Bleacher Report - Articles by Justin Winters

Jeff Hardy: Set to Crash and Burn?

Justin Winters — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:44:48 -0400

Now before you go to the comment section and tell me about how great a wrestler Jeff Hardy is, realize this isn't a hate column and that I'm just writing about personal opinion. And here comes my latest article, lets get this show on the road;

Jeff Hardy is one of the best high-flying wrestlers in the WWE right now and the crowd seems to love him.

But with a shady past that has given him troubles before, is Hardy on a path to destruction? Should Vince keep pushing him even with all the risks that can come with him?

Hardy was a big tag team wrestler in his early days but became a big singles star in the 2000's. Although he was a big name, Hardy was fired from the company and the reasons given were, drug use, no-showing events, showing up late, having bad match quality, and erratic behavior.

Hardy noted that he was "burning out" and asked for his release from the company.

Drugs are not something that a pro wrestler should be doing, as it can lower the quality of his wrestling in a match.

No-showing events is something that wrestlers shouldn't do as it shows the fans that you are disloyal and what else is the WWE about, than the fans?

After taking a break from wrestling, Hardy returned to TNA and was given many shots to succeed although risks were high. Hardy was fired for no-showing events; anybody see a similar pattern happening now?

Even though he had a bad history, Hardy once again returned to the WWE and tried to get his career on the right path.

In 2007, Hardy was suspended for 60 days due to substance abuse even though he was being given a big role in the company.

Hardy lost his spot in the MITB match and his Intercontinental championship and many people thought that the WWE would never give him a chance to be a main event player.

Hardy finally did win the WWE championship in a move that was filled with risks. What would happen if Hardy lost the championship? He would never have a way to defend his championship and would have been a big waste of time and money.

Reports recently have been quoted saying that Hardy wants to leave the company and that he has not signed a new contract yet with the WWE.

Hardy is most likely burnt out and with personal issues happening lately, like his house burning down, Hardy hasn't been having the best chance to succeed.

As I noted earlier, this isn't a hate column on Jeff, just an honest opinion. The fans love him, but do they deserve to put their money on his merchandise only to have to worry about him getting fired from the company because he can't stay away from the substances?

Personally, I don't think the WWE should give Hardy the title as it can prove to be disastrous. The fans love him, but what happens if he gets fired?

He won't be able to return to the company since it would be his third offence and his career would most likely end.

But I want to hear what you guys have to say, should the WWE give Hardy another chance to run with the title? Or are they doing the right thing but keeping the title on somebody else?

My 2009 WWE Judgement Day Predictions

Justin Winters — Wed, 13 May 2009 16:20:31 -0400

WWE's Judgement Day comes to us this Sunday with their monthly PPV. Six matches have been confirmed so far and four of them are title matches. I expect one or two more matches to be added but we'll have to see what happens.

Here are my predictions, and if you don't agree or you do, feel free to comment about it and let me know what you think.

CM Punk vs. Umaga

Umaga and Punk have had a mini feud going lately with Umaga stopping Punk from cashing in his MITB against Edge on a recent Smackdown show. Punk lost to Kane at Backlash and I don't expect them to put Umaga over as it would make it seem like the MITB winner is weak.

Winner: CM Punk

Rey Mysterio vs. Chris Jericho (Intercontinental Championship Match)

Rey Mysterio was recently drafted over to SD along with Chris Jericho and the feud was something that many people are loving to see between two of the best high flyers in the business.

Rey might not be the high-flyer he used to be due to injuries, but I still think him and Jericho can put on a four star match if they are given enough time. I actually expect Mysterio to win, by DQ.

Winner: Rey Mysterio (Retains Title)

John Cena vs. Big Show

This feud started when Big Show threw Cena through a spotlight and cost him his championship, and recently, Show has attacked Cena on Raw in recent weeks.

John Cena is the biggest wrestler currently in the WWE, and I don't expect them to put Big Show over Cena, I mean, Big Show never wins on Pay Per Views. I expect Cena to win and begin his run towards the championship again. Winner: John Cena

Jack Swagger Vs. Christian (ECW Championship Match)

Christian just won the title recently and I don't expect them to take the title off of him this soon.

Now, I might be biased because I think Swagger is very good, but I see him being the future of the company, but I don't think he needs the title to succeed, I think he can be a good chaser. Christian wins and this feud continues. Winner: Christian (Retains Title)

Jeff Hardy Vs. Edge (World Heavyweight Championship Match)

Edge just won the title at Backlash and although the title has been bouncing around lately, I don't think the WWE wants to take the title off of him this soon, and if they would, I don't think it would be to Jeff Hardy, which I will write about later so be sure to read that article too!

Anyways, Edge will win here and the line of challengers will begin to line up, and in my opinion, the man who takes the title off of him, might need the fans to open their eyes and see.

Winner: Edge

Randy Orton vs. Batista (WWE Champion)

Randy Orton is the hottest thing going on in wrestling right now, has a strong stable behind him, and it seems like he can't be stopped. Batista is an injury prone superstar who just returned back from injury.

Now do you really expect Batista to win? Randy Orton wins here and I eventually see Cena taking the title off of him, but not to soon, as I want Orton to have a very good run.

Winner: Randy Orton

So that wraps up my JD preview, I have all four championships being retained and Orton stopping Batista to retain his title.

Now many people are saying CM Punk will use his MITB after Edge's match or Orton's, but I don't really see him cashing it in and if he does, I don't expect him to win.

My Interview With Massive Q

Justin Winters — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:30:43 -0400

Matt Sforcina is currently in Australian Wrestling Federation under the name Massive Q. With his finishing move the Avalanche, Q has been dominating opponents for years. Q is a former tag team champion and I interviewed him and asked him many different questions about being a wrestler.

1. How did you get into pro wrestling and what attracted you to the idea of it?

Well, there's two questions there.

How I got into Wrestling as a fan was getting Cable TV back in late 96, and thus getting WCW Nitro and a WWF Recap show.

As time went on, I got more of the shows but I was hooked fairly early on by Hogan being a bad guy (and thus 100 percent cooler in my eyes), but the moment that really got me to stick around (more to work out what the hell was going on) seeing Mick Foley's first match in WWF, and Finkel's announcement 'Hailing from Truth Or Consequences New Mexico, formerly known as Cactus Jack, Mankind!". Such a bizarre statement, I had to stick around.

The thing that made me want to become a wrestler, however, was Cactus Jack V Triple H, Street Fight, Royal Rumble 2000. Seeing that match live (not in person, alas, but live on PPV), seeing how those two stole the show and told that story...That was the moment that made me go "I want to do that".

2. When was your first match and what do you remember of it?

My first match was in early 2006. I had just graduated from training, and this was the first show of the new year. I got there, and was told I was wrestling.

I had no gear, no experience, and was totally unprepared. Massive Matt Sforcina fought Super Crimson Mask. I had to wear shorts and a t-shirt, and I remember my entrance, a sort of hybrid Jericho/AJ Styles thing didn't get over and was the source of much amusement to the boys in the back.

And the match was actually ok. Not great, but ok. No-one got hurt, and Crimson Mask got something of a reaction for pinning me with a 2nd rope splash, and after the count he thanked me in the ring which I'll always remember.

3. Out of all the matches you have wrestled so far, which one has been your favorite and why?

Well, it's kinda hard to say since there's a few contenders. The match where I won the tag titles was special, obviously. The loudest reaction I've ever been a part of was in a battle royal where I was the last eliminated, with my loss of the tag titles a very close second (obviously proving I have good chemistry with Max Comic apparently since he was involved both times).

And in one day I fought a 'famous' superheroine and Chewbacca in one match, and then got nailed with a steel chair by Flash Gordon, both of which were pretty cool. However, if you force me to pick just one match, I'd have to go with me vs. Powerhouse Theo at Penrith. We just clicked on every level (we tend to have great matches regardless), and the crowd was there, and the finish was pretty cool.

4. You are currently wrestling for AWF, do you ever think you will get into United States wrestling companies like the WWE or TNA?

Well that's the dream, of course. WWE's Global Domination plan they had a while back (where there'd be a WWE in Europe, in Asia/Oceania etc) was the best shot, but that fell through.

Certainly before I finish I want to tour the USA/Canada at least once, Japan too. AWF actually has a working agreement with Dragon's Gate, but sadly I don't see me getting to tour with them any time soon. But you never know. Certainly before 2010 is over, I intend to wrestle in the States and, hopefully, get a tryout.

5. In AWF, you are a tag team champion with Toxin. Do you prefer to wrestle single matches or tag team matches?

Well sadly were, we just lost the belts a few weeks ago. I'll admit that tag matches are easier, especially since my partner Toxin was a lot smaller and thus the dynamic meant I didn't have to work as hard to get the good reaction. But singles matches, while harder, do offer more possibilities. So tag for my wellbeing, singles for my creativity.

6. Have you suffered any major or minor injuries while wrestling and what were they? Ever injure anyone else?

Thankfully I've avoided major injury. The worst injury I've suffered was a swollen/sore left knee after Theo dropkicked it pretty damm hard up in Brisbane. Flying home the next day with a bad knee in Economy didn't help.

But apart from that, just a bloody nose a few times, a nasty looking bruise on my elbow during the Fat Momma/Chewbacca match, and the minor aches and hand prints you expect. More importantly from my point of view though, so far I've yet to seriously injure anyone beyond handprint bruises. That's the major one, if I get injured, that's bad, but if I injure someone else, that's terrible.

7. In the locker room, you must get the chance to meet alot of other wrestlers, who was the biggest name you've met?

Well it's a tie, in my opinion, between Steve Corino and Bryan Danielson. But I'm biased since Steve used my necklace in a match and Bryan ribbed me.

Depending on who you judge as a bigger name, the answer might also be Austin Aries, CIMA, X-Pac, Al Snow, Chris Masters or Nigel McGuinness. From a pure impartial view, it'd be Raven or Sabu probably. But for me, it's Steve and Bryan.

As you can see, Q has yet to make it to the big time of the WWE, but I expect him to eventually be in the WWE dominating opponents and winning championships. I would like to give a thank you out to Q, and hopefully you'll let me get another interview when your in the big times.

How I Think Current Wrestlers in the WWE Will Go Out!

Justin Winters — Sat, 09 May 2009 23:13:57 -0400

In one of my previous articles I noted how I think many current superstars will go out of the business, and I'm here to give you a full list of people I think will be out of the company by 2012, due to retirement, not cuts or suspensions.

I'll start my list with Finlay. Finlay is 51 years old and lately his role has been getting smaller most likely due to his age.

Although I don't expect to see Finlay to continue wrestling in 2012, I expect him to be used as a manager and kept in talent evaluation for the company.

Mark Henry has left the WWE numerous times during his 13-year career, which in my opinion, was a mistake by the E to sign him for that long without him proving anything.

Henry has left numerous times to compete in weightlifting and sent back to OVW to work on his gimmick, since he can never seem to get over.

Without having a solid gimmick, I see Vince getting tired of having Henry waste space and not resigning him when it comes around to it.

Tommy Dreamer is known for his role in ECW, but we're talking about the one years ago, not the current one where he can't seem to find his place.

Working in the original ECW can never mean anything good for your body, as the matches you go through never seem to stop with the violence.

Dreamer hasn't really found a gimmick to go by in the new ECW except for being the last "Original" and I see him getting fired or retiring at this year's "One Night Stand" PPV, Extreme Rules.

Batista is an older wrestler who has had a number of injuries that has kept him out of big events including Wrestlemania 25. Without a huge time period of coming back from injuries, Batista has missed a huge amount of time since joining the WWE.

After suffering one more injury, I expect Batista to hang up the boots at an event where I think more wrestlers will retire, but I'll talk about that later.

The Big Show has been one of the most dominating big men in wrestling history but he can never seem to find a gimmick to stick with him, other than being a big man.

Show is getting older, his gimmicks are getting staler, and his body can only hold up so much longer.

I'm expecting them to give him one more big title victory before he retires and I think he'll announce his retirement sometime in 2010, after losing his title.

Mr. Kennedy was seen as a future main eventer by many people when he first debuted due to his outstanding mic ability, but injuries have derailed his career.

A serious latissiumus dorsi tear, an exposed cranium laceration, a torn right triceps muscle, and a dislocated shoulder have all affected Kennedy since he has joined the WWE in 2005.

Kennedy does more mic work than actual wrestling and I expect him to pull a JBL, and retire and join the announce team to replace Tazz.

The Great Khali is another wrestler who I feel has a stale gimmick and nothing to work with. He has gone from World Heavyweight Champion to kissing other men for a career; he must be loving life right now.

The WWE seems to only keep Khali in the company for the Indian fans, but he isn't needed and I feel like out of this list, he will be gone the quickest.

Rey Mysterio is one of the smallest men in the company and has had his title run but also has had hardcore matches and injuries to go along with them.

Mysterio is still one of the most exciting men on the roster but his proneness to injuries makes it hard for the WWE to push him, feeling that if they give him a shot, he could get injured and screw them over.

If Rey takes an injury to the knees and it takes away a step of speed, he will lose some of his pizzazz. Expect him to be the last guy gone, sometime in 2012. Maybe Wrestlemania?

17-0 at Wrestlemania, numerous title victories, and great matches that many people will never forget. The Undertaker is one of the most recognizable names on the WWE roster, but rumors about his retirement have been swirling around for a very long time.

Taker is 43 years old and although he hasn't been injured as much as the other wrestlers on this list, Taker isn't getting any younger and I feel like his retirement could come sooner than most people would expect.

Wrestlemania 26, John Cena vs. The Undertaker. I expect Taker to defeat Cena, jump to 18-0 and retire undefeated and ride off into the sunset.

The Heartbreak Kid, The Icon, The Retirement? Shawn Michaels has been wrestling in three different decades, the 80's, 90's and 2000's.

HBK has given us some of the best matches in WWE history but how long can a man go on with such a receding hairline.

Just kidding, but still, HBK can only go on for so much longer and I expect him to be another guy to leave the E at Wrestlemania 26, except since he doesn't have a streak, to be putting someone over.

So although the time might not be soon for these legends to retire, the E needs to get ready to prepare for their future and get ready to build the company back to their peak.

Shawn Michaels, Undertaker, and Batista are all some of the biggest names in wrestling history, but Vince and the rest of his goons needs to prepare for a new era, and get us ready as soon as possible.

Will Michael Vick Ever Return to the NFL?

Justin Winters — Sat, 09 May 2009 11:06:50 -0400

Ten seconds are left on the clock, the quarterback takes the snap, drops back, and runs into the end zone and celebrates with his teammates. Michael Vick had just won the game for his team, something that came easily to Vick even in his college days.

Nowadays Vick is sitting in a jail cell, and the real question is, will Vick ever play in the NFL again?

Vick grew up in Newport News, Va., a rough area where you always had to watch your back and never knew what to expect. In a newspaper article posted by the Richmond-Times Dispatch, local people in Newport News said that drug dealers, drive-by shootings, and random killers were expected every day of the week.

Vick's father, Michael Boddie, knew that Vick had athletic ability even at an early age. Vick was nicknamed "Ookie," which will come into this story a little bit latter. Vick played at a Boys and Girls Club to stay off the streets.

After a highly talked-about high school career, Vick decided to attend Virginia Tech, and play football for the Hokies. Vick left VT after his redshirted sophomore season and was quoted saying, "My mom needs a new car and house, she needs the money." Vick did indeed buy these items for his mom after signing with the Atlanta Falcons with the first overall pick of the 2001 draft.

Vick came into the league with much speculation that he would be the franchise boy for the Falcons and lead them to the playoffs and most importantly, the Super Bowl. In 2002, Vick went to the Pro Bowl, his first of three, and the Falcons went to the playoffs but lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round.

The press was attracted to Vick and couldn't stop writing about him, and it showed in the number of endorsements he had gained. Coca-Cola, Nike, and EA Sports were only a few of the companies that jumped onto the Vick bandwagon and thought he would increase sales of their current products.

Then 2007 came around and the foundation of the Falcons locker room shook. An ESPN report posted on its Web site claimed that they had interviewed somebody who knew somebody in the sports world who was a dog fighter. His name was Michael Vick and he was the franchise.

Now, Vick didn't just fight random dogs—he raised them. Authorities raided Vick's home in Virginia and found a total of 66 dogs, a dog-fighting pit, and items that were typically linked to dog fighting. No charges had been filed but speculation arose about what these items were doing at Vick's house.

In July 2007, Vick was indicted by a grand jury in a dog-fighting probe. Investigators found that when a dog lost, Vick would let them die in the fight pit, drown them, electrocute them, hang them, or shoot them because they lost their match—and Vick's money.

The indictment noted several key elements of the case:

-In 2003, Bad Newz Kennelz, Vick's dog-fighting group, killed a dog by wetting it and then electrocuting it because it lost in an earlier fight.

-In March 2003, after two Bad Newz Kennels dogs lost fights to dogs owned by a witness in the investigation, it is said that Vick gave the man a bag filled with $23,000, and one of the fights had a purse of $20,000.

-Vick used the name Ookie, which was the nickname given to him by his father as a child. Unable to use his real name, whenever he participated in dog fights, he would go by Ookie, hoping that nobody would recognize him.

After this report was released, Vick was suspended by the NFL with no pay until further notice. Vick was suspended not only for the dog-fighting portion of the story, but also because he was gambling, which goes against the NFL's policies.

It was reported that in 2004, when Vick re-signed with the Falcons, that he had used money from his signing bonus to pay for the dog-fighting equipment. The Falcons demanded that Vick reimburse them for their troubles, and $20 million was sent back to them.

Vick's sentence is set to end this summer, in July. Roger Goodell, the NFL commissioner, said that he would think about reinstating Vick, but only after he finished his prison sentence. Arthur Blank, the Falcons team owner, said that he would like to see Vick play in the NFL again, just not for the Falcons.

The United Football League, an upcoming football league, has said there is a "98 percent" chance that Vick will come to play for them. I think that if Vick went there, this would give Goodell a chance to see if Vick has really changed, and if any legal incidents happen during his time there, he should face another suspension from the league.

Vick seems to have his followers and but it is still too early to tell if he has indeed changed or if he still the man who violently killed dogs after losing. Animal Rights industries would never want to see Vick back in the league, and it seems like any team that wants him will have to face the backlash that comes with signing him.

Although it is up to Goodell to determine if Vick will return, I want to hear what you guys have to say. Do you think Vick will ever return and what else do you think of the situation?

The Future of TNA Wrestling

Justin Winters — Fri, 08 May 2009 20:55:12 -0400

TNA Wrestling has been trying to compete with the WWE and lately, the company has been doing fairly well...in stealing the WWE's outdated talent.

TNA has confusing storylines, but features talents that could easily outperform WWE's. If WWE and TNA switched writers, I feel that TNA would be on top instead of the other way around.

TNA has always been giving talent that wasn't homegrown title victories, the big storylines, and the big wins. They even gave Adam "Pacman" Jones a title victory, I wonder how he kept that title while he was sitting in a jail cell.

Booker T, Kevin Nash, Kurt Angle, Mick Foley, Rhino, Team 3D, Scott Steiner, and Sting have all had wrestling success in the past, but the fact of the matter is, most of their success game in the 90's, and in certain cases, the 80's.

Giving Mick Foley the title seemed like a big waste to me when they could have planted the title on AJ Styles or Samoa Joe, guys who can actually wrestle matches longer than 10 minutes.

The outlook doesn't seem bright for most of the wrestlers I mentioned above. Sting and Mick are two of the older wrestlers currently wrestling, including the WWE.

Team 3D was given the titles over Beer Money and the Motor City Machine Guns, two teams that can wrestle better matches than Team 3D could, 5 years ago.

Kevin Nash is another man who is one of the older men currently wrestling and has suffered numerous injuries.

Speaking of injuries, Kurt Angle, you're doctor needs to talk to you again. You're painkillers ran out.

Angle left the WWE due to his various injuries and headed to TNA, so if I had to make a prediction of who would die next, Karen, make sure you book his funeral and invite Vince.

Sheik Abdul Bashir has had success in the X-Divison, one of the brighter points in TNA. Although he is another former WWE guy, they only used him as a manager for Muhammad Hassan, and TNA gave him a chance to really showcase his talents.

AJ Styles is one of my top ten wrestlers currently, and I think he can pull a good match out of anyone, much like Shawn Michaels did a couple of years ago.

I think letting AJ Styles run the company with a title run would be a good refresher from having the old E' guys carry them, before passing it off to another over-aged guy.

As noted earlier, the MCMG are two of the best X-Divison wrestlers the company will ever see and every time I watch a match of theirs, I'm entertained and can't stop watching.

Push these guys to the moon Vince Russo, the fans like them and they can carry a match better than any other tag team in your locker room.

Christopher Daniels has been put in horrible gimmicks as of late, with Curry Man, and having to fill the role of Suicide while Kaz sat on the sidelines.

Daniels, Styles, and Samoa Joe put on a match that most wrestling fans remember as a match of the year in 2005. Daniels has recently been pushed, and I think TNA management finally realized how good this guy is and how much the crowd likes him.

Jay Lethal is the last guy I'll talk about in this column that is currently with TNA, and I would like to say that this guy is very entertaining.

Lethal gets the crowd behind him being Black Machismo and I still feel that he is the best X-Division wrestler in the company other than the next man I'll talk about.

TNA dropped the ball releasing Petey Williams. He could talk, he went along with their ridiculous storylines, and could put on a hell of a match.

This is one guy that I suggest WWE pick up and look at putting him on ECW, where I think his style would go well with guys like Christian, Evan Bourne, and Jack Swagger.

Atlanta Falcons Season Preview Part 2

Justin Winters — Fri, 08 May 2009 20:25:27 -0400

When we left off, I had my Falcons sitting at 1-2 going into their bye week hoping that no major injuries had happened and the locker room and team morale was high. Week 5, the Falcons come back from their bye week and head to Candlestick Park to face the San Francisco 49er's.

Now the 49er's have some pieces in place and could eventually make a run, but I think that the defense is unstable, and that the Falcons will be able to boost their season stats for the season.

Expect Turner to run for a good ol' 100 yards or so and Ryan to say, three touchdowns? Should be an easy win that brings us to 2-2.

In the battle between young quarterbacks on the rise, the Chicago Bears will come to the Georgia Dome in a battle between Matt Ryan and Jay Cutler. Now, I do think that Cutler is a very good quarterback, when he has the weapons around him.

With the highest receiver on the depth chart being Devin Hester, I don't expect him to have anything close to the success he had in Denver. Falcons win in a close game, 27-24, bringing them to 3-2.

This week seven game is an intriging game that I think will be a good game. The Cowboys last season went well below expectations, and even missed the playoffs.

With Romo injured last season, the Cowboys struggled, and in the offseason got rid of their best receiving target, Terrell Owens. T.O was a cancer to the locker room, but he also brought in stats. I think the Falcons will actually win here in a very good game, bringing the Falcons to 4-2.

The New Orleans Saints have the best quarterback in the NFL, and the Falcons have sub-par corners and safeties.

The equation just doesn't work out well for the Falcons as I see Drew Brees putting up at least 250 yards and seeing the Falcons dropping to 4-3 as the division becomes closer together.

The Washington Redskins become the next team to come to the Georgia Dome in Week 9 as the season becomes closer to the playoffs. The Redskins had a big offseason, signing Albert Haynesworth and resigning DeAngelo Hall.

The thing is, both of these players have been known to have issues with character, and depending on how the Redskin's season is going, they could play softer than usual. Falcons get back to their winning ways and jump to 5-3.

I had written in my first article that the Falcons would lose to the Carolina Panthers in their week 2 game.

Although the Falcons are going to B&A stadium, I see this series becoming even for the season as Matt Ryan has his biggest game of the season and leading the Falcons to another victory, jumping their record to 6-3, becoming the top of the division ahead of the Panthers, 5-4 and the Saints, who I also think will have a 5-4 record at this time.

In a week 11 matchup between the New York Giants and the Atlanta Falcons, I see atleast one of the division teams tying with the Falcons after this game, thus meaning that I'm predicting a loss here for the Falcons.

I know the Falcons are improving but their offensive line isn't strong enough to stop the Giants D, as I see the Falcons dropping to 6-4.

During the next article, I will give a preview of weeks 12-17 and depending on how I think the team will play out, giving a preview of how I think the playoffs will play for the Falcons. Till next time, Winters signing out.

Which Current Superstars Will Be The Future of The WWE

Justin Winters — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:56:14 -0400

World Wrestling Entertainment has many superstars that are up and coming and are said to be the future of the company. Many of the current stars are getting up their in age and the WWE has to start thinking about who their future superstars are going to be.

Dave Batista is known as The Animal by his fans, yet The Animal seems to be stepping it down a notch lately. Dave is headed to his 41st birthday in the upcoming years and this is an age when bodies start to break down for professional wrestlers.

Dave has faced many injuries as of late and it is hard to imagine that he will still be wrestling in two years or if another serious injury happens, a year.

I know that he is over big with the crowd, but the extended breaks he keeps taking from the company are beginning to feel like he spends more time out of the ring then in it.

Jeff Hardy is one of the most loved wrestlers in the company but Hardy has had past issues that could come back to haunt him. Jumping off of ladders, crashing through tables, and getting hit by steel chairs in the head will start to catch up to you after performing it for so long.

Hardy has had personal issues as of late, with his house burning down and losing most of his possessions. Hardy has also faced two different penalties for the Substance Abuse Policy implemented by the WWE, and the third strike means your out.

Kane, Undertaker, and The Great Khali are all three of the bigger men in the WWE. Although Khali is somewhat new to the E, he is already in his upper 30's and big men usually can't stick around long in a business like professional wrestling.

Kane and The Undertaker are both in their 40's and it seems like their times in the WWE could be coming to a close, at least in the wrestling standpoint.

Both men have faced numerous injuries during their careers and eventually these things will catch up to you and force you out of action and it seems like it will be that time soon for all three of these big men.

Although the WWE may be losing main eventers in the near future due to injuries, the E can also start pushing younger wrestlers in hopes that they get over big with the crowd and that they become the new face of the promotion.

CM Punk is one of the most beloved faces in the federation right now and it seems like every time he comes to the ring, the crowd explodes and go wild. Punk has been giving a push every now and then but he always seemed to fall back into the upper mid-card whenever they were going to start giving him a chance.

If the company really wants Punk to go over more with the fans, I suggest they give him another title run to see how the crowd reacts.

MVP is another wrestler who is over big-time with the crowd. I know I'm not the only one who noticed the crowd reaction he got when he came out to confront Randy Orton on Raw a couple weeks ago.

MVP still has his United States Championship but this is somebody that I can see being the face of the company in a couple of months.

John Morrison was one of the best tag teams in recent years with The Miz, except they were on ECW, which meant they never had much of a chance to showcase their talents fully.

Morrison has since been drafted to Smackdown and it seems like the company is also going to be giving him a chance to run the show most likely in hopes to give the show a new feel after being talent-raided in the draft.

On the "villain" side of the standpoint, it seems like Jack Swagger has been getting rave reviews from many people and he has impressed me with the matches I have been able to see on ECW.

His lisp makes it even more easy for the fans to hate him as he flaunts it every time he comes out to the ring.

Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase are also two guys I can see being future stars in the company, even more so if they keep up with the Legacy storyline that has brought both men into a more featured role in the company.

Rhodes is 24 years old, and isn't too bad in the ring although his mic skills aren't as highly remarked as DiBiase, who also has a wrestling family background. With the growing number of faces that I expect to see be big names in the company, guys like Rhodes, Swagger, and DiBiase are going to be needed for feuds in the future.

The biggest name in this article is about to be featured, and although many fans will say he already is the face of the franchise, I still think that...Randy Orton will raise the bar of a heel in years to come.

Orton has the swagger of a champion, can put on a good match anytime he comes out, and has the mic skills that are hard to match. Orton has been given the WWE Championship, but I still feel that Vince regards guys like Cena, HHH, and Batista above Orton, even though he is an all-around better wrestler in my opinion.

Although the company may falter for a few months after a couple of wrestling retirements, in five years, when all of these names mentioned are being featured in big roles in the company, the ratings will go higher, the fans will be happier, and the company will go back to the respect it had during the Attitude Era.

Atlanta Falcons Season Preview

Justin Winters — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:18:31 -0400

The Atlanta Falcons were one of the biggest turnaround teams in the NFL for the 2008 season. Joining the Miami Dolphins with the big turnarounds, the Falcons made their way to the playoffs before being eliminated by future Super Bowl losers, the Arizona Cardinals.

The offseason didn't start well for the Falcons as the team had 13 players slated to become free agents at the beginning of free agency. The team resigned fifth year veteran Chauncey Davis to a four year contract, resigned Coy Wire, and Jason Jefferson.

Management looked into two big-name free agents and also looked for a team willing to trade a tight end, which was one of the big needs for the Falcons in the 2008 season. Mike Peterson, a 11-year veteran who had a previous run with Mike Smith in Jacksonville, signed with the Falcons on a two year deal to try and improve the linebacking corps. The two year deal was a good idea for signing Peterson who is 32 years old.

The Falcons also signed Brett Romberg away from the St. Louis Rams in an attempt to solidify their offensive line.

One of the greatest tight ends in the history, Tony Gonzalez, was also added to the Falcon's depth chart after trading away a second round choice in the 2010 NFL Draft. Gonzalez will not only be another receiving threat for uprising quarterback Matt Ryan, but will also be a locker room leader, which is something the team needed since letting Lawyer Milloy go in free agency.

The Falcons used the NFL draft to focus on a defense that ranked 17th in total yards allowed last season. The Falcons also ranked 20th overall in passing yards allowed which made cornerback and safety a big need for a team trying to make another playoff run this season. The Falcons had eight picks in the 2009 NFL Draft and used seven of these picks on defensive players.

The Falcons used their first round pick on Peria Jerry, a defensive tackle from Mississippi. This pick will solidify the defensive line for the Falcons and will help them get a better pass rush at opposing quarterbacks, which will take pressure off of the corners and safeties.

William Moore, a safety of Missouri, was regarded as an above-average safety until injuries depleted his playing time in his senior season which made his stock drop. Moore could either blossom if he can avoid injuries, or be a bust if injuries derail his career.

The Falcons have eight games at home this season and eight away games making for a balanced schedule. The Falcons open up against another team that got a big turnaround, the Miami Dolphins. Although the Dolphins are getting older, the wildcat formation could prove to be too unstoppable for the Falcons, but I'll go with a victory for the Falcons in a better game then everyone expected, bringing the Falcons to 1-0.

The Falcons host another home game against division rival, the Carolina Panthers, in a matchup between two of the best in the division. This game will most likely ride on how quarterback Jake Delhomme plays for the Panthers, and if he can succeed, the run game will get less coverage and DeAngelo Williams will have a big day. I say the Falcons suffer a less and bringing their record even at 1-1.

The third game of the season will be the Falcons first away game of the season, heading to Gillette Stadium to play the New England Patriots. If Tom Brady returns in top form at the beginning of the season after knee surgery, the Patriots could put up 30+ plus points on a team with a lackluster defense. If Brady plans well, the Patriots will win, which would bring the Falcons down to 1-2.

The team heads into their bye week hoping that no major injuries happen to a team that didn't suffer to many major injuries last season, which could credit to their success. Part two of the story will be posted later as I run through weeks 4-11 of the Falcons season.