The State Of The WWE: Part Two

Last Friday, I got to talking about the current state the WWE is in. The Armageddon PPV had just passed and Jeff Hardy became the new WWE Champion, pinning Edge in a Triple Threat match that also featured Triple H. Today, as my Christmas holiday is set to begin in about an hour, I'll dive right in and share thoughts on the Royal Rumble, No Way Out and the biggest show of 'em all, Wrestlemania 25.

Batista is apparently injured.

WWE has yet to confirm this, but from what I've read on the dirt sheets (I know, they're a joke 90% of the time, but once in a blue moon....), he has a torn hamstring muscle and will be on the shelf for 6-8 months. Of course, this means he's out of Wrestlemania and the Raw brand is missing a major superstar for the next while. One of Mania's many rumored matches was a rematch from Summerslam, Batista vs John Cena, possibly for the World Heavyweight Title. I sympathize with his situation, but this leaves a huge window of opportunity for other guys on Raw to step up to the plate. It'll be interesting to see what direction Raw takes in the coming weeks.

Speaking of Raw, there were 4 matches held last night to determine the participants of a Fatal Fourway match coming next week. The winner of that match will face John Cena at the Royal Rumble for the World Heavyweight Title. The quick results were as follows:

1. Shawn Michaels vs Kane: HBK made Kane look like a huge monster in this one, which I really liked. Shawn took a beating but squirmed his way out a chokeslam attempt, hitting a superkick out of desperation for the win.
WINNER: Shawn Michaels

2. JBL vs Rey Mysterio: I was surprised at how long this one went, considering it's only TV and JBL isn't known for long-winded matches. Must've reached the 15-minute mark at some point. JBL got the DQ win when Shawn Michaels saved him for a 619 and slapped him. See, HBK is in a storyline with JBL where he "works" for him because Michaels is "broke" due to the crappy economy in the States. He saved his employer so that JBL would advance to next week's match.
WINNER: JBL

3. Randy Orton vs Batista: Didn't happen. Batista wasn't there to sell the skull kick he got from Orton last week. Except now that Big Dave is apparently hurt for real, that kick's gonna get sold a whooooole lot longer! Orton cut a great promo after he was given the win. WINNER: Randy Orton

4. Chris Jericho vs CM Punk: Awesome match. Very back and forth with the Toronto crowd cheering Jericho, causing Jerry Lawler to once again call Canadian fans strange and different. Man I hate when he does that. Wow, a crowd cheering for the wrestler they love, who ever heard of THAT?!? Jericho got the win with the Codebreaker when Punk came off the top rope. Great counter.
WINNER: Chris Jericho

So the Fatal Fourway next week will consist of Shawn Michaels vs JBL vs Randy Orton vs Chris Jericho. Should make for some good TV. As for a winner, I see Orton taking it and facing Cena, which then tells me he won't be in the Rumble match itself. THIS in turn makes me think that Edge is a top contender to win the 30-man battle royal.

So now, let's talk Wrestlemania matches. A while ago, I discussed four bouts that I'd love to see at the biggest show of the year on the WWE Universe page on Facebook. Two matches for the respective World Championships and two "Special Attraction" matches that could only happen on the grandest stage of them all.

That was a few weeks ago. Now that certain storylines have taken place and other guys are now Champion on Raw and Smackdown, these matches may not be a reality. Well, one of them definitely won't take place because we saw it for free on TV last night! I'll give you my take on each of them as we count them down, so let's begin.....

1. WWE Championship match
Edge (C) vs Jeff Hardy

Months of build up finally lead to Hardy getting Edge one-on-one. Very back and forth until Edge focuses on Jeff's head and neck, applying various holds and eventually busting him open. Match gets taken into the crowd, near the entrance ramp ala Rock/Austin from their 1999 feud. Ref bump at about the 20:00 mark, Edge's cronies run in and beat down Hardy, prompting brother Matt to make the save with a steel chair, taking the Champ down in the process. Edge and Jeff are laid out and eventually make it to their feet. Edge, getting desperate, lunges at Hardy but takes out the ref again with a spear. Hardy goes for a Twist of Fate, but Edge counters with an Impaler DDT. He grabs the WWE Title and gets ready to hit Jeff when CHRISTIAN darts from the crowd, hits the ring and nails Edge with the Unprettier onto the gold. Hardy is up, hits the top rope and Swantons Edge as the ref counts 1............................2.......................................3. Brother Matt comes back down, they celebrate and Christian smiles at Edge from the entrance.
WINNER: Jeff Hardy, NEW WWE Champion

So here's the thing - Hardy's already won the WWE Title. This match could still be a possibility, though I think they'd probably do a gimmick match like TLC or something. Maybe have the Title vacated for some reason and these two fight for it. However, if Hardy hadn't won at Armageddon and maybe won the Rumble, that's how I'd have the match come out.

2. World Heavyweight Title match
Chris Jericho (C) vs CM Punk

Feud heats up when Punk loses the IC Title at No Way Out to former partner Kofi Kingston in a face vs face match. Backstage at NWO, Jericho runs into Punk and jokes "Hey, at least you were CONSCIOUS and lost the belt this time", refering to Unforgiven when he was taken out of the match and Jericho ended up winning. Punk is irate and attacks Jericho after his World Title defense that night and on Raw the following night. The match itself is superb and given a lot of time, roughly 25 minutes. Lots of submission moves and technical wrestling here, folks. Punk nails some serious kicks but ends up killing his leg on the ringpost outside the ring. Jericho works on it from there and keeps the Liontamer on for a good while. Punk makes the ropes and when Jericho tries a Lionsault, he hits Punk's knees face-first. Both men make it to their feet and Jericho hits a knee clip in desperation. He tries a Lionsault again but Punk snatches him mid-flight and hits the Go To Sleep. Both men are laid out again, exhausted and the fans are on their feet. Punk makes the cover but Chris kicks out. Punk goes for the knee/bulldog combo but Jericho shoves him into the ref and hits the Codebreaker, finally followed by the Lionsault. He covers but when the ref finally awakens, Punk kicks out. Fans are chanting "THIS IS AWESOME" and nearly 30 minutes have passed. They do a slugfest and Jericho hits an enziguri kick. He props Punk on the top rope and goes for a superplex but Punk falls on him and applies the Anaconda Vice to a huge pop. Jericho wiggles and tries to roll out of it but Punk stays on. Eventually, much like HBK/Angle from WM21, Y2J taps out and Punk is once again World Champ.
WINNER: CM Punk, NEW World Heavyweight Champion

I always thought the WWE needed a great PPV match between these two to settle what happened at Unforgiven this year. They've since fought a few times on Raw (like last night) but if they were given a good 25 minutes or so on PPV, I see a contender for Match Of The Year at next year's Slammy Awards. Thinking about it, this one may not be so impossible, seeing how Batista is injured. Below is what I think the WWE could do with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin heading into Wrestlemania. If the rumors are true and he struck a deal to have one more match, I figure it'd have to be against someone with HUGE heat, and Orton's a top heel. Although Jericho would make a good opponent, as well. This one features the return of two former WWE Champions, Mick Foley being the more far out chance, seeing how he's with TNA now.

3. One Night Only, No Disqualification match
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs Randy Orton

Austin returns for one more match after 6 years away from the ring. HUGE buildup for this. Austin makes an appearance at the Rumble and runs into Orton backstage, where they have a 'verbal exchange'. Orton ends up spitting in Austin's face and security have to hold Steve back from destroying Randy. At the end of the Rumble match, Orton is the 2nd last man eliminated after Austin drives his truck through the entrance and Orton is distracted. From there, the challenge is made by Austin, who says he'll "walk that aisle one more time to stomp a mudhole in Randy Orton's ass!!!" Orton manages to sneak attack him and hit an RKO. When Austin tries to retaliate the next week on Raw, Orton says he got a restraining order against Steve which says the match at Mania will be off if Austin attacks him. Mind games are played for weeks between both men and on the last Raw before Mania, Orton pisses off the Raw GM and the order is lifted. Austin beats the shit out of Orton to a massive pop but gets a low blow when he tries a Stunner. Orton hightails it and the match at Mania is on. Austin gets the ring rust out of his system eventually and the match opens up a bit, with Austin hitting clothelines, footstomps and the Thesz Press/front elbow combo. The match is taken outside and into the Texas crowd, where they fight on some steel rigging ala Taker/HHH at WM 17. Austin backdrops Orton off of it for a HOLY SHIT moment. Orton is busted open after a chair shot, but counters a Stunner attempt in the ring into his backbreaker trademark for a 2 count. He then focuses on Austin's neck - choking him, stomping him, multiple clotheslines and holds. He then hits a neckbreaker onto a chair and signals for the RKO. Austin counters and hits the Stunner before making the cover. Before the win though, PRICELESS hits the ring and Rhodes, Manu and DiBiase work Austin over. Suddenly, MICK FOLEY charges the ring, barb-wire bat in hand and takes them down. Orton low blows Foley and hits an RKO onto the bat. The four of them beat down Foley and Austin when..................IF YA SMEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL, THE ROCK bolts to the ring as the crowd explodes, taking out all four in a frenzy of energy. Clotheline here, spinebuster there. DDT here, Rock Bottom there. Foley makes it to his feet and they take out Priceless, who run away in the process. Orton tries to RKO The Rock but gets a Rock Bottom. Austin and Orton eventually make it to their feet and Austin tries a Stunner, but Orton nails the RKO. He drapes an arm over Stone Cold but the Rattlesnake kicks out just barely. Orton is speechless and desperately stomps away at Austin before grabbing the chair again. Austin grabs the barb-wire bat and clobbers the chair away before hitting the Stunner to a giant pop. He makes the cover but pulls Randy's head up, choosing to hit TWO MORE Stunners before hooking the leg 1........................2...............................................3.
WINNER: "Stone Cold" Steve Austin

I admit, I totally marked out for that ending, especially with The Rock appearing to help out his greatest Wrestlemania opponent. But hey, it's the 25th anniversary of Wrestlemania, Austin's having his first match in 6 years and it's in Texas. It'd HAVE to be that huge. This last one is the most possible, in my opinion. It's a basic Smackdown vs Raw match but with a lot more history. These two had interactions at the 2007 and 2008 Rumble matches, and they'll probably tear into each next month at the 2009 one.

4. Interpromotional match
Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker

The history of these two plays a huge part in the buildup, including their encounters during the 2007, 2008 and 2009 Royal Rumble matches. Michaels is forced to play the tweener role here, reminding people that the Dead Man has never beaten the Heartbreak Kid, citing his wins at Bad Blood 1997 and Royal Rumble 1998. The two invade each others' shows in the weeks until Mania and all Hell breaks loose during on official contract signing, which ends with HBK superkicking Taker and taunting him, only for Taker to rise up, snatch Shawn by the throat and chokeslam him through the table, before he then signs on the dotted line and drops the contract on Michaels' prone body. The match itself is excellent and fans are divided, though they seem to be more for Taker seeing how Houston is his hometown. Michaels has a counter for almost all of the Dead Man's arsenal, slipping out of chokeslam attempts and clipping his knee after a Tombstone attempt. HBK works over Taker's bad knees for a while before he misses an elbow drop. Taker then works on Shawn's back - bashing him against the ringpost, dropping several elbows, and keeping him in a backbreaker submission. He hits the Snake Eyes and goes for the big boot but HBK meets him with some Sweet Chin Music. He crawls over for the cover but Taker locks on the gogoplata. Shawn moves around alot in the move and flips over, looking for a jackknife cover but Taker kicks out. HBK is up before Taker and launches another superkick at him, but takes out the ref when Taker dodges outta the way. Shawn hits a low blow when he sees the ref is down before bringing a chair into the ring. Before Michaels tries to bash Taker's head in, he gets a chokeslam and Taker now has the chair. He waits until Michaels is up and swings. Shawn ducks and superkicks the metal into Taker's face. Seeing the ref still down but starting to stir, Shawn veers up for another superkick but Taker ducks the leg before snatching him up and hitting the Tombstone. The ref is up and makes the count 1............2...................3. The streak continues. Taker does his usual celebration routine but stares at HBK who is starting to get up. They look at each other and Taker offers his hand. The crowd in Houston pops huge when they shake and the two get a standing ovation.
WINNER: The Undertaker

So those are dream Mania matches. I think if done correctly and in the right order, those bouts, coupled with the rest of the undercard would make for arguably the greatest Wrestlemania of all-time. I've got my fingers crossed on at least two of them happening. Then I'll be happy.

Anyway, that's it for now. I've gotta take off and run some errands before getting home. I'm headed to Calgary tomorrow morning for Christmas and we'll all be back at work here on January 5th, 2009. Hope you all have a great Christmas season and a memorable New Year.

See you next year,
D.

The State Of The WWE

With the Armageddon pay-per-view now history, 2008 is coming to an end and soon it'll be Royal Rumble season. So with that in mind, I wanna take the rest of this Friday afternoon to rant, rave and generally express my feelings on the past year in WWE and where the company is headed as Wrestlemania 25 plans loom closer than ever. Let's call it The State Of The WWE......

Like I said, Armageddon has now come and gone, and the big thing everybody is talking about is the fact that Jeff Hardy finally won the big one, surprising millions across the world and defeating Edge and Triple H in a Triple Threat match for the WWE Championship. Hardy's long journey to championship stardom came to an end when he hit the Champion, Edge with a Swanton Bomb after Triple H connected with the Pedigree and covered Edge. The momentum of Hardy's off-the-top-rope move knocked the Game from the ring and Jeff had finally grabbed the brass ring after three seconds.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm glad to see Jeff finally get a chance to run with the ball. He's had his personal demons in the past, including two past suspensions for violating the WWE's drug policy, but to me it seems he's really cleaned himself up and is more focused than ever on being the best in the ring. However, MY problem with Hardy winning the gold is that the WWE missed a golden opportunity to show the conclusion to this journey at Wrestlemania.

If it were me calling the shots over on Smackdown, I would've had Edge win this match and go on to face Triple H at the Royal Rumble. He'd retain the Title there, too, while Hardy would almost win the Rumble match itself. Edge would prevent him from doing so and from there, the feud would get really hot, with Hardy winning a #1 Contender match at No Way Out. They'd fight at Wrestlemania with Jeff THEN winning the belt. I have no idea what the plan is at this stage, with Jeff now the Champion, but I can't help but feel the WWE jumped the shark on this one.

The quick results from Armageddon were as such:

1. Matt Hardy vs Vladimir Kozlov: When this was announced as a non-title match, that pretty much told everyone Kozlov was going over. And he did. He pinned the ECW Champion after some new powerslam move he debuted.
WINNER: Vladimir Kozlov by pinfall

2. CM Punk vs Rey Mysterio: This was the final match in the Intercontinental Title contender tournament. Haven't seen it on YouTube yet but I've read this was a good one, with some saying this was Punk's best WWE match ever. He beat Rey with the GTS, giving him a bloody nose in the process. Good, cuz I'm really starting to dislike Mysterio. The whole "I'm-the-underdog-but-with-the-heart-of-a-lion" thing is getting old.
WINNER: CM Punk by pinfall

3. Finlay vs Mark Henry: Billed as a Belfast Brawl. It's nice to see the ECW brand get some attention and not just a once-in-a-while ECW Title match. I don't watch the show but I read good things. Finlay took this one after cracking Henry with his shillelagh.
WINNER: Finlay by pinfall

4. Batista vs Randy Orton: I'd like to YouTube this one, too. I read good things about it as well, which is rare when it's a match involving Batista. I still like the big guy, but he can be really hit-and-miss with his performances sometimes. Anyway, he put Orton away with a Batista Bomb which didn't surprise me. Orton got a clean win over him at Survivor Series and on Raw before the PPV, so it was time to return the favor, I guess.
WINNER: Batista by pinfall

5. Eight-Woman Tag match, Maria/Michelle McCool/Kelly Kelly/Mickie James vs Maryse/Natalya/Victoria/Jillian Hall: Your standard women's match. Plus they were dressed in sexy Christmas costumes so you've got the T&A factor. The good girls win when McCool hits her "new" finisher on Hall (pssst! It's just the Styles Clash from TNA Wrestling!)
WINNERS: The first team I said by pinfall

6. World Heavyweight Title match, John Cena (C) vs Chris Jericho: Was hoping they'd put the belt back on Jericho, seeing how he won the Superstar of the Year award on Raw. Oh well. Cena retained after making Chris tap to the STF. Yes, I know it's billed as the STF-U, but that's just plain......well, idiotic. Especially when Cena is marketed towards kids.
WINNER: John Cena by submission

7. WWE Championship match, Edge (C) vs Jeff Hardy vs Triple H: You already know the result.
WINNER: Jeff Hardy by pinfall, NEW WWE Champion

So now, where does the WWE go from here? Well, the Royal Rumble is next month and rumors are flying all over the place as to the winner. Myself, I see 3 possible candidates:

Chris Jericho - He can carry the momentum as the WWE's hottest heel and after his failed attempt at winning back the World Title from Cena, fans would go ballistic if Y2J managed to sneak a Rumble victory.
Edge - I'd like to see him win simply because it's the only thing he hasn't done in his wrestling career. He's won every belt there is several times, won the King of the Ring, main-evented both Wrestlemania AND Summerslam (both against the Undertaker) and has had memorable feuds and matches with the best in the business. Besides, he's won battle royals on TV before, who's to say he couldn't do it on PPV on a bigger scale?
Randy Orton - Out of all 3 choices, I think Orton's got the better shot at winning it, seeing how Jericho and Edge have been so close to the title scene lately. Orton has stayed outside the championship picture so I think he's the smarter move on WWE's part.

Of course, when it comes to the Rumble, the rules have changed over the years. Now the WWE says that the winner can challenge for ANY World Championship, so maybe somebody will be jumping to another show. Anything's possible when Wrestlemania starts creeping up on us.

Well, time has seemed to jet by for me actually, so I'll have to cut this short for today. Next week, I'll delve into possible No Way Out matches and of course, possible matches for the 25th anniversary of Wrestlemania, including a Smackdown vs Raw match that's been hinted at in the last 2 Royal Rumble matches and the highly-rumored return of the Texas Rattlesnake, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

For now, I've got a weekend of hockey and Christmas celebrating to do, as well as my holiday shopping.

Until then,

TO BE CONTINUED... D.

Fanboy Fantasy Absolutely KILLER!

I just finished reading a graphic novel last night that I'd been meaning to finish for the last few months. This is odd, because it's a book that I'd been waiting for to hit shelves and was able to grab it at 8th Street Books & Comics in September - Freddy vs Jason vs Ash.

Like I said, it took me a long time to finally sit down and finish it. I guess life just got in the way, as well as my stubborn temperament. This was a book that I felt had to be enjoyed in the right atmosphere:

- Had to be read at night;
- Had to be read with complete silence; and
- Had to have my full, undivided attention.

So last night, I sat down and zipped through the last 50 pages or so. And I gotta tell ya, this book doesn't disappoint. It lives up to the legacy and credibility of each character's respective franchise, and cements a new future in possible sequels. A Nightmare on Elm Street's Freddy Krueger is just as evil and corny as ever, Friday the 13th's Jason Voorhees has never been more skull-crushing and unstoppable and Evil Dead's Ash Williams is still the blue-collar wise-ass we all love. The story keeps a solid balance between all three and borrows from each character's past on-screen adventures.

A little background info on this tale............

Freddy vs Jason vs Ash was originally issued as a 6-part comic series starting in October 2007. When the series wrapped this past spring, the entire adventure was compiled into one kick-ass looking graphic novel, which is really what I prefer. To be honest, I just don't get to the comic shops that often so I look like a moron trying to decipher what order the $3.00 paperbacks go in. For all I know, I could be buying Issues #5 and 9 of 12, then I'd be REALLY confused. Also, it's just not worth my time to buy ONE 32-page comic when I know I'll just be done in maybe a half-hour. I'd rather wait until a series is over and released as a WHOLE in graphic novel form, like some of the others I have. Anyway......

This war between three of horror's beloved icons was originally going to end up as a sequel to the smash hit 2003 movie, Freddy vs Jason. Jeff Katz, then an executive at New Line Cinema, wrote a treatment of the script that soon hit the Web and fans were hooked (myself included). Sadly, the film deal fell through for whatever reason and FvJvA was trapped in development limbo. In early 2007, Katz made the announcement that his treatment would see new life, this time in comic form. Later that year, the issues started hitting the stands and fans loved it. Talk of a sequel hit the Web just a few weeks ago.

I'm disappointed that FvJvA will never be a movie, but at least the idea still hit the mainstream public. Things could've turned out worse and this three-way fight to the death could still be in the minds of the writers, so I'm glad we at least have it in some form. And that's the amazing thing about comics and graphic novels - you can make anything happen to anyone. Freddy vs Jason vs Ash? Sure. Leatherface vs Michael Myers? OK. Batman vs Predator? Why not? (I've actually read that last one, not bad! Very out there, but not bad.) It gives new hope to aspiring writers, filmmakers and artists who get their ideas shot down by executives in designer suits, who say the idea isn't marketable or doesn't have mainstream appeal.

This story goes as such: After the events of Freddy vs Jason, Krueger is locked away in 'dream demon purgatory' while Voorhees is content in his surroundings at Crystal Lake. Meanwhile, Ash makes the move from Michigan up to Jason's turf to take a higher position at the new Super Duper S-Mart (inside joke to dedicated Ash fanatics), or so it would seem. Ash is really on the lookout for the Necronomicon, the Book of the Dead, and he believes it is hidden away in the old Voorhees home. Ash wants to get the book in order to destroy it once and for all, while Freddy uses what little power he has left to manipulate Jason once more, regain his strength and use the book's power to take control of not only the dream world, but reality as well. All of these elements make up a recipe for one of the coolest showdowns in (almost) cinematic history.

Indeed, this story was truly written for the fans. In a nod to the previous film, the main characters from Freddy vs Jason, Will and Lori make a return in the first few pages of this tale, only to **SPOILER ALERT** meet their fates at the hands of machete-swinging Jason. It's true horror movie cliche but it's only fitting.

The artwork on FvJvA is incredible. Everything from the Crystal Lake location to the guts spilling out of innocent victims looks bold and beautiful. It really stands out and you can tell this project was close to the artist's heart. You'd have to be a fan of these characters to give them justice in a comic form, and it shows on these pages.

I love the idea of this story taking place in the winter, too. That's never been done before with Freddy, Jason or Ash and it's really quite genius in how they pulled it off. In fact, the cold winter setting plays a large part in the final battle these guys engage in.

For my money, Freddy vs Jason vs Ash is one of the most well-written, excellently-drawn graphic novels I've seen in a long time. The concept is simple but very satisfying in the end.

My fingers are crossed that another series does in fact see the light of day. And judging by the final page in FvJvA, I'm sure they'll be back for more.

Keep 'em laughin',
D.

The Slammys

So 2008 is coming to a close, and the WWE handed out Slammy Awards for the first time in 11 years last night on Raw. I thought most of the big ones were right on the money, though I'm curious as to what the voting process was, seeing how there was no mention of fan voting on WWE.com. What, a room full of executives dining on Chinese take-out decided on the best wrestlers, matches and moments of 2008? Isn't that OUR job as loyal fans? Whatever.

Here are the winners of the big Awards, along with the other nominees and my own analysis on each:

1. Superstar Of The Year
Chris Jericho - WINNER
Edge
Triple H
Jeff Hardy
Batista
John Cena

This definitely belonged to Jericho, though Edge would've been a fine choice as well. After Jericho made his return to the WWE in November 2007 after over two years away, things sorta fizzled out after his short, one-month program with WWE Champion Randy Orton. A lot of people said the momentum from his return nose-dived after that, especially when he was part of a boring but brief feud with JBL, who was also making his return to in-ring competition at the Royal Rumble. Thankfully, Jericho was used better around the time of Wrestlemania 24, where he came this close to winning the Money in the Bank ladder match and was then inserted into the Batista/Shawn Michaels feud. Afterward, the seeds were planted for one of the most heated, emotional and violent rivalries in WWE history, as Jericho began an eventual heel turn against Michaels. The two fought in PPV matches at Judgment Day and The Great American Bash, where HBK's eye became "injured" and Jericho reveled in nearly destroying the Heartbreak Kid. By this time, Y2J was the biggest heel in the entire company, next to fellow Canadian, Edge over on Smackdown. He capped off 2008's most bitter feud by winning the World Heavyweight Title twice, in September and early November. Now, he's in a main-event feud with current Champion John Cena and meets him at the Armageddon PPV on Sunday night.

2. Match Of The Year
Shawn Michaels vs Ric Flair @ Wrestlemania 24 - WINNER
The 2008 Royal Rumble match
Money In The Bank ladder match @ Wrestlemania 24
The Undertaker vs Edge, Hell In A Cell match @ Summerslam

For me, the best match of 2008 isn't even on this list, though it involved the same two people. The main event of this year's Wrestlemania, Edge vs The Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Title was my favorite match of 2008. I loved their Cell match from Summerslam and it'd probably get my vote if I was stuck with these four choices, but I see no reason why the MITB ladder match was on this list. To win an award for Match Of The Year should mean that you told a great story in the ring opposite your opponent, in a lengthy, tension-rising 1-on-1 match. The ladder match concept is a crash-and-burn fiasco; sure it's entertaining and very physically demanding, but when 7 wrestlers are involved you really aren't telling a story - you're going spot after spot and giving the fans a series of "OH MY GOD!" moments to remember. Call me old-fashioned but that's how I feel. The Shawn Michaels/Ric Flair match is certainly deserving, because emotion was the definitive name of the game with that program. Everyone knew Flair was gonna lose and he'd be retiring so the "telling a story" aspect is covered. The match itself in my opinion was pretty even between the both of them. Not HBK's best but one of Flair's better matches in recent years. Not a match I would've chosen but a respectable choice when paired with the rest of the nominees.

3. Best Finishing Maneuver
Evan Bourne's Shooting Star Press - WINNER
Big Show's Knockout punch
Randy Orton's RKO
Undertaker's Hell's Gate

I don't watch ECW so I haven't really seen much of Evan Bourne, let alone his finishing move. I think the voting on this one was based purely on the athleticism involved, because the shooting star press is probably the most dangerous move to try and do in wrestling (just ask Brock Lesnar). Kudos to the young rookie, though I would've voted for the RKO, seeing how Randy Orton was WWE Champion for the first quarter of 2008. The RKO always gets a big pop from the crowd and it's lightning-quick - Orton can hit it from out of nowhere.

4. 'OH MY GOD' Moment Of The Year
CM Punk cashes in his Money In The Bank contract, wins World Title on Raw - WINNER
Floyd Mayweather punches Big Show and breaks his nose @ No Way Out
John Cena's surprise return @ the Royal Rumble
The Undertaker sends Edge to "Hell" @ Summerslam

Couldn't agree more on this one. I remember that particular episode of Raw; Edge, then-World Champion came out bragging about beating Batista at the Night of Champions PPV the night before. Batista came out, beat the crap out of Edge and powerbombed him in the middle of the ring. Punk came out, gave the referee his MITB briefcase, hit Edge with the GTS and won the belt as the crowd exploded. It's just too bad that the WWE higher-ups didn't push Punk hard enough as Champ.

5. Extreme Moment Of The Year
Jeff Hardy splashes Randy Orton off the Raw scaffolding set on Raw - WINNER
Undertaker falls through several tables off a ladder in a match with Edge @ One Night Stand
Chris Jericho smashes Shawn Michaels face-first through a TV screen on Raw
JBL throws John Cena off the stage onto a car windshield @ the Great American Bash

Right choice again here. Hardy hitting Orton with the biggest Swanton Bomb ever was all the way back in January, and its managed to stand the test of time. I agree with the presence of two of the other nominees, but what the Hell was that JBL/Cena match doing on here? That wasn't "extreme" at all! Did you see that match?? Cena is "thrown" maybe 6 feet onto the windshield, where he still lands pretty gingerly on his side. Oh WOW! Way to take a bump, John! It's one thing if maybe he landed head-first or took a solid back bump, but c'mon! Whatever.....ANY reason just to have Cena on most of the lists, eh Vince?

So there were a few surprises and a few predictable ones, but enjoyable overall. Still wish Edge and Taker's Wrestlemania main event was at least on the list instead of filling it up with gimmick matches. But what are ya gonna do, right?

Check back here soon where I'll discuss where WWE is headed as the Royal Rumble and even Wrestlemania loom around the corner.

Keep 'em laughin,
D.

Comedy Duo Hits Most Cylinders

"Step Brothers" (2008)
Directed by: Adam McKay
Starring: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Mary Steenburgen
Running Time: 98 minutes
Rut's Rating: 3.5/5

The actor/director team of Will Ferrell and Adam McKay return with "Step Brothers", an R-rated comedy co-starring John C. Reilly about two childish adults forced to co-exist after their parents fall in love and get married. It's new on DVD this week, and marks the third time Ferrell and McKay have collaborated on a comedy, following the 2004 classic "Anchorman" and 2006's "Talladega Nights".

"Brothers" definitely isn't for everyone. As mentioned, it does carry an "R" rating as there is a lot of four-letter words spoken by the characters. But if you liked movies such as "Old School", "The 40 Year Old Virgin" and "Superbad", then this one may be up your alley.

Brennan Huff (Ferrell) is 39 and unemployed. He lives with his mother. Dale Doback (Reilly) is 40 and unemployed. He lives with his father (Richard Jenkins). When their respective single parents start dating and get married, Brennan and Dale struggle to get along and the pair begin a series of pranks and jokes against each other to mark their territory. Eventually, the two find common ground and their minds revert to child-like states as they build forts, play sports and become close. However, when the pair is given an ultimatum by their parents and told to find jobs, they realize that they have to start acting their age and grow up.

I liked "Step Brothers". The movie doesn't try to be something more than it is and pretty much revels in it. I'm also glad to see Will Ferrell having to share the screen with John C. Reilly, someone who has just as much comedic talent. I got tired quickly of Ferrell's past on-screen antics, which pretty much consisted of the same role; an overly-macho, self-loving individual who usually is a superstar in some random sport (I'm still trying to get "Blades of Glory" out of my head.....*shudder*). Here, Ferrell is shy and docile in some parts and when he does become loud and bombastic, it doesn't come off as being overly obnoxious.

Reilly was my favorite in the film, though. His antics had me laughing out loud at most parts and his domineering behavior towards Ferrell's character shows off his comic timing very well.

The movie is geared for those who prefer adult humor and 90 minutes to kill. "Step Brothers" may not be in the comedy Hall of Fame with the likes of "Anchorman" or "Caddyshack", but it should provide a few big laughs, even if the toilet humor sometimes goes on too long. Overall, it's an ideal choice for those with a comedy craving and an empty Friday or Saturday night.

Really? It's Been THIS Long???

Can't believe I haven't posted anything here since July. Now look at us, we're all preparing for the holiday season as Christmas is mere weeks away (it IS December 1st, after all).

Well, I won't abandon this blog completely. New editions of Ruttle's Reviews are on their way, that is if I can't get them published in our actual paper. People tell me all the time that they like reading them so why not give the readers what they want? So, just in time for its DVD release next Tuesday, I'm hoping my archived review of The Dark Knight will hit the pages of The Outlook. Undoubtedly my favorite review I've written, simply because TDK was my favorite film this year.

Speaking of that, this high-definition media market is really starting to annoy me. Seems every movie these days, new and old are getting the Blu-ray treatment. And conventional studio releases are forcing the consumer to open that wallet a little wider. Now when you choose to go Blu-ray, your DVDs come with extra bonus content and featurettes. WHAT GIVES?!!? Not that regular DVD sets don't come with a lot of cool features, but studios and companies are dangling that proverbial Twinkie in front of people with the promise of more. More behind-the-scenes footage, more cast and crew interviews, more production analysis, ARGH!!! And you know what the real kicker is? I KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN!

Some day I hope to own a high-definition TV with some surround sound speakers. I'm already half-way to enjoying the "Blu-ray experience" as I own a Playstation 3, which costs an arm and a leg because it's a Blu-ray Player (thank you, tax refund cheque). Until that TV is hauled through my door though, I'm sticking with regular DVDs.

Though I'm still buying the Blu-ray Limited Edition set of Dark Knight.

http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Knight-Limited-Digital-Blu-ray/dp/B001J53X9U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1228148395&sr=1-1

The Dark Knight Returns...

Movie Event Of The Year Doesn't Disappoint

"The Dark Knight" (2008)
Directed by: Christopher Nolan (Insomnia, The Prestige, Batman Begins)
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Maggie Gyllenhaal
Running Time: 152 minutes
Rut's Rating: 5/5

The cinematic event of the year has arrived. Audiences have waited for it, fans have stayed up all night blogging about it, and the most dedicated Bat-fans made custom trailers and posters for it. After much hype and critical praise, "The Dark Knight" is finally here.

Here's the thing about this movie - its not just a movie. Its as much of an attraction as your favorite rock band coming to your city or the circus rolling through town. You plan for it, you make all the necessary arrangements and you don't hide your excitement. Standing in line for over 90 minutes just to get into the screening room (where you wait another half-hour) should be the norm with acclaimed blockbusters such as this, which is what I ended up doing.

I'd been looking forward to "The Dark Knight" since the ending credits rolled on the previous installment in this new, grittier Batman franchise, "Batman Begins". So, in the three years and one month since that film's release, I've been witness to - and enjoyed - all of the hype, discussion and marketing surrounding the new film. Leaked on-set photos, YouTube videos and secret web sites and games orchestrated by the studios peaked my interest and raised my excitement to near-catastrophic levels. Finally, on July 19 I was witness to "The Dark Knight".

And my expectations were blown to smithereens.

This film not only works as an incredible super-hero adaptation, its also just an amazing crime epic. Films such as "Heat", "The Departed" and even "Once Upon A Time In The West" sprang to my mind after I left the theater. If the film hadn't been about a guy dressing up as a bat to fight crime, it'd work as a simple cops and robbers flick. At a time when comic book movies are becoming the summer norm, this one has come along and set the bar to a sky-high level. And I truly don't believe another super-hero film will ever come along that matches the intensity, excitement and emotional overdrive as "The Dark Knight".

Director Nolan takes what he did in "Batman Begins" and simply turns the crank way up. He delves further into the world of Gotham City, where crime is still rampant and citizens are more scared than ever to walk the streets. Nolan has cemented his legacy with this film and I don't think another director could make a Batman film as brilliantly as he has. What I like most about Nolan's vision of Batman is his sense of reality. Things never become too far-fetched and Gotham City's decaying state and criminal masterminds are reflections of the society we live in. Its this ability that Nolan has that has made him and his films hugely popular with the movie-going public.

The dream cast that makes up the Batman universe will impress many who see the film. Too often, actors in comic adaptations don't seem to take the roles as serious as they should, but this isn't the case with "The Dark Knight". Returning cast members from "Batman Begins" include Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Michael Caine as Alfred, Gary Oldman as Lt. Jim Gordon, and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, while Maggie Gyllenhaal takes over the role of Rachel Dawes from Katie Holmes. The new players in Gotham City include veteran character actor Eric Roberts as crime boss Salvatore Maroni, Aaron Eckhart as District Attorney Harvey Dent and of course, the late Heath Ledger as Batman's most famous enemy, The Joker.

The story, inspired by events in Batman graphic novels such as "The Long Halloween" and "Dark Victory" goes as such: With crime starting to slowly decrease after the events of "Batman Begins", Batman intends on finally ridding Gotham City of its mob bosses in order to bring peace to the streets. But when a new criminal mastermind known as The Joker begins killing crime bosses and vows to continue his slaying until Batman reveals himself, the dark knight comes face-to-face with his greatest challenge and fights to stop the psychotic clown with help from Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, before chaos breaks out in Gotham once again.

Bale's second outing as Batman really caught my attention. In the first film, we're witness to him eventually becoming the Caped Crusader. In "The Dark Knight", he's full-fledged super-hero. He cuts down thugs with a flick of his fist and outsmarts entire gangs with intimidation and fear tactics. While all of it is impressive, throwing himself into a role is normal for Bale, who pushed his body to the limit in films such as "The Machinist" and "Rescue Dawn". The action sequences and fight scenes show that Bale will do whatever it takes to make it believable and exciting for the audience, of which it undoubtedly succeeds in doing. But the emotional side of Batman was what I liked the most. There are things that happen in this film that will show another side of the Gotham defender most people haven't seen, and I was caught up in the emotion of it myself.

Gary Oldman's performance is much more noticeable than it was in "Begins". His role as Jim Gordon is a favorite of mine; he's sympathetic, endearing and so darn trustworthy. Yet at the same time, he's frazzled and almost helpless in keeping the order in Gotham City. Oldman is one of my favorite actors and too often he's cast as the antagonist of a film. Its new to see him as a respectful police officer but its an impressive performance. He sees Batman as perhaps the only person he can trust, but at the same time can't afford to rely on just one man in a costume to bring balance to a corrupt city. Gordon knows what his responsibilities are and Oldman shoots this character full of emotion.

Aaron Eckhart's performance as Harvey Dent was arguably the most impressive. As even the most casual Bat-fan knows, Dent eventually transforms into the disfigured, split-personality sociopath known as Two-Face. And from start to finish in this 2 1/2 hour epic, we're witness to his fall from grace. He goes from a public-defending, widely-respected official in the Gotham court rooms to a horribly-burned, depressed soul with violent mood swings. All of this is very believable. Eckhart gives Dent a sense of realism that's hard to avoid, and his descent into madness is heartbreaking, even though knowledgeable movie-goers know its coming.

Of course, the thing that all the critics and fans are talking about is the late Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker. Ledger, who passed away suddenly from an accidental overdose of prescription medication last January is definitely the scene-stealer of "The Dark Knight". His interpretation of Batman's greatest nemesis is nothing short of a complete transformation and a testament to the powerful ability that the young actor had. His Joker is psychotic, intense and funny in that 'Is he joking or is he gonna kill me?' sort of way. Ledger has given the audience a gift; he reportedly checked himself into a hotel room for 30 days in order to study The Joker's character and perfect his mannerisms. The result is something that will be hard to top, if not impossible. That unstable voice, the unnerving body language, violent outbursts as sudden as a shark attack. Ledger's final completed performance is arguably his greatest, and perhaps no scene shows that more chillingly than his final confrontation with Batman, telling his foe "I think we're destined to do this forever, you and I". The Joker will always be there in Batman's mind. He's finally met his match after taking on crime bosses and gun-toting thugs. In The Joker, Batman sees the very thing that made him don the cape and cowl. With a performance that's being called Oscar-worthy, its a sad shame that Heath Ledger isn't here to enjoy his much-deserved success.

"The Dark Knight" is one of those rare gems in Hollywood. It fires on all cylinders and the resulting product is virtually flawless. An engrossing, expansive script, a visionary director, a top-notch cast, amazing cinematography, and a beautiful and sometimes haunting musical soundtrack. I bought advance tickets for the film online, waited out a thunderstorm in the theater parking lot and then sat in line for an hour and a half just to get my seat in the screening room.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

There's no such thing as the perfect film. But "The Dark Knight" comes closer than most.