Greetings Jabronis,
I do enjoy a good fatal 4 way match, I do, I do.. I’ve always felt the logistics of the match are far more agreeable than a triple threat due to there not being the “odd man out” factor – and with 4 ring generals simultaneously in the ring, there’s always scope for some innovative spots.
So you’d figure I’d be quite pumped for this PPV, right? Well no… not really. You see, the WWE are only putting the world titles on the line in fatal four way stipulations. Why aren’t the IC and US titles being defended under the same stipulation? Huh? The PPV is branded “Fatal 4-Way” after all. And what about the tag team titles? I think the WWE has really dropped the ball on this one. Not only could it have presented more intriguing matches that we don’t see week in, week out on TV – but it could also have given some of the midcarders some exposure on PPV.
I’d like to have seen Kofi defend his IC title against McIntyre, Hardy and Christian and The Miz put his US Title on the line against Truth, Evan Bourne and John Morrison. And a tag match featuring The Hart Dynasty battling The Usos, Archer & Hawkins and DiBiase & Virgil could have been super fun. Dontcha think?
Apparently a tag match could still be added to the broadcast, which would be fine by me – but the WWE’s habit of adding matches to PPVs during the actual broadcast is insanely dumb. PPVs are supposed to be sold on the strength of the matches, so what’s the use of adding matches to the card when it’s too late for the PPV to be purchased?! WWE bookers obviously missed that class at business school.
There are just 5 matches on the card (for now). It seems likely that an NXT and Bret Hart segment will feature on the night, and perhaps more developments in the stupid Kane/Undertaker angle – and this further troubles me. PPVs are for wrestling bouts, not segments that further storylines – that’s what the weekly broadcasts are for. Grrrr, I kick my pets in anger.
But hey, that’s enough of my grouchiness. If you can avert you gaze downwards, my predictions shall follow Cowabunga!…
The Miz v R-Truth
Both these guys have been consistently entertaining on RAW in an era where the quality of RAW is anything but consistent – so I’m happy to see them both getting plenty of TV time in recent times. And that’s the whole truth (ha ha – get it?).
I don’t see the point in taking the strap from The Miz just 6 days after winning it, so he is the obvious pick here. I cannot fathom why the fatal 4-way match for the belt on this week’s RAW wasn’t just saved for the PPV. Why have the title change hands on TV and not on the PPV? Surely that would have made far more sense from a booking point of view, right? WWE bookers – I hate you.
Pick: The Miz
Drew McIntyre v Kofi Kingston
Is McIntyre in the doghouse or is he still on the receiving end of a push?! Nobody really seems sure and I kinda like it that way. Since the advent of Internet wrestling sites, it’s difficult for fans such as me and you to be kept so it the dark with matters pertaining to backstage politics, and so this feels quite refreshing.
McIntyre did have a strong segment on Smackdown this week, so talks of a de-push would seem to have been premature. But regardless, I see Kofi retaining here, likely with an assist from Mr Matthew Hardy.
Tell me I’m looking too much into it if you like, but I don’t think that WWE will book the only two black guys on the PPV to both lose on the undercard.
Pick: Kofi Kingston
Eve v Maryse v Gail Kim v Fat Tits
Regular readers of my columns will be well aware of my feelings towards WWE women’s wrestling. It’s embarrassing to the point of being painful to watch and it’s the one thing that truly makes me feel ashamed of being a wrestling fan.
I can just about tolerate there being a weekly women’s match on RAW or Smackdown, but to ask punters to actually pay for the privilege of witnessing such talentless performers is surely a criminal offence.
Yeah, I like sexy women, but if I wanted to watch some hot chicks roll around on top of one another then there is an endless supply of Internet porn and adult channels to satisfy an appetite for that. I don’t wanna see it on my wrestling PPVs.
Pick: Oh I dunno… the blonde one.
Jack Swagger v Big Show v CM Punk v Rey Mysterio
If only Big Show was the one taken injured and replaced with Rey Mysterio rather than The Undertaker then we could have had a potential classic on our hands here. Instead, I think Big Show’s awkward presence will harm the flow of the match, and his plodding nature will make it difficult for the others to impose themselves.
And I’ll be emitting the longest sigh in the history of mankind during the inevitable spot where Big Show takes all three of his opponents down one by one with the worst damn headbutts in the business.
I don’t think there’s been enough of a credible build-up for the match for fans to believe than anyone but Swagger is leaving with the title, and I hope that is indeed the case here. Swagger is getting more comfortable by the week as champ, and an extended run at the helm for the young gun would be much appreciated by this writer. This writer being me. Hello!
Pick: Jack Swagger
John Cena v Sheamus v Randy Orton v Edge
This is more like it. I genuinely believe that any one of the contenders in this bout could walk away as champion – and how often have you been able to say that about a fatal 4-way match? Even though I’m not a fan of half of the participants (I bet you can guess which two) I can honestly say that there’s no driftwood here.
Sheamus needs a second title run to truly cement himself as a main eventer, Randy Orton is the most over guy in the WWE right now, Edge has a long history of producing title wins from out of the blue and John Cena is booked to make Superman look like Milhouse… So it really could go any way here..
For the sake of having a pick, I’m gonna opt for Orton to win here (assuming his should injury genuinely has healed). Much like the Jeff Hardy situation a while back, I think that Orton is so ridiculously over right now that they HAVE to put the belt on him. It just makes sense from a business point of view.
It’ll be interesting to see who the fans get behind the most during the match – Cena or Orton. If the rise in popularity of Orton does lead to audiences booing Cena (even more so than normal) do you think the WWE would have the guts to turn him heel? I’d love to see it, I really would.
Pick: Orton
Before I sign off – just a quick reminder to all you UK folk that this PPV is free on Sky this weekend (well, free if you subscribe to Sky Sports), so for us it’s not really a “PPV’ but more of just a “V’.
Over and out.
