July 2008 News Archive (Page 3)

Former WWE creative team member Seth Mates has listed the matches he'd book for WrestleMania 25.

Taken from his latest blog, here's how Mates would current set up the card. Let us know your thoughts on his proposed matches...

Triple H vs. Edge -- I'd put the title on Edge at the Great American Bash and then keep it on him til WrestleMania 25. Let HHH play the role of babyface in the chase. I actually LOVE the storyline of Triple H getting screwed by the wrestler who's dating the boss; substitute "everyone else" where I just said "Triple H" and you've got the story of WWE for the past six years.

John Cena vs. Batista -- No title on the line here. You don't need one. I'd build this feud by having these two guys be CM Punk's challengers for the titles, and they cost each other those matches. I'd start it at the Bash -- Batista loses somehow, then Cena tries to jump in as the next challenger. Batista's angry, says he still deserves another shot, but Cena gets the shot, say at SummerSlam. Batista costs Cena the match at SSlam. Go to Survivor Series with a Triple Threat, then to the Rumble, which neither guy wins. Maybe they eliminate each other.

Batista's the natural heel, though I've been advocating for a Cena heel turn for months now. But if they keep these guys apart until Mania, this match has a VERY big-time feel to it.

CM Punk vs. Randy Orton -- Yes, I'm advocating keeping the title on Punk for this long. Heel first-time champions can usually have pretty short title reigns (Triple H, Edge) and get over, but babyfaces (Hogan, Warrior, Diesel, Cena, Batista) need some time to make the fans believe in them. Punk has a natural charisma and confidence that will make people rally behind him.

Orton, on the other hand, is the most natural heel in the business. I don't know what I'd do with the finish of this match, but if they do move forward with a third-generation faction, Orton as World Champ seems like a natural choice to lead it.

Following last night's WWE Raw, here's the updated card for WWE's Great American Bash on Sunday, July 20:

WWE Championship Match
- Triple H (c) vs. Edge

World Heavyweight Championship Match
- CM Punk (c) vs. Batista

- Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho

WWE Raw opens with Vickie Guerrero sitting in the middle of the ring in a wheelchair. CM Punk walks down to the ring, and Vickie says that Edge’s demise was due to CM Punk beating him.

Vickie stands up and slaps him. CM Punk tells Vickie that she’s got a one way ticket back to Smackdown. JBL runs out and says that he should be champ, challenging Punk to a match. John Cena comes out and tells JBL that we don’t play the “blame game” on Raw, and to go back where he’s from. JBL says that since there is no McMahon there tonight, it will be Cena vs. JBL for the #1 Contendership for the next PPV against CM Punk.

Batista comes out and says that he wants a piece of Punk. Cena changes the match to a triple threat match for the contendership at the Great American Bash. Kane comes down and says that he wants to get in as well, so CM Punk proposes a “Fatal Four Way.” The match is set for tonight's main event.

Rey Mysterio vs. Santino Marella
Ray hits a 619 on Marella, followed by the top rope for a spash and the pin.
Winner: Mysterio

Layla and Jillian Hall vs. Kelly Kelly and Mickie James
Jerry Lawler says Kelly Kelly is like a museum “touch with your eyes and not your hands!” Kelly Kelly sits on Jilians shoulders and crouches down for a victory roll.
Winners: Mickie James and Kelly Kelly

JBL’s limo arrives. The doors lock and JBL looks puzzled. Cena comes out of the back of the car and says that the limo won’t pass inspection, but that he knows two guys who can fix cars quick: Cryme Tyme comes out from the limo. Cryme Tyme smashes the mirror with a bat and smashes a hole in the windshield, destroying the limo.

CM Punk vs. Snitsky
Punk slingshots over the top rope onto Snitsky for the crossarm block. CM Punk with GTS on Snitsky.
Winner: CM Punk

HBK comes out and says that he accepts the match against Jericho at GAB.

Charlie Haas vs. Kofi Kingston

Kingston hits his double leg drop move to the chest of Haas. Kingston connects with his spinning kick to the face and covers Haas for the 3 count. Kofi Kingston defeats Haas with a spin kick to the face.
Winner: Kofi Kingston

Cena vs. JBL vs. Batista vs. Kane
Batista spear  Kane at the end to win. Batista will face CM Punk at the Great American Bash.
Winner: Batista

Kane flips out and attacks the stage crew. He grabs Michael Cole for a choke slam and Lawler attacks Kane from behind to try to save Cole. Kane ends up attacking Jerry, leaving him helpless in the ring as the show ends.

Chris Jericho recently responded to a series of Slam Magazine reader questions. Here are a couple highlights from his interview:

Q: Did the injury to Randy Orton create a situation where the WWE needed a new heel quickly? Is that why your character is making the transition?

A: This turn was in place long before Orton got hurt, there was nothing quick about it. If you look back we started this in April, it has been two months. All these things were happening with or without Orton’s injury. Obviously it opens a huge hole with Randy being hurt, so in that case it is beneficial for me, but it wasn’t like anything was rushed, it was an unfortunate thing that happened and things went on business as usual for Jericho.

Q: Do you have more creative freedom with your promos/interviews and match layout during this run with WWE as opposed to your first run?
A: I always had creative freedom with my promos, so it has been the same all across the board. I have never been a guy who is given a piece of paper and told to read this. I have co-written all of my promos if not written them outright from when I first came in to the WWE to the promo I did last week.

Former WWE Womens Champion Candice Michelle has posted a blog on her Fan Nation account, giving readers an update on her return status. Here's an excerpt:

"I was cleared to do minimal things and they gave me an inch, and I took a mile," she wrote. "I thought I could do it even though the fracture wasn’t completely bridged. WWE gave me a match and I took full advantage of it, but it didn’t work out to my advantage.

With being in the ring only about five seconds, I did a dropkick which I decided to change in mid-air (not a smart idea). Not only did I botch it, but I instantly knew I had re-broken my clavicle!

Candice added that she's in physical therapy and hopes to return to the ring soon.

Fortunately, WWE fans can stare at Candice Michelle nude even when she's injured. Thanks, Playboy!

Here's a look at the official WWE RAW preview for tonight, courtesy of WWE.com...

After seeing the WWE Championship move to SmackDown, and failing to win a World Championship back to Raw at Night of Champions, Monday nights once again have a World Title.

CM Punk cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase to challenge and defeat Edge, bringing the World Heavyweight Championship to Raw and even going on to defend it in the same night against JBL.

Though Raw suffered a dearth of World Titles for a period, there is no lack of former World Champions, eager to end the Straightedge Superstar’s title reign, including John Cena, Batista and JBL. Which of these men will step forward in search of gold, and will Punk be able to hold them off?

Though Raw is no longer lacking a World Title, there is a conspicuous absence on the program in the form of Mr. McMahon. The WWE Chairman was injured at the end of the June 23 Raw when the set collapsed and he was buried underneath a ton of lighting equipment.

Continue Reading...

It would be an understatement to say that Paul Heyman is a fan of Edge.

The former owner of ECW is a major, major fan of Edge.

Just take a look at some of what Heyman had to say about the WWE's best heel in a recent column for Great Britan's The Sun:

"A phenomenal worker with rock star looks, Copeland knows how to present the "Edge" character so no one has the inclination to cheer him.

His charisma alone could carry an entire show - and, bluntly, he's had Smackdown on his shoulders for longer than most people realize - but Copeland's portrayal of the scheming, manipulative, opportunistic Edge is played in such a way that you simply want to see him get beat or perhaps more importantly, beat up."

We agree with Paul Heyman: Edge is the best heel in the business.

Regarding his promo on last week's WWE RAW, Heyman said the following about Edge:

"Edge's range was amazing, too. From the frothing-at-the-mouth-anticipation of JR screaming "Edge wins! Edge wins! Edge wins!" to the envisioned-orgasm as he described "the love of my life" - dramatic pause, then emphasis - "Vickie Guerrero," Edge's promo was, as they say, one for the ages.

He had such heel heat by the time he punked out everyone from Ross to Undertaker to the Raw program itself, people were salivating at the mere thought that someone, somehow, someday would just smash this bastard.

Batista came out and delivered a ferocious beating to Edge, and the live audience came unglued."

A pair of WWE Spoilers from around the wrestling world:

• Former TNA wrestler Ron "The Truth" Killings, who is scheduled to be called up to the SmackDown roster any day now, has been told he's getting a top-level push upon his debut.

• The World Heavyweight Title bout for the Great American Bash is expected to be a three-way match between CM Punk, John Cena and John Bradshaw Layfield.

Here's the first of what we're sure will be many posters for this year's SummerSlam. It features WWE Diva Maria Kanellis:

Michelle McCool is officially the number-one contender for the new WWE Divas title on Smackdown.

If that honor isn't deserving of a photo tribute, we don't know what is. Here's a nice new shot of McCool: