The Wrestling News Experience: 10.26.09
Posted by Stephen Randle on 10.26.2009
In this Experience, we have Bragging Rights results and a preview of Raw is NASCAR, plus the fallout from Nigel McGuiness jumping to TNA, updates on JR's condition, more from Hogan's autobiography, and Jim Cornette breaks his silence!
Monday, October 26th, 2009
From 411Mania's Canadian offices in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, this is The Wrestling News Experience, with Stephen Randle!
Free Internet Wrestling Report Is Srs Bsns!
Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the Experience. I am Stephen Randle, and I do apologize if my continuing stress-related breakdown from work interfered with your enjoyment of my wrestling news report last week. I guess I should have learned from the time JP and JT tried to write Hidden Highlights as Cryme Tyme. Rest assured, there will be no nonsense at all in this week's edition of the Experience.
Well, I mean, none originating from my cat, anyway.
The Miz defeated John Morrison (pinfall, countered Starship Pain). Raw leads 1-0
Did not see that coming, although perhaps I should have, since Morrison will be awesome even with the loss, and Miz is still building credibility.
Michelle McCool, Beth Phoenix, and Natalya defeated Melina, Kelly Kelly, and Gail Kim (Phoenix pinned Melina, Glam Slam). Tied 1-1
The Undertaker defeated Batista, Rey Mysterio, and CM Punk in a Fatal Four-Way Match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship (Taker pinned Batista, Tombstone)
And the long-awaited Batista heel turn commences! I'm fairly sure a lot of people saw this one coming, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a good idea. Batista has been a good guy since 2003, and really, his character just works as a heel. I mean, he's a big muscular guy who likes beating the crap out of people, and being smug about it while wearing expensive shirts. What does he have to do, kick over your sand castle and steal your girlfriend? Because I'm sure he would.
Chris Jericho, Kane, The Hart Dynasty, Matt Hardy, Finlay, and R-Truth defeated D-X, Big Show, Kofi Kingston, Cody Rhodes, Mark Henry, and Jack Swagger (Jericho pinned Kofi, Big Show chokeslam). Smackdown wins Bragging Rights trophy 2-1
Well, it makes sense, why would Show feel more loyal to the brand than his tag partner? I suspect we're headed for Show and Jericho vs D-X in some form at the next PPV. Which begs the question, who's left to feud with the WWE Champion?
And I, for one, am very glad that there was actually a trophy to be won. I mean, at least now the whole concept means something. That's all I ask, really.
Plus, now somebody gets to destroy the trophy and start an insta-feud!
John Cena defeated Randy Orton 6 falls to 5 in an "Anything Goes" 60-minute Iron Man Match to win the WWE Championship
1. Cena submits Orton, STF (1-0 Cena)
2. Orton pins Cena, RKO (1-1)
3 & 4. Double pin following RKO/Attitude Adjustment (2-2)
5. Cena pins Orton, Super Attitude Adjustment (3-2 Cena)
6. Orton pins Cena, Legacy interference (3-3)
7. Orton pins Cena, toss through lighting grid (4-3 Orton)
8. Cena pins Orton, small package (4-4)
9. Orton pins Cena, DDT on floor (5-4 Orton)
10. Cena pins Orton, Attitude Adjustment through announce table (5-5)
11. Cena submits Orton, STF (6-5 Cena)
I'm not sure you could ask these two men to do anything more for your entertainment. There is indeed a reason why there have been very few Iron Man matches in WWE history, because going for an hour on PPV in front of a crowd trained to accept shorter matches takes superb conditioning, wrestling ability, and the right opponent.
That said, can WWE promise that Randy Orton and John Cena will not wrestle each other for at least a year? Seriously, this was a three-year (interrupted) feud that was prepared for both men since 2003 (remember how they never EVER faced each other from the time they debuted because WWE knew it was going to be a big feud? And yet, they never did get a WrestleMania one-on-one match…ah well), and I think we've pretty much milked it dry.
Also nice to see Kofi getting some face time, between this and dropping the fake accent so he can cut better promos, can the future be near for him?
Buddy?
So This Is All I'm Good For? Screw That, Rate It Yourself
There, see what you've done? You've gone and hurt Buddy's feelings. You should all be very ashamed.
Although by making my cat write the report, I got more links from other 411 columns than I have…ever. So I win.
Tonight's Host: If You Don't Like "Big Red", Then F*** You!
Okay, I know it's not him, but frankly, he's the only part of NASCAR I can stand.
That's right, I said it, and if NASCAR tries to chase me down, I'll just turn right and escape.
Anyway, last night at Bragging Rights, John Cena regained the WWE Championship, ensured his place on Raw, and took part in a classic Iron Man match with Randy Orton. And with Orton finally in the rear view mirror (they promised!), what new threat will arise for the Champ?
Meanwhile, the Raw brand was dealt a serious blow to morale last night, failing to win the coveted Bragging Rights trophy despite taking the first of three interbrand matches. Raw went on to lose two straight matches, and most disappointing of all, saw The Big Show turn on his own brand to side with his tag team partner, Chris Jericho, costing Raw the huge seven-on-seven match which decided the winning brand. While Show left Triple H lying after a KO punch last night, one has to be sure that D-X will be looking to come after the World's Largest Athlete tonight, as well as his (relatively) diminutive and manipulative partner.
One member of the Raw brand which must be feeling pretty smug is The Miz, who staked his brand to an early 1-0 lead at Bragging Rights by defeating his former tag partner, John Morrison. With the United States Champion riding high, who will try to knock him back down a few pegs?
All this, plus the possibility of a guest appearance by "Spark Plugg" Bob Holly (no, not really), tonight on Raw!
Stupid Like A Fox! Or Wolf, Even!
In news that shook the foundations of wrestling just a little bit last week, ROH alumni Nigel McGuinness, who had reportedly signed an agreement with WWE, debuted instead on last Thursday's episode of Impact under the name Desmond Wolfe. The Internet was abuzz with the possibility that a potential blue chip star had actually chosen TNA over WWE, however as the full story came out, that was not entirely the case.
Apparently WWE had some concern about Nigel's medical screening, and determined that they would not be offering him a contract after all. McGuinness immediately signed a contract with TNA, and immediately made an impression, attacking former World champion and MEM "Godfather" Kurt Angle and leaving the main event star lying at the end of the show. I'm fairly sure that even the most avid WWE supporters will admit that there is no way the newly monikered Wolfe would have had such a high-profile debut on Raw or Smackdown, beating down one of the promotion's biggest stars and instantly becoming a major talking point of TNA. However, one cannot entirely blame WWE for taking the cautious route with Nigel, given his wrestling history contains several major injuries that could cause chronic issues, and the fact that WWE isn't exactly low on talent of their own.
Meanwhile, Nigel's defection caused rumours that fellow ROH grad Brian Danielson would be following him south, however, these appear to be false, as Danielson will reportedly be officially signed to a WWE contract this week, having passed his medical screening.
A Potential Eternity With Michael Cole
In unfortunate news this week, the voice of WWE, Jim Ross, let everyone know through his online blog that he had suffered another attack of Bell's palsy. This is Ross' third documented attack, and resulted in him being unable to attend both last week's Smackdown tapings and the Bragging Rights PPV last night. Ross will be sidelined for the immediate future, but was quick to re-assure fans that he is feeling better following the incident, and is determined to make his return to the broadcast booth sooner, rather than later.
You can read JR's personal updates on his condition at his blog, and while you're there, make sure to send him your best wishes for a speedy recovery, wishes which are echoed by all of us here at the Experience.
Hogan!
In continuing promotion for his autobiography, Hulk Hogan made sure to mention that winning the WWF title for the first time with a shattered kneecap wasn't the only time the Hulkster faced adversity in his life, brother. In fact, Hogan's recent divorce and family-related troubles allegedly led him to contemplate suicide, and in fact he stated that he actually had the gun pointed at his head before a phone call from Laila Ali, daughter of Muhammed, drew him back from the precipice and led him back to mental health. So, Ric Flair is a deadbeat, and Hulk Hogan has issues with severe depression (and, judging from what we've learned about his autobiography, delusions). Did any wrestler escape the 80's with some level of sanity intact? And who would have thought that we'd be more interested in an upcoming Flair-Hogan bout because of their well-documented current out-of-the ring issues instead of the match that will take place?
Movies No One Will See. Except Wrestling Fans Because We're Dumb.
They changed the name of John Cena's upcoming direct-to-DVD release, which will not, in fact, be about a tough-as-nails hero chasing a slimy criminal mastermind who has abducted his significant other! No, this time he'll actually be playing…a wrestler. And you people thought he didn't have acting range.
Filming for Cena's newest movie is set to start soon in New Orleans, with Big Show's feature WWE film wrapping up production in the same city shortly. New Orleans is also where WWE filmed Cena's last movie, 12 Rounds. Is New Orleans the new hotspot for film-making, or just the cheapest possible place in America to film a movie? Although after some of the pictures I've seen of Mardi Gras, I would suggest the city is the only place in America that doesn't think wrestling is too lowbrow for their tastes.
Mama Cornette's Baby Boy!
After remaining silent for a good long time, Jim Cornette has finally come out with his side of the whole "fired from TNA" story, and as you'd expect, it's a good one. Go here for all the details. I'll wait, because it's Cornette, so it goes without saying that it's a long and entertaining read. And, surprisingly, it's quite polite towards the source of Cornette's greatest ire, which is a certain member of the TNA Creative team who shall remain Vince Russo. By which I mean he doesn't actually use any curse words or threats against Russo's life, progeny, or genitalia. I mean, he obviously hates the guy (which probably explains why he's one of the Internet's greatest heros), but at least he's polite and thorough about exactly why he hates him. All we ever do is say "f*** Russo" and leave it at that, so it's nice to have someone to put our thoughts into ten-page diatribes.
Inactive List as of 10.19.09
WWE Raw
- Maryse, out indefinitely as of July 28th (knee surgery)
WWE SmackDown
- Edge, out indefinitely as of July 4th (torn Achilles tendon)
- The Great Khali, out indefinitely as of September 15th (knee surgery)
ECW
- No reported injuries
TNA
- Jeff Jarrett, out indefinitely as of July 21st (self-imposed suspension)
Transactions
- Daffney, TNA, out indefinitely as of October 19th (broken arm)
- Desmond Wolfe, TNA, made TNA debut on October 22nd Impact
- Jim Ross, SD!, out indefinitely as of October 20th (Bell's Palsy)
- Lance Cade, signed a new WWE contract, reported to FCW
- Shad Gaspard, SD!, day-to-day as of October 20th (flu)
WWE
**NEW** WWE Champion: John Cena
- 1 day reign, defeated Randy Orton in an "Anything Goes" Iron Man Match on October 25th (Bragging Rights PPV)
World Heavyweight Champion: The Undertaker
- 22 day reign, defeated CM Punk in a Hell in a Cell Match on October 4th (Hell in a Cell PPV)
ECW Champion: Christian
- 92 day reign, defeated Tommy Dreamer on July 26th (Night of Champions PPV)
WWE Intercontinental Champion: John Morrison
- 52 day reign, defeated Rey Mysterio on September 4th (Smackdown)
WWE United States Champion: The Miz
- 21 day reign, defeated Kofi Kingston on October 5th (Raw)
WWE Undisputed Tag Team Champions: Chris Jericho and The Big Show
- 92 day reign (as team of Chris Jericho and Big Show), The Big Show named as replacement for former champion Edge on July 26th (Night of Champions PPV)
- 38 day reign (as team of Chris Jericho and Edge), defeated former champions The Colons and Legacy in a Triple Threat Match on June 28th (The Bash PPV)
WWE Women's Champion: Michelle McCool
- 120 day reign, defeated Melina on June 28th (The Bash PPV)
WWE Diva's Champion: Melina
- 14 day reign, defeated Jillian Hall on October 12th (Raw)
TNA
TNA Heavyweight Champion: AJ Styles
- 36 day reign, defeated former champion Kurt Angle, Matt Morgan, Hernandez, and Sting in a Five-Way Match on September 20th (No Surrender PPV)
TNA Tag Team Champions: The British Invasion
- 8 day reign, defeated Beer Money, Inc., Team 3D, and former champions Booker T & Scott Steiner in a Full Metal Mayhem match on October 18th (Bound For Glory PPV)
TNA X-Division Champion: Amazing Red
- 18 day reign, defeated Samoa Joe on October 8th (Impact)
TNA Knockouts Champion: ODB
- 71 day reign, with Cody Deaner, defeated former champion Angelina Love and Velvet Sky in a tag match on August 16th (Hard Justice PPV)
TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions: Taylor Wilde and Sarita
- 36 day reign, defeated The Beautiful People (Velvet Sky and Madison Rayne) to win the newly created title on September 20th (No Surrender PPV)
TNA Legends Champion: Eric Young
- 8 day reign, defeated former champion Kevin Nash and Hernandez in a Triple Threat match on October 18th (Bound For Glory PPV)
411 will have live coverage of Raw tonight starting at 9 pm EDT.
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Long shot, but Swagger has claimed he will not lose the rest of the year?
King Booker works as a heel, and he and Cena did have a pretty good Best of 5 Series in 2004?
HBK and HHH look to be hooked up with JeriShow for the time being.
Legacy members look to still be heels, but no way they challenge for the WWE title in the near future.
Unless we get a trade or a debut or a face step up from the midcard or some other act I am missing, it is back to Randy Orton.
Posted By: WATRYYY (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 01:38 AM
What bothers me is how people tried to spin it that Nigel 'chose TNA' over WWE when it was pretty clear what had happened. WWE tested him out; saw he went to the Mr. Kennedy gym and saw he was more banged up than thought, so said to hell with him. He sat at home with no way to pay his bills, so he went to TNA. I read that he had some ungodly brain damage from concussions awhile back, and I am sure WWE is smart enough not to get involved with that issue again.
Posted By: Funny (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 01:41 AM
Gotta love Cornette, he's 100% correct....just how the hell does Russo get away with being paid to do a job he does very badly?
How does Dixie Carter not know about what happened to WCW? Things are not all sweetness and light in TNA at the moment...Booker, Nash, Cornette...not to mention the nameless others frustrated backstage that Cornette mentioned. Angle is doing this thing for Nigel, but watch it lead to nothing a la Jay Lethal and the wasting of the rub Angle gave him.
Posted By: dennett316 (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 01:41 AM
If WWE wouldn't sign a hot free agent like Nigel after he clearly was set to sign, there must be something wrong with him. TNA to do nothing but bring anybody in and sign them with no tests or anything is a little unprofessional if you ask me.
Posted By: Thinking (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 01:42 AM
Nigel as Desmond will be in the X - Division in 6 months. Sure, he debuted big with Kurt Angle. He could win at the PPV, and look great. Then what? Keep him up on top of the card? To do what? Draw ROH crowds in? Yeah.
Remember how we all begged for TNA to bring back Daniels some months ago, and he was going to dethrone the MEM at BFG with the Frontline? Came back huge and crowd was into him toeing off against Kurt Angle during his comeback. How is that going Daniels? Yeah,same as Desmond.
Posted By: Loser (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 01:45 AM
Mr Randle, you've got your years mixed up - it wasnt 2003 for batista, it was 2005. Likewise, Orton and cena had plenty of matches in 2002 on velocity and smackdown as they were both green as hell but then orton went to raw and joined evolution. The planned showdown wasnt planned until 2004 where it was hinted at during the summerslam that Orton won the world title, but cena didnt become a big name until 2005 either. For shame randle, for shame.
Posted By: rorster1986 (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 02:24 AM
Batista had his face turn in 2005, not '03... anyway it was damn overdue last night!
BTW, Cena/Orton was pretty epic. Maybe not in the top 3 iron man matches, but it was a great outing nonetheless. Best match they've had against each other, by far.
Posted By: MILFchaser (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 02:42 AM
You're right, NASCAR is boring. Formula One destroys it. And cats are great.
One thing, though - probably just a typo, but Batista turned face in 2005 and started to get the crowd on his side about halfway through 2004. You said he was a good guy since 2003. Small point. Bj.
Posted By: Bimmy (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 04:35 AM
For the record, JT and I completely stand by the Cryme Tyme edition of Hidden Highlights! And we stayed in character the entire time. Buddy read like you were talking with a few "meows" thrown in.
Posted By: JP Prag (Registered) on October 26, 2009 at 06:00 AM
I want 2 let you know I think buddy did a good job last week and who ever thinks he didn't can take it up with me
Posted By: BigMan3056 (Registered) on October 26, 2009 at 06:05 AM
While I respect Jim Cornette, I do feel that TNA has really stepped up it's game after his departure. A coincedence?
Posted By: mogamer (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 07:55 AM
Nice read, but Batista has been a good guy since 2005 when he won the Royal Rumble and put Triple H through a table.
Posted By: The Dutch (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 08:09 AM
I'm encouraged by Wolfe's debut and TNA looks like it is headed in the right direction. However, we all know that Russo's strongpoint is the "start-up" of an angle. So don't get too overly excited about the future of TNA.
Posted By: Big Fat Fag (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 08:39 AM
WWE Undisputed Tag Team Champions: Chris Jericho and The Big Show
- 92 day reign (as team of Chris Jericho and Big Show), The Big Show named as replacement for former champion Edge on July 26th (Night of Champions PPV)
- 38 day reign (as team of Chris Jericho and Edge), defeated former champions The Colons and Legacy in a Triple Threat Match on June 28th (The Bash PPV)
WWE Women's Champion: Michelle McCool
- 120 day reign, defeated Melina on June 28th (The Bash PPV)
Your numbers don't add up. Jericho won the tag-titles on the same day as Michelle McCool, yet Jericho somehow has been a champion 10 days more than McCool.
Posted By: Kristian (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 08:50 AM
Get ya facts str8 pimp.Nigel did pass his medical screening.Bottom line is TNA offered him more.More money to start, and the instant push that he deserves.Easy choice if you ask me.
Posted By: SmashAdams (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 09:56 AM
WWE has to hire a guy knowing they'll be wrestling five days a week. TNA has to hire a guy knowing he'll wrestle maybe five times a month, mostly in shorter matches. I'd say TNA doesn't need to be as strict with their medical requirements.
Posted By: Peers (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 10:08 AM
I'm going to throw a booking prediction. Tomorrow night on ECW, Jericho costs Christian the ECW title, to avenge his mistreatment and defeat last week. Big Show and Jericho fued with DX for a month or two, until the return of....
EDGE AND CHRISTIAN! Book it!
As for Cena, his next challenger will either be Swagga, Miz, or I think likely Ted Jr. Think about it, what better intelligent move for Orton to make than have Ted Jr take the title from Cena, only for him to DEMAND Ted lose to him, setting up his face turn.
Posted By: Brian (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 10:34 AM
There is something incredibly gay about a man who features his cat in his wrestling articles. That 'something' is a man who features his cat in his wrestling articles.
Posted By: Gothmad (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 10:53 AM
The Miz should challenge Cena
Posted By: dogpound7382 (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 11:06 AM
This Nigel guy is not a hot free agent. I, like most wrestling fans, had never even heard of the guy before he signed with TNA. The IWC needs to stop assuming that just because they have seen some of his matches on DVD that it means the average fan is going to give a shit. He just looks like another overhyped ROH type. Ssamoa Joe, for instance, has weak looking offense and is a fat fuck. The only one you have been right about so far is Punk, and that's only because of his promo skills.
Posted By: Guest#8011 (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 11:36 AM
Also, I'm so lathered up by Batista's much welcomed heel turn. I'm going to do a big gay machine gunner pose all day long!!!
Posted By: Big Fat Fag (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 12:46 PM
For the record, JT and I completely stand by the Cryme Tyme edition of Hidden Highlights! And we stayed in character the entire time. Buddy read like you were talking with a few "meows" thrown in.
Posted By: JP Prag (Registered) on October 26, 2009 at 06:00 AM
Haha that edition of hidden highlights was hilarious! Anyone got a link to it?
Posted By: Guest#8753 (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 01:21 PM
"A Potential Eternity With Michael Cole"
As if watching WWE these days wasn't unbearable enough. Now you pretty much have to watch programming on mute to keep your ears from bleeding.
This is what happens when you don't groom somebody to take over for JR that the crowd could accept (when it's obvious that you didn't want that person to be Joey Styles). You're left with Michael f'n Cole, the worst long-term announcer in the history of pro wrestling (12+ years without an ounce of improvement) running almost every piece of original programming.
Posted By: Brad B (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 02:17 PM
WWE films in New Orleans not only because its cheaper than an LA, New York, or Vancouver, but also because the government still offers incentives to companies that work in the city and help stimulate their economy after Hurricane Katrina.
Posted By: Cactus (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 02:45 PM
We're giving tax credits to production companies to film movies down here.
And you're right, we're not too lowbrow for wrestling. But we do get annoyed when people from other states come make asses of themselves during Mardi Gras and the blame gets put on us.
Posted By: lilwayne1 (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 04:21 PM
The seven-on-seven could've been used to really put over a young guy (namely Kofi, Swagger, or the Hart Dynasty) but instead focused on guys who've been with WWE for 10+ years. I have no problem with the JeriShow/DX feud continuing, and actually welcome that program, but none of them needed a win here. WWE claims to want to make new stars but is terrified to do so at the expense of their old stars. Old stars, mind you, who are all over enough to take a fall in a 14-man brouhaha.
Posted By: neverAcquiesce (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 04:45 PM
I'm main eventing the next ppv so its going well thanks.
Posted By: Christopher Daniels (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 09:29 PM
I know Jericho is a champion but he has done an awful lot of jobbing lately so he actually needed this win and his celebration with the trophy was priceless. I m more of a RAW guy and would have rather seen them win but Jericho makes sense.
Posted By: Radtke (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 09:45 PM
"I, like most wrestling fans, had never even heard of the guy before he signed with TNA."
And you, like most wrestling fans, had never heard of Gordon Solie before JR's induction speech. Therefore your opinion is worthless. And while we're at it, you're technically a sports entertainment fan...
Posted By: Guest#8014 (Guest) on October 26, 2009 at 10:39 PM
Stupid Like A Fox! Or Wolf, Even!
A Potential Eternity With Michael Cole
Hogan!
Movies No One Will See. Except Wrestling Fans Because We're Dumb.
Mama Cornette's Baby Boy!
