Braun's tag team partner

Braun battling other tag teams
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Based on the actions of Monday night's Raw, Braun Strowman has secured a match against the tag team champions, the Bar. It's an interesting twist in the WWE tag team situation. It's lead to plenty of speculation on who Braun will choose as a partner.

The Bar
Courtesy: WWE

WWE has done an amazing job building Braun into a monster. Probably too amazing actually. Despite the loss to Roman Reigns at Elimination Chamber, Strowman has been unbeatable. Even in a handicap tag team match against Sheamus and Cesaro, I have a hard time believing he's at a disadvantage. I don't ever recall one man holding the WWE (WWF) tag team championships, but I'll admit I find the idea intriguing. Some will argue that's disrespectful to the lineage of the championships. But again, it's a predetermined activity. It's hard to apply logic to an illogical situation.

So, should WWE book a partner for Braun? I do think a title switch is needed. I had hoped a team, not on the current roster would have stepped up to the challenge, (not the Young Bucks) but this scenario works for me too. There have been a few names floated as possible partners for Braun. But from everything I've read (take that with a grain of salt) there is no definitive plan yet for this situation.

Elias plays some music
Courtesy: WWE

Elias: I'm not sure how I feel about this one. The two have been battling it out for weeks. Applying logic (I know what I said earlier) this makes little sense. But Elias is over big. The two would definitely shake things up in a match at Mania. 

Neville
Courtesy: WWE

Neville: For obvious reasons, I like this idea. Neville has been MIA since the fall. There's been speculation that he's working with WWE management on a possible return. I loved him as King of the Cruiserweights. I could almost see he and Braun like a more destructive version of Enzo and Big Cass.

Big Cass
Courtesy: WWE

Big Cass: Speaking of the big guy, he should be coming off the injured list soon. I'm just throwing that name out there because obviously now that Enzo is gone from WWE, Cass really has nothing to come back to at this point. Pairing him up with a monster like Braun could establish an amazingly dangerous duo.

So who do you think Braun should team with? Or should he go it alone? Weigh in here or on the My 1-2-3 Cents Facebook page.

Click the pic to shop today

Save it for Survivor Series

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I try not to judge WWE too harshly on the progression of storylines. As we've discussed before, pro wrestling is a marathon and not a sprint. With six hours of original content 52 weeks a year on top of two monthly special events, the flow must keep going. I understand all that. But in my 1-2-3 cents the main event set for TLC would be better served for next month's Survivor Series.

As it stands now; the Miz, Braun Strowman, Cesaro, Sheamus and Kane will face the three members of the Shield; Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. It's going to be contested in a Tables, Ladders and Chairs match. I'm all for the Shield reunion. The original main event of those three against the Miz and the Bar was enough for me. When Braun was added, my thoughts turned to saving this for Survivor Series. Now that Kane is in the fold, I'd definitely wait.

Kane returns
Courtesy: WWE

I've always loved the traditional four on four or five on five elimination matches at Survivor Series. In my Tuesday morning booker role, I would have saved Kane to reemerge at TLC and then join The Shield against the four others. Or, Kane appears Monday night and helps Roman win and eliminates Braun from the TLC main event. Then Kane and Braun battle on the undercard and build up to the tag match at Survivor Series.

Again, I don't know where we're headed, so my thoughts are probably not going to make sense in the long-term plan. But that's what wrestling fans do. We book things the way we want them to be. However, I get stacking the deck against the Shield makes them stronger than ever. I just wish they would have saved this angle for November.

Modern day Heenan Family

The Heenan Family

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I'm moving forward with another tribute to the greatest manager in the world of professional wrestling, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. Managers have become a much less common part of the business, however, in my 1-2-3 cents they play a huge role and have through history. We know Heenan managed some of the all-time greats, including Andre the Giant, Mr. Perfect, Rick Rude, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard and advised Ric Flair. So today I'm putting together a modern-day version of the Heenan Family. 

The monster heel
Courtesy: WWE

Braun Strowman. The Heenan Family always had some big men to back up the Brain. Andre, Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy are just some of the behemoths that signed with Bobby. Strowman has developed into a main event player on his own. I can see Heenan confidently leading the big man to the ring in his upcoming battle against Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman. 

The Glorious One
Courtesy: WWE

Bobby Roode. In his current "Glorious" incarnation, Roode reminds me a lot of "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff and "Ravishing" Rick Rude, two mainstays in the Heenan Family. Roode is an excellent performer who is destined for continued greatness in WWE. But imagine if Heenan was there with Roode. I believe he'd manage him right to the WWE Championship.

The Cocky One
Courtesy: WWE

Dolph Ziggler. He's up and he's down. Ziggler reminds me a lot of Mr. Perfect, who we saw Heenan work with as well. The Brain and the ShowOff together would be a great combination. In general, most Superstars these days are expected to get over on their own. Dolph has done that, but a manager can be that cherry on top. That's exactly what Heenan would do in this situation.

The Tag Team
Courtesy: WWE

The Bar. The Heenan Family always had strong tag teams too. From the Islanders to the Brain Busters to the Colossal Connection, the Brain was a major player in the division.  Sheamus and Cesaro have gelled well together as a team, actually much better than I had expected. Both are big, tough and strong and would be excellent at keeping the Brain safe after running his mouth too much.

The Confident One
Courtesy: WWE

Carmella. I debated this choice, but the Heenan Family never had a female member. When I say I debated, it wasn't about putting a female in the family, but instead which one. I originally was going to go with Charlotte Flair, but Carmella has really grown on me this year and in my 1-2-3 cents Heenan could have helped her get over even more so than she has now. 

The Raw Talent
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Red Daniels. This is another choice I struggled with because I don't want to overlook or leave anyone off the Stride Pro Wrestling roster. There are several men who could have reaped the benefits of The Brain and Red is one who fits the Heenan Family mold as far as being a big guy with a bad attitude. Heenan could have harnessed that aggression and used it to take Red to new heights.  

I love the Brain. I still consider myself lucky to have met and interviewed him nearly 20 years ago. It was a surreal moment and one I cherish now more than ever before. Godspeed, Brain.

Hollywood Hits Home

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
Listen on the Jittery Monkey Podcasting Network

In 2013 Hollywood came to my neck of the woods.  Crews were in Cape Girardeau, Missouri (where I went to college) and southern Illinois (where I live now) to film Gone Girl.  Stars Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris and Tyler Perry made headlines in the local news.  They slept in our hotels, ate in our restaurants and worked out in our gyms.  It was an exciting time.

The Bar
117 Themis Street, Cape Girardeau, MO

I finally watched the film recently, after failing to see it on the big screen.  I know a few of the extras, so it was fun not just seeing them, but also recognizing places I've known for many years.  Because the bulk of the film was made in Cape, it's only fitting that there is now a new restaurant in town called The Bar.

Selfie time

My wife, daughter and I recently had a late lunch at The Bar (which is the name of the establishment Affleck's character owns). It is a family friendly environment.  On the outside, it looks just as it did in the film.  The inside is divided with the actual bar on one side and the restaurant on the other.  It's very nicely decorated.  The tables are covered with neatly pressed, white linen cloths. Maroon napkins top each table, along with the silverware. We felt underdressed when walking in, but quickly got over that.

The Bar Burger

Reviewing the menu, I was pleasantly surprised at the prices.  The atmosphere leads you to think it's going to be expensive dining, but the reality is the prices are reasonable.  Items include everything from burgers to fish to lamb.  I opted for The Bar Burger and potato wedges with a side of honey mustard.  The burger is a beef pork patty with caramelized onions on a pretzel bun.  I liked it a lot. My wife and daughter had the fish and chips (potato wedges).  They were out of prime rib for the panini my daughter first ordered.  

The restaurant is pretty small on the inside.  I didn't count the tables, but I could see there be long waits during prime eating times.  We were there at three o'clock on a Sunday so we were seated immediately.  The size of the bar side seemed in line with most other places I've been to.  No crowds on a Sunday afternoon, but I'm sure that's different on a Friday night.

Like the movie Gone Girl, I give The Bar two thumbs up.  The food is good. Portion sizes are plentiful.  The service during our visit was a little slow, but we took that time to enjoy the ambience and talk.  The price is right too (the three of us ate for less than $40).  If you find yourself in downtown Cape Girardeau (the real life Carthage) head to The Bar for a meal and a drink.