Dominant Divas

By RY2J

With today being International Women’s Day, it seems fitting to do a write-up on the dominant divas of the WWE. From Chyna to Beth Phoenix, we have been treated to some exceptionally talented women over the years; and below is a run-down of some of the divas who have helped in the rise of ‘girl-power’ in the WWE.

Chyna

Ninth Wonder of the World

After first appearing on our screens way back in 1997 as an ‘over-excited’ (or crazed) fan choking Marlena, The Ninth Wonder of the World went on to dominate in the WWE for many years to come.

A true trailblazer in the business, Chyna wasn’t only dominant in the diva division. As a former two-time Intercontinental Champion, the first female entrant into both the Royal Rumble and King of the Ring and a former bodyguard to Triple H, this is one woman not to be messed with.

Unfortunately, personal reasons appeared to cause Chyna and the WWE to drift apart and eventually they did part company, but for many Chyna is the ulti
mate dominant female of the WWE.

Foley is Good: Comedy Tour Review

Bang Bang: Nights in Red Flannel a Hit

Written by RY2J

On Tuesday night, the Just Blog It team ventured down to Sheffield to once again see the Hardcore Legend himself Mick Foley and his UK comedy tour, Nights in Red Flannel. After driving around Sheffield for the good part of an hour trying to find the damn place, we finally arrived.

We attended the same event last year, only in Manchester, but once again the demographics of the audience were the same. A large amount of 20-to-40 something’s, 95% male, and all keen to come out of the closet for this one night and proclaim their love for all things wrestling.

Opening Acts:

Chris Brooker was the host of the night (@TheBrookerMan) as he was last year as well and once again the long haired ginger man managed to warm up the crowd perfectly. With a range of wrestling related comedy at his disposal, Brooker soon had the audience eating out of his hand, and the man who came out to CM Punks music knew it.

Steffen Peddie was the first support act to be introduced to the stage, and after being outed as an ex-wrestler himself, was always going to go down well with the crowd.

The big Geordie gave comical insight into past experiences of his in ring action, and from start to finish was able to engage the audience. A man who can make you smile with just the accent, Peddie went down well and was a good choice for a support act for Foley.

We were then introduced to the second support act of the night. Now, if Steffen told the odd story that may have been a bit edgy, it was just about to get a lot edgier. Ladies and Gentlemen: Mr Martin Mor.

To say that the Northern Irish comedian is a tad controversial with his act is an understatement, but at the same time, it works. From prison rape jokes to outrageous sex puns and everything in between, Mor’s style of comedy fitted in perfectly with the testosterone filled crowd, and deservedly left the stage to a loud ovation.

Foley Time:

After a short interval, it was finally time to see the man himself. Coming out to his traditional wrestling music, Foley was greeted with rapturous applause, and it was evident from the very start of the show; no matter what Mick said, the crowd would love it.

A witty insight into the world of a professional wrestler mixed with comical remarks about wider issues such as politics, the hardcore legend was able to appeal to a wider crowd than just us wrestling fans.

Now, I don’t want to ruin the show for anyone who is reading this and planning to go themselves, so I will just leave it by saying it is a definite must see for any wrestling fans.

From the start of the night with a meet and greet, through to the Q&A at the end, the show went down without a hitch. Even when there was one person who was talking too loud in the audience, he was soon put in his place by Mick himself!

A fantastic night out for all comedy and wrestling fans, Nights in Red Flannel will have you laughing from start to finish, and in my personal opinion, has even improved from last year’s show. Some new material mixed in with the better bits of last year’s tour means that Foley has found the formula for a great night of comedy.

Highway to Hell (in a Cell)

Will HHH v Undertaker steal the show... again?

Written by RY2J

On WWE Monday Night Raw this week, the announcement we all thought was going to happen finally happened… but with a twist.

When The Undertaker was initially turned down by Triple H for a rematch at WrestleMania 28, we all had an inkling that it wouldn’t be the last we saw of the two; and sure enough, it wasn’t.

After a fantastic Shawn Michaels-Triple H promo, followed by seeing the Undertaker apparently go for the Stone Cold Steve Austin haircut, the feeling that the ‘big match’ was going to be happen was getting stronger and stronger until finally, The Game said you’re on.

The announcement that these two legends of the business were once again going to be locking horns on the grandest stage of them all was enough to get any WWE fan excited, but the COO had one more trick up his sleeve.

Throughout the history of the WWE, the Hell in a Cell match has produced some of the greatest moments in the businesses legacy. From seeing Mick Foley flying onto an announcers table, to R-Truth and The Miz barricading themselves in the structure and striking everything that moves; the proclaimed ‘demonic structure’ has had some momentous occasions associated with it.

On April 1^st 2012, it is very likely that another bout will be added to this impressive list as The Undertaker faces Triple H in a match likely to steal the show, even from the People’s Champion himself.

The Deadman has survived nineteen matches at WrestleMania and come out of everyone victorious, but there is just that little feeling that perhaps this year, Taker could meet his maker.

Whatever happens between the two, it is sure to be one hell of a slobberknocker. Their match at last year’s WrestleMania was the highlight of the PPV, and adding a celled structure to these two already combustible elements is sure to create sparks.

The Undertaker is the master of the Hell in a Cell match, but against the man who will do just about anything to win, the matchup should leave the WWE Universe in awe, regardless of the outcome.

(Have your say on who will win by voting on the poll on our site!)

The Rise of Tamina

Tamina: Proudly Carrying the Samoan Heritage

Written by RY2J

Last night at Elimination Chamber, Tamina was able to push Beth Phoenix further than any other diva has managed for quite some time. In fact, after hitting the patented Superfly Splash, she came within a second of creating history, only for The Glamazon to kick-out and go on to retain her title, for now at least.

But it was Lady Snuka who was left holding her head high at the end of the night, knowing that she had finally arrived on the big stage, after a long, often frustrating, three year climb in the WWE.

The dominant diva from Samoa has had more heel-to-face/face-to-heel changes in her three year career than The Big Show. Often being used as a bad-gal one week, followed by good-gal the next, Tamina struggled to create a strong persona for herself throughout the majority of her WWE career.

However, after ditching JTG in December 2011 (just a month or so after joining forces with him), Tamina undertook one final face-turn and started feuding with Natalya (a.k.a. Miss Fart-Gag). The difference this time, the fans bought in to it. Ladies and Gentlemen, Tamina Sunka had finally arrived.

The past couple of months have seen Tamina go from mid-carder to main eventer in the diva division, once again another success story of a Diva who is both beautiful and powerful.

However, with the name Kharma constantly on the lips of the WWE Universe, the Samoan warrior will be aware that no matter how hard she found it to get to the top; she must now push on and go that extra step if we are to see a Samoan woman lifting the Diva’s title anytime soon.

That being said, nothing should be taken away from Tamina, who has worked so hard to reach the heights she has today, and in my opinion at least, long may she remain there.

WWE Spreads the Love

Written by RY2J

Firstly may I just say Happy Valentine’s Day everybody! Seeing as how it is the day of love, I’ve decided to incorporate the occasion into our blog. So sit back, grab the heart shaped box of chocolates lying around and enjoy, as we delve deep into the realms of the WWE roster past and present to reminisce about the superstars whose biggest muscle was their heart (cue the groans).

Mr. McMahon

Some People Enjoy Valentines Day in Different Ways

As the owner of a multi-million pound business, one may be excused for thinking that Vincent Kennedy McMahon would take a back seat in the ‘lovey-dovey’ story-lines that go on within the WWE. However, if you did think this was the case, you obviously don’t know Vince all that well.

Portrayed as an evil, money hungry, egotistical corporate jackass throughout the attitude era (and for a short while beyond), Mr McMahon was often keen to include romance in his dirty work. A particular favourite example of mine (which was briefly mentioned in a previous blog entry by Headbanger Ash (“You Can’t Spell WWE without McMahon”)) is McMahons affair with the wonderfully tart-like figure of Trish Stratus. As Vince’s wife Linda sat paralysed in her wheelchair, it was up to Vince to take one for the WWE team which resulted in countless make out sessions with the busty blonde; poor Vince, it’s a tough job but someone’s got to do it.

From disrespectfully gaping at every woman that has appeared on the show through to having an obsession with people putting their lips on his backside, McMahon has duly deserved his recognition as a man with a taste for love.

Great Khali/Viscera

Now before I start this part of the article, I must make it 1000% clear that by the sub-heading ‘Great Khali/Viscera’ I am in no way implying that these two horny love monsters were an item, but instead that the gimmick that the two superstars portrayed were very similar (so get all those freaky images out of your head now).

From World’s Largest Love Machine to the Punjabi Playboy, these two colossal figures couldn’t hide their feelings from the WWE Universe and were often caught up in (albeit ridiculously) romantic storylines. In fact, Viscera was even proposed to by the lovely Lillian Garcia at the Vengeance PPV in 2005 and turned her down!! I guess as the World’s Largest Love Machine no one woman can be enough. The same bigotry statement could be made for Khali too; whose weekly kiss-cam saw the Punjabi Playboy constantly meeting and greeting new woman all the time. I guess these two huge superstars had equally huge hearts.

The Godfather

All Aboard the Ho-Train!

As a man whose job it was to walk down to the ring with his “hoes” in his pimping gear, Godfather epitomised the “We want Puppies” attitude that the WWE had on their women throughout the 1990’s. Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler would go particularly flabbergasted every time the ho-train pulled into the arena, and even Good ol’ JR was often left speechless as the barrage of beauties followed The Godfather down to the ring.

Sadly for all of us (especially the men within the WWE audience), the gimmick was dropped in 2000 to make way for the Goodfather and his induction into Right to censor. However, don’t you worry, now the owner of his own gentlemen’s club ‘Cheetah’s’, it looks like Godfather will once again be boarding the Ho-Train. All aboard!

Val Venis

The man with the towel. The Big Valbowski. Val Venis was a real ladies man within the WWE, and not only with the divas. Every match that Val was in, one lucky lady in the crowd would get the souvenir white bath towel that he wore down to the ring oh so provocatively.

With one finisher adequately named ‘The Big Package’, and being put in storyline after storyline of sleeping with different women, Val Venis’ character should go down in history as a loved-up, unadulterated superstar whose search for love often got him in more trouble than it did good. Sadly, Venis also joined Right to Censor in 2000, but once again our perverse desires were satisfied as he The Big Valbowski, towel and all, re-emerged at the 2002 Royal Rumble. Hello Ladies.

Edge

Edge and Lita: The Rated-R Duo

No love guru list would be completed without the inclusion of the Rated-R Superstar. Edge was almost instantaneously accepted as a fan favourite, even when his character was occasionally dubbed a heel in his partnership with Christian. However, it was after Edge left the tag-team division and sought after the bigger prizes in the WWE that his true, rated R character shone through.

A live raunchy sex scene with Lita on Friday Night SmackDown encapsulated Edge’s new persona, and boy did he rise to the occasion (figuratively and literally in this case). His love affair with the red-headed diva was fantastic, and along with his great relationship with Mrs Vickie ‘The Cougar’ Guerrero, Edge was able to not only enhance his character, but also gain success as a wrestler. The master of the Spear propelled himself to greatness with a little help from Cupids magic arrow, and is a deserved entrant into this year’s WWE Hall of Fame.

There are many more wrestlers who have pulled on the heartstrings of the Superstars, the Divas and the WWE Universe in history. The likes of HBK Shawn Michaels, Billy ‘Mr Ass’ Gunn, Mark ‘Sexual Chocolate’ Henry, even Teddy Long isn’t afraid of getting down on Friday Night SmackDown!

However, all of these superstars had one thing in common; they all loved to be loved back, and the WWE Universe were more than happy to comply.

Smackdown Vs Raw: It's more than just a Game

Written by Headbanger Ash

The fight to be number one!

Ever since I can remember, Raw has been the dominant brand in the WWE. From the Raw is War days to our present Monday night Raw show, it has always been the leading weekly episodic, constantly leaving Smackdown sat in a sorry second place. However, is the domination of Raw beginning to disappear? Can Smackdown, Teddy Long and-all, rise above their prevailing brother show and become number one?

Lately, I have been watching both shows without fail and the one thing I have noted is that Smackdown seems to be invading, and taking over, Raw. Rarely will a Monday night now go by in which Sheamus, The Big Show, Randy Orton or Wade Barrett are not involved in one way or another, and these names are fast becoming fans favourites.

I understand that Raw is now called the Raw super show, meaning both rosters can compete on Monday nights, yet the reliance upon certain superstars from the runner-up brand is perhaps indicating that Smackdown is no longer content with living in its sibling’s shadow. In fact, without the likes of Orton and Sheamus kicking some ass on Raw, would we actually see a drop in viewing figures?

The Royal Rumble winner of 2012, The Great White himself, is a fully pledged Smackdown superstar whilst the tag titles are also now owned by the blue half of the WWE. As this sort of power is instituted towards Teddy Longs team and away from big Johnny, will Teddy actually catch his rival?

Like many others, I still believe that Raw is, the greater brand, with the likes of Jericho, Punk, Cena (yes we may not like him, but, we like to not like him), Kane, The Miz, and Ziggler perhaps over-powering the weaker Smackdown roster.

Yet a look at the upcoming talent on Smackdown such as Sheamus, Cody Rhodes, Barrett, D-Bry etc. and you can see that the gulf between the two shows is certainly shrinking.

However, the problem doesn’t seem to be the talent, it seems to be the storylines. Raw has always provided that extra special moment which Smackdown just lacks. For example, on Raw you may see Kane clawing his way out of a hole in the middle of the ring only for it to be set ablaze moments later, whilst on Smackdown, the most edgy thing that occurs is a Natalya fart-gag or Hunico riding some sort of “pimped-out” bicycle to the ring. It is this kind of thing that is remembered by the WWE universe and which one, honestly, would you rather see?

To finish this piece I think we must recognise the huge strides Smackdown has made recently with the show actually becoming interesting again and not just 2 long, long hours of air-time on Sy-Fy. Raw has dominated the WWE universe for decades now, yet could we soon be seeing a switch over to the blue side?

D-Bry the Perfect Heel Guy?

The Bearded Man's Heel Turn Plan

Written by RY2J

Throughout recent weeks and months in the WWE, Daniel Bryan has been unveiling his new persona to the WWE Universe – a jackass. And boy does he play the part well!

Obviously a very talented wrestler, Bryan was able to capture the World Heavyweight Championship in December by cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase for a shot at the gold. However, even at this earliest stage of D-Bry’s title reign, the seeds were being sown for a heel turn in the not so distant future.

By winning the title against a defenceless Big Show, questions were immediately asked about Bryan’s integrity and whether he was actually a deserved World Heavyweight Champion. 

These views were quickly backed up in the following weeks on SmackDown where the champion would defend his title against the World’s Largest Athlete, and keep winning in somewhat dubious circumstances.

Bryan’s arrogance continued to grow, and with it the fans continued to turn on a man they used to cheer; with The Champ’s crowning moment in his heel turn coming when The Big Show inadvertently knocked down D-Bry’s girlfriend AJ.

With a constant verbal barrage on Big Show thereafter, labelling him a ‘Bastard’ (cheeky loosening of the PG format) who should leave the WWE, the face-to-heel transformation was more or less completed.

After retaining his title at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view (albeit in questionable fashion), Daniel Bryan has been able to continue his pompous reign in the WWE into February.

His match a couple of weeks ago on Monday Night Raw against CM Punk stole the show, showing D-Bry can still go toe-to-toe with the (self-proclaimed) best in the world, and it is this ability, mixed in with the overzealous, egotistical persona, that has led Bryan to undergo one of the most interesting and well delivered heel turns in the WWE for some time.