Yesterday I made some bold predictions. Let’s see how I did.

PREDICTIONS:

MATCH #1
Falls Count Anywhere
Jeff Hardy vs. Umaga
my choice: Jeff Hardy
my odds: Umaga 2 to 1 favorite

how did I do: Most predictors around the world wide web had Umaga winning this one but I wasn’t so sure. I thought the anything goes style favored the quick and unpredictable Hardy rather than the brutish plodding force of Umaga. As it turned out I was right. The match seemed more like a Bam Margera video than a wrestling match and spent very little time in the ring itself. The out-of-shape Umaga must have felt winded running all over the San Diego Sports Arena aisles and parking lot.

I’ve been to the Sports Arena before and know that there’s are restaurants directly across the street including Phil’s BBQ and a Red Lobster. It would have been very easy for Umaga to get distracted. I win here.

Running Score: 1 for 1

***

MATCH #2
Singapore Cane Match
Big Show vs. John Morrison vs. Tommy Dreamer vs. Chavo Guerrero vs. CM Punk
my choice: Big Show
my odds of winning: Big Show EVEN; Morrison 5 to 1; Dreamer 1,000 to 1; Chavo 7 to 1; Punk 5 to 2

how did I do: Even Mrs. Jabandgrapple had this one right. She said “How can any of those little guys beat Big Show? ” I said “Floyd Mayweather, Jr. did at Wrestlemania XXIV.” She laughed and stared back at me as if I was the most gullible idiot in the world.

Let it be known, as soon as I saw Shawn Merriman in the front row I said to her “There’s no way he’s not getting in on this Singapore Cane action tonight.” Why didn’t I live blog that prescient comment? Let’s move on to Match #3.

Running Score: 2 for 2

***

MATCH #3
First Blood Match
John Cena vs. John “Bradshaw” Layfield
my choice: John Cena
my odds: Cena 5 to 2 favorite

how did I do: I am on an official roll now! Three for three baby. Before the match I had a feeling JBL was going to do some down low dirty stuff and pull this one out but I stayed with my heart and went with the jean-shorted one.

Running Score: 3 for 3

***

MATCH #4
“I Quit” Match
Melina vs. Beth Phoenix
my choice: Beth Phoenix
my odds: Phoenix 20 to 1 favorite

how did I do: Like the Singapore Cage match before it, the result of this bout was no mystery. Melina can’t get Phoenix to quit wearing those goofy headband/tiaras or the unflattering outfits so how could she be counted on to make her quit a wrestling match? And really she should, Beth is a lot prettier than she looks on the television. Disagree? Check out her WWE Divas page.

Running Score: 4 for 4

***

MATCH #5
Stretcher Match
Shawn Michaels vs. Batista
my choice: Shawn Michaels
my odds: Michaels 5 to 2 favorite

how did I do: Here’s where it all went wrong. I foolishly went with the spoilers which said Batista was taking some time off. Just proves that the WWE is just as skillful as the KGB and the CIA with skillfully placed disinformation.

Running Score: 4 for 5. There goes the perfect.

***

MATCH #6
Last Man Standing Match For The WWE Championship
Triple H vs. Randy Orton
my choice: Triple H but I’m really rooting for Orton here.
my odds: HHH 3 to 1 favorite

how did I do: Last night didn’t seem like the best time to give Orton back the title considering his request for a few weeks off to be with his expectant wife. HHH is a boring champ but what can you do. Orton’s confirmed broken collarbone should keep him out long enough for him to joyfully welcome his newborn into the world without the distractions of WWE on-the-road travel. Sometimes good things come from bad situations.

Running Score: 5 for 6

***

MATCH #7
TLC Match For The WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Edge vs. Undertaker
my choice: Undertaker
my odds: Taker 1000 to 1 favorite
how did I do: Absolutely 100% wrong. I didn’t see this coming not one bit. I had read that The Undertaker wanted some time off but was amazed that it happened this way at an Extreme Rules Pay-Per-View. I still can’t see him leaving and it only escalates the La Familia-Undertaker feud which is sadly the best rivalry the WWE has going on at this point.

Running Score: 5 out of 7. Not bad at all.

Photo Source: Newscom.com

Post from: EveryJoe

My WWE One Night Stand Predictions…The Morning After

MATCH #7
TLC Match For The WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Edge vs. The Undertaker

Result: Edge wins with ample help from La Familia and Taker is gone.
Match Grade: A-. Great match. Can’t believe that Taker lost. How could the WWE’s #1 superstar be leaving?

Commentary: If The Undertaker loses he’s gone from the WWE. So there’s no way he’s losing…right? Edge is coming out and looks scared, which isn’t the right attitude we think.

Question: What’s the chance of Taker using a Gogoplata choke hold on Edge?
Answer: One million percent.

The Undertaker is completely dominant so far. He’s landed two too big boots to the face and did a neat tightrope along the top rope. There are at least a dozen ladders at ringside one of which Taker rams into Edge’s face. The Phenom is stacking four tables on top of each other. Had he instead taken the time to set the ladder up in the ring he would have already won.

Which Edge is doing right now. The Ultimate Opportunist gets to the next-to-last rung before Taker grabs him off. Meanwhile the ladder is propped on top of the ring post. Edge slams Taker’s face into it and then sets up another ladder on the opposite post. This could get ugly.

Edge gets slammed into the opposite ladder and Taker goes for the win. Edge climbs to the top, stops Taker, and is thrown himself into a propped ladder. Edge then rushes into Taker’s ladder, knocks him off and ladders fly in all directions.

There have been a lot of violent powerful blows already. Taker now grabs a chair and continues the beatdown. Taker looks to legdrop Edge but is stymied by a chair to the leg. The Rated R Superstar gets him again on the leg and then, DEAR GOD, lands an uppercut to Taker’s most valuables. THAT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL!

Instead of going for the win Edge gets cocky and wants to inflict more punishment. He does so with a chair. Next up is a table. He lays Taker down on one, and jumps onto him from the announcer’s table. Edge surely will win now. He’s near the top when Taker appears but Edge is wily and body slams the Phenom.

Edge is now getting vicious. He attacks the Undertaker’s knee with a chair, then a ladder, then a ladder and a chair. Edge brings what must be the tallest of the ringside ladders into the ring, lands three chair shots to Undertaker’s head, and gathers another chair for more damage. Taker avoids the blow but looks unable to walk. How will he make it up the ladder?

He doesn’t instead choosing to throw Edge onto ladders propped as if they’re crossing a Mt. Everest crevasse. Taker is halfway up the ladder when the Edgeheads appear. After taking a beating Taker choke tosses them both outside the ring. By this point Edge has regained his strength and is able to stem Taker’s momentum.

Edge is up the ladder and near the belt. He’s got one hand on the belt before Taker appears. He tugs at Edge’s heels and is able to pull him away from glory. Now it’s the Phenom’s turn to get the belt but he’s one-legged and finding the climb difficult.

Bam Neely and Chavo Guerrero appear but they’re no match for Taker. He’s climbing again but with his face mere inches from the belt Edge pushes the ladder and Taker careens outside of the ring dropping some 25 feet. Edge is going to win the belt. He does it and The Undertaker is gone from the WWE. How could this be?

Vickie Guerrero walks out on her own accord after the match. The wheelchair gimmick is no more, Edge is champ, and the Undertaker is gone from our lives. Taker is bloddied from the fall adding injury to insult. This is just too much too take. Everyone is silent. Taker walks off sullen, determined, and maybe even a little tearful.

Photo Source: Newscom.com

Post from: EveryJoe

WWE One Night Stand Live Blog: Undertaker vs. Edge

WWE One Night Stand Pay-Per-View Results and Live Blog

RESULTS

MATCH #6
Last Man Standing Match For The WWE Championship
Triple H vs. Randy Orton

Result: Triple H wins with a sledgehammer (yes) hit.
Match Grade: B+. Good match which ended early presumably because of a real injury to Orton. The announcing team is saying a broken collarbone and we have no reason to disagree.

Commentary:
Is this match ever going to start? Finally, after an eternity of intros the bell has rung and HHH gets to work quickly slamming Orton into seemingly everything that surrounds the ring: the gate, the announcer’s table, and of course the steel staircase. So far this match has been very one-sided but Orton brings things closer with a terrific drop kick off the ropes.

His advantage doesn’t last as HHH easily tosses him outside the ring and looks ready to reintroduce Orton to the ECW announcer’s table. It doesn’t happen as Orton painfully DDTs HHH’s face into the ringside floor from on top of the table.

Orton is now lifting the padding from the ringside floor. This is so 1982. Cement exposed but no one is taking advantage of it just yet. They’re back in the ring and Orton begins his predictable stomp-o-rama. Guess what’s in the ring now?

It’s the steel stair steps which Orton lifts over his head and tosses into HHH’s face. Hunter gets up but not before Orton brings an extension cord into the ring! He’s choking the lights out of HHH but just not enough to ensure a submission. Another 8 count. Orton looks to finish him off with an RKO but gets tossed out of the ring and, if he hit the steel stairs, might have hurt himself.

He’s holding his collarbone as if it were broken and it just might be. HHH now has a sledgehammer which he connects with. Orton is done and the medics are out. This injury might be real. As he leaves the ringside Orton snarls at a taunting fan and looks like he’s going to snap. We love him even more.

MATCH #5
Stretcher Match
Shawn Michaels vs. Batista

Result: Batista wins convincingly.
Match Grade: A-. Really great match between two top-notch professionals. At the end of the match Michaels received a lot of unnecessary punishment and it will be interesting to see what happens between him and Chris Jericho; whether he thanks him for his care and assistance or resents his ridiculous interference.

Commentary:
The spoilers have suggested a winner here. But I won’t do any spoiling myself.

Batista is cleverly utilizing the stretcher to his advantage slamming the HBK into its exposed top. Michaels hit the Animal with a good kick to the head and them dismantles the ring entrance ramp (which is getting a lot of action tonight). HBK then rams Batista with the stretcher. Good thinking Shawn!

Batista lines up the Batista Bomb outside the ring but Michaels is able to get out of it and manages to get the Animal onto the stretcher. Batista seems out and Michaels is nearing the finish line just as the Animal awakes and does some pounding of his own.

I audibly groan as Batista slams HBK’s band into the side of the ring. Batista looks in control and Michaels is reeling. After one shot he seems to do a full 360-degree turn. After a powerful body slam Batista is lining up HBK for the kill but the wily Michaels is able to dodge the juggernaut who tams himself into the ring post.

Michaels is gradually regaining his energy and looks to put his adversary away with a high-flying elbow drop off the top rope. He’s successful but looks to have done some damage to his problematic back.

The Animal has Michaels in what looks to be, heavens no, a Batista Bomb over the top rope. Michaels gets away and Sweet Chin Music’s Batista onto a stretcher. The Animal is out but maintains a grip on the apron. He doesn’t want to lose and rolls himself off the stretcher.

We wonder how many stretchers are at ringside (maybe 5) as Michaels repeatedly rams one into Batista’s stomach. The Animal counters by flipping up the stretcher into Michael’s face. We can’t believe HBK’s lip isn’t bloodied at this point. Batista continues his dominance and is finally able to land a Batista bomb in the center of the ring. Problem is now he has to drag the HBK onto a stretcher. Does Shawn have time to resuscitate? It seems as Chris Jericho intervenes and stops Batista from rolling Michaels out.

As Y2J leaves Batista pulls Michaels into the ring to inflict more punishment. Michaels looks destitute. Heavens to Betsy, another Batista Bomb landed! This has to be it. But Y2J reappears. He’s put himself in between the stretcher and the finish line and is trying to spur Michaels on.

But he seems to be hurting Michaels more than he’s helping him. Batista brings over the steel ring entrance ladder and ruthlessly slams HBK onto it. The Animal lifts Michaels back onto the stretcher and easily wins. Michaels went through a lot of pain in this one.

MATCH #4
“I Quit” Match
Melina vs. Beth Phoenix

Result: Beth Phoenix almost cracks Melina in half and she submits
Match Grade: C-. Just not my cup of tea.

Commentary:
Admittedly I used this women’s match to use the restroom. Now I’m back although I did hear A LOT of screaming from the other room. The Glamazon had Melina in a debilitating back breaker but sadly couldn’t close the deal.

Why must they both scream so much? Please please make them stop. I get it, they’re supposed to be in pain but it’s just so unattractive. Phoenix lands an impressive front face body slam and now has Melina in a hold that really shows off her flexibility. Melina can’t maintain the Phoenix-enforced yoga pose and submits.

MATCH #3
First Blood Match
John Cena vs. John “Bradshaw” Layfield

Result: Cena wins after JBL spits up some “blood”
Match Grade: C. Boring, long, and anti-climatic. Not as bad as their Judgment Day fight but not much better. Let’s hope these two never ever fight again. The fun was a lot too sporadic for my tastes.

Commentary:
We’ve already had blood so we’re about to go 2 for 3 tonight in plasmability. Cena’s already dismantles a turnbuckle. Now they start swinging in the middle of the ring. Knuck if you buck indeed.

They’ve been scrapping outside the ring for a while and this one so far is about as boring as their Judgment Day bout. These two don’t bring out the best in one another. Methinks JBL has a blade in his extra thick knuckle tape tonight.

There’s a whole lot of punching and not a lot of wrestling. JBL Brings out a metal chair and lines up Cena head against the ring post. Luckily John eludes the crushing blow. JBL now has a WWE microphone with which to open up a cut. I think there’s some irony there given JBL’s propensity to talk and talk and talk.

JBL now has the steel ring entrance stairs. Are they going to cause another cut? Not likely. JBL’s not as strong as the Big Show and can’t bear to carry it any further. Cena’s got the mic now but can’t manage to make JBL bleed. His next effort is to rub Bradshaw’s face back and forth against the steel which is quite silly given the steel’s sharp edges. Oh well.

Next up for blood exposure potential is the exposed turnbuckle. Cena hits it heard but his skin is impervious. JBL now has a thick powerful chain and the end timer on this match is thankfully near. Cena gets hit in the stomach with the chain and JR aptly wonders if John has some internal bleeding. How would the ref ever know?

Now Cena’s tied up in the ropes and in some serious danger. JBL’s got an Indiana Jones bullwhip. Uh oh. One crack of that and its over. Cena gets out of the ropes, grabs the chain and proceeds to choke JBL assassin style. Bradshaw spits up some blood and it’s over. That was obviously a blood capsule and sort of a let down given last match’s Type O gushing.

Post from: EveryJoe

WWE One Night Stand Pay-Per-View Results and Live Blog

The madness begins!

MATCH #1
Falls Count Anywhere
Jeff Hardy vs. Umaga
Result: Hardy wins by pin in a crazy match.
Match Grade: B. Entertaining but a little too weird for my tastes. Why couldn’t they have been in the arena? Was it filmed before?

Commentary:
They’re fighting in the aisles! At one point Jeff Hardy rail slides down the arena’s guard rail and pounds Umaga when he reaches the bottom. Why aren’t people leaving their seats? No one is working harder then the referee trying to follow them They are now in the parking lot. Jeff Hardy is being slammed into everything metal including tractor trailers!

Umaga is draped in yellow tape. Hardy looks like the Green Goblin. Hardy is now climbing on top of a Shawn Michaels billboard/truck but Umaga is on his heels.

Hardy kicks him off and then does a Swanton Bomb from an absurd height, something like 40 feet off the billboard/truck. The view is obscured so hopefully Jeff jumped onto a mat, stunt man style.

When he goes for the pin the camera swings back. Umaga is knocked cold and Hardy easily pins him before the medics are called. If there was no safety mat then the EMTs might need called in. Seriously.

Image details: Warning Sticks served by picapp.com

MATCH #2
Singapore Cane Match
Big Show vs. John Morrison vs. Tommy Dreamer vs. Chavo Guerrero vs. CM Punk

Result: Big Show pins Tommy Dreamer
Match Grade: B+. Entertaining if not confusing and almost too action filled. Big Show might have been totally dominant but we all knew that was coming. Nevertheless this match had an elite pro footballer who definitely looked game and plenty of blood. BTW Shawne Merriman, you could have a lucrative post-football career in the WWE.

Commentary:
With six competitors, the intro to this match is taking forever. It’s a free for all already with Big Show taking control in the center.

Oh my the four Singapore canes are now in play and they’re ganging up on the Big Show. Chavo Guerrero makes a mistake and hits San Diego Charger Shawne Merriman with the cane. Merriman is angry and demanding the cane to do some damage.

He clocks Chavo something good. Action Action Action! The Miz enters the area and Big Show threatens to hit him with the ring’s entrance stage. Morrison saves his partner at the last minute but in the effort Big Show drops the steel stage on his head and opens up a huge gash. Blood blood blood.

Big Show goes loco on Bam Neely pulling cane after cane out of the cane depository which seems to be a metal trash can. Of course. He’s now brought the entire garbage can into the ring and seems overcome by violence.

Our suggestion to the unfortunate five: get out of the blooded Big Show’s way! And they have leaving Tommy Dreamer alone. Big Show pins him, wipes some blood over his face, and smiles triumphantly.

Photo Source: Newscom.com

Post from: EveryJoe

WWE One Night Stand Live Blog: Hardy, Umaga, and the Singapore Cane

Here they are. Let’s see how I do:

PREDICTIONS:
TLC Match For The WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Edge vs. Undertaker
my choice: Undertaker
my odds: Taker 1000 to 1 favorite

Last Man Standing Match For The WWE Championship
Triple H vs. Randy Orton
my choice: Triple H but I’m really rooting for Orton here.
my odds: HHH 3 to 1 favorite

First Blood Match
John Cena vs. John “Bradshaw” Layfield
my choice: John Cena
my odds: Cena 5 to 2 favorite

Stretcher Match
Shawn Michaels vs. Batista
my choice: Shawn Michaels
my odds: Michaels 5 to 2 favorite

Falls Count Anywhere
Jeff Hardy vs. Umaga
my choice: Jeff Hardy
my odds: Umaga 2 to 1 favorite

Singapore Cane Match
Big Show vs. John Morrison vs. Tommy Dreamer vs. Chavo Guerrero vs. CM Punk
my choice: Big Show
my odds of winning: Big Show EVEN; Morrison 5 to 1; Dreamer 1,000 to 1; Chavo 7 to 1; Punk 5 to 2

“I Quit” Match
Melina vs. Beth Phoenix
my choice: Beth Phoenix
my odds: Phoenix 20 to 1 favorite

Post from: EveryJoe

WWE One Night Stand Predictions: The Morning Before

Judah fell through the shower glass on an as-yet-to-be-determined date sometime this week resulting in an astounding 50 stitches in his right arm. How could this all have happened? Golden Boy promotions spokesperson explained. “He slipped and he went to brace himself on a glass door and his arm went through it. I saw his arm. It looked pretty bad.” Another story may eventually emerge but given the Tszyu knockdown we are inclined believe poor Super Judah.

Zab’s doctors have recommended him to hold off training for at least a month. When the wound has sufficiently healed then the fight will be rescheduled. Zab is an exciting, flashy fighter whose underachieving career can only be described as wholly disappointing. In his last six fights he’s 2-3 with one no contest. The fact that he’s still headlining PPV cards is a testament to his entertaining style, still-promising talent, and large New York fanbase.

Will this last setback derail the 30-year-old Brooklyn southpaw? It’s doubtful. He’ll be back vexing fight fans, appearing in music videos, and being name-checked by rappers soon enough.

Post from: EveryJoe

Zab Judah Shatters Glass, Fight Postponed, Jaw OK

Post from: EveryJoe

No Way Out Results, Surprises

Post from: EveryJoe

No Way Out Card

Tonights Raw will also feature Ric Flair taking on Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy. With a win Flair will get a title shot at Wrestlemania. I just don’t see Flair fitting in with this storyline but we will just have to wait and see what storyline WWE is going with here. Tonight we should also see just what WWE is going to do with the Vince McMahon/Donald Trump storyline after reports are saying that it is no longer being considered for Wrestlemania.

Depending on who Undertaker ultimately chooses we could see another Wrestlemania match formed tonight, likely between John Cena and Shawn Michaels. It might not be finalized with an official announcement but I wouldn’t be surprised to see their recent feud continue tonight.

And last but least, Mickie James will be facing Melina defending her WWE Women’s Title.

Post from: EveryJoe

Monday Night Raw Preview – February 5th

– Quinton “Rampage” Jackson def. Marvin Eastman via TKO in the second round

– Roger Huerta def. John Halverson via TKO 19 seconds in the first round

– Mirko Cro Cop def. Eddie Sanchez via TKO 4 minutes 33 seconds in the first round

– Anderson Silva def. Travis Lutter via submission (triangle choke) in the second round

Post from: EveryJoe

UFC 67 Main Card Results