’s amazing how much faster Yoko moves without the extra 150 pounds. Yoko chokes Hart on the top rope and slings him off. Yoko goes for the dreaded nerve hold. Hart fights back valiantly but Yoko slugs him. Corner whip but Bret catches Yoko’s charge with a boot and goes to the middle rope and jumps on Yoko to take the big man down for a two count. Sweet 20 chins music by Yoko puts Hart down again. Hey, another nerve hold! Another corner whip to Hart and he misses the super butt splash. Hart with a second rope bulldog for two. A middle rope elbow for two. A middle rope clothesline staggers the big man and a flying clothesline drops him. Hart with the 10 corner punches but Yoko pulls him off and Hart rips off the turnbuckle cover in the process. Yoko tries to ram Hart’s head into the exposed steel but Hart reverses it and knocks Yoko out. Sharpshooter time and he got the win in hand when Mr. Fuji tosses salt into Hart’s eyes and Yoko recovers to get the pin and the championship.

(Yokozuna def. Hart, pinfall, **1/4, pretty damn good big man/little man by Yokozuna standards match with Hart pulling out all the stops to carry Yokozuna to something watchable. Boy both of these matches were way better than I remembered. So all in all WM IX wasn’t the worst thing ever at anything…)

Oh hell I forgot.

Hulk Hogan comes down to help Bret Hart because they are friends and all. You’d think the guy would try to explain to the ref about the dirty shenanigans but nah, he’s just being a friend. Meanwhile Fuji and Yoko throw down the challenge to Hogan for the title RIGHT NOW. Hogan tells them to piss off because he’s all about his friend Bret, but Bret insists that Hogan fight off the evil men for the good of mankind. So we’ve got a match.

WWF Championship: Hulk Hogan vs. Yokozuna

Hogan gets attacked when entering the ring but Fuji accidentally hits Yoko with the salt. Clothesline and the big leg gives Hogan his…fifth title if I’m not mistaken.

(Hogan def. Yokozuna, pinfall, squash, I guess the fans got sent home happy. The WWF basically suffered for a year as a result, but it’s not my money and god knows no one was going to accuse Yokozuna of steroid usage unless it came in pasta form).