Hello everybody, and welcome to another edition of Reading Between The Ropes. I’ve covered all the draft picks, I hear you cry. I know, I’m up to date in that department. However, a PPV has snuck up on us and, as always, it’s time to run down the card and give you folks a preview of what you can expect at this month’s extravaganza.
July is Vengeance and it’s a PPV that has had a fairly successful history. It’s delivered some decent shows over the years (2001 and, particularly, 2003 come to mind). This year could also deliver, with one or two more than interesting matches on the card. I’m looking forward to it. So, without any further ado, let’s kick off the preview.
Intercontinental Title: Carlito vs. Shelton Benjamin
Are JR and the King trying to get over Carlito as being called “Caribbean Cool” Carlito, instead of Carlito “Caribbean Cool”? I hope not. I really don’t know why I hope not either. Anyway, I loved Carlito winning the belt on Raw, but if he loses it back to Shelton on Sunday then I think it’s rendered all of this pointless. To end Shelton’s reign for a one week reign would hurt the belt, so I’m hoping Carlito retains.
Not to mention the fact that Carlito is all kinds of awesomeness. Shelton is also improving all the time, and I think these tow can put together a really solid match on PPV. I hope they deliver, as this is the WWE looking at younger guys and giving them a shot. I think everyone is willing them to succeed as these kind of guys are the future of the company.
They’ll get a substantial amount of time as this card hasn’t got many matches booked. Unless, dare I say, the Hell in a Cell is another 50 plus minute marathon bore-fest like Michales-Hunter was last year. Mind you, it’s got Batista in it so it’ll probably be shorter as he’d have a heart attack with a match that length.
So, will Carlito hang on to the gold? I’m going to have positivity (I coined that phrase two years ago – it’s MINE, baby!) and say he retains. I sure hope so, for the sake of the Intercontinental Title and Shelton’s previous reign. It would make it look a bit lame if he lost it to a one week champion. Carlito should get his chance at a long-ish reign, continuing this longer title reigns theme in WWE over recent times, which is definitely a good thing.
Christy vs. Victoria
Poor Victoria. She’ll have her work cut out for her here. Mind you, at least she’s getting a match on PPV, because it’s been a while since she had her chance on a bigger stage… or any stage, for that matter.
I’m glad they turned her heel as she was a little goofy as that dancing and smiling girl we saw before. She plays the psycho bitch much better. I hope she takes the win here, but I seriously see the WWE giving it to Christy, I’m afraid.
Kane vs. Edge
Many people speculated that perhaps Matt Hardy would return at Vengeance. I would LOVE for that to happen, but it’s most unlikely, particularly with Hardy booked to other commitments. Still, the unlikely chance that Hardy returns will be something that keeps fans watching in this match, listening out for music or looking at the entrance way for a run-in opportunity, perhaps. Maybe even some more tom-foolery by the WWE with teased entrances, etc.
The match these two had on Raw was dire. The match these two had at Backlash last year was dire. However, this will easily be the best of the three. One was a TV match with the focus on a finish more than what took place prior to it, and the Backlash match was when Edge had a broken arm and seriously hindered him mobility in the contest.
However, this does not mean to say that these two will produce a GOOD match. It’ll be their best effort to date, of that I’m sure, but will it be good? It could be decent, and it could bomb. I really don’t know. I don’t think the can work in excess of 15 minutes, though. I’d be surprised. As for a winner? I’ll go with Edge via DQ or something as Kane could SNAP!
WWE Title: John Cena vs. Christian vs. Chris Jericho
I don’t think Jericho should have turned completely heel. I think he may have been able to pull off a tweener role quite well. Still, I prefer this Jericho to his character as a face, which was almost non-existent. Anyway, Jericho could be on his way to Smackdown! so the Cabana and Highlight Reel are once again on opposite shows. Could he be moving with the belt?
Christian could also be lined up for a move to Smackdown!. In fact, before the draft took place everyone seemed certain of only one thing: Christian was moving to Smackdown!. I think his feud with Cena needs to continue, though. For all this build-up in the background these past few months, if they never actually locked up in a one-on-one match then I think it would be a missed opportunity. I hope they meet in a singles match soon on PPV, whether it be a Raw or Smackdown! show.
This match will definitely be one of the best of the night. The triple threat environment always produces a watchable match, and with Jericho and Christian in the mix things surely can’t go wrong? Cena is also more than apt at working triple threat matches and, when in there with the right people, he can deliver.
I expect this one to be in excess of 20 minutes as the card needs this match to look important. It will play second fiddle to the HIAC, but it should be given plenty of time to more than make up for it’s placing on the card. The title must not be made to look weak. I don’t’ think it will. But who’s walking out with it? I’ll go with Cena, despite all the speculation otherwise.
Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels
I heard murmurings of this being a street fight and I’m sure I heard JR announce it as such on Raw. However, I hear it’s going to be a straight up normal match, which is definitely the right move. The card already has a HIAC match on it, and these two don’t need gimmicks to work a great contest. Case in point: Wrestlemania 21.
I expect them to be given about the same time as they were in April, so we should all be in for another treat here. Can it top the ‘Mania match? Hey, I won’t back against it. Both are geniuses in that ring. Michaels is past his prime, but he’s still head and shoulders above most guys on either roster. Angle is arguably the best wrestler of his generation. This will not go wrong.
I don’t even fear putting the mockers on this. I think this match needs to deliver if the card is to deliver as a whole. Scage said the same, along with Steve Ward, in Swerve’s Wrestlemania preview. The same applies here, and the same result is likely. When I say that, I mean the result in terms of quality, not in terms of victor.
I feel Michaels may get the nod here. Angle got the nod on the big stage, and Michaels wouldn’t hurt Angle’s credibility by gaining the victory here. I don’t really care who wins, I’ll just sit back and enjoy what could be another classic match-up between two greats.
Hell in a Cell World Title Match: Batista vs. HHH
This match needs this gimmick in order for it to entertain. Both of their matches on PPV thus far have not interested me in the slightest, nor have they entertained me. However, it would take a couple of serious meatballs to screw up a Hell in a Cell match (though last year’s was terrible), so this should be good because the gimmick usually provides enough for the wrestlers to work with.
Batista should use his power to throw Hunter around like a rag doll around the cell. The fans would go crazy to see some press slams in to the steel mesh of the cell. I think that might work really well. As I said before, though, Batista has stamina issues and they may mean we get a few periods of rest, not with rest holds, but with Hunter slowing the pace down, or even by Dave doing it himself. I think the match won’t be longer than your usual HIAC, and a lot shorter than last year’s for the aforementioned stamina factor. That could actual work in the contest’s favour, meaning it doesn’t drag or seem to contrived like the Bad Blood match did.
Okay, that’s enough references to that contest. Let’s talk about who will walk away the winner here. Unlike at Backlash, this match could actually see the title change hands. Hunter could take the title in this one. I’m really not sure. I’m going to go with Batista.
Right, that covers the card. It looks pretty good, and I think it should deliver. I’m on holiday for a week as of Tuesday, so that’s your lot, unless I can squeeze in a Vengeance review, which is probably likely. Unfortunately I definitely won’t be able to cover the draft this week, but when I get back you can expect the usual draft discussion and, of course, season five of Swerve kicks off.
Until next time,
Mitchell L. Gadd
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