The Wrestling 5 & 1 03.24.12: Trish vs. Layla vs. Velvet

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The Wrestling 5&1? BRING ON THE GIRLS!

Last Week: In my first ever Versus Fatal Four Way, Velvet Sky overcame an early lead for Kaitlyn, and all four members of the bottom row changed position, leaving Brooke to hold the keys to the gate.

This Week: Velvet now challenges the top row for a shot at Maryse and #1 next week!

Will a new #1 be crowned? First we need to find Maryse’s challenger as Velvet Sky faces Layla El and Trish Stratus for in this week’s Versus Triple Threat!

#2 – Trish Stratus!

#3 – Layla El!

#4 – Velvet Sky!

YOU MAKE THE CALL BY PICKING YOUR FAVORITE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION!

Trish Stratus vs. Layla El vs. Velvet Sky. Take your pick!
Stay tuned as next week as I’ll reveal the winner…!

And don’t forget…

Click on the picture to order all new 8×10’s of Buggy!

Edge appeared on Extreme Pro Wrestling Radio earlier this week, discussing, among other things, his original career outlook before retirement…

“I was going to get through WrestleMania 27 and then wrestle through the year and call it quits after WrestleMania 28. So I was planning on sticking around for another year.”

He also indicates he had no choice but to retire, as WWE medical officials never would have cleared him to wrestle. But knowing that he knew WrestleMania 28 was the end for him…could we have been treated to a very different featured match at WrestleMania 28? Of course I’m eluding to Streak vs. Career, Undertaker vs. Edge!

The video above is, of course, Edge vs. Taker from the main event of WrestleMania 24. I was very happy that Edge got to main event ‘Mania, and he didn’t disappoint.

So is Triple H vs. The Undertaker a replacement match? Could we have seen Edge and Taker go at it, with Taker forcing Edge to put his career on the line? I think we could have. I would be a great way for Edge to go out, and we already know just how high the WWE was on the guy—they shifted an entire se of plans, moved up the draft and moved people to Smackdown to make up for it.

So what do you think? Edge vs. Undertaker. Would his have been a better option for WrestleMania 28?

You Decide: Edge-‘Taker > HHH-‘Taker?

It’s been reported (speculated?) by The Wrestling Observer that the WWE plans to announce the WrestleMania 29 main event during the April 2 RAW. Some of the guys they’re looking to are The Rock, John Cena, Steve Austin and The Undertaker.

WrestleMania is now about the “big money” match. And for next year, they have the opportunity for three…

John Cena vs. The Undertaker
This one could be huge. It hasn’t happened at WrestleMania, and both men have largely been kept a part during Cena’s rise to the top. Plus, it’s Super Cena, someone that even the internet can buy in to as a possible streak ender. Plus I think the build could be fascinating, since it won’ be about “the business” or any other insider garbage. I really hope we go in this direction. This is the match you announce on the April 2 RAW.

Steve Austin vs. CM Punk
Austin has said he’d do it, and Punk’s most famous promo ever included his wearing a Stone Cold t-shirt. It might require Punk to turn heel, but that is easily worth it. And the build could be so easy and so innocent. On a random RAW, possibly during the summer, Austin can make a special appearance and end up refereeing a main event that doesn’t involve Punk. Maybe Ziggler vs. Sheamus or something. Stunners for everyone, including Vickie, and it’s time for Austin’s trademark celebration. Enter “The straight Edge Superstar” CM Punk himself. What happens from there could be golden.

The Rock vs. The Miz
With reports (speculation) that The Miz will play a role in the ‘Mania main event, this seems like a natural pairing. You don’t book it one year in advance, but when The Rock makes a February return (possibly right after the 2013 Elimination Chamber PPV). I know The Miz isn’t positioned for this right now, but we’re looking at starting the build in eleven months. That’s plenty of time to “fix” Miz’s character. Plus, as great as Miz is with media appearances, he could become a bigger mainstream star with this one.

You Decide: What do you think of those matches for WrestleMania 29?

I can’t NOT talk about this. It’s just too easy.

Late Monday night, Dave Meltzer reported that World Wrestling Entertainment was closing its developmental facility and all of Florida Championship in general. All of the talent and staff would be relocated to Stamford until a decision was made, and it was likely that a new promotion would open up near the headquarters. And he news took off like wildfire.

Really, Dave?

This report is largely based on the end of the WWE’s deal with Bright House, the local distributor of the FCW television show. Certainly that must mean that FCW is closing, right? I mean, if the WWE ends its deal with a local sports channel, then FCW is done! No other way it could go, huh Dave?

To call this a speculative reach would be an insult to speculative reaches. What I really loved were the reports that talent wasn’t told anything. OF COURSE THEY WEREN’T, THERE WAS NOTHING TO TELL!

Let’s think about this. The WWE has a deal with YouTube to distribute content. They already air Superstars and NXT exclusively online in the US. No one had the common sense to think that they just to plan to move the FCW show online, where fans of the developmental talent would tune in to see the wrestlers they used to enjoy locally? If you’re a fan of Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli, there is only one place you can see them—FCW. Jon Moxley…Tyler Black…the list goes on. You can only see them in FCW. Plus, when the WWE Network is finally launched, shows like Superstars, NXT and FCW will have a TV home.

But the way this was handled was merely irresponsible journalism. He didn’t even have a “source” that worked him over this time. No, he read into a report and obviously “broke” the news without confirming a single thing.

Triple H said it best:
“It is absolutely not true. FCW is not closing, I don’t know how the rumor started but I believe it’s a situation where the ‘dirt sheets’ want to believe they have the scoop on everything. If anything, we are in the process of ramping up our entire developmental system. It’s the lifeblood of our company. It’s what feeds our future and in no way are we going to close it down.”

Sorry Dave, but…

While you’re at it, e-mail him to tell him how wrong he got this one: [email protected].

Kaitlyn is like that girl your friend’s wife sets you up with, after describing her as “having a great personality”. … Of course you’re worried, but when you meet her at the restaurant, she is actually very pretty and cool to boot. … When your food arrives, you struggle to open the ketchup bottle, and she takes it from you and opens with ease. Then she cracks her lobster shell with her bare hands. Then when your beer arrives and the waitress forgot to open, she takes it into her massive hand and flips the top off with her thumb. … She invites you back to her place, but you pretend to have a headache and ask for a rain check. You never call her again. … Tiffany is like that gorgeous girl who works at Abercrombie. She is impeccably dressed, her hair is perfect, her make-up natural and beautiful, and she smells like heaven. … But when she talks it sounds like a camel raping a cat…and she doesn’t shut up…ever. … You take a good 20 minutes before deciding that you’d rather have sex with Barbara Bush than listen to her for another second. … Brooke is like that girl you see across the dance floor in a really dark club. … It’s readily apparent that she might just have the best body of any woman on earth. You keep trying to get a clear look at her face, but it’s dark and smoky, so you move in closer. It’s then that you notice her prominent jaw. You tell yourself that it’s inconceivable that such a gorgeous body is now or could have ever been a man…but you just can’t be certain. … You hang out with her the rest of the night, hoping to discover with certainty if she had ever been a dude. Just before last call you decide that as long as she doesn’t still have a penis, you’re willing to be “open-minded”. But when she asks back to her place, you panic, mumble something about having to get up early, and run away. … Velvet is like the featured attraction at your local gentleman’s club. You’re quick to remark on her beauty…but just as fast you tell your buddies that you’d never have sex with her, joking about all the diseases she could give you. … But when she invites you into the Champaign Room, you crack the wallet without hesitation. After dropping $500 on her, she invites you back to her place. … Your buddies give you a hard time, but you assure them you’re just going to “hit it and quit it” and that you’re going to wear 2 condoms. … Then she rocks your world, doing things you didn’t even know existed and the next morning you propose to her, promising to save her from the terrible world she’s forced to live in. … It’s at that point that her boyfriend, a short, scrawny, too-old-to-still-be-into-Emo dude, walks in and asks to borrow $20 and her car…giving you a chance to escape and avoid further embarrassment. … Definitely Velvet…definitely
Posted By: Frisco Kid

Ladies and Gentlemen…The Frisco Kid!

As far as the Rap/Rock segments, Cena’s was fantastic, and Rock’s was fantastic…until that awful Cleveland Rocks finish. That almost killed the entire segment. … Is it me, or does Cena seem so much more natural and unforced as “Thuganomics Cena”, than he is as squeaky clean, can never be defeated, not sure if serious or goofy, Superman Cena?
Posted By: SS87

Thuganomics Cena did look like a cartoon character. But they went too far. Simply putting on a throwback Jersey would have been enough. But he was already back to current Cena on Monday’s RAW.

Team Long: Santino, Kofi, Truth, Ryder, Rey Mysterio & Brodus Clay. Team Johnny: Otunga, Henry, Christian, Del Rio, Swagger and Dolph Ziggler
Posted By: Guest#2082

Close…very close…

“I would make that claim, but I’m not Larry T. Csonka…BANG!”
This is so true. Nearly every damn podcast has Larry talking about how SOMEBODY stole his idea.
Posted By: Guest#4424

Not on every podcast! Maybe every other…

could not agree more with your take on the dirtsheets and their sources. That being said I pray the Punk stuff is a work. The reason I have just a smidgen of doubt is that Punk is the kind of sanctimonious douchebag that takes himself way too seriously and I don’t get how this builds towards something that makes money.
Posted By: La Raza

We could find out how much of a work it is as soon as he April 2 RAW, in my opinion…and thanks for the compliments!

Yes, CM Punk is annoyed by the Rock, and it’s real. Punk consistently tries to get lower card wrestlers attention and make them look good. Look at when he was doing color – he’d get absolutely furious at Cole or King when they started gibbering about main eventers during low-card matches (even Divas matches), insisting they focus on the wrestlers in the ring. When Rock waltzes in and a quarter of the show gets devoted to birthday parties, lame this is your life segments, or lengthy interviews focused on getting silly sayings trending on Twitter, while his lower card buddies get a 40 second match (if that), there’s no question it legitimately irritates him.
Posted By: Guest#4607

I agree that he might be legitimately irritated. But he also knows that it means more money for him as well. So I think he’s doing what he does, turning the volume on real person up to 100.

That Buggy chick is just a MESS.
Posted By: Bella

Wait, is “mess” now a good thing?

Anyone that thinks Cena came close to the show Rock put on is just dumb. Cena’s little “rap” was two minutes because that’s all he’s got and more than anyone can tolerate.
Posted By: TheR

The problem is that Rock’s act didn’t have a point outside of entertainment. And the end was atrocious. Cena’s was compact, entertaining and to the point.

Here’s the thing about Cena: his current act is stale, but he has the potential to be interesting and watchable. You have to ask what the deal is if he can bring back his THUGLIFE persona on a whim… Having said that, though, that brief glimpse of excellence isn’t enough to undo everything else he’s done in recent memory.
Posted By: Dr. Doctor

I think that’s one of the things I subconsciously like about Thug Cena. He doesn’t have to be Superman.

Becki is hot
Posted By: Guest#1804

And she’s a real woman with real woman curves, yet remains beautiful.

The fact that you idiots allowed a post op tranny like Kaitlyn anywhere NEAR the Hall is bad enough.
Posted By: CottonMouthWolf

Not only did they let her in, they moved her up!

I’m sorry baby, i’ll stop losing TIFFANY, i promise, i love you. Come home baby….
Posted By: Drew McIntyre

Well at least you held up your end of the bargain this week.

If you’re so fucking clever, maybe you’ll know where Rebecca ‘K-Nox’ Knox and Sarah ‘Minx’ Jones are? Well? Do You? DO YOU? … Yeah, anyway if you do let me know, because one owes me a fiver, and the other a blowjob.
Posted By: Captain Rwanda

I guess I’m not so fucking clever…

Greg, you got to add HBK to the Taker/HHH match. It’s an important aspect to the match.

I liked both the Rock’s and Cena’s music segment, except for the “We Will Rock You”. Cheesy and badly performed. I’m with you, Cena should have closed out Raw. But I get the feeling Cena is starting his path to heel.
Posted By: SteveyMac

Man, I would love to see Cena heel in 2012, just for the potential. Especially with Sheamus positioned to be the top face. I just don’t see it happening.

The only reason Christy lost last week is because of all the simpathy votes you got. Really, what guy is heartless enough to sit back and let another guy get chewed out by a girl he’s that in to. And don’t try and act like you didn’t either. Your “I’ll never hear the end of it from Buggy if she loses” comment almost made me vote against MY favorite, Christy.
Posted By: Brian

Really?

Woah let’s not put words into my mouth, friend. I said I’d never hear the end of it, but I didn’t say from Buggy. I was referring to the fact that plenty of morons would have had a blast with their “Your girl lost!” comments if she lost. Buggy benefits from the exposure, but she is not going to chew me out if she loses. Nor am I “in to” her. Which is why I am a trusted friend. Is it that hard to understand?

Breakfast at Tiffany’s > Kaitlyn’s face > Brooke’s Ass > Velvet’s ho-liness.
although AJ is > all.
Posted By: Mathemattstriker

First off, while I would have voted for Brooke myself, I would certainly enjoy breakfast at Tiffany’s. Assuming she hadn’t already beat the shit out of me. As for AJ…she might make a return to Versus sooner than you think.

Honestly, I don’t remember Rock/Hogan being picked apart the way Rock/Cena is. Every line, promo, tweet, booking decision, etc. is being scrutinized to the utmost extent. It’s ruining the “fun” aspect. Rock/Cena is so big, it really doesns’t need any build what so ever. As cool as it is to see Rock and Cena go at each other in promos, having these two future HOFers in a match without a single promo would more than suffice.
Posted By: The Great Capt. Smooth

Both matches were a shocker when they were booked. But in all fairness, Rock-Hogan wasn’t booked 12 months in advance. And it wasn’t booked as the main event of the show, the world title mach was (go figure!). So there is way more to scrutinize here. Plus, social media has a far greater influence now than it did ten years ago.

This is b.s. look at everyone in your hall minus kaitlyn this column is read by marks. Buggy made it into versus because of your personal bias and your fanboy voting. No one even knew who she was until you started harping about her.
Posted By: ahhh

Dude, this entire website is read my smarts and marks alike! Why do you think people like myself are dumb enough to do this for free? And plenty of people knew who Buggy was 13 months ago. But lots more do now. Which was the point!

So when it comes to the Rock being above the rest of the Wrestling world I call bullshit. Sure the guy has been in a few Hollywood movies, but most of them have been shit. This is does put him above anyone else either… Let’s move onto his promo work. … Rock’s promo work has been very spotty, from decent pre-recorded promos to bland live promos. Sure he is charismatic, I can’t say he isn’t… But jesus tits he is just as one-note with his promos as he was before. All the shit the IWC gives Cena about his comedic promos should get pointed at the Rock also. Not to mention his “Concert” was just him reusing a promo from 2003 he did, but changing it up just slightly. … Overall? The Rock can go away again, he has done nothing to justify his payday.
Posted By: Guest#0302

Nice little promo on The Rock there…

I care more about the entertainment. A lame boob joke or harping on the notes on the wrist is fleeting. Rock has a highlight reel a mile long and this will be added to it. John? Well, all this does is make me lament for the more entertaining version of John we haven’t been allowed to see for seven years.
Posted By: Guest#3111

I don’t know that the “Rock Concert” should be added to Rock’s highlight reel. One or two good digs, but Cena’s promo was better.

And you seem like a really nice guy, Greg. Keep up the fine work!
Posted By: Christopher

Indeed I am, friend! You deserve one of these, too…

You say Buggy Nova stands for “Crazy Star ” but it could also be ” Infested Old Chevy “. Sorry, had to type it.
Posted By: Red Rex

You’re right, it could. Buggy herself has confirmed the former, though.

Velvet, of course. Love those eyes, love that ungulate digit. … X belt: A Double, possibly with a face turn. … Finally, about Ms. Hayden’s picture, may I say with humble sincerity, nice ass. 8^)
Posted By: the ghost of Buddy Rogers

I have to admit, ungulate digit took me a minute. Good call on the face turn. And you’re obviously not the only one who loves Barbi’s ass…

Hey, can you blame the guy?!?!

If you haven’t, already click here (or on the pic above) and like Barbi’s fan page!

I’m not sure what an unscientific contest does for Buggy’s “It” factor. The contest is judged by “100-200” wrestling fans. That’s a pretty insignificant sample to add much of anything to Buggy’s career. And the reason I put 100-200 in quotations is because there’s no way of knowing whether it’s really 50 fans voting 2-4x or 25 fans voting 4-8x. … I don’t want to come off as too dickish. I enjoy your column precisely because it treats wrestling like the entertainment it is, rather than Middle East peace negotiations like so many others. So I just wanted to point that out before you start taking yourself too seriously.

By most accounts I’ve heard in shoots from their peers, Cena and Rock are likely the two most humble, easy going, and level headed top guys in history. So why would that all of sudden change? It’s all a work…and I believe it’s working. … Punk’s complaints about Rock fit into the same train of thought as what we saw during the Summer of Punk. Punk always goes on and on and on about elevating the mid-card…but why hasn’t he any stroke backstage to make it happen…it’s because it’s all a work. His character champions the underdog…not an unpopular position to take, as evidenced every March Madness. … Maybe it’s legit…but what does anybody in wrestling gain from airing dirty laundry in public? Too gin up controversy and controversy creates cash…it’s a work.
Posted By: Schmeric Schmifoff

Wait, just who is taking this too seriously? You’re the one disputing my exposure claims. It’s not about who votes. Only a certain percentage of comments make it through because of spamming, content and time. And I have zero control over the comments or the votes. But only a small percentage of readers ever comment. But they still see Buggy. And being in Versus, her picture was on the main wrestling page—a rarity for someone not with WWE or TNA. So don’t underestimate the exposure that this column provides.

And I think there is some legit animosity towards The Rock, but it’s more the same level of jealousy that exists in all of wrestling. You achieve success, people get jealous. But the stuff we see is largely a work. All of it.

I am not a Cena hater, but you have to admit that as good as Cena is at crowd interaction, which he is, he is just not as good as The Rock.
Posted By: Joey9922

Right, but crowd interaction isn’t the only factor here. Creativity and having a point play in as well. Cena did more to promote the match and advance the angle.

In my mind it will be a huge disappointment if Cena does not turn heel at Wrestlemania. … The only change I’d make to your TNA fantasy booking is Joe/Magnus vs the returning MCMG. … I don’t know who Frisco Kid is or where he came from, but I’ll be damned if he hasn’t made me laugh every week. Bravo!
Posted By: kangol

Prepare yourself for a disappointment. I would love Joe/Magnus vs. The Guns, but I don’t think Sabin is ready to come back yet. Plus, I don’t want to start that rivalry in a cage. And Frisco Kid is actually a famous comedian who wants to contribute anonymously.

What?

punk’s entire career elevation is based on him talking shit about everybody the second the spotlight veers away from him, and the iwc eats that up. and the only reason the issue of rock’s heat keeps coming up is because that’s all these articles write about, and the pics of female wrestlers. that sums up your entire article.
Posted By: pjl32

That sums up my article? Really? You skipped a lot. Like where I call someone like you a moron.

“Much like with independent wrestling and TNA, I’m just trying to raise awareness.”
I rest my case guys! Purposely tries to pump them up – to zero results.
Posted By: Yes, a guest!

What…

As for Yes, a guest!, clearly you are a troubled individual. … What exactly do you think the purpose of an OPINION column is? … Just so I’m clear: When an OPINION writer like DeMarco wants to trumpet the greatness of Generic Wrestler A/Generic Company B because in his OPINION, Generic Wrestler A/Generic Company B is awesome and deserving of recognition…how do you then project some sinister motivation to a simple OPINION?
Posted By: Barry O

See, this is a guy who gets it. Randy’s Uncle did leave out one important point…it’s MY column. I’ll write about whatever the hell I please. I will use the fact that many of you come here for the girls to raise awareness of whatever I damn well want to! And I’ll entertain the hell out of you while I do it.

As for Barry O…

TNA presented Victory Road 2012 last Sunday, live from the Impact Zone in beautiful Orlando, Florida! The card had a very good build, and he event turned out to be a great example of how a good show can suffer from a poor finish (see last year’s Bound for Glory for another example).

Sunday night, right after seeing the show, I write this to be printed here, unchanged.

Knee Jerk Reaction
TNA’s talent put forth an amazing effort tonight, and the booking team backed it up—for the most part. What immediately stands out to me is what should immediately stand out, and that’s the main event. Why can’t Bobby Roode, your 34 year old World Champion—in his prime—not cleanly beat Sting, your 51 year old authority figure—semi-retired—in a pay-per-view main event? Yes, Roode won. But he didn’t even cheat to win. That would have been an upgrade. Sting hit a finisher on Roode—the Scorpion Death Drop—and happened to also hit his head on a chair. What’s more, the focus after the match was on Roode and Dixie Carter—and it had nothing to do with James Storm, Roode’s Lockdown opponent. I’ve often said that the main event of a show provides the most lasting memory—and this isn’t what I wanted out of Victory Road. But there was some good to come out of it…

The Knockouts put on a great performance—both Gail Kim and Madison Rayne worked their asses off. Unfortunately for them, the crowd could have cared less. I don’t know if Austin Aries was supposed to turn face tonight—we’ll see on Thursday’s Impact Wrestling. But if so, mission accomplished. He deserves to be elevated even higher on the card. Crimson finally turned heel…this was a much needed turn of events. Now let’s see what they do with it! Devon winning the television championship was panned by many. But I am okay with the move. Looking to the past: I wish the win had some build behind it. Looking to the future: Devon can still go in the ring, is way over with the fans, and has a shot of turning this into a legitimate championship. Kurt Angle and Jeff Hardy provided the match of the night, too. Great job by both men.

Now let’s take a look at how my predictions from last week turned out…

Results vs. Predictions

Non-Title, No Holds Barred: Sting vs. World Champion Bobby Roode
Prediction: Bobby Roode via pinfall
Result: Bobby Roode via pinfall

Jeff Hardy vs. Kurt Angle
Prediction: Kurt Angle, likely through nefarious means
Result: Kurt Angle, through nefarious means

Bully Ray vs. James Storm
Prediction: James Storm via pinfall
Winner: James Storm via pinfall

World Tag Team Championship: Samoa Joe & Magnus (champions) vs. Matt Morgan & Crimson
Prediction: Samoa Joe & Magnus (Matt Morgan takes the fall)
Winners: Samoa Joe & Magnus (Matt Morgan took the fall)

AJ Styles & Mr. Anderson vs. Christopher Daniels & Kazarian
Prediction: Christopher Daniels & Kazarian
Winners: AJ Styles & Mr. Anderson

X-Division Championship: Austin Aries (champion) vs. Zema Ion
Prediction: Austin Aries via submission
Winner: Austin Aries via submission

Knockouts Championship: Gail Kim (champion) vs. Madison Rayne
Prediction: Gail Kim
Winner: Gail Kim

Television Championship: Robbie E issues an open challenge
Prediction: Robbie E
Winner: Devon wins the World Television Championship!

Survey Says…: Greg DeMarco got 6 out of 8 right. Not bad!

Summary
Six out of my eight predictions came true, but this was an easy show to predict. No one saw Devon’s win coming—and that is a good thing. Plus, it wasn’t Garett Bischoff! I was obviously disappointed with the finish to Bobby Roode vs. Sting. Roode has gotten exactly zero clean wins since winning the title last year. Zero. Not even in a non-title match. Hell, as I’ve said on Facebook, I would have been happy with a non-title win over Shannon Moore to open Impact Wrestling! Something…anything…please!

If you haven’t seen or heard, Roode won in a really good brawl with Sting. The finish? Sting connected with a Scorpion Death Drop, and just happened to hit his head on a chair that was on the canvas behind him. Roode didn’t win—Sting lost…on accident! Roode then proceeded to beat up Sting and did unruly things with Dixie Carter. And you know what James Storm did? I mean, as Roode’s Lockdown opponent, Storm had to make the save, right? Nope—Storm was nowhere to be found.

I’m okay with the chair being involved. It was a no-DQ match. But Roode won on a fluke! Your 34 year old World Champion—a man in his prime—got a fluke win over your 52 year old authority figure—a man who is semi-retired. Roode didn’t need the heat of his treatment of Dixie Carter. Brutalizing a legend like Sting—within the legal confines of the match—would have been perfect. Then you have Roode stand tall over a fallen Sting, only to have his music interrupted by James Storm’s. Storm occupies the stage, and has a long-distance staredown with Roode. That’s it—and you’ve created an image you can easily use to promote Lockdown.

I am okay with Devon’s win. If used properly, he can elevate the Television Championship. He’s a good wrestler who can have good matches with almost everyone. Plus, he can realistically feud with almost anyone on the roster—and it would elevate that belt.

The tag team title match was predictable, but is provides the best chance Crimson has of being over. He has a win streak and nothing to do with it. Cheating to keep it going is fine with me, as it will mean something when it ends. Much like Roode’s reign, Crimson should still have the ability to win a damn match, though. My only complaint about this match is that there was minimal focus on the champs.

AJ Styles & Mr. Anderson vs. Christopher Daniels & Kazarian was just there, much like Gail Kim vs. Madison Rayne. The tag match was good, but I was surprised about the faces going over. I am interested to see what’s planned for these four men a Lockdown. Kim & Rayne worked their asses off, but the crowd didn’t care one bit, and didn’t pick one heel over another.

Conversely, Austin Aries showed that he can carry the ball as a face, and I think it’s coming sooner rather than later. And judging by the card we saw, TNA is obviously heel heavy. Thus I have no problem with him going heel, as long as he can still be “A-Double: The Greatest Man That Ever Lived.” Zema Ion really impressed me in this feud, too. I think he’s got a future as more than “the guy that injured Jesse Sorensen.”

I understand why TNA did what they did with Bully Ray & James Storm. But there was a better way. Cart the match out late in the card, and just have Storm run right over Ray. Bully merely needs a new feud and one promo on Impact Wrestling to get 100% of his heat back, and Storm would look stronger.

Finally, you have Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Hardy. Angle won by cheating, much like I predicted. But those guys put on the best match of the night, and I am excited for a potential match at Lockdown.

You Decide!
Share your thoughts on TNA’s Victory Road PPV in the comments section!

Main Event
The Rock vs. John Cena

Hell in a Cell
The Undertaker vs. Triple H
Special Guest Referee: Shawn Michaels

WWE Championship
CM Punk (champion) vs. Chris Jericho

World Heavyweight Championship
Daniel Bryan (champion) vs. Sheamus

Intercontinental Championship
Cody Rhodes (champion) vs. The Big Show

Randy Orton vs. Kane

Divas Champion Beth Phoenix & Eve Torres vs. Kelly Kelly & Maria Menounos

GM Laurinaitis vs. GM Long for full control
Captain Santino, R-Truth, Kofi Kingston, Zack Ryder, The Great Khali & ??? vs. Captain David Otunga, Mark Henry, Christian, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger & ???

Analysis: Reports are that the WWE will put Punk-Jericho on first, with HHH-‘Taker in the middle and Rock-Cena last. Now, who in the hell knows where these reports are comng from. But this immediately takes me back to the 8-match card for WrestleMania 27. I have a feeling our match order could be eerily similar.

WrestleMania 27:
World Heavyweight Champion Edge vs. Alberto Del Rio
Cody Rhodes vs. Rey Mysterio
Kane, Big Show, Santino Marella & Kofi Kingston vs. The Corre
Randy Orton vs. CM Punk
Michael Cole vs. Jerry Lawler
The Undertaker vs. Triple H
John Morrison, Trish Stratus & celebrity Snooki vs. Dolph Ziggler, Michelle McCool & Layla
WWE Champion The Miz vs. John Cena

Using this model, we can easily plug in the first half of WrestleMania 28:
WWE Champion CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho
Cody Rhodes vs. The Big Show
Team Johnny vs. Team Teddy
Randy Orton vs. Kane

Now, we don’t have a match like Cole vs. Lawler, but we also don’t have a title match in the main event. So sticking as close to the WM27 model as possible, we could see this for a second half:

World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus
The Undertaker vs. Triple H inside Hell in a Cell with Shawn Michaels as the special referee
Divas Champion Beth Phoenix & Eve Torres vs. Kelly Kelly & celebrity Maria Menounos
John Cena vs. The Rock

If the reports about HHH-Taker being in the middle are to be believed, we could switch those first two matches. It’s also possible that he Divas will go on in the #6 spot, leaving us with a title mach in the semi-main event position and a non-title main event—much like the final three matches at WrestleMania 27.

As for CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho opening ‘Mania? While my Greg DeMarco Show co-host Patrick O’Dowd (friend him on Facebook!) completely disagrees, I don’t have a problem with the WWE trying to make the WrestleMania opener a special position on the card. As in a “main event” type position. You essentially have four main events this year, which is a lot to spread out. If being the opener is now going to be a big deal, then Punk vs. Jericho is the best way to go.

You Decide: Does the match order for WrestleMania 28 matter to you?

Listen to the latest episode of The Greg DeMarco Show, with Greg DeMarco and Patrick O’Dowd, powered by 411wrestling.com and streaming WORLDWIDE! on the Voice of Choice Wrestling Nation at VOCNation.com as Greg & Patrick welcome “The Sicilian Psychopath” Tommaso Ciampa and Larry Dallas!

Ring of Honor standout “The Dominant Male” Tommaso Ciampa joins the program as Ring of Honor prepares to invade Fort Lauderdale, Florida for WrestleMania weekend! Listen in as Ciampa discusses his wrestling roots of New England, his three year run through the ECWA Super 8, and his ascension to stardom in Ring of Honor, and working with Prince Nana!

Also joining the show is Dragon Gate USA’s signature manager, Larry Dallas! Larry talks about the start of his wrestling career, his growth through Evolve and Dragon Gate USA, and how he stacks up against some of the best managers of all time.

Plus, Tony Acero chimes in to discuss Monday’s RAW, Steve Cook weighs in on the WWE’s reported closing of FCW, Chad Perry discusses TNA’s Victory Road and Justin Freemyer brings us back to the old school WrestleManias and Buggy Nova talks about the love she received from fans at last weekend’s SHIMMER tapings!

Click here for the show, or listen here:

The Greg DeMarco Show with Greg DeMarco & Patrick O’Dowd, presented by 411Mania and streaming worldwide through the Voice of Choice Nation—airs live every Tuesday at 10:30 PM eastern time and is heard by over 10,000 listeners throughout each week. Discussing current events in professional wrestling—including RAW, Smackdown, TNA, Ring of Honor and many US independent promotions and regularly features guests from Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Dragon Gate USA, Evolve and countless other promotions, Greg and Patrick present opinionated analysis on the wrestling world that remains rooted in a love, passion and respect for the business. The show is presented live on Tuesday nights by 411Mania at http://www.411wrestling.com/wrestling and streams worldwide each Saturday through Monday via Bruce Wirt’s Voice of Choice Nation at http://www.vocnation.com. You can reach the show via e-mail at [email protected], Facebook by searching for “Greg DeMarco Show” or Twitter @gregdemarcoshow.

And finally, check out the write-up of this week’s flagship VOCNation show, streaming at VOCNation.com and broadcasting on GFL.tv with Stevie Richards!

The VOC Nation was LIVE on 1360 WNJC Philadelphia and WORLDWIDE at http://vocnation.com on 3/14/12. Joey Styles returned and didn’t hold back. The full interview can be heard at http://vocnation.com. Among other things, Joey discussed:

Stevie Richards stops by the VOC Wrestling Nation to chat with his old pal Bay Ragni/Chubby Dudley and the rest of the VOC Nation.

Topics discussed include: Starting at Ringmasters Wrestling School near the end of the TWA’s lifecycle, working in the original ECW, Stevie’s run in WCW, and his straight edge lifestyle.

We also talked to “The Greek God” Papadon about his upcoming spot in the ECWA Super 8 Tournament, his role in the movie “The Wrestler”, and the revival of professional wrestling on the indy circuits.

Don’t miss this ECW themed show!

Follow us on Twitter @vocnation.

And finally…

I watched Impact Wrestling on DVR on Thursday night, and recorded my thoughts in Facebook. You can see it here. But here is a transcript:

Greg DeMarco: Watching Impact Wrestling now, I will put my thoughts in as comments on my own post. It’s like my own little viewing party.
Greg DeMarco: Oh yeah, the first 20 minutes? Terrible. And I’m one of TNA’s bigges supporters!
Greg DeMarco: Tower of Doom spot…looked fun until it nearly killed Kid Kash.
Greg DeMarco: BOO on Bully Ray ruining a perfectly good X-Division title match.
Greg DeMarco: This repo segment? Horrible. 37 minutes in and we’re NOT trending well.
Jonathan Lenhardt Get used to it. Bad episode, dude.
Greg DeMarco: Hey Jonathan Lenhardt, spoiler tag that shit!
Jonathan Lenhardt What if I list off a bunch of whacky stuff and you have to guess which ones are true? :P]
Greg DeMarco: Tenay is complaining about Taz no selling? He obviously didn’t see his work in ECW.
Greg DeMarco: ‎Jonathan go for it.
Jonathan Lenhardt It would work better before you started watching, otherwise I might accidentally list something you’ve already seen and, quite frankly, it would ruin the fun. I say, rain check for next week. Could this be a new weekly feature? Probably not, but fun just the same.
Greg DeMarco: KO Tag Title defense? At least we got to see Sarita Tna & Rosita!
Greg DeMarco: ‎Jonathan true. I just finished the KO title match.
Greg DeMarco: Was Crimson channeling Christian there? I like it. I might be able to get into heel Crimson. Might.
Greg DeMarco: WTF is up with those Lockdown graphics, with three different rapidly repeating close-ups?
Jonathan Lenhardt Okay, choose from the following: A) James Storm squashes Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian by himself, B) Hulk Hogan shows up and announces that he would rather wrestle full time to “help the youngsters”, C) Joseph Park attacks Sting and reveals himself as Abyss, D) James Storm super kicks a lawyer while dressed as a Shawn Michaels impersonator and/or E) Garrett Bischoff pins Kurt Angle
Jonathan Lenhardt Perhaps TNA is using Lockdown as a way to say that they are “in your face”?
Greg DeMarco: Love this video package on Storm & Roode. I wish Roode was actually feuding with Storm instead of Dixie Carter.
Greg DeMarco: ‎Jonathan I’d be pulling for option C, just to get this Joseph Park crap moving.
Greg DeMarco: James Storm doing stand-up comedy?
Greg DeMarco: ‎”Let me hear ya say “Dat Ain’t Right!” — Chris Rock
Greg DeMarco: Storm doesn’t like what Roode did to Dixie, but he didn’t feel compelled to stop him at Victory Road?
Greg DeMarco: Apparently Option D?
Greg DeMarco: Ladies & Gentlemen… Shane Haste!
Greg DeMarco: ‎Jonathan if all of those turn out to be true, I will be a very unhappy viewer. Not because of the spoilers, but because they booked it.
Jonathan Lenhardt Yup! D is correct! C’mon, the hat, the jeans, the button-up: common apparel, yes, but that’s been Shawn’s get-up since he retired…
Jonathan Lenhardt Add in his silly humor during that promo, he’s channeling the Heart Break Kid. Not badly, however. I’ll give him that. I am, after all, a James Storm fan.
Greg DeMarco: Thank goodness Garett didn’t pin Angle. Still, Garett is being booked stronger than Roode.
Jonathan Lenhardt The referees are being booked stronger than Roode!
Greg DeMarco: Hernandez took that Inverted Atomic Drop the hard way.
Greg DeMarco: Absolutely loved that finishing sequence. Joe & Magnus make such a great team.
Jonathan Lenhardt I’m calling it now: Garrett Bischoff will be TNA’s John Cena. Only significantly less successful. And then Eric will blame the “internet smarts” for Garrett not getting over. Bets on how long it is until he’s the TNA World Champion?
Greg DeMarco: I’d rather not. I nearly kicked Chad Perry off of The Greg DeMarco Show for suggesting that Garett might answer Robbie E’s open challenge.
Jonathan Lenhardt Garrett Bischoff and Eric Young: TNA Knock Out Tag Team Champions?
Greg DeMarco: That’s an insult to the great teams like Brooke Tessmacher & Tara, Rosita & Sarita, and The Beautiful People. Hell, it’s pretty much an insult to Eric Young & ODB!
Greg DeMarco: Greg DeMarco Main Event (promo) Time!
Jonathan Lenhardt Yeah, but Garrett is so much more attractive than ODB. Oh, and if I remember correctly, this promo has six commercial breaks. You know, to spread out the “action”.
Greg DeMarco: Dixie Carter’s theme…she hears voices in her head? Do they talk to her? Do they understand? Does she also see blood that’s dryin’?
Greg DeMarco: Sting trusts Hulk Hogan, which according to the Universal Rules of Wrestling (URW), means he MUST turn on Sting. It’s as automatic as death and taxes. And powerbombing Kidman.
Jonathan Lenhardt And head-scissoring Austin Aries.
Greg DeMarco: ‎^ YES!
Greg DeMarco: Oooohhh a cliffhanger!
Greg DeMarco: Final analysis? Unfire Russo.
Jonathan Lenhardt Doesn’t saying that violate some kind of IWC regulation? I wouldn’t know. I’m a bit of a rule breaker myself. Katie Vick, Angle Of The Century!
Chad Perry hahaha I have never been happier to be wrong about that one Greg!! Tonight’s impact was a MASSIVE step back of what they have been doing…. someone really needs to explain to me how Hernandez & Friend get a tag title show after not being seen since December. Same goes for Nese and Kash in the X… boy I hope they bounce back
Greg DeMarco: IWC regulations were made to be broken. Hell, the IWC was made to be broken.

Big thanks to Jonathan Lenhardt & Chad Perry for joining in the fun. I might have to do that more often!

If TNA has any chance of making people care about Crimson, this type of character has a chance.

Hit up the ‘Mania on the TWITTER (so Ashish will like me, okay?)

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Last week it was a new face, this week it’s a favorite—and the women who will defend her Hall of Bang crown next week: Maryse!

Images courtesy of FrenchKissMaryse.com!

Get reading!

Randle’s Wrestling News Experience!
The News from Cook’s Corner!
Marsico presents The Wednesday Wire!
Sean Kelly provides your Sports Entertainment News Report!
Gavin Napier is Handicapping the News!
Fact or Fiction!

Tony Acero presents the Low End Theory!

Plenty to talk about in the comments!

So I’ll help you…

Versus: Trish, Layla or Velvet?
What if we got Edge-Taker at WM28?
What matches do you like for WM29?
How bad was hat FCW debacle?
Thoughts on Victory Road…
Does the WM28 match order matter?

Until next time…

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