Pre-thoughts Extreme Rules 2015

Hold your crickets there, you knew I was getting around to this post this week. I've just had other things on my mind.

As of this post, we have Cena vs Rusev, Rollins vs Orton, Reigns vs Show, Bryan vs Barrett, Kidd/Cesaro vs New Day, Sheamus vs Dolph, and Ambrose vs Harper.

A steel chain match, a cage match, kiss my arse match, last man standing, and street fight. I think the tag team match and the Intercontinental title match are the only two listed as "regular" matches...which given this is a ppv dedicated to the "spirit" of hardcore; they are the extreme matches and the rest are pretty much the kids meals on this menu.

So, Cena vs Rusev...nothing new here. We've seen big guys at the end of leashes before, drag each other around exhausted trying to hit every turnbuckle while remembering the words to ring-around-the-rosie.  Doesn't matter if you call this a ball and chain match, four corners touch match, ring-around-the-rosie match, or what; after loosing to Rusev the last few times, Cena's got this in his back pocket.

Kidd/Cesaro vs New Day...I can't even get the energy to...what was I saying? Kidd/Cesaro for the win. Unless creative is ready to heel it up with the New Day. That's the only way those three mis-matched preachers are going to come out on top. If they heel turn...if two of them heel turn and giver the bottom of their boots to the third.  I've surprised myself that I've stayed awake long enough to write that. Both teams have become the answer to insomnia.

Bryan vs Barrett for the United States title. How are they going to fix this match if Bryan is injured? Unless they turn it into a tag team match or triple threat with say Adam Rose or something, and have Bryan just happen to loose the title while not in the ring because Barrett pinned someone else...I don't see this match going down in any other way. Daniel Bryan might as well just be on commentary for this one.

Sheamus vs Dolph in a kiss me arse match. Oh god! Really? Seriously? Why? As much as I would love to see Sheamus's naked arse on tv in techicolour...vampires aren't in any colour though are we...I have never seen the point of these humiliation matches. They go beyond stupid sorry. I think Dolph is going to win this just because creative doesn't know what else to do with either of these poor guys right now.

Roman Reigns vs Big Show...last man standing match. Okay, this could go either way depending on how creative plan on using the other two werewolves in their matches. This so far for the list of matches makes the most sense. Last man standing is a classic, hardcore or not. And it could be used as a straight up brutal force wind knock the dude off the mountain with nothing but an uprooted oak tree or it could be used as a mind over matter mat match. Hence classic. But we know in this case, it's going to be a throw the ring bell still attached to the time keeper  at the opponent type of match. Sad really, that with all the potential that Reigns has, they are still only using him to shoulder open locked doors.   Even if Reigns ends up being the last man standing here, he's going to loose a few years. 

Seth Rollins vs Randy Orton...cage match with the RKO banned. Huh. The end result can only be Orton getting the title by Kane's interference. Not to help Orton but to shack over Rollins. This werewolf will come out bloody and bruised and beaten like a whimpering pup, but I think that will be held in favour with Reigns winning his match.

Dean Ambrose vs Luke Harper...in a Chicago street fight. Seriously? Seriously? Do the writers have nothing else in the kitchen that they can add to Ambrose's pot? I get it, he's built his career on taking as many punches as possible and stumbling back up. This werewolf makes the word dizzy look up the word concussion. Just once I'd like to see him shock the hell out of everyone and have a plain old fashioned mat match submissions style, nothing crazy. After the storyline they had started to give him last month before WM, where he was defending the history of the Intercontinental title, it would be nice to see him back it up. Prove that you're not just bad hair gel and safety pins. What on earth could this dude do if all the chairs/tables/ladders/weapons were banned and he had to stay in the ring? Is he even capable of doing an old fashioned match? I used to think he was better then this, but...my money is still on Ambrose...if he doesn't jump off the roof and break his neck before the end of the match.

Which brings me to what I meant by Rollins and Reigns winning their matches. We're coming to the year mark since the Shield were broken up. It's clear that creative have in mind to slap the title on Orton, leaving Rollins' character flapping in the wind like a ripped jacket. And with Big Show's character still firmly in the Authority, this leaves one storyline in my mind...putting the hounds back together. But if they are going to do that, I'd suggest sooner rather then later, given how often Ambrose seems to get himself hurt. I give that boy 4 years max before he kills himself in the ring.

see you after the ppv
Love Ardeth Blood.

Do you feel fake yet?

It's no secret that for years, I was anti-WWE. I wouldn't watch the product, wouldn't talk about it, and went out of my way to avoid it as much as possible. I was solidly in the corner of WCW, TNA, ROH, and a bunch of indie Canadian companies. I only started to swing back towards WWE few years ago when I started doing the wrestling reviews online.  At that time, that's what people wanted, so I gave in. Yeah, I sold out.
Now, it's pretty much the only game in town. Ironic when you really think about it. Where I'm located, there is nothing and I do mean nothing else being offered on television or ppvs, unless you want to spend hours trying to locate things other fans have uploaded online. Which, to be honest drives me insane. I hate having to search for something I love or even slightly like. So I don't. Then there is always the dreaded "sorry that's not available in your country" internet blocks which prevents lots of television shows/websites from showing video content here.

Sucks dog balls man.

This past week, I've been dealing with a few situations that has brought out the worst in some of the people around me. It led me to a conversation this morning about how fake people can be. Had nothing to do with the topic of wrestling, but everything to do with sticking to your personal values. Which got me thinking about how easily certain situations/people can sway you from your personal point of view. Call it peer pressure if you want to.

For anyone who doesn't know me, I'm the type of person who believes everything is a lesson to be learned from. I believe in a lot of things, and the timing of something is always a key factor.

Do I feel fake for swinging over to the WWE camp of fans?  Sometimes. More often then not, I ask myself would I be talking about this company if certain wrestlers were not part of it? My answer is always no. I ask myself, if certain wrestlers left would I stop watching? My answer is almost always yes.

This is a year where veils will be dropped in peoples lives in every aspect. Where so many on the planet will have to draw a line in the sand for their personal values/beliefs. Many will drop the fake people/situations in their lives, the situations that no longer add depth to their goals, or that straight up do not align with what your personal truth is. 

Am I saying I'm going to stop talking/blogging about WWE?  Not that I can commit to, at lest not today anyways. But, this was something sticking in my claw I needed to say, and this was an excellent example of something in my life that I let colour my view point. It's hard to show enthusiasm for something you don't always find strength/honor in.

Love Ardeth Blood

loved hated WM 2015

Spudguns! Time for my ppv commentary...

Pre-show: I always hate more then I love lately. The last few times, I've found myself at the last few minutes still undecided if I'm getting the ppvs.
Anyways, so I went to the website at 5pm for the preshow, which at two hours was going to be a drag, only to find out that if you do not have the network, you don't get the second hour. What the hell?
So no Tag Team Fatal Fourway or the Andre the Giant Battle Royal for those of us who got the ppv on tv and refuse to sign up for the network and pay $12 Canadian a month for one or two shows we want to see.  So the first hour those of us without the network got, was just recapping everything.
Preshow hated it!   And I do have to say yes, all us straight women really do hate each other. That's the only interesting thing that I heard on that pre-show first hour.

I've been a fan of wrestling since I was 5 years old. There was a few years in my twenties (1994-1998) when I didn't watch wrestling. Mostly, because I was just not watching much tv. And on the rare occasions when I did flip on the tv and watch wrestling, it was the Canadian independent shows being carried on CBC. Those were good. I miss that kind of wrestling programs. 
What I would love to see on an episode of Smackdown or Raw, is a stripped down show.  One of the best shows WWE did was few years ago when half the company were unable to get to the show because of being stuck at an airport. There was no music, no pyro, you saw a few matches that would never have otherwise happened just because that's who was in the building.  I don't know man, maybe I'm just showing my age but, I actually remember a time when "surprise run ins" were just that. No video intro or music or pyro announcing who was going to run in and give a beat down or help against one. They would literally just run in. Shocking the audience.   On a night like this, I just couldn't help but wonder...Is it just me, or is it time to get back to basics? 
 
Match #1- Ladder match for the Intercontinental title.  Daniel Bryan vs Wade Barrett vs Dean Ambrose vs Dolph Ziggler vs Luke Harper vs R-Truth vs Star Dust. 
Ambrose was power bombed out of the ring into a folded ladder splitting the back of his skull open, within the first 10 minutes, leaving the match open for Ziggler and Bryan.  Bryan won.  
Well, that was sucky. Totally disappointing, as this was the only match I got the ppv for and it was over in under 20minutes.

Match #2- Randy Orton vs Seth Rollins.   Rollins had a nasty landing after having a crazy clothesline from Orton. Rollins then suicide dive on Orton sending them both flying into the announce booth.
Rollins saved the ppv in my mind; my second favourite werewolf.  The moonsault that caused him to fly backward into the booth was psycho amazing.  You would think by now, with all the high moves guys are doing lately, they would give a bit more space between the ring and the announce booth/ringside   Orton got the win.

I'm going to give a suggestion and lets see if it will come true.  Seth Rollins is going to star in the next Crow movie. after seeing that corkscrew and the running step thing he did on Orton's neck. Freal me!  Wouldn't that totally rock though? Seth Rollins as the Crow, I'd pay to see that more then once.

Match #3- There was some strange drum solo for Sting, really pointless.  Sting vs Triple H. Bathroom break.
Come out of the toilet to see the match still hasn't started, and Triple H is dressed like a cartoon character...okay then.  I've made it no secret that I'm NOT a fan of either men, but being that I was a massive WCW/TNA girl, I was hoping for Sting.
What the hell is with all the old goats? Bloody hell...yeah I hate everyone.  Triple H won.  crap!

Okay, so really feeling my age, some band I've never heard of played. And freal, I'm so damn sick of this theme song already. Hope I never have to hear it again. Which, to be honest every ppv theme makes me want to vomit after the second time I am forced to hear it repeatedly on every commercial for the ppvs.

Match #4- women's match. Coffee break.

Match#5-Cena vs Rusev for the United States title.  Cena won. Shocker for ya.

Rock came out to blah blah blah, must have a new movie to promote.

Match #6-Bray Wyatt vs Undertaker.
Zombie Scarecrow Hillbillies. A bunch of hillbilly scarecrows that he anointed that became zombies, followed him to the ring. Wyatt I mean. Zombie Scarecrow Hillbillies...zombie scarecrow hillbillies...
Undertaker won.  boo! You know Bray, maybe if you didn't play with the zombie scarecrow hillbillies you would have had time to think of a better attack...

Main Event- Roman Reigns vs Brock for the heavyweight title.  My werewolf better win damn it! Reigns was hurting, yet he was laughing...did he get his brains rattled so badly he was delirious?  At one point Reigns got suplexed right out of the ring. I stopped counting after the fourth suplex, but he took way too many.  Reigns managed to get it turned around for a moment, but Brock got the upper hand again.
Then Seth Rollins tried to cash in his case. Seth Rollins pinned Roman Reigns, and got the title. NICE! Lest one of my werewolves won!

So that's my thoughts on this month's ppv. I remember a time when WrestleMania meant something because it was the only ppv for the year. moving on...
I am still waiting for the Shield to get back together. I won't be happy with anything WWE does till that happens.  
I can't be the only one who feels that the pay-per-views have lost their groove?

Love Ardeth Blood

March 11th 2015

As we head into the big yearly ppv known as Wrestlemaina, I have thoughts.
I know this is a bit early in the month, given we still have two weeks and who knows what matches will be listed, I'll probably come back in before the ppv and give a full "pre-thoughts" but, at the moment I want to talk about the ladder match.

The big ladder match for the Intercontinental Title, which as of this posting, contains Wade Barrett, Dean Ambrose, Star Dust, Dolph Ziggler, R-Truth, and Luke Harper.

I have to keep asking myself, why I shell out $50 -$60 bucks every month for what is usually only one match I actually care about? The short answer is "sir I have an addiction". 

I love the fact the Intercontinental belt is being spotlighted. I don't think it really has in a few years, and this is a fabulous way of doing so. I love that some of the guys added to the mix are a few you wouldn't expect to see given the current storylines. R-Truth has brought a sense of comedy to the otherwise dry-rub storyline that could have made it pointless. The play on words with R-Truth having the sack for "potatoes" after the past week and a half of Cole calling the plot a "game of hot potato" was brilliant.
The fact Luke Harper has done his role in perfect silence, adds a touch of urgency to the idea that this title does play a major role in the ladder - no pun intended- to getting to the heavyweight belt.
And of course, Dean Ambrose kicking it all off with his demanding that the history and respect of the title be brought up to begin with, shows that this title does MEAN something to the business; and is not just a filler spot.

So who do I think will come out ahead on this and who do I want to come out the winner?  These are two separate plotlines.
I think  it's going to end up around the waist of Dolph Ziggler. The second he was added to the chess board, my mind was locked in. It makes sense given he's been heavyweight champion before and this would elevate him to the running of number one contender after Seth Rollins cashes in. A Rollins-Ziggler feud makes so much sense for the coming year.
This would also open up a great chance to have Dean Ambrose and Luke Harper butt heads in a feud for a few months. Or Ambrose vs Star Dust.

What I want to see is Dean Ambrose come away the winner. I think if they put the Intercontinental title around that werewolf's waist, it's going to stay there for awhile. Have him beat his own title record and hold it for even two days longer then he held the U.S. title last year.  That would be a storyline, could Ambrose out Ambrose himself?  Think of all the ways that creative could throw at him to keep the title and beat his own record? The feuds he could be allowed to have with some of the mid-card guys who we rarely see, or even a title vs title match against whomever has the heavyweight belt by fall. Bring more of a pure wrestling history lesson to his storyline with each match he defends the title.

Okay my Spudguns! That's my thoughts right now on the IC Title, and I'll be back in time for the ppv.
Love Ardeth Blood

What I loved/hated Fastlane 2015

Spudguns!  Can you believe it's ppv night again...already...so soon?  Yes? No? Sure cause you just watched it too? Righty-ho then, this is what I have to say about it all.

Pre-show: Are they that desperate for a storyline for Seth Rollins that they are doing the talk show...really?
Stop giving Ryback a microphone...bored now.

Liked the toque Dean Ambrose wore in his promo... liked the serious note on the topic of the championship too...

I would still like to see the pre-show hosted just by Paul Heyman and Corey Graves, when you give me that then I'll start to be a bit happier with the wasted half hour. They took way too god-damned long getting to the Paul Heyman segment. Pre-shows should be either filled with matches or totally hosted by Heyman.
That a bruise on Miz's ear or just a really heavy amount of tanner?
I feel this pre-show was once again mishandled. A full hour and 50 minutes of recap when there could have been at lest a half hour match. 

Match #1-Dolph Ziggler/Erick Rowan/Ryback vs Big Show/Kane/Seth Rollins.  When will we get to see Seth Rollins in singles matches? Like serious no one else hanging around ringside singles matches? If they are setting up to have him take the heavyweight title within the year, he's got to show that he can survive without a group gimmick. The crowd stated to chant for Ziggler while Rowan was in the ring. I will always continued to be amazed by how different every city's crowds are with who they cheer for.
Rollins had an amazing neck-breaker on Rowan from the top turnbuckle. Sitting here right now, I'm saying I would love to see Seth Rollins one on one with Tyson Kidd in a 2 out of 3 falls match. I think that would be the kind of match to have people remembering how great matches used to be. Just them, everyone else banned from ringside.
Kane got the pin giving their team the win.
Randy Orton made his big return after the match to save Ziggler  from their five minute beat down. This is the next storyline for Rollins...I'll buy that for a Toonie. 

Match #2- Gold Dust vs Star Dust in a family feud match.  Gold Dust got the win with a roll up.

Match #3- Usos vs Kidd/Cesaro for the Tag Team Titles. The Usos used a wicked move that was half Samoan drop into the gates.  
Kidd got the pin getting the tag titles. 

Triple H vs Sting...so this wasn't a match as much as a waste of my time. I have admitted before, that the "attitude era" was a snore for me. I didn't care when it was happening, and I care even less to hear about it now.  And Sting pointed to the WM sign...great ruin that for me already... well, at lest that match will be more interesting than dragging the Undertaker out of the dirt again...

Match #4- women's match...I didn't watch, took a bathroom break.

Match #5-Dean Ambrose vs Wade Barrett for the Intercontinental  title. As I predicted earlier in the week on the last post, someone wore black- actually they both did, elbow drops happened, and...the ref threw the match DQing Ambrose. That blows. I didn't predict that.
And Dean Ambrose took the title with him anyways...interesting. Sadly, the rest of my predictions didn't happen, there was no blood, no chairs/tables/barbed wire, Ambrose did not cut a fabulous promo or shove a plate of fish and chips into Barrett's face. Damn! Next week maybe... Bit disappointed on the shortness of this match, it rang in just under the 15 from intros to end, but it looks like the big move for WM.
If they go with a decent length match next time, say 30 minutes or longer, and hopefully making it a "throw back classic style" to drive the point Ambrose has been trying to make about the history of the title; this could be main event-ish.

Then Bray Wyatt pulled one over on the crowd. Cool. But seriously, can't we find someone else for Wyatt to battle next? Someone fun? Interesting even?

Match#6-  Cena vs Rusev for the United States title.  I didn't really pay attention to this one either. I made a coffee and checked emails.
Rusev got the win by submission. Keeping the title. Huh, didn't bet on that one.

Main Event-Daniel Bryan vs Roman Reigns for the #1 Contenders spot at WM.  Bryan was going for his surfboard on Reigns, but Reigns tossed him off...looked impressive. Reigns pulled out a few new moves, maybe he read my post from last week?  Reigns got the win on his spear!

This ppv was a bit of a let down. The Seth Rollins match was too much like everything we've seen him do lately on Smackdown and Raw, The Dean Ambrose match was too short, and The Roman Reigns match was about the only one that was thought out and made sense for the storylines.

Till later
Love Ardeth Blood

Fastlane 2015 pre-thoughts?

"Oh NOW they post some matches! After I've blogged!"   I was editing a tarot video for a project and half of it was me jumping up and down to adjust the camera, took the still dropped it in here cause I didn't know what else to do with it...well it is my good side...

Okay so yesterday I was ready to have this chat but there was nothing to chat about, now we have a couple of title matches... Usos vs Kidd/Cesaro, Rusev vs Cena, Roman Reigns vs Daniel Bryan, Dean Ambrose vs Wade Barrett.

Usos vs Kidd/Cesaro for the Tag Team Titles... what do I think?  Usos have this wrapped up. Easily the Usos win. Unless, Miz sends Sandow out to arse jack someone...just saying.

Cena vs Rusev for the U.S. Title. Has Cena had this title before or will this be his first time holding it?

Roman Reigns vs Daniel Bryan for the #1 contenders spot at WM...huh. Fans last year were upset that Reigns didn't win the Rumble, and this year they were upset he did. I don't get that? Does that make sense to you my lovely Spudguns!  Well bloody hell, what does it matter when we all know that Seth Rollins is going to cash his case in last second on whomever...Reigns. I think Roman Reigns is going to be standing tall at Fastlane, and then either get smashed with a curbstomp or just maybe I'll finally get my wish and the Shield will start to regroup...I still believe...

Dean Ambrose vs Wade Barrett for the Intercontinental Title. What do I think on that...there will be blood from one of them, and there will be elbow drops, there will most likely be a chair or table or barbed wire. Someone will wear black and Ambrose will cut a fabulous promo before hitting Barrett with a plate of fish and chips. I'm giving this a title change and saying Ambrose gets the win.

See ya after the ppv...
love Ardeth Blood

Feb 16th 2015

This was suppose to be the Pre-Thoughts for Fastlane PPV post.  But...with only like 2 matches listed right now, there wasn't a reason to do that.

So instead, I thought I would get something off my boobs...er chest.  Ready to yell at me...great spiffy....

Why is it, when a superstar finds a great move, be it a set up move for their finisher or the finisher itself, they stop trying?  It just seems to me, that a lot of the guys these days find one or two cool things to do and that's it. They stop bothering to reinvent their style...or maybe I should say broaden their language in the ring. And you can take that metaphorically or literally, cause some of the guys get one catch phrase and never really build on that either.

And I'm going to pick on Dean Ambrose right now, because he's one of my favourites.  The running across the two announce booths, which rocked the roof off the crowd the first two times like a year ago, is old now. The second shelf hammock that springboards you into a clothesline, also on the stale side now.  I get that "trademark moves" are just that, but when they are used every single match they loose their shinny.
Bray Wyatt also one of my favourites right now, the exorcist crawl is also dead in the water. I want to see something else. Something faster, something more thought provoking. Pick a different horror film if need be.

I don't know about anyone else, but when you watch your favourites every week, you notice all the gimmicks, all the twitches, all the new and all the old. I'm not seeing a whole lot of "new" from anybody.
While I'm here unloading my thoughts on this snow covered afternoon while my coffee rapidly gets cold, and slightly speaking of mic work; when was the last time we saw...er heard Dean Ambrose take over the announce booth? It's been over a year hasn't it since he stole some headphones from the announce team?
His semi-mini feud with Barrett needs something. A bag of tacks maybe? A staple gun?  A 2 out of 3 falls? A great open mic night on Smackdown? Something.  And am I the only one who when they hear Barrett's catch phrase lately thinks of Comic Strip Presents More Bad News?  I can't be the only one who right away expects to see Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planer and Peter Richardson appear in full on waterfall wigs and leather pants...

Till later
Love Ardeth Blood