WWEv Weekly 2008 - RAW, ECW, iMPACT!, SmackDown: WEEK 34

Best of the Best
August 18, 2008

In a first time meeting between two of Raw's biggest Superstars, Batista was able to prove himself the better man by defeating John Cena at SummerSlam. Now that Batista has won, will he refocus on winning the World Heavyweight Title? Also, how will Cena cope with being beaten by The Animal?

Ever since winning the World Heavyweight Title, CM Punk has had to hear JBL doubt his worth as champion, even after he had already successfully defended his gold against the self-proclaimed "wrestling god." The Straightedge Superstar followed up an insulting drinking contest offer from JBL on Raw by besting him once again in the ring at SummerSlam to retain his championship. Will JBL now give Punk credit where credit is due? And who will be next to step up to vie for CM Punk's World Heavyweight Title?

Thanks to the incredible strength of Beth Phoenix, Santino Marella and The Glamazon won their Winners Take All Match making them the new Intercontinental and Women's Champions. Now that "Glamarella" has proven their relationship to be a golden alliance, where it will lead to next? Will either of the former champions in Kofi Kingston and Mickie James come looking to take their titles back?

Also, last week on Raw, as per Raw GM Mike Adamle's demands, Kane revealed that the burlap sack he carried around contained the mask of Rey Mysterio. Afterward, Kane just laughed in the face of Adamle before walking to the back. What did Kane mean by someone "scarred and tortured"? Has the Master of the 619 been victimized by the Big Red Monster?

For the answers to these questions and more, be sure to tune into Monday Night Raw at 9/8 CT only on USA Network.

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Extreme rematch
August 19, 2008

After the short Extreme Title match between ECW Champ Mark Henry and Matt Hardy resulted in a disqualification at SummerSlam, the World's Strongest Man remains the World's Strongest Champion, at least until Tuesday. ECW General Manager Theodore Long announced on WWE.com that the SummerSlam competitors will face off once again for the gold on ECW on Sci Fi this week. (WATCH) Will Henry retain the ECW Championship or will Hardy become the next to hold Extreme gold? Read more on this story…

Armando Estrada finally earned his place in the Land of the Extreme, but lost his first match as a contracted ECW Superstar to Finlay. Will Estrada be able to regain the momentum he once had on ECW? A scowling Mike Knox looked on as Finlay defeated Estrada. Now that Knox sees that the man who loves to fight hasn't gone soft thanks to his relationship with his son, Hornswoggle, will he continue to express his disdain for Finlay like he's been for the past few weeks? Will the sinister Knox and Finlay ever bring their rivalry into the ECW ring?

Finally, Evan Bourne's winning ways over Bam Neely continued, when Chavo Guerrero ordered his bodyguard - still injured with a concussion after last week's attack by Edge on SmackDown - to compete against the quick-thinking, unpredictable Bourne. Who will be able to stop the high-flying, odds-beating Superstar who came to ECW as part of General Manager Theodore Long's New Superstar Initiative? Will Neely & Guerrero back down from the seemingly unbeatable newcomer?

Another new ECW Superstar, Ricky Ortiz, remains undefeated on ECW with a 3-0 record. While trying to convince Long he's going to take over the WWE Universe with his merchandising ideas, Long informed Ortiz that ECW's New Superstar Initiative is in full effect, and he'll have another match on next week's ECW on Sci Fi, this time against a new Extreme Superstar. Who will Ortiz meet in the ring and will he be able to stop this newcomer? (WATCH)

Find out the answers to these questions and more by tuning into ECW on Sci Fi, Tuesday at 10/9 CT.

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PREVIEW FOR THURSDAY'S "IMPACT!" ON SPIKE: ANGLE IS IRATE, "FOUR WAYS TO GLORY" QUALIFYING, X TITLE MATCH & MORE

On Thursday night, TNA Wrestling returns to Spike for two hours of Total Nonstop Action as the road to the September 14 "No Surrender" Pay-Per-View continues!

Here is a preview of what is scheduled for the broadcast:

- In the first of the "Four Ways To Glory" qualifying matches, it will be Booker T taking on "The War Machine" Rhino to determined who advances to the World Title bout at "No Surrender".

- After losing his Olympic gold medal to AJ S_tyles, Kurt Angle is irate and wants it back! Angle is on a mission to reclaim it - and put AJ S_tyles out of action in the process. What will Angle do this Thursday night to accomplish his mission? Will S_tyles hit Angle with a preemptive strike? Tune in and find out!

- Also on Thursday, in a rematch from Hard Justice, "Maple Leaf Muscle" Petey Williams will defend the X Division Championship against Consequences Creed!

- Homicide returns to "iMPACT!" after being injured at Hard Justice by new TNA World Tag Team Champions Beer Money. On Thursday, Homicide will battle Beer Money's Robert Roode.

- There will be a Knockouts Street Fight on the broadcast as longtime rivals Gail Kim and Awesome Kong will battle it out!

- Plus, "The Blueprint" Matt Morgan will be in action

All this and much more this Thursday night on "iMPACT!" on Spike.

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Is SmackDown on a highway to Hell?
August 17, 2008

The Biggest Blockbuster of the Summer exploded Sunday on pay-per-view, and for every question answered, a new one emerged. What SummerSlam shockwaves will be felt on this week's SmackDown?

In perhaps the biggest match of his career, Edge faced a returning Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell Match. The maniacal Rated-R Superstar had vowed to show The Deadman the "purest form of Hell." But, after achieving victory in the culmination of one of WWE's most brutal matches, it was the legendary Phenom that sent the Ultimate Opportunist into the great inferno. Now that Undertaker has settled his score with Edge, will SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero or any other Superstar be safe from his vengeful scourge?

WWE Champion Triple H reigned supreme over The Great Khali, defying the odds by hitting the Pedigree in his very first match with the Punjabi Giant. Now that The King of Kings will return to SmackDown with his crown intact, who will emerge to try and take the gold from The Game?

MVP was able to overcome Jeff Hardy at SummerSlam, thanks in no small part to the distraction provided by United States Champion Shelton Benjamin. Will the intense rivalry between the Ballin' Superstar and the risk taking high-flyer continue? Or will Hardy change his focus to the interfering champion?

The undefeated Vladimir Kozlov continues to chalk up wins, most recently against a formidable Festus. If the Corn-fed Colossus can't stop the Moscow Mauler, who can?

With massive associate Ezekiel Jackson, The Brian Kendrick is quickly shaking things up in the land of SmackDown. Who will stand up to this duo?

Witness the fallout from SummerSlam on Friday Night SmackDown on The CW Network at 8/7 CT.

Interested as always to see Santino and Beth - the new champs!

And hoping JBL fades aways from the title hunt, finds someone else to annoy.

This Y2J v HBK with jericho hitting shawns wife is another Robert Roode vs Booker when rob hit charmelle. Yay recylcing!mrgab

[QUOTE="mrgab"]This Y2J v HBK with jericho hitting shawns wife is another Robert Roode vs Booker when rob hit charmelle. Yay recylcing!Link256

Thought there was good enough story reason for them to have a great feud before the wife hitting incident.

Good promo by Punk.

Good news, its Santino!

Awesome classic Kane theme music. They should really bring it back.

EDIT: Sweet seems they did bring it back.

I swear, this cannot be stressed enough, apparently. If I never see another handicap match in my life, it will be all too long.

Great little promo by CM Punk. WWE seriously needs to keep giving that guy the mic.

Random thought: I wonder how many people even remember D'Lo as IC champ, or even better yet, that he was Euro-IC champion before Kurt Angle even made his debut?

While the Punk lost is questionable, solid main-event, nonetheless.

In regards to "Championship Scramble," my problem with it is not so much of it being copy of hardcore championship gimmick, because, as I said, I am fine with that sort of thing, when done correctly. No, my problem is that there is no story attached to it. Just announcement, much in the vain of lot of recent stuff in WWE.

According to WWE.com, the title can change hands many times during the Championship Scramble but only the final winner of the match will be recognized as the new champion, not all the people who may "win" the title during the scramble itself. Link256

So will they get credit for winning the title those in between times?

So, did anyone watch ECW?

So, did anyone watch ECW?Link256

I did. That was the first in a long time I've heard those "E-C-Dub" chants.

As for the main event, that's what their SummerSlam match should've been.

I did. That was the first in a long time I've heard those "E-C-Dub" chants.

As for the main event, that's what their SummerSlam match should've been.

Jackov

What were the results, anyhow? I missed ECW...

[QUOTE="Jackov"]I did. That was the first in a long time I've heard those "E-C-Dub" chants.

As for the main event, that's what their SummerSlam match should've been.Link256

What were the results, anyhow? I missed ECW...

Here are the match results.....

• John Morrison, The Miz, & Chavo Guerrero def. Evan Bourne, Super Crazy, & Tommy Dreamer
• Ricky Ortiz def. Gavin Spears
• Mark Henry def. Matt Hardy [ECW Championship]

And here's the results page from WWE.com. (You can also watch the entire show nyah when it becomes available tomorrow.)

Ricky Ortiz def. Gavin Spears

Jackov

Who are them guys?

[QUOTE="Jackov"]Ricky Ortiz def. Gavin SpearsLink256

Who are them guys?

They're new wrasslers from Teddy Long's "New Talent Initiative". Ricky went by "Atlas DaBone" in OVW. I don't know much about Gavin Spears though.

By the way, since when has Teddy Long been the manage of ECW?

By the way, since when has Teddy Long been the manage of ECW? Link256

Since June 3. I take it you haven't been watchin' ECW for a long time. :P

LOL!

Todd Grisham saying "This is the biggest main event in the history of ECW" might be one of the stupidest statements I've heard in a long time. Even for the "WWECW" there have been much better match up pairings. ie. Angle vs RVD.

[QUOTE="Link256"]By the way, since when has Teddy Long been the manage of ECW? Jackov

Since June 3. I take it you haven't been watchin' ECW for a long time. :P

Apart from watching match here and there, not really. What I will say I should have figured something was up, when I caught clip of Estrada wrestling, month or so back.

LOL!

Todd Grisham saying "This is the biggest main event in the history of ECW" might be one of the stupidest statements I've heard in a long time. Even for the "WWECW" there have been much better match up pairings. ie. Angle vs RVD.

CWood

ECW did a 1.5 rating last night.

Credit: WrestlingObserver.com Link256

I wonder why people keep tuning into ECW? Are they watching because of Mark Henry?

Give Chris Jericho the belt. The guy is some kind of amazing right now.

If it were my call, I'd work towards a Jericho-HBK Wrestlemania Main event, because with the build it already has plus the build they could do from here on, it could be the most special Wrestlemania main event we've had in a long, long time. These guys have taken a throwaway feud and made it into something special. I say roll with it and have the potential to create something truly epic at Wrestlemania. Jericho one-ups HBK in their next encounter (which no one in their right mind would expect) and put off and build HBK's feel good win until Wrestlemania. That's just my opinion.

Give Chris Jericho the belt. The guy is some kind of amazing right now.

If it were my call, I'd work towards a Jericho-HBK Wrestlemania Main event, because with the build it already has plus the build they could do from here on, it could be the most special Wrestlemania main event we've had in a long, long time. These guys have taken a throwaway feud and made it into something special. I say roll with it and have the potential to create something truly epic at Wrestlemania. Jericho one-ups HBK in their next encounter (which no one in their right mind would expect) and put off and build HBK's feel good win until Wrestlemania. That's just my opinion.

The_Dude14

The only problem with that is that, usually, WrestleMania is about having fresh or dream scenarios (or, at least, that is post to be about). With there already being few Jericho-Michaels matches as it is, in this year alone, I do not think it would be all that good of idea.

Anybody watch iMPACT?

[QUOTE="The_Dude14"] Give Chris Jericho the belt. The guy is some kind of amazing right now.

If it were my call, I'd work towards a Jericho-HBK Wrestlemania Main event, because with the build it already has plus the build they could do from here on, it could be the most special Wrestlemania main event we've had in a long, long time. These guys have taken a throwaway feud and made it into something special. I say roll with it and have the potential to create something truly epic at Wrestlemania. Jericho one-ups HBK in their next encounter (which no one in their right mind would expect) and put off and build HBK's feel good win until Wrestlemania. That's just my opinion.

Link256

The only problem with that is that, usually, WrestleMania is about having fresh or dream scenarios (or, at least, that is post to be about). With there already being few Jericho-Michaels matches as it is, in this year alone, I do not think it would be all that good of idea.

I look at WWE right now and I see nothing that can even potentially match what Jericho and Michaels can do and have done with this feud and I think it has earned the right to have the kind of epic conclusion that only Wrestlemania can offer and I think it has earned the right to headline the show. Everybody knows how good Jericho-HBK matches are and throw them out there in a Wrestlemania main event and it is very unlikely to disappoint.

It isn't going to happen, I understand that. Next time HBK and Jericho meet, HBK's going to roll over Jericho and its going to go back to business as usual. I just think with the way this feud has taken on a life of its own, built so well and so dramatically, and with the way Jericho has transformed himself, I believe they should be rewarded.

The fued is pretty boring to me. It was good for th first month or so but now Y2J comes out, rags on the fans, leaves.
I'd like to see Chris Jericho vs. The Undertaker at WM.

Have these two ever gone one on one?

I understand what you're saying, but by that token, Hart-Michaels, Austin-Rock and Rock-Triple H would not be Wrestlemania main events, as they had all feuded before. Granted there was a lot more time in between those matches than there has been between Michaels-Jericho.

I look at WWE right now and I see nothing that can even potentially match what Jericho and Michaels can do and have done with this feud and I think it has earned the right to have the kind of epic conclusion that only Wrestlemania can offer and I think it has earned the right to headline the show. Everybody knows how good Jericho-HBK matches are and throw them out there in a Wrestlemania main event and it is very unlikely to disappoint.

It isn't going to happen, I understand that. Next time HBK and Jericho meet, HBK's going to roll over Jericho and its going to go back to business as usual. I just think with the way this feud has taken on a life of its own, built so well and so dramatically, and with the way Jericho has transformed himself, I believe they should be rewarded.

The_Dude14

If (and granted, that is big IF), WWE is smart about Batista vs. Cena, for starters, I would say there is some money in it for being WrestleMania event caliber match.

Anybody watch iMPACT?

Link256

Watched a recording of it... took around 30 to 40 minutes. Still wondering how AJ won Angles medals, when he ran out of time and lost.

Watched a recording of it... took around 30 to 40 minutes. Still wondering how AJ won Angles medals, when he ran out of time and lost.

mrgab

The only matches on iMPACT! I caught were Rhino-Booker (which, was surprisingly bland), and Williams-Creed (which, was fun little match, for what is was).

Otherwise, I missed AJ-Angle. Which, while I am on the subject, in your opinion, how was the match itself?

Otherwise, I missed AJ-Angle. Which, while I am on the subject, in your opinion, how was the match itself?

Link256

Mostly the same as if didnt have a ladder there.

Mostly the same as if didnt have a ladder there.

mrgab

So, than, would say AJ-Angle was "good" or "bad"?

To be honest, neither.

mrgab

So, than, how would you describe the match between AJ and Angle? Was it just kind of there?

[QUOTE="mrgab"]

To be honest, neither.

Link256

So, than, how would you describe the match between AJ and Angle? Was it just kind of there?

Sorry not mucha definative answer, but it was just kind of there. How about a grade of C+

Sorry not mucha definative answer, but it was just kind of there. How about a grade of C+

mrgab

No need to say sorry. More than anything else, just trying to stir little bit of activity in here. :lol:

I wonder why people keep tuning into ECW? Are they watching because of Mark Henry?

KevyR

With the casual, I would say it is mixture of WWE loyalty, name value of ECW, and wrestling for the sake of wrestling.

With the hardcore, touch of quality wrestling, along with the usual dose of simplicity of the whole thing.

Otherwise, in general, I would compare the hardcore's relationship with the WWE to marriage once great, gone lousy. You know it is bad for you, have known for the longest time, and yet, for whatever reason, whether it be feelings of loyalty, or illusion that things can once again become as they were, you are just kinda of stuck in the place where you at.

I think more people watch ECW now because of CM Punk. This isn't just me being a mark, I do think that Punk has something to do with this. Before Punk won the title, nobody really cared for ECW and the ratings were low, so not a lot of people were exposed to Punk. All of a sudden, an ECW guy, who they haven't seen a lot of or at all, wins the World Title. Now, more peeps tune in because they want to know the next up and coming big star.

Either that, or Mark Henry is a ratings God.

Chicago_Nut

What, no love for version 1? :(

Speaking of Version 1, its official...

Matt Hardy > Kurt Angle

Speaking of Version 1, its official...

Matt Hardy > Kurt AngleLink256

Maybe if Angle and TNA had a little more Mattitude, they'd be in a lot better shape.

The_Dude14

Have you watched the match?