Cageside Fave Five: Wrestling entrance theme songs
Welcome to a new column here at Cageside that was inspired by KING BOOKAH himself ...
FAVE FIVE!
I'm not going to lie to you. This is just a gussied up top five whatever but who doesn't like lists? Communists, that's who. And puppy punchers. I don't want to be associated with either.
We kick off Fave Five with quite a topic ... wrestler's theme songs. I don't know who it was but whoever thought, "Hey, we should play a song -- the same song -- whenever a wrestler comes out!" deserves a free drink or two. That guy knew what was up.
I had to make a rule up for this one, though. The song itself had to be essentially only a wrestler's theme song. Yeah, "Walk" by Pantera is probably the most bad ass song ever but it would be so even if it was Rob Van Dam's theme. Same for stuff like CM Punk's old Killswitch Engage song which you can also find on one of the band's CDs. We're looking for great wrestling theme songs, not just songs that wrestlers walk out to.
Honorable mentions go to Demolition, The Ultimate Warrior, and the newest theme on the list, Cody Rhodes. Aside from the vocals, it almost sounds like a Nine Inch Nails song and that's alright by me.
On this date in WWF history: The Undertaker chokeslams Rikishi from atop the 'Hell in the Cell'
On December 10, 2000, Kurt Angle defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H, The Undertaker, Rikishi, and The Rock in a six-man "Hell in the Cell" at Armageddon.
The big bump was Undertaker's slight nudge chokeslam on Rikishi from the top of the steel cage, which Jim Ross, as he always does, sold like it was the greatest spot he's ever seen.
It was certainly a huge drop and just as awesome was the reactions from both Stone Cold and The Rock, who stand inside the cage, mouths agape.
Classic stuff.
WWE TLC 2011 match card updated after Dec. 9 episode of Smackdown
WWE TLC 2011 is right around the corner, as the pay-per-view event is all set to pop off at the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Maryland, on Dec. 18. Tonight's episode of Smackdown saw the addition of another match to the card as well as a match that had already been announced getting its stipulation.
Here's how the card looks with just the go-home shows on Raw and Smackdown until the event:
-- CM Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. The Miz in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match for the WWE championship
As mentioned earlier this week, gimmick matches like this are the result of creatively bankrupt writers who are tired of getting their ideas shot down by a madman and finally go back to the well for a triple threat between champion, challenger who makes sense and challenger who doesn't really make any sense but gets thrown in because he makes the most sense of the rest of the available talent. Punk wins and we gear up for Rumble.
-- Mark Henry vs. Big Show in a Chairs match for the World Heavyweight Championship
These two continued their feud tonight with another nice promo between the two but the shelf life on this promo has come and gone. This should be the blowoff match to the feud but I imagine it will be difficult to top what they've done in previous matches.
-- Triple H vs. Kevin Nash in a ladder match
This isn't really a ladder match in the traditional sense. The stipulation here is that a sledgehammer will be suspended above the ring and whoever gets to it will be able to use it to attack his opponent with no repercussions. But the match will still end via pinfall or submission. The stupidity of this entire thing makes my brain hurt.
-- Dolph Ziggler vs. Zack Ryder for the United States Championship
This match is happening about a month after it should have gone down but at least it's finally going to take place. Not a big fan of how they got here but at least we're getting it. It will make absolutely zero sense if Ryder doesn't get the belt here but even WWE can't be this dense. Ryder also gets the benefit of the best worker on the roster putting him over, and Ziggler can move on to the main event scene. Hopefully, this ends up being a win for everybody.
-- Cody Rhodes vs. Booker T for the Intercontinental Championship
I can imagine Booker being pitched on this program and his thinking going in being, "It's time to put the kid over." Sure, Rhodes is coming out of a feud with Randy Orton but he wasn't able to do as much as Booker will be able to. This should be one of the best matches on the entire card and could very well be the match we look back on as the night Rhodes became a star.
-- Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett in a Tables match
I don't like this feud and I don't like this match. Not because it won't be any good, because we've seen Orton get great matches out of just about anybody, but because I'm a member of the contingent that doesn't see much value in Barrett as a main event player. He was great in his role as the original leader of Nexus but he's struggled to find a voice since then. The Barrett Barrage schtick is just a bit too campy for my tastes. Again, though, it's Orton, so at least the match will work.
That's how the match card looks, Cagesiders. Worth spending your money on? Or are you buckling down and just preparing for the Royal Rumble?
Ring of Honor (ROH) Video Wire for Dec. 8 and updated Final Battle 2011 card
Here are some quick results from last weekend's pair of shows!
Southern Defiance - Dec. 3
Mike Bennett defeated Adam Cole and The Bravado Brothers defeated Los Bendidos. ROH Television Champion Jay Lethal defended his title against TJ Perkins and ROH Tag Team Champions The World's Greatest Tag Team fended off The House of Truth. In other tag team action, The Young Bucks defeated The All Night Express while The Briscoes bested Caprice Coleman and Cedric Alexander. And in the main event, Jay Lethal won the Honor Rumble and earned a shot at the ROH World Championship.
Northern Aggression - Dec. 4
Mike Bennett continued his winning ways by beating TJ Perkins while The All Night Express survived a pre-match attack from The Young Bucks and found a way to defeat The Bravados. In a "Proving Ground" match, TV champ Jay Lethal pinned Adam Cole. The Young Bucks made their second appearance of the night by defeating the team of Caprice Coleman and Cedric Alexander. Andy Ridge won out over SAMPSON and in the main event, Eddie Edwards remained the sole survivor after submitting Roderick Strong in an 80-minute long eight-man elimination-style tag team match. He's definitely got the momentum leading into the big show in two weeks.
So exactly how is Final Battle 2011 shaping up? Take a look after the jump.
That was awesome! (clap clap clapclapclap): The Undertaker takes flight at WrestleMania 22
The Streak.
Say those two words to any wrestling fan and they'll know exactly what you're talking about. The Undertaker has an unbelievable run of 19 straight wins at WrestleMania and looks to finish up his career by tacking on one last victory next year to round it out to an even 20.
Some of those matches have been great -- his two with Shawn Michaels and this year's bout with Triple H -- and some have been not so good, Al. I'm looking at you Wrestlemania IX, don't act like I'm not.
Another one of his matches at the "Granddaddy of them All" that wasn't so hot was when the "Dead Man" took on Mark Henry at WrestleMania 22. Henry is killing it inside the ring nowadays but this match was quite a stinker despite the fact that it was a Casket Match, one of 'Taker's specialties.
There was ONE moment in the match, though, that was ... well, awesome.
Check it out at the 2:30 mark.
Video: WWE Superstars from Dec. 8, 2011
Here's the latest episode of WWE Superstars from Dec. 9, 2011, which features Evan Bourne returning to the ring to take on Epico in a losing effort. With Primo defeating Kofi Kingston last week, the seeds are being planted for "Air Boom" to lose the tag titles. Why they didn't have them drop the straps before Bourne's suspension instead of shortly after its conclusion is beyond me but it looks like that's where we're headed.
WWE makes fun of NBA for failed Chris Paul trade to Lakers
If any of you pro wrestling fans out there double as National Basketball Association (NBA) fans, you'll enjoy this one.
Recently, New Orleans Hornets guard and superstar player Chris Paul was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-team blockbuster deal that set the sporting world on fire.
And then the NBA and David Stern, the commissioner, came along and threw water on the whole thing by vetoing the trade because "it's not in the best interests of the league." It's important to note that the NBA currently owns the Hornets. That very fact set the media world on fire.
All this is happening not long after an ugly labor dispute nearly forced the cancellation of an entire season. The NBA and its players finally came to an agreement to save most of the season but now, before it was even able to get underway, the league has been plunged right back into chaos.
General managers across the Association are threatening to resign while Stern is reportedly considering retiring from his post as commissioner.
It's been a disaster of epic proportions. So what does WWE do? They have John Laurinaitis, the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations and Interim Raw General Manager, put out this brilliant tweet:
For those of you who are speculating, yes, I did offer David Stern some advice recently. #NBA #CP3
Ziiiing!
How great is that? I suddenly find myself enjoying Laurinaitis more and more as the days and weeks go by. Stuff like this is exactly what he should be doing on TV.
Oh and WWE is totally right to take shots at the NBA for this entire Chris Paul debacle.
Creative has nothing for Brodus Clay but he had something for them
There was a conversation in the comments here on Cageside recently about pro wrestling media and what it's like to report on anything involving the business. Basically, it's a pain in the ass because everyone is lying and everyone is trying to work you, even on things that, in the real world, would be deemed completely insignificant.
So, take everything with a grain of salt.
That said, there are those who have become reliable sources of information, such as that wrestling site we don't name round these parts because visiting it will make your computer grown a brain and hate your guts. Others include Dave Meltzer, of course, from The Wrestling Observer, and his latest newsletter has a wonderfully awesome story about Brodus Clay that I had to share with you Cagesiders.
Clay disappeared for a few months to film a WWE movie over the summer. Then he came back and here's where I'll let Meltzer take over:
When he was ready to return after doing a WWE movie and asked creative what they had planned for him, the answer they gave him is they had no idea, but suggested that he come up with an idea for himself. So he came up with the idea of being a monster heel who doesn't sell for the faces, and beats them all up and inducts them into his personal House of Pain. He was told that was a great idea.
Clay's return was at the beginning of August. Right around the time a certain someone turned into a monster heel who stopped selling for babyfaces and beat the hell out of them as an induction into his "Hall of Pain."
So thanks, Brodus Clay, for coming up with the idea that helped push Mark Henry over the top as a mega heel and eventually earned him the world heavyweight championship, which he still holds to this day.
Oh and Clay is still sitting at home, waiting to make his big debut on Raw. I guess Creative still doesn't have anything for him.
Video: Episode 43 of 'Z! True Long Island Story' has hit the interwebs
After a trip down memory lane through this past Monday's Raw, we find out who gets the "Broski of the Week" honors. The recipient should come as no surprise.
Ryder promises to come out on top at this month's Tables, Ladder, Chairs (TLC) pay-per-view (PPV) but the video is once again hacked by everyone's favorite #HEEL when the current United States Champion Dolph Ziggler pours cold water all over Ryder's plans.
To cap things off, we get the hard sell for "A Very Broski Christmas," a collection of holiday songs that are sure to become instant classics. "Jingle Bells"? Bah humbug! I want to hear "Zack Ryder is Coming to Town!"
And Mr. Belding?! Any Saved by the Bell love gets an automatic win from me.
Mick Foley on John Cena heel turn: Both good and bad
Until it actually happens, a John Cena heel turn is going to be one of the most heavily debated topics in all of professional wrestling.
WWE legend Mick Foley was recently asked by our friend Arda Ocal of The Score about his thoughts on the situation and "The Hardcore Legend" provides an answer that essentially explains the how and why the powers that be struggle to go through with actually pulling the trigger.
"There's one part of me that would like to see him really turn and turn it on. But I think what would happen is the moment he did that, and I speak from experience from being in ECW, is that the people who hated him would then start to hate him less. And then he would also lose the very, very real love that part of the audience has for him. I don't know what they're going to do but I think it makes for a great television show. It's extremely interesting and I give him a lot of credit. It used to be, once fans started to cheer a heel, that person would be turned or they started to boo a good guy, that that person would be turned. Everybody, I think, has come out the better for not having rushed that type of action."
The fear amongst those who make such decisions is exactly as Foley explains. Once Cena turns, the fans who have been booing him so relentlessly would suddenly lose their luster. The opposite applies for the folks who have been cheering him and stayed loyal for all this time.
Essentially, the two sides would just swap.
The problem with that is heels don't sell merchandise and the crowd that would suddenly get behind him aren't likely to start a new trend. Those that are currently sporting all Cena's gear would suddenly want nothing to do with it.
The tradeoff, of course, would be increased interest in the product, meaning better television ratings and more pay-per-view buys. But the current climate of pro wrestling doesn't really dictate that that's something they could ever count on, nor is it something that would be likely to happen.
So we're back to Cena just being who he is and everyone cheering or booing as they see fit.
Hear more from Foley after the jump, as he discusses how laughably bad the "John Cena, This is Your Life" segment was and, of course, coming back for one more match.


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