Jacks lost his Swagger

Written By RY2J

Swaggers Career: After Every Rise Comes A Fall

As a former ECW Champion, World Heavyweight Champion and Money in the Bank Winner; Jack Swagger has had plenty of highlights in his four-year stint in the WWE.

However, since forming an alliance with Vickie Guerrero and Dolph Ziggler in August of last year, the All-American-American’s rise up the WWE ladder seems to have run down a blind alley.

With only a six week United State Title reign to show for his years’ work, Swagger’s accomplishments within the past 12 months have to go down as disappointing.

So the question must be asked: What went wrong? To find the answer, we must go way back to the build-up to WrestleMania 27.

Match Preview: CM Punk (c) vs Chris Jericho

By Bushwhacker Barker

Best in the World v Best in the World

Ever since the mysterious 1.2.12 vignettes were shown on Raw, there had been mutters on it being the returns of Goldberg, Brock Lesnar, Undertaker, Christian and even a debut for the “Icon” Sting of WCW and TNA fame. Yet what surprised us was that it actually hyped up the return of the “Ayatollah of Rock ‘n’ Rolla”. So when it turned out to be Y2J, boy was I surprised to see him and his light-up jacket.

Once he returned and showed off his “heelish” nature once more, ignoring the fans and refusing to speak, it was clear he was back to claim what was “rightfully” his; to be called the best in the world and feud with the current WWE Champ.

Match Preview – Undertaker v Triple H

By Headbanger Ash

HHH vs Undertaker: Round III

When the lights went off last month on Raw, and the bright lights of Jericho’s jacket didn’t illuminate the arena, it meant only one thing, The Undertaker was back.

As he made his way down to the ring with a deathly walk which seems to last longer every time he appears, the crowd, the commentators and even the cameraman knew what was coming: the now what, seems to be annual HHH vs Undertaker, Wrestlemania challenge.

Yet unlike the previous two encounters, this one seemed to have the inability to headline the night. With the risk of being overshadowed by the Great ones encounter with John Cena, or Punk’s world title match with Jericho, something seemed to be missing.

Match Preview: Daniel Bryan (c) v Sheamus

Sheamus v D-Bry: Dark Horse of the Night?

Written by RY2J

For over three months now, Daniel Bryan has held the World Heavyweight Championship, and for three months, he’s made sure every knows about it.

D-Bry’s transition in the WWE from NXT Reject to Top of the Roster Superstar coincided with his heel turn on SmackDown, and with the adorable AJ on his arm, Bryan has been able to squirm his way to a three month reign as World Champion.

However, this reign looks like it may come under serious threat this Sunday at WrestleMania, as a certain Celtic Warrior looks to regain his spot at the top of the mountain.

The Next Shelton Benjamin

By RY2J

Gold Standard? Will Dolph ever make it to the top?

Shelton Benjamin was an extraordinary wrestler, with some of his in-ring abilities matched by no man. However, one thing eluded ‘The Gold Standard’ throughout his time in the WWE: winning the big one.

Multiple Money in the Bank participations; Intercontinental, United States and Tag Team title reigns, but never did Benjamin make the step to the top of the proverbial ladder.

A man who many believed would achieve great things in the WWE went on to achieve mediocrity, and now in 2012, are we seeing another Shelton Benjamin occurring before our eyes?

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 30^th 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 1^st 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.

Barrett Barrage to Continue

Barrett Aiming Big in 2012

Written By RY2J

As is discussed in an earlier blog entry (namely “Nexus: Where Are They Now?”), Wade Barrett is one of the major success stories in the WWE to have come out of the NXT programme. With his hard hitting, in your face wrestling style, Barrett was able to establish himself as a ‘major-player’ on SmackDown through the back-end of 2011, and the Barrett Barrage looks set to continue in 2012.

After feuding with Randy Orton for almost two months, the hard-nosed Englishman was able to really cement his place on the SmackDown roster as a major Heel, and help to climb his way towards the top in the WWE. The man who used to rule Nexus has been able to push on in the business as a singles competitor, and now that he isn’t surrounded by several other stable members, the Mancunian hasn’t been fazed by the spotlight; he’s thrived under it.

 Going into the Royal Rumble Pay-Per-View this weekend, Barrett may only be viewed as having an outside chance of winning the Rumble and going on to headline WrestleMania, but the fact that he is considered as a contender nevertheless shows what a force the Barrett Barrage has become.

At last year’s Rumble, only John Cena and (then Nexus leader) CM Punk lasted longer in the ring than Barrett, who was eventually eliminated after surviving over twenty-two minutes (ironically, it was Orton who eliminated him, ten months before the two started their bitter rivalry). Perhaps such a display may not occur this year, but don’t be surprised if the former-Intercontinental Champion plays a major role in the final outcome of the match.

Regardless of The Rumble result, the future looks bright for the ex-Corre member, who will surely be used in the SmackDown Elimination Chamber in February, potentially leading to a major role for Barrett come April 1^st in Miami.

An Englishman is yet to hold the WWE Championship in its 39-year history, but with the Barrett Barrage looking set to continue (and perhaps dominate) in 2012; it may only be a matter of time until that record is set straight.

Golden Rhodes to WrestleMania

Written by RY2J

Goldust and Cody to Cross Rhodes at WM28?

When I first heard about the potential for a sibling feud between Cody Rhodes and Goldust at Wrestlemania XXVIII, I, much like many other fans, was excited by the idea. The chemistry between the two could really boost Cody Rhodes’ persona as a major heel in the WWE, whilst also giving the Golden Guy another opportunity on the grandest stage of them all.

Goldust is renowned for his quirky eccentricity, but in recent weeks, has appeared as a ‘make-up-less’ Dustin Rhodes, who rather than bringing the sparkle to the show, seems to have somewhat lost his mojo. In contrary, Cody (my face is beautiful, now ugly, now back to OK) Rhodes has really started to develop as a wrestler, both through in-ring ability and enhancing his character as a bad-guy of the industry. This culminated in Rhodes rejuvenating the Intercontinental Championship, and seeing off the Spineroonie master that is Booker T in recent weeks.

But what is the next step for Cody on his apparent rise up the WWE ladder? Another match against Booker T? No thank you. Winning the Royal Rumble? Not yet ready. A brother-on-brother battle at Wrestlemania? Bingo.

It was sixteen years ago that Goldust first appeared at a Wrestlemania event (Wrestlemania XII against Rowdy Roddy Piper), and amazingly has never won at the PPV in his entire career! All the more reason to give him the chance to address this issue with a bout against his ever-improving half-brother. But wait, there’s more. As many of you will know, the wrestling genes in the Rhodes family goes further back than just these two superstars; step forward Hall of Famer, Mr Dusty Rhodes.

Dusty is a legend within the business, and like all legends, is always able to gage a response from the audience. This, mixed in with Dustin’s potential restoration of the Golden One, and Cody’s obvious ever-increasing reputation, could fuse together to create a real spectacle at WWE’s major event of the year. No matter how Dusty is used; either in aiding Goldust to shine once more, or assisting The Dashing One in his devious ways; the use of all three members of the Rhodes wrestling family in the same match at Wrestlemania should surely help to create a bout to be remembered for some time.

So, now all that we can do is wait and see if Dustin Rhodes will once again slap on that Gold paint we all love to see and take up his rightful place as the overly suggestive, highly intriguing superstar we have all to come adore. If this persona can be re-found, then with a little assistance from a couple of family members, magic could be in the air come Wrestlemania.