Night Of Champions 2015 Predictions

In just about 21.5 hours we will have Night of Champions where every WWE Title will be on the line! And there will be other matches as well. So I thought I would get into the habit again of making my predictions and seeing just how many I can get right.

We will get started with the match that will kick off the PPV on the pre-show. It will be The Lucha Dragons teaming with Neville to face the Cosmic Wasteland of Stardust and The Ascension. At SummerSlam (or as I like to call it SummerFest) Neville (along with Stephen Amell) defeated Stardust and Wade Barrett, and this match is a spin off of that feud I think Stardust will pick up the win. Let's face it. He really is in desperate need of the win.

Next up we have Nikki Bella vs Charlotte for the Diva's title. I will keep my opinions to myself about the reign of Nikki Bella. I have all ready been yelled at but someone on the internet that I don't support women's wrestling. Even though this gentleman (using the term very loosely) does not know a thing about me... neither here nor there. But WOOOOOOOO. Charlotte will be your new Diva's champion.

Another title match is Ryback vs Kevin Owens for the Intercontinental Title. This will be a very good match of two larger wrestlers. And I think Kevin Owens will will the title. He couldn't wrestle the US Title away from Cena, but he will become Intercontinental champion which in my opinion is actually better. I know the two titles are on the same level, but to me they are not.

Then, we will have the tag titles being defended by the New Day vs The Dudley Boyz. I think New Day retains. They just won the titles and it will be too soon to take them off of them. But there will be some foul play. Xavier Woods will somehow get involved, allowing the New Day to retain. There will be a rematch at Hell In A Cell. I could either see it being a Hell In A Cell Match or a tables match. Either way, the Dudleys will need a little help. But I seem to be predicting more Hell in A Cell so I'm going to let it go (SPIKE).

We also have Dolph Ziggler vs Rusev. I don't know why the WWE continues to put it's top stars in feuds straight out of soap operas. It didn't work with Cena and AJ, and it's not working with Ziggler and Lana. Lana will not play a part in the match because she is out injured. Ziggler has been getting the upper hand on Rusev so I expect a Rusev win.

There's a huge six man tag match. The new Wyatt Family will face Ambrose, Reigns and a mystery partner. The rumors are running rampant who that mystery partner will be. Is Erick Rowan healthy enough to return (no), will the WWE call up someone from NXT (Possibly)? I have heard two names that are just speculation. It could be Baron Corbin. Meh. Or it could be Samoa Joe which would be huge. But the biggest rumor out there will be it will be the return of YES! YES! YES! Daniel Bryan. And quite frankly the winner of the match really depends on who that third guy is. If it's Bryan, his team wins. If it's Samoa Joe? His team wins. If it's Baron Corbin, his team losses. Rowan? Loss. So I'm going to say it's Daniel Bryan and his team wins.

Seth Rollins has not one but two matches on Sunday. He will face John Cena for the US championship and Sting for the WWE World Title. I think somehow he escapes with both his titles. I don't expect either of his matches to end cleanly. One will be a DQ and one will be a countout. I think it will be a countout vs Cena and a DQ with Sting thanks to Big Show interfering.

What do you think of my predictions? Tweet me and let me know! @Trel67

I have had enough Edition

No banners today. No greeting. I am stepping right into my thoughts last night on the Royal Rumble. Or more like my thoughts on the people bitching about the Royal Rumble.

I understand having your favorite superstar and getting upset over him not winning a big match like the Royal Rumble but come on people. #CancelWWENetwork was trending last night on Twitter for hours because people are belly aching.

And it all seems to stem from the fact that Daniel Bryan didn't win last night. There are reports that Mr. McMahon was asked to put him in the main event of Wrestlemania 31 and he said no. GOOD! I like Daniel Bryan. I do. But you know what? Storylines were re-written for him last year. He has had his Wrestlemania moment.

It is a shame he got injured last year. But injuries are a part of professional wrestling. We all know it. There is not a single wrestler who has never had to take time off due to an injury.

It just bothers me that so called fans have done nothing but bitch and moan. Maybe Roman Reigns isn't the best on microphone. I personally don't think Randy Orton is, but no one seems to mind his long boring promos. Reigns is good. But he is green. I admit that. But there is no way better to learn then trial by fire.

How many times in the last few months have we seen Cena vs Rollins in one form or another? Usos vs Miz/Mizdow? How many times over the past few years have we had Cena vs Orton? The number one complaint I have heard is they aren't pushing anyone new. Guess what? They are pushing someone new. And still people complain.

Here's the other thing to consider. Daniel Bryan went out early in the Rumble. What if he was the last one eliminated? Would that have stopped people from complaining? I think it personally would have made it worse.

Daniel Bryan will be just fine at Wrestlemania. He will not get left off the card. Sure, it's not the confetti falling from the roof moment people want. You want that? Watch Wrestlemania XXX when he overcame every odds stacked against him. Like he was some kind of super hero.... like John Cena. But we boo Cena when he does it.

I think Mark Henry put it best.... Y'all a bunch of puppets.

37

Step Up Edition

Welcome to another edition of Inside The Wrestling Ring. As always, head over to our partner Clubkayfabe's podcast as well.

Of course the biggest news coming out of Raw this week is that John Cena is indeed not a super-man. Cena had surgery to repair a torn tricep, keeping him out of action for 4-6 months. My thoughts about Cena are well known. As a performer, he is the best on microphone (right now) but as a wrestler, to me, he leaves a lot to be desired. But no one has given more to the world of wrestling than he has. From his charity work to his promotions for the company, no one does more. And for that he will be missed over that time.

It would take the average person four to six months to recover from the surgery that he had, but let's face it. Cena is not normal. Back in 2007 he was injured in October and was supposed to miss about six months of action. Instead he appeared in the Royal Rumble of 2008 and won it. All I am trying to say is I would be surprised if he takes the full four to six months to recover from this injury as well.

With both John Cena and Sheamus out, there need to be some wrestlers who step up in the absence. So I thought I would take this opportunity to list who I think should step up and why.

Daniel Bryan is, of course, on top of that list. He is already on the verge (once again) of being that top tier main event status. He has the crowd behind him and is a great mat-based wrestler. Plus, while I would never consider him an aerial wrestler, he does fly a little bit.

Dolph Ziggler has now been on the cusp of being a main eventer twice in the last few years and this is a perfect time for him to shine. We know he is athletic and takes crazy bumps. He has everything it takes to be a main eventer with the company for years to come, plus the fans are behind him as well. With the three-on-one match he had on Raw this past week, I think it's safe to say he will be looked at to help carry the load in Cena's absence.

Another person who had a three-on-one match this week is Big Show. He has the experience of being a main eventer. He is just returning from injury himself, so I think that helps him as well.

There are two other guys that have been on the verge of main eventing before that I think can fill in for Cena as well. Cody Rhodes and Kofi Kingston are both capable of great matches with practically anyone on the roster. I have been a fan of both of them pretty much since their debuts, so this would be the chance if the WWE wanted to push them to do so. Rhodes is in a feud right now with Damien Sandow but Kofi hasn't done anything since his return. I would love to see him step up against Ryback for injuring him. Both Kingston and Rhodes are young guys with a lot of future ahead of them.

I would include Christian and Rob Van Dam in this, however, both would be temporary fixes. Both are getting up there in age (as is Big Show, I know). They are both talented wrestlers who have been around the business for decades and could help teach the younger guys a thing or two.

Maybe throw in an NXT guy or two like Adrian Neville or Kassius Ohno. I also would like to see Xavier Woods called up. He may not have experience in the WWE, but he was almost a main eventer at TNA for awhile and has plenty to offer the WWE as well.

You hate to see any injury, regardless of your feeling for any superstar or diva. Hopefully it gives guys a chance to "reach for that brass ring" and climb the ladder that they would not normally get a chance to do.

Special thanks to my wonderful editor who also doubles as my lovely fiancée!

Fixing Raw and Smackdown

If you watched Raw or Smackdown in the past few weeks, you've seen a few good matches. You also saw things that really didn't need to happen on a wrestling program. By that I mean shilling pizza, two dance contests, a truck pull, a tug of war between the World's Strongest Man and Tons of Funk and another one with Sheamus. And just because there wasn't enough randomness they threw in an arm wrestling contest too. First let us not forget we watch wrestling for the wrestling matches first and foremost. But lately the WWE seems to be dropping the ball on that. I think if I see one more Team Hell No vs Prime Time Players match I am going to be very angry! And you wouldn't like me angry. So I have a few ideas that might help the WWE (cause you know, they read this, right?) get back on track.

First, get rid of the jobbers and actually let everyone earn a spot on the roster. I am not saying get rid of them and fire them, but give everyone mini pushes. Let them earn it. I can think of a few guys that at one point had solid spots on the roster that are now just used to fed people that are being pushed down our throats. Guys like Ted Diabiase (I know he is healthy again, he has been on house shows recently), Yoshi Tatsu, Curt Hawkins, Alex Riley and JTG for example. I'm not saying Yoshi needs to win his matches but allow him to try to be entertaining and see if the fans take to him again.

Sit the people that need to be sat down. I don't care if John Cena is the WWE Champion. Everyone deserves a few weeks off to rest, especially if he is injured. If he were to get hurt even further, what good does it do the company then? CM Punk has it right. He is injured. He needs some time off to rest both his body and his mind. And he is taking it. Even when Cena was going through a nasty divorce he didn't take time off. I have never wrestled a day in my life, but I would imagine it would be way too easy to burn out considering what they put their bodies through. At least they are doing the right thing when it comes to Dolph Ziggler and his concussion. There is no reason why a man and a concussion should be competing in a ladder match.

I read something recently that said the Brand Extension was officially going away. I say put it back full force. That way more people earn their spots and we don't see the same match on Raw that we saw on Smackdown. Use shows like Main Event and Saturday Morning Slam as Super Shows. Let Raw and Smackdown focus on the putting on the best shows with the talent that is "signed" to that roster.

The last thing they can do to help is just go back to two hours. With all the injuries they have had recently, part of it has to do with being over worked. The wrestlers are clearly over worked with on average six and a half hours of wrestling every week, they are bound to be putting more stress on their bodies. Plus clearly the writers are reaching for things at this point. So if they pushed Raw back to two hours, I think it will help the overall product

Randy Savage....

As I stated in my first blog, I have been a fan of wrestling since around 1986-1987. There have been many debates in wrestling history about top superstars. Today it's Orton-Cena. Before it was Rock-Austin. And before that it was Savage-Hogan. It was easy to be on Team Hogan. He was the larger then life superstar. He was power, but Savage was speed and finese. When my brother and I wrestled, I was the speed guy. I was the guy jumping off the top rope, or in my case the back of the couch. So I admired Randy Savage for all that he could do in the ring. He had some of the best matches in WWE history, including the one with Steamboat at Wrestlemania III. Was any of Hogan's matches on that level? Not really. Yeah, his matches with Andre were good, but it wasnt on the same level. Not even close.

Earlier today while driving, Randy Savage suffered a heart attack in Tampa. He crossed the median and smacked into a tree. He died. His wife of a year was in the car with him and survived with only minor injuries.

Another wrestler from my youth has died. I know it sounds cheesy, but I hope when he arrived in the wrestling ring in the sky.... the first person there to greet him was his ex wife Elizabeth. How these two are not in the wrestling hall of fame is still mind boggling. She was the first woman of professional wrestling for a reason. I know his relationship with Vince McMahon wasn't always the best, but there is no reason why he shouldnt be elected into the Hall of Fame. Especially now. I would have loved to seen his acceptace speech, but now if he ever gets in it will have to be post humously.

As a fan, everytime I heard "Pomp and Circumstance" I didnt think of graduations and gowns. No. I thought of Randy Macho Man Savage. I heard it just this past week and commented on it to another wrestling fan. Our girlfriends thought we were crazy. Just last night I was watching one of his matches from 1988.

He was 57 years old when he died. It's weird to think he had not been wrestling on a major promotion since his last appearance in TNA wrestling back in 2004. He will be missed.

I am glad to see that this story has been picked up by alot of news media, not just those that talk about wrestling. Several articles are on IMDB about it. I saw it even on ESPN and AOL News too. It was trending on Twitter earlier. I even just saw Weird Al Tweet about Randy Savage. So did Elizabeth Banks... her Co-star in Spiderman!