Hello everybody, and welcome to another edition of Reading Between The Ropes. It’s been a while since my column, I know, but University is drawing to a close so that means the work load is probably at it’s height as all the deadlines approach. Luckily I’m somewhat ahead of schedule on my assignments, so I can hopefully begin to pick up the regularity of my RBTR columns. Don’t forget, however, that just because you don’t see a new edition of RBTR up on your monitors, it doesn’t mean that I haven’t released new material, so to speak. For those not in the new, I also co-write and produce Swerve, with resident Aussie Jared Balstrup. So, for a bit more of an informal column style, you might like to check it out.
As I write this column I have just heard of the terrible news regarding Chris Candido. I admired Candido a lot as a wrestler. He did the basics very well, but he also had a sense of theatre and showmanship about him. Without knowing him, he seemed a funny man. I heard him commentate on a couple of IWA: Mid South shows and some of his remarks were truly funny. Reading some tributes to him, it seems he was extremely dedicated and giving to the sport that made him a star, helping out at and working small shows at every possible venue (including beaches) because of a divine love for the business. What makes Candido’s passing even more sad is that the man had got himself clean. He’d worked his ass off to get clean from steroids and stay in a healthy shape. Then... then this happens.
Rest in peace Chris Candido. The wrestling world has lost another brother.
Vicsera with Trish vs. Kane with Lita
So, Big Vis has got himself on a PPV, something that (unless it’s the Rumble match) we thought we may never see again. He’s been getting some damn good face pops lately, though. However, something tells me that’s down to the circumstances of the people he’s been paired with/against. Nevertheless, Vis could find himself with the support of the fans tomorrow night.
This match really doesn’t excite me at all, but I’m sure with the help of countless ringside shenanigans the WWE may be able to pull something out of the hat that’s worth some of our time. If Vis does pull something out of the bag here, he may land himself a more permanent role on WWE television. This is his chance at a new lease of life, so to speak.
So, do I think he will get it? Well, in a word... no. The match will most likely be dire, slow and very tiresome. Anything else would surprise me. And a winner? Well, Vis may well find himself as a part-time fixture on Raw after this feud, but I still think he stands a good chance at winning. I’ll pick Vis as I think the WWE will continue this issue on for a few more weeks after the PPV.
IC Title: Shelton Benjamin vs. Chris Jericho
I’m glad Shelton has had such a long run with the IC Belt. I think long reigns can really help the stability of a title, given the person with the reign is a believable champion. Shelton is that, and he has certainly done more than an adequate job as the Intercontinental champ.
Anyone who is a regular reader will know how I’m a big fan of face vs. face feuds, and this has been no exception. I liked Jericho’s intensity in the earlier stages of this feud. I think it’s fairly obvious that Jericho has the vast majority of the fan support in this one, but I still think that seeing Jericho play a more aggressive role could be the way to go in this match.
Jericho’s losses to Benjamin have hurt him in my eyes, and I think he needs the win far more than Benjamin here. Does that mean he’ll get it? No, not at all. I think we’ll see a fairly lengthy match as the card looks a little thin in match numbers and with the Big Vis and Kane match not being able to go any substantial length of time in fear of Vis having a heart attack. So, this could get 20 minutes, and I hope it does.
But just who will win? Well, I’m going to go with Jericho to recapture the belt. He needs this win, as I said, and with Benjamin having the better of things in most of their meetings in the past and in recent altercations on Raw, it’s Y2J for me. Not an easy prediction though, much like the previous match
Last Man Standing Match: Edge vs. Chris Benoit
These two have met on a number of different occasions now, so I guess the stipulation was needed in order to give this next meeting a selling point for PPV offering. I also think the pairing works and I don’t see these two producing anything other than another solid offering this time around.
Aside from all the personal on-goings with Edge lately, I have always been an admirer of his in-ring work. He has many critics, and they have been quite vocal lately (perhaps because of those aforementioned personal issues), but I still think he has plenty to offer inside that ring.
He was the one chosen by the WWE to win the Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match and he was also retained after the Matt Hardy issue, showing the WWE have plenty of plans for Edge, and they a great deal of faith in him. So, that naturally suggests that he would be more than likely to get the rub in this match.
I hope I’m wrong, however, as Benoit could really use a big win on PPV, something he hasn’t got for quite some time now. Again, much like the Jericho-Benjamin match, this will need a substantial amount of time allotted to it, which should be good news for the PPV as a whole. With the stipulation on top, this could well be in excess of 25 minutes. So, at the end of it all, with Edge have his hand raised? Well, since they’ve given him the win last month, it makes little sense to bury his credibility. Unfortunately, Benoit is the one who suffers because of this, though. Another tough call.
Tag Team Turmoil: William Regal and Tajiri vs. The Heartthrobs vs. La Resistance vs. Rosey and Hurricane vs. Simon Dean and Maven
This isn’t a bad addition to the card at all, and previous tag team turmoil matches have been fairly successful on PPV. It’s also been quite some time since the last one, so I’m not begrudging this match it’s place on the card like some others have.
I’m not sure how they will work the elimination format of this one, but I’m guessing it will be the same as the last one, with a new team challenging after each teams elimination via pinfall or submission, rather than in the very initial turmoil matches where people were eliminated via an over-the-top rope elimination.
Previous turmoil matches have been quite lengthy, and I don’t see that changing here due to the few matches booked on this card at time of writing. Going through the teams, The Heartthrobs seem absolutely shocking on initial impressions, and it would be a terrible decision to give them a run with the gold right now without them proving anything. At least we know MNM rule on Smackdown!. These guys are a different story. I certainly don’t see Hurricane and Rosey getting a run with the belts either. La Resistance have held the belts enough, and I don’t think they’ve been positioned as getting another shot with the gold lately. For me it’s between the teams of Dean and Maven and the champions. I’ll pick the champs to retain.
Shawn Michaels and Hulk Hogan vs. Muhammad Hassan and Daivari
One more match, eh? Well, that tag-line gets under my skin a bit because I really don’t see this being Hogan’s final, FINAL, match. I’m sure he’ll go out with a match at Wrestlemania. However, that’s what it’s billed as, and I’m sure it won’t hurt the buy-rates by any means.
I said that matches on this card need to be given a lot of time due to the few matches on PPV. Well, maybe the time will be filled with a massive Hogan and Michaels celebrations pose-down at the conclusion of this one? Those celebrations will definitely take place, and maybe for an even greater extended period of time.
However, just because of a prediction of a big celebration on my part, don’t mistake that for a prediction of a Hogan and Michaels win. I’m not predicting such a win to be a nailed on certainty by any means. What I am certain of, however, is that Hogan will barely be involved in this match, with HBK taking much of the brunt of this match. If Hogan couldn’t hit the big leg at a stage such as Wrestlemania due to his frailties, then he surely won’t be involved in this match for prolonged periods of time. Especially with the tag aspect. It gives him an out. The fans will also be salivating at Michaels getting the tag to Hogan and Hogan cleaning house, It’s the smart move for all parties.
So, will the dream team come out victorious? Well, as I said, it’s not a certainty, but I think it’s perhaps most likely. Daivari got a win of HBK recently, and HBK is seemingly intent on finalising this feud with the duo as soon as possible. This issue is unlikely to go on any longer after this PPV, so I think we may see Hogan mustering up the energy to hit one more big leg (for the time being, until his next comeback) on... most likely, Daivari. That protects Hassan’s unbeaten record in terms of never being pinned or made to submit, and it will send the fans into rapturous applause.
World Title: Batista vs. HHH
Batista’s somewhat homo-erotic appreciation of JR (especially when he lent over him with his arm around him) was disgusting. This guy is supposed to be “The Animal”, and already he’s turning in to a pathetic JR-lover. Unfortunately, this doesn’t surprise me. JR getting involved in this feud just shows how weak and short of ideas the writing team are in this one. And they say it’ll extend to a Hell in a Cell in June? Oh god.
JR has been used countless times in feuds and it’s so old now it’s unbelievable. As Steve ward pointed out to be, the list is alarming:
JR vs. Kane, and his box of matches
JR vs. Heel Austin
JR vs. Undertaker and Vince Mcmahon’s ass
JR vs. Mick Foley
JR and Dr. Death vs. Bart Gunn
JR and King vs. Tazz
JR vs. Hassan and Daivari
JR and King vs. Coach and Al Snow
JR vs. HHH, “The Cerebral Assasin”
JR vs. HHH, “The Game”
JR and Batista vs. HHH, one more time
Have I forgotten any? If I have then it’s probably because I intended to block it from my memory forever. However, the list above is proof enough that this JR deal is unbelievably old and unbelievably over-done.
However, Batista has now made quite the illustrious list now, hasn’t he? JR grumblings aside, there really isn’t much else to say, is there? Why? Because he’s been the main focus of this last month’s build up. He’s been involved for the past 3 weeks, and Wrestlemania was only 4 weeks ago. The match was only signed 3 weeks ago.
And what about the match? Well, the match won’t be any shorter than the Wrestlemania match. It may be longer, it could be roughly the same time. They need, as I’ve said before, to fill time on this card. They also really need this main event to deliver in order for the PPV to leave a good lasting impression in everyone’s minds. Will they get a good match? It’s very unlikely.
Batista’s stamina problems are just that... a problem. Flair will likely get involved left, right and centre, meaning the match offers NOTHING extra that Wrestlemania offered. The only extra selling point of this match is that suddenly we’re being told the pedigree is a move to watch out for, as if that wasn’t a factor before! Expect Hunter to hit it, though. But, the ref will probably start crawling over after a recovering from a bump and slowly but surely count 1... 2... and a kickout! Batista will kick out of the pedigree, and then recover to retain his gold.
Until next time,
Mitchell L. Gadd
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