Sunday Sermon: Ultimate WWE PPV Card of 2013

Craig Wilson, Jamie Lithgow & Kenneth Richardson

Cena v Bryan at SummerSlam was one of the best PPV matches of the year (Image courtesy of http://www.digitalspy.co.uk)

As we approach the end of 2013 it is only right that we reflect on the year it has been. At this blog it is no different and seems on apt that we reflect on the year it has been in wrestling. Therefore, it seems only right that we construct our ultimate card of 2013.

The premise is, on the face of it, very simple but it does have a swerve of sorts – namely that a wrestler can only appear in one match. Sorta like our Ultimate Wrestlemania card Sermon we did many moons ago. So, if you pluck for Daniel Bryan v John Cena from SummerSlam then you can’t use any of those two superstars in any other matches. Got it? Good. Let’s go.

This Week in Wrestling

Craig Wilson & Jamie Lithgow

(Image courtesy of http://www.cagesideseats.com although I added the Santa hat)

Was Randy Orton the right man to become the Undisputed WWE World Champion.

Whatever you think of Orton being chosen as the man to be the undisputed champion – something I will come back to in a bit – the TLC finale was a significant moment.

For the first time since 2001 in 50 years there is just one main champion in the WWE and, personally speaking, that’s a good thing.

Well That Didn’t Work: World Bodybuilding Federation

Craig Wilson

Cover of the WBF magazine, note the font and colouring used for the title (Image courtesy of http://www.ebay.com)

You need only have watched any WWF event from the late 80s and early 90s and you would have established that the company had a fondness for musclebound performers.

It was little surprise, then, that Vince would dip his hand into the bodybuilding world and start his own organisation and in this ‘Well That Didn’t Work’ I look at the short-lived World Bodybuilding Federation (WBF).

Crossfire: Who will be The Shield’s Breakout Star?

Craig Wilson, Brian Damage & Jamie Lithgow

The Shield when in possession of more gold (image courtesy of BleacherReport)

For months now the WWE have been teasing at dissension within the ranks of The Shield, culminating in Reigns inadvertently spearing Dean Ambrose at TLC this past weekend, allowing CM Punk to grab the pinfall and the win.

It’s inevitable that The Shield will break up with all three having more than enough talent to make it big in the WWE if they are the one that the company chooses to be on the receiving end of a push. In this latest ‘Crossfire‘ Craig, Brian and Jamie discuss which Shield member they think will be the breakout star.

Gimmicks: The Parodied, The Recycled and The Infringed

Brian Damage

(Image courtesy of ecwfrenchtribute.free.fr)

gimmick [ˈgɪmɪk]

1. something designed to attract extra attention, interest, or publicity

Violating a gimmick is nothing new in the world of professional wrestling….as a matter of fact, it is more common than you think. To me, there are various forms of gimmick violations…some are done as parodies like Duane Gill’s “Gillberg” or Shark Boy’s parody of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Some infringements are done by a promoter to thumb their noses at a wrestler/s like Fake Diesel and Fake Razor Ramon.

Paul Roma – There was a singles wrestler in there somewhere…

Russ Morgan

(Image courtesy of http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/)

If you scratch around YouTube or have a couple of old WWF video tapes from the late 80’s/early 90’s, in most of them you will see a good looking guy, with a great physique and quite a bit of talent. His name is Paul Roma.

Roma was a bodybuilder by trade, but as they do, they think wrestling is a way to make a quick buck and he ended up at the doors of Titan Towers. Roma unlike some of his bodybuilding peers, actually had some talent. He worked at his new craft and eventually was given a slot in the tag-team division. Paul was teamed up with Jim Powers in the form of the “Young Stallions”. The team had initial success, but due to the two not getting along, the team disintegrated and Paul went into singles action. Not having too much success, Paul’s talents were again called upon in a tag team capacity, this time with the powerhouse Hercules. This team would be called “Power and Glory”.

Hulk-A-Mania: 30 Year Overview Of Highs, Lows and Mr. T

Brian Damage

(Image courtesy of officialfan.proboards.com)

Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the start of Ring the Damn Bell’s “30 Years of Hulk-A-Mania!” This countdown will feature a series of blogs, top 5’s, Sermons…etc…all about a man many call the Babe Ruth of professional wrestling. You may ask why Hulk-A-mania? Simple, we are celebrating the 30 year anniversary of the birth of Hulk-A-Mania which took place on January 23rd. 30 years is a lot of time to cover that a simple piece can’t do justice for. Some of us are fans…some of us despise him…but clearly…Hulk Hogan left an indelible mark on pro wrestling.

TLC 2013 Preview and Predictions

Craig Wilson, Brian Damage, Jamie Lithgow, Russ Morgan & Kenneth Richardson

(Image courtesy of Wikipedia.org)

Tonight the WWE will bring it’s 2013 PPV calendar to a close with ‘TLC 2013’. The big talking point leading up to this event has centred on the title unification match which will see WWE Champion Randy Orton and WHC John Cena face each other under TLC rules with the winner being the unified champion.

Elsewhere on the show both CM Punk and Daniel Bryan will compete in 3-0n-1 handicap matches. The former will take on The Shield while Bryan has to contend with The Wyatt Family. Also in action, AJ Lee will defend her Divas title against Natalya, Damien Sandow will challenge for the IC title when he meets Big E. Langston and Cody Rhodes and Goldust will defend the tag team titles against Big Show & Rey Mysterio, The Real Americans and Ryback & Curtis Axel. Below Craig, Brian, Jamie, Kenneth and Russ will share their thoughts and predictions ahead of the show.

This Week in Wrestling

Craig Wilson & Jamie Lithgow

Those expecting a Cena heel turn tomorrow are likely to be left disappointed

(Image courtesy of http://www.betweentheropes.com/)

The end of Raw just past was awesome. Not so much the Triple H Pedigree on Orton but the closing image of Cena along with Trips, Stephanie McMahon and Kane.

As Raw closed there was the shot over Orton’s head of Cena standing alongside the Authority figures, an image that would have delighted those that have hankered for a Cena heel turn but are they going to be left disappointed if they are heading into TLC thinking he’ll turn heel? In a prediction that could comfortably come back to haunt me, I think they will be left without a Cena heel turn.