Mar 31

Wrestlemania XXIX: Predicting the Card a Year in Advance

Posted on March 31, 2012 by G

Sure Wrestlemania XXVIII is tomorrow, but what about the event after that? Will they announce a Main Event a year early again? Will the Rock show up? What about CM Punk? How about The Streak, is tomorrow truly going to be the end of an era?

This post features a look at nine potential matches for the event next year, sure it’s early and about a zillion things can change between now and then, but it’s fun to consider, isn’t it?

Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara (c) vs. Alberto Del Rio and Christian
WWE Tag Team Title Match

It’s sort of a shame that Rey and Cara didn’t get to have a match at this years Wrestlemania. With both due to return soon, it seems likely that they may just have their big match by Summerslam. After that feud is done, it seems like there is a ton of money that could be made in marketing those two as a tag team. This could help since both of these wrestlers seem injury prone, so maybe their shelf lives could be extended with the two being put together.

Christian and Alberto don’t necessarily have a ton of storyline reasons to be together at this point, but they would make a great team in the Jerishow or Awesome Truth variety, and be logical opponents for Rey and Cara.

Dolph Ziggler vs. The Miz

Of course, these two are both heels at this point, but there have been rumblings about having either guy turn face for a while, and really why not? All of the best rising stars in the company are heels, so it seems like someone will need to turn face in order to break through, much like Sheamus did this past summer. My money would be on having Ziggler turn, but it could just as easily be Miz. An extended feud between these two could be a ton of fun, and could really go a long way to elevating both men to the top of the card where they clearly belong.

CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan

You want to talk about best in the world? We need this match in one way or another, and why not put it on at Wrestlemania? When Bryan first announced that he would cash in at Wrestlemania, this was the only match I wanted to see. But of course plans changed and here we are. These two would put on an absolute clinic in the ring and there an extended feud here would be nothing short of spectacular.

Chris Jericho vs. The Undertaker

This match has been discussed for the last few Wrestlemanias. If this match is really going to happen, it had best happen soon. Jericho is one of the few big names that hasn’t been added to The Streak, and it’ll be incredibly fresh. Given Jericho’s history with both HHH and HBK, he could easily slide into that storyline, which has been running since Wrestlemania XXIV, seamlessly.

United States Title Defended in a Battle Royal!
featuring: Santino Marella, Lord Tensai, Kofi Kingston, R-Truth, Big Show, Jack Swagger, Drew McIntyre, Hunico, Epico, Primo, Drew McIntyre, David Otunga, Mark Henry, The Great Khali, Jinder Mahal, and More!

This match is quite obviously filler, but it would be fun filler if nothing else. I love the idea of Santino Marella holding pulling a Honka-Meter of some sort and being forced to defend the title against everyone in a battle royal. It would be a great way to get some legends involved in a bit of an Old vs. New Type Match.

HBK vs. Triple H

As I said yesterday, I can’t help but think that we are going to get a Wrestlemania Match here between these two. It seems like HBK is going to cost HHH the match (probably innocently) and have it go from there. This could very well be announced as early as April 2.

Kharma, Kane and Big Show vs. Kelly Kelly, Brodus Clay and Zack Ryder
Mixed Tag Team Match

This is most certainly filler. I’d love to see Show turn heel, align with Kane and go on a rampage with Kharma. The face team was chosen just to have them all come out to Clay’s intro, what’s not to love about that?

Randy Orton (c) vs. Wade Barrett vs. Sheamus vs. Cody Rhodes
World Heavyweight Title Match

This could very easily be split into two separate matches, but we haven’t had a good multi-man match at Wrestlemania in a while, so why the heck not? This year will oddly be Randy Orton’s third straight year out of the title picture at Wrestlemania. He has been stellar in the ring this year, and flat out deserves to be closer to the top of the card. All other three men could help make this a great title match, especially since two of them have yet to hold the title, but I imagine that will change soon.

John Cena (c) vs. The Rock
WWE Title Match

Why the hell not?

I have a feeling that Cena will win this match, then they can set up a rematch for Summerslam, only for The Rock to win, leaving this to be a rubber match. To make it a title match could really add to the hype, as that was teased by Cena last spring but quickly forgotten once Punk burst onto the scene. We may as well make the big match even bigger, right?

I think having The Rock somehow win the title at Rumble or Elimination Chamber could make this even cooler, but I’m not certain that things will go that way.

Mar 30

Wrestlemania XXVIII Predictions

Posted on March 30, 2012 by G

John Cena faces the Rock in a generational showdown in two days. Triple H and The Undertaker will “End an Era” in two days. CM Punk and Chris Jericho will determine the best in the world in two days.

Wrestlemania is in two days.

To say I’m excited would be an absolute understatement.

As we’ve looked at in the analysis of different Wrestlemania Trilogies, this will mark the beginning of a new age. Will it be Cena Striking Back? Will it be the Era of Punk? The Return of The Rock? So many possibilities!

As a slight aside before we get to the predictions, we’ll be taking a week long break here. I’m going to be heading to Thailand tonight and will have to put the last six posts in the 40 Blogs in 40 Days series after. Sure it’s a little cheap, but it’s the best I can do. Also, I may have to wait and watch Wrestlemania after I get back and I don’t want to talk about anything else until then.

Now without further ado, the OFFICIAL Blade Jobs of Steel predictions for Wrestlemania XXVIII, with match order included. for fun.

Pre-Match Battle Royal: Brodus Clay wins by last eliminating Hunico and Epico to set off Wrestlemania size Funkfest.

Fireworks!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!

CM Punk (c) vs. Chris Jericho
WWE Title Match

This has been rumoured to be the opening match; while that may rub a few people the wrong way, it’s probably for the best. This does need to be seperated from Cena-Rock and Triple H-Taker. Also, since it will probably be the best technical match, it sets the bar very high for everyone else to try and set.

Punk should walk away the winner here, but I don’t see it being fully decisive, maybe with a quick roll up or something like that. There is a ton of mileage left in this feud and a clean GTS/Anaconda Vice finish wouldn’t exactly make people shell out for the rematch.

Prediction: CM Punk via roll-up

Fantasy Booking Time: Ref bump, Jericho hits Punk with the belt or a chair, gets a bottle of whiskey out and pours it down Punk’s throat. Punk spits it in Jericho’s face and gets a quick roll-up as the ref wakes up, one-two-three!

Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Big Show
Intercontinental Title Match

After hearing rumours of Big Show vs. Shaq and Cody vs. Golddust, it was easy to be a little disappointed when this match was announced. But the build has been nothing short of fantastic. Cody has played the absolute perfect heel here, and it’s very obvious that he has an insanely bright future ahead of him. Show is of course on the downhill of his career and is great for putting over talent now. That makes the outcome of this match pretty set. What’s curious is just how clean the finish is going to be here, there is nobody set to interfere, no obvious foreign object — like Cody’s mask was last year — it seems like it could just be man-o a man-o and I doubt that Show will lose cleanly.

Prediction: Cody Rhodes hits the Beautiful Disaster after a low blow.

Fantasy Booking Time: Big Show gets to be involved in some sort of “Wrestlemania Moment” maybe he goes through the announce table which gives Cody a chance to gloat. He sets Cody up for the Choke Slam later but then Cody kicks him in the junk and hits his finish move to win the thing.

Santino Marella, Kofi Kingston, R-Truth, Zack Ryder, The Great Khali, Booker T
vs.
David Otunga, Mark Henry, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, The Miz, Drew McIntyre
GM vs. GM Battle

This match could be obvious filler, but it could also be a great, fast-paced affair. Most of the guys in this match can flat out deliver, and if they keep the likes of David Otunga, and The Great Khali to a minimum we could just have a great match on our hands.

The obvious money is in Team Johnny winning. A heel authority figure seems to do better than a face one in the long term. Plus, Johnny’s team is just flat out better, featuring four former world champions. The tough call though is who gets the pinfall for the team? Storyline wise, Drew McIntyre may be the best choice given just how long his feud with Teddy Long has gone on, but The Miz would make a ton of sense too. The darkhorse, which I’m going to take her is Ziggler getting the pinfall. By all accounts he is ready for Prime Time, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him drafted to Smackdown and get a summertime feud with Sheamus over the Big Gold Belt (oops should have said Spoiler Alert in there somewhere).

Prediction: Dolph Ziggler pins Booker T after Vickie pulls a distraction

Fantasy Booking Time: After a finisher buffet, where everyone hits everyone else with their big moves, Vickie interferes and allows Ziggler to pin Booker. This sets off a little feud between Booker T and the Zig Zag Man that can cover the next few months as Ziggler gets ready to challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Ohh and when Christian returns he gets his title shot that comes with a Team Johnny win against the very man who (storyline) injured him…

Hall of Fame intro and old guys wave

Randy Orton vs. Kane

This just reeks of Batista vs. Umaga from Wrestlemania XXIV, no real build, no real feud, just an excuse to get some main event talent in a singles match, and it will no doubt be forgotten shortly afterwards.

If anything can be learned from that match it’s this: when in doubt, go with the face and/or the bigger name.

Prediction: Randy Orton via RKO

Fantasy Booking Time: Nothing much to add here. Orton wins, moves up the card, possible feud with Daniel Bryan or a returning Alberto Del Rio.

The Undertaker vs. Triple H
Hell in a Cell Match
Special Guest Referee: Shawn Michaels

This match really is fascinating. Clearly they won’t waste The Undertaker’s streak on a semi-retired performer, would they? But what about Shawn Michaels? How on earth will he call it?

It really depends on if Shawn Michaels intends to step back into the ring or not. If he does, then the finish is pretty obvious isn’t it? He screws over Triple H. But what drama is there with him calling it down the middle? Maybe he makes an honest mistake or a longer slow count, I don’t know. But I have a feeling that HBK wants to step back in the ring against Triple H one last time…

Prediction: The Undertaker after a Tombstone

Fantasy Booking Time: HBK makes an honest mistake that leads to Taker getting the win, Triple H freaks out and lays him out the next night on Raw, challenging him to a match at Wrestlemania XXIX.

Kelly Kelly and Maria Menounos vs. Beth Phoenix and Eve

With all of the potential matches for Diva’s, this is the best they could come up with? It’s a little sad, but I guess such is the state of Diva’s Wrestling. I imagine that Kelly may have to start the match alone with Maria’s injury, only for her to run out, make the save and get the win.

Prediction: Maria pins Eve.

Fantasy Booking Time: Not much! Maybe have Kharma come out after the match and level Kelly Kelly and Maria, joining Beth as a team of Super Divas for the next few months.

Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Sheamus
World Heavyweight Title Match

This match seems likely for these Semi-Main Event spot. These two can put on a great match that gets the crowd energized without fully burning them out. The feud between these two has been very underwhelming, but the match should be great. Both guys can flat out go and I love the idea of them competing for the top prize a year after being bumped from the card.

Prediction: Sheamus hits a Brogue kick for the clean win

Fantasy Booking Time: Hopefully these guys are given more than the Cena-JBL treatment. I would like to see them get at least 15 minutes to show their stuff, and hopefully Daniel Bryan doesn’t end up looking like a chump the whole time.

John Cena vs. The Rock

What else can be said about this match? It’s Icon vs. Icon, Generation vs. Generation. The match is going to be nothing short of a classic. The outcome is really rather obvious here, but it’s interesting to consider what will happen going forward.

Apparently the Rock is considering returning for another match at Wrestlemania XXIX, but who would it be against? A rematch against Cena, a one-on-one with CM Punk, The Miz? Someone else? It’s hard to say exactly, but it’s damn intriguing to consider. Either way, Cena needs to win cleanly here.

Prediction: John Cena after the third Attitude Adjustment

Fantasy Booking Time: Clean as a whistle, no shenanigans whatsoever.

Mar 29

Overanalyzing Wrestlemania: Historical Themes Part VIII: Your Time is Up; My Time is Now.

Posted on March 29, 2012 by G

Welcome to the eighth post of a series here at Blade Jobs of Steel. In the countdown to Wrestlemania XXVIII, we’ll be looking back at a few different topics related to the big event, and giving it more analysis than most sane people would give to a worked sport.

In this post, we’ll be exploring an idea first presented in 2009 by a former writer at 411mania.com, Jake Chambers, Wrestlemania Themes. He postulated that hidden in every trilogy of events there is a theme. We’ll expand this a little bit more and look at some different themes and stories that have been present in the different trilogies. In this post, we’ll look at the themes in the eighth trilogy, spanning from the 22nd to 24th editions of the event.

WRESTLEMANIA XXII-XXIV

YOUR TIME IS UP; MY TIME IS NOW.

After spending three years trying to find a new man at the top of the card, they found their man. John Cena won the WWE Title over JBL at Wrestlemania XXI with very little fanfare, but over the course of the year he would slowly shift to become the focus of the show.

He had great feuds with Chris Jericho (sending him out of the company in the process), Kurt Angle and Edge. Ignoring a three week interruption in January, John Cena held the WWE Title for pretty much an entire year. While he was getting pushed very hard as a face, there would be some dissent growing along the way as more and more boos could be heard during his matches.

John Cena was set to defend his WWE Title against one of the top stars of the previous era, Triple H. A man looking to end his Wrestlemania Main Event losing streak at 2 matches.

Wrestlemania XXII would emanate from the greater Chicago area, the same site of Wrestlemania XXIII. And in some ways we had a repeat of the famed double turn nine years prior. The crowd turned on John Cena, the hero, and sided with the villainous Triple H. This wasn’t the first time the crowd had turned on Cena, but it certainly was the biggest time up to that point.

But the crowd wasn’t enough, Triple H would tie The Rock’s record with three straight Main Event loses at Wrestlemania. Worse still, Triple H would submit for the second time in three years.

Triple H’s time was up; John Cena’s time was now.

John Cena would undisputedly by the man in the next year. After short reigns for both RVD and Edge, Cena would reclaim the title in September 2006 and hold it tightly.

Apparently the plan was to have Triple H challenge Cena again at Wrestlemania XXIII but a torn quad ruined that plan. Instead, Triple H’s running mate, Shawn Michaels would rise to the challenge.

For the second straight year, Cena would defend the title against a member of D-X in the Main Event, and for the second straight year, Cena would make that man tap out.

Shawn Michaels’s time was up; John Cena’s time was now.

Cena would hold on to the until until an injury forced his hand in October, when a torn pectoral muscle forced the longest reigning World Champion in decades.

The “Age of Orton” would begin after that as Randy Orton would go on a dominant run as champion defeating the likes of Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, and Jeff Hardy, while simmering a feud with Triple H.

It looked as though Triple H would win his second Royal Rumble and set up a one-on-one showdown with Randy Orton. Instead John Cena surprised everyone by returning early and winning the Rumble to avenge the man that injured him. But after a variety of moves, we ended up with a Triple Threat Match for the WWE Title, with both Cena and Triple H challenging Randy Orton.

John Cena was undefeated at Wrestlemania, and seemed set to have his own streak continue here. But it wasn’t to be, John Cena was pinned by Randy Orton after Triple H’s pedigree. It was clear, Cena didn’t need to be super any more. He could take a loss and still be fine.

John Cena’s time was up; Randy Orton’s time was now.

It seemed clear, John Cena was so over he could lose and not worry. Also, he was getting stale and someone new was needed at the top. That man seemed to be Randy Orton, who could finally be the next big star to carry the company through the next era.

But it wasn’t really meant to be.

The next night, few people were talking about Orton’s huge win. Everyone was talking about victories of two stars from bygone eras, who would shockingly come to define the next era in Wrestlemania.

Mar 28

Overanalyzing Wrestlemania: Historical Themes Part VII: Star Search Part II

Posted on March 28, 2012 by G

Welcome to the seventh post of a series here at Blade Jobs of Steel. In the countdown to Wrestlemania XXVIII, we’ll be looking back at a few different topics related to the big event, and giving it more analysis than most sane people would give to a worked sport.

In this post, we’ll be exploring an idea first presented in 2009 by a former writer at 411mania.com, Jake Chambers, Wrestlemania Themes. He postulated that hidden in every trilogy of events there is a theme. We’ll expand this a little bit more and look at some different themes and stories that have been present in the different trilogies. In this post, we’ll look at the themes in the seventh trilogy, spanning from the 19th to 21st editions of the event.

WRESTLEMANIA XIX-XXI

STAR SEARCH PART II

The year 2002 was one of the most transitionary years in the companies history. A full year after being the only game in town, things were changing drastically. The company lost a long standing legal battle with the World Wildlife Foundation, and had to be renamed WWE, their formerly unified titles were split in two, and most shocking, the rosters were split in two, one exclusively for Raw, one exclusively for Smackdown.

Add in the fact that the two biggest stars of the previous era, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock both left as full-time performers, leaving a huge void at the top. This new era, clearly needed some new stars.

Like the search to replace Hogan fifteen years earlier, this wouldn’t be easy.

The night after Wrestlemania X-8 saw a phenomenal talent show up. Brock Lesnar rolled through the roster en route to being crowned King of the Ring, and WWE Champion by August. He would lose the title shortly later and chasing new WWF Champion Kurt Angle in an amateur wrestling dream match.

Wrestlemania XIX ended with Brock Lesnar celebrating and it seemed like a new star was crowned, the Lesnar trilogy was all set to begin. A year later he was set to face Bill Goldberg in a true dream match to really solidify his place in wrestling history. But as usual it wasn’t that simple.

Not long before Wrestlemania XX it was revealed that Brock Lesnar was going to leave professional wrestling. All of the company’s hard work would be for nothing. There was a need to find a new star.

The company seemed to try to look to ten years before for inspiration. Wretlemania X ended with Bret Hart as the top dog in the company. The company went with a well respected veteran who could work a great match with anyone then, and they would do it again.

Wrestlemania XX ended with Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit holding the two titles, two veterans, two friends, two phenomenal wrestlers, two world champions. The company seemed poised to try to have a workhorse at the top of the card.

But for a variety of reasons, neither men set the world on fire as world champion. A different option was needed.

They wanted Randy Orton to be the guy, but that was botched. Instead, a fellow stable mate was placed in this high-profile spot. Batista won the Royal Rumble and instead of challenging WWE Champion John Bradshaw Layfield, he went after his menton Triple H.

Wrestlemania XXI ended with Batista holding the World Heavyweight Title after Triple H suffered his second straight Main Event loss.

But Batista wasn’t to be their guy. Earlier on the card there was another World Title match that didn’t get the same treatment. In a very short, borderline squash match there was a new WWE Champion crowned.

Unbeknownst to everyone else, their time was up, his time was now.

Mar 27

Overanalyzing Wrestlemania: Historical Themes Part VI: Do You Smell What’s Cooking?

Posted on March 27, 2012 by G

Welcome to the fifth post of a series here at Blade Jobs of Steel. In the countdown to Wrestlemania XXVIII, we’ll be looking back at a few different topics related to the big event, and giving it more analysis than most sane people would give to a worked sport.

In this post, we’ll be exploring an idea first presented in 2009 by a former writer at 411mania.com, Jake Chambers, Wrestlemania Themes. He postulated that hidden in every trilogy of events there is a theme. We’ll expand this a little bit more and look at some different themes and stories that have been present in the different trilogies. In this post, we’ll look at the themes in the sixth trilogy, spanning from the 16th to 18th editions of the event.

WRESTLEMANIA XVI-XVIII

DO YOU SMELL WHAT’S COOKING?

Wrestlemania XV ended with Stone Cold Steve Austin winning the WWF Title over Vince McMahon’s corporate champion, The Rock. Fast forward twelve months and things were of course, very different.

First Steve Austin had re-aggravated his neck injury and had to be “hit by a car” and would miss almost a year of action. The Rock was also cast out of The Corporation and was once again “The People’s Champion” and very clearly filled Austin’s place as top babyface in the company.

The Main Event for Wrestlemania XVI (called Wrestlemania 2000) ended up being a four-way elimination match between The Rock, Mick Foley, The Big Show, and WWF Champion Triple H as there was a McMahon in every corner. While Foley and Big Show were given prominent roles, it was obvious that the two big stars here were The Rock and Triple H.

They ended up as the final two in the match, it seemed like The Rock was destined to win, but Shane and Vince McMahon allied with Stephanie and cost The Rock the match. This made Triple H the third person to defend his title successfully at Wrestlemania, and also the first heel to leave the event with the top belt.

But don’t let that fool you, the top star was clearly The Rock, and he showed it the very next month winning the WWF Title from Triple H at Backlash. After a few other interruptions to his run, he would enter Wrestlemania X-7 with his then record setting sixth WWF Championship reign. To take on the record setting three time Royal Rumble winner, Stone Cold Steve Austin.

For the third straight year The Rock went on to lose the Main Event at Wrestlemania, but this one was especially significant. In a clear battle between two men at the absolute top of the wrestling world, it was the former rebel Steve Austin who needed to seek help. He needed Vince McMahon’s help in order to beat The Rock. The message was clear, The Rock was the top star now, Austin could only hope to be second best.

The Rock got to be such a big star that he would leave the business for almost six months in 2001 to film The Scorpion King, his first full feature film.

By the time Wrestlemania X-8 came, things were rather different. After the purchase of WCW, the company saw a huge glut of new talent come in, but none of them a bigger name than Hulk Hogan, who came in February 2002. He immediately set his sights on The Rock and an Icon vs. Icon match was set for Wrestlemania X-8 in Toronto.

The Rock finally ended his losing streak at the Big Event with one of the biggest wins in history. He defeated Hulk Hogan clean as a whistle in this multi-generational showdown. Despite his two tainted losses, The Rock was clearly established as The Man. Many said that day, and many more have said since then that Hogan-Rock should have closed the show. Were that the case, The Rock would have tied Hogan’s streak for closing the event four straight times, but it was not meant to be.

The Rock was such a big star that the WWF would be forced to lose him. Not long after he defeated Hogan, The Rock went back to Hollywood, where he would more or less stay from then on. Sure he would have a few more matches in the coming years, but nothing concrete.

The company was forced to do the same thing that happened when Hogan left, find somebody new, and that of course would take time.

Mar 26

Overanalyzing Wrestlemania: Historical Themes Part V: Stone Cold Rebel

Posted on March 26, 2012 by G

In this post, we’ll be exploring an idea first presented in 2009 by a former writer at 411mania.com, Jake Chambers, Wrestlemania Themes. He postulated that hidden in every trilogy of events there is a theme. We’ll expand this a little bit more and look at some different themes and stories that have been present in the different trilogies. In this post, we’ll look at the themes in the fifth trilogy, spanning from the 13th to 15th editions of the event.

WRESTLEMANIA XIII-XV

STONE COLD REBEL

Wrestlemania XIII was supposed to feature a rematch of the infamous Iron Man Match of Wrestlemania XII. It was supposed to be another installment in the Bret Hart-Shawn Michaels rivalry. Perhaps the Wrestling Gods knew that wasn’t part of the plan, everything had to go in threes you see.

Shawn Michaels went out and “Lost His Smile” and gave the WWF Title up, not long after reclaiming it at the 1997 Royal Rumble. The title had to be held up and put up for grabs in a four-way match featuring Bret Hart, Vader, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and The Undertaker in a redo of the end of a very controversial Royal Rumble that Stone Cold won after being eliminated behind the refs back. The Hitman won the title, but lost it the next day to Psycho Sid.

The top of the card was set as The Undertaker vs. Psycho Sid for the WWF Title, with Bret Hart taking on Stone Cold Steve Austin in a Submission Match to settle their rivalry which had been brewing since Stone Cold won the King of the Ring tournament and began calling out The Hitman.

The Main Event of Undertaker vs. Sid was rather bland, pedestrian, and forgettable. The one thing that stood out on thus otherwise forgettable card was the Submission Match between Hart and Austin.

Heading into the match, Bret Hart was, as he always had been, the flag waving good guy. He always played by the rules and did the right thing. Austin on the other hand, had a complete contempt for authority and no respect for his opponents. The defining moment of his career at this point came when he mocked the Bible of all things saying that Austin 3:16 says “I just whooped your ass”.

But in the months leading up to this moment, something very strange was happening. Cheers could be heard for Steve Austin. Fans of the same company that adored the Hulk “Say Your Prayers, Eat Your Vitamins” Hogan were cheering for the beer drinking, middle finger raising, SOB.

The Chicago crowd was split between Austin and Hart during their match. Their previous encounter at Survivor Series ’96 was a technical classic, but this was an all out brawl. Both men tried to force the other to give up to no avail. Finally, in perhaps wrestling’s most iconic moment in a decade, Bret Hart locked the sharpshooter on a bloody Austin. Austin struggled for the ropes to break the hold, but to no avail. After staying in the sharpshooter for an eternity, Austin still refused to quit, instead he passed out from the pain and blood loss.

After the match was awarded to Bret Hart, he refused to break the hold, wanting to punish Steve Austin for all of the abuse he had given to him in the past several months. Instead of cheering The Hitman for punishing the villain — as they had when he locked his hold on Jerry Lawler in 1993 — the fans turned on Bret and sided with Austin.

One of the biggest stars in wrestling history was born that night in Chicago.

Oh and some guy named Dwayne also had his Wrestlemania debut in a very underwhelming match against The Sultan, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves with that one.

One year later, the wrestling landscape was very, very different. Steve Austin broke his neck, Bret Hart left for Survivor Series, and Shawn Michaels had both the WWF Title and a severe back injury.

Austin was able to return from his neck injury, and eventually win his second straight Royal Rumble, setting up a match with the other icon from the previous trilogy, Shawn Michaels. Mike Tyson was added in as the guest enforcer and was a member of D-X, HBK’s rebel faction, and WWF Chairman Vince McMahon made it no secret that he did not want to see Austin with the belt. The deck was clearly stacked against Stone Cold.

But that had not stopped Austin before and would not stop him that day. Stone Cold won the match after Mike Tyson turned on Shawn Michaels. Wrestlemania XIV ended with Austin holding the belt up high, and HBK would not step back into the ring for another eight years. The message was clear, the old era defined by Bret and Shawn was over, the new era defined by the Rattlesnake was on it’s way.

The main storyline for the next year was Austin vs. McMahon, with Wrestlmania XV being billed as “The Raging Climax”. Through a number of underhanded moves and double crosses, McMahon’s chosen one, The Rock went into the event with the WWF Title, with Austin as the challenger.

In yet another match with the deck stacked against him, Austin won the WWF Title, becoming the first man in the company’s history to win the WWF Title at back-to-back events.

A few months after this match, Austin needed to take some time off to heel his once broken neck, and as such would miss the next event. But the company didn’t need to worry during this trilogy a new star was rising, he went from fresh young Blue Chipper to Corporate Champion over this time, and was ready to dominate the next trio of events. If you smell what I’m cooking…

Mar 24

Overanalyzing Wrestlemania: Historical Themes Part IV: Hartbreak

Posted on March 24, 2012 by G

Welcome to the fourth post of a series here at Blade Jobs of Steel. In the countdown to Wrestlemania XXVIII, we’ll be looking back at a few different topics related to the big event, and giving it more analysis than most sane people would give to a worked sport.

In this post, we’ll be exploring an idea first presented in 2009 by a former writer at 411mania.com, Jake Chambers, Wrestlemania Themes. He postulated that hidden in every trilogy of events there is a theme. We’ll expand this a little bit more and look at some different themes and stories that have been present in the different trilogies. In this post, we’ll look at the themes in the fourth trilogy, spanning from the 10th to 12th editions of the event.

WRESTLEMANIA X-XII

HARTBREAK

The first three trilogies would be defined in some way or another by one man, Hulk Hogan. Either in his dominance, or in the company’s search for his replacement. This next trilogy would be very different. It would be tied to a rivalry between two men. Their hatred both in and out of the ring would shape the WWF for this time, while threatening to tear the company apart.

As Wrestlemania IX closed Hogan once again stood triumphant while Bret Hart faded into the background. The very next Pay-Per-View, King of the Ring, had the exact opposite feel to it. Bret Hart stood triumphant while Hogan was sent out of the company in a loss to Yokozuna. Hogan would then sign with WCW and not set food in a WWF ring for another nine years.

Clearly the company needed another option, they made an effort to make Lex Luger their All American babyface, but he was unable to win the title from Yokozuna at Summerslam ’93. Due to a clause in his contract, Luger would not be given another shot at the title unless he won the Royal Rumble.

Luger was sort of successful in this attempt, but shared the victory with Bret Hart, as both men’s feet touched the floor at the same time. Since these were the days before Triple Threat matches, Wrestlemania X instead featured two matches for the WWF Title. Lex Luger challenged Yokozuna in the first match, with Bret Hart facing the winner in the Main Event. However, in order to make it fair for that Champion, Bret Hart had to face his brother Owen — who kicked his leg out from under his leg at the Royal Rumble that year — in the opening match of Wrestlemania X.

But that wasn’t everything at this very important Wrestlemania. A man who would later be known as The Showstopper was in a dispute for the Intercontinental Title with Razor Ramon; the two decided to settle this by hanging both of their belts high above the ring and have the first of many ladder matches at Wrestlemania. Shawn wouldn’t be alone, he would have his newly debuted body guard Diesel in his corner.

This is far more preamble that is normally given for any event, but Wrestlemania X was a major one. In addition to being a major milestone, it was also the first Wrestlemania to not involve Hulk Hogan in any way. This lack of star power was made up for with excellent story telling to get to this point, the top five matches of Bret-Owen, Shawn-Razor, Savage-Crush, and both title matches were all connected in a way that is rarely seen.

The opening Bret-Owen match and the Shawn-Razor ladder match were among the best matches ever witnessed. It is perhaps the only time in the company’s history that they had two five star matches on the same show. While Owen Hart and Razor Ramon won those matches, the focus afterwards was on the losers of those contests. Bret ended up winning the WWF Title in his second match of the night, and Shawn Michaels leap off the top of the ladder was the topic of everyone’s conversation. These two men’s careers became forever linked that night.

The rest of 1994 would be defined by two breakups. First, the Bret-Owen breakup would continue and begin to involve other members of the Hart family in Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart and the British Bulldog. Secondly, the partnership between Shawn Michaels and Diesel got closer with the pair winning the Tag Team Titles in the summer, but then tensions began to brew between them.

This all came to a head at Survivor Series 1994. In the first match Shawn Michaels and Diesel had a falling out, which lead to their entire team out and Diesel turning face. Then later on in the night, the returning Bob Backlund defeated Bret Hart for the WWF Title with help from Owen Hart. A few days later, Backlund would drop that title to Shawn’s former body guard, Diesel in the fastest WWF Title match in history.

Later at the Royal Rumble, Bret Hart would get his chance to reclaim his title against Diesel, this match wound up as their second inconclusive match (the first coming at King of the Ring 1994), but then later that night Shawn Michaels went out and became the first person ever to go from drawing #1 in the Royal Rumble to the very end when he won the whole thing.

It was official, Shawn Michaels would challenge the big monster Diesel for the WWF Title while Bret Hart would try to get revenge against Bob Backlund at Wrestlemania XI.

While both men had great nights at Wrestlemania X, it’s clear that Bret Hart had a better one. Sure he lost a match to his brother early on, but left with the top prize in the company. Wrestlemania XI was Shawn’s chance to leave Hartford with the gold, while Bret could at best have a technical classic and try to steal the show. Clearly it was Shawn’s chance to move ahead of Bret in this series.

But both of these stars failed in their chance to have their big moment on the biggest stage of 1995. Bret Hart and Bob Backlund had a very dull match which Bret called the worst of his career. Shawn was able to put on a valiant effort but couldn’t get the job done against his former friend, Diesel was able to hit the Jackknife Powerbomb and joined Hulk Hogan as the only men to walk in and out of Wrestlemania with the WWF Title. But Shawn clearly gave the better performance to tie their Wrestlemania series 1-1.

Bret and Shawn had an off night, but would not be dissuaded. Shawn went on to have amazing match, after amazing match in 1995, including a rematch of the ladder match with Razor Ramon at Summerslam. Bret Hart meanwhile, had a great run of his own, defeating Hakushi, Isaac Yankem, and many more on route to a showdown with Diesel for the title at the Survivor Series. In their third big match, there was finally a clear winner, as Bret Hart rolled up Big Daddy Cool to become only the second three time WWF Champion in history.

Shawn Michaels wouldn’t let Bret Hart be the only one to share history with Hulk Hogan, as he went out and won the 1996 Royal Rumble to join the Hulkster as the only men to win the event twice. This set up Shawn-Bret at Wrestlemania to truly define this era.

Because this match featured two of the best ever at the top of their game, it was decided that a simple match would not be enough. They had an entire hour to settle their score in an Iron Match, but that wouldn’t be enough, of course. After sixty minutes neither man scored a fall over the other. Bret Hart thought that he could leave as champion, since they had the same number of falls, but it was decided that they would go into overtime.

Shawn was able to hit a superkick and win the title. Shawn was able to win this part of the rivalry, he was 2-1 over Bret Hart in this Wrestlemania series. The rivalry over Wrestlemania was over as the two men would not compete at the same Wrestlemania for another 14 years. But of course their own personal hatred was not over, and would bubble over in another year and a half.

Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels would still play key supporting roles in the next trilogy as a new man began to rise up. In a seemingly innocuous match at Wrestlemania XII a man swung a ring bell to show a new mean streak that would propel him to the top of the card and define the next Wrestlemania Trilogy.

Mar 23

Weekly Plus/Minus: Wrestlemania XXIX, Hawks vs. Canucks, Playoff Races, and more!

Posted on March 23, 2012 by G

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Wrestlemania and the playoffs are fast approaching, it’s too exciting here at Bladejobs of Steel to even type and intro, hit the music.

Wrestlemania XXIX Plans: Word from Wrestling Observer is that the WWE wants to do another year long build for their Wrestlemania Main Event. They are apparently considering John Cena, The Rock, Steve Austin, and The Undertaker for this high profile match.

The only ones that really pique my interest are either Cena-Undertaker or Austin-Punk. Austin vs. Punk would be a perfect cross-generational dream match, while John Cena is far and away the most likely person to break the Streak, and it would be great to see him prepare for a year with possible spin-off feuds with Triple H, and Kane in the build up.

Blackhawks vs. Canucks: To see two All Stars like Daniel Sedin and Duncan Keith engage in dirty plays like that is pretty reprehensible. There is no discussion that Keith will and should be suspended for his Tito Santanaesque diving elbow. Sedin should be suspended but almost certainly won’t be, since he’s already injured and there kind of isn’t a point in taking an injured player out of the lineup.

These are jobs that should be left to the goons and not the star players in each lineup, especially this time of year. Should Daniel Sedin miss a great deal of time you have to figure that the Canucks Stanley Cup dreams have to wait at least another year.

Blackhawks vs. Canucks: Sure the game was dirty, but how was it not awesome?

These two teams have the best rivalry since Colorado-Detroit in the late 90s. Every single game is an absolute war, and it’s impossible not to have some emotional interest in this.

It’s actually a shame that these teams seemed destined for 2nd and 6th in the West this year, that would mean that it’s impossible for them to meet until the Conference Finals, and there are some people in Detroit, Nashville, and St. Louis who will do their best to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Plan B: TSN’s Darren Dreger Tweeted yesterday that the NHL will consider Plan B in the ongoing Phoenix Coyotes Ownership Saga. Apparently the NHL has potential buyers interested in keeping the team in Phoenix, but little progress has been made, so will consider investigating relocation options next week with Seattle, Kansas City, Las Vegas, and Quebec City all being the conversation.

Two things immediately spring to mind here: one, I’ll believe it when I se it, and two, what the hell is taking so damn long?

The fact that the NHL still owns this team is an absolute embarrassment, there was the perfect opportunity to move them to Winnipeg last year so we could have really had the Jets fly again. Instead they stalled and got the Thrashers out of town. Now the NHL will no doubt stall and try to keep the Glendale Money Pit around a little bit longer, before announcing a move to either Seattle or Quebec City after the Coyotes are eliminated from the playoffs.

Playoff Races: What is not to love about this time of year? Every game not involving the Columbus Blue Jackets or Edmonton Oilers has something riding on it!

The Eastern Conference has the Capitals, Sabres, Jets, and suddenly the Hurricanes separated by four points with only one playoff spot left for them. The Western Conference is much more chaotic as the Dallas Stars, Phoenix Coyotes, Los Angeles Kings, Colorado Avalanche, San Jose Sharks, and Calgary Flames are all separated by only three points with the 3rd, 7th, and 8th seed all up for grabs.

Every game is a ton of fun to watch, and it’s hard not to be excited for the season finale on April 7 when all 30 teams will be in action and the races most certainly will come down to the wire, with the most intriguing game being the very last one of the season when LA visits San Jose, with potentially both teams fighting for their playoff lives.

Talkie Time: The past several episodes of RAW seem to end all the same, with some sort of promo involving either The Rock or The Undertaker. While it’s not a terrible way to end the show, it’s getting very repetitive.

The four Main Events of Rock-Cena, HHH-Taker, Jericho-Punk, and Bryan-Sheamus all seem to be getting build up in a very promo heavy fashion. This is absolutely required for Rock-Cena in my mind, and understandable for HHH-Taker, the two title matches need some more hatred. Sure all four men involved are great on the stick and they have been in some tag matches and what have you, there hasn’t been any sort of Oh-My-God-These-Guys-Are-Going-To-Kill-Each-Other moments.

Hopefully with Jericho-Punk getting personal, we can have those two brawl all over the arena on Monday night to really help give us a sense of hatred. I’m still not sure what is driving the Bryan-Sheamus feud to be honest, it seems like it is just not a focus at all here. Sure the show will be amazing, but there just doesn’t seem to be a ton of hatred going into it, which is a bit of a shame.

Prediction for the Week: The Miz and Rey Mysterio are the final two members of the GMs Battle.

Mar 22

Overanalyzing Wrestlemania: Historical Themes Part III: Hogan Strikes Back

Posted on March 22, 2012 by G

Welcome to the second post of a series here at Blade Jobs of Steel. In the countdown to Wrestlemania XXVIII, we’ll be looking back at a few different topics related to the big event, and giving it more analysis than most sane people would give to a worked sport.

WRESTLEMANIA VII-IX

HOGAN STRIKES BACK

After both Randy Savage and the Ultimate Warrior failed to truly transcend the industry, the company seemed to have little choice but to go back to the well once more. Royal Rumble 1990 saw a shocking title change, as Sergent Slaughter defeated the Warrior, with a little help from Randy Savage. Setting up a chance for the All-American Hero to come back to the top of the card to take on the Iraqi Turn-Coat.

The undercard of Wrestlemania VII saw the two past chosen ones of Savage and Warrior face in a retirement match. While Savage didn’t stay retired for long, the symbolism was obvious. These guys failed and it was time for one of them to step back and let Hogan take over again, which he did in perhaps the most predictable Main Event in Wrestlemania history.

Then 1991 came as a very strange year for the company. They had tried the past few years to make new stars with limited success, so instead they go out and acquire stars. They made two very high profile signings when they acquired Sid Vicious (renamed Justice) and Ric Flair from WCW. By the time Wrestlemania VIII rolled around, those two were placed in feuds with the top WWF names, Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage.

With hindsight being what it is, maybe they should have switched dance partners here, but for a variety of reasons, it was set that Wrestlemania VIII would feature Flair-Savage for the WWF Title, and Hogan-Sid in Hogan’s “Last Match”.

Despite Flair-Savage being for the Title, and being an absolute dream match, it was decided that Hogan and Sid would close the show to give the Hulkster a proper send off, and finally have the company move past him.

By the time Wrestlemania IX came, both Flair and Sid left the company, and the Main Event featured new comers to the top of the card in Bret Hart and Yokozuna. With Hogan returning from his year long retirement for a spot on the undercard. Making the last two year of Hogan Striking back a thing of the past, right?

Of course, Wrestlemania IX ended with the most confusing possible way. Yokozuna won the title over Bret Hart then lost it to Hulk Hogan less than a minute later. The company needed to have the Hulkster close the biggest show of the year, they didn’t know anything else.

But the ending of Wrestlemania IX was the bottom of the well that the WWF had gone to for so long. This was evident when Hulk Hogan signed with WCW a few months later.

With Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior both gone and Randy Savage nearing the end of his career, the company needed somewhere else to turn. Luckily for them they had a New Generation of talent to choose from. They had the very man that they nearly rendered irrelevant at the end of Wrestlemania IX, but that wasn’t all. There was the man holding the other singles title at Wrestlemania IX, a man who opened the show and was even able to stop it.

Together they would chart the course for the next trilogy.

Mar 21

Overanalyzing Wrestlemania: Historical Themes Part II: Star Search

Posted on March 21, 2012 by G

WRESTLEMANIA IV-VI

STAR SEARCH

At the end of Wrestlemania III, it was obvious that Hogan’s star was at its brightest. But this was clearly unsustainable, after all Andre’s health was deteriorated while Roddy Pipper had “retired” from wrestling, and there certainly must have been the fear that Hogan would follow suit.

The obvious course of action for the company was to find someone who could at least pose a believable threat to Hogan. The search was officially on for a new star.

Rumour had it that the plan was for the freshly debuted Ted Dibiase to leave Wrestlemania IV with the title, but the plan was reportedly changed. Instead, Dibiase was in the finals of a tournament against Randy Savage, who had recently bean to team with Hogan as the Mega Powers.

The show ended with Savage winning his fourth match of the night, this one for the WWF Title. A star was born, or so we thought. Savage spent most of the rest of 1988 in the shadow of his partner and many wondered what would happen if, or rather when these two would face one another.

Fans finally got their wish at Wrestlemania V, when the explosion of the Mega Powers came to a head. Sure Hogan, the baby face, won in the end, but that should be seen as too much of a surprise, this was the WWF in the 80s. What’s important is that Savage was placed at the same level as Hogan and their match was very even, so it was set, Randy Savage could help carry the load as Hogan’s movie offers pilled up, right?

Sadly, that never seemed to materialize, maybe it was because he had just turned heel, maybe it was the influx of new talent, but Savage spent the rest of 1989 as a second fiddle in the Hogan-Zeus feud as terrible as that is. By the time Wrestlemania VI rolled around he was in a mixed tag match with Scary Shari against Dusty Rhodes’ polka-dots and Saphire.

So they needed to go to the well once more. Luckily for them there was an Ultimate opportunity. The Ultimate Warrior made his Wrestlemania debut at Wrestlemania V taking the first loss of his career to Rick Rude. He eventually reclaimed the Intercontinental Title at Summerslam ’89, and was gaining traction.

When Hogan and Warrior came face to face in the 1990 Royal Rumble it was obvious, these two had to face one another. This was most certainly a daring move on the companies part. The WWF was making a ton of money using the standard Good vs. Evil formula. This was a huge stretch, they went Good vs. Good.

Sure now with Rock-Cena, Taker-HHH, and Taker-HBK a Face vs. Face match seems typical, but it was not at the time.

The crowd was split at the time, and in the end Warrior won a very good, close match giving the Hulkster his first real, clean loss in ages. So problem solved, right? The company had their new star to replace Hogan, didn’t they?

While Wrestlemania VI ended with the Ultimate Warrior celebrating, Hulk Hogan received his share of cheers from the Toronto crowd. As the year went on Warrior didn’t get the same kind of traction that people intended.

After Savage and Warrior were unable to translate into true household names, there was only one real option. Go back to the well once more.

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