WWE Money in The Bank Predictions

My favorite secondary WWE PPV of the year is this Sunday and it features two ladder matches!  One ladder match contains a briefcase that allows the winner to cash in a contract for the WWE Championship (considered the biggest title of the company.) The other match contains a briefcase allowing the winner to cash in an opportunity for the World Heavyweight Championship (the company’s second biggest title.)  I will be honest in admitting while this PPV has impressed me the last two years, the episodes of WWE Raw leading into this event have been very weak and have not sold me on this PPV all too well.  I will get into it further in my predictions.  Fortunately, I think the World Heavyweight Championship ladder match might be enough to save the show.  Remember, if you need a place to watch the PPV, come join me and several other friends/WWE fans at Chicago City Limits in Schaumburg, IL this Sunday! More details here and be sure to RSVP!  Now onto the predictions!

WWE Money in the Bank YouTube Pre-Show Tag-Team Championship(?) Match – R-Truth/Kofi Kingston © vs. Hunico/Camacho: 

Okay, so running down the card as I usually do for the PPV, I always notice the WWE has the two world title matches in place as well as two other matches and maybe a YouTube Pre-Show match.  I know at the last PPV they determined the number one contenders for the tag-team championship with “The Prime Time Playas” of Titus O’Neil and Darren Young.  The team may not be technically the best in the ring but they did have a lot of charisma and were catching among fans of the Internet.  They even added the managerial services of A.W. (formerly Abraham Washington in what I believe was a further attempt to get them over.  They never got to cash-in their match opportunity and I guess no further explanation will be given. Oh WWE logic…

Anyway, I’m not likely catching the match because they don’t play the Pre-Show matches on the pre-PPV “buy this show before we start” shows for some reason as it’s usually just Scott Stanford recapping all the feuds before the show starts.  It’s okay as I’m not very enthusiastic for either tag-team (I like Kofi and Truth as individuals but I just can’t care about them as a team.)  With this said, Hunico/Camacho appear to just be jobbers that can’t convince me that the WWE want to do something better with them (but hey if Sgt. Slaughter or Hacksaw Jim Duggan come on TV, they’ll be guaranteed a squash on live TV!) all while Kofi/R-Truth are likely important to WWE but not important enough for a big program at this time.  So the thrown together tag-team will remain champions for another PPV in my mind!

Who I Want To Win: Kofi/R-Truth           Who Will Win: Kofi/R-Truth

World Heavyweight Championship MITB Ladder Match Featuring: Dolph Ziggler, Christian, Tensai, Santino Marella, Damien Sandow, Tyson Kidd, Sin Cara, and Cody Rhodes

I am definitely predicting this to be the match of the night and most likely the one most people will be into.  This is what the Money in the Bank ladder match is all about! There is a large amount of stars who have never been a world champion or even in the main event scene participating then there are a few stars such as Christian, Dolph Ziggler, and Cody Rhodes who have either held the world title (Christian did and Dolph Ziggler did it for… 30 minutes?) or have been in main event matches but are not regular main eventers.  Unlike the WWE Championship MITB, this one has a good mix of power wrestlers, high flyers, and good grapplers.  You also have your comedic relief with Santino Marella. I remember talking with a few friends on a wrestling forum I’m apart of saying that it would be cool to have Tyson Kidd apart of the match although I couldn’t see them doing it.  Fortunately he’s in it and I hope this might lead to better things for him in the future although I don’t see him winning the match by any means.

Who do I think will win? Well let’s do the process of elimination game: Damien Sandow has an opportunity for a good future, but I think it’s too early for him. Tyson Kidd may be on the verge of a push to bigger and better things, but again, too early.  Tensai lost to Tyson in a squash match and the WWE appears to be losing faith in him. Santino Marella is a comedy act. Sin Cara is a stunt man but not likely a regular main eventer.  This narrows it down to Christian, Dolph Ziggler, and Cody Rhodes.  There’s always a chance they could try to revitalize Christian back into the world title scene however he’s currently the Intercontinental Champion and Randy Orton is expected to return soon so I can’t see it being him.  Dolph Ziggler has been a main eventer a couple times through the past few years (and months) while Cody Rhodes sometimes makes appearances when it’s an event like the Elimination Chamber.  I’m going with Dolph Ziggler because everyone has been behind him (fans and backstage critics) for some time and I think this could be his ticket to finally stay on top of the game.  He’s a case where I think he doesn’t need the briefcase, but I can see the WWE just doing it anyway.   Either way, I can’t complain.

Who I Think Should Win: Either Dolph, Cody Rhodes, or Tyson Kidd (wishful thinking.)

Who Will Win: Dolph Ziggler

World Heavyweight Championship Match – Sheamus © vs. Alberto Del Rio:

Honestly I have not been looking forward to this match since it was hinted to happen at WWE Over The Limit.  In fact, I think it’s been a sign from some force in nature (since I’m a believer, I’ll say God) that this match has been delayed twice on PPV.  First time it was made into a Fatal Four-Way, the second time Alberto Del Rio was injured and couldn’t compete so Dolph Ziggler filled in for him.  Personally, I think they should have continued the feud between Sheamus and Dolph Ziggler and award DZ the title all while trying to elevate a new star to win the WHC MITB briefcase.  Anyway, that’s not what is happening so I’ll discuss the match.  I don’t necessarily hate Alberto Del Rio however I feel his character has been stale for sometime now.  The whole rich man coming to the ring with a car thing was fun for a while but that’s all he does. He is also limited in the ring. Sheamus is a good competitor but I just don’t see these two blending that well together.  Honestly, I couldn’t see Alberto winning the title that is unless he loses it in the same night! Sheamus has been a good champion but I think it’s time for a change. It’s a gutsy prediction but here it goes!  Sheamus loses this match because Ricardo Rodriguez does some kind of a distraction to cause him to be pinned by Alberto Del Rio. Alberto Del Rio celebrates his newly won World Heavyweight Championship in the ring but out comes Dolph Ziggler to cash-in his Money in the Bank and make quick work of Alberto Del Rio to become the new World Heavy Weight Championship.

Who Do I Want To Win: Sheamus or a Money in the Bank Winner

Who Will Win: Alberto Del Rio will win then Money in the Bank Winner (Dolph Ziggler) Will Cash-In

WWE Championship Match with Special Guest Referee AJ Lee – CM Punk © vs. Daniel Bryan:

Raw has been horrible the last three weeks to be brutally honest.  This storyline is one of the few shining moments but it is beginning to run its course as well.  I am really enjoying that the WWE is trying to put over a WWE Diva and what better Diva but AJ Lee. She’s pretty, she has nerdy attributes, and she has the definite girl next-door vibe that any guy would love. This while we have two great competitors in CM Punk and Daniel Bryan who tore up the house at WWE Over The Limit.  AJ has been playing a lot of games with both men leading up to this match as she has proposed marriage, kissed them, and one time put both CM Punk and Daniel Bryan through a table after teasing giving herself harm by acting like she was going to jump through the table.  There is no doubt this will be a good match however I do wonder how much horseplay will occur with AJ “the crazy hot chick” being involved in this match.  Anyway, I think something needs to develop in this match by AJ either permanently aligning with one of the two or having this feud come to an end.  I’m predicting CM Punk will come out as champion and that’s fine, however what I would prefer is for Daniel Bryan to get his first WWE championship. How so? By having AJ Lee screw over Punk and aligning her full-time with Daniel Bryan once again.  It has been proven even the best girls do align with the worst guys in real life; why not make it happen in the WWE? Anyway I want Daniel Bryan to win to change things up but predict CM Punk will continue his impressive title reign.

Who I Want To Win: Daniel Bryan

Who Will Win: CM Punk

WWE Championship Money in the Bank Ladder Match Featuring John Cena, The Big Show, Kane, and Chris Jericho:

My predicted main event of the night and the first time the Money in the Bank match actually main events the PPV.  In my personal opinion, this is just a big waste of the Money in the Bank match.  This is the kind of a match that should help build future stars or even help re-establish stars lacking from the Main Event.  The only one who I think could benefit from this is The Big Show but honestly, I don’t like him as a heel and haven’t for some time.  Kane has already won Money in the Bank, Chris Jericho has done so much in the WWE, and John Cena is the top star. Despite the Big Show not being as powerful a main eventer as he was at other points, he still has held multiple world championships.  Honestly, if we were going to have a former world champions Money in the Bank, it should be with people such as The Miz, Christian, Jack Swagger, and others who have either moved down the card, only held the title once, or has had a sham title reign (something like Dolph Ziggler’s 30 minute title reign.)  Anyway, I think John Cena is the clear-cut winner.  My prediction is he will win the Money in the Bank and announce he is cashing it in Boston for WWE Night of Champions on September 16^th (mark the calendar, it’s my birthday folks!) He’ll be the first Money in the Bank winner since Rob Van Dam to not cheaply cash it in.  I just can’t see any reason for the Big Show or Kane to win the briefcase and I could only see one reason for Chris Jericho: to be the first winner ever to cash in the briefcase and lose!

Who I Want To Win: Wade Barrett to injure Big Show and come in! AKA Not happening.

Who Will Win: John Cena

That’s all for my WWE Money in the Bank Predictions! Please be sure to follow me on Facebook and Twitter for more updates! Also if you can make it out, come join others and myself this Sunday at Chicago City Limits in Schaumburg, IL to watch Money in the Bank!

10 Great Americans

We are one day away from when America officially broke away from Great Britain and became our own country!  To celebrate this momentous occasion which has mostly become yet another excellent excuse to barbecue, drink, have the day off work, and watch some fireworks, I decided to tell you about 10 great fictional and non-fictional (somewhat) Americans!  Unlike my lists for Fox programming, I will not be ranking these American heroes in order.  Each of these heroes stand out in their own way while they may have contributed something great towards our country, they may show the merits of a true American, or they’re just entertaining enough to make the list! Let’s get it started!

Hulk Hogan

If you know me personally, do you think I would make such a list like this and NOT include him?!?!? As a child in the 1980s and the early 1990s, I would say the Pledge of Allegiance every day at school and every time my dad would take me to a sporting event I would stand up for the National Anthem.  When I started to watch wrestling around age 7, the first person to stand out of course was Hulk Hogan! While it was definitely the WWE’s (WWF at the time) marketing muscles at work, I was sold that this man stood for everything a true American should be! He was a big dude, he took out opponents just like Superman (who didn’t make my list), he would wave the American flag, and he told all of us kids to say their prayers and take their vitamins! Who wouldn’t want to be like this guy?  Let’s also not forget while the Gulf War was going on, he was also helping America by taking on former American turned Iraqi Sgt. Slaughter!! Also, he happens to enjoy a true American dessert with apple pie! Or as he says it: YAPPA PIE!!!

Guile

Guile, also known as Colonel William F. Guile is one of three American characters on my list which from a Japanese creator!  He’s a member of the U.S. Airforce and has an awesome hair-do! In each adaptation of Street Fighter he is portrayed as a true soldier and a loyal comrade as he is always seeking out his lost friend Charlie.  This is one soldier you do NOT want to get in a fistfight with! In the USA Network cartoon, Britain Secret Service agent Cammy happens to have a crush on Guile and he is completely oblivious of it! She once made an obvious hint by saying “Hey we finished the mission really well! We should celebrate over dinner.” Guile replies, “I agree! Let’s treat the whole gang to dinner tonight!” Guile, are you serious?!?! This is one time you have to let your patriotic attitude go and form your own version of the Allied Powers! Also, Guile's theme goes well with everything.

Mitchell Gorō Tanabe

Technically he is part American and part Japanese.  He is in fact from an anime series called “The Ping Pong Club” one of the funniest yet most perverted non-hentai (though it pushes close) series.  He is definitely the ultimate American stereotype though!  He’s portrayed as dumb for when he does “USA” chants he shouts out with pride “Oosah! Oosah!!”  Another trait of his is that he is muscular jock and in association to being a jock he has the worst B.O. ever!  Despite being the smelliest and dumbest member of the Inachu Junior High Ping Pong Club, next to Takeda, he is likely the most sane, kind, and honorable member of the group.   He is a friend to the end as he offers help to all, will take the blame for a friend, and will make corny jokes in attempt to cheer others up (the last one kind of sounds like myself.)  In my mind, he is a true Samaritan; with his support towards USA (or as he says “Oosah”) he has the heart of a true American!

John Bradshaw Layfield

John Layfield started out as a cowboy, was brainwashed into being a worshipper of The Undertaker, went onto becoming an ass kicking redneck bounty hunter, and finally became the true man that he is today, a self-made stock market investor who went onto a 280-day WWE title reign.  This man has accomplished so many things that a lot of other fellow Americans wish they could have done.  Let’s forget his pro wrestling career (one that consists of 24 championship reigns.)  He started off as a college football player.  He was signed to the LA Raiders in 1990 but was released before the season even started.  He has made many successful stock market investments and even wrote a book about it.  He is entrepreneur as he owns his owns Layfield Energy (a company that makes an energy drink), he invested money into independent wrestling federation OVW when it was having financial troubles, and he regularly makes appearances on Fox News’s “The Cost of Freedom.”  In real life he pretty much encompasses the stereotypical showboating millionaire.  Going back to his wrestling career, he was actually credited as the man who helped started the annual "WWE Tribute to the Troops" show which originally would have the WWE superstars fly out to put a show on for the soldiers of the United States overseas.  It is still going on but the show remains within the U.S.  I’ll admit I wasn’t a big fan of his at first from some backstage stories I read of him being a jerk and I didn’t think he was that great of a wrestler, but with all of his accomplishments and charity work, I have grown great respect towards him.

Martin Luther King Jr.

So we finally arrived at the first non-fictional person on this list. Yes, Martin Luther King Jr. is a phenomenal man! A phenomenal American!  If you went to school you know who he is but I’ll give you a quick summary.  MLK Jr. was a civil rights activist who in 1963 led the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.  It was a rally in Washington D.C. which encouraged fellow African Americans to rise up and speak out for equal rights in society for many things that were once restricted from minorities.  During this march, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his widely famous “I Have a Dream “ speech that was a key peace in ending a lot of racial discrimination and helping many individuals who were once considered unworthy of opportunities that were restricted only to white Americans.  It’s quite possible that without MLK Jr. many celebrities, political figures, and even president Barack Obama wouldn’t be at where they are today.  I am forever thankful for his contributions as I have many great friends of different races, religions, and walks of life.

Benjamin Franklin

Think about this. What device are you using right now to read this article? Computer? PlayStation 3 or Wii? Cell phone? Tablet?  What controls these devices? Well besides the Internet… Electricity!!!  That’s right, the first discoverer of electricity very well happens to be an American! America F*** Yeah!

Anyway, in addition to being the inventor of electricity, Ben Franklin was a jack-of-all-trades.  He played music, he was awesome chess player, he helped form the Declaration of Independence, was the 6^th president of Pennsylvania, and had many more accomplishments! Are you one of those saying he’s just a show off? Well if you are, you should at least be happy to see him when cash comes your way, he is on the one hundred dollar bill. I can’t complain.

Lt. Surge “The Lightning American”

What do you know? Here is another character of a Japanese franchise that happens to be an American.  Lt. Surge is a former military who has become a Pokémon gym leader.  Truth be told, I have only played the Pokémon Red and Blue games but I happened to enjoy this character.  His appearance comes off somewhat similar to that of Guile’s and uses the electric Pokémon of Pikachu, Raichu, and Voltorb to help him do his battles.  He is a strict man and respects trainers with a lot of heart.  He is a loyal soldier and a faithful trainer to his Pokémon. In one of the games, he is quoted as saying “"I tell you, kid, electric Pokémon saved me during the war!"  I wonder what war he is speaking of? Pokémon was first released in Japan in 1996 so I presume it was the Gulf War.  Can you picture Saddam Hussein trying to stab or shoot Lt. Surge and Pikachu just electrocutes him or perhaps he becomes surrounded by several Iraqis and he throws his Voltorb at them and it explodes for him to escape to safety? Sounds like one hell of a war.

Captain America

Steve Rogers, a man once not seen as suited to join the United States Army underwent the Super Soldier project that made him into the hero known as Captain America.  Marvel’s creation of Captain America was a very popular comic book hero during World War 2 and remains a popular hero to this day.  Just like Superman and Batman, comic book writers and artists are able to adapt the character of Captain America into each decade (usually by having him frozen in ice and being defrosted.) What I find very unique about Captain America in opposition to other superheroes is that he actually carries a shield with him both as a defensive and offensive weapon.  He uses it as a disc to throw at enemies and has many different versions of the shield.  Whether he is fighting Nazis, the Red Skull, or fighting alongside his fellow Avengers teammates, he is always wearing the red, white, and blue.  You really can’t get any more American than him.

Amelia Earhart

I don’t know about you guys, but I felt that this list needed at least one female American represented.  Why not use a real one?  I appreciate Amelia Earhart for being a strong willed woman who decided to fulfill her dreams.  At age 10 she received an airplane ride from a pilot and decided it was her goal to fly airplanes.  She was the first female aviator (known at the time as an aviatrix) to fly across the Atlantic Ocean by herself.  She has made many other conquests but was reported missing at age 39 in 1937 when flying over the Pacific Ocean towards Howland Island.  In my personal opinion, for someone to grow up wanting to do something as early as his or her pre-teens and actually accomplish such a goal, that is living a successful life.  This woman is an inspiration for any American.

Rocky Balboa

The final American on our list is an American character played by Sylvester Stallone.  The Rocky series has grown to be one of my favorite movie series as it is one of the biggest underdog stories.  Rocky Balboa was a debt collector for a loan shark who would train at night to pursue his dreams as a boxer.  Rocky didn’t graduate high school and he only made enough to just get by.  He trained hard in his boxing career to get noticed by the mainstream.  He would have his first big match against World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Apollo Creed.  Throughout the movie series, you will see Rocky grow from rags to riches.  The man may not be the brightest around, but he has a very good spirit and a lot of heart!  I think that the character of Rocky Balboa really symbolizes that even if you aren’t the smartest or the richest, if you set your mind to it, you can make it in America!  “Yo Adrian! I did it!” Also, you have to love the training scenes in the Rocky movies. Personally, it makes me want to step it up more in my routine. Here is the training sequence from Rocky 3, my favorite Rocky of the series.

That is it for my Ten Great Americans article. I really hope you enjoyed it whether you found some of these guys inspirational or just got a good laugh out of them.  If you want to share your thoughts please do.  Fan me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, and Be Sure to Subscribe to me on YouTube if you enjoyed this piece or even if you just wish to comment. Have a Happy 4^th of July and Remember, wherever you’re from, be proud of it!