WWE: The Zheng State.

So each of the WWE's brand's have had there first real show post draft. Night of Champions has been and gone, and WWE swerved us without having to swerve us. Only the ECW title changed brands, going from RAW, back to ECW, which hardly came as a big surprise. So lets review, who's now set to do what and where.

John Cena, 5 years into his career has a large responsibility on his shoulders, doing the Undertakers job. As im sure Rob Van Dam, Booker T, Rey Mysterio, Brock Lesnar and JBL would agree, you're best chance of getting over by going over, was on Smackdown with the Deadman. Cena, for now, holds that responsibility. Don't get me wrong, Cena isn't winding down and getting ready to be "good for business" and just help establish people to take his spot, but he is the main man on RAW, and as I'm sure Mr. Punk will find out, until you beat Cena, you are nothing on that show.

Rey Mysterio to RAW is another interesting one, though his segment with Santino Marella was abit worrying, JR's reaction to his draft seem to give him credibility, almost a shame he wont have JR to make him sound better, though there does seem to be momentum behind Rey, and possibly his main event status is about to be restored. Batista continues to be that cold you just cant shake, but he is over, and with not too much mid card talent bouncing around, some decent non-title feuds could be in the offering, whether he gets the rub from them or the other guy, really is all up to him.

CM Punk, transitional champion? Probably. Him winning the title a mark out moment? Definitely! Punk like Batista, has his future in his own hands, work his arse off and maybe crack a smile backstage, and he could be on to main event status, considering they gave him the belt before his second year on the full roster was over, he's gotta be thinking he has a chance, especially with no Triple H around.

Speaking of the Game, his move to Smackdown is a master stroke. Edge is great, but if he wants to be hall of fame great, he needs to work a good program with HHH, and get the belt off him at a "big four" ppv. This move will work for everyone, RAW's main event is wide open, and think of the possibilities for Smackdown, so many fresh new feuds that he hasn't had, and when a guy like Triple H has been in a company for such a long time, the chance to do something fresh with him is rare, lets hope the WWE take it.

So now who's the cast of characters to challenge him? Obviously Edge, heads (get it?) the Que, Taker will most likely re-apear on RAW, so again this is wide open. Kennedy has the "it" factor, no dought, and now the face turn has been rubbished, him causing trouble for possibly the top face in the company could be good for him, Umaga in my opinion should be in JBL's spot, they should have made him a main event heel on RAW a long time ago, however, since they haven't, I'm glad to see him on Smackdown, when the WWE let him get through his full arsenal he's as exciting a big man as they have. And of course, Jeff Hardy, if he was willing to just say no, he'd probably be WWE champion now, or at least the former WWE champion, its his own fault, and he knows that. But, he's done his time, and now people need to get behind him, as they appear to be, so much could be made of a Jeff Hardy V Edge feud, Kennedy would be another good option, but please not Umaga again.

And finally ECW. With there champion and top name gone, not to mention there brightest up and coming star, you may think its best to just close that brand and move on? Certainly not, Paul Heyman knows allot more about wrestling than me, and if he's willing to say that the Miz and Morrison are the best tag team in pro-wrestling at the minute, I'm happy to agree. Though you do worry what happens when those belts go back to smackdown. Shelton Benjamin passed though the "Land of Extreme" all too easily for my liking, but we'll se where he goes on SD! Matt Sydal is a highly exciting talent, ready to show the world how good he really his, Mark Henry is, well, better than Khali and Bid Daddy V. Teddy Long stating he was bringing in a "superstar inicitive" is good news, though Atlas Ortiz did himself no favors, the likes of Colt Cabana, Ron Killings, Chris Harris and the re-vamped Kevin Thorn, may. Oh, am i forgetting The Dragon?

So it's all change, RAW and ECW's ratings went up, change is a good thing, but this new buzz wont last forever, so its over the creative to do something with this mix of talent.

-Richard Lewis

P.S

A classic Promo from the new World Champ: http://youtube.com/watch?v=0FsrPpC4BGM

Steve Corino and Colt Cabana amuse Japan: http://youtube.com/watch?v=6af7bTVZMX8

And Corino explains how things happen backstage: http://youtube.com/watch?v=9FYn4ChaLJw

We Love Lillian Update

Just a quick update about general wrestling and our Youtube page.

Our 'possible' final video has been posted up on our Youtube page, check it out here :- http://youtube.com/user/WeLoveLillian

We could do further videos, but at least for the foreseeable future, with our own Youtube accounts now taking shape, it doesn't look like there will be any other editions of WeLoveLillian.

However... the blog will live on, and especially now since I've finished my Summer exams we might actuaaly get some continuity on this page.

So, about the wrestling scene at the moment...

Monday Night RAW hosted the 2008 WWE Draft, and it was certainly a mixed bag of choices.

Mysterio and CM Punk to Raw, and, Kennedy and Umaga to Smackdown seems like good moves for each wrestler...

However...

Hardy to SD? Kane to RAW? Hornswoggle and Finlay to ECW? Bad times...

HHH I have no doubt will go straight back to Raw... possibly shifting John Cena to Friday Nights. Dodgy dealings.

But without a doubt the most hilarious moment of the week so far... must be JR's move and bitching to Smackdown. It certainly was a move that surprised us (and JR by the cracking look on his face), but with a move to a new network being high on the list of their priorities, a person of JR's calibre might be helpful to SD.

I still havn't had a chance to watch ECW as of yet... I'll move probably watch it on Sky Sports 3's first showing on THRUSDAY NIGHT!? What the holy fuck is that all about? Sort it out Sky.

Anyway, I'll most probably be back with another Greatest Matches of All Time, so enjoy the video and keep checking in for the latest posts!

James Prideaux

Year of the Dragon?

It's not often I'm drawn into talk about transfers, trades, or draft's that don’t involve Football or "Soccer".

However times they are changing and WWE's draft is on the way, but that’s not today’s topic.

Today, my topic of ‘concern’ is from the industry, ‘concerning’ a great number for various reasons, Professional wrestling and in particular, Bryan Danielson, Ring of Honor and WWE.

The last ever ROH pure Wrestling champion of course recently defeated a WWE contracted wrestler (Lance Cade) on the 9 of June 2008 edition of Monday Night RAW. While Vince was "showing us the money" he wasn’t showing us a 6 ft 5, 261 pound former World tag team champion, now on a singles push, losing (and submitting) to a 5 ft 10, 185 pound independent wrestler, the WWE once booted out the door.

But, since the "American Dragon" wowed the crowd before RAW, the internet has run whiled with stories ranging from "Danielson's WWE signing imminent", to "WWE and ROH begin talent exchange".

In reality… neither is true.

We all jumped around and got a little excited, thinking Dragon was about to get national weekly exposure. But alas, for by the next morning, the true details were revealed.

ROH gave the green light for Danielson to have this match. Possibly thinking this would be exposure for themselves, (though how one of your guys working a dark match and it not getting mentioned by the WWE at all is good exposure I'll never know!) this has possibly backfired. JR writing in a blog, that "The WWE might be well served to subsidize the ROH as they seem to be one of the most viable entities when it comes to developing talent" is probably the opposite of what they wanted from this.

However, the situation changed later that day, when reports swung around that ROH would release Danielson if he wanted to leave for WWE. And they wanted him. JR's blog also said that he "told anyone that would listen that the young man was a keeper. Great work ethic, unique skills, lots of character and he wrestles like a ‘star’ which is not something all wrestlers can do", see Lance Storm.

The last thing to take into account is that Danielson has a history with the WWE. As I said earlier, the WWE released him and his good friend Bryan "Spanky" Kendrick after the acquisition of WCW and subsequent closure of MCW.

After this, Danielson would go on to huge things. Holding gold in PWG and Ring of Honor, along with most indies worth a damn and not to mention endless "Honor’s" from Dave Metzer’s Wrestling Observer "of the year awards.

He also worked matches for WWE's "Velocity" including a match against a certain John Cena, (http://youtube.com/watch?v=nf-kiUcAdVI), which should keep a few Cena haters quiet.

All this though, was not enough. WWE apparently ‘didn’t offer’ Danielson a contract, as he could not reach there 6 ft 2 requirement; which I personally see as internet drivel, judging by the fact that Chris Benoit won the Royal Rumble later that year.

Danielson has done view interviews in the past, but has stated he can make more money in ROH/Japan than he could in the WWE. So unless he sees a genuine chance to become a top guy, would he join anyway? Lets break it down:

Danielson to WWE- Pro's:

.Great in the ring- does some innovative stuff that should fit well within the WWE's limitations.

.Would get the national platform to try and prove he really is the best wrestler in the world.(though whether he has the ego to leave a lesser schedule on ROH to do that is unknown).

.Has JR onside, a key figure in WWE's talent relations.

.Not currently in the ROH title picture - If they’re willing to let him go, why wouldn’t he consider it.

.WWE put him cleanly over a big man wrestler currently on a singles push - Cade's toughness and size will be big for him. If he tapped out on TV it would have been devastating for him. What does that tell you about the WWE's opinion of Danielson?

.Big in Japan- Danielson's reputation in Japan should not be understated. The WWE has always struggled in Asia, and with TNA using link with NJPW and ROH with NOAH, Danielson would be some advantage.

Why Danielson could stay at ROH:

.Look- The most interesting Danielson looks is when he's bald with a Jesus beard. Imagine CM Punk with short hair, no tattoo's and no tight designs, though this could be rectified.

.Loss of the names Bryan Danielson and "American Dragon"- this would severely damage Danielson, who is VERY well known on the indie scene through this name and may also effect his impact overseas for WWE IF he loses the names.

.ROH realise what they'd be losing if he left - If Ring of Honor's stance on losing Dragon changes, his and WWE's view on the move could be irrelevant.

.Not interested- there is always the chance Danielson will decide to stay put, content with his lifestyle and his schedule he may decide he dosen’t need the WWE.

So its safe to be said its all up in the air, and could go either way, as a WWE fan I’d love to see him in the company. But what ever happens with three consecutive ‘Best Technical Wrestler’ awards, two consecutive ‘Most Outstanding Wrestler’ Awards, and last years ‘Match of the Year’; it could well be another year of the (American) Dragon.

-Richard Lewis

The WWE Draft 2008 :- What We Would Do

For a long time, the WWE has needed a draft...

So you can imagine the happiness on the face of me and Richard, when on Monday Night Raw Vince Mcmahon announced the 2008 draft.

So in this blog we decided to do two different drafts.

The first draft will be a realistic approach and what could most proberbly happen on the night...

Raw

CM Punk

Natalya Neidhart

Chuck Palumbo

Mark Henry

Theodore Long

ECW

Charlie Hass

Snitsky

Vladmir Kosolov

Smackdown

Chris Jericho

Umaga

Lance Cade

Jillian Hall

The Boogeyman

Now this second draft will be our dream draft, with reasons why we would move these people...

Raw

CM Punk :- Mr Money in the Bank is very restricted on ECW and would be new and fresh on Raw

Edge :- The "Rated R Superstar" was simply imense on Raw, and although his "Ultimate Oppurtunist" gimmick on Smackdown has been entertaining, it is nowhere near as entertaining and lacks the same potential. Raw gives him the potential to do this and MY GOD he needs to drop Vickie.

MVP :- He's simply PRIME-TIME! And also without the United States title and no World Heavyweight Title shot in sight, he could simply ignight Monday night.

Natalya Neidhart and Victoria:- They are simply imense in the ring and clearly aren't amazing enough to enter the bikini contest's on Smackdown!

ECW

Carlito and Charlie Haas :- Simply too good in the ring to get the shabby amount of TV time they get RAW. Could be used well on ECW

Smackdown

Chris Jericho :- He is bigger than Raw mid-card. He's a main eventer and SD! are in dire need of a new one. But god please stop making him such an utter twat. MAKE HIM JERICHO AGAIN!

John Cena :- This bloke is so stale... it's unbelivable. His gimmick is aimed towards to kids so why not put him on the show aimed towards the younger audience.

Umaga :- Been coming for a while. Could be a SD! main eventer and could double up as a mid-carder when needed.

So that's it...

The WWE draft is always great to watch...

But this time... they are in dire need of something to shake things up a bit.

- James Prideaux and Richard Lewis

Ring of Mediocrity!

It's a difficult time as a Wrestling fan...

WWE seems to be going nowhere... (despite the fact Backlash was solid and Judgement Day looks like a promising card).

TNA has got Samoa Joe as champion... so why don't I care?

And ROH... well ROH still hasn't got a TV deal...

TNA's problem is that Joe still doesn't feel like the TNA World Champion... It just seems like he's been given it to shut Angle-haters up. And every week TNA's booking seems to get weaker... to the point that I've even stopped watching it every week...

ROH are being very careful about choosing there TV deal, so not to lose the realism for water-down TV. Yet they need to realise that for now they need to get us fans glued to the screen...

WWE's? Well WWE needs a damn, good mix up. The problem with the WWE is that it's in too much a comfort zone. WWE are just sitting back waiting for a new Rock, Hogan or Austin to kick start the machine and get rolling again.

But the thing is they have the talent...

Punk...

Edge...

The Hardy's...

John Morrison...

MVP...

Carlito...

Kofi Kingston...

Randy Orton...

The Gold Standard - Shelton Benjamin...

Mr. Kennedy... Kennedy...

The Great Khali... (Typo? Ed)

The draft will surely rectify this... But yet WWE still doesn't feel right...

Personally... Make Punk and Cena heel... Edge dump Vickie... Keep Kennedy face (it's amazing)... Jericho Uber-cool heel again...

It just needs to be shaken up...

But for now I'll tune in as much as I can... want...

But believe me... it aint getting easier...

- James Prideaux

The Greatest Matches of All Time: Part 2- Micheals V Benoit V HHH WM 20

"Benoit is living his dream, finally, finally by god finally Chris Benoit has become the Heavyweight Champion of this world."

Smack bang in the middle of the world's most famous arena Madison Square Garden in front of 20,000 people Chris Benoit won not only the world title, but arguably the title of "the people's champion".

Have no doubt about it; Christopher Micheal Benoit was one of the finest wrestlers to have ever graced the squared circle.

"He was the Michael Jordan of our sport"

Record setting 8-time WWE Inter Continental Champion and the first ever Undisputed Champion, Chris Jericho.

"He could be the best"

Former 23 month long ECW World TV champion and former WWE & ECW Champion, Rob Van Dam.

"He was one of the greatest to ever put on a pair of boots"

12 time World tag team champion and Former WWE & World Heavyweight Champion, Edge.

He had the utmost respect from the locker room, and was worshiped by "Smart Fans" around the globe. This was a man who had been pushed not for his "market-ability", not for his catchy one-liners, not for anything he said to anyone backstage; but because this man was damn good at what he did, and those fans smart enough to appreciate it, certainly did.

After a Royal Rumble victory, from number one, Chris Benoit was going to headline Wrestlemania. There he would be thrown into a very personal feud between Triple H and Shawn Michael's. The "hatred" between the two had been put over well, and with Triple H stating on many occasions that his opponents ego's would be there downfall, this was set up perfectly, and on the 14th of March, this match was anyone's.

Recently Shawn Michael's became "the man" by defeating Ric Flair, and on this night he showed why he always had the potential to take that crown from the "Nature Boy".

Triple H at this stage was plain and simply the biggest thing in the industry at this time. Multiple time World Champion, aligned with arguably the best ever and a damn good heel persona with enough in ring ability to have very good matches, but also to be carried to greatness if in the ring with the right company. Boy was he in the ring with the right company.

From the get-go, the mouth waterering aspect of Michaels v Benoit was played off. They spared as the champion found it hard to stay in the ring. "The Game" became more and more involved though, with near misses on the Crippler Crossface and the Pedigree early on keeping the crowd on edge. Shawn Michael's hit a Moonsault to the outside, which beggars belief considering he was wrestling with a once broken back.

After the Crossface finally went on someone, HHH and Michaels showed us a new way to escape a submission, with the champ grabbing the "Heart-Break Kid's" hand as it was on the way to tapping.

The dynamic changed once more as Michaels was bust open. He lost so much blood, just watching him carry on made you feel exhausted. The champ was then next to bleed. The canvas was blood-stained. And canvas is the right word, as these three put on a masterpiece.

Benoit was yet to bleed, however, he did take one of the most sickening bumps I've ever seen. A double suplex-come slam, saw the Canadian crash through the announce table, to the loud chants of "Holy Shit!"

The image of Shawn Michael's standing, plastered in blood, calling his old adversary into the ring to finish there rivarly at the main event of Wrestlemania, was another hugely memorable moment of a hugely memorable match and event.

Boos rang round, this crowd genuinely thought this was over after HHH hit the pedigree. After all, Goldberg was arguably just as over as Benoit when he was screwed out of the belt.

Benoit chants rang around as HHH crawled to a cover, but it wasn't over yet.

"The Canadian Crippler" escaped another Pedigree, and it looked like his moment had come when the Sharp Shooter was locked in. "The Game" scrambled, and after he had finger tips, no-more, on the bottom rope, it looked over.

Enter HBK (who knows a thing or two about Sharp Shooters) to seemingly crush Benoit's jaw with Sweet Chin Music.

"Its over, they cant have him kick out of that, it was sickening!"

But we were wrong. A delayed cover only produced two. Another super kick would not... But Michael's was dumped out of the ring, and with that out of the match, his night was done.

The big finish was on the way. Another Pedigree was countered, this time into the Crossface, and the moment had arrived.

Attempts to roll to the ropes only left the Champ in the middle of the ring. And he had no choice. Que the water works.

18 years in the waiting.

After a farsicle stint as WCW champion, Benoit finally became a World Champion. And this moment really was why this match, this night, was so special.

The WWE had FINALLY given something back.

Given back to a performer who worked at least just as hard as anyone else, who always hit the heights with his performance's and often stole the show while in the mid card.

Finally, they had given back to a crowd that had stayed loyal and wanted wrestlers not entertainers on there screens every Monday.

Chris Benoit gave them this and was rewarded with a moment that would have lasted a much longer lifetime, the scenes of Benoit and Guererro.

Benoit and his family will always live in the memory of those physically drained fans who had just seen a classic.

Pro-Wrestling has had few "Where were you when?" moments.

This was one. One for the ages.

- Richard Lewis

The Greatest Matches of All Time : Part 1 - Undertaker vs Mankind - Hell in a Cell

"Good God Almighty! Good God Almighty! They've killed him! As God as my witness; he is broken in half!"

Hell in a Cell. Possibly the most brutal, awe-inspiring and truly special matches the WWE has ever created. People thought they had seen it all with the Undertaker against Shawn Michaels at "Badd Blood" in 1997...

My God were they wrong...

1998. The Pittsburgh Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, infront of just over 17,000 crazy fans, Mick Foley and Mark Callaway put on one of the greatest spectacles in wrestling.

Before the bell even rang, Mankind was already on the top of the Cell with a steel chair. And when Undertaker came out... well that's when it all came to life. As Taker climbed the cell people couldn't believe what they were seeing. "Taker and Mankind on the roof of the Cell... now? That's crazy!" And that's exactly what it was.

Between chair shots and Taker putting his foot through the Cell everyone knew something unbeliveable was about to happen. But what happened was life changing...

Mankind was thrown 16 feet. Sent flying from the top of the cell and crashing through the Spanish Announcer's table. The crowd exploded. 17,000+ on their feet; some screaming, some crying. Everyone shocked.

The medical crew came flying out. This is the end of Mick Foley I thought. He's dead. Replay after replay. It got worse each time I saw it. But somehow, just showing how much this business means to Mick Foley, he got up... and continued to not only wrestle... but to climb back up the Cell. Mick Foley defide reality.

And when we thought we'd seen it all...

"Would someone stop the damn match!"

Foley was sent crashing through the roof of the Cell. Scripted or not... this was truly immense. So Foley was left lying there, unconcious for a while... that had to be the end...

But yet again Foley got up and continued to wrestle. As Mankind reversed the "Old Skool" from the top rope and sent Taker to the mat, he smiled with the blood trickling down his face. He was truly a psychotic individual.

And as some actual "wrestling" took place, people were left to wonder just how the hell Foley was still there standing. The thumbtacks came out, BOOM, chokeslam. One, Two, Thr... "He just kicked out? For god sake Mick ain't you had enough."

Finally, Mankind fell to the Tombstone Piledriver. The crowd erupted once more. They had just witnessed a match that truly changed the face of Professional Wrestling. Now in these times of water-downed "extreme", we can only look back at the memories of these truly special moments.

That night, Foley and Taker changed the rules. Not only for Hell in a Cell, but for wrestling.

- James Prideaux