Hunter's Torn Quad

They didn't get a chance to, what with you getting stripped of the title for failing a drug test. I don't have anything against Barnett for trying to get a job with the UFC, but he's going about it the wrong way for a number of reasons: 1: Dana White hates him. A lot. 2: Knocking Randy Couture directly. Seriously, why would this be a good idea for anyone already on the bad side of the president of the UFC? 3: He beat Randy while on steroids. Could he have beaten Randy clean? Maybe. But it looked liked Barnett wasn't so sure, or he wouldn't have tried to cheat. 4: He doesn't have a lot of friends, or credibility, with the NSAC, when his main defense against the positive steroid test result was his attorney arrogantly/contemptuously asking the NSAC, "Does he look like he's on steroids?" The heavyweight division in the UFC is looking pretty good right now. Maybe if that changes, Josh might have a chance to get signed. As it is, it's probably not going to happen, and will almost certainly never happen if Fedor comes on board.

I believe the woman in the cowboy hat is Baby Doll.

I think that was the presumed plan before the details of the bastard child storyline came out.

On the B&V show that reviewed the PPV, they speculated that there was no title change because if the plan is for a heel Kennedy to headline WM against Hunter for the title, he'd probably have the title, which means he's beating a face for the belt. Putting the belt on Orton would mean having to change the title again to get it back on a babyface to drop it to Kennedy. A short-term reign does nothing for Orton and it would be too many title changes in short period of time, so Cena keeps the belt to drop it to Kennedy, presumably around November, who then holds it until WM. If that is what is intended to happen, then I don't mind Cena retaining here, because too many title changes in rapid order makes each one mean less and less.

The medical suspensions: http://boxing.nv.gov/2007%20Results/08-25-07%20MMA.pdf

Something off the F4W board that explains Cena retaining: Someone posted this: And Alvarez responded with:

A vulnerable champion isn't one that tends to mean much. Ask Chris Jericho. It's a good idea in theory to have a guy you're going to make champion do a few jobs beforehand to set up challengers, but generally not with a guy who who already isn't seen at that top level. Sure, if Kennedy does wind up being Vince's bastard seed, then that part might be overlooked, but if the jobs keep coming, there's always the risk that Kennedy being revealed as the bastard doesn't boost his standing like is hoped. After all, if Vince's bastard son has been losing left and right, why should we care that much about him? Sure, it might make for some great comedy, but it won't make for one half of the Wrestlemania main event, which is where he's intended to go. Leaving the match analysis and such to others, what I noticed was that a lot of people, including Kennedy, have shrunk a great deal in recent weeks. Kennedy was looking less muscular on Raw last week, and he looked even more natural last night. The change in his body is remarkable over the last month or so. Khali has also shrunk. Hunter looked more natural than he has in a a while. Which is good for his career, because I think he's about reached his limit on quad tears.

The nature of Gonzaga's injury might have been random, but that he was injured was not. And it turns out Gonzaga broke Randy's arm in the third round: http://thefightnetwork.com/news_detail.php?nid=4673 For good measure, here's the payroll for UFC 74 courtesy of UFCjunkie.com: Shit happens in a fight. Nothing tainted about Randy's win just because Gonzaga broke his nose early in the right. That kind of thing happens regularly, with a guy getting injured in the fight and going on to win or lose. Look at Randy.

Gonzaga said to Herb Dean that he couldn't see, but then said he could fight and wanted to continue. Telling the referee you can't see is going to make him want to stop the fight. That Gonzaga said he couldn't see just because he wanted his eye cleaned up, something Herb told him they couldn't do, is probably what annoyed Herb. It's a reach to call Gonzaga's nose breaking 'random shit', when it happened as a result of Couture slamming the guy to the mat. 'Random' would be a fluke clash of heads when locking up, similar to Belfort getting cut at UFC 49. Nothing 'random' about Couture slamming Gonzaga to the mat. Some post-UFC 74 notes from F4W: At the press conference, Dana claimed a sold out crowd of 11,118 for a gate of $3.5 million.

I forgot to mention 'that' high kick. For a split second, when it landed with full force I was worried. And then Randy shrugged it off like it was nothing, not even acknowledging it. That was fantastic.

UFC 49 is probably the best all-round UFC card ever. Was it just me, or did Koscheck's stand up solely consist of throwing his right hand as hard as he could and hoping it landed somewhere? GSP taking him down in less than thirty seconds, when Koscheck claimed it wouldn't happen at all, was sweet. GSP just owned him on the ground, and while not a great fight it was one I enjoyed because Koscheck had nothing to counter GSP. What more can you say about Randy that hasn't been said already? The guy is phenomenal. I don't think anyone gave him a serious chance. Sure, plenty of people wanted him to win, but I didn't see many people seriously thinking he could do it. If Mirco can KO Check Kongo with a high kick, we might get Randy/Mirco after all. It won't mean as much is would have pre-Gonzaga, but it should draw very nicely. That crowd HATED Babalu for not letting go of the choke. There were 'asshole' catcalls all over the place after the finish got replayed on the big screen. It's good that he got fined, because that kind of thing is something UFC doesn't need. If you haven't seen the fight, you have to in order to get a real sense pf how badly Heath was bleeding. It was splattering all over the mat. Just crazy, and one of the biggest blood showers in UFC history. And yes, Huerta using the big screen to help was awesome. Outside of Randy winning, it was the moment of the night.

Vince Russo booking is the fast food of wrestling. If you like that sort of thing, it requires no thought or effort to enjoy, can provide immediate satisfaction, but posses no long-term benefits and too much of it makes you sick.

And for those wondering how TNA will determine Angle's tag team partner next month: I know it seems obvious that it can't be Joe or Cage because of their match at No Surrender, but we know how TNA loves the pointless swerve.

I don't know if Gerweck is right, but I do know the Observer reported the plan is for Jarrett to return as the top babyface to take on Angle, and that the match would likely happen at Bound for Glory.

I want Randy to win, but I know that Gonzaga is probably going to win and win decisively. All I hope is that Randy goes down fighting and gives a good showing. I think Gonzaga wins by KO or TKO in the second round or third round, but no later. I will sacrifice virgins if I have to in order for GSP to wipe the mat with Koscheck. I don't just want GSP beat Koscheck, I want GSP to make him scream like a bitch and go crying to his momma. What I want is for GSP to win by tap out in ten seconds, but I'll settle for a TKO of some kind.

Not shoots in the sense of going against the script but shoots in the sense that they were the real feelings of the person delivering the promo in question. The first one was Vince taking a shot at Austin. The second was both Vince and Shawn taking shots at Austin as well as Shawn taking a shot at Rock.

I'm counting on the Summerslam name still having a strong value.

I think the idea was because the The Patriot was pro-America and he hated The Patriot, Dark Patriot stood against the things the Patriot upheld.

It was meant to be a heel version of The Patriot. It started in Global.

The obvious speculation, and plenty are making it, is that Lesnar has signed and it's getting announced on the PPV. If he hasn't signed yet, then White being on the same page as Lesnar in terms of playing up the 'outsider heel' role would indicate White thinks it's close to happening. Signing Lesnar would be a big boost for UFC, not only because of Lesnar's name value, but because of his physical talents, raw ability and willingness to learn.

Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs Booker T Hunter wins this to return victorious. If the program is going beyond this one match, they'll shoot the angle on Raw. WWE Championship Johnathan Cena© vs. Randal Orton Orton seemed certain to win here for his second transitional reign, but rumblings have it that a title change might not be happening after all. If Orton wins, I can see him cheating to keep the belt in the rematch at Unforgiven, and then dropping the belt to Hunter at No Mercy or Survivor Series. From there, I think Kennedy gets it at Wrestlemania. World Heavyweight Championship The Great Khali© vs. David Batista They haven't even let them practice the match a lot while on the road, which speaks volumes. Anything over ten minutes and we're going to be looking at a worst match of the year candidate. The scuttlebutt has Batista regaining the title and then rematching with Khali at Unforgiven in a Punjabi Prison match. I'll say Batista wins by DQ or something then gets the belt back in the Punjabi Prison match, so that Khali doesn't have to do a pinfall job to lose the belt. Reymondo Mysterio vs. Chavito Guerrero Chavo wins when he forces Rey to tap out by threatening to flush his steroids down the toilet. ECW World Championship Johnathan Morrison© vs Charles Michael Punk Punk wins the title, and maybe Morrison gets repackaged, because the gimmick just isn't clicking for where he's at. Intercontinental Championship Kenneth Kennedy vs Umaga© vs Carlos Cool Kennedy to pin Carlito so Umaga gets out of losing. Divas Battle Royal No-contest when the friction caused by so much silicone rubbing together sees the Divas erupt into flames and burn to a crisp. There's not marquee name or match to draw in the big numbers, and it's also coming the day after UFC 74 which will probably eat into that number as well. It's the second or third biggest PPV of the year and has some name value to it so it should do well, but it won't reach the level of the past two Summerslams in terms of buys, so on that front I think it'll hover just under the 500,000 mark.

The ratings started going up when Vince began appearing on the show.

For the three of you interested, Sterling James Keenan won the six-way match to earn a future title shot at the Natural heavyweight title, added himself to the Joe versus Kishi main event part way through, and then won the title when Joe and Kishi were both counted out.

What if Hulk Hogan had never lied on the Arsenio Hall Show?