Wrestling Fact Or Fiction: July 18, 2013

It’s that time again for me to look at the world’s greatest sport and all the issues that are the issues for this week. Yeppers, I’m doing that “Wrestling Fact Or Fiction” thing. The questions (eight of them) came from 411mania.com and the rest are from the inner-chambers of my mind. And all of the answers, that’s just me being me. As Bray Wyatt and his family would say, “we’re here!”. Let’s do this.

1. Randy Orton was the correct choice to win the Money in the Bank All-Stars match.

FACT: And he was my pick in my prediction column as well. Look at the others in the match. CM Punk doesn’t need the win and is busy with Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar. RVD just came back and will be a part timer. Bryan is hot right now, but he doesn’t need the contract either. Christian just didn’t seem right as a possible winner. Looking at the options, it just seemed like Orton would be the best pick. And I was right. He was.

2. CM Punk is a believable threat to Brock Lesnar.

FACT: In a purely physical match-up, Brock is too big and strong for Punk. But this is pro wrestling and we’re supposed to be able to suspend our beliefs and find a way to get emotionally involved in the confrontations between our favorites, such as Punk and Brock. Brock is more physical, but Punk is smarter so we just take it as a “brawn versus brains” type of deal. And when you look at it that way, and also try to determine where Paul Heyman will fit into the picture, it’s perfectly believable and a helluva good match-up that will leave us, the wrestling fans, wanting more.

3. Cody Rhodes will be successful as a babyface.

FICTION: Cody is a fantastic wrestler and talent and I enjoy watching him in the ring. But he just doesn’t come across to me as a believable baby-face. A heel, an ass-clown, a jerk… that’s where the money lies and the future is strong for Cody. I just can’t see him as a good guy. It doesn’t work.

4. The Usos will be the next WWE Tag Team Champions.

FICTION: I like the Usos and they’re a good team, but I expect The Shield to hold on to those titles for a long time to come.

5. Big E Langston will be AJ Lee’s next on-screen boyfriend.

FICTION: I think their relationship will be more like friends or big brother / crazy little sister than any kind of romantic involvement. AJ has already played the slut role for too long. It’s time for her character to evolve and use other methods to steal the spotlight.

6. Destination X should still be a PPV event instead of an Impact episode.

FICTION: As a pay-per-view, it was lost in the shuffle and didn’t get as much of an audience for TNA as they would have hoped. As a special edition of Impact, there’s a better chance to draw in some curious viewers and help expand the fan base. TV is what is keeping TNA alive at this point and they need ratings to earn their keep. Destination X gives them the opportunity to get those ratings and keep the people at Spike TV and Panda Electric happy.

7. The field for ROH’s World Title tournament is impressive.

FICTION: There are some good talents in this tournament, but there isn’t anyone who is going to draw new viewers or put any new butts in the seats and help expand ROH’s fan base. ROH is a good company with a lot of talent, but they’re not major league in my eyes and the list of competitors that they have for this World Championship tourney doesn’t help change that perception to me.

8. Internet wrestling fans spend way too much time complaining about people that attend wrestling shows.

FACT: Internet wrestling fans spend way too much time complaining and bitching period…. ‘Nuff said!

9. WWE should bring Victoria (Tara) back to help jump-start their Divas division.

FACT: As Victoria proved time and time again as a TNA Knockout, there is still quite a bit of gas left in the tank and she would definitely be a great person for the WWE to use to help rebuild the WWE Divas division. She’s a hot mama, she has a strong fan base, and she can WRESTLE! And can you imagine the psycho-Victoria taking on the “crazy chick” AJ? Hear that? That’s the sound of the Divas actually making money for the WWE. I’d love to see it happen.

10. TNA is a sinking ship and will soon be out of business.

FACT: I hope that I’m wrong, but the rumors are out there that Panda Energy is not happy with the returns on their major investments and that TNA is starting to have a rough way to go. Top stars being let go is just the beginning. The ratings are stale and while TNA has a great partnership in place with Spike TV, how long will it be before Spike decides they want more. TNA, despite all of their best efforts, just can’t seem to get past that certain point and it’s just a matter of time that they’re going to have to either move to that next level or just fade away. I’m hoping that they find the tools and stars and make that next step and stay alive for many, many more years to come. Unfortunately, my gut feeling is that within the next 18 months, TNA will become just another footnote in the journals of wrestling history.

11. The Ultimate Warrior will appear on RAW within the next six months.

FACT: Let’s see. In the past couple of years, the WWE has started acknowledging Randy Savage favorably and quit editing Chris Benoit out of videos. They made peace with Bruno Sammartino and Bret Hart has become a semi-regular face in the WWE Universe and has even appeared with Shawn Michaels. Larry Zbyszko appeared at the Fan Access for Wrestlemania and then again this past week at the grand opening of the WWE Performance Center, as a guest of the WWE. And now, the WWE has made peace with the Ultimate Warrior, who is a part of the new WWE video game that just came out. All we need now is for Ole Anderson and Jim Cornette to show up on RAW and hell will definitely have frozen over. I think that this new / old friendship will blossom and HHH will put out the feelers and sooner or later, Warrior will decide to take the plunge and make an appearance of some type. Yeppers, the Ultimate Warrior will be on RAW. It’s got to happen and I think it will be sooner rather than later, probably leading up to Wrestlemania 30.

12. Damien Sandow was the correct choice to win the World Championship Money In The Bank Match.

FICTION: I was pulling for Cody Rhodes in this match. He came close (and is getting a good run as a face for his efforts), but close only counts in horse shoes and laughing while taking a drink and snorting out Pepsi (messy). Sandow is okay, but he’s just not “it” for me.

13. Mark Henry turning face (after attack by The Shield on RAW) is a good move.

FICTION: While I don’t mind Henry being cheered by the fans and being a “tweener”, I like to see him as a take no prisoners, kick-ass monster who is out to win the WWE title and doesn’t give a damn who he hurts or what he has to do. When the WWE turns a character face (or when the fans start to cheer someone), it generally seems that they end up getting their balls cut off and they become Cena-light wimp-asses. Henry is better and deserves better than that. If he stays the monster, then the cheers are okay. But if he starts to be the “sweet and lovable” idiot that the WWE seems to prefer, I will not be happy.

14. Chris Jericho will be greatly missed by the WWE as he takes time off to tour with Fozzy.

FACT: Jericho leaves as RVD comes in so there won’t be a total loss of the energy and talent, but Y2J is a fantastic performer and his absence will be felt. There are few performers that, win or lose, can generate the energy and magic that Chris does. He can wrestle anyone and make them look great and he doesn’t mind doing the J.O.B. since it won’t hurt him. He is that good. Hopefully, once the Fozzy tour is over, he’ll be back. And until then, the WWE will be a sadder place.

15. Steve Austin will return to the WWE and the ring for Wrestlemania 30.

FACT: Austin has said that he’s open to a return if the WWE wants to talk and work out something and for the 30th show, especially if The Rock isn’t available, I expect that the WWE, as the time approaches, will want to deliver a packed card that’s as loaded as possible. And what would be better than “Stone Cold” Steve Austin versus CM Punk? The ball is in the WWE and Triple H’s court and I think that as the plans start for the build to Wrestlemania 30, Austin’s name will start to come up more and more and in the end, we’ll see “The Rattlesnake” back in that ring one more time. It’s got to happen.

And there you go. That’s it for me today. I’ve got some stories to read, some hot dogs to eat and some tv to watch so I’m out of here. Have a great night and I’ll catch you on the flip side.

Ubuntu!