MeeThinks 3.04.06: Big Time' Fallout

Posted by John Meehan on 04.04.2006

Did The Big Dance Deliver?

" I will have nothing else but only this;
And now methinks I have a mind to it!"
-Portia, The Merchant of Venice
Act IV, scene i

Hey y'all –

Last time MeeThinks offered up the "best case scenario / realistic case scenario" situation to help enjoy the Big Time ppv for all that it is and all that it (reasonably) should have been. Rather than sticking with our normal formula, we looked at matches one at a time in a three-pronged case for what fans can look forward to from each match, which broke down like this:

1) In an Ideal World… - the part where we can fantasize about all of the Bret Hart run-ins and Ric Flair title victories we can dream up. Basically, a listing of all of the "ideal" expectations that a lot of fans often mistake for the "realistic" expectations – (and thus are subsequently disappointed by).

2) Practically Speaking… - the part where we take all of the booking and long-term plans into account, and attempt to predict what each match on the card will offer us in terms of workrate, storytelling, fan reaction, potential for outside interference, and the ramifications fans will likely be seeing develop from each contest.

3) So What Can We Expect? - a synthesis of the first two aspects, really – this third category will be the most crucial of the three in setting realistic expectations for what fans can reasonably expect from each and every match on the card.

This week –

We're revisiting the "So What Can We Expect" category (though we're renaming it "So What *Did* We Expect?" for the sake of chronological accuracy) and comparing it against two new categories, titled "And How Did It Go?" and "So, Overall?" I haven't yet so much as looked at what anybody else on the 'net or the forums is saying about the show - so you're looking at "MeeThinks" in their purest form - WITHOUT the influence of the IWC to shake or deter them from my gut reactions to this show. And since you're likely reading this after April 3rd's RAW - please note: all of the reactions you see below are written without having seen said broadcast, so if any match outcomes are undone or rematch-ed, do kindly forgive Mee and try to allow this column to stand as a one-night-only reflection of just how well (or poorly) WWE fared in bringing us their "Big Time" pay per view in WrestleMania 22.

Just like last week broke down the build-up and hype leading *up* to each match, this week's column will look at each of these matches one at a time to see just how well each of these contests measured up. Hopefully, by setting some "reasonable expectations" (rather than merely "fantasy-booking" our way through how we'd like to see things go down), we might have actually enjoyed the show!

Sound like a plan?

Rock & roll.

Glossary entries and reader mail are below, as always – so let's get right to this week's debate, in a point-by-point breakdown of all of the matches, storylines and angles that paid off (or simply got all the more convoluted) at the Big Time pay-per-view event known as…



In a little column we likes ta' call

MeeThinks: ‘Big Time' Fallout
Did The Big Dance Deliver?

Starting from the "bottom," then – let's break down the "Big Time" in a match by match fashion.

Match 1) World Tag Team Titles Match
Kane & The Big Show (c) vs. Carlito & Chris Masters


So What *Did* We Expect? - From a technical and workrate perspective, this match easily has the potential to rank among the worst of the night. Sure, Big Show and Kane have demonstrated some on-again, off-again "fire" in the past few months – but "saddled with a lug like Masters" (as so many fans continue to moan), we really shouldn't expect The Giant and The Big Red Machine to pull a golden egg from such a lame duck. Carlito, in turn – has indeed shown some intermittent flashes of brilliance in the weeks leading up to the PPV, but it might be a more reasonable course of action to expect that he'll spend much of the match working the "chickenshit cheapshot heel" approach rather than the "hey look, I can actually wrestle" role.

Masters, for his part, has done a tremendous job (thanks to many a willing WWE superstar) of getting his finisher over as one of (if not THE) most devastating maneuvers in the company today, so if you're looking for healthy expectations to be had from this showdown – perhaps you should focus your attention on just how thoroughly the ‘E will (likely) attempt to continue this trend with some great psychology (yes, PSYCHOLOGY! FROM MASTERS!) throughout the matchup as he tries to overpower his larger and more powerful foes. Expect the Masterlock to play a huge role in this one – and you might just find out that you're entertained by the match in spite of yourself!

And How Did It Go? - Carlito delivered exactly what we expected, doing a tremendous job of selling the "chickenshit" heel role. The face to face staredown with The Big Show, the sneak attack back-cracker on Kane, and the "wrong place, wrong time" receiving end of Masters' big turnbuckle attack definitely earned Triple C his "comic badguy' stripes and a boatload of fan support along the way. Would have liked to see this match go a bit longer, but the fact that it ended cleanly and that it sewed the seeds for a Carlito/Masters feud down the line is "cool" by my estimation.

Even Masters wasn't as lunkish as he's been. The double-ax-handle from the top rope made for a great spot between him and Carlito, and the fact that the guy spent most of the match letting Carlito play the jerk, Big Show play the giant, and Kane play the monster meant that the overall quality of the bout benefited greatly as a result.

So, Overall? - Not a "super-hot" opener, but definitely a fun and believable one just the same. Masters and Carlito haven't been on the same page for months, and while keeping the belts on TBS and Kane does nothing to rekindle the division, there seems like very little reason for the ‘E to swap the belts off of those two if they're not going to keep Carlito and Masters together for the long haul. Putting Kane and Show over as the unstoppable wrecking crew definitely got the crowd "fired up" to start the show, and we all know that Big Show really needed a ‘Mania win one of these days. Sewing the seeds for a Carlito face turn is also a good idea, since he could well succeed in the mold of a "lovable cheater" like Eddie Guerrero before him. I was a big fan of this match and of the storyline that came out of it.


Match 2) Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Ric Flair vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Matt Hardy vs. Fit Finlay vs. Bobby Lashley

So What *Did* We Expect? - Lashley and Finlay have plenty of unfinished bid'ness, so I would not be surprised in the least to watch those two absolutely pound the hell out of one another and completely ignore the briefcase suspended above the ring. So while we're setting realistic expectations for the PPV, let's hope that these two just go nuts on one another and let's count them out of the "likely winners" category so as not to set ourselves up for disappointment.

Flair we've covered (in that "fantasy" situation where he wins, Triple H beats Cena, and then Flair challenges and beats Triple H to end the night), so I'll go ahead and skip right over to the rest of the RAW challengers. If last year's Money in the Bank match was any indication, Shelton will deliver a bang-up performance once again this year, which should be awesome to watch. That said, he's already the IC champion going in to the contest, so there's little reason for him to pick up a win here to keep that momentum going strong. RVD, on the other hand, has been hella-hot since returning to the ‘E a few short months ago – and if the powers that be have been listening to their fans, we could well expect to see Mr. Monday Night walking out of the match with a world title shot in hand. On the other hand, though – with the new "wellness policy" in place and the ‘E having proven reluctant in the past to give the ball to old "RVD 4:20," fans should just as well brace themselves for the reasonable possibility of an RVD loss in the big match in case they decide to put a better-suited "company man" type as the number one contender to the title that effectively equates to the role of public face of the entire company.

That leaves Matt Hardy. No stranger to ladder matches himself, Version 1.0 has undeniably proven that he can "go" in contests that take place some eight feet in the air on the company's flagship ppv. And Hardy's momentum since his August return has been somewhat lackluster (at best), so he of all of the folks here could *really* use a win to buoy his stock and put him back at the forefront of the card. Don't forget – when Hardy re-signed with the ‘E last summer, he told fans to "wait six months and see who's laughing then." Well, we're just about some six months (or more) removed from that little quip – so for the Sensei of Mattitude, it's pretty much time to put up or shut up – so V1 could well be your darkhorse show-stealer in this contest. Even if he's fighting a losing battle (such is the story for so much of his career), I fully expect Matt Hardy to pull out everything in his arsenal here.

And How Did It Go? - Let's do this person by person…

Matt Hardy – we had big expectations for him, and he delivered. True, his ladder spot wasn't the sickest of the night (see: HBK), but again, the guy is all kinds of talented in these sorts of matches and he really brought the house again in this one. The yodeling leg-drop was ok enough (if not entirely memorable), but the ladder-top Side Effect was "Money in the Bank," even if the match's outcome didn't happen to go in V1's favor. Solid effort, Mr. Hardy – here's hoping for a mid-level push to keep that momentum going!

Bobby Lashley – The Dominator on Shelton looked SICK, but what really made Lashley stand out to Mee in this matchup was how well the guy played the psychology of the thing. He's undeniably the most inexperienced performer in the match, so it made perfect sense that he was hesitant in scaling ladders and somewhat reluctant to go flying through the air with the greatest of ease when it made all the more sense for a guy of his size (and relative inexperience) to "ground and pound" away on opponents using the ladder in battering ram-like fashion. Good showing by the rookie (and nice sell of the Van Daminator)!

Fit Finlay – I for one am a HUGE mark for Finlay, and I thought it was absolutely ingenious that a ring vet like him had the wherewithal to scale the ladder with an "insurance policy" tucked cleverly in hand. Gotta love the shillelagh-shot from the top of the ladder (leading to a killer modified Flair-flop), and I was thoroughly impressed at the Irishman's efforts to put over the drama of the match and the credible threat of *EACH* of his opponents as he desperately tried to grab that briefcase while it swung around like crazy. Nice going Dave!

Ric Flair – I'll admit, I thought for sure that Flair was going to win it all. Sure, he was the longshot of the bunch, but given the fact that I took it for granted that Triple H would be winning the main event, it seemed only logical that The Nature Boy would find himself as the number one contender. As such, I was bummed at first that Naitch went down with a "knee injury" for much of the match, as I thought for sure that his inevitable "triumphant return" pretty well would telegraph the bout's ending. Thankfully – the ‘E shirked convention here and had Flair return from an ass kickin' only to join right back in the fray, get his ass kicked AGAIN, and come up short overall. Great (if somewhat "protected") showing from Flair here, and all kinds of respect to the guy for delivering two or three outstanding spots in a match that he was only involved with for just about five minutes and he could easily have phoned in altogether in the first place.

Shelton Benjamin – This guy is part feline, I swear. Last year's $itB match proved that he could pull off the crazy spot or two when called upon, but this year *absolutely* cemented the fact that Shelton is easily the most agile and athletic "high flyer" in WWE today (for after all, Rey-Rey slipped in his 619, ya know). The topé from the ring ropes to the side of the ladder made it look like Shel's shoes were soled with flypaper, and his ladder-scaling senton to the outside was nothing short of "phenomenal" (take note, AJ Styles). Shelton is just awesome, and this match definitely went a long way in redeeming a number of those missteps he's had with high-risk maneuvers over the past year (see: Benjamin/Carlito I, "The Top Rope Topé Topple;" Cena/Jericho Lumberjack match, "The Shockmaster Ringstep Suicida," etc.).

R-V-D – "One of a kind" indeed. RVD is crazy over right now, and his performance in this matchup absolutely warranted the type of fan support he's been getting as of late. Some sick, ECW-like spots from Mr. Monday Night Money in the Bank here, including the NASTY "nobody's home" Rolling Thunder and a SWANK Van Daminator off of the top rope! I'm thinking there are even brighter days ahead for Van Dam, but this match was a great showing from what could well be the future champion.

So, Overall? - Loved it, loved it, loved it. If not booked properly, ladder matches can definitely feel their weight and/or devolve into all-out "spot-fests," but this one did a remarkable job of handling *multiple* storylines without allowing them to interrupt the psychology and overall blueprint of the match itself. Flair getting injured made for a nice sub-plot, and the ‘E did a tremendous job of keeping fans guessing by having him STILL come up short after returning from the injury. Likewise, Finlay and Lashley's "smashmouth" offense was a great counterpoint to the high-flying antics of guys like Shelton and Hardy, and kudos to WWE for keeping the "spots" to a logical minimum where each of the high impact moves came just as much "out of nowhere" as they fit perfectly into the overall "flow" of the match itself. Though I was personally pulling for Flair, I LOVE it that RVD went over here – so I'm very happy with the ‘E for using a match like this to keep a crowd hot AND to elevate "new blood" into their title hunt. RVD: Champion at ECW:ONS2? Don't say I didn't tell ya' so!


Match 3) WWE United States Title Match
Chris Benoit (c) vs. John Bradshaw Layfield

So What *Did* We Expect? - Regardless of who goes over here, I think it's both fair and reasonable to expect two things from this encounter. First, it is likely to be a very good match – perhaps even the sleeper of the night – as both men are well-documented "real life" pals (remember, both guys were hella-tight with Eddie Guerrero). Second – and equally important in appreciating the overall impact of this match – regardless of who wins, this will likely be the first step in the ‘E's efforts to put a now-valuable-belt in the U.S. Championship back in the true midcard to help put over some of the blue brand's biggest superstars of tomorrow. Sure, JBL is limited in the ring and neither he nor Benoit should "be stuck" fighting over a secondary belt after having both main-evented (or co-main-evented) WrestleManias in years past – but given the state of affairs, this match is absolutely the right move for the future of the company as a whole… and it has the potential to be a thoroughly impressive showing to boot.

And How Did It Go? - First and foremost, JBL's entrance RULED. Loved the fact that he came in all "stylin' and profilin'" with a classic WrestleMania-worthy procession, and I was even more impressed with the fact that Beniot was quick to respond in his typical, "no-nonsense" fashion that actually made HIM look like the ass-kicking-Ivan Drago to JBL's pomp-and-circumstances-Apollo Creed (since Rocky IV seemed to be the overriding theme of the evening). While the match itself was "shorter" than I would have liked it to be, I give both men tremendous credit here for keeping the fans interested and for making the entire affair seem much more engaging (and faster paced) than it had any right to be. JBL's Eddie antics were some of the best cheap-heel-ing of the night, and the finish of the match was a textbook example of how you can keep BOTH men strong while still giving fans a credible (and perfectly acceptable) finish. No schmozz endings, no DQ's – just a straight-up mano y mano showdown where one man got desperate and lucky in the same night.

So, Overall? - Big thumbs up for this match on a number of levels. True, it wasn't a "show-stealer" by any stretch of the imagination, but for what it was – it was remarkably solid. JBL is easily *the* best pure heel on the WWE roster today, and with a guy like Beniot who is INSANELY over as a no-nonsense babyface, watching these two guys go at it at WrestleMania definitely gave the match (and the event) that "classic" professional wrestling feel. Sure, it was no mat classic, but the beef between these two (and the fan reaction to the affair!) *more* than made the match both watchable and (deceptively) faster-paced. Though some purists will gripe that the match ended somewhat "controversially," I'm totally going to applaud WWE for allowing a mere grab of the ropes to be THE single "dirty" finish on the entire event. WrestleMania is meant to blow-off feuds and close the chapter on a year's worth of storylines. "Dirty" finishes (DQ's, countouts, run-in finishes, etc.) only leave the door open – and I commend WWE for allowing 10 out of 11 matches to come to a clean, decisive finish on a night such as the Grandaddy of Them All. And hey – if the "dirtiest" act on the entire card is merely something as small as an all-out heel grabbing the ropes to score a cheap win, I'm hardly going to complain.


Match 4) Mick Foley vs. Edge
Hardcore Match

So What *Did* We Expect? - To quote Jigsaw… "oh yes, there will be blood." I don't know if the ‘E will go balls-to-the-wall with thumbtacks AND fire-covered-tables AND barbed-wire, but I see no reason to believe that they won't include one or two of these items in the brawl. Don't get your hopes up for an all-out-ECW-style bloodfest (because, remember – they still have Vinny Mac vs. Shawn plus TWO title matches where somebody will wind up juicing, so they can't afford to waste all the carnage in one match), but I fully suspect Cactus/Edge to be a well-told, plunder-filled story that will ultimately be used to cement the Rated R Superstar as more than just "that guy who whines and makes Ralph Wiggum angry faces" in the long run. He might be the "Rated R Superstar," but Mr. Copeland could definitely use a feud like this to help him regain his "Edge"… and MeeThinks Mick Foley is the perfect opponent for such a task.

And How Did It Go? - Remember when I said that we shouldn't get our hopes up for thumbtacks AND fire-covered-tables AND barbed-wire!? Well, consider my expectations thoroughly exceeded as BOTH men (and I'm no Edge-head) delivered way above the level that any reasonable viewer might have anticipated for a match placed so early on a card such as this. Though it was tough to watch, bonus points to Lita for taking barbed wire right in the jaw – which (with the exception of Mickie's bloody nose last week, which could well have been faked), I believe, was the first time in recent memory (if not all of WWE history) where a FEMALE wrestler actually wound up bleeding by match's end.

So, Overall? - HUGELY successful match here that did wonders for each man involved. Foley wound up on the losing end WITHOUT looking like a chump (see: WrestleMania XX), and Edge found a perfect balance of "chickenshit cheater heel" (via Lita-ference) and "legit badass" (via that WICKED Spear through the flaming table) that will definitely give him some staying power in the ‘E's top-level crop of baddies. Innovative spots abounded (the barbed wire belly-wrap, ala Hitman/Goldberg, was particularly ingenious), and all sorts of sick "balls to the wall" bloodiness that the ‘E usually tends to shy away from even in the most "hardcore" of their "hardcore" contests (e.g. – full swings of the barbed wire covered bat, anybody BUT Foley winding up in a pile of thumbtacks, flaming tables, barbed wire mouthfuls, etc.). Great, great match from both men (and Lita) – and a definite "lives up to the hype" showdown if there ever was one.


Match 5) Boogeyman vs. Booger T (and Sharmell)

So What *Did* We Expect? - Realistically speaking, this one will be most effective it is kept as short as possible. If we're looking for things to get excited about with this contest – it's NOT going to be the in-ring action, so I'd hold out for an entertaining smoke and mirrors contest between some of the most over "showmen" in WWE today. Boogeyman's antics are great by themselves, but Booker's facial expressions (and Sharmell's complete overselling) should be enough to really make this bout shine as the much-needed "comic relief" of the night. Boogey will likely go over, but haters can take solace in the fact that Booker will likely be almost guaranteed to score more offense against him than JBL was able to dish out just two months ago. With a bit of pre-bout antics, elaborate entrances as per usual, a limited (but evenly distributed) amount of in-ring action, and the sure-fire chemistry between Booker, Sharmell and Boogey – this one should actually be a fun little match.

And How Did It Go? - In a word, "poorly." Boogey has always been limited in the ring, but the fact that he recently blew out a bicep certainly didn't help matters. On the bright side for Booker fans, he undoubtedly scored more offense than JBL did some months back – but then again on the flip-side, the fact that Boogey spent most of the match – as my girlfriend noted – "not being the Boogeyman and just getting beat up live any other guy" definitely sucked the fan support right out of this one. Yes, there was promise (and flashes of entertainment) when Sharmell got involved, but by and large – this match made the cardinal mistake of exposing a guy for all of the weak parts of his character. Nobody wants to see Boogeyman "wrestle" to a comeback victory – we want to see him eat worms and freak the shit out of people!

So, Overall? - The pre-match lead-up with the "freak brigade" definitely had all the makings of success for this one, but sadly the fact that the ‘E broke from form and decided to let the match take the more "traditional" route of "heel-pounds-face, face-makes-comeback" totally hamstrung the affair. Some matches are adversely affected by the "gimmick" or the "storyline" that surrounds them (see: Eddie/Rey, "Dominick's Paternity") – but in this match's case, we're looking at a contest that suffered simply because it didn't allow the gimmick and storyline to play enough of a role. Boogey getting beat up only to mount a comeback and get the win is fun and all, but down in OVW, these sort of affairs are done completely over-the-top with Wright totally-no-selling his opponents' offense as the crowd chants "B-O-O-G-E-Y-M-A-N" with each of his "Hulk Ups" along the way. Perhaps one can blame the Chicago crowd's "defiance" if they must, but this match simply misfired on all cylinders.


Match 6) Women's Title Match
Trish Stratus (c) vs. Mickie James

So What *Did* We Expect? - Yes, there's the potential for this feud to start feeling it's weight sooner than later if the ‘E drags it out with a string of rematches, but taken individually and separate from all of the stuff that's likely to follow – the ‘Mania matchup should be quite good. Since Mickie's all-out "journey to the dark side" is complete, the psychology behind the WrestleMania matchup should be much more entertaining than the duo's showdown at NYR. "Respect" feuds are nice and all, but when you've got such a long-standing quasi-animosity brewing just under the surface for months and months like these two have had, a blowoff at WrestleMania with all-out "heel" versus "face" will probably make for a better match all around for all parties involved. (Think of Rey/Eddie at ‘Mania from last year, a "respect" match between two bona-fide-"faces" which, while solid, was definitely not as entertaining as their later "heel versus face" encounters). Mickie is probably the second most competent challenger in terms of in-ring-skill in all of WWE (Victoria still gets the nod from Mee), but with the added fuel of an extended storyline helping to keep this match all the more interesting – this match could actually wind up being one of the best in the history of women's WrestleMania history.

And How Did It Go? - Easily the best Women's Championship match I've seen in a good five (ten?) years. Both of these ladies had all sorts of crowd sentiment in the palm of their hand (even if the support wasn't exactly what the ‘E might have expected!), and they each did a solid job of allowing the storyline that went into this angle to really dictate the course of the match. Mickie's a psycho who will stop at nothing to get what she wants, and Trish is a "goodie two-shoes" who – because she's totally lost that "edge" that she had when she was teaming with Christian – simply has no idea how to stop it. Mickie's little hand gesture and crotch-grab certainly kicked the Sapphic overtones into high gear on this one, but that made the crowd all the more excited because the girl could actually (gasp!) WRESTLE to back up her gimmick. Yes, the Stratusfaction finish was blown – but we can easily blame that on Trish's "weakened" knee that Mickie had been targeting for most of the match, and you've got to hand it to the ladies for their quick recovery to improvise an ending that was just as suitable (ala Brock/Angle and the botched Shooting Star Press at WrestleMania XIX) to really put an exclamation point on this chapter of what really has been a stellar feud.

So, Overall? - Again, HUGE thumbs up for this contest and all kinds of respect to both ladies involved for really putting together a WrestleMania-worthy matchup. Easily the best Women's Title defense I've ever seen at a WrestleMania (and I was there LIVE for Molly Holly vs. Victoria at WrestleMania XX, mind you), and one might even argue (from a pure wrestling aspect, anyway) that this match was the best title match of the night! That's not to take anything away from the Smackdown Triple Threat (or the WWE Title match) mind you – it's just a fair recognition of one of the greatest women's wrestling matches in recent memory.


Match 7) The Undertaker vs. "The World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry (w/ Daivari)
Casket Match

So What *Did* We Expect? -‘Taker will win, make no mistake about it. But with any luck, Big Mark's sheer size alone (and Daivari's meddling, where appropriate) could well convince a fair portion of the live audience in attendance that Henry just might be the one to do the impossible by beating the Dead Man on a night where he's never tasted defeat before. I mean come on now – even the most jaded of critics will have to admit that Mark Henry certainly poses a more credible threat to ‘Taker's streak than, say, the Big Bossman!

Sure, the outcome will be the same quite regardless of whether or not fans buy Henry as having a legit shot of winning the thing, but the actual match itself should prove to be far more entertaining if fans are willing to suspend their disbelief in order to allow themselves to "play along" with the outside notion that Henry could pull off the upset. Outside interference will be a HUGE factor if they are to successfully hammer this point home, but I still have a feeling that the crowd will "Mark out" (pun intended) – maybe even with a "good riddance" sort of "Kiss Him Goodbye" style sendoff for the big guy – once the casket lid gets slammed shut either way.

And How Did It Go? - HA! It worked! Whether it was because of "real life" distaste or simple anti-Henry "character" heat, the Chicago crowd was ALL OVER The World's Strongest Man, which definitely made the Dead Man's victory all the more exciting. If ‘Taker's streak was designed to look impressive – a clean-cut win over a "big" threat like Henry simply needed to happen. Now I have absolutely no beef with Henry, as y'all well know – but I fully commend the ‘E and the Chicago crowd for polishing this fella' off in such clear and decisive fashion by match's end. Give the Big Man credit for his strong showing as "The Guy You Just Can't Knock Down" for the first half of the bout, and for (once again) being a company man and obediently selling his ass off for just about every move in the Dead Man's arsenal. ‘Taker, for his part, busted out three or four kickass spots (the top-rope Last Ride, the 500-pound Tombstone, and the HUUUUUGE "Air Deadman" plancha all come to mind) which definitely allowed fans to live vicariously through their favorite Phenom and stuff Big Mark Henry's oversized carcass into his well-deserved casket.

So, Overall? - Did what it needed to do, and did it much better than it had to at that. For all the hate, Henry did a fine job of looking like a credible threat to help bolster the Dead Man's winning streak, and he hardly looked out of place in the contest along the way. ‘Taker, of course, was as "on" as he usually tends to be on WrestleMania nights, which meant that he busted out some "classic" spots that really kept the crowd hotter than they had any right to be throughout the affair. Not a technical masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination – but again, if we were setting "realistic" expectations for the thing – it simply didn't have to be one, and it totally succeeded just the same.


Match 8) Vince McMahon vs. Shawn Michaels
No Holds Barred

So What *Did* We Expect? - If you go into this match hinging all of your hopes on a Bret Hart run-in, you should be advised to prepare yourself for a thorough disappointment in advance. Anyone who's willing to give this match an instant "***** classic" rating if (and only if) The Hitman makes an appearance is likely setting themselves up for a "Heart Break," kids. In short – you can't pin all of your love or hate of this match (and this feud) on the longshot appearance of one man who's made it clear that he simply wants nothing to do with the angle altogether.

Instead – a more "realistic" expectation for the match would be to watch it and appreciate it on the merits of what it's likely to be – namely, a knock-down, drag-out "no holds barred" contest that will probably leave both men bloody and exhausted by the time the final bell is rung. By my estimation, neither Vince nor Shawn has EVER "phoned it in" when it comes to a match at WrestleMania – and if fans are willing to get off the "We Want Bret" chants for a second in this one, they might just find themselves in full appreciation of both The Chairman and The Showstopper's performance when all is said and done here.

All that said, of course – run-ins are almost a given with this one; with Shane-o and the Spirit Squad eing the most obvious candidates, Steph pulling a close second, and Marty (or Sid) holding down a respectable (but remote) third. And since Shawn has proven more than willing to sell (and oversell) pretty much all of his opponents' offense, I think it's a fair bet that Vince's "reserves" will go a long way in ensuring that the CEO looks like a credible threat and that the match itself comes across well enough to be "WrestleMania worthy" all the same. Obviously, fans are holding out that The Hitman will have a change of "Hart" here and make his presence known (perhaps by double-swerving both guys and leaving them each laid out with two well-placed chairshots), so while the match is likely to be "good" with or without his involvement, Bret is definitely the lynchpin that will decide whether this match will be remembered as "great."

And How Did It Go? - Hey look – we had run-ins! And we had blood! And we had tables! And NEITHER man phoned it in! Heck, I'd even argue that Shawn showed more charisma in this one than he'd done in the last three years COMBINED. The crotch-chop, the smack-talking (those front-row fans must have REALLY pissed old HBK off), the teased finishers, the jaw-jacking ("I want you to take a good look cause I'm gonna kick your teeth RIGHT DOWN YOUR THROAT!!!") and the INSANE ladder spot definitely earned The Showstopper some high marks in my book. Vince, meanwhile, did his best to wheel out the minions (The Spirit Squad, Shane, etc.) to help put over his "I'm in way over my head, help me kick this guy's ass!" CEO-in-peril persona. The Chairman also earns crazy points in my book for taking the SICKEST bump of the night (yep, even worse than Foley's) – simply by virtue of the fact that the garbage can over his head made it extra certain that he simple COULDN'T SEE the exact moment Michaels was about to plunge his ass through the table!

So, Overall? - Given the fact that I'm almost certain that Vince was hoping that Bret would reconsider and agree to a run-in at the Big Dance, you've got to give all the credit in the world to HBK and McMahon himself for orchestrating a *beautiful* "plan B" contest that still stands up quite well on its own. The "Vince drives Shawn to Hell" angle – even if it's only a one-time-deal – played out masterfully throughout this match-up, and fans even 10 or 20 years from now can go back and watch this tape and witness a solid, well-told in-match story that totally stands up *without* all of the extra baggage that might have come with a Bret Hart involvement. Sure, a Hitman run-in would have made for a once-in-a-lifetime WrestleMania moment, but Shawn's ladder drop (and the crotch-chop that preceded it) definitely will endure as a classic ‘Mania memory just the same.


Match 9) World Title Match
Kurt Angle (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Rey Mysterio

So What *Did* We Expect? - Rey Mysterio and Kurt Angle have had a fine series of matches between them over the years. Randy "Resthold" Orton's obvious shortcomings in the ring (though they're improving) are easily masked by the triple-threat formula. Yes, the ECW-style "three way dance" might be better suited to add the necessary drama to most other three-way matches, but given the circumstances here – MeeThinks it's perfectly acceptable to have this match determined by your normal "one fall to a finish" rules. That way, Angle can lose the belt and still not get pinned – plus we're not stuck watching Rey Rey "overcome the odds" yet again by simply outlasting (and eliminating) one opponent at a time (as was so many people's gripe about the Royal Rumble), so everybody wins.

Given the fact that Rey is just about as hot as he'll ever be in terms of overall popularity at this time, I'd say that fans will be totally into this match and that the little guy should easily have enough fan support to keep the energy high (and fast-paced) throughout the affair. That means plenty of near-falls (always a crowd pleaser), and a guaranteed pop for the finish no matter who goes over (yes, even Orton). Some will say that Angle's been booked to look like the afterthought in this entire showdown, but I've got little worries that he will most definitely step it up and look like he is THE man to beat come WrestleMania – as again, our Olympic Hero is hardly the type to ever have had a bad match at the Big Dance.

Since this match will likely receive penultimate bidding (second-to-last), there are a bevy of viable outcomes to be had. If the champion like Angle retains, or a heel like Orton goes over and the crowd gets deflated, no harm or foul because they're still likely to have another "barn burner" of divided fan support between Cena and Trips. Then again, if Rey Rey pulls off the miracle (again, obviously still very much the long shot of the bunch) – the crowd will likely find themselves all the more fired up and willing to join in the "we've had OUR moment, now let's crap all over theirs!" fan-participatory action that will be needed to keep the WWE Title match interesting.

And How Did It Go? - From a fast-paced, technical perspective – this was your match. Lots of energy and plenty of creative, skillful spots including the double German Suplex, the top rope Angle Slam, the over the rope Angle Slam, the ringpost…err, ringrope 619, and the Ankle Lock/ Drop the Dime sequence. Sure, this was no X-Division Styles/Daniels/Joe epic, but for what it was, it was very, very good. Angle worked his ass off (perhaps moreso than anyone else on the ENTIRE CARD) to make both opponents look as credible as possible, and Orton and Rey did their part by keeping the dreaded restholds to a minimum and finding new and exciting methods to keep their traditional spots fresh while at the same time dipping into the reserve tanks and busting out some new maneuvers to boot (Orton's modified hanging backbreaker was just one example).

So, Overall? - The fans raining on Rey Rey's parade definitely put a damper on things and threw off Mr. "Booyaka, Booyaka 6-1-9's" game – but there was still a pervasive feeling of satisfaction to be had from the whole ordeal. The Eddie tribute at the end was a welcome (if expected) touch, and while there are likely to be plenty of Rey haters out there who are viewing him as nothing more than a "charity case Champion," I think that in the grand scheme of things, history will ultimately remember WrestleMania 22 as the night where one very talented international superstar's dream finally came true. It's a shame that the same fans that cheered Rey for Eddie's memory are the ones who are so quick to castrate the guy for treading on his real-life friendship, because the "underdog" story that unfolded at WrestleMania 22 was, believe it or not, very compelling and well-told in its own right.


Match 10) Playboy Pillow Fight
Candace Michelle vs. Torrie Wilson

So What *Did* We Expect? - Realistically speaking? If you're hoping to be impressed by this divas contest, you should hope for two simple things. One, that it's kept mercifully short, as the match won't be anywhere *near* technically sound, and neither woman can really go in the ring. And two, that the match (or either competitor, for that matter) won't take itself too seriously. Could be a nice little innocent-but-dirty-little-secret-comedy-type match to keep the crowd hot (fluffed?) after a big-timer like $itB2 or the U.S. Title bout, so if you're looking for any "good" to come of the Playboy Pillow Fight, you'd be well served to hope that the ‘E uses it for this reason (and this reason alone) and puts it on the back-end of a barnburner to give them time to rest up before the next more meaningful showdown.

And How Did It Go? - Well, the ‘E got this one half-right. On the one hand, they plopped it right after the Smackdown title match, which (in theory) was a good place to give the fans a chance to rest up those lungs before the main event. On the other hand, though – it seemed like so, SO many of those in attendance were none to thrilled with Senor Booyaka, Booyaka, 6-1-9 or his title win – so the crowd was simply happy enough to be caught up in their own contrarian disposition throughout the Divas' contest. In other words, the fans could care less (you heard the "borrrr-ing" chants, didn't you?).

This match would probably have been much better received had it followed the super-hot Michaels/McMahon showdown rather than the mixed-reaction-Rey-Rey-win. Once the crowd got the ball rolling with their "Damn the Man" streak (starting with the Mickie James match), this one never stood a chance so late in the card.

So, Overall? - On the bright side, the ending wasn't as obvious as it could have been, and this was one of just two out-and-out "bad" matches on this card. On the other hand, though – the match itself was clunky, awkward, long and just about altogether out of place – which is never a good thing to hear when you've combined a surefire mix of "beautiful ladies," "nudie magazines," and "oversized beds." Sadly, a real dull spot – but again, they can't all be winners.


Match 11) WWE Title Match
John Cena vs. Triple H

So What *Did* We Expect? - Honestly, your guess is as good as mine here. With fan sentiment being as polarized on BOTH men as it has been, we could well see a one-night-only double-turn (e.g. – Rock/Hogan), a swerve-turn (e.g. – Trips teases going face only to stay heel, or Cena teases heel only to win with the same old "Superman" face routine), an all-out turn (Cena goes heel, ala Stone Cold aligning with Vince McMahon), or an utter trainwreck as both men refuse to acknowledge the power the fans are likely to have in drastically reshaping this matchup.

Regardless – this match should be an awesome "WrestleMania moment" just the same. Fan sympathies are going to be pushed, pulled, divided, and prodded through the roof – and there is every reason to believe that no matter what goes on in the ring, this will easily be the hottest match in terms of fan reaction of the night. As such, I'd bank on this one being the last match of the evening despite the fact that the World Title Match is technically the quote-unquote "Main Event" of the show given that it's challengers were determined by the outcome of the Royal Rumble.

So yeah – expect a hot, HOT crowd that should definitely make this a match worth watching regardless of what actually goes on in the ring.

And How Did It Go? - Crap all over the ending if you want, but this match was definitely everything that it could have been in terms of storytelling and fan participation. Trips played off the crowd brilliantly (the crotch chop? PRICELESS!!!), and Cena kept a great balance of "what do I have to DO to impress you people?" without falling into his goofy "oh my God, PLEASE pity me because I'm twitching uncontrollably ‘cause I've been busted wide open!"-type mode. And love Cena or hate him, you've got to admit that the guy not only beat Triple H (with a submission victory, no less!) but he also beat the crowd who were more than happy to boo the everloving crap out of the guy. In the last few weeks leading up to this match, the ‘E tried to bill things as a "Rocky IV" type showdown with the grass-roots underdog vs. the ultra-pampered war machine – and the fan dynamic throughout this contest was eerily similar to the big showdown in that film's climax to boot. True, we didn't end the night with Gorbachev standing up and applauding John "Rocky" Cena for his efforts – but we definitely witnessed a champion fighting to win the respect of an openly hostile crowd for the bulk of the contest. And yes, the tap-out victory will never be remembered with the same sense of excitement as the Benoit victory from two years ago – but then again, it will most certainly give fans all the more reason to either love or hate The Doctor of Thuganomics just the same.

(PLUS there was a C.M. Punk cameo, for those of you with careful eyes! Being a straightedge mark like yours truly, anything Punk = total thumbs up in my book!)

So, Overall? - This one definitely met (and perhaps exceeded) expectations in terms of in-ring quality (Cena winning with a submission maneuver proved that the guy could "wrestle," at least and if only to a limited degree), but as far as fan interaction goes – this thing was off the charts. No matter who won and who lost, the bout undeniably had every single fan in attendance standing and cheering at the top of his or her lungs, and when the finish finally came to pass – the "mark out" factor was at a fever pitch as half the crowd held their heads in disbelief as the other half screamed like crazy all at once. LOVED the crowd shots following the match with half the audience totally rubbing it in (usually to their boyfriends or parents) that Trips came up short, and I even noticed a smattering of CeNaysayers (tm) reluctantly applauding the guy after all was said and done in their typical "I still hate that guy, but I've gotta give him props for keeping me entertained" sort of way. Super-hot crowd + surprise ending = classic WrestleMania moment right there.

So... WrestleMania 22, Overall?

Again, I'm writing this entire column without so much as one look at the message boards or show recaps that have been written anywhere on the web - and by my estimation, WrestleMania 22 was one hell of a show. Clean finishes in 10 out of 11 matches, entertaining matches in 9 out of 11 (Boogey/Booker and the Playboy Pillow Fight being the two exceptions), expectations *met* in five of the remaining nine (Tag Championship Match, U.S. Title, Casket Match, World Title, WWE Title), and expectations EXCEEDED in the remaining four(Women's Title, Money in the Bank, Hardcore Match, No Holds Barred) = one solid show from top to bottom.

As far as "WrestleMania Moments" go?

Flair's pair of crazy bumps
Shelton's ladder-scaling senton, and his magnetic ladder jump
Bret Hart's purposeful no-show, leaving no doubt whatsoever that Montreal was indeed a shoot.
RVD's Van Daminator onto the ladder
RVD's Money in the Bank victory
Edge's spear-full-'o-barbed wire
Lita's barbed wire socko
Foley's flaming table spot
JBL's entrance
Taker's out of the ring, OVER THE CASKET plancha
The Women's Title Match
Michaels' crotch chop/ ladder drop
Vince's "I'll be back" middle-finger stretcher-job
Rey Rey's big win
The Vickie and Chavo/Mysterio "memorial" celebration
The main event entrances (tacky, but classic)
The Cena/Trips crowd split in the main event
The shocking finish to close out the night

All told?

Easily a "thumbs up" if you went into the show with realistic expectations. Yes, there were some "duds" and slow spots thrown in there, but on the whole - MeeThinks WrestleMania 22 lived up to it's "Big Time" moniker and more. All and all - sure, there were some rough patches, but this year's Big Dance was unquestionably a great show with some solid wrestling, great storyline conclusions and that WrestleMania spectacle that only WWE can do.

MeeThinks?

A thoroughly entertaining night all around, and well worth the $50.

Agree? Disagree?

"Methinks it sounds a parley to provocation!"
- Iago, Othello
Act II, scene iii

Shoot Mee YourThinks and I'll post your thoughts next week!

In the meantime…

Hop on over to page two for this week's glossary entries and a new crop of YourThinks Reader Mail!


The Unofficial Glossary of Professional Wrestling: Volume XVIII

We're compiling a massive Wrestling Glossary of fan observations of the clichés, trends, and standbys of the wrestling world that might as well serve as the unofficial "rulebook" for this sport we all love so well. Each week, I'll post one an entry of my own as well as a few submitted by you, my faithful (and hopefully articulate) readers.

It's simple, really. You submit an entry, I add it to the Glossary, and you get the credit.

This week's entries (oh and by the way, Dan – there isn't a full compilation available quite yet… but it's coming!):

The Squeaky-Clean Pedigree Rule
In the world of wrestling that is populated by so many illegal strikes (read: closed fists) and illegal holds (read: chokes), there is obviously room for argument as to which of these attacks is the most "dirty." On the flip side, however, the obvious winner of "cleanest" move in professional wrestling obviously goes to HHH's Pedigree. The reason behind said theory is because it may only be executed in the center of the ring, without weapons or any other controversy. Should HHH try the move close to the ropes, he will then surely be backdropped out of the ring. Should he try the move on a table, the move will either be reversed by some means, or said table will break before the move (see: HHH vs. Angle, Kurt). Should HHH try the pedigree onto a chair or ring steps, he will more than likely suffer a double leg take-down onto said object, which when then be surely followed by him receiving a nasty slingshot into the turnbuckle. As The Pedigree has only been successfully performed in situations that are 100% foreign-object and controversy free and always in the center of the ring, this maneuver is obviously the undisputed "cleanest" move in wrestling.
- Jay P. Barb

The Devastating Effect of (Insert Foreign Object) Finisher
In the case where the face finds himself having the upper hand in a match, the heel(s) can always pull out the foreign object of doom. Even though being knocked helplessly out of the ring, thrown into steel steps or nearby guardrails, and receiving any and all other maneuvers might prove ineffective, being struck with said foreign object – no matter how ridiculous said object might be –will always knock the face unconscious. It is not important as to what substance the foreign object is actually made of, per se, (see: Chyna, Bouquet of Roses) as perceptive commentators will always point out that the foreign object was clearly loaded with something clearly capable knocking one's foe unconscious. Other such examples have included title belts, cell phones, purses, cheerleading horns, woman's shoes, magic wands, etc.
- Dan Beeferman

The Golden Guarantee
Any time a main-event-level heel wrestler guarantees to make an impact or says something to the effect of "[Show, promotion, or wrestler name] will never be the same…" on a wrestling program, by night's end one can almost be assured that the show will end with said wrestler standing victorious and/or laughing maniacally over a fallen face.
- Meehan

The Law of Vehicular Assurance
If a wrestler's entrance regularly involves the use and/or riding of a vehicle to ringside, said vehicle will most assuredly become damaged or stolen as part of a prolonged feud (see: JBL's limo, Bikertaker's motorcycle, Austin's a.t.v., etc).
- Meehan

The "No Pets Allowed" Mandate (a.k.a. – "Watch Out, Chloe!")
(A corollary to the Law of Vehicular Assurance) If a wrestler is accompanied to ringside by a pet or animal of some sort, the creature will most assuredly be stolen, killed and subsequently cooked and served as a steak (see: Pepper, Al Snow), run over by a car (see: Lucy, Triple H), squashed in a canvas bag (see: Damien, Jake Roberts) and or turned invisible (see: Matilda, British Bulldogs) by an opponent at one time or another.
- Meehan

The Outside Interference Effect, Part II
In tag-team contests, tt is a well-known fact that the forearm and/or knee of the partner located OUTSIDE the ring are exponentially more deadly than the forearm and/or knee of the partner INSIDE the ring. When a face is hit in the back by the legal man, he sells the shot, but is often quick to work through the pain. However, when said face is whipped into the ropes and the illegal man takes a shot, the face may as well be crucified, because the shock of this illegal blow with a seemingly normal forearm or knee is deadly.
-Mike Ray

Awesome all around, as always. The compiled works is coming soon, but we're still looking for entries! Thanks to all of those who've submitted so far, and keep those entries coming for future installments!

Now then, to the reader feedback…


YouThinks Reader Mail

Not too much from y'all this week, but I'm sure there'll be plenty of YourThinks next time with all of this WrestleMania fallout still waiting to be sorted out. So – feeling WrestleMania-y? Shoot Mee YourThinks for next time!

As for this week, though –

Scott Reynolds wants to talk RVD and $itB at ECW:ONS II, so I'll say "OK" and let him have the floor…

I enjoyed your idealistic and realistic predictions of this years ‘mania. My only addition is the RVD wins the money in the bank match and will execute it at ECW's one night stand this summer, which will make up for his having to miss the card last year. What's your realistic thoughts?

- Scott Reynolds

Thanks for writing, Scott. As you might have noticed on page one – given Van Dam's win at ‘Mania, I think your prediction is spot-on and I could easily see RVD challenging for a title (perhaps Mysterio's, as he too is an ECW alum) at this year's One Night Stand. That said, though – RVD has a penchant for shooting from the hip, speaking his mind in a very un-PC manner, and "living dangerously" when it comes to the company's "wellness initiative" (he WAS profiled in High Times magazine, you know…), so whether or not the company will have enough faith in him to let him stand as their public face still remains to be seen. More on this one in a future column, though – GREAT question and definitely worth further discussion as we get closer to the next ECW pay per view!

Switching back to ‘Mania for a second, semi-regular Travis Homewood had this to share:

Hey man, another awesome column. Glad to see somebody else getting excited about the card this year since it seems too many people want to just plain hate. Personally I am almost looking forward to HHH regaining the title. I am tired of John Cena having the belt. I don't mind him as a wrestler but he is just plain old as champ and HHH really does run well with the belt. Not to mention, as I have pointed out to others, when Edge starts running again and really steps up his game to the Big Title picture this year who would we rather see him beat? Cena? No. Cena is a 2 time WWE Champ and did a good job of it while he was fresh. But he isn't the huge marquee name that is HHH. Edge vs. HHH for the title would have more casual fans and Edgeheads alike really gunning for Edge to dethrone the champ rather than a mediocre main event at a future ppv.

Much as it must cause the IWC to blow up message boards with hatemail, HHH is the man to beat for the belt at this point in the game. Love him or hate him, he is the guy who has been around the longest and is still in his prime and is going to be holding that title a few more times before hanging up the tights. Sorry but if Flair does wind up getting the belt back, (which I would love to see,) the person that takes the title off of him will still have to work their ass off to become over as the champ since taking it off of a legend far past their prime, (no matter how they have managed to step it up in the last few months,) isn't going to automatically elevate them to the spot that a champ needs to be at. So go HHH. Whip Cena's ass. Get the belt back. And hurry up and lose it to RVD, Edge, Flair, Kane or Big show. Any one but please to it quickly. Please at least by summerslam. That is all that can be asked to help promote the stars we wish to see with the belt and to make them legitimate champs.

On a side note, what program did Larry use to get dancing brock on the site? I know that at Mania we will hopefully get a mania sized Boogey shuffle and if we can get the Boogey shuffle to go one on one with Dancing Brock, man that would be......well just plain awesome. I can't even begin to describe the awesomeness of that challenge. Thanks man. Read you next week.

- Travis Homewood

Thanks for reading, Travis. Looks like WrestleMania didn't quite pan out the way you'd hoped it might, but with RVD winning the Money in the Bank title shot, I would not be surprised in the least to see him taking a world tile to his credit within the next calendar year. As far as Kane or TBS go, I hate to say it but I have a feeling that each of their days as a world champion might well be in a holding pattern for the time-being. Then again, if they go ahead and break those two up one of these days (especially with Kane's movie coming out) – then we might just see some new "fire" (pun intended) under both of these guys, and if Show comes out of things looking like a beast and Kane comes out of things with a newfound "evil" streak – I see no reason why The Big Show or The Big Red Machine couldn't make a strong showing for either world title.

As far as what program Larry used for Dancing Brock, I'm guessing it's a flash video but your guess is as good as mine. Sadly, while I'm pretty much a whiz at Photoshop (CS 2, BABY!), my knowledge of flash is pretty much "nil." So, if any readers out there wanna put together a Dancing Boogeyman vid for yours truly, please shoot Mee an e-mail and I will be happy to give you crazy credit (and a swank freebie from my wrasslin' DVD library, to boot!)…

Speaking of The Boogeyman… regular contributor Andrew Critchell had this to say:

Hey John –

I loved the way you broke down the Wrestlemania matches, especially since your breakdown employed *gasp* logic. Great work. Anyway, as I'm sure you've guessed, I agree that as long as the Divas match is kept short (and I can't imagine why it wouldn't be) then it should be a nice little break in the middle of the show. I feel the same about Booker/Boogeyman, it should be a nice break from the more "serious" action. In response to your comment about how Boogey should be tanking, it's actually pretty easy to see why Boogey is a current success:

The man behind the character seems totally committed to it
Boogey popped up in promos and skits long before he got in the ring
Boogey worked with two of the best promo guys around in JBL and Booker T

Anyway, I am not going to bore you with my thoughts about all the matches but needless to say I am pumped for WM and I think it will be a great show like Wrestlemanias usually are.

Thanks & keep up the good work!

- Andrew Critchell

Thanks for writing Andrew. Sadly (as you probably saw on page one), it would appear that BOTH of these contests proved disappointing two days ago, but again – if the ‘E is smart in the way that they book The Boogeyman (or the Divas matches), there is no reason why they won't work in the future (if used sparingly, of course). Here's hoping that Boogey finds himself a worthwhile feud with somebody else that can keep things as entertaining IN the ring as they are OUT of it. Likewise, here's hoping that those divas you know and love so well can mix things up in harmless catfights and bikini showdowns throughout the spring and summer months rather than muddying up PPV time with awkward quote-unquote "wrestling" matches. Let's leave those to Trish and Mickie, yes?

Ok, Melina too…

Finally, we'll close with Manu Bumb, who still won't forgive Mee for those wretched Torrie Wilson photos he asked for a few weeks back…

"Sorry to have to do that to ya, Manu – but ask and ye shall receive. "

But I never asked for pictures, just information! Hidden Highlights would've never done this to me, right guys?

JT: right
JP: Damn straight

See?

"but just don't run a Google Image Search for "Torrie Wilson" "Ugly" if you're surfing from work. Some NSFW stuff there, for real. "

Yeah, I'm going to take your word on that one. See? Words would've been good enough ;-)

Speaking of non-words, did you see those pictures of Mickie James from some other column? I don't know if it was really her or not (and don't want to know), but I will never look at her the same again. Same for Torrie.

:(

guess I could always turn her over. I'm sure she keeps a pretty clean ship.

ya know why ric flair will win MitB and then the title this sunday? Cause he might be dead by WM 23. Although Luke made a good point - HHH and cena will continue to feud after WM, so one of them has to have the title (lord knows HHH only fights flair, or the champ. When will he realize that fighting a 50-something year old man does NOTHING to make new stars?). I just want to go to a raw in raleigh or charlotte where flair is the champ, and he gets more than 10 minutes to wrestle.

- Manu Bumb

Hahaha, MB – sorry about your luck, dude. I won't go into any further detail than that, except for to say that (SPOILERS) yup, that is indeed Mickie James in those dirty pics you probably saw kicking around in Cook's column a few weeks ago, as the former "Alexis Laree" did, in fact, make a bit of a name for herself in the wrestling community by taking off more than a title belt a few years back.

And I'm not even gonna go NEAR that "clean ship" comment… have you SEEN the relative "plumpness" of Mickie's backside, my friend?

Yikes.

Ok, I'm calling it a day with that, so….


And With That, I'm Outta' Here…

Well, another WrestleMania is in the books, and I'm sure y'all have plenty to think, say and share on the matter. So feel free to keep YourThinks coming, and we'll talk more on this next time!

Till then, thanks again for reading, happy spring (if you live in the DC area – check out the Cherry Blossoms Festival!), and always stay positive!

- Meehan