WWE at MSG

I started on this article when I got home from the WWE show at MSG last Sunday night & due to work/school I've had to delay it a few days so here's what I got:

 I've mentioned before that I'm a WWE fan and while some of you may ridecule me for liking it, it's not going to change my opinion. While it's no big secret that WWE isn't real, sorry if I burst anyone's bubble but I do find WWE to be very entertaining. Sunday night I attended a WWE Supershow at Madison Square Garden and it was nothing short of a great show. I'm not the only Sports Journalist to have an interest in WWE, Bill Simmons, Robert Flores, Michelle Beadle...just to name a few. This was my 4th time seeing WWE Live (1 RAW Houseshow, 1 SmackDown! Houseshow, 1 Supershow Houseshow & the 7/11/05 editon of Monday Night RAW) and 1st time at MSG for a WWE event. I was entertained throughout the evening and not bored once. The only bad thing (if you can call it that) was being behind the titantron, I actually was able to see more then I was suppose to (see below).

My friend Tom & I were talking about all the different WWE T-Shirts we were seeing in Penn Station. As I was going up a Penn Station escalator to the Garden I was behind the parents of WWE Superstar Zack Ryder (ironically I was telling Tom about Zack Ryder's new t-shirt & how it incorporates the Statue of Liberty in the form of the Statue of LiBROty) and I waited for someone to address Zack's dad before I did (I'm not the guy to draw unwanted attention to someone) I shook Mr. Ryder's hand and then he went over to will call, my guess is to pick up his tickets that Zack probably left for him. Then during the show's intermission I met another member of the Z! True Long Island Story cast, Big O. Big O was a great guy & put his sandwich on hold to take pictures & greet fans. For those of you unfamiliar with Z! True Long Island Story, it's a YouTube show that saved Zack Ryder's job & started the Ryder Revolution. I can cross Mr. Ryder & Big O off the list of Z!TLIS cast members I've met, so now there's only: Chiappetta, Scott Stanford, Dolph Ziggler & Zack Ryder. I've gotten tweets from Stanford & Chi but seeing them in person would be really cool.

(Big Unit & Big O! I obviously wasn't ready for the pic)

Now to the Road To WrestleMania Supershow!

I got to my seats and the show opened with Justin Roberts & Scott Armstrong walking to the ring, the National Anthem played & the RAW intro played (no pyro though).

In the first match, Zack Ryder defeated The Miz. Good start, the match got the crowd hot, the crowd was really behind Ryder from the first WOO WOO WOO until the last. Excellent choice by WWE to start the show with this one. NOTE- It was great to see Long Island Iced Z live!

In the next match, Primo & Epico (w/Rosa Mendes) defeated R-Truth & Kofi Kingston to retain the WWE Tag Team Titles. Truth & Kofi initally won but John Laurinaitis reversed the refs decision after Primo had his foot on the ropes. Then the champs took advantage of the confusion with Primo hitting the backstabber and picking up the win. NOTE- I could barely hear Laurinaitis with all the heat he got, he was without Otunga.

In the next match, Santino Marella defeated Jack Swagger (w/Vickie Guerrero) to retain the US Title. Similar result as the last title match but this time Laurinaitis stood on stage and applauded Swagger before Teddy Long reversed the decision because Swagger used the ropes for leverage and Hornswoggle made an appearance biting Swagger which allowed Santino to hit the Cobra on Swagger to retain. Marella, Long and Hornswoggle celebrated and danced after the match.

Between matches I noticed Vince McMahon standing backstage with some of the road agents.

In the next match, Alberto Del Rio defeated Mason Ryan. Quick match to say the least as Del Rio was able to get Ryan to tap within 5 minutes. NOTE- Hearing Del Rio's entrance in English isn't the same...I wish Ricardo Rodriguez would have shown, he was advertised on TheGarden.com.

In the next match, CM Punk, Randy Orton & Triple H defeated Chris Jericho, Cody Rhodes & Dolph Ziggler. As soon as the match started Jericho grabbed a mic and reminded everyone that he was the true "best in the world at what he does". Punk went after him the whole match and Jericho grabbed a chair playing the cowardly heel very well. Towards the end of the match, Jericho broke Triple H's cover on Ziggler and Punk chased him down and threw him into the titantron. Orton RKO'd Rhodes to take him out & Punk hit the GTS on Ziggler. Triple H picked Ziggler up and appeared to be going for a Pedigree until he did an Undertaker Throat Slash & hit Ziggler with a Tombstone. NOTE- I was expecting at least a message from Undertaker after the match.

INTERMISSION

After Intermission Eve came out to a loud "HOESKI" chant from the MSG Crowd. She tried to apologize for her recent actions and no one would give her a chance. So she set up the next match...

In the next match, The Divas of Doom (WWE Divas Champ Beth Phoenix & Natalya) defeated Tamina & Kelly Kelly. Good filler match to get everyone back from intermission. Kelly was about to get Beth for the win but Eve interfered while the ref was distracted (inciting more HOESKI chants) and Beth hit a Glam Slam on Kelly for the win. NOTE- Camera battery was low at this point so I saved it for the main event matches

In the next match, Daniel Bryan defeated Big Show & Mark Henry in a triple threat match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship. Daniel Bryan entered and everyone chanted "YES YES YES" with him (personal favorite chant of the night). Formal ring introductions for this one and even some "Sexual Chocolate" chants towards Mark Henry. Big Show hit Henry with a chokeslam but Daniel Bryan chopblocked him so he could pin Henry and retain. After Show & Henry got up, Show hit the WMD on Henry and left.

In the Main Event, John Cena defeated Kane in a Last Man Standing Match. As soon as Mark Henry started walking up the ramp the "Let's Go Cena, Cena Sucks" chants were going and Cena's music hit. He looked at 111 & 113 before he did his salute and hit the ring. Cena & Kane brawled for a little bit then they got weapons into the match. A few chair shots to the back by both guys to each other then Kane grabbed a microphone & hit Cena in the head with it (I was shocked because it's the "PG Era"). Kane introduced 2 tables to the match: the first he used to throw Cena through in the corner, the second he set up in the ring. Kane went for a chokeslam but Cena reversed it into an Attitude Adjustment for the win. After the match Cena actually hyped up the crowd & there weren't any loud "Cena Sucks" chants(well except for the little girl who sat behind me & cried when Cena won).



I was blown away by how well done the show was and the new stage introduces a TV like feel but at the same time keeps the simpleness of a house show. Overall there were only 2 major errors I found in the show:
1. When Ryder's music hit, Miz's entrance video played for about 45 seconds before they fixed it
2. John Cena may have been playing to the New York crowd but he really needs to remember where WrestleMania 29's going to be taking place: MetLife Stadium: East Rutherford, New Jersey. And when he said "New York" he got a lot of heat from the New Jersey members of the crowd, even from people wearing his shirt. Also this is the first WWE event I went to without seeing Edge, I got the privilege to see him & high 5 him last year during his final reign as World  Heavyweight Champion & I'll show the picture I got below:

I was shocked & disappointed to not see: Sheamus, Christian, Ricardo Rodriguez & Great Khali

Here's some other good pictures that I took:

I was expecting a message from The Rock to hype up RAW but he was too busy with "Team Bring It Philly"...not exactly the best place to be when WWE's in NY. Now I'm hearing that this year's Money In The Bank PPV will be held at iZod Center in June, house shows may be great for more in ring action but nothing beats a ladder match live but then of course I'm hearing at the same time No Way Out will be at iZod Center. That'll do it for today's post and since I talked a little Zack Ryder earlier I'm gonna close this post out "Long Island Iced Z" style:

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BREAKING NEWS: WRESTLEMANIA XXIX IS COMING TO NEW JERSEY

After about a month of speculation, WrestleMania is returning to New Jersey for the first time in 24 years. According to NJBiz.com Governor Chris Christie & WWE will announce that WrestleMania XXIX will take place at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands and WrestleMania Axxess will be held at iZod Center. I for one am wondering that now with everything happening in my hometown area...will WrestleMania XXX happen at MSG as planned or is WWE thinking of going down to Dallas, only time will tell how that will go down. Nonetheless I am one happy New Jerseyan & will certainly be waiting on line at MetLife or will shell out on StubHub for tickets. With the last 2 early Aprils being incredibly hot and moderately cold respectively in the Garden State, I'm wondering if I'll be rocking my jorts or jeans...either way I'm excited.

2012 NHL Winter Classic

A week ago the New York Rangers & Philadelphia Flyers played an outdoor hockey game at Citizens Bank Park, known only as the NHL Winter Classic. The build up to this game was incredible thanks to the folks over at HBO because of their 24/7 series that followed the teams for most of December leading up to the big game on January 2. Citizens Bark Park looked great and there were even additional seats added over where the bullpen is out in center field. As I watched the pregame, I couldn't help but think back to last July when I had the privilege to go to Citizens Bank Park for a Phillies game vs San Francisco. It was incredible how different the Park looked thanks to the NHL crew. As a fan I was on edge watching the game because the Rangers were only 2 points up on the Flyers in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference.

The first period was a great battle and after 1 the game was scoreless. In the 2nd period however, the Flyers gained a 2-0 advantage and I was angry. There was an almost immediate response by Mike Rupp of the Rangers with a goal and a Jagr salute to the crowd which angered the Flyer Faithful and after 2 the Flyers had a 2-1 lead. In the 3rd period, Mike Rupp was at it again, scoring another goal 2:41 into the 3rd which tied the Winter Classic 2-2. A little under 3 minutes later, Brad Richards scored for the Rangers giving them the lead and over in New Jersey I was jumping up and down at my friends house. After that, the rest of the game was exciting, especially when Danny Briere of the Flyers was awarded a penalty shot with 19.6 seconds to go. When Henrik Lundqvist denied Briere, myself and Ranger fans across the world knew the game was far from over. The last 19.6 went by and after the horn tempers flared in front of the Rangers net but after the refs separated the teams, the fireworks went off and the New York Rangers were on top of the Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference & the NHL. I for one enjoyed the game and hopefully sometime soon the Rangers will be  the home team for a Winter Classic.

Here are 10 future Winter Classic sites I would love to see:

1. Rangers vs Devils or Islanders at Yankee Stadium
2. Devils vs Rangers at MetLife Stadium
3. Red Wings vs Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium
4. Stars vs Kings at Cowboys Stadium
5. Penguins vs Flyers at Beaver Stadium
6. Wild vs Stars at Target Field
7. Blues vs Kings at Busch Stadium
8. Blackhawks vs Bruins at Solider Field
9. Captials vs Penguins at FedEx Field
10. Avalanche vs Red Wings at Mile High Stadium or Coors Field

I don't see the Rangers playing in another Winter Classic next year but hopefully sooner rather then later. A Winter Classic at Yankee Stadium would be incredible, Fenway's had theirs, Wrigley's had theirs and now Citizens Bank Park has had one. I also wouldn't mind seeing the Devils hosting one at MetLife Stadium. I next years host will likely be a Western Conference team and will be played in Detroit, St. Louis, Minnesota or Denver. Only time will tell where the next Winter Classic will be played. 

One last thing before I wrap up this post. This is for all my fellow WWE fans who accurately predicted Chris Jericho's return to the company on the same day as the Winter Classic, January 2. There was a picture of Jericho arriving in Nashville that morning for RAW which was about 180 miles away in Memphis. Jericho got note of the picture and tweeted that he "had been cloned". He retweets some fans cropped pictures of him in various places around the world like Egypt, Paris, Gettysburg, Kim Jong-Il's funeral, Abbey Road and from a tweet from yours truly at the Winter Classic. I had gotten the idea to do the Winter Classic picture because Jericho's father Ted Irvine played for the Rangers and I decided to crop the airport picture into the Winter Classic Alumni game. For all of you in disbelief that I was the one behind the picture, here's a link for the retweet from Jericho's twitter. https://twitter.com/#!/IAmJericho/status/153883496253886465

I'll be back tomorrow with an NFL Divisional Round Preview.

Until the STAY TUNED!