Who is Alberto Del Rio?

If you haven't been watching WWE all year, you probably don't know who Alberto Del Rio is. You are probably wondering who is this new guy and why was he in one of the world title matches at Wrestlemania 27.

What a tremendous rise for Alberto Del Rio this year. It's hard to believe that this guy debuted on Smackdown last June, he is already the top heel on Smackdown and a pretty well booked one too.

It was very nice to see Del Rio built up as a vicious heel who is a threat to any baby face who crosses his path in the age of the chickenshit heel. By saying chickenshit heel I mean someone like Miz circa November 2010 after winning the title. Winning matches by outside interference, running from fights, and just looking like fodder for the baby face to run through.

Del Rio's push parallels Sheamus' in 2009, albeit way more naturally; No Breakout Battle Royal needed. He came on to the scene with his own personal ring announce Ricardo Rodriguez and immediately started feuding with Rey Mysterio a feud that saw him get the best of Mysterio and put him away for some time. He then feuded with Christian and put him on the shelf as well. Two ring veterans had already fallen by this guys hand around December.

In January he won the biggest Royal Rumble in history and decided to challenge Edge for the World Heavyweight title at WM27. In short, there is nothing you can't like about this guy, he is charismatic, he is well rounded in the ring, and has a sick finisher, an arm bar that he can hit while the opponent is standing or lying flat on the mat. Not to mention he has some amazing moves like the jumping enziguri usually given to opponents while they are on the top rope.

So in case your still wondering, Yes! You should like Alberto Del Rio. He is one of the guys that will be on top of the WWE in the near future. In his case, the very near future!

WM27 Predictions & Reactions: Edge vs. Del Rio

WWE has stressed throughout the year that they are making new stars, and with a guy like Del Rio on the rise it was easy for me to pick him to beat Edge for the title. Edge is an eleven time world champion, a veteran with the company having been with them since 1997. Aside from his World title wins Edge has captured every active male championship in the WWE, a feat only shared by TNA wrestler Kurt Angle.

Del Rio and Edge's match was actually the first match announced for WM27. Del Rio won the Royal Rumble and the next night on Raw stated that he would challenge for the World Heavyweight title at WM27. Edge was the champion at that time but he had his road blocks along the way that jeopardized his title run, such as the Elimination Chamber match he was involved in and successfully retained in.

Also, he was hounded by Vickie Guerrero and her new boyfriend Dolph Ziggler, which resulted in Dolph and Edge trading the title for one night on Smackdown. After that all signs pointed to WM and Del Rio. Del Rio attacked Edge after the Elimination Chamber and Edge was saved by a returning Christian who joined the fray on Edge's side. Del Rio enlisted the services of his former NXT rookie Brodus Clay to even the odds. For much of the weeks leading to Mania Del Rio got the better of Edge and all signs pointed to Del Rio becoming champ.

Prediction: Like most people I saw Del Rio becoming the World Heavyweight Champion at Wrestlemania. I felt like Edge is established enough and the win would go to Del Rio, to establish him as a top contender, with Edge and him feuding over the belt into the summer.

What Really happened: They opened the show with this match, Edge won clean with a spear to retain the title. Christian was in Edge's corner and he neutralized Brodus Clay and Ricardo Rodriguez. After the match Edge & Christian vandalized Del Rio's car with a crowbar & pipe, respectively.

My Reaction: Not the right decision at all. I did recall Michael Cole saying that Edge has never successfully defended a World Title at WM before, perhaps that's why the call was made. I just felt they did not do enough with all the possibilities. They gave us a PPV result and finish, but there is just one problem this isn't a regular PPV, this is Wrestlemania. Del Rio going over would have solidified his status as a top guy and made it possible for him to remain a top guy even when he is in a program that doesn't involve a belt. Del Rio should have won, besides there is way more of story in Christian vs. Del Rio for the title given their history. Who knows maybe Christian turns heel and challenges Edge for the title.

WM27 Predictions & Reactions: Taker vs. HHH

I went into this match expecting a really good match, but like everyone else thought I would be leaving the show feeling that I saw a great match because of who was in involved, but at the end of the day I thought I would end up comparing it to Shawn vs. Taker.

Being that I have been a hard core Triple H fan since I was about eight years old, I went into this believing that he would defeat Taker. If not for any other reason, because I naturally mark out whenever he's on.

And believe me HHH has been on since the beginning of this feud. On 2-21-11 when HHH interrupted Taker, I marked out so hard. I was like, "They wouldn't let him interrupt Taker unless he was going to end the streak." So naturally I was buying everything Hunter was saying since day one.

Hunter basically laid the outline for the promos we would be hearing from these two for the last five week before last. Taker and Hunter have basically said the same thing but in different words to us every time.

Prediction: That being said, I just felt like Taker was different this time around. With all due respect, his promos were lacking, and he just wasn't coming across as guy who could handle Triple H, at this point in Hunter's career. In truth, I was marking out so hard that Hunter was looking so strong to me, I knew he was going to end the streak.

What actually happened: Hunter and Taker put on an instant classic. While not the technical wonder that Shawn & Taker put on, it was a brutal brawl that only Triple H & Taker could put on. Tables were smashed, bodies were thrown...everywhere, there were finishers, amazing near falls, and drama that paralleled that in both of the matches with Shawn. In the end after what felt like three pedigrees, a spine buster through the Spanish announce table, taker taking a chair shot to the head, and about nine chair shots to Taker while he was on the floor, Taker caught a stalking Hunter in the Hell's Gate which HHH tapped out to.

My Reaction: Although Triple H did not win. This was a phenomenal match that I would have not wanted to end any other way. They gave an Instant Classic that made me thankful for being a wrestling fan. I thank these two legends for giving me my time during the night where I felt like a little boy all over again. I marked out for each of the near falls, especially the one where HHH did the tombstone, that was amazing. I was literally counting along with my hands in the air. I feel this match set up an inevitable rematch at WM28 or 29. Where because of the way it ended with Taker being carried out on a stretcher, him wanting the match as bad as HHH so he can prove to himself that he can do it. Amazing match. Definitely match of the year at this point, I can't see anything following that.

WM27 Predictions & Reactions: Cena vs. Miz

On paper this is a pretty loaded Wrestlemania, I mean even the undercard matched are packing heavy star power. I predict that this will be a highly entertaining Wrestlemania, mostly because of the sheer star power and also because almost every match has an added variable that makes it more unpredictable.

For instance you take a normally predictable match The Miz (c) vs. Cena for the WWE title, and add The Rock which just throws everything out of wack. Normally I would go for Cena winning all the way. But he F-U'ed The Rock who is the Guest Host of Wrestlemania on the last Raw.

Now those of us who know The Rock from back in the day know he isn't one to take crap from anyone without retaliating. So this adds the factor that the Rock will be getting physically involved. Being that the Rock is a baby face, I cannot see him interfering in the match and costing Cena the title. Possibly attacking Cena after the match is over whatever the result may be.

Still there is the factor of Alex Riley, who has confirmed that he will be in the Miz' corner tonight. We have seen him time and time again that he will put himself on the line to ensure a win for the Miz. During there time together he has taken every big move that the Miz should have taken for instance, all the RKOs, the AA's, and that crazy kick from Morrison he took on the security barricade. Riley has been used to keep the title on Miz before so why not tonight?

Prediction: This one is fairly hard to predict, but i'm going to run off of history here and guess that this will be the final match of the night, with that said Cena will win. although I want Miz to win, we all know Cena's win will ensure that all the women and children go home happy. After his win, the Rock will come down and get his revenge which will ensure that all go home happy.

What actually happened: Cena and Miz fought to a double count out. The Rock came out and the GM chimed, the Rock began reading the GM's message and then reminded him that it didn't matter what he thought. He layed the smackdown on the computer and then restarted the match. Cena was about to AA the Miz, who got out of it and the Rock Rock bottomed Cena. Rock left the ring and Miz pinned Cena for the win.

Reaction: Yes! WWE that is what I wanted and didn't think you would deliver. Great job, all we needed was Alex Riley to not be at ringside to make the Miz look stronger. It wasn't like he assisted in the win anyway. It was well done, the restart felt a little unnecessary at first but it was cool to see the Rock spaz on the laptop. It will be interesting to see how this feud will go forward because now we add the GM into the mix will will definitely excite the situation and give the Rock another person to feud with.

Jeff Hardy...Need I say more?

After his debut on TNA's first live show on Mondays, his storyline was concentrated on whether or not he was going to sign with the company. After weeks of speculation, he and Shannon Moore had been signed to TNA contracts. At first it looked as if they were going to run as a tag team, but then he was put into a tag with RVD, who debuted in March.

This tag didn't last and these two were soon in the title hunt. They faced each other to see who would become the number one contender to A.J. Styles' TNA World Title. RVD came out on top and won the title later that night.

In August the title was vacated and a tournament was held to crown a new champion. Hardy and Kurt Angle wrestled to a draw in the finals in September and later it was announced that a triple threat with Mr. Anderson would be held in October.

He turned heel for the first time since his brief run as one in 2003 at Bound For Glory when he won the title with help from Hulk Hogan's heel stable Immortal. It was rather interesting as a Hardy fan seeing him as a heel. He shined in this role, he was the baddest man on the show but still the coolest.

He cut Raven-esque promos which were taped which made him look better than he ever has on the mic on live tv. Jeff Hardy had left WWE at the top, and now was at the top of TNA. This made him a bigger star than ever, if that is even possible. A heel Hardy leading a Hulk Hogan backed stable was new and fresh. This undoubtedly brought alot of new viewers to the TNA brand.

I Know, I know. You have the same question that I had, "What the hell happened?" Jeff went from the man to be in TNA, he was untouchable, to the man to beat in 90 seconds. Jeff hardy was so untouchable that pending drug charges didn't even prevent him from becoming and staying champion.

He captured the title at Bound for Glory in October, lost it at Genesis in January, only to regain it at Against All Odds in February and lose it to Sting on Impact in March. He was set to receive his rematch at Victory Road. TNA officials noticed something was wrong with Hardy and made major changes to the match, in short (no pun intended), Sting retained the title in 90 seconds.

Most believe that Hardy was under the influence of a controlled substance and given his history it is the likely cause. As a longtime Jeff Hardy fan I am begging Jeff to get his life back together so that he can take his rightful place atop the wrestling world. It is just a shame that someone who has reached such heights can come crashing down.

Welcome back Christopher Daniels

So TNA, A.J. Styles is hurt, and you are in dire need of another TNA Original who can carry the bulk of the babyface work in a heel and tweener heavy company...

Looking down the list it almost feels as if you got rid of everyone, made them disappear or made them crazy...again (Eric Young.)

Guys like Samoa Joe and Jay Lethal are seldom seen these days but have their own respective issues that keep me from seeing them in Fortune.

Samoa Joe has made it clear in recent years that he cannot work well with others and prefers his nation of violence where he is the sole inhabitant.

Jay Lethal's character doesn't strike me as serious enough to be in Fortune, Fortune is a group where the guys are known for getting the job done. As in they win when they say they are going to. Jay Lethal is more of an unpredictable character in the way of wins and losses. Also, strikes me more as a sympathetic character than anything.

I'm guessing TNA found themselves knocking on the door of their final hope for someone who can work with Fortune while the Phenomenal One is hurt.

I was rather disappointed when I saw the Fallen Angel take his leave after Hogan and Bischoff came aboard. Christopher Daniels has been there since the beginning and much like the other members of Fortune he is known for being in the upper echelon of TNA performers. This is why it doesn't strike me as a surprise that they would bring Daniels back in. It is a logical move.

I just wish they would have hyped the appearance of a new man by writing it into the story. Perhaps by having the Fortune members talking about reinforcements of some sort and back stage cuts of them on the phone with this mystery person. That would have built up the tension and made it awesome, giving the casual fans reasons to try to figure out who this new guy would be. It's called being linear TNA and not just trowing stuff at us, as you accustomed to doing.

All that said it was still a great moment seeing Daniels climb the steel cage and then dive off the top onto the three Immortal members that can actually wrestle. That would have been a great point to end the show, but that isn't what happened. Is it TNA?

No, you decided it would be better to end the show with dizzy psuedo-rambling. The promo segments at the end of the show stole the fire from Daniels return, and not in a good way. It almost made me forget the amazing moment that just happened and make me upset with TNA for making me spend my time watching their show.

Short and simple: TNA, the way you extinguished Daniels fire, left me with a bad taste in my mouth.

All in all, you get one more week to prove to me that you are going to use him properly and not throw him away again after he saved another one of your deja-vu segments.

Christopher Daniels, welcome back! I'm looking forward to seeing the fallen angel fly once again inside a TNA ring. Thanks for giving me a reason to watch TNA again!