Bleacher Report - Articles by Frank Livera

Still Unbroken: WWE Breaking Point Preview and Predictions

Frank Livera — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 17:18:50 -0400

World Wrestling Entertainment's new pay-per-view event, WWE Breaking Point, will take place this Sunday, Sept. 13 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The newly named event will feature a special theme, with all the main event bouts being submission matches. The card has seven matches scheduled, and on paper it looks like a very solid show.

Singapore Cane Match: The Great Khali vs. Kane

Kane and The Great Khali will have their second pay-per-view encounter in a row, but this time things have been spiced up a bit with the addition of the Singapore cane.

However, don't expect the match to be much more entertaining then it was at last month's Summerslam. Kane looks like he could be in line for a possible push, so I think it's safe to say he will walk away with the victory.

Prediction: Kane

United States Championship: Kofi Kingston (c) vs. The Miz

This match was announced late this week, after The Miz picked up a pinfall victory over the U.S. Champion on the WWE Superstars show on Thursday.

With the ever-exciting Kofi Kingston battling the up-and-coming Miz, I believe this match could be the best match on the undercard. As for a prediction, Kofi Kingston will hold on to his strap.

Prediction: Kofi Kingston

ECW Championship: Christian vs. William Regal

Although their match at Summerslam ended in almost a blink of an eye, its safe to say this match will get more time, and more appreciation. This bout could also be a potential show stealer, supposing they are given a proper amount of time.

As for a prediction of the winner, this one is tough to call. Christian could walk out victorious this Sunday, and move on to a new feud. However, it could be interesting to see William Regal win the ECW title and become the top dog on ECW.

Prediction: William Regal

Unified Tag Team Championship

In my opinion, this feud has been the best over tag team gold in recent memory. On one side you've got Chris Jericho, who has shown that he can put on an entertaining match with just about anyone, and the Big Show, who has been paired nicely with Jericho.

The challengers are a perfect fit for the Unified Tag Team Champs, Montel Vontavious Porter and Mark Henry. During this bout, expect to see a lot of MVP battling Jericho and Big Show colliding with Mark Henry in a battle of the titans, as we have seen the last several weeks.

Hopefully, this match will be the first of a few between these two teams, but for this Sunday the champions will walk out of Montreal with their gold.

Prediction: Big Show & Chris Jericho

Submissions Count Anywhere Match: Degeneration-X vs. Legacy

For the first time ever, a Submissions Count Anywhere match will take place. These two teams stole the show at Summerslam, featuring a lot of twists and turns of momentum throughout the match.

It's almost a lock that this match will be just as exciting, if not better. Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes are two of the company's greatest prospects, and they proved that in their encounter with two of the world's best of all time in Triple H and Shawn Michaels.

Even though Legacy enters the match with the momentum, I believe good ol' Degeneration-X will make them submit somewhere the Bell Centre and the Canadian-American border.

Prediction: Degeneration X (Triple H & Shawn Michaels)

WWE Championship I Quit Match: Randy Orton (c) vs. John Cena

This will be the most heated battle of the night, and it will only end with one man uttering the words "I Quit". Randy "The Viper" Orton and John Cena had a controversial match at Summerslam, ending in several different occasions only to be restarted.

While I expect this match to be nothing less than classic, I believe there's a bigger picture to this match. Although WWE seems to have put it on the backburner, Ted Dibiase's brother, Brett DiBiase, did interfere in the Summerslam confrontation and did promise to never do so again in the future.

I believe he could play a major role in the outcome of this match. Although it is almost impossible to see John Cena to say those two words he has never let slip out of his mouth, I don't see him winning the title at this Sunday's pay-per-view event.

With some sort of complication, possibly an interference by Legacy or Brett Dibiase, Randy Orton will somehow slither away with the WWE Championship in his grasp yet again.

Prediction: Randy Orton by some sort of complication

World Heavyweight Championship Submission Match: Undertaker vs. CM Punk

The Straight Edge Superstar has taken everything from Jeff Hardy. His title, his pride, and even his job as a WWE Superstar. But with the shocking return of The Phenom, The Undertaker, could CM Punk's time on top be in extreme jeopardy?

Undertaker took four months away from the ring after putting on arguably the greatest match of all time with Shawn Michaels at the 25th Anniversary of Wrestlemania last April. The result of this match could go either way, and is very difficult to predict.

I don't believe the WWE would tag the World Heavyweight title on the Deadman immediately after his return, but like John Cena, it's near impossible to imagine him submitting.

This feud might need more development, so it is possible CM Punk could retain the title somehow. However, due to Undertaker's submission history, I believe he is the favorite heading into this main event confrontation.

This feud could possibly continue, only with the Undertaker as the World Heavyweight Champion.

Prediction: The Undertaker

WWE's new creation, Breaking Point, will prove to be an excellent show this Sunday. All the main events will end with one superstar giving in to his opponent.

The winners could surprise, new champions could be crowned, and some could reach their own personal breaking point.

New York Giants: Can They Defend What Cannot Be Taken?

Frank Livera — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 12:41:18 -0400

On Feb. 3, 2008, the once seemingly-impossible task of the New York Giants defeating an unbeaten New England Patriots team in Super Bowl XLII became a reality, leaving the entire planet in utter disbelief.

After a slow-paced first half, the teams began exchanging points late in the game. New York quarterback Eli Manning lead his offense down the field, and after a miracle helmet catch by wide receiver David Tyree, the Giants took the lead over the team that rewrote the history books.

After stopping another game-winning Super Bowl drive by two time Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady, the Giants hoisted the Lombardi Trophy for the first time since 1990.

The seasons leading up to their Super Bowl run were full of criticism. Many began to question Eli Manning's ability at quarterback. Others would criticize Head Coach Tom Coughlin's will to win.

On top of that, the typical New York media would rip into the Giants' offensive line's discipline for false-start penalties that cost the Giants a load of yardage. In the 2006 season, the Giants started 6-2 but finished with a record of 8-8. The media flared at this lack of consistency in the second half of the season.

The criticism carried over to the 2007 season, where the Giants had a rough start, but eventually won six straight games. In the final game of the 2007 season, the G-Men were the last team with a chance to stop the Patriots' shot at a perfect regular season.

After a close game, Big Blue fell 38-35, but since the media had more of a field day with the Patriots' Spygate Scandal, the Giants were still praised for nearly defeating the unbeatable Patriots. Heading into the postseason with confidence, the Giants rolled through Tampa Bay, the No. 1 seeded Dallas Cowboys, and the Green Bay Packers in one of coldest games ever played at Lambeau.

After ripping through the best teams the NFC had to offer, Big Blue hoped to ride the wave of confidence that washed up on Super Bowl XLII's shore. As stated earlier, the Giants pulled out a miraculous victory over the previous unbeaten New England Patriots.

It's amazing how things can change over the course of a year. In 2006 and early 2007, the Giants were criticized more than any other team in the NFL. Now, in 2008, they are put over as God's Team.

Eli went from a shaky first-round pick living in his brother's shadow to apparently one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Coughlin became a football genius. And that offensive line is "just so good."

Many expect the 2008 Giants with a record of 6-1 to repeat as Super Bowl champs. To me, as a spectator and critic in my own right, they have yet to prove anything this year.

Sure enough, they did shock the entire face of the Earth last year, including me. The Giants have played teams such as the St. Louis Rams, Washington Redskins, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the San Francisco 49ers.

Only two of those teams has a winning percentage of over .500. They have yet to play a division rival in the mighty NFC East. Don't get me wrong, I do respect the play of the New York Giants, and I will assure that they will be playing in this year's postseason.

My point is, where did the criticism go? They're still the same team, minus defensive end Micheal Strahan of course.

Does one Super Bowl win change an outlook on a team 100 percent? The media plays the Giants out to be flawless, but many writers and critics alike, such as myself, believe that they still have much to prove to be known as the "Defending Champions" rather than the 2007 champions.

Superstar Of The Future: Who Will Take WWE By The Horns?

Frank Livera — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 12:12:56 -0400

Since 2004 many superstars have come and gone. Most notably the Nature Boy, Ric Flair. With stars from the past such as Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, and Big Show starting to hang up their boots, and with present superstars such as Batista, Edge, and John Cena in the bulk of their careers, who will step up and lead a new era in sports entertainment?

There's been a lot of talk of guys such as Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Ted Dibiase Jr., among others. Each has something they can offer.

Ted Dibiase Jr.

With a father who is one of the biggest names in wrestling history, Dibiase has, like the other two, wrestling talent literally in his genes. He's extremely talented, physically fit, and seemingly on the right track. He can build off his father's success, much like a younger Randy Orton once did.

Ted also has great charisma, which, of course, is a must have in the industry today, especially World Wrestling Entertainment. Teaming with Cody Rhodes, he has won the World Tag titles twice. WWE made the right move by teaming the two second generation prospects.

Cody Rhodes

Much like Dibiase Jr., Rhodes can feed off the fact that his father was one of the industry's greats. Rhodes, himself, however might need a certain gimmick, make a name for himself, or a catchphrase. Unlike Dibiase, Rhodes never had a certain catchphrase and could develop his mic skills.

That doesn't take away from his talent in the ring, however. Cody will develop over time, and if injury or personal issues don't step in, he will mold nicely into a superstar.

Randy Orton

Orton's prime is closer than that of Rhodes and Dibiase. Unlike the other two, Orton doesn't just have a father who was a wrestling legend, he also has a grandfather. Randy was used properly by the WWE and brought up his family's success frequently. At age 24, Randy Orton had the right to be called the youngest World Heavyweight Champion in history slapped on him. A good move by WWE, since it worked out that Orton got that right and transitioned the title to Triple H.

Years later, Orton was awarded his second WWE title, then lost and regained the title in that same night. Over his career, he's already suffered from personal and shoulder issues. As Jim Ross once said, "The thing is, Orton's prime is yet to come because he's so gosh darn young!" Orton already has three WWE titles, and if his health permits, we'll be seeing him in full circle in the near future.

Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Goes Down, Leaving Team In Jeopardy?

Frank Livera — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:56:46 -0400

Sometimes in sports, whether we realize it or not, history tends to repeat itself in both things barely perceptive and unbelievably important. This happened on Sunday, September 7th, 2008, when an entire region of the United States stopped due to a scream of pain from their MVP quarterback, Tom Brady.

Since his first career start in 2001, Brady had compiled a record of 101-27 (including playoffs) with three Super Bowl wins, one of which came in his first year as a starter. In Week 2 of the 2001 season, then Patriots QB, Drew Bledsoe, suffered a collapsed lung, leaving backup Brady to take charge of the seemingly collapsing team.

Seven years later, when Brady suffered a torn ACL and partially torn MCL in the 2008 Kickoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs, backup Matt Cassel was thrusted into the starting spot of a Patriots team with the highest expectations in the league. One thing the Patriots were thought to have lacked was depth at their quarterback position.

The Patriots offense seemed trapped in their own endzone during that Week One matchup, until Cassel threw a 50-yard bomb to Patriots WR Randy Moss. The offense came alive and went on to win 17-10.

There's still a lot to be seen about quarterback Matt Cassel. In college, he was a backup at USC, and stayed that way his entire college career. Due to Tom Brady's 111-game consecutive start streak, Cassel never saw the field as the Patriots QB. Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick has been in this position before, but with an offense built around the team's "Golden Boy" quarterback, will Cassel be able to step in and do the impossible?

It's been said that football's most important position is quarterback, while the second most important being the backup.

In an interview previous to Super Bowl XLII, Cassel revealed that he wears his helmet every minute of every game.

"What I do is I listen to the playcall [through a helmet headset]. Then I say the call aloud as if I was in the huddle. When I watch the play, I go through the mental reps. That way if I'm called on, it won't feel like the first time I'm in the huddle."

Cassel, as called by many, is the ultimate backup to the ultimate quarterback. But whether the Patriots, as a team, can rebound from an injury that many feel will drive them into the ground, is yet to be seen.