WWE Elimination Chamber 2012 Preview
By John Canton, Andrew Johnson & Christian Michael
John Canton: Welcome to the Elimination Chamber preview by the TJR crew. This year’s February PPV features two Elimination Chamber matches with both the WWE Title and World Title on the line. There’s also what the Ambulance Match that will likely be the blowoff match in the John Cena/Kane “Embrace the Hate” feud. Does this year’s Elimination Chamber event excite you?
Congratulations, You’ve Won the Royal Rumble Part Two
Written by Christian Michael
Welcome back to the second part of my two part column where I take a look at what winning the Royal Rumble Match has done for that man’s career. If you haven’t checked out part one yet, please do so and then come on back. Since the Royal Rumble Match started having title implications in 1992, that’s where I started. Part one ended with the 2002 winner, Triple H. So, let’s jump right into this with the winner of the 2003 match. (more…)
Congratulations, You’ve Won the Royal Rumble! Part One
Written by Christian Michael
WWE’s last PPV offering was the Royal Rumble. I think it’s fair to say that the match that carries its namesake is one we all look forward to. The Royal Rumble match sets the winner on a road towards destiny as he earns a World Title Match at WrestleMania. The first four years of the event did not provide such an opportunity for the winners. Then in 1992, amid chaos and controversy surrounding the WWF Championship, the title was declared vacant and it was announced that the winner would become the new WWF Champion. Starting in 1993 and all the way until the present day the winner of the Royal Rumble Match would be granted a Championship Match at the biggest event of the year. In this two part column I will be looking at what winning the Royal Rumble Match has done for the winner’s career. Since the match started having title implications in 1992, that’s where we will start.
WWE Royal Rumble 2012 Preview
By John Canton, Andrew Johnson & Christian Michael
John Canton: I’ve always loved the Royal Rumble pay per view. I showed that love last year when I recapped every Royal Rumble match. The concept of the match is wonderful. Even if you think you know what might happen, there’s always a very good chance that something crazy will happen. I didn’t think Cena would win in 2008 or Edge in 2010 because they both made surprise returns. Could there be a surprise winner this year? You never know. The sad thing about the Rumble is that the winner doesn’t really get to “main event” WrestleMania anymore (especially this year), but it’s still one of my favorite matches and I know I’m going to enjoy it like I do every year. Right now there are only four announced matches. I’d expect some kind of midcard match to be added as a buffer to some of the big ones on the card, but I’m not going to guess what they will be.
chris jericho, cm punk, Cody Rhodes, Dolph Ziggler, john cena, kane, r-truth, randy orton, raw, royal rumble, sheamus, smackdown, the miz, wade barrett, wwe
Smacked Up!
Written by Christian Michael
Did you miss me? Probably not, but that’s ok because I’m back anyway. Before my hiatus I was covering SmackDown weekly here on TJR and I’ve been replaced by the super talented Andrew Johnson. This is the final edition of Smacked Up! and it’s the State of SmackDown Edition. I was watching the show that aired this past Friday and wondered to myself where many of the Superstars are headed as we near WrestleMania season. So, I decided that it would make a great return column to discuss that. So, let’s get this started. (more…)
Cody Rhodes, daniel bryan, randy orton, The Big Show, wwe smackdown
Smacked Up!
Written by Christian Michael
Charlotte, North Carolina are you ready for the Smack?
This Holiday Edition of SmackDown kicks off with Jolly Ol’ St. Mick heading down to the ring. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a total mark for Christmas but I have to question why they are having a holiday special in November, still three and a half weeks away from Christmas. I guess going live needs a tag line attached to it like when it was a SUPER SmackDown last time the show went live. Mick even brings up that we’re a few weeks away from the big day. He admits to being a huge Christmas guy also. Mick reminds us that tonight Daniel Bryan to surprisingly some boos, will challenge Mark Henry for the World Heavyweight Championship in a Steel Cage Match. Mick also announces that there will be a Miracle on 34th Street Fight and an All I Want for Christmas Battle Royal tonight. He doesn’t mention any participants but does say that the winner of the Battle Royal will have his Christmas wish granted. Foley then goes on to say that he couldn’t keep Michael Cole off SmackDown but he can determine how he dresses so he has Cole come out dressed as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Mick then brings out Booker T dressed as Santa Claus. Josh Mathews is already at ringside dressed like Buddy the Elf. Mick has Booker do a Spin-a-roonie for the Jewish members of the Universe. Because you know, dreidels spin and so does Booker. The party gets interrupted by Cody Rhodes. Cody calls Booker a lowly announcer again and says that Booker is taking away time from people that can still compete. Booker says he doesn’t want to throw down with Cody but he doesn’t want Cody to think that he can’t handle himself in the ring. Cody says that Booker claims he doesn’t have a problem with him but in actuality he does because Cody can still call himself a Champion while Booker will never again be able to. Mick steps in and defends Booker and makes a match for later tonight, Booker T vs. Cody Rhodes. It doesn’t seem like Booker is too ecstatic to have the match. (more…)
daniel bryan, Mark Henry, mick foley, world heavyweight championship, wwe smackdown
Smacked Up!
Written by Christian Michael
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania are you ready for the Smack?
The show kicks off with the World Heavyweight Champion, Mark Henry making his way down to the ring. Henry is in a walking boot and needs a crutch to get down to the ring after The Big Show leg dropped a steel chair that was wrapped around Henry’s leg at Survivor Series. Mizark wants to know what kind of person maliciously injures another such as Show did to him. He says that’s not the kind of treatment a World Heavyweight Champion deserves. Henry says he kicked Show in his knee not his “private spot” at Survivor Series. He says he’s out there tonight to show the kids that a real Champion fights through injuries. He says he wants to compete tonight but Teddy Long and the doctors won’t let him. The Big Show decides to interrupt the proceedings and lumbers down to the ring. Show wants Henry to stop lying, he kicked Show in the franks and beans and did so because Henry knew he’d lose the Championship if he didn’t. Show says as far as the ankle goes, he was just doing to Henry what Henry did to him. Show begins to say “next time” but Henry says there won’t be a next time because he’s the world’s largest loser. That little line got him knocked the hell out as Show hit him with the Weapon of Mass Destruction. (more…)
Cody Rhodes, daniel bryan, randy orton, wade barrett, wwe smackdown
Smacked Up!
Written by Christian Michael
Bridgeport, Connecticut are you ready for the Smack?
The show opens up with a beating in the backstage area. The World Heavyweight Champion, Mark Henry is taking his frustrations out on Daniel Bryan. Henry decided he had enough of beating up Bryan in the back so he drags him to the ring and continues the beating. After two World’s Strongest Slams a group of referees finally get Bryan out of the ring. Mizark grabs a mic to inform us that Bryan is in pain and he’s going to be dishing out more and that The Big Show will be carried out of Survivor Series. (more…)
Cody Rhodes, randy orton, sheamus, wade barrett, wwe smackdown
Smacked Up!
Written by Christian Michael
Liverpool, England are you ready for the Smack?
One Mr. Randy Orton heads to the ring to start the show. As he heads to the ring they announce that at Survivor Series there will be a Traditional 10 Man Survivor Series Elimination Match as Orton will captain the team of himself, Sheamus, Kofi Kingston, Sin Cara and Mason Ryan against the team of Wade Barrett, Jack Swagger, Cody Rhodes, Christian and Hunico. Barrett is the captain of that team, which to me is a bit surprising when there are two former World Heavyweight Champions (Swagger and Christian) and the man that Orton most recently feuded with (Rhodes) on that team also. (more…)
christian, randy orton, sheamus, wade barrett, wwe smackdown
Smacked Up!
Written by Christian Michael
Greenville, South Carolina are you ready for the Smack?
Street Fight- Randy Orton pins Cody Rhodes (***1/4)
Who booked this SmackDown? I need to know because that person knows what the hell they are doing. A 24 minute match to start the show? No talking, just good action? Are you kidding me? Can I have more please? The match was billed as a street fight and they did a good job of beating each other up through the crowd and by the stage. For today’s WWE this was a pretty bloody match. Orton had a cut on his elbow and one on the top of his head that produce a decent amount of blood while Rhodes had a cut on his nose and some scratches on his back that produced a little blood from taking a suplex on the stage. The only weapon used was Cody’s mask which presented Rhodes’ best chance to win. He had Orton in the Figure Four and then cracked him with the mask but that didn’t keep Orton down. Things spilled to the outside again and Cody took the hanging DDT from the security barrier to the floor and then The Viper tossed him in the ring and hit the RKO for the win. After the match Orton bagged Rhodes and took his mask stamping an end to this brief feud.
smackdown, wwe
Smacked Up!
Written by Christian Michael
Houston, Texas are you ready for the Smack?
After we relive The Big Show and Mark Henry destroying the ring at Vengeance we head to the arena where SmackDown General Manager, Teddy Long is in the ring. Someone should tell Teddy that the word extraordinary isn’t said like it is two separate words “extra” “ordinary”. That always bugs me. Anyway, Teddy says that both Show and Henry are here tonight and he will discuss the future of the World Heavyweight Championship later in the evening. Christian decides this is a good time to make an appearance so he heads to the ring. Christian comes out to politic for a Championship Match. Christian says he deserves the match because he’s been dominating SmackDown for five months. Teddy brings up that he lost to Sheamus at the PPV. Christian always loses. It’s stupid. Christian challenges Teddy to find a more deserving challenger. “Cult of Personality” blasts from the speakers in the arena and we are treated to a SmackDown appearance from CM Punk. Teddy tells us he’s arranged for some RAW Superstars to be here tonight so he can treat the fans to a SUPER SmackDown. The two trade jabs at their respective General Managers and then Punk says he’s actually a fan of Christian’s wrestling ability but he’s not a fan of his bitching and bitching and bitching and bitching and bitching and bitching. I think you get the point. Punk must have dropped 15 unbleeped bitchings, which drew a huge pop from the crowd. Christian tells him to go back to RAW because no one wants him here. The crowd does and Punk says they probably want to see him face Christian. Teddy makes the match and it’s on. (more…)
alberto del rio, christian, cm punk, daniel bryan, Mark Henry, r-truth, sheamus, The Big Show, the miz, wwe smackdown
Smacked Up!
Written by Christian Michael
Mexico City, Mexico are you ready for the Smack?
RAW’s WWE Champion, Alberto Del Rio heads to the ring to kick off SmackDown. It sounds like Del Rio is getting a nice pop in his home country. Del Rio says he was supposed to face The Big Show tonight but unfortunately that’s not going to happen. His English is off, I’m sure he meant fortunately. Anyway, he shows the video of John Cena smashing him in the face with the steel steps from RAW and says that’s the reason he won’t be competing tonight. Del Rio says he will beat Cena at Vengeance and go down as the greatest Mexican hero of all time. The Champion is all set to leave when the SmackDown General Manager, Teddy Long shows up and says Del Rio was cleared by WWE’s doctors to wrestle tonight and that Teddy thinks Alberto is just scared of Show. Teddy asks a room full of people that don’t speak English if they want to see Del Rio and Show tonight. They cheered which proves they don’t speak English. The match is on for later. (more…)
alberto del rio, Mark Henry, Sin Cara, The Big Show, wwe smackdown