cabbageboy

Ether, WVU is scaring the shit out of me. To be honest when I first saw the schedule I knew that one would be dangerous for U of L. They are really tough at home and I know it'll be a fight. I wasn't real afraid of Pitt to begin with, we have them at home and I thought they were crap last year.

Carlito/RVD shouldn't even BE a feud. It should simply be: RVD comes back on an early USA Raw, challenges Carlito in the Cabana, next week RVD kicks the holy hell out of him in less than 5 mins. Period. Carlito has zero offense, so RVD should just dominate the match and hit his trademark stuff. I'd like to see RVD go after Edge if the Matt angle has been blown off. It'd be an interesting feud: The guy who got over immediately (and was held down/buried) vs. the guy WWE has tried to get over repeatedly but has never quite gotten there. They need to pull the trigger in the coming months on either RVD or Edge. Those guys have been around for a long while now and it's do or die for them. Both are in the perilous place where the IC does nothing for them but they haven't been pushed much in the world title division.

Who on Raw right now is actually young and talented though? I feel dirty thinking it but I'm thinking Flair will likely job out to Chris Masters at some point soon (maybe the first USA Raw?). No one has mentioned it but what exactly is going to happen with Edge now? If Matt truly is going to Smackdown then that's it for the feud, though last night was a good ending anyway. Kane coming back and going after him again has no interest to me. I guess they could have him feud with a returning RVD over "The Best Guy To Never Really Main Event." Or maybe over the MITB briefcase.

The DQ sets up a rematch better than a goofy "Cena rolls Angle up" finish. Angle getting pinned period is a bad idea in this situation. It just didn't upset me as much in this situation compared to the truly idiotic JBL/Batista finish (where everyone felt they desperately needed to job out JBL). Besides, the cage match was good tonight and the rest of the show had what I felt was the correct booking, so I didn't feel especially cheated by the main event (considering I called the DQ anyway).

Bad Blood 2003 did at least have Steiner falling on his face in hilarious fashion against Test however. Hell, that made the show for me.

Is there really anyone in the NFC right now that's started out consistently the first 2 games? Maybe the Bucs? Kinda scary to think that either the Saints or Giants will join them though, and also either the Cowboys or Redskins. Chargers now 0-2. I think that missed FG vs. the Jets might have really mentally trashed this team, they can't seem to buy a close one. That said, last year they seemed like a mediocre 8-8 team that edged out 4 wins they shouldn't have...now they're looking like an 8-8 team.

Just wondering but how good or bad is Oregon St. in the Pac 10? As far as Texas goes, I can't shake the feeling that they will manage to somehow fuck it up yet again. I'm not sure HOW or against what team (I'm thinking either TX Tech, OK St., or maybe A & M). Vince Young will have a shitty game where someone will stop his scrambling and he'll throw 3 INTs.

Louisville was also up for this (and in fact almost got the Hornets before they went to N.O.) but I can see why they didn't want to come here. U of L basketball would be so much more popular it wouldn't be funny, particularly for a lame duck team that might leave again.

Hell, Spring Stampede 2000 was a classic compared to the 3 shows preceding it.

I had an even more disturbing thought: the 3 way. I'm feeling it for Survivor Series, Angle/Cena/HHH. HHH wins the title from poor Kurt in a goofy, screwy decision and Cena isn't even pinned. I know why they want to do HHH/Cena but I don't think it will lead to anything remotely decent.

This show was in no way as bad as GAB. Look, GAB was such a horrible show with such retarded booking that I literally TURNED OFF THE TV after seeing Benoit job to Orlando Jordan. While tonight might not have been a workrate masterpiece at least most of the booking was sensible (yes even the DQ). See, the DQ finish worked in this scenario in a way it didn't in the other times they do this stupid finish. Mainly because jobbing Cena on a nothing PPV wasn't in the cards but Angle was too strong of a challenger to just send packing after 1 job. The other times they did this it wasn't the case (namely the JBL/Batista where JBL needed to just job out and go away...and also the Lesnar/UT at UFG 2002). What did you guys want to see in the main event exactly? Angle couldn't really job given how hot he's been of late, yet the timing didn't seem 100% right to get it off Cena.

Ok guys, let's revisit my predictions from earlier on page 2: WWE Title Match John Cena .VS. Kurt Angle. Winner: I'm on record as saying Angle will refuse to break the Anklelock and get DQed...and everyone will be pissed. Well I wasn't right about the Anklelock DQ but we did get the lame ass DQ that I predicted....and everyone is pissed. "Steel Cage" Match Matt Hardy V1 .VS. Edge (with Lita). Winner: Matt. He needs to get something in this feud. Nailed this one on the head. WWE Intercontinental Title Match Carlito Carribean Cool .VS. Ric Flair. Winner: Flair. This is the WTF? moment of the night. I think even WWE knows Carlito is a fucking joke with any sort of title, and Flair will just transition it to whomever before Taboo Tuesday. I SO nailed this one...we'll see who Flair transitions it to. I can't see him holding it long. Singles Match Shawn Michaels .VS. "The Masterpiece" Chris Masters. Winner: Michaels. I've said it before, do you seriously think Michaels is going to job to Hogan and then job to a talentless, heatless rookie? Shawn to reverse the Masterlock a la Bret at S. Series 96. They did tease the finish I expected but in the end even made Masters more of a jobber by having him go down to the superkick. Why did anyone think Masters was going to win here? Singles Match The Big Show .VS. Gene Snitsky. Winner: The Big Show. Snitsky winning serves no purpose I can see. This one was of course obvious. Women's Tag Match Trish Stratus & Ashley .VS. Victoria & Torrie Wilson (with Candice Michelle). Winners: Trish Stratus & Ashley. No point jobbing Trish out in her first match back to a non wrestling chick and a heatless Vicky. It also gives Ashley her first win. Got this one right. World Tag Team Titles Match Hurricane & Rosey .VS. Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch. Winners: Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch. Need new champs and they might bury the Hurricane gimmick due to the real life disaster. Nailed this one too. Singles Match Kerwin White .VS. Shelton Benjamin. Winner: Kerwin White. Don't ask me why but I think they'll feel the need to give Chavo some sort of PPV win under this new gimmick to justify it. This is the only one I got wrong, and thank God for that. Basically they did just about everything I wanted on this show and some stuff I thought they would fuck up they did right (like Shelton winning). Since I expected the DQ in the main event I'm not really all that upset about it, though I was wanting OK City to turn on Cena big time and cheer for Kurt. That kinda happened a bit but not as much as I thought. Could it be a Spiral of Silence for the Cena haters out there, not wanting to boo him since he's supposed to be popular?

The question was posed earlier "Who could beat USC?" Well let's take a look at the top 10: 1. USC (60) 2. Texas (2)--They got sorta lucky against Ohio St. and in a bleh Big 12 they certainly can run the table....but why do I have a feeling the Longhorns will find some way to fuck up? 3. LSU--The SEC is too tough to go unbeaten in and after seeing them go to the wire with AZ St. I tend to doubt they'd be a major threat to USC. 4. Virginia Tech--I'll have to see more of Marcus Vick to say, but it'll be tough to go unbeaten in the ACC. 5. Florida--Color me somewhat unimpressed with the Tenn. game. They'll probably lose to someone in the SEC (Georgia?). 6. Georgia--See comments on everyone else in the SEC. Too tough to go undefeated, though I think they've been solid thus far. 7. Florida State--USC would beat them by 30 pts....I really hope this doesn't happen. 8. Louisville--You know, if U of L can win a tough road game at WVU running the table looks fairly feasible. Shame Oregon St. doesn't play USC this year, I'd like to see the Trojans top the bitchslap from yesterday. 9. Ohio State--They have 1 loss, so it'll be tough unless they run the table to get to the Rose Bowl. It WOULD produce a nice Big 10/Pac 10 game however. 10. Purdue--Yeah right. So to sum up, a lot of these SEC teams will beat each other up so no one will be a truly national title contender. The ACC teams likewise. It is Texas's spot in the Rose Bowl to lose, though I don't think they'd fare terribly well against USC. Even if U of L goes undefeated I'm not sure the BCS would put a team from the shitty Big East in the title game over a 1 loss team from the SEC or ACC.

I am amazed anyone thought the Vikings would do anything this year. Say what you want about Skip Bayless but he was totally correct in trashing the Vikings for the Moss for Napoleon Harris trade. The Vikings were a mediocre .500 team last year...they think getting rid of their best player will make them IMPROVE? No one is mentioning it here but what is up with the Colts so far this year? It's like a bizarro world with the D being really great and Manning sucking the meat missle. Have the Colts suddenly become the 2000 Ravens with Peyton masquerading as Trent Dilfer (or even Tony Banks)? That game today was so horrible and unwatchable I turned it off at the half when it was 0-0.

Nova almost beat UNC in the tourney and didn't they have someone hurt (Sumpter)? I'll be glad if U of L just splits with Nova this year in the home and home. It's a shame Huggins got canned because I'd love to see a Huggins Cincy team go against Pitt. I ask you, is that not money in the bank or what?

Yeah, actually I did, haha. Once I saw Russo and Paul Bearer on my TV screen I pretty much stopped getting the weekly PPVs until for some reason I can't recall I tried them out again and saw some cool stuff like that X tourney with Juventud/Sabin in the finals.

At least this show has Angle/Cena and Matt/Edge in a cage....GAB this year didn't have jack shit on it aside from seeing Hassan get his ass kicked. Anyway, predictions: WWE Title Match John Cena .VS. Kurt Angle. Winner: I'm on record as saying Angle will refuse to break the Anklelock and get DQed...and everyone will be pissed. "Steel Cage" Match Matt Hardy V1 .VS. Edge (with Lita). Winner: Matt. He needs to get something in this feud. WWE Intercontinental Title Match Carlito Carribean Cool .VS. Ric Flair. Winner: Flair. This is the WTF? moment of the night. I think even WWE knows Carlito is a fucking joke with any sort of title, and Flair will just transition it to whomever before Taboo Tuesday. Singles Match Shawn Michaels .VS. "The Masterpiece" Chris Masters. Winner: Michaels. I've said it before, do you seriously think Michaels is going to job to Hogan and then job to a talentless, heatless rookie? Shawn to reverse the Masterlock a la Bret at S. Series 96. Singles Match The Big Show .VS. Gene Snitsky. Winner: The Big Show. Snitsky winning serves no purpose I can see. Women's Tag Match Trish Stratus & Ashley .VS. Victoria & Torrie Wilson (with Candice Michelle). Winners: Trish Stratus & Ashley. No point jobbing Trish out in her first match back to a non wrestling chick and a heatless Vicky. It also gives Ashley her first win. World Tag Team Titles Match Hurricane & Rosey .VS. Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch. Winners: Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch. Need new champs and they might bury the Hurricane gimmick due to the real life disaster. Singles Match Kerwin White .VS. Shelton Benjamin. Winner: Kerwin White. Don't ask me why but I think they'll feel the need to give Chavo some sort of PPV win under this new gimmick to justify it.

Buyrates aren't really all that low. I mean even the lower tier PPVs are still getting about a .65 or so. Compare that to WCW's hideous .10 buyrates they were getting near the end (though ironically some of those WCW shows weren't too bad). I think what we're seeing is WM is becoming more and more of a mega draw that they build around at the expense of the other PPVs. They bring back old guys to star at that show, build it as something more important, then wonder why the actual guys on the roster don't draw as well for the other PPVs.

You know why U of L shouldn't be ranked below Michigan St.? Because U of L would beat them by 2 or 3 TDs. I'd like to see that game actually, since John L. Smith left on bitter terms and I know the Cards would love to run it up on him. Michigan St. is a Big 10 JTTS. Once they lose to Ohio St., Michigan, Purdue, Wisconsin or whoever else no one will care about this ND win.

Oh the TNA booking is perhaps even more stale than WWE. Nobody really thinks of it that way, but WWE in 2002 had some different guys headlining than right now. NWA: TNA though? It's the same shit with Jarrett as world champ, AMW dicking around in the tag division, AJ Styles lurking around with the X title. I think that's why I've never felt the huge need to watch TNA, whether it be the weekly PPVs or on FSN. There's just no real storyline developments, no serious changes.

I wouldn't count on that USC upset since they are maiming Arkansas 42-10 at the half. By some weird fluke Oregon St. doesn't play USC this year in the Pac 10. I'd like to see how bad the Trojans stomp them compared to what U of L did to them today. I actually taped a bit of that FSU game tonight to have documented proof that yes there is a guy on the Seminoles named Fagg. Every time he'd catch a ball the announcers would say "And the pass is complete to....FAGG!" I'd almost fall on the floor laughing.

Pretty sure HHH/Angle was last at the No Way Out in 2002, with Angle actually WINNING with a Steph run in....but HHH got the WM title shot back the next night. Sadly enough I did also think of that HHH/Angle match with HHH getting the title back, thus making poor Kurt a transition guy.

U of L beat the ever loving shit out of Oregon St. 63-27. What's funny is that I didn't think OR St. was all that bad of a team. I don't like giving up 27 but most of it was garbage points when it was way out of hand anyway. This was Oregon St.'s first loss since that narrow loss to USC last year (was that the fog game?).

Last year the Big East winner was basically a JTTS no matter who it was. I mean wasn't it like Pitt, Cuse, BC, and someone else (WVU?)? Let's face it, none of those teams exactly inspire fear. Man, I was a bit worried the first quarter when Oregon St. jumped out 10-0. But that 2nd quarter was just bad ass for U of L. We went from down 10 to up 35-10 at the half. After the 2nd half with UK I'm still a bit worried, I want to see a consistent effort here. No calling off the dogs.

Why is it for some reason I think Angle/Cena at Unforgiven will end in a lame DQ? Angle can't afford to lose there and they might not want to job Cena out....I'm feeling Kurt not letting go of the anklelock when Cena's in the ropes. I hope it doesn't happen, but given Angle's character of late it seems possible.