Results, Review, Recap of WWE Wrestlemania 31

Tonight was the Grandest Stage, the Showcase of the Immortals, and the Granddaddy of em All. It's Wrestlemania 31 and for me along with many others it's just as big as the Super Bowl, Stanley Cup Finals, NBA Finals, March Madness, World Series and Daytona 500. For a pure wrestling fan it's bigger then all of them. Tonight was a spectacle and before I begin here are the results of Wrestlemania 31: 

Fatal Four Way Tag Title Match: Cesaro/Tyson Kidd defeated The New Day, The Usos and The New Day 

Andre the Giant Battle Royal: Big Show 

WWE Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match: Daniel Bryan defeated Bad News Barrett, Dean Ambrose, Dolph Ziggler, Luke Harper, Stardust and R-Truth 

Randy Orton defeated Seth Rollins 

Triple H defeated Sting 

AJ Lee/Paige defeated The Bella Twins 

United States Title Match: John Cena defeated Rusev 

The Undertaker defeated Bray Wyatt 

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: Seth Rollins defeated Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns

I honestly have no complaints about tonight's card. I was a little bit torn on the Sting and Triple H match but at the end of the day if it is Stings last match what a great way to go out being surrounded by legends. The nWo and DX battle really got amp'd up for sure. I was really happy to see The Undertaker back to his former glory. He looked great and he looked like the man we knew before Wrestlemania 30. 

As many of you know I think Ring of Honor produces the best wrestlers around. Now they can say their boys are one half of the Tag Team champions, the Intercontinental Champion and the World Heavyweight Champion. I loved the surprises like Ronda Rousey, The Rock, and all the former Intercontinental Champions congratulating Daniel Bryan. I would have to say Triple H, Sting, Bray Wyatt, Rusev and John Cena had the best entrances of the night. They all played into their matches and storylines brilliantly.

From top to bottom this was the best Wrestlemania in the last decade. I think the WWE really built for the future tonight and if anyone complains or whines about this years Wrestlemania needs to reevaluate themselves as a professional wrestling fan. I am giving Wrestlemania 31 at 10 out 10 with no regrets or second thoughts. Tonight legends were made, legacies were cemented and men become immortalized

Tony Stewart Needs to Control His Emotions

Over the last several weeks Tony Stewart has gone two heavily profanity laced rants. One was at Las Vegas and the other was last week in California against Martin Truex Jr. Well know Stewart has a history of being vocal and even hostile at times when things don't go his way. Even though he was not at fault, but I would think after killing someone on the racetrack last year he would have learned how to better handle his emotions. Kevin Ward's death was a tragic accident that was marred in controversy because of the findings in the trial.

I stated last year that I felt Tony should retire after what happened and apart of me still feels that way because obviously what happened is still haunting him. His performance on the track is one of the worse we've ever seen out of him and he's blowing up at everyone even if the situation isn't their fault. My issue is that one of these days he's going to pick a fight with the wrong person and his career will be over. There are only so many people who are going to put up with his attitude and antics.

The way I see it is if Stewart doesn't control his emotions soon, then his temper is going to cost him everything. I can see at some point him getting into a fight that he won't win or NASCAR officials forcing him out of the car. Tony Stewart has built himself a legacy as a driver and owner but his performance and attitude in 2015 thus far are putting a dent into that legacy. I know it's only a few races in but I am going to continue to follow what Stewart does during the rest of the season.  Whether or not Tony Stewart can reclaim some of his old glory remains to be seem but if Smoke's career doesn't go up in smoke.

Kevin Nash (Diesel) to be Inducted Into the 2015 WWE Hall of Fame

The characters Oz and Vinnie Vegas have no business being in the WWE Hall of Fame but thank goodness for Kevin Nash that he became Diesel in 1993. Nash started pro wrestling in 1990 after he was done training with Jody Hamilton. It should be noted that Hamilton also helped train Diamond Dallas Page, The Big Show, and Bill Goldberg. Nash's early wrestling as noted did not start off too well. He was not a headliner and was someone that nobody cared about. I think Kevin Nash didn't want to be a nobody and he took advantage of the fact the Shawn Michaels watched him on WCW Saturday Night. When Shawn saw him his career changed forever. 

In 1993, Nash arrived on the scene as Shawn Michaels bodyguard. He started going under the name Diesel. He and Shawn had a great inital two year run. In those two years he won the WWE Tag Team Championship and the Intercontinental Championships. Less then a week after he split from Shawn Michaels he went to Madison Square Garden and defeated Bob Backlund for the WWE Heavyweight Championship. He held the title for a year taking on the like of Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Sid Vicious, Mable, and the British Bulldog He was the longest reigning champion of the 90's 

Nash left WWE in 1996 to form the legendary n.W.o. with Hulk Hogan and Scott Hall. During his time he was a multiple time WCW Heavyweight and Tag Team Champion. A lot of criticism of Nash came from the fact that he was booker and match maker for a brief period of time. A lot of people thought he used his power the wrong way. Regardless of how you look at Kevin Nash you cannot deny he had a presence in that ring and left a legacy that is still talked about today. Two of my all time favorite Nash moments is his match against The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 12 and when he and Shawn Michaels held the tag titles, Intercontinental Title and WWE Title all at one time. It only lasted a night but it was a sign of greatness for both men.

Congratulations to the latest member of the clique to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. He is "Big Sexy" Kevin Nash, he's an Outsider, he's just too sweet but for me he will always be "Big Daddy Cool" Diesel. 

Hollywood's World of Sports - Wrestlemania 31

The Corner of Controversey and Criticism- 3/22/2015: Pro Wrestling Isn't All Fake

This past Friday night Mexican Wrestling great Perro Aguayo Jr. died in a horrible accident during a wrestling with Tigre Uno, Manik and former WWE star Rey Mysterio. The accident occurred when Mysterio was setting up for his trademark move the 6-1-9. Aguayo was only 35 years old and still in the prime of his career. I am writing this because so many damn times when a wrestler dies I hear all these sports journalists say he's on steroids, he's on drugs, or something of that nature. A lot of pure sports fans hate pro wrestling and hate it when it's compared to professional sports. 

There is no doubt the professional wrestling is pre-determined and a lot of it's choreographed but it takes a lot of athleticism, conditioning and toughness to be in the pro wrestling business. Pro wrestlers are very protective of who gets in the pro wrestling business. I personally have experienced this in my life. If you aren't trained then you better dare not get close to a ring. The worse thing you could do is try to perform without being properly trained. It makes you and others around you look horribly bad.

To the critics who say wrestling is fake have not seen the injuries these men and women occur over a 300 day a year schedule. Lets put this into perspective. The NBA has 82 games, the NFL has 16 games, the MLB has 162 games, and UFC fighters only fight 3 times a year at most. The WWE and other major wrestling promotions are on the road 300 days a year. Independent wrestlers perform 3-4 times a week. A guy like Colin Cowherd or other ignorant sports journalists wouldn't be able to handle five minutes inside a wrestling ring. There are real life injuries that do occur that end a career and as we have seen end a life.

I think back to Darren Drozdov and how he was instantly paralyzed after a freak accident in the ring. Mick Foley took years off of his career by giving his all for the fans. Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Edge and Paul Orndorff all have had major neck problems that cut their careers short. I will always hate the word "fake" when someone is describing pro wrestling. It is far from fake, and it is a lot more physical then what the sports purist thinks. 

Perro Aguayo isn't the first to lose his life at a wrestling event. Owen Hart is the most recognized name to die in a wrestling accident. He was making a special entrance when he fell to his death. There have also been deaths due to wrestling related injuries. One of the most notable ones was Chris Candido. He had broken his leg in the match and died shortly there after due to blood clots after his surgery to repair the leg. If you want to get really deep into this topic look not further then to Chris Benoit. Look at all the brain trauma that occured in his wrestling career which led to his actions and his suicide. 

So to all the critics, to all the Colin Cowherd' s and, Nancy Grace's of the world I encourage you to step into a pro wrestling ring for ten minutes and come back and tell me that it's not physical and that doesn't take a certain level of conditioning, athleticism, and toughness.Pro Wrestling maybe entertainment, maybe pre-determined but it is far from fake! As always be safe, be strong, and believe in yourself. Controversy Doesn't Come Without Criticism!

Road to Wrestlemania 31- Week 8

This week on the Road to Wrestlemania we saw mind games played and a shocking alliance at the end of Raw. The buildup to Wrestlemania has been getting better and it has me intrigued. The card is completely set and ready to go. Here are the results from TV from this past week

RAW

-Nikki Bella defeated AJ Lee

-Ryback defeated The Miz

-Cesaro/Tyson Kidd defeated The New Day

-Daniel Bryan/Dolph Ziggler/Dean Ambrose defeated Bad News Barrett/Luke Harper/Stardust

SMACKDOWN

-Paige defeated Brie Bella

-Dolph Ziggler won the Intercontinental Title Contender Gauntlet Match which featured Daniel Bryan, Stardust, R-Truth, Luke Harper and Dean Ambrose

-Cesaro/Tyson Kidd/Natalya defeated Los Matadores/El Torito

-Roman Reigns defeated Seth Rollins/Kane

Now the fact that there were only eight matches in five hours of television was a little disappointing but as a fan I understand you have to build the stories heading into the biggest show of the year. I can honestly tell you that the end of Raw was awesome when Sting showed up to help Randy Orton fend off The Authority. I also enjoyed the Orton appeared on Smackdown and cleaned house again. It reminded me of the old Sting-nWo storyline in WCW. 

The highlight of this Wrestlemania season has been the Intercontinental Championship picture. The tag matches, the gauntlet, and the fact it's been handled like a hot potato has been extremely fun to watch. I maintain my original statement and say that the match of the night will be the ladder match. All seven guys are hungry and want to be main eventers. I also am intrigued by Sting versus Triple H and Bray Wyatt vs. The Undertaker. Sting or The Undertaker have not been in a match in over a year so I will be curious to see their condition, their abilities and whether or not they can carry a good match. A lot of questions headed into Wrestlemania and in a weeks time they will be completely answered.

The Wrestlemania 31 card looks like this:

Pre Show- WWE Tag Team Championship Match

Cesaro/Tyson Kidd vs. The Uso's vs. The New Day vs. Los Matadores 

AJ Lee/Paige vs. The Bella Twins

Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal

Mark Henry, The Miz, Kane, Big Show, Curtis Axel, Damien Mizdow, Fandango, Adam Rose, Zack Ryder, Jack Swagger, Titus O'Neill,  Darren Young, Erick Rowan, Sin Cara, Goldust, Heath Slater, Ryback, Winner of an NXT tournament

Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins

United States Championship Match

Rusev vs. John Cena

Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match

Bad News Barrett vs. R-Truth vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Luke Harper vs. Stardust vs. Daniel Bryan

The Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt

Sting vs. Triple H

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match

Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns

Check back next week for the final week of the Road to Wrestlemania. It's going to be a wild and busy week for WWE and it's going to be fun to try and keep up with it all.

Tatsumi Fujinami 藤波 辰爾 to be Inducted into the 2015 WWE Hall of Fame

Since 1971, Tatsumi Fujinami 藤波 辰爾 has been a mainstay in Japan. From 1972-2006, he was apart of a New Japan Pro Wrestling. During his time there he wrestled the likes of Vader and Ric Flair. In wrestling Ric Flair he became the first man to hold the  IWGP and NWA World titles simultaneously. He held every title and honor that New Japan has had to offer in it's history. He also wrestled Andre the Giant, Dynamite Kid, Sid Vicious, The Von Erichs, and Hulk Hogan. He's wrestled anybody whose anybody in wrestling.

In 2006, he left New Japan after 35 years with the company and still actively competes regardless of his age. He is credit for innovating the dragon sleeper and dragon suplex, which are both very common moves in the American wrestling style. He is one of the biggest names that Japan has ever seen and definitely deserves this honor. Fans who don't know anything but WWE need to watch his matches and other people who have never been apart of WWE. There were so many greats back in the territory and international days that today's fans have never seen or heard of. He's now another great name that spent most of his career outside of WWE and is being honored. I love that WWE is honoring guys who have had a significant impact in wrestling even though they weren't a "WWE" guy. 

Congratulatons to Tatsumi Fujinami 藤波 辰爾 on being inducted into the 2015 WWE Hall of Fame

Larry Zbyszko to be Inducted Into the 2015 WWE Hall of Fame

Long before he was one of the voices of WCW Nitro during the Monday Night Wars, Larry Zbyszko carved out a legacy that started in 1973. He was trained by fellow Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino. He was known as Bruno's protege and a great young upstart. In 1978 he attained gold by winning the WWE Tag Team Titles with Tony Garea. After his tag title run he feuded with Abdullah the Butcher,  "Superstar" Billy Graham, and Killer Kowalski. In 1980, he shockingly turned on his mentor Sammartino and feuded with him for almost a year. His steel cage match at Shea Stadium is still highly remembered to this day.

After his departure in WWE, he became very successful in the NWA and AWA. He feuded with legends such as Nick Bockwinkle, Sgt. Slaughter, Tom Zenk, and Wahoo McDaniel. He was a two time AWA Heavyweight Champion during his time in the AWA, From 1990 to 2000 he was in WCW. He teamed with Arn Anderson to win the WCW Tag Team titles and eventually became of the Paul Heyman's Dangerous Alliance. In 1994, he joined the broadcast team and would remain there until 2000. 

Larry still tours around the country and works the independent scene. He's wrestled Dusty Rhodes, Diamond Dallas Page, Jeff Jarrett, Kid Kash, Ken Shamrock, and Scotty 2 Hotty on the independent scene. He was also influential in the early days of TNA Impact Wrestling. In 2013, he signed a legends contract with WWE and appears now in a lot of DVDs and WWE Network specials. He is also a regular attender of WWE NXT. 

Larry Zbyszko has been around all the major promotions and had impact in each and everyone of them. He made a great name for himself and now will be immortalized in the rich history of the WWE Hall of Fame. Congratulations to the Living Legend on becoming the newest member

of the WWE Hall of Fame.

Jim Ross Interviews the Dangerous Alliance in 1992(Steve Austin, Paul Heyman, Larry Zbyszko, Arn Anderson, Rick Rude, and Bobby Eaton)

The Corner of Controversy and Criticism- 3/15/2015: NFL Off-Season

This week I feel there has been a lot of signings and trades in the NFL off-season. I feel teams are fighting harder for a chance to win more then ever this off-season and that other teams are making big risks by letting some of their big stars go This will be recap of each teams key additions this off-season followed by some thoughts and predictions about who looks for the 2015 season.

Arizona Cardinals

LB LaMarr Woodley

Atlanta Falcons

New Head Coach Dan Quinn

Baltimore Ravens

Acquired 2015 4th and 5th Round Draft Picks

Buffalo Bills

New Head Coach Rex Ryan

QB Matt Cassel

RB LeSean McCoy

FB Jerome Felton

G Richie Incognito 

WR Percy Harvin

Carolina Panthers

WR Ted Ginn Jr.

OT Michael Oher

Chicago Bears

WR Eddie Royal 

S Antrel Rolle

2015 5th Round Draft Pick

Cincinnati Bengals 

LB AJ Hawk

K Mike Nugent 

Cleveland Browns

QB Josh McCown

WR Brian Hartline 

Dallas Cowboys

RB Darren McFadden

LB Keith Rivers

Denver Broncos

New Head Coach Gary Kubiak

New Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips

Detroit Lions

DT Haloti Ngata

Green Bay Packers

N/A

Houston Texans

QB Brian Hoyer

Indianapolis Colts

RB Frank Gore

WR Andre Johnson

Jacksonville Jaguars

N/A

Kansas City Chiefs

WR Jason Avant

WR Jeremy Maclin

Miami Dolphins

DT  Ndamukong Suh

Minnesota Vikings

WR Jerome Simpson

TE Brian Bostick

New England Patriots

WR Kevin Dorsey

WR Brandon Gibson

New Orleans Saints

RB CJ Spiller

New York Giants

RB Shane Vereen

New York Jets

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick 

WR Brandon Marshall

CB Darrell Revis 

CB Antonio Cromartie

Oakland Raiders

QB Christian Ponder

Philadelphia Eagles

RB DeMarco Murray

QB Sam Bradford

2015 5th Round Draft Pick

RB Ryan Matthews

Pittsburgh Steelers

RB DeAngelo Williams

San Diego Chargers

WR Jacoby Jones

San Francisco 49ers

WR Torrey Smith

DT Darnell Dockett

Seattle Seahawks

TE Jimmy Graham

St. Louis Rams

DT Nick Fairley

QB Nick Foles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

N/A

Tennessee Titans

TE Anthony Fasano

Washington Redskins

N/A

It's been an extremely busy offseason and in another six weeks we have the NFL Draft which takes place April 30-May 2.  Here is what the first round of the NFL Draft looks like:

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2-14

2. Tennessee Titans 2-14

3. Jacksonville Jaguars 3-13

4. Oakland Raiders 3-13

5. Washington Redskins 4-12

6. New York Jets 4-12

7. Chicago Bears 5-11

8. Atlanta Falcons 6-10

9. New York Giants 6-10

10. St. Louis Rams 6-10

11. Minnesota Vikings 7-9

12. Cleveland Browns 7-9

13. New Orleans Saints 7-9

14. Miami Dolphins 8-8

15. San Francisco 49ers 8-8

16. Houston Texans 9-7

17. San Diego Chargers 9-7

18. Kansas City Chiefs 9-7

19. Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo) 7-9

20. Philadelphia Eagles 10-6

21. Cincinnati Bengals 10-5-1

22. Pittsburgh Steelers 11-5

23. Detroit Lions 11-5

24. Arizona Cardinals 11-5

25. Carolina Panthers 7-8-1

26. Baltimore Ravens 10-6

27. Dallas Cowboys 12-4

28. Denver Broncos 12-4

29. Indianapolis Colts 11-5

30. Green Bay Packers 12-4

31. New Orleans Saints (from Seattle) 7-9

32. New England Patriots 12-4

As for the NFL Draft itself the Cleveland Browns have the most picks with 10 and the St. Louis Rams have the fewest with 5. The teams in the NFC I would be watching closely this season are the Eagles and the two time NFC Champion Seahawks. On the AFC side the Colts, Bills, and Jets have all been making some very solid moves. I expect to see the Colts and Broncos in the thick of things at the end of the season. On paper some of these teams like great but you never know what the season is going to hold. If you were to ask me on moves alone who is going to be in the Super Bowl I would tell you the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts. Whether that happens remains to be seen. Until the season begins sit back and watch the NFL Draft unfold in six weeks. 

As always, be safe, be strong and believe in yourself. Controversy Doesn't Come Without Criticism!

Road to Wrestlemania 31: Week 7

This week on the Road to Wrestlemania a lot of things were made certain. A lot of things are more clearer and the Wrestlemania card is pretty solid. Before I begin with this weeks thoughts here is what happened on TV.

RAW
-Daniel Bryan defeated Bad News Barrett
-Dean Ambrose defeated Stardust
-Ryback and Erick Rowan defeated Kane and Big Show
-AJ Lee defeated Summer Rae
-Rusev dfewated Curtis Axel
-The New Day defeated Cesaro and Tyson Kidd
-Naomi defeated Natalya
-Los Matadores defeated The Uso's
-Roman Reigns defeated Seth Rollins and Randy Orton

SMACKDOWN
-Tyson Kidd/Cesaro/Los Matadores defeated The Uso's/Kofi Kingston/Xavier Woods
-Ryback defeated The Miz
-Paige/AJ Lee defeated Cameron/Summer Rae
-Daniel Bryan/Dean Ambrose/Dolph Ziggler defeated Bad News Barrett/Luke Harper/Stardust

On Monday, we learned that The Undertaker will indeed be at Wrestlemania to face Bray Wyatt in which will be in epic contest. On Thursday, we learned Daniel Bryan is officially apart of Wrestlemania and will be in the ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship. These are my two favorite storylines heading into Wrestlemania. The promos and now mind games with The Undertaker and Bray Wyatt have been tremendous. I know people, including myself have been skeptical of The Undertaker returning but if his health is good and the story is done right then by all means let him come back and perform

It is nice to see Daniel Bryan be in a heavily promoted match with some meaning in it. I enjoyed his promo on Smackdown about how the Intercontinental Title picture use to mean more then the World Title picture and how he and the other six intend to make it that way again. This ladder match is going to be crazy and will more then likely steal the show.

As I said the card for Wrestlemania 31 is looking solid now. Here is the current updated for Wrestlemania:

WWE World Heavyweight Title Match

Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns

Sting vs. Triple H

Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal

The Miz, Curtis Axel, Damien Mizdow, Sin Cara, Titus O'Neill, Darren Young, Ryback, Fandango, Adam Rose, Zack Ryder, Jack Swagger, Big Show, Kane, Erick Rowan

Intercontinental Title Ladder Match

Bad News Barrett, Stardust, Luke Harper, R-Truth, Dolph Ziggler, Dean Ambrose, Daniel Bryan

The Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt

United States Title Match

Rusev vs. John Cena

AJ Lee/Paige vs. Bella Twins

Two matches that have not been announced is the inevitable Randy Orton versus Seth Rollins match. I am also going to guess that you will see Cesaro and Tyson Kidd will defend their tag titles in a fatal four way against the New Day, The Uso's, and Los Matadores. I expect those will be the last two matches added to the card. The only thing that I am disappointed with is that NXT will not be on the main card of Wrestlemania 31. I feel with the amount of success and attention they have had they deserve a spot atleast on the pre-show. 

A lot of people are complaining that this will be the worse Wrestlemania in quite some time. To be honest I think it will be great. They are pushing for the future and the buildup hasn't been so outrageous to the point where you feel letdown. I think that a lot of talents are waiting until the biggest show of the year the let it all loose and electrify all those who are watching. With that being said we now have two weeks until the Showcase of the Immortals. Keep checking back for more in the next two weeks for all the latest updates on the Road to Wrestlemania 31!

Connor the Crusher Michalek to be Inducted into the 2015 WWE Hall of Fame (Warrior Award)

Last year during the WWE Hall of Fame the Ultimate Warrior talked about he would like to see people who aren't exactly in the ring be awarded for the courage and impact others. While the Warrior was, an eight year old with pediatric brain cancer was sitting in the crowd. Connor Michalek was introduced to the WWE Universe in 2012 when he got to meet his hero Daniel Bryan. Connor was only eight years old when he passed away.  For those who criticize WWE you need to stop and think about all the great things they do for our troops, Make A Wish, and other charities. WWE has put out Connor's Cure bracelets with all the proceeds going to pediatric cancer research and support. You can donate at https://www.givetochildrens.org/butterflies3?tab=0&frsid=67 

I want to go back to the Ultimate Warriors final speech on Raw before died. He said the following:

"No WWE talent becomes a legend on their own. Every man's heart one day beats its final beat. His lungs breathe a final breath. And if what that man did in his life makes the blood pulse through the body of others and makes them bleed deeper and something larger than life then his essence, his spirit, will be immortalized. By the story tellers, by the loyalty, by the memory of those who honor him and make the running the man did live forever. You, you, you, you, you, you are the legend markers of Ultimate Warrior. In the back I see many potential legends. Some of them with warrior spirits. And you will do the same for them. You will decide if they lived with the passion and intensity. So much so that you will tell your stories and you will make them legends, as well. Ultimate. You are the Ultimate Warrior fans. And the spirit of the Ultimate Warrior will run forever!"

I truly believe WWE is honoring those words and the Warriors memory by following up what he suggested. It was truly Warriors last great act before he died. This is a great to start the Warrior Award and it is very touching. Congratulations to Michalek family. Their son's memory will live on forever. 

The Corner of Controversy and Criticism: Female Athletes- 3/8/2015

There is that old saying what a man can do, a woman can do better. There has been a lot of talk about Ronda Rousey and whether or not she could fight a guy. Well women is going to be the focus of this week and if you're a man you might not like this man's perspective on women in sports. There are two videos floating around of Ronda Rousey. One is of her dominating a no-name guy off the street and the other of her meeting her match against a really great UFC middleweight. I see a lot of guys that say they can take Rousey and she wouldn't stand a chance. As someone who has done a little bit of training in MMA, I highly doubt a keyboard warrior on Facebook or an average Hollywood Joe off the street is going to get the best of Ronda Rousey. It's not about how much you weight, how strong you are or how many bar fights you've been in. It's about how smart of a fighter you are and Rousey is an extremely smart fighter,

In NASCAR, Danica Patrick is the big thing when it comes to women drivers. I am not saying I have a problem with her being in her sport but there are better female drivers that came before her that didn't get the recognition or media attention she does because they weren't in a GoDaddy.com commercial. Right now there is Johanna Long, Milka Duno and sometimes Jennifer Jo Cobb. They should be getting just as much media attention as Danica Patrick is. If you're going to focus on women in NASCAR, it should be all women. I think Danica Patrick is good for NASCAR but so are the rest of the women past and present. The female viewership would go way up if they had more then one female to cheer for. 

When it comes to female athletes, quite a few of them stand out. You have the Williams sisters, Candice Parker, Hope Solo, Jennie Finch, Kerri Walsh Jennings, Natalie Gulbis and so many more. All of these women in present day are well known, When you think of past female athletes look no further then to Mia Hamm, Billie Jean King, Cheryl Miller, Lisa Leslie, Steffi Graff and so many others who paved the way and were legends in the sports they competed.

I remember a time when I was in high school and the most dominant sport was the Varsity Softball Team, I remember it well because my freshman year at Wayland Union High School I met one of the best athletes ever and her name was Jessica Merchant. She led Wayland to many wins and eventually went on to play for University of Michigan. She came from an illustrious local family of great softball players who have done great things past and present. When I think of Jessica Merchant I just don't think of the friend I made my freshman year, I think of the captain of the 2005 Michigan team that won 2005 Women's College World Series. I also had the privilege of watching a lot of great softball players in high school and they deserved all the recognition they got.

Do you remember the movie, A League of Their Own? When I think of female athletes I think back to that movie. These girls were tough, aggressive, talented and passionate about what they were doing. When a wonderful athlete like Rousey comes along with those same traits don't chastise her, put her down or make her feel less because she's a woman. That kind of thinking put's back like sixty years. Embrace a female athlete if she's great, and if not encourage her to do better. Women can be just as successful as men can. It's been done and it's been proven.  I love Rousey, and my times in high school watching the Varsity Softball team. I was proud of those girls and still think fondly of the games I went to. Simply put, DON'T DOUBT A WOMAN when it comes to sports. 

As always be safe, be strong and believe in yourself. Controversy Doesn't Come Without Criticism. 

Road to Wrestlemania 31: Week 6

The Showcase of the Immortals is drawing near, the grandest stage is upon us and the pageantry is coming. The card of Wrestlemania 31 is starting to shape up and before we get to that here are the results of this weeks shows:

RAW
-Dean Ambrose defeated Bad News Barrett
-The Usos & Naomi def. WWE Tag Team Champions Cesaro & Tyson Kidd & Natalya
-John Cena defeated Curtis Axel
-Paige defeated Nikki Bella by DQ
-Daniel Bryan defeated Luke Harper
-Seth Rollins defeated Roman Reigns

SMACKDOWN
-Cesaro/Tyson Kidd defeated Los Matadores
-Ryback defeated Kane
-AJ Lee defeated Brie Bella
-The New Day defeated Miz/Mizdow
-Rusev defeated Jack Swagger
Dolph Ziggler/Dean Ambrose defeated Luke Harper/Bad News Barrett

My favorite storyline heading into Wrestlemania is the Intercontinental Title. It really reminds of the WWE Hardcore 24/7 rule. You never knew was going to have the title in hand. I love that they are making the Intercontinental Title important in Wrestlemania season due to the fact that not many people care about the WWE World Heavyweight Title situation right now. The ladder match is going to spectacular and will probably steal the show. The other story is Bray Wyatt and The Undertaker. At first I was completely against Undertaker coming back but the Wyatt's promos are really interesting to watch. It's getting my curiosity to see how The Undertaker is going to respond, how he's going to look and if he can carry a good match like he did in the past.  As of right now the official Wrestlemania card looks like this:

-WWE World Heavyweight Championship- Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns
-Sting vs. Triple H
-Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal- The Miz, Curtis Axel, Ryback, Fandango, Adam Rose, Zack Ryder, Jack Swagger, Titus O'Neill, Darren Young, Big Show, Kane
-Intercontental Championship Ladder Match- Bad News Barrett, R-Truth, Luke Harper, Dean Ambrose, Dolph Ziggler

I personally love what they are doing with Curtis Axel and Damien Mizdow. Both guys are super talented who just need that extra push and for the fans to get behind them. I think it's cool that Hogan is allowing Curtis Axel to do the Axelmania gimmick right now. Most people don't know that Hulk Hogan had a lot of respect for Curt Hennig and thought of Hogan trying to help his son wouldn't be a surprise. Mizdow has been ready to break out for awhile now and I believe at Wrestlemania 31 one of these men is sure to have a break out night with their Wrestlemania moment.

I think this week we will see more matches made at Wrestlemania considering there are only three weeks left until the big show. Keep checking back for more Wrestlemania news, matches and rumors.

Alundra Blayze (Madusa) to be Inducted into the 2015 WWE Hall of Fame

When you think of women's wrestling in the mid 90's there is no women that stands out more Alundra Blayze. She is a pioneer and she is a trailblazer.  The other thing the she is famous is when she showed up to WCW Nitro and threw the WWE Women's Title in the trash. See the problem with this is that she should be known for so much more. Her career spanned 17 years everywhere from AWA, Japan, WWE and WCW. After wrestling was over she became involved the United States Hot Rod Association and competed in many Monster Jam events. 

When I think of Alundra Blayze I think of her in ring ability, he athleticism and her poise. I also remember her for being a huge part of The Dangerous Alliance, and Team Madness during her different runs in WCW. In All Japan she feuded with Luna Vachon and was involved in mixed tag matches. In the AWA she feuded with Sherri Martel, Wendi Richter, and Candi Devine. In WCW she feuded Akira Hokuto, Evan Karagias, Ed Ferrara, and Tori Wilson. During her time in WCW she trained the Diva that would be come known as Molly Holly. Her most famous feuds that I remember were the ones with her taking on Bull Nakano and Bertha Faye. Those matches were instant classics and really paved the way for the next generation of women in wrestling.

It's been nearly 20 years since we last Blayze on WWE Television and I think it's great that WWE is willing to bury the hatchet and develop a relationship with some of the talent who really made an impact in the business. Triple H has done a wonderful job bringing back Sammartino, Ultimate Warrior and now the best woman wrestler of the 90's in coming back home. Congratulations to Alundra Blayze for becoming the newest member of the WWE Hall of Fame!

Heart Testing Should Be Required for ALL Athletes

The Corner of Controversy and Criticism- 3/1/2015

Sometimes the craziest things in sports happen within minutes or in Ronda Rousey's case fourteen seconds. Saturday Night, Rousey defeated Cat Zingano in fourteen seconds of their main event Women's Bantamweight title fight at UFC 184. The original Main Event was suppose to be Chris Weidman versus Vitor Belfort but the females did the best they could. Holly Holm defeated Raquel Pennington in her UFC debut and put herself on the map as a top contender. The UFC has a great women's division and I am sure it's only going to get better. I truly believe that sometimes the women fight harder then the men. The women also carry bigger grudges which makes their fights even more intense then some of the mens fights. I personally think the women have a great future in the sport because so far they haven't cheated by doing drugs and have followed all the rules.

Speaking of rules, NASCAR is really being strict about their rules this year. This past weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway thirteen cars were not allowed to qualify due to failing inspection. This undoubtedly has to be a record for a race. The sad thing is that one of those who had to start in the pack won the race, which happen to be Jimmie Johnson. I like that NASCAR has enforcing the rules and giving everyone a even playing field. One of the new things in monitoring pit road penalties closer. I really think the rules on pit road and the rules on the car setups are really going to impact the races this year. I think you will see drivers that usually aren't competitive be more competitive because of the equal playing field. I know it's early into the year but I can see the final four being Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr based on the first two races. I know that's a huge prediction so I guess I have 34 more races to find out if it comes true.

I have to laugh when thinking about one of my close friends predictions he made to his significant other this week. He made a bet with his other half the Detroit Tigers Justin Verlander would have a bounce back year and win the Cy Young Award. I personally think that's a ballsy prediction considering he's let money and a model go to his head. I have always been a huge Verlander fan but ever since he has started dating Katie Upton he's not performed well on the mound. He might be performing well in other places but not when it comes to be a winning pitcher like he has been. I am going the bold prediction and say that the National League Cy Young will come from the Washington Nationals and the American League Cy Young winner will come from the Boston Red Sox. Both teams have killer starting rotations and who knows maybe it will be a World Series matchup.

We have baseball, NASCAR and before you know it hockey and basketball will end. The summer is my favorite time of the year because it's the heart of baseball and NASCAR season. I would have to say those are my top two sports that I am passionate about and get heated about the most. Until next week be safe, be strong and believe in yourself. Controversy Doesn't Come Without Criticism!

Road to Wrestlemania 31: Week 5

This week on the Road to Wrestlemania we had the fallout from Fast Lane and the continuing buildup of Wrestlemania. We saw the return of Randy Orton, the respect shown by Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns, and titles were being held captive. It was a quiet week in terms of any futher buildup. A lot of it took place at Fast Lane but here is what the rest of the week looked like.

Raw Results:
-Dolph Ziggler defeated Bad News Barrett
-The Prime Time Players defeated The Ascension
-The Uso's defeated Tyson Kidd and Cesaro by DQ
-Jack Swagger defeated Stardust
-The Bella Twins defeated Paige and Emma
-Ryback defeated Curtis Axel
-Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns defeated Seth Rollins and Randy Orton

Smackdown Results:
-Dean Ambrose defeated The Miz
-Natalya defeated Naomi
-Daniel Bryan defeated Bad News Barrett
-Fandango defeated Curtis Axel
-Goldust defeated Adam Rose
-Dolph Ziggler/Ryback/Erick Rowan defeated Seth Rollins/Big Show/Kane

This big news is that Brock Lesnar walked out of Raw on Monday. There is a lot of speculation on what his status is going to be before and after Wrestlemania. He was also seen at UFC 184 on Saturday night talking to Dana White. Two more matches were also made for Wrestlemania and those are the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal and Bad News Barrett will be defending his title in a multi-person ladder match. The ladder match intrigues me because it's either setting up for a great moment for Barrett or one of his challengers who might be Ziggler, Bryan and Ambrose. All three of those men deserve a huge Wrestlemania moment so it will be curious to see how it unfolds.

There is been many reports that The Undertaker is going to be held off TV until the night of Wrestlemania to keep the fans guessing on his health, his look and his character. When he returns this is The Undertaker I want to see:

I know this is the most unpopular opinion out there but in reality it makes sense. Last year Brock Lesnar made Undertaker look human, vulnerable and flat out weak. In my opinion he is no longer the Deadman in my eyes. He is a legend, a hall of famer and an icon. However The Undertaker's deadman gimmick has run it's course. I am 100 percent positive we will see that character at Wrestlemania 31 but I personally cannot buy into it or believe in it anymore.

Wrestlemania is four weeks away and the anticipation is building. I know people think it's going to be a bad Wrestlemania but I am looking forward to this Wrestlemania because I think it's going to highlight and showcase the future. Last year did to some degree but I have a feeling this is a make or break year for a lot of guys trying to grab the brass ring. Keep checking back each week for more on the Road to Wrestlemania 31.