http://www.cheap-heat.com WWE, TNA, ROH, NJPW - Blogs, Reviews, Top Lists, Indy News & Results Sun, 20 Sep 2015 01:35:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.3.1

http://www.cheap-heat.com/best-of-bash-at-the-beach/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/best-of-bash-at-the-beach/#comments Tue, 04 Aug 2015 18:27:08 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Other Blogs Reviews Top Lists Bash at the Beach Beach Blast Cage Match Chris Jericho Dave Meltzer DDP DDP Yoga Dennis Rodman ECW Hulk Hogan Karl Malone Randy Savage Rey Mysterio Ric Flair Rick Rude Star Ratings Sting The Giant Top Matches Ultimo Dragon Vader WCW wrestling WWE WWE Network http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=13305 Summer is in full swing so let's celebrate with a WCW Classic—Bash at the Beach! The Bash—formerly known as Beach Blast—was a wrestling tradition for nine years and hosted some of the most definitive moments in World Championship Wrestling history. The NWO formed, Hulk Hogan debuted, the late Roddy Piper wrestled Ric Flair! I've been […]

Summer is in full swing so let's celebrate with a WCW Classic— Bash at the Beach! The Bash—formerly known as Beach Blast—was a wrestling tradition for nine years and hosted some of the most definitive moments in World Championship Wrestling history. The NWO formed, Hulk Hogan debuted , the late Roddy Piper wrestled Ric Flair! I've been doing a ton of research for an upcoming analysis I think you'll all really enjoy, and have thus been paying particularly close attention to Dave Meltzer's Star Ratings. Instead of writing about why you should watch each Bash at the Beach extravaganza, I've listed Dave's highest rated match and my favorite match, to give you an idea of what kind of action went down at these particular shows.

Note: The "Combined Star Rating" is the average for each show based on match ratings and number of bouts.

Beach Blast 1992 – Mobile Alabama 6/20/92
Dave Meltzer's Top Match: Sting versus Cactus Jack – Falls Count Anywhere – 4 ½ Stars
Mark's Favorite Match: Rick Rude versus Ricky Steamboat – Iron Man Match – 3 ½ Stars
Combined Star Rating: 3 Stars

Beach Blast 1993 – Biloxi Mississippi 7/18/93
Dave Meltzer's Top Match: TIED

Mark's Favorite Match: Ric Flair vs. Barry Windham – NWA World Heavyweight Title – 2 ½ Stars
Combined Star Rating: 2 ВЅ Stars

Bash at the Beach 1994 – Orlando Florida 7/17/94
Dave Meltzer's Top Match: Steve Austin vs. Ricky Steamboat – U.S. Title– 3 ¾ Stars
Mark's Favorite Match: Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair – WCW World Heavyweight Title – 3 ¼ Stars
Combined Star Rating: 2 ВЅ Stars

Bash at the Beach 1995 – Huntington Beach California 7/16/95
Dave Meltzer's Top Match: Ric Flair vs. Macho Man – Lifeguard Match – 2 ¾ Stars
Mark's Favorite Match: Hulk Hogan vs. Vader – Cage Match World Title – 2 ½ Stars
Combined Star Rating: 1 Star

Bash at the Beach 1996 – Daytona Beach Florida 7/7/96
Dave Meltzer's Top Match: Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Psychosis – 4 ¼ Stars
Mark's Top Match: The Outsiders & Hulk Hogan vs. Sting, Macho Man, & Lex Luger – 3 Stars
Combined Star Rating: 2 Вј Stars

Bash at the Beach 1997 – Daytona Beach Florida 7/13/97
Dave Meltzer's Top Match: TIED

Mark's Top Match: Roddy Piper vs. Ric Flair 3 ¼ Stars
Combined Star Rating: 2 ВЅ Stars

Bash at the Beach 1998 – San Diego California 7/12/98
Dave Meltzer's Top Match: Eddie Guerrero vs. Chavo Guerrero – Hair vs. Hair – 3 ¼ Stars
Mark's Top Match: Hulk Hogan & Dennis Rodman vs. DDP & Karl Malone –   -1 ¼ Stars
Combined Star Rating: 1 ВЅ Stars

Bash at the Beach 1999 – Fort Lauderdale Florida 7/11/99
Dave Meltzer's Top Match: The Triad vs. Chris Benoit & Perry Saturn – 3 ½ Stars
Mark's Top Match: Hardcore Junkyard Battle Royal – N/A
Combined Star Rating: ВЅ Star

Bash at the Beach 2000 – Dayton Beach Florida 7/9/00
Dave Meltzer's Top Match: Mike Awesome vs. Scott Steiner – U.S. Title – 3 ¼ Stars
Mark's Top Match: Booker T vs. Jeff Jarrett – World Heavyweight Title – 3 Stars
Combined Star Rating: 1 Вѕ Stars

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/the-shawn-donavan-interview/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-shawn-donavan-interview/#comments Sat, 11 Jul 2015 16:47:29 +0000 B+ Players CH Podcast Interviews B+ Players Backyard Superheroes IWF Lucha Mask New Jersey New York NJPW Philadelphia Pro Wrestling Ravishing Rick Rude ROH Shawn Donavan TNA WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=12847 LISTEN TO “THE SHAWN DONAVAN INTERVIEW” HERE Today’s episode of the B+ Player Podcast features the IWF Heavyweight Champion “Simply Ravishing” Shawn Donovan. Shawn has been wrestling for nearly fifteen years, has appeared for the WWE on occasion, and has been a fan of the sport since the very early 1980s. Listen to how Shawn […]

LISTEN TO “THE SHAWN DONAVAN INTERVIEW” HERE

Today’s episode of the B+ Player Podcast features the IWF Heavyweight Champion “Simply Ravishing” Shawn Donovan. Shawn has been wrestling for nearly fifteen years, has appeared for the WWE on occasion, and has been a fan of the sport since the very early 1980s. Listen to how Shawn entered the business, and who he defeated to become a TWO time IWF Champ. WARNING: There were a few technical issues with Shawn’s Skype feed, so there are a few moments where it sounds like the interview is taking place inside of a CASH REGISTER. It’s not too bad, but we wanted to warn you ahead of time.

We ask Shawn the tough questions and he comes back with some awesome answers. He gives us the straight dope on Kevin Knight, Biggie Biggs, Darren Young and EVEN Tony Torres! Matt has his usual round of fan questions; find out what stores are beneath the champ, and whether or not he carries the belt with him wherever he goes! In addition, we get Shawn’s take on the current state of WWE, the New Japan product, his favorite BATMAN villain of all time [its not the Clock King] and whether or not he’s excited for the upcoming Star Wars sequel.

LISTEN TO “THE SHAWN DONAVAN INTERVIEW” HERE

You can follow “Simply Ravishing” Shawn throughout Social Media on Twitter . Check out his “Keep Calm and Be Simply Ravishing” t-shirt HERE , and watch his Survivor Series commercial below. Shawn is the assistant coach!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Shawn works all over the East Coast, but his home is the Independent Wrestling Federation, owned and operated by Kevin Knight, in Nutley New Jersey. Interested in attending a show, having a birthday party, or training toward your goal of becoming a pro wrestler? Check out their Official Website and Facebook Page for all the details.

LISTEN TO “THE SHAWN DONAVAN INTERVIEW” HERE

http://www.cheap-heat.com/total-nonstop-analysis-tna-lockdown-2615/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/total-nonstop-analysis-tna-lockdown-2615/#comments Mon, 09 Feb 2015 03:35:24 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Blogs Other Blogs Other Reviews Reviews Abyss Angelina Love Austin Aries Awesome Kong BDC Bobby Lashley Bobby Roode Eric Young EY Gunner Havok James Storm Jeff Hardy Jessicka Havok Kenny King Kharma Kurt Angle Lethal Lockdown Lockdown Low Ki Mark Andrews Matt Hardy MVP NWA Rick Rude Rockstar Spud Samoa Joe The Beat Down Clan The Hardy Boyz TNA Tyrus Velvet Sky WCW WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=9580 Total Nonstop Analysis TNA Lockdown 2/6/15 Written by Mark Adam Haggerty When Total Nonstop Action Wrestling began airing their pay-per-view events free-of-charge on cable television, many industry insiders predicted the beginning of the end for the barely thirteen-year-old company. And while TNA has undoubtedly had its struggles since the beginning of 2014, the personalities on […]

Total Nonstop Analysis
TNA Lockdown 2/6/15
Written by Mark Adam Haggerty

When Total Nonstop Action Wrestling began airing their pay-per-view events free-of-charge on cable television, many industry insiders predicted the beginning of the end for the barely thirteen-year-old company. And while TNA has undoubtedly had its struggles since the beginning of 2014, the personalities on Impact are well along the road to recovery and dare I say there is light at the end of the tunnel? These "free-per-views" have been highly enjoyable, but none so much as this evening's Lockdown, filmed just a few weeks ago at the Manhattan Center in New York City. Lockdown is generally the best-selling PPV of the year, and this year's broadcast on Destination America gave a wider audience than ever a chance to see why. From the opening tag team battle to the main event, TNA appears to be working within their wheelhouse again. Let's kick things off with the TNA Tag Team Championship.

TNA Tag Team Championship
Matt & Jeff Hardy vs. James Storm & Abyss (c)
I've been highly critical of both Matt and Jeff Hardy in recent years; Jeff has embarrassed himself on several occasions inside the ring and Matt has always been the other Hardy, for lack of a better word. But this match and their series of in-ring encounters as of late have been nothing short of the Hardy Boyz I knew during the Attitude Era. This match saw the brothers from Cameron, North Carolina challenging Abyss and the leader of the Revolution, James Storm for the TNA world tag team titles. The match is off and running and the Hardy brothers make quick work in proving why it is they defined an era in high risk competition. Before long, fellow Revolution member Manik enters the fray in an effort to aid his fledgling leader James Storm, who's having more than his share of trouble in fending off the tenacious Hardy Boyz. The Hardy's outsmart the Revolution by handcuffing Manik to the cage before he can become too much of a burden and continue to run rough shod over James Storm and Abyss. Jeff pulls off an impressive Whisper in the Wind, followed by a Twist of Fate by Matt on both the Cowboy and the Monster. The Hardys go for a double cover, to which the referee responds with a two-handed double-count, but both members of the Revolution kick out just in time. The action intensifies, and it's around this time that I begin to notice the gaping holes around the cage. I imagine they're for camera operators to get a clear shot of the ring, but then Khoya of the Revolution pulled Matt Hardy through it and to the outside. I guess that's why those holes are there. Matt was on the outside but didn't win as the rules specifically stated the winner must go through the door or over the top. Jeff was now alone inside the ring and climbed to the top of the cage; by the time Jeff reached the top, the Great Sanada was on hand to blind Hardy with a powerful blue mist. Hardy fell back into the cage and back into the lion's den where Storm was waiting with the Last Call Superkick. 1-2-3 and the Revolution retains the TNA tag team titles.

The Revolution got to work assembling a table on the outside of the ring, which stood only a moment before Matt Hardy was power bombed through the wood at the hands of the monstrous Khoya. Another table was draw from under the ring, but by now Jeff was on his feet inside the ring fighting back against the relentless Revolution. The Charismatic Enigma climbed to the top of the cage but was knocked off and crotched on top of the steel door. The Cowboy James Storm ascended the Cage himself and struck Jeff right in the skull with the cowbell he carried into the contest, knocking Jeff off the door, sending him several feet to the ground—landing hard on the steel steps below. The paramedics retrieved Jeff's �broken' body as the fans inside the Manhattan Center cheered him on, chanting: "TNA! TNA! TNA!"

For some strange reason the Beat Down Clan—or rather, TNA management decided that now was a good time for an in-ring promo by MVP and his goons. The segment worked for the better however, as the BDC used their presence in the ring as bait to lure Team Angle out from hiding. Once they had Angle's team mates within their sights, the BDC set to work dismantling their opponents, paying special attention to Gunner. When the dust had cleared, questions arose as to whether Gunner would be cleared to compete in Lethal Lockdown. With hope all but lost, Kurt Angle went to go find Bobby Lashley.

Havok vs. Awesome Kong
For fans of ladies wrestling this match was a dream contest in TNA, and was contested inside the six sides of steel! That's unprecedented! The match began with quite a bit of brawling on the outside—in fact several minutes went by before either behemoth even entered the cage. Kong controlled Havok for the first few moments, walking with swag between strikes and slams. Havok is no pushover, as Taz made mention this contest was talked about before Kong even returned to TNA when Havok first made her presence felt back on Spike TV. Finally the two enter the ring and continue their brawl where both individuals display their respective strengths. Amidst a "Better than Diva's" chant, Josh Matthews broke the fourth wall of wrestling and made mention that Awesome Kong was once a WWE Superstar known as Karma. This goes along with TNA's newfound sense of where they exist in the wrestling food-chain, no longer seeking to compete and rather speaking positively about the entertainment superpower. Kong and Havok exchange chops inside the ring, and each "goozle" one another, hoping for a choke slam to end the bout. But it is the returning Kong that gets the better of Jessicka Havok with a powerful choke slam followed by a powerbomb off the top rope. To add insult to injury, the �Amazing' Amazon finished off the defeated Havok with a big splash from the top, earning the pin fall and reigning supreme in the "Land of the Knockouts."

We see a video recording from two weeks ago featuring Velvet Sky after just receiving her pink slip courtesy of "Feast or Fired." She hugs Angelina Love and explains the situation, apologizing for ruining the Beautiful People, and telling her how awful she feels. Love offers sympathy to her best friend, but smiles when her back is turned as that is one fewer female to stir things up in the Knockout locker room. This was a well-conceived segment, but if it was recorded two weeks ago, why save it for Lockdown—a show that needs to be less about the sizzle, and more about the STEAK ! An ill-timed three minutes in my opinion.

Kurt Angle is looking for the TNA world heavyweight champion Bobby Lashley. Kurt is now desperate as he is still without a fourth member of Team Angle in what is now the eleventh hour. A camera man tells Bobby that Kurt's looking for him; Lashley smiles and says, "I'm not that hard to find."

Eric Young vs. Bobby Roode
The most personal encounter on the card pits "Showtime" Eric Young against the man he cost the TNA world heavyweight title, Bobby Roode. Roode basically demolishes EY for the better part of the match with Eric coming back for a few heel spots before finally succumbing to the punishment. Of the half-dozen matches at Lockdown, this made the best use of the cage itself as Bobby Roode was in no way shy about tossing Young into it without remorse. Finally EY gets the upper hand and uses the cage to his advantage, trapping Roode between the ropes and the steel, and delivering a heinous cross body momentarily crippling the "It Factor" in the process. With the odds turning to either side at the drop of a hat, the leader of the BDC entered the equation and once again used the large holes in the cage—this time to hand EY a steel chair. EY controlled the pace of the match until Roode powered out and called an audible by sling-shotting Young head-first into the cage. As he struggled to his feet, the audience could see the blood flowing from EY's skull. Bobby Roode attempted to end it with a Roode Bomb off the top but to no avail; EY pushed Roode off the top rope and capitalized with a flying elbow drop. By this point Eric Young's face was covered in blood, and referee Earl Hebner wasn't reaching for a latex glove but continuing to call the action. Eric dropped the steel chair on Roode's broken body and climbed the ropes to finish him once and for all. Regardless of whether it was a clever game of possum or the wherewithal to succeed, Bobby Roode rose to his feet and tossed the chair at Young, dazing him for a moment. Once again he used the chair to his advantage, striking his fellow former Team Canada member. Finally, Bobby Roode lifted Eric Young into the air and dropped him on his neck performing a picture-perfect Roode Bomb, earning Bobby Roode a hard-fought victory.

Backstage Bobby Lashley and Kurt Angle have come face to face, but Bobby wants no part of what Kurt has to pitch. "You need us and we need you," Kurt yelled in the champions face, getting physical in the process. "Wake your ass up! Come on Bobby!"

Mark Andrews & Rockstar Spud vs. Tyrus
Mark Andrews AKA "Mandrews" and Rockstar Spud are set to take on Ethan Carter's personal bodyguard Tyrus in a 2-on-1 handicap match, which seems easy enough—except for the imposing nature of Tyrus. The former bodyguard of Snoop Dogg is escorted to the ring by Ethan Carter, debonair as always as he carries the same set of electric clippers that claimed the cowlick of Jeremy Borash just one month ago. Tyrus has the upper hand, dominating the much smaller athletes with a series of clothes lines and body slams, as well as big splashes both on the mat and in the corner turnbuckle. Josh Matthews keeps calling the duo of Spud and Mandrews "Spandrews," which Taz takes issue with by the second time he says it. Spud's ingenuity would save him time and again during the match, but never more so than when he would fight out of a powerbomb and use the opportunity to scale the cage. Now at the top of the six sides of steel, the young cruiserweight from the United Kingdom stared around the arena at the TNA fans in New York City. I couldn't help but recall JR's famous line as Jeff Hardy climbed the ladder in his match with the Undertaker: "Go ahead kid! Make yourself famous!" Spud saw his chance to make history and descended the steel in a fiery blaze, somersaulting into a leg drop over Tyrus' back. The crowd went wild, but before Spud could capitalize, EC3 pulled Mandrews from the match and held him ransom at ringside. Spud went after EC3 in an attempt to save his friend, but his compassion would cost him when Tyrus came out of nowhere with the Asiatic Spike for the win. When the bell sounded, Borash climbed into the ring and let everyone know that it was "scalping time!" He plugged the electric sheers into the broadcast desk and proceeded to go after Spud and Mandrews. However before EC3 could have his fun, Jeremy Borash unplugged the clippers—foiling Ethan Carter's master plan!

Bobby Roode is on hand to give a post-match interview regarding his encounter with Eric Young earlier in the evening. Roode says that it's time to move past his predicament with EY, and it's time to focus on once again becoming the TNA World Heavyweight Champion.

Lethal Lockdown
Team Angle vs. The Beat Down Clan
Lethal Lockdown is an interesting concept not unlike War Games in the NWA/WCW. Two men enter and a coin toss determines the order in which each team sends additional support, thus giving the early advantage to one team. Nobody may win until all eight participants have entered the match, and that is when Lethal Lockdown begins. The first entry is Kenny King, which means the Beat Down Clan will get the early advantage of 2-on-1, 3-on-2, and so forth. His opponent is a wildcard entry in Gunner, who suffered an injury to his arm earlier on the show at the hands of the BDC. I predicted we'd see Gunner lead Team Angle as it makes sense to stack the deck against the babyfaces, and what better way to do that than to feature a handicapped performed in a handicapped situation? Gunner quickly attempts to even the odds and make up for his disadvantage by making early use of the weapons hanging around the cage. By two minutes however, he is at a severe detriment when Low Ki enters at number two for the BDC. Low Ki and King team up on Gunner who has trouble fending off his formidable opponents. I noticed that Kenny King has tights with the New York Skyline and a crown over the Empire State Building. I hope his moniker the "King of New York" is a Manhattan Center-only gimmick. That leads me to wonder if he'll have different tights for other cities that he works? Does he have a pair for his hometown Las Vegas, or how about the return to the Impact Zone in Orlando, Florida? Kenny King could be a modern day "Ravishing" Rick Rude if he keeps his tights game on point. Back to the action: evening the odds for Team Angle is Austin Aries who makes it a tag team situation, followed by the third member of the BDC, Samoa Joe. Joe is the only member of the Beat Down Clan that comes out to his own music. Each new entrant in the match makes a statement by attacking the opposition and quickly retreating into the background so as to allow the next performer the chance to shine. Kurt Angle is the third and possibly last member of his team, and MVP is the fourth and final member of the BDC.

Lethal Lockdown had officially begun as all of the announced participants are now locked inside the six sides of steel. The battle wages back and forth with both teams having equal opportunity at walking away victorious. But the numbers game soon catches up to Team Angle, and the BDC is able to mount a sizeable offense. Each member of Team Angle lay crippled at the hands of the BDC while MVP walked across the canvas with a smile on his face—until the wailing siren of the Destroyer's anthem began to blare. The music hit and the fans inside the Manhattan Center knew that the TNA world heavyweight champion was in the building. But to quote Bobby the "Brain" Heenan at Bash at the Beach 1996: "Yeah, but whose side is he on?" The Destroyer walked to the ring and entered the cage as if a regularly scheduled entrant. He smiled at the BDC, and at his former friend Montel Vontavious Porter. The champion held his hand out to MVP, and they shook. But Bobby didn't let go. He tightened his grip on MVP's hand and the match itself. Soon Team Angle was back in control. Austin Aries, Kurt Angle, and Gunner held Kenny King, Samoa Joe, and Low Ki down in their respective submissions as Lashley turned MVP upside-down and inside-out with his championship Spear. The Destroyer came and concurred on behalf of Team Angle.

Don't take my word for it as my command of the English language is no match for the TNA wrestlers and Knockouts and their ability to shine inside the six sides of steel. I was particularly fond of the grudge match between Bobby Roode and his one-time best friend Eric Young, but if I had to pick a match of the night it'd be tough to choose anything other than Lethal Lockdown. An incredible night with twists and turns; a preview of what's to come in the new TNA maybe? Apparently there was something between Brooke and her former beau Robbie E, but I didn't get that on my DVR—even after rewinding and watching again. So maybe it was cut for time in some markets, if not all of them. Next week TNA promises to answer several questions plaguing the TNA fan community, including: "Where does Lashley stand?" Until next time ladies and gentlemen, my name is Mark Adam Haggerty and this has been "Total Nonstop Analysis."

http://www.cheap-heat.com/educated-guess-royal-rumble-2015/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/educated-guess-royal-rumble-2015/#comments Sat, 24 Jan 2015 05:10:54 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Blogs Other Blogs Adam Rose Bad News Barrett Bella Twins Big E Big Show Billy Gunn Bray Wyatt Brie Bella Brock Lesnar Cesaro Cody Rhodes Damien Sandow Daniel Bryan Dean Ambrose Dolph Ziggler Fandango Goldust J&J Security Jey Uso Jimmy Uso John Cena Kane Kidd Kofi Kingston Konnor Luke Harper Mike Chioda MizDow Money in the Bank Natalya New Age Outlaws New Day Night of Champions Nikki Bella NXT Paige R-Truth Randy Orton Rey Mysterio Ric Flair Rick Rude Ring of Honor Road Dogg Royal Rumble Rusev Ryback Seth Rollins Smackdown Stardust Ted DiBiase The Ascension The Miz The Usos TLC Total Divas Tyson Kidd Viktor Vince McMahon Wrestlemania WWE Xavier Woods http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=9209 Educated Guess: Royal Rumble 2015 Written by Mark Adam Haggerty It's the most wonderful time of the year! When the belt is defended—the mayhem is splendid! As �Mania draws near! It's the most wonderful time of the year! Ladies and gentlemen we are approaching our first stop on the "Road to Wrestlemania." Please gather your […]

Educated Guess:
Royal Rumble 2015
Written by Mark Adam Haggerty

It's the most wonderful time of the year!
When the belt is defended—the mayhem is splendid!
As �Mania draws near! It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Ladies and gentlemen we are approaching our first stop on the "Road to Wrestlemania." Please gather your belongings as we head into the home of hardcore wrestling. Philadelphia has been the site of some magnificent moments in the history of this great sport, and this Sunday the "City of Brotherly Love" will once again host a groundbreaking event like none other. This will be the 28th annual Royal Rumble extravaganza, and for some the stakes couldn't be higher. Brock Lesnar will walk into the Wells Fargo Center with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, but who will be in possession of the title by the end of the night? And what's more intriguing—who will challenge the champion for the precious prize once we're out of the "Fast Lane," and safely inside Levi's Stadium? There are six scheduled matches this weekend, including a preliminary six-man tag and the Royal Rumble battle royal. Who's going to win? Well I can't predict the future, but I can most certainly venture an Educated Guess.

New Day vs. Cesaro, Tyson Kidd, & Adam Rose
Before I begin, there are quite a few tag matches this evening, huh? Everything outside of the �Rumble and the triple threat are tag team bouts. Seems mildly excessive, although I guess this could be Vince's answer to critics claiming tag team wrestling is dead. "Then we'll give �em four tag matches, damn it!" This match will go on during what use to be known as the Free-for-All, the preshow exclusively available on the WWE Network. Last month I watched TLC from a local tavern that was playing the event over regular old cable TV. I was dumbfounded to discover the preshow for pay-per-view audiences features Scott Stanford in the WWE's Connecticut Headquarters, versus the live panel and opening contest you see on the WWE Network. Here we will have the chance to watch the highly talented trio known as the New Day head up against the hodgepodge conglomeration of Cesaro, Tyson Kidd and Adam Rose. I really like the latter three, especially Adam Rose as I think now is the time for Leo Kruger to make his violent return. He's been teasing nuances of his former persona for weeks, and since teaming with Tyson and Cesaro we've seen a ruthless side of Adam Rose, the likes of which we've not be privy since the early days of NXT. Although my favorite team is that belonging to the Swiss Superman, I'll have to go with Big E, Xavier Woods, and Kofi Kingston inside a quick 5 minute match. I don't expect it to go much longer than that, as the Royal Rumble panel is promised to be quite an affair in itself.
Educated Guess: The New Day

The New Age Outlaws vs. The Ascension
It's hard to tell what's going on with Konnor and Viktor. The Ascension appear completely clueless on TV each week, lacking any self-awareness as to how ridiculous and outdated their entire gimmick truly is. What was it they said to a ring full of Legends and Hall of Famers? "Born and bred to rip and shred?" Something like that? Come on—this has to be a rib! Could this be the most tongue-in-cheek booking the WWE's attempted since the Attitude Era? Allow the Ascension to demolish each and every enhancement talent on their way to the top, only to lose whenever they face a legitimate team. And I don't mean a physically imposing team, I mean like… Los Matadores. Or have Too Cool come back again only to snap the Ascension back into shape. But where does that lead? Unfortunately I think the Ascension has fallen victim to an all-too-common ailment known colloquially as "Not Having It"—according to Vince McMahon. I mentioned in a previous article the rumors circulating regarding Vince's hidden agenda to dismiss Triple H's NXT all-stars; since arriving in the WWE the Ascension seems to have gotten goofier by the week. I don't think there's any way the Ascension walks away with a victory. I think this will be a short match with Road Dogg's usual dancing spiel and Billy Gunn's "Fame-Asser" for the win. If the Ascension does happen to emerge with their hands held high, I'll be surprised and highly impressed with the WWE for putting a younger gamble ahead of a worn-out guarantee.
Educated Guess: The New Age Outlaws

The Bella Twins vs. Paige & Natalya
As far as the main roster, there aren't two Divas more formidable than the duo of Paige and Natalya. Both come from decorated wrestling royalty in Canada and the UK respectively, and are without question the most technically-sound women the WWE features on either Raw or Smackdown. I don't think there's any Diva in the locker room who could tangle with either woman in a shoot fight, but this isn't fighting, this is professional wrestling—that's why Nikki Bella is the champion. And what a magnificent champion she really is. Both Bellas have come an extraordinarily long way since starting with no wrestling credentials to their name, but especially Nikki. This time last year I think we'd all agree that Brie is the more mat-savvy of the two, but within the last twelve months Nikki has found herself and hit her stride between the ropes. She plays the classic heel archetype perfectly, the same as Ted DiBiase or even Ric Flair. She has a defined skillset that she puts on display when it's at her advantage, but would much rather win a match through trickery and deceit. I see her cower when her opponents loom near, and it makes me think of how many times Rick Rude would walk around the ring before he was finally set to meet his adversary head-on. I think Nikki is one of the most successful female heels in modern WWE history because the heat she garners comes from a genuine place. While I don't think either Brie or her championship twin sister could hold a candle to their thoroughbred rivals, I imagine the Diva's title holder will be on the winning side of this encounter when the night is through.
Educated Guess: The Bella Twins

WWE Tag Team Championship
The Usos (c) vs. Miz & Mizdow
In case you haven't had your share of comradery and team-work, the next match is—another tag match! This time however, the gold is on the line. Or the bronze. Can we talk about this for a moment? How hideous are those tag team titles. I'm hoping Cody Rhodes returns to his �Dashing' former self, wins the tag titles with someone equally tailored, and proceeds to exchange another gaudy piece of shit for the classic design. Seriously, I don't like to use profanity in my writing but those belts are just the worst. Absolutely dreadful, why would anyone want them? They're not even the real tag titles that can be traced back to 1971, they're apart of the fake lineage started in 2002 with Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit. That's complete and utter horse-shit. So about this match—I really do love tag team wrestling; I think we can all agree that tag matches tend to be faster paced thanks to the various combatants involved. I heard a stat courtesy of Bryan Alvarez on Wrestling Observer Radio, stating that this will be twenty-some-odd times that these two teams have battled since the beginning of their rivalry. I imagine this has to be the final blow-off, because their feud has reached a point where options are limited. The Usos need to start working with another tag team, perhaps Cesaro and Kidd, while the Miz and Mizdow focus on the inevitable break-up program they'll work heading into �Mania.
Educated Guess: The Usos

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Triple Threat
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. John Cena vs. Seth Rollins
Brock Lesnar has only wrestled five matches in the past year, four of which he won, the other he lost by disqualification. Outside of his lackluster blowout with the Big Show at last year's �Rumble, each of Brock's matches has been marred with uncertainty. Of course nobody expected the "Beast" to break the Streak at Wrestlemania in New Orleans. And who could have predicted the way he demolished John Cena at both Summerslam and Night of Champions? This match is just as precarious but brings with it the added element of a third participant—Seth Rollins. I wrote a feature article here at Cheap-Heat, in which I explored the three most plausible outcomes for this match, with a different man emerging victorious in each scenario. While I could make a case for anybody to leave Philadelphia with the championship belt, I think the smart bet is with Mr. Money in the Bank. The only strike Seth has against him is never having held the world title before. Otherwise I think he'd be a much stronger favorite amongst odds makers. I think the most likely situation would feature Seth as a sacrificial lamb, slaughtered from bell to bell by both John Cena and Brock Lesnar, until Cena pulls out an upset by pinning Rollins rather than Lesnar. As any Beast would do, Brock loses his mind and decimates Cena for stealing the championship that nobody could beat him for. Brock then walk out, leaving Seth inside the squared-circle standing across from a dismantled 16-time world champion. With J&J screaming from the sidelines, Seth hands his briefcase to Mike Chioda, and then Lilian Garcia lets us know that Seth Rollins is cashing in his Money in the Bank. It's a predictable proposal that everybody's already pitched, but outside of a clean victory for either John Cena or Brock Lesnar, I think this is Seth's best shot.
Educated Guess: John Cena and then Seth Rollins

The 2015 Royal Rumble
As of my writing this on Friday January 23rd, there have only been seventeen of a total thirty competitors announced for the �Rumble including: Roman Reigns, Daniel Bryan, Rusev, Bad News Barrett, Bray Wyatt, Dean Ambrose, Goldust, Stardust, Big Show, Kane, The Miz, Mizdow, R-Truth, Dolph Ziggler, Ryback, Fandango, and Luke Harper. Not among those listed is of course Erick Rowan who failed to defeat Luke Harper in his qualifying match on Smackdown. Who might fill the additional thirteen empty spots? I'd guess a handful of legends, probably one if not all of the commentators, and potentially the return of Randy Orton. In the mystical fantasy that is my everyday thinking, I'd really like to see some surprise returns from Superstars long-since gone. Maybe Rey Mysterio will be met with more jubilant fanfare this year, as long as he doesn't "steal" Daniel Bryan's spot again. I guess I might as well get down to my prediction as to who's going to win the Royal Rumble and headline Wrestlemania in Santa Clara. After much consideration and weighing the options, I think we will see a final four consisting of Daniel Bryan, Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns, and Kane. The final two, after having vanquished the diabolical heels, will be Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan. Now I could definitely see a Royal Rumble 1994 situation, whereby both individuals fall out of the ring simultaneously, therefore each getting a shot at the belt in the Bay Area. But if I had to choose one winner—I say, "Yes! Yes Yes!" to Daniel Bryan winning the Royal Rumble. As the moments wane and the battle wages, Bryan will use his size and agility to outwrestle and outwit the imposing Samoan with the Superman Punch. Daniel Bryan might also present the greatest number of possibilities as far as championship opponents. If Brock retains, Daniel can play David to his Goliath and overcome the odds. If Cena becomes a 16-time champion, the WWE can play on their real life friendship that's already been exhibited on Total Divas. And if Seth wins his first WWE World Heavyweight title, we'll see two former Ring of Honor champions wrestling on the biggest platform in the entire sport. I think Bryan and Brock would have a phenomenal match; I think Bryan and Cena would have an interesting program; but I can't come up with anything more intense than Daniel Bryan challenging Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in the main event at Wrestlemania 31.
Educated Guess: Daniel Bryan

Though the �Rumble might seem fairly predictable, the outcome of the title match is still anybody's guess. And just because we assume to know who's walking out of Philly the winner, there's always the chance Batista could come back and win it instead. Seriously though, Bryan and Reigns have been tapped for success, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the high octane excitement of a 30-man battle royal. I'm very much looking forward to this Sunday's event as the Royal Rumble is usually one of the best pay-per-views of the year. Remember you can catch all the action through your local cable or satellite providers, or by signing up for the WWE Network for just $9.99. I'm fairly certain the �Network is available in most places, so nobody has an excuse not to check out the 28th annual Royal Rumble. Thank you for joining me again, and I'll see you next month with my Educated Guess about "Fast Lane!"

http://www.cheap-heat.com/lucky-thirteen-3-mustaches-of-the-mat/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/lucky-thirteen-3-mustaches-of-the-mat/#comments Mon, 19 Jan 2015 03:27:25 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Top Lists AWA Blackjack Lanza Blackjack Mulligan Bob Backlund Cody Rhodes Dan "The Beast" Severn Dan Severn Dwayne Johnson Gene Okerlund Goldust Hall of Fame Hulk Hogan Jake "The Snake" Roberts Jake Roberts Magnum TA Mean Gene NXT Ox Baker Ravishing Rick Rude Rick Rude Ring of Honor Rocky Johnson ROH Silas Young Simon Gotch Stardust The Blackjacks The Iron Sheik The Rock The Vaudevillains WCW WWE WWF http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=9005 Lucky Thirteen #3 Mustaches of the Mat Written by Mark Adam Haggerty Is there anything more MANLY than a MUSTACHE? I'm not talking about a goatee or a beard, I'm talking about a fine strip of "face frosting" sculpted expertly betwixt the nose and the lips. Mustaches go hand-in-hand with the ambiguously glamorous and macho […]

Lucky Thirteen #3
Mustaches of the Mat
Written by Mark Adam Haggerty

Is there anything more MANLY than a MUSTACHE? I'm not talking about a goatee or a beard, I'm talking about a fine strip of "face frosting" sculpted expertly betwixt the nose and the lips. Mustaches go hand-in-hand with the ambiguously glamorous and macho world of professional wrestling. Commonly regarded as the first spectator sport in the world, wrestling has long since served to separate the weak from the strong, and to elevate combatants from mere men to immortal icons. So too have mustaches separated superior specimens of masculinity such as Howard Finkel from clean shaven nerdy-boys like John Cena. Ladies and gentlemen my name is Mark Adam Haggerty, taking a break from the serious stuff with this week's, "Lucky Thirteen: Mustaches of the Mat."

13. Silas Young
Although mustaches may appear more synonymous with yesteryear, there are quite a few colorful characters sporting the whiskered look in today's industry as well. Number thirteen on our countdown is Ring of Honor superstar and nephew to Stan Hansen, Silas Young. Silas has garnered the same sort of reputation for rough-housing that "The Lariat" did twenty years ago, although in 2015 his blend of straight forward ass-kicking is less common and therefore an invaluable tool in the repertoire of "The Last Real Man." And how can you tell Silas is a real man? Look no further than that corpulent "cookie duster" swinging under his nose! Silas is only 34 years old but sporting what we've dubbed the "Ron Swanson" makes him look more like a grizzled scout leader than a professional wrestler.

12. Jake "The Snake" Roberts
This mustache from Stone Mountain might not have been the most distinguishing facet of Jake Roberts' character, but it was the scariest! The WWE Hall of Famer otherwise known as "The Snake" never held a WWE title belt, though he still managed to earn a lasting place in the hearts and minds of audiences across the world. Though Jake will probably be most remembered for his reptilian pal Damien, I'd like to think part of his mythos might be attributed to the stylish "snout-snake" he wore proudly across his face as well. Jake's flimsy facial hair is one of the only staches in the business that goes whichever way Jake is thinking—it's like a MOOD MUSTACHE!

11. Cody Rhodes
It's not just smoke and mirrors, Cody Rhodes was truly at the top of his game when that glorious "bro-merang" landed on his lip. The former tag team and intercontinental champion has gone through many changes during his career, currently teaming with half-brother Dustin as "Gold and Stardust." But Cody's most compelling character was most certainly the debonair manscaping savant dubbed "Dashing" Cody Rhodes. While a great deal of wrestlers tend to resemble rapists when they grow their facial hair, Cody was fortunate enough to instead look like a police detective. Working long hours might show around the eyes, but the mustache won't sleep until this case is solved!

10. "Mean" Gene Okerlund
Perhaps less time in the gym makes for more opportunities over the sink, because while there are plenty of mustaches in the wrestling industry, there are few as precise and pristine as the one residing on "Mean" Gene Okerlund. Unlike the rest of the list, Gene never made his wage inside the squared-circle but instead behind the microphone. As the birth of television gave rise to a litany of new jobs, Gene knew there was only one way to make it to the top in the world of broadcasting—a mustache! But not just any old "dirt squirrel" would do, as Okerlund has managed to keep his one of the finest kept patches of facial fur in the business for nearly fifty years.

9. Rocky Johnson
Black guys might complain about the manageability of their hair, but I'll be damned if Rocky Johnson didn't have a set of killer "lip luggage." Highly respected and forever admired as one half of the first-ever African American tag team champions in WWE history, Hall of Famer Rocky Johnson passed his exceptional skills inside the ring along to his son and former World Heavyweight Champion Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. What he didn't pass along were his unbelievable mustache genetics! In 1999 Dwayne had the chance to play his dad on Fox's "That 70's Show," complete with Rocky's signature hair style and of course, that "Lando Calrissian" mustache!

8. Simon Gotch
The next mustachioed marvel on our countdown is none other than NXT's resident strongman Simon Gotch! Simon might appear to be a Victorian Era bodybuilder, but alongside Aiden English he's one half of a modern day tag team down in WWE Developmental called "The Vaudevillains." In addition to performing extraneous outdated exercises, the "Gentleman Bruiser" comes equipped with a waxy upturned mustache fitting the time period with which he identifies. I hope NXT continues to book Simon Gotch on a regular basis, otherwise he'll be free to tie the residents of Orlando to train tracks.

7. The Blackjacks
Have we entered the Wrestling Mustache Hall of Fame since we're talking about Blackjack Mulligan and Blackjack Lanza? The Blackjacks were a dominant and fearsome duo who not only revolutionized tag team wrestling, but did so with style and finesse! Cowboy gimmicks are older than professional wrestling in America, and cheaper to book than a ten-gallon hat. The Blackjacks were different in their style and used their seemingly identical features to their advantage. While most roughnecks might let their entire beard grow in lieu of shaving, the Blackjacks maintained a level of sophistication by styling almost aristocratic mustaches that contrasted magnificently with their dirty vests and leather chaps.

6. The Iron Sheik
Before coming to America, Khosrow Viziri was a body guard for the Shah of Iran and a member of the 1968 Iranian Olympic Team. He came to the United States and after working as an Olympic coach, Viziri entered the sport of professional wrestling and was soon named, "The Iron Sheik." The �Sheik would work in the AWA and WWE and would reach his highest level of success in 1983 when he defeated the 6-year reigning WWF Champion Bob Backlund. Despite his valiant efforts in the ring, the �Sheik will probably be most remembered for his outlandish escapades since retiring including various "shoot interviews" and YouTube appearances. But through it all, The Iron Sheik manages to maintain the same spectacular "nose neighbor" he's had since winning the championship in 1983. That's thirty-two years-worth of mustache wax.

5. Dan "The Beast" Severn
Before Brock Lesnar there was only one beast of professional wrestling and mixed martial arts, and it as Dan Severn. Aside from being the most legitimately lethal man on the countdown, Dan is also the friendliest- looking. Dan Severn didn't have any sort of extensive stay in the WWE, but it was long enough to warrant an action figure be made complete with "dad stache." Don't let his kind hearted appearance fool you, Severn was an acclaimed pioneer in the early days of �Ultimate Fighting,' and held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship twice. I feel as though I have to convince nonbelievers how terrifying this man can be, because his insanely practical "ketchup catcher" makes him look like an �80s sitcom dad.

4. Magnum T.A.
Perhaps more than anyone else on the countdown, Magnum T.A.'s gimmick was that he had a really cool mustache. For anyone that doesn't know, apparently there was a show starring Tom Sellek called, "Magnum P.I." and he was a detective or a bus driver or something. I'm not exactly sure because I just skimmed the Wikipedia article on it. I was born in 1986 so I know Tom Sellek as Monica's old boyfriend on "Friends." Magnum T.A. is far more memorable to a wrestling nerd like me and he's famous for being the "megastar that never was." Magnum's popularity and look combined with stellar work-rate had him poised to replace Hulk Hogan on top of the industry, until a near-fatal car accident left him paralyzed. Although his career was cut dramatically short, Magnum had a helluva run and still has one hell of a Tom Sellek mustache.

3. "Ravishing" Rick Rude
His body's chiseled, abs all in a row; you'd think he was sculpted by Michelangelo. But what about the epitome of manliness tucked away in the center of his face, why doesn't his WCW theme song talk about the absolutely diabolical mustache that so greatly added to the overall evil appeal of Rick Rude? The late "Ravishing" Rick Rude had an unbelievable career and won several titles including the WWF Intercontinental and the WCW International World Heavyweight Championships. The Ravishing One was a founding member of D-Generation X in 1997, because what's more X-Rated than a certifiably pornographic mustache? Although similar to the "face lace" on the lip of Magnum T.A., Rick Rude's cavalier persona made his mustache less heroic and therefore similar to that of Burt "Turd Ferguson" Reynolds. The world lost two legends on April 20, 1999: the unequivocally talented "Ravishing" Rick Rude—and his highly decorated, veteran "lady tickler."

2. Hulk Hogan
When it comes crashing down and it hurts inside, it's probably a big leg drop brother! Hulk Hogan is arguably the biggest draw in the history of professional wrestling. Now while I'll admit the initial Hulkamania boom had a lot to do with a successful marketing campaign, that sandy "womb broom" of Terry Bollea couldn't have hurt matters much—especially in the 1980's! Sure, talk about his champion titles and record-setting main events and movies and pasta restaurants and reality TV show and murderously irresponsible children—all I want to talk about is that golden handlebar that's always glistening regardless of what decade it's in. The �80s "Bro-gan" was basic with very little character, but over time it grew and whether it's posted up against a freshly shaved chin, or amidst a crop of NWO black stubble, the �Hogan Stache' is the number two stache in wrestling history. BROTHER!

1. Ox Baker
The number one mustache in wrestling history belongs to a much-beloved wrestler, actor, and all-around legend in the world of erratic facial hair—Ox Baker. For many of us born in the late 1980's, Ox isn't a wrestling character we're readily aware of, but he was a legend in the early years of the WWWF and in the waning days of the territory system. In addition to his wrestling accolades, Ox made several cinematic appearances in movies such as "Escape from New York," "The Big Brawl," and as a contestant on "The Price is Right" in 1981. To help convey his unpredictable presence between the ropes, Ox grew a large bristly mustache that grew outward and reached down beneath his chin. Fans across the world were saddened in 2014 when Baker passed at the age of 80, mustache still intact.

I hope you enjoyed this unprecedented look at the Top Mustaches in Professional Wrestling History, or "Mustaches of the Mat." My name is Mark Adam Haggerty reminding you that I'll be back next week with another Lucky 13 Countdown. Until then be sure to catch up on my most recent reviews and columns, exclusively available at Cheap-Heat!