WWE's Raw World Tour cruises into the Daytona Beach Ocean Center at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Sheamus, the WWE Champion, will headline the card.
I saw an online survey recently asking who the best world champion was:
We have Sheamus (WWE Champion), Kane (World Heavyweight Champion) and Rob Van Dam (TNA Wrestling Champion).
Name-wise and fan-base wise, RVD wins this one. Sorry, WWE.
But, as far as future long-term potential, Sheamus is a lock.
I remember Sheamus storming onto the Florida Championship Wrestling scene a few years ago when I was watching FCW on television and I immediately said to myself, "This guy is a future star."
I am still a little stunned as to how quickly he has risen the ranks, but his success is very well-deserved.
Many will say he has benefited from injuries to such stars like Triple H, and with WWE needing a strong heel to beat John Cena, he was the chosen one.
True, to an extent, but that's how this business works.
If you do your job day in and day out in the ring, you are rewarded.
Sheamus, the WWE Champion, will headline the card.
I saw an online survey recently asking who the best world champion was:
We have Sheamus (WWE Champion), Kane (World Heavyweight Champion) and Rob Van Dam (TNA Wrestling Champion).
Name-wise and fan-base wise, RVD wins this one. Sorry, WWE.
But, as far as future long-term potential, Sheamus is a lock.
I remember Sheamus storming onto the Florida Championship Wrestling scene a few years ago when I was watching FCW on television and I immediately said to myself, "This guy is a future star."
I am still a little stunned as to how quickly he has risen the ranks, but his success is very well-deserved.
Many will say he has benefited from injuries to such stars like Triple H, and with WWE needing a strong heel to beat John Cena, he was the chosen one.
True, to an extent, but that's how this business works.
If you do your job day in and day out in the ring, you are rewarded.
If you do what is asked of you outside the ring (I can see why WWE likes Sheamus doing interviews these days -- he's a great interview), you are rewarded.
It's not just because Sheamus is big (6-foot-6, 272 pounds) and because he is a heel that he has become a two-time world champion so quickly.
Sheamus is unique. Look at him.
Spiked red hair. No tan. An Irish accent.
There are not any other wrestlers like him.
He has said in past interviews that wrestling, and life in general, would be boring if we all looked like.
How true that statement is, especially in a business where the Superstars are on TV all of the time.
I don't see much of anything stopping Sheamus the rest of this year.
WWE needs a strong heel going, and right now, it's him.
It's very likely Randy Orton will be the next champion, probably at Summerslam, but that doesn't mean Sheamus will drop down the ranks and back into the mid-card.
This guy is going to be in the world-title pictures for a long time.
As strong as a heel that he is, I think there is also a strong chance he will turn face one day.
Then, the fans will really appreciate him.
It's not just because Sheamus is big (6-foot-6, 272 pounds) and because he is a heel that he has become a two-time world champion so quickly.
Sheamus is unique. Look at him.
Spiked red hair. No tan. An Irish accent.
There are not any other wrestlers like him.
He has said in past interviews that wrestling, and life in general, would be boring if we all looked like.
How true that statement is, especially in a business where the Superstars are on TV all of the time.
I don't see much of anything stopping Sheamus the rest of this year.
WWE needs a strong heel going, and right now, it's him.
It's very likely Randy Orton will be the next champion, probably at Summerslam, but that doesn't mean Sheamus will drop down the ranks and back into the mid-card.
This guy is going to be in the world-title pictures for a long time.
As strong as a heel that he is, I think there is also a strong chance he will turn face one day.
Then, the fans will really appreciate him.
Sheamus photo: Courtesy of WWE.
PREDICTIONS FOR SATURDAY
House shows are usually very predictable, as the results follow other house show results. However, since I am typing this Wednesday afternoon, and I haven't read any recent house show results, here are my predictions.
Here is the latest list of advertised matches. Card is subject to change:
WWE Champion Sheamus vs. "The Legend Killer" Randy Orton: Assuming this is a non-title match, Orton is all but certain to get his hand raised in this one.
John Cena, Chris Jericho and John Morrison vs. The Nexus: The numbers are against Cena's team, and Jericho being on Cena's team doesn't help either. Go with The Nexus.
United States Champion The Miz vs. Evan Bourne: The Miz is on a roll. You can't stop him, you can only hope to contain him.
Mark Henry vs. William Regal: Henry is surprisingly still a big fan favorite despite limited story lines. I can't see Regal beating him.
Eve and Gail Kim vs. Alicia Fox and Jillian: Alicia has been on a roll lately as champion, but teased conflict with Jillian on Raw won't help her against Eve and Gail. Maybe Melina will grace us with a run-in.
The Great Khali vs. Primo: This is my lock pick, for you betters. Go with Khali.
Yoshi Tatsu vs. Ted DiBiase (with Maryse): Heels need another victory on this card, and DiBiase is a good one. Plus, Maryse is on his side, even if she was meant for The Miz's character.
Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov vs. Jimmy and Jey Uso (with Tamina): There's something very entertaining about the Marella/Kozlov team. The fans will get their wish here with an Usos' loss.
MORE INFO FOR SATURDAY
Tickets: $15, $25, $35 and $45 at the box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com/wwe or by calling 1-800-745-3000. $60 tickets are sold out.
Before the show: Meet John Morrison and Eve at Daytona Lagoon on Saturday from 3-4 p.m. Admission to meet the duo is free.
PREDICTIONS FOR SATURDAY
House shows are usually very predictable, as the results follow other house show results. However, since I am typing this Wednesday afternoon, and I haven't read any recent house show results, here are my predictions.
Here is the latest list of advertised matches. Card is subject to change:
WWE Champion Sheamus vs. "The Legend Killer" Randy Orton: Assuming this is a non-title match, Orton is all but certain to get his hand raised in this one.
John Cena, Chris Jericho and John Morrison vs. The Nexus: The numbers are against Cena's team, and Jericho being on Cena's team doesn't help either. Go with The Nexus.
United States Champion The Miz vs. Evan Bourne: The Miz is on a roll. You can't stop him, you can only hope to contain him.
Mark Henry vs. William Regal: Henry is surprisingly still a big fan favorite despite limited story lines. I can't see Regal beating him.
Eve and Gail Kim vs. Alicia Fox and Jillian: Alicia has been on a roll lately as champion, but teased conflict with Jillian on Raw won't help her against Eve and Gail. Maybe Melina will grace us with a run-in.
The Great Khali vs. Primo: This is my lock pick, for you betters. Go with Khali.
Yoshi Tatsu vs. Ted DiBiase (with Maryse): Heels need another victory on this card, and DiBiase is a good one. Plus, Maryse is on his side, even if she was meant for The Miz's character.
Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov vs. Jimmy and Jey Uso (with Tamina): There's something very entertaining about the Marella/Kozlov team. The fans will get their wish here with an Usos' loss.
MORE INFO FOR SATURDAY
Tickets: $15, $25, $35 and $45 at the box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com/wwe or by calling 1-800-745-3000. $60 tickets are sold out.
Before the show: Meet John Morrison and Eve at Daytona Lagoon on Saturday from 3-4 p.m. Admission to meet the duo is free.
