Viewpoint: Ed’s Take on #Raw1000

After live blogging for 3 hours and 15 minutes last night and having a blast doing it, how do I start with this post. My favorite moment (several), favorite match (again, more than one), biggest surprise (two huge ones, so I don’t know which to choose), best segment (it would be easy to say the entire show). So where do I go?

How about THANK YOU WWE and your entire staff, AND THANK YOU Mr. McMahon for what you did for us – the fans of the WWE Universe!

Check out how The Boss opened the show. And for everyone who thinks he is arrogant and cocky, this may shock you. How could Vince have been more humble than this:

Trevor has already hit on these two shockers – #Raw1000 Shockers: AJ Named Raw GM (@WWEAJLee) and #Raw1000 Shockers: C.M. Punk Turns Heel, WWE Universe Filled With Shock, Anger (VIDEO) (@CMPUNK) so I want to hit on three parts of the show that I think will go down in my own personal #Raw1000 memory bank.

First, is the DX reunion (PG Version). Of course it was great when HHH and HBK came out, but I really popped loud when HHH said, “Didn’t there used to be more of us”? Out comes The Road Dogg, Billy Gunn, and X-Pac and the band was back together. Check it out here:

Next let me share with you the Legends moment of the night where Lita was Heath Slater’s opponent but after Slater got a little over confident – she brings out the APA, yes Ron Simmons and JBL. That sent Slater headed back up the ramp but then, blearing from the speakers comes the words, “Whhhhhaaattttt A Rush”, that’s right Road Warrior Animal and ALL the Legends that have had a part in the weekly Heath Slater beat downs come down the ramp and throw Slater back into the ring. Aww heck, the video says it way better than I can so I will end this part with ONE word, Ron Simmons style – DAMN!!!!

Ok I do have to add, didn’t Lita look awesome with the Twist of Fate and the Moonsault from the top rope.

Finally, I loved the HHH/Brock Lesnar segment, and it may have been Paul Heyman and Stephanie McMahon who stole the segment, that and HHH clotheslining Lesnar over the top rope and out of the ring.

Ok, I can’t keep it to just three – I’ve got to include the “cold chill” moment of the night – the reunion of the Brothers of Destruction, The Undertaker and Kane.

So many more great moments that you can go see here at WWE’s Official YouTube Destination.

Again, THANK YOU WWE for an awesome night at #Raw1000.

Viewpoint: Ed Is Trying To Play Catch Up

Ok, I need to get caught up on a few things since I was unexpectedly away from computer activity for several days.

First, I thoroughly enjoyed the Money in the Bank PPV. The final match with Cena winning the MITB contract was outstanding. I believe he and Jericho stole the show. I’m still shaking my head over Cena putting Big Show through the announce table. My only real disappointment of the night was the AJ/Punk/Bryan triangle. Don’t get me wrong, the match itself was brutally exciting, but the lead up with AJ’s part being so good, I thought the ending to that match was disappointing.

I also wanted to mention that live blogging is much more difficult than what it sounds. As a fan, I wanted to be glued to every second. But we wanted to provide our viewers an up-to-date account of the event. I hope you enjoyed it, and even though we will not be doing it all the time, the plan is to do so on special occasions, which will be announced in advance.

With that said, expect us to have tons of coverage of the RAW 1000 event on Monday. Trevor and I are still finalizing how we will cover this, but I believe it will be a very special night for WWE fans old and new.

My apologies for not getting a more detailed update of MITB as I had planned, as well as not doing my normal RAW Recap. Those few days away from the computer were a killer for me and staying current.

I need to check how Trevor and I did on our predictions for MITB.

WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS R-TRUTH & KOFI KINGSTON VS. HUNICO & CAMACHO

Trevor and I both predicted that R-Truth and Kofi would win.

MONEY IN THE BANK LADDER MATCH FOR A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CONTRACT

I predicted Tyson Kidd, Trevor couldn’t decide between Kidd and Sin Cara. Both of us were wrong as Dolph Ziggler walked out with the briefcase.

MONEY IN THE BANK LADDER MATCH FOR A WWE CHAMPIONSHIP CONTRACT

Ed’s Prediction: Crank up “Break The Walls Down” cause it’s gonna be Chris Jericho.Trevor’s Response: Not to sure on this one but I’ll go with John Cena.

Way to go Trevor, and John Cena. As I said earlier I think Cena and Jericho stole the show and I’m very happy for Cena.

WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION SHEAMUS VS. ALBERTO DEL RIO

Trevor and I both correctly picked Sheamus.

WWE CHAMPION CM PUNK VS. DANIEL BRYAN

I predicted that AJ would turn heel and help Bryan defeat Punk. Trevor couldn’t decide who would win the match but had this to say about AJ: “All eyes will be on AJ she wins either way.”

I was for sure wrong on my prediction and I will leave it up to everyone reading this to decide how to take Trevor’s comment. AND is it just me or does Trevor kinda have a thing for AJ? But wait, what man in his right mind wouldn’t – so never mind.

Finally, I am really looking forward to RAW 1000. We had hoped to break the news that we would be covering the event live in St. Louis. That didn’t happen, but don’t forget 8 pm eastern with DX leading off the show. ARE YOU READY?

Viewpoint: Mid South Wrestling Library – A Good Thing for WWE Fans

Forget being professional here for a few minutes while I tell this story. I feel like a little kid and want to share that excitement with you.

Several days ago, Trevor and I were discussing the SmackDown taping in Evansville, Indiana. Since I’m much older than he, I sent him the following email:

Some history on the Lawler/Swagger bit on Smackdown. The King made his fame in what was called Mid-South Wrestling based in Memphis, his hometown. Each week, yes each week – Mid South did shows in Louisville, Nashville, Memphis, and Evansville (where Smackdown was taped). There was a weekly program that aired in our area on Saturday morning that was done in studio and was not from the weekly arena shows (even though they sometimes would show something very significant). The Saturday program would set the scene for the upcoming weeks matches and the interviews were done specific for each of the markets. It was some of the best wrestling that I have ever watched.

Many WWE Superstars came through Mid-South wrestling back in the day. Sid, Undertaker (Mean Mark Callus – not sure on spelling), Lawler, Jimmy Valient, CoCo B Ware, and many others.

I’m sure that was WWE’s way of getting Lawler a good pop in front of his old faithful fans. I thought it was an excellent touch by WWE!.

Forgive me if my spelling was off on some of the names, it was a personal email and not intended for publication. This was a few days before Trevor sent me a link to Jr’s Weekly blog were JR makes the following comment:

Now that WWE has purchased the Mid South Wrestling library, fans will get to step even farther back in time as I expect WWE to produce a Mid South DVD at some point in the future. Bill Watts produced one of the best, one hour, weekly and episodic, wrestling shows ever with the sole focus of selling tickets to live events which meant getting the stars established and embellishing the personal issues that existed.

Imagine my excitement when I realized there will be future opportunities to watch Mid South Wrestling once again! Every week was action packed. With only one hour including commercials, there non-stop action. So many things I can remember just off the top of my head and without the use of a search engine to find:

Heel turns so plentiful that you never knew who was friends with who if you missed a week, Lawler throwing fire, Dirty Dutch Mantel bringing his bull whip with him, the announcers enter action with the wrestlers while the match was happening (since it was right in studio), The Boogie Woogie Man making his entrance. I’m so excited writing about it – that my objectivity is no where to be found. This is my childhood flashing in front of my eyes.

If you grew up on Mid South Wrestling like I did, I’m sure you too are looking forward to what the WWE has in store. If you’ve never heard of or seen Mid South Wrestling, don’t miss out when that chance comes and no I don’t get commission on video sales

Ed Boston

Viewpoint: Why The AJ character Is So Successful

April at marvel comics — April Mendez known to WWE fans as “AJ” visits Marvel Comics in New York June 2012

There’s no doubt about it WWE has the best on screen character right now in AJ. Why? Depth and drama. For to long the world of professional wrestling has been your basic recycled storyline of “This guy vs that guy”. For the last few years wrestling has lacked any real drama to encourage the viewer to tune in again. There are only so many times you can bring back a big name to boost rating before it no longer works.

So what’s different about the AJ character which for you kayfabe buffs is portrayed by April Jeanette Mendez. For me it’s the growing role WWE has given AJ and her continued minipulation of both CM Punk and Daniel Bryan. Let’s face it for all it’s good athletic attributes the major thing that sells wrestling is the storyline.

The storyline between AJ, Punk and Bryan is so mystryious it has you on the edge of you seat. Is she crazy? is it mind games? The guessing game is what keeps me glued. It seams that the writers over at WWE are finally doing something right. Let’s not forget the contribution of AJ herself who has worked hard to get to this point. You have to know how to sell your persona it’s not easy folks.

My only fear is that after the Money In The Bank event the storyline will fizzle out rather then continue to grow. I hope those in charge of creative realize the huge success of the AJ character and her ability to be mysterious and ability to captivate the fans watching.

MORE BACKGROUND
Mendez researched wrestling schools, and enrolled in one a mile away from her house. To pay the tuition, she began working full-time, and became an official wrestling student in March 2007.She signed a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment on May 5, 2009, and was assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling, WWE’s developmental territory. AJ made her main roster debut on the May 27, 2011, episode of SmackDown

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