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/the-kilq-rules-but-does-the-dvd/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-kilq-rules-but-does-the-dvd/#comments Wed, 29 Jul 2015 01:19:07 +0000 Gregory Iron Blogs Wrestler Blogs DX Kevin Nash nWo Scott Hall Shawn Michaels The kliq http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=13200 I have Netflix, like so many others on the planet. There are lots of categories to choose from: Comedy. Horror. Sci-Fi. Action-Adventure. Musicals. It even gives you a selection of movies and TV shows to watch based on previous views. “Because You Watched Face/Off.” “Because You Watched Happy Gilmore.” “Because You Watched Pride & Prejudice.” […]

I have Netflix, like so many others on the planet. There are lots of categories to choose from: Comedy. Horror. Sci-Fi. Action-Adventure. Musicals. It even gives you a selection of movies and TV shows to watch based on previous views. “Because You Watched Face/Off.” “Because You Watched Happy Gilmore.” “Because You Watched Pride & Prejudice.”

Disregard that last one.

Point being– there are a lot of choices on Netflix. My absolute favorite category on the streaming service would have to be the documentaries. Being a wrestler, there isn’t any type of documentary that I enjoy more than wrestling documentaries, and it’s no secret that WWE has made some of the best wrestling related docs in the last decade, setting the bar at a new level with “The Rise And Fall of ECW” back in 2004. Since that WWE Home Video release, it’s been pretty much a given that on the day that they come out, I go out and pick up the latest doc offering from WWE. Today was no different with the release of “WWE: The Kliq Rules.”

Going into it, I didn’t have high expectations for it. Two months ago, when WWE released Jerry Lawler’s WWE DVD, I wasn’t completely satisfied. It wasn’t bad by any means– I just felt like it could have been better. While they covered more of Lawler’s Memphis run than I had anticipated, they completely glaze over almost all of his WWE feuds.

I’m getting off topic, though. This is about “The Kliq Rules.” When the chapters leaked out onto the internet, it didn’t seem too long of a doc. The selection of matches seemed– too sweet– but I had seen all of them but one. Living in a time where the WWE Network is a thing, I guessed that this documentary would run about an hour in length, and be a rehash of a lot of previous footage, interviews, and topics. I mean, how many times can we discuss the formation of the nWo, the formation of DX, В the Monday Night War, etcetera, without it feeling old..?

I’m happy to say that I was wrong in my thinking.

The only thing I got correct was the documentary length, which is 1 hour and 6 minutes. Other than that, right from the beginning, “The Kliq Rules” felt like a fresh offering from WWE. Since the release of CM Punk’s WWE biography in 2012, WWE seems to try and differ the way that the cold opens begin the docs, trying to make them feel like actual documentaries instead of a cookie cutter WWE docs of old:

Here’s a cold open video package.

Here’s where this person/people were born.

Here’s some interviews.

Here’s how they get into wrestling.

Then this happened.

Interviews.

This happened.

Interviews.

Continue on down the time line and insert interviews when needed.

Ending.

The documentary starts with a shot on Shawn Michaels, with the individual behind the camera asking, “Why do we think that we’re still talking about The Kliq twenty years later?” It segues into an intimate discussion between Shawn, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Sean Waltman, and Triple H in a locker room at a WWE live event. After a brief video package, it explains how all of the members of The Kliq met, starting with Shawn and Hall meeting all the way back in 1985 in Kansas City, and ending with Triple H joining the group behind the scenes of the WWF in 1995.

This is followed by stories like how The Kliq named came about (it was believed that Lex Luger dubbed the group as The Kliq, but in a new interview, Luger divulges who actually originated it), and the orgin of the infamous Kliq “Too Sweet” hand gesture. To my surprise, new interviews featuring The Godfather and Rikishi gives us a rare look into the backstage BSK group, featuring them, The Undertaker, The Godwins, and Yokozuna, how they came to be, and their thoughts on The Kliq and their backstage power.

We also get a closer look into the infamous “Curtain Call” at Madison Square Garden from May 19th, 1996, not only from The Kliq themselves and Vince McMahon, but from the perspective of Mani and Jason, the two fans that recorded the only existing footage of the incident on that faithful night. It gives the moment a fresh coat of paint and almost makes it feel new again. It also, of course, touches on Nash and Hall leaving for WCW, DX, and how The Kliq felt as though they were running the business with “Kliq North” and “Kliq South,” among other things.

In between all of this footage, we get a behind the scenes look at banter between the infamous five leading up to the inductions of Scott Hall and Kevin Nash during their respective WWE Hall of Fame inductions.

Is the DVD a must have, right now?

If you love wrestling documentaries like me, haven’t seen many of the matches featured in the extras, or just want to revisit some of The Kliq’s best matches, the DVD or blu ray won’t leave you disappointed. I liked the new interviews and content, however, I will say that some moments did feel like, “I’ve kinda already watched this.” Overall, I enjoyed rewatching them, but I can’t say that everyone else will.

If you have patience, have no interest in revisiting those matches, and have the WWE Network, I think you can save the $22.99 and watch it on the Network in 6 months. If you can find it for a deal, though (I found the newly released Daniel Bryan blu ray last month at Best Buy for just $9.99), I say pick it up!

Was this review helpful? Is this something you’d like to see me do more often in this article? Let me know!

-Greg

http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-b-players-podcast-april-20th-2015-the-matt-hardys-not-getting-drafted-draft/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-b-players-podcast-april-20th-2015-the-matt-hardys-not-getting-drafted-draft/#comments Thu, 23 Apr 2015 04:24:12 +0000 B+ Players CH Podcast AJ Styles Dwayne Johnson Extreme Rules HBK John Cena Matt Hardy Patrick Bean Shawn Michaels The Rock WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=11267 The B+ Players Podcast – April 20th 2015 The "Matt Hardy's Not Getting Drafted" Draft This week the B+ Players are joined by "Outsider's Edge" host Dario Rivera for the FIRST ANNUAL "Matt Hardy's Not Getting Drafted" FANTASY DRAFT. All four individuals have a chance to build their own promotions complete with broadcasters, referees, title […]

The B+ Players Podcast – April 20th 2015

This week the B+ Players are joined by "Outsider's Edge" host Dario Rivera for the FIRST ANNUAL "Matt Hardy's Not Getting Drafted" FANTASY DRAFT. All four individuals have a chance to build their own promotions complete with broadcasters, referees, title belts, and TEN rounds of Superstar Selections.

Host Mark Adam Haggerty's Southern California �Rasslin' Federation known as S.C.R.E.W. went with AJ Styles in the first round. "PG" Matt Sloyan opted for a promo-heavy promotion called Curtain Call Wrestling, and went with Shawn Michaels as his first draft pick. Dario Rivera's New Age Wrestling is an action-packed, youth-oriented company—Dario received the very first draft pick and went with the 15-time WWE Champion, John Cena. And lastly, Gary Mastriano abandoned all semblance of sanity and created A.W.E.S.O.M.E., which is more of a Saturday Morning cartoon than a wrestling promotion, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

What other 36 Superstars did the guys select, and more importantly—who went unchosen altogether? Join the "B+ Players" for another fun-filled program that doesn't take anything too seriously. Please like us on Facebook at "The B+ Players," and share our show with your friends in Social Media. We post two shows a week including the Sunday news program the "Outsider's Edge with Dario Rivera," and look forward to adding new content to our Network as time goes on.

B+ Player Podcast "Matt Hardys Not Getting Drafted" Draft

Next week will be our Extreme Rules reaction show featuring very special guests from Cheap-Heat.com, and the following week will be a no holds barred discussion about pro wrestling in 1997 with the very funny comedian Patrick Bean.

Twitter info:
Mark Adam Haggerty – @TapeTraderz
Gary Mastriano – @BPlayerPodcast
"PG" Matt Sloyan – @TheMattSloyan
Dario Rivera – @DarioRTWC

http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-ocho-wrestlers-i-miss/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-ocho-wrestlers-i-miss/#comments Wed, 15 Apr 2015 20:49:41 +0000 Scott Hayes Top Lists Brian Pillman CM Punk ECW Eddie Guerrero Edge Extreme Championship Wrestling Hall of Fame HBK Hollywood Blondes Kurt Angle MMA New Japan Pro Wrestling NJPW Owen Hart Ring of Honor ROH Shawn Michaels Shelton Benjamin Tajiri The Ocho UFC WCW World Championship Wrestling World Wrestling Entertainment Wrestle Kingdom 9 WWE WWF http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=11141 In this 2015 the "Year of the List", I sat down and figured… Why not ME? Why not MY LIST?! SO? Ladies, and Gentlemen, Cheap-Heaters of all literacy levels? Welcome to: I am Pepper Brooks… or at the very least I AM wearing sunglasses and haven't combed my hair, but do lack the neck tattoos […]

In this 2015 the "Year of the List", I sat down and figured… Why not ME? Why not MY LIST?!

SO? Ladies, and Gentlemen, Cheap-Heaters of all literacy levels? Welcome to:

I am Pepper Brooks… or at the very least I AM wearing sunglasses and haven't combed my hair, but do lack the neck tattoos of the above pictured, fictitious Dodgeball color commentator. Tonight I'm bringing you a simple list and I urge you to share yours.

The OCHO: Wrestlers I Miss

This is vague, and in a couple instances these wrestlers might still be active, but I don't see their work (My #1 definitely falls under this umbrella… BOOM! TEASERS!)

Edge rose through the ranks during the Attitude Era, debuting as something of a Vampire Slayer and feuding with WWE's resident Vampire, Gangrel. Eventually he worked his way out of that, was one half of one of the Era's greatest tag teams, in Edge and Christian, and showed a lot of versatility both in the ring and on the mic. He was wildly entertaining and as the "Rated R Superstar" reached new levels of popularity and success. Unfortunately a neck injury forced him to hang up the boots. He also was part of the greatest era of Smackdown which also leaned heavily on THIS man…

Similar to Edge in that he was a total package. Debuted in the WWE with the "Radicalz", after having lots of success in both ECW and WCW. In WWE was part of so many memorable stories and segments. Be it tagging with Chavo in Los Guerreros, or the genesis for "Latino Heat". His win over Brock Lesnar and celebration is something I'll always remember. In ring he was damn near peerless, and something that stood out to me, is when he was out there in an arena? He seemed to enjoy the hell out of everything he did. Of course Eddie was in ECW and so was he!

Okay… when I started this I wasn't thinking it'd be THIS heavy. Pillman was one of my favorites when I became a wrestling fan in the early to mid 90s, watching WCW. Hollywood Blondes are one of my favorite tag teams of all time. Then his stuff in ECW and eventually bringing the Loose Cannon to WWF was spectacular. I think any of us during that time will remember the manic eyes, and of course Pillman pointing a gun at Stone Cold. Injuries kept him out of a WWE ring for most of his time there, before his untimely death in October of 1997. Pillman was part of a stable with…

I swear… I really wasn't supposed to be like this. The theme going so far for me is talented in ring competitors and guys who could entertain in any segment they were involved in. Owen was my Hart family member of choice. I always felt like he got lost in the shuffle during that era. After the Montreal Screwjob and basically the entire Hart Foundation had left and it seemed uncertain as to WHAT Owen would do, he returned and attacked….

YAY! This one isn't sad! Shawn Michaels is arguably the greatest in ring competitor this business has ever seen. He is a WWE Hall of Famer, and I can't recall a bad match the man was in. His ego was on par with his talent, and in both cases he was many times head and shoulders above everyone around him. You don't get nicknames like "The Showstopper", and "Mr. Wrestlemania" to stick without having the chops to back it up. I still hope for one more match from Michaels, though I'm guessing that is not going to happen. Michaels really could have great matches with anyone, but put him in the ring with someone like this?

And it would be magical. Stop screaming. I KNOW Shelton is still active. Hell, I saw his match at Wrestlekingdom 9. I know he has been involved with RoH, but I don't follow Ring of Honor close enough to know if that is still an ongoing place of employment for Benjamin. Doesn't mean I see him regularly. Also doesn't mean I can't miss him. One of the greatest athletes the WWE has ever had in their ring. One of a generation of performers they brought in from the world of Amateur wrestling, and a guy who was close friends with Brock Lesnar… so why not bring him in too to make sure Brock was happy? Introduced to us as a "Tag Team" presented to Kurt Angle (Team Angle… eventually "Worlds Greatest Tag Team") Shelton could do anything in the ring. He could do it smoothly. He could do it powerfully. If I'd do an OCHO of "guys they dropped the ball with"? He'd be at or near the top of the list. And he had some good matches in the WWE with…

I'm not alone in missing CM Punk. So many different ways he could have been used the last year. Especially with Lesnar being the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. A guy who was valuable and memorable in any segment on the show. One of the best promos in wrestling. One of the best wrestlers. Not having him around, stinks. But… ladies and gentlemen? Just because we miss him doesn't mean we have to chant for him whenever for whatever reason his name pops into his head… just something to keep in mind. You know who WOULDN'T randomly chant "CM PUNK"?

Yes, Like Shelton I'm acutely aware that he's still active. Well I THINK he's still active. I'm not positive of such things. But Tajiri is one of my favorites. From his arrival in ECW through his WWE run, I was always entertained by him. Super underrated. He could be a standout in backstage segments, and wouldn't speak a word. His non verbals were spectacular. While the rest of the list was set up so I could loosely tie them together? Tajiri is the top of the list for me.

So what about you? Who are the wrestlers you miss the most?

http://www.cheap-heat.com/top-ten-wwe-stars-of-tomorrow/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/top-ten-wwe-stars-of-tomorrow/#comments Mon, 06 Apr 2015 20:49:25 +0000 Bill Wright Top Lists Adrian Neville Baron Corbin Bray Wyatt Cesaro Charlotte Colin Cassady Dean Ambrose Hideo Itami Kalisto Kevin Owens Luke Harper Neville NXT Paige Roman Reigns Ryback Seth Rollins Shawn Michaels Triple H WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=10941 Wrestlemania 31 was a huge success, the WWE network is growing and all because WWE is looking to the future. The company is always ahead of trends and adapting to modern society. In doing so they are making way for the future of WWE and this is my watch list for the top guys of […]

Wrestlemania 31 was a huge success, the WWE network is growing and all because WWE is looking to the future.

The company is always ahead of trends and adapting to modern society. In doing so they are making way for the future of WWE and this is my watch list for the top guys of tomorrow and why.

In no particular order and with few surprises I give you, the future.

Cesaro:
The Swiss Superman, original indy superstar, and international sensation has made his way into multiple WWE title runs. While the Big Push as alluded him thus far, it seems Cesaro knows enough about the inner politics of WWE to position himself in ways to stay relevant.

First, an Andre Battle Royal winner, to Heyman guy, to almost Authority guy. Then just when it looks like WWE starts to forget the in-ring gem they have with him, he reinvents himself in another stellar tag-team with Tyson Kidd. Now he walks in and out of Wrestlemania with Tag Team Gold!

Trust me when I say that the best has yet to come with Cesaro. This guy is a throwback WRESTLER that has more tools than most technical legends before him.

Watch Cesaro find his way to not only WWE gold but the Hall of Fame in time.

Neville:
I saw Pac in the indy’s before he got bodybuilder big. Before nXt, and WWE his skills were so above average that he would inevitably reach the top. He was the longest reigning nXt champion, and will in time change the way this game is played.

Power, speed, endurance, uncanny agility. If X-Men were real, then this kid would be identified as a mutant. His in ring ability is inhuman and gives a stellar performance each and every time.

Neville is a real life superhero and greatness is his destiny.

Sure he is small but no great before him can do what he does, Undertaker, Austin, Rock, Cena, Hogan all were great in their time but none could touch this kids all around ability. Even Guerrero, and Mysterio were high flying greats but Neville is a super human and can do things at speeds and with crisp accuracy that I feel they would be jealous of.

He could be bigger than even HBK one day if he is allowed to shine, and with Triple H in his corner, greatness is the only thing I believe Neville can attain.

Kalisto:
I can only use the metahuman gimmick once in this article. But if there was another on the roster it’d be this kid.

In fact if Neville and Kalisto have a match I think we would all have to record and play it back in slow motion in order to see it, otherwise after intros it would just be a ring of blurring lines and color. This is guy is the next Rey Jr. He has saved Sin Cara and made the Lucha Dragons a sensation.

Personally I can not wait to see this young mans legacy grow.

Charlotte:
In my opinion this woman is the genuine article. The Natural Girl, genetically superior, and born from a true legacy. Charlotte ia innovative, athletic, aggressive, and gets It… Oh and has It!

Few female performers can out wrestle guys and this one can. In fact I think she can out wrestle Ric himself. If you liked Lita and Trish and AJ, then just wait to see what this all star Diva is gonna do next!

The undisputed future of womens wrestling is and comes from Charlotte!

Seth Rollins:
Sure he is WWE champ now, but this is the start of his legacy. Every other star on this list will one day rank some of their best matches and feuds as ones against Seth Rollins. He has all the tools to wrestle against any style, and hang with any star.

He is a hybrid of Triple H and Shawn Michaels.

The Arcitect has exciting moves, solid promos, and the look and charisma WWE looks for. Watch as this star will rise and rise again in the future of WWE!

Roman Reigns:
Yes he has a rough road ahead, and truth is with all the heat he is getting, a heel turn is sooner than later. But I firmly disagree with the Haters, he may not of experience, not like Rollins and Ambrose that have years behind them in sharpening their tools.

On the other hand Roman has all the right tools and has all the right teachers.

The Samoan Badass will one day make marks and haters eat their words, and thus who hold their ground against him… Well he will laugh at from is multi-million dollar home.

You think Reigns needs WWE? Rock could get him in hollywood in a heartbeat with his pretty boy looks. No, WWE wants Reigns long term and for good reason. He is an A plus player just in need of seasoning.

Like it or hate it the Roman Empire is the future of the WWE!

Dean Ambrose:
Take one part Stone Cold Steve Austin, one part Rowdy Roddy Piper, one part Macho Man Randy Savage, stir it together and what you have may look similar to Dean Ambrose. This guy appeals to the audience, and unpredictable element wherever he goes. The guy has both innovation and takes extreme calculated risks.

While he is being used as a midcarder now, there is no doubt WWE is on the edge of pushing Ambrose to the moon! Just don’t be surprised when he uses the moon as a platform to jump off and elbow someone to the earths crust!

Kevin Owens:
KO baby! Now maybe you can, but I can not remember anyone who debuted to the reception that this guy did. His rookie year reads like a Lesnar resume. He enters in Beast Mode, and stays in it.

The guy is fast and agile, a pure powerhouse, who is as good a wrestler as he is brawler. Oh, and he flies!

Triple H promised an epic debut and Kevin Owens hasn’t slowed down yet.

I believe you are looking at a legend in Kevin Owens, one with a legacy that could one day compare with indeed the very best ever.

Bray Wyatt:
You have the new face of fear, a man who is just as relevant with or with out back up. A man who is already becoming one of the vest personalities if not mythologies WWE has ever created.

This cult like persona, has the power and skills to deliver great matches regardless of the outcome. Better yet we are only two years into the pro career of Wyatt, and I have a sneaking suspicion that we have not seen the last of His family.

Luke Harper:
Very few men can fly, even fewer big men can fly. Harper does it with easy, and brings with him great power, ruthless aggression, Foley like disregard for his own well being, and a creepiness that is less supernatural but more genuinely uneasy than Wyatts.

This could very well be a future all of famer just looking to break out of the midcard, and delivers in everything he gets. I am more excited to watch Harper develop myself than I am Wyatt.

A true monster by every definition of the word.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Ryback:
While he is a favorite of mine, and in line to become the future, his history of hurting big names and skills in polotics might hinder his future. Only time will tell but I am betting on some big things from the Big Guy.

Baron Corbin:
Watch nXt and you will see what I mean. Personally I think his winning streak should have continued longer, but I thought the same for Goldberg.

Regardless this guy has a bright future, how bright you ask? Well thats why he is on this Honorable Mention list.

We need to see more of Corbin to really tell. Bright side? We really want to!

Paige:
She is in line to be the.next AJ Lee. So no doubt she has all the tools to stay a big star. Question is, how well will ahe handle the fast snowball of success at such a young age.
So can she handle all the fame and success so early, or will she have episodes of young and stupid like Emma, Randy Orton, HBK… And of course Brittney Spears!

Only time will tell if the character of Paige can hold on to her success inspite the pressures.

Colin Cassady:
A seven foot pro wrestler with looks, in ring skills, and charisma? You can’t teach that! I like Enzo but you can already tell who the break out will be. Now the question is, how long will Cassidy need nXt before he is ready?

Hideo Itami:
Ok real quick… If you bring him in as Kenta, why change the name? I think that was stupid marketing.

Now on with the point, this guy is a living legend internationally. So the question isn’t “is he the future”. Only can he adapt to WWE and become the future of the WWE.

Triple H is waiting for Hideao to “click” so it all comes together. Personally I think WWE is at fault for Itami not being bigger in the US already. But time will tell if the WWE Universe and the phenominal Itami can find true harmony for the future.

So who do you thinn is WWEs future? Comment below and thanks as always for your support!

http://www.cheap-heat.com/top-5-times-wrestling-fans-got-what-they-wanted-and-hated-it/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/top-5-times-wrestling-fans-got-what-they-wanted-and-hated-it/#comments Thu, 19 Mar 2015 03:23:44 +0000 Robi Vio Top Lists Bill Goldberg Brock Lesnar ECW Goldberg HBK RAW Ric Flair Rob Van Dam Roman Reigns RVD Shane Douglas Shawn Michaels WCW Wrestlemania WWE http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=10503 From matches years in the making to companies that should have stayed dead and buried. This is 5 times that wrestling fans got what they wanted, and hated it. 5) Shane Douglas Vs Ric Flair During the end of WCW many things were falling apart at the seams in storylines, and most of the angles […]

From matches years in the making to companies that should have stayed dead and buried. This is 5 times that wrestling fans got what they wanted, and hated it.

5) Shane Douglas Vs Ric Flair

During the end of WCW many things were falling apart at the seams in storylines, and most of the angles were mostly, if not completely, based on some element of reality. This was a strategy that proved to be akin to shooting yourself in the foot long term, but it did provide an instance of fans getting something they never thought they would and had been pining for, for almost a decade. The two had hated each other since the companies inception and Douglas felt that Flair was to blame for having his push shut down, and Flair just found Douglas to be an intolerable young upstart who didn’t have any respect. The two would bury each other any change they got publicly, In the world of wrestling, the fans wanted to see this one just because of how long it had been coming. To the surprise of many the man who would get them to work together was none other than Vince Russo. Vince Russo, receives a lot of flack, but he was able to book and get these two to do the match. Douglas and Flair had a short bout on “Slamboree 2001”, We won’t spoil finishes but the fact that these two were actually in a ring together should have been enough to be a classic, but fans were just not receptive to anything from WCW at this point and frequent run ins and no kind of real rules in place did little to help this. Ultimately it goes down as one of the not so greatest ends to a rivalry that we would have just been better off letting be a war of words.

4) Rob Van Dam Vs. Shawn Michaels

In the post invasion era WWE, there were so many dream matchups to make that it seemed you would have to be actively trying to mess it up as the stories wrote themselves. This period of time ended up being a disappointment to most because of how it was handled. A fine example of this is on an edition of RAW, Rob Van Dam was to face Shawn Michaels for the World championship. Michaels had recently won it in the elimination chamber putting the cherry on top of his recent comeback and a bout with Rob Van Dam was just the thing to get fans jacked. Rob Van Dam had adopted the moniker of being “The Whole F’n show” in response to Shawn Michaels using the moniker of being the “Show stealer”, and comparisons between the two went on for years. Properly booked this match could have headlined any major PPV card, but it was given to us on RAW, and boy was it lackluster. The high drama fight that many expected was nothing more than a throw away match in the never ending feud between Shawn and Triple H at the time and RVD was little more than an afterthought at the end of the bout.

3) Goldberg Vs Brock Lesnar

Throughout Brock Lesnar’s first run in the WWE, fans were always wanting to see him face another monster that could compare. Brock had ran through legends, giants, and young lions alike and they needed someone who could compare to have an end all battle where brock would face someone who was equal to him. Brock is such a rare specimen that this was next to impossible to have a person with both the physically imposing features, scary athleticism, and resume to make this count. Except it wasn’t impossible and was right there on their own roster. Bill Goldberg came over shortly after the invasion was finished and had been one of the few WCW creations that still had credibility with the fans at this point. Goldberg had torn through the WCW roster and became their biggest player in their last years, and did it convincingly. When he came to WWE he had a reign with the world championship, and was established as a top guy. With these two set to face off most expected one of the best and most hard hitting bouts ever. What we got was something that can only be described as “disappointing”. Both men weren’t into the match, the crowd turned on the match because they knew that it was both men’s final bout with the company, and the injection of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin as referee did little to calm the crowds frustration. Most people just block this entire bout out of their memories as not too many things have ever been such a letdown.

2) The rise of Roman Reigns

in the year 2014, there were few people more over with the fans than Roman Reigns. He was in the most popular group in the WWE, had a big impact moveset, and his silent demeanor made him the most dangerous seeming of the trio. Fast forward to the 2015 “Royal Rumble” build up and it was a whole new story. Fans seem to want anything other than him and blame it on everything from him being handed his spot, to him being bad on the mic, to even going as far to say that he is now being pushed just because he is “pretty”. No matter the reasoning, it just seems that the fans either didn’t know what they wanted, or the WWE struck too long after the iron had cooled off.

1) Bring Back ECW!

The brand known as ECW had some of the most rabid fans and most loyal of fans in all of pro wrestling. Even though they were a much smaller group than most, their fanbase had managed to grow even after they had been shut down for several years as you would hear “ECW! ECW! ECW!” chants anytime someone wen through a table or took a chair shot. The WWE noticed this and released some ECW nostalgia DVDs, and the sales were insane. Fans were begging for more ECW, and WWE was going to deliver. The first step was a PPV entitled “One Night Stand” where ECW stars from the past came and put on several matches with no story or buildup and they knocked it out of the park with it being one of the best selling PPVs of that entire year. The WWE took note and set up for one more PPV the next year to kick off a brand new weekly TV show for the Brand. It was originally going to air on WWE.com, but when they found out that the Sci-Fi channel would pay for it, they were willing to let them air it. The second PPV was a fine kickoff for the brand as Rob Van Dam would win the WWE championship and become the first ECW champion. The show kicked off and what we got was probably the worst bastardization of a franchise or license the wrestling world had ever seen. Wrestling Zombies, Vampires, and an unrecognizable feel from the original led fans to turn on the show and begin calling it the worst thing in wrestling at the time. This is still easily seen today as you will NEVER hear fans chanting those three letters at events anymore.

http://www.cheap-heat.com/hall-of-fame-hopefuls-part-two-the-celebrity-wing/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/hall-of-fame-hopefuls-part-two-the-celebrity-wing/#comments Wed, 04 Mar 2015 22:45:17 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Blogs Other Blogs Alice Cooper Andy Kaufman Antonio Inoki Aretha Franklin Arnold Schwarzenegger Bam Bam Bigelow Bash at the Beach Big Show Bob Barker Capital Wrestling Corporation Cyndi Lauper Dennis Rodman Diesel Donald Trump Drew Carey Evander Holyfield Floyd Mayweather Gorilla Monsoon Hall of Fame HOF Hulk Hogan Jerry Lawler Joe Frasier Lawrence Taylor Leilani Kai Leslie Nielsen Lou Albano LT Mike Tyson Million Dollar Man Morton Downey Jr. Muhammad Ali New World Order NFL nWo Ozzy Osbourne Pat Patterson Price is Right RAW Roddy Piper Royal Rumble Shaq Shawn Michaels Ted DiBiase The Big Show the Outsiders The Undertaker Vince McMahon WCW Wendy Richter Wrestlemania WWE WWF Yokozuna http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=10191 Hall of Fame Hopefuls Part Two: The Celebrity Wing Written by Mark Adam Haggerty Welcome to the second installment of my Wrestlemania season mini-series, dedicated to showcasing deserving individuals who've yet to enter the WWE Hall of Fame. The first name added to the celebrity wing was Pete Rose in 2004. Since then, six additional […]

Hall of Fame Hopefuls
Part Two: The Celebrity Wing
Written by Mark Adam Haggerty

Welcome to the second installment of my Wrestlemania season mini-series, dedicated to showcasing deserving individuals who've yet to enter the WWE Hall of Fame. The first name added to the celebrity wing was Pete Rose in 2004. Since then, six additional personalities have been honored including William "the Refrigerator" Perry, Bob Uecker, Drew Carey, Mike Tyson, Donald Trump, and Mr. T. This year's spectacle in Santa Clara will feature Arnold Schwarzenegger as he assumes his place in history. With the exception of Drew Carey, I think the WWE has done a fine job of using discretion when inducting celebrities. Who can we expect to see enter the Hall in 2016—or even several years down the road at Wrestlemania 40 ? My name is Mark Adam Haggerty and this is "Hall of Fame Hopefuls Part Two: The Celebrity Wing."

Bob Barker – Inducted by Drew Carey
Several years ago, the WWE entered into an unenlightened period where every episode of Monday Night Raw had a different celebrity host. We saw everyone from Hugh Jackman to Seth Green to Shaquille O'Neill—and those were some of the more entertaining acts. But how about Pee-Wee Herman or Al Sharpton? Unfortunately outside-involvement has always had a polarizing effect on wrestling audiences. But that's not to say fans won't buy what a celebrity is selling, as long as the Price is Right ! Bob Barker may have only appeared on WWE television once, but has since become an honorary member of the WWE Universe. In 2009, Bob hosted "The Price is Raw," a mock-version of his daytime hit, where he engaged several Superstars including Santino Marella, Mike Rotunda, and Jillian Hall. His gameshow repartee with Chris Jericho will always be a highlight of those dark days of weekly hosts, and even at 91-years-old, Barker still possesses a tenacious "WWE Attitude." Should Bob Barker one day be asked to join the other members of the celebrity wing, he will be in exceptionally rare company, joining the current host of the "Price is Right," Drew Carey.

Aretha Franklin – Inducted by Vince McMahon
One of the most iconic images in WWE history, is that of Vince McMahon welcoming 93,173 screaming fans to Wrestlemania III at the Pontiac Silverdome. "And welcome to Wrestlemania three!" With that, the mastermind behind �Mania introduced a world-wide audience to the Grammy-award winning "Queen of Soul—Miss Aretha Franklin!" Aretha's rendition of "America the Beautiful" has withstood the test of time and inspired dozens upon dozens of artists to follow in her footsteps. Twenty years later when the WWE returned to Michigan, it seemed only fitting that the Detroit-native would be a part of the show. Once again, Aretha Franklin moved nearly 100,000 men and women from around the world with her singing that was both soulful and sultry. At just 72 years of age, it's entirely possible we could see Miss Aretha Franklin perform once again at Wrestlemania 33 in 2017. That seems like a perfectly fitting time to induct her into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Morton Downey Jr. – Posthumously Inducted by Roddy Piper
I was only 3 years old in 1989, but even well-into my teens I had trouble figuring out who Morton Downey Jr. was, and why was he at Wrestlemania V? I mean—is he related to ROBERT Downey Jr.? The answer is no, and to a generation a bit older than me, that probably sounds like a really stupid question. Morton Downey Jr. brought America to the brink of shock television before the phrase was ever coined. Years before Jerry Springer or Howard Stern, Morton Downey Jr. hosted an anything-goes talk show featuring vulgarity, sexism, racism, xenophobia, and plenty of cigarette smoke. Although the WWF hadn't established its "Attitude" just yet, Downey was just the sort of Superstar worthy of rubbing elbows with WWF's elite. In 1989, Wrestlemania returned to the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, where Morton met his match on the mic in both Brother Love and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. Love was quickly evacuated from the equation, leaving Morton Downey Jr. alone in "Piper's Pit." After blowing his cigarette smoke in Hot Rod's face one-too-many times, Piper decided to put out the flame with a fire extinguisher. Downey developed lung cancer in 1996 which cause him to shift his opinion on tobacco completely. He remained a staunch anti-smoking activist for the following five years until his untimely death in 2001.

Leslie Nielsen – Posthumously Inducted by The Undertaker
His work as a WWF detective was so iconic, that I almost forgot Leslie Nielsen was accompanied by Oscar-winning actor and longtime screen companion George Kennedy! It was in 1994 that the Undertaker disappeared following an unsuccessful championship casket match against Yokozuna at the Royal Rumble. For several months, �Taker was inexplicably absent from television until reports arose regarding potential "Undertaker Sightings." The WWF quickly enlisted the services of one of the most prolific gumshoes in all of comedy, and soon Leslie Nielsen began appearing on Monday Night Raw and Superstars. Things took an unexpected turn however, when the "Million Dollar Man" appeared on TV with his own version of the "Phenom." When Summerslam rolled into the United Center in Chicago, both Undertakers were set to square off, but the mystery had yet to be solved. George Kennedy was also in Chicago, and ready to team with his "Airplane" and "Naked Gun" costar once again, so that together they might uncover the truth revolving around the mysterious "Dead Man." Leslie Nielson passed away in 2010 following a career that introduced the world to over 220 different characters, one of whom cracked the case and brought the Undertaker back to the WWF.

Dennis Rodman – Inducted by Hulk Hogan
He certainly never had a defined skillset, but what he lacked in the ring, "The Worm" Dennis Rodman made up for in unequivocal charisma. By the time he joined WCW, Dennis was already a world-renowned basketball icon, despite several outlandish publicity stunts in his public life. When Hulk Hogan turned on his Hulkamaniacs and joined forces with the Outsiders, the man who use to pal around with Shaq was gone, leaving an opening for a far more controversial character. Rodman worked a number of WCW events including episodes of Nitro, Uncensored '97, Road Wild '97, as well as Bash at the Beach '97 and '98. He was so popular in fact, that WCW released a Dennis Rodman action figure, packaged with his NWO stablemate Hulk Hogan. Rodman has appeared alongside several WWE Hall of Famers such as Donald Trump for his "Celebrity Apprentice," as well as on "Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling." Dennis Rodman is a legitimate 2-sport athlete who has committed to professional wrestling unlike anyone before or since. In my estimation, he most certainly belongs in the WWE Hall of Fame—but might have to wait until Wrestlemania goes to North Korea.

Floyd Mayweather – Inducted by the Big Show
Professional wrestlers and boxers have always had a special relationship, dating back to the days when promotors would showcase both sports on the same card. In fact, Vince McMahon's grandfather Jess established the Capital Wrestling Corporation with the mindset to also feature boxing. Over the years, numerous boxing legends have appeared on WWE TV—including Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Joe Frasier—so it was only a matter of time before the best fighter of the modern age stepped into the squared circle. Floyd "Money" Mayweather made his debut at WWE No Way Out in 2008, where he engaged in a physical altercation with the returning Big Show. �Show allowed Mayweather to hit him directly in the face, which resulted in a legitimate broken nose for the Giant. Their rivalry would develop further over the next month leading to a dramatic conclusion at Wrestlemania 24 at the Citrus Bowl. The media going into �Mania was unlike anything the WWE had experienced for quite some time; Mayweather and Big Show were on every television show, radio broadcast, and media outlet imaginable, making it just the THIRD Wrestlemania in history to surpass one million buys.

Cyndi Lauper – Inducted by Wendy Richter
When Wendy Richter was inducted to the WWE Hall of Fame, she closed her speech by quoting the �80s anthem—"Girls just wanna have fun!" As much as I appreciate Wendy for her contributions to the business, it wasn't the women's title that sold her match against Leilani Kai, but the presence of award winning recording artist Cyndi Lauper. Cyndi debuted on the musical scene that very year, walking out of the Grammy's with the award for "Best New Artist" just one month prior. It was her relationship with WWF manager Lou Albano that introduced Lauper to the exciting world of professional wrestling. Albano appeared in the video for her breakout single, playing the tyrannical patriarch unwilling to let "Girls Have Fun." The WWF began a new campaign mixing song-and-dance with Sports Entertainment—the "Rock �N' Wrestling Era" was defined by musicians such as Alice Cooper and Ozzy Osbourne, but it was Cyndi Lauper who made it official when she was physically attacked by "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. She was a pivotal component of the first Wrestlemania, and therefore belongs in the WWE Hall of Fame.

Muhammad Ali – Inducted by Pat Patterson
Most WWE fans will remember Muhammad Ali as the guest enforcer for the main event tag match at Wrestlemania I. But believe it or not, the former-Cassius Clay's involvement in Sports Entertainment goes back far beyond refereeing. In fact, Muhammad Ali began a full-fledge wrestling regimen following his final victory over Joe Frazier in 1975. Ali competed with some of the most influential wrestlers of the day, including a highly publicized encounter with future broadcast journalist and WWE Hall of Famer Gorilla Monsoon. But it was in Japan that Muhammad Ali truly made his mark on the wrestling mat, when he challenged national hero Antonio Inoki to a match that would be deemed "Boxer versus Wrestler." In 1984, Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and subsequently forced to retire from any active competition. Today he lives with his wife Lonnie in Scottsdale, Arizona where he remains dedicated to Islam and the teachings of the Holy Qur'an. At 73 years old, it would seem that Muhammad Ali is the perfect candidate for the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame.

Andy Kaufman – Posthumously Inducted by Jerry Lawler
When I was a kid there was a special broadcast on Comedy Central all about Andy Kaufman, briefly touching upon his "Inter-Gender Championship," but focusing mainly on his television credits. It was surreal to see Monday Night Raw's heel commentator play the hero against Latka from "Taxi," especially after I discovered the true extent of their feud. Andy appeared in the Memphis territory in the early �80s, performing as an outlandish caricature of himself that would only wrestle women. As the act evolved, Kaufman began insulting the local crowd on a nightly basis, even sending offensive pre-recorded comments when he was otherwise unavailable. Lawler was the self-proclaimed "King of Memphis," and took it upon himself to fight for his city. Kaufman received a piledriver from the "King" which resulted in Andy wearing a neck-brace, claiming that his neck was broken. In 1982, the pair appeared on "Late Night with David Letterman," where Kaufman proceeded to throw coffee directly in the face of Lawler. Neither Letterman nor his world-wide audience were privy to the inside joke—the heat between Kaufman and Lawler was completely fabricated, and will go down as one of the greatest "works" in professional wrestling history.

Lawrence Taylor – Inducted by Ted DiBiase
When it comes down to the most deserving celebrity not already in the WWE Hall of Fame, fans needn't look any further than former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor. Taylor went far and above the call of duty; when other athletes or actors entered the squared circle, it was to shill a personal project, or act as guest ring announcer. Nobody dreamed that a professional football player might headline the biggest show of the wrestling calendar; not since the inaugural Wrestlemania had Vince McMahon trusted someone other than his Superstars to carry the most important match of the night. But in 1995 the WWF reached out to one of the most visible faces in American sports and a future football Hall of Famer in his own right. The WWF championship featuring Diesel and Shawn Michaels was the match of the night, but wouldn't close the show as that honor went to L.T. and the "Beast from the East" Bam Bam Bigelow. Taylor proved that he took the sport of Sports Entertainment just as serious as any wrestler, and provided a memorable moment that will NEVER be forgotten. If the WWE decides to induct just ONE more celebrity, there's no doubt that it should be "L.T." Lawrence Taylor.

I hope you've enjoyed what is only the second installment of a five-part series. Join me next week as my "Hall of Fame Hopefuls" will include some of the most recognizable sports broadcasters to ever work in professional wrestling. Until then, this has been Mark Adam Haggerty, reminding you to check back here at Cheap-Heat and follow me on Facebook by LIKING "Mark Haggerty's Pro Wrestling."

http://www.cheap-heat.com/lucky-thirteen-7-bandits-of-the-bout/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/lucky-thirteen-7-bandits-of-the-bout/#comments Tue, 17 Feb 2015 00:02:19 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Top Lists AJPW All-Japan Pro Wrestling America's Most Wanted AWA Barry Windham Bart Gunn Beer Money Billy Gunn Blackjack Lanza Blackjack Mulligan Bob Holly Bob Orton Bobby "The Brain" Heenan Bobby Duncum Jr. Bobby Roode Brawl for All Chris Harris Chris Jericho Cowboy Bob Orton Cowboy James Storm Curt Henning Dory Funk Dory Funk Jr. ECW GWF Henry Godwinn Hulk Hogan Jake Roberts James Storm JBL Jim Crockett Jimmy Wang Yang John Bradshaw Layfield John Layfield Lance Cade Master P New Blackjacks NWA Outlaw Ron Bass Paul Orndorff Phineas Godwinn Randy Savage Revolution Road Dogg Roddy Piper Ron Bass Sam Houston Shanghai Pierce Shawn Michaels Stan Hanson Steve Williams Sunny Ted DiBiase Terry Funk Tex Slazenger The Blackjacks The Godfather The Smoking Gunns TNA Trevor Murdoch Vader Vince McMahon WCCW WCW West Texas Rednecks Wrestlemania WWC WWE WWF WWWF http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=9750 Lucky Thirteen #7 Bandits of the Bout Written by Mark Adam Haggerty When other sites are counting down from ten, we take it to the next level and give you the Lucky Thirteen. Why? Because we're Cheap-Heat and we believe in kicking things up to the extreme! Today we’re talking about Bandits and Outlaws, otherwise […]

Lucky Thirteen #7
Bandits of the Bout
Written by Mark Adam Haggerty

When other sites are counting down from ten, we take it to the next level and give you the Lucky Thirteen. Why? Because we're Cheap-Heat and we believe in kicking things up to the extreme! Today we’re talking about Bandits and Outlaws, otherwise known around these here parts as Cowboys. Since the dawning of the age of Sports Entertainment, professional wrestling has featured an enormity of wrestling roughnecks who would appear just as comfortable on the back of a horse than they would inside of the squared circle. Let's start things off with one of the most modern members of our countdown and a graduate of the Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy…

13. Lance Cade
Lance Cade was a superior talent who first happened upon the professional wrestling scene in Japan alongside fellow Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy classmate Bryan Danielson. Cade had developed a penchant for tag team wrestling and in 2005 was called to the main roster in the midst of the "Ruthless Aggression Era." Originally sporting a cowboy hat and leather chaps, he was saddled with the equally talented and deceptively athletic Trevor Murdoch. Together these rugged ruffians captured the world tag team titles on three separate occasions. While Murdoch was depicted as a chaw-chewing Redneck, Lance Cade was cast as the smooth-talking cowboy with devilish good looks. The character carried him farther than he would have imagined into his singles career, eventually aligning with then-heavyweight champion Chris Jericho in 2008. Sadly on August 13, 2010, Lance Cade died at the age of 29 due to heart failure. Two months later medical examiners declared Lance "Cade" McNaught's death accidental, an apparent reaction to the mix of prescription drugs he'd been taking. Although his career was cut tragically short, "Cowboy" Lance Cade will never be forgotten and was even honored in 2011 by a local tribute show in his adopted hometown of San Antonio.

12. Tex Slazenger & Shanghai Pierce
Don't go messing with the country boys, because these two future Godwinn Cousins are far more dangerous than Phineas and Henry would ever prove to be. Well, in theory that is. While they're more familiar to most fans as the former WWF tag team champions, these hard-edged hillbillies got their first taste of fame wrestling as the fearsome Tex Slazenger and the mysterious Shanghai Pierce. Tex was a rootin' tootin' Texas roughneck complete with a ten gallon hat and all the appropriate accoutrement you'd associate with any accurate cowboy costume. Shanghai was a bit different as he opted to sport a luchador mask with a singlet—uh, not so much a cowboy, but definitely intimidating in its own way. Although they never captured championship gold under their southwestern pseudonyms in WCW, Tex Slazenger and Shanghai Pierce were also never adorned with the prestige of "Worst Tag Team in Wrestling"—an honor they received from Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1996. And then again in 1997.

11. Jimmy Wang Yang
Perhaps the most charismatic individual on our countdown comes in at number eleven. Not only is he one of the youngest Superstars on the list, he's more than likely the only Korean Cowboy in wrestling history. Jimmy Yang was a skilled performer in the dying days of WCW and a key component in its highly inventive Cruiserweight Tag Division. After spending time on the independent circuit and in the WWE playing minor roles, Yang was brought in as a member of the main roster with "Wang" inserted between his first and last name. However instead of playing the Young Dragon whom audiences had already come to know, the WWE was going to draw upon Yang's affinity for country music and NASCAR in order to create an all new type of Superstar. Needless to say 2006 wasn't the most progressive year for the WWE, and a white-trash Korean character was probably just as suitable as The Wrestling Zombie or Paul and Katie Lea Burchill's incest angle. Despite never winning a championship title during his WWE run, Jimmy Wang Yang will always be remembered as one of the most iconic and original cowboys in pro wrestling history.

10. Bobby Duncum Jr.
Bobby Duncum Jr. was a refined second generation wrestling superstar who struggled to make his name after the decline of the territory system. Debuting in 1992, Duncum initially worked as a tag team competitor with the Global Wrestling Federation in Dallas, Texas. Two months into his debut, Bobby Duncum Jr. won his only championship ever —the GWF tag team titles alongside future WWE Champion and Monday Night Raw commentator Johnny "Hawk" Layfield. Although he worked around the world for countless promotions including ECW and All Japan Pro Wrestling, Bobby Duncum Jr. was most famous for his time in WCW as part of the "West Texas Rednecks." Joined by Kendall and Barry Windham, in addition to their leader Curt Hennig, the �Rednecks ran rough-shod over the WCW for a short period in the late 90s, claiming that "Rap is Crap," and entering into a rivalry with hip-hop recording artist Master P. In January of 2000, Duncum was recovering from reconstructive rotator cuff surgery, and accidentally overdosed on a cocktail of pain killers. He was 34 years old, and less than eight years into his career.

9. Sam Houston
The name "Sam Houston" tends to elicit both passion and pride from Texas natives, but unfortunately for Michael Smith, it's not the WWF cowboy whom they happen to admire. Sam Houston was the son of "Grizzly" Smith, and half-brother to both Jake "the Snake" Roberts and "Rockin" Robin. Houston was a well-known enhancement talent throughout the 1980s and 90s, working for Jim Crockett Promotions before finally breaking through to the World Wrestling Federation. He participated in several television matches which usually resulted in his shoulders being pinned to the mat, but even Sam Houston had a "Wrestlemania Moment," when he competed in the 20-man battle royal at Wrestlemania IV. Houston was also in the very first Royal Rumble match with his brother Jake, and though the audience wasn't privy to their relationship, Houston helped save the "Snake" from elimination on a number of occasions. In 2005, Sam Houston was sentenced to ten years in prison for repeated DUI offenses; according to his ex-wife, Houston had an average of 2 DUI-related arrests per year over the previous decade.

8. The Smoking Gunns
You can't say, "wrestling cowboy" to a �90's kid and expect him to think of anything other than The Smoking Gunns. Billy and Bart were a redesigned cowboy for a post-modern, pre-millennial world. They wore spandex made to look like skinny jeans and carried starter pistols which they shot into the air during their entrance. Wrestling cowboys were oftentimes out-of-shape and angry, swinging a cowbell with little regard for the surrounding audience members. But the Kayfabe brothers were different, smiling and shaking hands on their way to the ring and sporting far less menacing facial features than some of the more rugged individuals on our countdown. The �Gunns would become tag team champions on three separate occasions, owing their final title reign to their short-lived manager Sunny, eventually breaking up and going their separate ways. While Billy Gunn's career skyrocketed alongside the Road Dogg and Degeneration X, Bart Gunn stayed true to his roughneck roots, engaging in the highly dangerous, experimental "Brawl for All" shoot-fighting tournament in 1998. After defeating four other Superstars including Bob Holly, Steve Williams, the Godfather, and John Layfield, the last man standing was none other than Bart Gunn.

7. “Outlaw” Ron Bass
While a great deal of wrestling cowboys have been based out of the "Lone Star State," Ron Bass was one such individual proud of his roots in Harrisburg, Arkansas. The "Outlaw," as he would come to be known, was a ruthless heel during the late 1980s in the World Wrestling Federation. Prior to his would-be rivalries with the likes of Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake, Ron Bass enjoyed a steady career touring the vast NWA territory system of the 1970s. He spent time with Jim Crockett as well as several years in Japan, but was most famous for his time in the WWF. In 1988, Ron Bass fought to the end of the King of the Ring tournament, and qualified for the finals by defeating future WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels. However the "Outlaw" would not advance to the main event against Randy Savage—instead choosing to "sell" his victory to the "Million Dollar Man," who would lose to Savage later that night. After nearly 20-years in the squared-circle, Ron Bass retired in 1991 and currently resides in Tampa, Florida.

6. The Funk Family
If I can include a tag team as one entry, then how about an entire family? Even though Dory Funk Sr. was born in Indiana, he will forever be known as the Patriarch of the "Double Cross Ranch" in Amarillo, Texas. After serving in the United States Navy, Funk Sr. began wrestling in Texas and would become a promotor in the Amarillo region where both his sons Dory Jr. and Terry would thrive as superstars. Dory Jr. was regarded as a master in-ring technician, famous for created the "Texas Cloverleaf" finishing hold. His younger brother Terry was the "wild child," much more akin to the cowboy lifestyle of the Amarillo Ranch. The Funk Brothers would make history, by becoming the only brothers in wrestling to each hold the NWA world heavyweight championship. In 2009, Dory and Terry were both honored as they were simultaneously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Both brothers are still active in the wrestling industry; Dory Funk is the proprietor of the "Funkin' Conservatory" wrestling school in Amarillo, while Terry Funk is well beyond "middle-aged-and-crazy," as he still steps into the ring today at 70.

5. “Cowboy” James Storm
The only cowboy on our countdown that is still currently active inside a televised American wrestling ring is the 13-time tag team champion and former TNA world heavyweight champion, the "Cowboy" James Storm. Storm debuted in 1997 working for various NWA affiliates and the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico. After the collapse of WCW, the National Wrestling Alliance sought to fill a void by creating a weekly-PPV series known as Total Nonstop Action. James Storm signed with TNA in 2002 after working an impressive string of matches with then-tag partner "Wildcat" Chris Harris. Over the next four years, the duo known as "America's Most Wanted" would capture the NWA tag titles on six separate occasions. After spending a year on his own, Storm would once again "saddle up" with a partner—this time the "It Factor" Bobby Roode. Storm and Roode came to be called "Beer Money," based on either gentleman's Kayfabe affinity. Today James Storm is the leader of the cult-like "Revolution," and has therefore traded the cowboy hat for a veil of secrecy, and his beer bottle for a solo cup of "Kool-aid."

4. “Cowboy” Bob Orton
Fans of the modern WWE product who are familiar with the "Legend Killer," ought to know that Randy Orton comes from a long-line of wrestling royalty, including his father—"Cowboy" Bob Orton. Bob Orton was a main event attraction around the country during the 1980s but would become world-famous during the Rock �N' Wrestling Connection. Orton was fast friends with "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, so it was no surprise when the second generation star known as "Ace" was in "Hot Rod's" corner at the inaugural Wrestlemania in Madison Square Garden. Bob Orton was a key component during the period of time in which wrestling truly became "Sports Entertainment," providing back-up during several renditions of Piper's Pit. Although never achieving a championship during his time with the WWF, "Ace" held numerous titles across various territories in the United States and was named "Rookie of the Year" by PWI in 1973. In 2005, "Cowboy" Bob Orton was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame alongside fellow Wrestlemania pioneers Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper, and Paul Orndorff.

3. John "Bradshaw" Layfield
Since 2004, JBL has been known as an arrogant aristocrat, riding to the ring in his limousine and winning his bouts by any means necessary. But John Layfield began just the same as many other Texas wrestlers, working for the Global Wrestling Federation in Dallas. He won the tag team titles in 1992 alongside Bobby Duncum Jr., and spent the next three years earning a wrestling education on the independent and international circuits. Layfield debuted for the WWF in 1995 as Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw, a badass brandishing a branding-iron who set to "stamping" each of his conquered opponents. In 1997, "Hawk" joined second-generation Superstar Barry Windham to form the "New Blackjacks," a team drawing on their real-life familial connections to the original "Blackjacks" Mulligan and Lanza. The "Bradshaw" character would continue to evolve over the next several years and although he's primarily known today as a talking head for both the WWE and Fox Business, John Layfield is a Grand Slam winning champion, making him THE most decorated cowboy on this entire countdown.

2. The Blackjacks
Transitioning away from the "New Blackjacks," it's about time we discuss the genuine article—the tag team of Blackjack Lanza and Blackjack Mulligan. The tall, dark duo clad in black leather were amongst the most feared tag teams of the 1970s, earning their reputation by standing tall atop numerous fallen combatants. The Blackjacks were an AWA attraction, managed by the incomparable Bobby "the Brain" Heenan, and also competed in Texas for Fritz Von Erich's World Class Championship Wrestling. The Blackjacks eventually made their way to New York where they would continue their reign of terror against a brand new roster of unsuspecting victims. While working for Vince McMahon, the Blackjacks aligned themselves with Captain Lou Albano, who helped guide the already world-renowned wrestlers to the WWWF tag team championships. Of course then in 1997, a "tribute" team was created, comprised of Mulligan's son Barry Windham and Lanza's nephew John Layfield. The Blackjacks were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006; Blackjack Lanza currently works as a producer for the WWE, while Blackjack Mulligan has two grandsons working on the main roster—Bo Dallas and Bray Wyatt.

1. Stan “The Lariat” Hansen
Stan "the Lariat" Hansen is a performer whose mythos goes beyond the realm of cowboys and Indians, and further transcends the atmosphere of professional wrestling entirely. When the sport of sports entertainment was outwardly declared "fake," Stan Hansen lit the international scene on fire with his brand of explicit violence and a charismatic streak that ignited something inside fans across the globe. Stan Hansen was the AWA World Heavyweight champion and even competed for the WWF before earning his true place in history, across the Pacific in the "Land of the Rising Sun." During an infamous encounter with future WCW champion Vader, Hansen managed to clip Leon White with his cowbell, dislodging his eyeball and forcing the "Mastodon" to compete with his eye ajar inside his mask. Although claiming to be from Borger City, Texas—with a "big fat wife and a bunch of kids," the mild-mannered Hansen is actually a resident of Knox City, and has two sons, each of whom is a nationally-recognized baseball player. During his active wrestling days, Stan Hansen garnered a reputation for his no-nonsense approach to business, both inside the ring and backstage with promotors. Since retiring from the squared-circle in 2001, the "Lariat" has made numerous appearances in Japan, where he still receives the same standing ovation he did during his peak in 1981.

Thank you for joining me for this SEVENTH edition of the "Lucky Thirteen." Do yourself a favor and bookmark Cheap-Heat on your computer and in your mobile device so you don’t miss any of our countdowns, columns or coverage. As for me—I think it's about time for this Old Cowpoke to hit that there dusty trail. So until next time, my name is Mark Adam Haggerty and this has been "Lucky Thirteen: Bandits of the Bout."

http://www.cheap-heat.com/hunchamania-royal-rumble-2015-predictions/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/hunchamania-royal-rumble-2015-predictions/#comments Sun, 25 Jan 2015 04:37:38 +0000 Gary Mastriano Blogs Other Blogs Adam Rose Alberto Del Rio Antonio Cesaro Big E Big Show Billy Gunn Bray Wyatt Brie Bella Brock Lesnar Cesaro Chris Jericho Damien Sandow Daniel Bryan DDP Dean Ambrose Dolph Ziggler HBK Jey Uso Jimmy Uso John Cena Kidd Kofi Kingston Konnor Miz MizDow Natalya New Age Outlaws New Day Nikki Bella Paige Randy Orton Road Dogg Roman Reigns Royal Rumble RVD Seth Rollins Shawn Michaels Sheamus Steve Austin The Ascension The Bella Twins The Miz The New Day The Usos Tyson Kidd Undertaker Viktor Wrestlemania WWE Xavier Woods http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=9242 Royal Rumble Predictions   Pre show-Cesaro, Tyson Kidd and Adam Rose vs the New Day There has been a nice little feud developing between the new day and the Party Masters (stable name copyright Gary Mastriano 2015). Not really sure why they are feuding, but it feels like a good old fashioned mid card feud […]

Royal Rumble Predictions

Pre show-Cesaro, Tyson Kidd and Adam Rose vs the New Day
There has been a nice little feud developing between the new day and the Party Masters (stable name copyright Gary Mastriano 2015). Not really sure why they are feuding, but it feels like a good old fashioned mid card feud from the late 90s. I suspect a New Day win, and all that all 6 of these men will show up in the Rumble later on in the night. Adam Rose will have a comedy spot, probably involving the being thrown over the top rope and caught by his posse only to be dropped by the Bunny. And I cannot imagine a Rumble without a crazy Kofi spot.

The Ascension vs the New Age Outlaws
I think this match may open the show with a guaranteed crowd pleasing Outlaws pop. This feud kind of came together last minute last Monday. The Ascension has struggled to get over on the main roster and a feud with the Outlaws may be the way to do it. I don't know about you guys but I thought Billy Gunn looked great on Raw. The Outlaws proved last year that they could still go, so I suspect a fun little match that won't take up much time. The Ascension needs and gets the win here.

The Bellas vs Paige and Natalya
Did TNA have women's tag champions? I wonder if that would ever work in WWE. With the increase in talented ladies I think it may be worth a shot. Paige and Natalya, easily the top workers in the Divas division, make an awesome tag team. Niki Bella's in ring work was a pleasant surprise in the second half of 2014, therefore I think this COULD be a good match. However I don't see this match getting much time either, like most Diva's matches. I am not sure why WWE doesn't give their ladies more time to shine, especially their Total Diva stars who can actually wrestle. The Bellas steal a victory here, possibly leading to Fatal Four way at WrestleMania for the title.

Damien Mizdow and the Miz vs the Usos
I've seen people predicting the demise of the Miz/Mizdow for months. I think the WWE will continue to run with duo until Mania season. I think Miz and Mizdow will have a ton of fun in the Rumble match later on in the night, with the seeds of a break up happening there. I find it interesting that every under card match is a tag match, and not a single match on the entire PPV is a one on one contest.This has been another fun mid card feud. But with the Mizdow break up on the horizon, I cannot see the Usos losing in this one. They will hopefully move on to a well-deserved spot on the WrestleMania card proper.

Royal Rumble Match
I have spent the last week rewatching every Rumble match ever in anticipation of this one. I have noticed there are 2 types of Rumble match- one where the winner is extremely obvious (HBK in 96, Austin in 98, Orton in 09), and another with a much wider field of potential winners (Taker in 07, Del Rio in 11, Sheamus in 12). Obviously the latter is a much more fun match. This year I would say fits into that category. The top 2 choices have to be Reigns and Bryan. Bryan has been getting the most Rumble based storylines heading into Sunday, while Reigns has only mentioned that he wants to win while being occupied with the Big Show. While these two are the front runners, and have the most upside to winning, there are actually a few other candidates.

-Dolph Ziggler has to be considered the #3 choice to win the Rumble. He is on a spectacular roll the past few months, and is finally getting the push that he and many other think he deserves. Ziggler has always connected with the crowd, and delivered in the ring. Now he is finally involved in a main event storyline that has made him one of the top faces in the company. I would not be surprised at all to see him have a surprise Cinderella win.

-Dean Ambrose is another face on the verge of superstardom. Having Ambrose win the Rumble may be a better play than his Shield brother Reigns. Reigns may not be ready to main event WrestleMania yet, nor may Ambrose for that matter. But a failed Ambrose push is easier for WWE, and the Lunatic Fringe himself, to recover from. Pushing Reigns too soon may result in a Randy Orton 2004 situation.

-Bray Wyatt has been rumored to face the Undertaker in March for months. I for one have ZERO interest in seeing that match. Undertaker's in ring career died with the streak, and nor he or Wyatt benefit from a feud together. Wyatt could be a surprise winner of the Rumble leading to a potential rematch at Mania with Cena, this time for the WWE championship?
As for some other Rumble highlights, I think we will see Ziggler and/or Ambrose be the long man this year putting in great work. After Smackdown this week I believe we will see Ambrose be the first entrant. I am sure we will see a few great surprise entrants to delight the Philly crowd. If I had to guess I would say DDP, RVD, and maybe even Jericho show up Sunday.
Needless to say there are a ton of options for potential winners at this year's Royal Rumble. It is really difficult to pick a winner, especially between Bryan and Reigns. I really cannot pick a winner, but I personally want Daniel Bryan to win, so I will go with him.

WWE Title- Brock Lesnar vs Seth Rollins vs John Cena
Just like the Rumble match, the WWE title match is wide open. I could see any of these three men walk out of Philadelphia with the strap. Cena is always a safe bet to carry the strap into Mania. Seth Rollins has the insurance of the briefcase on his side. But I cannot imagine Brock Lesnar losing anywhere but WrestleMania. Lesnar has been built up like too much of a monster. His victory over Undertaker pretty much assures that whoever beats him will be a made man. Sure fantasy booking can tell you that Lesnar can win the match, only to lose to Seth Rollins, but I see Rollins walking into Mania with the case still intact (although I don't think HE will leave with it…). Lesnar gets the W here in a match I am eagerly anticipating.

http://www.cheap-heat.com/lucky-thirteen-4-nifty-looking-title-belts/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/lucky-thirteen-4-nifty-looking-title-belts/#comments Fri, 23 Jan 2015 19:43:42 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Blogs Other Blogs Top Lists AAA AJ Styles American Wrestling Association AR Fox AWA Big Vis Bob Backlund Bobby Lashley Bret Hart Brian Christopher Brock Lesnar Cheerleader Melissa Chessman Chris Hero CIMA DGUSA Diva's Title Dr. Wagner Jr. Dragon Gate Dragon Gate USA Drew Galloway Drew McIntyre ECW EVOLVE FTW Hiroshi Tanahashi Hulk Hogan Impact Wrestling Iron Sheik IWGP Jeff Hardy John Cena Kazuchika Okada King Mabel King of the Ring Kurt Angle Larry Zbyszko Latin American Championship Light Heavyweight Championship Mabel Matt Hardy Million Dollar Championship Monday Night RAW Monday Nitro National Wrestling Alliance New Japan Pro Wrestling NWA Paige Paul Heyman RCP Ric Flair Right Coast Pro Ring of Honor Sara Del Rey Saraya Knight Shawn Michaels SHIMMER Smoking Skull Belt TAKA Michinoku TNA Ultimate Warrior Vader Verne Gagne Vince McMahon Viscera WCW Willow Winged Eagle World Championship Wrestling WWE WWF WWWF http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=9173 Lucky Thirteen #4 Nifty-Looking Title Belts Written by Mark Adam Haggerty You know a belt can do more than keep your trousers from falling down around your ankles. The right accessory around your waist might mean you're the best at what you do. Of course I'm only referring to one type of belt—those leather straps […]

Lucky Thirteen #4
Nifty-Looking Title Belts
Written by Mark Adam Haggerty

You know a belt can do more than keep your trousers from falling down around your ankles. The right accessory around your waist might mean you're the best at what you do. Of course I'm only referring to one type of belt—those leather straps coated in gold made to distinguish super humans from every day citizens. Championship title belts come in many forms and represent a slew of action sports from mixed martial arts to boxing, but perhaps are most synonymous with the over-the-top world of professional wrestling. My name is Mark Adam Haggerty, and this week I'm counting down "Nifty-Looking Title Belts"—the most aesthetically pleasing championships in professional wrestling history.

Honorable Mention
I don't always do an honorable mention, but I figured one was most certainly warranted given this week's subject matter. For the purpose of variety, I excluded Superstar-specific championship belts such as the spinners worn by John Cena and the ghastly Willow-inspired TNA belt created for Jeff Hardy. I also left out the Million Dollar Championship, the current Matt Hardy Title in Ring of Honor, the Smoking Skull Belt and anything else designed to fit one specific superstar. I wanted this list to focus on "real" titles, rather than gimmick belts—but who knows? Perhaps that's another list for another Lucky Thirteen?

13. Impact Wrestling – TNA Heavyweight Championship [Present Design]
Our countdown begins with a championship still in use today, the TNA World Heavyweight title belt. When Total Nonstop Action broke from the National Wrestling Alliance, they needed to establish their own world title apart from the NWA. The TNA Championship was introduced in 2007 and first held by the Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle. The current belt was unveiled in 2011 and closely resembles the IWGP Heavyweight title in New Japan in its magnificently decadent design. Sitting atop an already extravagant set of plates are the words, "TNA Heavyweight Champion," embroidered in cubic zirconias. The front plate extends higher than the average belt, making it almost impossible to ignore this glistening piece of hardware, especially around the waist of the current champion Bobby Lashley.

12. WWE – WWF Heavyweight Championship [Winged-Eagle Design]
I grew up in New Jersey during the 1990's, so in many ways this was the only world title I ever knew. Worn by the greatest champions in history, the "Winged Eagle" design features a deep-blue globe positioned in the center of, you guessed it—an eagle! The bird's massive wingspan encompasses the words "WWF World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion," with classic representations of modern professional wrestling along the edges and side plates. This was the championship belt passed down from Hulk Hogan to Bret Hart to Shawn Michaels, with names like Ric Flair, the Ultimate Warrior and Yokozuna each having their opportunity to carry the gold. Unfortunately the "Austin Era" signified the end of the "Winged Eagle" belt, and introduced the round-faced Attitude Era championship.

11. Right Coast Pro – RCP World Heavyweight Championship [Present Design]
The most indie of independent titles on our countdown, the Right Coast Pro Heavyweight belt debuted in 2013 after a lengthy design process involving RCP executives and the engineers at Top Rope Belts. This belt is the largest on our countdown, including massive side plates each depicting a certain set of skills required to win a chess match. Looking closely at the front, you can see that the plate is covered with nearly microscopic inscriptions. Don't try and read too closely unless you're familiar with Latin—the dead language of the Catholic Church extends across the entire faceplate, fading into the background behind the all-original RCP logo.

10. Shimmer – Shimmer Championship [Present Design]
Feeling the need to represent women in wrestling, I scoured the internet in search of the coolest looking lady's championship title in the world. While the pink WWF Women's belt and current Diva's title are unmistakably original, I decided to instead go with the most-sought after title in women's wrestling, the Shimmer Championship. Made from soft leather, the Shimmer belt includes a perfectly-rounded set of face and side plates, with the word Shimmer stretched across the front and extending over the sides. Shimmer is the premier league for women's wrestling, meaning the title has only been held by highly skilled competitors such as Cheerleader Melissa, Sara Del Rey, and mother of WWE Diva Paige, Saraya Knight.

9. AAA – AAA Latin American Championship [Present Design]
Let's venture across the southernmost border of the United States for number nine, the AAA Latin American Championship. The L.A. championship belt was first introduced in 2011 and originally worn by the second generation luchador Dr. Wagner Jr. As opposed to most belts, this AAA title doesn't feature a circular centerpiece, but a sharp angular shape with more than thirty separate sides. In the middle sits a globe focusing on Central and South America with the Mexican flag beneath. On the right and left of the map are ten more flags, each representing a different nation in Latin America. The current title holder is Chessman, a near 20-year veteran who's managed to retain the championship for over 300 days.

8. AWA – AWA World Heavyweight Championship [Last Redesign]
If the WCW title was referred to as the "Big Gold Belt," then the final belt representing the American Wrestling Association should surely be known as the "Big Silver Belt." When the sport of sports entertainment began to go global, Verne Gagne stuck to his all-American roots, outfitting his belt with the red white and blue of the United States. The face plate makes this among the most reflective championship titles in history, serving to mirror anyone who looked directly at it, but only belonging to one man at a time. The middle of the centerplate simply reads: "AWA World Heavyweight Champion," without any sort of star-studded bells and whistles aside from the standard red jewels and fake diamonds that any belt of the time was designed with. Sadly the title was retired nearly a year before the AWA closed when the final champion Larry Zbyszko signed with WCW.

7. WWE – WWF Light Heavyweight Championship [Original Design]
WCW's Monday Nitro on TNT maintained a solid lead over WWF's Monday Night Raw on the USA Network, partly because of the innovation on display each week from the cruiserweight division. High flying luchadors from every corner of the planet converged on World Championship Wrestling to practice their craft and it was only a matter of time before Vince McMahon sought to cash in on the junior weight division. In 1997 the WWF dusted off the Light Heavyweight Championship, a 1980s title that had since been retired. The new belt was red and featured the same sort of prestigious styling as the "Winged Eagle." The first champion to hold the crimson championship was Taka Michinoku who defeated Brian Christopher in the tournament finals. The belt was soon replaced with a classic black strap, and then once again retired in 2001 when Vince McMahon bought WCW and the cruiserweight championship.

6. WWE – WWF King of the Ring [1995 Prototype]
Alright so I cheated with this one. I promised I would keep the countdown focused on real titles worth wrestling for, and sadly this was a one-time only concept. But how cool is the WWF's King of the Ring title designed in 1995 for King Mabel? Whether the original idea was to have the late Big Vis defend his Kingly crown on a regular basis, or simply display his reign in classic championship form, we may never know. The faceplate is similar in shape to the classic WWF tag team titles of the 1990s, but features castle towers raising off the words "World Wrestliing" with "Federation beneath the "King of the Ring" logo. On either side the strap are the flags of several noteworthy wrestling nations such as Mexico, Japan, the UK, Australia and—South Korea? Unfortunately the only man to ever own this title has passed, leading me to wonder whether his widow is still in possession of this one of a kind piece of wrestling folklore?

5. EVOLVE – EVOLVE World Championship [Present Design]
The Evolve Championship title looks like it belongs to the Springfield Nuclear Powerplant with all of its atomic elements including the EVOLVE logo in the center. The entire faceplate has a symmetrically wavy style to it, representing both the unpredictability of nuclear energy and the action inside the EVOLVE squared circle. EVOLVE is an extension of Dragon Gate, and therefore adheres to a variety of the same principles as both DG and DGUSA. The first ever EVOLVE champion was AR Fox crowned in April of 2013, and since then there have been two additional title holders: Chris Hero and the current champion Drew Galloway AKA Drew McIntyre.

4. ECW – ECW World Tag Team Championship [Last Redesign]
It's about time for this countdown to get EXTREME. ECW was always relentless when it came to designing their championship titles in a way that reflected the sharp-edged style of Hardcore Wrestling. Their belts always seemed to have some barbed wire or broken glass—hell they even had an FTW championship that stood for "Fuck the World." But perhaps the most interesting-looking belts ever produced by Paul Heyman were the final tag title belts, redesigned for ECW on TNN. In addition to the barbed wire motif, the ECW world tag team championship featured an entire prison fence torn to shreds with a black and white globe crashing through the middle.

3. New Japan – IWGP Heavyweight Championship [Present Design]
The IWGP Heavyweight Championship might possibly be the most prestigious championship in all of professional wrestling. Currently held by the record-setting Hiroshi Tanahashi, the IWGP championship has been passed from men like Vader and Brock Lesnar to stars of today such as AJ Styles and Kazuchika Okada. The most recent title design makes for a near-30 pounds of brushed silver and gold plates, making it one of the more massive belts on our countdown—most certainly the heaviest. Although defended in the "Land of the Rising Sun," the IWGP heavyweight title features roman lettering and English phrases such as "Heavyweight Champion." The side plates lining the strap are used to display the names of all former champions, so that the current title holder never forgets the historic significance of his championship.

2. WWE – WWWF Heavyweight Championship [Big Green Belt Design]
Everyone's heard of the "Big Gold Belt," but somewhere lost in the shuffle of history is the championship belt that represented the era between Vincent J. and Vincent K. McMahon. Only ever held by three men including Bob Backlund, the Iron Sheik, and Hulk Hogan—the WWWF Heavyweight Championship consisted of several heavy gold-plated slabs affixed to a bright green leather strap. In the center was a perfectly circular plate depicting the earth underneath the words, "World Wide Wrestling." The length of the belt was covered in rectangular pieces of metal, each displaying the length of reign for all previous champions. The above photos display the original belt as it was in the early 1980s, as well as a fully restored replica created by Wild Cat Belts.

1. Dragon Gate – Open the Dream Gate [All Designs]
The number one title belt in the world is the Dream Gate championship title awarded to the best and brightest stars of Dragon Gate. The Dream Gate belt is considered the equivalent of the world title in Dragon Gate, and has been held a record number three times by the first ever champion Cima. Unlike virtually every other title belt in existence, the Dream Gate championship opens up to display a championship compartment where the current title holders name may rest. When a competitor is named number one contender to the Dream Gate championship, they're given a key which "Opens the Dream Gate." Should the challenger best the champion and take his title, he may use his key to remove the former champions name and replace it with his own. However, should the champion retain his title, the key is then added to a bar along the bottom of the belt; many keys hanging from the Dream Gate championship means a series of successful title defenses. Not only is the outside stylish, compete with black and bronze colored plates topped with silver accents, but the hidden compartment and "contender's key ritual" represents an entirely new level of innovation in championship belt design. That is why I've named the Dragon Gate Open the Dream Gate the number one championship on this countdown of "Nifty Looking Title Belts."

Whether their style be classic like the Winged Eagle, or radically adventurous such as the titles seen in Dragon Gate; some date back fifty years, while others were introduced in the past two. Regardless of who's gone before, each championship belt tells a story and it's up to the current title holder to keep that tale alive. Until next time, my name is Mark Adam Haggerty and this has been another installment of Lucky Thirteen, exclusively at Cheap-Heat.

http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-highlight-of-the-night-the-top-moments-from-raw-2/ http://www.cheap-heat.com/the-highlight-of-the-night-the-top-moments-from-raw-2/#comments Wed, 21 Jan 2015 15:58:09 +0000 Mark Adam Haggerty Blogs Other Blogs Other Reviews Reviews APA Bad News Barrett Billy Gunn Bo Dallas Booker T Brock Lesnar Dean Ambrose Degeneration X Dolph Ziggler Erick Rowan Farooq Hulk Hogan JBL John Cena Kane Kevin Nash Konnor Magnus Michael Cole Monday Night RAW New Age Outlaws nWo NXT RAW Ric Flair Road Dogg Roman Reigns Ron Simmons Royal Rumble Ryback Scott Hall Sean Waltman Seth Rollins Shawn Michaels Sting Survivor Series The Ascension Triple H Viktor Vince McMahon Wade Barrett WCW Wrestlemania WWE WWE Network http://www.cheap-heat.com/?p=9106 The Highlight of the Night The Top Moments from Raw Written by Mark Adam Haggerty The stage has been set for a Legends Reunion featuring Hall of Famers and Attitude Era icons including members of both Degeneration X and the NWO. For the past three weeks the rumor in wrestling has been a potential shift […]

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

The stage has been set for a Legends Reunion featuring Hall of Famers and Attitude Era icons including members of both Degeneration X and the NWO. For the past three weeks the rumor in wrestling has been a potential shift as far as WWE booking, perhaps for the better. Going into this evening's event my expectations were considerably high given the promise of WWE World Champion Brock Lesnar as well as more than a half dozen Hall of Fame legends. Raw is live from Dallas where WWE has announced they will hold the 32nd annual Wrestlemania in 2016. I thought this broadcast was much better than week's past and even included some good wrestling matches, if you can believe that! What were the best moments of Raw? I can do you one better—I'm Mark Haggerty and this is the "Highlight of the Night."

5. Dean Ambrose versus Bad News Barrett
I'm admittedly not too keen on the overall in-ring presentation of one Dean Ambrose, but I have to say I enjoyed his confrontation with the intercontinental champion Bad News Barrett and would very much like to see more of what they might be able to do together. I thought that Dean's intensity, though utterly predictable, made for a cunning foil to Bad News Barrett's more power-based ground assault. Dean doesn't really have a style so-to-speak, although if he did I suppose it would be categorized under "brawler." That goes hand-in-hand with the smash-mouth brutality that the NXT Season One winner, Wade Barrett is known for. My biggest problem with Dean is his shallow pool of offensive capabilities which consist of the same four striking maneuvers, and that fake-out with the ropes where it's like, "Here I go. No, just kidding!" I'd like to see more from the Lunatic Fringe before the WWE decides to push him to the top as is the current problem with Roman Reigns; let the WWE learn from their mistakes with Reigns and build Ambrose in the meantime. Wrestlers learn the most when they're on the defensive and it's when thwarting an attack that a talent like Dean Ambrose really gets the chance to stretch his creative muscles. Bad News Barrett, although far from my favorite intercontinental champion of all time, does the title justice in the way that he carries it. I believe he deserves that championship and I don't feel as though he'll drop it every week the way I did with Ziggler. I'm fully confident in both his ability and the WWE as far as their interest in moving Barrett ahead. While Magnus might have been the first-ever British-born world champion, there has still never been a WWE World Champion born in the United Kingdom. Could Barrett be the first? Unless the WWE loses interest, which is unlikely considering his repositioning post-injury, I imagine next year—2016 might be the year of Wade Barrett.

4. The Legends Panel
I've made mention that I was born in the �80s and grew up a wrestling fan in the mid-1990s, so Shawn Michaels was without a doubt the legend I was most excited to see. Partly because we see Hulk Hogan almost every month at this point whether he's kissing Cena's ass or spreading the word about, "Komen-mania runnin' wild!" Ric Flair reminds me of a senile old uncle that everyone wants to see, but nobody wants to be left alone with. Then there was the man I wanted to see. The Showstopper, the icon, the main event; the man who made me fall in love with wrestling, Shawn Michaels was—dressed like he was going to war with deer. This has nothing to do with my personal feelings toward hunting, it's about protecting your character Shawn! You're the "Heartbreak Kid." You aren't breaking any hearts like that and if you are then their Tinder profile has a picture of a handgun and says, "My daddy says we ain't call no police." And those aren't the kind of girls you want to mess with. Despite digging a hole to bury his gimmick, Shawn and the rest of the Legends panel were entertaining as three of the most iconic wrestlers in history were able to become involved with one of the biggest triple threats of the year 2015. I really like the way Hulk Hogan is 100% in favor of John Cena no matter what the circumstances may be. The highlight of this altercation was the presence of the Big Show, standing face to face with three Hall of Famers, one of whom he beat for his first world championship on his first night at work in WCW. He told Shawn that he hung it up because the Big Show was coming to the WWE—so I imagine he means when he debuted in 1999, although Shawn retired from the ring in 1998. The segment served to raise my ire against the Big Show for denigrating my childhood heroes, or at least that was the WWE's intention. And to a degree it worked because when Roman Reigns appeared ready to defend the Legends, I was happy to see him and just hoped he wasn't going to blow his momentum with more nursery rhymes. I think Roman Reigns will be a Hindenburg-sized failure for the WWE if they plan to feature him in the main event at Wrestlemania 31. But if they can hold off another year, I think Wrestlemania 32 in Dallas could be the sweet-spot in the career of young Roman Reigns.

3. The Ascension versus the Attitude Era
I hear the rumors that Vince McMahon likes to bring talent in from NXT just to job them out to established midcarders on Raw and Smackdown, if only to get under the skin of Triple H. While I think those sort of games are childish even for Vince McMahon, one can't help but wonder what's happening with the Ascension now that they've finished dominating their competition down at Full Sail University. Since coming up to the main roster, the Ascension has been painted up in goofy colors with comically sizable shoulder pads and made to recite painfully cheap heel promos. Instead of allowing the talents any chance of connecting with the audience, JBL is on the mic yammering on about how they couldn't lace anyone's boots or carry anyone's bags. The announcers are burying the Ascension, even during squash matches which are important building blocks for characters in their infancy. Instead of putting over the dominance of Konnor and Viktor against John and Jimmy Doe, Booker T and Michael Cole are quick to point out the size advantage and lack of skill on the part of the competition. That brings us to this evening, and my question is this: if Vince is burying Hunter's talent, then why do Hunter's boys have shovels in their hands? I hate using the word "bury," but when you feed a team that's less than one month removed from their main roster debut to a ring full of returning Legends, that's doing a huge disservice to the careers of two moderately talented individuals. Aside from who Creative decided to sacrifice, I was really excited to see the reunion of the APA, as well as the NWO and Outlaws I guess, but I see that sort of stuff all the time. This weekend the Royal Rumble will feature a tag team contest between the New Age Outlaws and the Ascension. Could this be the comeuppance that Konnor and Viktor so desperately need, or will another set of NXT Superstars go the way of Bo Dallas?

2. Daniel Bryan versus Bray Wyatt
The first match on the card started just shy of twenty minutes into the night's events and featured the rematch from last year's Royal Rumble between Daniel Bryan and the "Eater of Worlds" Bray Wyatt. I loved this storyline and thought it meant only positive things for 2014, and perhaps it might have had Daniel Bryan not been injured so early in his title run. Maybe an earlier rematch with the title on the line would be imminent? For Halloween even? I like to romanticize Daniel Bryan although I know the WWE powers-that-be don't share that same sentiment. I like to think if Bryan wasn't injured he would have retained the title clear through the summer and would still be champion today. But where would Brock Lesnar figure in? I suppose that's a story for another time. This match began as two opposing warheads clashed for the first time since their initial storyline had yet to be settled when Wrestlemania 30 season started last year. Now just six days away from the Royal Rumble live in Philadelphia, these two entrants are pulling out all the stops in their one-on-one bout to prove not only why they deserve to win the �Rumble, but why they deserve to be champion. Bray's not a fancy technician by any means but he makes his way around the ring with the sort of grace you only learn from growing up a third-generation Superstar-in-the-making. With no maneuvers in his repertoire, Windham Rotunda is still ten steps ahead, but Bray Wyatt has a tool bag full of tricks that he makes use of at great convenience. Once the match heats up, we get the killer of all dreams in wrestling—Kane! Fortunately for us, the "Big Red Machine" has stationed himself on the outside and that is where he will stay until the end of the match. A tremendous contest featuring two top potential winners of the �Rumble. In the end it was Bray Wyatt who would walk out of Dallas with his hand held high, leaving Daniel Bryan to fend off the imposing Demon just days before their final battle before Sunday.

1. Sting on Monday Night Raw
Forget the stupid three-on-one handicap match and the bogus stipulations involved therein, this Monday's finale was all about one man, and that's the "Vigilante" Sting. As the war waged between John Cena and the Authority, with three Superstars' careers on the line, the crow once again cawed and for the first time in history, Sting was live on Monday Night Raw. First appearing on the titantron, the image alone was enough to distract Seth Rollins and his teammates, allowing John Cena the chance to achieve the pin fall. With Ziggler, Rowan, and Ryback reinstated, Sting has now cost Triple H twice in terms of controlling the WWE locker room. The COO was infuriated like never before, or at least not since shaving his head, turning over ringside furniture and climbing on the announce table to meet Sting's gaze, as he was now standing in the arena on the stage. Sting was on Raw, in the flesh alongside John Cena taunting Triple H. I imagine their encounter at Wrestlemania 31 in Santa Clara is inevitable, as Sting was saved until the Survivor Series without making a move, and then held until a week prior to the Royal Rumble before going forward. The steps taken to secure Steve Borden's legacy thus far have been unprecedented and I'm confident if Sting is on TV, he's there to start the real thing.

Of course on a night where millions of fans would have wanted the WWE to push the show until 11:15 EST, the program concluded promptly two minutes after the hour. But that's the first rule of show business, is it not? Always leave them wanting more—and I do! For the first time in months, I'm intrigued by the conclusion of Raw and excited to see where things go from here. This weekend is of course the Royal Rumble pay-per-view, available on the WWE Network as well as through your cable television providers. The after-market ticket price for the Royal Rumble has gone through the roof and is rivaled only by the yearly Wrestlemania cost. What do the citizens of Philadelphia and the surrounding tristate area know that we don't about this weekend's show? Who will defeat 29 other competitors to earn his shot at the title at Wrestlemania 31? Perhaps more importantly, who will walk out of Philadelphia in possession of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship title belt? Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Mark Adam Haggerty and I'll see you next week for another edition of "Highlight of the Night," right here at Cheap-Heat!