Finlay and Hornswaggle def. The Miz and Morrison
Triple H def. Chavo Guerrero
Natalya and Maryse def. Michelle McCool and Cherry

Image details: Flavio Briatore And Elisabetta Gregoraci Wedding Ceremony served by picapp.com

Segment Six:
Will Finlay and Hornswaggle ever stop fighting The Miz and Morrison? Aren’t all four now in ECW? Mick and JR discuss Hornswaggle drinking a Guinness and I’m thinking about ending this live blog early and heading down to my local Irish Bar establishment.

Finlay lands a terrific Celtic Cross on Morrison but The Miz breaks it up. While the ref is tsk-tsking Morrison and telling him to leave the ring Finlay hits The Miz with the shillelagh knocking him out cold. Hornswaggle tags in and flops off the top rope and onto the Real World rebel pinning him one-two-three. Does this mean we’re going to have to see these four fight yet again? We’re afraid so.

***

Hold up. A local commercial for the July 29 ECW/SmackDown event in Hershey, PA says the Main Event is Triple H vs. Edge for the WWE Championship. We…are…so…there.

***
Segment Seven:
Bam Neely stares down HHH and looks like a much more impressive opponent than Chavo. In due time. In due time. Notably, Charles Robinson is back in the ring reffing the match. Apparently his Great Khali-induced head trauma wasn’t so bad after all.

Chavo is doing his best but this match is a heavyweight versus a cruiserweight. HHH hits a Spine Buster, punches Bam Neely, and follows with a Pedigree. Chavo is done. Vickie is some kind of kin. The crowd seems to love The Game. What are we missing? Speaking of cruiserweights, it’s now 9:00 p.m. and we’re about to begin the difficult dance of flipping between boxing and pro wrestling. A personal favorite, Tomasz Adamek, is fighting tonight and we have double duty.

Image details: WWE Smackdown – Sydney served by picapp.com

Segment Eight:
Michelle McCool is so pretty, Cherry not so much. Neither are a match for third generation wrestler Natalya who makes Cherry tapout with a neat sharpshooter and after the match destroys Michelle with a quick snap suplex. During the match Natalya’s partner Maryse just sort of stood around. Let it be known Maryse standing around is fine with me. Jeez Louise she’s something else.

Natalya is a good wrestler and we’d love to see her fight Beth Phoenix. If she doesn’t win the SmackDown women’s title at The Great American Bash then justice hasn’t been served.

Post from: EveryJoe

7/11 WWE SmackDown Part Two: Still No Wedding News

Finlay def. The Miz
Braden Walker def. Armando Estrada
Evan Bourne def. Nunzio
Tommy Dreamer def. Mark Henry by DQ (?)

Last week I asked ECW to give me a reason to love it. It didn’t. So really, I shouldn’t be watching. But I am because the good people at the Innovative Beverage Group sent jabandgrapple.com some of their new “anti-energy” drink: Drank. The beverage promises to “calm and relax you” with ingredients that include Melatonin, Rose Hips, and Valerian Root. My ECW hate has been so virulent as of late that I need some relaxation. I need, as the drink boasts, to “slow my roll”.

Finlay and The Miz are squaring off as I pour my first into a neat glass tumbler; I’m drinking the gently carbonated Drank on ice. Before the match I’m quietly confident that these two will step it up in their singles match. I’m not as confident about the Drank. The first sip isn’t nearly as sweet as I expect and is reminiscent of a pleasant grape soda. I fear that it is going to go down real smooth. Too smooth.

Finlay takes care of The Miz with some help from Hornswaggle and the Drank is already calming me down. I might even enjoy the Mark Henry-Tommy Dreamer main event! The first commercial break contains an advert for 5-hour energy drink talking about the evils of energy drinks. I’m one step ahead of them though. I’m not interested in energizing, I’m interested in relaxing. And Drank already has me on my way.

I’m beginning to feel sorry for Armando Estrada. It’s doubtful he’ll ever win a match. This week he’s facing someone now known as Braden Walker. I like Teddy Long’s ECW Superstar Initiative but the two we’ve seen thus far – Atlas Ortiz and now Braden Walker – are absolutely uninteresting.

One of Drank’s primary promises is that it will help you “get you lean on” without resorting to harmful cough syrup drinks. After a second glass my lean is definitely on but I’m still also desiring to flatten a few ECW superstars: Mark Henry (after he insults legend Tony Atlas) and Atlas Ortiz (after a stupid bush league segment).

The Tommy Dreamer vs. Mark Henry main event isn’t getting me too excited (or maybe it’s my imbibing). But really, I don’t think Dreamer has a chance unless Henry downs a full case of Drank. Which is possible because Henry was born in and lives within Drank’s southeastern Texas and western Louisiana distribution zone. Tonight’s ECW is also taking place in Baton Rouge, La. Is Drank available there? Yes indeed!

Evan Bourne puts away perennial loser Nunzio with a fantastic Shooting Star back flip from the top rope and not even the Drank can stop me from being excited. He must have been 20-feet in the air. Am I hallucinating? I don’t think so…

There’s like five minutes left in ECW and we’re still at commercial. Do I care? Not really. I’m on my third Drank glass and ECW has gradually become very palatable. And anyway, the less Mark Henry the better.

The clock just turned 11 p.m. and still no match. Am I anxious? Not at all. The match has begun and Dreamer’s horrid fake leather pants actually might be changing my allegiances. Then Henry goes after Colin Delaney but Tony Atlas interrupts and slams the pale dweeb himself and appears to be teaming with The World’s Strongest Man. Someone is disqualified. I’m not sure who but I’m beyond uninterested.

As far as the Drank, I’m pleasantly surprised. The buzz is mild and helpfully relaxing. I’m even going to be able to fall asleep in a strange and uncomfortable bed tonight. Bloggers need vacation too. If only I were vacationing along the Texas Gulf Coast, then I could snatch up another Drank.

Post from: EveryJoe

ECW: The Drank Edition

Matt Hardy, Finlay, and Hornswaggle def. The Miz, Morrison, and Chavo Guerrero
Atlas Ortiz def. Armando Estrada
Mark Henry vs. Colin Delaney

Image details: Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival 2008 – Day 2 served by picapp.com

As we all know, ECW got the serious short end of the WWE Draft stick. Here’s a summary:

Wrestlers (of note) Lost: CM Punk (now WWE Heavyweight Champ); Kane; Kofi Kingston (now Intercontinental Champ); Shelton Benjamin.

Wrestlers Gained: Matt Hardy; Mark Henry; Finlay; Hornswaggle; Super Crazy.

What that means is that I’ve lost four of the seven reasons I watched ECW. The other three being The Miz, Morrison, and Evan Bourne. I’ve gained 1 1/2 reasons to tune in on Tuesday nights (Finlay and Hornswaggle). That leaves me with 4 1/2 reasons to watch which I’m pretty sure is less than seven.

In short, I’m giving this week a shot. ECW has to earn its way onto my Tuesday night schedule.

**

Segment One:
Mark Henry says he’s ECW’s savior. I wonder why I’m watching a show where Henry could be deemed a positive addition. He announces a Mark Henry vs. Colin Delaney (!?!?!?) Main Event. I’m confident Tuesday’s will be all mine once again.
Segment Grade: F.

**

Segment Two:
Matt Hardy, Finlay, and Hornswaggle vs. The Miz, Morrison, and Chavo Guerrero
The only good ECW roster members are ALL in the match (save Evan Bourne) and we predictably get a really good match. Great back and forth action, good wrestling, and good drama.

Segment Grade: B+. Does ECW have a chance? Then again, all six of these guys drifted from brand to brand before the draft so I’m guessing I won’t have to watch ECW to see them again.

**

Segment Three:
To make up for the talent drain ECW is introducing new wrestlers. Teddy Long calls it the “Superstar Initiative.” The first is Atlas Ortiz a/k/a Atlas DaBone a/k/a Rich Young formerly of Florida Championship Wrestling. Atlas is an ex-professional footballer who spent some time on the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad, in the CFL, and in the Arena League. He’s facing Armando Estrada and we’re ready to give him a chance.

But not for long. He’s pretty lifeless in the ring. He’s quick but sluggish and not exciting at all. He’s Interesting looking but utterly uninteresting as a wrestler. Of course he beats Estrada which disappoints us. At least Armando has a personality.

Segment Grade: F.

**

Segment Four:
Mark Henry beats super-dweeb Colin Delaney but the match lasts longer than expected. At one point Henry throws Delaney upwards and its a wonder Colin doesn’t hit his head on the Jumbotron. Wilford Brimley’s Liberty Medical commercial about “keeping your diabetes in check” is only slightly less exciting than that bout.

Segment Grade: D. Looks like I’m finally free from ECW and Mark Henry’s ugly mug. Thank heavens.

Image details: Mark Henry USA served by picapp.com

Post from: EveryJoe

7/01 ECW: Give Me A Reason To Love You

I’m posting the WWE Night of Champions Pay-Per-View Results right here live. If I’m up to it I’ll live blog clever comments any funny stuff. If nothing funny or clever appears then I outsourced the Night of Champions results posts to Mrs. Jabandgrapple.

Match #8
Triple H def. John Cena to retain the WWE Championship

John Cena has to win this one. SmackDown can’t have both titles. Nevertheless, Mrs. Jabandgrapple’s intuition leans toward Triple H bringing both titles to Friday night. I have to agree.

Michael Cole says “If you’re not excited about this one then go home.” Well, I’m not excited about this one and I’m already at home. So what should I do?

Cole characterizes Cena as HHH as fan favorites. We wonder “who exactly likes Triple H besides the McMahons?”

It’s been all posing for the opening few minutes. Now it’s turned into a brawl with Cena getting the better of the proceedings. Now it’s HHH’s turn to be in charge.

Cena hits two flying shoulder spears but dawdles instead of pouncing on Triple H. Cena goes to the top rope and straddles Hunter to the ground. Next up is a powerful body slam. But he dawdles again and HHH certainly CAN see him.

HHH’s second attempt at a Pedigree goes horribly wrong as Cena counters and tosses him out of the ring. Helmsley grabs his left knee and grimaces in pain.

Cena quickly attacks the knee so the injury isn’t “real” like Randy Orton’s broken collarbone at One Night Stand. Phew.

John Cena lands the STFU but HHH gets to the rope and forces the hold broken. HHH hits a powerful Pedigree and looks to have pinned Cena but it is not to be.

Cena hits the FU and I thought he had the pin. They’re now trading blows in the center of the ring while the crowd lustily cheers. Cena dawdles again but this time hits the Five-Knuckle Shuffle.

Cena now has him in the center of the ring and caught in the STFU. HHH is in pain. Can he get to the rope? Yes, but Cena drags him back. HHH counters with a submission hold of his own. Cena will NEVER tap out, we say. His neck is stronger than Triple H.

While in the submission hold he picks up HHH but The Game counters with a Pedigree and pins John Cena. Mrs. Jabandgrapple says “Wrestling sucks!” and I can’t disagree. Eff Triple H, Eff the McMahons, Eff them all. Regardless, this was a great match.

Cena leaves the ring holding his shoulder as if he’s injured his pectoral again. We hope that isn’t true.

Match #7
Edge def. Batista to retain the World Heavyweight Championship

I say Batista wins this one and brings the #2 belt to RAW while HHH retains the #1 belt and brings in to SmackDown. Full disclosure, I want Edge and Cena to win. The winner of this match definitely will determine the winner of the next match, right?

Edge is running around trying to make Batista chase him but The Animal contains his rage, catches Edge and controls the action early on.

Edge grabs control back by slamming Batista into the ring post and then viciously kicking him out of the ring with a well-timed slide.

I know how much everyone hates Edge but he’s a really underrated wrestler. He’s clever, athletic, and entertaining. That’s the full package IMHO. My broadband connection is cutting off so much now that listening to this match is like trying to decipher the garbled dialogue of the Miami Vice movie.

Edge has been in charge for the last five minutes now and currently has Batista in a modified sleeper hold. A hold that can’t contain the Animal. No siree!

Batista rushes headlong into Edge, but the Ultimate Opportunist counters nicely and nearly pins the Animal. Batista is hurting now but manages to land a blow to Edge’s head. They’re both on the canvas now.

When they arise it’s Batista who establishes control. He hits a clothesline and a spear but somehow Edge lifts his shoulder before the three count. Edge counters a Batista Bomb attempt with a DDT but can’t close the deal.

Batista uncharacteristically goes to the top rope but Edge drops him. Vickie Guerrero is now being wheeled to the ring by the blonde tag team twins.

Batista is about to pin Edge when Vickie jumps out of her wheelchair and stops the pin. Edge knocks the referee out and Chavo Guerrero enters the ring to be the guest ref. Batista grabs Vickie and tosses her out of the ring onto Chavo and Bam Neely.

Bedlam has ensued. Edge rolls Batista while we are all distracted by a pain-soaked Vickie. He pins the Animal while Chavo provides the three count and retains the title.

Match #6
Mickie James def. Katie Lea to retain the WWE Women’s Championship

Mickie won the Championship in England, will she lose it to someone “from England”? I like Katie Lea’s costume switch from cheesy velvet to glistening purple leather. Are Mickie James’ pants made of snakeskin or is it just my poor broadband connection?

The WWE Divas just don’t hold the same cachet for me when they’re not in high definition. Mickie James pins Katie Lea after landing a gutsy DDT.

Match #5
Kofi Kingston def. Chris Jericho to win the Intercontinental Championship

Y2J is now here to “save himself from all of you.” instead of saving everyone from whatever it is he’s saving them from. His mystery challenger is Kofi Kingston. We LOOOOVVVE Kofi Kingston but we also love Y2J. This promises to be our favorite match of the night.

We can’t believe Kingston has already been given a pay-per-view slot fighting a pro wrestling legend. What a step up! Kofi brings it with some impressive leaps and a fantastic splash jump over the ropes that hits an out-of-the-ring Y2J.

Jericho has turned brawler now and is smashing Kingston against the apron. The tide has turned as the match has descended into a brawl, something Kofi is not skilled at.

Kofi isn’t ready for this leap in competition but his turn has been a lot more game than most. He just doesn’t have the ability yet to sell a long match. Kofi lands a few moves and almost pins Y2J after countering a Walls of Jericho with a Small Package.

There’s been like five 2 7/8 counts for Kingston so far. Y2J hits a Walls of Jericho and Shawn Michaels rushes to the ring. He hits Lance Cade, who is standing at ringside, with Sweet Chin Music and Y2J is distracted.

Kofi takes advantage and PINS Y2J TO WIN THE INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE! This turn of events is unimaginable. Jabandgrapple.com is sooooo excited.

Y2J is understandably angry and attacks Shawn Michaels hitting him in his already injured eye. HBK writhes around on the ground in pain. His and Y2J’s feud will continue but fresh blood has a title. This is a welcome turn of events for the WWE.

Kingston could become a fitting heir to high-flyers like Jimmy Snuka (who amazingly never was able to win the Intercontinental Title) and Ricky Steamboat (who was the greatest Intercontinental Champ of all time).

A high-flyer should have the Intercontinental Title and we’re glad one has it now.

***

I don’t like JBL but his between match commentary on Dallas’ many sports failures is the highlight of the night. By far.

Match #4
Ted DiBiase, Jr. and Cody Rhodes def. Hardcore Holly to win the World Tag Team Championship

DiBiase can’t win a title in his first WWE match ever, can he? We say no. But a viable feud will begin. It would be great if this were a TNA star. Wouldn’t it? DiBiase is now asking for the match to be delayed until his partner arrives in ten minutes.

DiBiase asks to fight Hardcore Holly instead of Cody Rhodes who had appeared in the center of the ring to start the fight. Rhodes then decks Holly proving himself to be DiBiase’s mystery partner. This plot twist was revealed ages ago and isn’t particular interesting. DiBiase pins Holly within a minute of the match’s start bringing the Championship to DiBiase and Rhodes.

Match #3
Triple Threat Match
Mark Henry def. Big Show and Kane to win the ECW Title.

Since Mark Henry is the only one of these three in the ECW, doesn’t that mean that he’s going to win? Just saying. And when he wins how many extra holes are they going to have to add to the belt? Will they have to waterproof it to protect it from the “World’s Strongest Man’s” sweat?

Dallas Cowboy great and Pennsylvania football hero Tony Dorsett is at ringside! Will he jump into the fray like Shawne Merriman did at One Night Stand? It’s doubtful.

Let it be known, I am so uninterested in this match that I’m going to take a break now and eat dinner. There’s something about 400+ pound behemoths that makes me hungry.

Kane and Big Show double choke slam Mark Henry, which looks pretty cool. Then they argue about who can pin the strong one.

Kane’s actually coming with it in this one. He’s jumping off the ropes and proving to be a lot more athletic then he lets on in the weekday shows. Kane suplexes Big Show from the top rope but knocks himself so silly that Mark Henry pins Kane for the ECW title. Who didn’t see this one coming?

Match #2
Matt Hardy def. Chavo Guerrero to retain the United States Championship

They can’t take this belt away from Hardy after they’ve sent him to ECW, can they? I guess this is a good match but, as my I Got the Pay-Per-View Blues post explained, nothing looks good in standard def to me.

These two have brought a good mix of technical wrestling, holds, moves, and high-flying, high-risk maneuvers. Hardy almost pins Chavo with a Side Effect and then lands a flying elbow from the top rope.

Good back and forth. Hardy goes for a high risk finisher but Chavo gets a toe hold submission move on the Hardy Boyz member. Matt touches the rope and then hits a DDT but can’t get the pin. Chavo gets another toe hold submission in but Hardy gets the rope again.

Soonafter Hardy lands a Twist of Fate and pins Chavo. Two titles up, no titles change. Yawn. JR calls the US Championship prestigious. Who is he kidding?

Match #1
The Miz and Morrison def. Finlay and Hornswaggle to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship

It was pretty much guaranteed that this stinker of a title match was going to open the Night of Champions pay-per-view.

FYI, Hornswaggle was able go on every Six Flags of Texas amusement park ride yesterday. (Mick’s joke, not mine.) Hornswaggle tries to escape to the locker room but Miz and Morrison collect him and bring him back.

Then the Irish “father and son” team to some entertaining in-ring teamwork. But that has to be their Gettysburg, their high water mark.

Are we really supposed to accept Hornswaggle as a viable wrestler? Or is beating him up some sort of bullying? This match seems to be asking us to accept both realities as Hornswaggle rotates between scoring moves against the tag team champs and being pitied by the announcers while getting beat up.

The little guy tags Finlay in and the Belfast Brawler wreaks some havoc. Finlay tries to pull off the “toss the dwarf” onto the prone competitor move but Miz and Morrison intervene, toss the dwarf themselves, and pin the poor leprechaun.

Match over. Thank heavens.

Post from: EveryJoe

WWE Night of Champions Pay-Per-View Results

Tonight is the WWE 2008 Draft (see photo of Draft Horses) and it couldn’t have come at a better time. RAW and SmackDown have descended into a long period of stagnation. Every week we get the same matches, the same winners, and the same losers. Things are changing tonight with a special three hour RAW. There have been no telling spoilers regarding the event and it seems not even the wrestlers themselves no if they are changing brands or not.

We’re not going to make any predictions but we are going to make a list of ten changes we would like to see happen at the draft. Please comment below with your own thoughts or hopes. Not sure who is in which brand? The WWE.com has a fun flash game where you can move your favorite superstars from brand to brand. Just click to http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/wwedraft2008/fantasydraft/.

1. No more JBL vs. John Cena matches. Everyone is sick of boring matches these two give us what seem to be every week. The best way to stop them would be to move JBL to ECW purgatory.
2. Stop Umaga’s descent into a high-level jobber. When exactly was the last time Umaga won? Move him to SmackDown and throw him into the Big Show-Mark Henry-Kane big man brawl.
3. Give Natalya a good rival and competitor in the SmackDown Women’s Title hunt. Who better than Beth Phoenix? She’s lost far too many times to Mickie James to still be a viable RAW entity. She moves to SmackDown and she’s back to claim her rightly throne again.
4. Give MVP his wish and let him leave SmackDown. If you send him to RAW he’ll run into the same outside rut he’s in at SmackDown. Move him to ECW and let MVP be the big fish in a small pond.
5. Move Shelton Benjamin away from ECW. He’s been the Pro Wrestling Observer’s Most Underrated wrestler for three years running now. He’s not going to be facing Kane for the ECW title anytime soon. Move him back to RAW. He’s big and strong enough to fight their top level guys -John Cena, the Randy Orton, and Triple H – and if given another chance he could up his game.
6. Let some perennial losers have a chance to lose elsewhere. I guess this is the point of the draft, actually. Shuffle Snitsky, Chuck Palumbo, and Paul London.
7. Reunite the Hardy Boyz. Bring Jeff over to SmackDown. Let the magic happen again. The rainbow-haired warrior is much better suited to Friday nights anyway.
8. More high flyers to SmackDown just in time for the return of Rey Mysterio. If Jeff Hardy is coming over why not bring Kofi Kingston and/or Evan Bourne along with him?
9. Give RAW another Big Dog. Why not Batista? he hasn’t been there since 2005 and would give Triple H or Cena a great adversary. We haven’t seen those matches in a while.
10. More rough and tumble brawlers to RAW. We like the pair of the tested Finlay and the untested Bam Neely. How that would effect Hornswaggle and La Familia would be hard to tell but it would be fun.
BONUS Send Mike Adamle away. Far, far away.

That would leave the following influx:
To RAW: Batista, Shelton Benjamin, Finlay, Bam Neely, and Chuck Palumbo
To SmackDown: Jeff Hardy, Umaga, Kofi Kingston, Beth Phoenix, and Paul London
To ECW: JBL, MVP, and Snitsky

Your thoughts or wishes? Comment below!

Photo Source: Newscom.com

Post from: EveryJoe

WWE 2008 Draft Tonight! Our Wish List and Preview

Opening Segment
Vicki Guerrero gets booed a lot. When Batista signs a contract to fight Edge at Night of Champions (if he beats the Great Kali) she adds a clause saying if he doesn’t beat the Indian then he will be banished from the WWE.
Comment: Yawn. I like the major heel hate Vickie receives but the “win or your banished” route is getting pretty tired.

Morrison def. Finlay
Comment: I really enjoy Finlay’s brawling but I last week thought his and Hornswaggle’s feud with Miz and Morrison was a little silly. Finlay brings the best out of everyone and Mick Foley’s insults of The Miz are terrific. This match was surprisingly entertaining and the best bout in a horrifically bad night of SmackDown. If Vince McMahon is wondering why ratings are falling he only needs to re-watch this night’s putrid display.

Mark Henry def. Tommy Dreamer
Comment: Mark Henry is the last person I want to see sweaty, glistening, and wearing a skin tight outfit. He’s such a ridiculously boring wrestler and an unconvincing bad guy.

Cherry def. Maryse
Comment: Why can’t this feud just end?

MVP def. CM Punk
Comment: I know CM Punk is straight edge but he always looks so old, weathered, and in need of sleep. Which is why I catch a few zzzzs during this match. I wake up to yet another headlock and fall back asleep. Wake up. Arm bar. More sleep. Wake up. Commercial. I’m happy because I assume the match is over. It isn’t. The match mercifully ends when the ref catches Punk holding the Money in the Bank briefcase and wrongly assumes Punk used it to knock out MVP. Horrible horrible match.

Matt Hardy def. Chuck Palumbo
Comment: Chavo Guerrero announces he’s fighting Hardy for the U.S. Championship and that Chuck Palumbo is customizing a motorcycle for him. Hardy easily defeats the under- utilized Palumbo.

Jesse and Festus def. Deuce and Domino
Comment: Deuce hits Jesse with a poorly placed boot and open up a nasty cut on the little guy’s forehead showing just how violent these moves can be if they’re missed by the smallest of margins. I don’t understand why Jesse doesn’t let Festus open the matches since the same Jesse-is-beat-up-horribly-until-he-can-tag-Festus plot occurs in every one of the fights. He gets the tag and Festus predictably goes wild and quickly pins Domino. Deuce and Domino brawl after the match and it seems like these two might be breaking up. Not like I care either way.

Batista def. Great Khali
Comment: It’s hard to expect much when only one of the two participants can actually move. Edge and a wheelchaired Vickie Guerrero watch the bout from the entrance area. We feel bad that they have to witness Khali’s trademark boring mix of leg drops, elbow slams, and head butts. Khali hits an impressive Khali Bomb and Batista promptly sues the Punjabi giant for copyright infringement. Actually, the Animal spears the huge Indian and pins him thus saving his career and ending a miserably bad SmackDown.

Post from: EveryJoe

SmackDown 6/13 Results

RESULTS
Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne def. Mike Knox and Shelton Benjamin
Veronica def. Kelly Kelly
Finlay def. Armando Estrada
Colin Delaney def. Armando Estrada
Hornswaggle def. Armando Estrada
The Miz and Morrison def. Kane and CM Punk

Vince McMahon’s announcement of the June 23 WWE Draft has taken a bit of anticipation from tonight’s ECW matches. The bookend tag team matches were fun but their feuds will surely not be maintained when a few of these stars will be drafted into other WWE brands.

For example, it’s hard for me to put any attention to the Kofi Kingston – Shelton Benjamin rivalry because both deserve and appear to be moving upward and out of the ECW. Still, they’re very good in the ring together and I thought the toss flip Benjamin landed on his feet was impressive. Wish they had had more time to face off against each other.

Kofi seems suited to fill SmackDown’s high-flying void – at least until Rey Mysterio reappears – and his goofy Jamaican stereotype angle would fit on the Friday night show. That being said I thought the opening ECW tag team match was terrific.

I really like the in-ring aerials of Evan Bourne (who last week was Matt Sydal). If he’s given a chance he could pump a lot of excitement and action into the ECW and might even get himself a tag team title belt. Below is a youtube video of their match. If you didn’t see it, judge for yourself.

Regarding the other matches, I don’t ever mind seeing WWE Diva Kelly Kelly but I’ve already tired of the Armando Estrada saga which has descended into pure comic relief. Pinned by Hornswaggle! C’mon.

The main event tag team title match was watchable but Kane’s pre-match showdown with Big Show sapped the match’s momentum and relegated it to a sideshow to the future Night of Champions event.

Post from: EveryJoe

ECW June 11: Waiting for the WWE Draft

Deuce, Domino and Maryse def. Jesse, Festus and Cherry
Finlay def. Chuck Palumbo
Batista def. M.V.P.
Vladimir Kozlov def. Nunzio
Matt Hardy and Kofi Kingston def. Shelton Benjamin and Elijah Burke
The Undertaker def. Chavo Guerrero

Friday night’s SmackDown concluded what has been an entertaining week of wrestling matches.

The hard-fought epic M.V.P.-Batista battle which saw terrific give-and-take, lots of powerful moves, and a successful building of an interesting feud.

My favorite bout of the night was surprisingly the Finlay-Chuck Palumbo match. The two sparred for a good ten minutes providing good action and compelling drama. All of this was emphasized by the fact that Hornswaggle spent most of the match under the canvas. But when the little guy emerged the fun began. The first time he disrupted a sure Palumbo pin by splattering the journeyman with a Super Soaker.

Hornswaggle’s second appearance included an even more dastardly liquid projectile. While Finlay rolled around in pain, Hornswaggle hoped to distract Palumbo from making the pin. It worked but the evil leprechaun looked to be in serious physical danger. Chuck pulled him into the ring and looked poised to attack. Instead, Hornswaggle spat the seemingly poisonous green Irish Mist into the bigger man’s face.

Palumbo staggered blindly and Finlay connected his shillelagh incapacitated his opponent. An easy pin soon followed with Finlay carefully hiding Palumbo’s green-smeared face and body from the referee’s view.

I’ll talk more on The Undertaker-Vickie Guerrero-Edge-Chavo Guerrero incident later.

Photo Source: Newscom.com

Post from: EveryJoe

WWE SmackDown: The Night of the Irish Mist

Post from: EveryJoe

SmackDown Results (April 11, 2008)

Post from: EveryJoe

Wrestlemania 24 Quick Results