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The Wrestling 5&1 11.3.12: Candice Michelle vs. Amy Weber!

November 3, 2012 | Posted by Tony Acero

Hey now…

BRING ON THE GIRLS!

Last Week:

Candice Michelle surprised the hell out of me as Carmella has been a long time favorite of mine. She continues this week with her final competition, and if she wins, she’s entering the….HALL OF BANG!!

Future Versus Updates:
* Brooke Tessmacher has two wins, two away from a return engagement with the Hall of Bang…
* Candice Michelle has three wins, and will continue her own journey…
* Tiffany will receive a new opportunity at the Hall as soon as the opportunity is available…

This Week:

CANDICE MICHELLE!

AMY WEBER!

The Choice Is Yours!

Candice Michelle vs. Amy Weber
Take your pick and vote in the poll below!

Remember, you can vote multiple times—once every 12 hours.
And you can track the results right here, too!

Last week in The Wrestling 5&1…

Su Yung is pretty hot. I hear her mother’s a MILF, So Old. – Woo in my Wooo

I see what you did there.

Very close, but I have to go with Candice because she has real boobs. But allowing readers to vote multiple times is not fair. And obviously the results cannot be accurate. – Chico

Candice has real boobs?! As for the results being accurate, we can’t make it any more accurate, and to be fair, I don’t believe that many people come back JUST to vote for their favorite person unless AJ is in the contest and your name is Tony Acero.

Rocky Marciano is remembered as the greatest heavyweight champion of all time because he retired as champion, after facing the whos who of his era, with a 49-0 record. That sense would be different if he’d retired 49-1. He would’ve still been recognized as a great champion, but there wouldn’t be that mystique.
The Undertaker carries the status that he has because he’s able to deliver with his presence in the ring, but also because he’s been built up over the years into this legendary figure. The Streak has become the aura of The Undertaker, and if you damage the streak, you damage the star. – Scipio

Ali is remembered as the greatest Boxer ever, even though his record is not nearly as impressive as other boxer’s are. Fans like the aura Ali had, something that can’t be taught. To say that an athlete like The Undertaker, who is basically 10x more charismatic than Ali, needs numbers in a scripted sport is like saying Rocky should have beat Apollo right away. – Matt86

Wrestling isn’t real. Legacies are rewritten all the time. Stop taking it so seriously. – Jake

This is – and always will be – one of those topics that people will always disagree on. On one hand, some people will stand by their claim that The Undertaker’s legacy MUST stay intact and others feel that one loss wouldn’t really hurt him. I think I fall somewhere in the middle, but at least closer towards leaving the legacy alone. While I understand that Taker can probably withstand a loss, I simply don’t want him to! Scipio is onto something with the entire “mystique” of it all. And you have to admit, even with knowing that The Undertaker won’t lose, the last five-ten matches this guy has had have been nothing short of amazing.

I like the idea of bold, realistic and lame predictions. Nice way of changing up an old idea (PPV-preview). – PaulOrndoff

Paul, I wish I could tell you that Greg and I planned that….we didn’t. haha. But, it did turn out greatly. I enjoyed it and may see if we can do it again.

You need to catch up on your TNA. It was going really good until Hardy won the belt. The last 2 weeks have been sheeeeyit! Batista back? You got some balls making that call. And I agree about Ziggler not winning his cash-in. Maybe blames Vickie for the fail and goes on his own. Enter Natich? – Kung Fu Panda

Gotta agree with the Panda here. As soon as Hardy became the number one contender and they started turning Aries heel, TNA started slipping…and then they actually put the title on Hardy and…ugh…its not unwatchable, but it is not as clearly superior to WWE as it once was. – BoycottWWE

I’m workin on it, Panda! Haha. It’s a work in progress, but I am sticking with it until I catch up with everyone. I heard about Hardy winning the title, and I’m not sure how I feel about it. I suppose I’ll wait till I get nearer to that, but it truly doesn’t make much sense.

Yay, more women from a decade ago. Maybe you can highlight the Nitro Girls next week. – Jake

While I was crass in the comments, I do want to point out that a) there are only a small number of women to choose from, and b) I could care less which women are in the column because the truth is, I don’t care who is involved and care even less how the contest is going. I care more about the content of the writing, and the quality of it, than which chick’s I’m going to be using. In other words,

Cody Rhodes: The Future of the WWE?
By Greg DeMarco

A bulk of the discussion about the WWE surrounds their ability to build new stars, specifically a top face. At 35 years old, and faced with a more than a couple of mounting injuries, John Cena won’t be around forever.

The most likely candidate to take over for Cena? Cody Rhodes.

When Cena goes, so too will the PG Era. The product won’t necessarily deviate from its PG rating, but we will see a shift in how the product is presented and the direction it takes. And in the same way that John Cena is attached to the PG Era, Cody Rhodes will be attached to the next era.

I’m not the first person to call Cody Rhodes the future, either. But it’s not a matter of opinion anymore. It’s simple math.

Cena (35) won’t be the only top flight star likely to transition out of his role in a few years. Triple H (43) is more of a corporate executive and less of an active wrestler. The Rock (40) is a full-time Hollywood A-list actor. Big Show (40) has started to talk about the end of his in-ring career. The Undertaker (47) likely has one or two matches left. Brock Lesnar (35) is only working on a yearly contract.

Below that level you have guys like Kane (45) and Rey Mysterio (37). It’s highly unlikely that either man will be actively wrestling three years from now. Chris Jericho (41) isn’t a lock to ever return to the ring, either. If either man is able to make a legitimately healthy return, you can add Mark Henry (41) and Christian (38) to that list.

And if the company really does bring Jeff Hardy back? He’s 35.

In the immediate future, the guys most well equipped to lead the company are CM Punk (34) and Randy Orton (32). Alongside them you can look at Sheamus (34), Alberto Del Rio (35), and even Daniel Bryan (31).

That next group? You have a surging Ryback (31), the returning Wade Barrett (32), former WrestleMania main event talent The Miz (32), Kofi Kingston (31), Damien Sandow (31), Antonio Cesaro (31) and of course Dolph Ziggler (32). If you want to be really generous you can add Sin Cara to the list. But he’s 29.

Maybe someone like Darren Young will shock us and ascend up the card. He’s 32. And there’s always a chance that Jack Swagger (30) can turn things around. But the WWE would be better off if Drew McIntyre did—he’s only 27.

Also 27? Cody Rhodes. And he’s in a much better position on the card than Drew McIntyre.

Looking at ages, CM Punk vs. Randy Orton seems to be a lock as a future WrestleMania main event feud. Of the favorites of the Internet Wrestling Community—Dolph Ziggler, Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow—only Cody Rhodes is currently under 30.

Fast forward to 2020, where we will see WrestleMania 36. John Cena, CM Punk, Randy Orton, Sheamus, Alberto Del Rio, Wade Barrett, The Miz and Dolph Ziggler will all be at or over the age of 40. Ryback, Kofi Kingston, Antonio Cesaro and Damien Sandow will be 39. Daniel Bryan will be 38. Cody Rhodes, the youngest talent near the top of the card, will be 35—the same age John Cena is now.

What does it all mean?

That when most of the stars on the WWE roster ready to break through finally do get their chance, their run is likely to be a short one. Especially if they are over 30 years old right now.

We can also use this data to hypothesize about the future of the company (which is always fun to do). Knowing what we know above, we can make the following educated predictions:
1 – Once John Cena, CM Punk and Randy Orton transition out of the main event, we can expect some rapid-fire changes to the talent a the top of the card. Some will work out, and some won’t. But several will get their chance.
2 – Combining his immense talent with basic attrition, Cody Rhodes is likely going to be a huge star in the WWE.
3 – Cody Rhodes likely won’t fully replace John Cena. Bret Hart couldn’t replace Hulk Hogan, and the WWE had no one they could “bank on” between Steve Austin and The Rock and the era of John Cena.

In fact, the “next John Cena” likely isn’t even working in developmental right now. But there are some stars to keep a close eye on.

Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose are often touted as the next two big stars to come out of the WWE developmental territory. Both men are 26, just one year younger than Cody Rhodes. Cody has been on WWE television for five years.

Richie Steamboat, 25, can make a serious run on the main card, and has some amazing pedigree behind him. So does Roman Reigns, who is already 27. But he’s 6’3″ and weighs in at 265 pounds. Being Sika’s son and Rosey’s brother, he has a definite shot at the big time.

Internet fans love Kassius Ohno and claim he has a bright future ahead of him in the WWE. Time to face facts: he’ll 33 before the next Royal Rumble and he’s still in developmental.

Xavier Woods started wrestling at the age of 19, and is currently 26. I don’t think his TNA past will be used against him at this point, since he left the promotion in 2010.

Mike Dalton has a ton of potential, and is only 24.

What can we take way from all of this? The future is clear as mud, but it will be here before we know it. Based on age, talent and attrition, there is only prediction you can bank on.

Cody Rhodes is the future of the WWE, and the leader of the next generation of main event stars.

While my fellow writer, Greg, is having fun with numbers, I’m considering a more practical approach of choosing the future of this business. First, you have to thank Greg for going all Wiki on us and giving us ages of wrestlers that may shock a few of us. (Darren Young is 32!?). While I cannot disagree that Cody is just an amazing athlete and ONE OF the focal points of the future of this business, there’s another man that although mentioned, and even lauded as great in the IWC, few may actually believe can hold the title of “the future.” That man? Dolph Ziggler.

Yes, that guy! He’s 32, and if we head over to 2020 as Greg’s Delorean wants us to, This would put Dolph at 40 and ya know what, I’m ok with that. The man is WWE bred and has gone through the “crappy gimmick” phase AND survived it. We’re all clamoring for him to win the big one, and I think he will soon enough, but I also think that he’s got longevity. Perhaps we’re looking through different lenses, Greg and I, as I can see that if we’re looking for the NEXT John Cena, then NXT may be the place to look. However, as an avid and continuous John Cena negater, the LAST thing I am looking for is the “next John Cena.” No, the future of the WWE will not be John Cena II, it will be Dolph Ziggler.

I firmly believe that this guy can do all the right things necessary to become the biggest star of the company, and with only minor changes. His promo work is, admittedly, spotty, but I think that’s due to the writers, not the man. In fact, when Dolph is on his own, he is every bit as arrogant and cocky as he needs to be. His face can also lend to a face type persona if need be. He is now weeks away from, I think, facing Cena at Survivor Series, and if that’s not a good sign of things to come, then I don’t know what is. Sure, there’s plenty of dudes over in NXT just chomping at the bit, and Greg makes a great arguments for a few of them, but my money is on Dolph, and it was there well before the blue briefcase.

You Decide: Who is the future of the WWE?

CM Punk: Champion on the Run?
By Greg DeMarco

The time period from Hell in a Cell to WWE TLC is normally a down period for the company, with so many people biding their time until the Royal Rumble kicks off the road to WrestleMania. But upon the completion of Sunday’s Hell in a Cell pay-per-view, the WWE could turn this into the best late fall and early winter in recent memory. How? The answer is simple.

CM Punk: champion on the run.

Following his victory at WWE Hell in a Cell, CM Punk is a marked man. Punk put red in Ryback’s ledger, and the “human wrecking machine” is bound to be out for revenge.

CM Punk defeated Ryback to simultaneously retain his WWE Championship and end Ryback’s undefeated streak. “Big Hungry” is bound to be out for revenge against the long-standing champion.

But Ryback won’t be alone.

John Cena stepped aside for Ryback, fully endorsing him on Raw in the buildup toward the Hell in a Cell main event. In the events that led up to Cena’s surgery, the face of the WWE implored CM Punk to prove that he’s what he claims he is—the best in the world.

Cena’s challenge was for Punk to enter Hell in a Cell and prove that he could truly defeat him without the help of a double-pin, Paul Heyman or any other outside factors. Punk dismissed Cena’s challenge as frivolous based on Punk’s past victories over Cena.

Believe it or not, it doesn’t end with John Cena, either.

CM Punk is only a few weeks removed from his Raw main-event scuffle with WWE chairman Vince McMahon. Following that exchange, Vince revoked Punk’s privilege of selecting his Hell in a Cell opponent and allowed John Cena to make the decision for him. Cena then elected to make Ryback Punk’s challenger.

Even as Punk made a final pitch for McMahon to cancel the match, the man who pioneered wrestling on a national stage challenged Punk to enter the Hell in a Cell structure and prove he’s really the best.

And while most conversations can end at Vince McMahon, this one continues.

WWE legends Bret Hart, Mick Foley and Jim Ross all took John Cena to task for his complaints about respect and his inability to earn theirs. All three believe in Punk’s ability, but none of them want to see Punk retain his championship on a double-pin or a crooked referee.

One or more of those legends is bound to confront Punk about his most recent actions.

Since making a claim of disrespect, CM Punk has retained his WWE Championship at three pay-per-view events. He stole John Cena’s pinfall on The Big Show to win at SummerSlam, and a double-pin saved him from losing his title to John Cena at Night of Champions. At Hell in a Cell, Punk needed a crooked referee to stop an unstoppable monster in Ryback.

Bret Hart, Mick Foley and Jim Ross are going to be unhappy with Punk’s actions. Vince McMahon won’t be pleased at Punk’s instance on merely escaping with the championship. John Cena is going to be ashamed that such a man represents his company as its champion. And Ryback is likely to be on a war path looking for revenge.

Mick Foley is up first, as his team faces Punk’s at Survivor Series. This also seems to confirm his involvement in a match with CM Punk at December’s WWE TLC in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Episode 421: August 02, 2012

I love when we start a wrestling show with a brawl. It’s almost a suspension of belief as much as it is exciting, as if we possibly missed something. What this brawl lead to was an amazing opening match that was damned near PPV quality. This Aries kid’s got something, and Roode is a hell of a talent, too. I really wish there wasn’t a break in between, because I feel I missed something that would have taken this match to higher ratings.

The Aces and Eights storyline continues, and Greg was right; it’s intriguing, but not overbearing. It doesn’t go over the top as these storylines sometimes do. I also like the possibility of Angle and Joe in a ladder match with Daniels and Styles. How was that match?!

I’m still not feeling the Chavo push, and the AJ/Claire thing is about as bad as everyone claimed it was going to be. I’m trying to find a positive aspect of it all, but it’s just not there. I find it hilarious how this is going on while I am watching the WWE try and use ANOTHER AJ with a stupid affair storyline.

All in all, a great opener, a nice Main Event between Storms and Angle, and a continued effort from TNA to prove they have a superior WRESTLING show, at least as of now.

Next week, I’ll cover two episodes until we catch up!

You Decide: What are three things I should be looking forward to in the coming weeks?

DGUSA’s Larry Dallas, DeMarcette Barbi Hayden, WWE Hell In A Cell review, Raw coverage and more in Tuesday’s Greg DeMarco Show…live and WORLDWIDE at www.VOCNation.com!

The Voice of Choice Nation presents The Greg DeMarco Show with Greg DeMarco and Patrick O’Dowd. The Greg DeMarco Show airs Tuesday night at 10:30 PM—WORLDWIDE—at www.VOCNation.com. Listen live and call in on the NetCarrier “N Cloud” Listener Line—855-VOC-RADIO.
This week:
Greg and Patrick are joined by special guest Larry Dallas. Larry will discuss the upcoming Dragon Gate USA weekend triple shot, his time in Japan, his PWI 500 ranking and more!

Andy Critchell joins for a discussion about Kofi Kingston and his ability to be a top star in the WWE.

Plus, DeMarcette Barbi Hayden joins the program for the first installment of Barbi’s Booty Call!

All this and more with Justin Freemyer’s “This Week in Wrestling History” and the west coast connection of Tony Acero and “The Sin City Siren” Terra Calaway.

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About The Greg DeMarco Show:
Discussing current events in professional wrestling—including WWE RAW, Smackdown, TNA Impact Wrestling, Ring of Honor and many US independent promotions and regularly featuring guests from all over the world of wrestling, Greg DeMarco and Patrick O’Dowd present opinionated analysis of the wrestling world that remains rooted in a love, passion and respect for the industry. The show is presented live each week by the VOC Nation and streams live, worldwide 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.

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Picture credit: Cory Lockwood Productions