Sunday 29 January 2017

WWE Royal Rumble 2017 Preview

Royal Rumble 2017.jpg

The 30th Royal Rumble takes place this evening from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. How will the start of the road to Wrestlemania 33 look after this event? Let's look at the card.

Sasha Banks vs Nia Jax
This could be a good match and I'd like Banks to win. However, I think that with Sasha's injury, tnat Nia Jax will win here.
Prediction: Nia Jax

Cesaro and Sheamus vs Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson
RAW Tag Team Championship
I think this is the time for Gallows and Anderson to be Champions, so I'll predict them to win.
Prediction: Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson

Becky Lynch, Nikki Bella and Naomi vs Alexa Bliss, Natalya and Mickie James
I'm quite looking forward to this one and it's a tough one to pick. After some consideration, I'll think that the team of Bliss, Natalya and James will win.
Prediction: Alexa Bliss, Natalya and Mickie James

Rich Swann vs Neville
Cruiserweight Championship
I'm quite looking forward to this one and I feel that Neville has to win here and be the King of the Cruiserweights.
Prediction: Neville

Charlotte Flair vs Bayley
RAW Women's Championship
This could be a really good match and I feel that Charlotte will continue her undefeated PPV record and win here.
Prediction: Charlotte Flair

Kevin Owens vs Roman Reigns
WWE Universal Championship
Due to recent matches, The Gift of Jericho will be in a shark cage above the ring. Despite that, I feel that he will find some way to help Owens win.
Prediction: Kevin Owens

AJ Styles vs John Cena
WWE Championship
I really, really want Styles to win. However, I feel that Cena will win and become a 16-time World Champion.
Prediction: John Cena

Royal Rumble Match
At the minute, there are 22 confirmed competitors, including Goldberg, Hollywood Miz and The Undertaker. I think that The Undertaker will win and go on to face John Cena at Wrestlemania.
Prediction: The Undertaker

I'll be watching the Pre Show live and watching the event during the week. Hope you guys enjoy the show.

Saturday 28 January 2017

NXT Takeover: San Antonio Preview

NXTSanAntonio.jpg



NXT Takeover: San Antonio takes place this evening at the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio. Every Takeover that I have seen have been thoroughly enjoyable so I thought it would be fun to review one. Knowing me, that will mean that this will be shit but let's look at the card and find out.

Roderick Strong vs Andrade "Cien" Almas
I've been liking Almas since his heel turn but Strong isn't doing it for me at the minute. I'm going for Almas to win here.
Prediction: Andrade "Cein" Almas

Eric Young vs Tye Dillinger
This is an interesting one to watch. When I started watching TNA, Young was the TV Champion and I couldn't fucking stand his gimmick. However, he got away from that and has proven to be a very good wrestler. As for Dillinger, I like him as well. Despite that, I don't like he'll win which is a shame because I think he needs one.
Prediction: Eric Young

Asuka vs Nikki Cross vs Billie Kay vs Peyton Royce
NXT Women's Championship
I'm actually quite looking forward to this one. I know that Asuka is the only face here, but it can be argued that with her behaviour towards the rest of the Women's Division that she is just as bad. I like all of them but Billie Kay and Peyton Royce are nowhere near ready yet. As for Cross, I'm not a big fan of the whole feral thing but she is a really good wrestler. Despite that, and the fact that Cross is a fellow Scot, I feel that Asuka will win and go on to face Ember Moon in Orlando.
Prediction: Asuka
 
#DIY vs Authors of Pain
NXT Tag Team Championship
This is a match that I wish wasn't happening and that's only because I feel that the rematch between #DIY and The Revival would better suited here instead of it being on TV a couple of weeks ago. As for Gargano and Ciampia, I feel so sorry for them. One of the best stories of the year was their journey to finally become Tag Team Champions. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, the Authors of Pain are going to completely fuck them up.
Prediction: Authors of Pain

Shinsuke Nakamura vs Bobby Roode
NXT Championship
I am fucking pumped for this one. Since his debut last April, I've become a big fan of Nakamura and he deserves to be Champion. It's only a matter of when he'll get called up. Whilst I love Bobby Roode, I think that it's most likely that he'll win it in Orlando and we'll see Nakamura get called up then. On a side note, based on their entrances last Takeover, they better be accompanied by fucking orchestras this time around.
Prediction: Shinsuke Nakamura

I will get to watch this during the week so until my review goes up, I hope you enjoy the show.

Tuesday 17 January 2017

Lo-Down Wrestling Awards 2016

It's now time for the 6th annual Lo-Down Wrestling Awards. I watched quite a bit of wrestling over 2016, mostly thanks to the WWE Network. Despite that, these awards are based on what I saw this year.

Feud of the Year
Dolph Ziggler vs Hollywood Miz August - December
Image result for the miz vs dolph ziggler no mercy
There were some great feuds over the year but this was the one that I enjoyed the most. They had some good matches during this time and it helped Miz to go up the card.
Honorable Mention
Sasha Banks vs Charlotte Flair July - December
These two women made history in this feud. They had the first ever Women's Hell in a Cell match, a Falls Count Anywhere match; and a 30 minute Iron Man match. These matches were really good but I hated the way that the Championship was bounced around during this time, with Sasha winning on RAW and Charlotte winning on Pay Per View.

Best Newcomer
AJ Styles
Image result for aj styles royal rumble
AJ Styles started the year debuting at the Royal Rumble and ended it as the WWE Champion. Very few people have had a year like he did, especially as he made his name in other companies.

PPV of the Year
Extreme Rules
Extreme Rules 2016 official WWEShop.com Poster.jpg
I found that Extreme Rules to be the most enjoyable event of the year. There were some good matches, especially the Intercontinental Championship match between Cesaro, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and The Miz. While the NXT Takeovers have been amazing, I feel that this was the best PPV that the main roster had this year.

Most Surprising Moment of the Year
Zack Ryder Becoming the Intercontinental Champion at Wrestlemania 32
Image result for zack ryder wrestlemania 32
Wrestlemania started with a ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship. Not only was it a really good match but it had one of the most shocking endings in Zack Ryder winning. Nothing against Ryder, but he was the least likely person to win. Shame that he only held it for one day; but that it led to The Miz having a great year.

Entrance of the Year
Bobby Roode's at NXT Takeover Toronto
Image result for bobby roode nxt takeover toronto
I've been a fan of Roode since he was in TNA and I'm so happy that he's in NXT. Not only has he been on a roll since debuting in the summer, but he has possibly the best theme tune ever plus his entrances are awesome. I mean, he entered having a fucking choir sing his song. That's amazing. I don't know if WWE can top that when Roode faces Nakamura at NXT Takeover San Antonio but I can't wait to see what they come up with.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVaJH8pWnWk

Moment of the Year
Triple H Helping Kevin Owens to win the Universal Championship
Image result for triple h kevin owens
I was gutted that Finn Balor had to vacate the Universal Championship due to injury but it led to one of my favourite matches of the year the next week. It was capped off by Triple H, making his first appearance since Wrestlemania, helping to eliminate Roman Reigns then betraying Seth Rollins to help Kevin Owens win the match. Looking back on it, I'm still a but pissed off that Triple H hasn't come and explained his actions. However, it's still a great moment and Kevin Owens' reaction to the whole thing is still fucking glorious.
Image result for triple h helps kevin owens win

Most Improved Wrestler of the Year
Hollywood Miz

The Miz has been doing pretty well before Wrestlemania. However, the return of his wife Maryse and becoming Intercontinental Champion on the same day had led to the best work of his career since he was WWE Champion in 2011. His feuds with Dolph Ziggler and Daniel Bryan plus his appearances on Talking Smack has been a joy to watch. Hopefully it will continue in 2017.
Honorable Mention
Alexa Bliss
I was becoming a fan of Alexa Bliss when she was in NXT. However, I was surprised when they called her up as I didn't think that she was ready. However, I was proven wrong as she took the ball and ran with it; not only becoming a highlight on Smackdown and Talking Smack but ending the year as Smackdown Women's Champion. Throughly well deserved.

Tag Team of the Year
The Revival

I know that The New Day have been Champions for well over a year. However, The Revival have been such a joy to watch this year, becoming one of my favourite tag teams possibly ever. They had awesome matches against Enzo and Cass, American Alpha and #DIY, often being the highlight of the NXT Takeovers. They are spent over 250 days of 2016 as Champions plus they were the first two-time NXT Tag Team Champions. The main thing that I like about them as that they act like a proper tag team who will always find ways to save themselves and to win.

Worst Match of the Year
Natalya vs Charlotte, WWE Payback
Image result for natalya vs charlotte payback
The match was actually pretty decent but the ending just completely ruined it for me. They do a rehash of the Montreal Screwjob in front of Bret Hart then the referee just admits to it the next night with no fucking consequences. I assume that WWE are okay with blatantly corrupt officiating.

Match of the Year
#DIY vs The Revival, NXT Takeover Toronto
Image result for the revival vs #diy toronto
For the second year in a row, NXT has the honour of being my match of the year and, I know it's a bold thing to say, but it's probably the best tag team match that I ever seen. Each fall felt like it was 3 seperate matches and they were so many great moments, with the crowd thoroughly engrossed in it. #DIY hitting Wilder with Shatter Machine, Revival's own finisher led to the most dramatic near fall of the year plus the ending with the double submission was amazing. You had The Revival holding hands to stop them from tapping out then Dawson shouting to Wilder "Don't tap! Don't tap!". When they both tapped out, it led to the biggest pop of the night and left me with a huge smile of my face. This match had me so into it and always remember. There will be times we will get frustrated with some of the creative decisions that WWE make; but they also create great moments as well and moments like this are why I love watching wrestling.

Female Wrestler of the Year
Charlotte Flair
Image result for charlotte flair entrance 
What a year for Charlotte Flair. She was the last ever Divas Champion and has gone to hold the RAW Women's Championship a further 4 times. She had great matches with Sasha Banks and has been undefeated in PPV matches since she debuted on the main roster.

Male Wrestler of the Year
AJ Styles
What a year for AJ Styles. After making his debut at the Royal Rumble, he went on to have feuds with Chris Jericho, Roman Reigns, John Cena and Dean Ambrose and had good matches with all of them. Styles is probably not only the best wrestler in the company, but the most consistent as well. He ended the year as WWE Champion which was surprising as very few people probably thought he would get that honour. Luckily, WWE saw it in him and gave him the belt and he's been great so far.