The Triple Threat 10.04.09: The 159th Edition - Hell in a Cell, Bret Hart, The Rock on Smackdown, More

Posted by David Martell on 10.04.2009

This week we preview WWE's Hell in a Cell PPV, we talk about Bret Hart possibly returning the the WWE, The Rock's promo on Smackdown, Vince putting over Drew McIntyre, and Jim Cornette returning to RoH. Primo Colon is our Superstar Highlight. Please Enjoy!





Topic # 1 WWE‘s Hell in a Cell PPV is this Sunday. What are your thoughts on the card?

David Martell: To me, Hell in a Cell is shaping up to be one of the best PPV's of the year. The card is very solid and has a lot to offer. The only match on the card that I KNOW will be bad is Mickie James vs. Alicia Fox for the Diva's Title. Alicia Fox is straight up awful in and out of the ring. She really isn't made for this business and definitely shouldn't be on this PPV. Mickie James, although a very talented wrestler, has been botch queen 2009 and Alicia Fox wont be helping the situation. Mickie James will most likely get the win here. Finally we get John Morrison vs. Dolph Ziggler for the IC title belt. I have been waiting for this match for awhile now and it has potential to be a damn good match. I am afraid that Morrison is destined to win here because of the Bragging Rights PPV. Supposedly Bragging Rights is set up to be Smackdown vs. RAW and if Miz wins the US Belt then it would make sense for Morrison to keep the IC strap. It is just not quite your time Ziggler. Like I said, Miz will most likely win the US title here and frankly I will be happy as long as Kofi doesn't keep the title. If you want to break out the statistics though, Kofi usually wins in multi man matches. Personally I would love for Swagger to win but I have a feeling he is the long shot here. Jerishow vs. Batista and Rey for the tag straps is a huge tag match. They are probably the toughest opponents Jerishow has had thus far and it should be an interesting match. I think Batista, much like the Big Show, works better in tag match situations. He is a big guy which means he will slow down fast and Rey will have to pick up the bulk of the match here. It should be great for the fact that we get to see Rey and Jericho go at it once more. Jerishow is not going to lose it quite yet so I see them winning once again with a knockout punch. DX vs. The Legacy in a HIAC match should continue their streak of good PPV matches. I really don't know how long this feud can last though. I think that the winner of this match should get a shot at the tag straps at Bragging Rights. It would fit the PPV and it would end the feud that has been going on for so long. I see DX winning here. After the great sell for Hell in a Cell during RAW this past week, I am quite excited about John Cena vs. Orton HIAC match for the WWE Title. I think they are kind of hinting at a big cell spot sometime during the match. Is it me or has the cell gotten bigger? I really don't see them taking the strap off of Cena just yet so he should get the win. CM Punk vs. The Undertaker in a HIAC match for the World Title should be the match of the night if given time. It is really hard for me to guess who is going to win this match. I can easily see The Undertaker winning the World Title here but in the back of my mind I have a feeling Punk will pull it off. I like the feeling of uncertainty in wrestling and that is what makes me excited about this match. Overall the PPV looks great and it is a must buy.

Alex Mattis: For weeks I having been stating my dislike for the concept for this event and how I believe this is really over-killing the gimmick of the Hell in a Cell, but the card is what it is and does have potential to be a solid show. Cena-Orton has been way overdone but they always produce solid matches and this one shouldn't be any different. Taker-Punk should be something to tune it to, if for nothing else then to see how the ending goes. The DX-Legacy is either going to be a surprisingly good match or a glorified squash… your move DX. As for the rest of the card, expect all the titles on the card to be retained in what should be a great undercard.

Zach Brown: The card for Hell in a Cell has me going from 6 to midnight. The only noticeably absent match is the ECW title match. As disappointing as it is, ECW just wasn't in a place with their storyline to have a match, and it would have been given nearly no time anyway because they will definitely give a lot of time to the HIAC matches. So first of all, I'm not looking forward to Alicia Fox vs. Mickie. I think Alicia is probably the worst #1 contender in the women's division that WWE has had in a while. Hopefully, she'll pull out something impressive though. The Tag match for the Unified titles should be pretty decent. Much like Big Show, I think Batista will be much more tolerable in a limited role like in a tag team match. Plus, I'm glad that Rey Rey is back. Hopefully him and Jericho will pull out all the stops. The Triple Threat match for the US title looks awesome if they give it time. And I'm dying for anyone but Kofi to win. Jack Swagger looks awesome with the belt, and the Miz could definitely use some gold as well. Morrison vs. Ziggler looks like a great match, but I think Morrison will win easy here. I just hope WWE doesn't wait too long to pull the trigger on Ziggler. His completely silent promo on ECW this week was pretty disheartening to see. DX vs. Legacy looks great and could potentially steal the show as well. But it's difficult to say because the main events for this one are so damn good. Cena vs. Orton looks to be great, and if they do a spot on top of the cage like with Raw, it will provide one of the best moments of the year. Cena will retain. And CM Punk vs. Taker is going to be incredible. But unfortunately, I don't know how Punk can win here. It wouldn't make sense for Taker to win because his hip seems to be bothering him, and it would completely derail Punk as well. But all in all, this is the most solid card that WWE has put together in several months. In my opinion, this PPV is an absolute must buy.


Topic # 2 How do you feel about Bret Hart possibly making some kind of return to the WWE?

David Martell: This is an interesting possibility. I would love for Bret Hart to make a return in some kind of way. There really is a lot he could bring to the WWE on screen or backstage. Bret Hart has always been a kid friendly character and in this day and age where the WWE is PG, he could fit on TV quite well. Having him as a GM or even just a guest host would be great for wrestling fans of all ages. I know there are tons of hardcore Bret fans that would love to see him strap up his boots one more time, if he could still go that is. I personally would like him to head the Hart Dynasty but first they would have to turn face. I also wouldn't mind if he became the GM of Smackdown but that is a long shot. Hell, all this is a long shot. I just know he could help a lot of the young guys hone their ability and make them better in ring performers and that is really something we need right now. I don't think Bret would mind to much to even put some of these guys over. I would even like it if he played some kind of backstage role such as a trainer or an agent. Who knows talent better than Bret Hart? Most likely no one. All this is an interesting topic and I hope something actually comes out of this.

Alex Mattis: I suppose stranger things have happened in the crazy world of pro wrestling. While I still seriously doubt the chances of this happening, right now it seems more possible than ever. I don't expect these talks to materialize into much as I just don't see Bret and Vince being able to ever successfully work together again. Bret will keep up the work with ROH as it is proving to be beneficial to both; after expect Bret to go back to his normal life.

Zach Brown: Could this really happen? For real? I honestly don't believe it will. If he even came back in a guest host role, I would be shocked. I was certain that Bret's Hall of Fame induction would be his absolute final appearance in WWE. It just seemed like his final goodbye to WWE. If he did come back to WWE, guest hosting Raw would be tolerable. I think that's something that WWE and Bret could agree on as being completely harmless, and good for the business. Would Bret come back as some sort of permanent GM or commissioner? Or even to manage the Hart Foundation? I sincerely doubt it. In this day and age, there are so many wrestling rumors flying around that it's not even funny. Bret Hart is one of my favorite wrestlers, but him even making a cameo appearance in WWE just sounds too good to be true. At this point, I'll believe it when I see it.


Topic # 3 What are your thoughts on the Rock‘s promo this past week on Smackdown?

David Martell: It is always great to see The Rock on WWE TV because it is such a rare occurrence. The Rock still has it and I almost hate it because I want to see him back in the ring so bad. I really like the fact that he mentioned he could be a RAW guest host in the future. That by itself is hard to believe. You know if he ends up on RAW, people are going to want him to wrestle, WWE is going to want him to wrestle. The question is, is he up for it? The Rock has been kind of weird with wrestling lately. He is using "The Rock" moniker for his next movie Planet 51, he was at an indy wrestling show to put over Jimmy Snuka's daughter, he had a video package for Smackdown and is hinting at being a RAW guest host. It just all seems kind of strange to me. I doubt he will ever bee a full time or even a part time wrestler ever again but thinking that he could have a match one day doesn't seem to be out of the question. He just cut one of the best promos of the year and it seemed like he didn't miss a beat.

Alex Mattis: Awesome. Just goes to show that when it is all said and done Rock will go down as on the absolute best entertainers in pro wrestling history. Fool's still got it. It was cool to see Rock come back and shoot something for the Smackdown show, paying tribute to the show that was named after him. As for guest hosting Raw… that would be tremendous. In addition to it just being awesome to see him back on E TV, it would draw huge ratings and be beneficial for all involved.

Zach Brown: Oh man, this promo is amazing. The Rock is my favorite wrestler of all time, and anytime he stops being Dwayne Johnson, and returns to being The Rock is definitely fine by me. This promo gave me goose bumps. It's amazing to me that The Rock can still deliver the best promo in wrestling after being gone for so long. The fact that he teased guest hosting Raw made me pretty happy as well. If he did come back to guest host, I'm sure he would be bombarded with chants of "One more match!"So I hope he would be ready for that crowd response. If he doesn't want to have a match, I could understand. But Trish Stratus has had matches since she left. Heck, even Jeremy Piven and Cedric the Entertainer got in the ring. Yeah they were terrible, but you know what I mean. It would be cool for The Rock to throw the fans a bone and have a match, or at least give a Rock Bottom or a People's Elbow. But either way, I can imagine that episode of Raw getting fantastic ratings. The Rock has something that no one in this era of wrestling, not even John Cena, has in terms of charisma. This promo proves that, and I hope The Rock is really considering guest hosting Raw, because he'd definitely be the best guest host they've ever had.


Topic # 4 Vince put over Drew McIntyre a few weeks back on Smackdown. What do you think this means?

David Martell: What a rub by Vince. I was actually quite shocked watching this and very, very happy about it. It is not often that Vince puts over wrestlers that are, for the most part, brand spanking new. We all know what he did for Elijah Burke and how that worked out but I have a feeling this will be different this time around. I think Vince finally realizes that the business is in dire need of new stars. Triple H, HBK, Undertaker and even Jericho can only last so long. CM Punk seems to be the only one that has really been pushed to the main event and that just isn't enough. Now, I don't know if McIntyre will ever be World Champ material, but he could very well be a valuable asset in the near future. It all depends on if he can produce good matches and if he can continue to get over as a heel. I really enjoyed his bit on the tenth anniversary of Smackdown. I think calling himself a future world champ is a big statement and a very good heel tactic. I just hope that the WWE continues to push him each and every week and to make sure that he is always on television. I look forward in seeing where he goes and what the E does with him.

Alex Mattis: This took me by surprise, it isn't often at all that Vince does this for someone who new to the company. Anytime that Vince has done this, however, it has worked wonders for the wrestler involved. Now fans will pay attention to what Drew is going to do in and out of the ring just because Vince has put his stamp of approval on him. Drew has the ball now, we'll see if he can run with it.

Zach Brown: I was very impressed with the way Vince put over Drew McIntyre. The way Vince was cutting this promo made me think, "There's no way they brought up Bryan Danielson this early!" And of course ...there was no way they could bring AmDrag up that early. Needless to say, I was in disbelief when the person Vince was introducing was Drew McIntyre. Calling him a future World champion...what a freaking awesome rub for Drew. Now that's not to say that a fantastic introduction from Vince is the ticket to success (See Elijah Burke). But even with the great introduction, Drew hasn't had a full match yet. If Vince is high on this guy's wrestling ability, why hasn't he let him show it off yet? He has a sick double arm DDT, and I laughed harder than necessary when he interrupted R-Truth's "monkey on a cupcake" speech. But apart from Vince telling us in the best way possible that this guy is unbelievable, the WWE audience doesn't really know it for themselves. I've enjoyed everything that McIntyre has done so far in WWE, but I'm starting to wonder what is taking so long to get him into an actual match.


Topic # 5 What are your thoughts about Jim Cornette going back to ROH?

David Martell: I am glad that Cornette found somewhere to go to unleash his creativity. I think this is a good move for both parties here. Cornette will be in a place where he will have more freedom to do what he wants and he wont have to work with people he constantly disagrees with. This is good for RoH because they need someone like Cornette to help their product grow. Cornette can be a loose cannon but he can keep cool, we can get some great TV. Just don't be slapping around other wrestlers Jim.

Alex Mattis: This is the best thing that could have come out of Cornette's departure from TNA so I'm glad that he's back where he belongs. ROH is the best wrestling organization for Jim Cornette and what he has to offer to the pro wrestling world. We've seen in the past that in a heel, face, and tweener role Jim Cornette in ROH works. Now with the TV deal and this time of greater exposure Jim Cornette can really help Ring Of Honor and vice-versa.

Zach Brown: Surprise surprise! Cornette going back to ROH is an obvious move in my opinion. Cornette has simply burned his bridge with the WWE. Well, at least for as long as Santino is there. Going to an indy promotion any lower than ROH or PWG is kind of beneath Cornette in my opinion. Cornette is one of the best minds in wrestling history, and a great on camera personality as well. I think he can do great things for ROH, and ROH definitely needs all the help they can get right now. Unfortunately for Cornette, I think he is his own worst enemy. If Cornette learns to manage his temper in ROH, I can see him staying with the company for a long time.



Superstar Highlight

Primo Colon



Our thoughts on Primo Colon.

David Martell: Primo, aka Dirty Sanchez, has actually impressed me. This kid is very talented in the ring and you can just tell he loves to be there every time he competes. I think it is a shame that he isn't on RAW most weeks. At one time I was actually a huge Carlito fan but after watching his brother wrestle, I firmly believe that Primo is the more talented Colon. Maybe it is just the fact that Carlito doesn't care, who knows. You would think that Primo would be able to help his brother in gaining some determination. Primo kind of reminds me of a young Eddie Guerrero. He really has the talent to be something special but he wont be able to get anywhere if the WWE doesn't expose him. I think he would have been a lot better fit on ECW or Smackdown. At least on those shows he could get the proper treatment he deserves and the fans can get exposed to his unique style of wrestling. He would be perfect for the large Mexican viewership that Smackdown brings in. I can only hope he continues to shine and one day gets recognized for his ability in the ring.

Alex Mattis: This guy has been nothing but impressive since he was brought to the E and has really help bring out the best in his brother Carlito. Primo is a solid singles wrestler and a great tag team wrestler. Like I mentioned before I think Primo helped motivate Carlito and brought out a better side of him. Prior to the arrival of Primo Carlito seemed bored an unmotivated but that all changed when he was teamed with his brother. As for the future, Primo does have a bright one. The guys a solid wrestler and seems to be constantly improving.

Zach Brown: I initially wasn't so high on Primo when he first entered WWE. I thought that he didn't have the look to make it, and for a while I just wasn't impressed with his abilities. His match with Carlito against Miz and Morrison at Wrestlemania 25 (yes that match does exist) really changed my opinion on him. I saw it live, and it was inexcusable that they made it a dark match to the TV crowd and gave Kid Rock a spot on the PPV. But I digress. Primo pulled out all the stops for that match. And why wouldn't he? It's Wrestlemania for crying out loud. I ended up a big fan of the Colons, which was a hard thing to do since I was really pulling for Miz and Morrison to be the first unified Tag champs. Ever since then, he was constantly impressive in the tag team format. I think he has the look and charisma of the next Eddie Guerrero with the skillset to be the next Rey Mysterio. The kid really won me over. Then WWE derailed him. Breaking up the Colons was one of the worst decisions WWE has made in a while. They were awesome week after week until they broke up for no reason at all. And they didn't even have a good feud after that. It was like two weeks or so, and then it was done forever. Neither man has done anything of note since their breakup, and Primo has just become lost in the midcard shuffle of Raw. For example, I forgot Primo even existed until I started writing this paragraph. It's disappointing that Raw just doesn't utilize him the way they should. WWE should move Primo to Smackdown because they actually have a decent midcard on that brand. Hopefully WWE can give Primo the US title in a few months. Either that, or they need to move him to ECW or Smackdown in the next draft so they can build him up the right way. All in all, Primo can make it in WWE with the right amount of luck. The creative team just needs to give him the ball, and I am positive that Primo can run with it.


That is all for this week. Feel free to comment at the bottom of the page and have a great week in wrestling. CYA!