VWWE Universe

9 Search Results for "joey"

• The Road to WrestleMania...lit

  • From: The_New_Foundation
  • Description:

    Hey guys, TJ here doing a little writing from the road to WrestleMania!!! So as you have probably noticed here at the pink and black attack, we have been kinda MIA, just wanted to send a quick apology as we all have been busy back in Canada tending to some family issues.  All is well in Calgary, but it was good to get up there and spend some time with my friends and the people I consider family. 

    After Nattie's dad, my future father-in-law, made his appearance on RAW and questioned our alliances here in the WWE, it really made each of us take a step back and really consider where we are, and where we are headed.  Needless to say, we had a long talk with pretty much the whole family, and now that everyone has had a chance to make their points, it seems like the Shawn Michaels situation is cleared up. How crazy is it that even as relative newcomers to the big time, here we are appearing at WM25 in a tag team title match!!!  We all are extremely grateful for this opportunity, and regardless of the outcome just know that this match is one you do NOT want to miss. The work we have been able to do with the John Morrison, Joey Nebraska, and that other guy have done wonders for us in a very short amount of time.  I can only imagine that the tag team division here in the E is about to have an extended run as a focal point of our shows, and to hold the titles will mean even that much more!

    So the three of us are actually driving down to Texas and we cannot wait to get involved in some of the work up to the big day.  We have not had a chance to work any of the house shows in Texas, but I am sure we will have some dates in the next day or two, nost likely get some work in with Chavo or Rey...keep a look out here for details.  Also, I am pretty sure we will be at fan axxess signing autographs and taking pictures for anyone that wants to get some face time with the best young tag team in the WWE!  The nerves of performing at WrestleMania haven't kicked in just yet, although I am sure they will come on rather quickly as the day draws closer...I can say, while we were home we had a chance to talk to Bret and Jim about the spectacle that is WM and how they dealt with the nerves, which really helped! We even brought back some tapes of their WM matches, and I think DH and I are going to sit and watch through them to see if we can bring back some memories of the Hart Foundation's WrestleMania history.

    Somehow I got stuck in the back seat with DH driving, and unfortuantely that means Nattie has control of the radio...and don't tell her I said this, but her taste in music SUCKS!!!

    I must say, I cannot wait until we get to Houston...I love traveling and seeing the country, but this trip has been nothing but lakes and corn...pretty boring if you ask me.  Not to mention, I haven't really had the chance to talk to any of the guys lately and it will be good to catch up with them and get back to the normal banter we are used to.  The few times I have had the chance to text one of the guys it was usually late or they were at a show, so we didnt really get to chat.  All is good though, I hear from Jeff that Assassin is still a virgin and he shot me a text to let me know Arkham Asylum rawks (his word, not mine). It also seems like the guys are excited about the annual release of our polygoned clones for the Playstation and XBox, although the feelings about whether or not THQ did a good job of putting the game together seem to be mixed.

    So DH just asked why I was writing a book in the backseat, told him I was blogging...he and Natalya say hello to everyone...oh lord, I hope she doesn't read it now that she knows I am writing one, she will KILL ME and probably cut off my beautiful hair! Anyways, it is time to stop and get some grub so we will catch up with you guys soon, much sooner now that we are going to be back in the loop!

  • Blog post
  • 3 months ago
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• The Ramblings of a Stampede Bu

  • From: The_New_Foundation
  • Description:

    AAHHHH….WHAT A RUSH!!!! Sorry to steal a line from a legendary team of the past, but there is really no other way to describe it! It felt so good to get back in the ring again, and there are so many exciting things happening in the WWE right now.  I can imagine all of you out there were excited to see the pink and black attack on TV again.  
    
    I will tell you what guys, I hope you are liking the work between us and MNM as much as we are.  It is a joy to be able to get in the ring with guys that can elevate your performance as well.  Tonight was a great example, Joey and I don’t exactly have styles that would mesh well, but we definitely made it work and that is a credit to my counterparts ability to work well in many situations.  Now don’t get me wrong, I am not getting all buddy buddy with those overly conceited guys, and Joey Nebraska is someone that is definitely not a part of the Hart Dynasty bandwagon, as evidenced by his long-winded rant in the Universe a few weeks back…but when it comes to what goes down in the ring, I will gladly work with those guys any day.  Trust me, it’s only going to get more exciting from here on out.  Not only in the ring, but man John, Joey, and yeah even Mike…okay maybe not Mike are bringing out the best in us all over the place, its all good though because we have some things we definitely need to say in return to their below the belt jabs tonight.
    
    The tag team division is getting ready to explode here in the WWE, and I can speak for TJ when I say I am damn glad we are going to be major players in making that happen.  There are quite a few teams chasing that gold around the waists of MNM and we for one are not going to stop until we claim those straps as our own. That’s our promise to you!  
    
    And wouldn’t ya know it, rumors are flying that Jim Neidhart is going to making an appearance at Saturday Night Main Event…Nattie doesn’t seem to want to let us in on the scoop though, which is typical of her. Canadian women are quite stubborn I tell ya.  None the less, make sure you guys tune into SNME to what goes down when and if The Anvil shows up!

  • Blog post
  • 4 months ago
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• The Hart Legacy: Curse of the

  • From: the_controlled_substance
  • Description:

    Controversial and Joey Nebraska seem to go hand-in-hand. But ‘controversial’ appears to have become a dirty word. People hear ‘controversial’ and they automatically assume controversy means lies. But this isn’t the case. Just because something is controversial, doesn’t take away any of its legitimacy.

     

    Ever since The Opium Den was pulled before it ever even aired, for being “too controversial”, and since ECW on Sci-Fi got scrapped, the Narcotic Nightmare & MNM have been largely without a voice – the Parents Television Council placing pressure on US Network & MyNetwork TV executives to get WWE to reduce our on-screen air time and edit our segments. For too long we have had to endure censorship bordering on suppression. (yes kids, this is the legacy ‘cool’ Michael Shane has left us with).

     

    But there’s some things you cannot edit, censor or hold down, and Joey Nebraska is one of them! So using the medium of the internet, I bring to you, the WWE Universe, MNM 2009’s first on-line dirt sheet – and our topic of discussion this week – DH Smith & the Hart Triology.

     

    Harry, last week on RAW – in only your second televised appearance, you had the audacity to call me out. But you didn’t just start a war of words – you went down the ‘personal’ path, bringing my personal life into my business.

     

    Lets start with the facts, with what you did get right – I AM Canadian by birth… but that is where the truth ends. Had you of dug a little deeper, you may have uncovered more of my story.

     

    My parents were separated when I was still young, and I spent my holidays travelling between Canada & the States. My father was well-to-do. My mother, although the picture of respectability, was, with all due respect, never an intellect. She was vulnerable. Although their divorce appeared civilized on the outside, behind closed doors it was bitter. My father’s mistress fell pregnant soon after the split, and his allegiances and focus changed. We were very much his ‘other’ family, whilst his attention turned to his new brood. Despite being young, I was fully aware of my mother’s delicate and fragile state of mind, so I made the choice to put further distance between myself and my father, by moving permanently to Stateside to be by my mother’s side. It is a decision I resented her for. And one, which despite our animosity towards each other, strangely drew me & my father closer together. Our relationship was not a loving one, yet a strong one.

     

    As a result, I spent term time with my mother, and was educated in Boston, MA. Ever since I can remember I was brought up an American, in America. My father, of dual nationality himself, never challenged this. My nationality seemed more of an issue to the playground bullies, already full of ammunition for the ‘single-parent’ kid, then it ever did to me. As I grew older, I learned about my Canadian roots, but I always considered myself to be American. It was not until later again, until I came to travel the world in pursuit of my dream to become a professional wrestler, travelling to overseas shores, such as Mexico & Japan, when I came to apply for a passport, that my nationality would again become an issue. You see, all my life, my nationality has been more about other people, than it ever has about me. Nationality doesn’t define me, it doesn’t define anybody! Nationality is just a branding device. A tool deployed by prejudice bigots, or more than likely, brain-dead patriots.

     

    That said… I am not without objection to Canada. Canada has, afterall, helped sodomize the business I love – Pro-AMERICAN-Wrestling.

     

    There’s no point denying it. Quite simply – you people need to get over it. It was over a decade ago – and without it, the WWE and wrestling itself would never have got to the heights that it did. It defined and helped spawned an era. An era which in turn captivated the minds of youthful America – of minds like me. Got me addicted. Got me hooked. And which turned me into a fan, and then a wrestler. Wrestling needed Montreal. But what seemed at first like a gift, has turned into a curse.

     

    I am sick of hearing about Montreal. SICK! Everybody knows that Bret screwed Bret. His ego, his own sense of self gratification wouldn’t allow him to drop the belt under anything than his own conditions. He got what he deserved. WCW sucked. He sucked in WCW. And WCW failed. Where is Bret Hart now? But still, it goes on.

     

    Everytime the WWE rolls in Canada, they can’t help but remind us. But they do not benefit us or themselves. They will openly boo the person portraying the good guy, Shawn Michaels. And openly cheer the person portraying the bad guy, JUST because he happens to be Canadian. Well, I’m sorry, but on my way to the top, to the big league, I jobbed a thousand times in my own hometown, busting a gut to do what I love. Hell, I’d go right out there now and do it again if it was right for business. It isn’t disrespect, it’s part of a story.

     

    My second issue with Canada, is it’s loveaffair, it’s affinity with everything Hart. It’s delusion at the Hart Dungeon and it’s worth in today’s scene. And today we have the last three surviving students, the final three graduates from Grampa Stu’s basement: Harry Smith, TJ Wilson & Natayla Neidhart on our active roster. Yes, there's an Elisabeth Fritzl joke in there somewhere.

     

    Now I don’t just talk to all Canadians, but to Harry Smith directly himself:

    Perhaps the biggest insult of all, is your blinkered and blinded view on the Hart Family Dungeon, and the fact that you disregard and disrespect any Canadian athlete who succeeds in this business, who ISN’T a product of Fuhrer Stu’s famed academy. And that’s the point.

     

    For every Canadian wrestler who busts their gut trying to make it and fails, you can bet your ass there’s a Hart, or part of their extensive family, willing and waiting just to pussyfoot into the next available generic tactical technician role in any number of backward wrestling promotions across the score. The list of wrestlers who have been buried as a direct result of having no connections with the Harts is vast and plentiful, but I’ll mention just a few:

     

    Sean Morley – better known to most people as ‘Val Venis’. A great and talented wrestler – but when it came down to it, he was lumbered a lousy, one trick-pony gimmick which amused fans for all of 1998 before it got tedious and later forgotten. Sean has my respect because he didn’t feel the need to play up his heritage. He never felt that it mattered what his nationality was, and therefore never made it a forefront of his persona. Had Sean trained under the tutelage of Stu Hart, I have no doubt we would never have seen Val Venis. I also believe Sean Morley would be a former World Champion, remembered for being a brilliant worker. But ultimately, on the downside, we would also have had the fact that he was Canadian shoved down our throats week-in, week-out, and the Harts taking all the glory of his success. Sean didn’t sell-out. As a result he was less successful in the squared circle, and walked away less well-off financially. But he did it as a matter of principle. He did things his way.

     

    But he’s not alone. There are more. Chris Jericho – the Liontamer. Y2J. One of the biggest personalities this business has ever seen – openly, and accurately dismissed his leg of training in the Dungeon as a waste of time – a rip-off in fact. No more than a tick-box fast track to pretentious, hollow success – a Fool’s Gold medal. I think there’s no coincidence that Jericho happens to be a larger-than-life, in-your-face, charismatic, loud and eccentric entertainer who saw the Hart Dungeon as a joke. Jericho is the ying to their yang. Jericho embodies everything that a Hart is not – individual. Unique. Funny. Compelling.

     

    I could go on – Lance Storm. Another son of Canadian wrestling lost in the void. And another who had nothing but a damning verdict on the actual legitimacy of Stu Hart’s Dungeon. A man who, I might add, now runs his own very successful wrestling training academy.

     

    Lance Storm – surely a guy you can sympathize with and relate too, Harry. A man with an abundance of talent, but no charisma. No character. A man who, if you were unfortunate enough to be stuck in a conversation with, would send you to sleep through the sheer boredom of his one-dimensional, robotic personality. A man who was stuck with a shitty gimmick, and although he had the ability to stand amongst World Champions, ultimately chose the dignified option of walking away himself before he became just another joke in the history of Canadian professional wrestling.

     

    I didn’t enrol in the Dungeon, not because I wasn’t talented enough, but because I was smart enough to see the Dungeon for what it truly was. Because I wanted to make it in my own right. To prove that to be the best you don’t just have to jump on the bandwagon of an institution that lives off its past reputation. I didn’t enrol at the Dungeon because I wanted to be my own man. I didn’t enrol at the Dungeon because this business does not need another star with the Sharpshooter as a finisher. I didn’t enrol at the Dungeon because Stu Hart is a senile dictator, too disillusioned by his own freakshow family and own sense of self-importance that he and his understudies have lost touch with modern wrestling. And I didn’t enrol at the Dungeon, because graduating from the Dungeon is not a gift, but a curse.

     

    Take a look. The evidence is there for all to see. I won’t mention names – we are all, regrettably, all too familiar with the events and tragedies that seem to emanate from Calgary, Alberta. (Surely the most evil place on the planet, it could be argued – Austrians take note).

     

    I have never denied my Canadian roots, but I will support and defend my American allegiance to the hills! But quite frankly, I’m not Joey Nebraska ‘the’ Canadian, neither I am Joey Nebraska ‘the’ American – I am simply Joey Nebraska ‘WRESTLER’! And my actions will speak louder and resonate around this industry for decades to come than any patriotic, borderline racist talk ever will. And perhaps that’s something the Hart Dynasty, and Canadian wrestling fans, need to take a long, hard look at.

  • Blog post
  • 5 months ago
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• the_controlled_substance

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  • Since: 7 months ago
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• Characters Welcome

  • From: VWWE
  • Description:

    There were a few posts today in the chat about what makes a good created character and I've a few views on this that I've brought up in the past in creative meetings. Good characterization and character development is one of the key facets of good drama and good television and as owner and head writer, I probably have a good perspective on this... so here goes, my two cents.
    
    When VWWE started (as VWWF) it was very simple and very basic, plot depth was virtually none existent, same with characterization. What we basically looked for back then was somebody exciting, with something to say and a cool name, which was still far more than our rivals looked for who basically hired anybody, no matter how absurd. A wrestling monkey for instance.
    
    Out of these days came VWWE characters such as Silent Assassin, Mr Showtime, Sphere and Nightmare and while Nightmare has evolved through the years, technical master to Ric Flairs protege to wrestling obsessed franchise ala Triple H and latterly the veteran of VWWE, some of those other characters did not. Mr Showtime has forever been "like RVD/Y2J" and that's the sum extent of his character and background.
    
    One character that would never find a home in the VWWE of 2009 is Silent Assassin, one of the two characters I'll be using for this blog as two ends of a single spectrum. SA debuted in that simple world of 2002 and had little characterization. He had no history, his look was taken from Spike out of Buffy the Vampire slayer and personality laying like a cross between Sting and William Regal. Never was any of this explained and worst of all was that he was allowed to put himself over in promos and actions against his opponents with now giving back. Sadly, this was somewhat atypical in those days.
    
    But lets look at each aspect and compare it with a modern created character - Michael Shane. I've picked simply because I know most about him and frankly, he's brilliant. History, look/moves, character development.
    
    SA never had any history, like so many characters, he just seemingly arrived in FWC like magic. We knew he was English.. but that was it. No background. Later when he was in VWWE we managed, under protest from Jon (his handler, not OUR Jon), to construct a history where he'd started out in the Allstar Promotions in the UK in the 80's alongside the likes of Finlay and Regal and moved to the States when the NWA were looking for their answer to the WWF's British Bulldogs. Assassin then went to the WWF, WCW etc etc, I'm not reciting it all lol, but now he HAD a history, he had events that shaped him. It wasn't perfect, but it was better than nothing. Look was never expanded on, he looked the same and wore the same stuff for 5 years and kept the same moves. Character development.... well that's difficult because I'm tempted to say fuck all. SA saw himself as top dog and always wanted to be it, he did NOT put people over or show ass, I really cannot honestly think how he changed a single bit in 5 years.
    
    Characters don't need prearranged targets of where they're going to go as a character or a big master plan. What the need is the room for them to develop, they need places to potentially go.
    
    Michael Shane was a character that was developed in the space between the "old VWWE" and the "new VWWE" in mid-2005 just before our comeback and I think he was genuinely one of the first characters that was thought about as WWE would think about a character. In the era of James Steele, John Cupbord and Michael Steven Northmore, he was a new thing. After that we saw great characters such as Ryan Simmons, Primal, Adan Reyes, Joey Nebraska and the new Suffering, plus the all new generation of Assassin and Sergio Griffon.
    
    WWE always say that the best characters are the ones who are en extension of the real personality behind the character such as John Cena, Steve Austin, Badass Undertaker, The Rock, MVP, exaggerated forms of reality. Shane is no different, he is Mick in exaggerated form... some may even say not too exaggerated. He even started as a Republican and became a Democrat lol
    
    Arrogant to the point of being obnoxious but deeply respectful of the business, he loves wrestling but loves being controversial. He loves being the center of attention and is clearly a genius. He knows it. Snappy dresser, ladies man. Sadistic streak.
    
    That's a basic MO... then around that, you can fit a look. Would that gimmick and attitude fit a 7 foot Indian? no. It suits a smaller man, a good looking man, somebody akin to Chris Jericho, Shawn Michaels or John Morrison. Again, his look is inspired by myself, long hair, unshaven.
    
    Once you have a look, you have a move set. Again, power moves would never have suited... so why would he do them? the times ive seen requests that 7 footers do Luchadore moves or cruiserweights use Powerbombs etc is countless. Also, get a WELL ROUNDED move set, don't fill it with finishers.
    
    In the beginning, Shane was far more influenced by Lucha-Libre than today where the Ric Flair influence is more paramount. I was a big fan at that point and it was about 6 or so months before Eddie passed, he was massive at the time and I was a huge Eddie mark. The moveset was heavily influenced by Eddie and HBK so from Eddie came the Mexican influence and the suggestion he'd worked in Mexico, been trained by Gory, the Gory Bomb finisher.
    
    Once you have all that, you've a character, a history can be created from what you have by answering questions - whys he arrogant, what reason? whys he have the lucha moves? whys he get into wrestling?
    
    Also, id suggest giving him backstage gimmicks. Shane, being an arrogant prick, was also said to be trouble backstage in those days... shitting in bags and taking drugs etc (now in 2009, long gone as he's grown up and is respected by his peers, having won that over the past 4 years). So on day one you have this drug taking prick who was arrogant... but he was hugely talented and had great potential, he'd been trained in Mexico and had friends high in WWE with the likes of HBK. He was a rebel and potentially trouble... but also potentially a future legend. Which way would he go? giving him the arrogance and the drug abuse, these are character flaws that are ESSENTIAL. SA never had a single flw, he m,ay as well have been an automation. Theres no need to make a character a failure or a loser, but having a few things in a characters life that are wrong or they're not proud of makes them human.
    
    Now... this is the key thing for me - character development, both in terms of gimmick and emotion.
    
    Shane started off there and started in the tag division, he developed from being a tag team wrestler into the singles star. He grew in confidence and stature, bringing in the whole hip-hop styling with the new Kanye West theme and attitude, being a bit of a playboy, obsessed with money and women. But that started to get old and he rediscovered his love of wrestling during his feud with Flair. It was really this feud that marked a change again. Shane started to "grow up" around WrestleMania 24. He became serious in his wrestling talent and desire to win championships, his feud with Flair led to the New Generation attitude, the hip-hop styling's starting to vanish as he found Ashley and became a one women man. The controversial nature of their relationship with the "Rated R" segments later becoming a genuine relationship between the characters, developing over time. In 2009, Shane had his belief in wrestling tested with the Suffering incident and will have his relationship with Ashley tested. Two weeks ago there was the darker Shane in the black with the leather jacket, this we'll see again, this is the consequence of the actions and scenarios he's been put in. His mental state one that's depressed, bitter and angry. It wouldn't work if he remained an arrogant pretty boy. Its the exact same principle WWE used for Triple H after Orton RKOd Stephanie, if Trips had feuded with Randy with his DX joker gimmick.. then would truly have been no buys.
    
    A lot of where Shane had been and gone does come from myself and I really cant urge enough people to do likewise, insert yourself into the characters, change them as you change and grow. If you're a Goth... make a gothic character, emo? go emo. If you're a chav, create Ryan Simmons lol.
    
    Characters need to develop and change to stop becoming stale, they need their beliefs tested as Shane has had his belief in wrestling tested and will have his relationships tested. These tests of character create drama and emotional growth, they allow the character to develop from one thing to another and become more multi-faceted and deep.
    
    Three dimensional characters are what VWWE requires and in fact expects in 2009 and I think we have, the likes of Suffering, Joey Nebraska and Ryan Simmons have developed just as well and have just as deep histories, they are a world away from the likes of Plinny, Kohl and AWO that graced feds in 2002 when we started. In 2009 I think the majority of VWWE understand the fact that VWWE is about far more than winning and losing - its about the show. We all pull together to make a great show each week for each others enjoyment, we write promos for others to enjoy and collectively make absolute greatness. If we win... that's awesome, the titles being the highest achievement and also a fantastic feeling to win... but VWWE is so much more. Now in 2009 I think many realize that telling a story is what this game is really all about.... juts like with the WWE Superstars our job is to entertain, to tell a story. And nobody tells a story quite like VWWE :D

  • Blog post
  • 7 months ago
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• Michael Shane: Royal Rumble Li

  • From: VWWE
  • Description:

    CHANGES!!!!!
    
    FFS. I really shouldn't show myself being angry but Vince has just changed BACK those changes i talked about he made yesterday, after yesterday learning the new lines with Ric. Ric isn't pleased either but seems to hide it better than me. I'm just venting, i always get frustrated and on edge before big nights and THIS is a big night in my career.
    
    Michael Shane as a character, like all good ones, is an exaggerated form of myself. Just like Cena, Austin, Ric and even Randy, we all have a little of ourselves in our characters.
    
    I'm like to think I'm confident rather than arrogant, nobody else agrees with me, that i do respect this business and the legends of it but equally, i want my own chance to shine, something any self respecting Legend would actually agree with me on. Hogan doesn't, but he can f*ck off.
    
    But until last week you didn't see the other side to Michael Shane - the one who ISN'T confident, the one who doubts so much.
    
    On nights like this, my mind is full of what if's. What if i mess this up.. what it i forget what I'm supposed to do, what if i mess up. No matter how many years go by, i ALWAYS think that. When you're stood in that Gorilla position, thousands of fans on the other side of that curtain, Vince McMahon blaring in your ear last minute advice.... i cant tell you the feeling, it's like standing on the edge of a cliff ready to jump or be pushed by the boss. The heart beats faster, the blood pounds in the ears... and then your music hits. Somehow, like when Festus used to hear that bell... everything changes. There's no doubt anymore... there's no fear or nervousness, because when that music hits I'm no longer me.... I'm The New Generation Nature Boy, I'm Michael Shane. And I'm the best in the World.
    
    But for now... I'm stuck with the what if's. 
    
    Got to the arena, straight into the locker room, there's Assassin playing SvR with Sergio Griffon, the new kid of ECW. I like him, reminds me of a young Ricky Steamboat in that athletic style and martial arts influence, maybe a little of me. He's got something.
    
    There's a HUGE tray of hotdogs on a table over to one side, that can only mean Steve Austin and ANOTHER unmentionable guy are here already, i haven't seen them yet though. There's cables on the floor, Joey Nebraska tells me  they're filing some kind of angle in here, i haven't even seen a full run sheet yet, i ask somebody to find me one.... seems its under the hotdogs and I'm not touching those things.
    
    Open my bag, out comes a suit i was asked to bring, WWE don't do costumes except ring and backstage gear - no suits department, its the same one i wore when we filmed a segment on Wednesday with Ashley and Venus Vulu, nice continuity.
    
    Lunch time, then we'll be out to get final word on what we're doing from Vince and the cerative team.

  • Blog post
  • 8 months ago
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• Michael Shane: Royal Rumble Li

  • From: VWWE
  • Description:

    Uggggggggggh, so here we are, morning.
    
    For all my lady fans out there and a certain percentage of the men... i am currently half naked. So's John Morrison, but there's nothing in it. No really. He's not even up yet, i had to get up to actually do this blog thing. The next time Joey Styles has a great idea for WWE.com, remind me to tell him to go to hell.
    
    Anyway, yesterday turned out to be quite eventful after i left you. I had that meeting with Vince -  Kevin Dunn, Stephanie, Hunter (Helmsley version) and Paulie were all there, Shane wasn't, i think i read that were setting up a new WWE studios or something, guess he's busy with all that. Vince wanted to go over an angle we have planned for tonight, a bit of a brainstorming session on the feel and how we all want it to go. I can't say much more than that but they all seem really excited about what we're gunna do tonight and so am i.
    
    After i left i was heading to the ring to watch The Dragon put Ric through his paces, its awesome just watching these two sparring and laying everything out, i learnt so much from both of them, when i met up with somebody i can't mention, ANOTHER secret, Joey Styles particularly asking me not to reveal his identity, so this time.. no clues.
    
    Finally got to the ring area and if you're a fan of the James Bond movies like me, the construction of the whole WWE experience inside that building is like when the master criminal such as Blofeld is building their evil base. Seriously, as i entered  there must have been a hundred guys working on setting everything up, from the construction crew building the stage to the camera technicians laying the cable to the guys building the barriers. These guys deserve all the credit in the world and are the real unsung heroes of this business, i cant give them enough respect.
    
    In the ring Ricky Steamboat has just hit a Crossbody on Ric Flair - i nearly mark out, i suspect Naitch and Rick just id that cause they knew i was watching. Theres a small crowd at ringside, i spot Dean Malenko and to my delight, Jim Ross and Randy Orton. I have a lot of time for JR, which is a lot more than i do for Michael Cole, but thats another story. JR tells me that Ricky and Dean will be putting Orton through a few paces later, seems he's a complicated spot with the Undertaker that Vince wants just right. Quick greetings to Randy, he's a busy man these days, before i headed backstage again to catch Ric and go through that promo. After which i have to do some stuff that i really couldn't tell you about, not unless i wanted to head back to TNA.
    
    We're late getting back to the hotel but still enough time for a few of us to head to a night club recommended by Kevin Nash of all people via way of Triple H - the rather exclusive Elysium Lounge. Myself, John Cena, Randy Orton, Jeff Hardy and a late arriving John Morrison were all there... not sure the guy on the door liked the look of Jeff to be honest but the other guy with him apparently knew who we were and we got in just fine, meeting up with a group of the Divas who'd also heard the tip it seems. Again, i'm not allowed to mention a few of the names as its a secret that they're on the show. One great night later and one tab that defies the recession and we were on our way back to the hotel.
    
    Word of warning... Morrison is hung over right now... don't go expecting a classic off him tonight.... but expect more from me later, gunna have breakfast, take a shower and then head over to the arena, i like to arrive early just in case Vince has any surprises to spring on us.
    
    See you there.
    
    PS, i see Jeff decided to get his creative juices flowing on my last blog as a comment, got my bowels moving as well.
    
    Well, two can play that came...
    
    
    There once was a young man called Jeff,
    Who often defied his own death,
    He took great leaps,
    Now he just weeps,
    Isn't it time you got a new boyfriend Beth?
    
    See ya at the arena Nero :)

  • Blog post
  • 8 months ago
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• Alvarez's View: Royal Rumble

  • From: JohnCena
  • Description:

    How's it going everybody, Bryan Alvarez here from F4W Online here with my Royal Rumble thoughts and predictions. Traditionally this is where WWE start their whole 'Road to WrestleMania' deal and I have to say, the company's looking really strong right now. Vince appears to be on a roll as far as angles are going and their multimedia push is bringing the company through to a whole new level. I'm not expecting anything short of top-tier in the month or so before 'Mania, so it's a great time for the company.

    Back to the Rumble then, and it's been booked well I think, with two big matches, the Chamber and the Rumble Match, really standing out at the top of the card. We'll get to those soon, but I wanna run through the undercard first.

    The Rock and Sock Connection vs. Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes: This is a real odd one for me, it's almost come out of nothing. I know Rock's been saying backstage he's not overly keen on teaming with Foley again after a strong singles run before SummerSlam, but he's almost lost his way at the moment, and I don't think this is a good way to use him. As for the youngsters, there were plans to have them join some kind of second-generation stable but I'm not sure whether that's the company's priority at this point. These two aren't fully over in my opinion, but that'll take time, and they're great talents. A lot of people have been speculating a shock here, and I'm thinking the same thing. Vince booking the youngsters to go over the vets wouldn't surprise, and I think that's what we'll see.

    IC Title Contenders Match A: Ryan Simmons vs. Rey Mysterio: It's been great having Mysterio back, it's a real boost for WWE to have someone as experianced as Rey back in that midcard having great matches. He hasn't been featured on RAW loads as of yet but I've seen him at some house shows and he's looked great, matter of time deal here. These two actually wrestled the other day at a house show and the reports I've recieved suggest these two can really go. Simmons is full of potential, as he always has been, and I reckon he's finally harnessed it. I can see Simmons taking this one, though whether booking him to go over strong or not remains to be seen, WWE have more sense than to bury Rey so early. Great match in store.

    No DQ Match: William Regal vs. Assasain: Another strange one, I don't think WWE have done enough to get this angle over, whether they don't have faith in the young kid or whether they don't see anything in Regal above the lower-midcard, I don't know. What I do know is that they were also booked together on the same house show as Simmons/Mysterio and it was a decent match. Assasain seems to have settled in well and being in the ring with a guy like Regal can only hope. Assasain is 0-4 in matches between the two, and unless he's done something backstage that's got him in trouble, I can't see him being buried further. A win for the Aussie could start an angle between the two, but we'll see.

    IC Title Contenders Match B: Primal vs. Jeff Hardy: The big angle here is that of Hardy's 'retirement', and it's one that I'm interested to see develop. Jeff isn't a renowned promo guy but he's really been knocking it out the park as of late and he's a babyface fans can really empathise with. Thus, there's two trains of thought on this one. Number one is that Primal will beat Jeff clean, and Jeff will indeed 'retire', leading to some sort of angle after WrestleMaia I'd assume. Number two is that Jeff wins and starts to get back his fire on the way to WrestleMania. Last I heard, Vince was keen on having Primal go over, but his changes of mind are so notorious it's impossible to say anything for certain. Personally, I think Primal will take it, as revenge for the IC Title feud these two had a few months back, and set up Primal/Simmons, an angle in itself.

    World Tag Team Championships: John Morrison and Joey Nebraska vs. CM Punk and Suffering: There's three guys in this match that Creative are pretty high on right now, and I can understand why. Punk isn't exactly anything special, but he's workmanlike, and that's why he's been kept around. As for Morrison, Nebraska and Suffering...these are three superstars in the making. They're the kinda guys who are part of the 'new' WWE, it's a little edgier, and it's fresh, these are pretty much new stars. Nebraska was in line for a push before Smackdown folded, so I think this tag team is his reward, just slightly diluted. Morrison is fantastic on the mic and in the ring, he's got the look, and Suffering is really coming into his own, something I know Michael Shane has voiced displeasure over backstage. I don't think Suffering's place is in the tag division right now, I think he'd be under-used there, so I can see Morrison and Nebraska taking it.

    IC Title: Winner of Match A vs. Winner of Match B: Basing this one on how I've said it'll go, I expect this match to be Ryan Simmons taking on Primal. WWE have been making big noises about putting these two in a program together because they've got great chemistry as well as history. One angle I heard about was the whole 'respect' deal, and I'd be all for that if they ran with it, these two are exactly the kind of guys who can pull it off. At the end of the day, for the time being, I can see Primal taking the title off Simmons in a real close match, expect Vince to tell both guys to play up the whole 'fatigue' scenario after already wrestling a match each. I can see these to feuding over the belt all the way to WrestleMania 25.

    Elimination Chamber Match for the WWE Title: John Cena vs. Forxx vs. Kane vs. Randy Orton vs. Undertaker vs. Michael Shane: Now, first of all, people have been asking me whether WWE are having this as the Main Event. I can tell you that it's almost certain they won't, Vince is a huge advocate of having the Rumble Match go on last. Still, this one is going to steal the show as far as I'm concerned, there's so much potential. Cena, Orton, Taker and Shane will probably carry this one but Forxx showed at SummerSlam that he's got ability in this type of scenario and Kane's always capable of springing a surprise in-ring. The great thing about this match is the amount of feuds it throws together, Cena/Shane, Cena/Taker, Cena/Orton and Forxx/Kane. I reckon Vince likes the idea of the two big men in a program together, so don't be surprised if we see a lot of interraction between them, a gimmick match at WrestleMania is an idea they've banded about. My biggest concern is how they're going to protect Cena, because if he goes in early, he's going to have a lot of guys going after him and he'll have a lot of work to do. If they send him in last, which I don't think they will, he can't be booked too strongly in this environment. I don't know of any concrete plans right now so I wouldn't be surprised if Vince springs a real surprise and has Michael Shane win the belt.

    Royal Rumble Match: Main Event, and it's another really interesting one this year, credit has to go to WWE for booking it so strongly year after year and maintaining such high interest in a match which is about everything but in-ring work. So many names been thrown around this year, most notably Shawn Michaels who was 'fired' by Vince McMahon a few months back. I'm of the understanding that HBK will be working the Rumble, but I can almost certainly assure you he won't be winning it, I don't think Vince sees Shawn as the 'go-to' guy in today's WWE. I think we may see some kind of angle develop between the two in fact, Vince could have Michaels' elminated, a match between the two at WrestleMania 25 can draw. Nightmare is another guy who's been mentioned, there's been some promo vids on RAW about his return and we could well see it here. Again, I don't think he'll win it though. The final surprise entrant people have been raving about is Austin, and I reckon there's a strong possibility he'll be there. Despite the possible swerve of Austin not being WWE's half-owner, I reckon we could see Steve return to in-ring competition, and Cena/Austin at WrestleMania has been talked about since last year. It's a real marquee match, almost on the level of Icon vs. Icon, something else that's been suggested for Mania. If Austin enters, I can see him winning. If he doesn't, it really is anyone's game after that because of the amount of star power that's in the Chamber Match. If WWE spring a surprise and have one of the entrants from that win the Rumble, fair play to them but Vince has said recently that a number of midcard acts are going to benefit from the Rumble match and one will recieve a huge push. If that's the case, then WWE are going to have their work cut out pushing this guy between now and WrestleMania, they've a history of hot-shotting guys to the top and then doing the build-up later. I think a decision was made on the finish on Thursday but I haven't heard a peep out of Connecticut so I'll leave it at that.

    Thanks for reading everybody, as always if you wanna leave feedback feel free to do so below and I'll hopefully be back on Monday or Tuesday to review the show.

  • Blog post
  • 9 months ago
  • Views: 44
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• Nathans Royal Rumble Predictio

  • From: Assassin
  • Description:

    Virtual-WWE Royal Rumble 2009 Predictions:

    
    

    The Rock and Sock Connection vs Ted Dibiase and Cody Rhodes: Both of these teams have the potential to win the match but for me it is a fairly easy decision and I predict that The Rock and Mick Foley will come out on top in this match.

    Other Thoughts: I can also see the match ending in Disqualification after Cody and Ted bring chairs into the ring or something along those lines.

    Ryan Simmons vs Rey Mysterio: I can see this match going either way really, Rey hasn't appeared on any shows lately but I think he still has a chance to produce the shock win. Simmons though would have to be the favourite however in my opinion. He is in need of a push and I think this may just be that moment.

    No Disqualification match: Assassin vs William Regal: Well i'm not going to comment on this one seeing as it is my match lol.

    Primal vs Jeff Hardy: I think this match is going to be a very good match and an intense battle but I see Primal coming out on top setting up a Primal vs. Simmons match in the final. I also predict a very good promo between the two earlier in the night.

    Other Thoughts: It will be interesting to see where the Jeff Hardy angle is going to go and it could well be that he wins the match and go onto earn a title shot hence not retiring. But overall I think The Danish Destroyer will finally get the victory over Jeff Hardy.

    World Tag Team Championships: John Morrison and Joey Nebraska vs CM Punk and Suffering: This will be a great match indeed but I predict Morrison and Nebraska to come out on top and pick up the titles. Not much else to say really lol

    Other Thoughts: It is possible but not likely I don't think, that something might happen between Suffering and Punk as in attacking each other.

    Intercontinental Championship Number One Contenders Match: Well going off my other predictions I think this match will feature Ryan Simmons and Primal. Being Tag Team Partners and having some run ins over the weeks, I think it will come down to these two in a very back and forth match. Im not really sure who could win it but I think I might go with Simmons.

    Other Thoughts: Again there is a possibility of a run in from someone or a double count out setting up a triple threat but to be perfectly honest these two may not be in the final. This tournament could go anyway.

    Elimination Chamber Match: Again, I'm not completely sure as to who is going to win this but I have a feeling that John Cena will be able to retain his title, even though he is up against some very tough competition - Randy Orton is probably the second most likely to win IMO, he has been on a very impressive streak lately, Forxx I don't see winning the match but who knows, I also see him being eliminated by Kane :P, Undertaker I don't really see winning either but with Sam's experience I wouldn't count him out. Michael Shane has a very good chance as well I think but I have a feeling he won't win it and finally Kane, I am calling Kane as my dark horse, I reckon if there is going to be an upset Kane is the one who will win it.

    Other Thoughts: Not really many other thoughts except I reckon this will end up being an early match of the year candidate

    Royal Rumble Match: Well, where to begin with this one? I think that there are so many options that this could go many ways and each one of them, I'm sure will shock everyone. The first person that pops into mind is Stone Cold who I think could win but maybe he's a bit too obvious. Ric Flair has been popping up here and there lately but I don't think he will enter. Another person that has a chance would be Vince McMahon but again I reckon he probably wont win. HBK also springs to mind, probably making a suprise return but again this may be a bit too obvious. I reckon someone with a good chance would be Jeff Hardy adding to his on going storyline by possibly winning the rumble. Orton (I think he's in it lol) also has a really good chance but for some reason I don't see him winning because he did in real life, not that it makes a difference lol. So in conclusion Nathan doesn't have a f*ing clue who is going to win lol.

    Other Thoughts: Another thing I just thought about is something happening with the mystery Half-Owner, maybe a previous wrestler who enters himself in the Rumble? Not sure, anything could happen.

    
    

    All up I reckon this is going to be a very very good PPV and I absolutely can't wait. Please post your opinions/thoughts on what I have said.

    
    

  • Blog post
  • 9 months ago
  • Views: 60
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