Around the Ring: Vince punted by Orton
I have to start off by saying that this has probably been the least hyped Royal Rumble PPV that I have ever seen in my many, many years watching wrestling. Actually, I've watched wrestling since the very first Rumble and last Monday's return of Vince McMahon and HBK storyline overshadowed the importance of the Rumble match itself. I'll make my predictions on the Rumble matches in just a moment, but I just want to touch on a couple things from Raw first.
On the HBK/JBL/Cena front, I think that although the Rumble PPV wasn't really hyped, the fallout and decision of what HBK will do during the title match will actually sell the PPV! Once again, HBK put on a great promo and really made you question where his alliance truly is.
CM Punk winning the belt from William Regal in what some are already calling match of the year contender (!!!) was spectacular to watch. I'm glad they gave Punk gold to run with because as someone who really didn't buy into him at first, his style and matches have won me over. Punk having the belt (and the feud leading up to last Monday's match) have really put focus, importance and prestiege back on the IC Belt….something that hasn't been there in quite awhile.
I am one of the haters of the whole McMahon/Jericho segment? I can't believe that after all Jericho did in 2008 to help sell PPVs and get ratings with his phenomenal heel character, they made him look like a little bitch during this segment. Apologizing on his knees? C'mon! Why would the writers do this to his character? It's a slap in the face as far as I'm concerned. The only potential redeeming quality about this segment is that Jericho could now really snap and be an even stronger heel...especially with Vince now out of the picture for a while again.
What? Vince is out? Yes…Randy Orton upped HIS heel level by actually kneeing the boss in the head. In one of the more crowd hushing moments in WWE history, Orton kicked the hell out of McMahon's head. Even his Legacy members and their “WTF” faces and the silence of the commentators sold the assault. What ruined it a bit? Stephanie's “crying.” What else made me shake my head? Why didn't Stephanie fire Orton right there and then? Why didn't WWE make a statement about Orton's actions the next day? They went that far for Jericho but didn't go the extra mile for this.
A quick Smackdown note: Jeff Hardy suffered second and third degree burns because someone sabotaged his pyro? This storyline just keeps getting, excuse the pun, extreme. I hope the culprit is revealed at the Rumble.
Here's my quick rundown of the Rumble:
Thirty-Man Royal Rumble Match — Wow…as of the time of writing this, there are 10 spots still left open. I think that a Smackdown star will win the Rumble because too many Raw stars are involved in some feud (except Jericho). If a Raw superstar wins, it'll be Jericho. If a Smackdown star wins, I'm going to say that it'll be ‘Taker or HHH.
ECW Champion Jack Swagger vs. Matt Hardy — I think WWE wants Swagger profiled on a big PPV, so I think he'll keep the belt.
World Heavyweight Champion John Cena vs. JBL — To tell you the truth, I don't know which way HBK will turn. Will he help JBL and eventually lead to a title match at WrestleMania or will he turn face again and just lead to a regular match with JBL down the road? I'll say JBL gets the win because that will give more hype to WM.
Women's Champion Beth Phoenix vs. Melina — Phoenix retains.
WWE Champion Jeff Hardy vs. Edge — There's an Elimiation chamber match coming in February at No Way Out. I have a funny feeling that Hardy's stalker will be revealed and cost him the belt. Hardy = ratings but Hardy gunning for the belt = more ratings and will help sell the next PPV. I say Edge takes it.
On the HBK/JBL/Cena front, I think that although the Rumble PPV wasn't really hyped, the fallout and decision of what HBK will do during the title match will actually sell the PPV! Once again, HBK put on a great promo and really made you question where his alliance truly is.
CM Punk winning the belt from William Regal in what some are already calling match of the year contender (!!!) was spectacular to watch. I'm glad they gave Punk gold to run with because as someone who really didn't buy into him at first, his style and matches have won me over. Punk having the belt (and the feud leading up to last Monday's match) have really put focus, importance and prestiege back on the IC Belt….something that hasn't been there in quite awhile.
I am one of the haters of the whole McMahon/Jericho segment? I can't believe that after all Jericho did in 2008 to help sell PPVs and get ratings with his phenomenal heel character, they made him look like a little bitch during this segment. Apologizing on his knees? C'mon! Why would the writers do this to his character? It's a slap in the face as far as I'm concerned. The only potential redeeming quality about this segment is that Jericho could now really snap and be an even stronger heel...especially with Vince now out of the picture for a while again.
What? Vince is out? Yes…Randy Orton upped HIS heel level by actually kneeing the boss in the head. In one of the more crowd hushing moments in WWE history, Orton kicked the hell out of McMahon's head. Even his Legacy members and their “WTF” faces and the silence of the commentators sold the assault. What ruined it a bit? Stephanie's “crying.” What else made me shake my head? Why didn't Stephanie fire Orton right there and then? Why didn't WWE make a statement about Orton's actions the next day? They went that far for Jericho but didn't go the extra mile for this.
A quick Smackdown note: Jeff Hardy suffered second and third degree burns because someone sabotaged his pyro? This storyline just keeps getting, excuse the pun, extreme. I hope the culprit is revealed at the Rumble.
Here's my quick rundown of the Rumble:
Thirty-Man Royal Rumble Match — Wow…as of the time of writing this, there are 10 spots still left open. I think that a Smackdown star will win the Rumble because too many Raw stars are involved in some feud (except Jericho). If a Raw superstar wins, it'll be Jericho. If a Smackdown star wins, I'm going to say that it'll be ‘Taker or HHH.
ECW Champion Jack Swagger vs. Matt Hardy — I think WWE wants Swagger profiled on a big PPV, so I think he'll keep the belt.
World Heavyweight Champion John Cena vs. JBL — To tell you the truth, I don't know which way HBK will turn. Will he help JBL and eventually lead to a title match at WrestleMania or will he turn face again and just lead to a regular match with JBL down the road? I'll say JBL gets the win because that will give more hype to WM.
Women's Champion Beth Phoenix vs. Melina — Phoenix retains.
WWE Champion Jeff Hardy vs. Edge — There's an Elimiation chamber match coming in February at No Way Out. I have a funny feeling that Hardy's stalker will be revealed and cost him the belt. Hardy = ratings but Hardy gunning for the belt = more ratings and will help sell the next PPV. I say Edge takes it.
