WWE Extreme Rules 2013 Preview

WWE Extreme Rules 2013 Preview

It is finally time for WWE Extreme Rules 2013. I thought the show has been built well and I am generally excited for it. I usually do like Extreme Rules as there are gimmick matches and WWE gimmick matches usually end up being good matches.  Every match on this show has the possibility of being good and the card looks promising overall. Let's take a look at what might happen tonight.

Pre-Show - Cody Rhodes vs The Miz
Cody Rhodes has been getting a small B-show mini-push. Nothing to really speak of but I guess it is something to keep in mind. The Miz just returned though and for some reason, The Miz has always been high with the WWE brass.  Since Miz just returned and WWE is definitely going to want to do something with him, I'm picking The Miz to win. WINNER - The Miz

No #1 Contender, I Quit - Alberto Del Rio vs Jack Swagger
This originally was supposed to be a three-way ladder match involving Dolph Ziggler. However, Dolph Ziggler got a concussion due to a Jack Swagger kick and he is out of the match. I think it is a shame since ladder matches are usually good and Dolph would have definitely bumped big. While I am not a big fan of the ADR vs Jack Swagger feud, this one could be good. They haven't been selling the different injuries they gave each other lately which is unfortunate since those injuries would have added to this match. Either way, the match was almost surely going to come down to the Alberto armbar vs the Jack Swagger Patriot Act, which it will tonight. Alberto works well in these situations and should tonight. I expect him to use multiple chairs on Swagger's arm and I think he will bust out the hanging armbar over the ropes. This will weaken Swagger's arm and will lead to the finish of Alberto making Swagger say I Quit with the armbar. Watch out for Zeb Coulter as he will surely get involved, as will Ricardo. There is no way Swagger will win though. Alberto Del Rio vs Dolph Ziggler is clearly the main program moving ahead and it would be better any way you look at it than Swagger vs Ziggler. WINNER - Alberto Del Rio

Tornado Tag Team Match for the World Tag Team Titles - Team Hell No vs The Shield - Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins
This one could be good. If we get a lot of Rollins taking crazy bumps and a lot of DB/Rollins interactions, this should be good. If it is the other way around with Kane working Rollins and DB working Reigns, I don't think it will be good. Either way, The Shield will surely win because they need something to do and they can't afford to lose again. WINNER - The Shield

United States title - Kofi Kingston vs Dean Ambrose
I find this one to be another obvious Shield win. I think WWE has seen that they need some direction with The Shield and by putting titles on all of the members, they will have that direction. This could be a really good match. It should have lots of Kofi flying and lots of Ambrose doing his great selling. However, Ambrose will pull this out, probably with Shield interference with a headlock driver. WINNER - Dean Ambrose

Extreme Rules Match - Randy Orton vs The Big Show
Randy Orton is in his hometown, so he should take this one. I'm not really interested in this one. It is hard to get excited for any Randy Orton match, especially against The Big Show. The best bet here is for them to do lots of weapon shots and gimmick spots. I'm sure someone will go through a table before this is over and I expect lots of chair shots to the back. This one could go either way. Neither really has any big feuds coming up and I think it is likely that these two match up against at the next PPV. I'm picking Orton to win with an RKO. WINNER - Randy Orton

Chris Jericho vs Fandango
This should be the end of the feud here. It has been going on long enough and Jericho is due to leave sooner rather than later. There is no way at all that Fandango will lose this one so he is the obvious choice here. WINNER - Fandango

Strap Match - Sheamus vs Mark Henry
I'm really looking forward to this one. I love strap matches. As Mark Henry's theme says, "Somebodies gon' get they ass kicked" and this should be brutal. I thought the feud has been built up pretty well and I liked how they had Henry do different things related to his strength, which added to this. Sheamus has been a bad face though in this feud with sneak attacks and cheating. I'm expecting a lot of strap shots here and I expect Sheamus to have a disgusting looking back after. I think they will push that it is easier for Henry to pull Sheamus than the reverse. Where they go after this though is something I don't know, which makes it hard to pick a winner. I could see either person winning this here, but since WWE loves Sheamus, I'm picking Sheamus. WINNER - Sheamus

Last Man Standing Match for the WWE Championship - John Cena vs Ryback
Cena's hurt Achilles tendon made for a good story for this match. Expect lots of Cena selling his leg and barely making the count multiple times while Ryback beats up on Cena's leg. I expect Ryback to look really dominant here and I think him winning the title is a possibility. It would be fresh and it would give Cena something to do for a while. It would also cement his heel turn. Cena doesn't need to win and really, there is no good reason for him to. They have the right angle to put him into a losing position and I think they should go with it. Cena is the safer bet to win, but I am picking Ryback since it just makes sense for future business. One thing to look for is the placing of this. If it is the main event, Cena wins. If it is not, Ryback has a chance. WINNER - Ryback

Steel Cage Match - Brock Lesnar vs Triple H
This should be the end of this one. I'm assuming escape the cage rules are in effect and with those, it is hard not to pick Triple H. Does Triple H need it? No, but his ego surely does. This would be a great way to end the feud by having Lesnar win. Lesnar should win since he will be around more than Triple H will and he really should get a win somewhere. The match could be fun and brutal if they don't go too long. I'm sure Brock can find multiple ways to throw Triple H into the cage and brutalize him. I could even see him throwing Triple H through the cage somehow. My gut says that Paul Heyman will be involved a lot and somehow, he will prevent Triple H from leaving only to get thwarted in the end. I except Triple H to win by escaping the cage. WINNER - Triple H

Stay tuned for live coverage of WWE Extreme Rules 2013 with pics, results and possibly gifs live at 7:30!

Sumo Natsu Basho 2013 Day 8

Sumo Natsu Basho 2013 Day 8

J8e     Tochinowaka (4-3) vs J14e    Chiyoo (4-3)

Tochino struggled a little but by the end, he got some pushes in and did a big push to win.

J10w    Takanoyama (5-2) vs  J7w     Tochihiryu (3-4)

Tochi threw tons of chest slaps and got Takanoyama out easy.

M5e     Shohozan (5-2)  vs M8e     Tokitenku (5-2)

Shohozan put forth a great effort here but Toki pushed him by the chin and he went out.

M1e     Myogiryu (4-3) vs S1w     Baruto (3-4)
There was no match. Baruto got injured the day before during the fall with Kisenosato and I guess has left the a tournament. This was a shame.

O2e     Kotoshogiku (5-2) vs M2w     Tochinoshin (0-7)

Koto got in close, hooked himself around Tochi and  moved him out. He's done the same technique for the whole basho, but it has worked.

K1w     Okinoumi (1-6) vs O1w     Kakuryu (7-0)

This went nearly 2 minutes before Kakuryu got a grip and started moving in a circle to swing Oki down.

O1e     Kisenosato (7-0) vs S1e     Goeido (5-2)

Kisen brought Goeido in close, gripped him and then easily pushed him out.

K1e     Tochiozan (2-5) vs O2w     Kotooshu (4-3)

Koto sidestepped Tochi and hooked his arm before pushing him out.
Y1e     Hakuho (7-0) vs M3w     Aran (3-4)

Neither man had much going on here until about 40 seconds in when Hakuho got a grip and pushed Aran out.

M4w     Toyonoshima (4-3) vs Y1w     Harumafuji (5-2)

Harumafuji was incredibly explosive and pushed Toyo by his chin to get a very easy win.

Rankings:
8-0:

 6-2:

 5-3:

 4-4

3-5:

2-6:

 1-7:

0-8:

WWE Extreme Rules 2013

I'll be reviewing WWE Extreme Rules 2013 live with pics and gifs tommorow starting at 7:30PM! Make sure to stop by!

Ring of Honor TV 5/18/2013 Results and Review

Ring of Honor TV 5/18/2013 Results and Review

Last week's show is here: http://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/ring-of-honor-television-5112013.html

I reviewed ROH Border Wars here:  http://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/roh-border-wars-2013-results-and-review.html

Steve Corino came out bragging about SCUM's tag win at Border Wars and his new position as a commentator.

He said one of his men would be the next and last ROH champion, since SCUM's win also got them a title shot.




Jay Lethal vs Jimmy Jacobs

Lethal said he didn't fully trust Steen but his loyalities stand with Ring of Honor and tonight "I will stand over Jimmy Jacobs' dead body".

"Despite Jay Lethal's promo skills, he is an African American." - Steve Corino, huh?

"I wish the chopping would stop. One day when I'm the head of Ring of Honor, there will be no more chopping." - Steve Corino

Jimmy Jacobs won with a Sliced Bread #2. This was a surprisingly good and smart match. Lethal injured his knee at the PPV, so Jacobs naturally worked on it. He did a nice indian deathlock on it and targeted it throughout the match. Lethal tried to make comebacks and tried his Lethal Injection. The first time he tried it Jimmy hooked him in a leg lock around the ropes and the second time Lethal just collapsed. Lethal sold well and remembered to sell at the right times which really helped this. Great effort by both men here. Rating:***3/4

Nigel McGuinness said that Michael Elgin was the #1 Contender and mentioned The American Wolves being contenders before Jay Briscoe came out.

"Do we have subtitles for this guy?" - Steve Corino

Jay Briscoe said he'd like to whoop alot of people's asses and said there isn't anyone he's scared of.

"We scoopin' up dog crap and all you're talking about is how you can whoop everybodies ass." - Mark Briscoe

Mark Briscoe said he was tired of it and heard enough.

Mark Briscoe brought up that he whooped Jay's ass in their first match together in ROH. Mark then challenged Jay.

"Hey, Baltimore Maryland's right down the road from Sandy Fork. We can bring the whole damn family to the Du Burns Arena." - Jay Briscoe

Jay Briscoe accepted and Nigel hinted at signing the match. I liked this segment. They  played the feud off well and didn't overdue it. It was simple and effective and really, if I want to see any Jay Briscoe match, Jay Briscoe vs Mark Briscoe is the one I want to see most.

SCUM - Cliff Compton and Rhett Titus vs Caprice Coleman and Cedric Alexander

Rhett Titus beat Caprice Coleman with a elevated DDT with a single underarm. The story of this one was Caprice reinjuring his shoulder from the PPV(which I reviewed here - http://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/roh-border-wars-2013-results-and-review.html). Caprice got sent to the back by the refs but came back before fully leaving and tried to make the big comeback. The heels attacked his shoulder though and took the win. I liked the story and the match was okay, but not great.

Would you text ROH for a picture of Michael Elgin? I wouldn't.

Kevin Steen vs Adam Cole

"Look at this guy spelling everything wrong." - Steve Corino

Steen blew a snot rocket into his hand before shaking hands with Cole. Kevin Kelly also said "Taijiri Ishimori" would be wrestling.

"Kevin Steen always wants to be numero uno. See my french there?" - Corino

"Kevin Steen is one of the best pro wrestlers ever. He was a former world champion." - Kevin Kelly | "Yeah? Who cares. Xavier was a former world champion." - Steve Corino

"We have a derogatory term for people from Quebec here in Canada. Wanna know what they're called? Quebecers." - Steve Corino

"Ring the bell, Todd. You'll go down in history. Ring the bell!" - Steve Corino

Adam Cole won with a Florida Key/Straightjacket German Suplex after Jimmy Jacobs hit Kevin Steen with a chain. This was a good match. Steen took a nasty release german on his head and Cole's head bounced off the mat on a powerbomb. I also liked the sharpshooter spot since it is Canada. The interference kind of worked because they had been hinting at that Cole would join SCUM and this fuels that. The crowd was into this one and after the german, the match got a whole lot better with some hard shots and stiff moves. Good stuff here. Rating:***1/4

Overall thoughts: Good edition of ROH TV with 2 really good matches and another one that wasn't bad. Check this one out!