The (Real) Samoa Joe Debut

By Speed on the Beat (@SpeedontheBeat)

Well, at least we know they won't call him "Joey Samoey" or some other sort of played-out joke.

OK, it's not that tired. But still!

Last night, after Kevin Owens decided to all but kill Sami Zayn at TakeOver Unstoppable, we heard some guitar riffs. We heard some heavy drums. We heard fans screaming. And then?

YO JOE!!! @SamoaJoe stops @FightOwensFight's assault on the injured @ILikeSamiZayn and @RealKingRegal! #NXTTakeover http://t.co/02IHxn49xE

— WWE (@WWE) May 21, 2015

Yeah. I definitely marked out like a five-year-old when John Cena tosses his hat in my general area. And I'm not ashamed by it. But, marking out aside, now that Joe's here, what happens next? We know that Owens is challenging for the US Title against John Cena at Elimination Chamber. So, let's play Devil's Advocate. Let's say Owens wins the US Title. He then gets into a match at the next NXT event to determine whether or not he'll be the first NXT and WWE champion. The participants of this match?

Owens, Finn Balor, and Samoa Joe (notice I left Zayn off, as, for now, his feud with Owens is over and done with). Balor is amazing, but I don't see him winning the title off of Owens. I do, however, especially based off the interaction last night, see Samoa Joe winning in similar fashion to Owens. You build Joe up as this guy who's big, he's brolic, he's a brawler. But, he hates bullies and people who take it too far. Yes, the same guy who people chant "Joey's Gonna Kill You" about has morals. Why? Because he may kill you, but he's not going to eviscerate you. Add that element in, and you've got the makings of a classic match.

But, what if Owens loses at Elimination Chamber? Well, it'd be a similar situation. Either way, we all should truthfully shut up and enjoy the ride. But, it's fun to speculate.

Read More

Eyes on the Ring 10:50 AM  No comment

Nathan and Jon's Fast Lane Predictions

By Nathan (@Headliner5) and Jon (@BigJonDaLegend)

Nathan: It’s time once again for the monthly WWE PPV prediction column with Jon and myself. This time we are covering WWE Fast Lane 2015. We are treading into some uncharted waters because this is a first-time pay-per-view. We have no idea what to expect, we can’t base things off of past years going into this one. So, while it’s an exciting time because we are getting a brand new PPV...it’s also a time to be skeptical as well for the very same reason I gave as to why to be excited. Another thing to take into consideration is the fact that this pay-per-view is free with the free month of the WWE Network. Last time the WWE Network had a free month, they had a really good Survivor Series. This time around, we could get the same with Fast Lane. But, like I said earlier, we truly don’t know. Enough, of my rambling let’s get to running down the crowd what do you say Jon?

Kick Off
Miz TV with Paul Heyman

Nathan: It makes me a bit mad that they wont be having a match on the pre-show. But, this could work. I’m not a fan of The Miz. I know I’m not supposed to because he’s a heel, but what he generates is more X-Pac Go-Away Heat than legitimate heel heat. On the other hand, I’m a huge Paul Heyman fan. So, WWE is doing a great job of making me want to see this thing because of Paul Heyman.

Sting and Triple H Face to Face 

Nathan: This is another thing that’s not really a match. It’s got some intrigue to it though because of the men involved. I’m actually really looking forward to the match between Triple H and Sting at WrestleMania, because it has a chance to be really good. Plus, it’ll be the first time that Sting wrestles inside of a WWE ring so it has some historic value to it.  This will be the second time that Triple H and Sting face off and who knows what will go down but I can’t wait to see how it plays out because it will shape the road to Wrestlemania.

Dean Ambrose vs. Bad News Barrett {C}
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match

Jon: Its refreshing to see some one actively going after the Intercontinental Championship they Dean has. Wade Barrett has all the skills to be a great champion, but he hasn't lived up to his potential as of yet. This match won't be a technical wrestling masterpiece its gonna be a brutal brawl. This is likely to be the only title change of the night, as Dean Ambrose will pull off an upset.

Jon’s Prediction: Winner and NEW WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose

Nathan: This match could be very good and I actually don’t mind the way that they built it up on Monday. It wasn’t the best they could have done. But at least they are trying, right? That’s all you can ask for the biggest wrestling company in the world. But, really I’m not sure how I feel about this match to be honest because whoever wins whether it be Dean or Barrett will be lost in the shuffle.

The reason being because the WWE doesn’t value the Intercontinental title the way the used to and it’s almost seen as a curse. I feel like Ambrose could use it as a way to rehabilitate his character because I still can’t take him seriously post-exploding TV. Barrett recently won it and I’m not sure if he should lose it just yet but in a way they put the belt on him and didn’t capitalize on it and while the very same thing could happen with Dean Ambrose (should he win )I have a feeling he will be winning this match.

Nathan’s Prediction: Winner and NEW WWE Intercontinental Champion Dean Ambrose

Cesaro and Tyson Kidd vs. The Usos {C}
WWE Tag Team Championship Match

Jon: Usos win, this rivalry just started and Kidd and Cesaro need a little more time together before they win the title.

Jon’s Prediction: Winners and Still WWE Tag Team Champions The Uso’s

Nathan: Cesaro and Tyson Kidd have gained some momentum and have had some very entertaining matches throughout their run as a tag team.  I didn’t think I would like them as a team but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I do.  Whenever the Uso’s are the tag team champions things can get a bit stale.  It’s not that the Uso’s themselves are stale because that’s not the case it’s the fact that creative doesn’t necessarily know what to do with them.  I actually thought the double date segment between Natalya, Tyson Kidd, Jimmy Uso and Naomi was great and it did a lot to advance the storyline so that’s something. Again I’m glad that they are trying with this one but my hope for this is that we will get new WWE Tag Team Champions in Cesaro and Kidd, which will in turn breathe some new life into the tag division, which has grown relatively stale.

Nathan’s Prediction: Winners and NEW WWE Tag Team Champions Cesaro and Tyson Kidd

Paige vs. Nikki Bella {C}
WWE Diva’s Championship Match

Jon: Nikki’s run with the divas title won't come to an end just yet. There isn't anything exciting about this feud besides Paige in a towel this Monday on Raw.

Jon’s Prediction: Winner and STILL WWE Diva’s Champion Nikki Bella

Nathan: Since I’m conditioned not to care about WWE Divas matches, the same thing has happened here. They do a bunch of stuff to build the matches that they think will make me care...when the truth is that it’s the exact opposite. For those of you who missed RAW Monday night Nikki and Brie performed a breaking and entering into Paige’s locker room in order to steal her ring gear prior to her (Paige’s) match. After that, Paige had to track down one of the Rosebuds (Blue Pants in NXT a/k/a Leva Bates) in order to obtain some clothes that she could wear for the match so she didn’t have to wrestle naked.

Also, at one point on commentary during that whole thing, JBL said the word “wrestling” and I’m sure he got an earful from that insane lunatic in the back.  So to wrap things up here The Bella’s went against the entire B A Star campaign because they are bullies and Paige is just Paige and she’s awesome. Although I want Paige to win this match my brain is telling me that it’s not going to happen and that we are going to be stuck with more Bella shenanigans going forward.

Nathan’s Prediction: Winner and STILL WWE Diva’s Champion Nikki Bella

Goldust vs. Stardust

Jon: The Rhodes brothers have had a good run as a tag team, as well as depleting the amount of tag teams in WWE. This match up has been a long time coming the tension between the two has been building for months. I think Goldust will get the win but this won't be their last fight.

Jon’s Prediction: Goldust

Nathan: This match seems to have been brewing for quite some time with the friction between the Rhodes brothers. It began with some mis-communication between the Brothers Dust and involved Stardust getting mad at Goldust. When Goldust got his brother's attention, by calling him Cody, Stardust replied with “Cody is dead."

Things finally came to a head this past Monday night on RAW when Star and Goldust lost a tag team match to New Day members Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods due to more mis-communication. Stardust, post-match, hit his patented Cross Rhodes finishing maneuver on his brother. Now Star and Goldust are set to explode this Sunday night as part of the Fast Lane pay per view. If I had to venture a guess, I would say that Goldust will be the likely winner in this one. This will, in turn, lead to setting up a WrestleMania match that the two brothers have been petitioning WWE to do for quite some time. Plus, we can finally get Cody Rhodes back and Stardust can go away forever.

Nathan’s Prediction: Goldust

John Cena vs. Rusev {C}
WWE United States Championship Match

Jon: Hustle Loyalty and Respect. That's Cena's mantra, always overcoming the obstacles. For a man who never backs down from a fight, he hasn't been winning at the normal Cena rate this year. While Rusev has been on a path of destruction ever since being on the main roster no one goes undefeated in wrestling (Ed. Note: see: "The Streak," Undertaker and Goldberg entries). But, the fact that Rusev hasn't been pinned or tapped out this long is quite impressive. The Russian can prove a lot if he can beat Cena. If he doesn't his career outlook could mirror Kozlov or Lord Tensai. We all remember how Tensai dominated until Cena stopped him in his tracks, transforming the big man from a feared singles competitor into a dancing tag team with Brodus Clay. Rusev, it's your time to prove that you are truly unstoppable.

Jon’s Prediction: Winner and STILL WWE United States Champion Rusev

Nathan: This one is a hard one because it has so many caveats to it. John Cena is the unstoppable force while Rusev is the unstoppable monster. Rusev is undefeated and John Cena, according to the Internet, ruins things. While John Cena doesn’t need the United States Title, he wants to win it because 'Murica. Rusev, on the other hand, wants to Crush Cena and prove that he’s an old man who can’t get it done anymore.  I’m torn on who to predict as the winner of this match. My heart says Rusev. My brain says Cena. So, I’ll go with a completely different route and say we get a Disqualification somehow and that Cena will win when Rusev goes apeshit and the referee has to stop the match because of it most likely Rusev wont break The Accolade and that will force the referee’s hand and the DQ finish.

Nathan’s Prediction: Winner John Cena via Disqualification

Roman Reigns vs. Daniel Bryan
#1 Contenders Match where the winner advances to WrestleMania to face off against WWE Champion Brock Lesnar

Jon: This is Reigns’ first chance to Main Event a pay-per-view. After the way the Philly crowd turned on him at Royal Rumble, I hope he shines. Daniel Bryan has always been an underdog with a lot of fight in him so this match up is good test for both men. It's a shame that they are fighting for the chance to get destroyed by the Beast Incarnate Brock Lesnar. Daniel Bryan should win because there is big money in seeing the YES! Movement vs. Brock Lesnar.

Jon’s Prediction: Winner, and #1 Contender to the WWE Championship at WrestleMania, Daniel Bryan

Nathan: I want to say that this match is also hard to predict but it’s really not if you think about it. Roman Reigns already won the Royal Rumble and has earned a title shot at WrestleMania. Daniel Bryan wants a chance to regain the title that he never lost. So...even if the WWE didn’t want to do anything to build this match, they really didn’t have to. Of course, we got the pull apart brawl at the end of RAW (it was very good if I do say so myself).

But, it doesn’t change the fact that Roman Reigns is going to win this match. I don’t necessarily want him to win but there’s no point in having him lose. The reason being that even if he does lose this match, he will end up getting added back to the match anyway (see 2006 when Orton beat Mysterio at No Way Out to take his title shot. Teddy Long, the GM at the time, added Rey back into the match to make it a triple threat). However even if that were to happen, it won't because WWE will not give us a triple threat world title main event two years in a row.

Nathan’s Prediction: Winner and #1 Contender to the WWE Championship at WrestleMania Roman Reigns

And there you have it Eyes On The Ring readers, you now have the 411 on what Jon and myself think will happen at the inaugural Fast Lane.  Like I said earlier this is a first time event from the WWE so it’s a bit more unpredictable but if you consider or in some cases remember what company it is you are watching then you would quickly realize that it’s not that unpredictable after all.  This is the final stop on the road to Wrestlemania as far as Pay Per View’s are concerned and I hope it’s worth it.  Plus once this event is over we will know a little more about where WWE is headed as far as the Showcase of The Immortals is concerned.

So until Sunday be sure and follow Jon on twitter @BigJonDaLegend and also myself Nathan @Headliner5.  Also be sure to follow Eyes On The Ring on twitter @EyesOnTheRing.  If you have any thoughts after reading this be sure and drop either myself or Jon a message on twitter and let us know what you think.  You can also go to Facebook.com/EyesOnTheRing liking us and letting us know your thoughts if Facebook is more your avenue of communication.

Last, but not least visit the brand new EyesOnTheRing.com, home of everything Eyes On The Ring as Jon, myself and the rest of the team bring you all of the latest wrestling news, views, and opinions finally check out the radio show immediately following WWE Fast Lane as we bring you our live reactions to everything that went down over at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/elitepodcastnetwork

Read More

Eyes on the Ring 11:44 AM  No comment

Speed on the Beat Reviews: Judgment Day 2007

Hello Ringers. Sadness and excrement are here to ring in the new year with another (not-so) exciting episode of "Was It Really That Bad?" Review with me, the Chris Jericho of EOTR, Speed on the Beat. In case you've missed it, the purpose of "WIRTB" is to take PPVs that have, deservedly or otherwise, been crapped on over the years and answer the question, in hindsight, of "was it really that bad?" with a somewhat "smarky" tone. I've had to say "yes" for the past four reviews, so maybe this one will be the camel which breaks The Great Khali's back.

...Guess I just gave away the decision. Or did I? Let's get this (shit) show on the road. A word of caution, though. As seen in my Uncensored 1995 review, my "WIRTB" reviews tend to get a bit more...colorful than other EOTR posts. Figure'd I'd get that disclaimer out the way before we lose our sponsors on account for me showing a bit of attitude with my RUTHLESS...AGGRESSION!

Judgement Day (2007) featured John Cena versus Khali, Edge versus Batista, Chris Benoit versus Montel Vontavious Porter, CM Punk versus Elijah Burke among other matches. It also features Kane on the poster, despite Kane only having a dark match against William Regal. That's a harbinger of things to come.

If Kane's my guide through the River Styx, just throw me in and let me burn.

This was, admittedly, around the time when I stopped giving much of a crap about wrestling. We always talk about the "PG Era" being horrible, but around this time, WWE was pretty ghastly (McMahon's bastard son, McMahon's limo blowing up, etc.). TNA was good, match-wise, but sucked storyline-wise (sounds familiar). And you couldn't really find ROH, PWG, CZW or what have you anywhere aside from DVDs and YouTube clips (at least not in Baltimore), so I wasn't really that big on indies. All in all, 2007 was a weird year for wrestling (aside from the obvious Benoit incident).

Before I get into the event itself, I've got to say that it's pretty damned weird to see Chris Benoit wrestling. This is the first time I've watched Judgement Day since Benoit did what he did. This won't be a post on that, though. So, without further ado, let's get into it--for real, this time.

Our first match is Ric Flair versus Carlito.

Spoiler Alert: #FlairWinsLOL

Now, here are two guys that are great talents. Ric Flair is a damned legend, and Carlito, when he wasn't having "attitude issues," was one of my favorites from this era. However, this match falls flat. First, this is around the time where I started praying Flair would just leave well enough alone and become someone's manager. Like, I didn't mind Flair still blading like a boss in the early 2000s, or even him in Evolution. However, by this point, watching Flair was like watching that drunk uncle at your family's reunion who tries is damnedest to be cool and relive his golden days, but ends up puking on himself after having one too many brews when everyone's looking.

Now that I told you how my Christmas was, I've gotta say that the "Umaga Ate My Homework" sign that popped up early on was better than this match. The submission-fests in this match don't give any additional "psychology" or story to this match. They just showcase that Flair, as much of a legend as he is, should have just chilled the hell out by this point. JR and Lawler try to put over both talents, but neither the crowd nor I am having any of it. A drunk fat black guy, possibly the dad of the "Just Say Yes!" guy, tries to get a "NA-TURE BOY!" chant going to mostly deaf ears. After more submissions, Flair slaps on the Figure Four and gets the win.

Our next match is Black Lesnar versus Blackface Lashley, Shane McMahon, and Umaga in a handicap match for the ECW Championship.

What's up...my nigga?

First, can someone remind Vince that taking the belt off a black guy and/or working with a black guy doesn't turn you black? If it did, I'm pretty sure that CM Punk would've been all "yo dawg" when he teamed up with Kofi. Seriously, this whole "Vince is one of the blacks" thing was probably as distasteful as DX appearing in blackface in 1998. Except, as fucked up as that whole thing was, it halfway had a point (DX were the "edgy" asshole tweeners who wanted to piss everyone off, Trips hated Rock, the segment, while uncomfortable to watch as a black guy, still had some halfway funny moments, etc.). This crap was just saddening. Then again, Vince has a habit of trying to be down with da peepz, homie.

Taz has to catch himself from saying "holy shit" when Shane gets speared by Black Lesnar (a decent spot, by the way). Here's a rundown of this match: After Black Lesnar gets the win, Blackface Lashley has his durag fall off and retains on a technicality, and Umaga thumb spikes Black Lesnar after the bell. That's pretty much all that happened in this.

We get a backstage segment with Dr. Chris Annan the WWE backstage doctor advising Shawn Michaels that he can't compete (after Orton damn near killed him by tossing him into the stage equipment backstage).We then get "THIS FIRE BURNS!!!" and CM Punk comes out for his match against Elijah Burke. FINALLY, I have a use for this:

It's a bit ironic to hear the WWE announcers putting over Punk's BJJ and Muay Thai skills when almost eight years later, he's in the UFC. On the other hand, I can't take Elijah Burke seriously. Yes, he's legitimate and has can throw legitimate bombs, but the man has hair beads. What grown-ass man do you know has hair beads?

He looks like JTG's illegitimate brother. Considering WWE at the time,
I'm amazed they didn't do an "all blacks look alike" storyline.

The match's main focus is Punk's ribs and whether or not the injury will cost him against Burke. I actually enjoyed this match because both Punk and Burke told a decent story. Should it have gone on for almost fifteen minutes, though? Hell no. A lot of back-and-forth and Punk gets the victory on the GTS which didn't have a lot of the theatrics of some of his later GTSes. It connected, Burke dropped, Punk got the pin. 

Next up? HBK vs. Orton.

I'm an Orton fan...but he definitely looked juiced here.

HBK gets KTFO at the beginning. HBK receives a middle-rope DDT. HBK looks dead. HBK collapses before Orton gives him the RKO. Orton gets all "I hear voices," puts HBK on the top rope, which results in HBK clawing at Orton's face. HBK gives Orton an elbow drop and then drops like a Fight Night create-a-boxer before he gives Orton the Sweet Chin Music, giving Orton the win. That same fat black guy, it sounds like, gets an RKO chant going. Orton obliges. The end.

Oh look, a wild Khali appears with "John Cena's belt" (technically, they're right. It's the spinner belt and it's the spinner belt that Cena had won) and his translator. As expected, his promo is greeted to "WHAT?!" chants. Yay AMURRRICA!

Random fact: Khali, before he ended up in WWE, was kind of an agile big man.
Pituitary gland problems and taking massive bumps at his size can kill that for
anyone. 

The World Tag Team Championship match between Generic Alt Rock Song Ten The Hardys and Cade and Murdoch.

Word...my nigga.

This match starts out pretty decently. Lots of switchy spots that give both teams a fair shot. JBL gives us a word-of-the-day ("capriciousness") as Jeff Hardy tags in. The match slows down when Matt goes in after Jeff's first tag, while speeds up a great deal when Jeff's in. Save your "it's synonymous with the drugs they used" foolishness for someone who cares about all that. Cade and Murdoch were one of the Ruthless Aggression Era's underrated tag teams to me. They meshed so well, even though their characters were kind of "eh."

The tide changes "just as [JBL] was about to put [Cade and Murdoch] over" (yes, that was an actual line from JBL's commentary, that little smark) and the Hardys start picking it up. Some more back and forth ensues (at this point, it's kind of yawn-inducing, so I'll spare you the details). Then Jeff hits a swanton bomb after Matt's Twist of Fate and scores the retention.

We get a promo for the Edge/Batista match (I skipped over it; didn't need to know it again), then they actually start going at it. The fact that this match goes on before the U.S. Championship match rubs me the wrong way. I'm glad that it's something different and a victory for the "non-Cenas," but you're putting a match between two of the era's biggest stars on before MVP and Benoit.

Oh, wait. This match kind of sucks and the Benoit/MVP feud was actually pretty damned intense (I guess MVP's adoration of Benoit as a wrestler and all created even more magic in this feud). Never mind, I get why they did it.

Seven years later, Batista'd pick up where he left off in this match.
He'd go back to the Jersey Shore and pick up his European cuts.

Edge scored the victory on a school boy after Batista does his Ultimate Warrior homage (RIP Warrior) and hits a second spinebuster. Yes, Edge's the ultimate opportunist, but...come on! Edge getting the win on a Diva's move is, in the immortal words of Riley Freeman, a bitch move (excuse my sexism, but I mean that somewhat literally). Now, if you're watching this on the WWE Network, you'll know you can't actually search for Benoit's match in the PPV timeline. However, the Benoit/MVP match is up next.

It's eerie hearing "but the dead don't have no memory" in MVP's theme before Benoit comes out, just because. But, again, I'm not going to focus on Benoit's last day's (as hard as it is to put it out of your head when you see him).

This match, for the U.S. Championship, is a two-out-of-three-falls match. I forgot how "cool" MVP was (supposed to be), with the stunna shades, the "ballin'" shot taunt, the tracksuit get-up, the bling, etc. The story that Benoit and MVP were able to tell in this match was great. MVP was shown as the plucky heel with tweener tendencies (he wasn't as chicken of a heel as he could've been here). Benoit was shown as the aggressive face who wanted to retain his belt after being injured by Finlay. The match was heavy on technical wrestling, brawl spots, and well pretty much everything you could want from a co-main event. Benoit hits the Three Amigos after some corner action then locks in the Crossface. MVP gets out, which leads to an exchange ending in a sharpshooter by Benoit. MVP gets both pins after performing the Playmaker and a cradle pin. This match was my favorite match of the event. There wasn't a cheap finish, no crazy flippy shit for no real reason, no Elijah Burke.

And just like WWE in 2014, 2015, you go from a hot match to Cena closing out the show.

Seriously wonder if Cena realizes that the intro to "My Time is Now"
contains a shoutout to Amadou? Or does it's just there to make
Cena seem more "urban?" 

The reactions are still pretty mixed here, but more cheers than boos (it is 2007, after all). Khali comes out with Cena's belt (as mentioned) and Lawler wants Cena to prove that size doesn't matter. Ugh.

Khali does his Godzilla yell and Cena clocks him in the stomach, which pisses the giant off. Khali delivers a clothesline which looked primed to cave Cena's effin' head in without a kick. They brawl outside, highlighted by Cena being tossed into the steps. Cena selling Khali's offense (something you don't see much of these days, on either front), until he hulks up, hits a bulldog and puts on the weakest submission hold in WWE these days (the STF[U]) for the win.

Final Verdict:
So, was it really that bad? Aside from the Benoit/MVP match? Daniel, care to tell the audience?

No one really had chemistry. The Cena match was ass (even more than you'd expect from Khali versus Cena). CM Punk's match, while decent, went on for way too long. The Tag Team match dragged as well. Your poster boy has a dark match. And HBK getting his shit rocked more times than I cared to watch was unneeded (Legend Killer or not). All in all, skip mostly everything in this PPV. If you can stomach watching Benoit, I'd recommend the MVP/Benoit match and maybe the CM Punk/Burke match. Other than that? Stay far the hell away from this bastard.

That about does it for me. Be sure to (shameless plug) be on the lookout for new music from myself and the rest of Team DAR. Also, be sure to keep your eyes on the ring...my nigga. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go cry about the absurdity of Vince McMahon magically re-receiving his black card from beating Bobby Lashley in the first place. 

Read More

Eyes on the Ring 12:00 PM  2 comments

Tables Ladders Chairs...and Stairs? A Jon and Nathan Preview

We've made it. After a year of craziness, Daniel Bryan return rumors, Sting appearances, and CM Punk joining UFC...we're at our final WWE PPV of the year. As per the usual, our crack team of prognosticators Jon and Nathan have collaborated on their thoughts for this Sunday's ridiculously-named Tables, Ladders, Chairs...and Stairs pay per view. 'Tis the season to beat the crap out of each other, WWE-style.

Read More

Eyes on the Ring 10:25 AM  No comment