3 Stars who need to come back to WWE

Morrison, Rhodes, Hogan
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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There are reports that 5 Star Wrestling has offered CM Punk a million dollars to be a part of an upcoming summer tour. That's a lot of money and who knows if Punk will actually do it, but the notion got me to thinking about what Superstars I'd like to see make a return to WWE. After all, the company has mended fences with the likes of Bruno Sammartino, The Ultimate Warrior and Kurt Angle. Who knows, one-day Punk may come back to be enshrined in the WWE Hall of Fame, but I highly doubt we'll see him wrestle there again. So who would I like to see come back? 

Morrison in action
Courtesy: WWE

John Morrison was one of the most underutilized guys on the WWE roster. He went from a tag team guy, winning the championships with both Joey Mercury and the Miz to being a fairly well-accomplished singles star, winning both the Intercontinental and WWECW Championships. However, he never seemed to get over that hump so many Superstars get stuck at. I didn't realize he left WWE nearly six years ago. He's doing great in Lucha Underground and with some acting projects in Hollywood. Morrison (Johnny Mundo) still looks amazing and works his ass off in the ring. He definitely left before WWE really started the push for the current product. He could easily come back and work his way into the main event picture.

Cody & Goldust
Courtesy: WWE

Cody Rhodes has only been gone a year but I miss seeing him on a weekly basis. He's honing his craft and only getting better working indy shows as well as TNA and Ring of Honor. I'm loving the "American Nightmare" gimmick. I liked the Stardust character and even the idea of having Cody on one show and Stardust on the other. But he's established he doesn't need the character to get over. Sometimes leaving and finding oneself and allowing the company to see what they've missed out on is needed. Drew McIntyre comes to mind as the most recent example.

The Hulkster
Courtesy: WWE

Hear me out on this last one. Hulk Hogan is a legend in the business. While I don't agree with, nor defend what he said, it's hard to deny the Hulkster's legacy. I don't want him back full time necessarily or even to wrestle. Right now, I'd be content with some guest appearances on big shows and reentry into the WWE Hall of Fame. There's been more buzz that Hogan will return. It's time. He made a mistake and apologized. 

Who would you like to see come back to WWE? There are plenty of other names out there that can be added to this list.


Hulk Hogan merchandise  

Christmas Wish List: John Morrison & Melina

Melina & JoMo Christmasfyed (from WWE)

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

I recently wrote a blog were I presumed John Morrison was finished with the company.  It was being pegged as his "last Raw" by folks online.  I jumped on the bandwagon and bought into that hype as well.  Of course I don't know for sure, but because they're still talking about Morrison on Raw, I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of JoMo.

And that's my Christmas wish for him.  I hope that he comes back to the WWE sooner rather than later.  I still think he's one of the best talents in the ring right now.  Like I said in my previous post, he is still developing on the mic, but that shouldn't be a hindrance for someone with the athletic ability of Morrison.

Assuming he comes back, I hope there's a big push involved too.  And quite honestly, I'd like to see a heel turn for him.  I always enjoyed his work as a "bad guy" anyway.  I see hims as a cool, cocky, even narcissistic heel.  Depending on when (and if) he returns, I'd also hope that the WWE would start grooming him for that next step.  He's been an Intercontinental and world tag team champion.  He's held his own with former WWE champ the Miz and CM Punk, so let's see him move up that later a bit.  Perhaps he could be the third member of the Vicki Guerrero family along with Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger.

While we're on the subject, I'd like to see the WWE bring Melina back into the company too.  She could help boost the Divas division and could also play a role with Morrison's future, whether as a fellow member of a heel faction or as JoMo's manager.

Your thoughts?  Post them here or on Facebook or Twitter.  Thanks for reading.

No Mo' JoMo?

Morrison at Wrestlemania 24 (MITB)

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

It appears that John Morrison is wrapping up his time with WWE this week.  I must say that I'm not surprised by this information, but I am very disappointed.  I enjoyed Morrison's career in the WWE, specifically his time teaming with the Miz and then in his singles career.

Morrison was one of my picks to shine in 2011.  But I think sometimes backstage politics plays more into a wrestler's fate than his or her ability in the ring or on the microphone.  It seemed like things were going well for the former ECW, Intercontinental, and tag team champion prior to Wrestlemania 27.  Some have speculated that it was his comments about Melina not being booked on the show and Trish Stratus and Snooki being in a match lead to his descent.  Obviously I'm not an insider and don't know for sure, but I would have to assume that certainly didn't help his standings within the company.

Morrison may be one of, if not the most athletic wrestler on the WWE roster right now.  I'm still impressed with some of the moves he has come up with in terms of using his Parkour training.  Sometimes Michael Cole seemed a little too obsessed with it, but it was quite the display.  I'm especially remembering how he stayed in the 2011 Royal Rumble by hanging on to the ring barrier and leaping back into the ring.

Morrison's only flaw in my book was that he was not a superstar on the mic.  But I'm still old school and don't believe that everyone has to cut a great promo to get over.  I would have turned him heel and paired him up with a manager to do the talking for him.  In fact, earlier in the year I wrote a piece that paired Morrison and Melina up with Ric Flair as their manager.

But hey, with the Shaman of Sexy's pending departure and Melina's already out of the WWE, this could happen if the two end up in Impact Wrestling.  I know JoMo has said he will announce plans in the near future, I would not be surprised to see him in TNA.  This would be one acquisition by Dixie Carter and the gang that I would support.

Leaving an autograph signing during WM 24 weekend

Morrison is still relatively young too, so I wouldn't rule out a return to the WWE at some point in the future, even if he was "killed off" in Episode 41 of the Z! True Long Island Story.  I thought and still think he is one of the best things going in terms of guys on the rise.  And although it's unlikely he is actually reading this, best wishes to JoMo in whatever he decides to do.  Glad to say I got to see him wrestle at several Wrestlemanias over the last few years.

Post your thoughts here, or on Facebook or Twitter.  Also, subscribe to My 1-2-3 Cents on YouTube.

Survivor Series: The Good

Barrett vs. Orton (from WWE.com)

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

Instead of writing up a negative review of the Survivor Series (which I find myself writing more about the negative things in wrestling), I've decided to write some of the things about the show I enjoyed.  And I'm only going to include the things I really enjoyed.  Afterall, I love wrestling and the original intent of this blog was to share my love for it with you and generate a dialogue.

Still the champ (from WWE.com)

I enjoyed the opening match up between Dolph Ziggler and John Morrison.  I know there was some people anger that Zack Ryder wasn't in the title match, and that's something I address briefly in my video wrap up (the link is at the bottom of this blog).  Dolph and JoMo are two of the best workers in the company right now.  The action was fast paced and well done.  I was glad to see Dolph retain, however, I would not have been opposed to a U.S. title run for Morrison either.

Awesome move! (from WWE.com)

One of my favorite moves of the night came in the Divas title match.  Props to both Beth Phoenix and Eve for the Off the Top Rope GlamSlam (I think that's the name of the move).  Beth looked dominant in this match, just as she should.  I like her as Divas champion.  I really do hope she gets a bit of a run with the belt this time around. And I still maintain a match between she and Kharma would be epic.  I'm hoping that happens at Wrestlemania (assuming Kharma is back by then.) Although some are hoping for a Natalya-Beth matchup.  I prefer these two working together as heels.

Out of action (from WWE.com)

Ouch to Sin Cara.  Hope he recovers quickly, although the estimates I've seen have him on the shelf for up to nine months.  I wonder if they'll go back to having Hunico under the mask and have his character disappear, or will they get another luchador to work the gimmick.  I would imagine Sin Cara is a pretty marketable character among children.

Survivors! (from WWE.com)

Thank goodness Cody Rhodes and Wade Barrett survived.  My original picks here were Cody and Dolph, but it appears that Barrett may be getting a decent push finally.  Barrett impressed me in the early days of NXT and even when the Nexus first formed.  But things quickly went south for the superstar.  I hope now they're going to move him to the next level.  I always like to see fresh talent being used at the top, so this is a good thing (or so it appears).  And of course Cody is the Intercontinental champion, and looks pretty impressive so far.

Up, up, and away (from WWE.com)

Big Show took a big risk climbing the top rope.  I must admit, I was quite impressed.  I don't ever recall seeing him do something like that before.  I'm not going to lie, I was nervous as well while he gingerly climbed up to the top rope.  I think the entire room stopped talking to see what was going to happen next.  Thankfully, he didn't meet the same fate as Sin Cara.  I'm glad to see Mark Henry is still the champion, but with the indecisive nature of the outcome, I'm guessing these two will wrap things up at TLC next month.

New champ! (from WWE.com)

CM Punk is the new WWE champion and all is right with the world.  This is not just a good thing, it's a great thing.  Although he's not the original renegade character he was back in the summer, I still enjoy the work Punk does.  Here's to hoping for a long, uninterrupted title reign.  Also, I have to note the awesomeness of bringing Howard Finkel back too. I miss the Fink.

Early Wrestlemania? (from WWE.com)

The Rock is back.  At least for now.  Or at least for Survivor Series, and then again at Wrestlemania.  However, I imagine we'll see him again between here and there.  Some criticized the Rock's return.  I thought he looked great, probably in the best shape of his life.  He more than held his own with the Miz and R-Truth.  While I'm glad he's back, I also am leery about too much praise, as I've said before, where will we be in one year?  Will Rock be competing still?  Doubtful.  But R-Truth and the Miz will, so I worry about the effects on them.  I also liked the reaction John Cena received from the crowd.  I hate to jump on the bandwagon, but I think it's time to turn the guy heel, at least for a bit.  It would be a natural evolution of his character.  And I believe Cena can make it work.

So there you have it, a mostly negative-free Survivor Series analysis.  I get a little more particular in my video post.  Please check it out and subscribe to the YouTube channel.

Survivor Series Predictions

By Chad Smart & Kevin Hunsperger

@my123cents on Twitter

Chad wrote up his thoughts on the upcoming Survivor Series, I've decided to kill two birds with one stone and just add my thoughts to his blog.  Two for the price of one.  

Chad: I didn’t finish my Series of Surviving because honestly, I got bored watching the shows. As I hinted at during the 1998 blog, I find the Attitude Era to be almost unwatchable now. And after seeing Steve Austin get ran over with a car in 1999, then reading about 2000 when Austin would get his revenge by dropping a car Triple H was in off a forklift, I just couldn’t take anymore. So instead of more recaps, I’m going to do a very brief prediction blog for the 2011 Survivor Series.

Kevin:  I've said it before, I'll say it again,  I miss the days of the traditional 5 on 5 or 4 on 4 matches.  It was something unique and provided some entertaining matches through the years.

BETH PHOENIX VS. EVE

Chad: Didn’t we just see this match last month? Why can’t they have more than one person positioned to challenge for a title at a time? Instead we get months of the same challenger before that person either wins the title or falls to the bottom of the pack while someone else steps up. This match will be contested under Lumberjill rules. Guessing all the divas will help Eve while attacking Beth. I would have preferred to seen a handicap Survivor Series match with Beth and Nattie vs. Kelly Kelly, Eve, Alicia Fox, AJ and Kaitlyn. But WWE doesn’t ask for my thoughts. Beth Phoenix should retain the title and hold it probably until the Royal Rumble or Wrestlemania at which time Nattie will turn on Beth and start a feud for the Diva’s title.

Kevin: I agree with Chad's thoughts on the lack of vision of the Divas division.  Personally, they could have gone for a Divas elimination match here as well, but since they've released so many of their better Divas, we're stuck in this position.  I have no idea how Kharma is doing or if and when she'll return.  But I'd rather see her and Beth lock up at Mania.  

CM PUNK VS. ALBERTO DEL RIO

Chad: Still not on the Del Rio bandwagon and think Punk’s standing has fallen from where he was prior to Money in the Bank to where he was at the end of the Straight Edge Society breakup. This match could go either way. Given the way WWE has played hot potato with the WWE title I wouldn’t be surprised to see another title change here. Though CM Punk is on a four pay per view losing streak so he doesn’t pose much of a threat. Since Del Rio didn’t want to give him the match, and the less said about the progression of how the match came to be the better. Predicting this will end in either a DQ or no contest so we can get a rematch at TLC in December.

Kevin:  I'd like to see Punk win this one and hold the title until Wrestlemania, but in this world of quick title changes, I don't see that happening.  I was more on the Del Rio bandwagon about nine months ago.  I agree, he hasn't impressed me at all since winning the title, but I don't totally lay blame with him.  I feel like the WWE creative team has something against anyone other than John Cena or Randy Orton with the title.  The only other exception right now is Mark Henry.  Speaking of which....

MARK HENRY VS BIG SHOW

Chad: Once again, a match people paid $50 to see last month gets repackaged and put on the next show so fans can shell out another $50 to see the same match they saw a few weeks ago.   Hopefully the ring crew reinforced the ring this month so there’s no risk of it collapsing again.  Big Show has won the World Title at two Survivor Series events. In 1999 he beat Triple H and the Rock to win the title. Three years later in 2002 he defeated Brock Lesnar for the strap. Will history repeat itself? I would like to see Mark Henry make it to Wrestlemania with the title. But I could see him losing the title only to regain it a month or two later. Still, I think Henry will walk out of Madison Square Garden with the title in hand after inducting another member into the hall of pain.

Kevin:  Mark Henry HAS to retain the title at Survivor Series.  He's on an incredible roll right now and I think the Creative team has done an excellent job of washing off the stink of the Hand Baby, the Sammy incident, and the brief partnership with Hornswoggle.  Henry is the real deal, the best monster heel in the business today.  He's believable, and that's exactly what the WWE Universe needs right now.  We're not seeing it in Del Rio.  I like the idea of Henry retaining and going to Mania as champion too.

DOLPH ZIGGLER VS JOHN MORRISON

Chad: I don’t understand this match. Zack Ryder has been somewhat feuding with Dolph for the past couple months. The fans have jumped onto the Ryder Broski Bandwagon and have been signing an online petition to get Zack a US title shot. On the other hand, John Morrison, since returning from injury, has pretty much been nothing but a jobber to the stars. So who gets the title shot on pay per view? John Morrison. What? Unless there is some bigger picture here that I’m not seeing, this should be an extended squash for Dolph. I’d like to see Morrison get attacked backstage by Jack Swagger then have Ryder take Morrison’s place. But if I were a betting man, I’d put money on Ziggler to retain the title.

Kevin: I'm with Chad here, I don't understand all the build up for Zack Ryder only to have John Morrison get the shot.  While I don't necessarily think that Ryder is ready for a singles title run yet, I do think he's getting the shaft here.  Morrison's star has faded in my view too, with all the recent jobs.  Ziggler is probably my favorite heel on the roster right now, so yeah, I hope he retains.  I think 2012 there are bigger things coming for #Heel.

TEAM ORTON VS TEAM BARRETT

Chad:  If WWE wants to show how hip and pop culture savvy they are, they should get people standing in line to see Breaking Dawn to make team Orton or team Barrett predictions. Randy Orton has a solid track record of winning Survivor Series elimination matches. I’m going to say Cody Rhodes emerges as the sole survivor. Why? Why not.

Kevin: I'm happy we got a 5 on 5 match, even if it's only one.  But hey, it's something, right?  While Chad picks Rhodes, I'd like to see Ziggler not only retain the U.S. title, but win for his team too.  And while we're at it, win the Royal Rumble and face CM Punk for the title.  But I know I've put the horse before the cart.  I could see this one going either way, but as long as Orton isn't the sole Survivor, I'm pretty indifferent to the conclusion.

AWESOME TRUTH VS. THE PEOPLE’S CHAMPS

Chad: I’ll admit, I’m not the biggest Rock fan, nor have I been waiting for him to return to the ring. I think he’s a one-note act and that note has gotten stale already. I still don’t understand the reasoning behind this match. Why would Cena pick Rock to be his partner? Why would Rock accept? My prediction is Rock and Cena will have a breakdown in communication allowing Awesome Truth to get a fluke victory. After the match, Rock will give the Rock Bottom to the Miz while Cena gives an Attitude Adjustment to R-Truth. The show will end with Rock and Cena standing tall staring each other down while the crowd alternates between “Let’s go Rocky,” and “Cena Sucks” chants.

Kevin: I am a fan of the Rock's and I'm glad to see him back in the ring.  That being said though, I don't like the idea of someone who's been gone for so long coming in and making the up and coming talent look bad.  If the Rock was back to stay, that would be one thing.  But one year from now, will the WWE be better off?  I agree with Chad in that I think Awesome Truth will get some sort of fluke win and it will help further the tension between Rock and Cena.  I also don't understand the reasoning or logic behind the choice or why the WWE announced it months ago that the two would team up, but then act like it was a huge surprise.

There you have it, our predictions.  Chad is not too excited about it.  Kevin is mostly indifferent.  What are your thoughts?  Do you agree or disagree?  Are you excited?  Post your comments here, or like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or make up a video response and post it on YouTube.

Push Me, Please...

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

My partner in crime, Chad and I were talking earlier about Wrestlemania.  We're making plans to attend in Miami and had a brief discussion about the lack of top tier talent on the WWE roster right now.  As of July 9, 2011, there are only a handful of "main event" type guys.  Let's take a closer look.

Over the last year and half or so, the company has lost top guys like Shawn Michaels, Batista, Chris Jericho, and Edge.  Triple H and the Undertaker are essentially done.  We haven't seen them on TV since Wrestlemania 27 (which was 3 months ago).  There are rumors that Rey Mysterio is nearing the end of his career.  Big Show is pushing 40 and Kane is in his 40's.  They're not going to be around forever.  And the company has done a poor job of elevating anyone into those open spots.

John Cena is obviously the top dog in the company.  Storyline wise, that could come to an end at Money in the Bank, but I think we all know Cena won't really get fired if he loses to CM Punk on July 17.  He's already booked in the main event for Wrestlemania 28 against the Rock.  So he may take a brief hiatus, but most likely he'll find a way back on WWE programming if he does lose the title and his job at MITB.

Randy Orton is right behind Cena in terms of the company pushing to the moon.  Personally, I don't understand, but to each is own.  I'm not a fan of Orton as a face, but I find him a bit more tolerable as a heel.  Right now though, he's the man on SmackDown, and unfortunately I don't see that changing anytime soon.

CM Punk is the #1 contender to John Cena's title.  Right now there's so much mystery surrounding his current status with the company.  I've remained steadfast and not read any spoilers, but I've seen headlines suggesting Punk's last match with the WWE is just 8 days away.  I certainly hope that's not the case.  Punk is in my opinion the best heel in the WWE right now.  I use they'd use him better though, and not to put over Cena and Orton like he's done in the first few months of 2011.

Christian is the #1 contender to Randy Orton's world title.  But after several chances to win the gold, I can see him coming up short again at MITB and going back to the upper mid card status.  That is unfortunate, as I think Christian has so much potential and I'd love to see him with a legitimate run as the champ.  He's the best guy on the mic on SmackDown! and despite "17 years of experience" he is still great in the ring.

The Miz has unfortunately fallen from grace faster than any other past champ since Jack Swagger.  The constant jobbing to Alex Riley and losing to Roddy Piper and Jerry Lawler earlier this year haven't help the Miz's stock.  At one point I read Vince McMahon referred to the Miz as the future of the company.  I hope they turn him around and get him back on a winning streak.  He's got a ton of potential as a heel and they need to utilize him better.

Sheamus is growing on me again.  He was red hot (pardon the pun) when he first came in.  I think that actually hurt him.  They pushed him too fast, too soon.  He's climbing the card on SmackDown!, but will he stay?  He's another one the company has been luke warm with in terms of pushing.  He truly has the ability to be that monster heel the WWE desperately needs.

Morrison vs. Jericho

John Morrison is my pick to be elevated in 2011.  He's been around long enough and has proven he can put on a hell of a show.  His mic skills need some help, but he's coming around.  I also like the idea of turning him heel again and putting him with a manager.  In a previous post I had suggested that manager being Ric Flair himself.  I know that's a LONG shot.  But the point is, let Morrison climb that ladder.  It seems like they push him for a bit, then pull back the reigns.  Let him go!

Dolph Ziggler is right behind Morrison in my book of pushing guys.  He's a great heel.  I wouldn't even be opposed to seeing he and Morrison put together in some kind of heel faction.  Ziggler is recognized as a former World champ after his brief run with Edge, but he needs an actual reign at some point.  As US champion, he is continuing to develop.

I really thought Kofi Kingston was going to get the rub back in 2009 when he feuded with Randy Orton.  But Orton got the upper hand in that program.  I was baffled by that decision and thought it was the perfect time to bring someone new into the main event mix.  Now he's stuck in that upper mid card, and since he's lost the US title, I fear he may slip and end up lost in the shuffle.

Alberto Del Rio is another character who is growing on me.  While I wasn't crazy about him winning the Royal Rumble, I was glad he didn't beat Edge for the World title at Wrestlemania.  I'd rather see Del Rio have a run as US champ before they put the big title on him.

I wrote about Wade Barrett early this week.  Click here for more on that.  I like the guy a lot and think he could and should be in the main event.  Same goes for Drew McIntyre.

Bryan vs. Sheamus

Daniel Bryan has been up and down the ladder in terms of his push.  When he first came back after being fired, he was getting jobbed out constantly.  Then they put the US title on him, I had some hope.  I was really disappointed that he lost it and then stumbled out of the spotlight.  He has plenty to contribute to the company and should get a run as Intercontinental champion.

I have similar feelings on Cody Rhodes.  But I like how they've had he and Ted DiBiase teaming up.  I want to see the tag team division resurrected, and feel like the reformation of "Priceless" could be the shot in the arm the division needs.  I like both Cody and Ted as singles wrestlers too, but I don't see them getting any big pushes as individuals right now.

These are guys who I think could move up to the ladder and into the main event spot light.  Obviously there's not room for all of them at the top.  But right now I don't feel like there's really any contenders for the big titles.  There's lots of guys on the midcard, with Super Cena and Boy Orton as the only "top" guys.

Your thoughts?  Leave them here or on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube.

Sometimes I Go to Extremes

Photo from WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

Before I break down the Extreme Rules pay per view, my first question is, what's up with the poster?  I mean really, I don't understand the x-ray.  I'm sure there's some logical reason for it, but I'm not getting it.

That being said, now on to the more important issues, like card itself.  Predicting the outcomes of these matches will be a little difficult, just because of the draft and the shift in rosters.  Many of the matches are interpromotional matches.  Hopefully, they'll all bring us some resolution to these feuds.

Alberto Del Rio vs. Christian (Ladder Match for the World Heavyweight Championship): This is the most intriguing match on the card I believe.  Who will pick up the ball and carry it now that Edge has been forced to put it down.  The smart money would be on Christian.  Del Rio has been drafted to Raw.  Raw has the WWE championship.  Having both big belts on that show would be lame.  But I wouldn't be shocked if it were to happen.  After all, at the moment SmackDown has both the U.S. and Intercontinental titles.

Christian though deserves a run as world champion.  He's proven himself and it would only make sense for him to carry the torch next.  Del Rio is starting to grow on me, but I still don't see him as world champion material.  At least not yet.  Give him some more time to grow on Raw and I might have a different opinion of him in six months.  But for right now, the WWE should do the right thing and put the title on Christian.

My pick: Christian

The Miz vs. Cena at Wrestlemania

The Miz (c) vs. John Cena vs. John Morrison (Cage Match for the WWE Title): I'm sure it's happened before, but I don't ever recall a 3 way cage match before.  I'm not sure exactly why John Morrison is in this one.  Don't get me wrong, I like the fact that he's in the title picture, but I storyline wise, he doesn't seem to fit here.  All three men will remain on Raw, so there's no worry about anyone leaving with the belt.  My hope is that the Miz will retain here.  He really should, but besides Rey Mysterio, I don't feel like Raw has any big face contenders to challenge the Miz.  Ideally, they'll put Cena into a feud with someone else and let Morrison and the Miz have a program.  But with R-Truth's heel turn, I can see he and Morrison feuding, which would open up Cena for another title win and then moving into a program with Del Rio.  The more I think about this, the harder it is for me to come up with a follow up feud for the Miz to defend the title against.  However, it's my hope that the Miz will win, but I won't be surprised if Super Cena walks out champ.

My pick: The Miz


Jerry Lawler & Jim Ross vs. Michael Cole & Jack Swagger (Tag Team Country Whipping Match): I've said it before, and I'll say it again.  Cole and Swagger need to loss this match.  JR and the King need to return as the announce team on Raw.  Cole transitions into a manager and works with Swagger.  It makes no sense to have Cole and Lawler announce together on Raw.  They hate one another.  There's too much tension between them, and let's be honest, Cole can't focus on a match to save his life.  He ends up fighting with the King and Josh Matthews before the match is over.  So, I'd not only take Cole off Raw as an announcer, but on SmackDown! too.  Put Matthews in his spot there to work with Booker T.  And let's be done with this silly feud.

My pick: Jerry Lawler & JR

LayCool in happier times

Layla vs. Michelle McCool (Loser Leaves WWE):  Earlier I blogged how I hadn't read any spoilers on this match.  I caved.  I've read that Michelle wants to take some time off to help tend to the Undertaker (for those who didn't know, they're married)  But keep in mind, this is chatter on the Internet, so take it for what it's worth.  I figured when they split these two up, Layla would be the "Jannetty" of team and end up jobbing.  Michelle is better in the ring, so it's hard for me to imagine her losing.  I suspect Kharma may end up appearing and helping Layla get the win.

My pick: Layla


CM Punk vs. Randy Orton (Last Man Standing): More Internet rumors are presenting me with conflicting thoughts on this match.  Some say that CM Punk is not resigning his contract later this year.  It appears that Randy Orton is the SmackDown version of Cena.  While it would not hurt Orton to lose (he's beaten Punk each time in their previous encounters), I don't see the WWE giving someone who could potentially be on the way out a big win over the company's second biggest face.

My pick: CM Punk, however Randy Orton will win this match.

Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes at Wrestlemania 27

Cody Rhodes vs. Rey Mysterio: (Falls Count Anywhere): This match is much like the Orton-Punk match.  Rey doesn't need the win as much as Cody does.  This will be the rubber match between the two.  Cody got the big win at Wrestlemania.  Rey got a victory on SmackDown

My pick: Cody Rhodes


I'm not crazy about the concept behind the Extreme Rules pay per view.  Gimmick matches are good when used sporadically.  But this is an entire PPV filled with gimmicks. That could be good I suppose as guys like Orton and Cena don't have to lie down for anyone.  I guess it's easier to say I lost because I couldn't get up before the 10 count opposed to losing via pinfall.  Maybe I'm being too cynical, but that's how I'm feeling with the current product.

What are your thoughts?  I'm curious to hear who you think will win at Sunday's pay per view.  Comment here or let us know on Facebook.

ENTERTAINMania vs. WRESTLEMania

Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

We've talked plenty before about the way the Entertainment is overtaking the Wrestling in World Wrestling Entertainment.  For the causal fan, this is probably no big deal.  But for old school die hards like us, well, we don't like it. Not at all.

Adding Snooki to Wrestlemania (even if it is a 6 person tag match) is disappointing to say the least.  Especially when as of right now, we're still missing talent from the card like Daniel Bryan, Kofi Kingston, and Sheamus.  There's still no tag team title match either. 

My other problem with this Snooki match is two out of the three participants (Trish Stratus) aren't even on the roster.  Once the dust settles will this match with LayCool and Dolph Ziggler vs. Snooki, Trish, and John Morrison do anything to advance the participants careers?  I'm guessing not. 

This partially goes back to the decision to axe Money in the Bank.  Morrison and Ziggler would have probably ended up in that match, along with Kofi, Bryan, and perhaps even Sheamus.  I'm also curious what will happen with Christian?  Will he be added to the Edge-Alberto Del Rio world title match?

I've got to think more matches are going to be added, but we're less than 3 weeks away now.  This is the BIGGEST pay per view of the year.  It deserves better treatment than this.  We the fans deserve better too.  I'm spending a lot of money to attend Wrestlemania, and I don't know, I'd like to see more emphasis on WRESTLING.  Just sayin'...  Oh yeah, and I am a fan of the Jersey Shore, but that doesn't mean I want it as a part of my favorite passtime.

Wrestlemania 27 has a big focus of stars from the past and celebrities.  Again I ask, where is that going to leave members of the active roster on April 4th?

Thanks for reading.  Follow us on Facebook and YouTube.

The King, "New" Nexus, & Del Rio's Choice

Lots of different thoughts from the January 31st episode of Raw.  And even though in some of these ramblings, I'm asking a question, I don't expect any answers, but feel free to inject your opinions too.

Alberto Del Rio kicks off the show with a big party.  No surprises there, but I think it would have made more sense for him to announce he was facing Edge on SmackDown!, the show which features the World heavyweight championship.

Good to see an actual tag team title match.  I was surprised that Santino and Koslov went over, especially with the Cobra.  I think there is still work to be done in the tag team division.  More on that to come.

Something that bugs me about Cole, besides the obvious things.  I hate that he calls the Nexus the "new" Nexus each time he refers to them.  We get it.  We know there not the original guys.  But I never heard any WCW announcers say the "new" 4 Horsemen when they added a new member.  So stop it Cole.

So the King is in the Raw Rumble.  Lots of folks speculating his going to win to ensure the Miz retains and heads to Wrestlemania as the champion.  My only question, why in the world are R Truth and Jerry the King Lawler considered the 6th and 7th best guys on the roster?

Ted DiBiase was spot on with his promo on the King.  But once again he's made to look like a chump.  I think the guy is destined for better things and I hope this is just a rough patch.  Speaking of revamping the tag team division, I'll say it again.  Move Ted to SmackDown! and reunite with Cody Rhodes to get Priceless going again.

I've heard different theories on the 2-21-11 promo.  Some have said Sting.  I think it's Skip Sheffield.  I've written a post about my feelings on him before,  but I can't think of anyone else who it could be.  Someone even suggested Branden Walker.  Hope not.  LOL.

I don't care about the Bella twins and why they were dating Daniel Bryan.  Cole and King, how about focusing on the match and calling it.  Do an interview segment back stage.  When a match is going on in the ring, let's call it!

Looks like any push Tyson Kidd was even being considered for are over.  It's time to reunite he and D.H. and start the Hart Dynasty again.  Get them a manager and put them over as heels, asap.

Cena "interferes" in the Miz's match against Edge.  And Cole's whole Miz lovin' gimmick is getting on my nerves.  I'm a fan of the Miz's too, but Cole takes it too far.

Vickie Guerrero is the company's top heel.  This still blows my mind.  I wonder what Eddie is thinking as he watches down on all this...

I'm still trying to figure out why Eve is the Divas champ.  I have my theories.  Wondering just how many pictures she has of Vince McMahon...

How many tag team partners are we going to give Mark Henry?  I understand the E stands for Entertainment, but I do not find "dance offs" the least bit entertaining.  Remember, the W (for wrestling) comes first.

I'm pretty sure the only WWE(F) film I've ever seen is No Holds Barred.  That was more than 20 years ago.  Call me gun shy...

If the WWE wants the fans to buy into Lawler as a top contender for the WWE title, why don't they ever mention his past?  He's a former AWA World champion.  If I remember correctly he's beaten guys like Ric Flair, Randy Savage, and Mr. Perfect.  I even seem to remember him handing Andre the Giant a pretty bad beatdown way back when.  I think that was Lawler.  Anyway, my point (and my wrestling buddies) is that Vince owns the footage of most if not all those matches.  Why not use it?

Something else on Lawler, 15 years ago when he was still too old for a title run, they made him look like a fool against Bret Hart, Roddy Piper, and the Ultimate Warrior.  Heck, he got knocked out of one Royal Rumble in about 10 seconds.  Now, at age 62 or 63 I'm supposed to believe he can beat a guy young enough to be his kid?

R Truth tried to skin the cat.  I'll give him points for trying at least.

I think Punk should have eliminated himself from the Rumble to avoid Orton and hold off on their battle until Wrestlemania.  That appears to be where we're headed...

Why is Michael Cole amazed every time John Cena does a double Attitude Adjustment?  Especially with John Morrison and R Truth.  Cole, he did it to Edge and Big Show back at Wrestlemania 25.  I'm pretty sure you were there and even called the match.  Just sayin'.

Wouldn't it have made more sense for Sheamus to toss Lawler over the top rope instead of running over to Morrison and Cena?  Why is Cena putting a submission hold on a guy in a battle royal?  Having Morrison do all the near throw outs takes away from his performance Sunday night in my opinion.

Okay, so the King is going to go to Elimination Chamber.  Should be interesting.  I still don't understand why NOW he is getting a push and a shot at the title.  I know he does a lot of work outside of the WWE, and I'm not taking anything away from him.  He's a legend.  But I think that ship has sailed.

Based on Raw and the Royal Rumble, here are some early Wrestlemania predictions:

Miz defends against John Cena
CM Punk vs. Randy Orton
Edge vs. Del Rio (and a returning Christian in a 3 way dance)
The King vs. Michael Cole

Okay, that's enough for one day.  Thanks for reading.  Check out My 1-2-3 Cents on YouTube too!

Clash of the Champions

Quick thoughts on Monday's Raw from 1/24/11.  You can also watch a recap on My 1-2-3 Cents on YouTube.

Opening Segment: When Edge came out I really thought we were going to get the Clash of the Champions match at the start of the show.  Those hopes were quickly dashed after the impromptu Royal Rumble challenge and the Corre vs. Nexus confrontation.

Did you notice Edge disappeared after that whole deal between the two groups?  I don't like how that happens.  That seems to be a trend.

Mark Henry & John Morrison vs. Albert Del Rio & King Sheamus:  I'm still not sold on Alberto.  And I find it hard to believe the "World's Strongest Man" taps out almost instantly to the arm bar submission.  You could have him tap, but it was like a second after the hold was applied.  Plus, I don't think there was any work on the arm to even weaken it, was there?

Natalya vs. Melina: That was a kick butt Sharpshooter by Natalya.  Good match between these ladies. LayCool annoys me, but I think that's their role.  I still don't like the comments about Natalya's weight.  And again it's a double standard.  The King insulted Vickie Guerrero again last night and people find it funny.  When LayCool does it, it's criminal.  Twitter was lit up with comments.  Trust me.

The Miz vs. Edge: I felt like this match could have been saved for a Pay Per View.  Why give away a match like that on free TV?  That seems to be the trend though, as they did it last week with CM Punk vs. John Cena.  The match went on pretty long, but I knew (as we all did) that Dolph Ziggler was going to interfere.


Husky Harris & Michael McGillicutty vs. Santino Marella & Vladamir Koslov: Tag team champions made to look weak once again.  I like the duo of HH & MM.  Would like to see them developed as a unit.  They have potential, and let's face it the WWE needs a tag team division.

Mixed Gender Six Person Tag: I think this was just a set up to have Gail Kim and Daniel Bryan get caught by the Bellas.  The match itself was lame.  I like the storyline, especially if it means Kim getting more in ring time.

CM Punk vs. Wade Barrett:  I think this match could have and should have been saved for pay per view.  Not the Royal Rumble.  They could have totally carried this out to Wrestlemania I believe.  And I wonder if we get a Corre vs. Nexus match at Mania.  Many factors as we head to the big event in April. Cena refereeing the match made sense, but again lately Cena has been really annoying.  I'm talking Cena the performer.  The guy outside the ring who does all the philanthropy has all my respect.

It was no surprise the show ended with a locker room clearing brawl in the ring. That's what we have come to expect in the days leading up to the Royal Rumble.  Later this week, I'll post a prediction for the Rumble, probably just on YouTube though, so check it out.

Thanks!

Be Jealous

From: WWE

John Morrison and the Miz absolutely tore the roof off the U.S. Airways Arena last night on Raw.  I believe this one will be a contender for match of the year honors, and we're only 4 days into 2011.

I really am glad they lead the show with this match. Mostly because I go to bed early because I get up early and I got to see this match live and didn't have to wait until Tuesday afternoon.

Morrison continues to impress and amaze me.  His jump off the WWE symbol was totally cool.  That back bump he took on the guardrail made me yell ouch.  As did his crash through the table toward the end of the match.

The Miz shined too last night.  He took everything Morrison could give him and fought back.  He expressed anguish and frustration every time Morrison kicked out.  Lots of near falls helped sell these guys as legitimate performers who deserve to be in the spot light.

Going from that match into the cage match.  No big surprise that they're going with Randy Orton as the number one contender.  You've heard me complain before, and I'll do it again.  I think it's time for someone else in the main event.  We get that revolving door of Randy Orton, John Cena, Triple H for every pay per view, or at least it feels that way.  Personally, I think Morrison and the Miz could have saved the match from last night for the Royal Rumble.  The Raw match could have either a) not happened and tease the buildup to the Royal Rumble or b) ended in some sort of double countout or DQ to require the two to meet again in a falls count anywhere match.  Just my thoughts, so if this offends the "Viper" fans out there.

The tag team match was a bit lackluster.   Part of the problem with live TV is live mistakes.  Koslov tried to pull that one off, it was entertaining to say the least.  Not sure why the Usos won, but the titles weren't on the line.  I guess I should just be grateful that there was a tag team match involving the champs on TV.

I was surprised to see Eve get the pin on Melina in that Divas tag team match.  I thought for sure they were building Melina up.  This seems a bit odd to me.

CM Punk kicking Wade Barrett and taking his armband was not too surprising considering all the chatter on the internet.  While I am a fan of Punk leading Nexus, I'm not sure I like the idea of a Wade Barrett face turn.  And I especially don't want to see he and Cena put their differences aside and join forces.  I'm predicting a Cena-Barrett tag team title run by SummerSlam.

Why was Alberto del Rio on Raw?  Isn't he on SmackDown!?  Sorry, but Raw guys belong on Raw and SmackDown! guys belong on SmackDown!  The whole "brand" thing doesn't mean much if you have guys interacting on other shows.  Just an observation.  Maybe they're testing the waters for a Del Rio swap.

Missed seeing the U.S. champ Daniel Bryan on last night.  And Ted DiBiase for that matter.  Maybe next week.

Please check out My 1-2-3 Cents on YouTube too.  Thanks for reading and watching!

Who Will Shine in 2011?



I'm hoping 2011 continues to be a good year for some of the guys who seem to be stuck in the land of the mid card status.  2010 a few guys were elevated, the Miz specifically (and I hope that trend continues).  With guys like Shawn Michaels and Batista leaving the WWE and Chris Jericho, the Undertaker, and Triple H all taking time off, there was plenty of room at the top for some fresh blood.



I fully expect Triple H to return to action at some point in the next few weeks.  If you ask me right now, I believe he'll be in the Royal Rumble and may even win the event.  Undertaker's future is a bit more bleak.  He's been off a big portion of 2010, as well as in 2009, I think if he's healthy enough we'll get another good match out of him at Wrestlemania before he heads back into hibernation.  I don't see Chris Jericho coming back anytime soon.  I think he enjoys his music, and quite honestly he needs a break.  All superstars do, really. 



Drew McIntyre vs. Matt Hardy MITB at Wrestlemania 26

Drew McIntyre: The WWE seems to be hot and cold on Drew, most recently cold.  After a less than stellar run as the Intercontinental champion, Drew was put into the failing tag team scene with "Dashing" Cody Rhodes.  Neither man seemed to have much going on for them so they put the tag team titles on them.  They held the belts for a whole 34 days.  Shortly after losing the belts, they split the duo up.  They didn't have a chance.

I hope for big things out of Drew in 2011.  After all, Vince McMahon called him "the chosen one", but more times than not, that's the kiss of death.  I believe Drew has the look and the ability.  I had mentioned earlier maybe teaming him up with William Regal.  I think he could develop and learn more from one of the best.  They have similiar personalities and could actually shake things up in the tag team ranks.  While I wouldn't want to necessarily see Drew saddled with a tag team gimmick, I think it would be a great way to get him moving up the ladder of success.

JoMo vs. Y2J at Wrestlemania 24

John Morrison: Speaking of ladders, John Morrison is climbing it rung by rung too.  I really hope he makes a major move this year.  He is the #1 contender to the WWE title, but I don't think he's going to win the belt anytime soon.  At least not tonight (he's scheduled to face the Miz on Raw on 1/3/11).

Morrison is a guy I've raved about before.  He has the tools inside the ring.  He's not the best talker in the world, but I really hope that's not what's holding him back.

Big wins over former champs like Sheamus and Chris Jericho in 2010 have put him in a good position for the start of the year.  I suspect he'll drop a few rungs on the ladder if he comes up short against the Miz, but I see him being a power player in the next 12 months.  The guy deserves it too. He's toiled in the tag team ranks and the mid card for several years now.  Let 2011 be the year of JoMo.

Daniel Bryan at the 2010 HOF Ceremony

Daniel Bryan: Another no brainer here as far as I'm concerned.  I'm actually quite surprised with the push Bryan has received so far, but I really do believe the dude deserves a heck of a lot more.

When he first came back to the WWE after SummerSlam and they were squashing him week after week on Raw, I figured his days were numbered.  I like that he beat the Miz for the U.S. title.  I hope they keep the WWE title on the Miz because like Morrison, he and Bryan have a great history together.  These could be more stellar matches like we saw in the fall between the two.

Bryan is another guy I don't necessarily see winning the title in the near future, but he should definitely be in the hunt for the biggest prize in the company.  I could also see a switch to Smackdown! in his future and more success there.

Again, I don't have a crystal ball, these are my thoughts on where things should go in the 2011.  Of course, there's a lot of talent on both rosters, I just touched on three of my favorites who should have a success 2011 if they stay healthy.

Writers, the talent is there, now it's time to let it shine!



Climbing the Ladder of Success

John Morrison vs. Chris Jericho MITB at WM 24

John Morrison has literally climbed the ladder of success.  After years in the mid card and tag team ranks, Morrison now finds himself the number one contender to the WWE title.

But is he an official main eventer yet?  I don't think so, but he is certainly on the verge.  I like Morrison.  I've liked him since his early days as a member of MNM and then his run as ECW champion and his feud with CM Punk.

I cheered for he and the Miz as they dominated the tag team ranks and waved their Slammy awards while telling fans to "be jealous."

Even after Miz and Morrison split, I enjoyed both guys.  Of course, I tend to cheer for the heel, so the Miz has had more appeal to me in that respect.  But I really think Morrison will be a major player in the WWE in the coming year.

He's proven himself against former champ Sheamus.  He's beaten the first ever unified champion Chris Jericho.  Now can he carry that success into 2011?  I think he can, but I really don't see him winning the world title anytime soon.

I'm glad to see someone other than John Cena, Triple H, or Randy Orton in the title picture.  It seems though that the writers speed up programs and don't let these guys who are still developing properly prepare for the spotlight.  (ie. Sheamus, Punk)  That's my one big concern about the Miz's quick climb to the top.  I don't want to see him flounder and be booked as the weak champion like some of these other guys have.

So while I'm all for Morrison's sudden rise to the #1 contender spot, I'm hoping this opportunity isn't a one time deal where he's lost back in the shuffle and Orton or Cena gets back into the title contention.  We need to see the Miz get over some quality opponents like Morrison and Orton and stop being on the losing end of matches against guys who are past their prime.  Just sayin'.

Please share your thoughts on this or anything else wrestling related.