Around The Ring
by Eric Knudsen (ericknudsen@aroundthering.com)
Welcome ladies and gentlemen to another edition of
Around The Ring. I know, finally right? I have found
that I always have something to say, but it's just
finding the time to jot it all down or even get the
gumption to start. Once I start, though, it just
flows and here we are.
Firstly, I will start with the top 10 winners of
the last Brainbuster. Remember, I only list the
first 10 people that gave the correct answer, so
if you don't see your name listed here, then you
were not one of the first 10 to get it correct.
Mike aka ArminLegg, Jimmy D, Greg Kaufman, Brian
Butler, Wayne Kjelsrud, Richard A. Nieth, CapDutch,
Dennis Hammack, Michael Carman, Stephen.
Congrats to those above and to ALL of you that got
it right.
My best friend, Lars Tennyson, attended Wrestlemania
this past Sunday and wrote up an article on it. You
can catch his review on my website:
http://www.aroundthering.com and on the main page,
scroll down to the Guest Columns and there it will
be!! Its a good read.
Also, don't forget to stop by and take the Around
The Ring Poll which is on the main page. I do my best
to change it up as often as possible.
With all that being said, there is a lot to talk about
so lets get to the meat and potatoes.
This last Sunday was Wrestlemania. It's hard to believe
a week has almost gone by. Those of you that subscribe
to my article, know I sent out my predictions...and I
didn't so hot. I did get the surprise of the night
correct...CM Punk winning the Money In The Bank Ladder
match. I think I had one or two other right but overall
I didn't do so well. I didn't order the PPV as $55 is a
little out of my budget this month but I did receive a
copy of it to watch. I haven't watched it all yet, but
I did watch the matches that were recommended.
The first match I went to was the Ric Flair vs HBK match.
I found this to be the classic and emotional match of the
whole show. Flair put on probably one of the most stellar
performances of his career and while I am not a huge HBK
mark, I really have to give him a lot of props for his
performance. I honestly thought the match was going to be
cut short when HBK moonsaulted through the announce table
and cracked his sternum on the edge. For sure, he knocked
the wind out of himself. But the match itself I was truely
impressed with, including the amazing standing vertical
suplex which Flair held Shawn up for a good few seconds
before falling back. I would give that match a solid 10
and say that you couldn;t ask for a better retirement
match. Flair said on Raw, something to the effect that
he "lost to a great, great, great wrestler and a better
man". Sorry Flair, but as far as I am concerned and I am
sure a lot of others are concerned, you ARE the man...
the better man. Space Mountain. The Limousine ridin, jet
flying, kiss stealin, wheelin and dealin son of a gun!!
I almost hate to see a 30 + year career end, especially
with the likes of Ric Flair because there is only one
Nature Boy Ric Flair...and we will never see another
one ever again. As the saying goes...often imitaded but
never duplicated...no one will ever touch Ric Flair.
The second best match and a definite candidate for a
Match Of The Year, was the Money In The Bank Ladder
match. Shelton Benjamin, who I have liked in the
past as I think he is one of the premiere pure
athletes in the WWE. The bump he took going through
that ladder outside the ring, I was amazed it broke.
I think even Carlito was surprised by that with the
look on his face.
Yo Yo Yo!! Pop a 40 and check yo rolies!! It's Cryme
Tyme!! Brooklyn! Brooklyn! Brooklyn!! Can you guess
who made their return at Raw Monday??? I have missed
Cryme Tyme and I hope to see some new funny segments
with them. Their debut videos were a riot to watch.
Glad to see they are getting a second chance and I
hope they make the most of it!! Good luck guys.
I was just reading that instead of Vengeance the WWE
is advertising the June PPV as "Night Of Champions".
Interesting and I wonder if it will be a permanent
thing or if it is just for the one time.
I am still watching TNA and absolutely loving it. I
still find it very strange that WWE is allowing TNA
news on their website. Plus you had Robbie McAllister
shown on TNA television and then Kevin Nash backstage
at Wrestlemania. While Jim Ross says that Robbie was
sent home for the incident, and that Kevin Nash was
just visiting and is still "a part of the WWE Family"
it makes me wonder if there is something deeper going
on. I mean we found out some time later that WWE was
funding ECW to help it to keep going. Is it so far
fetched that WWE wouldn't do the same for TNA?? I
still have to watch the last show(I have it on DVR)
but I just hope they can sustain and keep going the
way they are. It is truely an enjoyable alternative
to WWE.
I read that Nattie Neidhart debuted on Smackdown this
past week. I havent had a chance to watch the whole
show yet which is also on DVR. For those that don't
know, Nattie is the daughter of former WWE Tag Team
champ, Jim The Anvil Neidhart. It will be interesting
to see how she does.
Oh before I forget...I have to give some serious props
to Snoop Dogg at Mania for the incredible Clothesline
he delivered to Santino. That was awesome compared to
some celebrity clotheslines I have seen. I remember
Karl Malone giving a clothesline and he basically
ran up to his opponent and tapped them on the chest
with his arm and expected them to fall down. There
was no real follow through at all. Just glad to see
at lease ONE celebrity knows how to give a proper
clothesline.
So Andrew "Test" Martin was backstage at Mania. Wonder
if there will be a meeting between Test and WWE for
another chance. I don't know why, but I have always
liked Test. Just wish he would have taken more advantage
of opportunities.
And with that lets move on to:
***The Last Brainbuster***
(Be sure to send all answers and/or comments to
ericknudsen@aroundthering.com. Remember to include
your name.)
Q: What Polish strongman, who starred in the AWA,
Puerto Rico and the IWA in the 1970's, was known to
break bricks over his head? *Hint: He has since passed away*
A: The Mighty Igor
***This Weeks Brainbuster***
(Be sure to send all answers and/or comments to
ericknudsen@aroundthering.com. Remember to include
your name.)
Q: This wrestler, whose real name was Keith Franke, debuted
in 1974. He had numerous runs as the East Coast's bad boy
and had a very flamboyant character in the WWF towards the
end of his career. He was also a tag team partner of another
flamboyant wrestler. Who was he? Hint...he passed away in 1988.
Well thats it for me. Thank you for joining me for this edition
of Around The Ring. I am Eric, that's my opinion and I am standing
by it!!
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