Styles

I'm shocked it wasn't a one night appearence. I mean, considering Undertaker really wasn't acting like the deadman but was more of a hybrid it seems out of place to have Paul Bearer follow him around with the urn, but whatever.

No they defnitely made a point to say "now residing in Atlanta, Georgia". I think it was Wade Keller who had a good theory that since they announced before the match that Backlash would be in Edmonton that they didn't want to acknoledge Benoit living in Edmonton since it might give away the finish. Even that's far fetched though. I have no idea why they did that, even if it's true. They can't be stupid enough to try to kill his hometown push next month...

I guess Lillian Garcia is working at Fox News now!

Sorry misread your post. By the way, what the fuck did WWE do with my signature!?!? They changed the picture links around... Edit: Fixed!

He was right on the money. I freakin loved Evolution vs. Rock/Foley and thought everyone was really on for that match, and had it **** in my mind, but figured no one would rate it that high, but I guess Keith liked it 1/4* better! I really liked Christian/Jericho too. The triple threat was clearly *****, the only thing I'd have to go back and watch would be Angle/Eddy which seemed a little slow and lost me for a while but the long show probably zoned me out. I had it only around ***1/2 but Im sure if I watch it again with a clear mind I'll like it more. He's got a point about the rest of the filler matches. Besides the 4 excellent matches everything else seemed like filler (well besides Brock/Goldberg which might be **** based on the crowd reactions alone, and Kane/Undertaker which was just a set up for Taker's return), and nothing else warranted above **. I really liked the show, and felt it was the best Wrestlemania ever. If the 2 tag matches and 2 women's matches were scrapped and an hour was shaved as a result, I think it would be universally praised. As is, it was a little watered down, but gets my vote for best ever.

As soon as Kidman nearly botched his shooting star, I was like, OK no more shooting stars at Wrestlemania...we're setting a dangerous precedent!

Boy, I can't wait to see those Heat matches! That's a rare extra...

It's just smart business if both are leaving to put the babyface over.

I don't know what would shock me more a year ago, Benoit and Eddy closing Wrestlemania XX as world champions or Big Show and Undertaker becoming net darlings!

I started to sniffle a bit at the site of Eddy and Benoit embracing and crying. Just an awesome moment. Yeah, the show went too long and a few of the filler matches could have been cut but overall, I loved the show, and thought the main event especially was just excellent.

He has a new hat! Really though, it's not that big a deal. It would have been cool if he at least donned the purple gloves and boots, but I think the idea is, it would be unrealistic to expect him to wrestle and act like the old Undertaker again, so this was a good compromise. We got to see him make a cool entrance, he did all his signature moves and made his scary faces. Maybe this means he won't give up his grounding submission style...

Pre-show at 6:30. Always 30 minutes before showtime!

You don't have a credit card, check card or checking account? Because that's all you need to use Paypal.

Very easy. The one time I had a problem was the first time I ordered the webcast for Badd Blood, it just froze in the 4th match about an hour in and never came back on. I sent them an email with a copy of the reciept demanding a refund and they were apologetic and gave it to me, plus I still got to watch the show On Demand for a week which was now free and that worked. Luckily I haven't any problem like that since, but that shows it's easy enough to get a refund.

I don't have Paypal, and I imagine some others might not have it either. Registration is free you know, just link it to a credit card or checking account... Excuses, excuses....

You can watch it on any computer you want. You just need to click the link it gives you and type in your user and pass.

Again, you guys should really pool together to order it. If 5 guys do it, it would be 5 bucks each, 8 people would be about 3 each. Hardly anything. Get one guy to do the ordering and send the money to him via Paypal. With a lot of people its nothing. It's probably the smartest way to do it instead of just begging and hoping someone gives you the thread.

Why don't you guys orgnaize a pool where one guy orders it and shares the link and everyone else chips in, it will be cheap that way.

Well I'll just say I got into MMA over the past year after reading so much praise about it in The Wrestling Observer and all the hype upcoming events were getting at this very forum (specifically from RRR). The 2 events upcoming were UFC 43 and Pride 26. I was unsure whether I'd like it or not from my love of wrestling but figured I had nothing to lose since I had a friend who got them for free tape both for me. UFC 43 was a good show. I immediately got into the Chuck Lidell vs. Randy Couture storyline and from the way they built up this guy Lidell I figured there was no way he'd lose. Well it turned me into a Randy Coutoure fan, that's for sure! Otherwise I was excited to see Tank fight since I knew him from WCW...uh yeah his match really didn't make me want to see him again! The Mir/Simms fight was great from a wrestling fan's perspective since it made Simms a huge heel. Oh and Vitor opening up a huge gash on Marvin Eastman's head was pretty darn cool too! I liked Pride 26 too, but I think in watching both back to back I liked UFC a little better. I don't know if it just had more of a pro wrestling feel, or what but that was just my initial opinion. The presented main event of Frye vs. Coleman was pretty boring from my perspective but I became a big Fedor fan with his win over Fujita with the CHOKE! Oh and that Cro Cop guy seemed pretty scary too. It was Pride Total Elimination that made me a Pride fan, as it was a fantastic show top to botom. Now that I knew who most of these guys were it gave me more perspective too and made me appreciate the fights more. I can't even decide which fight I liked best! Lidell/Overheem was a solid match, Tamura vs. Yoshida was just insane and high energy and Rodriguez/Nogeira (controversial decision aside) and Bustamante/Jackson were both excellent bouts. And Cro Crop, Fedor and Silva continuing to be monsters was cool too. This was pretty much the perfect show I think. Final Conflict pretty much matched the previous show in quality. Cro Crop vs. Nogeira was such a markout type match with the way it went, Liddell vs. Jackson was an excellent fight and Yoshida vs. Silva stole the show. Silva vs. Jackson was good too. I sat out the next 2 UFC shows because of unfamiliar undercard but got UFC 46 and even with the disappointing main event it was still a highly enjoyable show. Simms/Mir was just awesome and again had that wrestling match feel. BJ Penn's upset was just awesome and Lee Murray instantly made me a fan. On DVD I got UFC 44 so I could watch Coutoure/Ortiz and yeah Coutoure just owned Tito in that match the whole way through. All the other matches were good too, if somewhat unmemorable. It was my first look at Tim Sylvia and I like what I see, so I look forward to his return. I also got Pride 10 on DVD which is a really good top to bottom show. Belfort pounding Matsui bloody was cool as were Silva and Yvel's scary knockouts. It was also my first look at Ken Shamrock in MMA and he was impressive until basically giving up at the end. I also got Pride 13 on DVD but have yet to watch it, but I'll post my thoughts here after I do. This has been my rambling thoughts on the MMA shows I've seen (all of which I've enjoyed).

Yeah, I posted this in the OAO WM discussion thread because I didn't see this one, so I'll just repost it in here. Ok, so I'll try to predict what order I think WWE will have the card (not neccesarrily what I would do) and try to guess how long they get, how good the match is and of course the winner: Match 1: John Cena vs. Big Show I just have a feeling they'll put this one on first. Cena and his rap will get the crowd pumped up, and the likely title change will get things off to a good start. It will probably be quick because these 2 don't work that well together and are both injured, so I'll say 6 to 8 minutes. Cena wins clean with FU. Star Prediction: *1/2 Winner: John Cena Match 2: Dudleys vs. RVD/Booker vs. Jindrak/Cade vs. La Resistance Not expecting much from this one, everyone will likely hit their signature spots and it will be somewhat of a mess. Again, 6 to 8 minutes for this one. Jindrak and Cade outsmart and pin the Dudleys for a win. Star Prediction: 1/2* Winners: Jindrak and Cade Match 3: Molly Holly vs. Victoria Should be a suprisingly good match, especially for a women's match. Again, probably will get the 6 to 8 minute treatment. I can't see them following through with the stipulation since they just threw it out there, and really, Molly wouldn't shave her head. Victoria got lots of wins over Molly and now can chase. Star Prediction: **1/2 Winner: Molly Holly Match 4: Cruiserweight Open I think this is elimination (but Im not sure). Call me crazy but I have a feeling they'll give this one decent time, I would say 15 minutes. They'll probably eliminate most of the guys in the first few minutes, but I think the final 4 will get the bulk of the time to have a good match. I'll say its Rey, Chavo, Tajiri and Ultimo who get the final four. In the end Chavo keeps the title, likely with help from Chavo Sr. I can't see them switching the title in a cluster match like this. Plus he makes a good heel champ. Star Prediction: ***1/4 Winner: Chavo Match 5: Chris Jericho vs. Christian They'll have a decent match, but something about Christian is just always so dissapointing. I don't think they'll give this one the time it really needs either, maybe 10 or 12 minutes. There's really 2 ways they could go here and both will involve Trish. She could either hit Christian and help Jericho win, or they could swerve us and turn her heel by hitting Jericho and aligning with Christian. I just don't see them doing that though, since it would basically mess up the storyline. Trish helps Jericho win and this thing ends. I don't really know where they go from here though. Star Prediction: *** Winner: Chris Jericho Match 6: Scotty/Rikishi vs. WGTT vs. APA vs. Bashams I expect this one to be a little better than the RAW counterpart and given a little more time to develop too, maybe 10 or 12 minutes. I see Haas and Benjamin winning, probably over Scotty/Rikishi, since they'll want to protect APA and Scotty/Rikishi have already gotten more of a push than they deserve. Star Prediction: ** Winners: WGTT Match 7: Sable/Torrie vs. Jackie/Stacy If this gets more than 5 minutes I'll be shocked. I don't expect anything profound here, Smackdown girls probably get the win, since they're in Playboy and the others aren't/ Star Prediction: DUD Winners: Torrie/Sable Match 8: Undertaker vs. Kane The entrance will be way more interesting than the match. But it will get a huge pop and should be real cool. I honestly don't see the gimmick lasting more than a month before it goes its course and Taker is back to his badass MMA submission style self (Which is a VERY good thing!) Don't think it goes longer than 8 or 10, Kane likely gets a lot of offense in, Taker nosells it, gets the big finish. I think since Brock is gone, they will want to extend the feud. On Taker's big return (and at Wrestlemania where he's never lost) he won't lose, but after the match, expect Kane to do something dastardly to get the last word (I'm thinking lock in a casket and set on fire again, something like that). Star Prediction: * Winner: Undertaker Match 9: Foley/Rock vs. Evolution Match should be entertaining, Foley and Rock will turn it on for the big match. Should get a good amount of time to develop, Im thinking 20 or 25 minutes. It should stay within the contexts of a regular handicap tag match (so no barbed wire 2x4s here). Since Foley is likely to stay for Backlash and that is when Orton will get his big win, the babyfaces should go over here. Rock will probably get the pinfall on either Flair or Batista. I wouldn't be suprised if postmatch Orton RKOs the Rock to give him that rub. Star Prediction: *** Winners: Foley and Rock Match 10: Kurt Angle vs. Eddy Guerrero Figure they'd want to split up the 2 title matches so one doesn't overshadow the next. I expect at least 30 minutes for these 2, and flat out a great match. If Eddy and Brock could have such an awesome technical match, and Angle is better and more polished than Brock, there's no reason to think these 2 can't have a classic. Eddy wins through blatant lying cheating and stealing which not only puts over his gimmick but let's Angle save face and have reason for the feud to continue which it should. Star Prediction: ****1/2 Winner: Eddy Guerrero Match 11: Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg (with Austin referee) Oh boy...This should be a fun one. The only thing will probably get 15 minutes, which is enough time for a big time match without going over their limits. If both guys actually are motivated they could put on a decent big man match. WIth the Brock situation my take on the finish has changed, and it might be a bold pick but I really think its the finish that makes the most sense, and is the one WWE will do. Austin stuns Brock which leads to Goldberg getting the win. Post match Austin and Goldberg celebrate and Austin gives Goldberg that stunner he promised that wouldn't be an accident. The logic here is that if both guys are leaving, you might as well put over the babyface to make the fans happy. It really wouldn't make much sense for Austin to help the heel win and the fans wouldn't be a happy with a non finish with Austin laying them both out. Austin gives his stunner to Goldberg after the match which makes more sense. Also, Goldberg is actually much more likely to be back soon than Lesnar. Goldberg would be open to a special appearence kind of deal that Rock has, and will likely get it, while Brock is definitely gone for probably a year at least and by the time he comes back this loss won't really matter. Star Prediction: ** Winner: Goldberg Match 12: HHH vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Benoit I think this is the match they want to have on last, because I think it will be a more theatrical "main event style" match than the other title match. It also will likely have a clean finish to end the show. Again this one should get at least 30 minutes like the other one and I have no reason to believe that this one won't be a show stealer too. We know HHH likes to turn it on and delivers for big matches and him and Shawn always have excellent matches together (the Royal Rumble was marred by not having any pinfalls), and Benoit and HHH's houseshow matches have reportedly been excellent and Shawn/Benoit from RAW was a MOTYC, so all around these guys are very compatible. I'm almost positive Benoit will win the belt here (if HHH wins this match will flip flop with the other title match because they'll want a face ending the show with a win). I think also Benoit will pin (or submit) Shawn for the win (but HHH has suprised us at times in the past and it wouldn't shock me to see him do the right thing and be the one to put over Benoit). I can't see Shawn winning, but if he does it will likely be over HHH to save face. With Benoit winning (likely over Shawn) it sets up either a singles match vs. HHH at Backlash (the "you didn't beat me" storyline) or against Shawn, because now theyre even at 1 win each over each other. Anyway I just don't see anyone but Benoit coming out of this as champion. And I'm sure it will be excellent. Star Prediction: ****1/2 Winner: Chris Benoit Well, there you go, my extended predictions. I think it's going to be an awesome show and I'm really looking forward to it! Oh, and I realise I have all babyfaces going over in the big matches but its freakin Wrestlemania XX! So that's how it should be...

If you have a high speed connection, the webcast is fine. I've been ordering the last few shows that way here at school, and the quality is typical high quality online streaming. Obviously it's not gonna be DVD quality, but the picture is fine, it doesn't skip or freeze and the sound is fine too (although you might get a little of a buzz in the background, your typical online quality.) Overall it's not bad at all. I probably wouldn't try it on a dial up though...

They've apparently reserved 5 hours, but it probably won't go that long (altough they have the time if needed), I'm guessing it goes to 11:20 or 11:30ish...

Whoa, whoa, whoa...he shot the sheriff but he DID NOT shoot the deputy.... Yeah, that's all I got...

Well since this was bumped first a month ago, I don't feel as bad for bumping it again. I picked up the UFC 44 DVD and just watched it, and wow was that a great show. Not one bad fight on the show. It's nice that I could see Sylvia and Arlovsky fight so I could put the names in perspective and get pumped for their upcoming match. What can I say about the main event that hasn't already been said? Tito was just dominated. Randy must have taken him down 6 or 7 times, mounted him, took his back I think 2 or 3 times (nearly choking him out), it was just total domination. Oh and the only thing better than Randy's spanking was one of the bonus features of Randy entering his lockeroom postmatch and having his team laughing and saying "you spanked him?" and Randy answering "I dont know" and then bursting out laughing. Great, great show and it makes me want to see Randy get his rematch with Vitor as soon as possible because he deserves it. I've seen 43, 44 and 46 and really liked all of them (even though 46 had the bullshit main event), and I can't wait for 47!

Don't forget WMXV which was the first ever DVD WWF ever put out!