Hey. It’s me, It’s me, the D-O-Double G. Wow, ever thought you’ll hear that again? You never know, one day you might! At any rate, I’m here to talk about SummerSlam, and not about Road Dogg, so let’s leave the sympathy away and get it on..
WWE presents SummerSlam, the company’s second biggest PPV of the year, or what they like to refer to as “The WrestleMania of the summer.” Heading into the PPV, there’s a lot of questioning in what’s right and what’s wrong with it. Following SmackDown this past week, as I was getting set for SummerSlam, I decided that on the overall, I’m looking forward to the PPV. I certainly don’t expect it to be as big as SummerSlam 2002 (Like I’ve said before, probably WWE’s best PPV in the past two years), but it looks like the 2003 edition won’t fall way too far from the measuring stick. I could have come on here today and give you my predictions, but I’ve done that over at our brand new TBL Roundtable section, which is worth checking out. Anywho, instead of blabbing for hours with predictions, I thought I’d rather take the standpoint of a fan and preview the matches as one would do. I’ll add my two cents for each one as well, and heck, I might just give a prediction too. This is going to be like one of those “Informer” articles you read in WWE’s magazine. Next week I return with my usual N & A style, so this is a one-time deal; I’ll give it a shot…
Matt Hardy vs. Zach Gowen
– I’m still not sure if this match will even take place. Last I heard, it was called off. WWE hasn’t said anything about it though, and until they do so, nothing’s final. Since entering WWE, Zach Gowen has been on the receiving end of humiliation jokes about his handicapped. The young man has done his best on SmackDown, and has proved people that his handicap means nothing inside the ring! Enter Matt Hardy. The sensei of Mattitude is not only unhappy with Gowen’s “popularity,” but with the fact that Matt himself spent near ten years busting his butt and paying his dues to get to where he’s at, and he feels that just because of his handicap, Zach Gowen was handed the opportunity of a lifetime in being a WWE Superstar. Gowen is yet to score a pinfall victory in a one-on-one match in the WWE, and if this losing streak continues, I won’t be surprised if he finds the right path to victory in the teachings of Mattitude. No way? We shall see.
Kane vs. Rob Van Dam
– Face Your Fear! The monster has been unleashed … and he can’t be stopped! Victims List: Tommy Dreamer, Rico, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Eric Bischoff, Linda McMahon, Rob Van Dam, Shane McMahon. Will Kane finish the job at SummerSlam, and will we see a side of the Big Red Monster which we have never seen before? Will Rob Van Dam take it to the extreme and make the impossible become reality? There’s only one answer to this, and that’s when these two guys face off at SummerSlam. Former tag team champions, as well as former friends, go head-to-head, and you got to believe that at the end of it, someone will get burned… Maybe even in more ways than one.
The Undertaker vs. A-Train
– The Undertaker has left his mark on the summer extravaganza known as WWFE SummerSlam. November of this year (near Survivor Series) marks the 13th Anniversary of WWE and the Dead Man. This time around at ‘Slam, the challenge that’s standing in front of him is 350 pounds of raw power … and a lot of hair … in A-Train. Legends are made only to die down. Will A-Train have the opportunity of a lifetime or will he become just another name in the long list of casualties that the Big Evil has turned down in his Yard?
Shane McMahon vs. Eric Bischoff
– Good or bad, he made history in 2001 by purchasing “that other wrestling company” on a historical edition of WWE RAW/WCW Nitro. The wrestling war had ended. But then the former owner of that “other company” found himself in power again. This time around it’s personal, and it’s not just about Dubbya-C-Dubbya. It’s about family, and it’s about pride. Shane McMahon makes his return to PPV at SummerSlam, and looking back in history, his matches always end with a bang. Eric Bischoff has gone through a lot since his stint with WWE started. What will happen when these two guys collide?! Will it be Money Time for yet another crazy bump, or for yet another suplex through a glass, or will it be a straight-up brawl with the brains of the original WCW getting on top? Check your pockets! After all… “This is where the big boys play,” right???
La Resistance vs. The Dudley Boyz
– On a January edition of Monday Night RAW, following the 2003 Royal Rumble, Bubba Ray and D-Von, the Dudley brothers once again found themselves in a situation they’re quite familiar with — as a tag team! The Dudley Boyz have worked hard to win the World Tag Teams Championship ever since, but the duo has been unsuccessful in capturing the belts for over six months now. La Resistance has done a lot, but can the two Frenchmen jump that obstacle as well? Or will, after two severe beatings, the Dudley Boyz come out on top and wave Old Glory proud? Where will Little Spike be? Or what about Rob Conway, Mr. France? I don’t know about you, but I think that the World Titles are going to a place right outside New York; which is also near Philadelphia; also very close to the suburbans in Los Angeles; also on the other end of Detroit; really, it’s right by Houston, TX; maybe it’s next to the city you live in? Ah what the hell, I think the belts are going to Dudleyville, USA!
I’m going to cut from the “Informer” mode for a second and say that I think it’s too bad the SmackDown tag titles aren’t on the line at ‘Slam as well. The World’s Greatest Tag Team, alongside Kidman/Mysterio have had some great matches as of late. Also, the FBI and the APA remain with nothing to do on SmackDown. I believe they shouldn’t be Benoit-ed (as my friend would say) that way, and WWE should put them back in the titles hunt! Speaking of a friend of mine, I’d like to thank her for the phrase “Benoit-ed” (That’s copyrighted folks!), as well as for helping us out with the beautiful image of the Elimination Chamber for our Top Story area. Thanks Jo! We appreciate it and thank you! Uh, to believe that from someone so sweet now I have to go back to “Informer” mode…
US Championship Match
– Watch… Just watch and observe wrestling at it’s best.
Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle
– Brock has done the unthinkable!!! The youngest WWE Champion in the history of the company has joined powers with not just anyone … but with the Devil himself! An unholy alliance has emerged on SmackDown, and the Mastermind behind it all is Vincent Kennedy McMahon. Following the brutal beatings that Spanky and Zach Gowen took in the hands of the scariest man on Earth, will Kurt Angle be able to survive Brock? Or will he Feel the pain? What role will Mr. McMahon have and how close will he be to the ring when the match takes place? Here Comes the Olympic Hero … and Here Comes the Pain! Who will be able to stand up at the end of this WrestleMania rematch? Well, “YOU SUCK!” if you said Brock, and You’re not the Next Big Thing if you said Angle. Guess we’ll wait and see.
Elimination Chamber
– March 30, 2003. WrestleMania XIX. As the crowd was anticipating a match on the card, the attention focused to the Titan Tron. The theme of WCW’s most popular Champion hit the arena, and a promo aired. It simply let the WWE fans know that the biggest name in the industry is coming! Bill Goldberg debuted on WWE RAW the next night. Since then, the company has never been the same. WWE fans saw an opportunity for a new champion, for someone new to finally get on the top of RAW! For a new, fresh change! They thought they were going to get that at SummerSlam, as Eric Bischoff announced in Los Angeles that the RAW Main Event for the PPV will be Bill Goldberg vs. Triple H in a one-on-one match for the World Heavyweight Championship. But it was not to be. An injured champion faced the fear of working through a whole match with a bad groin, and understandable, the match had to be changed. Speculations? Excuses not to lose the belt? Maybe. Maybe not. Triple H defends his World Heavyweight Championship in an Elimination Chamber match at SummerSlam not just against Goldberg, but also against Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, and Kevin Nash. Whether The Game walks out as champion from SummerSlam or not wouldn’t matter. One way or another… We have all played The Game.
Well, there it is! The one N & A I wrote that’s really not what my style is like. I just thought I’d do something difference and see how you guys react to it. Feel free to contact me with comments!
I suggest that you check out TBL’s SummerSlam coverage. It’s the best one I’ve seen online! Thanks for your time! I’ll be back next week with another N & A in my usual style, as I’ll give you the analysis of RAW, and Slam possibly combined together. We shall see.
Thanks for reading. See ya.
Eddie
