CastleVania Rey

Stevie Richards is one of the most underrated wrestlers in history. I've always defended him when people shit-talked him. Someone once was so mad about my refusal to admit Richards actually sucked (after I said I preferred Richards over Triple H during Triple H's post-quad tear run) that he waited months until the group owner went on leave, got moderator controls, and then barred me from posting. I don't regret it because Stevie Richards is still awesome, even all these years later when my wrestling tastes have become way different. Though I also don't regret it because that "group" was terrible. I was fanatically pro Right to Censor just because Steven Richards was the leader. I was also really pumped for Stevie in his final run on the ECW show and was so disappointed when he didn't win the title. I'm still disappointed now, actually. That ECW dog-collar match was fine (despite the Pit Bulls) until the hideous Heyman over-booking ruined it.

I think it's not so much that the other two aren't good on the mic, but more that Ambrose is so good he makes others look like crap in comparison. I did think Rollins' speech was a bit overly long, though.

That Smackdown match featured Paige smashing Aksana with knees while the latter was hanging through the ropes. Even my father, who dislikes Paige, reacted well to that. The same match also featured a GREAT run-you-over clothesline by Aksana that was a VERY welcome change from the standard Diva "I'm leaping past you with my arm hanging out" thing. The match earlier on Raw didn't have anything nearly as good as those two spots, unfortunately (nor was it wrestled as well in general).

I understand why Dean Ambrose can't be the leader of SHIELD anymore (the commander needs to be rational and all), but his promos are still so INTENSE. He is gold waiting for the spotlight. During Bray's (great) promo, check the brilliant lighting on Rowan and Harper. I felt like the Paige vs. Aksana from Smackdown was better, but I'm glad to see the women getting good time to do a wrestling match and am disappointed the audience chose then to start huffing their paint. I also like Emma, but I hope she doesn't get saddled with using that pink sock all the time. I thought for sure it would be Cesaro vs. Sheamus in the tournament final. Bad News Barrett has been all sorts of awesome lately and I'm sorry I doubted him. I just wish JBL would stop misquoting him PLEASE. I like the Torito/Hornswoggle feud! Sounded like it hurt for Triple H to talk. Rusev and Lana is an act I'm getting behind, and Rusev looks nicely athletic. Unfortunate about Bryan's father.

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH why did I run out of likes before I saw this? The world seems unfair... At least until I look back at the last segment again and see SHIELD whooping ass. That, my friends, is a world of JUSTICE. A fascinating Raw overall, made bigger by an electric crowd.

Yep: Aww, man. My dad will definitely blame Brock for that, saying he's unsafe and unprofessional and possibly even did it on purpose. Any idea of what point in the match Undertaker may have been concussed? EDIT: No blaming; I was wrong. Feed me that hat!

My Brock-hating father refused to talk about anything else on the show for more than ten seconds. He also declared the whole show terrible because of that one finish, said he would imagine Heyman eating his shit, and said he never wants to see Undertaker again and hopes the Sting match never happens as Sting has no reason to come to WWE now. He sulked and acted passive-aggressive for the rest of the night. Yeah, it was a big finish. EDIT: I think he's better now. All is okay.

This Mania really felt like a changing of the guard: Bryan overcoming all of the crap and finally taking what's his. SHIELD crushing Kane and Outlaws and putting a lid on the coffin of the Attitude Era, so to speak. Cesaro winning the Andre battle royal to cement his place as a main guy (and being the new real American slamming the giant!). Undertaker's streak coming to an end as the Reality Era sinks in... and Brock Lesnar is reality. An awesome night to remember. Oh, and if I ever said anything bad about Triple H, then I'm so sorry. I mean, I knew he was good in the ring, but...

Well, a lot didn't happen on Smackdown, though what did happen was good (and Cesaro is amazing and should be an official face soon, maybe at Mania). There isn't a lot to talk about, so... I think I'll take the opportunity to talk about my guy Dean Ambrose. Listen to how calm, honest, and authentic Ambrose sounds as a baby-face while still putting the SHIELD over. It's amazing because he's so diabolical. You know he doesn't mean that nice-guy shit! You know he's thinking horrible things and probably imagining himself gouging the eyes of the interviewer and cameramen. This unreasonable nutcase will be top heel in WWE at some point in the coming years. I can't wait to see him in a good long match with John Cena, but patience is a virtue.

I was calling it Guttershark (after the song by The Bled that mentions a man being void of reason) in an effort to get it to spread, but I didn't try very hard and nobody else ever called it that. I think people just called it "Dean Ambrose's finisher" before. I actually thought Cole called it "Dirty Days" at first because I was too busy cheering for my wrestling hero to hear the name of his move well, but I realized in short time it was actually "Dirty Deeds".

Finally a real name for Ambrose's splendid move! It isn't my chosen name, but "Dirty Deeds" both has the word dirty in it and sounds kind of like something William Regal would name a move, so I approve. Terrific SHIELD matches again with them all getting to look great, even Reigns who smashes dudes after the matches. I still feel such a swelling of pride seeing the SHIELD smashing fools. Must be how sports fans feel when their team wins. I liked the other stuff, too, but things tend to get lost when the SHIELD are on and kicking all ass. You know? And that dark match picture... John Cena believes in the SHIELD. Why hate on that? (also, look at Ambrose in the picture. He totally loves it and you love that, admit it)

I feel they've ruined the Willow thing by making him too goofy. The initial videos were awesome and made him look scary. So, with that said, they might as well go all the way with the goofiness and make it more entertaining. Let's see... EC3 (touching the cabin wall): Wait... Is this cabin made of candy? Willow kidnaps Rockstar Spud in the background. Or, maybe... EC3 (walking into the room): Spud? He sees Spud standing and facing the corner. Something unseen hits EC3 from behind while Willow cackles. Or, maybe EC3 could just be hit in the head with a claw hammer while looking at a shrine built to Shannon Moore's severed head... or something.

I was thinking that when Cesaro inevitably turns face and leaves the Real Americans, Chris Masters would have been a great new partner for Swagger in the group's continuation. It's too bad he's gone.

Piranesi owns this topic. And as mentioned, Ambrose has a CRAZY-GUY HULK UP and I was pumped right along with him! Ambrose is the best. People really should stop resisting. Look at Ambrose when SHIELD are meeting the Authority. Look how he hugs the belt to his chest while looking around shifty-eyed, always on the alert for someone trying to TAKE WHAT'S HIS. That man is amazing. Rollins was a terrific ball of fire in that obviously excellent SHIELD/Real Americans match, and his finisher is now called PIECE OF MIND. I LOVE it. "Cut from a piece of mind; then will you listen? Where are you...?" It'll go perfect with GUTTERSHARK when Ambrose names his move that like I want him to. And I can certainly do well with Reigns wrecking all SHIELD opponents after every match every week. Harper is also going to be a big star. An all-around good Raw, despite the standard underwhelming writing in the celebrity guest spots, and I'm glad the Divas have their own "battle royal" spot on the card.

Do people really WANT someone to come out to save Bryan anyway? I know it seems weird that Bryan has no friends here, etcetera, but this story really needs to stay focused on Bryan, Triple H, Stephanie, Batista, and Orton right now. Sending out help would have taken away from that and deprived people of a sweet beat-down Bryan must later avenge. Though the audience and me still would have went nuclear if SIERRA HOTEL INDIA ECHO LIMA DELTA.

Cena is the only face I could see stepping up and trying to save Bryan in that situation, character-wise. He's got nothing to lose (ie they won't even consider firing him) like the rest, he's been painted as friendly with Bryan, and he's supposed to be the ever noble hero. But dude, what about SLAM CITY? Before we know it, Cena could be fired OUT OF A CANNON at the circus, or something.

Dean Ambrose with the double-thumbs-up... Cooler than the Fonz! Babyface Shield is the best. I'm eager to see what happens next. Priceless Orton line of the week: "There's no bell to RING!" Hornswoggle looks like Chumlee from Pawn Stars now. "Unmerciless" Good to know everyone in quality control has such splendid command over the English language. Is Goldust hurt? JBL's laptop: "Mr. T's going in the WWE Hall of Fame, fool!" Later in show: "We'll show you the next inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame!" Good show. Good progression of the WM main event story with interesting characters. It NEEDED to be Bryan in this spot. Makes more stort-telling sense than if it were Punk.

Dean Ambrose headbanging to the Shield theme... He is truly a god among men. And his finisher shall be called GUTTERSHARK. Spread that around, people. Make me happy. Also, "I will bury Daniel Bryan!" Too good for words, Hunter. More shows need to end with "The Shield stood tall."

Big Show should win the Andre trophy to get some redemption for his late dad in the dragged casket. I wonder who will win the eventual Big Boss Man trophy, though? I say Ambrose. EDIT: Beaten to it by Pip! Kudos, sir or madam.

Triple H and especially Stephanie were so great in the Bryan segment. When Stephanie just started snarling all her words was too amazing. Shield and Rhodes had a good match, but don't they always? I expect and demand it from my boys Shield, anyway. So, my highlight was the mighty Dean Ambrose freaking out with his spectacular pro-wrestling acting on the outside.

Tiiiiiiiiime is ooooon my side... #ScrewFollowtheBuzzards And the Bryan segment was plenty great. The Mania main event is going to rock even if Bryan doesn't win the title.

So, who takes the blame for the Reigns/Wyatt wreck? I feel bad for them. It did pick up at the end with the Reigns comeback spots and the Rollins/Ambrose save. I also felt bad for Hogan during the "WWE Universe" botch he struggled to recover from. Does Rowan catch hell if Cena is really injured? It wasn't all his fault, was it? Undertaker is still so larger than life and shall remain so. It doesn't matter how many times they do this or how obvious it is he's coming. I'd have liked more Emma showcase in the match, but I think people are already behind her anyway because of her charisma. The dance and the great music are just perfect, too. The sign about Minnesota being the worst state cracked me up.

Big Show/Zeb segment and Reigns's terrific apron dropkick are getting slept on because the ending of the show were so awesome. Heck, I even forgot to mention them before. Also, very glad the Usos have become so over.

I know there must exist some people who will complain now because they ended this Bryan in Wyatt family angle too quickly. Well, forget that. WWE apparently turned things at just the right time, because THAT REACTION. Sure, they could have waited one more week, but Batista is returning next week. One big turn at a time. And the ones who argued Bryan would come out of this more over than ever have surely won the argument. (and yeah, I know WWE may have just aborted the angle and intended it to last longer originally) More OUTLAWS and they'll be back on Smackdown against the RHODES. I don't care why they turned on Punk. I just want to see more of them.

I actually was embarrassed when Bryan was talking during the Wyatt bit, and I'm fond of him and the Wyatts. Not nearly as embarrassed as I was when Punk was pretending to vomit for 30 seconds straight, but embarrassed still. I want to believe this is going somewhere positive for Daniel Bryan the super-over main event wrestler, but I'm cynical. Bray's promo made me think of Tomax and Xamot, of course. The Outlaws looked great! I'd like to see them again soon, maybe on the next Raw. The way I feel about Dean Ambrose now, I felt about Billy Gunn back in 1999. Billy Gunn was my #1 guy and I was incensed seeing him mostly thrashed in his feud with Rock. I'm still disappointed he didn't get to the top. Shield segments remain my #1 reason for watching. I need them to win more, though. I miss the good feeling of "my team" being the best team. As I'm fond of the song and like the name, I want Dean Ambrose's headlock driver to be named Guttershark.