From Smackdown to ECW:
WWE Smackdown: Any chance of R-Truth getting the best of Shelton Benjamin seems to have passed. Strange, as I thought for sure he would, considering Benjamin's lack of push in years past. Why is Ezekiel Jackson beating Jimmy Wang Yang if it won't likely lead to a push? The key to this show the next several months is whether Jeff Hardy will become a full-blown heel. As for MVP's losing streak, this is getting beyond ridiculous. I expect a big payoff.
WWE's FCW: Trent Beretta will be a future star in WWE. Great mic skills, and he has youth on his side.
WWE Raw: Man, do I feel sorry for the Manchester fans. First, the first two matches -- William Regal over Santino Marella and Mike Knox over D-Lo Brown -- were fast squashes (and why push Santino's Honk-A-Meter for weeks and then have him lose in seconds?) Second, WWE didn't deliver Randy Orton vs. Batista as Cody Rhodes subbed in for Orton. Finally, while Chris Jericho-Shawn Michaels was a strong match, half of it took place in the stands -- something I always hated when at an event live. Rey Mysterio-Kane and Beth Phoenix-Mickie James were solid matches. The most interesting angle on Raw now is Randy Orton's angle with Cody Rhodes, Manu and Ted Dibiase. Hopefully, WWE will continue it and end it with a strong payoff.
TNA Wrestling: Sunday's pay-per-view had the Main Event Mafia (Booker T, Kurt Angle, Kevin Nash and Sting) all win their matches. Match reports all came in respectable. Expect the youngsters to win the next time around in what seems to be an angle that works. As long as Sting, as a heel, doesn't keep slapping the hands of fans on the way to the ring. As for Scott Hall, just showing up (drunk) and sitting in the front row when you are not part of the show is ridiculous. Even Kevin Nash reportedly agreed, as he reportedly wanted Hall out of there. And, it looks like Christian Cage is indeed coming to WWE -- as he was laid out by several wrestlers at Monday's tapings.
WWE's ECW: Matt Hardy is reigning supreme right now. Finlay gave him a great match. It'll be interesting to see how quickly Jack Swagger rises up the ranks. Tommy Dreamer seems interesting again. It must be the fresh angle for him.
Survivor Series: (Nov. 23): Team Michaels vs. Team JBL (pick: team JBL has a slight edge on paper. But with JBL as captain of Team JBL and WWE's love of Cryme Tyme, expect Team Michaels to prevail); Chris Jericho vs. John Cena (pick: Cena, as angles need to start being put in place for WrestleMania XXV); Triple H vs. Vladamir Kozlov (pick: HHH. Do I really need to explain this?); Undertaker vs. Big Show (pick: Big Show. Why not, since Undertaker will probably take a few months off before WM XXV); Team Batista vs. Team Orton (Orton's team is a little stronger on paper, so I'll go with them).
WrestleMania XXV (April 5, 2009): Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster.
