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pro WRESTLING EXPERIENCE

The art of the handshake: Wrestling's most important unwritten rule

10/30/2013

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Respect is an important value in the wrestling business. Though Superstars brutalize each other inside the square circle, the locker room is a sacred place. Most of the time, no blows are traded, only respect. It begins from the second a wrestler enters the arena, starting a time-honored tradition.


"Guests at a WWE event might notice that everybody shakes hands gratuitously," Cody Rhodes told WWE.com.


"It seems a little strange when people from outside [the industry] see it," WWE Commentator JBL said.


The handshake's place in wrestling isn't something that just became commonplace in WWE. JBL explained how the grip began as a secret shake during the sport's early carnival days, done to weed out anyone who didn't belong.


"It looked like you were gripping them real hard, but it was very loose, which showed that you were one of the boys," the former WWE Champion said.


Over time, though, wrestlers began a game of one-upmanship, seeing who could give the loosest handshake.


"Some people take it to extremes, [using only] two fingers," Antonio Cesaro said. "It's werid."


"It became a very limp-fish handshake," JBL said, "which is not how it was actually intended."


How it devolved from a secret variation on the regular shake to a two-fingered tap isn't quite clear, though Cesaro has his own ideas about how that happened.


"Back in the day, you didn't know if a guy was good or not," he said. "I have this theory that they set out a rumor that the really good wrestlers shook hands lightly. That's how they would recognize all the crappy wrestlers, by their dead fish handshake."


Rhodes, the son of WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes, grew up in the business. He told WWE.com that his father taught him the right way to shake hands in all situations.


"A firm handshake," he explained. "Not a double-tendon, break-your-hand. Firm and look them in the eye, even if that's the only contact you have. It brings an element of respect to the table."


Even though a light grip may have been the norm in wrestling's early days, it's not as widely accepted anymore.


"The loose handshake, to me, has lost all meaning and relevance," JBL said. "I'm almost offended when someone gives me a light handshake. In fact, I'll tell someone if they don't give me a firm handshake that they need to shake hands like an adult."


Cesaro concurred.

“I don’t want to shake hands with a fish,” he said. “Just shake my hand normally.”

That feeling resonates throughout the locker room, from the newest Superstars to 13-time World Champions.

“I learned something from John Cena that I really liked,” Rhodes explained. “He will not accept anything other than a handshake. Not a fist pound, not a secret shake, he only accepts a handshake. I admire that.”

Despite the depths wrestlers have gone to keep the handshake a sacred part of the industry, the meaning of it is still lost on some.

Brock Lesnar’s never been out to make friends. He made it quite clear that he was out to cause mayhem in the ring and collect the paycheck that comes after. The Anomaly simply doesn’t care about associating with anyone outside of his closest associates.

Lesnar addressed the handshaking tradition in his book “Death Clutch: My Story of Determination, Domination and Survival.”

“Once I got to the arena, I had to shake everyone’s hand,” he wrote. “That’s the unwritten law… I hadn’t seen the boys since we all stood around the baggage claim at the airport a few hours before, hoping our bags would come around quickly so we could beat everyone else to the rental car line. But we would always shake hands, and everyone would smile like they were glad to see each other. It was all so insincere and phony, it made me sick.”

While Lesnar may have been turned off by shaking every Superstar’s hand, most wrestlers would say that it’s an important part of business, in that it recognizes the sacrifice Superstars make every night.

“Respect is certainly included,” Rhodes said. “But it has more to do with the fact that, yes, this is individual, it’s competitive, but we need one another to survive. The WWE ship doesn’t survive on the name of John Cena, it doesn’t survive on the name of anybody. It survives on the Superstars coming together, culminating in a team effort.”



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RAW Five-Point Preview: October 28, 2013

10/28/2013

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Why, HBK, why? That's the question heading into tonight's RAW after Shawn Michaels delivered Sweet Chin Music to Daniel Bryan and allowed Randy Orton to claim the abeyant WWE Championship for himself. But is it a simple answer? The Showstopper's actions certainly left the WWE Hall of Famer conflicted, and speculation has already begun as to what, exactly, was going through HBK's mind when he made his fateful decision. WWE.com previews tonight's Raw, which kicks off with new World Heavyweight Champion John Cena addressing the WWE Universe.


1.) The Champ is Back 


He's still got it: John Cena made his return in grandest style possible, not only claiming Alberto Del Rio's World Heavyweight Championship, but doing so by battling through Del Rio's repeated attacks on his surgically repaired triceps. With the Cenation leader back on top and the WWE at his feet, how will he kick off his 14th World Title reign ... and will Mr. Money in the Bank Damien Sandow decide to make his move on The Champ? The new champion will address the WWE Universe at the start of tonight's RAW.

Stephanie McMahon        ✔ @StephMcMahon 
Tonight @RandyOrton Championship Celebration!  Plus, John Cena, the new World Champion returns to #Raw for the 1st time in over 2 months!
3:23 PM - 28 Oct 2013

2.) At last....

CM Punk didn’t send Paul Heyman to the grave in the first-ever Handicap Hell in a Cell Match, but the mad scientist certainly ended up worse for wear after his maiden voyage inside the place where rivalries are resolved. Punk made Heyman suffer from his supposedly safe perch atop the Cell roof, attacking his former friend with a Kendo stick and hitting a Go to Sleep on an outmatched Heyman, but will that truly satiate The Straight Edge Superstar’s desire for payback?


3.) THAT'S GOTTA BE KANE!!!!!


Unseen for months after being decimated by Bray Wyatt at SummerSlam, Kane made his return at Hell in a Cell to save The Miz from an attack by Wyatt’s two minions, Luke Harper & Erick Rowan. The Big Red Monster’s return immediately put Wyatt and his “Family” on notice with his interference, but he also took Miz out with a Chokeslam in the process. With his motives unknown, how will Kane exact retribution against the man who took him out of action … and is that even his plan?



4.) What a tangled web she weaves


AJ Lee was one Bella Twin mistake away from losing her Divas Championship at Hell in a Cell; the “Black Widow” of the Divas division would be title-less now if Brie Bella hadn’t accidentally kneed her sister Nikki in the head and allowed AJ to capitalize. AJ clearly has no plans to part with her prize, but with the Divas division long on potential challengers, will another step up to make a run at her championship?



5.) Heartbroken


For anyone wondering whether Shawn Michaels would side with his protégé or his pal as the guest referee of the WWE Title Match at Hell in a Cell, that question was answered on Sunday night when The Showstopper Superkicked Daniel Bryan’s WWE Title chances to hell after Bryan laid Triple H out in the ring. HBK’s actions returned the prize to Randy Orton and gave The Game his chosen champion back, but he seemed conflicted to say the least; is there more to The Showstopper’s choice than meets the eye? Tune in tonight at 8/7 CT to see Randy Orton's Championship Celebration




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The 10 best Hell in a Cell matches ever

10/25/2013

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Over the course of more than two dozen Hell in a Cell matches, one trusim has remained constant: Once Superstars enter the unforgiving steel structure, their careers are never quite the same.


Hell in a Cell has been home to daunting stories-high falls, treacherous introductions of steel and flesh, and monumental World Title changes. But which Hell in a Cell matches were the absolute best? Not just the most barbaric, but also dramatic and emotional, the kind of long-awaited, expectation-shattering showdowns between Superstars that helped defined Hell in a Cell's legacy as WWE's gravest combat zone?


Click through WWE.com's ranking of 10 especially influential and rival-setting bouts to have taken place under the Cell's steely ceiling, and then add your rankings in the comment section below.


10.) D-Generation X vs. Mr. McMahon, Shane McMahon, and The Big Show, Unforgiven 2006


One month after Shawn Michaels & Triple H bested Mr. McMahon & Shane McMahon at SummerSlam 2006, the McMahons enlisted then-ECW Champion Big Show to face DX in a Handicap Hell in a Cell Match that was equal parts absurd and explosive. Marking the debut of an XXL-sized Cell structure, it was a kinetic clash full of big hits.


The 3-on-2 brawl had an unrelenting pace and spectacular moves, including Shane-O-Mac’s Van Terminator on The Game and HBK’s elbow drop onto the younger, chair-ensnared McMahon. Even though Big Show was mighty effective as his team’s heavy, the makeshift three-man crew was no match for DX’s teamwork. Mr. McMahon was pinned after being hit with Sweet Chin Music and struck with a sledgehammer. Yet, even before enduring those attacks, Mr. McMahon found himself the butt of an ironic joke: After years of welcoming others into his exclusive club, the WWE Chairman wound up getting his face stuffed into Big Show’s backside. Egad! 



9.) Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H, Bad Blood 2004 


Bad Blood was certainly an appropriate setting for this 2004 tilt, as the supposedly unbreakable friendship between Triple H and Shawn Michaels had soured so badly they headed into WWE’s wicked fortress to work out their issues.

The longtime best buddies left their shared history at the Cell door and tore into each other like a pair of animals, with HBK scaling a ladder to drop a big elbow onto Triple H, who had been laid prone on a table. The King of Kings ultimately got the last word with the Pedigree, but the match serves as proof positive that sometimes it’s the best of friends who make the bitterest enemies. 



8.) Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker, No Mercy 2002 


Brock Lesnar took WWE by storm in 2002, winning that year’s King of the Ring tournament and handily defeating The Rock to capture the WWE Championship within his first few months. The vicious youngster continued on his path of mayhem through the fall, when he finally met a little resistance in the form of The Undertaker. The rivalry was so heated that it had to be settled inside Hell in a Cell.

With a broken hand, The Deadman Phenom still brought the fight to Lesnar in the brutal opening minutes of the match, grating The Anomaly’s face against the cold steel. The giant cast on Undertaker’s right hand, though, was a target for Lesnar, who ripped the protective dressing from the challenger’s hand. The Undertaker threw everything he had at the seemingly unstoppable rookie, but Lesnar battled back after a chokeslam and reversed a Tombstone attempt into an F5 to shockingly retain his title. The WWE Universe was stunned as Lesnar scaled the cell, standing atop it and snarling with the WWE Championship securely in his clutches.




7.) Batista vs. Triple H, Vengeance 2005 


In the aftermath of Evolution’s splintering, Batista and Triple H famously embarked on a war over the World Heavyweight Championship that climaxed inside the structure best known for settling rivalries. The bruising contest lasted nearly 30 minutes, and was a perfect representation of both Superstars’ efficient and unpretentious knock-down styles.

The demolition derby that was Hell in a Cell saw no shortage of barbaric weaponry. There was a blend of old-school brutality (a chain, which The Game used to whip and tame The Animal) and new-school innovation (a chair wrapped in barbed wire, utilized by both warriors).  Of course, Triple H’s trusty sledgehammer found its way into the ceremonies. Among the multiple Batista Bombs and Pedigrees were enough organ-shaking spinebusters to make Arn Anderson weep with joy. In the end, Batista handed The King of Kings his first defeat inside the Cell, the domain he had dominated in his previous five outings.



6.) The Undertaker vs. Edge, SummerSlam 2008 


Most Hell in a Cell matches boast a single, defining moment — a boiling point at which the collective energy of the participants and the crowd erupts into an ecstatic frenzy. Then, there are matches like The Undertaker vs. Edge, which are so jam-packed with highlight-reel crashes that it’s impossible to single out just one moment.

The Rated-R Superstar went Spear-crazy that night, using both the elements of metal and wood to his advantage: He harpooned The Deadman through the Cell structure and demolished him with a Spear through the commentators’ desk. The Undertaker wasn’t to be outdone in the match type he made famous, however; propelling Edge off the top turnbuckle and through stacked table with a stunning chokeslam, he pinned The Ultimate Opportunist, then cast him through the ring floor with a chokeslam off a ladder. The post-match celebration was suitably hellish, too, with The Undertaker conjuring a giant flame that shot up from beneath the ring.




5.) The Undertaker vs. Mankind, King of the Ring 1998


The WWE Universe was forever changed on June 28, 1998. That’s the date of The Undertaker and Mankind’s Hell in a Cell Match, an event so memorable that it’s known in some circles by the simple shorthand “KOTR ’98.” In the expansive WWE mythos, few bouts start to approach the destructive legacy that The Phenom and Mrs. Foley’s Baby Boy imprinted on canvas and cage that night.

Best known for two falls so dramatic and familiar that they’re almost unnecessary to recount (for the uninitiated, Mankind was first heaved off the top of the Cell, then chokeslammed through the Cell roof), the collision prompted WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon to place a governor on Mankind. Even though Mick Foley lost that night, the at-times hard-to-watch brawl — which saw him get stretchered out early on, only to return — remains a lasting testament of his inextinguishable desire to compete and entertain. 


4.) Kurt Angle vs. The Undertaker vs. Triple H vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. The Rock vs. Rikishi, Armageddon 2000


With six of the top Superstars of the Attitude Era battling in a free-for-all, the main event of Armageddon 2000 provided the recipe for a Hell in a Cell spectacle the likes of which had never been seen before. Despite Mr. McMahon’s best efforts to tear down the Cell mid-match (he even commandeered a construction truck before being halted by then-WWE Commissioner Mick Foley), the veritable all-star lineup of competitors never let up in their fight.

The scene that undisputedly stood out above all others was the exchange between Rikishi and The Undertaker on top of the Cell.  After plastering Rikishi with right hands, The Undertaker chokeslammed the super-heavyweight off the cage. Rikishi’s massive frame fell some 15 feet, landing miserably onto the bed of the construction truck that Mr. McMahon had left parked next to the Cell. With the Samoan warrior taken out of action, the field of five continued the conflict until Angle pinned The Great One to retain his WWE Championship.



3.) The Undertaker vs. Triple H, WrestleMania XXVIII 


The word “epic” gets thrown around a lot, but how else do you describe the WrestleMania XXVIII Hell in a Cell Match between Triple H and The Undertaker? Dubbed the “End of An Era” — as in the “Attitude Era,” as in the most vital era in WWE history — the half-hour war saw The Game and The Deadman carry out a passion play as one man fought to end a Streak while the other fought to preserve a legacy. All the while, guest official Shawn Michaels served as the bout’s beating heart, adding emotion to a match that was already brimming with it.Watch the "End of An Era" in its entiretyBest moment? Maybe it was the unforgettable reveal of The Undertaker’s shaved head. Or maybe it was the emphatic Tombstone that sealed The Game’s fate. Nah, it was the sight of Triple H, The Undertaker and HBK leaving the ring together, arm in arm, collectively ending an age that each helped bring to life.



2.) The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels, Bad Blood 1997


There is perhaps no better proof of The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels’ sports-entertainment trailblazing ways than their duel in the inaugural Hell in a Cell Match. Never before had Superstars gone to war inside the unforgiving Cell, and though expectations were high, they were all but completely uninformed. Despite the unprecedented nature of the contest, The Phenom and The Showstopper did not disappoint.The ever-innovative Michaels, in his brash and insolent D-Generation X prime, incorporated all elements of the nascent Cell. So did the powerfully stoic Undertaker, who bounced HBK around the cage like a pinball and sent him off the side of the Cell through a ringside table. With its combination of creativity and brutality, the initial Hell in a Cell Match not only set the bar almost insurmountably high, but it also introduced one of the mightiest Superstars in history with the debut of Kane, who Tombstoned The Deadman and paved the way to victory for HBK.


1.) Cactus Jack vs. Triple H, No Way Out 2000

No rivalry cemented Triple H’s reputation as a hardnosed brawler more than his years-long grudge with Mick Foley, and although a great number of their encounters helped set The Game’s transformation in motion, none could touch the sheer brutality of their Hell in a Cell Match at No Way Out 2000.


With his WWE career on the line and Triple H’s WWE Championship at stake, Foley — competing under perhaps his most hardcore persona, Cactus Jack — brought with him elements from his pre-WWE days wrestling in “death matches” in Japan, arming himself with a flaming barbed wire board. The King of Kings may have been reluctant to tussle under such extreme circumstances, but he nonetheless fought on. Once the brawl moved to the roof of the Cell, however, things took a severe turn: Triple H reversed a piledriver attempt by Foley and sent The Hardcore Legend falling not only through the roof, but also the ring floor. A Pedigree later, and the result was academic.


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 WWE Hell in a Cell 2013 Predictions 

10/24/2013

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The Hell in a Cell pay-per-view is almost upon us, and heading into WWE's October classic, dozen of questions remain on the collective mind of the WWE Universe.


Can Shawn Michaels make good on his guarantee that a new WWE Champion will definitively be crowned? How will John Cena fare in his quicker than expected return from injury? And just how far will CM Punk go when he's locked in Hell inside a Cell against Ryback and Paul Heyman?


None of these questions, however, trump the most fundamental query: Who will win lose? Check out these predictions offered by WWE.com's editorial staff, and add your voice to the conversation by listing your picks in the comments selection below.


1.) Hell in a Cell Kickoff Match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship 
Curtis Axel (c) w/Paul Heyman vs. Big E Langston 


John Clapp: You just get the sense that Big E is waiting for his big moment to break out, and this could be it. Curtis Axel has all the technique in the world, but Langston's brute force - coupled with an intense desire to prove he's more than a "marginal rookie" - might be too much for the third-generation grappler. WINNER: Big E Langston 


Okay, confession time: Big E scares me. Terrifyingly strong and shockingly agile, the big man is going to be a major contender for the WWE Title at some point in his career. His road to greatness starts at WWE Hell in a Cell, and unfortunately for Curtis Axel, the third-generation Superstar will prove to be a (moveable) roadblock. WINNER: Big E Langston

Jake Grate: After defending his title against R-Truth and Kofi Kingston in recent weeks, Curtis Axel finds himself with a “big” challenge at WWE Hell in a Cell. The monstrously strong Big E Langston might be the most powerful Superstar in WWE, and he figures to be particularly fired up for his first Intercontinental Title Match. The “Heyman Guy” loses, and we have a new champion on Sunday.WINNER: Big E Langston

Anthony Benigno: Big E Langston talks a fearless game and walks the walk to back it up, so he’s certainly rugged enough to wallop Axel into defeat. That said, to beat a “Heyman Guy” means one must also outsmart Paul Heyman himself, and Langston’s still too new to the game to pull that one off. WINNER: Curtis Axel

Mike McAvennie: Curtis Axel will start out strong this Sunday, but expect the WWE Hell in a Cell Kickoff Match to have a Big Ending, and a new Intercontinental Champion in Langston. WINNER: Big E Langston


2.) WWE Divas Championship Match 
AJ Lee (c) w/Tamina Snuka vs. Brie Bella w/Nikki Bella 


John Clapp: AJ Lee has appeared head-and-shoulders above most of her contenders in recent months, but there’s no questioning Brie Bella has ratcheted up the intensity and fine-tuned her arsenal. Unfortunately, that might not be enough to counter the presence of Tamina at ringside.WINNER: AJ Lee

Alex Giannini: I find any match with Divas Champion AJ Lee tough to predict, mostly because the pint-sized titleholder herself is so unpredictable. This time, however, I have a gut feeling that the not-so-stable champion is due for a loss. After her WWE Battleground defeat, Brie Bella has racked up the wins over AJ, and I think the trend will continue at WWE Hell in a Cell. WINNER: Brie Bella

Jake Grate: During her impressive title reign, Divas Champion AJ Lee has looked dominant and unbeatable. With Tamina Snuka by her side, WWE’s most erratic Diva should be able to continue rolling. A game effort from the vastly improved Brie Bella falls short, and WWE’s “Black Widow” retains. WINNER: AJ Lee

Anthony Benigno: No two ways around it: Brie Bella has been on fire lately, while the Divas Champion is stuck in a bit of a funk. The “Black Widow” can conceivably right the ship in time for Sunday, but based on her post-Raw meltdown, that seems somewhat unlikely. WINNER: Brie Bella

Mike McAvennie: AJ Lee has established herself not just as a great Divas Champion, but a greatchampion, period. Arguably, there’s no one on the present roster who knows how to press buttons and play mind games better than she. Brie will definitely make it interesting this Sunday, but at this time, I’d say that AJ, of all the current champions in WWE, will enjoy the longest title reign.WINNER: AJ Lee


3.) Triple Threat Tag Team Match for the WWE Tag Team Championship 
Cody Rhodes and Goldust (c) vs. The Shield vs. The Usos 


John Clapp: On a lineup replete with surefire thrillers, the WWE Tag Team Championship Triple Threat Match has show-stealing potential. Look not only for fantastic action, but for The Usos to finally win the championship they’ve long been waiting for. The brothers Rhodes and The Shield will be too busy warring with each other to consider the sizable threat of Jimmy & Jey Uso. WINNERS:The Usos

Alex Giannini: As much as I love Cody & Goldust, I think their tag title dreams are about to be shattered. The Shield is too good to go without the titles for much longer, and I think Rollins & Reigns are going to run through the brothers Rhodes and Uso. WINNERS: Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns

Jake Grate: Despite being fairly new as a tandem, there’s just something about WWE Tag Team Champions Goldust & Cody Rhodes. Although The Usos have been on a hot streak recently and The Shield are always a dangerous duo, the champions will retain as the Rhodes family continues its return to glory. WINNERS: Cody Rhodes & Goldust

Anthony Benigno: The tag team fracas has become the most incendiary subplot of this particular dive into Hell, and the race for the twin titles is at a dead heat. Momentum goes ever so slightly to the Rhodes brothers, who should knock off the reeling Shield and steady Usos to retain their prizes … but it’ll be close. WINNERS: Cody Rhodes & Goldust

Mike McAvennie: Honestly, any one of these teams is worthy of holding the WWE Tag Team Championship, and this is a tough call. My head tells me The Shield’s cunning will prevail. My heart wants The Usos to win what has been long overdue them. And then there’s my gut, which has the feeling that Cody Rhodes & Goldust will stay golden this Sunday. Since I’m kinda hungry now, I’m foregoing insightful analysis and going with the gut. WINNERS: Cody Rhodes & Goldust


4.) Handicap Hell in a Cell Match 
CM Punk vs. Ryback and Paul Heyman 


John Clapp: Even though CM Punk’s chosen stipulation of a 2-on-1 Hell in a Cell Match could conceivably work against him if he falls victim to Paul Heyman’s distractions, The Second City Saint seems entirely committed to executing on his strategy. This Sunday, Ryback goes to sleep and Heyman comes dangerously close to meeting his maker. WINNER: CM Punk

Alex Giannini: So who, exactly, is at a disadvantage in this Handicap Match? Sure, it’s 2-on-1, but Ryback may have to spend more time watching Heyman’s back than his own. Let’s face it, guys: Punk knows what he’s doing, and getting both men inside Hell in a Cell is exactly what The Second City Saint wanted all along. WINNER: CM Punk

Jake Grate: As much as Punk would love to get his hands on Paul Heyman, he’ll have to worry about The Human Wrecking Ball, Ryback, first. The “anti-bullying” powerhouse has already shown that he has what it takes to take down The Best in the World. Add to that Heyman’s notorious strategies and trickery, and Punk could find himself in for a long night. WINNERS: Ryback & Paul Heyman

Anthony Benigno: If Paul Heyman could finagle a way for Punk to beat Ryback at last year’s Hell in a Cell, he can certainly pull off the reverse. The Straight Edge Superstar leaves denied yet again.WINNERS: Ryback & Paul Heyman

Mike McAvennie: Why does everyone think Punk’s inimitable skill or Ryback’s brute strength will determine the winner of this Hell in a Cell Handicap Match? The guy to watch out for is Paul Heyman. He’s the ultimate cockroach, and if the past three decades should teach us one thing, there hasn’t been a shoe made big enough that can stomp him out of existence. WINNERS: Ryback & Paul Heyman


5.) World Heavyweight Championship Match 
Alberto Del Rio (c) vs. John Cena


John Clapp: For John Cena, this bout is the very definition of “high risk.” Yet, how many times before has the Cenation leader proven his doubters wrong? Alberto Del Rio is double-tough and as unforgiving a competitor as there is in WWE, but when it comes to comebacks, Cena’s never before failed his legion of fans. WINNER: John Cena

Alex Giannini: The biggest question on everyone’s mind heading into Sunday’s pay-per-view is whether or not John Cena has decided to return to action too early. A torn triceps is nasty business, but if anyone can rise above such an injury, it’s the Cenation leader. Still, Del Rio is at the top of his game, and I just don’t see him relinquishing his title. Sorry, Cenation. WINNER: Alberto Del Rio

Jake Grate: It’s tough to pick against the inimitable John Cena, whose staggeringly quick return from a torn triceps reinforces just how tough and durable he is. Against Del Rio, though, he’ll be facing a well-entrenched champion with a penchant for capitalizing on opponents’ weaknesses. If Cena shows any ring rust or lingering effects of injury, he could find himself in a world of trouble against the brutally efficient World Heavyweight Champion. WINNER: Alberto Del Rio

Anthony Benigno: The Cenation leader rode the #EvenStronger hashtag express all the way to a World Title Match, but can he overcome his shoddy history at WWE Hell in a Cell to claim “Big Gold” from Alberto Del Rio? All signs point to yes … which is exactly when Del Rio operates best. WINNER:Alberto Del Rio

Mike McAvennie: Alberto Del Rio’s Cross Armbreaker is the one move that should concern John Cena and his surgically repaired triceps this Sunday. However, it’s a hold that forces Del Rio’s opponents to quit. Sorry, but you can’t see that in Cena’s DNA. Del Rio has never been better, but after WWE Hell in a Cell, Cena can once again proclaim, “The Champ is Here!” WINNER: John Cena


6.) WWE Championship Hell in a Cell Match w/Shawn Michaels as Special Guest Referee
Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton 


John Clapp: Neither The Viper nor the WWE Universe has ever seen Daniel Bryan in an environment as brutal as the Hell in a Cell structure, and that unknown quality will work to The Beard’s advantage. Expect to see a new, more dangerous, side of Bryan that will ultimately earn him the WWE Title in Miami. WINNER: Daniel Bryan

Alex Giannini: Shawn Michaels is my favorite grappler of all time, and the idea of once again seeing him under the bright lights of a pay-per-view is pretty cool. As for my take on the match itself? The Showstopper will be unbiased and impartial, and Daniel Bryan will win a fair-and-square barnburner of a bout against Randy Orton. WINNER: Daniel Bryan

Jake Grate: The WWE Championship contenders have consistently proven to be evenly matched, so this bout promises fireworks. With special guest referee Shawn Michaels promising to call it down the middle, Bryan is finally able to capture the most illustrious title in WWE for a lengthy — and well-deserved — reign. WINNER: Daniel Bryan

Anthony Benigno: No one’s naïve enough to think this match won’t come down to Shawn Michaels’ partiality as the guest referee, but will The Showstopper truly call the bout down the middle? It’s hard to imagine HBK going against Triple H, but Michaels’ former pupil Bryan seems to have truly earned the respect of “Mr. WrestleMania,” which evens the playing field. Lots of moving parts in this one, but it seems like Bryan’s about to hit the three-peat. WINNER: Daniel Bryan

Mike McAvennie: Daniel Bryan’s incredible talent and determination should overcome just about anyone at any time, and I don’t rule him out completely in this Hell in a Cell contest. But let’s face it: Randy Orton’s never been more devious, The Authority can change the rules at a moment’s notice, and Triple H in a suit may be even more cunning than he ever was in a ring. The outcome didn’t matter when Shawn Michaels officiated his best buddy against The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVIII; it won’t matter when his former pupil falls to The Viper this Sunday. WINNER: Randy Orton



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Rey Mysterio's last stand: The luchador on his injury, his return and the possibility of retirment 

10/16/2013

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Rey Mysterio hasn't competed in a WWE ring since February 4, 2013. After a hard fought battle against Daniel Bryan, The Master of the 619 was on the receiving end of a vicious attack from Mark Henry that aggravated a lingering knee injury, leaving the masked marvel with no choice but to take time away from the squared circle to recuperate. Mysterio surprised the WWE Universe on September 22, when he made a special appearance at a Live Event in Hildalgo, Texas, to give an update on his recovery. WWE fans were shocked as Mysterio, supporting himself with a crutch, said he was aiming to come back to the ring on October 16, when WWE hits Quereator, Mexico. With rumors of his return swirling around, WWE.com spoke with The Ultimate Underdog to talk about his injuries, his journey back to the ring and whether this will be Mysterio's last stand.


WWE.COM: Can you describe the injury that's kept you out of the ring ?

Mysterio: What's slowed me down in my career are [anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)] tears in my left knee. After the first one in 1997, they started happening one after another. We've used everything we could in terms of re-attaching my ACL [with ligaments from] my body. Now, we've gone into cadavers to reattach them. That's what's slowed me down, my left knee. My right one, knock on the wood, is all good. The rest of my body, thank God, is all good.

WWE.COM: Did you have surgery this time?
 
No, 2011 was my last surgery. What they did was they repaired the ACL and the [posterior cruciate ligament]. That’s when they realized that the inner part of my knee had no more cartilage. So, the inner part of my left knee is bone on bone, arthritic.

WWE.COM: So what led you to Dr. James Andrews?

MYSTERIO: I came back a little too soon. I came back at SummerSlam 2012 and wrestled through January 2013. The knee just gave out on me again. That’s when I went to go see him. We tried a new approach, which was stem cell treatment. 


WWE.COM: What does that entail?

MYSTERIO: What they do is they extract blood from the bone marrow, where your body reproduces it. Then, they inject it with two other ingredients directly into my left knee, into the joint. That way, blood cells can activate and manipulate in a way that they start working so there’s more blood flow. Hopefully, because medicine and these types of procedures are fairly new, within time, I’m hoping to regrow cartilage.

WWE.COM: What’s your rehab been like?

MYSTERIO: I’ve been working on strengthening my quads and hamstrings. Also a bit of plyometrics, but the focus has mainly been on my quads, trying to get them strong enough to withstand all the action that I do in the ring.

WWE.COM: You recently tweeted that you visited the WWE Performance Center during your rehab. Did you get in the ring?

MYSTERIO: Yes, I had the chance to go in the ring a couple of times. It’s an incredible place, definitely the top training center that I have been in.

WWE.COM: What did it feel like getting back in the ring after being out for so long?

MYSTERIO: It always comes back to conditioning. No matter how much cardio you do —  running or biking or whatever — it’s never the same as being in the ring. That was the first thing I felt. 

WWE.COM: How do you think you’ll have to adapt your in-ring style when you come back?

MYSTERIO: After so many surgeries, I had to modify my game. I know what I can and can’t do in order to keep performing for a long period of time. It won’t be hard. I’ve done it in the past after my previous surgeries. I don’t think I realized it at the time, but I tend to modify certain moves and my landings, as well. I’m sure once I get back into the ring, it’ll all start coming back into place and it’ll feel normal to me. I definitely won’t be able to do certain things that I’ve done in the past, but there’s no way I shouldn’t be able to replace those moves with others.

WWE.COM: Do you have a target date for your return to the squared circle?

MYSTERIO: With this new procedure, it’s been floating around in the air. There’s not that much time left before the end of the year. I’m hoping that either Thanksgiving comes a little early or Christmas comes a little early.

WWE.COM: You recently announced that you’ll be a part of WWE’s upcoming tour of Mexico. What does it mean for you to go back to Mexico?

MYSTERIO: It feels good. That’s where I came from. Those are my roots, my people. To be able to go back and treat them with my presence and whatever else I can give to them is fulfilling.

WWE.COM: Any chance you’ll get involved in the action during the tour?

MYSTERIO: I think if the crowd really wants it, why not? Why not try?

WWE.COM: With all of the injuries you’ve had, have you ever given thought to retiring?

MYSTERIO: No. I’m 39 years old and I know I’ve been doing this for quite some time, over two decades. Retirement is, for me, something that’ll be down the road, but not within the next two or three years. I feel like, with how medicine is evolving, something will be out there soon that can help you heal from arthritis. That might be what helps my longevity and pushes me to keep performing.

WWE.COM: Finally, do you have any message you’d like to send to the WWE Universe?

MYSTERIO: First off, I want to thank WWE for the patience and support that they’ve had, for knowing that I’m on the bench and working hard to get back.

To the fans, thank you for your patience and concern. They’ve been on point with my career, especially after my injuries. Their motivational tweets, Instagram shots — they’ve been pushing me to overcome this. It’s been frustrating not being able to do what you love to do the most. Trust me, when I do come back, I’ll make up for the lost time and entertain much more.



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WWE.com: The ring's forgotten big men 

10/15/2013

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By Bobby Melok

The annals of sports-entertainment are lined with memories of iconic titans like Andre The Giant, Big John Studd and Big Show. However, there are plenty of other giants who have stepped over the ropes to ply their craft.

Though names like Hall and Roadblock may not be as hallowed as their more successful counterparts, these colossuses are certainly worth of recognition. Stand in awe of these forgotten giants of the squared circle, presented by Pacific Rim, avaliable on DVD now!

1.) Roadblock 

Many big men take their names from mythological creatures, towering structures of vechicles of destruction. One giant, however, took his from an unlikely source: those wooden sawhorses police put up to close off traffic.

The 6-foot-10, 400-pounder known as Roadblock burst on the scene in WCW in 1996. With ring gear decorated to make him look like a freshly-paved road and a street barrier slung over his massive shoulders, Roadblock certainly had an imposing look.

Unfortunately, WCW's top stars weren't too intimidated by the big man. Lex Luger ignored the "Road Closed" signs and muscled the human barrier up for the Torture Rack. The giant one-upped The Total Package a few weeks later, dropkicking the monster over the top rope and through a ringside table from chokeslamming him with ease. It turns out that Roadblock could have used some backup from The State Patrol.

2.) "Crusher" Jerry Blackwell

At 5-foot-9, Jerry Blackwell wasn't the tallest man in wrestling by any stretch of the imagination. However, at 470 pounds, there was little doubt as to why they called him "The Mountain from Stone Mountain."

Blackwell was a mainstay of the AWA promotion, battling with foes like The Crusher, Verne Gagne and even Hulk Hogan. The competitior terrified audiences and grapplers alike with feats designed to show how dangerous he was. He splashed through wooden planks and drove spikes through boards with his thick forhead, making it clear that there wasn't much that affected him.

"The Mountain from Stone Mountain" was a perennial contender to the AWA Championship. Though he never captured it, he did win the promotion's tag team titles with Ken Patera.

3.) Loch Ness

From the Scottish Highlands to the rings of WCW, Loch Ness made a big impression when he debuted in 1996. Tipping the scales at a reported 679 pounds, the monster was part of Kevin Sullivan's collection of oddities, The Dungeon of Doom.

Snarling at his foes with teeth that would make a dentist cringe, Lock Ness was truly a terrifying prospect for most averaged-size wrestlers. He was the definition of an immovable object. Ness barely budged when opponents struck him, with foes bouncing off him like flies.

Loch Ness stormed into WCW by demolishing Jim Duggan and a squad of WCW's lower-card goons, but was hell-bent on squashing Hulk Hogan. Unfortunately, his eagerness to bring down Hulkamania irked fellow Dungeon of Doomer The Giant, who defeated Loch Ness and sent him packing from WCW.

4.) Nathan Jones

Few Superstars had as frightening a background as Nathan Jones. The massive Australian spent a decade in prison, with nothing but free time and free weights. By the time he was set free from Boggo Road, he was a 6-foot-10, 300-pound clossus.

Naturally, the aggressive Jones sought to let out his rage in WWE rings. "The Colssus of Boggo Road" debuted in spring 2003 and quickly caught the eye of The Undertaker. The Deadman took Jones under his wing, showing him the ropes in several live training sessions on SmackDown.

Soon, though, Jones' rage was too much for Undertaker to control. Jones joined up with Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar, doing The Anomaly's bidding before leaving WWE at the end of 2003.

5.) Reese

Raven was a great at finding oddballs for his Flock, and no addition was more impactful than Reese. The seven-footer had been competing in WCW for several years under the name Big Ron Studd, an homage to his trainer, WWE Hall of Famer Big John Studd, but he failed to make an impression.

The big man soon fell under Raven's spell and joined his gang of misfits. Dumping his tights for jorts and flannel, the rechristened Reese was the intimidating muscle that the outcasts needed to get noticed in WCW.

Reese didn't fare so well on his own, but when his fellow Flock members needed a hand, he was more than capable of helping them pick up a win. For a faction that thrived on anarchy like The Flock, solidarity worked surprsingly well.

6.) 911

The last thing you’d think of getting when you called 911 is a chokeslam. But that’s exactly what ECW wrestlers got when the 6-foot-8, 300-pounder hit the ring. With a mullet, mustache and leather vest combo that made him look equal parts biker and pro wrestler, 911 was an instant fan favorite with the hardcore faithful.

The bruiser served as Paul Heyman’s personal security way before Ryback, but no one was safe when 911 was in the building. Any poor schlub in the ring when Edgar Winter Group’s “Frankenstein” hit the arena speakers was sure to be on the receiving end of a vicious chokeslam or two … or five, depending on how unruly the crowd was.

Though he was never a champion, 911 receives praise from Heyman to this day as one of the most important stars of ECW’s early days.

7.) Uncle Elmer

Hillbilly Jim had a seemingly never-ending family who all loved getting into a good tussle every now and then. But the WWE Universe never expected anyone like Uncle Elmer to show up.

A mountain of a man himself, Jim was dwarfed by his towering uncle. Standing 6-foot-10 and tipping the scales at 430 pounds, Elmer loved to square dance with his family as much as he loved squashing his foes in the ring.

Uncle Elmer’s family grew to include the WWE Universe, too. The jolly giant invited WWE fans to be a part of his wedding to the lovely Joyce, which took place on Saturday Night’s Main Event in October 1985.


8.) The Colssal Kongs 

These masked monsters didn’t particularly care for the rules of the ring. Brought into WCW by Harley Race in 1993, King Kong and Awesome Kong were primitive competitors billed at a total combined weight of 1,001 pounds.

The Colossal Kongs demolished anyone that WCW officials put in their path from the second they arrived on the scene. The titanic pair didn’t even bother taking their furry jackets off as they crushed the competition.

King Kong and Awesome Kong looked to be on the fast track to the WCW Tag Team Championships, until they ran into WCW’s top two stars — Sting and Ric Flair. The Stinger and The Nature Boy shockingly defeated the half-ton heavies in under three minutes. 

9.) Hail

There are many questions that the closing of WCW left unanswered. One thing we want to know is this:   What would have become of Hail? At 6-foot-9 and 350 pounds of solid muscle, this titan discovered by Jimmy Hart should have been a sure thing in the squared circle.

Debuting on WCW Saturday Night in 2000, Hail tossed around his smaller foes like they were toys. Demolishing his opponents in mere minutes, he finished them off with a devastating jumping piledriver called Hail’s Bells. With his opponents often leaving the arena on stretchers, Hail looked to be a future champion. 

But as 2000 rolled on, the uncertainty of WCW’s continued existence led to many talented grapplers falling under the radar. WCW Saturday Night was cancelled by the summer, leaving the promotion’s young wrestlers — and Hail — without a place to ply their craft. 

10.) PN News

Way before hip-hop was flooding MTV’s airwaves with overweight emcees, WCW brought in its own supersized rhymer. “The Rapmaster” PN News burst onto the scene in 1991. The 403-pounder boogied to the ring and dropped a dope verse on the crowd before the opening bell, punctuated with his trademark line, “Yo baby, yo baby, yo!”

WCW’s fans loved the rhyming big man like The Fat Boys loved a $3.99 all-you-can-eat buffet. News dominated his opposition with a flow that looked like it would fit just as well in the studio as it did in the ring. His finishing maneuver, a top-rope splash called The Broken Record, even had its own music.

Whether he was rapping in the ring or in commercials for WCW’s pay-per-views, News remained a fan favorite for his fresh rhymes and powerful presence in the squared circle.



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WWE.com: The 15 most underrated stables of all time 

10/11/2013

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There's only so much you can write about The New World Order. They started off great, they got overcrowded with midlevel talent, their constant reinventions rendered them moot, yadda, yadda, yadda. But what about the nWo Wolfpac? No one talks about those guys anymore unless they're referencing Disco Inferno's misguided inclusion in the group.

Well, we loved The Wolfpac. Half of the guys in the WWEClassics.com office still greet each other with their signature "too sweet" hand symbol - and that got us thinking. Who are some of the great stables that don't get the attention they deserve? From The Stud Stable to The Jersey Triad, these factions aren't WWE Hall of Fame bound, but each was awesome in their own way.

15.) The Union~ The Big Show, Mankind, Test, and Ken Shamrock

At a time when the evil amalgmation of Shane McMahon's Corporation and The Undertaker's Ministry of Darkness had taken over WWE, a group of wayward heroes banded together to start an uprising.

On the May 5, 1999, edition of Raw, Mankind, Ken Shamrock, Big Show and Test - all men who had been insulted, assaulted or otherwise subjugated by the Corporate Ministry - stood together with 2X4's in their hands and dare to confront "the most omnipotent force" of The Deadman, Triple H, and, uh, Pete Gas.

Identified by The Hardcore Legend as The Union of the People You Oughta Respect, Son - thankfully shortended to The Union - the group briefly succeeded in shaking up the ranks of The Corporate Ministry before a serious knee injury put Mankind out of action. It was a fleeting alliance, but, man, did their theme song rule.


14.) The York Foundation~ Alexandra York, Michael Wallstreet, Terrance Taylor, Richard Morton, Thomas Rich, Mr. Hughes

Long before JBL told the WWE Universe how they could "have more money now," stock market wizards were trying to infitrate the wrestling world. Alexandra York was one of the first. The petite tycoon showed up in WCW in 1990, lending financial advice to Mike Rotundo, who shoon turned into yuppie investor Michael Wallstreet.

Wallstreet dicthed WCW for a sweet gig at the IRS, leaving York and her trusty laptop to figure out a formula that would bring The York Foundation to glory. The number crunching led her to the newly re-christiened Terrance Taylor, Richard Morton and Tommy Rich. While there was no taming Morton's legendary mullet, Taylor and Rich recieved makeovers that made them ready for both the trading floor and the ring.

The York Foundation was a formidable trio in action. The experienced team was the final triad to capture WCW's Six Man Tag Team Championship.


13.) La Familia~ Edge, Vickie Guerrero, Chavo Guerrero, Bam Neely, Curt Hawkins, and Zack Ryder

Few bonds are as strong as family ties. That was the case with La Familia. Brought together by the cunning Vickie Guerrero in order to keep the World Heavyweight Title around the waist of her-then husband Edge, the group enlisted Vickie's nephew, Chavo Guerrero, Edge's cronies, Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins, and the former border guard Bam Neely.

La Familia ran roughsod over SmackDown and ECW, where Vickie helped Chavo captured the ECW Championship, while Edge dominated Friday Nights. Hawkins and Ryder won the WWE Tag Team Titles, while The Ultimate Opportunist was engaged in epic rivalries with The Undertaker, John Cena and Jeff Hardy.


12.) The Natrual Born Thrillers~ Mike Sanders, Sean O'Haire, Mark Jindrak, Shawn Stasiak, Chuck Palumbo, Reno, Johnny the Bull

Often criticized for their continual reliance on aging stars like Hulk Hogan and Lex Luger, WCW introduced what appeared to be the next generation of main event talent in 2001. Billed, somewhat unfortunately, as The Natural Born Thrillers, this collective of twentysomething upstarts was handcrafted in WCW’s Power Plant training facility and raced headlong into rivalries with established stars like Diamond Dallas Page and Kevin Nash.

Fronted by the sharp tongue of “Above Average” Mike Sanders, The Thrillers boasted staggering athletes like Sean O’Haire and Mark Jindrak, who were built like serious heavyweights, but busted out the same aerial maneuvers as The Hardy Boyz. The group’s legacy has been marred by the fact that not one member of the stable ended up as a major sports-entertainment player. Still, in their 2000 prime, their promise was boundless



11.) The Right to Censor~ Steven Richards, Val Venis, The Godfather, Bull Buchanan, Ivory

In late 2000, Stevie Richards became so fed up with the outrageousness of the “Attitude Era” that he began covering up scantily clad women and taking offense to extreme tactics such as The Dudley Boyz’ use of tables. Clad in black slacks, a white shirt and black tie, Richards — joined by Bull Buchanan and a converted Godfather, now known as The Goodfather — embarked on a crusade to stop anything deemed offensive.

Of course, the WWE Universe weren’t fans of such suppression, but The Right to Censor was a formidable force as Buchanan and The Goodfather captured the World Tag Team Titles and Val Venis and Ivory joined the puritanical pride. The group came very close to imposing their views of decency on WWE, but they began to splinter when they lost all of their respective matches at WrestleMania X-Seven. By the time Richards was hit with a Last Ride from The Undertaker and abandoned by his followers, The RTC was DOA.



10.) The Stud Table~ Col. Robert Parker, Bunkhouse Buck, Terry Funk, Dick Slater, Arn Anderson, Steve Austin, Meng, and Kurasawa

Col. Robert Parker, a blustery Southern tycoon, put together one of the most rugged factions ever to step through the ropes in his Stud Stable. Although some might have found a persona like farmhand Bunkhouse Buck a little cartoony, there was no doubt that Parker had acquired the most dangerous brawlers to do his bidding.

Joining Buck were surly fighters like “Dirty” Dick Slater and Terry Funk, the perfect teammates for the Stable’s rivalry against Dustin Rhodes. Parker, for the most part, stayed one step ahead of Rhodes, secretly recruiting Arn Anderson to pull off a brutal double-cross.

The crown jewel of The Stud Stable, perhaps, was “Stunning” Steve Austin, who captured the U.S. Title. Parker also spared no expense at bringing in the finest talent from around the world, like Kurasawa. For his own protection, he hired the most feared man in wrestling, Meng. Though they weren’t overly decorated, The Stud Stable left their opponents with plenty of aches and bruises to remind them they’d been in a fight.


9.) The Straight Edge Society~ CM Punk, Luke Gallows, Serena, Joseph Mecury 

Key members: CM Punk, Luke Gallows, Serena, Joseph Mercury

CM Punk has always been proud of his Straight Edge lifestyle, but, at one time, he may have taken things a bit too far. Before becoming the longest-reigning WWE Champion of the modern era, he spent much of 2010 as the puppet master of The Straight Edge Society. Flanked by baldheaded converts like Serena and Luke Gallows, The Second City Savior preached to the WWE Universe like a demented cult leader with a crazed desire to purify every last soul.

The most memorable aspect of Punk’s Society was the way he would grab the microphone in the middle of a bout — including the 2011 Royal Rumble Match — and sermonize. The WWE Universe certainly did not take kindly to Punk’s overzealous pride. Unfortunately for Punk, Luke Gallows and Serena eventually gave into their vices, leaving The Straight Edge Society and WWE altogether. 


8.) The Jersey Triad~ Diamond Dallas Page, Bam Bam Bigelow, and Kanyon 

he unorthodox alliance between three of the Garden State’s most fearless brawlers began in WCW in spring 1999 when Point Pleasant’s Diamond Dallas Page and Asbury Park’s Bam Bam Bigelow began butting heads with two other northeast thugs, WCW Tag Team Champions Raven and Saturn. During a May, 31, 1999, match for the titles on Nitro, Kanyon — seemingly arriving to save Saturn after Raven had been sent to the hospital — betrayed his Flock compatriots to collude with DDP and Bam Bam.

These Jersey boys bore little resemblance to Frankie Valli. As champions, The Jersey Triad defended the tag titles under wrestling’s unique “Freebird Rule,” but in a twist, the slimeballs often switched members during a defense. Kanyon reunited with Page during WWE’s infamous Invasion period and defeated The APA to have one last reign as tag champs.



7.) King Booker's Court~ King Booker, Finlay, William Regal, and Sharmell

Following his King of the Ring Tournament and World Heavyweight Championship victories, Booker T underwent a shocking transformation from streetwise brawler to refined ruler. The self-anointed "King of the World" ruled "The SmackDown Kingdom" with an iron fist and formed a powerful Court that included King Booker's wife, Queen Sharmell, and two knights, Sir William Regal and Sir Finlay. He rose his pinky high in the air, because “pinkies up” is the opposite of “thumbs down,” of course. In the ultimate affectation, King Booker began speaking in a phony British accent, which immediately disappeared upon losing his temper.

Booker may have sat on the throne, but his two knights were just as skilled. Sirs Regal and Finlay built careers that established them as the ring’s finest technical grappler and brawler, respectively. Together, the colorful yet dangerous trio terrorized “peasants” every Friday night, but after the royal ruler was forced to battle his own knights, neither backed down and dissention caused the Court’s disbanding. With no backup, King Booker lost his title and ended his in-ring WWE Hall of Fame career shortly thereafter. 



6.) The Flock~ Raven, Kidman, Saturn, Hammer, Horace, Lodi, Reese, Riggs, Sick Boy

Raven’s knack for reinventing lower tier talents in his grunge God image had already been apparent in ECW where he gathered outsiders like Lupus and The Blue Meanie under his crooked wing in a coven he dubbed Raven’s Nest. He did it again in WCW in 1997, bringing back forgotten and overlooked midcarders like Van Hammer and Scotty Riggs as skid row soldiers in his loyal Flock.

Cloaked in tattered jeans and combat boots like their disaffected leader, these nouveau punks routinely occupied choice ringside seats at Nitro tapings and swarmed on Raven’s rivals like bowery rats on day old bread. Not all members of The Flock clicked. The 7-foot tall Reese looked awkward in his XXXL flannel and Horace — Hulk Hogan’s deer-in-the-headlights nephew — always seemed like he’d rather be somewhere else. But Raven’s psychological struggles with his Flock helped spawn career renaissances for hyper-talented troops like Saturn and Kanyon while turning Billy Kidman into one of WCW’s true breakout stars. 



5.) The Un-Americans~ Lance Storm, Test, Christian, and William Regal

In 2002, Canadian Superstar Lance Storm felt that WWE has discriminated against people from his homeland for years, citing incidents such as the infamous Montreal Screwjob. Storm — who had led competitors like Elix Skipper and Mike Awesome in a faction known as Team Canada in WCW — enlisted fellow Canadians Christian and Test in a fervently xenophobic group known as The Un-Americans.


Carrying an upside down U.S. flag to the ring, Storm and Christian captured the World Tag Team Championships and drew the ire of The Undertaker, Booker T and Goldust. Inspired by their cause, British Superstar William Regal joined the faction, and brought more championships into the fold. Nevertheless, the group disbanded following a series of losses, but their united cause created a powerful alliance that nearly resulted in a full-fledged Canadian coup.



4.) nWo Wolfpac~ Kevin Nash, Sting, Lex Luger, Randy Savage, and Konnan 

The make-up of The nWo Wolfpac was a WCW fan’s dream in 1998. While the original incarnation of The New World Order got weighed down with too many mediocre members, this splinter group was strictly top shelf. Initially formed over a disagreement with Hogan, the group was started by Kevin Nash and “Macho Man” Randy Savage, who ditched the black and white for the black and red. Soon, Lex Luger, Konnan and longtime nWo holdout Sting joined their ranks, establishing The Wolfpac as WCW’s most popular group.

Clad in their trademark red and black T-shirts with a legendary entrance theme guiding them to the ring, the group battled “Hollywood” Hogan and successfully upset the balance of power in The nWo. Like the original New World Order, The Wolfpac was eventually sullied by questionable members like Disco Inferno, but they’ll long be remembered as one of sports-entertainment’s elite factions.



3.) The Triple Threat~ Shane Douglas, Bam Bam Bigelow, Chris Candidno, and Francine

After repeatedly disparaging NWA icons like Ric Flair, Shane Douglas responded to The Nature Boy’s Four Horsemen with his own Triple Threat. The dominant ECW faction went through several incarnations that included technical experts and bruising tough guys, but the gang came into its own when Douglas joined forces with the immensely talented Chris Candido and Bam Bam Bigelow, along with the distracting assets of Francine at ringside.

Just like Flair’s posse, The Triple Threat simultaneously held every championship in the organization and denied rising stars the opportunity to challenge for them. But, as with any coterie of best-in-class performers, jealousy eventually set in. Bigelow, insisting he was top dog, defeated The Franchise for the ECW Title in front of a rowdy crowd at New York City’s Elks Lodge. The triumvirate stayed afloat another year, but that collision at Queen Boulevard’s “Madhouse of Extreme” was The Triple Threat’s symbolic dissolution.



2.) The Millon Dollar Corporation~ The Million Dollar Man, Nikoali Volkoff, Bam Bam Bigelow, IRS, Tatanka, King Kong Bundy, Kama, Sid, The Ringmaster

They plagiarized The Undertaker, routinely humiliated a WWE Hall of Famer and helped launch the WWE career of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, but whoever talks about how great The Million Dollar Corporation was? Bankrolled by The Million Dollar Man — who we have to imagine kept his riches in a roomful of gold coins a la Scrooge McDuck — this band of subsidized pirates represented the best baddies money could buy in the mid-90s.

Back then, at a time that has been justly criticized as one of WWE’s weaker eras, Ted DiBiase and his hired goons — including Bam Bam Bigelow, Sid and “The Supreme Fighting Machine” Kama, who famously melted The Deadman’s urn and turned it into a gold chain — were regularly the most entertaining part of an otherwise staid show. Who can forget the night Tatanka shocked the world by selling out to The Million Dollar Man? Or DiBiase literally buying a destitute Nikolai Volkoff and then forcing him to wear a tuxedo T-shirt and trunks with cent signs on them?

The “Attitude Era” took hold not long after DiBiase’s group split and a trend of villainous factions obsessed with being cool began. But for The Million Dollar Corporation, greed was good enough.



1.) The Dangerous Alliance~ Paul Heyman, Rick Rude, Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton, Steve Austin, Larry Zbyszko, Madusa

Paul Heyman had been obsessed with unleashing anarchy long before ECW ever hit the airwaves. After he was fired by WCW as an announcer, the man then known as Paul E. Dangerously brazenly declared, “This means war.”

With Madusa at his side, Dangerously dug out his manager’s license and began acquiring the most ruthless competitors in WCW to help him dismantle the company. His first signing, Rick Rude, almost immediately captured the U.S. Title. Larry Zbyszko earned the nickname “The Cruncher” for breaking Barry Windham’s arm in a car door. Arn Anderson’s proclivity for dishing out pain and punishment needs little description.

Dangerously rounded out his faction with ring general “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton and a young upstart named Steve Austin, who quickly found championships around his waist. The Dangerous Alliance’s brutal attacks left WCW’s heroes in a crumpled heap and brought the company to its knees — a twisted talent that would remain Heyman’s forte. 



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PWE Fantasy Draft Rosters

10/7/2013

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Josh


1.) CM Punk
2.) Daniel Bryan 
3.) Cody Rhodes 
4.) Bobby Roode
5.) Sami Zayn
6.) Dean Ambrose 
7.) Roman Regins 
8.) Seth Rollins 
9.) Michael Elgin 
10.) Paige 
11.) Dolph Ziggler
12.) Damien Sandow 
13.) Jeff Hardy 
14.) Ryback 
15.) Summer Rae 
16.) Titus O'Neil 
17.) Santino Marella 
18.) Bully Ray 
19.) Brie Bella 
20.) Emma
21.) Chris Hero 
22.) Ms. Chief 
23.) Bayley 
24.) Big Show 
25.) Rey Mysterio 
26.) AJ Styles  


Commentators: Tom Phillips and William Regal from NXT 


Backstage Interviewer: Renne Young 
Ruben


1.) John Cena 
2.) Randy Orton 
3.) Bray Wyatt 
4.) Antonio Cesaro 
5.) Alberto Del Rio 
6.) Luke Harper 
7.) Erick Rowan 
8.) Kevin Steen 
9.) AJ Lee 
10.) Kaitlyn 
11.) Zack Ryder
12.) Chris Sabin 
13.) Jay Lethal 
14.) Maria Kanellis 
15.) Mike Bennett 
16.) Darren Young 
17.) Austin Aries
18.) Velvet Sky 
19.) Samoa Joe
20.) Charlotte Flair 
21.) Natalya 
22.) Matt Morgan 
23.) Alex Shelley 
24.) Mark Henry 
25.) R-Truth 
26.) Jack Swagger


Commentators: Michael Cole and JBL 


Backstage Interviewer: Josh Matthews
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WWE.com: WWE Battleground Predictions 

10/3/2013

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By WWE.com Staff

The WWE Universe is excitedly awaiting the inaugural WWE Battleground pay-per-view event, to take place this Sunday, October 6th, at First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York

With four big championship contests and no shortage of grudge matches, the pay-per-view lineup haz gigantic implications for the landscape of WWE going forward. But who will win and who will lose? Check out the WWE.com panel's predictions for WWE Battleground 2013, and add your predictions in the comments section below.

1.) Dolph Ziggler vs. Damien Sandow (Kickoff Match)

Michael Burdick: An enlightened Superstar like Damien Sandow will surely study Dolph Ziggler extensively heading to Sunday's matchup, certainly devising the perfect strategy to topple the two-time World Heavyweight Champion. However, all the studying in the world won't allow him to pass The Showoff test. Ziggler takes the "Uncrowned World Heavyweight Champion" on a Zig Zag ride through loser's lane at Kickoff. 

Winner: Dolph Ziggler

Alex Gianni: Although both Dolph Ziggler and Damien Sandow are due for a victory, I'm thinking it'll be Ziggler who rises to the occasion at this pay-per-view prelude. The Showoff will kick off WWE Battleground with a big win over Mr. Money in the Bank

Winner: Dolph Ziggler

Jake Grate: Even with huge title matches and other highly personal collisions on the WWE Battleground card, the Kickoff battle could very well be the contest I'm most looking forward to. A contrast styles - with Ziggler's reckless athleticisim and Sandow's cerebal stratagem - guarantees that Sunday gets off to a rousing start. In the end, I've got to side with WWE's robed Renaissance man, who finds a way to outfox The Showoff.

Winner: Damien Sandow

John Clapp: With match-of-the-night potential, don’t be surprised if both Superstars lay it all on the line in an effort to remind WWE powers-that-be of their arguably underutilized talent. Unfortunately for The Intellectual Savior, Ziggler thrives most when he’s out to prove a point. 

WINNER: Ziggler

Anthony Benigno: A former Mr. Money in the Bank, Ziggler has had his struggles of late, though not so much as the current contract holder, Sandow. With Sandow on the upswing after WWE Main Event, look for “The Duke of Decency” to gut out the win in a Kickoff classic. 

WINNER: Sandow


2.) WWE Intercontinental Championship Match 
Curtis Axel (c) vs. R-Truth 

Michael Burdick: As good as R-Truth is, there is no denying that Curtis Axel has had a meteoric rise in comparison. That takes true ability. Despite the fact that Paul Heyman has other issues on his mind, certainly being a “Heyman Guy” will provide an edge. Bottom line: Axel will walk into and out of WWE Battleground as the Intercontinental Champion, and that’s the truth. WINNER: Axel

Alex Giannini: R-Truth’s title challengehas come about abruptly, but Curtis Axel’s getting used to such surprises, having downed Kofi Kingston in an impromptu title match on pay-per-view last month. Don’t expect the third-generation Superstar, who’s much more poised than many peers with a comparable level of experience, to be shaken. WINNER: Axel

Jake Grate: On Raw, R-Truth capitalized on CM Punk’s entrance music blaring over the TitanTron to defeat a distracted Axel. At WWE Battleground, it is unlikely The Rapping Superstar will be lucky enough to get that same – or any – diversion. Under Paul Heyman’s watchful eye, the Intercontinental Champion retains to climb ever closer to his father Mr. Perfect’s incredible 400-plus days with the illustrious title. WINNER: Axel

John Clapp: R-Truth has looked positively reenergized recently and though his Raw non-title win over Axel was largely due to CM Punk’s “involvement,” that doesn’t mean he can’t — and won’t — overcome an Intercontinental Champion who seems stuck in neutral. WINNER: R-Truth

Anthony Benigno: A timely distraction doomed the touch-and-go Intercontinental Champion on Raw, yet when his title is on the line, Curtis Axel always finds his inner perfection. WINNER: Axel


3.) WWE Divas Championship Match 
AJ Lee (c) vs. Brie Bella

Michael Burdick: WWE.com and E! Online reported that Brie Bella got engaged to Daniel Bryan last Friday. But even though her personal life may be all butterflies and happiness, that doesn’t mean she will claim the butterfly-emblazoned title at WWE Battleground. Divas Champion AJ Lee has been perfect in her recent quest to overcome every one of E!’s “Total Divas” in singles competition. The bride-to-be’s future includes a Black Widow. WINNER: AJ

Alex Giannini: It’s been an emotional week for the “Total Diva,” as Brie Bella accepted Daniel Bryan’s marriage proposal. On the flip side, Divas Champion AJ Lee seems to be married to the idea of dismantling every “Total Diva” in WWE. AJ’s craziness aside, she’s a tough competitor, and a formidable champion. Still, I think a change is in the air. My take? Brie continues to ride the high of her engagement, and kicks off a whole new kind of engagement — a Divas Champion title reign. WINNER: Brie

Jake Grate: Since capturing the Divas Championship at WWE Payback more than three months ago, AJ has been unstoppable in title bouts. Despite Brie’s impressive in-ring evolution in recent months and “Total Divas” momentum, WWE’s resident spider woman finds a way to lock up that excruciating Black Widow submission and retain her title. WINNER: AJ

John Clapp: One can only assume Brie Bella’s headspace is preoccupied with the goings on of her fiancé, especially considering all that transpired on Raw. The Divas Champion, despite her oversized ego, is an immensely savvy competitor, and she’ll find a way to exploit Brie’s distractedness. WINNER: AJ

Anthony Benigno: Pipe bombs aside, as a whole, the “Total Divas” cast has owned AJ Lee in multi-Diva matches. In individual combat? Not so much. The Black Widow wins again. WINNER: AJ


4.) CM Punk vs. Ryback 

Michael Burdick: Last month, the treachery of Ryback allowed Paul Heyman to steal a victory away from CM Punk. Despite the mad scientist’s claim that The Straight Edge Superstar will just get more of the same when he faces “The Big Guy” at WWE Battleground, look for The Second City Saint to find retribution anyway. WINNER: Punk

Alex Giannini: Bullies tend to stop being bullies once they get punched in the face, and at WWE Battleground, I’m predicting that’s exactly what will happen to Ryback when CM Punk cuts loose on “The Big Guy.” Yes, there’s a size advantage for Ryback, and yes, he’ll have the diabolical Paul Heyman slithering around ringside, but in the end, Punk’s simply better in the ring — some might even say he’s The Best. WINNER: Punk

Jake Grate: A little more than a month after his instant classic, career-shortening slugfest with Brock Lesnar, Punk faces another supersized monster. I foresee a similarly destructive collision between The Best in the World and The Human Wrecking Ball. In a true toss-up, Punk wins. The devious, oily Paul Heyman, however, will find a way to swing things in favor of the muscle-bound Superstar who’s the newest apple of his eye. WINNER: Ryback

John Clapp: CM Punk has endured an insane amount of punishment as a result of his war with Paul Heyman. In turn, don’t be surprised if he takes out months’ worth of frustrations against Ryback in a match that will be absolutely out of control. Maybe too out of control. Punk wins the war and makes Ryback pay, but in the process, he loses the battle. WINNER: Ryback

Anthony Benigno: The Second City Saint already toppled Ryback once with Paul Heyman at his side, but with the mad scientist’s allegiances having swung the other way, the end result will flip-flop as well. WINNER: Ryback


5.) Cody Rhodes & Goldust vs. The Shield

Michael Burdick: WWE Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns have a proven track record in tag team contests, but Cody Rhodes & Goldust are fighting for more than just a win. The sons of WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes crack The Shield and get their jobs back. WINNER: Cody Rhodes & Goldust

Alex Giannini: With so much on the line for the Rhodes boys, there’s no doubt Cody & Goldust will pull out all the stops in this match. But Reigns & Rollins are no strangers to big matches, and there’s always the possibility that Dean Ambrose plays a role. Unfortunately, I think the numbers advantage remains with The Shield. WINNERS: Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns

Jake Grate: With their jobs hanging in the balance, will Cody & Goldust find the intensity and ferocity to match the vicious Hounds of Justice? I believe in The Shield, but I believe in the family Rhodes even more. WINNERS: Cody Rhodes & Goldust

John Clapp: The world is curious to see how the brothers Rhodes will gel in team action, but the deciding factor could well be the insight of Dusty Rhodes, who oversaw the development of all three Shield members in NXT. WINNERS: Cody Rhodes & Goldust

Anthony Benigno: The Shield has long been the X-factor in the Rhodes men’s struggles with “The Authority,” but with all three “Hounds of Justice” out in the open and no other factors at play, look for Cody & Goldust to take care of bidness and restore their family name. WINNER: Cody Rhodes & Goldust.

6.) Hardcore Rules Match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Alberto Del Rio (c) vs. Rob Van Dam

Michael Burdick: Triple H said it best: the Battleground Hardcore Rules stipulation is right out of the ECW handbook. Even though Del Rio’s ruthlessness is certainly going to make his high-flying opponent suffer, RVD will be the World Heavyweight Champion when the closing bell rings. However, it won’t matter, as Mr. Money in the Bank, Damien Sandow, will cash in his coveted contract to walk out of the pay-per-view with the World Title in hand. WINNER: RVD (REAL WINNER: SANDOW)

Alex Giannini: Thanks to his survivalist instinct, World Champion Alberto Del Rio walked out of Night of Champions with his title reign intact despite losing his match against challenger Rob Van Dam via disqualification. Now, with the added Hardcore Rules stipulation, Del Rio won’t be afforded the same opportunity. This time, he’ll have to beat RVD by pinfall or submission, and he’ll have to do so in RVD’s extreme playground. Sorry, Alberto, it’s just not gonna happen. WINNER: RVD

Jake Grate: If the illustrious World Heavyweight Championship wasn’t motivation enough, RVD and Del Rio’s rivalry has turned extra personal and vicious in recent weeks. Although “Mr. Pay-Per-View” guarantees excitement and innovative offense, the extreme nature of this Battleground Hardcore Rules Match favors the reigning champion, whose intensity and brutality are well-documented. WINNER: Del Rio

John Clapp: On paper, this is Rob Van Dam’s match to lose. But for as much as it is assumed RVD is in the catbird seat, thanks to the Battleground Hardcore Rules, let it not be forgotten that Del Rio can thrive in anything-goes matches. Forget the Van Terminator; ADR gets the win with one of his creative, and weapon- or rope-assisted, variations of the Cross Armbreaker.  WINNER: Del Rio

Anthony Benigno: Alberto Del Rio has survived a lot of unthinkable situations with his World Title intact, but an anything-goes match with an ECW Original? Adios, amigo. WINNER: RVD


7.) Vacant WWE Championship Match 
Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton 

Michael Burdick: Has Randy Orton reconnected with his sadistic side? “YES!” Will that make for a truly intense war against the tenacious Daniel Bryan? “YES!” Will COO Triple H do everything in his power to make sure Bryan doesn’t reign supreme? “YES!” Will “The Beard” rise above anyway to win his third pay-per-view WWE Title match in a row? “YES! YES! YES!” WINNER: Bryan

Alex Giannini: Daniel Bryan may have the wind at his back, but Randy Orton’s got The Game at his. As much as I’d like to see a long, successful, bearded title reign, I simply cannot imagine a world where Triple H and those closest to him don’t win, and it’ll be The Viper over Bryan. WINNER: Randy Orton

Jake Grate: Although Bryan’s win over Orton at Night of Champions was short-lived, that devastating running knee finisher keeps playing in my mind when I think about their WWE Battleground rematch. Even with The Viper rediscovering his sadistic side and having the support of “The  Authority”  firmly in his corner, the bearded wonder finds a way to land that match-changing knee strike again to claim the vacant WWE Title. WINNER: Bryan

John Clapp: Prior to this past Monday’s Raw, momentum seemed to be shifting toward the side of Daniel Bryan, but following The Viper’s brutal assault on “The Beard” and the tasteless remarks he made to his fiancée, Brie Bella, the psychological edge has swung back in Orton’s favor. That will make all the difference heading into WWE Battleground. WINNER: Orton

Anthony Benigno: Can Daniel Bryan win his third WWE Championship in three months? Absolutely. But will Triple H let “The Beard” beat his handpicked standard-bearer for the second pay-per-view running? To quote a certain someone, “no chance in hell.” WINNER: Orton





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WWE.com: 8 Superstars who broke bad to greatness

10/2/2013

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By: WWE.COM Editorial Staff

While it is true that anything can happen in the unpredictable world of WWE, it is also inevitable that all good things must eventually come to an end. However, every once in a while, that dark conclusion is just as necessary transformation into something even more extraodrinary than before.

With that in mind, WWE.com looks back at eight beloved Superstars who spit in the face of everything from friendship to the establishment in order to reach a higher level of legendary notoriety.

1.) Hulk Hogan goes "Hollywood"

If you grew up in the 1980s, there's a good chance that you "said your prayers and took your vitamins" like a good little Hulkamaniac. One of the biggest stars ever to grace the squared circle, countless members of the WWE Universe donned the Hulkster's iconic red and yellow as he turned back everyone and anyone that stood in the way of what was right.

But all that would changed in 1996, when Hulk Hogan delivered his signature leg drop to "Macho Man" Randy Savage, forsaking WCW and legions of fans to join forces with "The Outsiders," Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. Adopting a new, edgier look and calling himself "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan, he would go on to lead the notorious nWo's assualt on the organization, dominanting WCW for the remainder of the '90s.

The viewers would ultimately welcome Hogan back into their hearts in 2002. But, perhaps more importantly, the "Hollywood" Era would give the famed icon membership to a select club - as one of the few Superstars that were both the most loved and and most relived at different points of their illustrious career.

2.) HBK kicks off solo career

In January 1992, tensions mounted between The Rockers - Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty - when they appeared on Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake Barber Shop.

And while Jannetty offered to bury the hatchet with a handshake, "The Heartbreak Kid" would choose a different path, executing Sweet Chin Music on his unsuspecting comrade. If that wasn't shocking enough, the future WWE Hall of Famer put an exclamation point on his sneak attack by hurling Jannetty's head through the Barber Shop's plate-glass window.

Though Michael's  betray of friendship marked the demise of an explosive WWE tag team, it ultimately allowed HBK to lay the foundation for one of the most storied careers in WWE History - living proof that sometimes, to do something great, you have to do something incredibly bad.

3.) The Rock joins The Nation 

Despite being the grandson of the renowned "High Chief" Peter Maivia, son of WWE Hall of Famer Rocky Johnson and golden child of the storied Anoai's wrestling family, the straight-laced "blue chipper" Rocky Maivia was ushered into WWE with a sea of "Rocky die!" chants.

The WWE Universe simply no longer wanted a good-looking kid who always did the right thing. Instead, they were drawn to the likes of rebellious "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Frustrated and disheartened, Rocky turned his back on the WWE Universe and sought the direction with an aggressive faction of thugs known as The Nation of Domination.

Eventually unsurping control of the group, a complete rebirth of the young Superstar followed. He began calling himself as The Rock, wearing $500 shirts, custom-made shoes, adapting an interview style in which he'd refer to himself in the third person and warning the WWE Universe to "know [their] role and shout [their] mouth!"

While it was fall true from grace as far as the fans were concered, the rising Great One would go on the become a movie star, a pop culture icon and one of the most populars Superstars in WWE history.

4.)  Andre's giant betrayal 

In February 1987 – boasting a 15-year undefeated record – beloved Superstar Andre the Giant journeyed to “Piper’s Pit” on a mission. Backed by hated manager Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, The Eighth Wonder of the World proceeded to rip the crucifix and shirt off WWE Champion Hulk Hogan, challenging his trusted friend and ally for the title at WrestleMania III.

Andre felt slighted, not only by the outpouring of long-time adoration for The Hulkster, but also because, for more than three years, he was never given a title opportunity. In that moment, he chose the temptation of championship glory over friendship.

Andre’s betrayal will forever live in infamy. However, no one can deny the greatness it ushered in. The Hogan vs. Andre showdown at WrestleMania III became one of the most highly anticipated main events in WrestleMania history, playing out in front of the 93,000-plus in the Pontiac Silverdome crowd.

5.) The Game plays DX

It is hard to argue with success. And although many in the WWE Universe oppose his methods from time-to-time, few Superstars have proven more successful than 13-time World Champion Triple H.

And at Wrestlemania XV, The Game created a sea of controversy when, after rising to prominence as a part of the rebellious D-Generation X, he suddenly chose to come to Shane McMahon’s aid – flooring long-time friend and partner X-Pac with a particularly punishing Pedigree to join the Corporation.

While it proved to be an unpopular decision with many in the WWE Universe and locker room, it would ultimately elevate The Cerebral Assassin. The as-of-yet-uncrowned King of Kings would score his first of many World Championships less than six months later, putting himself on a trajectory that would take him through a highly decorated career, ultimately landing in the COO’s chair at WWE Headquarters.

6.) A beloved patriot turns his back on the U.S.A 

In 1990, Sgt. Slaughter – a true American hero and one of the most beloved Superstars in WWE history – decided to turn his back on not only fans, but his entire country, by casting aside the good ol' U.S.A. and becoming an Iraqi sympathizer. This all happened just as the U.S. was embroiled in the Gulf War.

After going so far as to reveal he had been given a pair of boots by then-Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, Slaughter went on to reign supreme over WWE Champion The Ultimate Warrior at Royal Rumble 1991 – a simultaneous slap in the face to the entire nation.

The hatred brought unprecedented fan response – including threats against the Superstar’s home and the WWE headquarters and a change in the location of WrestleMania VII to the Los Angeles Sports Arena to secure his safety.

Though Slaughter would one day redeem himself in the eyes of fans, the dark place to which he took the WWE Universe will stand forever in infamy. Still, his betrayal helped him capture his first-ever WWE Title and forge a whole new chapter in the career of the legendary warrior.


7.) The "Hit Man" opens fire

On March 17, 1997, after losing a steel cage rematch for the WWE Title – and after enduring months of interference from the likes of “Stone Cold" Steve Austin – the always cool and collected Bret "Hit Man" Hart finally reached his boiling point and let off verbal fire on the final Raw before WrestleMania 13.

In the wake of his unjust defeat, a highly agitated Hart would shove then-announcer Mr. McMahon to the canvas – the first time anyone had ever truly put their hands on WWE’s Chairman.

With the WWE Universe frozen in response to the rarely seen outburst, the disgusted Excellence of Execution proceeded to unleash an incisive tirade on the prevalent treachery and corruption of a WWE on the cusp of an attitudinal revolution.

While he would, inadvertently, initiate his own descent from electric pink beacon of respect and righteousness to villain, Hart’s action are credited by many as opening the floodgates in WWE for all-out lawlessness, the foundation of the dawning Attitude Era.

Beyond that, the frustration consuming the five-time WWE Champion would permanently alter his career as Hart was driven from WWE later that year. Ironically, Bret returned in 2010 to right the wrongs he first cited on this Raw in 1997, following up on his shove to McMahon with a gratifying Sharpshooter and one-on-one triumph at WrestleMania XXVI.


8.) Punk's pipebomb insurrection

Prior to the summer of 2011, CM Punk was already an established success in WWE – a three-time World Heavyweight Champion, two-time Money in the Bank Ladder Match winner, as well as Intercontinental, ECW and World Tag Team Champion. But it wasn’t until The Second City Saint chose to opening lambaste WWE’s top brass in his now-infamous Pipebomb on Monday Night Raw, that he set himself on the path to becoming the juggernaut he is today.

With one microphone tirade, The Straight Edge Superstar shattered the fourth wall, calling-out the McMahon Family, John Cena and the entire WWE establishment.

From that launching point, Punk went on to beat Cena for the WWE Championship at 2011’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view and leave the company with the title. He would only go higher from there, returning to unify the gold at SummerSlam – after a second WWE Title was established in his absence – and later, going on a 434-day reign as WWE Champion. And his new level of prominence all started when he openly defied the powers-that-be.



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    Co-Host of the P.W.E Show Joshua Lopez does the blogs and historical information for the P.W.E Show

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