Fight: Lost vs. Gilligan’s Island, 24, Sega’s Golden Axe to return (Where’s Altered Beast?) House, M.D. Season One DVD Set, Trouble with Taimak, and Prince?
Lots of content in this episode.
Stay tuned at the end of the podcast to hear promos for other greater podcasts.
Sorry about the lateness – I had an exam on Tuesday.
New episode next week.
Direct download: Killing_Time_Episode_004.mp3
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Once again, I haven’t seen this year’s Great American Bash. However, I’ve taken a look around the web (at great sites such as PWInsider and LordsOfPain.net) to see how the show went down.
King Booker T is the new World’s Heavyweight Champion. I have no idea if the WWE managed to plan long term enough with a worked fight between Booker and Batista, but if they did – good for them. Chavo did turn on Rey like I thought. That makes sense. Odds are that they will fight over Eddie. Maybe the WWE can just simply make this about being the best wrestler in the business. Either way, the two have had some great matches in the past and this will give Chavo a main-event level feud.
Batista lost his mind and destroyed Kennedy. Kind of had the same ending that I had written a couple of days ago except Batista got DQ’d instead of Kennedy. Post match destruction was what I expected (I said that Batista should “flatten” Kennedy). It has the makings of a good long-term feud.
However, with Batista going after the World Championship this SummerSlam, there is a chance that Mr. Kennedy will be without a program. There are a couple of ways to keep this storyline going with Batista going after the championship. Kennedy could simply be plugged in and a three way match for the World Championship. I don’t think Kennedy should be put in the main event based just yet. I think he needs some more time to grow. But, with the WWE SmackDown! Brand hurting for main-eventers, pushing Mr. Kennedy into the World Championship race would increase the amount of main-eventers.
Alternatively, Kennedy could become a member of King Booker’s Court. This could lead to humorous interactions between Kennedy, Regal and Finlay.
SmackDown! may have quite a decent showing at SummerSlam with Booker and Batista (with Kennedy floating around), Chavo and Rey feuding once again, and the unfinished Lashley-Finlay U.S. Championship feud. Plus, the Cruiserweight championship could be defended. What’s my idea for a storyline? The Hurricane vs. Gregory Helms. It would make for an interesting subplot during the summer as we could wonder, “Who is the Hurricane?”
Because I should be studying, I’ve decided to write about the Great American Bash (“GAB”).
This Sunday night, WWE is presenting the Great American Bash with its SmackDown! brand. The Great American Bash has easily become one of the worst pay-per-views of the year in its short WWE existence. GAB featured Eddie Guerrero losing the title in a gimmick match thanks to Kurt Angle and also featured the demise of Paul Bearer using a cement truck. Last year, Batista headlined GAB and it had a DQ finish on a PPV. A DQ finish on a show that costs money. That is unacceptable.
I remember when the Great American Bash was a big PPV for WCW. I may be wrong, but it seemed like the GAB was the 2nd most important PPV for WCW (next to Starrcade). I remember watching Sting finally defeating Ric Flair for the NWA World’s Heavyweight Championship as it happened. I used to look forward to these shows.
WWE has managed to destroy the Great American Bash name. Also, I have no idea how a PPV with that title fairs in the international market. I am not going to order the PPV, but I’ll make a few predictions.
Predictions for GAB 2006:
The Main Event:
Rey Mysterio will retain the championship. Every other columnist has Rey losing so the WWE can get the title back on Batista at SummerSlam by defeating Booker T. I find this highly unlikely for the reason the WWE isn’t that smart. It would make sense to push the feud between Booker and Batista since they had that fight while promoting SummerSlam. It would make sense for a loud-mouth, arrogant heel to face off with the top face on Friday Night SmackDown! That’s why I think the WWE is going to screw up. It’s too logical and intelligent. The WWE’s style is to fly in the face of logic. They could quite possibly turn Rey heel to confuse the masses and ruin his marketability. That sounds more like the WWE to me.
In the alternative, if Rey does lose, I expect Chavo to cost him the title and have Rey feud with a returning Chavo while Batista chases the title once again.
Other Matches:
Batista vs. Ken Kennedy
Originally, it was meant to be a #1 Contender’s match. I am not sure if that stipulation is still involved with Mr. Kennedy substituting. I expect Batista to go over cleanly considering Ken couldn’t even beat Matt “When was the last time I was on a PPV?” Hardy. What chance does Kennedy have against Batista?
Here’s how it should go down: Kennedy gets himself DQ’ed by choking Batista with that hanging microphone wire. Then we find out that Kennedy has a buddy in the production truck who let that happen. Batista saves himself, flattens Kennedy, and looks strong. Kennedy looks strong with a crazy performance and he didn’t lose via pin or submission.
Here’s how it will go down: Kennedy has limited success with offense before the Batista bomb lays him out in a match that will go under 10 minutes (excluding the intros).
Beyond that, I don’t care about the rest of the card.
Take it easy, readers.
For non-wrestling entertainment jibber-jabber, take a listen to my podcast at killingtime.tv
DX Segment:
I liked seeing HBK mock the Miz when he “forgot” WWEShop.com.
In the Just for Men recap segment: They pretty much showed the entire match between Carlito and Trish vs. Nitro and Melina from SMNE. Grisham? Cruiserweight championship? Will someone please fire him? Strong match between Shelton and Carlito. Shelton loses, but Carlito cheated. Keeps Shelton relatively strong. Although, it would be nice to see Benjamin win a match.
The Cena-Edge Video Package is almost complete for SummerSlam. I didn’t do a review of SNME, but that FU onto the table from the steel steps spot was very cool.
Does anyone else think that Armando Alessandro Estrada sounds a lot like Ric Flair? I really was hoping Umaga would speak eloquently when Maria asked him that question.
The Highlanders win again in a squash match against no-names. Welcome to Wrestling Challenge 2006.
Cena vs. Umaga
Cena’s belly-to-belly suplex is a true belly-to-belly suplex. Very Magnum T.A. Not as graceful, but at least it’s a wrestling move. Cena is getting better in the ring. He’s no Chris Benoit in there, but he is getting better at telling a story. The WWE Champion, Edge, comes to ringside and Cena went to attack him. I am surprised that Cena jobbed to Umaga. Then again, Cena doesn’t need many victories these days. He’s over with or without a championship.
Foley Promo #2
I’m enjoying the Mick “No Rematch” Foley Promos. I am curious to see what it will take to get Foley to change his mind (storyline-wise).
Ric Flair calling out Mick Foley and he’s once again interrupted. This time, it’s Nitro and Melina. So now, Foley hangs with Edge, Lita, Melina and Nitro. If they ever put these guys together on screen, it could be interesting. Maybe Mick could be the other M in a new MNM.
Then there was the DX vs. McMahons part 3,198. I don’t really care for this storyline.
Have fun, kids. Shameless Plug: Listen to the Killing Time podcast for non-wrestling entertainment! KillingTime.TV
J.B. tests the Wii, the disappointment of PSP and the License to Drive DVD.
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We’re all going to die; but you don’t have to die un-entertained. Killing Time is an entertainment review podcast. We’re dedicated to finding entertainmnet that does not suck.
In this episode:
Senator Ted Stevens, Superman Returns and Nacho Libre.
In this episode, I.A. and J.B. discuss Senator Ted Stevens and his ideas about the internet. Both of us have seen Superman Returns and in this episode we dissect the movie.
Nacho Libre is subject to an experiment – J.B. argues that Nacho Libre is a let down. I.A. – who hasn’t seen the movie at all – defends the movie. It’s an experimental segment without a name / PTI knock-off segment.
A short episode today – under 20 minutes. Hope this helps your commute.
Direct download: Killing_Time_Episode_002.mp3
I didn’t watch the majority of the show. I just got HD and there was a special on birds. I like birds, especially in HD.
I had ECW in a picture in picture. Then I saw the Flair/Show match. Flair’s use of weapons was rather intelligent. He had a fighting chance. Then the thumbtacks came out. Flair pissed off Show by knocking Show into the thumbtacks. It builds Show’s ECW credibility. Flair taking a face down bump into thumb tacks got me cringing. Ric Flair is a wrestling legend; he is a man who could wrestle a broom and make the broom look like a millon bucks. He doesn’t need to have matches like this.
That being said. Ric Flair is crazy and he can still go. I think this will be put in the Foley/Flair video package for SummerSlam.
I have no idea how the rest of the show went. I will assume that it was the same as the other weeks.
Tonight’s Raw Feedback is a running commentary as the show unfolds:
Edge is starting to remind me of Ric Flair. He’s cocky as all hell, he’s got the cool slick look and he’s got some great intensity. I quite enjoy the “Rated R Announce Table” gimmick. It sets him apart.
Poor Shelton Benjamin. Such a talented wrestler but he’s got to to job to “Mr. 5 Moves of Doom.” Shelton actually got some good offense in there. I only expected a two minute match. I am very surprised with the amount of offense and aggression shown by Shelton. Excellent top rope enzugri by Mr. Benjamin.
Raw had an ad by a car company? Is it possible that advertisers believe that viewers of wrestling can afford to buy vehicles?
I still don’t believe that STFU finisher. I am a fan of the Edge-Cena rivalry. They are good on the mic and it’s easy to believe the two don’t like each other. Edge getting the upper hand on Cena with the spear and impaler DDT was a great change of pace. Super-Cena looks a bit weaker. Considering the predictable WWE booking, I guess Cena is going over on Saturday.
The Hulkster returns for an appearance on Saturday Night’s Main Event. There is no way that the WWE is setting up yet another Hogan returns storyline. Hogan is the smartest man in the wrestling business.
Once again, I have little interest in the DX storyline. Additionally, we get a video recap about their hijinx every week. It’s times like this I enjoy having picture in picture. That Hell’s Kitchen show on Fox is pretty good. Well, at least Edge got to open the show instead of a DX recap.
Eugene. The “Dr. Issac Yankem” reference was good. I wish they would send him to ECW and let him be Nick Dinsmore.
Anyone else notice an announcer who wasn’t JR or the King promoting the Trish vs. Melina match? Melina isn’t doing much wrestling as much as fighting. Hiding under the ring to sneak up on Trish was pretty smart. Melina reminds me of a young Randy Orton in her wrestling style. Rest holds, brawling and a lack of technical wrestling. Trish is working hard to have a good match with Melina. Trish loses once again. Holding onto a wrestler’s tights to gain a win has been done to death. Nice teamwork by Carlito and Trish, no doubt setting up a SNME match.
Edge and Lita at the hotel. Edge plays a fantastic heel – and he’s a ham. Sometimes I like the segments where the WWE cameras go beyond the arena. It’s a nice change of pace when used sparingly.
A Herpes drug ad after the Edge and Lita hotel segment is kind of funny. There’s no way the WWE’s smart enough to pull that joke off.
I had read someone’s review on the Highlanders on PWInsiderXtra.com (I think). He mentioned that the last time he visited Scotland it was no longer the 12th Century there. Now, I’ve never been there, but I am going to believe that. The Highlanders have a task ahead of them as they take on the tag-team specialists, the greatest tag-team in the history of histories, the New Strike Force themselves: Rob Conway and Matt Stryker.
The Original – well, the second – Nature Boy himself, Ric Flair. Mick and Ric. I think these promos are so easily done considering the heat between the two men. Mick Foley’s “Easy Way Out” promo – I don’t think this makes him a heel. Foley cut a great promo. “You used up hack!” These are the promos leading up to the SummerSlam match. “No rematch.” Terrific promo. Flair, calls out the Hardcore Legend. ECW? Why is Show out on Raw? Either WWE doesn’t think that ECW can’t succeed on its own, or they are treating them as a favorite child by spotlighting the ECW brand on Raw every week. SmackDown! wishes they were featured this much on Raw. Ric to ECW. I expect to see Foley tomorrow night.
I wish Candice wouldn’t talk.
Haas vs. Viscera. Haas could make this more interesting if he pulled a tranquilizer gun a la Kurt Angle and his Big Show feud. A match turning into an angle? The Somoan Drop on Lillian? That’s just not right. Perhaps they are the new “He-Man Women Haters.” She dumped them both, now they are buds. Haas, Viscera and Val. They could have some funny segments scamming on women.
Edge and his mimosas. This will backfire, but he works well with Lita and plays the jackass heel excellently.
Miz? He’s the equivalent of Eugene for SmackDown! One day, he’ll feud with Ken Kennedy when Ken Kennedy becomes a face by interrupting this blowhard. Did he forget his lines. He’s got one job and he’s awful at it. For the most part, these girls look like they’re clones of each other. I’m going to say a blonde is going to win. Honestly, hearing this individuals ask for votes is no different than watching any pageant. Milena with a decent promo. She may throw off my blonde prediction. Rebecca sounds like a transvestite. A waste of time.
Orton and his Hogan challenge? Eh.
Edge, Lita, room service, and teh WWE cameraman. I thought Cena would have been in the room service cart. Cena coming in to kick Edge’s ass. Nice. Sick “thud” noise with that belt shot. Maybe Edge will retain after all.
Todd Grisham should be fired. DX hasn’t been on all night, and the McMahons are out. What could possibly happen? DX and Vince seem to be doing a Bugs Bunny Routine. Eugene gets the win. He won a handicap match.
Good build up for SNME and Tuesday Night Raw, er, I mean, ECW.
The Big Show defeated Rob Van Dam last night to become ECW Champion. I’ve read some feedback on the ECW show and people don’t seem receptive to the idea of Show as the champ. Obviously, RVD is being punished for his drug bust. They had to get the championships off of him.
Seeing Show win the championship reminded me of when Show won the WWE Championship from Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series (which I saw live at MSG). At first I thought it was a terrible idea. Show was the first man to defeat Brock Lesnar (with the help of Paul Heyman). Big Show then played the role of chicken-heel champion quite well.
I think Heyman knows how to make Show a decent champion. Right now, we’ve got a 7 foot monster as champion. Who can take him down? RVD had a good showing and was booked very strongly in his loss to Show. Maybe the Sandman will finally return to the main event by taking on Show.
I think that this title switch will liven up the title picture in ECW. Show can play either face or heel when necessary. He can get heat. Show with Heyman can get heat. When someone beats the Big Show, it will be a big deal. The storylines also write themselves – any original ECW wrestler could take offense to a WWE guy with the ECW championship. “The ECW Championship belongs to an original ECW Wrestler and that’s [Insert Name Here]!”
Quick Thought on the WWE World Championship
29 07 2006With Booker T now the World Champion, shouldn’t Bobby Lashley challenge for that championship? I could have sworn that Lashley handled Booker T quite easily when Booker was challenging for the United States championship. Then Finlay could beat Lashley.
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Categories : Booker T, Friday Night SmackDown!, King Booker, SmackDown Champion, SmackDown!, WWE, commentary, finlay, lashley, quick thought, wwe world championship