Bleacher Report - Articles by dav bren

Wrestlemania 25 Mis-Sold

dav bren — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:44:30 -0400

Wrestlemania 25 was massively misold to all WWE fans, for weeks the WWE has been in a panic wondering what to do with there flagship event but the lack of ideas didn't stop Vince miss selling the event.

For weeks up to the event we were teased with legacy, the age of orton and the Mcmahons but what we received was a mediocre match with an ending with left the audience almost silent.

There was no mention or follow up to the love triangle between big show, edge and Vickie. No tag team unification match on ppv anyway and no history making moment by JBL.

Vince did what he does best, he promoted the event the best he could then took our money and ran, he's a salesman and I for one fell for it.

The Undertaker's Wrestlemania Run In

dav bren — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 04:20:28 -0400

Just under three weeks away from Wrestlemania and the intercontinental title holder was made to submit to the Undertaker, He was also recently being pinned and humiliated by HBK

WWE has gone to alot of effort recently to revive the intercontinental title with a series of matches and holders including CM Punk. What is the point when your just going to have the champion tap out in a non title smackdown match.

Wrestlemania 25 biggest match will be The Undertaker vs HBK but on the run up to Wrestlemania i watched Vladimir Koslov pin The Undertaker after a mediocre move. Koslov will not even be around this time next year and hes pinning a wrestler who is defending a 16 year winning streak.

I know WWE's view is any wrestler on any given night can beat another but champions submitting and there hottest wrestler getting pinned by a shambles of a wrestler is counter productive.

WWE Hall of Fame Is A Sham

dav bren — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:42:55 -0400

I'm sure the WWE started the Hall of Fame with the best intentions, but something has being lost ever since.

This year's candidates have been announced, and, to my surprise, KoKo B. Ware will be inducted. Yes, you could argue KoKo is certainly famous and instantaneously recognizable, but that doesn't automatically mean he should be inducted into a Hall of Fame.

The HOF is supposed to be the ultimate accomplishment for a wrestler, the highest accolade, so why this year is a man who has never held the WWE, heavyweight, intercontinental, U.S., or any major tag title up for this honor?

Koko is a two-time U.S.W.A champion; his first one was won in February 1992 from Kamala and lost in the rematch in March, while the second was won from King Jerry Lawler but again lost in the rematch seven days later.

Hardly the stuff of Hall of Fame legend.

His inclusion just confirms what I already suspected about the hall. It all started in 2004 when Greg the Hammer was inducted, and all I could remember of him was the great Gorilla Monsson saying, "It takes the Hammer 15 minutes just to get warmed up." The funny part is that Hammer was always on his back in less than 10 minutes.

I realized that maybe Hammer had been big at one time, as WWE has a tendency to bring back wrestlers from the past and treat them like cannon fodder. Saba Simba, Skinner, and Bob Backland were all big-time players, at one point.

But I was around during KoKo's prime. I used to look forward to his matches, mainly because of his Ghostbuster finisher. I enjoyed watching him. But I don't think he's Hall-worthy.

There are other wrestlers that don't belong either, although I'm not as informed on those. In my eyes, the only reason Peter Mavia and Rocky Johnson were inducted into the HOF was to try and entice The Rock into having some sort of involvement in Wrestlemania weekend.

You may disagree, and if you do, consider this: Why would Pete Rose get inducted? Just to open the door for other celebrities? Does William Perry really deserve a place in the HOF for one match, when there have been wrestlers fighting night after night who get no recognition? Its' just another reason for the WWE to get cheap publicity for the big weekend.

While WWE's HOF may have started off well, big stars like Macho Man and The Ultimate Warrior are ignored year after year, and the real reason Koko is there is probably as a filler. He was a well-liked wrestler, but that doesn't translate into being Hall-worthy. And while the WWE likes to put in one big name every year, it's wrong to call that a Hall of Fame.

By that logic, are we to expect next year's ceremony to include The Rock, Ron Simmons, Pamela Anderson, and Papa Shango to fill the void?

Is it possible after Mr. T opted out Koko was choose for a lack presence this year?

Feel free to comment.

WWE Royal Rumble: The Real Measure Of a Man

dav bren — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:55:49 -0400

These days, World Titles don't mean much, the Intercontinentals even less, and the Tag Titles nothing.

This shrinkage was gradual. The WWF use to have just one lone champion for a number of years, like Bob Backland and Hulk Hogan. But fast forward to the modern day, and now even the "Money in the Bank" match has three ex-World Champs.

Anyone who's anyone has held some sort of a title these days. Look back to the 90's, and you'll see some great wrestlers who won nothing, not even a tag belt.

How many title changes should we have? Well, I say one a year, maybe two, but no more. How many times have we seen a champion lose a non-title match or get pinned in a tag match, this just makes there champions look weak.

Last year the heavyweight title's reputation took a massive killer blow when CM Punk was allowed to wear the belt, and it took another blow not two months later when he lost it without even wrestling.

Now Punk's lost the Intercontinental Title to another ex-world champ, JBL, who will, believe it or not, defend it against Rey Mysteiro at WrestleMania. This may be an attempt to bring back prestige to the belt, but the match should really include rising talent, like Evan Bourne or Jack Swagger.

At No Mercy 2007, Randy Orton was awarded the title for being the No. 1 contender. Why?

What happened to the stories of wrestlers training all their lives, like HBK, to win the World Title? Every bit of prestige has being ripped away and replaced by cheap storylines.

Do you remember Bret Hart winning the Intercontinental Title at Summerslam '91, or Bulldog beating Bret in '92? These days we are "treated" to crowd members like Santino Marella winning the title on the first night. Kane, CM Punk, Mark Henry, and Matt Hardy are not "Main-Event" fighters, in my eyes.

Why have I rambled on? Because the only real accomplishment left in wrestling is winning the Royal Rumble.

Usually the biggest star of the year wins the Rumble. There have being exceptions, but if you look at the relatively short list, it becomes clear: Hogan, Austin, the Undertaker, HBK, Brock Lesner, Ric Flair, HHH, The Rock, Bret Hart, Cena, Batista, and this year's biggest star, Randy Orton.

the real measure of a man is the Rumble.

John Cena's Untapped Dark Side

dav bren — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 08:52:33 -0400

John Cena is a four time world champion, a U.S champion, twice tag champ and Royal Rumble winner. He starred in the movie The Marine and has released an album "you can't see me." He is loved by fans worldwide and all this by his 30th birthday.

The problem is i think he's being massivily mis-used from a creative point. WWE's writers must be tearing there hair out and John Cena must be equally annoyed. Week after week Cena is involved in some horrible interviews and segments, he isnt funny and is sometimes cringe worthy

He brings in masses of money via merchandise and this is where the problem lies, because of this people have had signs confiscated and different camera angles have being used just to avoid Cena haters on screen.

Cena's character is screaming out for a change for the worst and i think it would be massive just as when the WWE finally let The Rock or Stone Cold turn loose. The WWE needs to follow the fans

So where now from here, Cena needs a new attitude where he can do and say what he feels, put him in a faction with Cryme Tyme, MVP, and Shelton dress them in black and have them cause havoc. Sound like the Main Event Mafia or NWO well it is and it would work, just like DX worked alongside NWO

Give them new clothing, limos, Hydrolics, PIMP them up, give them a catchy theme tune, and let's see Cena turn nasty.

WWE left it to late with Hogan probably for the same reasons money from merchandise and the paid the price, the WCW picked him up and took the chance and it paid off.

Wrestlemania: You Can't Polish a Turd

dav bren — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 05:16:54 -0400

It's a well-known saying and it's true: you can't polish a turd, no matter how hard you try, and Vince McMahon likes to try HARD!

For a start, Wrestlemania 25 isn't the 25th anniversary. Does it really matter? No, but if Vince is gonna claim that this is the biggest Wrestlemania of all time, where's the substance? It's all fur coat and no knickers!

HHH vs. Orton, how many times have we seen this, including twice at No Mercy 2007. It's been done to death, and it doesn't need doing again, especially now.

Edge vs. Big Show vs. Cena, well this is really about Cena and Edge. The Big Show is not a main event player, certainly not at this level. The main event could and should be Edge vs. Orton and the HHH-Cena rematch should have being saved for here.

The diva battle royal is a great idea, with old stars like Lita and Torrie Wilson, BUT really who cares!!! It's a good idea, but should have been old male stars: Goldberg, Dusty Rhodes, Million Dollar Man, SID, etc.

There are two matches worth watching. Shawn Michaels as usual will steal the show, and Matt vs. Jeff has appeal for me, but if Flair returns, he'll ruin last year's show stealing performance by HBK.

For weeks WWE have being teasing a big match for Jericho at Wrestlemania with someone defending the honour of the legends, who now will also include Koko B. Ware.

Who will it be: Hogan, Austin, Piper? I'd settle for Koko himself over a retired Ric Flair.

Now add to this a MITB match and JBL defending his IC title, and you have the card for the BIGGEST wrestling card and pay-per-view ever and it stinks.

Now this won't stop Vince, who is armed with TV space, Jim Ross, and lots of cash, he'll promote this like it was Tyson vs. Ali but you can't polish a turd...

WWE Perfect Wrestlemania 25 Card

dav bren — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:32:14 -0500

I have read loads of articles on ideas for Wrestlemania 25 and not liked many, idea's of Orton vs Cena again and HHH vs Edge again. I think I can do a better job, so here goes.

Jeff Hardy vs Matt Hardy (or Shawn Michaels, can't decide)

Michaels wins the Rumble eliminating Matt Hardy or vice versa

John Cena vs The Undertaker (title vs streak)

The Undertaker wins elimination chamber match at No Way Out

Edge vs Christian

Hogan vs Austin

Hogan challenges Austin at the Royal Rumble, Austin declines. Stone Cold wants to win the Rumble and retire the champ. Hogan either eliminates Austin or costs him the match.

Austin is outraged and attacks Hogan. At the next RAW, Austin accepts the match. Over the next few weeks, Austin is crazy beating everyone he can, smashing everyone in his way. We see Hulk talking about his recent problems, and his family begging him not to fight because Stone Cold is maniacal

MITB the next generation Randy Orton vs Ted Dibase vs Cody Rhodes vs Sim Snuka vs Manu vs DH Smith

During an episode of RAW, legacy are arguing who is going to be the next big thing. Vince McMahon comes on screen and says to answer it they can all fight at Wrestlemania 25. Over the weeks leading to Wrestlemania no one knows who on who's side

Edge vs Christian

Christian cost Edge the title at the Royal Rumble and pins him at No Way Out in the elimination Chamber.

Steph vs Shane McMahon

Vince gets involved, backing Shane, HHH backs Steph, JBL backs shane. At Wrestlemania, Shawn must chose his employer or HHH.

Shelton vs Shawn Michaels in interbrand iron man 30 mins (non title)

Carlito and primo vs John Morrison and the miz

HHH vs Mr Kennedy

CM Punk or William Reagal vs MVP Last chance title or fired match

Hulk Hogan vs. Steve Austin: The Match of a Lifetime

dav bren — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 06:26:26 -0500

There is one match I'd love to see.

I'd kiss the Boogeyman, bed Goldust, listen to a Warrior lecture, I would even do a Khali kiss cam. I want to see this match even more than a Triple H—Steph sex tape. No, I'm not sick, just desperate.

I'm desperate to see the biggest match of all time: Stone Cold vs. the stark raving mad Hulkster.

Up until three days ago, it seemed almost impossible. During an interview on the Bubba the Love Sponge Show (I'm from England and have never heard it), Jim Ross Hogan called in and said he'd be willing to put Austin over.

Everything is set. Surely Vince would do it, so the only problem is Steve Austin. What's his problem? It's time to find out not who is the best, but who the fans truly love.

I myself was shocked when the crowd turned on The Rock, but that could be put down to nostalgia. This would answer the question of who is the greatest because it's us who decides.

Top 10 WWE Matches That Never Make Top 10 Lists

dav bren — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:39:36 -0500

I've read many lists on the top 10 matches of all time, top 10 wrestlemania matches, or top 10 WWE matches. There all usually the same. Shawn vs Bret, Bret vs Shawn, or ricky steamboat vs savage. There are some matches out there that never get recognition which deserve it, hear are my top 10 that aren't in the top 10.

10. Shawn Micheals vs El Matador Tito Santana (Wrestlemania 8) Shawn's first pay-per-view as a single competeior good match, great commentary by Bobby "the Brain" Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon. Shawn was just starting and was young and cocky, alot different to the Shawn we see today.

9. Rockers vs Demolition (SNME 1990) this was between Wrestlemania 6 and Summerslam 1990. Only two into the list and Shawn's been in both.

8. Dream team vs The Million Dollar team (Survivor Series 1990) This was the debut of the Undertaker, he eliminated Koko B. Ware and Dusty Rhodes before he got counted out, it was left down to Bret Hart and Ted Dibase Sr to fight it out for the sole survivor.

7. Rob Van Damme vs Edge (Vengeance 2006) Van Dammes only WWE title defence at a pay-per-view due to his suspension. He lost the title eight days later on raw to Edge in a triple threat.

6. Demolition vs Hart Foundation (Summerslam 1990) this was a best of three falls match, chuck Bret in the ring with any three guys and he could of made a good match.

5. John Cena vs Shawn Micheals (Wrestlemania 23) I preferred HHH vs Cena the year before but I'm sure thats made a few top 10 lists.

4. HHH vs The Rock (Backlash 2000) this should have being the main event at wrestlemania 16, everyone gets involved in this one, until Stone cold comes out and hits everyone with a chair. Stone Cold gets one of the biggest pops I've ever seen.

3. Kurt Angle vs The Undertaker (No Way Out 2006) Kurt gets a clean pinfall over The Undertaker a rare thing.

2. Carlito vs Shelton vs Johnny Nitro (Vengeance 2006) the second match from Vengeance 2006 to make the list.

1. Elimination Chamber match (New Year Revolution 2005) after not watching wrestling for sometime this was the match what got me interested again, the best of the elimination chamber matches.

Wwe Recycled Wrestling

dav bren — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 08:54:32 -0500

Does anyone think this weeks smackdown was a rehash of no mercy 2007 HHH competeing three times but loosing in a last man standing match in the third fight. I started watching wrestling in 1990 and have watched the major events before then and i have suffered from deja vu a number of times. Maybe there is one writer who keeps having heavy nights and handing in old work to the office, maybe they think we wont notice or maybe they have just simply ran out of ideas. The next pay-per-view is the 2009 royal rumble will we see something fresh or a rehash of ideas much like the film industry this year ( Haloween, friday the 13th, wicker man)

royal rumble 90 started with a great idea number one and two were a tag team demolition, in fact the idea of having a tag team start was so great they did it again in 94 with the steiners and again in 2001 with the hardys Another idea they like to use is two big stars in the ring like kane and undertaker and comic relief will come down next like scotty 2 hotty. This happened in 2001 it was actually funny it went down so well they did it again in 2002 using HHH and Austin with the comic character being Hurricane helms. They also enjoy clearing the ring as the big two go one on one, Warrior and Hogan, HHH and Austin, Piper and Flair although i must admit they have been some of the most enjoyable moments in the rumble ever

The rumbles are the only thing the gets recycled storylines, anything to do with the Undertaker can often be recycled. At Summerslam 94 the Undertaker faced himself, two years ago Kane got the same treatment and had to face the imposter Kane

in Royal rumble 93 the Giant Gonzalez came down to attack undertaker and destroyed him but by the time Summerslam came round The Undertaker had beaten him twice and he had turned face into a gentle giant. Fast forward to 2006 another giant this time called great khali came to smackdown and destroyed the Undertaker, only for mere weeks later The Undertaker beat him twice and guess what the giant has turned face.

You know we always get re-cycled matches but not on big occasions, wresltemania 6 main event was also the main event at wresltemania 18, they replaced warrior with rock of course but even held it at the same building, with the same ending

A number of characters have also been recycled, Papa Shango is Boogeyman, million dollar man is JBL, Hogan is Lex 'exress' lugar, Kane is The Undertaker, there are two Undertakers and two Kanes and MVP is currently on the same losing streak as Christian in 2005

so i predict the royal rumble will start with morrison and the miz, micheals will enter at number 3, HHH and micheals will be left in alone at one point until hurricane comes out next, MVP will not win, oh and some massive giant will come down and attack the undertaker or Kane or one of there doubles

Wrestlemania: Changing the Past

dav bren — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:20:59 -0500

Every year, Wrestlemania is the highlight of the wrestling year. Sometimes it lives up to expectation (Wrestlemania 19, 23) sometimes it surpasses expectations (Wrestlemania 17, 22) but a lot of the time it can let us down.

If you could go back and alter any Wrestlemania card in history and make it what it should have being, Which wrestlemania would you chose?

Here, I'll take a look at Wrestlemania Seven. The original card was:

The Rockers vs The Barbarian and Haku

The Texas Tornado vs Dino Bravo

The British Bulldog vs The Warlord

The Nasty Boys vs The Hart Foundation

Jake Roberts vs Rick Martel

The Undertaker vs Jimmy Snuka

The Ultimate Warrior vs Randy Savage

Tenryu and Kitao vs Demolition

Boss Man vs Mr. Perfect

Greg Valentine vs Earthquake

The Mountie vs Tito Santana

L.O.D vs Power and Glory

Virgil vs Ted Dibase

Hulk Hogan vs SGT Slaughter

My revised card would feature:

Hulk Hogan vs Ultimate Warrior

Randy Savage vs The Undertaker

Hart Foundation vs The Rockers

Demolition vs L.O.D

Mr. Perfect vs Ricky Steamboat

Boss Man vs The Mountie

Virgil vs Ted Dibase

Jake Roberts vs Rick Martel

Tenryu and Kitao vs The Nasty Boys

The British Bulldog vs Texas Tornado

If you could change a Wrestlemania, which one would it be?

WWE Missed Opportunities

dav bren — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:30:34 -0500

Over the years there have being some great opportunities missed for one reason or another; some explainable, some just bad writing. I don't know about you but I sit through most of the wrestling year waiting, waiting for the big pay-off which sometimes doesn't happen.

1. Hogan vs Flair: the biggest missed opportunity in my opinion. They had been champions of their own worlds for years and finally were put together.

The set up was perfect: Flair arrived with the heavyweight belt professing to be "The real worlds champion" the match was even set for Wrestlemania 8 it was gonna be huge.

The problem was Hogan was retiring and wanted to win; the WWF understandably didn't want Hogan to retire champ. I blame Hogan for this; he could have lost and it wouldn't have made one bit of difference to his legacy.

2. McMahon buys WCW: The main problem here was the lack of talent brought over from WCW to make it interesting. Scott Steiner opted out, as did Sting, and for some reason Vince refused to buyout Goldberg's contract.

3. Unpushed talent, uncrowned champions: The WWE(F) has its fair share of unpushed talent. Dusty Rhodes and Ricky Steamboat were majorly under used and WWE gave us dross champions like Sgt. Slaughter and pushed the likes of Lex Luger when Mr. Perfect and Ted DiBase went all those years without the title

4. Road Warriors vs Demolition: For years both were the best team in there federation much like the Hogan/Flair scenario, they actually feuded demolition vs L.O.D and the Warrior but no big pay-per-view match two-on-two.

5. Hogan vs Bret Hart: The problem again was Hogan refusing to drop the title to Hart, thinking he wasn't a worthy contender to his throne; how wrong he was.

This year has the potential to be a very big year with Steve Austin at Wrestlemania and Jeff Hardy a massively popular champion. Will WWE rise to the occasion or drop the ball?

WWE Save The Undercard

dav bren — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:46:37 -0500

The WWE has being going through a rough patch for some time. Executives know what's wrong and what they need to do, but they still don't act. Why?

It's because they have tunnel vision and only concentrate on the world titles, and nothing else seems to matter

Remember the early 90s, when the Intercontinental title was more exciting than the World Heavyweight title? Remember when you cared about who held the tag titles? I even remember looking forward to debuts of new talent.

The WWE has blinders on, which is leaving the rest of the product to rot.

Below is a five-point plan to make the WWE a more entertaining enterprise:

1. Start defending the Intercontinental title at some pay-per-views and have less title changes. Leave the belt on someone talented who can give the belt some prestige, like CM Punk.

2. Make more tag teams. At this point, it doesn't matter if they're mediocre, as long as they wear the same colored tights and look like a team. WWE needs quantity first, otherwise the talent has no one to shine against.

3. Less titles. Join the U.S and Intercontinetal, or join the tag titles. This could leave room to bring back the Hardcore title, which I would rather see than watch the WWE crown two of its ten tag teams with titles.

4. Make ECW extreme again. I know it's now used for development, but a little extreme never hurt anyone. It doesn't mean they can't wrestle as well.

5. Bring back some big talent. Goldberg, Hogan, Bobby Lashley, Sid, even Warrior are all up for grabs and would wrestle again, so bury the hatchet, get your checkbook out, and bring them back, Vince.

Any more ideas?

WWE: Is the Dream Match Dead?

dav bren — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:17:42 -0500

Hogan vs. The Rock, Hogan vs. Michaels, and Austin vs. The Rock.

Those are some of the dream matches we have witnessed.

There are some matches we haven't seen though and after all, it is entertainment. Isn't the whole point being to give us what we want so we'll watch the product?

Vince McMahon is not talking to Hulk Hogan at this time and Steve Austin has nothing left.

Is the dream match dead?

I have decided to look at some dream matches, their possibilities and why their just not happening.

Hulk Hogan vs. Steve Austin

We all know about this one—Hogan will do it, Stone Cold wont. Austin said he would do another match if it was right, well it doesn't get anymore right than the biggest match of all time.

The only possible reason I can think of Austin not doing the match would be the crowd turning on him. Even in Texas that's possible against Hogan.

DX vs. NWO

Could have been possible last year. WWE already have DX, Scott Hall was looking for work, and Hogan's always a possibility if Vince is up for it.

The only obstacle was Kevin Nash and his contract was up in September last year. Vince decided to give us the scramble matches instead

The Rock vs. Shawn Michaels

Dwayne will never wrestle again or even be known as The Rock because he's distancing himself from wrestling. Don't go too far Dwayne, because if the wrestling fans forget about you and decide not to watch your mediocre movies—I don't think there'll be anyone left to see them.

HHH vs. Ultimate Warrior

I think Warrior would do it, but I don't blame Vince for this one. The guy's a joke, have you read his website?

Vince vs. Bret Hart

This one is nearly impossible, bret failing health aswell as the bad blood from the montreal screwjob and Owen's death has put the shut the door on Bret's career, he said his goodbyes at the hall of fame ceramony

The Rockers vs. The Hardy's

Vince you've fallen out with Hulk Hogan, Brock Lesnar, Bret Hart, Randy Savage, and the Warrior. Surely you can't have animosity towards Marty Jannetty. Bring him back or the dream match is dead.