Billy Gunn in why he continued to struggle, comparisons to Dolph Thomas, more
Arda Ocal (@ arda_ocal) and Jimmy Korderas (@ jimmykorderas) of # AftermathRadio thescore.com and talk of iTunes with former WWE superstar and 10 time Tag Team Champion Billy Gunn (@ RealBillyGunn). Highlights:
His wrestling career, what kept his career going to independent level (including last weekend where he will appear by www).(CWIwrestling.com): "still enjoy what I do." I love what I do because its probably only what I am really well. It is difficult to renounce to really. "I still love to see the people, I still love to get out in front of people, I still love to see the fans, still love what this business has to offer"
How was never fan of pro wrestling grows and business found - taking on the Harris Brothers beating up for 4 hours directly at the beginning of his training: "I looked never fight kid, he never wanted to be a wrestler, he never wanted to get into this business." It fell right in this business, and then back to the things of the tag team that just fell into my lap. "It was something that was very exciting for me."
To what extent was ready to go at that stage as an artist performer with Billy and Chuck: "As soon as he needed, cause was my work." People look at every different scenario than I am. I look at as it was my work, they came to me and Chuck and assured that it will go in that direction... "It would have gone as necessary".
Are comparisons of him to the current Superstar in WWE Dolph Thomas - you agree? Also on Dolph in skills of ring as a WWE performer now: "I think hes has great potential, and I think that it is one of there best WWE talent has." "A little more and it will be a big star, I think that he is extremely talented".
Gunn also comments on the possibility of a meeting of the New Age Outlaws in WWE, as a singles competitor, his opinion about the fight free today in couples, and much more. The 30-minute + interview is available here.
* Photos * Billy Gunn fainted and covered in French fries
Phoenix Wrestling Federation (PWF) presents the struggle of women for its all show "Ascension: the increase in the PWF FYREBIRDS in TENNESSEE" on the night of Friday, June 24 in Cleveland, TN
On the night of Friday, June 24
the Division of the South-East of
the Phoenix Wrestling Federation
(PWF)
presents their
Women wrestling live event:
"ASCENSION"
in the National Guard Armory Center
in 4185 Dalton Pike is
in Cleveland, TN
with special guest announcer
WWE Tough Enough Star
Ryan Howe.
BELLTIME:
7: 30 PM
Doors open at 6: 30 PM.
ADMISSION:
AGE 13 AD TO:
$8
THE AGES OF 6 TO 12 CHILDREN:
$4
Scheduled to appear
on June 24
Program of "acsension" of PWF
in a first round of elimination
to the Southeast PWF women's Championship
He is former WWE developmental talent
"The girl from the island" and "Princess Polynesia"
TRACY TAYLOR
ALSO SCHEDULED TO APPEAR...
"The preserver"
FIRE OF RIGHTS & CRYSTAL MARANDA
"It smothers twisted daughters"
JESSE BELLE ASPHYXIA
and
PHIRI BELLE SMOTHERS,
also known as
former Superstar TNA/Chikara
"The Queen of the coincidence of death"
MICKIE KNUCKLES
PANDORA
FANTASY
TIFFANY TAYLOR
BLACK WIDOW
AND MANY, MANY MORE...
Please note that fans of wrestling
* CARD AND WRESTLERS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE *
The Phoenix Wrestling Federation
you are also looking for sponsors
for their June 24
Event of "ascensión" in Cleveland, TN!
Here is what
as you will receive a sponsor:
1 Producer of billing
production credits
2. 8 x 10 signed photographs
Main Event competitors
3. A copy of the DVD of PWF "ascensión"
4 Autograph by WWE Tough enough Star Ryan Howe
5. The election of 10 downloads from the Web site PWF
6 Autographed poster of all the talent
on June 24 PWF "ascensión" show
Any other questions,
do not hesitate to get in touch with
PWF owner Maxx Vitelli
whether in Facebook
or by e-mail to:
maxx4life919@Yahoo.com
For tickets and information of the ticket,
Please call to PWF of Administration:
(423) 244-7186
For more information about the
Phoenix Wrestling Federation,
go to well its official website:
http://www.pwfworld.com
or in their official
Facebook Fan page website:
http://www.Facebook.com/pages/Phoenix-Wrestling-Federation/321811897806
Bischoff proclaims the impact ratings struggle, Guerrero hit Hogan again
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Published in: TNA
Bischoff proclaims the impact ratings struggle, Guerrero hit Hogan again
By Michael Bluth
On June 6, 2011 - 6: 40: 55 PM — continues the war of words between the last Warrior and Hulk Hogan. Guerrero, who has promised a video of 1 hour in the next few days where he will "expose Hulk Hogan for the man is truly" tweeted Monday:
Do "Hogan take road - where"? When? It never has. In WM6 prevailed the best artist of sports in the world. Today, it will be best man. Would "not be it limited lying."
Interesting to see warrior with the jargon of the WWE "sports entertainment"...
-Eric Bischoff had published the following Facebook, aiming once more on the Internet "dirtsites":
"10 %'Ers and the dirtsites to feed them do not want to report: by Spike TV, impact Wrestling was the # 1 show of cable at its time between M18-49 despite low and offers his average of STD among key demographics and TNA rose from his label of prison (rpt) + 129% M18-49 (.)" (78), with an additional + 6% gain in the next quarter of an hour. "TNA came in the quarter of p 10: 15 with un.99 in 49 M18."
* JOHN dinner next revealed feud & plans of history to the Miz vs Alex Riley
The results of the struggle of TNA impact 6/2/11
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Report by Stuart Carapola & PWinsider.com
We kick the show off with a shot from earlier tonight when Eric Bischoff was arriving at the Impact Zone and got served with papers by the Network, though he mistakenly believed that the guy delivering the papers was looking for an autograph.
We then go backstage where ODB is beating up Velvet Sky and some photographer guy tried to break it up and ODB kicked his ass. Velvet popped up and drove ODB through a backstage set, but ODB quickly went back to kicking Velvet's ass and dumping a bottle of water over her head while shouting all kinds of really dirty things at her. They fight out to the arena where ODB tackles Velvet onto a table, tells her she's sorry about ruining her bikini shot, then ran her into a wall. Velvet ducked a punch and ODB hit the wal, then Velvet rammed ODB into the table and from wall to wall while calling her a whore. Velvet tries to fight back but ODB just casually picks her up and rams her into the wall again until security tried to break it up. ODB paused for a moment before kicking both of them low, but Velvet had enough time to get back to her feet and go after ODB again. ODB quickly rammed Velvet over the guardrail and continued brutally beating Velvet around ringside, then tears off her giant t-shirt to reveal a bikini underneath. They head into the ring and ODB chokes Velvet out with her shirt while punching her in the face. ODB is so badass. She waits until Velvet passes out and counts three for herself, then smacks her in the face and calls her a bitch. So badass. ODB finally walks off and Miss Tessmacher comes out to check on Velvet.
Speaking of Miss Tessmacher, she takes on Angelina Love tonight, and we'll also see AJ Styles confront Bully Ray!
But first, IT'S PROMO TIME! Ken Anderson comes out dressed as old school Sting again and says that tonight, he'll face one of Sting's most famous competitors from the past. Who could it be? I'm betting on the fake Sting.
Eric Bischoff is backstage talking on the phone when Brian Kendrick came out calling Bischoff sir, thanking him for the opportunity last week, and asking for the honor to wrestle Abyss again tonight. Bischoff calls him dumb as a rock and asks why he's such a glutton for punishment, but says that he can wrestle Frankie Kazarian tonight and the winner will get Abyss at Slammiversary. Kendrick, being completely out to lunch, gleefully thanks Bischoff.
During the break, Bischoff is on the phone complaining to Hogan about getting served with papers because he thought Hogan had everything in hand. He says they're about to play his music so he has to go, and we cut to him in the ring with papers in hand. He says he apparently doesn't have much time and tells Beer Money to get to the ring. Storm and Roode come out to join Bischoff, who says that they're both running out of time because they have 30 days to defend the title but Roode hasn't gotten clearance to defend against the British Invasion at Slammiversay, and asks them to hand the title over. Roode calls him a son of a bitch for sending Immortal out to attack him and injure his arm, and now he wants to take the title they worked so hard to get away from them. Roode says he's not giving Bischoff the title, and Bischoff's only going to get it over his dead body. Suddenly, Alex Shelley comes out by himself and takes the mic from an uneasy Robert Roode. Shelley says that Chris Sabin tore his ACL and MCL and will be out until the end of the year at the earliest, but he said that one of the things he was proudest of in his careers was the MCMG-Beer Money Best of Five series, and one of the things he learned from that series was respect, and he respects Beer Money just like the fans. Bischoff tells Shelley to say what he's got to say, and Shelley offers to fill in for Roode and team with James Storm to defend the title. Bischoff asks Shelley who said he can do that, and Shelley says the Network, and now he wants to make Gun Money a reality. He chugs a beer and then shakes hands with Beer Money to seal the deal. Bischoff congratulates Shelley for his guts, but says he's made his s*** list.
Time for our first match (at 9:30)...
Matt Hardy vs Crimson
Crimson rams Hardy to the corner right off the bell and Hardy fires back and tries a shoulderblock, but Crimson doesn't budge and runs Hardy over with a clothesline. Hardy rolls out to the floor to collect himself, then comes back in and gets a go-behind, but Crimson elbows out and then whips Hardy to the ropes for a back elbow. Crimson with shoulderblocks to the ribs in the corner and then whips Hardy hard into the opposite corner and covers for 2. Crimson with a suplex and Hardy again rolls to the floor to take a breather. Crimson pulls him up to the apron but Hardy drops him across the top rope and hits a top rope clothesline for 2. Hardy with a series of elbows to the back of Crimson's skull and then hits a legdrop for 2 and gets a three quarter nelson and turns it into a rolling neckbreaker. Hardy goes up top but Crimson nails him and goes for a top rope T-bone suplex, Hardy knocks him off and comes off the second rope with a legdrop for 2. Hardy goes back to the three quarter nelson but Crimson breaks free and hits several clotheslines and a double underhook DDT for a close 2. Crimson beats Hardy down in the corner and puts the boots to him, but Hardy goes to the eyes and gets the side neckbreaker for 2. Hardy sets up for the Twist of Hate but Crimson shoves him off and hits the Sky High for the win.
Winner: Crimson
Really solid match and Crimson's strong push continues. Samoa Joe comes tearing out of the back but Crimson spears him as soon as he gets in the ring and Joe goes right back out to the floor. Joe yells that he will never be safe and looks angry as he backs up the ramp.
Ken Anderson is backstage and walks into Eric Young's locker room. Young has both belts around his waist and Anderson says he's sorry to bother him, but young says it's okay because everyone wants to come to his seminars after his classic with Gunner last week. Anderson tells him to envision Sting vs Muta from Center Stage in 1989, and Young says that was awesome. Young asks him if he wants to take people back to the old days and help people remember the old days when wrestling mattered, and Anderson pinky swears on it.
Winter is backstage with Zombie Angelina, and Winter is irate over what Velvet Sky did to her last week and tells Angelina it's up to her to defend her honor and destroy Tessmacher tonight. Angelina says they must become royalty again and go back to a time when nobody stood between them, and tonight, she does this in her honor.
Eric Bischoff is backstage again with Immortal and says that he never knew it was going to end like this, but it is what it is and he's been down this road before, and the Network's idea of what a wrestling product should be is different from his, but it is what it is. He says that he and Hogan will never forget what they did for them, but Jeff Jarrett says it's not over. Bischoff walks out and the rest of the group is all like “What about us?”
Back to the ring for our next match...
Miss Tessmacher vs Angelina Love
Tessmacher gets a small package right off the bell for 2, then tries a shoulderblock but Angelina puts her down. Angelina no-sells a forearm shot and tosses her across the ring by the neck, then starts punching her in the face until the referee forcibly pulls her off. Tessmacher gets a crossbody out of nowhere for 2, but gets distracted by Winter and Angelina sends her to the floor and puts the boots to her. They head back in and Angelina gets a side backbreaker and then a side suplex, then repeatedly rams Tessmacher's back into the corner. Tessmacher comes back with clotheslines and goes for a victory roll, but wastes too much time smiling at the fans and Angelina drops her back in an electric chair. Angelina picks her up and hits a Scorpion Deathdrop into her own knees and covers for the win.
Winner: Angelina Love
Angelina hooks Tessmacher into her choke sleeper after the match and won't release her until Winter gets in the ring and expresses her approval.
Ken Anderson is backstage, and he's...IMPERSONATING STING!
Okay, we now present a very special rematch that's 22 years in the making!
Sting vs The Great Muta
Eric Young is hilarious as Muta, he looks like he's wearing Dickies instead of martial arts pants. It quickly gets stupid as Anderson repeatedly Stinger Splashes the corner and does the Sting howl. Muta goes to leave but Sting pulls him back in. They argue and Sting slaps Muta in the face and fires off right hands and rams shoulderblocks into Muta's ribs in the corner. Sting whips Muta to the corner and charges in with a clothesline, then clips his leg out from under him and howls. Sting with repeated elbowdrops and covers, but Muta is out at 2. Sting whips Muta to the corner, takes his time to pound his chest, and misses the Stinger Splash. Muta with a chop and a flying forearm for 2, then counters a Finlay Roll to a belly to belly suplex for 2, a crucifix for 2, then goes for a backdrop, but Sting reverses to a neckbreaker for 2. Muta gets a chinbreaker and a full bodyslam and then goes up for the moonsault and hits it, but Gunner runs out and distracts Muta before he can go for a cover. Sting nails Muta from behind and goes for the Deathdrop, but Muta shoves him off, spits the green mist in his face, and small packages him for the win!
Winner: The Great Muta
Very shocking upset, and Gunner is so upset about it that he gets into the ring and beats poor Muta senseless, then Sting comes over and they make it a 2-on-1 beatdown. What a way to treat a legend. Sting's music hits and the real Sting comes out and runs them off.
Aaaaaaaaand it's back to the ring...
#1 Contender Match: Brian Kendrick vs Frankie Kazarian
Winner gets a shot at the X Division Title. Respect shake to start and then they do a chain wrestling sequence with Kazarian coming out on top with a crossface headlock. Kendrick rolls out and ducks out to the apron to regroup. Kendrick comes in and gets a couple of armdrags and bars the arm, but Kazarian with a rolling cradle for 2, armdrags of his own, fireman's carry takeover, and a leg lariat to finish the sequence. Kazarian with a side salto for 2, Kendrick maneuvered Kazarian to the floor and tried a dive, but Kazarian moved and Kendrick came down hard on his arm. Kazarian rolls him back in and covers for 2, then gets a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and a vertical suplex for 2. Kazarian with a dropkick for 2 and then gets a straitjacket sleeper, but Kendrick rolls out of it and they go to a forearm exchange in the middle of the ring until Kendrick wipes Kazarian out with a Yakuza kick and then hits a second rope dropkick for 2. Kendrick misses a moonsault, but lands on his feet and gets an enziguiri for 2. Kendrick goes for Sliced Bread #2 but Kazarian blocks and turns it into a top rope neckbreaker for 2. Kazarian goes for Fade to Black but Kendrick holds the ropes and superkicks Kazarian, Kendrick goes for a frog splash but Kazarian moves and hits a Shining Wizard that sends Kendrick clear out to the floor. Kazarian goes after Kendrick and rolls him back in, and Kendrick gets a small package for 2, Kazarian gets a backslide for 2, Kendrick with a schoolboy rollup for 2, then they reverse one another with O'Connor rolls until Kendrick tumbles to the floor and suddenly the bell rings for the time limit.
Time Limit Draw
Kazarian is freaking out on the referee and Kendrick yells for five more minutes. Referee Earl Hebner puts on a headset to get instructions, then whispers something to Christy, who says that Eric Bischoff has granted this match another five minutes.
They exchange blows in the middle of the ring and knock each other out by going for simultaneous crossbody blocks and cracking heads. Abyss comes stalking out with the X Division Title belt, he goes to grab Kazarian but Kendrick jumps on his back. Abyss yanks him off and starts unloading on both guys, hitting Shock Treatment on Kendrick and then laying Kazarian out with a Black Hole Slam. Abyss grabs the title belt and tells us about some homespun wisdom about warfare from an ancient Chinese philosopher, and proclaims the X Division to be dead. Okay then, let's call it...
No Contest
AJ Styles comes out to the ring and says he hears Bully Ray was going to call him out, but nobody calls him out in his house. Bully Ray's music hits, and he comes down the ramp with a mic and asks AJ if he called this his house. Ray says a building full of inbred rednecks sure does sound like his house. He tells AJ to wipe the smug look off his face because he and his girlfriend Daniels beat him and Dreamer in a streetfight, but he never beat Ray in a streetfight or piledrove him on his head. He beat Dreamer, and called him a terrible tag partner and a weak link, though not as bad as Devon. He repeats that AJ represents everything he hates about the modern pro wrestler because he'd rather go home and get on his laptop than do what Ray does and go to the strip club for a lap dance. Ray sees fear in AJ's eyes, and he knows because he puts the fear of God into everybody, and if God was a bully, it'd be him. AJ says big words for a guy who changed his name to Bully Ray because he's insecure about his penis size. A bunch of hot girls at ringside laugh at Bully Ray, and AJ says that despite what Ray sees in front of him: the fame, glory, and the Fortune (hand signal), he's still the crazy redneck who looks for the biggest guy in the fight and knocks his head off because a bully's like a balloon: pop him one time and he goes away forever. AJ challenges Ray to a Last Man Standing Match at Slammiversary so it'll be one of them up and one down. Ray asks if he's out of his mind asking for that kind of a match against him, and asks if he knows what he's getting into. AJ gets right in his face and asks Ray if he has any idea what he's getting himself into.
It's main event time!
Jeff Jarrett & Scott Steiner vs Kurt Angle & Matt Morgan
Jeff sits Karen at ringside, but a crew of referees eject her from ringside before the match starts. Bell rings and we start with Angle and Steiner, but Angle tags out to Morgan so Steiner tags Jarrett. Morgan responds by tagging Angle, so Jarrett tags out to Steiner and bails to the floor. Steiner flexes at Angle and then powers him to the corner, but Angle ducks a shot and unloads on him, then this an overhead belly to belly for 2. Steiner tags out to Jarrett, but Angle hiptosses him as soon as he gets in the ring and unloads with European uppercuts in the corner. Angle with a clothesline and goes for the anklelock, but Jarrett kicks Angle off and right into his own corner. Morgan tags in and neckslams Jarrett into the top turnbuckle. Jarrett goes for the tag but Stiner hops off the apron, so Morgan tags in Angle as we go to a split screen to see that Hulk Hogan arrives backstage and looks at paperwork with Bischoff. Meanwhile, we go back to the match where Steiner is working Angle over in the corner and hits a big belly to belly suplex for 2. Jarrett tags in and goes for the Stroke, Angle reverses to the anklelock, but Jarrett rolls through and they wipe each other out with a double clothesline. Angle makes the hot tag and Morgan comes in and wipes both Jarrett and Steiner out with clotheslines and then hits a Cyclone Slam. Steiner nails Morgan from behind but takes a running clothesline in the corner and a side suplex for 2. Steiner goes for the overhead release suplex but Morgan boxes the ears and hits the biggest Michinoku Driver in history for 2. Angle and Jarrett brawl up the ramp and Angle gets the anklelock in the designated “someone's going to take a big fall” position when Karen runs out of the back and grabs Kurt, and he chases the Jarretts to the back. By the time the cameraman gets to the back, Karen is laying at the bottom of the steps with Jeff attending to her. Meanwhile back in the ring, Steiner lowblows Morgan and pins him.
Winners: Jeff Jarrett and Scott Steiner
We go to the back where Kurt is yelling at Jarrett about Karen never needing to be there and how this is his fault, and the blood's on his hands. Jeff yells back at Kurt and tells security to get him out of there as we go to commercial.
We're back and see footage of Karen Jarrett being loaded into an ambulance during the break. Mike and Taz discuss the seriousness of the situation, then Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff come out to address the fans. Bischoff says if this is the last time they're on national TV together, then he wants everyone to hear what he has to say. Bischoff has known Mick Foley for 19 years, and when he first met him in WCW when he was Cactus Jack and wasn't good at much of anything other than cutting interviews, but in the ring he flat out sucked, and in fact built an entire career out of doing nothing but chasing people around with a sock on his hand, and how he was able to convince a Network that he has any kind of grasp of the wrestling business shows he's good at nothing but talking. Eric Bischoff has achieved more in the worst week of his career than Foley will ever have in his. Now that he's vented his spleen, he hands the papers to Hogan to make it official. Hogan asks Bischoff if he forgot who he is, because he's Hogan's partner and they've made history together. This piece of paper puts no feat in Hogan at all, and it'd judgment time. Hogan opens the letter, and the attorneys from Spike TV say that effective immediately upon receipt of the notification, they have exercised their option to terminate said position, but Hogan smiles and says that the position being terminated is Mick Foley's. Bischoff gets a “Wait...REALLY???” look on his face and says this is the happiest day of his life and Hogan says “Mick Foley, you're FIRED!” as we wrap up for the week.
Report by Stuart Carapola & PWinsider.com
The doctor orders: Orton vs. Christian is what struggle is above all
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At Wrestlemania XXVII, I sat live in attendance and watched Triple H and the Undertaker use storytelling to overcome their physical limitation en route to producing one of the most memorable matches that I’ve seen. I just assumed that it would be the frontrunner for the 2011 Match of the Year. I also very much enjoyed the segments leading up to it. There was a lot of nitpicking around the internet, but the 2-21-11 segment where they didn’t even say a word, but stood silently laying the foundation for what would produce that MOTY contender…that was magic. So, I just assumed that it would be my feud of the year, as well.
…Until May 6th…
Christian lost the World title to Randy Orton that night on Smackdown. I read the spoilers; I knew it was going to happen. I just wanted to see if the match was any good. I watched the opening segment, too, though and, in doing so, saw Christian speak passionately and nearly shed tears about how much it meant to him to become World Heavyweight Champion after 17 years in the business. It was as if the stars aligned to bring Christian full circle. I remember getting really behind his first push as a top level guy back in 2004/2005 and being disappointed when the push fizzled out, prompting him to take his talents to a few hundred miles north of South Beach. I actually recall his debut in the WWE. I remember his ladder matches teaming with Edge. So, to see him win the title and then embrace the retiring Rated R Superstar was a great moment. That kind of emotion was captured in his 5/6 showing opening promo.
In the subsequent match where Christian lost the title, I saw him wrestle like his life literally was on the line. He and Orton had great chemistry, which brought me back to a match that they had on Raw in February 2005 that was pretty awesome in its own right. Orton was just a developing talent back then, but now he’s one of the most cunning performers in the WWE. This title match was a rare situation (these days, anyway) when two top guys just go out there and everything clicks. Getting back to Christian, though…he wrestled an extraordinary match and the story of a man hell bent on keeping the title that it took him so long to win. To see him lose it and to see his reaction to losing it really made you feel for him. I’m sure you can conjure up your own memory of thinking you’ve finally made it only to have the rug yanked out from under you. It reminded me of the girl that I so desperately sought after in high school and thought that I finally had her during college…and then it didn’t happen / it didn’t work out. I was crushed. That’s what I saw on Christian’s face after he lost the title.
TV Match of the Year contender, without a doubt, but it was just the beginning the story and it would take much more than that to overtake Taker vs. Trips. The following week, I was happy to see that the WWE would not immediately turn Christian into a heel. It would’ve made sense for him to do so on some level, but the metamorphosis of a man embracing his dark side is usually not something that occurs in just one week. It begins with something like losing the thing that you’ve worked so hard to achieve for over 15 years. How it escalates from there is the fun part of the story to view. Like Anakin Skywalker showing subtle signs of allowing the fear of loss and the hatred burning inside him to come to the forefront, Christian showed an initial sign that he might make the turn. Yet, he shook it off and re-focused like any good natured man would do. He reasoned with himself that it must’ve been a lack of preparation for his opponent that led to the loss of the title. It couldn’t have possibly been that Randy Orton was just a more talented superstar; no, it had to be closer to what everyone called his title victory – a fluke.
Orton, to his credit, plays the no non-sense, ultra confident champion to a “T.” He knows that he is good and he plays to that. In his own mind, I’m sure he is quite confident that there is no way that Christian could ever really take his spot and that Captain Charisma really is not in his league as an overall talent. He may be right. He may not be right. He damn sure believes that he’s right. Orton being the quintessential WWE Superstar with the 3rd generation pedigree, the good looks, and the chiseled 6’4” frame allows Christian to play the underdog role with his “work harder to get to the top than most tops guys have had to” attitude, awkwardly cut frame, and goofy demeanor. There are not many levels on which this storyline does NOT work. So when you see the two playing a weekly game of one-upsmanship, showing each other just enough respect to get by with being heroes to the audience, but showing just enough animosity at the same time to remind you that they are rivals that both want to be World Champion and believe themselves the right men to be at the top, it all seems very real. The best thing about such feuds is that they are rooted in very real circumstances.
…And then came Over the Limit.
Strategically placed on the card so as not to upstage John Cena (conspiracy!), Orton vs. Christian 2 was like watching the second chapter in some epic movie series. Good GOD what a match! Easily the best pure wrestling match of the year and, dare I say, one of the best pure wrestling matches that I’ve seen since Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker at Wrestlemania 25. Not to say that it was on the level of that match, but there have been so many gimmick matches in the last two years since HBK-Taker 1 that rarely do we get to see two guys just go out and tear the house down without a ladder or a cage or a Cell or multiple other participants. Orton vs. Christian was just two guys battling over the World title, trying to prove to one another who was the better man. Their counters were so crisp; their exchanges so fluid. They intricately worked in spots from their first match and modified them just a little bit – which is one of those little things in wrestling that we don’t see enough but makes a huge difference in the overall performance because it makes it look far less scripted…they look like they’ve adapted, which is what real fighters do. Frankly, that was one of the best matches of both their careers. Orton hasn’t had a match of that caliber in a very long time. He’s had some really good gimmick matches and you can’t take anything away from his Mania match with CM Punk and the story that they were able to tell, but it’s been a long time since Orton has gone out and wrestled such an entertaining match. You got to give him a lot of credit, but you have to give a TON of credit to Christian. These two just have rare chemistry and it’s been a pleasure watching their first two matches.
After losing to Orton again - this time with the right amount of preparation and the right frame of mind and the situation just right for him to seize the moment - you could see the anguish on Christian’s face. As a competitor, you want to believe that it just wasn’t your night, but if you step up and fail enough, then the seed of doubt just keeps growing and growing. Another layer of the armor that protects a man from his dark side was stripped away when Christian lost and then immediately refused to shake Orton’s hand. Of course, he eventually did come back into the ring and show good sportsmanship, but not after teasing the heel turn (which the crowd bought into with their reaction to it).
Yet another layer was peeled back last night on Smackdown. After regaining his confidence, letting the 5 days heal his wounded soul, Christian strutted out and told Orton that he knows that he can beat him and that he wanted one more shot. He got that shot in the form of a 3-way #1 contender match, which he appeared to have won with the Spear on Sheamus. However, in what will surely add insult to injury and throw lighter fluid on the already increasing flames of rage burning inside Christian’s mind, Orton distracted the referee while getting some retribution on Mark Henry for a blindside attack moments earlier. Sheamus came back to win, in large part thanks to Christian turning his attention toward arguing with the referee and pleading for an explanation as to why he took so long to make the count after using his best buddy’s move to get what would’ve been a sure-fire victory. The referee clearly explained that it was, more or less, Orton’s fault. I LOVE IT!
Thus, we’ve got this story being told on Friday Night Smackdown that draws you in at a time of the year when interest in wrestling is supposed to be next to non-existent. This is the doldrums period for the WWE where the writers typically get lazy and the booking stagnant to the point that you hope for at least one saving grace (like Nexus was last year and Punk the year before). Thank goodness for Christian’s trials and tribulations. I don’t own a crystal ball, but if I had to predict the long-term outcome of the Orton-Christian feud, I would probably say that the Captain will turn full-fledged heel on Orton and regain the title by nefarious means. It doesn’t matter if I’m right or wrong; I just want to see this story continue and end with a satisfying climax – both in the writing of the arc and in the execution in the ring. For, quite frankly, as much as I loved Triple H vs. Undertaker, Christian vs. Orton is fast moving ahead as my feud of the year, featuring the Match of the Year.
