Hello and welcome to this week's edition of Sun City Smackdown. This should be an interesting edition as I have this week's Watchable Meters and Sun City Trivia and I will be doing predictions for Chikarasaurus Rex which is tomorrow in Philly.But before I get into all that. Let me get into a couple of topics of news I've read in this last week. One that has been interesting to me is WWE removing all images of Shawn Michaels from marketing. I don't know if it's done because he's retired or because he said he's done with wrestling, but I hope this is done more to freshen things up than to get jest at Michaels. It pains me to see WWE have to edit clips to the point where they try to rewrite history especially in the case of people who either work for TNA or Chris Benoit. I could see why they would do that with TNA so as not to promote competition, but still, especially with Ric Flair. You have to showcase his moments regardless of him being down in Orlando. Flair has been a part of so many moments in WWE and before that in WCW and NWA. And it seems the only reason Flair is being taken off this list is because of coming back from retirement, especially after that fond farewell he was given the night after WrestleMania XXIV. Now with a 5o Greatest Wrestlers DVD coming out in the future by WWE Home Video. One must wonder if Flair will be taken off the list even though he is already a frontrunner for the list, but then again this is WWE. As in Chris Benoit's case, we could all go on about why he should or should not be mentioned on WWE DVDs becuase he has been shown on some, albeit in brief glimpses, unless you get the Tagged Classics DVDs. I could see they're not trying to exploit the dead, but then again this is the same company that plugged the hell out of an interview with Brian Pillman's widow, Melanie, the week after he died, on RAW and even showed it at the end of the show. It could be hypocrisy or just different situation, but let's hope Michaels is seen or mentioned in WWE programming or home video in the near future.
With all that said, let's get into this week's Watchable Meters.
RAW: 8.5
NXT: 7
TNA: 9.5
Raw gets an 8.5 this week as this was a pretty good Raw and almost had a new WWE Champion in The Miz. I really enjoyed the last segment between John Cena and Nexus. SummerSlam just got that much better with the announcement of the 7-0n-7 tag match between Cena's team and Nexus. The names announced for Cena's team are good, with the exception of The Great Khali and Bret Hart. I still marked out last week when Hart was announced as the final member, but this has already led to doubt due to Hart's limited wrestling ability and the stroke and career-ending concussion he has suffered in the past, but I'll get back to that later. On Khali, it makes sense because as I recall, he has helped out Raw in the past with Nexus, but it would make more sense for somebody who's been jumped before by Nexus like Evan Bourne or even Yoshi Tatsu. In terms of Hart, this could go many ways, as Hart has been beat down by Nexus before, but I would do this. I would've named Bryan Danielson the 7th man and have Hart involved maybe as the GM all along. It still might be Hart because he's had history with Stone Cold and him and Piper are cousins. Piper and Stone Cold's catchphrases have been used by the anonymous GM as of late. You know what, I'm going to say it right here. BRET HART IS THE ANONYMOUS GM which might sound dumb especially since he's replacing himself, but it would make more sense in the long run with how everything has gone since that fateful Viewer's Choice episode of RAW. If you keep Hart, I would put a special referee in the match and make it Bryan Danielson.. Yes, I know I'm using Danielson a lot in this because other than him, nobody else has been involved in this whole storyline more than he has and the other ones are currently involved in matches (eg. Sheamus and Randy Orton). All in all, this was a great Raw, I will be tuning in more and I might even buy SummerSlam this year. Who knows?
Now onto NXT, NXT was okay but could've added a lot more especially since next week, somebody is going home. As we know now, Michael McGillicutty is immune from elimination. We all know the IWC will vote for Kaval so expect him to be sticiking around. As many people wanted on the last elimination and I feel this will happen this time, Eli Cottonwood will be eliminated from NXT. Since the last elimination, Cottonwood has done nothing to really help out his case. He did a seemingly apathetic promo about moustaches. Oh wait, I meant apathy in that the fans don't give a shit. Anyway, I don't see Cottonwood lasting long as the rest of NXT has shown something with the exception of Lucky Cannon, who as of right now is getting the jobber role on NXT, much like with Daniel Bryan last season, but this time the IWC still thinks he's a jobber. Maybe he's called Lucky Cannon, because he got lucky he made it to NXT as two others who might have made the show (Richie Steamboat and Brett DiBiase) got injured. So, my official prediction for elimination is Eli Cottonwood, but I wouldn't be surprised if Lucky Cannon is gone.
TNA gets a 9.5 as this was a good iMPACT!, but most of that goes to the promo done by Tommy Dreamer at the end. It was a very heartfelt promo and makes me want to see Hardcore Justice, even though we've seen this kind of thing time and again. Hell, I have the 1st One Night Stand on DVD. I don't mind that we're seeing it especially with what happened to ECW at the end. Albeit, it was doing good in building up the younger stars, but was definitely NOT the same ECW as in the 90's. Now, I do want to see Hardcore Justice and it will be cool to see them do a couple of house shows, but will this be déjà vu all over again and lead to an ECW-type show for TNA in the future. We'll have to see but for right now, TNA is doing things pretty good.
That was this week's Watchable Meters and before I go into Sun City Trivia, I will be doing some special predictions as I'm not predicting a PPV, but I am predicting CHIKARA's Chikarasaurus Rex: King of Show, which is tomorrow at The ECW Arena in South Philadelphia. Without further ado, here they are.
The Colony & Frightmare vs. Lince Dorado, Tim Donst, Pink Ant & Tursas
This is gonna be a good atomicos match here as we have The Colony & Frightmare taking on BDK. The Colony has been able to defeat Dorado, Donst & Pink Ant as they did so at this year's King of Trios, but Tursas has been pretty unstoppable with nobody being able to take down the Finnish powerhouse since his arrival. Even Eddie Kingston struggled against this mountain of a man. With all that said, I think Tursas will be a factor huge enough for BDK to get the win here.
Winner: Lince Dorado, Tim Donst, Pink Ant & Tursas
Drake Younger & The Osirian Portal vs. The UnStable
This match is brewing in revenge with Drake Younger and Amassis & Ophidian of The Osirian Portal wanting their hands on Vin Gerard, Colin Delaney and STIGMA. Younger has wanted his hands on The UnStable since fall 2008. The Osirian Portal aren't too happy that they were a part of the ruse of The UnStable breaking up. I see revenge being delivered as the tecnicos get the win here.
Winner: Drake Younger & The Osirian Portal
CHIKARA Sekigun (Mike Quackenbush, Jigsaw & Hallowicked) vs. World-1(Masato Yoshino, Naruki Doi & BxB Hulk)
This is gonna be one of the matches to watch and may steal the show. Speed Muscle and the newly bald BxB Hulk are coming to CHIKARA from Dragon Gate to take on Quack, Jig & Hallowicked. Jigsaw and Hallowicked have not seen eye-to-eye a lot, but they've setteled their differences enough to take on this match. The story of this match will be if Jigsaw and Hallowicked can stick together in this match. If they start to argue in this match, what gives them much lick going against the BDK in the future. I feel Jigsaw & Hallowicked will stay cool, but World-1 will get the victory here.
Winner: World-1
Sara Del Rey & Daizee Haze vs. Amazing Kong & Raisha Saaed
This is the 2nd of 3 matches BDK is involved in and ever since joining BDK, Death Rey & Daizee have been finally facing some of the serious competition they've been wanting, but nothing comes more serious than the team of Amazing Kong & Raisha Saaed. Kong & Rey have had their troubles as of late, but with all that said, I think Kong & Saaed make an impact tomorrow and nearly destroy Del Rey & Daizee, even though I am a big BDK fan.
Winner: Amazing Kong & Raisha Saaed
CIMA, Super Shenlong & Masaaki Mochizuki vs. F.I.S.T. (Chuck Taylor, Icarus & Gran Akuma)
As it has been reported, even on this site, Dragon Kid has been injured. It was originally supposed to be CIMA & Mochizuki teaming with Dragon Kid, but due to his injury, he has been replaced with Super Shenlong. This match is another potential showstealer, but even with the change to the team, I see F.I.S.T. getting the victory here.
Winner: F.I.S.T.
...and in the MAIN EVEN..., wait a minute, there will be a special seventh match at this show involving a friend of CHIKARA who happens to be in the area. This could only point to one person and that person is Bryan Danielson, who will be at The ECW Arena tonight for Dragon Gate USA's taping of their Enter The Dragon 2010 PPV. This show will also be at the ECW Arena so expect a match between Danielson and somebody else tomorrow.
...and now for the MAIN EVENT
Eddie Kingston & Tommy Dreamer vs. Claudio Castagnoli & Ares
Eddie Kingston HATES Claudio Castagnoli. This was evident at Three-Fisted Tales when Kingston lost a Respect Match to Claudio and instead of shaking Claudio's hand, Kingston laid him out with a Backfist to the Future. Kingston then claimed that Claudio and his former tag partner (Chris Hero) are shady and deserve respect from no one. Eddie turned out to be right as that same night, Claudio turned rudo and formed BDK. This feud got turned up a couple of notches when Eddie got to wrestle against one of his idols, Tommy Dreamer. The match was interfered on by Claudio & Ares and there Kingston & Dreamer made the challenge to the reigning Campeonatos de Parejas for a match which will be tomorrow. This match will be ready to explode once the first entrance is made and I see Kingston & Dreamer coming out the victors here.
Winner: Eddie Kingston & Tommy Dreamer
Those are my predictions for Chikarasaurus Rex: King of Show and it is now time for Sun City Trivia. Here are the answers from last week:
1. Allison Danger joined The Prophecy in that moment. This greatly added to the feud between The Group and The Prophecy as Allison Danger is Steve Corino's sister.
2. The three 2nd-generation wrestlers were David Flair, Brian Lawler & Erik Watts.
3. That guy was at the time CZW World Heavyweight Champion Chris Hero. The statements come off as ironic now as Hero is currently employed in ROH.
4. The two teams to hold it were Elix Skipper & Kid Romeo and Billy Kidman & Rey Mysterio, Jr. Kidman & Mysterio won them on the final Nitro where they had to fight for it earlier in the show. Also, Skipper & Romeo beat Kidman & Mysterio at Greed to win the titles in the first place.
5. Dave Taylor accompanied Drew McIntyre that night.
And now here's this week's Sun City Trivia.
Sun City Trivia #4
1. At the first Hard Justice in 2005, AJ Styles beat Jeff Jarrett in the main event to become the new NWA World Heavyweight Champion. Who was the special guest referee in that match?
2. The original ECW had their final PPV, Guilty as Charged, on January 7, 2001. What match was the main event that night?
3. At ROH's Man Up, The Age of the Fall made their debut by brutally attacking The Briscoe Brothers after their Ladder War against Kevin Steen & El Generico. Who in The Age of the Fall attacked The Briscoes that night?
4. Many people have won championships in the WWE but barely any have won it before the age of 21. Who is the youngest person to have won a title in WWE history, how old was that person and what title did that person hold?
5. The nWo and D-Generation X are two of the most popular stables in wrestling history. They've also had some of the same people in their group. Which wrestlers have been a part of both nWo and DX?
That is all for this week's edition of Sun City Smackdown. Remember all this now: check out this site for wrestling news and for other columns like The Wrestling Den and The Hard Way, check out all the shows on SNS like Wrestling News Live and Unplugged, check out Running The Ropes and support your indies. With all that said, thanks for reading and I'll be back for the next edition of Sun City Smackdown.
