Money in the Bank Predictions

Who will win?

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

I usually vlog my pay per view predictions over on my YouTube channel, but time is running out and things have been hectic this past week, so I'm going to just write up some quick thoughts on Money in the Bank.

Photo courtesy: WWE

Diva's Championship Match: Paige vs. Naomi: 
I still think the WWE has some work to do when it comes to Divas division.  There are some very talented women wrestling right now for the company, and they need the opportunity to shine.  I also don't think they've done a whole lot with Paige as the champion. Despite the fact that she's held the title for more than two months, I don't feel like I know much about her.  For that reason alone, I'd like to see her retain and the company do more to develop her character.

Photo courtesy: WWE

Tag Team Title Match: The Usos vs. Harper & Rowan:
This should be a great contest between two terrific tag teams.  The WWE in recent years has lacked solid tag team wrestling.  Every time I get hopeful that that's about to change a monkey wrench is thrown into the plans.  I like both of these teams, but I think Harper and Rowan have the edge here.  But no matter who wins here, I want to see the WWE continue to keep both teams together. No more breakups in 2014!

Photo courtesy: WWE

Stardust & Goldust vs. Rybaxel: 
I pick the recharged combo of the 'dust brothers.  I like what they're doing here and am interested to see where it's headed, perhaps another run as champs against the Wyatt Family.

Photo courtesy: WWE

Big E vs. Rusev:
This is a rematch from Extreme Rules.  Rusev has been on such a role.  I don't want to see him lose that momentum to someone he's already beaten.  So for that reason, I say continue the Rusev push.

Photo courtesy: WWE

Layla vs. Summer Rae: 
Lately, all I watch is Raw, so I don't know how this feud has been developing on other WWE programs, and honestly I haven't paid a whole lot of attention to it.  My gut tells me that Fandango, who is the guest referee, will turn on Layla and reunite with Summer. Honestly, I thought they made the better couple anyway.  Did I just say that???

Photo courtesy: WWE

MITB Contract Match: 
Here's where things start getting tough for me.  Part of my thinking is the winner of this match will cash in as soon as a new champ is crowned in the main event.  It seems logical the way the story has been building that Seth Rollins will win this match.  But Dean Ambrose has been such a thorn in his side, I could see him costing Rollins the win.  Does Triple H have something up his sleeve to insure a Rollins victory?  Since I need to pick, I'm gonna go with Rollins...

Photo courtesy: WWE

World Title MITB Match: 
Which leads to picking John Cena to win the championship. Rollins cashes in on a battered and beaten Cena, setting up for a feud with Daniel Bryan when he returns.  I only pick Cena to win this because I don't want someone new to hold the belt for a few seconds before a cash in happens.  I know there are "leaked" images of the SummerSlam poster floating around with Cena and Brock Lesnar, but I think that's all a swerve.  However, that being said, I don't know that the WWE has the faith to do a Rollins-Bryan program for the WWE World Heavyweight title.  I'd love to see Roman Reigns win it all, but I'd rather see him continue to develop and fight for it with a payoff coming at a bigger event, perhaps Wrestlemania.  I like Cesaro too, and if this was just for the contract, he'd be my pick.  

So there are my thoughts.  It's clear as mud when it comes to the two most important matches.  No matter what happens, it's sure to be interesting.  As long as Randy Orton walks out without the title, I'll be happy.  Sorry to all the Orton fans...

2013 Centy Awards

By Kevin Hunsperger & Chad Smart
@my123cents on Twitter

Every year, we here at My 1-2-3 Cents sit down and do our own little end-of-the-year awards show.  Sometimes we agree on the winners, but most of the time we don't.  One thing we both agreed on, 2013 was a rather blah year in the world of wrestling.  Chad and I explain all of our choices toward the end of this From the Rafters Radio Podcast. Click here to listen. Without further ado, here are Kevin and Chad's picks for the 2013 Centy Awards.



Wrestler of the Year:
Kevin: Daniel Bryan
Chad: Daniel Bryan

Most Hated:
Kevin: Stephanie McMahon (the character)
Chad: Randy Orton

Most Underappreciated:
Kevin: "Gentleman" Jervis Cottonbelly
Chad:  Logic

Most Overrated:
Kevin: Big Show
Chad: CM Punk
 
Breakout Star of the Year:
Kevin: Summer Rae
Chad: Goldust 

Show of the Year:
Kevin: Raw after Wrestlemania
Chad: SummerSlam

Star on the Horizon:
Kevin: Adrian Neville
Chad: Enzo Amore 

Female of the Year:
Kevin: AJ Lee
Chad: AJ Lee

Best Use of Social Media:
Kevin: Chuck Taylor (@SexyChuckieT on Twitter)
Chad: Chuck Taylor (Chu

Biggest Fall From Grace:
Kevin:Dolph Ziggler
Chad: TNA 

Boo: Hell in a Handbasket

Hell in a Cell 2013
Photo by WWE

By Chad Smart
@chadsmart & @my123cents on Twitter

A few months ago, Kevin started branching out and making my123cents more of a pop culture blog instead of strictly a wrestling blog. I’m thinking I should probably start to follow in his footsteps and write about anything other than wrestling. Last week, I wrote about how I was done watching TNA because I didn’t want to watch WWE-lite.  After watching this year’s “Hell In A Cell” pay per view, I think I don’t care to watch WWE. This show encapsulated the majority of what’s wrong in wrestling today.

Before I get all negative and cynical, I’ll mention the few positives of the show. The opening Tag-Team Title match was, as expected, really good. Goldust is making the most of his return to WWE. Goldy and Cody are working well as a team and their feud with The Shield has provided several exciting matches. 

Summer Rae dropkicks Nattie
Photo by WWE

Summer Rae had her WWE debut match in a mixed-tag match. Summer teamed with dance partner Fandango to battle Natalya Neidhart and The Great Khali.  Anyone who watches NXT knows Summer Rae can deliver inside the ring when given the chance. While she and Nattie had a decent match last night, I can’t get my hopes up too high for the future as WWE is not known to give the Divas much time nor do they let the talented Divas really showcase their talents. 

Now lets move onto the cynicism.  While Summer Rae had a good debut, I couldn’t help but wonder why this match was on the PPV. This wasn’t anything more than what you’d find on RAW or Smackdown. In addition to this match, Hell In A Cell also featured The Real Americans vs. Los Matadores and an impromptu match between Big E. Langston vs. Dean Ambrose that ended in Dean being counted out. Originally Big E was supposed to face Curtis Axel on the YouTube/WWE App pre-show match, but due to Curtis being injured the match was scrapped and the match with Dean was set up during the pre-show. Due to the not being originally scheduled, I anticipated a count out to end the match as I couldn’t see Dean losing the US title nor would it make sense for Big E to lose when he’s starting to get a push. If WWE pulls and audible and continues a feud between these two then the ending to the match could be justified. This match served no purpose other than to fill 15-minutes of airtime on a show with too much filler if it doesn't lead to an extended feud.

Ole! It's El Torrito
Photo by WWE

While Los Matadores and The Real Americans was set up for the PPV over the last couple weeks of RAW and Smackdown, my issues is the match was more about getting El Torito over than anyone else in the match. I may be wrong, but I’d be willing to bet the commentary team spent more time talking about “the bull” than talking about anyone else in the match. This is one of WWE’s biggest problems right now, in my opinion. No wrestler is getting built up to be a major player. Wrestlers are either becoming mid-card comedy/humor fodder (Santino, Fandango, Tons of Funk) or simply stuck into mid-card purgatory (Ziggler, The Miz, Sandow).  This was evident in the two main title matches.

The Champ is here! Again
Photo by WWE

John Cena returned after a two-month hiatus for elbow surgery and promptly won the World Title from Alberto Del Rio.  There was no warm up match to see if Cena was healthy to compete. There was no, he’s been away for two months so now he has to work his way back to the top story. John Cena simply walked into American Airlines Arena and regained the “Being John Cena” title. It’s almost like WWE wouldn’t know what to do if John Cena wasn’t holding a title. Instead of using Cena to help elevate new main event talent, he has to be the man on top. After nine years, it’s time for Cena to not be the main focus. I strongly believe if Cena were gone for at least a year, his return would negate the “Cena sucks” jeers.

Orton wins
Photo by WWE

As bad as Cena winning the World Title is, it’s overshadowed by Daniel Bryan once again looking like a joke. Thanks to a super kick from guest referee Shawn Michaels, Daniel Bryan failed to become a three time WWE champion in the span of two months. After the match, I commented on Twitter that WWE should stick a fork in Bryan, as he’s officially been Zigglered. Even if he wins the title in the coming months, the current storyline has devalued him to the point where I don’t know if fans would buy into him being a credible champion.

In the last five years, how many legitimate main event wrestlers has WWE created? The only name I can think of that may fit the bill is Sheamus. But I’m not even sure if he’s at that level. The lack of trusting anyone other than Cena or Attitude Era wrestlers to be the focus of shows is hindering WWE’s enjoyment factor for me. Maybe I’m the only one who feels this way.

Last week, I said I was done watching TNA. This week, I’m going to say that with the exception of NXT, I think it’s time I take a break from WWE programming. I’ll still keep up to date on what’s happening and will still make plans to attend Wrestlemania 30, though that’s more for the chance to hang out with friends from around the world than about the show. But as for watching RAW or Smackdown on a regular basis, I’m done.

So look for more pop culture blogs in the future. At least until the return of Chikara.