The Wrestling 5&1 1.24.14 Layla El vs Kaitlyn

Yes, yes, I missed another week. I’ve been filling in some holes here at 411, and last week it was Smackdown recap OR 5&1. This week, I was able to do both, but it’s been a bit of a hindrance to be honest, especially considering my last semester just started. But you came here for wrestling, not a day in the life of Tony. So the Rumble’s coming up, and everyone knows who’s in it, right? Right?! Oh…me either. This week, we’ve got some predictions, the always dependable Versus, some fun with comments and more! Join me.

Royal Rumble Predictions

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton vs. John Cena

Is this even a match people care about? The Royal Rumble sells itself, so it makes sense that this hasn’t gotten the biggest of builds, but it’s probably also the fact that there’s not a lot of fire involved. I could imagine that Cena takes this, because they are going to want him in the main event for Mania. The Orton vs Cena saga just doesn’t seem to be all that interesting to me, as it feels like we are simply waiting for a different name to take over the top spot. Back to the match, it’ll be good, slightly above average maybe, but nothing spectacular and hopefully no headbutts to tables.
Winner and NEW WWE World Heavyweight Champion: John Cena

Brock Lesnar vs. Big Show
History has deemed that these two behemoths can actually have a good to stellar match. While I don’t think we’ll see a ring implosion like before, I do think that this will be a fun and beefy match. Heyman has done a great job in holding the interest while Brock sits at home collecting checks, but the time to play is over and I’m pretty excited about the prospect of Brock and Show. I especially loved the way Heyman made Brock the No. 1 Contender and did more for the new title in one promo than Trips and Steph could have ever done. Whether Brock is ever going to touch the title scene or not, it was very vital to the legitimacy of the belt to have Brock and Heyman do that. Anyway, the match is hopefully going to be brutal. I fear these two may be a bit slower than before, but Show seems motivated to be dancing with the big man, and Brock hasn’t been too bad an addition to the roster since coming back.
Winner: Brock Lesnar

Daniel Bryan vs. Bray Wyatt
I know a lot of people are complaining at the rapid pace that this storyline is wrapping up, but I’ll be damned if I didn’t sit in awe while Bryan controlled the crowd with his progressing YES chants last Monday night. Maybe the storyline was rushed, but for me, it didn’t make it any less compelling, and it could be explained as simply as Bryan seeing the opportunity to get revenge and taking it quickly. Maybe Bryan thought it would take longer, and when he saw the cage, he knew he had what he needed. Anyways, this match is hopefully a means to an end as it’s apparent they believe in the impact of Bryan, and like I said a few weeks ago, this was more of a “something to do” before Mania season starts. Bryan wins this…and I have a feeling it won’t be the last time we see Bryan in the evening.
Winner: Daniel Bryan

WWE Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes & Goldust vs. The New Age Outlaws

Is this the first step in the inevitable Rhodes vs Rhodes match? Well, even if it is, I really don’t think they’d put the belts on the NAO’s. I’m lovin their return, but they’re a novelty act now and as fun as it is, and as cool as it is that they’re only just hinting towards their connection with The Authority, the last thing we need is a rehash of the Facsgime from years ago. The fact that Triple H had Cody Rhodes fired can also be brought up here, and if they do decide to start the storyline of the brothers eventually fighting, I’d be fine with it. The titles will leave their waists soon enough, but I’m hoping it’s not to the New Age Outlaws.
Winners: The Rhodes Brothers

The Royal Rumble Match
Although the build up for this hasn’t been all that grand, does it really need to be? It’s the freakin Rumble, and typically we can have an idea as to who is going to win. This year, I’m not sure I have a clue, although I do have a prediction. The usual suspects aren’t so usual this time around. CM Punk isn’t going to take it, considering his little thing with Trips that will end up being a match at Mania. Batista, even with his return, seems a bit too on-the-nose for him to win. My original thought was that he wouldn’t come back unless he won the rumble – considering his ego, but after a chat with DeMarco, he brought up a good point regarding Batista’s signing on for two years. If that’s the case, then look for him to eventually get the title, but certainly not now. There’s only one choice I see in an opponent and although I feel like I could very easily be wrong, it’d be a sight to see and a worthy win if the last man standing in the middle of the ring was…
Winner: Daniel Bryan

Yes! Yes! Yes! Facebook page, I posted this pic for all to comment on…

And the commenter with the most “likes”???

Ron Snyder Jr.: “Orlando took “worked shoot” to a whole new level.”

Think you have what it takes to win the Caption Contest? Head on over to the Yes! Yes! Yes! Facebook group and join today to see what Tony, myself and the gang post next!

Want to enter? Caption this picture:

Yes! Yes! Yes! Facebook group to participate!

Click above for the YES! YES! YES! Facebook Group!

Layla and Eve were pretty much even up until the last minute where Layla took a cloooose win! This win is Layla’s fourth, putting her in the running to make a return to the Hall of Bang! Yes fellas, this is an important one, because if Layla wins, she’s in the HOB and someone else is out! Before I put her up against the top row, though, we have to see if she can reclaim her own spot against….the woman her took her spot in the first place!!!

And now…..

Voting ends Wednesday night and you can vote once every hour!

Fun with Gifs!

On occasion (read: Tony runs out of time), I’ll use a section to show the great work of the site Wrestling With Text. The man puts a lot of work into these GIFS and they are typically really funny, really good, or both. Visit the site and enjoy! Here’s some of my most recent favorites!

Be sure to vote for the site here for a Shorty Award! I don’t know what they are, but he deserves it! Do it for Tony!

Comments Be Cray
Let’s go back to two weeks ago where AJ haters were a bit more vocal than usual. Nathan Justice feels she looks like a 12-year old boy, causing me to look at my little brother in an entirely new light. JandM98 thinks AJ has ZERO appeal while I question his definition of ZERO. SpankyHamm fears Orlando covered in white substances and I can’t say I blame him. Reinhold thinks the twitter beef between Del Rio and Batista was totes fake, and considering Batista’s first match back, it appears he’s on to something. Richardshort2001 takes offense to all horse jokes towards Lillian Garcia. Garcia is pretty damned hot, who cares about her chin? icedcoffee needs some AJ gifs in his life, and I must comply. (SEE BELOW). Josh Nazario thinks I find pictures that are better depending on who I want to win, and I have to disagree. The versus section is the one I care about pretty much nill in terms of the column. But hey, sex sells, right?!

STACY!!

Tony Acero is currently a student at Cal State University of Long Beach. He is double-majoring as a Creative Writing and Literature major. His first book, Through The Looking Glass, was published in April, 2012. School’s Out is a short story that found the author arrested due to the severity of its content. Both can be found on amazon.com.

Tony joined 411Mania in April 2010, and currently contributes in both music and wrestling. Tony is an avid drinker of Mountain Dew and Jack Daniels. He is a writer who hardly takes himself seriously, yet has an innate ability to create moments that are both human yet fearful in his writings.

Follow Tony on Twitter
Friend Tony on Facebook
Buy Tony’s published works!
Visit TonyAcero.com

HALL OF FAME
Greg DeMarco is a graduate of Virginia Tech (Bachelor’s in Business Management) and Arizona State (Master’s in Higher & Post-Secondary Education). He works in online higher education. Greg started in improv comedy in 2001, making his stand-up debut in 2004.

Greg first appeared as a ring announcer for Rising Phoenix Wrestling in Phoenix Arizona in 2006 and served many promotions in both on-stage and back-stage roles for over six years, most notably Ring of Honor in 2010. He began writing for 411Mania in October 2010, founded The Greg DeMarco Show in May 2011 and opened WrestlingSmash.com (and Wrestling Smash Radio) in January 2013.

Follow Greg on Twitter
Friend Greg on Facebook
Greg DeMarco Show Archives
Read more Greg!

Until next week…