Eyes On NFL: Divisional Round Playoffs

By @TrueGodImmortal

This is unusually early for this article, but it is appropriate. With the playoffs winding down and the divisional round about to kick off very soon, it's only fair we take a look at the games that will shape the AFC and NFC Championship Games. Who will walk out as a winner this week in the second round of the playoffs? Let's take a look.

*Atlanta Falcons vs Philadelphia Eagles

-I don't know what to really make of this game. Going forward, it's honestly interesting to see that the Falcons might be able to secure their ticket to the NFC Championship once again, and guess what? They might be the favorites considering the fact that the Eagles don't have Carson Wentz at QB, but for some reason.... after seeing the performance by the Falcons against the young Rams team, I'm not 100% convinced that the Falcons are going to walk into Philly and defeat the Eagles. The Eagles have a solid run game and a solid core of receivers and honestly, if Foles can play it sort of safe here and get the right throws and scores..... the Eagles could pull this off. While the smart money says the Falcons will win..... for me, I would like to think the Eagles have been well rested, fired up, and are ready to pull off a big time victory that would be the first time in history that a first seed upset a sixth seed.... at home. Atlanta fans, I know you want to get back to the Super Bowl....but I think the Falcons will take the Eagles lightly and that will be their downfall.

Winner: Eagles

*New England Patriots vs Tennessee Titans 

-I wish the Titans were better than this. I really do. Their coaching is suspect. Their defense isn't the greatest and we watched them make a comeback on a Chiefs team that is known for choking. Let's be clear: that was a fluke victory over the Chiefs, but the Patriots will not allow the same thing. If the Patriots have a 21-3 lead going into the half, you can bet the game is pretty much over. Tom Brady is precise in the playoffs and you'd be silly to beat against him..... HOWEVER, if we can get a top tier Marcus Mariota performance and Derrick Henry can run his ass off..... there might be something to this. The Titans for the upset? Unlikely, but if it does happen.... social media would crumble. Social media would fall.

Winner: Patriots

*New Orleans Saints vs Minnesota Vikings

-This is the most intriguing of the two NFC games. The Vikings have a wonderful defense, and their offense is just good enough to make something happen for them and led them to the NFC North title and a top 2 seed in the Conference. The Saints have a great offense, but after watching the refs help them secure the game against the Panthers, it's obvious that they could possibly be vulnerable going into this game and the Vikings could take advantage of this. Drew Brees had a vintage game against the Panthers, but the Vikings are a better team here. Many people are expecting to see a Falcons vs Saints NFC Title game.... but I don't see it. I expect to see the Falcons and the Saints lose for some reason, and we get the NFC Title game that no one expected: Nick Foles vs Case Keenum.

Winner: Vikings

*Pittsburgh Steelers vs Jacksonville Jaguars 

-I want to go ahead and say the AFC Title Game will be the Titans vs Jaguars and honestly.... if the NFL didn't have the sketchy referees that they have.... I would definitely see this being the case. The truth is however, the Steelers are out for blood and that's obvious. Antonio Brown will be back. The Steelers will mostly be healthy this game and their offense is deadly. We are on a collision course for these two teams and those teams are the Patriots and the Steelers. I think the Steelers are on a mission and although I wouldn't mind seeing the Jaguars win... I think this is the Steelers' year to win the AFC.... Steelers will find a way to win.

Winner: Steelers

-True

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Eyes on the Ring 11:53 PM  No comment

Eyes On Royal Rumble: Top 10 World Title Matches

By @Phranchize19 & @TrueGodImmortal

As the Royal Rumble nears, you'll be seeing some more Rumble related articles from us here at EOTR. With that being said, today, Phranchize and I decided to sit down and combine our opinions on a list of 10 of the best World Title Matches in Rumble History. This list might be controversial, but if you disagree, feel free to share your favorite matches in the comments below. Let's take a look.

10. CM Punk vs Dolph Ziggler
Royal Rumble 2012

-CM Punk was wrestling’s hottest star and management (John Laurinaits) wanted him out as champ. Ziggler earned a title shot by pinning Punk and as a result, we got this match. I felt this was one of Ziggler’s best performances even though this match was overshadowed by the rivalry between Punk and Laurinaitis. It was great action all the way through however and Ziggler showed why he deserved more during this time period.

9. Shawn Michaels vs Undertaker 
Casket Match 
Royal Rumble 1998

-Even though this was just a continuation of the Undertaker vs Kane feud, this match was still fantastic. Sadly, Shawn Michaels would suffer the wrath of this brutal match as he lost his career for four long years following a tough bump on the casket. Shawn wins the match, but loses something more valuable in the aftermath.

8. Bret Hart vs Undertaker 
Royal Rumble 1996

-I (Phranchize) really feel that this match is so vastly underrated. It’s rare that two face wrestlers get in the ring and even with the contrast in styles, this match was brilliant to me. The ending wasn't the greatest way to close it out, but it helped both to keep their momentum.

7. Chris Jericho vs The Rock 
Royal Rumble 2002

-Jericho was in the prime of his career and so was The Rock. This match was one of the best of both men’s careers and you could tell that Jericho was out to prove he was no fluke and that he was main event material as the Undisputed Champion. Jericho wins and cements his legacy even more.

6. The Rock vs Mankind 
I Quit Match
Royal Rumble 1999

-The most brutal and vicious match on this list. The lines of reality and fiction were blurred with this one. Mankind would suffer the most brutal chair shots that we had seen up until that point in WWF. It was a bloody and gruesome match that saw The Rock steal a victory (literally) when it was all said and done.

5. Brock Lesnar vs Seth Rollins vs John Cena 
Royal Rumble 2015

-A choice from True, this match is one of the most fun matches in Royal Rumble history. It features Cena, Rollins, and Brock going at it for the WWE World Heavyweight Title, and for Rollins, this was the match that made me a believer. With his knack for high flying and stealing the show, Seth did just that, as Brock took time out of the match (he barely wrestles longer than 10 minutes nowadays), while Seth and Cena delighted the audience. Brock walked away with the win, but Seth is the MVP of the match hands down.

4. Triple H vs Shawn Michaels 
Last Man Standing 
Royal Rumble 2004

-One of the most brutal matches I’ve ever seen. You can tell these two laid it all on the line in this one. Although we didn’t get a decisive winner, the decision honestly didn’t hurt the bout. It honestly seemed more fitting that neither man won. You have to revisit this classic.

3. John Cena vs AJ Styles 
Royal Rumble 2017

-A recent classic that was tough to place, Cena vs Styles is one of the best matches of 2017 and one of the best matches in WWE Royal Rumble PPV history, which earns it the title of being top 3 here. I could have put it over Angle vs Benoit, but it just misses that level of greatness by a small amount. The overuse of finishers is the only knock against this match, but at the end, Cena wins title no. 16 and AJ doesn't look weak losing his title, so it worked out okay for the most part. This match is a classic regardless of result however.

2. Kurt Angle vs Chris Benoit
Royal Rumble 2003

-One of the best wrestling matches of all time. These two put on an absolute clinic. Benoit proved that he was worthy of being in a main event spot with one of the best of all time. The action was full of fire and Benoit was closer than he had ever been to walking away with the WWE Title. While many would consider this the best of the best, and it is very close, it just misses the no. 1 spot. What takes no. 1?

1. Triple H vs Cactus Jack
Royal Rumble 2000

-Hands down, the best World Title match in Royal Rumble history. Triple H showed a side of himself that up to that point had never been seen and we all know what Cactus Jack brings. Throw in the Street Fight rules and you get a classic that took Triple H to the next level and allowed the world to see that Mick Foley was still one of a kind in the ring.

-EOTR

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Eyes on the Ring 9:20 PM  No comment

Eyes On NFL: Wild Card Round

By @TrueGodImmortal

The time has arrived. The NFL playoffs have begun. This weekend will see the start of the playoffs and the road to the Super Bowl begin. Of course, there are four games this weekend that will determine what the second round of the playoffs will be. Which teams will advance to face the Eagles, the Vikings, the Patriots, and Steelers? Let's take a look at the wild card round.

*Kansas City Chiefs vs Tennessee Titans 

-I have no desire to really watch this game. I'll be honest. The Chiefs and the Titans are two teams I didn't want to see in the playoffs. The Chiefs haven't been at their best since the first few weeks of the season and the Titans aren't a true threat. Marcus Mariota is a solid quarterback, but the biggest question mark about the Titans going forward is their defense. Can they stop Kareem Hunt, Alex Smith, and their receiving core? That will be the true question that decides this game. The Chiefs have played better than I expected the last few weeks, but that's mostly due to the level of competition. Their schedule allowed them to make it this far, but I think their luck doesn't run out just yet. The Titans will put up a fight, but the Chiefs will have more answers for them. I predict the Chiefs will walk away with the victory here.

Winner: Chiefs

*Atlanta Falcons vs Los Angeles Rams 

-I see a lot of people saying this game will be won by the Falcons. I'm not so sure. I think the fight within the Falcons will help them get an edge early in the game, but I don't think they have enough  to sustain Todd Gurley, who could be the difference maker in the game. The Falcons seem to be a bit banged up and that could be a difference maker in this game. The Rams have that great offense and with Jared Goff, Gurley, and all of the receivers playing, it might be tougher for the Falcons to slow them down. The fact remains however that the Falcons do have more playoff experience, but this is one and done. If the Rams come out firing, this game will be their victory and I predict they will win a close one.

Winner: Rams

*Buffalo Bills vs Jacksonville  Jaguars 

-I don't have high hopes for this one at all. This game might be ugly. I never expected to see the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs and I sincerely hope they don't win this game. Their defense has been surprisingly good against lesser offensive foes, but the Jaguars run game will be a big issue for them to stop. Blake Bortles has flashes of brilliance along with his usual mediocre play, but I can't determine what type of performance he will give us in this game. However, Tyrod Taylor has a lot to prove in this game after the benching debacle earlier in the season, and with the chance of Shady missing this game, it could really get ugly for the Bills. Still, I think this game will end up being a solid one with the Jaguars winning by 10 points. The Jaguars defense will need to step up and make things happen in order for Jacksonville to advance.

Winner: Jaguars

*Carolina Panthers vs New Orleans Saints 

-This is the most interesting game of the weekend. Two NFC South rivals with two important quarterbacks will do battle. The difference maker in this will be defense. All signs would point to the Saints being able to slow down the Panthers, who have struggled a bit, but the Saints are by default the NFC South Champions. Their run game is deadly, their passing game can be deadly if Drew Brees is focused, and they have an improved defense after the early problems they experienced. The question is, do they have what it takes to beat the Panthers? This is going to be a tougher battle than I believe most expect and for some reason, I can see Cam Newton having one of his best games this season and leading the Carolina offense down the field throughout. I think this could go either way, but I do believe that we'll see the Panthers pull off what has to be considered an upset.

Winner: Panthers

-True

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Eyes on the Ring 11:55 PM  No comment

EOTR Tag Team Tuesdays: 5 Tag Team Matches At The Royal Rumble

By @TrueGodImmortal

With the Royal Rumble a few weeks away, and it being Tuesday again, I wanted to take a brief look at some of the better tag team matches that took place at the beginning of the year event. There hasn't been a classic tag team match in years so most of these will be at least 10 years old. Let's take a look.

*1-2-3 Kid and Bob Holly vs Bam Bam Bigelow and Tatanka
Royal Rumble 1995

-This match was for the vacant WWF Tag Team Titles and it was much better than it had any business being. Both Bam Bam and Tatanka were a part of the Dibiase Million Dollar Corporation, and this would be the final round of a vacant tag team title tournament. This match was fast paced surprisingly, and at the end, the unthinkable happened: Bob Holly and 1-2-3 Kid were the new WWF Tag Team Champions in a hot match that helped open up the Rumble PPV.

*The Smoking Gunns vs The Bodydonnas
Royal Rumble 1996 

-Another tag team title match that didn't seem promising, this would end up being a solid match on a weaker PPV. Both teams were solid in the ring and as a result, this would be a short but enjoyable contest that would end with the Smoking Gunns retaining the titles. There was a tease coming in this contest of perhaps Sunny leaving the corner of the Bodydonnas and eventually she would manage The Smoking Gunns, and the seeds were planted with this match.

*The Hardy Boyz vs The Dudley Boyz
Tables Match
Royal Rumble 2000

-There were three teams that were viable during this Attitude Era run and two of them were in this match. This was a match that I think deserves more credit for being a beginning point for the three way rivalry that changed tag team wrestling forever. With these two teams going at each other and trying to put the other through tables, this would showcase the brutality that made the Attitude Era so much fun. This was the first ever tag team tables match and it didn't disappoint at all. The Hardy Boyz would walk away with the victory and set another piece of the rivalry between the two teams into action and for the future.

*The Dudley Boyz vs Edge And Christian
Royal Rumble 2001

-The crowd was hot for this match, another tag team match that would open the show. With the tag titles on the line, The Dudleys would try to right their wrongs from last year and walk out victors. Though this match was a bit shorter, it had enough action to entice the live crowd who were firmly behind Bubba Ray and D-Von. At the 10 minute mark, after a huge 3D, the Dudleys got the three count and would be walking out of the area victorious and as the new tag team champions. Of all the matches on this list, this might very well be my personal favorite of them all. It has a fast pace, a great crowd, and the right winner. Dope match.

*The Hardy Boyz vs MNM
Royal Rumble 2007

-My last choice is a match between a team that was beyond their prime and a team that never really hit their prime. While MNM had a lot to offer in terms of ability and athleticism, they never quite got it right as a team IMO. They were tag team champions and had a decent gimmick, but they aren't as memorable as they should be considering, but this match was actually a highlight of their run. Kicking off the show with a mostly hot crowd, these two teams put on a high flying athletic show that would end with the Hardy Boyz having their hands raised in victory, but MNM put up a great fight. While the Rumble hasn't had a ton of classic or great tag team matches, you should take a look at all 5 of these battles before the big event.

-True

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Eyes on the Ring 1:26 AM  No comment

EOTR Match Of The Week: Brock Lesnar vs The Undertaker

By @Phranchize19

We continue our theme for the month on Ruthless Aggression PPV main events. We have a forgotten yet good one for you this week as we look back at Brock Lesnar vs The Undertaker in a Biker Chain Match WWE Championship from No Mercy 2003.

Background
Brock Lesnar turned heel and won the WWE Title from Kurt Angle. Undertaker, who had recently feuded with John Cena, was named number 1 contender at No Mercy by Stephanie McMahon. Lesnar would defend the title in a separate match but Taker would interfere in that match and let it be known that their title match was a Biker Chain Match in which a Biker Chain would be suspended above the ring and whoever grabbed it would be able to use it.

The Match
We start with the Deadman attempting to corner Lesnar, who is playing keep away. Lesnar would get his famous shoulder thrusts in but Taker would then take control. Lesnar would block an Old School attempt by Taker. Lesnar would then make a mistake and Taker would take control but then Lesnar would take over for a while until the Undertaker's big boot would regain control of the match. Taker would finally get Old School on Lesnar and attempt a pin fall. The action would spill outside and Lesnar would remain in control out there. Lesnar would get Taker back in the ring and continue the assault. Taker would try to gain control but a missed corner boot got Lesnar back in the driver's seat. The match would again spill outside and Lesnar would keep control of the match. After the action comes back to the ring, Taker would punch his way back into this match as Lesnar and Taker would trade control until Taker would attempt to go for the chain but the lights would go out. Taker would climb down but Lesnar would be up and he would gain control again. The steps would then get involved in the match as Lesnar would drop toe hold Undertaker into the steps. Taker would block more attempts of his head being smashed in the steps. Taker would regain control and attempt to get the chain again only for Lesnar to stop him but Taker reverses his attempt into a submission. Lesnar would low blow Taker and hit Taker with the steel steps.

Taker would kick out of multiple pinfalls. Taker would thwart Lesnar's attempts at hitting him with the steel steps and then Taker would attempt to take Lesnar’s head off with the steps now. Lesnar would counter and maintain control. Lesnar tried to get the chain for the first time and Taker would almost hit a last ride but Lesnar counters. Taker would try a choke slam which Lesnar countered and after an attempted pin, Taker would lock in another submission on Lesnar. who would counter with brute strength. Taker would get a sleeper on until Lesnar countered it into an F5 but Taker would get a foot on the ropes before the three count. Lesnar would attempt to get the chain again but Taker would hit a top rope chokeslam. Taker would attempt to get the chain now, but the FBI would interfere and jump on Taker and while he got rid of them, Lesnar would recover and attempt a F5, but he would get countered and suffer a Last Ride. Taker would take out the FBI once and for all next. Nunzio would try to get the chain only to be knocked off by Taker. Taker would climb up and get the chain but Vince McMahon would push Taker off the top rope. Lesnar would get the chain and hit Taker with it and get the pinfall to retain.

Highlights
-Taker piledrives Lesnar into the steel steps
-Taker hits the Suicide dive on two of the FBI members

Grade and Analysis
This match wasn’t all that. It’s a solid contest no doubt but I felt like the energy and intensity lacked from both men. I felt both men knew this was a holdover feud for something new and it showed. The crowd seemed tired by the time this match came on. There wasn’t a whole lot in the way of storytelling but still a solid contest nonetheless.

Rating: 6/10

-Phranchize 

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Eyes on the Ring 11:28 PM  No comment