Hey guys!
Sorry I’m running a little behind this week, but I should have Monday’s strip up tonight, and then hopefully I’ll then be back on schedule. Time somehow got away from me, but thanks for sticking with me and everything should be back to normal soon.
-James
Oh, poor ol’ J.R. Will he ever learn? I actually thought the commentary on last night’s Smackdown was pretty good. J.R. obviously has the goods no matter where he is, and I think Triple H summed up the brand switches pretty well in his opening speech where he pointed out it’s all pretty much the same fans, regardless of brands.
And while I liked the draft moves it seemed strange to have all the people who were just drafted staying on their old show for this week. Like Kane got drafted to RAW… so why was he in the main event of ECW? Maybe they’re just ironing out the kinks, but it wasn’t the best way to kick off a draft in my opinion.
And I imagine that most of the ironing will be done tomorrow night at the Night of Champions PPV. The whole draft has turned what was a mediocre looking card into a much more interesting one given the current title picture. I don’t know how it’s all going to shake out, but here’re my predictions for the pay per view…
Chris Jericho if he has a match for the IC Title
No match has been announced yet for the Intercontinental Title, but if there is, I imagine Jericho will be the one to hold onto it. Of course after the draft he is one of the bigger stars on RAW, and that title can be an albatross around his neck.
Matt Hardy vs. Chavo Guerrero for the United States Championship
What was once a beer match now becomes a beer match that you ask your friend who won once you get back to your seat. The draft has put a question mark over this match as to whether or not the US title, a staple of Smackdown, will move to ECW. I can’t possibly imagine the ECW ratings improving with the title added to it, but I also can’t see it going to Chavo. Well then I blindly pick Chavo Guerrero to win it.
Hardcore Holly and Cody Rhodes vs. Ted DiBiase Jr. and a MYSTERY PARTNER!!! for the World Tag Team Championships
While it was first heavily rumored that DH Smith would be Ted Jr.’s partner, I don’t really see that playing out now that Smith is a Smackdown wrestler. I’ve also heard pure speculation that Cody is the partner and will turn on Holly, but that sounds a little too complicated for the WWE officials. Either way I see Ted DiBiase Jr. and his MYSTERY PARTER!!! winning.
Natalya vs. a MYSTERY OPPONENT for the new Diva’s Championship
Now this will be where DH Smith is revealed. And Natalya will win.
Finlay and Hornswaggle vs. Morrison and The Miz for the WWE Tag Team Championships
Bless the hearts of those children that cheer Hornswaggle. To have that youth and enthusiasm…. I just don’t know what I’d do. But in the mean time I have to say that there’s no way that Morrison and Miz lose the belts. I still think it’ll be interesting to see where they go when ECW starts being taped before RAW in August.
Mickie James vs. Katie Lee Birch… ah…we all know Mickie‘s going to win.
Mark Henry vs. Kane vs. Big Show for the ECW Title
I feel the same way about this match that I do the US title match. I mean I’ll be interested to see who wins. And as for who wins… I guess I see the real “upset” title changes happening for the big two shows, so while it’s hard for me to imagine Mark Henry winning it after jobbing out so much lately, it’s harder for me to imagine anything else. So I pick Mark Henry!
Edge vs. Batista for the World Heavyweight Championship
Alright… it seems to be the consensus with every speculation that I’ve seen that only one of the main two titles is changing hands. Now that’s just fan opinion, not a rumor of any kind, but going along with that mentality, I say that Edge retains! His relationship with Vickie and La Familia won’t be the same without the World Title, and I think it’d be a way better storyline to have H chasing him for the strap.
Cena vs. Triple H for the WWE Championship
Seeing as how I have Edge winning the WHC, I guess that means I pick Cena to win the WWE Championship. …Possibly with Edge interference? I don’t really know who Cena would feud with afterwards though… Crazy WWE draft!
Alright, I don’t know how successful my predictions will be… I mean, this is a pretty hard Pay Per View to predict! I think it’ll be a good one though, and hopefully we’ll have some resolution after it. Anyway, thanks for reading and thanks for the comments!
-James
Hey, everybody!
Wow… what a draft! To start off, I thought the whole draft show was awesome, by FAR better than last year’s. This was the opposite of last year’s unimaginative drafts, with everyone being at least an upper midcarder and has the potential bring lots of change to their new brand. And besides the drafts, the matches throughout the night were solid as well, with a return of the Hardy boys and another Cena vs. Edge bout. Even the JBL vs. Kofi Kingston match was really good.
But the only thing I didn’t like… was that stupid, stupid ending! I know I shouldn’t judge so prematurely, but it just seemed insulting to me with them trying to make it seem legit with Vince calling out for “Paul”, not to mention it coming almost a year to the day after the Benoit tragedy. And I think worst of all it totally overshadowed what should have been the biggest shocker of the night, Triple H being drafted to Smackdown.
Well, the only thing I think was more surprising for me was JR to Smackdown! While after considering it a little more I think it could wind up being a pretty good move, when I first saw good ol’ JR’s face on the titantron it was a bit of a gut punch.
And while I’m happy to see so much talent headed towards Smackdown to level the playing field, as a diehard Kennedy fan, I was a little disappointed to see him go to a brand where he has to compete with guys like HHH and Jeff Hardy for the top face spot.
As for the bottom of the spot, the supplemental draft held today contained a couple of surprises, but most of them were more like “HE’S still around?!” rather than “wow, DH Smith is totally going to change the face of Smackdown!”
But DH Smith being on Smackdown seems to eliminate the rumor of him being Ted DiBiase Jr.’s partner this Sunday. But then again with all the titles being mixed around and on different shows (Jericho’s the number one singles champ on RAW, yeah!) who knows what’ll happen. But the bottom line is that the draft made me eager to watch Smackdown, Night of Champions, and even ECW.
I mean, I still didn’t watch ECW. But I thought about it. And that’s a start.
Thanks for reading,
-James
P.S. And as for my predictions… Super Crazy to ECW? I got it. I’ve totally got it aaall figured out.
