Thunder Struck: MSG & Unforgiven
Posted by TWV Guest Columnists
on 09/11/2006
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Guest Column By Joe Thunder
Welcome back to Thunder Struck! In this return edition from my brief absence, I would like to take a small peek at tonight's RAW which will be coming to us live from Madison Square Garden. For the majority of today's column, however, I'm going to look ahead to what appears to be the most potentially exciting PPV in recent memory, Unforgiven. We are only six days away from the blockbuster event and going into tonight's RAW will only add to the hype for the upcoming pay per view.
First of all, this PPV has something that most RAW PPVs have not had for quite some time. It lacks the presence of guys like Foley, Flair, and Hogan. How great is it to see a RAW PPV where the featured talent are the ones who are the future of this company? Not having old men on the show is a sign of respect to the younger athletes and it is a sign of intelligence on the part of the WWE. I'm sure we'll get a Ric Flair segment somewhere in the show, but let us appreciate the fact that this PPV is about the newer generation. The only frightening fear of mine is that Mick Foley may show up and involve himself in the Hell In The Cell match. Whether Foley appears or not, I predict Hell In The Cell to be the worst and most boring match of the evening.
Here's the biggest surprise of the show: a legitimate world tag title defense is actually taking place on a PPV! To me, The Highlanders have been most entertaining to watch in the ring and I look forward to seeing them attempt to capture the gold from the Spirit Squad. The Spirit Squad just needs something new. With as much as they've done with such an odd gimmick, it would be interesting to see what these guys could accomplish on their own. Potentially, the WWE could take four of the members and split them up into two tag teams that each had their own gimmick of sorts. Despite my ideas, I'm sure we'll see some form of a mixed tag contest tonight on RAW to lead up to Sunday's show. I look for any match with the Highlanders tonight to get a huge pop from the crowd, as MSG is known for cheering the most likeable face characters.
Next, I would like to discuss two matches that could potentially be show stealers this Sunday. Carlito is
finally getting the big push that, in my own personal opinion, is long overdue. He and Randy Orton are the true future of the WWE and you can bet your bottom dollar that a year from now these two will be main eventing Pay Per View after Pay Per View. Orton has proven himself to be athletically tuned in the ring as he has made thirty second contests exciting with some of the bullshit matches he has had to work recently. Also, we have Jeff Hardy taking on Johnny Nitro in what promises to be an outstanding high-flying contest. I can't wait to see Nitro and Hardy doing their absolute best in the ring together with the Intercontinental Title on the line. I expect both men to bring out the best in one another and I look for Johnny Nitro to use this contest as a launching pad for his future in the WWE.
When Trish Stratus first made her debut on WWF Sunday Night Heat so many years ago, I don't think any of us pictured her becoming the best female wrestler in sports entertainment today. Trish has contributed a vast amount to the women's wrestling division in the WWE and her final match with Lita will probably be her most impressive to date. I think when the match is all said and done, the on screen animosity between the two will dissolve and you will see a final embrace as Trish says goodbye in her hometown. I expect these two women to put on one hell of a match and I look forward to seeing Lita carry the torch when Trish walks away this Sunday.
In a potential show stealer, we have a WWE planned filler contest between two of the WWE's biggest monsters, Kane and Umaga. The Samoan Machine gimmick will be ruined after this Pay Per View. The only thing to be said for this rivalry is that Kane can carry the two well in the ring and should hit every high spot in the match. The only way for Kane to lose this contest is by outside interference from Armando Alejandro Estrada or possibly the unexpected appearance of Shelton Benjamin. Does anyone know why Shelton is not on the card for Unforgiven? Benjamin was reaching a high level of athleticism in the ring and looked as though he could do wonders for the RAW brand. Unfortunately for Shelton, Creative just seems to be lacking in feud setups right now as they seemed to have booked the rest of the RAW roster into their own rivalries.
Tables, ladders, and chairs will be one of the two bloodiest matches of the evening. Edge and Cena are finally going to lay this rivalry to rest and I think it's safe to speak for all people when I thank Creative for this. These two men rip each other apart very well in the ring, but let's face it; their mic chemistry has never been all that terrific. This whole rivalry was just Vince slapping the title on someone and feuding him with his biggest "star" on RAW. I think sending Cena to SmackDown! to feud with Booker for the World Title would be the next best option to improve SmackDown! A move like that could really balance out the rising talent on each show. The match will certainly be dramatic and drawn out, but I think it's safe to say that Edge will be leaving Toronto as the WWE champion.
I'll probably be back sometime next week with a look at what's happening in ECW right now, along with my thoughts on the outcome of Unforgiven. Until next time, you have been Thunder Struck.
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JoeThunder06@hotmail.com.
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