Cena – Triple H: Set to Square off in No. 1 Contenders Match

Next week July 6^th on Monday Night Raw John Cena and Triple H will face off against one another for the third time in their history. The difference this time is that they won’t be facing each other for a title, but rather, for an opportunity to face Randy Orton for the WWE Championship. When Triple H defeated MVP and Cena defeated the Mix the first round of this Number One Contenders tournament, they earned the right to fight next week.

The first time these two fought was at one of the Wrestlemanias when Cena was defending the coveted WWE Championship. He forced the Game to tap out and defended his title. The second time they fought it was Triple H who defended his title successfully. Now what will happen this time? It’s simple. Cena will win or there will be a Triple Threat.

I don’t see the WWE having another match between H and Orton, because that has just gotten exhausting. So, in that case, the Triple threat seems like the most likely matchup if the WWE is trying to wrap the belt around Triple H’s waist once again as it seems is the case. So don’t be surprised when I’m right!

RAW’s Response to the Pepsi Center Booking Conflict

As you all should know, there was a recent scheduling conflict between the WWE and Denver Nuggets. Monday Night RAW’s May 25th edition was supposed to be held in the Denver Nuggets Pepsi Center until the Denver Nuggets managed to make it to the NBA’s Western Conference Finals. Here are my thoughts on the WWE’s response.

The first part of the response was in the opening when Vince McMahon stepped in the ring with another gentleman dressed as Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke. This included McMahon letting off some steam in the form of some live air time where he made fun of Kroenke’s middle name, Enos, and rhymed it with words like “Venus “ and “Genius.” He of course eluded the obvious “penis” but made sure to reference to it in other words. He also criticized the Denver Nuggets’ staff (probably for not having the balls to step up to Kroenke and tell him “You’re wrong.).

Finally, McMahon said something about the NBA or Nuggets “pushing” the WWE and its fans and McMahon said “We push back!” and snuffed the hell out of that would-be Stan “Enos” Kroenke. I have to say, that push was thunderous and I think McMahon really wanted to Let Kroenke know what would happen if the two weren’t separated by the professional fine line and the restrictions of potential tort law penalties.

Finally, the main event featured five superstars in Lakers jerseys, John Cena, Batista, MVP, Jerry “The King” Lawler, and surprise return superstar Ken Kennedy versus five men in Nuggets jerseys (all bad guys) Randy Orton, Ted Dibiase Jr., Cody Rhodes, The Miz, and Big Show. This was no more than the standard tag team match that Monday Night Raw loves to have seemingly every week, but with the stars wearing NBA jerseys.

So, all in all, the first part was decent while the second was lacking any punch.

Thoughts on This Year’s WWE Draft

Last night on Monday Night RAW the WWE “shook things up” as they’ve been calling it by holding a draft wherein any random wrestler can end up being drafted between the three brands of RAW, Smackdown and ECW (in order of significance of course). Even though the draft is a complete crock where you almost always see big names come back to RAW like Batista and Rey Mysterio did last year, and chump jobbers like Vladimir Koslov (ECW’s only draft pick) go to the land of extreme, it is still interesting.

I thought it was a great idea to get Jericho and Mysterio over to Smackdown now that Triple H is back on RAW because of one simple great reason; every championship contender on Smackdown now actually looks like they matchup. In fact, the only guy that doesn’t match up other than the other true superstars (Chris Jericho, Jeff Hardy, Rey Mysterio, CM Punk, Edge, and perhaps a few others) is Kane who also was drafted from RAW to Smackdown. None of those guys would be much more than transitional champions as long as Triple H were around. Plus, Kane is a bum and can be used to create some awesome “David vs. Goliath” type matches. And honestly, let’s not get started on Great Khali. He could be thrown in to stir some ratings, but no title for him. I also think that the moves make way for guys like Shelton Benjamin and R Truth.

Another thing I liked was the switch between the middle titles; Rey Mysterio takes his Intercontinental Title to Smackdown, and MVP takes his US Championship to RAW as he was drafted from Smackdown last night. In all truth, I think that US title is the sweetest looking belt of all the WWE and will look much better on RAW than on Smackdown. Finally, you got that chip off the big chin block Vladimir Koslov over on Sci-Fi where he can scrap it up a few matches and make others like Christian, Jack Swagger, and Finlay look good. I wouldn’t mind seeing Koslov go at it with Tommy Dreamer either.

All in all, I think it was a decent draft, and there weren’t really many head scratchers. Pretty good job WWE.

Money in the Bank Just got a Whole lot More Predictable

If you take a quick look at the contestants for this year’s Money In The Bank Ladder Match at Wrestlemania then that’s all you’ll need. The entrants are CM Punk, last year’s winner, Mark Henry, Kane, MVP, Shelton Benjamin, Kofi Kingston, and Christian Cage. Time to round out the “definitely-nots,” the “maybes,” and the one “should be.”

 

The first and easiest definitely not would have to be Mark Henry. I don’t know how a 400+ pound fat man is going to climb a ladder whose steps might just break under his weight. And to be purely analytical, there is just no luster in The World’s Strongest Man’s game anymore.

 

Number two would have to be Kane. He is nothing more than a freak show like the Great Khali, where at best, they have one, maybe two championship reigns in the early-goings of their careers when their limited array of wrestling moves and ugly mugs still have some selling power.

 

A “middle maybe” could be MVP since it’s been a while since he’s won, and that would be a huge surprise. He hasn’t been able to draw much attention on Smackdown like the WWE intended, but perhaps a Money In The Bank victory might be a last ditch effort for the people booking his matches.

 

The “maybes” are Shelton Benjamin, CM Punk, and Kofi Kingston. Since Shelton’s move to Smackdown he has beaten Matt Hardy for the US Title and held it for about three quarters of a year. What’s even more is that he has notably been bulking up and expanding his arsenal of wrestling moves with a little extra mic time to boot. He could be a superstar that the WWE is grooming, and with his increased size, he would be a more believable WWE or World Heavyweight Champion at this point in his career.

 

Speaking of champions, CM Punk, who won the brief case last year could have a chance to repeat. Eventually, someone will have to win this event twice which is a gimmick that the WWE likes to use to create history (i.e. Stone Cold wining three Royal Rumbles, and Undertaker’s 16-0 record at Wrestlemania). Punk would not be a bad choice for this page in wrestling history, even if his title reign as champion was used as a tool to bring back a title to Monday Night RAW.

 

As for Kingston, he is a showman and people like him. But perhaps as time goes on, he’ll be nothing more than that and a consistent Intercontinental Title holder.

 

Now for mister “should be”… Christian Cage. Even though he has only been back for around two months, he is easily the biggest superstar of all those in this contest. If the WWE wants to continue to make this match intriguing, he probably should win. But the main reason he is the favorite is that most likely the WWE made an agreement with him that he would become a champion within the first year of his contract.

 

And that’s a lot more than he’s had for a good while on TNA!

Greener Pastures For Jeter?

Derek Jeter has been the main man at SS ever since he arrived on the scene in New York. Yet, without a title to show for it in the past eight seasons Jeter is feeling the heat. He spent the first eight years of his carrer taking a beating from fans and media. The topic of conversation almost nightly on New York talk radio would always spawn the debate of who was the best shortstop in baseball. Through all the frenzy though give Jeter credit, he outlasted them all. Silencing most if not all of his critics. Looking back, any one of those guys would give it all back for Jeter’s resume.

Now, those who were silenced have a new focus which stirs their whispering. Jeter’s demise as a shortstop. In fact the whispering is turning into quite a low roar. It was hard to see at first but if you were baseball savvy you saw the writing on the wall. A revolving door on aging veteran outfielders trying to not so gingerly replace Bernie Williams. A huge albatross in Jason Giambi at first base which ulitmately cost Bernie Williams the chance to write his own ending to his Yankee legacy. Tension, angst and ego’s clashing between Jeter and A-Rod blanketed most of the problems. Compounded by the colossal loss in the 2004 ALCS to the Boston Red Sox.

Although I would not have expected Jeter to step aside at shortstop it would have been a tremendous gesture both as a teammate and as a Yankee. He would not be the first Yankees great to move from the infield to the outfield nor would he be the first Hall Of Fame shortstop to do so. Nevertheless it is a no brainer right now. Jeter plays shortstop like a free safety who is not afraid to tackle a fire hydrant. Perhaps not the most talented, he is clearly the most versatile athlete on the field. The Yankees have themselves a gift that could solve all their outfield problems. Robin Yount a true power hitting shortstop made the move because of a shoulder problem and still took in another MVP in center for the Brewers. Jeter does not have to win the MVP or hit home runs in center or left to prove he is a winner but surely he would play like one.

Make the move Derek! If you want to win another World Series you have to do it like you have done it in the past. Take it on your shoulders. Prove to be worthy of the “C”. Put your ego away and put this team on your back and take them and your career, home!

Team Michaels vs. Team JBL is Pure… Feudery?

Well, the WWE has finally set up its first traditional Survivor Series Elimination Tag Team Match with just under two weeks before the Pay-Per View, pitting Team Michaels against Team JBL. The fact that the participants on each team have been feuding with their opponents is still not enough to make this an intriguing matchup.

Here is the lowdown. Shawn Michaels has a mini-feud with JBL that stems from Cyber Sunday when Michaels was the guest referee and did not give the three count in Chris Jericho’s favor who promised JBL a title match if he beat Batista, and Monday Night Raw in London when JBL took Michaels down with a chair in his Last Man Standing Match with Chris Jericho. Cryme Tyme has been feuding with The Miz and John Morrison over bragging rights for “Word Up” and “The Dirt Sheet,” Kane has been feuding with Rey Mysterio over the whole “unmasking” deal, and MVP would like to have it in for The Great Khali after he interrupted his “MVP Lounge” on Friday Night Smackdown. To this I say… who cares.

The last few Survivor Series Pay-Per Views have been all about the title matches. When is the next time the WWE will put a more meaningful traditional Survivor match like team Stone Cold against Team Bischoff, or team WCW against team WWE (WWF back in the heyday)?

Hopefully the other traditional matchup(s) the WWE creates will have some kind of meaning to it. Until that happens, Survivor Series is going to be all about John Cena versus Chris Jericho for the World Heavyweight Championship, and whoever Triple H defends his title against, and that is just a shame for long time pro wrestling fans.

 

NBA TOP 3 – Weekly Awards: MVP and DOP

Let me tell you a little something about me.  I’m not a paid sports writer and I’m not linked into the professional world like some of these other people that you read about at FOX, ESPN, and so on.  So I don’t care about the politics of it all, or the what commissioner David Stern thinks.  I base my opinion on the raw data and what I see on the television screen (or if I’m lucky enough, when I’m at the games).  So with that out of the way I’m going to give you, our faithful readers, what I believe to be the top 3 in the catagories of Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year.

Let the show begin!!

MVP

1. Carlos Boozer, Utah Jazz

He has no D-Will by his side.  So the other four starters are: Andre Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur, Ronnie Brewer, and Paul Millsap.  Now unless if you follow basketball religiously I’m sure at best you’ll only know one or two of the other starters.  He is shooting 60.3% from the field so far, averaging 20.8/9.8/2.6 on roughly 33 minutes a night and the Jazz are 5-0.  Not only are they undefeated but the have the most wins in the league right now!

2. Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks

I’ll say it right now, I don’t like the Hawks.  I never have, I didn’t even like them when Dominique was there, but thats because I’m was a Bulls fan.  But you cannot overlook at this team is the only undefeated team in the East.  You cannot overlook that they beat four legitament teams.  Does this mean the Hawks are real? Absolutely not, check it out my other article here: http://sportsroids.com/2008/11/07/nba-are-the-atlanta-hawks-a-playoff-contender/.  And, Joe Johnson is leading the way right now and putting up sick numbers, about 25 ppg. while shooting 55.4% from the field and hitting 42.1% from three.  If he keeps this up and the Hawks keep winning, I may need to write an apology letter.

3. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

The thing about Kobe is that hes a great player.  But I still remember when he was brought up on rape charges and the fact that he drove Shaq and Phil out of L.A.  I mean this guy gets as much publicity from the NBA as Peyton does to the NFL and for all the wrong reasons.  But enough of me rambling.  Here why he is at number 3.  His team is undefeated.  He is leading the way in scoring (24.8 ppg), assists (3.5 apg) and steals (1.75 spg).  However, I can’t move him up any higher because he is shooting at 44.6% from the field and a terrible 28.6% from three.  That aspect of his game is very un-Kobe like. 

Defensive Player of the Year

1. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

D12 is average 4.2 blocks per game (1st in the league) and is averaging 13.2 rebounds per game.  He is the anchor of this Orlando Defense and nobody in the game right now alters more shots in the paint or changes a team’s attack plan than Howard.  If they had better perimeter defenders than Orlando would probably be undefeated, but they aren’t bad considering they are number 10 in allowing the least points per game.

2. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

I know, Bynum is back and healthy.  The Lakers frontline is huge.  I know all this and so do you.  But did you know the Lakers are number one in allowing the least points per game at 85.  And its common sense in Basketball, if you can keep your guy infront of you then you don’t need any help from your teammates.  Thats exactly what Kobe does.  He guards the best perimeter player on the opposing team every night and shuts him down.  He also relieves the stress of having to always step out on Bynum and Gasol to help contain players.  Oh yeah I almost forgot, he is basically averaging two steals a game.

3. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

I know this sounds crazy but Defensive Player of the Year doesn’t have to entitle the best defensive player on the best defensive team.  But D-Wade is solid.  He has good timing which leads to 1.6 blocks per game which is pretty darn good for a guard.  He is currently averaging 3 steals per game.  Not to mention D-wade, much like Kobe is their designated perimeter stopper.  To top that all off the Miami Heat are number eight in least points allowed.  Not bad for the team that was the NBA doormat last year.

R Truth on the Rise in Smackdown

I want to talk about a guy who is making waves on the Smackdown roster as of late. He is the man who comes out of the fan-level rafters rapping, just finished beating MVP this past Friday, and knocked out U.S. Champion Shelton Benjamin the week before in non-title action. This newcomer I speak of is R Truth, formerly known in TNA as Ron Killings.

His high-flying antics have drawn much cheer from the crowd in the past weeks and that shows that he has some impressive in-ring skills. Aside from his in-ring skills he is also something of a public relations person for the WWE. When he enters the arena to begin a match he comes out of the fan seating area rapping his own theme song “What’s Up?” and allows a fan or two to sing along as he passes them the mic when the song goes “What’s Up?!

His speech skills aren’t that great but his back story gains sympathy for the crowd. It is a classic chip on the shoulder comeback story. A man from the rough areas of Charlotte North Carolina who has spent time in prison and now aims to turn things around with Pro Wrestling.

The WWE has lately been trying to hype up their new talent using commercial promos that air weeks before the newcomer even wrestles their first match. This is one superstar that might be in the spotlight in the near future. U.S. Title Triple Threat match for Cyber Sunday involving Shelton Benjamin, MVP, and R Truth anybody?