Thursday 2 February 2012

You can't spell WWE without McMahon

By Headbanger Ash

Having been one of the lucky ones, growing up in the attitude era, I saw first-hand how one family ruled over the wrestling industry. Names like The Rock, Stone Cold, HHH, Benoit, Jericho (the list goes on) helped make the era what it was but only one name truly dominated...McMahon.
Yet as the PG era took over, we have seen less and less of the most powerful family in sports entertainment. Less Vince McMahon one liners “YOU’RE FIRED” and the demise of the “kiss my a*s club” (even though big Johnny seemed happy to join it on Raw), no more of Shanes “coast-to-coasts” or 40 foot falls, no more choke slams, stone cold stunners or last rides for Steph, and Linda, well… we all love Linda.
The WWE has so much to thank this family for and what they have given to the world of wrestling can never be overestimated.
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy McMahon
A career which has spanned over thirty years, and the man who has made WWE what it is today, Vincent Kennedy McMahon’s achievements are unparalleled in the industry. The biggest heel and the biggest face of all time, McMahon has done it all: World Heavyweight championships, Royal Rumble winner, legendary feuds with the Rattlesnake, Trish Stratus’ “toyboy”, not to mention the fact that he pretty much reinvented the business.
Storylines are original and appeal to all audiences ultimately due to the vision of Vince. Since joining his Father’s business back in 1972, McMahon has guided the WWE to the top of the ratings and under his leadership, Raw has become the longest-running weekly episodic TV show in history. Therefore we thank you Mr McMahon and look forward to seeing that iconic strut making a welcome return in the near future.
Shane McMahon
Shane McMahon
When Shane was a regular feature on the WWE, you was always safe in the knowledge that something interesting was about to happen. Following in the footsteps of his father, Shane could talk the talk and walk the walk as he was flying like a butter fly and stinging like a bee. Chairs, tables, bin lids, baking trays and even road signs came in contact with the cranium of Shane during his career as he was always willing to take one for the company – despite the risk. I offer the example here of one of my all-time favourite matches: Kurt Angle Vs Shane McMahon – King of the Ring 2001. A match I can only describe in the words of Ron Simmons, DAMN!
Shane will hopefully enrol on the same course as his Father did and one day own the WWE Empire. His experiences with WCW and ECW may have put him in good stead and I for one would be more than happy for Shane to continue the McMahon domination of professional wrestling.
 
Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley

Stephanie McMahon
 The youngest member of the McMahon quartet, the “Billion dollar princess” was almost feuding with as many men as she was Diva’s during her time in the WWE. Like her brother, Steph was always willing to take a hit in the name of the business, even receiving the dreaded stink face from Rikishi. Yet it usually wasn’t her in ring ability that got “Daddy’s little girl” noticed, despite the fact she was one-time women’s champion, it was in fact her relationship with the Game, HHH, that propelled her career. On the arm of one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, she helped guide the Cerebral Assassin to achieve title after title and claim utter domination under the McMahon-Helmsley era.
Now, with Road Dogg recently returning and Triple H looking to have turned down the opportunity of a third match against Taker at Wrestlemania, a Stephanie McMahon comeback would be awesome and could help kick-start a DX II.
Linda McMahon
Linda McMahon
Even if Linda may not have been as iconic on screen as her fellow family members, her off-screen contribution have helped shape the business into what it is today. Alongside husband Vince, Linda helped to establish the new era of wrestling yet it hasn’t always been smooth sailing between the two on screen.
My fondest memory of Linda includes Vince, and is enough of a reason for her to have her own hall in the hall of fame - the famous kick at Wrestlemania X-Seven. If you haven’t seen this then you are truly missing out – not only do you feel the urge to hollow a “hell yeah” when she rises from her seat, but when the foot connects with the McMahon family jewels, a mixture of humour and empathy (if you have been hit there you know what I mean) falls upon you.
Perhaps the McMahons don’t play as key a role on screen any more yet one more family feud would surely be welcome as WWE looks to recapture its attitude.


Wednesday 1 February 2012

Deadman Walking

WrestleMania XXVIII: Undertaker vs ???
Written By RY2J
It has been a hectic ten months in the WWE since WrestleMania XXVII. From meeting Mr Excitement John Lauranitis to seeing Jomo having to go go. From the disbanding of Nexus to The Rock’s first match in over seven years. Even in the last month or so we’ve seen a masked Kane re-appear, a bemusing Jericho return, Sheamus win the Royal Rumble and we’ve even been introduced to the only living Funkasauras known to man!
However, amidst all the commotion that has excited us throughout this time, one thing (or should I say ‘one man’) has been missing. On Monday 30th January 2012, Hells Gates reopened and out stepped the man who has made the WWE ring his playground over the last twenty years. Finally, The Undertaker returned.
As soon as the first ‘Donggg’ was echoed through the arena, the crowd erupted (even sat at home I couldn’t help but to throw a ‘hell yeah’ fist into the air). Memories of the great matches between The Undertaker and Triple H were quickly flooding back as The Deadman squared up to The Game in the ring and, without the need to say a word, challenged him to a match at WrestleMania.
However, unlike with the build-up to WrestleMania 27, this time Triple H did not stand there and stare back, instead he just patted Taker on the shoulder and left the ring. So the question has now arisen: will it be HHH vs Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVIII? And if not The Cerebral Assassin, then who?
Last year’s bout between these two heavyweights of the business even eclipsed The Rock as guest host and the match justifiably stole the show. A rematch has looked likely to occur ever since, with Undertaker desperate to get his streak to 20-0 in style.
However, with Triple H’s apparent reluctance to fight The Phenom again, if this match does not occur then, in my opinion, I can only see one other potential matchup. Will we have a repeat of WrestleMania XIV and XX and once again see The Undertaker vs Kane on the biggest stage of them all!?
With John Cena scheduled to face The Rock come April 1st in Miami, The Big Red Machines current feud with Cena will surely come to an end sometime before this. Therefore, another ‘brother on brother’ bout could well be on the cards for this year’s pinnacle event.
However the fact remains that, whether it be Triple H, Kane or anyone else on the roster for that matter, personally I am just delighted that The Deadman has returned, and come WrestleMania 28, will once again be looking to make his opponent Rest. In. Peace.

Sunday 29 January 2012

RY2J’s Royal Rumble Preview (Part 4 of 4): The Royal Rumble Match

And the winner is...
Written By RY2J
30-Man Royal Rumble Match
One of the most exciting matches of the year will commence tonight as 30 superstars have the opportunity to go on and headline WrestleMania, all they need to do is be the last man standing in the ring come the end of the Rumble.
A lot has been made in the build-up about the fact that ‘any superstar can enter.’ This has led to rumours of everything from divas to leprechauns being entered into the match (and I’ve even heard a whisper of a certain Executive Vice President of Talent Relations and Interim General Manager of Raw making a sneaky appearance). The fact remains, whoever enters the Rumble, they will have to get by twenty-nine other superstars regardless.
A difficult match to analyse and predict, but I will do my best. Below are my five picks as to who I believe are the big contenders in the 25th Annual Royal Rumble Event:
5. Undertaker – The Deadman has not been seen on our TV screens since WrestleMania XXVII, but with his current record of 19-0 at the WWEs pinnacle event, surely he will be looking to get to 20-0 this year. The question remains however in what circumstances will ‘Taker make it to WrestleMania, could it possibly be through winning the Rumble?
4. Rey Mysterio – Another superstar who has been out of the WWE for a number of months, the master of the 6-1-9 is also rumoured to be making a potential return tonight; and as the ultimate underdog, if Rey is in the match, he is always in with a chance of winning it, no matter of his size.
3. Kane – regardless of what happens in Kane’s match against Cena earlier in the night, The Big Red Machine could still make an appearance in the Rumble match, and if so, expect him to cause quite the stir. Renowned for his ability to eliminate large amounts of superstars from this very match, don’t be surprised if Kane enters the match, and maybe even goes that one step further.
2. Randy Orton – the apex predator returned to WWE on SmackDown this week and looked pumped and ready to go. After RKO-ing five superstars in the ring on Friday Night, Orton appears to be on a warpath, with his radar fixed right on Wade Barrett. No matter if Orton is successful in winning the Rumble, the likelihood is that himself and Barrett will play decisive roles in each other’s potential eliminations.
1. Chris Jericho – Y2J has been back in the WWE for a month now, but to say he came ‘back-with-a-bang’ would be quite the over statement. Jericho has only muttered one sentence since his return, stating that he will be in the Rumble match, and with all the hype surrounding the apparent silent superstar, it looks like the Jerichoholics could have something to cheer by the end of the night.
I would love to say that I think the likes of Mick Foley, ‘Big Johnny’ John Lauranitis, The Miz, Road Dogg and Hornswoggle have a chance of winning the Rumble (well maybe not the last one), but in my opinion, 2012 is shaping up to be the Year of Jericho.
RY2J Verdict: Chris Jericho to win
Headbanger Ash Verdict: Triple H to win