My 1-2-3 Cents : Intercontinental Title

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

The Miz has taken another step to being the most awesome Intercontinental Champion of all time. Or at least the champ with the most combined days with the gold. As of this writing on Feb. 11, the Miz has surpassed The Magnificant Muraco and has taken the number two spot on the list. The Miz now has 543 days as IC champ under his belt. If he continues another 77 days, he'll take the top spot from Pedro Morales.

Me & The Miz in 2010

I've always enjoyed the Miz and I think it's great he's getting another run as IC champ. He's been pretty hot since beating Zack Ryder for the belt just after WrestleMania 32 nearly two years ago. Maryse coming back breathed new life into his career. He's proven himself time and time again that he's a main event player. It's been said before (I think on the Pro Wrestling Unscripted podcast) that if he were on SmackDown Live still, he'd be in the hunt for the WWE Championship. I could see the Miz getting another shot at the big belt once Brock Lesnar is out of the scene.

Muraco vs. Morales
Courtesy: WWE

The crazy thing about the new milestone for the Miz is he's held the championship eight times and hit this feat. But both Muraco and Morales are each two-time championship holders. I don't know if anyone has it broken down as to how many times the belt has been defended, I know the schedule for pro wrestlers has never been an easy one though.

Congrats to the Miz, continue being awesome.

Saturday, April 15, 2017

Should the Shield reunite?

The Shield
Courtesy: WWE

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

In the recent era of professional wrestling, there are three things you can bet WWE fans will speculate on. If WWE is in the Chicago area, CM Punk will be on the show. The Undertaker and Sting will face off at the NEXT WrestleMania. And the Shield will reunite. I think the third option is the most likely to happen, but doubt there will ever be a more than a one-time reunion between Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose.

Don't get me wrong, the Shield was one of the best things to happen to WWE in late 2012. The trio shook things up and brought about some positive change in how WWE viewed the talent at NXT. I do wish the three would have stayed together as a unit a bit longer, but the execution of Rollins turn was perfect.

In breaking up the Shield, I liked that WWE didn't do what WCW did with the NWO decades ago by adding new members and growing the group. The Shield will always be remembered as that core three, Reigns, Rollins and Ambrose.

Rollins vs. Triple H
Courtesy: WWE

Now that all three men are back on Raw the speculation has already started that they'll team again. While I'm not opposed to it happening, I just can't see it being a priority right now. Reigns is enjoying the rub of beating the Undertaker, Rollins dethroned the "King of Kings" Triple H and Ambrose is busy with the Intercontinental Championship.

Undertaker vs. Reigns
Courtesy: WWE

That being said, it would make sense to bring the boys back together to help Roman in his battle with the nasty and vile Braun Strowman. But unless he gets a couple of allies, it would look more like the Shield bullying the big man. At one time, Roman Reigns was the darling of the group and fans cheered him. If WWE wants to make him THE good guy and face of the company, it might not be a bad idea to reunite the Shield and get that rub once again.

Ambrose as IC champ
Courtesy: WWE

All three former members of the Shield are talented Superstars and have bright futures in the company. I'm glad to see Ambrose on Raw because it felt like he was getting lost in the shuffle of SmackDown Live. I hope WWE Creative puts more emphasis on the IC title and Ambrose is a featured player on Raw in the weeks and months ahead.

Friday, January 27, 2017

Rumble Ramblings: #2 Dustin's Golden Opportunity

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Since the 2017 Royal Rumble is right around the corner, I've decided to countdown to this year's event with my 10 favorite non-Rumble Royal Rumble matches.

In 1991, Dustin Rhodes made his Royal Rumble debut. He and his father, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes teamed up to take on "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase and Virgil. The father-son duo lost and both soon department WWF and went to WCW. Fast forward five years later and Dustin's alter ego Goldust received a golden opportunity

Goldust had actually debuted in fall 1995 and was the polar opposite of "The Natural" character Dustin had perfected in Atlanta. Goldust was a character way ahead of his time and paved the way for the infamous Attitude Era. Goldust entered into a war of words and love notes with Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon. That brewing battle came to a head at the '96 Rumble.

Full disclosure, Goldust is one of my favorite gimmicks of all time. Dustin jumpstarted his career with the character and changed the face of wrestling at the same time. When he headed to the ring that night, he was joined by a beautiful woman in a golden dress and carrying cigar. We'd later learn her name was Marlena. She was Dustin's real life wife who had played Alexandra York in WCW. By the way, Terri was the guest on the one-year anniversary show of My 1-2-3 Cents the podcast and you can listen to the backstory here.

Underneath the wig and makeup, of course, is an amazing wrestler. Goldust and Ramon had a great match which saw some distractions from Marlena and interference from the 1-2-3 Kid who had recently turned his back on Ramon. I celebrated the victory as I watched live in my apartment one month removed from graduating college. I had just bought a computer and this was my first event with internet access. I talked about the victory with other AOL chatters and in rec.sports.wrestling.

I wish Goldust's run as champion would have lasted longer. He ended up battling "Rowdy" Roddy Piper in a Hollywood Backlot Brawl at WrestleMania 12 a couple months later. The title wasn't on the line. The championship was vacated after an indecision with Savio Vega, but he recaptured shortly after that and lost it to Ahmed Johnson at the King of the Ring in summer 1996.

Despite that, the chase and the title win is one of my favorite moments from Dustin's career and obviously my second favorite non-Rumble Royal Rumble match. I really will remember the name... Gooooollllduuuussssttt!

10 Favorite Non-Rumble Royal Rumble matches

10. Super Posedown
9. Harts Broken
8. All fired up

7. Daniel & The Giants

6. Co-owners Collide

5. Rollins arrives

4. Great Scot! Piper wins

3. Mankind get ROCKED

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Rumble Ramblings: #4 Great Scot! Piper wins

Hot Rod wins
Courtesy: WWE

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Since the 2017 Royal Rumble is right around the corner, I've decided to countdown to this year's event with my 10 favorite non-Rumble Royal Rumble matches.

"Rowdy" Roddy Piper had been a part of the WWF for years, but never won any kind of gold during his run. That all changed at the 1992 Royal Rumble. Bret Hart, sick with a high fever, lost the Intercontinental Championship to The Mountie on the Friday before the Rumble. After the win, The Mountie beat on Hart with the belt until Hot Rod came to the rescue. But his good deed was rewarded with a sneak attack by the new champ. Piper fought back and challenged The Mountie 48 hours later.

Rewatching this, makes me miss wrestling from the 'good ole days.' Piper's promo was on par as he vowed to walk out of the arena with two titles, the IC and World championships. Hot Rod was in the Royal Rumble as well. The winner of that match would be crowned champ.

Sleeper hold
Courtesy: WWE

The match itself was far from a technical masterpiece. Piper starts off early brawling with Mountie and the two spill onto the floor. Once back inside it's a classic Piper match complete with an eye gauge and the sleeper hold for the finish. Piper's face after winning the match tells the story. There's a look of complete and genuine satisfaction as he holds up the championship belt. It's one of my favorite Hot Rod memories.

He held the IC title until WrestleMania where he lost it to Hart. The match was a classic and Piper wouldn't hold WWE gold again until he and Ric Flair won the tag team titles from the Spirit Squad.

10 Favorite Non-Rumble Royal Rumble matches

10. Super Posedown
9. Harts Broken
8. All fired up

7. Daniel & The Giants

6. Co-owners Collide

5. Rollins arrives

Monday, January 2, 2017

3 Superstars who should have been IC champ longer

Davey Boy Smith, Ricky Steamboat, Kerry Von Erich

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. I guess the same can be said about winning championships. Today I'm looking back on three former Intercontinental Champions who had short-lived reigns. (The irony, all three guys teamed up together at SummerSlam 1991)

Texas Tornado
Courtesy: WWE

Kerry Von Erich was one of the first wrestlers I remember watching before going "all in" on being a fan. He was months away from winning the NWA Championship from Ric Flair. Kerry only held that gold for 18 days. I would have loved a longer reign there too, but that's for another day.

In 1990 when he signed with the WWF as The Texas Tornado, Kerry took the fed by storm. Shortly after his debut, he captured the IC title from Mr. Perfect. Unfortunately, he lost it back to 84 days later. Kerry's run came at a time when face vs. face matches were rare, so there was little chance of him getting a shot at The Ultimate Warrior or Hulk Hogan for the WWF Title. A longer run with a couple more solid defenses would have done a lot for this lifelong fan.

Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
Courtesy: WWE

Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat's quest for gold started in fall 1986 after then-champ "Macho Man" Randy Savage crushed the Dragon's larynx with the ring bell. The buildup to WrestleMania III was amazing and the payoff was one of the greatest matches in the history of the event. It still holds up to this day.

It's been discussed many times that Steamboat had asked for time off from the road shortly after he won the belt. That didn't sit well with Vince McMahon or other WWF officials and Steamboat dropped the title to the Honky Tonk Man after 65 days as champ. Steamboat is another one I wish would have gotten a heavyweight championship match, but in that era, it wasn't going to happen. Had Steamboat not requested the time off, would Savage have turned face and eventually win the World Title? Could Steamboat have been in that spot? It's plausible... isn't it?

Davey Boy Smith
Courtesy: WWE

The British Bulldogs were one of my all-time favorite teams, so it was only natural I'd take to Davey Boy Smith when he went after the IC title. He beat his brother-in-law Bret Hart in a classic at SummerSlam 92. His run didn't last long either, as he lost it Shawn Michaels 59 days after winning it.

DBS would go to other championship glory with tag team title wins and a run as European Champion, so I shouldn't complain about his lack of time as IC champ. But his chase was so built up and then he suddenly dropped the belt, as a fan I felt robbed. However, I believe he was on his way out at the time too so I understand the reasoning.

None of these guys will go down as the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time, but all three were worthy champs who deserved a bit more time as second in command.

Monday, October 10, 2016

3 Things I'm glad I was wrong about on No Mercy

Dolph wins!
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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In my predictions blog for No Mercy, I made a few mistakes. I've said it before I like being wrong on my prediction posts. Here are three things I miscalculated and am happier as a result.

1) Dolph Ziggler won the Intercontinental Championship from the Miz. As I mentioned in the original blog, I was torn on this one. Between the online rumors and my own preferences for the storyline to proceed, I figured Ziggler would lose and move into a producer role backstage, eventually making his in-ring return. However, Dolph won and I couldn't be happier. I'm hoping Miz and Maryse continue working together and the characters for each develops. They're two of the hottest heels on the SmackDown Live brand.

Welcome back Luke Harper
Courtesy: WWE

2) Bray Wyatt beat Randy Orton. I had a feeling Luke Harper would be returning at this event. But I still picked Orton just because I usually never bet against the Viper. Wyatt needed the win and the return of Harper now that Erick Rowan is out with an injury for months to come. Now if only we can get an actual Sister Abigal to appear, the family will be almost complete.

Rhyno-Slater retain
Courtesy: WWE

3) The Usos did not win the tag team titles. I like the combo of Heath Slater and Rhyno, but I never expected them to carry the belts for any extended period of time. Slater has worked hard for years and I'm glad to see that has paid off. Plus Rhyno is a deserving talent who probably never had a chance to shine during his original run in WWE.

I picked the winners in the other contests, expect for the Women's Championship match. When I wrote the post, Becky Lynch was still scheduled to defend the title. Can't wait to see what happens next with the stories as we head into Survivor Series (assuming SmackDown Live will be a part of the show).

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Dolph Ziggler will lose Sunday or maybe he won't

Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Depending on what website you read or how you listen to there's a mixed bag on the future of WWE Superstar Dolph Ziggler. This Sunday "The Showoff" puts his career on the line as he challenges the Miz for the Intercontinental Championship.

Some say Dolph's contract is nearing an end and this is a way to write him off TV as he pursues a career backstage as an agent. Others say his contract isn't up until sometime in 2017 and beating the Miz Sunday will rejuvenate what's been a lackluster couple of years for Dolph. I'm torn on what I want to happen. Here's why...

Dolph Ziggler has been one of my favorites in recent years. He has all the tools to be a main event level Superstar. The look, the talent and the verbal skills. But for some reason, WWE Creative has started and stopped with him so many times fans have become disconnected from him.

Courtesy: WWE

I popped like a bag of Orville Redenbacher when Dolph cashed in Money in the Bank and beat Alberto Del Rio the night after WrestleMania 29. Like many, I thought this was finally the start of something big for Dolph, but injuries plagued him and soon he was without the gold and sliding down the card.

Until the recent brand split, it seemed there wasn't much in store for the former U.S., Intercontinental and World Heavyweight champion. But after a program with both WWE Champion Dean Ambrose and the current feud with Miz for the IC title, I feel like Dolph is once again about to grab that "brass ring."

I fully endorse another run with the belt for Ziggler and the subsequent push that would likely follow. But I also am a huge fan of the Miz and the booking of he and Maryse with the belt. The IC title finally has some value and keeping it around the Miz's waist will only add stability to what was once the second most coveted prize in WWE.

Courtesy: WWE

Dolph would make a great champ, but from a storyline perspective having him lose and eventually make his way back into the ring could be an even better story to tell. Maybe he comes back repackaged in the new year... Let's face it, even though he "must retire" if he losses, who many wrestling retirements actually stuck? Heck 15 years after calling it quits Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat even returned to the ring for a few matches against Chris Jericho.

So I'm torn on what I want to have happen Sunday. But one thing is for sure, at 36 I think Dolph still has plenty to offer and I don't want to see him leave the business. However, if there are better opportunities in Hollywood and beyond I would not want my selfishness as a fan get in the way of a man's dream.

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Can Apollo cruise to the Intercontinental Championship?

Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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The short answer is no. Apollo Crews will not defeat the Miz at SummerSlam this weekend. It's nothing against Crews, but WWE hasn't built him into a viable contender for what was once the second most prestigious championship in the company.

In the go home show for SummerSlam, the only glimpse we got of Crews on SmackDown Live occurred during a commercial break that was replayed once the show was back on air. That doesn't bode well for the former NXT star. It sucks because he truly is a talented wrestler. It just doesn't feel like the right time for him to be in a program for the Intercontinental Championship.

Crews vs. Sheamus
Courtesy: WWE

This match feels like it was thrown together too. I'm not a huge fan of number one contenders being crowned via battle royal. It's a great way to get everyone on the roster in on the action and it feels like anyone can become a contender. But typically speaking I prefer a different method to figuring out who should be going for the gold. And before you say it, I realize that's the whole premise of the Royal Rumble for the last 20+ years.

Maryse & Miz
Courtesy: WWE

The other reason Crews won't win is because WWE is finally using The Miz correctly. The rebirth of his character is working and the partnership with his real life wife Maryse has been amazing. I haven't enjoyed the Miz this much since his run as WWE Champion five years ago.

Now WWE Creative has two challenges on their hands in the wake of SummerSlam. Turning Apollo Crews into a viable contender that the fans can invest in and care about and developing a solid number one contender for the IC title. No offense to Darren Young, Crews or former champion Zack Ryder; but it's time to put a solid focus on the midcard and build some legitimate contenders for the title who can one day become WWE Champion.

Randy Savage and Elizabeth
Courtesy: WWE

Remember when guys like "Macho Man" Randy Savage, The Ultimate Warrior and The Rock held the IC title? It was a stepping stone to the bigger belt. That focus has been lost in the last several years. A champion is only as strong as his challengers. Let's make the Intercontinental Championship great again.

For more SummerSlam thoughts check out the My 1-2-3 Cents Facebook page for the live video I did on the event.

Thursday, May 26, 2016

We want Ryder! (again and still)

Zack Ryder at WrestleMania 32

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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I'm not a bandwagon Zack Ryder fan. But I will admit I wasn't on board with him early on when he was one of the Major Brothers. However, when he went solo with the 'Long Island Loudmouth' gimmick, I started taking notice as he worked hard on the mic and in the ring to get himself over with the fans.

Broski of the Week

He toiled on the lower mid-card before introducing us to Long Island Iced Z on YouTube. His creativity shined again and he was making himself more accessible to a legion of fans who weren't seeing Zack on WWE TV. I subscribed and watched each week, even sending several different submissions to become "Broski of the Week." I'm proud to say Zack finally picked me for Episode 22, an accomplishment I still brag about years later.

Ryder finally got his chance on the big stage and captured the U.S. Title. Clearly the man was over with the fans, but for whatever reason his stint as champ was short lived and he faded back to Main Event (the show) and off shows like SmackDown and Raw. But he continued to entertain us all.

The Hype Bros

The rollercoaster continued as he seemed to pick up new momentum in a tag team with Mojo Rawley on NXT. The Hype Bros have a ton of potential, and I thought they might have even had a run as NXT tag team champions. Then Zack was placed into the ladder match for Intercontinental Title at WrestleMania.

Ryder wins!

There have been reports he was placed there because Neville was hurt, but Zack made the most of the opportunity. I watched along with more than 100,000 other fans at AT&T Stadium as he climbed the ladder and snagged the belt. After some fist pumps and Woo! Woo! Wooing, I had high expectations for the rest of the card. That victory ended up not only being Ryder's 'WrestleMania' moment, but the highlight of the show for me. I was proud that he had dusted himself off after years of neglect and literally climbed the ranks to the top.

Courtesy: WWE

When we arrived at Raw the next night and it was announced the title would be defended against The Miz, I had a bad feeling what was going to happen. While I'm enjoying the rebirth of the Miz, I still think Ryder is grossly underrated, overlooked and misused. I believe he's one of the most genuine people on the entire roster and works hard daily to move back into the spotlight. He tweeted this earlier today, which is what inspired this post.

I know no one from WWE is reading this, but in the off chance someone does, give Zack a legit shot. WE WANT RYDER!

Friday, April 29, 2016

How I'd handle a WWE brand extension

Courtesy: vortexeffect.net

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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