http://www.cheap-heat.com WWE, TNA, ROH, NJPW - Blogs, Reviews, Top Lists, Indy News & Results Sun, 18 Oct 2015 05:06:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.3.1

http://www.cheap-heat.com/and-im-like-reviewing-nxt-takeoverrespect-october-6th-2015/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/and-im-like-reviewing-nxt-takeoverrespect-october-6th-2015/#comments Fri, 09 Oct 2015 01:32:33 +0000 Jake Drury Blogs Other Blogs Reviews WWE Network Reviews and I'm like Apollo Crews asuka Baron Corbin Bayley Carolina wRecking Crew Chad Gable dana brooke dash and dawson Emma Finn Balor HHH jake drury anoka Jason Jordan NXT October 6th 2015 Rhyno Samoa Joe Sasha Banks Takeover:Respect Tyler Breeze http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=14527 Before we get into the show, I would like to share a bit about my day. Last night I was going to write while I watched but after the first match I got too engrossed in the show. I re-watched it today while at work. Well, I watched most of it while at work. See […]

Before we get into the show, I would like to share a bit about my day. Last night I was going to write while I watched but after the first match I got too engrossed in the show. I re-watched it today while at work. Well, I watched most of it while at work. See we are a small town restaurant in a city of 18,000 people. We tend to get alot of characters and different types of people. Lately, there have been some homeless teens we have been feeding and let sleep at the tables when we are not busy. Before it became too comfortable for them, we asked that they help out a bit with busing tables and after hours cleaning. We found out today that one of the teens is enrolled in the local High School. I had my niece play truant officer and drive him to school, turns out he was suspended. She cut a deal with the principal and will now drive him to and from school everyday. He brought his homework in today and some regulars at the restaurant helped him finish his assignments.

My dishwasher decided to bring his guitar in today, he is a 57 year old war vet and is quite talented in music. We set up a chair and sign for him to play out front. That attracted one customer who told us our Chia Seeds were actually maggots , I’m expected him to write a review of the restaurant and I don’t expect it to be good. We also had a gentlemen that I had to give a stern talking to for licking his magazines. He likes to talk to the magazines which is acceptable, but I don’t tolerate licking.

We do have a cast of characters, but we all try to help each other. The reason I wrote this is because, while today was happening, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of a high from helping people. It made me realize that that is why I love wrestling and more specifically NXT. NXT is about helping wrestling as a whole, and making dreams come true. NXT gives us characters to relate to or videos of the wrestlers that share their real feelings. You see that its a roster of people trying to better themselves and the people around them, it’s a community that cares, and when they say “We Are NXT” it gives a certain wrestling fan a place to call home.

Takeover:Respect

The show opens with a video package that in the first 10 or 20 seconds already gave me chills. It’s an image of Bayley holding her newly won NXT Women’s Championship at Takeover:Brooklyn. As that image is shown you hear the crowd chant “you deserve it.” Next is an image of Daniel Bryan, Eddie Guerrero, Edge, Booker T, Mankind. All people who were Champions of the people and wrestlers deemed “ours”. The hard workers who would ‘never make it’, it really resonates. That’s just 10 seconds in.

We see videos of the greatest rivalries in wrestling and how the people involved grew to respect their adversaries. HOLY SHIT that’s the storyline for the team of Rhyno and Baron Corbin. The final part of the video takes us to Bayley and Sasha, Dusty Rhodes words close the video “Get a dream, hold on to it, and shoot for the sky.”

Finn Balor and Samoa Joe vs. Dash and Dawson

Finn is a F’n STAR, he is it! I’m not a huge fan personally, but damn. Dude even makes a leather jacket look legit. He has the best entrance and entrance music with or without the face paint. His eyes too you guys, they are soft and menacing at the same time.

Oh and did I mention his entrance? The fans get to participate.

Then we got cool as hell Samoa Joe just being Hip-Hop. He has such an energy that makes it feel like business is always about to pick up.

Dash and Dawson haven’t been able to show much character, but they are a tag team yo, once these Divas revolutionize their division, I feel like these two will rejuvenate the tag divison.

They are the tops at teamwork though, like this move here.

Like Al Madril and Bugsy McGraw in 1982.

Dash and Dawson wrestles with such intensity and ferocity, I want to give them a name, like the Carolina Bulldogs or something. Maybe something small and dynamite like. The match is told very well.

Dash and Dawson can’t take these dudes one-on-one, if Joe is in the ring he dominates, same with Finn. Once Dash and Dawson screw up or get move in. It turns to tag wrestling and Joe and Balor get decimated. If Dash and Dawson keep Finn and Joe separated they got a chance.

Dawson hits a chopblock and they wrecking crew Balors knee. WOW!!! Carolina Wrecking Crew? Yep that’s gonna be the name from here on out. Plus CWC is way easier to type than Dash and Dawson. CWC does great work as a team, which can’t be stated enough.

Dawson will have Finn’s leg in the rope and Dash will go over and kick the leg a bit. They utilize the five count too! Just old school as hell. Dash pulls Joe off the apron so Finn can’t tag.

A bit later Dawson gets thrown back into the ring by Wilder to get a tag in to stop Finn from the hot tag.

Balor finally tagged Joe and shit fell apart for CWC. Joe does his 5 moves of doom and reluctantly tags Finn Balor in. Joe hits the Muscle Buster, Finn hits the Coup de grais for the win.

And I’m Like… surprised. It’s a tag team tournament, and the one of the two legit tag teams just got eliminated. The match was great though, Finn sold his leg the whole time and it seems like it will play a part later in the night. I was expecting a Joe heel turn to challenge Finn later in the year, guess later?

Jordan and Gable vs. Rhyno and Baron Corbin

Poor Jason Jordan, he is great but the crowd is All Gable All the Time. The crowd F’n chants “Gable” to Kurt Angles theme song.

Rhyno is in a Blake and Murphy T-shirt!!! Baron is in his Lone Wolf vest.

I’m hoping the crowd doesn’t chant for Jordan and Gable, only for the fact that Baron Corbin’s story is that he loves to defeat the indie guys and fan favorites. Gable and Jordan are fan favorites, Joe and Finn are indie guys. Gable is amazing though! He has a giant head so that adds to facial expressions, he chain wrestles, has strength and speed, he is humorous, can take an ass beating, and most importantly is from Minnesota.

This match is very much Jordan and Gable being competent singles guys who, when are able to cut the ring off, are dominate. Baron and Rhyno are a team of explosive power. If they do quick tags they can impact the match tremendously.

Gable desperately goes for the tag but Corbin grabs his hair and pulls him back. Crowd chants “Save TheGable”. Rhyno misses a splash and Jordan hot tags into a frenzy. He is lighting Rhyno and Baron up, Byron says “It’s when adrenaline meets focus.” There is a sweet sequence of tags and big moves with very good nearfalls.

Everybody is on the ground as the crowd surrounds them with chants of “NXT” Gable hits a victory roll pin on Corbin but continues to roll it into a German Suplex. As the crowd chants for Gable, Corbin ends his day. What a beautiful End of Days.

And I’m Like… Boo’s you guys… Actual Boo’s. That is so so hard in NXT, if you are a good talent, regardless of alignment, you get cheers. To be able to have a fully formed character that can put on an interesting match and have him boo’d, that is amazing. Good job everyone, good job NXT with your work on Baron Corbin.

Asuka vs. Dana Brooke

This is a showcase for Asuka so let’s showcase. Dana and Emma are cocky and that’s about it.

Ok, first for Asuka entrance song is top notch . High energy and intense. Her entrance involves creepy mask that she removes to add color to the arena, like Pleaseantville meets Great Kabuki . Her smile is dangerous, She looks like she is relishing in this moment. Talk about it factor.

Asuka moves so so quick. She offered a handshake but it was refused. Dana tries to roll through on the hammerlock but Asuka rolls with her. Dana pats Asuka on the head and slaps her in the face.

NXT resonds with “You Fucked Up.”

OHMIGAWD! Asuka booty bumps, spanks herself and does the sexualized Dana Brooke pose.

This girl is crazy good. I’m legit laughing at how much I enjoy this match.

Emma helps Dana change the matches tide.

Dana needs to combat Asuka’s striking by pulling a Checkmate and armadillo’ing. Asuka is chaining submissions to suplexes. Kneebar, to ankle lock, to German-y suplex. She rocks Emma and kicks the hell out of Dana.

“Asuka City” chants and she puts on the Asuka Lock for the win.

And I’m Like… Wow! She does the Dana pose/throat slit/spirit finger taunt and DAAAMMNN! She is a star! Good God that was impressive. Asuka demanded respect through her smirk and got it.

Footage of Balor with the trainer cause his knee is bad.

ANOTHER NIA JAX video except she will be here NEXT WEEK!

Tyler Breeze vs. Apollo Crews

Tyler Breeze’s seasonal residence changed from Cairo to Monte Carlo. Graves talks about how Breeze has been here since NXT day one. He saw so many people pass him and he is frustrated.

I kinda zone out during Crews matches I’ve noticed. I feel all John Cena-y about him. Here are the strong moves, here are the impressive moves, the goofy smile and no selling during the finish. Breeze is innovative and stays on top of Crews.

This match is brain vs. brawn. It adds a bit to the match that Crews back got rocked into the apron screen.

The match becomes “Can Apollo overcome a back injury?” Tyler puts the Sharpshooter on very well, cause you know Canada. Both these guys are around 28 years old, they are gonna get so much better. Crews still sells his back and Breeze stays on attack with a Supermodel Kick. These guys are putting it all out there. Crew’s lol Cena’s him and stops selling his back to hit his finish. Breeze kicks out so he does an even more back straining move to win.

And I’m Like… yeah, that’s a match. It was good and everything but, I don’t know, Apollo doesn’t do it for me.

Oh No! Hideo!

When will he be back? I hope we are still telling the story where Finn took out Hideo’s arm.

Finn Balor and Samoa Joe vs. Baron Corbin and Rhyno

Baron changed vests, now it says All Hail. It’s weird to have a Tag Team final with four entrances. NXT crowd hits the “Joe” to the beat well.

Finn is starting the match, even though he is sore, dumb. Byron Saxton also stuttered a bit here too. Once Balor limped, Joe tagged himself in. The energy is kinda sucked out of me, I don’t have much of a vested interest in either team.

The story is, Joe is reluctant to tag an injured Finn. Joe can only go at it alone for a bit so Rhyno and Corbin dominate for a bit. Finn gets a “rush of adrenaline” according to Corey Graves, and does about 3 moves before he sells his knee again.

Rhyno takes Finn’s knee out and helps Corbin take advantage of the match, they should thank the Carolina Wrecking Crew for the leg work. Baron hits his big spots and I kinda want this to end. Balor soccer kicks Corbin in the face and Finn and Joe hit their finishers on Rhyno for the win.

And I’m Like… WHHAATTT?!?!? I did not see that coming, not like it matters much. I now get why they did win, cause when the trophy was presented it seemed like having Corbin and Rhyno there wouldn’t gel.

Cody gives a speech and ends with “we are all Rhodes” it ends with “Thank You Dusty!” chants.

“Women’s wrestling” chant Sasha and Bayley video package

The video recaps highlights of the Takeover:Brooklyn match. We go into the iron man match being made a few weeks back. Then jumps to the training regiment of Sasha and Bayley to prepare.

NXT Women’s Championship Ironman Match

Bayley (c) vs. Sasha Banks

This is Sasha’s swan song. The crowd is stoked and so am I. There is ominous cage music before each entrance too. I’m getting emotional, it’s the damn music of these girls. Just to follow this story and know what they are trying to achieve, they are so damn close too. Izzy is in front row too… OH god.

“Main Events” chants around the arena. For real this feels so intense, these girls look so focused, ready, and nervous. It’s such a bittersweet moment. This is the 10th Ironman match in WWE history. Look at their faces!

Byron says Bayley chose her color scheme because of Marvels Ironman and Sasha is wearing the same colors as her first time wrestling 5 years ago.

“you deserve it” “This is awesome” “NXT” all before they make first contact.

They have aggressive collar and elbow. This is a moment you guys.. and we are living in it. Sasha goes for 3 pin attempts but it’s too early to gain a fall on Bayley. Trading pin attempts now with the crowd counting the whole way.

Sasha is super serious and confident, she is intimidating Bayley. Bayley hits a Japanese armdrag and OUCH!! Sasha be safe with your neck please.

They both reverse their respective finishers. Sasha was hurt, Bayley extended an arm for a handshake and Sasha whopped her. Perfect character work. Bayley the gullible warm heart, Sasha the conniving cold heart.

Bayley hits consecutive corner baseball slides. Sasha gets beat for a bit, she is able to take control back in the ring but gets caught in a pin attempt putting her foot on the ropes. She decides to block the ref’s view and pokes Bayleys eye for the first fall.

Sasha 1 Bayley 0

The constant showing of the clock kinda pulls me out of the match.Bayley hits a nice Bayley to Belly out of the corner to tie it at 1.

Sasha 1 Bayley 1

Bayley gets rocked into the steps in front of her family and Izzy!! Izzy screams “c’mon Bayley don’t give up.” Sasha keeps on the attack and YELLS AT IZZY! Holy Shit.. SHE MADE HER CRY! Fucking get her Bayley!! Well Sasha threw Bayley into the Titontron thing and got a win by countout.

Sasha 2 Bayley 1

We are halfway through, this is getting good! They do a throwback to the last match where Sasha talked stuff and Bayley kicked her in the mouth.

This time Sasha knew the kick was coming and caught Bayleys foot. Sasha puts Bayley in a Bosston Crab, she also stomps on Bayleys hand. Bayley reverses the Bosston Crab for a flash pin.

Izzy is excited again. Sasha 2 Bayley 2

Bayley gets the momentum in her favor after reversing the double knees. Bayley hits her moves of doom but not with pizzazz and smiles like usual. Bayley gets a near fall and we are 2/3 through this match. “This is wrestling” chants.

Sasha hits her double knees for a near fall. These girls are drained.. “Better Than Raw” chants. Izzy is screaming “Get Her Bayley” Bayley decides to go after her pretty viciously, and I don’t think Izzy is comfortable with it.

I can’t put over how great this match is. Bayley gets tossed into the stairs she set up.

Sasha goes for a suicide dive and Bayley catches her into a Bayley to Belly to the outside. “Holy Shit” chant from the crowd.

Crowd is crazy hot for this. Top rope Bayley to Belly and Sasha got her foot on the ropes!!!

This next sequence is hard to describe. Sasha reversed the reverse super huricanrana, she hit a Bayley to Belly on Bayley for two, turned that into a BankStatement. Sasha can’t apply it all the way cause of her hand injury from earlier in the match. PURE FUCKING BEAUTY!!! Bayley fights out of it and puts Sasha in the BankStatement.

Sasha fights out but Bayley smashes her fingertips into the mat. She puts on this crazy arm submission.

Then does joint manipulation.

Then stomps on Sasha’s head enough for Sasha to tap with 4 seconds left….

Sasha 2 Bayley 3

And I’m Like… Speechless. F anyone that is boo’ing at the end of this, round of applause. This was just wow… just wow.

The whole NXT Roster is on the top of the ramp, flowers are presented to Sasha at the ramp, she breaks down.

Bayley is in the ring and HHH gives her some flowers. She stands in the ring and basks in the glow of being the best women’s wrestler in NXT. Izzy is joy crying, look how proud everyone looks.

Ok guys, today was draining but well worth it. Thank you NXT, Thank you reader, Thank you wrestling.

Like or share if you could. That would be a generous gesture.

Have a good one

-Jake

http://www.cheap-heat.com/whats-cookin-what-doesnt-matter-smackdown-52815/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/whats-cookin-what-doesnt-matter-smackdown-52815/#comments Fri, 29 May 2015 02:10:35 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Reviews Brock Lesnar Daniel Bryan Dean Ambrose ECW HHH John Cena Kevin Owens NXT RAW Ring of Honor ROH Roman Reigns Seth Rollins Smackdown TNA WCW wrestling WWE WWE Network http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=12059 The WWE has been on a roll as of late, I'm not sure if you guys feel the same way or not, feel free to chime in below in the comments. Payback wasn't a dramatically terrible show; NXT Takeover Unstoppable featured the arrival of Samoa Joe and a potential 5-star women's title match; and Kevin […]

The WWE has been on a roll as of late, I'm not sure if you guys feel the same way or not, feel free to chime in below in the comments. Payback wasn't a dramatically terrible show; NXT Takeover Unstoppable featured the arrival of Samoa Joe and a potential 5-star women's title match; and Kevin Owens has been pushed to the top of the card where he will meet John Cena this weekend at Elimination Chamber. I mean—just look at the Chamber itself, and you can see why I'm optimistic about what's to come in the very near future. We've got the first-EVER tag team elimination chamber match—an event that us video game nerds have witnessed before, but never thought we'd see portrayed live! And with six teams involved! And an intercontinental title match—inside the most demonic structure that Satan (Eric Bischoff) could have ever constructed? Sign me up! Seriously guys, all exaggerations and hyperbole aside, it's a good time to be a WWE fan, and Brock Lesnar hasn't even come back yet. Money in the Bank is still one month away, and Monday Night Raw has been consistently splendid for four weeks in a row. What year is this? Where am I? Who is the President? Ladies and Gentlemen, my name is Mark Adam Haggerty and this is "What's Cookin' and What Doesn't Matter."

Tonight's episode opens with the "Lunatic Fringe" Dean Ambrose , who makes his way to the ring wearing a t-shirt, rather than a dumb fucking leather jacket. Dean recounts the events of Monday Night when he was arrested so that he wouldn't be able to sign his contract for his upcoming match against Seth Rollins at Elimination Chamber. Dean cuts a very natural promo and says that he was given one phone call whilst in custody and decided to drop the dime on Roman Reigns. He asked Roman to "buy him some time," so that he could figure a way out of jail. Dean then showed a WWE YouTube video, wherein Seth Rollins is caught pushing the camera man into Dean. This was all the cops needed to release the �Lunatic; the New York police officers gave him a ride back to the arena and "even let him drive the paddy wagon." Dean warns Seth that he will beat the hell out of him at Elimination Chamber, and will do the same during their tag team match in tonight's main event. This was about 5 minutes long and didn't lead to any ridiculous dialogue with the Authority, so I was really happy to see the way it turned out. It was COOKIN' for sure.

The first match tonight is a tag team lumberjack match between Kidd and Cesaro and the Lucha Dragons. Tyson Kidd is wearing a baseball cap and Cesaro is wearing a bandana over the bottom portion of his face. Tyson Kidd starts things out against Sin Cara with nine additional athletes positioned around ringside. The WWE tag division has been a shell of its former self in recent years and is finally returning to its past glory, and might even be surpassing previous expectations. Why is that? A lot of it has to do with the quality of the current roster, but much can be owed to the make-up of various teams. In the past we've seen "Super Teams" dominate the tag division; Chris Jericho and the Big Show, Randy Orton and Edge, John Cena and Shawn Michaels, Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin, Steve Austin and Dude Love, the BROTHERS OF DESTRUCTION! While they were awesome teams, clearly capable of securing gold, they were short lived programs that were meant to build to an ultimate singles encounter. These teams are actual tag teams, similar to the Hart Foundation, the British Bulldogs, or Strike Force! Both teams involved in this match are well-versed in tag team competition and know how to utilize their partner to gain the advantage through teamwork. The various teams surrounding the ring are equally dedicated to their tandems and perform better as a result. This was an awesome match, and when the dust settled, it was the former NXT tag team champion Lucha Dragons who held their hands high. Tyson Kidd reversed an attempted hurricanrana by Kalisto into the Sharpshooter, but Sin Cara spring-boarded from the top rope to break things up. The New Day distracted Kidd from the action and Kalisto gets the victory. It's the first match of the night, but this might just be the—uh, well—MATCH OF THE NIGHT! This was COOKIN' like anybody might expect. Definite must-see.

I'm really convinced that R Truth's character is based on a PCP-addicted underground rapper from the New York tristate area. I told this story before, but I'd like to sum it up as a limerick—

"There once was a rapper on drugs,
Who swore he was covered in bugs.
Lost all his wits,
And ate a girls tits.
And he spoke to invisible thugs."

So I mean—R Truth has an imaginary friend, he's irrationally afraid of spiders, he's a rapper. If he consumes a woman's breasts then there's really no question as to where his character comes from. Obviously I'm kidding. Not about the rapper on PCP, that's real. R Truth is wrestling King Bad News Wade Barrett in a preview bout for this weekend's Elimination Chamber match for the intercontinental championship. Surprisingly, R Truth picked up a win, but was immediately blindsided by the Celtic Warrior. Sheamus entered the ring and attacked his adversaries, before leaving with his head held high. This was COOKIN' because R Truth beat Wade Barrett clean, and that was pretty neat to see. It was also short enough that it's worth checking out between segments anyway. Main event? No way. Match of the night? Hell no. But a decent bout nonetheless.

There's a quick backstage promo featuring Lana as she speaks with Renee Young regarding the events on Raw involving Rusev. She says that she is "no possession" of any man, and isn't a prize to be won. Renee asks about her relationship with Dolph Ziggler; Lana says there is no relationship with Dolph Ziggler, despite the footage suggesting the contrary. Lana is interrupted by Rusev and asks if he's there to start screaming again, and wants to know if he's going to keep acting like a child. Rusev smiles: "Why bother? I already had my way with your little Dolph Ziggler. Where is he now? Is he in the medical facility? Is he at home drinking hot cocoa? Or maybe he's just afraid to show up because he knows I'm here." He says he isn't jealous of Dolph, which appears to weigh heavy on his former main squeeze. He leave her with the words: "You dug your grave, now you rot in it." This was fucking ridiculously cool. It was COOKIN', for sure, and lead into the events of the next segment.

Ryback is going head-to-head with the "Bulgarian Brute," who continues to carry the Red, White, and GREEN of his native Bulgaria. If I was Miroslav Barnyashev—Rusev's real name—I would be pretty jazzed to finally carry my own nation's banner to the ring. That's pretty rad. I'm happy to see how Rusev is being treated, especially following that exchange with Lana just moments ago. I was worried that Rusev might be forced into the jealous ex-boyfriend position, set to snap at every given opportunity. I was hoping Lana was playing her part to help Rusev win the Intercontinental Championship. Perhaps she will use her feminine wilds to attract Dolph and put him off his game? But if that was the case, wouldn't Lana be flirting with EVERY one of Rusev's opponents? I also don't think there's much to achieve from a 2-week storyline featuring Dolph Ziggler for no reason. So I'm inclined to believe Lana will remain with Ziggler for the time being. Although it is interesting to speculate on what could be going through the mind of the "Ravishing Russian." Dolph said from the start that he knew Lana was playing games, and that he didn't mind. Now it seems that Rusev doesn't mind either. So what's Lana have to do to get what she wants now that the aforementioned feminine wilds aren't getting the job done? This match was what it was—a "Big Hoss" match between two big bad powerhouses. Ryback is most certainly going to get a visit from Bray Wyatt this Sunday, and as for Rusev? As of this writing, Rusev is reported to have suffered an injury that could sideline him come Sunday. If he does enter the Elimination Chamber, I'm sure he'll fall victim to some sort of tomfoolery involving Dolph and Lana. This match lasted longer than I would have guessed, spanning the one-hour mark and earning both men a chance to look strong in front of a world-wide audience. Rusev lost the match via disqualification after repeatedly slamming Ryback's head into the steel post. Rusev won the battle, but the war will continue this Sunday at the Elimination Chamber. A match that was most certainly COOKIN'!

Up next is a Diva's match between the two women who will simultaneously challenge Nikki Bella for her title at the Elimination Chamber. Paige and Naomi have unfinished business stemming from the Monday Night Raw in England when Naomi attacked Paige after a Diva's Battle Royal. I'm not incredibly impressed with Naomi. Everyone seems to be enamored with her "in-ring ability," and to that I wonder—what IN RING ability? I guess in the grand scheme of Playboy Bunnies and Bella Twins, Naomi is a pretty decent athlete, but context plays a huge part in how good Naomi really is. When facing someone as seasoned and reputable as Paige, Naomi is exposed for how inexperienced she truly is. Paige is the only woman in WWE history to hold both the NXT and Diva's championship. Not only that, but she held them at the same time, until being forced to relinquish her NXT title upon her "promotion" to Raw. Naomi relies heavily on slow-paced rest holds and over-the-top character work that doesn't sell me on her as a wrestler. Paige, on the other hand, is fluid and makes every movement appear almost effortless. The 2-time Diva's Champion hit Naomi with the "Rampaige" for the 1-2-3 and Paige will head into the Elimination Chamber with a psychological edge over Naomi. I hate to say the first and only women's match of the night DOESN'T MATTER—especially since everything up until now has been COOKIN', but I've got to be fair and weight each segment honestly. Following the bell, Nikki and Brie appeared on the stage, and everyone stared everyone else down—who the fuck are the babyfaces? Because they're all coming off like arrogant heels.

Kevin Owens is on Smackdown to talk about his upcoming match with John Cena at Elimination Chamber with Michael Cole. Before Cole can say anything, Jerry Lawler reacts to his appearance on Smackdown by exclaiming: "Ah! Look who it is!" Like Michael Cole isn't on Smackdown all the time, or something. Cole introduces Owens, who receives a mixed reaction from a WWE Universe seemingly unaware of his stardom. Those fans that know Owens are losing their shit, and the little kids who saw him powerbomb Cena and stomp on his title are throwing him the "thumbs down" by the thousands. Owens doesn't care who knows his name, he only cares about fighting and making money, which is why he doesn't give Michael Cole any respect. He points and laughs at the TitanTron during the replay of what went down between he and John Cena and Michael Cole begins by saying, "Kevin you've been in the WWE for two weeks now…" Kevin cut him off, explaining that while he's been a part of the main roster for the first time, he's been a dominant aspect of NXT for several months. In fact, been in this business for fifteen years. "I've competed all over the world—not just competed mind you, but dominated." Michael Cole says that John Cena isn't a normal competitor, but Kevin cuts him off again and lists Cena's accolades himself: "Fifteen world championships, two Royal Rumble Match victories, eleven Wrestlemanias, 57 varieties of terrible t-shirt designs. And over 1000 ways to SUCK. See I am the NXT Champion. Yet, John Cena walks around and acts like I've got something to prove to him, when in fact, if you ask me—John Cena is the one that's got something to prove to me." Michael Cole said he has a unique perspective, and quoted John Cena's earlier words regarding Owens' inability to "finish" a fight. "Why don't we take a look at what I did to Sami Zayn Michael," Owens said, "And you can tell me if I know how to finish a fight." After the video, Cole raised his microphone to respond, and Owens pushed it away. "At NXT Takeover: Unstoppable, I did exactly what I told the world I would do, and that's further my career by taking out Sami Zayn for good. But Sami Zayn is my best friend. Sami Zayn is someone I traveled the world with for ten years. SAMI ZAYN is I was closer to than anyone else on the planet. And that's what I did to him. Now if I'll do that to someone I care about, imagine what I'll do to John Cena." Owens began to turn away and thought again, "Actually you don't have to imagine it, just watch Elimination Chamber and you will witness it first-hand. And once I do that, there will be no question that the REAL champ—is here." COOKIN'! COOKIN'! COOKIN'! COOKIN'!

The next match is the main event tag team bout between Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns and the Authority's Kane and the world champion Seth Rollins. The producers in �Gorilla' didn't wait for Kevin Owens to return through the curtain; Dean Ambrose's music hit as Owens was making his way up the ramp, and the two exchanged looks before going their separate ways. I have to say, I really like the direction they're heading with Dean Ambrose, which is saying a lot. If you're a regular reader, then you know I'm not the biggest fan of the "Lunatic Fringe," but his last few weeks on top of the roster have been a welcome change to the inordinate antics and exceptional losing streak we were privy to just three months ago. Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose have a very interesting relationship, and despite how goofy it was, I actually liked the story about Dean calling Roman from jail and asking him to "buy some time." That's the kind of storytelling I like, quite frankly. I said during my Raw recap this week that Kane is best served in these tag team matches that don't expose his weaknesses and allow for him to remain an ancillary character in support of the principle acts. What does that mean? It means when he's in one-on-one competition he looks like a fucking joke, while tag team competition appears to be his bread and butter. This match was full of really cool moments that weren't so absurd that they rendered the athleticism obsolete. I think the program between Rollins and Ambrose allows for a fair amount of both brawling as well as technique. Rollins and Reigns went one-on-one during the final moments of the match where Roman went for a "Superman Punch," but missed, and instead opted for a powerbomb. The former "Architect" of the Shield wormed his way out of harm's way only to catch that same "Superman Punch" the next time around. Roman dropped for the cover, but J&J Security caused the disqualification before the champion could be pinned. After the match, all hell broke loose involving the participants of the match, and then the New Day! The tag team champions joined in and attacked number one contender and Roman Reigns, but received a slew of signature maneuvers for their trouble before Kane and Seth Rollins finally achieved the upper hand. Seth Rollins hit Dean Ambrose with the Pedigree and another episode of Thursday—er I mean Friday—wait no, yeah Thursday Night Smackdown is in the books.

Smackdown always tends to deliver because it's a taped show full of backstage shenanigans and cosmetic edits, not to mention it's only two hours long. I enjoyed this week's show as much as any other episode of Smackdown in recent memory, but can't help but wonder what—if anything—could get Smackdown to that next level. We can rule out taking the show live unless the WWE wants to completely overhaul their production model. Maybe an exclusive title? What do you guys think? Comment below or feel free to hit me up in social media. Until next time, please LIKE "The B+ Players Podcast" on Facebook, and FOLLOW me on Twitter for all the latest and greatest updates courtesy of Cheap-Heat and Daily Wrestling News!

http://www.cheap-heat.com/nice-guys-finish-last-5-heel-victories-at-wrestlemania/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/nice-guys-finish-last-5-heel-victories-at-wrestlemania/#comments Sun, 29 Mar 2015 19:46:00 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Blogs Indy/Puro/Lucha Other Blogs Brock Lesnar Chris Jericho HHH Steve Austin Stone Cold The Miz Triple H Wrestlemania WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=10787 Nice Guys Finish Last: 5 Heel Victories at Wrestlemania Written by Mark Adam Haggerty One of the defining dissimilarities separating the National Wrestling Alliance from the World Wrestling Federation was the way in which each promotion booked their world title. The NWA pushed villainous heels such as Ric Flair for YEARS at a time, so […]

Nice Guys Finish Last:
5 Heel Victories at Wrestlemania
Written by Mark Adam Haggerty

One of the defining dissimilarities separating the National Wrestling Alliance from the World Wrestling Federation was the way in which each promotion booked their world title. The NWA pushed villainous heels such as Ric Flair for YEARS at a time, so as to tell the tale of multiple heroes chasing the championship. The WWF belt however, was generally possessed by key babyface competitors who sold out arenas by defending the strap against an array of antagonists. It's interesting to note that while the WWE continues to evolve, it's booking practices at the "Granddaddy of Them All" remains the same. Now more than three decades into this annual tradition and only FOUR heels have ever walked away from Wrestlemania with the world title.

Triple H – Wrestlemania 2000 & XIX
Triple H has certainly seen his share of both success and defeat at the "Showcase of the Immortals," and will go down in history as the only heel to leave Wrestlemania with the world championship—TWICE. Believe it or not, babyfaces reigned supreme throughout the first fifteen years of Wrestlemania; from Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart to Shawn Michaels and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, every �Mania from—from one through fifteen—ended on a happy note with the villain vanquished. All that changed when Wrestlemania dropped its numeric value and went by its "New Millennium Moniker"—Wrestlemania 2000 was headlined by a four-way elimination match featuring a "McMahon in every corner." Triple H was escorted to ringside by his then-Kayfabe wife Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley, where he proceeded to defeat the Big Show, Mick Foley, and the Rock to retain his WWE Championship. Fast forward 3-years to Seattle's SafeCo Field and the "Game" is once again on the defensive, although this time in a one-on-one encounter with the "Five-Time WCW Champion" Booker T. After a hard-fought battle against the righteous Booker T, the racist Triple H prevailed—still in possession of the "Big Gold Belt."

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin – Wrestlemania X-Seven
Although the "Texas Rattlesnake" enjoyed a far more lucrative run as a babyface, his victory over the Rock at Wrestlemania X-Seven will go down as one of the most dastardly decisions in �Mania history. By the spring of 2001, WWE Creative felt that "Stone Cold" Steve Austin could use a shot of adrenaline and opted to turn him heel for the foreseeable future. But how could the company go about changing direction on THE most popular performer in WWE history? After delivering a debilitating number of steel chair shots to his nemesis—Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson—Steve did the unthinkable and embraced the sinister and sadistic Vince McMahon. Hindsight being 20/20—according to Steve himself—this was probably the wrong move to make in terms of the "Stone Cold" character. The match itself is among the most praised in �Mania history and the events that followed will forever be immortalized as an iconic "�Mania Moment."

Chris Jericho – Wrestlemania XXVI
When Chris Jericho returned to the WWE in 2007, he did so with no purpose or direction—just another silver vest and a really bad haircut. By the time summer 2008 rolled around, Y2J was well on his way toward reinventing himself as a methodical menace to the sanctity of World Wrestling Entertainment. He continued on his slow-talking crusade as a championship contender for the rest of the run, and defended his world heavyweight championship against the "Rated R Superstar" at Wrestlemania XXVI in Glendale, Arizona. Edge and Jericho were a formidable-yet-short-lived tag team tandem before Edge was forced out of action due to injury. When he returned to the WWE, he received a hero's welcome from the �Universe, much to the chagrin of the world champion. Chris Jericho defeated his challenger in true heel fashion by relying on a foreign object—the "Big Gold Belt"—to do his dirty work. He blind-sided Edge and hit him with a "Codebreaker" for good measure, earning the victory and retaining his belt in the process.

The Miz – Wrestlemania XXVII
The Miz is among the most polarizing figures in Sports Entertainment thanks to his lifelong association with MTV and reality television. But that's not to say that Mike Mizanin isn't a qualified world heavyweight champion that held his title for an astonishing 160 days. I was in Atlanta for Wrestlemania XXVII, and I really enjoyed the video package that introduced the WWE Universe to the Miz as a main event talent. The talk of the weekend was the inevitable Cena-victory over the Miz, granting the "Doctor of Thuganomics" his umpteenth world championship. The match was far better than anticipated, and the finale was something nobody could have predicted. The cold and calculating Miz defeated the venerable John Cena in the headlining attraction of the first-and-only Wrestlemania where zero title changes occurred. The show ended with the Miz on his back after receiving the "People's Elbow" from the Rock. This was the last time a heel left Wrestlemania as champion.

There you have it—only four VILLAINS have ever walked away from Wrestlemania with the championship draped over their shoulder. And if you'll notice, aside from "Stone Cold"—who could hardly be considered a heel—every other instance was a successful title defense. Will Brock Lesnar be the next "bad guy" to emerge victorious with his WWE World Heavyweight Championship, or will Roman Reigns continue what has been a near-30 year tradition of babyface dominance? Until next time, this has been Mark Adam Haggerty reminding you to keep checking out Cheap-Heat and to follow my podcast on Facebook by LIKING "The B+ Players."

http://www.cheap-heat.com/hunchamania-wrestlemania-31/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/hunchamania-wrestlemania-31/#comments Sun, 29 Mar 2015 17:04:15 +0000 Gary Mastriano Blogs Other Blogs AJ Lee Bad News Barrett Bella Twins BNB Bray Wyatt Brie Bella Brock Lesnar Cesaro Daniel Bryan Dean Ambrose Dolph Ziggler HHH John Cena Lana Los Matadores Luke Harper Nikki Bella Paige R-Truth Randy Orton Roman Reigns Rusev Seth Rollins Stardust Sting The New Day Triple H Tyson Kidd Undertaker Usos Wrestlemania WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=10783 HUNCHAMANIA: WRESTLEMANIA 31 Guys…. Guys… GUYS! It's Mania Eve! The second best Eve of the year (although it seriously challenges Christmas and John McMclane). There is a feeling of joy in the air, of hope, of dreams. My head is spinning with thoughts of the promising matches we will see in 24 hours. No matter […]

HUNCHAMANIA: WRESTLEMANIA 31

Guys…. Guys… GUYS! It's Mania Eve! The second best Eve of the year (although it seriously challenges Christmas and John McMclane). There is a feeling of joy in the air, of hope, of dreams. My head is spinning with thoughts of the promising matches we will see in 24 hours. No matter how much we may lament the card beforehand, when the time is upon, you can't help but be excited. This is the best time to be a wrestling fan. And while all eyes of the wrestling world are set upon California, here in New Jersey I am preparing for my Mania party. The Pin the Tail on the Cena has been hung, and the food WWE balloons are being inflated.

WrestleMania this year is shaping up to have tons of memorable moments. The great thing about this card is how hard it is to predict the winners of each match. Aside from the Sting-HHH match I have had an incredibly difficult time figuring who was going to win each match. Kudos to the much maligned WWE booking team for actually setting up an intriguing show, with implications that could be felt in the WWE for years to come. SO…LET'S GET TO THE PREDICTIONS!!! (Seriously though… I have a pin the tail on John Cena).

4 way tag team match for the WWE Tag Team Titles- Kidd/Cesaro (champs) vs Usos vs Matadors vs New Day
I refuse to acknowledge that this a pre-show match. With the advent of the WWE Network there really is no difference between the main show and the preshow. They should just advertise WrestleMania as a 6 hour event. These 4 teams, particularly the Usos and Kidd/Cesaro, have worked hard over the past year to build up the tag team division. The tag titles deserve to be highlighted, and being on the preshow may be the best possible way to showcase them. I assume they will be given more time than if they were actually on the main card. I have heard rumors that New Day may win to bring back the Freebird rule to the tag titles. While that would be really cool, I don't see it happening quite yet. I think Kidd/Cesaro have a long run with the tag titles coming, so I suspect that they retain.

Andre the Giant Battle Royal
As of me writing this the announced participants are: The Miz, Curtis Axel, Ryback, Fandango, Adam Rose, Zack Ryder, Jack Swagger, Titus O’Neil, Darren Young, Big Show, Kane, Erick Rowan, Damien Mizdow, Sin Cara, Goldust, Heath Slater, Mark Henry, Konnor, Viktor, and Hideo Itami. Barring a surprise entrance, that's 20 total participants. After the way Cesaro was handled after his win last year, it is really difficult to determine who will/should win. In theory the winner should go on to have a solid upper mid card run, at the very least. So I will assume that the outcome will lead to big things for whoever wins. So who can benefit the most from a victory? Really the choice for me comes down to 3 guys: The Miz, Ryback, and Curtis Axel. The Miz is always teetering on the edge of the main event, and I really like to think he can break through the main event scene at any time. Once he splits with Mizdow (which will FINALLY be cemented in this match) there is little direction for The Miz. The main event scene could always use another snarky heel. Speaking of guys that are on the edge of the main event- Ryback has always flirted with superstardom. Every time he seems to be on the brink of breaking through, the booking takes a weird turn. He is way over with the crowd. He has the look of a top star. He has had moments where he cut potential career defining promos. Time is short on him to finally break through to the main event, so why not now? As for Curtis Axel, he is the long shot, but sentimental favorite. Axel has been one of the most over performers on the roster since turning his Rumble misfortune into a gimmick. A win for Axel could be the push he needs to get back into the midcard scene. With that being said- I think Ryback takes the win.

Ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship- Bad News Barrett (champion) vs Daniel Bryan vs R-Truth vs Dean Ambrose vs Dolph Ziggler vs Stardust vs Luke Harper
I have tried to stay positive about this match. I really have. All signs point to this being a great match. But…man is there a bad vibe surrounding this one. WWE was telling a great IC story with Dean Ambrose and Bad News Barrett, which would have paid off perfectly at WrestleMania. WWE was telling a great story with Goldust and Stardust, which would have paid off perfectly at WrestleMania. WWE was telling a great story with Daniel Bryan that would have…oh wait…they weren't telling any story with Daniel Bryan. At all. He was just kind of around, being the most popular guy on the roster. Now I have no problem with a midcarder being the most over guy, but Daniel Bryan is not a midcarder. I also have no problem with Daniel Bryan NOT being in the main event. But WWE had literally NOTHING planned for him. Like they forgot about him and just used him. Even up until a few weeks ago he wasn't even confirmed for this match. It was like they were waiting for something/someone else to come around to feud with him. Was Sheamus not available? I guess we will never know. Also everything I just said, switch Bryan out with Ziggler.

As for the match itself, the participants themselves will make this a great match I'm sure. Everyone in this match (even R Truth) can produce a great match, so I expect the work rate to be there. I have no doubt this will be a fun bout. I don't see Harper, Stardust, Truth, or Ziggler walking away with the IC title. Ambrose has a legit claim to it and he would elevate the belt for sure. I have heard that the title may be put on Bryan so he can help elevate the title. I am choosing to ignore that theory. Therefore I think it will be Barrett walking away with his title intact. He hasn't actually been in possession of his title during the hot potato storyline in the past few months, so I assume he will ultimately retain.

Seth Rollins vs Randy Orton
I have really enjoyed the build towards this match. Orton's return and subsequent slow burn turn on Rollins was a fresh new build towards this grudge match. This is my pick for show stealer of the night. Orton can always put on a great match when he is motivated, and Rollins has proven in the past year that he will steal every show for the next decade. A loss for Rollins doesn't hurt his character in the slightest. Rollins will continue to be the main focus of WWE programming for the foreseeable future. Orton is hot as a face right now, and an inevitable match with Lesnar is on the horizon. Orton gets the victory here, but this is not the last we see of Mr. Rollins tonight…

The Bella Twins vs AJ Lee and Paige
With all the uproar online about 2 matches being moved to the "pre-show", I have been looking on the bright side. The fact that there are only 7 matches on the main card means that each match will hopefully get a decent amount of time. The recent #givedivasachance movement has seemed to catch on, with longer TV matches in the past few weeks. These ladies are the 4 top performers in the Divas division and certainly can put together a great match if the time is give. The Bellas will continue to be the focus of the Divas division, with AJ and Paige chasing the title until Charlotte makes her main roster debut. Therefore the Bellas pick up the win here, and continue their Diva dominance.

US Title Match- John Cena vs Rusev (champ)
Man this is a hard match to predict. On one hand you John Cena- who is defending America against the big bad evil foreigner. A Cena victory would be a victory for America. On the other hand you have Rusev- who is the latest superstar to have the "winning streak monster" push. Rusev has had a phenomenal rise to this position. Wrestling Cena at his first WrestleMania is a pretty big deal, whether he wins or not. Looking ahead at the remainder of 2015 and beyond, it would seem that Rusev would need the win more. Cena will always be at the top of the card. He selectively puts people over when the time is right. Does Rusev deserve that rub? I think so. I have seen people stating that Cena will carry the US Title back to prominence. And while it would be radical to see Cena in the mid card, I just don't think it'll happen. Rusev gets the win with some kind of shenanigans in another potential show stealer.

Bray Wyatt vs the Undertaker
I have said it before, but I have no problem saying it again. I do NOT want to ever see the Undertaker wrestler…. Ever. Again. Ever. To quote a great man (Hunter Hearst Helmsley) �All you have is the streak. When it dies. You die.' And I completely believe it. The Undertaker has nothing to prove anymore. It is time to move on from the Undertaker era of WrestleMania. Hopefully that is what we will get this year. Wyatt is clearly going to be filling the creepy scary guy for the foreseeable future, so why not use this match as a passing of the torch? At the same time can you see the Undertaker losing two years in a row? I for cannot. I think he wins this year, setting up the rematch/retirement next year.

Sting vs Triple H
One of my first Cheap Heat articles was dissecting why Sting HAD to fight Triple Hat WrestleMania this year. It is really the only match Sting could've had this year. WWE has done a stellar job building towards this epic confrontation. Sting has been treated with nothing but respect by the WWE. I don't think the ending of this match is up for any debate- Sting wins his first WWE match.

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match- Brock Lesnar (champion) vs Roman Reigns
Good job WWE. Seriously, you turned a match that I was dreading last summer when the rumors arose, into a legitimately intriguing matchup. Lesnar vs Reigns is probably the most interesting WrestleMania main event we have had in over a decade. Prior to this week, it was almost a foregone conclusion that Brock would be dropping the title to the Samoan Superman this Sunday…but then WWE conveniently announces Brock Lesnar has resigned with the company. Congrats WWE, you pulled a fast one on us by making us wonder if Brock was staying. I always thought he was staying, in fact I think the past few weeks of speculation was drawn up by WWE to gain interest in their main event. The WWE is nothing if not their own biggest promoters, and Vince and Co know how to gather extreme interest in their product. Prior to this week, this seemed like a cookie cutter passing of the torch moment, but now with the announcement that Lesnar is staying for an additional 3 years, it's not outside the realm of possibility that he walks out of Mania with the championship. We can all seem to agree that Reigns is fine to be the next face of the company, but he is clearly not ready for that position. Maybe a loss to Lesnar gains additional fan support, and makes the eventual Reigns win even more. WWE is not known to take risks at WresleMania, especially with their potential main eventers, but this seems to be a great time for them to take that risk. Don't give Reigns the title WWE. Not yet. Lesnar wins in after an extremely hard fought and valiant effort by Reigns. HOWEVER…. I do not think Lesnar or Reigns walk out with the WWE Championship… I predict the Money in the Bank contract is cashed in at WrestleMania for the first time ever, and Seth Rollins ends the night with the WWE title around his waist.

Man that's a lot of intrigue going into this year's WrestleMania. So many match outcomes are up in the air, and WWE is really firing on all cylinders right now. To paraphrase Max Landis "when it's good, it's fucking incredible." I cannot help but agree. The wrestling world is in for a night of great storytelling all around. Buckle up gang!

http://www.cheap-heat.com/hall-of-fame-hopefuls-part-five-headliners/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/hall-of-fame-hopefuls-part-five-headliners/#comments Fri, 27 Mar 2015 21:44:45 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Blogs Other Blogs Bill Goldberg Chris Jericho Goldberg Hall of Fame HHH HOF JBL John Bradshaw Layfield Kurt Angle Owen Hart Sting The Rock Triple H Undertaker Vince McMahon Wrestlemania WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=10727 Hall of Fame Hopefuls Part Five: Headliners Written by Mark Adam Haggerty Ladies and gentlemen welcome to the fifth and final chapter of "Hall of Fame Hopefuls," exclusively available at Cheap-Heat.com. My name is Mark Adam Haggerty and over the past month I've had the chance to chat about some of the most iconic talents […]

Hall of Fame Hopefuls
Part Five: Headliners
Written by Mark Adam Haggerty

Ladies and gentlemen welcome to the fifth and final chapter of "Hall of Fame Hopefuls," exclusively available at Cheap-Heat.com. My name is Mark Adam Haggerty and over the past month I've had the chance to chat about some of the most iconic talents to ever be featured in-or-around a professional wrestling ring. We began with tag teams, moved on to the celebrity wing, then to managers and broadcasters, and last week I named the most deserving Divas whom I believe belong in the WWE Hall of Fame. For this ultimate edition, we're listing ten possible headliners for future Hall of Fame classes. These are the men who will fill the same sort of role as Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, the Ultimate Warrior, and of course the "Macho Man" Randy Savage. Let's kick things off with the only Olympic Gold Medalist on the countdown.

Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle is among the greatest technicians in the history of professional wrestling, and might be the greatest active competitor inside a squared—or six-sided—circle. After taking home top honors at the 1996 Summer Olympics, Kurt Angle was at a loss for how to continue his athletic career. After much soul-searching he decided to try his hand at professional wrestling and made his in-ring debut for the National Wrestling Alliance on October 24, 1998. Angle was spotted by the WWE immediately and first appeared for the �Federation at the Survivor Series the following year. Angle enjoyed a dominant winning streak lasting over two months and made history when he won the WWE Championship from the Rock at No Mercy 2000, just eleven months after debuting. A former King of the Ring, Kurt went on to achieve unprecedented honors including the WWE, WCW, and World heavyweight championships—in addition to secondary belts like the U.S., Intercontinental, European, Hardcore, and tag team titles. Although the "Wrestling Machine" has been absent from World Wrestling Entertainment for nearly a decade, it's safe to assume his seat will always be ready, should he decide to take his place amongst the "Immortals."

Triple H
The man that would one day become Triple H started his career in 1992 after training with the legendary Killer Kowalski. He debuted for World Championship Wrestling in 1994 as Terra Ryzing, but was soon repackaged as "Jean-Paul Levesque"—a French nobleman with a finishing maneuver known as the "Pedigree." He signed with the WWE in 1995 and brought his aristocratic act to a whole new audience as the "Connecticut Blue Blood" Hunter Hearst-Helmsley. Triple H teamed with Shawn Michaels in 1997 to form D-Generation X, which Hunter continued to lead clear into the new millennium. Triple H won his first world title on an episode of Raw following Summerslam 1999 and has since become one of the most decorated performers in WWE history. A 13-time world heavyweight champion, Triple H is also a former King of the Ring, Royal Rumble winner, and a member of BOTH the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame and the International Sports Hall of Fame.Triple H has scaled back on in-ring competition since taking a job in Titan Towers in 2010, where his main focus has been on creative and talent relations. Triple H is a lock for the WWE Hall of Fame—the only uncertainly is when we might see it happen.

The Rock
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has been igniting the box office for 15 years, but got his start in entertainment by "electrifying millions—and millions" of people around the world. The Rock debuted for the WWE in 1996 at the Survivor Series as "Rocky Maivia"—a name created by combining Rocky Johnson with Peter Maivia—in honor of his father and grandfather. Audiences didn't take to the Jerri-curled babyface and soon began to greet the future "Great One" with chants of "Rocky Sucks" and "Die, Rocky, Die." The Rock found himself in the driver's seat of the Nation of Domination after ejecting their former leader Farooq, and by 1998 was well on his way to world heavyweight title. The Rock became the WWE champion at the Survivor Series that year when he "screwed" Mick Foley in the "Deadly Games Tournament." The Rock held numerous championships during his time with the WWE, but made his greatest mark in ways that no previous Superstar could have imagined. The December 1998 pay-per-view—Rock Bottom—was named for the champ, but that was only the beginning. In 1999 the WWE debuted Smackdown—a phrase made popular by the Rock—which led to an enormously popular video game series by the same name. The Rock returned to the WWE in 2011 to host Wrestlemania XXVII, and went on to win the WWE championship for an 8th time at the Royal Rumble in 2013. If the Rock isn't worthy of the WWE Hall of Fame—then why does it exist?

Sting
Steve Borden began his wrestling career much the same as fellow Hall of Famers Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels—as part of a tag team. Borden was originally one-half of the Blade Runners with the man who would one-day be known as the Ultimate Warrior. Originally referred to as "Blade Runner Flash," Borden would ultimately change his name to Sting. He debuted for Jim Crockett Promotions in 1987 and quickly engaged in a heated rivalry with Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen. Sting won his first world title on July 7, 1990 from the "Nature Boy," and by 1991 was considered the "Franchise" of World Championship Wrestling. When the New World Order started to take over WCW during the summer of �96, Sting went into hiding and returned in the rafters where he proceeded to watch the events of �97 unfold. Sting finally met "Hollywood" Hogan for the WCW championship at Starrcade 1997, where he defeated the former Hulkster and regained the title on behalf of WCW. Over the next several years, Sting's character would evolve and alternate allegiances, even aligning with Kevin Nash and the NWO Wolf Pac. Sting had the privilege of performing in the main event of the final Monday Nitro in March of 2001 against his longtime nemesis, Ric Flair. When the company closed, Borden opted not to join the competition and instead signed with the WWE alternative Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in 2003. Sting's induction seems all-but-imminent now that the "Vigilante" has signed with the WWE—14 years removed from the Monday Night War. Sting is also a longtime resident of the "Lone-Star State"—the site of next year's potential record-breaking Wrestlemania—so now seems like a perfect time to consider him for the WWE Hall of Fame.

Chris Jericho
The self-professed "Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla" is one of the most diverse performers to ever lace-up a pair of wrestling boots. Chris Jericho started his journey toward the WWE Hall of Fame in 1990 when he began training under the highly-acclaimed Hart Brothers. Jericho traveled the world and learned various nuances of the business during his time in Mexico and Japan, and eventually debuted stateside for Extreme Championship Wrestling in 1995. It wasn't long before national promotions started to take notice of young "Lionheart" and in 1997, Chris Jericho signed with WCW. He achieved mild-success while employed by Turner, engaging in memorable rivalries with high profile talents such as Dean Malenko and even Bill Goldberg. Jericho joined the World Wrestling Federation in 1999 and made his long-awaited debut by interrupting the Rock on Monday Night Raw. Chris Jericho holds the record for most intercontinental title reigns at nine, and is further renowned for being the very first Undisputed Champion in WWE history. Jericho is the WWE's 4th Grand Slam Champion, coming in just behind Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels, as well as current "Authority Figures" Triple H and Kane. Chris Jericho has been able to withstand the test of time by reinventing himself and relying on the number one rule of showmanship—"always leave them wanting more." Chris is an aspiring actor, a successful podcast host, and most notably—he is the lead singer for the hit heavy metal band FOZZY. Hopefully Y2J will "save us" from boring speeches when he inevitably accepts the honor of being added to the WWE Hall of Fame.

John "Bradshaw" Layfield
John "Bradshaw" Layfield signed with the WWE in 1995 and has remained involved with the company to some degree ever since. He began as the Texas roughneck Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw, an homage to clichéd Sports Entertainment cowboys such as Stan Hansen and Black Bart. Bradshaw found much of his early success in the tag team ranks, both with Barry Windham as the "New Blackjacks," and later with his longtime partner Ron Simmons in the APA. Bradshaw and Simmons won the WWE tag titles on three separate occasions before finally separating in 2004. By this time, Bradshaw's real-life role on Wall Street started to seep into the storyline, and the JBL character was born. John "Bradshaw" Layfield formed his "Cabinet" and took the WWE Championship from Eddie Guerrero in a bloody Bull Rope Match at the Great American Bash. His record-breaking streak as champion came to an end at Wrestlemania 21 when he dropped the coveted title to John Cena. JBL remained adamant about regaining his gold, but failed to do so, instead choosing to focus on secondary singles titles such as the United States and Intercontinental Championships. Today Bradshaw is a color commentator on Monday Night Raw and hosts a daily radio segment with Michael Cole. If Jerry Lawler and Booker T are going to flash their Hall of Fame jewelry at ringside, then so too should John "Bradshaw" Layfield.

Goldberg
Bill Goldberg was an Atlanta Falcon who entered the world of professional wrestling in 1997 after training at WCW's Power Plant. Goldberg immediately turned heads with a physical presence unlike anything wrestling fans had ever seen. His matches might have been short, but they added up to an astounding 173-0 winning streak lasting until Starrcade 1998. Goldberg lost the title but maintained his winning edge, only losing to a select few individuals such as Kevin Nash and Bret "The Hitman" Hart. Goldberg was loyal to World Championship Wrestling until its dying day, and opted to sit-out the remainder of his contract, rather than sign with World Wrestling Entertainment. Goldberg made his WWE debut on the Monday Night Raw following Wrestlemania XIX in Seattle, where the former-Falcon warned the Rock: "You're Next!" Goldberg was featured prominently on the WWE's Raw brand during his year with the company, and won the world heavyweight championship from Triple H in a "Title vs. Career Match" at Unforgiven 2003. Goldberg's final match with the company would be a polarizing affair featuring Brock Lesnar with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin as the guest referee. While the match left a lot to be desired, Bill Goldberg walked away victorious and even shared a ceremonial beer with the "Rattlesnake" before getting 'Stunned himself. Goldberg might not have been the most technically proficient superstar in wrestling history, but he sold tickets and remains a household name almost 20 years after his debut.

Owen Hart
There are a variety of reasons why Owen Hart has yet to be added to the WWE Hall of Fame; his widow Martha is adamant that he not be included, although his brother Bret seeks closure and continues to pressure Martha into changing her mind. The logistics of the situation aside, Owen Hart is one of the most deserving professional wrestlers who's yet to receive a WWE Hall of Fame acknowledgment. Owen began learning his craft under the tutelage of his famed father Stu Hart. His wrestling career was hindered as his debut in 1983 came during a time that Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation was acquiring Stu's Stampede territory. Owen wasn't afforded the chance to learn on his family's home turf and instead made a name for himself on the independent circuit before being signed to the WWE in 1988. Owen competed as the Blue Blazer and was even featured at Wrestlemania V against Mr. Perfect. Owen left the WWE and spent time back at home in Calgary, as well as in WCW, before returning to the �Federation in 1993. Beginning in the autumn of '93, Owen entered into what would become a defining program in his career—a bitter year-long rivalry with his older brother Bret. The two first met at �Mania X where Owen got the best of Bret, and then again at Summerslam in a 5-star championship cage match wherein the "Hitman" emerged victorious. Owen became a celebrated tag team specialist alongside partners like Yokozuna, the British Bulldog, and Jeff Jarrett. In addition to numerous tag team accolades, Owen is a former intercontinental champion, European champion, King of the Ring, and 3-time Slammy Award Winner. Sadly however, Owen lost his life in a tragic accident at the Kemper Arena on May 23rd, 1999; Owen Hart was a world-class performer who most certainly deserves one final "Wrestlemania Moment" as his memory is honored in the WWE Hall of Fame.

The Undertaker
Mark Calaway stood nearly seven feet tall and was originally brought to the mainstream by WCW in 1989 as "Mean Mark Callous." He replaced Sid Vicious as one-half of Teddy Long's "Skyscrapers" along with Dan Spivey, but soon embarked on a singles career that would introduce him to a wider audience. Calaway signed with the WWE in 1990, leaving wrestling fans flabbergasted when Ted DiBiase introduced his otherworldly team mate at the Survivor Series. The Undertaker was a sinister heel during his first two years in the �Federation, and captured the WWE Championship from Hulk Hogan one year after his debut at the �Series in �91. By the time the "New Generation" was taking over from the "Old Guard," the Undertaker transitioned from fearsome freak to beloved babyface. He introduced the "Casket Match" to the WWE Universe against Kamala and later the world champion Yokozuna. He regained the WWE belt at Wrestlemania 13 against the man he originally replaced in WCW— Psycho Sid—and started down a championship path that would ultimately include 7 world titles. The Undertaker's contributions to the WWE are innumerable and impossible to list in one paragraph, but include match types such as "Buried Alive," the "Last Ride Match," and "Hell in a Cell." The Undertaker's Kayfabe brother Kane was introduced to compliment the �Taker character, but has since gone on to achieve a mythical status of his own. The Undertaker is one of the most inventive Superstars in the history of the WWE; whether he's the Phenom of the World Wrestling Federation or the American Badass, it's hard to argue with success. I think it's safe to say the Undertaker is a guaranteed future-Hall of Famer, so I'll stop here and patiently await next year's Wrestlemania in the Dead Man's home state of Texas.

Vince McMahon
The WWE Hall of Fame would cease to be had it not been for the vision of one global entrepreneur. Vince McMahon took his father's New York-based wrestling promotion and developed it into a worldwide entertainment conglomerate, currently trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Vince became a focal point on �Federation broadcasts beginning in the early 1970s, and by the end of the decade would be the driving force within his father's company. Vince's distribution outfit—Titan Sports—acquired the World Wrestling Federation in 1982, just a few years shy of Hulk Hogan and the advent of Wrestlemania. Vince remained dedicated to the announce desk throughout the 1980s and �90s, forming lasting bonds with color commentators such as Jess "The Body" Ventura and Jerry "The King" Lawler. In 1997 Vince stepped outside his comfort zone and into the spotlight, where he would become the diabolical "Mr. McMahon" character that audiences love-to-hate. McMahon feuded with main event talents from numerous generations including Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Triple H, and most famously "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. In addition to his countless honors outside of professional wrestling, Vince is a 2-time world champion—having held both the WWE and ECW world heavyweight championships. Vincent J.—Mr. McMahon's father—was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996, so there's certainly room for more McMahons should the opportunity someday arise. Vince McMahon has received his share of criticism throughout the years from both industry insiders and outsiders alike, but few can debate whether Vince McMahon belongs in his OWN Hall of Fame.

I want to thank everyone who took the time to read "Hall of Fame Hopefuls." This was a fun way to highlight some of the biggest names in wrestling history that haven't yet found their place in the "Pantheon of the Immortals." In five weeks I've named sixty different Superstars from various eras and countless generations, all of whom deserve recognition for their contributions to the industry. Until next time, this has been Mark Adam Haggerty reminding you to keep checking out Cheap-Heat and to follow me on Facebook by LIKING "The B+ Players."

http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-over-under-wrestlemania-xxxi-odds-part-2-the-main-events/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-over-under-wrestlemania-xxxi-odds-part-2-the-main-events/#comments Sun, 22 Mar 2015 02:56:57 +0000 Scott Hayes Blogs Other Blogs Bray Wyatt Brock Lesnar HHH John Cena Roman Reigns Rusev Sting Triple H Undertaker Wrestlemania WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=10571 And… We're… BACK! No longer writing from the floor of an Atlantic City casino. I come to you like from SPRING! … wait… We got five inches of snow last night? That's NOT SPRING, NATURE! But the only season that REALLY matters? Boom! We have four more matches to break down. The Main Events heading […]

And…

We're…

BACK!

No longer writing from the floor of an Atlantic City casino. I come to you like from SPRING! … wait… We got five inches of snow last night? That's NOT SPRING, NATURE! But the only season that REALLY matters?

Boom! We have four more matches to break down. The Main Events heading into Wrestlemania 31, or XXXI, or Press Play.

OVERVIEW!

Coming out of the Royal Rumble, John Cena and Rusev crossed paths. They set off on a feud. They had US Title match at Fastlane. Rusev won that, by locking Cena into the Accolade. Cena "Never Gives Up"… I mean it IS on all his shirts. So? His body did for him. He passed out. Rusev won. A HUGE win for Rusev. Something they SHOULD have done last year at Mania with Bray… Anyway, now we're all set for the rematch. Initially Rusev was like, "Nah, Captain America… I broke you. You get no rematch." Eventually super angry Cena erupted and whooped Rusev which led to this here rematch. The United States Championship has had a much higher profile during Rusev's reign. He's been booked super strong, and has yet to be pinned/submitted on WWE TV/PPV. Cena is Cena. He is the Face of the WWE. He's had an insane run at the top, and his presence with the US Title only serves to elevate that title. Him winning it only elevates it further. I look forward to this match, hopefully building on the good match they had at Fastlane.

Favorite!

John Cena: -300. I see John Cena walking out of Mania with the US Championship. I hope like hell this doesn't bring the return of the US spinner belt… But no matter what the Dr. of Thugonomics does with it? I see Cena being our next US Champion.

Underdog!

Rusev: +150. Its not impossible to see Rusev win here, but I mean… I… WE know better. It'll be interesting to see how WWE handles this for Rusev moving forward. Hopefully they learned from how they handled Bray coming out from this feud last year. I think him winning at Fastlane was already a step in a better direction. Still. Even in defeat here, he SHOULD come out a bigger star. The US Championship WILL come out more prestigious.

Prop Bets of the Match!

Over/Under: Total # of Attitude Adjustments: 2.5

Cena's Shorts: Jorts -200. Camo Cargo -100. Khaki Cargo Even Money. Apollo Creed's Red White and Blue Boxing Shorts +500 (But it'd be awesome though)

Over/Under: Captain America references: 4.5

OVERVIEW!

So we haven't seen Taker since LAST Wrestlemania. Rumors abound on whether or not he would wrestle at this Mania, and even doubt on if he'd compete ever again. Starting before Fastlane Bray Wyatt began cutting cryptic promos, not exactly out of the ordinary for Bray, but stood out was Bray was CLEARLY talking about someone. Quickly he began hinting at speaking about the Deadman. He began cutting promos where he was constructing something, which turned out to be a casket. Fastlane, the Deadman's Gong hit, cue druids, and a casket, and up sat Bray Wyatt. Wyatt wanted to face the man he was afraid of as a child, but no longer fears. Bray is the new face of fear in the WWE. Big kudos to Bray Wyatt who was tagged with selling and building this match by himself. When they're focused on SOMETHING his promos are some of the best in the bidness. Entrances for this should be awesome. After that? Well… we'll see what kind of shape Taker will be in. On the plus side this match doesn't need to be more than 10-12 minutes bell to bell. For whichever story they want to tell. And that's where some confusion sets in.

Favorite!

Bray Wyatt: -100. This is essentially a pick �em. I can see it going either way. They like Bray Wyatt a lot. But… then again… Its TAKER. Can I see the Undertaker losing consecutive Wrestlemania matches?

Can Bray REALLY lose another match like this? Especially considering how things went "post Cena" for him, where they ended up rebooting him.

So… yeah…

Underdog!

The Undertaker: +100. The margin is small on this one. It doesn't make sense for Taker to win, but still… Taker is the man in WWE.

Prop Bets of the Match!

Whose Entrance is Longer: Undertaker -250. Bray Wyatt +200.

Do we see THIS spot: Bray hanging upside down from the top rope, and Taker sits up. Yes: -150. No: +300

Taker's Hairstyle: Dark Mohawk -400. Grey Mohawk -150. Grey Stubble even money. Long +Eleventy Billion.

OVERVIEW!

Back at Survivor Series the Authority was battling for their existence. It was Ziggler versus the world. he eliminated some people and it then the Authority got worried. Triple H jumped in and was set to destroy Ziggler to ensure his squad could stay in power, BUT-BUT-BUT… Crows squawked. Lights went out, and sting made his way to the ring. He took out Triple H. Rolled Ziggler onto Rollins. Three count later AND… DING DONG… THE AUTHORITY WAS GONE! (For like… 3 weeks) … Once the Authority was put back in power, Triple H needed ANSWERS. So he challenged Sting to a FACE OFF at Fastlane. Faces were offed. We get this match. Sting still hasn't spoken LIVE on Television, but has said something on the WWE Network after coming to the ring to save Randy Orton from the Authority's wrath. For this match you don't really need much. You have Sting in a WWE ring, and having his FIRST, possibly LAST Wrestlemania match. You have Triple H who is a hall of fame performer and a very good ring worker, and one of WWE's most hated baddies. Simply for the atmosphere this match is must see.

Favorite!

Sting: -500. Sting is going to his first WWE match at Wrestlemania. Who knows how many matches the Franchise of WCW gets inside a WWE ring, and maybe he loses one, but not THIS one. Stinger Splash. Scorpion Deathdrop. Scorpion Deathlock. Ballgame.

Underdog!

Triple H: +400. Sure there is a chance if this is all part of a longer arcing story that Triple H will weasel a win for the Authority. The X-Factor in all this-

No. Not YOU guys. The potential question mark for all this? We don't really know what Sting's deal is. Will there be future matches? Will he continue to torment the Authority and hopefully rid us of their tedious villainy? Maybe if there is more to the plan Triple H wins, but its a long shot for sure.

Prop bets of the Match!

Better Entrance: Sting -250. Triple H +100.

Over/Under: 3.5 Run ins.

Vince Gets Involved: No -100. Yes +200.

Over/Under: Sting's Facepaint lasts 12 minutes.

OVERVIEW!

Brock Lesnar… if you've heard of him… Is quite the athlete. He's won the UFC Heavyweight Championship. He's been Undisputed WWE World Heavyweight Champion. He's been King of the Ring. Won a Royal Rumble. He even got runner up in a 2nd grade spelling bee Sure he's a beast, and conquerer, but can he spell incarnate? – He dismantled John Cena at Summerslam, and there was much rejoicing. He has defended championship twice, and this will be his third defense since August… BUT you could read a lot more about Brock as I've done 2 parts of a 3 part dissection for Cheap-Heat. Roman Reigns won the Royal Rumble, and there was MUCH less rejoicing. Reigns' return from injury, "Superstar of the Year", and Royal Rumble win did NOT go over well. They had him face off with the "People's Champion", Daniel Bryan at Fastlane. An excellent match that Reigns won. They undid some of the mess they created, but their "Next Big Thing" is still dealing with a moderately negative to hostile crowd especially on TV. Will this match crown a new champion and enter us into a era and establish a Roman Empire? Or will the Beast Incarnate lay waste to the Roman Empire, leaving it in ruins?

Favorite!

Roman Reigns: -200. I think Reigns is winning the match. Though they've done a lot to knock this number down. After Fastlane I would have put this at -500+. If Lesnar IS staying around? There is a damn good chance he could walk out STILL WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Do the crowd reactions impact what creative's plan for Roman are/were? It'll be interesting to see how this plays out, and REALLY interesting to see the reaction if Reigns IS victorious.

Underdog!

Brock Lesnar: +100. Not often Brock is put in the role of underdog. Well he's not really i the underdog ROLE, but just for the gambling. He is a beast and has been handled as such. The Heyman promos blatantly speaking on leaving stink of two things: They really want to get Reigns cheered. AND Lesnar is probably closer to staying than he is to leaving. But the tenor of the promos now about them OWNING the title and doing with it what they want, basically holding it hostage… THAT to me is about a long term story. A story that Roman Reigns could STILL be the man who dethrones Lesnar, just not on this night. Man… I'm nearly talking myself into switching Lesnar to a favorite, but… I WON'T. My own personal fantasy booking shouldn't impact my handicapping.

Prop Bets of the Match!

Over/Under: Lesnar Suplexes on Reigns: 8.5.

Which move happens first: F-5 -300. Spear -200.

Lesnar's Sweat Quotient: Sweatier than most, but not disgusting -250. Oh…My… I didn't think that was humanly possible -100. Puddles on the Mat Even Money.

If Reigns Win We Riot: No -300. Yes +200.

Rollins Cashes In: Yes -50. No +200.

Who Celebrates with Reigns: The Rock -400. The Usos -200. Dean Ambrose: Even Money. The Whole Face Roster +200. The Authority +1000.

Alright Gamblers! You have been armed with the necessary information to go out and make horrible HORRIBLE decisions with your tax returns. May the Force be With You… wait… no. May the Odds be EVER in your Favor. Nah. Probably not the best one to use. Good luck and goodnight. Close enough.

http://www.cheap-heat.com/ring-dissection-ring-dissection-brock-lesnar-2-0-year-2/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/ring-dissection-ring-dissection-brock-lesnar-2-0-year-2/#comments Sun, 15 Mar 2015 22:24:59 +0000 Scott Hayes Blogs Other Blogs Big Show Brock Lesnar CM Punk Extreme Rules HHH MMA Paul Heyman Ric Flair Royal Rumble SummerSlam Triple H UFC Undertaker Wrestlemania WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=10440 Welcome back to the Lab. Where we slice and dice all things pro wrestling. This is another installment of the "Lesnar Dissection". For those of you curious you can see the dissection of "Year 1" right here: Just a reminder I am taking my scalpel to closer examine Lesnar's 3 year run since returning to […]

Welcome back to the Lab. Where we slice and dice all things pro wrestling. This is another installment of the "Lesnar Dissection". For those of you curious you can see the dissection of "Year 1" right here:

Just a reminder I am taking my scalpel to closer examine Lesnar's 3 year run since returning to the WWE the night after Wrestlemania 28. A quick overview. Lesnar came back. Crowd went crazy. F-5'd Cena. Lost the big PPV match. Broke HHH's arm. Won that big PPV match. Lost that PPV rematch at Mania… which leads us to?

The build to this saw a ramp up of some intensity. The story being Brock had made HHH tap out, at Summerslam. Hunter had KO'd Lesnar at Mania with a pedigree on the steps. Lesnar destroyed Trips office at WWE headquarters. The two brawled in a cage on Raw, too. So this is to settle it. A rubber match.

Lesnar came out first, but before he could finish entering, HHH attacked. Driving him into the cage. Hunter dominated the early going, until Brock went for a flying knee, but HHH got out of the way and Brock's knee crashed into the cage which became a focal point for the match. Brock complaining about the knee to Paul. It buckling during an F-5 attempt midway through the match. HHH hitting chop blocks, and using a chair against it… oh yeah… Paul slid a chair into the ring at the behest of the Beast. See… Brock had hit an F-5 and Hunter kicked out. So? They needed to up the ante, so to speak. Back to the action, Hunter continued to work that knee. Again I notice the crowd really isn't into this match… HHH's working of the knee and Brock's selling is great during the middle section of this match. Of course Trips locks in a figure four. Because…

Brock isn't tapping… Hunter is now punching the knee while he has the Figure Four in… BRILLIANT! Lesnar eventually turns it over. Hold gets broke. Brock gets up. Goes to climb out. Gets AAAAAALMOST there and Triple H hits the wounded knee with a chair. Ouchtown: Population, YOU, Brock. In that corner Triple H had hid a sledge up at the top of the cage. Spray painted silver! Lesnar is able to thwart that attempt and gets the sledge in HIS possession, that also goes poorly and Brock ends up in a Sharpshooter. Paul ends up in the ring trying to break it up, and eats a Pedigree! Lesnar also eats a Pedigree and kicks out at Two… PLUS! Heyman low blows Triple H. Lesnar regroups and then nails HHH with the sledgehammer. Hits the F-5 which was just a formality, and scores the pinfall. He places the sledge next to HHH for a little symbolism and limps his way to the back. Easily their best of the three matches. Good story and action throughout. From a booking standpoint I feel they leaned too much on Paul being involved physically and interfering. Heyman slammed the cage door into HHH's head, low blowed him, and was very involved in distracting HHH. Still… brought Brock's record to an even 2-2 since his return.

Brock's next match was to be one for the ages. The story starts with CM Punk and Paul Heyman. Their friendship over the years and Paul managing Punk during his 434 day reign as WWE Champion. At Money in the Bank that year, Paul Heyman turned on Punk (Side note, I was there! Four rows behind the announce table… LOOK FOR ME, in a Cesaro shirt and with a Switzerland Soccer Scarf.) So Punk fought his way through the Heyman Guy B-Team. Axel and Ryback. Working like crazy to get his hands on Paul. Eventually Paul yells "ITS CLOBBERIN' TIME", and we set off for this match at Summerslam.

Hype video for this match was amazing. The match was made No DQ, which they announced on the pre show. That's a head scratcher. Why not hype that up more? Lesnar out first. Punk out second and crowd going CRAZY. I miss "Cult of Personality" as an entrance song. Already this crowd is more live and hype than the three HHH/Lesnar matches COMBINED. Punk tries to come out firing, but gets thrown into the corner and eats shoulders and stomps. Early story was Punk trying to come out hard. Being tenacious, but it not working as Lesnar just manhandling Punk. Eventually Punk hits a big kick and a couple knees and a suicide dive to get some momentum. Punk tried to use the top half of the entrance steps, but Lesnar just shoulder tackles them into Punk… side note: WHY when a HUGE dude snatches up the ring steps the announcers freak out about "THEIR POWER AND STRENGTH", and yet Punk grabs them with relative ease and now one says a word? Don't answer that, it was rhetorical.

Punk dominates on the outside. Hits a diving clothesline off the table, and then notices Heyman. He stalks Heyman, and gets run over by the Beast for his troubles. Lesnar rag dolls Punk across the Spanish Announce Table. Then over the main table… his back hit awkwardly on one of the monitors. Brock overhead belly to belly's Punk, before this match final gets back in the ring. Lesnar clobbers. Punk tries to rally, before Lesnar snuffs it out. Punk's back is bleeding due to the early spot on the announce tables. Lesnar lots of trash talk during this match is great. Him calling himself the Best int he World, and dismissively yelling out to the crowd, "THIS IS YOUR BOY, HUH?"

This match is physical. Brock's knees to the ribs, or Punk's forearm smashes. Lesnar bear hugs Punk and I would immediately tap out at that move… not because of the pain, though I'm sure it could hurt like hell… but cuz Lesnar is so sweaty. I'd just tap out and yell "GET IT OFF ME!" Punk goes for an axe handle smash off the top. Gets caught… clearly Brock forgot his NFL training because nary a fair catch signal was made! Huge fall away slam. Punk fights out and ends up biting Lesnar. Then starts in with kicks galore. Forearms get Lesnar wobbly, and Punk hits a flying knee off the top rope. Then his trademark running high knee into the corner x2… NOPE! x3 – caught by Lesnar – but Punk hits a head kick, and the Macho Man elbow, which was really more splash than elbow. That got a 2… PLUS! Punk signals for the GTS. Lesnar gets out, hoists Punk for the F-5, but Punk gets out and hits a head kick. More great counter wrestling. As Punk again hoists him for the GTS, but Lesnar reverses THAT into the Kimura. Punk tuns that into an arm bar, and eventually gets Lesnar into a triangle. That becomes a deadlift power bomb, but Punk keeps the triangle on. SECOND deadlift, and then running power bomb. "This is Awesome" chant is well deserved. Lesnar hits the Three Amigos. Or… ya know… his version. Which is more raw brute power less smooth when rolling to keep it going.

Lesnar goes to the outside to get a chair. Punk climbs to the top rope and dives onto chair/Lesnar. That one hurt both of them. Chair then used across the brick wall that is Lesnar's back. Match back inside the ropes, Lesnar gets the chair, but then eats a low blow. Punk does a chair assisted elbow drop off the top. I was sure that was it the first time I saw it. Three Minus as Lesnar BARELY kicked out in time. Punk wears out that chair on Lesnar's back some more, UNTIL? Heyman snatches it from him. Now Punk is able to grab Heyaman, but again Lesnar makes the save. Lesnar hoists Punk up, but Punk has Heyman's tie. Which led to a great exchange between Heyman and Lesnar with Lesnar telling Paul to "LET GO!" Punk hit the GTS on Lesnar, but between Paul breaking it up and Lesnar kicking out the match CONTINUES. Punk reversed the F-5 into a DDT, and then locked in the Anaconda Vice. Heyman slid in with a chair, but is cut off. Punk punches Paul and then locks in the Vice. Paul tapping away frantically then a SUPER high velocity chair shot to Punk breaks that up. Nasty shots. Then an F-5 onto that chair puts an end to a spectacular match.

EASILY Lesnar's best match since his return. Great match. Great story. No surprise this was on many a "Year End" list that year.

So then Lesnar went away… for a while. A… LONG… WHILE. Lesnar did a couple appearances leading into Royal Rumble "dislocating" Mark Henry's elbow. Lesnar also started calling himself, or Heyman called him the #1 contender to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Anyway, back to him and Show. At the time Henry and Big Show were besties. This being Big Show's "face" season… cuz Big Show turns like the seasons. So Big Show wanted revenge for his buddy. Lesnar being physically dominated in the run ins with Show leading to:

Lesnar attacks before the bell. Takes Show down. Gets a chair, cuz what is a Lesnar match without weaponry? So he sets off in destroying Show. To give a play by play: Chair shot. Chair shot. Chair shot. Chair shot. Chair Shot. Chair shot. etc. etc. etc. Heyman actually goes to give Brock a NEW chair because the original has taken too much of a beating. Bell finally rings. Lesnar charges in for another chair shot and eats the KO Punch. Each man stumbles around on the outside. Show works the body. Crowd okay for this… clearly they were about to be crazy loud with the insanity that followed in the Rumble. Lesnar ends up F-5ing show… though it was more F-U styled. Quick match. Just a beat down squash type match. Post match Lesnar continued to destroy Show with chair shots. He breaks another chair over Big Show, and Heyman tosses him a THIRD chair. Clearly this was setting up to make Lesnar look as dangerous as possible for his Mania match.

You know I didn't know if we would get to a second Wrestlemania match with Lesnar. Clearly this second year of Lesnar has gone a lot better than the first. Going into Wrestlemania he was on a three match winning streak. Had a Match of the Year contender under his belt, and finally we were lined up to get the match that had been rumored and talked about since Lesnar and Taker crossed paths in an arena at a UFC show. The story for Taker's Mania matches have pretty much been the same for the last 6 or 7 years. "Wrestler X" wants to break the Undertaker's streak. WHAT is the "Undertaker's Streak", you ask? Going into the match the Undertaker had never been defeated at Wrestlemania. He was 21-0. As impressive as that is… that they never had him lose a random match? What's MORE impressive is the Deadman's longevity. This would be his 22nd appearance at the Grandaddy of them all. When it would take 14 Mania's without a Taker appearance to be able to say "Taker appeared at half of all Wrestlemanias?" That's saying something.

Ultimately Lesnar and Heyman were moving forward saying that Lesnar was the Number One Contender. McMahonagement was like, sorry Brock. Here you can have a contract for a match of ANYONE of your choosing. Brock and Heyman were very sad panda'd about this. So they were content to not fight at Mania, but Taker returned. Choke slammed him through a table and boom.

Hype video for this match was stellar, but if there is ONE Thing the WWE does consistently well its these video packages. Heyman saying "He IS the �ONE'"… "All good things DO come to an END." He's more prophet than advocate there. JBL actually mentioned Lesnar's IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Can't remember THAT One being mentioned before.

Entrances end… man that was LLLLLLONG. I love Taker's entrance, but that one felt so long. Brawling to begin. Lesnar overhead belly to belly's the Deadman. Brock clothesline Taker over the top rope, but Taker lands on his feet. Little more brawling. Taker focusing on Brock's shoulder. Slow start with Taker controlling. VINTAGE leg drop on the apron! [/Michael Cole] Snake eyes. Taker goes for a chokeslam, but Lesnar gets out, hoists for the F-5. Taker gets out. Taker misses a running big boot into the corner, and gets hung up on the top rope. Giving Lesnar a body part to work. I notice the crowd is pretty dead for this. I'm guessing its because everyone thought this was a foregone conclusion. Lesnar dominates this for a while. Methodical destruction. Taker turns the tide with a big DDT. He gets rolling. Big running corner splash. Snake eyes. Big Boot. Taker calling for the chokeslam. GREAT chokeslam. Lesnar jumped outta his shoes on that one. TWO… PLUS!

Taker goes for the Tombstone… Brock out F-5! Taker kicks out. Brock stares in disbelief. Crowd starts to come to life. Taker can't get up, but lures in Lesnar and locks in the Hell's Gate. Deadlift power bomb. Not a full lift, but Taker is a big dude. Still impressive. Back to the Hell's Gate. ANOTHER deadlift power bomb. This one Lesnar gets him up. JBL makes a good point. Taker has been on his back for five minutes of this match. Locked in two Hell's Gates, but hasn't been off the mat. Lesnar locks in the kimura. Taker reverses it and locks in a kimura of his own. They battle in the corner after the ring break. Taker goes for old school. Lesnar pulls him down onto his shoulder. F-5… the sequel! Taker kicks out. Lesnar goes into German mode. Hits two. Mounted punches in the corner for Lesnar means Brock is about to go for a LAST RIDE! Taker collapses. Rewatching this Taker legit looks out of it. Tombstone! Cross armed cover… THREE – MINUS!!! Taker sits up. Crowd meekly reacts. Signals for another Tombstone. Hoists him, Lesnar counters that, and gets Taker into F-5 position. That was impressive. Lets make it F-5 the trilogy! And… cue… THIS:

Crowd was stunned. Total disbelief, then grumbling. Booing. A decent "bullshit" chant. No ONE saw this coming. Match was affected by Taker's concussion. It was good, not great, but that finish was so memorable. Also the first match that wasn't filled with weapons or Paul running in, or distracting. The huge standing ovation at the end was touching. Legit concern for if this was the Undertaker's last match especially as the reports filed in about him spending the night in the hospital. Whether or not the finish was called on the fly. Even the ref count felt weird when I watched it live. Watching it THIS time, it was normal. They just booked it so there was no reaction. Bell didn't ring, Brock's music didn't start. They even took a few beats before announcing a winner. They sold the shock so well people at first were thinking someone screwed up. But the production with the crowd shots right after, and the graphic say otherwise.

In Review!

What a difference a year makes. Year one saw Brock's return and was super underwhelming. Year two? Whoa. The best of the Brock vs. Triple H trilogy. A Match of the Year contender with CM Punk at Summerslam. A pretty forgetful, throw away "match" with Big Show, which served its final purpose which was building up to a huge clash against the Undertaker at Wrestlemania. I can't imagine many people were up on thinking Lesnar would end the streak. Hell… I can't recall anyone thinking Lesnar hand any kind of shot. He capped this year in the WWE with a win that trumps any WWE World Championship win. He did something no one thought would happen and most didn't want to happen. The WWE really solidified Lesnar in this campaign. They had a plan for him. They built him well and executed that incredibly well. He was able to put on memorable matches and really cemented himself. I was very on the fence about him returning. I'm not a fan of the part timers. Even if its a "heavier" schedule like Lesnar does, than say when the Rock was around leading into Mania 29. This year helped bring me around. At the very least you have the opportunity to book enthralling matches and have this once in a generation attraction. A legitimate fighter and a great pro wrestler who really found his groove melding those worlds together during this year. They course corrected after year one and came out with a bigger star and box office draw. I look forward to taking a look to his third year. Where we know he had bigger and better things in store!

Scalpels down.

…To Be…CONCLUDED!

http://www.cheap-heat.com/top-20-world-champions-longest-combined-title-reigns/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/top-20-world-champions-longest-combined-title-reigns/#comments Mon, 09 Mar 2015 05:09:27 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Top Lists Andre the Giant AWA Batista Bob Backlund Bret Hart Brock Lesnar bruno sammartino Buddy Rogers Chris Benoit CM Punk Dave Batista Dick Hutton Dory Funk Jr. Dusty Rhodes Eric Bischoff GCW Gene Kiniski Georgia Championship Wrestling Harley Race HHH Hulk Hogan Iron Sheik Jack Brisco Jim Neidhart John Cena Lou Thesz Macho Man Mick Foley National Wrestling Alliance Nature Boy NWA Orville Brown Pat O'Connor Randy Orton Randy Savage Ric Flair Sonny Myers Ted DiBiase The Hitman Triple H WCW Wrestlemania WWE WWF WWWF http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=10279 Top 20 World Champions: Longest Combined Title Reigns Written by Mark Adam Haggerty Nowadays you'll hear wrestling superstars throughout various promotions tout unrivaled success as their title reigns grow longer by the day. The WWE keeps a record of who's held their world championship the longest, however that list includes neither the WCW nor NWA […]

Top 20 World Champions:
Longest Combined Title Reigns
Written by Mark Adam Haggerty

Nowadays you'll hear wrestling superstars throughout various promotions tout unrivaled success as their title reigns grow longer by the day. The WWE keeps a record of who's held their world championship the longest, however that list includes neither the WCW nor NWA World Heavyweight titles. In some cases, it doesn't even include the WWE's own retired big gold belt, the world heavyweight championship. Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Mark Adam Haggerty and after I added the missing championships to the WWE's current list, I came up with a surprising "Top 20 World Champions: Longest Combined Title Reigns."

Note: This list includes all WWE world titles including but not limited to: WWWF Championship, WWF Championship, WWF Undisputed Championship, WWE Championship, World Heavyweight Championship, and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. It also includes the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, as well as the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from its inception in 1948 until September 13, 1993 when World Championship Wrestling left the National Wrestling Alliance. I do not include any TNA/NWA world title reigns, nor current NWA activities involving wrestlers like Rob Conway or Adam Pearce. Sorry.

20. Dave Batista – 544 Days
"The Animal" made his wrestling debut in 2000 and after defeating Triple H at Wrestlemania 21 in 2005, embarked on a championship career that would include six world title reigns. With (2) WWE and (4) WWE World titles to his name, Dave Batista's combined 544 days as champion is just three days shy of exactly one and a half years. He might be last on our list, but he'll go down in history for his longevity as champion.

19. Brock Lesnar – 558 Days and counting…
Brock Lesnar is a highly-decorated multi-sport athlete who entered the WWE in 2002. He became the youngest champion in history, and left the company shortly thereafter to pursue other interests. He returned to the WWE in 2012, where he is currently the reigning World Heavyweight Champion. "The Beast" Brock Lesnar never held the "Big Gold Belt," but his (4) distinct WWE title runs have helped earn him a lasting place in history. Just 15 days shy of #18, it is assumed that Brock Lesnar will move up the ranks regardless of what happens at Wrestlemania 31.

18. "Macho Man" Randy Savage – 573 Days
Randy "Macho Man" Savage won his first world championship after defeating Ted DiBiase in a one-night tournament at Wrestlemania IV. He would lose the gold after a year to Hulk Hogan, and go on to capture it once more before leaving the WWE for supposedly greener pastures. While signed to WCW, the "Macho Man" was positioned as the champion on a number of occasions, winning his first title at World War 3 in 1995. Over the course of his twenty years in the ring, the Macho Man amassed six world titles, (2) in the WWE and (4) in WCW.

17. "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers – 595 Days
Vince McMahon's favorite wrestler is Buddy Rogers, but unfortunately, the first-ever WWE World Heavyweight Champion only held his title for a measly 22 days before being vanquished by Bruno Sammartino. But when taking his reign as NWA World Champion into account, suddenly the original "Nature Boy" is back in the game. For over a year and a half, Buddy Rogers controlled the most prestigious world title in wrestling, and set his 573-day record with just (1) NWA championship run.

16. CM Punk – 622 Days
The longest reigning champion in modern WWE would most certainly be CM Punk who held onto his WWE Heavyweight title for an unprecedented 434 days. While lasting so long without losing one's belt is groundbreaking in itself, added to his (3) world championships, the (2-time) WWE champion has been at the top of the WWE for 622 days. Although no longer competing in the squared circle, it could be quite some time before anybody, past or present, surpasses the leader of the "Straight Edge Society."

15. Orville Brown – 692 Days
Orville Brown defeated Sonny Myers in January 1948 to become the first-ever NWA World Heavyweight Champion. He grew up on a farm in Kansas where he only attended school for one year, because his family couldn't afford anything else. An amateur wrestling manager noticed Orville toward the end of the 1920s, and thought he might have a future as a professional. Orville debuted in 1929 and after nearly 20 years of success, was honored by the newly established National Wrestling Alliance. Orville was just a (1-time) champion, but held onto the strap for 692 days before dropping it to Lou Thesz in November 1949.

14. Bret "The Hitman" Hart – 710 Days
The most prolific championship contender of my childhood was none other than "The Hitman" himself. Bret Hart entered the WWE as an afterthought and quickly climbed the tag team ranks alongside his brother-in-law Jim Neidhart. By 1992, Bret was already a 2-time intercontinental champion and well on his way to winning the world title. He captured the WWE World Heavyweight Champion for the first time in 1992 after defeating Ric Flair, and would go on to become a (5-time) WWE champion, as well as (2-time) world champion with WCW.

13. Randy Orton – 748 Days
The first competitor on our countdown to reach 2-years as champion is the "Legend Killer" Randy Orton. Randy Orton won his first World Heavyweight Champion in 2004 by defeating Chris Benoit to become the youngest World Champion up until that time. Orton has surpassed all expectations during his 15-year career on top of the WWE. He has headlined countless events as a twelve-time heavyweight champion—a (4-time) recipient of the Big Gold Belt, and (8-time) WWE heavyweight title holder.

12. Jack Brisco – 866 Days
The Hall of Fame Brisco Brothers were a formidable tag team and pair of promotors who ran Georgia Championship Wrestling. While the WWE Universe is far more familiar with Gerry, his big brother Jack was the one who held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship an astonishing 866 days. Brisco won the belt from Harley Race after some questionable politics from the Funk Family, but went on to prove himself worthy as a (2-time) NWA World Heavyweight Champion.

11. Pat O'Connor – 903 Days
Throughout the storied legacy of the National Wrestling Alliance, New Zealand-native Pat O'Connor was only the fifth man to be trusted enough to carry the championship belt. He defeated Dick Hutton on January 9, 1959 and proceeded to hold his championship until dropping it to Buddy Rogers in the summer of 1961. O'Connor was caught between promotors in 1960 when Verne Gagne withdrew from the NWA and named O'Connor his champion. Pat O'Connor never defended the AWA belt, and maintained his loyalty as (1-time) NWA World Heavyweight Champion.

10. Gene Kiniski – 1,131 Days
Gene Kiniski spent forty years inside the squared-circle and is still one of the most recognizable wrestlers in the history of the business. What's most impressive about Kiniski's unprecedented 1,131 days as champion, is that he did it without losing his title once. That's right—Gene Kiniski is a (1-time) NWA World Heavyweight title holder and the first man on our countdown to break three years as champion. Gene beat Lou Thesz on January 7, 1966 in St. Louis, Missouri. Thesz would never hold the championship again, but Gene Kiniski successfully defended it until being bested by Dory Funk Jr. on February 11, 1969.

9. Triple H – 1,155 Days
Former (13-time) World Heavyweight Champion Triple H has more to worry about these days than winning and losing matches, as he was recently elected to the WWE Board of Directors. But that's not to say his 1,155 days as champion weren't something to be proud of. Triple H first won the WWF World Heavyweight Champion in August of 1999 from Mick Foley, and has since set the record for third-most title reigns with thirteen. He was gifted the "Big Gold Belt" by Eric Bischoff and became a (5-time) World Heavyweight Champion; along with being a former (8-time) WWE title holder, Triple H has ruled as WWE champion for more than three years.

8. John Cena – 1,394 Days
Despite his divisive effect on wrestling fans around the world, nobody can deny the success John Cena has enjoyed over the past ten years. Coming in at number eight, Cena is the highest-ranking current wrestler on our countdown and holds the record for second-most title reigns with fifteen. His first championship came at Wrestlemania 21 in 2005 and his most recent run as title holder was during the summer of 2015. He is a (3-time) World Heavyweight Champion AKA the "Big Gold Belt," as well as a (12-time) WWE World Heavyweight Champion. It's safe to assume John Cena will be champion again, and if he can hang onto the belt for 169 days, he'll be sure to move up to number seven.

7. Dory Funk Jr. – 1,563 Days
Another man who earned his hallowed reputation as a (1-time) NWA World Heavyweight Champion was the man who defeated the record-setting Gene Kiniski in 1969, the incomparable Dory Funk Jr. The Funk Family is noted for having the only set of sibling champions in NWA history, Dory and his younger brother Terry. The Family was led by beloved patriarch Dory Sr. who sought to establish his sons as the premiere professional wrestlers in the industry. Dory's 1,563 days as champion lasted from 1969 to 1973, and is the second-longest uninterrupted NWA title reign in history.

6. Harley Race – 1,799 Days
Commonly regarded as the toughest man in the business, Harley Race is also among the most decorated and respected individuals to ever enter a wrestling ring. Former (8-time) NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Harley Race managed to maintain his rule as leader of the locker room for 1,799 days. He was contributory in passing the torch to deserving new stars throughout his career such as Jack Brisco, Dusty Rhodes, and Ric Flair. Harley will be fondly remembered for his stint as "King Harley Race" in the WWE, but it's the tattooed, gravelly-voiced ass-kicker from Kansas City that will leave the most-lasting impression.

5. Bob Backlund – 2,138 Days
Bob Backlund came about during a time when professional wrestling had hit an all-time low. The "Bruno-Era" was long-gone and Hulkamania was still six years away. Bob Backlund is a (2-time) WWE World Heavyweight Champion, who first won the honor by defeating "Superstar" Billy Graham in 1978. Backlund won the belt again sixteen years later when he defeated Bret Hart under questionable circumstances, but only managed to hold the championship for three days. Therefore it's his unbroken 2,135 days as champion from 1978 to 1983 that earned Bob Backlund a place in the WWE Hall of Fame.

4. Hulk Hogan – 3,362 Days
Hulk Hogan is perhaps the most successful professional wrestler in history, as his career spanned nearly 30 years and included a dozen world championship honors. Hulk Hogan's first run as WWE World Heavyweight Champion began in 1984 when he defeated the dastardly Iron Sheik. His first reign would last over four years, culminating in a storyline with Andre the Giant and Ted DiBiase. Hogan was a (6-time) WWE World Heavyweight Champion including a final run when he returned in 2002. In addition, Hogan is a (6-time) WCW World Heavyweight Champion, and is the longest reigning WCW champion in history.

3. "Nature Boy" Ric Flar – 3,722 Days
He's not just a "Jet-Flyin' Limousine Rider," he's the record-setting 20-time World Heavyweight Champion, the "Nature Boy" Ric Flair. Contrary to WWE documentation, Ric Flair's (10) NWA (8) WCW and (2) WWE World Heavyweight Championship titles total TWENTY—not SIXTEEN. Ric Flair is perhaps the most decorated wrestler in all of professional wrestling—in addition to his championship accolades, his career has spanned over 40-years, and he is currently the only 2-time WWE Hall of Famer. His (20) World Heavyweight Championships have totaled 3,722 days—nearly 7 times-as-many days as the last person on our list.

2. Lou Thesz – 3,749 Days
Just 291 days shy of the all-time record, Lou Thesz is the second-longest reigning World Heavyweight Champion in professional wrestling history. As (3-time) NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Lou Thesz was on top of the industry for an astronomical 3,749 days—or just over ten years. He holds the record for both combined championship title reigns as well as single uninterrupted periods as champion for the National Wrestling Alliance. Thesz influenced an entire generation of performers and transcended the "Golden Age" of the sport to help establish a new era for professional wrestling.

1. Bruno Sammartino – 4,040 Days
The WWE is right about one thing—Bruno Sammartino is without question the longest reigning World Heavyweight Champion in history. Sammartino immigrated to the United States from Italy in the hopes of capturing the "American Dream," and instead won the world title, which he held for over eleven years. Bruno entered the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013—fifty years removed from first becoming world champion in 1963. Bruno's historic 4,040 day record is comprised of only (2) WWE World Heavyweight title reigns, the first of which lasted 2,803 days.

Will anybody ever come close to Bruno's record, or is Dave Batista's 544-days more attainable for today's Superstars? I think it's interesting that while there are only a handful of modern-day wrestlers on the countdown, all four members of Evolution made the cut. I hope you enjoyed this leisurely stroll through history—until next time this has been Mark Adam Haggerty, reminding you to keep checking out Cheap-Heat and to follow me on Facebook by LIKING "Mark Haggerty's Pro Wrestling."

http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-highlight-of-the-night-the-top-moments-from-raw-5/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-highlight-of-the-night-the-top-moments-from-raw-5/#comments Tue, 03 Mar 2015 23:54:34 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Other Reviews Reviews Top Lists Alundra Blayze Andre the Giant Axelmania Bad News Barrett Batista BNB Booker T Bray Wyatt British Bulldogs Brock Lesnar Bushwhackers CM Punk Curtis Axel Daily Show Daniel Bryan Dolph Ziggler Hart Foundation HHH J&J Security John Cena Jon Stewert Lana Luke Harper Macho Man Madusa NWA R-Truth Randy Orton RAW Rey Mysterio Rikishi Roman Reigns Rusev Seth Rollins Smackdown Stephanie McMahon Sting Strike Force Superstars TNA Triple H Undertaker Wade Barrett WCW Wrestlemania WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=10176 The Highlight of the Night The Top Moments from Raw Written by Mark Adam Haggerty Wrestlemania is only four weeks away, and tonight's episode of Monday Night Raw emanated from my home—the GARDEN STATE of New Jersey! Of course now I live on the West Coast and was in Las Vegas for Ring of Honor […]

The Highlight of the Night
The Top Moments from Raw
Written by Mark Adam Haggerty

Wrestlemania is only four weeks away, and tonight's episode of Monday Night Raw emanated from my home—the GARDEN STATE of New Jersey! Of course now I live on the West Coast and was in Las Vegas for Ring of Honor when all of my friends were heading to the Prudential Center, but I dare say this was the best episode of Raw since the start of the New Year. I'm certainly apprehensive about the upcoming "Grand Daddy of Them All," but if the next three weeks follow tonight's lead, I think we'll be in good shape by the time the "Road to Wrestlemania" ends right here in California. New Jersey has always been a hotbed for independent wrestling, and I think this episode was staggered in a way so that it appealed to the die-hard fans in Newark. My name is Mark Adam Haggerty, with you as always to deliver my "Highlight of the Night"—The Top Moments from Raw. Let's get started with a very special HONORABLE MENTION …

Honorable Mention
Aside from the "Macho Man" Randy Savage, this year's Hall of Fame class leaves quite a bit to be desired. Arnold Schwarzenegger is being advertised based on his one-night appearance on Smackdown in 1999, rather than his close relationship with Superstar Billy Graham and other WWWF Superstars during the 1970s and �80s. The Bushwhackers will always hold a special place in my heart, but can't compare to the British Bulldogs, Strike Force, the Hart Foundation or any number of other teams from that era, who are not in the Hall. Rikishi most certainly deserves the honor, and I'm happy his sons have been tasked with inducted him, but is Rikishi really a big enough name to be the second biggest induction of the year? Tonight the WWE announced another name for this year's class of 2015—a woman who not only belongs in the Hall of Fame, but probably should have gone in long before Trish Stratus and Lita. Of course I'm talking about Madusa AKA Alundra Blayze. I honestly thought that she was blacklisted by the WWE, but I guess that's not the case. Congratulations to the former 3-time WWF Women's champion—I can't wait to see who inducts her in Santa Clara.

5. Bray's Burning Casket
Cheap-Heat's Gary Mastriano is a very talented wrestling journalist, who also happens to be one of my oldest friends—but Gary and I are divided as to how this year's Undertaker storyline is set to play out. When Bray Wyatt appeared in the Undertaker's casket at Fastlane, I received a text from Gary that read: "So am I supposed to be excited by the Undertaker?" Meanwhile, I'm marking out just as much as my first name might suggest. I think this could be a really cool program, however I can certainly understand why Gary has his reservations. The Undertaker has had consistent contests at every Wrestlemania from 23 with Batista, up until 29 against CM Punk. Unfortunately, the "Dead Man's" last outing was such a disappointment that hundreds upon thousands of self-proclaimed "Creatures of the Night" are now turning on the idea of "one more match." Regardless of whether you're excited to see the "Phenom" square off against the "Eater of Worlds," Wyatt has been highly impressive since starting down this path, especially tonight when he set fire to the casket he constructed in honor of the Undertaker. Might we get some sort of stipulation, such as a Casket Match? Will we see the Undertaker before Wrestlemania, or will he save his return for Levi Stadium? Bray's character is so much more defined than the rest of the roster, which could come easier for Superstars playing specific roles, such as a backwoods cult leader in a rocking chair. I'm excited to see how the next three weeks of Raw will go now that Bray Wyatt has already torched one of the Undertaker's signature symbols, and look forward to their meeting on March 29th.

4. The IC Title Belt
Various historians will suggest that the Intercontinental Championship is the most prestigious singles title in the WWE, and while that might have been true once-upon-a-time, the current state of the belt is questionable at best . I remember a six-year period lasting from 2003 until 2008, where the IC championship wasn't defended at Wrestlemania. That's ridiculous—especially when research uncovers an eleven-year streak of defenses broken only by the "Hollywood Backlot Brawl" at Wrestlemania 12. I think it was probably the influx of WCW championships, such as the Cruiserweight and U.S. titles, that watered down the IC belt. When the roster was split, I imagine pushing the Intercontinental Champion as a main eventer might have been the better route to take, rather than introducing a SECOND world championship. All that being said, I think we COULD be on the verge of a new era for the white leather IC belt. Just because the title wasn't defended at one third of all Wrestlemanias, doesn't mean there haven't been an enormity of stellar champions since, including Chris Jericho, Shelton Benjamin, and even Dolph Ziggler. The shenanigans revolving around the "stolen" title belt aside, the opening matchup between Ambrose and Barrett did more than just offer a comedic outlet for R Truth, it introduced each of the key players going forward. I think everyone involved, including the former NWA world champion R Truth, has a good shot at becoming the next champion. I don't want Ambrose to win, as I feel both he and Barrett are the kind of unestablished talent that's tainted the title, especially as Wade has held the belt what—FOUR times, already? Dolph Ziggler and Luke Harper are both incredibly talented workers, either of whom I would be happy to see walk out of Santa Clara holding the championship title high. But truth be told, as much as I love Ron Killings, there's no plausible finish that doesn't include Daniel Bryan wearing the belt, leading 70,000 fans in a "Yes" chant. If the WWE plans to build the U.S. championship with John Cena, then who better to bring back a level of dignity to another historic title belt than Daniel Bryan? I also imagine the WWE isn't interested in another mutiny should Bryan fail to win a big match, particularly at Wrestlemania 31. The intercontinental championship might be a consolation prize for now, but I predict exponential growth for the title and its future holders, mainly due to the countless number of NXT stars set to break through to the main roster.

3. Axelmania!
I pick a lot of my moments based on what they represent, or what they might lead to later on—but this was truly a must-see moment that I dare say isn't going to lead anywhere. John Cena came out and addressed the Newark audience, talking about how he wants to wrestle Rusev at �Mania, but will instead enter his name in the "Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal." This doesn't sit well with Stephanie McMahon for SOME reason—did Cena say anything disrespectful? I understood the idea of Stephanie taking offense to Cena throwing around a name like Andre, but he didn't do it in a blasphemous way. He simply stated that he would be entering the �Battle Royal. The back and forth between the fourth-generation McMahon and the fifteen time world champion was outstanding; I love it when Stephanie gets on her moral high horse in situations like this, suggesting that Cena can't just announce he's in a match—"since when do Superstars book their own matches?" This continued until the BIGGEST pop of the night; as Cena argued with Stephanie, the music hit and Curtis Axel appeared, wearing a Hulkamania-style t-shirt with "Axel" replacing "Hulk." What really moved me about this segment was a combination of how over Curtis Axel was, and how great he came across on the microphone. He's clearly been rehearsing in the mirror, as he didn't slip or stumble, and made every word count in making the overture to challenge John Cena at Wrestlemania. Personally, I would really like to see that match—not more than Cena vs. Rusev II, but I think there's true potential in an Axel/Cena squabble, especially if John Cena can capture the U.S. championship. Axel was in the zone, as he mimicked Hulk Hogan's mannerisms PERFECTLY . But John Cena wasn't done talking just because he was set to compete. In a calm and cool tone, Cena warned Curtis that he should really get out of the ring, because if the match starts, he "will not walk out." The match was a squash, but the story of the segment was the shirt-ripping and pandering by Axel. I'll admit that I've been down on this guy since he split from Paul Heyman, but given his extraordinary pedigree, I think we've just now started to see what the "Axe Man" is capable of.

2. Triple H Fires Booker T
While the showdown between Triple H and Sting is sure to be the biggest match at �Mania, I'm not 100% confident in the way that WWE is structuring their rivalry. For one thing, WCW closed FOURTEEN years ago—why is this program based on WWF's feud with World Championship Wrestling? I think there's a story to be told based on what Booker suggested in the ring with Hunter; perhaps the reason Sting never signed has more to do with the political atmosphere in the WWE, rather than his desire to continue on with the NWA. There's been a lot of rumors in the past about Hunter and his "friends" burying talent before they have a chance to get over, so there's certainly a chance Triple H didn't want Steve Borden stealing his spotlight in 2001. With Rey Mysterio now gone, Booker T is the last vestige of WCW, outside of the U.S. championship, so it makes all the sense in the world for him to get involved in a WCW storyline. I thought Triple H's promo was really good, and it helped fill in the gaps between 2001 and the upcoming match at �Mania. I wasn't sure what to expect when Triple H "fired" Booker T. Obviously he wasn't really fired, this isn't TNA—people aren't terminated on television when they least expect it. But I didn't think he was going to invite Book' back to the announce desk so soon. I thought for sure he would have let the �Universe believe that he fired Booker T, only to have him return the following week. But I guess it worked as a part of what Triple H was trying to convey, and that is the greatest extent of his power in the WWE. I hope to hear from Sting before the match, perhaps he'll have some incite as to how the past fourteen years have been for him as an outsider looking in. I think it's safe to say Sting will go over at Wrestlemania, he'll probably hang around the roster for a year, wrestle Undertaker in Dallas, and go into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2016.

1. "The Daily Show" starring Seth Rollins
It's funny how celebrity involvement works in professional wrestling; oftentimes outside personalities get booed off the stage, as was the case with Kathie Lee and Hoda during their Susan G. Komen cross-promotional appearance. But sometimes a guest clicks in a way that even the most ardent internet fans are impressed, and that's what we had tonight with the Daily Show's Jon Stewart. I was confused as to how a TV show from a Viacom network might interact with Universal properties, but was pleasantly surprised when I heard the official Daily Show theme, and saw a pretty convincing mock-set. Seth was pretty entertaining, and made me laugh on occasion with his routine jabs at Jon Stewart's success as a film director. I respect Jon Stewart because he's obviously a wrestling fan. Both he and his pal Adam Sandler can be seen at multiple events on either side of the country. When Jon listed some of the most influential names in history, such as Bruno, Hogan, and Austin, he clearly knew what he was talking about, which made me trust what he had to say relating to Seth's position at Wrestlemania. Leave it to a comedian to get to the point—"What has the Authority done for Seth Rollins?" As Jon said, it's not Seth in the main event at Wrestlemania, it's not Seth challenging for the world title, and no matter what, it won't be Seth who reigns supreme in California. I really liked the brutal honesty from Stewart, playing Devil's advocate, even suggesting that Seth Rollins might be too good for the Authority. I especially enjoyed Stewart's repartee with J&J Security—I imagine the "Katzenjammer Kids" reference went well over the head of the WWE Universe. In the end, Jon Stewart walked the line of sensibility to perfection; he didn't engage in an official match such as Seth Green, but he also didn't half-ass his appearance as did Al Sharpton. He came to Monday Night Raw with a purpose, and that was to use his enormous celebrity to enhance the developing program between Randy Orton and Seth Rollins. He wasn't there to push a book, or a movie, or even his upcoming comedy special that was mentioned in passing after his appearance. Following the low-blow to Rollins, Jon Stewart ran up the ramp swinging his jacket in victory. When he got to the back, he gave the best interview of the night, frantically inquiring whether or not he was safe backstage. Jon Stewart proved tonight that he is more than just a celebrity, he is a member of the WWE Universe, and for one night , he was a SUPERSTAR!

I'm still not sure what kind of main event to expect out of Brock Lesnar, an unpredictable world champion with no contract in place after �Mania, and Roman Reigns, who has yet to connect with the WWE Universe. I'm quite impressed with the WWE's effort in building up the undercard in such a dynamic way. About three months ago I started writing an article about John Cena as IC champion, and how a Superstar of his magnitude could positively influence the title. I ended up scrapping the idea however, as Cena is now challenging for the U.S. belt and Daniel Bryan is in the intercontinental hunt. I'll be the first to admit that the WWE's current landscape is littered with potholes and pitfalls, but it reminds me of that old saying—about breaking eggs to make an omelet? I think I'll leave you with that. Until next week this has been Mark Adam Haggerty reminding you to keep checking out Cheap-Heat and to follow me on Facebook by LIKING "Mark Haggerty's Pro Wrestling."

http://www.cheap-heat.com/hall-of-fame-hopefuls-part-one-tag-teams/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/hall-of-fame-hopefuls-part-one-tag-teams/#comments Fri, 27 Feb 2015 02:32:39 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Top Lists AWA Ax Billy Gunn Booker T Bret "The Hitman" Hart Bret Hart British Bulldogs Bubba Ray Dudley Buddy "Jack" Roberts Buddy Roberts Chyna Davey Boy Smith Degeneration X Demoltion Devon Dudley Dok Hendrix DX Dynamite Kid ECW Hall of Fame Harlem Heat Hart Foundation HHH HOF IWGP Jacques Rougeau Jerry Lawler Jesse James Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart Jim Neidhart Jimmy "Jam" Garvin Jimmy Garvin Killer Bee's Michael "PS" Hayes Michael Hayes Monday Night RAW New Age Outlaws NJPW Pierre Oullet RAW Raymond Rougeau Rick Steiner Ricky Morton Road Dogg Robert Gibson Scott Steiner SMASH SMW Stampede Championship Wrestling Steiner Brothers Stevie Ray Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy Terry Gordy The Dudley Boyz The Fabulous Freebirds The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers The Rock N' Roll Express TNA Triple H USWA UWF Vince McMahon WCCW WCW Wrestlemania WWC WWE WWF X-Pac http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=10036 Hall of Fame Hopefuls Part One: Tag Teams Written by Mark Adam Haggerty Forgive me for being festive my wrestling brothers and sisters, but I'm in a joyous mood! I always like to say that wrestling is my religion—sort of jokingly, but there's no greater display of my dedication than during Wrestlemania season. Fastlane was […]

Hall of Fame Hopefuls
Part One: Tag Teams
Written by Mark Adam Haggerty

Forgive me for being festive my wrestling brothers and sisters, but I'm in a joyous mood! I always like to say that wrestling is my religion—sort of jokingly, but there's no greater display of my dedication than during Wrestlemania season. Fastlane was the last stop on the "Road to Wrestlemania," a course set to shred the sports entertainment landscape all the way to Santa Clara, California. One of the most enjoyable evenings during the week-long festivities of Wrestlemania is of course the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Although considered by many to be a political gathering of Vince McMahon's closest friends, the Hall of Fame is a night where the WWE Superstars relinquish their spotlight to honor the iconic legends of yesteryear. With over 120 inductees since 1993, only SIX tag teams have ever been added! I thought that was sort of strange, so I compiled a list of TEN renowned wrestling duos whom I feel deserve credit for their contributions to "Sports Entertainment."

The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers
Members: Raymond Rougeau & Jacques Rougeau
Some of the greatest tag teams in history have been family, so it's no surprise that the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers are still remembered nearly 30 years after their WWF debut. Raymond and Jacques were from the Great White North, where their family controlled the highly lucrative Montreal wrestling territory until it was absorbed by the World Wrestling Federation. The brothers debuted together in the late 1970s and were signed by Vince McMahon in 1986. Originally brought in as white-meat babyfaces, the French-Canadians did little to win over their American audiences, and quickly became a pair of detestable heels. The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers never held the WWF tag team championship belts, but they did engage in memorable programs against legendary teams such the British Bulldogs, the Hart Foundation, and the Killer Bees, and even competed at Wrestlemania. Following their run as tag team competitors, Ray Rougeau found a new home behind the French broadcast desk. His brother however, would go on to earn greater accolades than ever before—finally winning the tag team titles alongside Pierre Ouellet, as well as the coveted intercontinental championship during his time as the Mountie. Although the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers never enjoyed the same success as some of their contemporaries, their contributions to the industry are greatly appreciated, as was their insanely catchy theme music. Let's hope these "All American Boys" can find their way into the WWE Hall of Fame sometime in the near future.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express
Members: Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson
One of the most iconic wrestling tandems in history is a duo of singles competitors that might never have met, had another tag team not gotten over in the way that they did. Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson were a pair of high-flying adrenaline junkies who helped develop the faster pace of the 1980s. In 1983, longtime promotor and world champion Jerry "The King" Lawler booked Morton and Gibson as an alternate to the wildly popular Fabulous Ones . Soon enough, the Rock �N' Roll Express surpassed the mold in which they were sculpted and carved out a legacy of their own. The �Express is considered by many to be the greatest tag team in history, perhaps hindered only by their lackluster run in WWF. During their time together, Morton and Gibson won the NWA world tag team titles on four separate occasions, and set the bar with an unprecedented TEN title runs in Smoky Mountain Wrestling. The Rock �N' Roll Express still leaves the station now and again, having made their mark in the NWA/WCW, WWF, ECW, WWC, SMW, USWA, AWA and dozens more around the world. They might not be the greatest team in WWE History , but the Rock �N' Roll Express is certainly worthy of being added to the illustrious WWE Hall of Fame.

The Fabulous Freebirds
Members: Michael "PS" Hayes; Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy; Buddy "Jack" Roberts; Jimmy "Jam" Garvin
If you're wondering why there are four names, you might be surprised to learn that the Fabulous Freebirds revolutionized the rules of tag team wrestling, by creating what's commonly referred to as the "Freebird Rule." When the group took possession of a tag team championship, any two members of the group were allowed to defend the belts interchangeably. The �Freebirds began as a trio comprised of Michael "PS" Hayes, Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy, and Buddy "Jack" Roberts. Eventually they would grow to include Jimmy "Jam" Garvin, and created a legacy which spanned several promotions including the AWA, WCCW, UWF, NWA, WWF and WCW. The �Birds were awarded championships in a variety of territories, but were most highly-regarded for their work in World Class Championship Wrestling down in Dallas. In addition to wrestling, the Fabulous Freebirds fancied themselves a group of songwriters, and recorded a few original anthems such as "Badstreet, U.S.A." The group splintered away from one another throughout the years, with the final incarnation of Hayes and Garvin going their separate ways when Michael "PS" Hayes became Dok Hendrix with the WWF. Since then both Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts have passed, in 2001 and 2012 respectively, leaving but two living members to accept the honor, should the WWE decide the Fabulous Freebirds belong in the Hall of Fame.

Harlem Heat
Members: Booker T & Stevie Ray
Another set of siblings made famous by their tag team acumen are the 10-time WCW world tag team champions Booker T and Stevie Ray—Harlem Heat. They made their debut in 1989, wrestling under their real names before earning their reputation as the Ebony Experience. They were signed by World Championship Wrestling in the early-to-mid �90s where they were renamed Harlem Heat and positioned with Colonel Rob Parker. By the end of 1994, Harlem Heat captured the WCW world tag titles for the very first time. Both Booker and Stevie had successful singles careers following their eventual split; Stevie Ray became the new leader of NWO Black and White as well as a heel faction with Ahmed Johnson and Clarence Mason called "Harlem Heat 2000." Booker T and Stevie Ray each held the world television championship, but Booker did something his big brother never could—he became WCW world heavyweight champion. Booker is already a member of the Hall of Fame due-in-part to his stellar career with the WWE, but also thanks to his extraordinary success as a tag team competitor. Harlem Heat is quite possibly the best tag team in WCW history, but their legacy will forever be held in limbo until the WWE inducts them as a duo.

The New Age Outlaws
Members: The Road Dogg & Billy Gunn
The number one tag team during my childhood was the impractical pairing of the "Road Dogg" Jesse James and "Bad-ass" Billy Gunn. The New Age Outlaws arrived on the scene just as the WWF had all-but given up on two undesirable characters—"Rockabilly" and the "Roadie." The �Outlaws were infused with the same Attitude for which the WWF would soon be known—wearing South Park t-shirts, talking about marijuana, and making sexually explicit gestures became part of their routine on a nightly basis. Billy Gunn was already a proven tag team specialist, and provided the athletic edge, while the Road Dogg functioned as their colorful mouthpiece. In lieu of traditional pre-recorded theme music, Jesse James used their entrance as an opportunity to work the crowd with his refined verbal abilities. In 1998, the New Age Outlaws joined Triple H, X-Pac and Chyna for the second generation of Degeneration X. The �Outlaws won the tag titles five times during their initial run, and once more nearly 15 years later in 2014. Despite a short hiatus while working with TNA, both men are WWE employees once again; Billy Gunn is a trainer for the WWE Performance Center and Brian "Jesse the Road Dogg" James is a producer for Monday Night Raw. No matter what you think of their presentation between the ropes, nobody can deny the fact that the New Age Outlaws were the most popular tag team during the Attitude Era, which is most certainly Hall of Fame-worthy.

The Steiner Brothers
Members: Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner
The first tag team in history to win the WCW, WWF and IWGP titles were Detroit-natives Rick and Scott Rechsteiner, otherwise known as the Steiner Brothers. After competing at the collegiate level, Rick and Scott decided to try their hand at professional wrestling. They made their professional debut in 1989 and would go on to become the NWA/WCW tag team champions seven times. Through WCW's working relationship with New Japan, the brothers were afforded the chance to travel overseas and on two occasions captured the coveted IWGP heavyweight tag team titles. The Steiner Brothers signed with Vince McMahon in 1992 and made their WWF pay-per-view debut at the Royal Rumble 1993. The Steiners won the WWF tag straps twice, but left the company in 1994 shortly after Scott failed to qualify for that year's King of the Ring. They spent the better part of 1995 working for Paul Heyman in Extreme Championship Wrestling, and in 1996 returned home to WCW. Both brothers were the penultimate champions of WCW; Rick dropped his U.S. heavyweight belt at WCW Greed, and Scott lost his world championship just one week later on the last episode of Nitro. Both men relinquished their gold to Booker T. The Steiners have had an historic career that's lasted nearly 30 years and continues to play out on the independent scene today. Maybe the next time Wrestlemania goes to Michigan, we might expect to see the "Dog Faced Gremlin" and the "Big Bad Booty Daddy."

The Dudley Boyz
Members: Bubba Ray Dudley & Devon Dudley
They've been called the most decorated team in professional wrestling history, and it doesn't take more than a minute's worth of research to understand why. Devon and Bubba were originally cast as two members of an ECW stable that also included Spike, Big Dick, Sign Guy, and several others. But it was the synchronistic style of Devon and his "brother" Bubba Ray that wowed audiences and achieved championship accolades all around the world. Their accomplishments are comprised of nearly two dozen distinct title reigns including eight ECW, nine WWE, two TNA, two IWGP, one NWA, and one WCW. The Dudley Boyz are regarded as trailblazers in tag team ladder match competition, and helped introduce the entire world to a concept known simply as "Tables, Ladders, and Chairs." Although they're considered strict tag team wrestlers, both Bubba and Devon have had their share of singles success in the WWE, as well as in TNA. Last month, Bubba Ray Dudley shocked the world when he entered the Royal Rumble at number three, eliminating R Truth and the Miz before being sent over the top rope himself. After nearly a decade working for the number TWO promotion in America, it appears Bubba Ray has finally returned home. Does that mean Devon is also on good terms with the WWE? And if so, when can we expect to see these TNA Hall of Famers honored by the WWE?

The Hart Foundation
Members: Bret "The Hitman" Hart & Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart
Bret "The Hitman" Hart was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006, but might never have become a household name if it wasn't for his brother-in-law. When Bret burst onto the scene, he was "saddled" with the identity of a cowboy, with plans in place for him to ride a horse to the ring. Bret argued against the character, and instead petitioned to work with his sister's husband, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. Vince McMahon was against the idea because he didn't feel Bret possessed the right skillset to convey the evil intentions of a heel. Months later, the WWF finally gave him what he wanted, and booked him alongside both Neidhart and "Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart. The Hart Foundation made their pay-per-view debut at Wrestlemania 2, competing in the 20-man battle royal. The Hart Foundation's greatest rivalry would be against their real-life relatives, the British Bulldogs. The Hart Foundation beat the �Bulldogs on February 7, 1987 to win their first tag team championship. After ten months on top, the Hart Foundation dropped their belts to Strike Force. Bret and Jim turned �face during their dispute with the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers, and eventually split following Wrestlemania 7. The Hart Foundation lasted longer than most WWF tag teams and made history on several occasions against the biggest names in the sport. Bret might already have a Hall of Fame ring, but he's due another so that this legendary tag team may be properly honored.

Demolition
Members: Ax & Smash
It was Steve Jobs who said, "Good artists copy, great artists steal." The WWF has always been regarded as the pinnacle proving-ground for top-drawing talent. Look at the WCW roster in the mid-to-late �90s— ALL former competitors from the World Wrestling Federation. But that isn't to say Vince McMahon hasn't "borrowed" ideas from other promotors throughout the years, most notably his vain attempt at recreating the Road Warriors. In 1987, Animal and Hawk were signed to World Championship Wrestling, the flagship promotion for the National Wrestling Alliance. Fearing he may never get the chance to reap the rewards of the Road Warriors, McMahon opted to craft his own version and introduced the world to Demolition that very same year. Bill Eadie portrayed the hulking powerhouse Ax, while Barry Darsow competed under the name Smash. The pair was booked with Mr. Fuji as their manager, and quickly climbed the ranks of the tag team roster. Ax and Smash won the WWF tag titles from "Strike Force" at Wrestlemania IV and held them a record-setting 478 days before being defeated by Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard. During their first title reign, Demolition turned babyface and feuded with their former manager Fuji and the "Powers of Pain." Both Bill Eadie and Barry Darsow enjoyed longevity as singles performers, but it was as the leather-clad, silver-studded, face-painted Demolition, that either man will always been remembered. Regardless of whether they started in the shadow of the Road Warriors, Demolition created an identity of their own, and deserve recognition for their unprecedented run on top of the WWF tag division.

The British Bulldogs
Members: Davey Boy Smith & The Dynamite Kid
During the early 1970s, David Smith was an aspiring professional wrestler, working throughout the European territory system with his cousin Tom Billington. After years of working side-by-side, the duo was drafted to Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling in Calgary, Alberta. It was there that the real-life cousins were torn apart and made to work against one another, culminating in what was perhaps the BIGGEST program in Stampede history. The quality of their work was so impressive that it attracted eyes from yet-another ocean away, this time in the "Land of the Rising Sun." They brought their battles to New Japan where their rivalry heated up due to the presence of the IWGP junior heavyweight championship. Their feud was incredibly controversial for the time, revolving around whether or not David was a "test tube baby," however the two managed to squash their beef just in time to win the Stampede International tag team championship. They were dubbed the "British Bulldogs" and continued to defend their titles until the WWF bought-out the original Stampede Wrestling, as well as dozens of talent contracts in 1984. The �Bulldogs debuted for the WWF that year and were named "Tag Team of the Year" by the Wrestling Observer in 1985. Smith went on to enjoy a mildly successful singles career, calling himself the "British Bulldog." He was the first-ever WWF European champion, as well as a multiple-time tag team champion. There are quite a few loyal fans lobbying for Davey Boy's inclusion in the Hall of Fame, and I'm most certainly one of them. But where does that leave Tom Billington? I suggest both �Bulldogs have earned their rightful spots in the annals of Sports Entertainment history, and would very much like to see David Hart Smith return to do the honors of inducting both his dad and the "Dynamite Kid."

What do you think? Did I list some of your favorite tag teams, or am I completely off-base? If you're curious about other "Hall of Fame Hopefuls," then you won't want to miss my next installment suggesting some serious CELEBRITY induction scenarios. Until then, this has been Mark Adam Haggerty for Cheap-Heat.com, inviting you to "Like" and follow me on Facebook by searching "Mark Haggerty's Pro Wrestling."