AM I THE ONLY ONE THAT SEES THIS? and SURVIVOR SERIES PREDICTIONS

So this Sunday (11/20/2016) we got Survivor's Series, which was originally WWE's answer to WCW's Starrcade. That is if you watched the Starrcade DVD, never mind. The PPV that is the same age as I am, 29, has struck some controversy because it seems like story lines has been thrown out the window. It seems the Universe of smarks are up in arms because some of the rivalries have been put on pause due to the traditional survivor series tag matches.

I feel like I'm the only one that doesn't see this as a big deal. They're fighting for a greater cause of showing brand loyalty. They're putting differences aside to defend the brand. To me, it's kinda like the Olympics. Like look at the basketball team. You got players from rival teams that played together to play for their country. Remember the original dream team? Magic Johnson, Larry Byrd, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and them boys came together to win a gold medal. They put differences aside for the greater good of representing America. When Jordan was playing on the dream team, he wasn't representing the Chicago Bulls, He was representing America. Magic wasn't representing the Lakers, etc. So I see what's WWE's doing.

I don't mind that I saw Bayley coming to SmackDown to help being down a member of Smackdown's Women's team. For the greater good of her brand. She's representing her brand. Again I may be on my own on this, but I'm not mad at that. I also get the Stephanie McMahon playing the dictator role saying that if anyone messes up, they'll be punished. I get it. Now I get it that Stephanie has taken Big Show's gimmick and has turned heel and face like 20 times since the brand split started, but that's neither here nor there.

After Survivor's Series everything's going back to normal. But for this one cause, differences are put aside for the greater good of being on the best brand.

Now since I got more space, let me do some predictions, which I never do.

Brian Kendrick (raw) vs Kalisto (SDLive) for the Cruiserweight Championship - I see this being a new start for Kalisto and the Cruiserweight Championship. If Kalisto wins, the championship and the division gets moved to SD which makes since due to that new 205 show coming out. So I see Kalisto winning this.

Miz (Smackdown) vs Sami Zayn (Raw) for the IC Title - I think Zayn is winning. Even though this is the best work Miz has done. Even better than his work with John Morrison. But with Zayn winning that means Smackdown would need a new secondary title. So I don't know. Maybe for that reason Miz retains, but I'm still giving it to Zayn.

Team RAW vs Team SDLive, Tag Team elimination match - I give Team SD this win. I think Team SD has the stronger division, I know New Day is going for the record, and all that, but I think SDLive wins this one.

Team RAW vs Team SDLive Women's elimination SS match - I think Raw wins this hands down. They got 3 of the 4 horsewomen, and they got Nia Jax. I think SD will get some eliminations, and Natayla will get involved somehow, but RAW has this one in the bag.

Team RAW vs Team SDLive Men's elimination SS match - this one is a coin flip for me. I want to say SDLive wins just to pick a side, but I think RAW might win in order to create more storyline with the Undertaker on SDLive. But I'm going with SDLive for the upset win here. There I said it.

Goldberg vs Brock Lesnar - And now for the main event (uh) of the evening (uh)...see what I did there? Bill Goldberg returning for his "last match" against Lesnar. Since obviously the first match they had went so well at WrestleMania 20. Sarcasm there. I remember watching that match on PPV, both men got booed out of Madison Square Garden. It was brutal. I didn't like this idea when I first read the rumors because of how bad the match went at first. I see Brock winning. Not that Brock needs it, but I think Brock is going over. I don't see it being dominate but I see a hard hitting match with Brock winning.

So that's my thoughts, If you disagree, find me on Twitter @D_Rich864, or on Facebook.com/bigdusty. Or just comment down below how much of a mark I am and all that nonsense.

~Daniel Richerson

SMACKDOWN LIVE FOUGHT THE RAW AND THE RAW WON...

So the first week of this so called "new era" is over. Both Raw and Smackdown now have specific rosters. This week they both had the first shows post the draft and post Battleground. Let's start with Raw.

Raw was the type of show wrestling fans beg for by the week. It was a great show. A few mishaps, but nothing that drags the show down too bad. To get the negative points out the way. The Golden Truth playing Pokemon Go. Nuff said on that one. And as of right now, I don't like the name WWE Universal Championship. The initial reaction it seems cheesy, but then again, the spinner belt John Cena introduced seemed cheesy then it became the norm. The New Day segment went on for way too long. The Who's On First type joke did not go over. Sonny Boy...just a load of barnacles that segment was.

Now, let's get to the positives. The two fatal four ways to determine who wrestles in the end of the night for the number one contender spot in a match at Summerslam against Seth Rollins for the new World title. Great idea. Finn Balor won the first fatal way match, and Roman Reigns won the second fatal four way teasing what made the IWC barf at the thought at Roman getting another shot. But WWE did the unthinkable. WWE gave the people what they want. Finn Balor is going to Summerslam. I marked out so much when he won. That little kid in me that is still a wrestling fan came out. Get in there (in my King Ross voice).

Also, we got a new women's champion. The Boss, Sasha Banks. Sasha Banks and Charlotte had an instant classic match. The type of match you'd expect these two athletes to have. The type of match they had in NXT. Let's not neglect the fact that prior to this match, the crowd was dead. The crowd was non existent. These two athletes, these two women, brought that crowd back to life. It was tremendous. Sasha paid tribute to her favorite wrestler, the late great Eddie Guerrero, and got Dana Brooke, who is on the main roster and Bayley isn't, let that sink in...

Anyway, Dana Brooke got sent to the back. Charlotte and Sasha had a great match. One of many match of the year candidates we've had this year so far. Sasha Banks went over with the bank statement. What made it even more great is that they let Sasha have her moment. I was fearing the worst. Like Nikki Bella returning and getting heat on Sasha type fear. But no, they let Sasha have the moment. Great stuff.

I got to bring up the jobber matches. Some people didn't like them. I personally loved it. It reminded me of the old school wrestling days. It made Braun Strowman and Nia Jax look like the monsters their supposed to look like. My only thing on Nia Jax, is that she needs a new finisher. I don't think that leg drop is lethal enough. The jackhammer she used on NXT could be considered for a finish I think, I mean, unless Goldberg is actually coming back, which I doubt.

They moved the announce table on RAW. It's up by the stage. It's not that much of a major change, but it worked. Other than the shot of all three commentators standing. Like them poor guys couldn't have a shot of them actually sitting at the commentator table?

So that was Raw. A very surprisingly good night. Mostly positive feed back. Before I go on to Smackdown, another good thing is that you barely saw Stephanie and Mick Foley in the show. You really only saw them in the opening segment, and that was it.

Now to Smackdown Live. I had such high expectations. I was hoping and expecting another great wrestling show. Sometimes when you expect something so much--

Let's talk about the positives. The opening shot of Shane and Daniel introducing the show was cool. The opening video package was great. Shelton Benjamin is coming back soon. Another mark out moment for your boy. Becky Lynch got a W. Good week for 3 of the 4 horsewomen. Sorry Charlotte.

The negatives. Basically the rest of the show. They had a 6 pack challenge to determine the number one contender for the WWE Title. Participants included, Bray Wyatt, Dolph Ziggler, John Cena, AJ Styles, Baron Corbin...Baron Corbin...Bar--, and after winning a battle royal Apollo Crews. I personally wanted Bray Wyatt to get the W just to give him a shot. Spoiler Alert, Bray didn't win. Dolph won. Not saying Dolph winning is a negative, but we've seen WWE look like they're going to give Dolph a shot only to rip the rug from under him. Of course Shane and Daniel had to come out with their music playing. I don't mind them coming out by why did their music have to play? Taking the spotlight off of Dolph.

I mentioned the Becky Lynch win as a positive. The negative about it was that she was facing Natayla again. WWE is once again going with this 50/50 booking. So after Becky got the win, all the other women on the Smackdown roster came out. What happened after that? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. They still have no title or anything to fight for. We just now know what all the women on the Smackdown roster look like. That's basically it. No title.

Rhyno returned.

Heath Slater still has no spot on either show. He was out cutting a promo only for Shane to get in another segment and for Rhyno to return and gore Heath. Boring it was. Boring.

There was a Miz TV segment. If that wasn't bad enough Randy Orton came out. It went as well as you would think it would. That of course led to a match. Nothing to say after that. It was just poor.

Basically in my opinion, my opinion,  Raw was everything you wanted and Smackdown Live was the opposite.

~Daniel Richerson

The WWE Draft: WHERE-IS-BAYLEY?!!?!!?!?!!?!!?!!?!!?

The build up for the draft was better than the actual draft. The build up from WWE and the dirtsheets I was expecting a night to remember. Honestly, the December to Dismember was more memorable.

First let's look at the positives. Fin Balor is going to RAW. American Alpha is going to Smackdown. Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, and Cesaro are on the same roster. I expect great matches out of that. Sasha Banks gets drafted to RAW after saying she wanted to go to Smackdown, but she's on the same roster as Charlotte. So we get to see that feud build up to a championship match with Sasha hopefully going over. Also a positive Stephanie McMahon's dress. Yep. Also the New Day is still in tact on RAW as a team. I don't think anybody wanted to see them split. Naomi, aka Trinity Fatu got drafted to Smackdown. I really do hope this is a start of a big push for her. AJ Styles is on Smackdown. Could be good. Heath Slater not drafted, and then the camera shot at the end. Hilarious.

And now...let's start with the flubbed lines by both Shane and Stephanie. And they are supposed to be "running" the show. Stephanie trying to over sell every draft pick they made on the show was just bad. Bad shouldn't have been done. I now understand why Vince wants to script every line. I get it now Vince.

Roman Reigns got drafted to a massive boo. Such a boo for a top baby face, huh? Turn him heel WWE, turn the man heel. It took way to long for Cesaro to get drafted. Easily a top 10 guy. But Cesaro ended up being a 6th round pick. That's a way to put the guy over the top. The Golden Truth is still a tag-team. Let that sink in.

Don't get me wrong. I'm a big R Truth fan. I'm a Golddust fan. I'm not a fan of the tag team. Each guy can carry a match on their own. They're good in the ring as individuals. But just not a fan of the team.

Nia Jax, Alexa Bliss, Eva (yes that one) Marie, Carmella all drafted. Everyone, just about, was waiting to hear Bayley's name. Guess what? We're still waiting. Well, at least we'll get Bayley vs Asuka at least one more time. That should be good. Bayley gets a rematch for the NXT Women's Title. So there's that. But still. Heel move by the WWE on that one. Getting everyone's hope up, and...nothing. Eva Marie? Really? Like her and Dana Brooke on are the "main roster" and Asuka and Bayley are still in NXT. Again just going to let that sink in. 

All this is my opinion. Just another wrestling fan with access to the Internet and a way to put my opinion out there. 

~Daniel Richerson

SMACKDOWN LIVE...MIGHT AS WELL BEEN TAPED

It's been quite a while since I've blogged on this site, but here we go.

Let me start at the Royal Rumble. Match of the Night was the World title match. I probably won't get much argument on that one. Rollins did his thing. Brock did his thing. Even Cena as much as the IWC loves to hate him, he brought it as well. The spot where Rollins did the elbow of the top rope to the announce table was nicely done. Of course it's a spot we've seen before, but it worked for the match. The sell job from Brock Lesnar after that spot was good as well. I thought they were going to let Rollins get the win for a second. I was hoping that Cena wouldn't get the W. Thank God he didn't. Brock got the win.

I'll get to the Royal Rumble "controversy" in sec, but I want to go another controversy that no one is talking about. The fact that two second generation wrestlers got dominated by two divas. That match made no sense to me. Bellas have gotten better I give them that, but in no way are they good enough to win the way they did at the royal rumble. Paige and Natayla should've put up a better fight than that, but as someone tweeted me, "WWE, where logic doesn't exist." Nikki Bella is the divas champ which I feel is only because she's John Cena's current girlfriend. Like I said, she's improved, but she's no doubt the best on the roster. AJ, Paige, Natalya, Naomi...and they chose Nikki.

Now to what everybody has been talking about. The Royal Rumble match. First let's discuss the good. Bubba Ray was in a WWE ring again. Let that sink in. DDP was a surprise entrant, and actually performed pretty well in his short stint. And that was the good. The rest of the match was poorly booked. That's what I think is the controversy. Roman Reigns winning was not the controversy in my opinion. The real controversy was how Ziggler, Dean Ambrose, and Daniel Byran was eliminated like mid carders. Who thought that work? In Philly no less...

Anyway, that's my thoughts on that, now to Smackdown Live. Smackdown was Live because Raw was snowed out. The show over all was not that good. Started off with a promo from HHH as if he was playing the part of the DX version of his character. Roman Reigns came out to a "mixed" reaction which the commentators constantly reminded us. By the way, Byron Saxton on commentary is a fail. End that yesterday. Triple H got a announcement on Raw that's gonna "shake WWE to the core" which is bound to be a bust considering how 2015 has been going so far. 2015, btw, Vince tweeted that it was going to be "the best year in the history of the WWE." Word? Anyway, the whole show was trying to sell the Casket match between Bryan and Kane. The match was a bore to me. Daniel Bryan got the win, which was the only good thing about the match to me. Hopefully Kane will never come back, unless it's a Hall of Fame bid. He's done his time. I'm sorry Glenn Jacobs, but it's over.

Also Paige vs Nikki Bella is booked for Fastlane for the Divas title. I'm hoping Paige gets the W, but I doubt that'll happen due to the booking at the Royal Rumble. I'm hoping either Paige get's the win or Velvet Sky comes in and joins the Bellas. I'm waiting for Charlotte to come up from NXT to take over the division. Charlotte is one of the best workers not just amongst the divas but of all the workers in NXT. She has "it."

Remember that I'm just another mark expressing his thoughts on the internet like a whole lot of people. I have no affiliates with any dirt sheets website or anything like that. But I love professional wrestling. I've been a fan most of my life, and I have strong opinions on the product and I share them from time to time.

~Daniel Richerson