Saturday, February 16, 2008

Inside The Squared Circle: Sean Waltman Update, No Way Out Preview & Predictions, Hulk Hogan/Eric Bischoff Start New Promotion, Latest On Paul Heyman

First off, congratulations to Sean Waltman for taking up the W.W.E.'s offer to their former stars to go to rehab on their dime. Waltman, 35, has wrestled as the "1-2-3 Kid," "The Kid," "X-Pac"and "Syxx" among other names. Waltman joins Jake Roberts, Ron Simmons and Scott "Razor Ramon" Hall as recent wrestlers that have gone to get help. I hope for the best for him and the others.

Tomorrow night is the latest W.W.E. pay-per-view, No Way Out, emanating from Las Vegas, Nevada. Overall, it looks like a really good show.

Here's the card with some predictions:
John Cena vs. W.W.E. Champion Randy Orton
I think Cena regains the title, but I've got a feeling that there will be some kind of finish that involves Triple H and/or Jeff Hardy. The winner of this one goes on to defend the title at Wrestlemania against the winner of the Monday Night Raw "elimination chamber" match.

I could see either a Triple H vs. Cena vs. Orton match at Wrestlemania or perhaps a Hardy-Cena bout. Hardy is on a roll and the fans would be really upset if he doesn't get the belt put on him at some point. Whatever, John Cena most likely wins this one.

Rey Mysterio vs. World Heavyweight Champion Edge
This could be a great bout, however, Mysterio injured a bicep muscle in a match in Chile this week. Although, wwe.com says he will be able to compete tomorrow night, I wouldn't doubt if there was someone that filled in for the masked Mysterio. Kane? Big Show? Someone else? Regardless, Edge retains.

Raw Elimination Chamber
At Stake: A W.W.E. Championship shot at WM 24
This one has the better participants of the two "elimination chamber" matches. Jeff Hardy, Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, JBL, Triple H and Umaga will all do battle inside this absolutely sick structure. So who will win?

Shawn Michaels is the front-runner to wrestle and retire Ric Flair at Wrestlemania, so that takes him out of the picture. Chris Jericho was already given a title shot and really hasn't been as over with the fans. So he won't win it. JBL needs some more matches before he gets a championship match. Umaga headlining Wrestlemania is not something that most would foresee on the horizon. So that leaves Triple H and Jeff Hardy. I like Triple H in this one. Somehow, someway he will be part of the main event in Orlando, Florida.

SmackDown/E.C.W. Elimination Chamber
At Stake: A World Championship match at WM 24
Batista, The Undertaker, Big Daddy V, M.V.P., Finlay and The Great Khali will all duke it out in this one for the right to face the World Heavyweight Champion at the Citrus Bowl. This really isn't that strong of a match, to be honest. I'd really prefer to see Kane replace Khali, but nobody has asked me. Undertaker or Batista are the favorites, but I like 'taker (15-0 at Wrestlemania) to win and thus face Edge at the big event on March 30.

E.C.W. Champion Chavo Guerrero vs. CM Punk
This could be a classic for old-school wrestling fans. I see Guerrero holding the title for a while. Particularly, if the W.W.E. intends to induct his late brother, Eddie, into the Hall of Fame in March.

Ric Flair vs. Mr. Kennedy
Flair's illustrious wrestling career is close to being finished, but thankfully it won't be Ken Kennedy that will end it. That honor is being reserved for the showstopper, Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania. I bet Flair makes Kennedy "tap out" to the figure four leglock.

In other news...
Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff are reportedly very close to opening their own wrestling promotion that will rival Vince McMahon's W.W.E. The Sun has the story here.

The Sun also has a story on Paul Heyman's latest venture here.

Smackdown's Dave Batista would probably be none too thrilled to learn that when you Google "steroids," his picture pops up!

Keep it in the Ring!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Particularly, if the W.W.E. intends to induct his late brother, Eddie, into the Hall of Fame in March."

Eddie Guerrero was already inducted into the WWE hall of fame two years ago (the year Rey Mysterio won the World Championship at Mania)

Sean G. Kilkelly said...

Yes you're right. I don't know where I heard that Guerrero was going to be inducted posthumously this year, but thanks for pointing it out that he already was inducted.