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Archive for February, 2012

If it’s possible to get excited by any PPV this close to WrestleMania, the gimmick of the Elimination Chamber match has all the makings to compete with pro wrestling’s biggest event of the year. It’s the last major chance for a title to change hands prior to WrestleMania, and since John Cena isn’t involved in either Elimination Chamber match, it looks like he’ll be facing The Rock without a strap around his waist.

That’s fine; I’m perfectly happy with Cena-Rock without a title on the line. The storyline that seems to have Cena ready to turn heel – a much longed-for career-reviving move that will allow fans to do what they most want to do next month at WM28, and that’s cheer The Rock – is an engaging enough storyline, with Cena facing off with Kane and a constant supply of hospital carts on hand to lead Zack Ryder to and from the arena.

But the Elimination Chamber event rarely ends with a champ retaining his title; could Jericho swipe the WWE Title to set up the rubber-match main event for WrestleMania? Could just about anyone beat Danial Bryan? We’ll learn tonight. My prediction? Punk will retain, but Bryan is doomed.

Which means the exact opposite will happen… of course.

When he’s not inside a WWE ring, Chris Jericho pays his mortgage as the front back of Fozzy, which began as an Ozzy Osbourne tribute act. Founded by Rich Ward in 1999, Jericho soon became associated with the band and brought them wider attention as their front man.

It’s not clear whether their drummer uses Alesis DM8s or something else, but they’ve always performed with professional equipment, not the cheap knockoffs that so many cover bands are known for.

Last month, Fozzy announced a new record deal with Century Media Records, so don’t expect Jericho’s return to WWE to last very long; their next album is due this summer.

Long before his current return to WWE, Chris Jericho was Tweeting and blogging “off the cuff” reactions to C.M. Punk’s title reign, practically accusing the WWE champ of plagiarizing Jericho’s gimmicks and career. Last week’s RAW proves that was Jericho marketing a feud he desired for his return, as he spoke at length for the first time since coming back to RAW.

His energetic speech hit all the right talking points, and proved he is still a great talker. And C.M. Punk’s wordless response played into Jericho’s claims to increase the feud, by aping Jericho’s month-plus-long gimmick of appearing and saying nothing.

I knew this was going to be a WrestleMania-worthy match-up. Now the joy is merely in watching it play out.

It’s pretty clear WWE has something big planned for Jericho’s return and although nothing’s been announced, and nothing will be until after the Elimination Chamber PPV, I think it’s become pretty obvious that it’ll be C.M. Punk vs. Chris Jericho for the WWE title on the biggest stage of them all.

It’s a wrestling fan’s dream match. Jericho was at one time, and became the only man so far, to wear both the WWE Title and the World Championship Title once controlled by WCW, at the same time, giving rise to his reputation as the world’s only Undisputed Champion. He also made his career for his microphone skills.

Punk is a wrestler much in the tradition of Jericho; his mic skills literally saved WWE from low ratings and renewed interest in its television product through his “shoot interviews” this past summer.

So it looks like great news for real wrestling fans; both Jericho and Punk know how to work a match and ring psychology, they know how to talk, and they’ll probably outperform Rock-Cena at this year’s WrestleMania. Who could ask for more?

I could: I want a vTech Kidizoom camera for WrestleMania! Hee hee.

It’s not official yet, but completely obvious: after last Monday’s RAW, Triple H will face down the Undertaker in an attempt to break “the Streak” at this year’s WrestleMania. Why else would Taker interrupt the firing of John Laurenitus as the “interim general manager of RAW?”

Undertaker’s most hyped career record is being undefeated at WrestleMania. He always wins, compiling a 19-0 record. Two of those wins have been over Triple H. The first came in at Wrestlemania X-Seven, the second came last year at WrestleMania XXVII, and in what could be the final match of his historic career, it appears the third WM match between the pair will come this year.

Hunter and Taker put on an impressive show at least year’s Wrestlemania, so a rubber match is no surprise. We’ll see how soon they make the obvious official. In the interim, expect the interim general manager of RAW to remain Laurenitus, with perhaps a stipulation attached to the match that if Taker wins, he becomes the permanent GM of RAW.

You heard the speculation here first!