Bleacher Report - Articles by Kyle Bean

Evan Bourne Injured—WWE Missing Talent?

Kyle Bean — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:44:04 -0500

If one is visiting WWE.com, they can see the all too familiar headline: Superstar Injured. Unfortunately for the WWE, this contests unlucky winner is Evan Bourne. Out for up to four months with a torn ligament, Airbourne, WWE's newest and most exciting high-flyer, is on the bench.

Bourne is a great asset to WWE drawing in a huge crowd on ECW, and now with the nonsensical "Talent Initiative" a draw on RAW cards as well. Bourne is one of many WWE superstars to fall victim to injury after over-work, including the types of Big Show, Ken Kennedy, Undertaker, Rey Mysterio, and John Cena to name a few.

WWE must learn to spread the wealth around, because there are other superstars who can carry the WWE as new-comers, they just need the push. The WWE needs to stop protecting Triple H, and assert a new younger champion to reign on Smackdown, like they did with Cena. Enough of me ranting. More on Bourne's injury as it comes in.

Boston Red Sox- Los Angeles Angels:11-1? Yes, It Just Happened.

Kyle Bean — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:21:42 -0400

Yes. I am a Red Sox fan. Tonight was just one of those nights. Each team played valiantly, but as always there is only one winner. Tonight, it was the Los Angeles Angels. At 12:47 a.m. eastern time, the Angels defeated the Red Sox 5-4. Here is a quick breakdown of the game.

Top of the first inning: With the bases loaded, Rivera walked, C Figgins scored. 1-0.

Bottom of the second: On a misplayed fly-ball to center, Ellsbury singled to shallow center, J Lowrie, J Varitek and C Crisp scored.

In the top of the third, possibly the beginning for the story of the night, Napoli homered to left, V Guerrero scored.

Top of the fifth, Napoli homered to left.

Bottom of the fifth, Youkilis doubled to deep center, J Ellsbury scored.

At this point, we are tied 4-4 at the end of regulation. In extra innings both teams had opportunities to score, but the Angels capitalized.

Top of the twelfth inning, Aybar singled to center, M. Napoli scored.

That would be all she wrote for the Sox, not being able to move Ortiz from first base in the bottom of the twelfth. With the series at 2-1 Red Sox, tonight is the crucial game four. Tune in to TBS to watch the game.

Smackdown's Change Another Sign Of Disinterest?

Kyle Bean — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:36:46 -0400

So just when one may think its safe to settle down and watch Smackdown!, the brand jumps ship and changes networks. Despite all efforts of regaining viewer ratings on Smackdown!, the WWE still seems to have trouble drawing in an audience for Smackdown!.

This story is a little different for me, because Smackdown! is how I got involved with WWE. After the first change from Tuesday Night Smackdown!, to Friday nights, I have only watched RAW and will not waste my time on Smackdown!.

The draft utterly depleted Smackdown!, despite Triple H jumping over. Granted Triple H is a great draw as champion, one man can't carry the weight alone. Just look at the WWE Championship Scramble. Where were all the big names?

Jeff Hardy maybe, just maybe, can carry the WWE championship, but its not the same as a Triple H, or The Undertaker, or Batista. Instead of putting Taker in a fued with The Big Show, why can't WWE throw them into a lackluster title picture? What I mean by that is this: Jeff hardy is your number one contender, while the likes of Show and Taker are feuding over VICKY GUERRERO?

To this day I believe that Vicky should be nowhere near a WWE ring. Her stupid gimmicks and terrible acting are destroying the image of the late Eddie Guerrero. Eddie is my favorite WWE Superstar of all time, and it makes me sick to see Vicky on the television.

Which leads up to another change to yet another network. The WWE should cut their losses and combine ECW and Smackdown! in one, and share PPV time with RAW, because most of the same brand oriented PPV's don't draw as much as a Multi-Branded show.

What Has Become Of Charlie Haas?

Kyle Bean — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:19:40 -0400

I'm going to get right to the point on this.

CHARLITO? Is this what has become of Charlie Haas? This man has had stellar performances in the ring, and he's losing so Primo Calon can get a push?

Charlie Haas is a former WWE Tag Team Champion with Shelton Benjamin during their run with Kurt Angle. I mean, who couldn't learn from Kurt Angle? He's one of the greatest technical wrestlers of all time, and a great performer.

"The World's Greatest Tag Team." Doesn't that speak volumes? They got the better of Eddie and Chavo Guerrero. I believe if people actually remembered them, Haas and Benjamin could be a name for greatest tag team in the business.

Instead of being a stepping-stone for up-and-comers, why wouldn't Haas be used in the tag team division to add some depth? Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase Jr., Cryme Time. Can you think of any more tag teams in the division?

Not now that The Highlanders have been fired, the WWE just emptied their depth in the division. I don't know what Vince McMahon is thinking. The longer he ignores that division, superstars won't be happy with holding those titles and getting no push. Poor business choice, I think.

This is just me raving. Be gentle on the comments. Thanks.

Kane's New Music Strikes Old Chord

Kyle Bean — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:36:32 -0400

For the last few weeks, WWE Raw fans may have been thinking that something is different with Kane.

No, not the fact that he is still a psychotic sadist, but that his entrance music has changed.

It is similar in sound to his song "Out of the Fire," used during his time spent with The Undertaker as the Brothers of Destruction. Kane continued to use his music while he went on his crazed quest to never reveal his face, thus decimating everybody around him.

For a short period of time, Kane was a Face, teaming with the likes of The Hurricane and RVD. When Kane revealed his face, his music changed to "Slow Chemical" by Finger 11.

Now that Kane has chosen his old ways by destroying Rey Mysterio, his music has changed to an eerie "Into the Fire."

If you aren't seeing where I'm taking this let me get to the point: Throughout Kane's career, his actions have been connected to his entrance music. I know, I know, it sounds like a long shot—but just look at the facts.

The names of the songs should be proof enough. Now that Kane is one of the top dogs on Raw, it's hard to say where his new mean streak will take him. One thing is almost a guarantee—it won't be pretty.

Tazz: To Hell and Back To Smackdown!

Kyle Bean — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:13:43 -0400

Taz. "Human Suplex Machine". "The World's Best Color Commentator". Nicknames aside, where has Peter Senerchia gone?

Taz began his career with the ORIGINAL ECW, performing mainly out of Philadelphia. There was not a more feared name in the business at that time than Taz.

Taz implemented many original suplexes called "Tazplexes" and his infamous "Tazmission" submission maneuver. After a roller coaster career with a sinking ECW, Taz signed with WWE in 1999 as Tazz.

After a few months with WWE, Taz was involved in one of the most complex matches in the business to date. Tazz, a contracted WWE wrestler, faced off against ECW Champion Mike Awesome, who at the time was a contracted WCW wrestler, for the ECW Title.

Tazz won the match, then 10 days later lost it graciously to Tommy Dreamer.

Tazz never held any major titles in WWE, but he did leave an impact, or is for that matter. With his injuries mounting, Tazz could no longer perform in the ring, so he began doing color commentary on Sunday Night Heat.

When the company split into two brands, Tazz was assigned as the color commentator on the Smackdown! brand. Those who are fans of Smackdown! appreciate Tazz's ability to make matches more interesting than they actually were.

Having a color commentator who was a former Champion helps out quite a bit, unless you are JBL. Smackdown!'s ratings were progressively dropping when JBL stepped in for Tazz after he left to be a commentator on re-vamped ECW.

Since his move to ECW, Tazz has slowly faded away. After Joey Styles left the table for a position with WWE.com, Mike Adamle joined up with Tazz. After receiving so much heat for his lackluster commentary, Adamle left the table right before a main event match, and Tazz followed.

Now with Adamle stumbling around as acting RAW General Manager, and Tazz taking Mick Foley's spot on Smackdown!

ECW is left with Todd Grisham and Matt Striker at the table. Even though Tazz began his career with ECW, it feels more like home now that Tazz is back with Smackdown!

John Cena: "You Can't...Keep Me Healthy"

Kyle Bean — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 04:37:50 -0400

John Cena is one of the more charismatic wrestlers since the likes of The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin. Cena had an amazing run as WWE Champion, reigning nearly a year—280 days to be exact—dating from 2005-2006.

2007 is where it has started to go wrong for The Chain Gang Commander. On October 1st, 2007, Cena tore his pectoralis major muscle practically off the bone. He was stripped of his title and put on the shelf for a little over three months.

One can't discredit Cena's heart, tho. His rehabilitation timeframe was slated for seven months to one year, and he returned in three, also winning the Royal Rumble. After falling short in regaining his title from Randy Orton at Wrestlemania XXIV, Cena was thrown into a rivalry stemming from his 2005 feud with JBL.

Cena was first victorious over JBL at Judgement Day in a singles match. As if the one match wasn't enough to end the feud, Cena and JBL squared off again at One Night Stand, in a First Blood Match. Again, Cena was victorious over the self-proclaimed "Wrestling God".

It now seemed that Cena was ready to start a title run on new World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk. Instead of the title run, Cena was thrown into another match with JBL, this time at the Great American Bash. JBL defeated Cena in a Parking Lot Brawl, thus finally ending their drawn out feud.

After an exhausting match with JBL, Cena was thrown into a program with Batista. After their match at SummerSlam, which Batista won, Cena was put into a two-on-one handicap match against DiBiase Jr. and Cody Rhodes.

News then came that Batista's two devastating power-bombs severely herniated a disc in Cena's neck, requiring him to have immediate surgery, and taking him out of the World Heavyweight Championship Scramble.

Cena's use in violent matches brings up questions of judgement. Not more than a year ago Cena's popularity was at its peak, comparable to The Rock, Dwayne Johnson. Since that time, Vince McMahon has exploited and misused John Cena, resulting in two serious injuries taking away from his title reign, and possible first ever World Heavyweight Championship run.

No matter which way you look at this, one thing is for certain—John Cena is a staple in the WWE, and Vince McMahon is a staple remover.

Batista: The Animal...Or WWE's Old Lion?

Kyle Bean — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 12:39:04 -0400

No matter what your choice, The Animal, Dave Batista, is still at the top of his game.

Not just physically, either. Despite being one of, if not the best, pound-for-pound strongest WWE Superstars, Dave Batista is 39-years old. Many fans are unaware of The Animal's age, and are surprised to here the number 39.

Although to the average athlete 39 years of age may be testing the limits of a physically active career, Dave Batista is hitting his stride...again. It took Batista 10 some-odd years to reach the pinnacle of the WWE, dating back to his battles against Kane as Leviathan, and being D-Von Dudley's Deacon Bautista.

Those roles have come and passed, and now after one of the biggest victories of his career over John Cena, one has to wonder if the World Heavyweight Championship will be safe around the waist of C.M. Punk much longer.

With the Championship Scramble announced, Batista is the odds-on favorite for the title at Cyber Sunday. Some may say that the Animal is getting old, and shouldn't be the face of the WWE. All I say to that is this: Ric Flair retired at age 59. That gives the Animal at least 10 more years in the business, assuming he has no major injuries or such circumstances.

Until Batista announces his retirement, its safe to say The Animal is at the top of the pack...for now.