tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281886472012-02-01T14:25:42.090+10:30The violent on-going saga of [usually] mild mannered comics writer, <strong>Mike Haseloff</strong>: <br>A hybrid being who, having struck hammer to earth, transforms from child to man!Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.comBlogger821100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-40533096577886879742011-12-27T01:21:00.000+10:302011-12-27T01:21:55.965+10:30<strong>#1</strong> [929] William Ørbit - Cavalleria Rusticana (--)<br /><strong>#2</strong> [893] William Ørbit - In A Landscape (--)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [880] William Ørbit - Ogive Number I (--)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [840] William Ørbit - L'Inverno (--)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [838] William Ørbit - Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte (--)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [820] William Ørbit - Piece in the Old Style 3 (--)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [817] William Ørbit - Triple Concerto (--)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [815] William Ørbit - Xerxes (--)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [790] William Ørbit - Adagio for Strings (--)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [761] William Ørbit - Piece in the Old Style I (--)<br /><strong>#11</strong> [739] William Ørbit - Opus I32 (+2)<br /><strong>#12</strong> [660] 菅野よう子 [Yoko Kanno] - Bad Dog (-1)<br /><strong>#13</strong> [628] Way Out West - Pulse of Life (-1)<br /><strong>#14</strong> [628] CocoRosie - Rainbowarriors (--)<br /><strong>#15</strong> [563] CoLD SToRAGE - Body in Motion (--)<br /><strong>#16</strong> [547] Thom Yorke - Analyse (--)<br /><strong>#17</strong> [520] Björk - Mouths Cradle (--)<br /><strong>#18</strong> [512] Underworld - Two Months Off (Radio Edit) (--)<br /><strong>#19</strong> [511] Vangelis - Love Theme from Bladerunner (--)<br /><strong>#20</strong> [505] Moby - My Weakness (--)<br /><strong>#21</strong> [477] Björk - Who Is It (Carry My Joy on the Left, Carry My Pain on the Right) (+1)<br /><strong>#22</strong> [473] CoLD SToRAGE - Cold Comfort (-1)<br /><strong>#23</strong> [450] William Ørbit - Barber's Adagio for Strings (Ferry Corsten Remix) (+2)<br /><strong>#24</strong> [450] Sasha - Wavy Gravy (+1)<br /><strong>#25</strong> [438] PNAU - Journey Agent (+1)<br /><strong>#26</strong> [433] Bodyrox feat. Luciana - Yeah Yeah (D. Ramirez Radio Edit) (-2)<br /><strong>#27</strong> [428] Stardust - Music Sounds Better With You (Radio Edit) (+2)<br /><strong>#28</strong> [428] Björk - Submarine (-1)<br /><strong>#29</strong> [422] Groove Terminator - Losing Ground (-1)<br /><strong>#30</strong> [418] The Future Sound of London - Papua New Guinea (+3)<br /><strong>#31</strong> [411] Groove Zone - Eisbaer (Extended Mix) (-1)<br /><strong>#32</strong> [408] Pendulum - Coma (+3)<br /><strong>#33</strong> [396] Intermix - Mantra (-2)<br /><strong>#34</strong> [392] CoLD SToRAGE - Cairodrome (-2)<br /><strong>#35</strong> [389] Gustav - Genua (+1)<br /><strong>#36</strong> [387] Madonna - Frozen (-2)<br /><strong>#37</strong> [384] Rob Dougan - Clubbed to Death (Kurayamino Variation) (--)<br /><strong>#38</strong> [376] 808 State - Pacific (808:98) (+7)<br /><strong>#39</strong> [376] Moby - Bodyrock (Hybrid's Bodyshock Remix) (+7)<br /><strong>#40</strong> [375] Supreme Beings of Leisure - Strangelove Addiction (-2)<br /><strong>#41</strong> [372] Moby - Porcelain (Clubbed to Death Version by Rob Dougan) (-2)<br /><strong>#42</strong> [372] Einsturzende Neubauten - Blume (+7)<br /><strong>#43</strong> [369] Faithless - We Come 1 (-3)<br /><strong>#44</strong> [368] Hot Chip - Over and Over (-3)<br /><strong>#45</strong> [362] Luke Slater - Stars and Heroes (+5)<br /><strong>#46</strong> [359] Moby - Memory Gospel (+10)<br /><strong>#47</strong> [359] Cassius - Toop Toop (-5)<br /><strong>#48</strong> [359] Björk - Desired Constellation (-1)<br /><strong>#49</strong> [357] Radiohead - Videotape (-6)<br /><strong>#50</strong> [355] UNKLE - Lonely Soul (-6)<br /><strong>#51</strong> [354] William Ørbit - Water From a Vine Leaf (+4)<br /><strong>#52</strong> [347] Björk - Vokuro (+2)<br /><strong>#53</strong> [347] Björk - Pleasure is all Mine (--)<br /><strong>#54</strong> [346] Pet Shop Boys - Miracles (Radio Edit) (+5)<br /><strong>#55</strong> [344] Björk - Visur Vatnsenda-Rósu (-7)<br /><strong>#56</strong> [342] Madonna - Drowned World/Substitute For Love (-5)<br /><strong>#57</strong> [341] Gerling - Enter, Space Capsule (Radio Disko Edit) (+4)<br /><strong>#58</strong> [339] Joe Jackson - Steppin Out (-6)<br /><strong>#59</strong> [333] Console - 14 Zero Zero (-2)<br /><strong>#60</strong> [332] b(if)tek feat. Julee Cruise - Wired for Sound (-2)<br /><strong>#61</strong> [326] DJ Krush - Dig This Vibe (-1)<br /><strong>#62</strong> [323] Underworld - Born Slippy (Nuxx) (+13)<br /><strong>#63</strong> [323] Groove Armada - Dusk, You & Me (+4)<br /><strong>#64</strong> [318] UNKLE - Rabbit in your Headlights (+6)<br /><strong>#65</strong> [318] Orbital - Petrol (+7)<br /><strong>#66</strong> [317] Moby - Flying Foxes (+13)<br /><strong>#67</strong> [317] Orbital - Halcyon (7" Version) (+1)<br /><strong>#68</strong> [317] Sash! - Chill Out No. 1 (-6)<br /><strong>#69</strong> [317] Peter Bjorn & John - Young Folks (-6)<br /><strong>#70</strong> [315] b(if)tek - 3 Seconds of Her (+8)<br /><strong>#71</strong> [314] Björk - Joga (+15)<br /><strong>#72</strong> [312] Faithless - Drifting Away [Paradiso Mix] (--)<br /><strong>#73</strong> [312] The Chemical Brothers - Let Forever Be (-9)<br /><strong>#74</strong> [310] Joy Division - Atmosphere (+7)<br /><strong>#75</strong> [309] Pet Shop Boys - I Don't Know What You Want but I Can't Give it Anymore (-10)<br /><strong>#76</strong> [307] Björk - Triumph of a Heart (-10)<br /><strong>#77</strong> [306] Ratty - Sunrise (Here I Am) (+3)<br /><strong>#78</strong> [306] Moby - ARP (-1)<br /><strong>#79</strong> [306] 菅野よう子 [Yoko Kanno] - Pulse (-3)<br /><strong>#80</strong> [305] Björk - Oceania (+5)<br /><strong>#81</strong> [304] Daft Punk - Veridis Quo (+3)<br /><strong>#82</strong> [304] Rui Da Silva feat. Cassandra - Touch Me (Radio Edit) (+1)<br /><strong>#83</strong> [301] Hybrid - Finished Symphony (-14)<br /><strong>#84</strong> [297] Moby - Natural Blues (-10)<br /><strong>#85</strong> [295] CoLD SToRAGE - Messij Received (-12)<br /><strong>#86</strong> [291] Pet Shop Boys - Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money) (+1)<br /><strong>#87</strong> [291] Sash! feat. Tina Cousins - Mysterious Times (+11)<br /><strong>#88</strong> [286] The Prodigy - Voodoo People (Pendulum Remix) (+11)<br /><strong>#89</strong> [286] Hot Chip - Grubbs (-7)<br /><strong>#90</strong> [283] Joanna Newsom - Sprout and the Bean (<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2008/08/ichart-100.html">RE</a>)<br /><strong>#91</strong> [279] Chicane feat. Bryan Adams - Don't Give Up (+9)<br /><strong>#92</strong> [278] Rob Dougan - Nothing at All (+1)<br /><strong>#93</strong> [278] The KLF - 3AM Eternal (new)<br /><strong>#94</strong> [275] The KLF - Last Train to Trancentral (-4)<br /><strong>#95</strong> [273] Pet Shop Boys - Can You Forgive Her? (-3)<br /><strong>#96</strong> [273] Faithless - Salva Mea [Way Out West Remix] (-8)<br /><strong>#97</strong> [271] The Chemical Brothers - The Test (-8)<br /><strong>#98</strong> [269] Hybrid - If I Survive (-2)<br /><strong>#99</strong> [269] The KLF - What Time is Love? (new)<br /><strong>#100</strong> [269] Groove Armada - Inside My Mind (Blue Skies) (<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/07/ichart-100-2011-q2-year-5.html">RE</a>)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-4053309657788687974?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-28053033969800312322011-10-01T11:53:00.002+09:302011-10-04T11:07:23.618+10:30<strong>#1</strong> [781] William Ørbit - Cavalleria Rusticana (--)<br /><strong>#2</strong> [744] William Ørbit - In A Landscape (--)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [741] William Ørbit - Ogive Number I (--)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [702] William Ørbit - L'Inverno (+1)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [697] William Ørbit - Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte (+3)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [696] William Ørbit - Piece in the Old Style 3 (-2)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [686] William Ørbit - Triple Concerto (--)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [681] William Ørbit - Xerxes (+2)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [638] William Ørbit - Adagio for Strings (+4)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [638] William Ørbit - Piece in the Old Style I (+2)<br /><strong>#11</strong> [623] 菅野よう子 [Yoko Kanno] - Bad Dog (-2)<br /><strong>#12</strong> [623] Way Out West - Pulse of Life (-6)<br /><strong>#13</strong> [620] William Ørbit - Opus I32 (+2)<br /><strong>#14</strong> [619] CocoRosie - Rainbowarriors (-3)<br /><strong>#15</strong> [559] CoLD SToRAGE - Body in Motion (-1)<br /><strong>#16</strong> [546] Thom Yorke - Analyse (--)<br /><strong>#17</strong> [520] Björk - Mouths Cradle (--)<br /><strong>#18</strong> [501] Underworld - Two Months Off (Radio Edit) (--)<br /><strong>#19</strong> [487] Vangelis - Love Theme from Bladerunner (+1)<br /><strong>#20</strong> [479] Moby - My Weakness (-1)<br /><strong>#21</strong> [447] CoLD SToRAGE - Cold Comfort (+2)<br /><strong>#22</strong> [447] Björk - Who Is It (Carry My Joy on the Left, Carry My Pain on the Right) (-1)<br /><strong>#23</strong> [441] Sasha - Wavy Gravy (-1)<br /><strong>#24</strong> [432] Bodyrox feat. Luciana - Yeah Yeah (D. Ramirez Radio Edit) (--)<br /><strong>#25</strong> [428] William Ørbit - Barber's Adagio for Strings (Ferry Corsten Remix) (--)<br /><strong>#26</strong> [417] PNAU - Journey Agent (+1)<br /><strong>#27</strong> [416] Björk - Submarine (-1)<br /><strong>#28</strong> [406] Groove Terminator - Losing Ground (+2)<br /><strong>#29</strong> [406] Stardust - Music Sounds Better With You (Radio Edit) (-1)<br /><strong>#30</strong> [393] Groove Zone - Eisbaer (Extended Mix) (+1)<br /><strong>#31</strong> [393] Intermix - Mantra (-2)<br /><strong>#32</strong> [391] CoLD SToRAGE - Cairodrome (--)<br /><strong>#33</strong> [387] The Future Sound of London - Papua New Guinea (+14)<br /><strong>#34</strong> [383] Madonna - Frozen (-1)<br /><strong>#35</strong> [382] Pendulum - Coma (--)<br /><strong>#36</strong> [381] Gustav - Genua (-2)<br /><strong>#37</strong> [377] Rob Dougan - Clubbed to Death (Kurayamino Variation) (-1)<br /><strong>#38</strong> [372] Supreme Beings of Leisure - Strangelove Addiction (-1)<br /><strong>#39</strong> [364] Moby - Porcelain (Clubbed to Death Version by Rob Dougan) (-1)<br /><strong>#40</strong> [362] Faithless - We Come 1 (--)<br /><strong>#41</strong> [361] Hot Chip - Over and Over (-2)<br /><strong>#42</strong> [358] Cassius - Toop Toop (-1)<br /><strong>#43</strong> [356] Radiohead - Videotape (-1)<br /><strong>#44</strong> [354] UNKLE - Lonely Soul (-1)<br /><strong>#45</strong> [352] 808 State - Pacific (808:98) (+9)<br /><strong>#46</strong> [350] Moby - Bodyrock (Hybrid's Bodyshock Remix) (+6)<br /><strong>#47</strong> [346] Björk - Desired Constellation (-1)<br /><strong>#48</strong> [344] Björk - Visur Vatnsenda-Rósu (+1)<br /><strong>#49</strong> [344] Einsturzende Neubauten - Blume (-5)<br /><strong>#50</strong> [343] Luke Slater - Stars and Heroes (+5)<br /><strong>#51</strong> [342] Madonna - Drowned World/Substitute For Love (--)<br /><strong>#52</strong> [339] Joe Jackson - Steppin Out (-4)<br /><strong>#53</strong> [339] Björk - Pleasure Is All Mine (-8)<br /><strong>#54</strong> [337] Björk - Vokuro (-4)<br /><strong>#55</strong> [336] William Ørbit - Water from a Vine Leaf (+3)<br /><strong>#56</strong> [334] Moby - Memory Gospel (--)<br /><strong>#57</strong> [333] Console - 14 Zero Zero (--)<br /><strong>#58</strong> [332] b(if)tek feat. Julee Cruise - Wired for Sound (-5)<br /><strong>#59</strong> [329] Pet Shop Boys - Miracles (Radio Edit) (+3)<br /><strong>#60</strong> [326] DJ Krush - Dig This Vibe (+1)<br /><strong>#61</strong> [326] Gerling - Enter, Space Capsule (Radio Disko Edit) (-1)<br /><strong>#62</strong> [317] Sash! - Chill Out No. 1 (+2)<br /><strong>#63</strong> [317] Peter Bjorn & John - Young Folks (-4)<br /><strong>#64</strong> [312] The Chemical Brothers - Let Forever Be (-1)<br /><strong>#65</strong> [309] Pet Shop Boys - I Don't Know What You Want but I Can't Give it Anymore (--)<br /><strong>#66</strong> [307] Björk - Triumph of a Heart (+3)<br /><strong>#67</strong> [303] Groove Armada - Dusk, You & Me (+17)<br /><strong>#68</strong> [301] Orbital - Halcyon (7" Version) (-2)<br /><strong>#69</strong> [299] Hybrid - Finished Sympathy (+6)<br /><strong>#70</strong> [297] UNKLE - Rabbit in your Headlights (--)<br /><strong>#71</strong> [297] Orbital - Petrol (-4)<br /><strong>#72</strong> [295] Faithless - Drifting Away [Paradiso Mix] (-1)<br /><strong>#73</strong> [295] CoLD SToRAGE - Messij Received (-1)<br /><strong>#74</strong> [295] Moby - Natural Blues (-6)<br /><strong>#75</strong> [294] Underworld - Born Slippy (Nuxx) (-2)<br /><strong>#76</strong> [292] 菅野よう子 [Yoko Kanno] - Pulse (+5)<br /><strong>#77</strong> [291] Moby - ARP (-3)<br /><strong>#78</strong> [291] b(if)tek - 3 Seconds of Her (--)<br /><strong>#79</strong> [287] Moby - Flying Foxes (-2)<br /><strong>#80</strong> [286] Ratty - Sunrise (Here I Am) (+4)<br /><strong>#81</strong> [286] Joy Division - Atmosphere (+2)<br /><strong>#82</strong> [285] Hot Chip - Grubbs (-3)<br /><strong>#83</strong> [282] Rui Da Silva feat. Cassandra - Touch Me (Radio Edit) (-7)<br /><strong>#84</strong> [281] Daft Punk - Veridis Quo (<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/03/ichart-100-2011-q1-year-5.html">RE</a>)<br /><strong>#85</strong> [280] Björk - Oceania (-3)<br /><strong>#86</strong> [278] Björk - Joga (+11)<br /><strong>#87</strong> [276] Pet Shop Boys - Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money) (-2)<br /><strong>#88</strong> [273] Faithless - Salva Mea (Way Out West Remix) (+1)<br /><strong>#89</strong> [271] The Chemical Brothers - The Test (-1)<br /><strong>#90</strong> [269] The KLF - Last Train to Trancentral (new)<br /><strong>#91</strong> [267] CoLD SToRAGE - Onyx (-5)<br /><strong>#92</strong> [266] Pet Shop Boys - Can You Forgive Her? (-1)<br /><strong>#93</strong> [266] Rob Dougan - Nothign At All (+3)<br /><strong>#94</strong> [266] UNKLE - Unreal (-4)<br /><strong>#95</strong> [265] Radiohead - 15 Step (-8)<br /><strong>#96</strong> [263] Hybrid - If I Survive (<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/03/ichart-100-2011-q1-year-5.html">RE</a>)<br /><strong>#97</strong> [262] Smash 'N' Grab - Drive Me Crazy (+1)<br /><strong>#98</strong> [260] Sash! feat. Tina Cousins - Mysterious Times (+2)<br /><strong>#99</strong> [260] The Prodigy - Voodoo People (Pendulum Remix) (-7)<br /><strong>#100</strong> [257] Chicane feat. Bryan Adams - Don't Give Up (-5)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-2805303396980031232?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-33956741038196138482011-07-04T11:12:00.002+09:302011-10-01T11:51:53.089+09:30<strong>#1</strong> [687] William Ørbit - Cavalleria Rusticana (--)<br /><strong>#2</strong> [649] William Ørbit - In A Landscape (--)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [648] William Ørbit - Ogive Number I (--)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [620] William Ørbit - Piece in the Old Style 3 (+2)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [617] William Ørbit - L'Inverno (+2)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [614] Way Out West - Pulse of Life (-2)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [606] William Ørbit - Triple Concerto (+2)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [601] William Ørbit - Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte (+2)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [595] 菅野よう子 [Yoko Kanno] - Bad Dog (-4)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [593] William Ørbit - Xerxes (+1)<br /><strong>#11</strong> [592] CocoRosie - Rainbowarriors (-3)<br /><strong>#12</strong> [555] William Ørbit&nbsp;- Piece in the Old Style I (+2)<br /><strong>#13</strong> [551] William Ørbit - Adagio for Strings (+3)<br /><strong>#14</strong> [542] CoLD SToRAGE - Body in Motion (-1)<br /><strong>#15</strong> [541] William Ørbit - Opus I32 (--)<br /><strong>#16</strong> [537] Thom Yorke - Analyse (-4)<br /><strong>#17</strong> [511] Björk - Mouths Cradle (--)<br /><strong>#18</strong> [477] Underworld - Two Months Off (Radio Edit) (--)<br /><strong>#19</strong> [473] Moby - My Weakness (+1)<br /><strong>#20</strong> [463] Vangelis - Love Theme from Bladerunner (-1)<br /><strong>#21</strong> [439] Björk - Who Is It (Carry My Joy on the Left, Carry My Pain on the Right) (--)<br /><strong>#22</strong> [429] Sash - Wavy Gravy (+2)<br /><strong>#23</strong> [428] CoLD SToRAGE - Cold Comfort (-1)<br /><strong>#24</strong> [414] Bodyrox feat. Luciana - Yeah Yeah (D. Ramirez Radio Edit) (-1)<br /><strong>#25</strong> [400] William Ørbit - Barber's Adagio for Strings (Ferry Corsten Remix) (+3)<br /><strong>#26</strong> [399] Björk - Submarine (-1)<br /><strong>#27</strong> [392] PNAU - Journey Agent (-1)<br /><strong>#28</strong> [389] Stardust - Music Sounds Better With You (+3)<br /><strong>#29</strong> [383] Intermix - Mantra (-2)<br /><strong>#30</strong> [381] Groove Terminator - Losing Ground (-1)<br /><strong>#31</strong> [373] Groove Zone - Eisbaer (Extended Mix) (+5)<br /><strong>#32</strong> [373] CoLD SToRAGE - Cairodrome (-2)<br /><strong>#33</strong> [372] Madonna - Frozen (-1)<br /><strong>#34</strong> [372] Gustav - Genua (-1)<br /><strong>#35</strong> [368] Pendulum - Coma (-1)<br /><strong>#36</strong> [361] Rob Dougan - Clubbed to Death (Kurayamino Variation) (-1)<br /><strong>#37</strong> [358] Supreme Beings of Leisure - Strangelove Addiction (+3)<br /><strong>#38</strong> [353] Moby - Porcelain (Clubbed to Death Version by Rob Dougan) (+1)<br /><strong>#39</strong> [350] Hot Chip - Over and Over (-2)<br /><strong>#40</strong> [348] Faithless - We Come 1 (+5)<br /><strong>#41</strong> [346] Cassius - Toop Toop (-3)<br /><strong>#42</strong> [342] Radiohead - Videotape (-1)<br /><strong>#43</strong> [340] UNKLE - Lonely Soul (-1)<br /><strong>#44</strong> [335] Einsturzende Neubauten - Blume (-1)<br /><strong>#45</strong> [333] Björk - Pleasure is all Mine (+1)<br /><strong>#46</strong> [332] Björk - Desired Constellation (-2)<br /><strong>#47</strong> [331] The Future Sound of London - Papua New Guinea (--)<br /><strong>#48</strong> [330] Joe Jackson - Steppin' Out (--)<br /><strong>#49</strong> [330] Björk - Visur Vatnsenda-Rósu (--)<br /><strong>#50</strong> [328] Björk - Vokuro (+6)<br /><strong>#51</strong> [327] Madonna - Drowned World/Substitute For Love (+4)<br /><strong>#52</strong> [324] Moby - Bodyrock (Hybrid's Bodyshock Remix) (-2)<br /><strong>#53</strong> [323] b(if)tek feat. Julee Cruise&nbsp;- Wired For Sound (-1)<br /><strong>#54</strong> [321] 808 State - Pacific (808:98) (+4)<br /><strong>#55</strong> [320] Luke Slater - Stars and Heroes (-4)<br /><strong>#56</strong> [319] Moby - Memory Gospel (-2)<br /><strong>#57</strong> [318] Console - 14 Zero Zero (-4)<br /><strong>#58</strong> [314] William Ørbit - Water From a Vine Leaf (+7)<br /><strong>#59</strong> [310] Peter Bjorn &amp; John&nbsp;- Young Folks (-2)<br /><strong>#60</strong> [310] Gerling - Enter, Space Capsule (Radio Disko Edit) (+2)<br /><strong>#61</strong> [306] DJ Krush - Dig This Vibe (-2)<br /><strong>#62</strong> [304] Pet Shop Boys - Miracles (Radio Edit) (-2)<br /><strong>#63</strong> [301] The Chemical Brothers - Let Forever Be (-2)<br /><strong>#64</strong> [300] Sash! - Chillout No. 1 (-1)<br /><strong>#65</strong> [297] Pet Shop Boys - I Don't Know What You Want but I Can't Give it Anymore (-1)<br /><strong>#66</strong> [292] Orbital - Halcyon (7" Version) (+3)<br /><strong>#67</strong> [291] Orbital - Petrol (-1)<br /><strong>#68</strong> [287] Moby - Natural Blues (--)<br /><strong>#69</strong> [287] Björk - Triumph of a Heart (-2)<br /><strong>#70</strong> [282] UNKLE - Rabbit in Your Headlights (+1)<br /><strong>#71</strong> [282] Faithless - Drifting Away [Paradiso Mix] (+1)<br /><strong>#72</strong> [280] CoLD SToRAGE - Messij Received (-2)<br /><strong>#73</strong> [275] Underworld - Born Slippy (Nuxx) (+12)<br /><strong>#74</strong> [275] Moby - ARP (-1)<br /><strong>#75</strong> [275] Hybrid - Finished Symphony (+1)<br /><strong>#76</strong> [273] Rui Da Silva feat. Cassandra - Touch Me (Radio Edit) (-2)<br /><strong>#77</strong> [273] Moby - Flying Foxes (-2)<br /><strong>#78</strong> [272] b(if)tek - 3 Seconds of Her (+6)<br /><strong>#79</strong> [269] Hot Chip - Grubbs (-2)<br /><strong>#80</strong> [268] Groove Armada - Dusk, You & Me (+7)<br /><strong>#81</strong> [268] 菅野よう子 [Yoko Kanno] - Pulse (-2)<br /><strong>#82</strong> [266] Björk - Oceania (-4)<br /><strong>#83</strong> [264] Joy Division - Atmosphere (+14)<br /><strong>#84</strong> [261] Ratty - Sunrise (Here I Am) (-4)<br /><strong>#85</strong> [260] Pet Shop Boys - Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money) (-4)<br /><strong>#86</strong> [258] CoLD SToRAGE - Onyx (-4)<br /><strong>#87</strong> [258] Radiohead - 15 Step (-4)<br /><strong>#88</strong> [257] The Chemical Brothers - The Test (+12)<br /><strong>#89</strong> [256] Faithless - Salva Mea (Way Out West Remix) (-3)<br /><strong>#90</strong> [255] UNKLE - Unreal (<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2010/08/ichart-100-2010-continues.html">RE</a>)<br /><strong>#91</strong> [254] Pet Shop Boys - Can You Forgive Her? (+3)<br /><strong>#92</strong> [251] The Prodigy - Voodoo People (Pendulum Remix) (-3)<br /><strong>#93</strong> [251] The Beta Band - Space Beatle (-5)<br /><strong>#94</strong> [250] Groove Armada - Inside My Mind (Blue Skies) (new)<br /><strong>#95</strong> [250] Chicance feat. Bryan Adams - Don't Give Up (<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2009/12/ichart-100-year-end-2009.html">RE</a>)<br /><strong>#96</strong> [249] Rob Dougan - Nothing At All (new)<br /><strong>#97</strong> [248] Björk - Joga (new)<br /><strong>#98</strong> [248] Smash 'N' Grab - Drive Me Crazy (-8)<br /><strong>#99</strong> [246] Luke Slater - Grace (-3)<br /><strong>#100</strong> [246] Sash! feat. Tina Cousins - Mysterious Times (-5)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-3395674103819613848?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-86686827372941132482011-04-24T23:59:00.050+09:302011-04-26T20:18:43.805+09:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Copeland" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="307" src="http://tvmedia.ign.com/tv/image/article/838/838528/Edge_1196386778.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" width="209" /></a><span style="font-size: 130%;"><strong>#1 Edge</strong> [--] (17-1-1) (WWE) </span><br />For the tenth week running, <strong>Edge</strong> remains in the statistical top spot on The Kayfabe Countdown, a fact inevitably finite due to his retirement last week. Some of the fun of watching wrestling from this unique perspective will now be seeing who WWE calls upon to replace their most dominant star of 2011! Earlier in the year it seemed <strong>Alberto Del Rio</strong> (#4) would be the man whose destiny was to be the most winning star in WWE, but now <strong>Randy Orton </strong>(#3) has taken that confidence. <strong>Rey Mysterio</strong> (#2) is most poised to do it, taking the fan-favourite second tier that saw <strong>Kofi Kingston</strong> (#21)&nbsp;overtake <strong>Big Show</strong> (#8)&nbsp;in 2010, but with injuries brewing there, he probably won't have the distance. Plus, Orton's got the ticket to ride as long as he sits second to <strong>John Cena</strong> (#41)&nbsp;and <strong>Miz</strong> (#18),&nbsp;with goons aplenty to run over.<br /><br /><strong>Sin Cara</strong> (#68) went 2-0 with a tag victory alongside Cena in an elevation of&nbsp;his credibility&nbsp;as a&nbsp;major&nbsp;signing. Going against The Miz and <strong>Alex Riley</strong> (#130) was probably a safer scenario for the sometimes stumbling star than <strong>Primo Colon</strong> (#64), who helped him train in the WWE style, but bungled crucial spots on his first in-ring debut on RAW a week or so ago.<br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Rey Mysterio (13-6-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Randy Orton (12-6-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Alberto Del Rio (11-7-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] Santino Marella (11-10-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [+1] Robert Roode (9-0-0O) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#7</strong> [+1] James Storm (9-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#8</strong> [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/04/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-0410.html">RE</a>] Big Show (9-5-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#9</strong> [--] Eve Torres (9-5-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-1] Justin Gabriel (9-9-0) (WWE)<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (9-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Justin Gabriel &amp; Heath Slater (7-6-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (6-6-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [+1] Big Show &amp; Kane (5-0-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#5</strong> [+1] Sarita &amp; Rosita (5-1-0) (TNA) [Knockouts Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#6</strong> [-2] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (5-3-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [--] Angelina Love &amp; Winter (3-2-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [--] Shannon Moore &amp; Jesse Neal (3-2-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [--] Edge &amp; Randy Orton (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [--] John Morrison &amp; R-Truth (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2011 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW,&nbsp;WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.&nbsp;</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-8668682737294113248?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-61250542840320841792011-04-17T23:59:00.062+09:302011-04-26T19:53:04.646+09:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Copeland" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="307" src="http://tvmedia.ign.com/tv/image/article/838/838528/Edge_1196386778.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" width="209" /></a><span style="font-size: 130%;"><strong>#1 Edge</strong> [--] (17-1-1) (WWE)<br />[World Heavyweight Champion] </span><br />It was a shocking announcement, but apparently legit: <strong>Edge</strong> has retired! First impressions were to wonder if the whole thing wasn't just a work, but the sincerity of the delivery made it difficult to argue. Even beyond the obvious immediate symptoms of numbness that Edge had been apparently dealing with --&nbsp;I wasn't aware of the severity of Edge's injuries. Having my interests distanced from major league wrestling during his rise to the main event (circa 2005-2008), I must have surely missed some of his biggest injuries, and that might have pushed the negativity of my feelings toward Edge further than necessary.<br /><br />I've often been critical of the low impact nature of Edge's moves. I prefer more grappling than his typical low-contact series of glancing drops and adjacent slips, but now that I know he once broke his neck, I can be a lot more forgiving of that. I wonder if calls for his guaranteed Hall of Fame entry aren't a little generous. I still don't believe he was worthy of the list of accolades he obtained in a rapidfire of very short years. I think he is a figure who helped usher in some of the ugliest years for World Wrestling Entertainment and its top championship belts, but I also feel it is a great shame that he has had to retire, and that he sustained these severe injuries that I previously had no knowledge of. The silver lining to all of this is WWE's Wellness Policy, and the fact that the tests it includes might have protected the future quality of life that Edge will be able to live.<br /><br />While I would never wish severe injury on anyone, Edge's retirement certainly comes at a convenient juncture. Despite losing at Wrestlemania XVIII, it has been pleasing to see that the <strong>Alberto Del Rio</strong> (#4) experiment is still alive! He may not be the World Heavyweight Championship, but post-Mania he has been seen to remain strong. Edge's departure also has obvious benefits for <strong>Christian</strong> (#??) -- his fictional brother who entered WWF&nbsp;barely a year&nbsp;after Edge, but has never held a major championship. The void left makes it a no brainer to serve Christian up as a legitimate champion, even if it is only as a transition to Alberto Del Rio's first reign. It is a terrible human cost that Edge would be in this condition, but it may yet force WWE into a position that is an attractive change of pace for business.<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Rey Mysterio (12-6-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Randy Orton (11-6-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Alberto Del Rio (11-7-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] Santino Marella (11-9-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [+3] Justin Gabriel (9-8-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#7</strong> [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/04/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-0403.html">RE</a>] Robert Roode (8-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#8</strong> [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/03/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-0327.html">RE</a>] James Storm (8-1-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-3] Eve Torres (8-5-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-3] Chris Masters (8-5-0) (WWE)<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (8-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Justin Gabriel &amp; Heath Slater (7-5-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (6-6-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (5-3-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] Big Show &amp; Kane (4-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [--] Sarita &amp; Rosita (4-1-0) (TNA) [Knockouts Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#7</strong> [--] Angelina Love &amp; Winter (3-2-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/03/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-0313.html">RE</a>] Shannon Moore &amp; Jesse Neal (3-2-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-1] Edge &amp; Randy Orton (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-1] John Morrison &amp; R-Truth (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2011 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.&nbsp;</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-6125054284032084179?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-44046508857018396402011-04-10T23:59:00.073+09:302011-04-26T19:22:25.379+09:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Copeland" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="307" src="http://tvmedia.ign.com/tv/image/article/838/838528/Edge_1196386778.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" width="209" /></a><span style="font-size: 130%;"><strong>#1 Edge</strong> [--] (17-1-1) (WWE)<br />[World Heavyweight Champion] </span><br /><strong>Sin Cara</strong> made his eagerly anticipated arrival, getting the better of <strong>Sheamus</strong> in a surprising choice of starting points. I can't say I was especially wrapped in his revised attire, more colourful than the whites better known to <em>Mistico</em>, but it was certainly an interesting and surprising start! I'm disappointed that the choice of attack doesn't reflect the main event potential hype packages of his signing suggested, but I'm still quite excited by his arrival. He isn't quite the post-Mania debut of a scale like <strong>Brock Lesnar</strong> or <strong>Goldberg</strong>, but I dig it.<br /><br />Less promising is saying goodbye to <strong>Superstars</strong>, which made its final US broadcast this week. <strong>Santino Marella</strong> and <strong>Chris Masters</strong> owe their impressive rankings on the Countdown to the show, which has specialized in offering some of the interesting third-tier talents that aren't seen on RAW and Smackdown every week. Almost a supercharged FCW brand unto itself, Superstars had started developing some great on-going feuds between the likes of Masters and <strong>Tyler Reks</strong>, which was genuinely interesting. Fortunately, motivated fans can follow Superstars on WWE.com, where it will continue to be available weekly. Superstars will also continue to air in overseas markets.<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Rey Mysterio (11-5-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Randy Orton (11-5-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Alberto Del Rio (11-7-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] Santino Marella (11-8-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [--] Eve Torres (8-4-0) (WWE) [Divas Champion]<br /><strong>#7</strong> [--] Chris Masters (8-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2010/12/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-1226.html">RE</a>] The Big Show (8-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-1] Justin Gabriel (8-7-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-1] Layla (8-7-0) (WWE)<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (7-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Justin Gabriel &amp; Heath Slater (6-5-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (6-6-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (5-3-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] Big Show &amp; Kane (4-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [--] Sarita &amp; Rosita (4-1-0) (TNA) [Knockouts Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#7</strong> [--] Angelina Love &amp; Winter (3-2-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [--] Edge &amp; Randy Orton (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [--] John Morrison &amp; R-Truth (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [--] Rey Mysterio &amp; R-Truth (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrisopher_Daniels" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://wrestlingheadnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/the-fallen-angel-christopher-daniels_29295.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight: <br />#123 Christopher Daniels</strong> <br />(0-1-0) (TNA)</span> <br /><strong>Sin Cara</strong> (Mistico) made a big splash with his debut on RAW, but in the interest of spreading the love (and awareness), I've got to turn the spotlight on "The Fallen Angel", <strong>Christopher Daniels</strong>!<br /><br />The "piss ant" (as he was called by Ric Flair in a stunned promo) made a return to TNA, presumably abandoning the now television-less <strong>Ring of Honor</strong>, which he jumped ship to last year. It's a glimmer of hope in an otherwise matte finish for Total Non-Stop Action, who as a company&nbsp;seem to be content to resigning themselves to a minimum of wrestling on TV, and a string of familiar old scenarios.<br /><br />Daniels has flirted with the big time before in TNA and as the TNA Championship situation says goodbye to <strong>Jeff Hardy</strong> and hello to a limited and repetitive routine of&nbsp;<strong>Rob Van Dam</strong>, <strong>Ken Anderson</strong>, and <strong>Sting</strong>, I'm going to hope that Daniels can find his way into the picture. It would certainly be refreshing for this lingering Hogan/Bischoff era to finally crown a champion who hasn't had his best days in WWF or WCW.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2011 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.&nbsp;</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-4404650885701839640?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-40744646407390785962011-04-03T23:59:00.087+09:302011-04-10T22:59:29.805+09:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Copeland" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="307" src="http://tvmedia.ign.com/tv/image/article/838/838528/Edge_1196386778.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" width="209" /></a><span style="font-size: 130%;"><strong>#1 Edge</strong> [--] (17-1-1) (WWE)<br />[World Heavyweight Champion] </span><br />Another Wrestlemania, another disappointment...<br /><br />On paper, this had the potential to be a card that bucked against the trend of underwhelming shows, but alas, the opportunity was squandered. The tone was set with the pre-show announcement that <strong>Bryan Danielson</strong> (#19) and <strong>Sheamus</strong> (#31) would be relegated to dark match status in their US Championship match, later to be wrapped up in annual battle royal shenanigans. <strong>Edge</strong> and <strong>Alberto Del Rio</strong> were relegated to the&nbsp;opening match -- not necessarily a negative placement for this type of exciting encounter -- but an insult to the tradition of the Royal Rumble winner as a main event contender. Their bout was given little time and little inspiration, but probably sits in the positive half of the show review, never the less. <strong>Rey Mysterio</strong> and <strong>Cody Rhodes</strong> (#41) did good business with a fun <a href="http://secretearths.blogspot.com/search/label/Captain%20America" target="_blank">Captain America</a> nod from Rey, <strong>Jerry Lawler</strong> (#55) and <strong>Michael Cole</strong> (#84) overstayed their welcome with a result that made it all seem for moot. Finally <strong>The Rock</strong> came back to Wrestlemania, and finally The Rock came back to do a move, but in the end, it was a convoluted finish with a rusted silver lining -- <strong>John Cena</strong> (#47) loses, but <strong>The Miz</strong> (#15) wins. Bittersweet. Ultimately, for any positive, it was another <strong>Undertaker</strong> [see spotlight] year, with his match against <strong>Triple H</strong> easily the only reason to really buy -- something I did not do, and something I won't do (on DVD).<br /><br />Meanwhile, observant readers must note the (somewhat expected) departure of TNA's representation in the joint statistical top ten. There will be time for this to be reversed if TNA latch on to a prominent posterboy in the next few months, but without that, it's a last hurrah from <strong>Robert Roode</strong> as his Beer Money partner, <strong>James Storm</strong> (#11), slips&nbsp;just outside the stack. With that companys problems I'm not sure I would expect anything else, but... it's an instinctive alarm bell for a fan of their potential.<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Rey Mysterio (10-5-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [+1] Randy Orton (10-5-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [-1] Alberto Del Rio (9-7-2) (WWE) [Royal Rumble]<br /><strong>#5</strong> [new] Santino Marella (9-8-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [-1] Eve Torres (8-4-0) (WWE) [Divas Champion]<br /><strong>#7</strong> [-1] Chris Masters (8-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [-1] Justin Gabriel (8-6-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-1] Layla (8-6-0) (WWE) <br /><strong>#10</strong> [-1] Robert Roode (7-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (7-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Justin Gabriel &amp; Heath Slater (6-4-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (6-6-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (5-2-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [new] Big Show &amp; Kane (3-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [-1] Sarita &amp; Rosita (3-1-0) (TNA) [Knockouts Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#7</strong> [-1] Angelina Love &amp; Winter (3-2-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [-1] Edge &amp; Randy Orton (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-1] John Morrison &amp; R-Truth (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-1] Rey Mysterio &amp; R-Truth (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Undertaker" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Undertaker_with_Fire.jpg/200px-Undertaker_with_Fire.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight: <br />#85 Undertaker</strong> (1-0-0) (WWE)</span> <br />Heading into this match, there was a lot of speculation about whether or not <strong>Undertaker</strong> was even physically capable of pulling it off. Deciding who would contend the covetted "streak" spot came late, the build only a month long. If you were watching during the month, you were hopefully convinced a little bit more each week, until expectations made this one of the biggest matches on the card -- and if you watched <strong>Wrestlemania XVII</strong> -- I hope you were able to enjoy it to that fullest extent.<br /><br />Undertaker and <strong>Triple H</strong> (#122) went on to have what I believe was the only really significant match on the card. Some critics may subscribe to the idea that it walked ground already bravely pioneered by <strong>Shawn Michaels</strong>, but I think the tone was inevitably different with Triple H. This was less a wrestling match and more a violent epic between two mythological creatures. Finishing moves were less constructs of a conceptually&nbsp;rule driven performance-sport, and more akin to claps of thunder as two titans collided. Arsenals were obliterated -- as was furniture -- as the pair blitzed WWE's soft PG policy and wrapped a chair around with violent intent. The match didn't really veer into the nineties <em>garbage style</em> hardcore showcase that both have touched upon in the past, and I consider that a compliment.<br /><br />On a Wrestlemania card that gambled away its wrestling credentials for questionable non-wrestlers, I appreciated a tense finish that dovetailed back to the wrestling arena, seeing two spent men locked together in a final test of wills. Undertaker's gogoplata "Hells Gate" submission was the perfect, fluid transition to an end, which saw Triple H desperately, blindly reaching for a sledge hammer that failed to finish a job that not even multiple pedigrees or a tombstone piledriver could. The Game was finished. Undertaker won.<br /><br />It seems this was the first Wrestlemania in a long time that finished with no titles changing hands. As nostalgia for the micro-era where <strong>Kurt Angle</strong> and <strong>Brock Lesnar</strong> competed in the main event in a wrestler's wrestling match grips me, I wish that fact meant more. If nothing else, at least Undertaker and Triple H made it count.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events. Blogger errors delayed the publication of this post until April 10.&nbsp;</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-4074464640739078596?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-2746522047372824212011-03-31T11:43:00.016+10:302011-07-04T11:08:57.974+09:30<strong>#1</strong> [650] William Ørbit - Cavalleria Rusticana (--) <br /><strong>#2</strong> [620] William Ørbit - In A Landscape (--) <br /><strong>#3</strong> [618] William Ørbit - Ogive Number I (--) <br /><strong>#4</strong> [601] Way Out West - Pulse of Life (--) <br /><strong>#5</strong> [589] 菅野よう子 [Yoko Kanno] - Bad Dog (+2) <br /><strong>#6</strong> [588] William Ørbit - Piece in the Old Style 3 (-1) <br /><strong>#7</strong> [588] William Ørbit - L'Inverno (-1) <br /><strong>#8</strong> [575] CocoRosie - Rainbowarriors (--) <br /><strong>#9</strong> [571] William Ørbit - Triple Concerto (+3) <br /><strong>#10</strong> [570] William Ørbit - Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte (--) <br /><strong>#11</strong> [569] William Ørbit - Xerxes (-2) <br /><strong>#12</strong> [536] Thom Yorke - Analyse (-1) <br /><strong>#13</strong> [525] CoLD SToRAGE - Body in Motion (+2) <br /><strong>#14</strong> [522] William Ørbit - Piece in the Old Style I (-1) <br /><strong>#15</strong> [514] William Ørbit - Opus I32 (-1) <br /><strong>#16</strong> [512] William Ørbit - Adagio for Strings (--) <br /><strong>#17</strong> [493] Björk - Mouths Cradle (--) <br /><strong>#18</strong> [470] Underworld - Two Months Off (Radio Edit) (--) <br /><strong>#19</strong> [461] Vangelis - Love Theme from Bladerunner (--) <br /><strong>#20</strong> [454] Moby - My Weakness (+1) <br /><strong>#21</strong> [438] Björk - Who Is It (Carry My Joy on the Left, Carry My Pain on the Right) (-1) <br /><strong>#22</strong> [427] CoLD SToRAGE - Cold Comfort (+1) <br /><strong>#23</strong> [413] Bodyrox feat. Luciana - Yeah Yeah (D. Ramirez Radio Edit) (-1) <br /><strong>#24</strong> [407] Sasha - Wavy Gravy (+5) <br /><strong>#25</strong> [398] Björk - Submarine (-1) <br /><strong>#26</strong> [389] PNAU - Journey Agent (+6) <br /><strong>#27</strong> [382] Intermix - Mantra (-2) <br /><strong>#28</strong> [381] William Ørbit - Barber's Adagio for Strings (Ferry Corsten Remix) (+3) <br /><strong>#29</strong> [380] Groove Terminator - Losing Ground (-3) <br /><strong>#30</strong> [372] CoLD SToRAGE - Cairodrome (-3) <br /><strong>#31</strong> [371] Stardust - Music Sounds Better with You (Radio Edit) (+3) <br /><strong>#32</strong> [371] Madonna - Frozen (-4) <br /><strong>#33</strong> [371] Gustav - Genua (-3) <br /><strong>#34</strong> [362] Pendulum - Coma (+3) <br /><strong>#35</strong> [356] Rob Dougan - Clubbed to Death (Kurayamino Variation) (+7) <br /><strong>#36</strong> [350] Groove Zone - Eisbaer (Extended Mix) (+4) <br /><strong>#37</strong> [350] Hot Chip - Over and Over (-4) <br /><strong>#38</strong> [345] Cassius - Toop Toop (+8) <br /><strong>#39</strong> [345] Moby - Porcelain (Clubbed to Death Version by Rob Dougan) (+6) <br /><strong>#40</strong> [343] Supreme Beings of Leisure - Strangelove Addiction (+8) <br /><strong>#41</strong> [342] Radiohead - Videotape (-5) <br /><strong>#42</strong> [338] UNKLE - Lonely Soul (-7) <br /><strong>#43</strong> [334] Einsturzende Neubauten - Blume (-4) <br /><strong>#44</strong> [331] Björk - Desired Constellation (-1) <br /><strong>#45</strong> [330] Faithless - We Come 1 (+6) <br /><strong>#46</strong> [330] Björk - Pleasure is all Mine (+6) <br /><strong>#47</strong> [330] The Future Sound of London - Papua New Guinea (-6) <br /><strong>#48</strong> [329] Joe Jackson - Steppin' Out (-4) <br /><strong>#49</strong> [329] Björk - Visur Vatnsenda-Rósu (-11) <br /><strong>#50</strong> [323] Moby - Bodyrock (Hybrid's Bodyshock Remix) (+4) <br /><strong>#51</strong> [319] Luke Slater - Stars and Heroes (-4) <br /><strong>#52</strong> [318] b(if)tek feat. Julee Cruise - Wired for Sound (+1) <br /><strong>#53</strong> [317] Console - 14 Zero Zero (-4) <br /><strong>#54</strong> [314] Moby - Memory Gospel (+10) <br /><strong>#55</strong> [310] Madonna - Drowned World/Substitute for Love (+3) <br /><strong>#56</strong> [309] Björk - Vokuro (--) <br /><strong>#57</strong> [306] Peter Bjorn &amp; John - Young Folks (+2) <br /><strong>#58</strong> [305] 808 State - Pacific (808:98) (+14) <br /><strong>#59</strong> [305] DJ Krush - Dig This Vibe (-9) <br /><strong>#60</strong> [303] Pet Shop Boys - Miracles (Radio Edit) (--) <br /><strong>#61</strong> [300] The Chemical Brothers - Let Forever Be (-4) <br /><strong>#62</strong> [299] Gerling - Enter, Space Capsule (Radio Disko Edit) (+11) <br /><strong>#63</strong> [297] Sash! - Chill Out No. 1 (+12) <br /><strong>#64</strong> [296] Pet Shop Boys - I Don't Know What You Want but I Can't Give it Anymore (-9) <br /><strong>#65</strong> [294] William Ørbit - Water From a Vine Leaf (+3) <br /><strong>#66</strong> [288] Orbital - Petrol (+12) <br /><strong>#67</strong> [286] Björk - Triumph of a Heart (-6) <br /><strong>#68</strong> [286] Moby - Natural Blues (-6) <br /><strong>#69</strong> [284] Orbital - Halcyon (7" Version) (+14) <br /><strong>#70</strong> [278] CoLD SToRAGE - Messij Received (+7) <br /><strong>#71</strong> [276] UNKLE - Rabbit in your Headlights (-8) <br /><strong>#72</strong> [275] Faithless - Drifting Away [Paradiso Mix] (+9) <br /><strong>#73</strong> [274] Moby - ARP (-2) <br /><strong>#74</strong> [273] Rui Da Silva feat. Cassandra - Touch Me (-9) <br /><strong>#75</strong> [273] Moby - Flying Foxes (-9) <br /><strong>#76</strong> [269] Hybrid - Finished Symphony (+13) <br /><strong>#77</strong> [269] Hot Chip - Grubbs (-8) <br /><strong>#78</strong> [266] Björk - Oceania (-11) <br /><strong>#79</strong> [263] 菅野よう子 [Yoko Kanno] - Pulse (+15) <br /><strong>#80</strong> [261] Ratt - Sunrise (Here I Am) (-10) <br /><strong>#81</strong> [260] Pet Shop Boys - Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money) (+1) <br /><strong>#82</strong> [258] CoLD SToRAGE - Onyx (-2) <br /><strong>#83</strong> [258] Radiohead - 15 Step (-7) <br /><strong>#84</strong> [257] b(if)tek - 3 Seconds of Her (+12) <br /><strong>#85</strong> [256] Underworld - Born Slipp (Nuxx) (+14) <br /><strong>#86</strong> [256] Faithless - Salva Mea (Way Out West Remix) (-12) <br /><strong>#87</strong> [255] Groove Armada - Dusk, You &amp; Me (+11) <br /><strong>#88</strong> [251] The Beta Band - Space Beatle (-9) <br /><strong>#89</strong> [248] The Prodigy - Voodoo People (Pendulum Remix) (+1) <br /><strong>#90</strong> [247] Smash N Grab - Drive Me Crazy (new) <br /><strong>#91</strong> [246] Nine Inch Nails - Just Like You Imagined (-6) <br /><strong>#92</strong> [245] Hot Chip - Boy From School (-8) <br /><strong>#93</strong> [244] Daft Punk - Veridis Quo (+2) <br /><strong>#94</strong> [242] Pet Shop Boys - Can You Forgive Her? (<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2008/12/ichart-100-2008-end.html">RE</a>) <br /><strong>#95</strong> [242] Sash! feat. Tina Cousins - Mysterious Times (new) <br /><strong>#96</strong> [242] Luke Slater - Grace (<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2010/05/ichart-100-2010-returns.html">RE</a>) <br /><strong>#97</strong> [241] Joy Division - Atmosphere (new) <br /><strong>#98</strong> [240] Hybrid - If I Survive (-11) <br /><strong>#99</strong> [239] MA - Light Summer Dress (new) <br /><strong>#100</strong> [239] The Chemical Brothers - The Test (new)<br /><br />As with all things in life, connections can be&nbsp;made through the natural turn of events, and through the perception of the individual. Today, I choose to perceive my periodic account of music played through the concept of competitive sport.<br /><br />Afterall, from a certain perspective, this is the fifth annual season of songs competing for my attention. Like any sport you might be familiar with, this entails the upper echelon of competition&nbsp;that shuffles within a tier above the others, while in the lower ranks, stars yet to rise begin to present themselves. I spend a lot of time thinking about competitive fighting, so I suppose there's a professional wrestling bent to all of this.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-274652204737282421?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-84204440531780774492011-03-27T23:59:00.049+10:302011-04-10T22:26:42.488+09:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Copeland" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="307" src="http://tvmedia.ign.com/tv/image/article/838/838528/Edge_1196386778.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" width="209" /></a><span style="font-size: 130%;"><strong>#1 Edge</strong> [--] (15-1-1) (WWE)<br />[World Heavyweight Champion] </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [+2] Rey Mysterio (10-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [-1] Alberto Del Rio (9-5-2) (WWE) [Royal Rumble]<br /><strong>#4</strong> [-1] Randy Orton (9-5-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [+2] Eve Torres (8-3-0) (WWE) [Divas Champion]<br /><strong>#6</strong> [+2] Chris Masters (8-3-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [+3] Justin Gabriel (8-4-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champion] <br /><strong>#8</strong> [new] Layla (8-5-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-4] Robert Roode (7-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-4] James Storm (7-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (7-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#2</strong> [+1] Justin Gabriel &amp; Heath Slater (6-3-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#3</strong> [-1] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (6-6-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [+1] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (5-1-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [-1] Sarita &amp; Rosita (3-1-0) (TNA) [Knockouts Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#6</strong> [--] Angelina Love &amp; Winter (3-2-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [--] Edge &amp; Randy Orton (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [--] John Morrison &amp; R-Truth (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [--] Rey Mysterio &amp; R-Truth (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [--] Edge &amp; Kelly Kelly (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_(wrestler)" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Cage_en_la_TNA.jpg/225px-Cage_en_la_TNA.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight: <br />#29 Christian </strong>(4-0-0) (WWE)</span> <br />The World Heavyweight Championship situation continues to develop in unforseen ways as <strong>Christian</strong> enjoys another big start to a year. In 2010 Christian kicked things off with a lot of momentum coming off of his ECW Championship reign, and the same sort of thing has come from his return from injury. I'm not sure if it's a positive or a negative, right now, but I'm enjoying the possibilities.<br /><br />The elephant in the room (not to be confused with <strong>Brodus Clay</strong>) is the prospect of Christian turning on fictional-brother <strong>Edge </strong>at some point, possibly at Wrestlemania. It wouldn't be the first time the "Instant Classic" made a sudden turn against one of his partners, not even the first at Wrestlemania. Personally, I would consider it a disappointment if it was a situation reprised. I've got a taste for the sport side of things and right now I can't think of a better situation than <strong>Alberto Del Rio</strong> rising to the challenge of Edge -- not necessarily at <strong>Wrestlemania XVII</strong>, but at some point -- giving Christian the chance to then challenge legitimately, without the wacky antics of a "shock" heel turn and feud with Edge. Granted, that kind of set-up requires at least one round of disappointments before I could accept a switch -- it would be a shame to have Del Rio serve as nothing more than a transition champ -- but with a year ahead of us, it's the kind of earning that I'd love to see behind Christian's first reign as the top WWE Champion.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events. Blogger errors delayed the publication of this post.&nbsp;</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-8420444053178077449?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-49787142364770512942011-03-20T23:59:00.009+10:302011-03-30T09:20:58.646+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Copeland" target="_blank"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; FLOAT: right; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://tvmedia.ign.com/tv/image/article/838/838528/Edge_1196386778.jpg" width="209" height="307" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#1 Edge</strong> [--] (14-1-1) (WWE)<br/>[World Heavyweight Champion] </span><br/>Edge continues to maintain a surprisingly high win percentage as Alberto Del Rio's campaign for a Wrestlemania miracle starts to look ever so slightly dubious. The Rated-R superstar won't win my support by being a dominant title holder, but if Del Rio pulls off the win of the year, then I suppose it makes it all the sweeter when history painted it such an impossible task!<br/><br/>Other stuff happened this week, but I'll be damned if I have much to say about it.<br /><br /><br /><br/><br/><strong>#2</strong> [--] Alberto Del Rio (9-4-2) (WWE) [Royal Rumble]<br/><strong>#3</strong> [--] Randy Orton (9-4-0) (WWE)<br/><strong>#4</strong> [+4] Rey Mysterio (8-4-0) (WWE)<br/><strong>#5</strong> [-1] Robert Roode (7-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br/><strong>#6</strong> [-1] James Storm (7-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br/><strong>#7</strong> [+3] Eve Torres (7-3-0) (WWE) [Divas Champion]<br/><strong>#8</strong> [-2] Chris Masters (7-3-0) (WWE)<br/><strong>#9</strong> [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/01/kayfabe-countdown-0109.html">RE</a>] Madison Rayne (7-3-0) (TNA) [Knockouts Champion] <br/><strong>#10</strong> [-3] Justin Gabriel (7-3-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champion] <br/><br/><strong>#1</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (7-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br/><strong>#2</strong> [+1] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (6-5-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [-1] Justin Gabriel &amp; Heath Slater (5-3-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Sarita &amp; Rosita (3-1-0) (TNA) [Knockouts Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (3-1-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/02/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-0206.html">RE</a>] Angelina Love &amp; Winter (3-2-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [-1] Edge &amp; Randy Orton (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [-1] John Morrison &amp; R-Truth (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-1] Rey Mysterio &amp; R-Truth (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-1] Edge &amp; Kelly Kelly (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cody_Rhodes" target="_blank"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 279px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 172px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i54.tinypic.com/2nlwx87.jpg" width="306" height="172" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight: <br />#65 Cody Rhodes</strong><br />(2-3-0) (WWE)</span> <br />For the life of me, I never imagined I could have a reason to want to spotlight <strong>Cody Rhodes</strong>... lo and behold, there's a first time for everything!<br /><br />Despite his pedigree, which includes the sometimes underrated <strong>Dustin Rhodes</strong> (Goldust); Cody struck me as the least inspiring of the long lived Legacy trio combination, which included running budy <strong>Ted Dibiase Jr</strong> (#70) and ringleader, <strong>Randy Orton</strong> (#3). When Legacy finally made their long awaited split, I had my money on Dibiase being the more successful of the goon duo, based largely on his more immediately impressive physique and what I <em>thought</em> was potential. Instead, Ted embarked on a string of disappointments, which has produced only one memorable highlight, an awful rendition of the immortal Frank Sinatra's "<em>My Way</em>" on RAW.<br /><br />While Ted2 languishes through a lack of direction, Cody at least found himself a gimmick. Wrestling in shockingly unflattering attire (that looked awfully like underwear and socks); the skinny ankled Rhodes played the dandy card, claiming "Dashing" as his moniker amidst a series of vanity promos. This gained traction with some fans, I personally found it increasingly easy to dislike Rhodes and the time he took from other stars on Smackdown. That is, until he broke his nose in an angle against <strong>Rey Mysterio</strong> (#4)!<br /><br />Granted, my first thoughts went to how long Smackdown could have a break from Rhodes' tired gimmick. When it became apparent he'd be involved in the action sooner than later, it didn't take a genius to start thinking about the classic archetype of vanity gone mad. If Dusty Rhodes was the "American Dream", it got me very excited to consider the possibility of a suited and clear masked Cody as the "American Psycho". I'm pleased to say that seems to be exactly where they're going, complete with a Rhodes who wrestles in-ring in suit pants and jacket, something I support whole heartedly! The suit improves the silhouette, the mask gives Rhodes a bit of character, and the attitude finally makes him a wrestler with something resembling credibility!<br /><br />I'm not sure his feud with Rey Mysterio, which took a shock turn when he ripped the luchadore's iconic mask off, has the makings of classic, but... win, lose, or draw, Cody Rhodes has direction that finally makes him an interesting contributor, who reinjects a sense of character that seems to have been gradually lost as the the "Attitude Era" was committed to the history books.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events. </span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-4978714236477051294?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-54433212487199449932011-03-13T23:59:00.002+10:302011-03-14T22:44:52.915+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Copeland" target="_blank"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; FLOAT: right; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://tvmedia.ign.com/tv/image/article/838/838528/Edge_1196386778.jpg" width="209" height="307" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#1 Edge</strong> [--] (13-1-1) (WWE)<br />[World Heavyweight Champion]</span><br />Edge moves four wins clear of his <strong>Wrestlemania XVII</strong> rival and nearest challenger, <strong>Alberto Del Rio</strong> (#2), as the WWE television advantage starts to show itself from top to bottom! <strong>Frankie Kazarian</strong>'s (#9) X-Division Championship win over the weekend is all that's keeping a third TNA wrestler in the top ten, while WWE's hefty network of television hours stuffs the win/loss spread in the favour of some of it's top stars -- and some not quite so prominent. <strong>Chris Masters</strong> (#6) is the surprise package of <strong>WWE Superstars</strong>, the programme that looks more like an FCW show at times, but clearly packs a seperatist punch. He continues to feud with <strong>Tyler Reks</strong> (#28) in the show's main event in a good old fashioned weekly serialized rivalry.<br /><br /><strong>Edge</strong> remains something of a bane to my self-imposed weekly obligation, failing to capture my imagination as his championship defense against the Royal Rumble winner draws nearer. I still can't get much of a feel for what to expect from the World Heavyweight Championship bout, as Wrestlemania moves forward, still flickering between the good and bad. I don't know if this is going to be the show to reinvigorate a lacklustre "showcase of the immortals," but I do know that for all but one or two weeks of the year, WWE have had a hook that has had me interested. They are making up for the mistakes of the past few years and I'm grateful for that!<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Alberto Del Rio (9-3-1) (WWE) [Royal Rumble]<br /><strong>#3</strong> [+1] Randy Orton (8-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [+2] Robert Roode (7-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#5</strong> [+2] James Storm (7-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#6</strong> [+1] Chris Masters (7-2-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [-4] Justin Gabriel (7-3-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#8</strong> [+1] Rey Mysterio (7-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/02/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-0227.html">RE</a>] Frankie Kazarian (6-1-0) (TNA) [X-Division Champion]<br /><strong>#10</strong> [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/02/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-0220.html">RE</a>] Eve Torres (6-3-0) (WWE) [Divas Champion]<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (7-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Justin Gabriel &amp; Heath Slater (5-2-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (5-5-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [+1] Sarita &amp; Rosita (3-0-0) (TNA) [Knockouts Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#5</strong> [-1] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (3-1-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [--] Edge &amp; Randy Orton (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [--] John Morrison &amp; R-Truth (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [--] Rey Mysterio &amp; R-Truth (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [--] Edge &amp; Kelly Kelly (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2010/12/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-1226.html">RE</a>] Shannon Moore &amp; Jesse Neal (2-1-0) (TNA)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Hardy" target="_blank"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; FLOAT: right; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/31/Against_All_Odds_%282011%29.jpg/200px-Against_All_Odds_%282011%29.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight:<br />#32 Jeff Hardy</strong> (4-6-0) (TNA)</span><br />Was he, or wasn't he? I'm sure most people will be assuming the latter, rather than asking the former. I'm not entirely convinced a stumbling or distracted <strong>Jeff Hardy</strong> constitutes anything hugely unusual, but owever you cut it, it was a farcical conclusion to TNA's <strong>Victory Road</strong> Pay-Per-View this weekend.<br /><br />The Charismatic Enigma should've shined against boyhood idol and wrestling icon, <strong>Sting</strong> (#36), in their TNA World Heavyweight Championship rematch on PPV. Instead, the live crowd and paying home audience could only watch on in puzzlement as the main event duo exchanged a few awkward physical moments, resulting in an abrupt scorpion deathdrop and pinfall victory. All in all, a non-event of a title match that lasted barely ten percent of the time given to entrances and pre-match hype.<br /><br />Jeff Hardy's demons have been well publicized, making him an easy scapegoat for a situation like this. When you have an injured arm, you sell an injured leg. There's no denying that the finish to Victory Road was unusual and disatisfying, but I've seen an angry Sting, peculiar Jeff Hardy, and phony referee gestures enough to wonder if this isn't all a great big work. Reports are TNA Impact has been receiving a bump in ratings. Wouldn't it just be like Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff to try to maintain those numbers by tapping into the transfixing self-destruction of <strong>Charlie Sheen</strong> by marrying some of Jeff Hardy's own pop cultural mythology with references to the imploding actor?<br /><br />I'll be honest -- I don't really know <em>what</em> to think.<br />It doesn't help that notoriously unreliable dirtsheet accounts of TNA events jumped straight to gross exaggerations of the details. Claims that Sting man-handled Jeff to keep him from kicking out of an early pinfall is quickly undermined by a leaning Sting on his back, hooking a leg. Sure, Jeff kicked like wanted out, but let's not forget that wrestling is supposed to exist under a veil of suspended disbelief. Times are tough these days, but even in 2011 a wrestler occasionally looks like he's actually putting some effort in. Which could also explain away Hardy's preoccupation with his shirt, which was likely to be his brand of heel performance art, as it was any drug-induced stupor.<br /><br />Again, I say it: I just don't know what to think! About the legitimacy of the problem, or who was to blame. All that's clear is that there's a lot about the situation that was odd and unsavory. If it was a healthy Stinger out there, why didn't he get an opponent to fill the void of time? If it was an intoxicated Jeff Hardy, why wasn't he explained away in a backstage skit or announcement?<br /><br />Some dirtsheets were reporting Jeff Hardy was arrested immediately after the show. If Hardy was at all responsible for the strangeness of the show, then I think it's time for TNA to cut it's ties. I've supported his hiring, and even been an apologist for his position, at times. I've got no more patience if this is going to be the outcome, however, to say nothing of a basic human hope that talent are looked after. All of that is assuming a lot, however, and I'm really not willing to condemn someone on the basis of tonight's performance, because, I'll say it again... I just don't know what to believe.<br /><br />What I <em>do</em> know is that TNA isn't remotely like the company I used to enjoy.<br />When it dawned on me that <strong>Ken Anderson</strong> (#12) and <strong>Rob Van Dam</strong> (#45) were competing for the right to face the winner, it came with a bitter realisation about the TNA title. Something the company did quite well, for a time, was shuffle it's many prospects. It wasn't that long ago you had <strong>Desmond Wolfe</strong> taking his chances in a title shot on Impact, while the likes of <strong>Kurt Angle</strong> (#84), <strong>AJ Styles</strong> (#59), <strong>Samoa Joe</strong> (#50), and many others, were circling like sharks. Once upon a time, I would lament the difficulties posed by the company being so top heavy. Now I wonder how they've squandered so much of their potential.<br /><br />With so much baggage wrapped up in the old faces from WWE and WCW, I can't help but wonder what would happen if the powers that be decided to just go for it. To book the likes of <strong>Douglas Williams</strong> (#86), <strong>Brutus Magnus</strong> (#110), <strong>Robert Roode</strong> (#4), <strong>Matt Morgan</strong> (#65), <strong>Frankie Kazarian</strong> (#8) and <strong>Samoa Joe</strong> in the main event. What would happen if TNA decided to take a chance on names they've seen through their doors? Guys like <strong>Petey Williams</strong> or <strong>Consequences Creed</strong>? Would the company really be any worse off if it followed through on the promise it seems to have abandoned? I'd love to include Jeff Hardy in that list of names, as the first in a new generation of senior leaders, but after this weekend, I don't know. Is Jeff Hardy just a new brand of laibility, or are the likes of <strong>Sting</strong>, <strong>Hulk Hogan</strong>, <strong>Eric Bischoff</strong>, <strong>Jeff Jarrett</strong> and <strong>Vince Russo</strong> the monkey on the back of the industry and company, repeating the mistakes of the past? I really just don't know...<br /><br /><strong>Special Note:</strong> The Kayfabe Countdown includes results from <strong>TNA: Victory Road</strong>, where <strong>Sarita</strong> (#27) and <strong>Rosita</strong> (#37) captured the Knockouts Tag Team Championship from now-former champions, <strong>Angelina Love</strong> (#41) and <strong>Winter</strong> (#55). No other title changed hands.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-5443321248719944993?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-26298827591928072142011-03-06T23:59:00.002+10:302011-03-08T08:46:46.342+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Copeland" target="_blank"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; FLOAT: right; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://tvmedia.ign.com/tv/image/article/838/838528/Edge_1196386778.jpg" width="209" height="307" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#1 Edge</strong> [--] (12-1-1) (WWE)<br />[World Heavyweight Champion]</span><br />I started these weekly accounts of wrestler stats in late 2010, so it's only anecdotally that I can talk about the variety of names that came through the top ten in the early parts of the year. By the final quarter of 2010, it was becoming a two horse race between <strong>Big Show</strong> (#26) and eventual year-ending #1, <strong>Kofi Kingston</strong> (#31). In 2011, it seems the statistical top ten has both victim and beneficiary of an even more varied approach to booking in the major promotions.<br /><br />By using the entirety of their television network to showcase superstars from the less accessed Smackdown program, WWE have created a widening gap between top stars from the blue brand and the rest of the field. Where in 2010 many names came and went during the first half of the year, it seems the build to 2011's <strong>Wrestlemania XVII</strong> has put the focus squarely on <strong>Edge</strong> and <strong>Alberto Del Rio</strong> (#2; Royal Rumble winner). As Edge spends more time as the subject of this Countdown opening monologue, I find my patience for the Rated-R Superstar wearing a little bit thin.<br /><br />I've been very enthusiastic about Alberto Del Rio, but I'm sure along the way I've expressed some doubt about his readiness to be World Champion, particularly on a stage as grandiose as Wrestlemania. That said, Edge's reign as an 11-time World-level champion, in only five years, has served to highlight what I believe are his many inadequacies as a top level talent. So we have two shades of a bad situation, and I find myself hoping Edge can start balancing out his record with a few losses, just to give me something else to talk about at the end of every week.<br /><br />Three wins clear of his nearest rival, and with twice as many as the pack vying for #5 rank, I get a sense Edge and I will have to spend a lot of time together over the next few months. It's not a fact I'm at all at peace with, but I won't bother to labour the point this early in his reign of terror.<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Alberto Del Rio (9-2-1) (WWE) [Royal Rumble]<br /><strong>#3</strong> [+3] Justin Gabriel (7-3-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#4</strong> [+1] Randy Orton (7-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [+3] Robert Roode (6-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#6</strong> [+3] James Storm (6-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#7</strong> [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/01/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-0130.html">RE</a>] Chris Masters (6-2-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [-5] Ken Anderson (6-3-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-3] Rey Mysterio (6-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-3] The Miz (6-6-0) (WWE) [WWE Champion]<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (6-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Justin Gabriel &amp; Heath Slater (5-2-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (5-5-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [+5] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (3-1-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [-1] Sarita &amp; Rosita (2-0-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [-1] Edge &amp; Randy Orton (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [-1] John Morrison &amp; R-Truth (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [-1] Rey Mysterio &amp; R-Truth (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-1] Edge &amp; Kelly Kelly (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [--] Madison Rayne &amp; Sarita (2-1-0) (TNA)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mistico" target="_blank"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; FLOAT: right; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://unifiedwrestling.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/mistico-4.jpg" width="257" height="388" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight:<br />#NR Mistico</strong> (0-0-0) (WWE)</span><br />To say I'm any kind of aficionado of Mexican wrestling would be a complete lie, but when I see it, I often enjoy it. I like the different logics and concepts that are at work in this world, where styles and characters have different depths to their counterparts abroad. For me, there's a lot to like about the prospect of lucha libre and the mythic history it's steeped in, which looks all the more colourful when placed beside the developing mediocrities of certain American styles. WWE, for example, has abandoned much this colour, denying it's history whilst stripping away at it's interesting characters.<br /><br />With all of that in mind, it was with mixed feelings that I learned of <strong>Mistico</strong>'s signing with WWE -- an eventuality that has been many years in the making. Given their recent track record, it was easy to approach the news with extreme cynicism. It was with dreaded expectation that they unveiled a new moniker for their 'big name' international acquisition, who won't be wrestling under his 'big name' when he debuts with WWE.<br /><br />I'm told <strong>CMLL</strong> -- the company he remained loyal to when WWE first began courting him -- own the rights to the Mistico name, which makes the situation that has given us "<strong>Sin Cara</strong>" much more forgiveable than the name itself. A name that reminds me of the last time they picked up a wrestler with history in Mexico -- <strong>Dos Caras Jr</strong>, aka; Alberto Del Rio. If including "face" in the new name is intended as a humorous reference, it isn't appreciated.<br /><br />Still, Mistico arrives in a WWE that seems to be changing...<br />2011 has already given us some of the best booking of the last five years, with an interesting blend of new and old coming to prominance as we head toward Wrestlemania. Linda McMahon's political aspirations were dashed late last year, and one of the leading proponents for WWE PG, Donna Goldsmith, has left the company. Alberto Del Rio won the first ever forty-man Royal Rumble and is getting a World Heavyweight Championship at <strong>Wrestlemania XVII</strong>. In the build-up for that same show, <strong>The Rock</strong> has returned to WWE, unleashing more pseudo-profanity in a single promo than WWE has in the entirety of two years. The Rock's return has also waved the flag for an era of wrestling that many fans like myself are looking back on, regarding as a much better time in wrestling. In other words; WWE is showing signs of changing.<br /><br />In 2011, Mistico might not be walking in to a company that has dashed the hopes of almost every foreign wrestler to walk through it's doors. Mistico might be walking in to a company that is ready to get back in touch with it's penchant for colourful characters, outrageous situations, and maybe even the credible wrestling it's presented at various points in it's history. Mistico -- Sin Cara -- might be walking in to WWE to be a catalyst for a new era! If that's how it works out, colour me excited!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-2629882759192807214?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-89564086905670262242011-02-27T06:02:00.004+10:302011-03-02T17:12:21.807+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Copeland" target="_blank"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; FLOAT: right; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3b/Elimination_Chamber_%282011%29.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#1 Edge</strong> [--] (11-1-1) (WWE)<br />[World Heavyweight Champion]</span><br />Another week, another win for Edge on Smackdown. The current World Heavyweight Champion doesn't look to be having any troubles in the push department, despite being bogged down in an obscure team-up with <strong>Kelly Kelly</strong> (#50) against the ailing forces of <strong>Vickie Guerrero</strong> (#108) and her crumbling house of cards. This premature march of heroes might lead some fans to speculate the chances of Royal Rumble #1 contender, <strong>Alberto Del Rio</strong> (#2), who'll face off against Edge at <strong>Wrestlemania XXVII</strong> for the title.<br /><br />With <strong>John Cena</strong> (#38) and <strong>The Miz</strong> (#7) likely to headline, and <strong>The Rock</strong> in a supporting role, you'd have to think the good guy glory will come from some form of reconciliation between "The People's Champion" and his rapping counterpart, Cena, setting up a customary happy ending for the massaged Mania audience. Which really only lends credence to the theory that Del Rio might be gearing up for a win. He certanly seems to have the more impressive build, besting Intercontinental Champion <strong>Kofi Kingston</strong> (#26) in the most unflattering of manners for the IC belt. In other words -- I'm starting to believe and get very curious about the recent WWE signing of <strong>Mistico</strong>, who may or may not join his lucha fellows on the blue brand just in time for the "<em>showcase of immortals</em>." Very interesting!<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Alberto Del Rio (9-2-1) (WWE) [Royal Rumble]<br /><strong>#3</strong> [+5] Ken Anderson (6-3-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [new] Justin Gabriel (6-3-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#5</strong> [-2] Randy Orton (6-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [+3] Rey Mysterio (6-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/01/kayfabe-countdown-0109.html">RE</a>] The Miz (6-6-0) (WWE) [WWE Champion]<br /><strong>#8</strong> [-4] Robert Roode (5-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-4] James Storm (5-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-4] Frankie Kazarian (5-1-0) (TNA) [X-Division Champion]<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (5-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#2</strong> [+5] Justin Gabriel &amp; Heath Slater (4-2-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#3</strong> [-1] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (4-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [-1] Sarita &amp; Rosita (2-0-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [-1] Edge &amp; Randy Orton (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [-1] John Morrison &amp; R-Truth (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [-1] Rey Mysterio &amp; R-Truth (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [new] Edge &amp; Kelly Kelly (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-1] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (2-1-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-1] Madison Rayne &amp; Sarita (2-1-0) (TNA)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Calaway" target="_blank"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; FLOAT: right; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Undertaker_with_Fire.jpg/200px-Undertaker_with_Fire.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight:<br />#NR The Undertaker</strong> (0-0-0) (WWE)</span><br />Depending on who you ask, WWE's latest Wrestlemania return campaign may have backfired, somewhat. As remarked upon at the time [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/02/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-0206.html">February 6</a>], it never struck me as likely that the <strong>2 21 11</strong> promos would regard anything but the return of the Deadman, but it seems some fans had so thoroughly talked themselves into anticipating the arrival of <strong>Sting</strong>, that they were disappointed by <strong>The Undertaker</strong>.<br /><br />The Phenom didn't arrive on RAW alone this week, immediately follow by a returning <strong>Triple H</strong>, whose silent face-off with the Deadman confirmed their involvement in the annual clash to test Undertaker's winning power. On the one hand, I thought this was a very simple and effective moment, which used all the cache value of these two tested stars, as well as the weighty iconography of the Wrestlemania name and logo itself. On the other hand, I was disappointed that the atmospheric cabin promos that preceded Undertaker's return weren't of more value. Despite an exit that implied some sort of passage to the afterlife, and these return promos that insinuated something akin to a home haven for the wild west inspired Undertaker, it was for moot, a mere transition from clip to stage playing out the involvement of the rainy desert and it's cultish gloom.<br /><br />I've always been a fan of the pageantry and the fiction of The Undertaker, which are aspects generally lacking from today's WWE product. That said, I wouldn't let personal preference get in the way of appreciating what was ultimately a much more convincing set-up than I would've expected of a match that will only have one month to breathe. In a way, it segues out of the <strong>Shawn Michaels</strong> challenges of the previous years, which completely changed the complexion of what it is to challenge The Undertaker's streak at Wrestlemania. I would still have loved to see <strong>Brock Lesnar</strong> <a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2010/11/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-107.html">return to challenge the streak</a> in an MMA-infused encounter, but I doubt Undertaker is physically up to making the most of that scenario, any way. With Triple H, it becomes a match about status and standing. A continuation of the previous two years that sees the fresher of the DX duo take on the Deadman, in a rematch of their 2001 "X-Seven" clash that gave 'Taker Mania win number nine! Roll on number nineteen!<br /><br /><strong>Special Note:</strong> On the February 21 episode of RAW, <strong>John Cena</strong> (#38) and <strong>The Miz</strong> (#7) were paired together to win the Tag Team Championships. They lost the belts back to <strong>Justin Gabriel</strong> (#4) and <strong>Heath Slater</strong> (#22) immediately, granting the latter pair their second reign for 2011, and third overall. It was about as pointless as it sounds.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-8956408690567026224?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-33696091329295711462011-02-20T23:59:00.004+10:302011-02-23T22:44:55.304+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Copeland" target="_blank"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; FLOAT: right; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3b/Elimination_Chamber_%282011%29.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#1 Edge</strong> [+1] (10-1-1) (WWE)<br />[World Heavyweight Champion]</span><br />It was triple duty for the World's Heavyweight Champion this week, giving him a clear win ahead of Royal Rumble #1 Contender and current Kayfabe Countdown rival, <strong>Alberto Del Rio</strong> (#2). The "Rated-R Superstar" continues to benefit from his on-going feud with <strong>Dolph Ziggler</strong> (#90), who granted Edge a <em>second</em> World title reign for 2011 when Teddy Long returned to undo Vickie Guerrero's dodgy dealings. A twelve-man tag team match made it a triple-double for Edge on the 600th episode of Smackdown, levelling Ziggler with a feeble 1-9-1 win/loss/draw rate, before being fired by the returning GM, and removed from Sunday's Elimination Chamber.<br /><br />As expected, Edge came out on top over <strong>Kane</strong> (#51), <strong>Rey Mysterio</strong> (#9), <strong>Drew McIntyre</strong> (#12), <strong>Wade Barrett</strong> (#50), and Ziggler's replacement, <strong>The Big Show</strong> (#46), to set-up a title clash with Alberto Del Rio at <strong>Wrestlemania XXVII</strong> (April 3). It seems unlikely the match will headline the show, with <strong>John Cena</strong> (#54) having earned a WWE title match against <strong>The Miz</strong> (#11) in the RAW Chamber match.<br /><br />Personally, that bothers me. I like the main event marquee being part and parcel with the honor of winning the Royal Rumble, something bookers know well in advance after more than a decade (with rare, justifiable exception). I agree that, even with his meteoric rise shown on RAW, it might be a big ask for an audience to go with Del Rio in a main event. It could even be a big ask for Del Rio, who might be irrevocably damaged by being prematurely pushed into the biggest spotlight of the year. It's a no-win situation, which will just have to bother me without reply.<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [-1] Alberto Del Rio (9-2-0) (WWE) [Royal Rumble]<br /><strong>#3</strong> [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/02/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-0206.html">RE</a>] Randy Orton (6-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [-1] Robert Roode (5-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#5</strong> [-1] James Storm (5-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#6</strong> [+1] Frankie Kazarian (5-1-0) (TNA) [X-Division Champion]<br /><strong>#7</strong> [+1] Eve Torres (5-2-0) (WWE) [Divas Champion]<br /><strong>#8</strong> [-3] Ken Anderson (5-3-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [+1] Rey Mysterio (5-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [new] John Morrison (5-5-0) (WWE)<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (5-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#2</strong> [+5] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (4-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [new] Sarita &amp; Rosita (2-0-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [new] Edge &amp; Randy Orton (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [new] John Morrison &amp; R-Truth (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [new] Rey Mysterio &amp; R-Truth (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2010/12/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-1226.html">RE</a>] Justin Gabriel &amp; Heath Slater (2-1-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#8</strong> [-6] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (2-1-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-4] Madison Rayne &amp; Sarita (2-1-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-7] Zack Ryder &amp; Primo Colon (2-2-0) (WWE)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwayne_Johnson" target="_blank"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 248px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 337px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://images.mylot.com/userImages/images/postphotos/2328753.jpg" width="248" height="368" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight:<br />#NR The Rock</strong> (0-0-0) (WWE)</span><br />Here at the end of the week, it seems like ancient history, but no one can have forgotten the electric shock of February 14's Monday Night RAW announcement of <strong>Wrestlemania XXVII</strong>'s celebrity host!<br /><br />I was tempted to describe this as a spotlight on "<em>Dwayne Johnson,</em>" but I think we all saw quite clearly that <em>FINALLY <strong>The Rock</strong> has come back to WWE</em>!<br /><br />In my former life as a columnist for <a href="http://www.prowrestling.com/" target="_blank">prowrestling.com</a> and an Attitude Era tragic, I generally had more negative things to say about icons, The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin, than positive. As much as the vivid characters, trademark phrases and moves, and bold storylines were important to me, I valued sport as well as the entertainment. Rock and Austin, to even the most dedicated fan, were not terrific in-ring performers. Not during their prime, at least. Another grinding factor was their omnipresence, which sometimes seemed to only be interrupted by occasional, half-hearted month long glimpses of rival contenders. To a lesser degree, but in similar fashion, it bred resentment in me as a viewer that I now feel toward <strong>John Cena</strong> (#54) and <strong>Randy Orton</strong> (#3) without mitigation.<br /><br />The Rock's return, however, undeniably highlights the contrast between the two periods. While he and Austin had a reign of terror over the main event for a good four or five years, they had the benefit of being far more compelling in their presentation, charismatic in their person, and surrounded by a company that supported this domination, even if it wasn't exactly to my taste.<br /><br />In twenty minutes, The Rock held a captive audience, who simmered hushed mere moments after exploding into the biggest applause I've heard in years. Rock dipped into some of the sillier turns of phrase that sit awkwardly with his better known repetoire, references to <em>fruity pebbles</em> and <em>hobbits</em> effective, if a little hokey. For the most part, Rock, even without attacking Miz, John Cena, and Michael Cole, revealed everything that made him "The Great One", and has been lost since the mid-late nineties. As critical as I might have ever been of The Rock, I could not deny that he's a great personality, a great talker, and was electric in his return to the ring.<br /><br />"Damn" and "ass" was flying around the arena as live censors did a mediocre job to keep safely within the Mattel sponsored PG rating. Is that a sign of a shift in the WWE product, post-Donna Goldsmith (Executive Officer key to the Mattel deal, and proponent of the soft PG brand)? The Rock's appearance seemed to rebel against <em>everything</em> that the current WWE is bogged down in.<br /><br />Will The Rock step into the ring for Wrestlemania? All logic suggests no, even though he laid the verbal smackdown on some of WWE's biggest top stars. It seems unfathomable that Rock will remain uninvolved in the WWE title match between <strong>The Miz</strong> (#11) and John Cena, but I can't imagine anything more than a <em>Rock Bottom</em> or a <em>People's Elbow</em>. I also can't imagine The Rock leaving WWE before <em>attempting</em> to give the rub to good-guy and company leader, John Cena, with whom he had some legitmate beef with a few years back, but probably has no real problem with. An exit without endorsement seems unfathomable, given the company's reluctance to turn John Cena heel, and their utter dependence on he and Orton in the main event. Then again, there is the small matter of Randy Orton, and who he'll face at Wrestlemania... <em>Psyche!</em><br /><br />It was good to see The Rock back, but I don't expect to see a lot of him. Certainly not to the weekly degree some fans have imagined after what was <em>apparently</em> a promise to be 'back for good.' I don't remember anything like that sticking out to me during Rock's rant, but it's been a big story for a lot of outlets. I'm sure The Rock intends to keep wrestling in his heart, and to make future appearances that would constitute 'never going away [for good]', but weekly appearances on RAW? I've got my doubts. It'll be fun finding out, though, as a little slice of the Attitude Era comes back to bring sponteneity and surprise with it. <em>If you smell what The Rock is cooking!</em><br /><br /><strong>Special Note:</strong> At Elimination Chamber (2011) on February 20, 2011; <strong>Justin Gabriel</strong> (#15) and <strong>Heath Slater</strong> (#42) defeated <strong>Vladimir Kozlov</strong> (#22) and <strong>Santino Marella</strong> (#23) to claim their second Tag Team Championship reign.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-3369609132929571146?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-24077927583149914612011-02-13T23:59:00.001+10:302011-02-16T22:14:27.265+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dos_Caras,_Jr." target="_blank"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; FLOAT: right; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Alberto_Del_Rio_2010_Tribute_to_the_Troops.jpg/200px-Alberto_Del_Rio_2010_Tribute_to_the_Troops.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#1 Alberto Del Rio</strong> [+1] (8-2-0) (WWE) [Royal Rumble]</span><br />The 2011 Royal Rumble winner and Wrestlemania #1 contender is back on top of the Kayfabe Countdown...<em> but you already knew that!</em> Alberto Del Rio came out on top this week with a win against <strong>Kofi Kingston</strong> (#14), while Edge suffered in the quagmire of a convoluted finish to his Championship defense to <strong>Dolph Ziggler</strong> (#87). His status as World Champion is supposedly in doubt, which not only robs him of a higher win count than Del Rio, but also much less momentum heading down the road to Wrestlemania.<br /><br /><strong>Wrestlemania XXVII</strong> sits late in the cycle this year, April 3rd (as opposed to the frequent March dates), where Del Rio is expected to face the winner of the February Smackdown World heavyweight title Elimination Chamber. Safe money says Edge will be there in the end, but he'll have to best Dolph Ziggler, <strong>Drew McIntyre</strong> (#15), <strong>Rey Mysterio</strong> (#10), <strong>Kane</strong> (#40), and <strong>Wade Barrett</strong> (#35), to carry the belt into 'Mania. A Mexicasa match-up with Mysterio strikes me as a somewhat tantalizing outsider possibility, but it seems the mounting uncertainty surrounding wrestling's biggest show of the calendar is almost exclusively on the RAW side.<br /><br />There will be no WWE Pay-Per-View event in March, meaning there's still plenty of TV time for plans to change, but Edge/Del Rio stands as one of the more certain outcomes. The blue brand's other marquee match will involve <strong>Undertaker</strong>'s annual outing, where a variety of possible challengers to the 18-0 streak of wins have been raised, raging from <strong>Wade Barrett</strong> and his Corre, <strong>Kane</strong>, and even a returning <strong>Triple H</strong> -- who would otherwise be expected to face his arch-rival, <strong>Sheamus</strong> (#86), in revenge for eliminating him in October of last year. That's a discussion for <em>another</em> Countdown spotlight, however...<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [-1] Edge (7-1-1) (WWE) [World Heavyweight Champion]<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Robert Roode (5-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] James Storm (5-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] Ken Anderson (5-3-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [+4] Jeff Jarrett (4-1-1) (TNA)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/01/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-0130.html">RE</a>] Frankie Kazarian (4-1-0) (TNA) [X-Division Champion]<br /><strong>#8</strong> [new] Eve Torres (4-1-0) (WWE) [Divas Champion]<br /><strong>#9</strong> [new] Tyler Reks (4-1-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-4] Rey Mysterio (4-3-0) (WWE)<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (5-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (2-1-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Zack Ryder &amp; Primo Colon (2-1-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Yoshi Tatsu &amp; DH Smith (2-1-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/01/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-0123.html">RE</a>] Madison Rayne &amp; Sarita (2-1-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [-1] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (2-3-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#7</strong> [new] Brother Devon &amp; Samoa Joe (1-0-1) (TNA)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [-2] Eve Torres &amp; Brie Bella (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-2] Natalya Neidhart &amp; Brie Bella (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-2] Randy Orton &amp; Jerry Lawler (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samoa_Joe" target="_blank"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; FLOAT: right; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Samoa_Joe_Bloomington_IL_062008.jpg/220px-Samoa_Joe_Bloomington_IL_062008.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight:<br />#27 Samoa Joe</strong> (2-0-1) (TNA)</span><br />Late last year, I talked about some of my hopes for Samoa Joe in another spotlight [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2010/11/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-1014.html">November 14</a>], but admittedly, soon forgot about them as more probable eventualities took priority. Here, on the eve of TNA: Against All Odds, I find those old thoughts creeping back in, however.<br /><br />On the Pay-Per-View, Joe was successful against <strong>"The Pope" D'Angelo Dinero</strong> (#101), in a grudge match formed by Pope's largely unprovoked attack on Joe. It was nice to see "<em>The Samoan Submission Machine</em>" winning matches once again, but the glory was bittersweet, given how flimsy the pairing's association has been. On the same show, <strong>Jeff Hardy</strong> (#21) defeated <strong>Mr. Anderson</strong> (#5) to recapture the Heavyweight title, despite his pending legal hearings that will see him plead guilty for minor charges of drug possession. I'd consider Jeff Hardy a worthy champion, one who stands far above Anderson on any legitimate contender list, but when you combine these two results, it's impossible to ignore better days in Total Non-Stop Action.<br /><br />From April to October in 2008, <strong>Samoa Joe</strong> held the TNA Heavyweight Championship. It is, to date, his only top reign in the company, but a memorable one for it's position at the top of a TNA that was much more sports focused than the current product. Joe was extremely competitive against top class opponents like; <strong>Kurt Angle</strong> (#61), <strong>Booker T</strong> (#95), and <strong>Sting</strong> -- legends of the industry who appeared to be working <em>with</em>, and <em>for</em>, the star for a new generation. Samoa Joe might not have matinee idol good looks working in his favour, or a towering muscle bound physique, but his in-ring skill and energy was proven in that year that he held the title belt.<br /><br />In 2011, that hardwork and credibility might as well have never been there.<br />Under the <strong>Hulk Hogan</strong>/<strong>Eric Bischoff</strong> regime -- which arrived at the beginning of 2010 -- the sports-lite focus that made TNA great has eroded away. With the exit of AJ Styles from the title picture early in 2010, there has been an effective reboot of reality, their focus readjusting squarely on talent established outside of TNA. Their three champions might not have held unquestioned favour in World Wrestling Entertainment, but it's fair to say <strong>Rob Van Dam</strong> (#44), Jeff Hardy, and Ken Anderson, are all still reasonably considered products of the other company's system. Their elevation in TNA is arguably a total positive, but it's eventuality at the expensive of once promising and credible contenders, like Samoa Joe, is a glaring negative.<br /><br />Tall men like <strong>Abyss</strong> (#63) and <strong>Matt Morgan</strong> (#33) have been given glimpses of opportunity, as old habits die hard for the current regime. Even these plans of mixed merit have been abandoned and short-lived gestures, all too familiar to those old WCW days. All the while a tested champion is left to job to joke-MMA masters, and suffer the indignities of a match-up contrived from juvenile namecalling.<br /><br />RVD has overdue claim to a title shot, missing out on a rematch against Jeff Hardy as a result of various distractions. I wouldn't begrudge him finally reentering the picture, but Samoa Joe is being utterly wasted in idiotic, go nowhere feuds that are completely removed from the title. Even if he isn't in the championship feud, he should be loitering outside the main event. He should be benefitting from competitive wrestling, instead of squandered against other mismanaged mid-carders who're making jokes about pigs. He should be the wrestler he once was, when he was defending the championship against the best and looking right at home. He should be the next contender; one not facing legal complications, one with main event credibility, one who doesn't owe his marquee value to somewhere else.<br /><br /><strong>Special Note:</strong> <strong>Jeff Hardy</strong> (#21) defeated <strong>Ken Anderson</strong> (#5) to regain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship at the <strong>TNA: Against All Odds</strong> on February 13. <strong>Frankie Kazarian</strong> (#7) retained the X-Division Championship against <strong>Robbie E</strong> (#56), who progressed to the match by default when <strong>Max</strong> (#50) and <strong>Jeremy Buck</strong> (#53) failed to appear for their contender match due to 'travel problems.'<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-2407792758314991461?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-3240580437657760852011-02-12T16:48:00.002+10:302011-03-30T12:06:12.190+10:30<p><b>Jeri Ryan</b> has been one busy actress... With a career in film and television spanning twenty years; Ryan has acted in starring roles in many successful primetime dramas, including <i>Dark Skies</i>, <i>Boston Public</i>, <i>Shark</i>, <i>The OC</i>, and <i>Law &amp; Order: SVU</i>. For some, she will be best remembered as the cult sci-fi heroine of more than one hundred episodes -- <i>Seven of Nine</i>, from TV's <b>Star Trek: Voyager</b>. An impressive body of work by any measure, but for fans of a certain conccurently running twenty-year video game franchise, about to pale in comparison to a <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1334">ten episode, digitally distributed series</a>!</p><br /><p><br /><center><img src="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/perl/cds.cgi?external_action=displayImage&amp;id=2766" /></center><br /><p></p><br /><p>Ryan's association with <b>Mortal Kombat</b> began in June, with the online leak of a high-quality production demo called <b>Mortal Kombat: Rebirth</b> [<a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1220"><b>full story</b></a>]. The eight minute clip, directed by <b>Kevin Tancharoen</b> (<i>Fame, DanceLife</i>), presented a stark reinterpretation of the MK mythos, with a bent toward over-the-top, gritty urban adaptation. Acting opposite action favourite, <b>Michael Jai White</b> (<i>Spawn, Black Dynamite</i>), during interrogation scenes led by his <b>Jax</b> ; Ryan completed the Special Forces duo as a file wielding, business suited <b>Sonya Blade</b>. For fans concerned the former Miss Illinois will be a paper pushing wallflower version of the fighting Lieutenant, Jeri Ryan has provided pictorial do<i></i>cumentation of her action packed role! Via <b><a href="http://twitter.com/JeriLRyan" target="_blank">Twitter</a></b>, the actress promises "<i>ass is being kicked</i>," showing off battle scars from her kombat experience, which includes kicking the occasional door on the Vancouver location shoot, as well! <strong>Full Article:</strong> <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1362" target="_blank">http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1362</a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-324058043765776085?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-85328676284605535182011-02-11T12:56:00.002+10:302011-02-11T13:01:10.091+10:30<b><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/mortalkombat9/video/6298339?tag=topslot;watchlink;1" target="_blank">Gamespot</a></b> have exclusively revealed the first-look at number four in a series of character vignettes, each designed to spotlight the backstory of classic fighters in the lead up to entering <b>Mortal Kombat</b>!<br /><br /><center><object id="videoPlayer" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" width="480" height="310"><param name="_cx" value="12700"><param name="_cy" value="8202"><param name="FlashVars" value=""><param name="Movie" value="http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/cne_flash/production/eidothea/release/eidothea.swf?ver=006_f"><param name="Src" value="http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/cne_flash/production/eidothea/release/eidothea.swf?ver=006_f"><param name="WMode" value="Opaque"><param name="Play" value="-1"><param name="Loop" value="-1"><param name="Quality" value="High"><param name="SAlign" value="LT"><param name="Menu" value="-1"><param name="Base" value=""><param name="AllowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="Scale" value="NoScale"><param name="DeviceFont" value="0"><param name="EmbedMovie" value="0"><param name="BGColor" value=""><param name="SWRemote" value=""><param name="MovieData" value=""><param name="SeamlessTabbing" value="1"><param name="Profile" value="0"><param name="ProfileAddress" value=""><param name="ProfilePort" value="0"><param name="AllowNetworking" value="all"><param name="AllowFullScreen" value="true"><embed id="mymovie" width="480" height="310" flashvars="bwr=0&playerMode=embedded&movieAspect=16.9&mapp=embedded_480&gen=1&viewMode=sd&autoPlay=false¶msXML=http%3A%2F%2Fau.gamespot.com%2Fpages%2Fvideo_player%2Fxml.php%3Fid%3D6298339%26mode%3Dembedded%26width%3D480%26height%3D310%26newplayer%3D1%26skin%3DeidotheaEmbedded480_169.xml" wmode="opaque" allowscriptaccess="always" scale="noScale" salign="lt" allowfullscreen="true" quality="high" name="mymovie" src="http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/cne_flash/production/eidothea/release/eidothea.swf?ver=006_f" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></center><br /><b>Liu Kang</b> is featured this time, lamenting on his training as a child with Shaolin Monk, to his special mastery under the Outworld-born master, <b>Bo' Rai Cho</b> (introduced to the canon in <i>Deadly Alliance</i>). Referencing his relationship with <b>Raiden</b>, the vignette appears to retain the expectation of Liu Kang as Earthrealm's greatest warrior and eventual champion.<br /><br /><blockquote><em>As a young orphan, Liu Kang was trained by monks, ultimately becoming a Shaolin expert under Master Bo' Rai Cho. Assisted by the God of Thunder; Liu Kang is Earthrealm's best hope for freedom -- and survival! Liu Kang is destined to reach the final challenge and become the champion of Mortal Kombat!</em></blockquote><strong>Full Article: <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1360" target="_blank">http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1360</a></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-8532867628460553518?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-52209996894099317192011-02-11T06:30:00.004+10:302011-03-30T12:02:02.631+10:30It was in 1993, on the back of the success of the original <b>Mortal Kombat</b>, that two Belgian electronica artists set about creating a dance anthem inspired by the game. <b>Techno Syndrome</b>, in it's varied mixes, has gone on to be one of the most memorable novelty songs of it's time, popularized through use in the 1995 Mortal Kombat feature film [<a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1346">coming to BluRay in April</a>], as well as television marketing for home console release of the games prior to the movie, and pop culture references following. It was even included as bonus material in Sega CD releases of the game.<br /><br /><b>Oliver Adams</b> and <b>Maurice Engelen</b> (<i>Praga Khan</i>) -- who were well known at the time for their work as part of the Industrial Techno collective, <b>Lords of Acid</b> -- were tapped by Virgin Records America to produce a complete concept album as soundtrack to the game as <b>The Immortals</b>.<br /><br /><b>Mortal Kombat: The Album</b> was released subsequently in 1994, featuring ten original tracks inspired by the game and it's seven playable characters. <b>Shang Tsung</b> was notably the only character to go without a song; the rest of the cast, (including famous sub-boss, <b>Goro</b>), benefitting from high energy dance tracks, with descriptive titles and lyrics based on characters' biographies. Original tracks, Techno Syndrome and Hypnotic House, even boast soundbytes from the Sega version of the game, said to have been provided for the album.<br /><br />In 2011, Warner Brothers' <b><a href="http://watertowermusic.com/" target="_blank">WaterTower Music</a></b> will team with <b><a href="http://www.teenageriotrecords.com/" target="_blank">Teenage Riot Records</a></b> to continue this MK musical tradition, producing a soundtrack for a new generation and a new game -- <b>Mortal Kombat: Songs Inspired by the Warriors</b>!<br /><br />Executive produced by Teenage Riot co-founder, <b>JFK</b> (of MSTRKRFT); the album is set to provide a contemporary take on the soundtrack concept, providing a more subtle source of inspiration in the mix, drawing from various st<i></i>yles to deliver an album of tracks "Inspired by the Warriors".<br /><br />A complete tracklisting is yet to be made available, but music from the album has already been featured in character vignettes for <b><a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1331">Mileena</a></b>, and most recently, <b><a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1360">Liu Kang</a></b>. These singles, performed by <b>Tokimonsta</b> and <b>Congorock</b>, have been made avaialble for pre-release download on <b>Amazon</b> ($0.99) and <b>iTunes</b> ($1.29), along with <b>Sub-Zero</b>'s theme. <br /><br /><ul><li>Mileena's Theme by <b>Tokimonsta</b> (3:28) [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mileenas-Theme-Single/dp/B004ID2RQK/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_2" target="_blank">Amazon</a>/<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/mortal-kombat-songs-inspired/id413501549" target="_blank">iTunes</a>]</li><br /><li>Sub-Zero's Theme (Helado) by <b>Harvard Bass</b> (7:21) [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Helado-Sub-Zeros-Theme-Single/dp/B004ME75PS/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_3" target="_blank">Amazon</a>/<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/helado-sub-zeros-theme/id418664404?i=418664423&amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4" target="_blank">iTunes</a>] <br /><li>Liu Kang's Theme by <b>Congorock</b> (3:42) [<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Liu-Kangs-Theme-Mortal-Kombat/dp/B004MHXPVI/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1" target="_blank">Amazon</a>/<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/liu-kangs-theme/id418722570?i=418722574&amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4" target="_blank">iTunes</a></li></ul><br /><br /><strong>Full Article:</strong> <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1361" target="_blank">http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1361</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-5220999689409931719?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-63531123501344213182011-02-10T13:24:00.002+10:302011-02-11T13:00:53.499+10:30It was another scoop from our friends in Russia, this time a collection of screenshots previously exclusive to print domains. <b><a href="http://games.1c.ru/" target="_blank">1C.ru</a></b> have six previously embargoed in-game screen grabs showcasing the lush background environments from the new game, as well as some of it's classic characters in not-yet seen classic poses! <p></p>These screenshots mark the first widely available viewing of <b>Queen Sindel</b> -- the Edenian royal who became Shao Kahn's bride and took her own life. Given the new games retro setting, we can be sure Sindel will be right in the heart of the action as the game revisits storylines leading up to and including <b>Mortal Kombat 3</b>!<br /><br />Sindel's <b>Banshee Scream</b> is on display in the shots, along with classic special moves belonging to <b>Sonya</b>, <b>Jax</b>, <b>Scorpion</b>, and perhaps <b>Ermac</b> -- who is another of the returning characters yet to be showcased extensively.<br /><br /><strong>Full Article: <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1359" target="_blank">http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1359</a></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-6353112350134421318?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-38067049474815169212011-02-06T23:59:00.003+10:302011-02-11T12:33:02.402+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Copeland" target="_blank"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; FLOAT: right; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3b/Elimination_Chamber_%282011%29.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#1 Edge</strong> [+1] (7-1-0) (WWE)<br />[World Heavyweight Champion]</span><br />It seems <strong>Alberto Del Rio</strong>'s victory in the Royal Rumble has fulfilled WWE's hard working plans for the Mexican superstar, at least for now. Edge has risen rapidly in the win/loss rankings to leap from 2011 obscurity, back into second place for last week's [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/01/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-0130.html">January 30</a>] Countdown! In a year when <strong>John Cena</strong> (#99) has begun his road to Wrestlemania without a single victory; Edge's 87% win rate from eight matches in five weeks has to be considered no small feat!<br /><br />Edge was unsurprisingly successful in defending his championship against unlikely contender, <strong>Dolph Ziggler</strong> (#76), whose fortunes have been inverse to Edge's (1-7-0 win/loss/draw), including losing the Intercontinental Championship immediately before his entry into the World title picture. I'm not sure I'll ever agree with the favour Edge has garnered in his role as a main event player, but it's undeniable that Ziggler was not yet ready to step up into the role. I appreciate, particularly with a WWE Champion as green as <strong>The Miz</strong> (#37) working on RAW, that bookers saw fit to grant Ziggler the opportunity, without prematurely following through on it.<br /><br />Pseudo-babyface Edge appears to be carrying a little babyfat right now, but that hasn't stopped WWE investing heavily in the "Rated R Superstar," who replaced <strong>Kane</strong> (#73) as Smackdown's resident World Heavyweight Champion. With an opportunity to main event Wrestlemania in a title bout against Del Rio on the line; you'd have to think Edge will be relatively secure when he defends the belt in an Elimination Chamber at the February event of the same name. His opponents will be Dolph Ziggler, Kane, <strong>Drew McIntyre</strong> (#17), <strong>Rey Mysterio</strong> (#6), and <strong>Wade Barrett</strong> (#68), presenting the most likely alternate as Mysterio, whose feud with Del Rio was supposedly ended in a match won via count-out due to interference. An all-Mexican main event would certainly be a welcome change from WWE's typically unkind booking to international stars, but is only an outside possibility.<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [-1] Alberto Del Rio (6-2-0) (WWE) [Royal Rumble]<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Robert Roode (4-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] James Storm (4-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#5</strong> [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/01/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-0116.html">RE</a>] Ken Anderson (4-2-0) (TNA) [World Heavyweight Champion]<br /><strong>#6</strong> [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2010/12/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-1226.html">RE</a>] Rey Mysterio (4-2-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [-2] Kofi Kingston (4-3-0) (WWE) [Intercontinental Champion]<br /><strong>#8</strong> [-2] Randy Orton (4-3-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/01/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-0123.html">RE</a>] Yoshi Tatsu (4-3-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-3] Jeff Jarrett (3-0-1) (TNA)<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (4-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#2</strong> [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2010/12/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-1212.html">RE</a>] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (2-1-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [-1] Zack Ryder &amp; Primo Colon (2-1-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/01/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-0123.html">RE</a>] Yoshi Tatsu &amp; DH Smith (2-1-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2010/12/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-1212.html">RE</a>] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (2-3-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#6</strong> [-3] Eve Torres &amp; Brie Bella (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [-2] Natalya Neidhart &amp; Brie Bella (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [-2] Randy Orton &amp; Jerry Lawler (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-2] Angelina Love &amp; Winter (1-0-0) (TNA) [Knockouts Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-2] Jeff Hardy &amp; Matt Hardy (1-0-0) (TNA)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Borden" target="_blank"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; FLOAT: right; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a9/Sting_book.jpg/200px-Sting_book.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight:<br />#NR Sting</strong> (0-0-0) (<em>Independent</em>)</span><br />A promo promising something mysterious for Monday night's RAW on the 21st of February has sparked speculation and theories about the imminent arrival of one of wrestling's biggest stars never to sign with WWE. The <strong>Sting</strong> phenomenon owes it's origins to the days of NWA (National Wrestling Alliance), but was solidified in <strong>WCW</strong> (World Championship Wrestling), where he eventually transformed from a brightly coloured surfer, to a gothic, comic-book inspired Crow style figure, clad in long trench coat.<br /><br />While the "2 21 11" promo features a black figure in a long coat, and bares superficial similarities to promo reels from Sting's WCW days, there isn't a doubt in my mind that says this is a sign of the return of <strong>The Undertaker</strong>. [Undertaker] was bundled out in October last year at Bragging Rights, where he lost a Buried Alive gimmick match to fictitious brother, <strong>Kane</strong>. His only subsequent appearance featured the Deadman in a long hall, stepping through a door into white light -- imagery similar to previous instances of the Undertaker's theatrics, which have suggested many experiences with the afterlife.<br /><br />These new promo vignettes, set in the rainy gloom of a solitary desert shanti, harken back to the original concept of Undertaker, which was directed toward the archetype of a Wild West figure, rather than the overtly supernatural, gothic overtones that the character is well remembered for. The video is either part of a return campaign that will be told exclusively in clips, or merely hype for the Undertaker's return from his previous bizarre video sequence. It may represent an Undertaker who has 'gone home', and come back stronger -- in time for Wrestlemania, which is a key part of his dominant mythology.<br /><br />The looming significance of Wrestlemania plays a part in Sting theories, as well, given that the show is returning to WCW's spiritual home of Atlanta. WWE's annual Hall of Fame is expected to include representatives of the WCW era, and Sting is certainly among the top contenders who haven't already been inducted -- but will it happen? If it does, I don't think the 2 21 11 clips will have any part to play.<br /><br />In the recent past, Sting has flirted with permanent retirement, but seems to be persuaded to come back to action time after time by a paycheque, and some sense of loyalty to a group who has opposed the oft-times dominant WWE, for two decades. His most recent performances have been with TNA (Total Non-Stop Action), often described as being as much about giving the fledgling company a chance to rise, as any aspiration to maintain his iconic status as one of wrestling's biggest stars.<br /><br /><strong>Special Note:</strong> Technical difficulties meant the publication of this post was delayed [until February 11]. A second "2 21 11" vignette has aired, finishing with the Johnny Cash "<em>Ain't No Grave</em>" song used to promote Undertaker's 2010 Wrestlemania clash with Shawn Michaels. It seems a certainty the promos refer to WWE's "Phenom", rather than the Stinger.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.<br /> </span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-3806704947481516921?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-66506329070883833982011-01-31T16:15:00.002+10:302011-02-11T13:00:02.825+10:30In 1995, <b>Mortal Kombat</b> was released to theatres worldwide, grossing a respectable $23 million dollars in it's opening weekend in the United States. An American launching pad for British director, <b>Paul Anderson</b> (<i>Resident Evil</i>, <i>Event Horizon</i>), the film was also a watershed moment for the licensing of video game properties in Hollywood, which to that point, had resulted in critical and financial failure in the box office.<br /><br />The movie was the culmination of a licensing agreement between major players of the time, then MK-owners <b>Midway Games</b>, and production studio, <b>Threshold Entertainment</b>. The deal would go on to produce a film sequel; animated series, <em>Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm</em>; live-action television show, <em>Mortal Kombat: Conquest</em>; and interactive live-action web series, <em>Federation of Martial Arts</em>. <p></p>In 2011, the original Mortal Kombat movie remains among the most popular and successful films to be based on video games. With the aquisition of the brand by <b>Warner Brothers</b>, both the original movie and it's 1997 sequel, <b>Mortal Kombat: Annihilation</b>, will get a new lease on life in the <b>Blu-Ray</b> format with a re-release targetted for <b>April 19</b>.<br /><br /><strong>Full Article: <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1346" target="_blank">http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1346</a></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-6650632907088383398?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-2366655816489310802011-01-30T23:59:00.004+10:302011-02-02T00:00:44.495+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dos_Caras,_Jr." target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Alberto_Del_Rio_2010_Tribute_to_the_Troops.jpg/200px-Alberto_Del_Rio_2010_Tribute_to_the_Troops.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#1 Alberto Del Rio</strong> [--] (6-2-0) (WWE) [Royal Rumble]</span><br />As of today, Alberto Del Rio is going to Wrestlemania to challenge the Champion of his choosing... <em>but you already knew that</em>. I had my doubts, but Del Rio's 2011 push has carried him all the way to victory in the first ever forty-man Royal Rumble! As phenomenal an achievement as it is, it comes bittersweet for the rising star. His entry was late, number thirty-eight, with the final elimination being an utterly unconvincing <strong>Santino Marella</strong> (#60). While that finish might've been very weak, Del Rio <em>did</em> have the honor of eliminating title contender, <strong>Randy Orton</strong> (#6)!<br /><br />Del Rio's Wrestlemania opponent remains to be seen, as does the likelihood of WWE honoring the tradition of Royal Rumble winners getting their shot in the biggest main event match of the calendar. The safe bet <em>might</em> be a bout with current World Champion, <strong>Edge</strong> (#2), who defeated <strong>Dolph Ziggler</strong> (#67) in a title defense at Royal Rumble. Keeping Del Rio on Smackdown would seem a benefit to his style as a wrestler, similarly to the strength of the show in Mexican markets, but you never know! Recent appearances on RAW may indicate more than an intent to promote Del Rio ahead of his Rumble win. Given that RAW's WWE Championship seems likely to be contended between a combination of current champ, <strong>The Miz</strong> (#30), <strong>John Cena</strong> (#86), and Randy Orton, a switch is long odds, though.<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/01/kayfabe-countdown-0109.html">RE</a>] Edge (5-1-0) (WWE) [World Heavyweight Champion]<br /><strong>#3</strong> [-1] Robert Roode (4-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#4</strong> [-1] James Storm (4-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#5</strong> [+1] Kofi Kingston (4-2-0) (WWE) [Intercontinental Champion]<br /><strong>#6</strong> [-2] Randy Orton (4-2-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [+1] Jeff Jarrett (3-0-1) (TNA)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [new] Frankie Kazarian (3-1-0) (TNA) [X-Division Champion]<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-4] Chris Masters (3-1-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [new] Primo Colon (3-1-0) (WWE)<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (4-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#2</strong> [new] Zack Ryder &amp; Primo Colon (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [-1] Eve Torres &amp; Brie Bella (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Natalya Neidhart &amp; Eve Torres (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] Natalya Neidhart &amp; Brie Bella (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [--] Randy Orton &amp; Jerry Lawler (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [--] Angelina Love &amp; Winter (1-0-0) (TNA) [Knockouts Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#8</strong> [--] Jeff Hardy &amp; Matt Hardy (1-0-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [--] Chris Masters &amp; JTG (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [new] Yoshi Tatsu &amp; Primo Colon (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booker_Huffman" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Booker_T_principal.jpg/200px-Booker_T_principal.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight:<br />#80 Booker T</strong> (0-1-0) (WWE)</span><br />Historically, the Royal Rumble is a match built on the excitement of the unknown. The potential for multiple would-be contenders to win, along with the random draw of wrestlers, is a certain draw, but there's something extra special about the potential for surprise entrants! In 2011, the biggest surprises came in the form of <strong>Booker T</strong> and <strong>Kevin Nash</strong> (#84) -- two WCW alumnists who'd left the company, joining opposition TV promotion, Total Non-Stop Action, since.<br /><br />Booker T, having departed from TNA in 2008, seemed to be heading toward retirement, but with days to go, semi-confirmation of terms met between he and WWE created a new buzz about the first ever forty-man Royal Rumble. It put an end to speculation about TNA's plans for a resurrection of the <strong>Main Event Mafia</strong> stable, who were tipped to be the most likely party responsibe for "THEY" -- a second incarnation of a teased organization.<br /><br />Booker (and Nash's) unavailability for the TNA angle appears to have given way to standing plans to return <strong>AJ Styles</strong> (#70) and members of <strong>Fortune</strong> to TNA favourite status, creating a silver lining of a situation that would only have been made worse by the return of tiring WCW/WWE retirees. That said, this is no slight to Booker T and Kevin Nash, as they head towards the possibility of a wrestling role in WWE.<br /><br />Booker T remains a respectable talent, who never truly received the dues he earned in WWE. The prospect of his return garnering some sort of main event situation would be potentially quite joyous in WWE, where RAW remains bogged down in a mix of unworthy champions, aborted prospects, and the usual suspects (Orton, Cena). There's plenty of room for Booker to energize the top title divisions on RAW, or even Smackdown, where he would be forced to compete with <strong>Alberto Del Rio</strong>'s momentum, but would be a pleasant change of pace as a challenger, as opposed to someone like Edge. On Smackdown, he would potentially arrive alongside Nash, who took a moment to stare down <strong>Big Show</strong> (#22) during the Rumble -- possible build for a feud, or a <em>union</em> against <strong>Wade Barrett</strong> (#91) and his <strong>Corre</strong>, who currently have beef with Big Show. Perhaps an opposing <em>trio</em> could form?<br /><br />It's impossible not to speculate about the these returning WCW alumnists without mentioning 2011's Hall of Fame inductions, which will coincide with Wrestlemania's arrival in Atlanta -- the home of the now defunct WCW. Booker and Nash could easily have been brought in with a view to induct them into the HOF as representing WCW/WWE stars. Speculation persists that <strong>Sting</strong> might also join them, despite "The Icon's" long history of refusing offers from the company. <strong>Diamond Dallas Page</strong> has to be considered another outsider prospect, with <strong>Bill Goldberg</strong> always on the WCW-noted periphery. Also on a Wrestlemania note is the potential for wrestling <strong>The Undertaker</strong> in his famed Wrestlemania slot, but there's plenty of time for that...<br /><br /><strong>Special Note:</strong> This week's Countdown includes results from the WWE: Royal Rumble Pay-Per-View event (Jan. 30). On the show, <strong>Eve Torres</strong> (#14) defeated <strong>Natalya Neidhart</strong> (#18) to win the Divas Championship in a fatal four-way match also involving <strong>Layla</strong> (#48) and <strong>Michelle McCool</strong> (#23).<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-236665581648931080?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-57415709588771410292011-01-29T08:06:00.002+10:302011-02-11T12:50:35.594+10:30Since assuming ownership of Midway's intellectual properties in July of 2010 [<a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1189" target="_blank">full story</a>], <b>Warner Brothers</b> have shown clear intent to capitalize on the <b>Mortal Kombat</b> brand in all of it's potential licensing and merchandising mediums.<br /> <br />To accompany the release of the upcoming game in <b>April</b>, a series of licensing deals have already been formed by WB and it's subsidiaries, to produce: an <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1340" target="_blank">Official Strategy Guide</a> with <b>Prima Games</b>; <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1312" target="_blank">a custom game stick</a> by <b>PDP</b> [Performance Designed Products]; an as yet untitled <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1338" target="_blank">digitally released live-action series</a>; and <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1332" target="_blank">a concept music album</a> with <b>Teenage Riot Records</b>, <b>Mortal Kombat: Songs Inspired by the Warriors</b>.<br /><br />In <b>Spring</b>, their massive merchandising line-up will be joined by a series of new action figures released by <b><a href="http://www.jazwares.com" target="_blank">Jazwares</a></b>. The deal is a return of the MK license to the toy manufacturer, who created three series of action figures inspired by <b>Mortal Kombat: Deception</b> and <b>Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks</b>, from 2005 to 2007.<br /><br /><strong>Full Article: <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1345" target="_blank">http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1345</a></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-5741570958877141029?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-28672180154640605622011-01-28T19:48:00.000+10:302011-02-11T12:48:03.030+10:30He made a surprise appearance in yesterday's <b>IGN</b> <b>Inside the X-Ray</b> behind-the-scenes featurette [<a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1343" target="_blank">full story</a>], but today, it's official: <b>Liu Kang</b> is back!<br /><br />Described on the <a href="http://www.themortalkombat.com/" target="_blank">Official Mortal Kombat website</a> as "The Returning Champion" -- MK's iconic four-time big hero is a surprisingly late entrant into the new game. He's looking much healthier, though, after suffering a lethal broken neck in the opening scene from <b>Deadly Alliance</b>, before being resurrected as a zombie for <b>Deception</b> and <b>Armageddon</b>.<br /><br />The time travel premise of <b>Mortal Kombat</b> means Liu Kang is, theoretically, in his element, enjoying the success that comes from entering and winning the Mortal Kombat tournament. There can be no guarantees, however, that Liu is still the chosen champion to represent the Shaolin order and all of humanity. A <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1340" target="_blank">recently revealed blurb</a> from the <b>Official Mortal Kombat Strategy Guide</b> gave us a strong indication that the existing canon could <i>possibly</i> expect some lasting changes.<br /><br />Fortunately, much like his spinal column, Liu Kang's history remains in tact. The Official website offers a brief blurb alluding to his extensive training as a Shaolin fighting monk, including recognition from <b>Raiden</b> and his special training with <b>Bo' Rai Cho</b>.<br /><br /><strong>Full Article: <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1344" target="_blank">http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1344</a></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-2867218015464060562?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-58995870863462670622011-01-27T10:38:00.002+10:302011-02-11T12:44:22.489+10:30<b>IGN</b> have launched a special featurette taking players inside the practical and stylistic development of <b>Mortal Kombat</b>'s exciting new special feature, <b>X-Ray attacks</b>!<br /><br /><center><object id="vid_4d40cf7f3831c8302c002f0c" class="ign-videoplayer" data="http://media.ign.com/ev/prod/embed.swf" width="497" height="281" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></object></center><p></p><p>The featurette includes sitdown talking heads from inside <a href="http://www.netherrealm.com/" target="_blank"><b>NetherRealm Studios</b></a>, with first-hand discussion about the inspiration and intent behind the new attacks from Lead Designer, <b>John Edwards</b>; Director of Art, <b>Steve Beran</b>; and Art Designer, <b>Carlos Pesina</b>. They take us inside the development process, from conceptual stages, to the practicalities of CG model building, motion capture, animation, and the finished product.<br /><br />Amongst the bone breaking, internal organ bursting mayhem are glimpses of various characters confirmed, but yet to be seen: CG resources reveal skeletal components for <b>Baraka</b> and <b>Goro</b>, the latter seen administering his X-Ray special along with previous confirmation, <b>Ermac</b>, in a previously unseen stage. Also seen for the first time in 2011 form, Mortal Kombat's traditional champion, <b>Liu Kang</b>. Appearing as a victim in some sequences, MK3 alumnist, <b>Stryker</b>. Also glimpsed by eagle-eyed viewers, <b>Jade</b>!<br /><br /><strong>Full Article: <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1343" target="_blank">http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1343</a></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-5899587086346267062?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-46050559658278366482011-01-27T08:26:00.002+10:302011-02-11T12:41:57.519+10:30<p>January 26, 2011 -- The <b>Official UK Xbox Magazine</b> has a brand new <b>Mortal Kombat</b> preview online, featuring six unseen screenshots that show-off both fighters' dynamic move stances, as well as the material repercussions delt to their state of dress!<br /><br />The preview, free to read at <a href="http://www.oxm.co.uk/article.php?id=25403" target="_blank"><b>OXM.co.uk</b></a>, makes cultural note of some of the proportionate peculiarities of of MK's fighting femme fatales, but is mostly generous in it's assessment of the series' latest installment. Of particular interest, the specials bar that controls players' access to upgraded special moves, combo breakers, and the already trademark <b>X-Ray</b> attacks, which show more complexity than a mere brute force body blow.<br /><br /><blockquote><em>More interesting is what happens at the second stage. Hit the trigger at that point while you're being wailed on and you'll be able to stop any offensive combination dead. Given that the combo system is more accessible and flexible than it was in previous games, this is likely to come in handy.<br /><br />Finally, once it's topped up, you get access to those miniature fatalities that are the X-Ray moves. While they won't finish your opponent off, they're satisfying, showstopper attacks that look like they cause genuine, medically accurate harm.<br /><br />They're by no means an instant win button, though. X-Ray moves come in different flavours. Some must be pulled off while in close proximity to your opponent while others, such as Sektor's rocket attack, are projectiles that can connect from a distance.</em></blockquote><br /><br /><strong>Full Article: <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1342" target="_blank">http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1342</a></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-4605055965827836648?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-13832318093224712802011-01-25T21:52:00.000+10:302011-01-26T15:41:46.319+10:30As reported in a previous story; gaming retailer <b><a href="http://www.gamestop.com" target="_blank">GameStop</a></b> have updated their listings to include the upcoming <b>April 1st</b> release of the <b>Official Mortal Kombat Strategy Guide</b>.<br /><br />Available in two editions, the guide is published by <b><a href="http://www.primagames.com" target="_blank">Prima Games</a></b>, a division of Random House known for the quality of their work on thousands of well known strategy books, including guides for many of the majority of previous MK titles.<br /><br />You can currently pre-order <a href="http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=89712" target="_blank">standard</a> and <a href="http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=89713" target="_blank">collector's</a> editions of the guide through GameStop's online store, at a price of <b>$19.99</b> and <b>$29.99</b>, respectively. Details about the contents of the guide, and what separates the two versions, remains largely unspecified. Descriptions for the game, however, do make interesting references to the nature of <b>Mortal Kombat</b> and it's plot, implying the canon of the games may be in store for some changes.<br /><br /><strong>Full Article: <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1340" target="_blank">http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1340</a></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-1383231809322471280?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-8277437986206364102011-01-24T05:16:00.000+10:302011-01-26T15:39:46.429+10:30<b>Warner Premiere</b> has today issued an official press release to announce their upcoming ten episode, live-action digital series based on <b>Mortal Kombat</b>. A formality to confirm what was already widely reported <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1334" target="_blank">January 15th</a>; the release reiterates <b>Kevin Tancharoen</b>'s role as director of the shorts, with filming set to start in Vancouver this February.<br /><br />In reference to Tancharoen's work on the well known <b>Mortal Kombat: Rebirth</b> viral video [<a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1220" target="_blank">full story</a>], the press release makes deliberate note of it's status as an "<em>unofficial fan short</em>." The ten episodes are also described as revealing unseen history regarding the characters fans "<em>know and love</em>", suggesting the digital series <i>may</i> have much closer ties to the video game canon than the urbanized versions seen in <em>Rebirth</em>.<br /><br /><strong>Full Article: <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1338" target="_blank">http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1338</a></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-827743798620636410?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-39241913770381812052011-01-23T21:42:00.001+10:302011-01-23T21:43:53.197+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dos_Caras,_Jr." target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Alberto_Del_Rio_2010_Tribute_to_the_Troops.jpg/200px-Alberto_Del_Rio_2010_Tribute_to_the_Troops.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#1 Alberto Del Rio</strong> [+1] (4-1-0)<br />(WWE: Smackdown)</span><br />Last week, a gaffe in the system meant Alberto Del Rio was, at first, wrongly credited as the #1 ranking star. With no losses to weigh him down, <strong>Kofi Kingston</strong> was in actual fact our top ranking wrestler for <a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/01/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-0116.html">Jan. 16</a>! After suffering defeat at the hands of a Jack Swagger "amateur wrestling" challenge, however, the IC champ has made way for the only four-time victor in 2011! His name is Alberto Del Rio, but... <em>you already knew that</em>.<br /><br />Del Rio continues to make a lot of noise about his intentions to win the Royal Rumble, which surely means he <em>won't</em>. It does seem all together too premature to expect an accolade of this statue -- which carries with it a main event championship match at Wrestlemania -- to be carried by a wrestler as new to WWE as Del Rio. That certainly won't diminish my enjoyment of his attempts to win, none the less. I would fully expect at least a final four berth in the Rumble, if nothing else. No mean feat when you consider that this will be the first time forty men contest the match!<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [+2] Robert Roode (3-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#3</strong> [+2] James Storm (3-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#4</strong> [+2] Randy Orton (3-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [+3] Chris Masters (3-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [-5] Kofi Kingston (3-1-0) (WWE) [Intercontinental Champion]<br /><strong>#7</strong> [+2] Yoshi Tatsu (3-1-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [-5] Jeff Jarrett (2-0-1) (TNA)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-2] Matt Hardy (2-0-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [new] Natalya Neidhart (2-0-0) (WWE) [Divas Champion]<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (3-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Eve Torres &amp; Brie Bella (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Madison Rayne &amp; Sarita (1-0-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Natalya Neidhart &amp; Eve Torres (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] Natalya Neidhart &amp; Brie Bella (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [--] Randy Orton &amp; Jerry Lawler (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [--] Angelina Love &amp; Winter (1-0-0) (TNA) [Knockouts Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#8</strong> [--] Jeff Hardy &amp; Matt Hardy (1-0-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [--] Chris Masters &amp; JTG (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [--] Yoshi Tatsu &amp; David Hart Smith (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barri_Griffiths" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20101224193534/prowrestling/images/thumb/e/e6/Masonryan.jpg/200px-Masonryan.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight:<br />#NR Mason Ryan</strong> (0-0-0) (WWE) [FCW Heavyweight Champion]</span><br />Standing 6'6" and weighing in at a billed 298lbs, you'd be forgiven for mistaking Mason Ryan for <em>another</em> well built 6'6" wrestler in the 290 weight class. There's no escaping that Mason Ryan bares an uncanny resemblance to the freakishly built <strong>Dave Batista</strong>, but there are a few key differences setting the two apart... Okay, there's one: <em>he's Welsh</em>.<br /><br />We'll try not to hold that against him, however, as he embarks on a long anticipated career in WWE, called up from the FCW (Florida Championship Wrestling) developmental territory to become the newest member of <strong>CM Punk</strong>'s (#30) "<strong>New Nexus</strong>" on this week's episode of RAW. Ryan -- who toured with Smackdown during their time in the UK and has appeared in dark matches -- made his debut in fine fashion, leaping from the crowd to dominate <strong>John Cena</strong> (#67) before receiving an armband from the new Nexus leader. He fills the void of departing members <strong>Justin Gabriel</strong> (#31) and <strong>Heath Slater</strong> (#NR), who've joined Smackdown as part of <strong>Wade Barrett</strong>'s (#75) off-shoot group, <strong>The Corre</strong>.<br /><br />With a physique that seems readily comparable to the recently departed Batista, it seems likely that Mason Ryan will have a similarly bright future ahead of him. While it's a shame to think that the Nexus now has only one original member, <strong>David Otunga</strong> (#NR), it's pleasing to see WWE be so active in their pursuit of new talent. Mason Ryan may have a while to go before he breaks off as a solo star, or has the legitimate skills to have reason to, but his arrival is part of an on-going refreshment that makes 2011 seem very promising.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-3924191377038181205?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-44845604172713673752011-01-20T14:33:00.001+10:302011-01-22T10:51:28.189+10:30<b><a href="http://www.netherrealm.com" target="_blank">NetherRealm Studios</a></b> have released the next in their line of official character gameplay montages, this time featuring the malicious moves of man-eater, <b>Mileena</b>!<br /><br /><center><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="499" height="305" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3qA9H4EFslc" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen></iframe></center><br />To download the videos yourself, you can use these links:<br /><br /><ul class="mediaList"><li><b><a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1336" target="_blank">Mileena Trailer: Looking for a Playmate? (HD)</a></b> ( - 75.81 MB)</li><li><b><a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1336" target="_blank">Mileena Trailer: Looking for a Playmate? (SD)</a></b> ( - 56.83 MB)</li></ul><br />Mileena's trademark <b>sai</b> weapons play a prominent role as a classic projectile, along with other favourite moves from previous appearances, her <b>telerport kick</b>, <b>rolling thunder</b>, and a smoothly integrated leaping bite, among the highlights. The video shows off the improved fluidity of <b>Mortal Kombat</b>'s new fighting engine, boasting seamless <b>tag team</b> assists, as well as bone crushing <b>X-Ray</b> specials!<br /><br />Also included: dialogue between Mileena and an unseen character, whose voice was previously attributed to <i>MK3</i> alumnist, <strong>Stryker</strong>, in a series of leaked audio files. It remains unclear if this is part of a seemingly interactive pre-fight intro sequence, or a brief snippet of the games confirmed story mode, which will operate similarly to the mode seen in 2008's <em>Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe</em>.<br /><br />More intriguing, perhaps, is the appearance of a new background character. Over the course of previews, <b>Shao Kahn's Coliseum</b> has played host to a small handful of chained women in reference to the <em>Mortal Kombat II</em> appearance of Sonya and Kano.<br /><br /><strong>Full Article: <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1336" target="_blank">http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1336</a></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-4484560417271367375?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-2442334637051309522011-01-19T21:44:00.003+10:302011-01-23T21:50:35.189+10:30<center><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KHq6Sb0MKP8" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen></iframe></center><br />... Because self-aggrandizing announcements about the silliest things just aren't helping. It's not fair, I <a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/01/kayfabe-countdown-0109.html">can sympathize</a>, but geez... Time to put up <i>and</i> shut up!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-244233463705130952?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-68207582930464285282011-01-16T21:29:00.003+10:302011-01-17T23:41:13.533+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dos_Caras,_Jr." target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Alberto_Del_Rio_2010_Tribute_to_the_Troops.jpg/200px-Alberto_Del_Rio_2010_Tribute_to_the_Troops.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#2 Alberto Del Rio</strong> [+3] (3-1-0)<br />(WWE: Smackdown)</span><br />I fully expected to have to defend the presence of Jeff Jarrett at the top of the Kayfabe Countdown rankings for at least a few weeks. He started the year with a triple threat week of matches, appearing twice on the first Impact of the year, and again on Pay-Per-View in a no contest pseudo-MMA encounter with Kurt Angle. Fortunately, I hadn't counted on WWE flexing the muscles of their vast network of programming hours to show a proper investment in Spanish Smackdown up-and-comer, Alberto Del Rio.<br /><br />A legacy luchadore better known to Mexican fans as <strong>Dos Caras Jr</strong>; the now unmasked star was in the Kayfabe Countdown spotlight in 2010 [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2010/12/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-1219.html">December 19</a>]. Just a few weeks later, he's topping the countdown, fresh off an encounter on RAW with soon-to-be WWE Hall of Famer, Shawn Michaels. The sweet chin music finisher might have put a retiree on higher ground than a fresh face, but the honor of interrupting the Heartbreak Kid in his big moment is already being universally praised as the ultimate rub for a could-be <em>future</em> legend.<br /><br />It hasn't been all smooth sailing for Del Rio. Plans for a feud with Christian were abruptly ended by a wrist injury, and last week on Smackdown, Del Rio's prolonged feud with babyface lucha, Rey Mysterio, was given 'final battle' billing despite a dubious countout victory in the third of a Best of Three falls. Not a terribly convincing way to end a feud, but I guess it's still a good win for a 2010 recruit <em>some</em> are billing as a legitimate contender for the upcoming Royal Rumble.<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [+2] Kofi Kingston (3-0-0) (WWE) [Intercontinental Champion]<br /><strong>#3</strong> [-2] Jeff Jarrett (2-0-1) (TNA)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [+2] Robert Roode (2-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#5</strong> [+2] James Storm (2-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#6</strong> [+2] Randy Orton (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [new] Matt Hardy (2-0-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [new] Chris Masters (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [new] Yoshi Tatsu (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-8] Ken Anderson (2-1-0) (TNA) [World Heavyweight Champion]<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (2-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#2</strong> [+1] Eve Torres &amp; Brie Bella (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [+1] Madison Rayne &amp; Sarita (1-0-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [+1] Natalya Neidhart &amp; Eve Torres (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [+1] Natalya Neidhart &amp; Brie Bella (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [new] Randy Orton &amp; Jerry Lawler (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [new] Angelina Love &amp; Winter (1-0-0) (TNA) [Knockouts Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#8</strong> [new] Jeff Hardy &amp; Matt Hardy (1-0-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [new] Chris Masters &amp; JTG (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [new] Yoshi Tatsu &amp; David Hart Smith (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wade_Barrett" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://m.s11.pollpigeon.com/media/answer_images/db/db8a75c309b84194dbaf752c3867a912_jpg_350x500_q85.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight:<br />#67 Wade Barrett<br /></strong>(0-2-0) (WWE)</span><br />NXT Season One raised a lot of questions about the WWE's newest TV project; some good, some bad. It might have been argued that Bryan Danielson (#37) (WWE packaged as Daniel Bryan) was given the short end of the stick, but when you consider the explosive impact of the entire cast's assault on RAW, including the decimation of <strong>John Cena</strong> and the very ring he had occupied, I guess everyone came up trumps for at least a night.<br /><br /><strong>The Nexus</strong> has been plagued with problems for the majority of it's duration. Danielson was briefly let go for an obscure no-choke rule on the soft core PG show, Skip Sheffield took an injury, and the group was booked weak before their time when push came to shove. If nothing else looked sure to come out of Nexus in the longterm, Wade Barrett was it.<br /><br />As some cynics might've predicted back at the beginning, John Cena got the better of his rookie-turned-revolutionary nemesis, devastating him before the end of 2010 in a chair match Barrett won't want to remember any time soon. A legitimate injury suffered by John Cena during a cage match at a houseshow was ultimately a blessing for Barrett, offering some unlikely, but much needed credibility, even if it's slim pickings as an untelevised victory. However, desperately searching for a way forward, The Nexus have been given a lifeline in new management, <strong>CM Punk</strong> stepping in to the role after an unflattering week of absence from the decimated Barrett. Worse still; rather than tackle the situation head-on, it now seems Barrett has been shipped off to the internally perceived "B-Show," where he'll be invited to do it all over again with the aid of <strong>Justin Gabriel</strong>, <strong>Heath Slater</strong>, and <strong>Ezekiel Jackson</strong>, on Smackdown.<br /><br />Giving Barrett the chance to shine on a wrestling centric show has the potential to be another blessing in disguise, if it doesn't claim too many of the other stars on the show, ie; Countdown #1, <em>Alberto Del Rio</em>. Even so, I hope against hope that WWE are able to overcome their stubborn opposition to the idea of heels fighting heels, giving Barrett the chance to at least respond to CM Punk's subordination and his teammates' treason. It just doesn't seem fair to a character who put so much into the angle, carrying it at times with a charisma quite unlike his fellows'. Personally, I think it would make a <em>fantastic</em> Wrestlemania showdown, but before we start looking that far ahead, there's a Royal Rumble to consider. Neutral territory for opposing Nexus' to planet the seeds of a bigger feud in March? Fingers crossed!<br /><br /><strong>Special Note:</strong> Last week's Kayfabe Countdown [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2011/01/kayfabe-countdown-0109.html">January 9</a>] required a correction to account for WWE.com's failure to list a <em>rematch</em> between newly crowned Intercontinental Champion, <strong>Kofi Kingston</strong> (#2), and losing champ, <strong>Dolph Ziggler</strong> (#48). The double result is counted in last week's edited Countdown, and this week as well.<br /><br /><strong>Additional:</strong> Last week's Kofi Kingston error has trickled into this week, creating another false result. Kofi Kingston is actually #1, Alberto Del Rio a close #2.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-6820758293046428528?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-43000893759055146052011-01-16T05:28:00.000+10:302011-01-16T21:40:15.622+10:30June last year, seven minutes and forty-nine seconds of video had the entire gaming internet and MK fan kommunity buzzing [<a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1220" target="_blank">full story</a>]. <strong>Mortal Kombat: Rebirth</strong> was ultimately the work of <strong>Kevin Tancharoen</strong>: a director looking to develop a radical reimagining of the Mortal Kombat universe and its characters. To accompany this twisted new vision, noteworthy actors <b>Michael Jai White</b> (<em>The Dark Knight, Black Dynamite, Spawn</em>), <b>Jeri Ryan</b> (<em>Star Trek: Voyager, Boston Public, Shark</em>), and <b>Ian Anthoy Dale</b> (<em>The Event, Tekken</em>) lent their time and talents to a modest cast of extras, in what was otherwise a very well produced, high budget demo reel for online consumption. Or so it seemed...<br /><br /><center><img src="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/perl/cds.cgi?external_action=displayImage&amp;id=2584" /></center><br /><a href="http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/23052" target="_blank">Bloody-Disgusting.com</a> is reporting that the video, witnessed by millions upon its release online, has earned Tancharoen the opportunity to produce an official series of ten short webisodes for Warner Brothers; current proprietors of the Mortal Kombat license and trademarks.<br /><br /><strong>Full Article: <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1334" target="_blank">http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1334</a></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-4300089375905514605?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-39055808665317450722011-01-15T10:41:00.001+10:302011-01-15T10:49:46.411+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brock_Lesnar" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.wwe.com/content/media/images/377012/454932" border="0" /></a>During the declining years of "<strong>Stone Cold</strong>" <strong>Steve Austin</strong> and <strong>The Rock</strong> -- <em>approximately the turn of the century</em> -- an awareness was being reached by fans who recognised the inevitable need for new talent to fill the void of two of wrestling's biggest stars. This preoccupation turned into an obsession over the course of the decade, operating under the assumption that unsung old horses, like <strong><em>Undertaker</em></strong> and <strong><em>Kane</em></strong>, would not last long enough to fill the void of their late nineties superstar contemporaries.<br /><br />The longevity of names like <em>Triple H</em>, <em>Shawn Michaels</em>, and those already mentioned, has only fuelled the belief that WWE is in perpetual need of new stars. As the company enters into a record run based on title matches featuring either <strong>John Cena</strong> or <strong>Randy Orton</strong>, you can certainly make an argument against the tried and true model of holding one or two top stars on a pedestal. Then again, when you consider the relative youth of those two enduring names, it also becomes apparent that WWE <em>has</em> been creating plenty of new names to reign over it's roster.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://www.wwe.com/content/media/images/377012/456970" /> <img src="http://www.wwe.com/content/media/images/377012/2039088" /></center><br />As a general rule of thumb, superstars recruited into World Wrestling Entertainment generally have some experience in another company, or medium. In wrestling terms, they've "created" their fair share of new stars, even though many have gained noteriety before reaching WWE.<br /><br />Perhaps the most prominent example of this is <strong>Kurt Angle</strong>, a wrestler who debuted in 1999, and quickly captured his first WWF Heavyweight Championship in October, 2000. Angle's star continued to rise after this, seeing him headline several Wrestlemanias in the canonization of one of the biggest names to develop in the post-Austin and Rock reign. He was, of course, already a noteworthy individual for winning an Olympic Gold Medal in 1996 for greco-roman wrestling. He now wrestles for Total Non-Stop Action wrestling.<br /><br />Of a similar pedigree is another one of WWE's most prominent alumnists, <strong>Brock Lesnar</strong>. Like Angle, he was a greco-roman "amateur" wrestler, with a similar pedigree to Angle, including a reign as NCAA Champion. Lesnar debuted in March of 2002, part of a manufactured creation process that led him to become the then-youngest WWE Champion in August of 2002, after defeating The Rock at Summerslam. Lesnar's fast-tracked rise through the ranks has seemingly left a legacy apparent in the elevation of wrestlers who've followed, but none can claim to have had Lesnar's impact. Before winning the belt, he entered into a submission victory over Hulk Hogan on Smackdown, defending his King of the Ring-won #1 contender status in what was billed as a match that would finally retire Hogan. This ultimately proved untrue, but painted a vivid picture, which included Lesnar's subsequent decimation of a 90s star, The Rock, after his brutalizing decimation of the 80s' biggest star. Lesnar is now a household name for his time with Ultimate Fighting Championship, where, until recently, he was the Heavyweight Champion.<br /><br /><strong>John Cena</strong> and <strong>Randy Orton</strong> have remained fixtures of the WWE main event since their elevation to headlining status. Cena debuted in June of 2002, earning his first championship in 2005, after some close calls in '03. Orton debuted in April, 2002, and claimed his first WWE Championship in 2007, also after an extended association with big names. Mixed opinions about the legitimacy of their rise and reign at the top of WWE cards has ironically contributed to the perception that WWE continues to need to develop new stars. For all intents and purposes, they have been overlooked as being exactly that, even if by 2010, they have enjoyed a similar duration of success to Stone Cold Steve Austin, who gained noteriety in 1997, established himself a year later in 1998, and was ultimately phased out by 2003.<br /><br /><strong>Sheamus</strong> reached the pinnacle of a relatively long career in the UK and Ireland, debuting on WWE's ECW show in June, 2009. He won the WWE Championship in December, marking the most recent rapid rise in the WWE ranks. He has been superceded as champ by <strong>The Miz</strong>, Mike Mizanin, a wrestler who gained exposure in 2001 as part of The Real World reality series, and subsequent shows. In 2004, Miz was a runner-up in the WWE <em>Tough Enough</em> talent search reality show, and returned to TV in 2006 as a full fledged member of the roster. He captured the WWE Championship in November, 2010, as a winner of the Money in the Bank shot.<br /><br />Since 2000, WWE has also made a conceited effort to elevate stars of various statures into main event, title holding status. <strong>Chris Jericho</strong> led the way, earning the first ever Undisputed Championship at the end of 2001, lasting until the main event of 2002's Wrestlemania. <strong>Eddie Guerrero</strong> and <strong>Chris Benoit</strong> are of a similar vintage, having earned dedicated followings for their World Championship Wrestling work, despite mixed recognition from the defunct company. <strong>Booker T</strong>, <strong>Rob Van Dam</strong>, and <strong>Rey Mysterio</strong> are other names assimilated during the WCW/ECW buy-out, which were elevated to championship holding status over time. <strong>John Bradshaw Layfield</strong>, <strong>Jeff Hardy</strong>, <strong>Umaga</strong>, <strong>Hardcore Holly</strong>, and <strong>Mark Henry</strong> were among the internally elevated stars who previously occupied positions lower on the card. <strong>Edge</strong> was brought up the card and has won an absurd number of championships in a short span of time, solidifying himself as a headlining fixture.<br /><br /><strong>Bobby Lashley</strong>, <strong>The Great Khali</strong>, <strong>Jack Swagger</strong>, and <strong>Batista</strong> are more names who were established in WWE over the last few years. Batista began his WWE career in 2002 as henchman to Reverand Devon Dudley, but went on to enjoy a successful career as a multi-time champion before his departure in 2010. <strong>CM Punk</strong> had gained noteriety in Ring of Honor, but joined WWE to soon earn two reigns as a champion, benefitting from the Money in the Bank gimmick.<br /><br />Ultimately, what all of these names exhibit is the fact that WWE <em>have</em> made an effort to create, elevate, and recruit new stars. <strong>John Morrison</strong>, <strong>Wade Barrett</strong>, and <strong>Alberto Del Rio</strong> are among the current names sitting on the fringe of big things. Ultimately, what they and others suggest is that the complaint of many fans <em>isn't</em> about the <em>creation</em> of stars, but rather, the management of them. Names like Edge, John Cena, and Randy Orton have been elevated quickly and without the credibility of the predecessors, only to be rammed down the throats of fans who may or may not have accepted them. Conversely, names like Brock Lesnar, Kurt Angle, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Jeff Hardy, who solidifed a successful period earlier in the decade, have all been taken from the company due to one circumstance, or another.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-3905580866531745072?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-44481861772180913482011-01-15T06:52:00.001+10:302011-01-15T06:53:44.394+10:30Introduced as pallette swaps in <em>Mortal Kombat II</em>, they've gone on to remain two of the most enduring female figures in the MK canon. Hot on the heels of the release of a <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/forum/showmessage.cds?id=129632" target="_blank">character vignette</a> and <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/forum/showmessage.cds?id=129532" target="_blank">feature artwork</a>, <strong>NetherRealm Studios</strong> have delivered yet another special treat for fans keen to get a closer look at Shao Kahn's sibling assassins, <b>Mileena</b> and <b>Kitana</b>!<br /><br />The images, previously exclusive to magazine publications, reveal the new designs for each character in intimate detail. They reference earlier generations of the basic swimsuit, redesigned for this retelling of the story with a greater reflection of individuality in both. Fashionably fitting, given the fierce rivalry the two are famously known to have.<br /><br />Kitana and Mileena will also have to fight over their dead pool playlist when <a href="http://watertowermusic.com/" target="_blank">WaterTower Music</a> and <a href="http://www.teenageriotrecords.com" target="_blank">Teenage Riot Records</a> team-up to release, <strong>Mortal Kombat: Songs Inspired by the Warriors</strong>!<br /><br />Executive produced by <b>JFK</b> of MSTRKRFT; the album will feature tracks inspired by the characters of Mortal Kombat, including the theme performed by <b>Tokimonsta</b> in Mileena's vignette. The album is officially released in <b>April</b> around the same time as the game, but you can get an early taste of the action by visiting <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/mortal-kombat-songs-inspired/id413501549?ign-mpt=uo%3D4" target="_blank">iTunes</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ID76B6?ie=UTF8&tag=variousmoview-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004ID76B6" target="_blank">Amazon</a> to purchase Mileena's theme.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.themortalkombat.com" target="_blank">Mortal Kombat</a></b> is the first release for <a href="http://www.netherrealm.com" target="_blank">NetherRealm Studios</a> since the sale of Midway, and will be available for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1312" target="_blank">standard and special editions</a>.<br /><br /><strong>Full Article: <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1332" target="_blank">http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1332</a></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-4448186177218091348?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-25245804120018079512011-01-14T23:59:00.001+10:302011-01-22T10:19:48.059+10:30<img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 5px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tYiCGgNLJ8c/TS3GOmMAbQI/AAAAAAAAI14/PuBRTztUd38/s400/issue20110114.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong>HULK versus SILVER SURFER</strong></span><br /><strong>Planet Hulk: Exile Part IV (Marvel)<br />Where:</strong> The Incredible Hulk #95 <strong>When:</strong> July 2006<br /><strong>Why:</strong> Greg Pak <strong>How:</strong> Carlo Pagulayan<br /><br /><strong>The Story So Far...</strong><br />Approached by SHIELD to undertake a mission in space against a rogue satellite; Bruce Banner, as he so often has, attempted to turn his burdened curse into a force for good. As his alter-ego, Hulk, the conflicted hero learned of a plot to rid the Earth of his existence, hatched by Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic, Dr. Strange, and Black Bolt -- members of the secret cabal of heroes known as The Illuminati. Having grappled with internal rogue elements as dangerous as the reality altering Scarlet Witch, they no longer saw a tennable solution for the Hulk's unpredictable and devastating rampages.<br /><br />Ejected into outer space; Hulk attempted to free himself from The Illuminati's vessel with brute force. The assault knocked his ship from it's course to a remote, habital planet, instead sending the green goliath through a wormhole, which deployed him to a distant, savage planet called Sakaar.<br /><br />Weakened by his intergalactic journey, Hulk is quickly sold into slavery on Sakaar, powerless to prevent his admission into the Empire's gladiatorial system held in the Great Arena. Inadvertently thrust into a group of surviving warriors, Hulk's powers begin to grow anew, posing a threat to the Emperor's rule as he aids his fellows in their battles. A win away from freedom, with the Emperor's blood on his mighty green hand, "The Green Scar" and his Warbound must now face the ultimate challenge. A warrior captured from the stars and forced to fight. A master of the power cosmic. A former ally to the Hulk himself -- <em>The Silver Savage!</em><br /><br /><strong>Full Article: <a href="http://secretearths.blogspot.com/2011/01/hulk-versus-silver-surfer.html">http://secretearths.blogspot.com/2011/01/hulk-versus-silver-surfer.html</a></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-2524580412001807951?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-47315599533387368302011-01-11T02:04:00.004+10:302011-01-11T02:14:26.525+10:30<img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 5px" alt="" src="http://www.1up.com/media/03/7/9/7/lg/883.jpg" border="0" />[Roughly] this time last year, I capped off a busy blogging epoch with thoughts about the then immediate gaming past, present, and future.<br /><br />This somewhat incorrectly labelled "<em><a href="http://www.blogger.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9015119" rel="nofollow">Decade-Ending Review to a Kill</a></em>" was an informal discussion based on the topics and obssessions that fuelled much of my time on 1UP to that point. It was underscored by a general sense of skepticism that accompanied the assumptions of the current console generation. Having spent significantly less time blogging in the last six months, I don't have as many thematic throughlines as I did at the beginning of 2010, but I don't expect that will have changed my feelings a great deal...<br /><br />One of the biggest differences between <em>then</em> and <em>now</em> is that I'm knee deep in relatively contemporary gaming. I've learned to stop worrying and love owning a current console myself, and it is good. Owning a console myself hasn't miraculously changed my perspective on gaming and life, but the timing for me was right. For the most part, I still like the same types of things, and still have the same prejudices, but at least now I can loathe the latest first-person shooter making waves, with a wireless control in my hand, and an active internet connection.<br /><br /><strong>Full Article: <a href="http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9068305" target="_blank">http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9068305</a></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-4731559953338736830?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-33514809422348878642011-01-09T23:59:00.009+10:302011-01-16T22:21:16.912+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Jarrett" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00883/jeff_jarrett_280x39_883423a.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#1 Jeff Jarrett</strong> [new]<br />(2-0-1) (TNA)</span><br />Jeff Jarrett was on to a pretty good thing in the last few months of 2010. I was fond enough of his shonky MMA master gimmick to make it the spotlight in a previous Countdown [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2010/11/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-1128.html">November 28</a>], but nothing kills a comedy gimmick about an incompetent heel, like this, than a premature burst of success.<br /><br />Jarrett's place at the top of the Kayfabe Countdown comes thanks in no small part due to timing, but is no less insulting when you consider that his recent wins include a PPV job for Samoa Joe, and this weekend, a no contest against a Kurt Angle who should've been the one to avenge Joe's loss, if not for the logic of the feud and gimmick.<br /><br />Needless to say, Jeff Jarrett is <em>not</em> a master of holds, or an MMA convert champion in waiting. He's just a guy who probably should've had the sense to go down on his back with this amusing heel run, rather than take a win from one of the hottest young guns in professional wrestling, or one of it's most accomplished. I'm disappointed by the course [TNA]'s taken, but for the time being, and perhaps a couple of weeks beyond, Jeff Jarrett is statistically the most successful wrestler of 2011. Which is all the Kayfabe Countdown is designed to acknowledge.<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [new] Ken Anderson (2-0-0) (TNA) [World Heavyweight Champion]<br /><strong>#3</strong> [-2] Kofi Kingston (2-0-0) (WWE) [Intercontinental Champion]<br /><strong>#4</strong> [new] Madison Rayne (2-0-0) (TNA) [Knockouts Champion]<br /><strong>#5</strong> [new] Alberto Del Rio (2-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [new] Robert Roode (1-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#7</strong> [new] James Storm (1-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#8</strong> [-5] Randy Orton (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-2] The Miz (1-0-0) (WWE) [WWE Champion]<br /><strong>#10</strong> [new] Edge (1-0-0) (WWE) [World Heavyweight Champion]<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (1-0-0) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#2</strong> [+9] Jimmy Uso &amp; Jey Uso (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [new] Eve Torres &amp; Brie Bella (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [new] Madison Rayne &amp; Sarita (1-0-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [new] Natalya Neidhart &amp; Eve Torres (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [new] Natalya Neidhart &amp; Brie Bella (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [new] Tyson Kidd &amp; Ted Dibiase Jr (1-0-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [-5] Alex Shelley &amp; Chris Sabin (1-1-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-5] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (0-1-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#10</strong> [new] AJ Styles &amp; Frankie Kazarian (0-1-0) (TNA)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Hardy" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Matthew_hardy.jpg/200px-Matthew_hardy.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight:<br />#19 Matt Hardy</strong> (1-0-0) (TNA)</span><br />There are a few things that have made me sympathetic to the Matt Hardy cause over the years. For the most part, there's an argument to made about Matt's technical ability as a wrestler and the cognisance of his approach, versus brother Jeff's high flying acrobatics and natural charisma. Another sticking point is his much publicized 2005 split from <strong>Lita</strong>, which turned into an on-screen feud involving third-man, <strong>Edge</strong>, but ultimately failed to benefit Hardy in as significant a way as the cheating Edge, who arguably built his main event career atop the social faux pas.<br /><br />I wouldn't say Matt Hardy has a claim to being a twelve-time champion in five years -- <em>no one</em> should be able to do that! I am, however, just a little sympathetic toward a guy who has otherwise done a lot of things right, and come off third, or fourth best, with his intestines exploding through the wall of his gut as a crescendo of bad juju.<br /><br />After making himself look like a fool of significant size in the lead-up to, and aftermath, of his split from WWE; Matt Hardy has returned to the spotlight in TNA, defeating <strong>Rob Van Dam</strong> at Genesis. As sympathetic as I might have ever been toward Matt Hardy, I can't help but be very critical of this move. Not only is it another second-hand recruitment that does no favours for the already diminished "TNA Originals," it's a move that I don't think benefits Matt Hardy.<br /><br />During Twitter tirades presumably designed to provoke a release from WWE, Hardy referenced a return to Ring of Honor, before speculating about joining his brother in TNA. For my money, if Matt was serious about getting back in shape and reinvigorating his brand, ROH was the far better choice for himself. In TNA, he immediately and deliberately steps back into the shadow of brother Jeff, joining a company already bloated with competing names. In ROH, he had the potential to focus on mat work, and create a context that shines a different light on him.<br /><br />Maybe things will go well for Matt Hardy in TNA, but I've got my doubts. Conspiracy theorists might consider the possibility that the move is as much for Jeff as it is for Matt, given claims about Jeff Hardy's recent drug problems. Maybe Matt is supposed to put pressure on the excesses the now former-TNA World Heavyweight Champion may or may not have been indulging in. Or, failing that, Matt Hardy has just made another bad decision for himself. Right after hyping a silly haircut, no less. <em>Groan</em>.<br /><br /><strong>Special Note:</strong> This is the first Kayfabe Countdown for 2011. It includes results from the <strong>TNA: Genesis</strong> Pay-Per-View event from January 9th. Win/loss statistics revert back to zero, but for the first week of results, wrestlers who earned equal ranking were arranged to reflect their order in the previous year. Champions continue to take precedent. At Genesis, <strong>Ken Anderson</strong> defeated <strong>Jeff Hardy</strong> for the World Heavyweight title; <strong>Abyss</strong> defeated <strong>Douglas Williams</strong> for the Television Championship; and <strong>Robert Roode</strong> and <strong>James Storm</strong> (Beer Money Inc) defeated <strong>Alex Shelley</strong> and <strong>Chris Sabin</strong> (Motor City Machine Guns) for the Tag Team titles. <strong>Kofi Kingston</strong> defeated <strong>Dolph Ziggler</strong> for the Intercontinental title on the January 7 airing of Smackdown. Ziggler became #1 contender for the World Heavyweight title, late in the night.<br /><br /><strong>Additional:</strong> A correction has been made to the ranking after it was clarified that <strong>Kofi Kingston</strong> defeated <strong>Dolph Ziggler</strong> twice, on Smackdown. First for the Intercontinental Championship, and a second time in a rematch immediately following, as ordered by acting GM, Vickie Guerrero.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-3351480942234887864?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-91934992456162477172011-01-07T23:59:00.001+10:302011-01-10T23:37:12.390+10:30<img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 5px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tYiCGgNLJ8c/TSgxEvJjxQI/AAAAAAAAI1o/fwSKR-HqOe4/s400/issue20110107.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong>SUPERMAN versus BATMAN</strong></span><br /><strong>"Who Would Win?" (DC)<br />Where:</strong> Superman/Batman #78<br /><strong>When:</strong> January 2011<br /><strong>Why:</strong> Joe Kelly &amp; Jack Kelly <strong>How:</strong> Ed Benes<br /><br /><strong>The Story So Far...</strong><br /><em>Violence</em>. The will to fight for survival.<br />It is a trait manifested in nature across almost every level of dominating species. For those who possess it, it is a skill measurable in the darkest aspects of social heirarchy, and equally revered in sport and entertainment. For many creatures who exist within universes, and beyond them, power over the physical is an attraction whose lure attracts great fascination and mathematical speculation.<br /><br />In a world where superhumans bare symbols and insignia, the lines of conflict and sport can blur. Beyond the multiverse exists a place known as <em>The Comic Book Fight Club</em>, where the struggles of everyday super-beings are watched and analysed. Within the universe itself, similar beings do much the same, dwelling on the powers of their greatest champions, whilst pondering their farthest limitations.<br /><br />On a planet known to some as "New Earth", two beings, <em>children</em>, Gus and Skyler, indulge in such speculation. Representing the heroes known as Superman and Batman, they pit the two titans' tested combat repertoires againt each other in a battle of wits and wherewithal. No killing, no mind control, no Bat-Mite, no Mr. Mxyzptlik, no magic. A scenario of irreconcilable difference and the will to answer one simple question: "<strong><em>Who Would Win?!</em></strong>"<br /><br /><strong>Full Article: <a href="http://secretearths.blogspot.com/2011/01/superman-versus-batman-who-would-win-dc_07.html">http://secretearths.blogspot.com/2011/01/superman-versus-batman-who-would-win-dc_07.html</a></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-9193499245616247717?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-51354000930247514742010-12-30T21:20:00.000+10:302011-01-12T00:05:09.511+10:30It's been six months since an eight minute showreel called <b>Mortal Kombat: Rebirth</b> sent speculative shockwaves throughout the online gaming community and MK fanbase [<a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1220" target="_blank">full story</a>].<br /><br />Reinventing the successful fighting franchise without authorized association; [<i>MK: Rebirth</i>] was actually one of <i>many</i> examples of independent productions borrowing from well known intellectual properties -- a practice used commonly to demonstrate, or practice, skills and techniques within familiar creative parameters. Just in time for the silly season, a new player has entered the demo arena to offer a decidedly lighter take on the MK property, a loving parody presented as a festive mock commercial.<br /><br /><center><object height="305" width="499"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/goX3KuU25jU?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/goX3KuU25jU?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="499" height="305"></embed></object></center><br /><br /><b>Frosty Kristmas</b> was directed by Manny Nickpour for his Netherlands based company, <b><a href="http://www.hadokenproductions.com/" target="_blank">Hadoken Productions</a></b>. The scene, filmed in a single night, was inspired by behind-the-scenes peeks at sequences from the 1997 platformer, <b>Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero</b>, as well as staple techniques of 1970s genre cinema. Nickpour is no stranger to filming Mortal Kombat, either.<br />A longtime fan of the series, he created a stir in 2008 with the release of two fake teaser trailers designed to recapture the mystique of the series ahead of what would eventually be announced as <i>Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe</i>.<br /><br /><strong>Full Article: <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1323" target="_blank">http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1323</a></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-5135400093024751474?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-26799841241284281272010-12-27T10:49:00.003+10:302010-12-27T10:56:55.515+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kofi_Kingston" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/Kofi_Kingston.jpg/220px-Kofi_Kingston.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#1 Kofi Kingston</strong> [--] (42-23-2)<br />(WWE: Smackdown)</span><br />Big Show is finishing the year with a light load, giving Kofi Kingston clearance to finish 2010 as the number one wrestler in WWE and TNA. With only a single, brief Intercontinental title reign to his name this year, it's somewhat surprising that [Kofi] has maintained such a steady flow of success. I struggle to see him in an active main event picture in the near future, both in small part due to his style and stature, and also the abbreviated near-miss of his feud with Randy Orton. After a string of tag team matches that involved Big Show in Smackdown teams, and as a pairing, I could see how they might find some Tag Team Championship success in the new year.<br /><br />As with <a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2010/12/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-1219.html">last week</a>, I'm compelled to mention a Money in the Bank action figure commercial I saw during morning cartoons, which seems to suggest there's <em>some</em> consideration for Kofi Kingston within the PG market. Perhaps in 2011 he will return to RAW, where that demographic is served, regardless of viewership. As much as I think he has a home on Smackdown, I'm just not sure I see a great benefit for the blue brand, or Kofi himself. Especially not after so many shots at the IC belt were missed out on. You never know, though.<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] The Big Show (40-15-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Randy Orton (34-19-6) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Rey Mysterio (32-16-5) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [+2] Drew McIntyre (31-31-4) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [-1] Cody Rhodes (30-20-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [-1] The Miz (30-31-5) (WWE) [WWE Champion]<br /><strong>#8</strong> [+2] John Cena (28-22-6) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-1] AJ Styles (27-12-7) (TNA)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-1] Dolph Ziggler (27-30-3) (WWE) [Intercontinental Champion]<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (16-17-3) (TNA)<br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Tyson Kidd &amp; DH Smith (16-18-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Alex Shelley &amp; Chris Sabin (15-10-2) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (13-3-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (12-16-0) (WWE)<br />#<strong>6</strong> [--] Drew McIntyre &amp; Cody Rhodes (9-5-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [--] Shannon Moore &amp; Jesse Neal (9-7-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [--] Justin Gabriel &amp; Heath Slater (8-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [--] Brie Bella &amp; Nikki Bella (8-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [--] Big Show &amp; The Miz (7-4-1) (WWE)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Williams_%28wrestler%29" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/WilliamsTVChamp1.JPG/220px-WilliamsTVChamp1.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight:<br />#45 Douglas Williams</strong> (15-16-2) (TNA)</span><br />The current reigning TNA Television Champion will put <strong>AJ Styles</strong> (#9) to the test on January 9th when they meet at TNA: Genesis. The match will determine Styles' future with the <em>Fortune</em> and <em>Immortal</em> stables, resulting in his ejection should he fail to bring the belt back to Ric Flair's golden team. The pair fought to a 1-1 draw in an Iron Match on the most recent edition of Impact!, one of several matches that Williams has been a part of in a strong December for the TNA brand.<br /><br />The former British Invasion figurehead has done his dash with the X-Division and TV belts in 2010, earning the respect and adoration of peers and commentators throughout the industry. Some might regard his current feud with TNA posterboy, AJ Styles, as part of an on-going step-down for the former World Heavyweight champion, but I'm much more inclined to think of it as an interesting step up for Douglas Williams. In the youth oriented, polished market of WWE, it would be difficult to envision a World Champion Douglas Williams, but with TNA's roots still showing hints of their previous <em>catch as catch can</em> credentials, 2011 might yet hold new heights for a wrestler with an interesting character presence, and unique in-ring style.<br /><br />The greatest doubt cast over Williams' most immediate prospects are the belt he currently holds, and the potential clash of styles with current World champion, <strong>Jeff Hardy</strong> (#22), who might not compliment the Brit as much as other wrestlers. Then again, with Hardy's penchant for highflying daring, Williams would still be in his kayfabe element, challenging with healthy disdain for the acrobatic antics of TNA's trademark X-Division bent. Given the champs' recent troubles, however, it seems reasonable to expect a change in the ranks at some point, and if December is any indication of TNA's intent to <em>cross the line</em> into 2011, perhaps the once glorious tone of sports oriented competition will return, and the top ranks will be populated with original and interesting names and styles.<br /><br /><strong>Special Note:</strong> 2010's wrestling calendar will end cleanly on December 31st, with the final episode of WWE Smackdown for the year. This will presumably include a full week's worth of WWE RAW, WWE Superstars, and TNA Impact!, before the final Kayfabe Countdown.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-2679984124128428127?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-23140758520037369292010-12-26T14:40:00.003+10:302010-12-26T15:40:51.164+10:30<strong>#1</strong> [604] William Ørbit - Cavalleria Rusticana (+1)<br /><strong>#2</strong> [590] William Ørbit - In A Landscape (+2)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [586] William Ørbit - Ogive Number I (+1)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [571] Way Out West - Pulse of Life (-3)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [553] William Ørbit - Piece in the Modern Style 3 (--)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [553] William Ørbit - L'Inverno (+3)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [547] 菅野よう子 [Yoko Kanno] - Bad Dog (-1)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [542] CocoRosie - Rainbowarriors (--)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [535] William Ørbit - Xerxes (+3)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [530] William Ørbit - Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte (--)<br /><strong>#11</strong> [526] Thome Yorke - Analyse (-4)<br /><strong>#12</strong> [525] William Ørbit - Triple Concerto (-1)<br /><strong>#13</strong> [486] William Ørbit - Piece in the Old Style I (-3)<br /><strong>#14</strong> [484] William Ørbit - Opus I32 (+3)<br /><strong>#15</strong> [478] CoLD SToRAGE - Body in Motion (-1)<br /><strong>#16</strong> [475] William Ørbit - Adagio for Strings (+3)<br /><strong>#17</strong> [465] Björk - Mouths Cradle (-4)<br /><strong>#18</strong> [458] Underworld - Two Months Off (Radio Edit) (-3)<br /><strong>#19</strong> [447] Vangelis - Love Theme from Bladerunner (-1)<br /><strong>#20</strong> [429] Björk - Who Is It (Carry My Joy on the Left, Carry My Pain on the Right) (+1)<br /><strong>#21</strong> [424] Moby - My Weakness (-1)<br /><strong>#22</strong> [399] Bodyrox feat. Luciana - Yeah Yeah (D. Ramirez Radio Edit) (--)<br /><strong>#23</strong> [390] CoLD SToRAGE - Cold Comfort (--)<br /><strong>#24</strong> [382] Björk - Submarine (--)<br /><strong>#25</strong> [369] Intermix - Mantra (+4)<br /><strong>#26</strong> [367] Groove Terminator - Losing Ground (+10)<br /><strong>#27</strong> [364] CoLD SToRAGE - Cairodrome (+1)<br /><strong>#28</strong> [364] Madonna - Frozen (-3)<br /><strong>#29</strong> [360] Sasha - Wavy Gravy (+5)<br /><strong>#30</strong> [359] Gustav - Venua (-4)<br /><strong>#31</strong> [352] William Ørbit - Barber's Adagio for Strings (Ferry Corsten Remix) (+4)<br /><strong>#32</strong> [345] PNAU - Journey Agent (-2)<br /><strong>#33</strong> [340] Hot Chip - Over and Over (-6)<br /><strong>#34</strong> [333] Stardust - Music Sounds Better with You (Radio Edit) (-1)<br /><strong>#35</strong> [329] UNKLE - Lonely Soul (-4)<br /><strong>#36</strong> [327] Radiohead - Videotape (+1)<br /><strong>#37</strong> [327] Pendulum - Coma (+1)<br /><strong>#38</strong> [324] Björk - Visur Vatnsenda-Rósu (-6)<br /><strong>#39</strong> [324] Einsturzende Neubauten - Blume (--)<br /><strong>#40</strong> [321] Groove Zone - Eisbaer (Extended Mix) (+2)<br /><strong>#41</strong> [320] The Future Sound of London - Papua New Guinea (--)<br /><strong>#42</strong> [320] Rob Dougan - Clubbed to Death (Kurayamino Variation) (+6)<br /><strong>#43</strong> [318] Björk - Desired Constellation (--)<br /><strong>#44</strong> [318] Joe Jackson - Steppin' Out (-4)<br /><strong>#45</strong> [316] Moby - Porcelain (Clubbed to Death Version by Rob Dougan) (+2)<br /><strong>#46</strong> [314] Cassius - Toop Toop (-2)<br /><strong>#47</strong> [307] Luke Slater - Stars and Heroes (-1)<br /><strong>#48</strong> [306] Supreme Beings of Leisure - Strangelove Addiction (+8)<br /><strong>#49</strong> [305] Console - 14 Zero Zero (-4)<br /><strong>#50</strong> [298] DJ Krush - Dig This Vibe (-1)<br /><strong>#51</strong> [298] Faithless - We Come 1 (+12)<br /><strong>#52</strong> [297] Björk - Pleasure is all Mine (-2)<br /><strong>#53</strong> [292] b(if)tek feat. Julee Cruise - Wired for Sound (-2)<br /><strong>#54</strong> [289] Moby - Bodyrock (Hybrid's Bodyshock Remix) (-2)<br /><strong>#55</strong> [285] Pet Shop Boys - I Don't Know What You Want but I Can't Give it Anymore (+7)<br /><strong>#56</strong> [284] Björk - Vokuro (-2)<br /><strong>#57</strong> [282] The Chemical Brothers - Let Forever Be (--)<br /><strong>#58</strong> [280] Madonna - Drowned World/Substitute For Love (+1)<br /><strong>#59</strong> [280] Peter Bjorn and John - Young Folks (-6)<br /><strong>#60</strong> [278] Pet Shop Boys - Miracles (Radio Edit) (+1)<br /><strong>#61</strong> [278] Björk - Triumph of a Heart (+7)<br /><strong>#62</strong> [277] Moby - Natural Blues (-2)<br /><strong>#63</strong> [276] UNKLE - Rabbit in your Headlights (-8)<br /><strong>#64</strong> [274] Moby - Memory Gospel (+3)<br /><strong>#65</strong> [273] Rui Da Silva feat. Cassandra - Touch Me (+21)<br /><strong>#66</strong> [273] Moby - Flying Foxes (+8)<br /><strong>#67</strong> [266] Björk - Oceania (+5)<br /><strong>#68</strong> [265] William Ørbit - Water From a Vine Leaf (-4)<br /><strong>#69</strong> [264] Hot Chip - Grubbs (-11)<br /><strong>#70</strong> [261] Ratty - Sunrise (Here I Am) (Radio Edit) (--)<br /><strong>#71</strong> [260] Moby - ARP (-6)<br /><strong>#72</strong> [259] 808 State - Pacific (808:98) (+16)<br /><strong>#73</strong> [257] Gerling - Enter, Space Capsule (Radio Disko Edit) (+8)<br /><strong>#74</strong> [256] Faithless - Salva Mea (Way Out West Remix) (+10)<br /><strong>#75</strong> [254] Sash! - Chill Out No. 1 (+19)<br /><strong>#76</strong> [251] Radiohead - 15 Step (+22)<br /><strong>#77</strong> [251] CoLD SToRAGE - Messij Received (+1)<br /><strong>#78</strong> [251] Orbital - Petrol (-5)<br /><strong>#79</strong> [251] The Beta Band - Space Beatle (-10)<br /><strong>#80</strong> [249] CoLD SToRAGE - Onyx (-14)<br /><strong>#81</strong> [248] Faithless - Drifting Away (Paradiso Mix) (-5)<br /><strong>#82</strong> [248] Pet Shop Boys - Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money) (+17)<br /><strong>#83</strong> [241] Orbital - Halcyon (7" Version) (new)<br /><strong>#84</strong> [241] Hot Chip - Boy From School (-11)<br /><strong>#85</strong> [240] Nine Inch Nails - Just Like You Imagined (-14)<br /><strong>#86</strong> [239] ana voog - Telepathic You (-11)<br /><strong>#87</strong> [238] Hybrid - If I Survive (+9)<br /><strong>#88</strong> [237] Raven Maize - The Real Life (Fatboy Slim Mix) (+3)<br /><strong>#89</strong> [237] Hybrid - Finished Symphony (+8)<br /><strong>#90</strong> [236] The Prodigy - Voodoo People (Pendulum Remix) (new)<br /><strong>#91</strong> [233] Daft Punk - Around the World (-12)<br /><strong>#92</strong> [233] The Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar (new)<br /><strong>#93</strong> [233] Cassius - Toop Toop (Olivier Koletski Mix) (-16)<br /><strong>#94</strong> [232] 菅野よう子 [Yoko Kanno] - Pulse (-4)<br /><strong>#95</strong> [231] Daft Punk - Veridis Quo (new)<br /><strong>#96</strong> [229] b(if)tek - 3 Seconds of Her (-13)<br /><strong>#97</strong> [227] Faithless - I Want More (new)<br /><strong>#98</strong> [226] Groove Armada - Dusk, You &amp; Me (-3)<br /><strong>#99</strong> [226] Underworld - Born Slipp (Nuxx) (new)<br /><strong>#100</strong> [226] Timo Maas - To Get Down (<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2010/05/ichart-100-2010-returns.html">RE</a>)<br /><br />It's become something of a tradition, something of an obsession, to make note of this statistical findings, throughout the year, and on the anniversary of my receiving this iPod. I received the gift for Christmas in 2006, rather reluctantly, I might add, with a surly disposition I'm more associated with than I'd like. I've made these notes ever since, and while I remain an active blogger throughout the year, they remain some of the most revealing posts I make. Usually I prefer an impersonal tone, relevant to subjects. The same can be true of these iChart posts where I have occasionally included commentaries of a musical nature, but I suppose music is itself an inherently personal thing.<br /><br />As I write this, I certainly feel very personal things. I feel the weight of the sadness I have carried with me for over a year now, reminded of the absence of my dearest friend, who passed away in October of 2009. He was often present at various points during these writings and I miss him very much.<br /><br />I am writing this before beginning the stat counting, aware that a lot of new music has found it's way onto my iPod over the last ten months. I know I <em>stopped</em> listening to music for a while when I was feeling dark, and I suppose you could say it's return and reinvigoration has been reflective of the mourning process. For anyone who enjoys music actively, I suspect the same would be true. Now more than ever I recognise that, as much as these numbers are subject to whim and seasonal tastes, they are also indicative of the soundtrack to a person's life. If only I had more tracks to choose from, and a list of songs that made me seem a bit cooler. Oh, who am I kidding? I'm quite confident <em>I'm</em> chillingly cool and it's everyone else who's become fashionless dorks.<br /><br />What do I hope from posting these lists publicly?<br />I think we should all share an understanding of blogging as, occasionally, the act of a one-sided conversation. That is to say, this isn't necessarily a deliberate act, undertaken with the expectation that someone will read it. Rather, it is simply a journal, a log of events, which I will surely revisit at some point in the future. If you visit with me, I suppose it's pleasant to have company. If nothing else, you might be inclined to investigate some music you haven't heard of. As the years tick on, I certainly find fewer and fewer people who share my specific tastes and preferences, some of which might have come from <em>similiar</em> online discoveries, explorations, and recommendations. We didn't have YouTube and iTunes in 1999, either! Gosh, the digital age sure has made old men of young souls!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-2314075852003736929?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-805760091818940042010-12-19T23:59:00.004+10:302011-01-11T00:01:50.239+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kofi_Kingston" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/Kofi_Kingston.jpg/220px-Kofi_Kingston.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#1 Kofi Kingston</strong> [--] (42-23-2)<br />(WWE: Smackdown)</span><br />With only one more week of competition left in 2010, it seems all but guaranteed that Kofi Kingston will go down in history as the first counted #1 wrestler in the Kayfabe Countdown. Of all the wrestlers competing in WWE and TNA in 2010, Kofi has not immediately emerged as the most memorable or accomplished, but his impressive win/loss victory and steady contention for the Intercontinental title on Smackdown suggests the company is at least invested in his markettable brand.<br /><br />Kofi experienced some near misses with the main event, gaining a short-lived burst of heat early in the year during encounters with Randy Orton (#3), but the moment that perhaps left it's biggest impression on me came from a commercial. While the results of toy battles might matter even less than the average win/loss; for a character of [Kofi's] relative insignifcance to star in a Money in the Bank playset commercial, victorious in action figure form, surely means quite a lot in an era defined by it's toybranded PG perspective.<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] The Big Show (40-15-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [+1] Randy Orton (32-19-6) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [-1] Rey Mysterio (31-16-5) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [+1] Cody Rhodes (30-20-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [+2] The Miz (30-29-5) (WWE) [WWE Champion]<br /><strong>#7</strong> [-2] Drew McIntyre (30-31-4) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [-1] AJ Styles (27-12-6) (TNA)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [--] Dolph Ziggler (27-28-3) (WWE) [Intercontinental Champion]<br /><strong>#10</strong> [RE] John Cena (26-22-6) (WWE)<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (16-16-3) (TNA)<br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Tyson Kidd &amp; DH Smith (16-18-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Alex Shelley &amp; Chris Sabin (14-10-2) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#4</strong> [+1] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (13-3-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#5</strong> [-1] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (12-15-0) (WWE)<br />#<strong>6</strong> [--] Drew McIntyre &amp; Cody Rhodes (9-5-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [--] Shannon Moore &amp; Jesse Neal (9-7-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [--] Justin Gabriel &amp; Heath Slater (8-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [--] Brie Bella &amp; Nikki Bella (8-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [--] Big Show &amp; The Miz (7-4-1) (WWE)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dos_Caras_Jr" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Alberto_Del_Rio_2010_Tribute_to_the_Troops.jpg/200px-Alberto_Del_Rio_2010_Tribute_to_the_Troops.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight:<br />#58 Alberto Del Rio</strong> (12-7-3) (WWE)</span><br />2010 has been good to Smackdown's swanky Spanish superstar, Alberto Del Rio. His heated rivalry with Rey Mysterio transformed into a championship possibility, but alas, the TLC Pay-Per-View did not cap off an incredible year for the former mascarado. In what many consider to be his signature match -- <strong>Edge</strong> (#11) emerged victorious from the titular stipulation, defeating Del Rio, the now former-champion <strong>Kane</strong> (#15), and <strong>Rey Mysterio</strong> (#4), a trio providing good company in their mutual defeat.<br /><br />In '09 I eagerly anticipated the arrival of Dos Caras Jr at almost every imaginable turn, seeing entry points where there were none. Relishing the possibility of a second masked luchadore within the wrestling giant's ranks was a naive hope, but one sponsored by early reports that suggested the Mexican legacy star would <em>not</em> be asked to remove his mask in a deal with WWE. It remains a somewhat sour point, for me, that the traditions of the mask were not honored by WWE, who could probably use a healthy injection of conceptual and stylistic diversity, but the results have done well to ease my disappointment. Alberto Del Rio may be a very different character to the man of 'two faces', but he's been no less an injection of life and intrigue into the Smackdown roster.<br /><br />I would have liked to have seen Del Rio begin 2011 as the World Heavyweight Champion, but ultimately respect that he will have longer to earn that reward and further his WWE career with solid feuds, and enjoyable matches. It's the kind of seasoning that multi-title winner, Edge, has lacked in his rapidfire championship reigns over a few short years, and is similarly absent from the majority of WWE's recently elevated stars. Del Rio was only called up from development in FCW in June of 2010, so it could fairly be said that his successes against Rey Mysterio are an achievement already. <strong>Christian</strong> (#24), his would-be opponent before a pectoral tear, now waits in the wings of 2011, along with Edge and the other headlining stars of the blue brand.<br /><br /><strong>Special Note:</strong> Countdown includes results from the WWE: Tables, Ladders, Chairs pay-per-view event, where <strong>Edge</strong> (#11) defeated <strong>Kane</strong> (#14) to become the WWE World Heavyweight champion for the sixth time. Combined with WWE Championship victories, it is Edge's tenth reign as a world class champion. Christmas also saw the disappointing release of <strong>Kaval</strong> (#93) from WWE; formerly known as Low-Ki, a two-time TNA X-Division champion and the first ROH World Heavyweight champion.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-80576009181894004?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-10022017955015748052010-12-19T00:30:00.000+10:302011-01-11T00:01:50.252+10:30Fatal Four-Way TLC World Heavyweight Championship match<br />Alberto Del Rio vs Rey Mysterio vs Edge vs Kane (c)<br />Prediction: Alberto Del Rio<br /><br />Table WWE Championship match<br />Randy Orton vs The Miz (c)<br />Prediction: The Miz<br /><br />Chair match<br />Wade Barrett vs John Cena<br />Prediction: John Cena<br /><br />Ladder #1 Contender (WWE title) match<br />John Morrison vs Sheamus<br />Prediction: Sheamus<br /><br />Tag Team Table match<br />Natalya Neidhart & Beth Phoenix vs Laycool<br />Prediction: Laycool<br /><br />Triple Threat Ladder Intercontinental Championship match<br />Jack Swagger vs Kofi Kingston vs Dolph Ziggler (c)<br />Prediction: Dolph Ziggler (c)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-1002201795501574805?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-35765959434356571072010-12-12T18:40:00.000+10:302011-01-11T00:01:50.266+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kofi_Kingston" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/Kofi_Kingston.jpg/220px-Kofi_Kingston.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#1 Kofi Kingston</strong> [+1] (40-22-2)<br />(WWE: Smackdown)</span><br />After eleven weekly Countdowns at the top of the rankings, Big Show has been toppled! It's the first time, since the Countdown went weekly <a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2010/09/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-926.html">in September</a>, that Big Show hasn't reigned over the rest of the list. He spent this week's Smackdown out of the ring, while a DQ win over Dolph Ziggler in an Intercontinental title match bumped Kofi Kingston back into the top spot he occupied earlier in the year.<br /><br />As evidenced by his win/loss rate, Kofi Kingston has enjoyed some measure of success throughout the year, but after the rub from Randy Orton seemed to be aborted, Kingston struggled to gain lasting recognition. His reign as IC champion this year was both brief and forgettable, like many of his feuds. A second run at the belt against Ziggler looks likely to end his year, but the odds of the belt being around his waist are even, at best. His shot at reigning as year-end Kayfabe Countdown #1, however, might be a little bit better if Big Show's workrate of the last two weeks is any measure.<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [-1] The Big Show (39-15-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Rey Mysterio (31-13-4) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Randy Orton (31-18-6) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] Drew McIntyre (29-31-4) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [--] Cody Rhodes (28-20-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [--] AJ Styles (27-12-6) (TNA)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [--] The Miz (27-29-4) (WWE) [WWE Champion]<br /><strong>#9</strong> [--] Dolph Ziggler (26-26-3) (WWE) [Intercontinental Champion]<br /><strong>#10</strong> [--] R-Truth (25-22-4) (WWE)<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (16-16-3) (TNA)<br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Tyson Kidd &amp; DH Smith (16-18-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Alex Shelley &amp; Chris Sabin (14-10-2) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (12-14-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (11-3-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champions]<br />#<strong>6</strong> [--] Drew McIntyre &amp; Cody Rhodes (9-5-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [+2] Shannon Moore &amp; Jesse Neal (9-7-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [-1] Justin Gabriel &amp; Heath Slater (8-2-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-1] Brie Bella &amp; Nikki Bella (8-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [--] Big Show &amp; The Miz (7-4-1) (WWE)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consequences_Creed" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Creed_como_campe%C3%B3n.jpg/220px-Creed_como_campe%C3%B3n.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight:<br />#193 Xavier Woods</strong> (0-2-0) (FCW)</span><br />Better known as <strong>Consequences Creed</strong> to <em>NWA: Anarchy</em> and <em>TNA</em> fans; FCW's Xavier Woods is a star already occurred. His time with Total Non-Stop Action produced memorable matches in the X-Division, including a 2008 feud with Petey Williams, and led to his eventual reign as Tag Team Champion with Lethal Consequences partner, "Black Machismo" <strong>Jay Lethal</strong> (#73). Unfortunately, like the six-sided ring he graced, Creed was a casualty of the Hogan/Bischoff regime that took over TNA at the beginning of 2010, and released him after only two matches.<br /><br />In a twist of the expected, TNA's loss may be WWE's gain. The global wrestling phenomenon has used FCW extensively as a development territory, sourcing talent for their core roster, as well as the pseudo-reality competition, <em>NXT</em>. FCW stars have risen to incredible heights, with <strong>Wade Barrett</strong> (#21), <strong>Bryan Danielson</strong> (#39), <strong>Alberto Del Rio</strong> (#56), and former TNA X-Division Champion and NXT Season 2 Winner, <strong>Kaval</strong> (#103), all graduating through the Florida development system on top of their previous accolades.<br /><br />It's difficult not to want for and imagine the possibilities of Creed's rise to the WWE roster, either through NXT, where he would make a fitting pupil for mentor <strong>R-Truth</strong> (#10) [ie; <em>Truth or Consequences</em>], or as a singles competitor introduced cold. His gimmick, a red, white and blue reference to <em>Apollo Creed</em> of the Rocky series of films, shouldn't distract from the legitimate talent of a wrestler who is both charismatic, and also skilled in the finer art of wrestling. A man who just recently held the FCW Tag Team Championship with Wes Briscoe, and could certainly add some much needed flavour to WWE's version of the same.<br /><br /><strong>Special Note:</strong> On the December 6 episode of RAW, <strong>Santino Marella</strong> (#37) and <strong>Vladimir Kozlov</strong> (#35) defeated champions, <strong>Justin Gabriel</strong> (#22) and <strong>Heath Slater</strong> (#27), in a four way Tag Team Championship match also featuring <strong>Mark Henry</strong> (#61) and <strong>Yoshi Tatsu</strong> (#45), and <strong>The Usos</strong> (#13).<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-3576595943435657107?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-63349423537260871562010-12-06T08:00:00.000+10:302011-01-11T00:01:50.280+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Wight" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Big_Show_Oshkosh_WI_030808.jpg/200px-Big_Show_Oshkosh_WI_030808.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#1 The Big Show</strong> [--] (39-15-2)<br />(WWE: Smackdown)</span><br />Big Show had the week off, giving our statistical race toward the end of the year a boost of intrigue. Kofi Kingston picked up a win over Jack Swagger (#17) on Smackdown to <em>equal</em> the Big Show's priority win count. With four weeks still to go in 2010, this two-horse race remains very much alive!<br /><br />Meanwhile, with Edge (#18) set to take a second shot at Kane's (#12) World Championship at the TLC PPV, speculation regarding Big Show's title potential seems to have ended. He began 2010 as a reigning Tag Team Champion with The Miz (#8).<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Kofi Kingston (39-22-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Rey Mysterio (30-13-4) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Randy Orton (30-18-6) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] Drew McIntyre (29-30-4) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [+1] Cody Rhodes (28-19-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [-1] AJ Styles (27-12-6) (TNA)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [--] The Miz (27-29-4) (WWE) [WWE Champion]<br /><strong>#9</strong> [+1] Dolph Ziggler (26-25-3) (WWE) [Intercontinental Champion]<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-1] R-Truth (25-22-4) (WWE)<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [+1] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (16-16-3) (TNA)<br /><strong>#2</strong> [-1] Tyson Kidd &amp; DH Smith (16-18-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Alex Shelley &amp; Chris Sabin (13-10-2) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (12-14-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (9-3-0) (WWE)<br />#<strong>6</strong> [--] Drew McIntyre &amp; Cody Rhodes (9-5-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [--] Justin Gabriel &amp; Heath Slater (8-2-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#8</strong> [--] Brie Bella &amp; Nikki Bella (8-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [+1] Shannon Moore &amp; Jesse Neal (8-7-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-1] Big Show &amp; The Miz (7-4-1) (WWE)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheamus" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/60/Extreme_Rules_%282010%29.jpg/200px-Extreme_Rules_%282010%29.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight:<br />#14 Sheamus</strong> (23-19-3) (WWE)</span><br />The King of the Ring tournament made it's long awaited return two weeks ago, beginning with qualifying matches on RAW and Smackdown. On a special three-hour RAW last week, <strong>Bryan Danielson</strong> (#42), <strong>Alberto Del Rio</strong> (#56), <strong>Cody Rhodes</strong> (#6), <strong>Ezekiel Jackson</strong> (#65), <strong>Drew McIntyre</strong> (#5), and <strong>Kofi Kingston</strong> (#2) competed in the elimination brackets, but it was ultimately Sheamus who came out on top, victorious as the 2010 King of the Ring over recent rival, <strong>John Morrison</strong> (#16), after enjoying the easy ride of a bye created by the double count-out draw of Ezekiel Jackson and Drew McIntyre in the first round.<br /><br />The once prestigious crown adds to Sheamus' other fast-tracked successes, including a two-time reign as WWE champion, and the Slammy Aware for Break-Out Star of 2009. In many eyes, it is considered a precursor to the return of <strong>Triple H</strong> (#80), who Sheamus sent to the sidelines after a street fight at April's <em>Extreme Rules</em>. It was the conclusion to several months of fighting between the two, and a considerable rub for such a relatively young performer.<br /><br />I could be somewhat critical of Sheamus' list of achievements, which have come with the kind of speed that WWE is now associated with. It is a trend that has greatly diminished the prestige and accomplishment of these titles that were once unobtainable even to some of wrestling's greatest stars. He first emerged as a breath of fresh air, creating much needed distraction from the headlining usual suspects of the RAW roster that he is now in danger of becoming part of. The King of the Ring has done well to continue the construction of Sheamus as a longterm main event prospect, adding to his accolades, without cheapening the belts.<br /><br /><strong>Special Note:</strong> The Countdown includes results from the TNA: Final Resolution PPV, where <strong>Douglas Williams</strong> (#46) defeated <strong>AJ Styles</strong> (#7) to become the new Television Champion.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-6334942353726087156?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-23860695659643470152010-12-05T00:30:00.000+10:302010-12-06T00:35:08.054+10:30No time for love, Dr. Jones!<br /><br />Heavyweight Championship match<br />Special Guest Referee: Ken Anderson<br />Matt Morgan versus Jeff Hardy (c)<br />Prediction: Jeff Hardy<br /><br />Full Metal Mayhem Tag Team Championship match<br />Generation Me vs Motor City Machine Guns (c)<br />Prediction: Motor City Machine Guns<br /><br />Television Championship match<br />Douglas Williams vs AJ Styles<br />Prediction: AJ Styles<br /><br />X-Division Championship match<br />Cookie suspended above ring in a shark cage<br />Jay Lethal vs Robbie E<br />Prediction: Robbie E<br /><br />Submission match<br />Jeff Jarrett vs Samoa Joe<br />Prediction: Samoa Joe<br /><br />Casket match<br />D'Angelo Dinero vs Abyss<br />Prediction: D'Angelo Dinero<br /><br />First Blood match<br />Rob Van Dam vs Rhino<br />Prediction: Rob Van Dam<br /><br />#1 Contender Tag Team match<br />Beer Money Inc vs Ink Inc<br />Prediction: Beer Money<br /><br />Falls Count Anywhere<br />Mickie James vs Tara<br />Prediction: Mickie James<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-2386069565964347015?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-16872759103045825432010-12-03T19:09:00.003+10:302011-01-12T00:40:35.654+10:30Since it's countdown launch back in October [<a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1275" target="_blank">full story</a>], the <b><a href="http://www.themortalkombat.com/" target="_blank">Official Mortal Kombat</a></b> website has had fans anticipating the opportunity to register to discuss and reveal new details about some of their favourite characters. Today, the wait has ended!<br /><br /><center><img src="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/perl/cds.cgi?external_action=displayImage&amp;id=2519" target="_blank" /></center><br />The new <a href="http://www.themortalkombat.com/web/guest/talkmk" target="_blank">official message board</a> offers a range of standard discussion forums about the games and web content, as well as special categories dedicated to <b>Scorpion</b>, <b>Sub-Zero</b>, <b>Mileena</b>, <b>Shao Kahn</b>, and <b>Raiden</b>. These categories are attached to a rankings system, which will allow fans to unlock new materials on each characters' dedicated bio page through forum discussion. The preview bars will also see existing materials, such as the <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1277">Scorpion</a> and <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1292" target="_blank">Sub-Zero</a> vignettes already released, be made accessible from the site.<br /><br />The update also brought with it revised editions of biography text supplied for each of the feature characters. Details alluding to the increasingly elaborate mythologies of each character included backstory accumulated from recent releases, as well as brand new revelations about favourites like Sub-Zero, previously known in-fiction as <b>Tundra</b>, and the very tournament itself, which is said to have been influenced in it's creation by Raiden.<br /><br /><strong>Full Article: <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1303" target="_blank">http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1303</a></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-1687275910304582543?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-33426706963460567142010-12-03T09:06:00.002+10:302010-12-04T13:51:45.398+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWF_European_Championship" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.wwe.com/content/media/images/377012/559842" border="0" /></a><em>Triple H, Kurt Angle, Eddie Guerrero, Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, Owen Hart, Davey Boy Smith, Jeff Jarrett, Diamond Dallas Page, Jeff Hardy, Rob Van Dam</em>. The unwritten tier system might've seen the <strong>WWF European Championship</strong> fall third to the <em>Heavyweight</em> and <em>Intercontinental</em> titles, but the names that held the strap over it's brief five-year history are surprisingly impressive.<br /><br />It was part of Shawn Michaels' dual title reign as the first WWF Grand Slam champion; the underscore in British Bulldogs' bitter and fruitless struggle for the Heavyweight title; part of Kurt Angle's rise as one of the most quickly decorated stars in wrestling; and a feather in the cap of many stars who went on to hold top title gold.<br /><br />In 2002, the European belt was unified with the Intercontinental title on Rob Van Dam, and subsequently absorbed into that year's version of the World Heavyweight title as part of the WWF brand split extension. The desire for symmetry in the brands eventually saw the United States title -- absorbed during the acquisition of WCW -- fill the void created by the eventual return of the IC belt. It has been a fair and equatable system in theory, but in practise, exposed as many problems in modern WWE as it has solved.<br /><br />The beauty of the WWF's title arrangement as of 1997 was simple. It offered opportunities to the entire roster, relative to their status, or style.<br /><br />For those not yet ready for a rise to the top, the Intercontinental and European titles offered legitimate stepping stones at the upper and mid-card levels. The Light Heavyweight and Hardcore titles played specialist alternatives to the slightly more prestigious Euro belt, completing the picture in a way not seen <em>since</em> the brand extension. If this titles' absence in 2010 is a criticism, then it's also a criticism of the modern product, which I often choose to describe as <em>polished to the point of erosion</em>. Even so, I think very little would need to change to make the European title a successful commodity in the current era. In fact, in ideal circumstances, it would help encourage that depth of investment that existed in the Attitude Era, with favourite wrestlers from the top to the bottom of the card.<br /><br /><center><img style="WIDTH: 469px; HEIGHT: 232px" height="234" src="http://www.rankopedia.com/CandidatePix/42937.gif" width="448" /></center>Due to it's lower grade, the European title would offer the possibility to legitimately contend a championship during international tours, which go otherwise untelevised, and are inappropriate for top belt changes. Also, with WWE farming the <em>Florida Championship Wrestling</em> developmental territory quite heavily since the introduction of NXT, there's an obvious potential for the establishment of a strong mid-card tradition. The European title would be right at home on a show like <em>WWE: Superstars</em>, which typically features this middle-section of the roster, and would allow seasoned stars to initiate some of these new inclusions with a more longterm record than some of the forgettable avenues used now.<br /><br />For me, a great sticking point of the past decade has been attempts to fasttrack main event stars into extended championship runs. While it would not guarantee a more considered approach, the presence of a championship heirarchy would at least offer more stop-gaps for giving the rub to up and coming names. I might've preferred The Miz put more years into working his way up the ranks before winning the WWE title, for example. Other stars with potential might include:<br /><br /><strong>Montel Vontavious Porter</strong> (#11)<br />What better way for an MVP to show off his status than by jetsetting to the most glamorous cities of the world? With a few cheesy promos infront of blue screen backdrops, MVP could up his stock as a European champion who claims to represent and reside in various cities across Europe. It was a concept used during D-Lo Brown's reign, and I think, could make the ballin' MVP a superstar worth noticing, giving him a place on the card that he can make his own.<br /><br /><strong>Tyson Kidd</strong> (#27)<br />The high-flying alternate in the crumbling Hart Dynasty tag team would be right at home with the European championship, I think. He has the wrestling skills to bring credibility to the title, and with DH Smith involved in any capacity, it would be a great way to add extra motivation to an already personal feud. A chance to begin Kidd's career as a singles wrestler without the stigma of a [still defunct] Cruiserweight title reign, or a premature push.<br /><br /><strong>David Hart Smith</strong> (#24)<br />DH Smith stands in a pretty mighty shadow, but as a European champion, I think he would be making the best of a family legacy. At the present, it's difficult to see how far Smith's future goes with WWE. If there's a long run in him, then this could be a pretty charming beginning to a quest to do what his father wasn't able to -- become the holder of all the major championships.<br /><br /><strong>Vladimir Kozlov</strong> (#42)<br />In 2008, Kozlov came in strong, marching his way to a short but noteworthy undefeated streak that included a victory over The Undertaker on Smackdown. After a disappointing showing in a WWE Championship match at Survivor Series, he was quickly downgraded, tumbling down the roster to ECW henchman, landing on RAW as comedy relief opposite Santino Marella. I enjoyed the indomitable Russian gimmick, but would agree he was far from ready for top gold. The Euro title would have been an opportune way to follow through on his monster heel status, without embarassing the concept or gold.<br /><br /><strong>William Regal</strong> (#93)<br />The four-time European champion probably deserves better, but it seems increasingly unlikely that William Regal will ever match tenure for success. In the event that he never receives a JBL-style push to the top, the former King of the Ring might as well exhibit his dominance over a division he's represented so well in the past. A small, but fitting reward for his years of service.<br /><br /><strong>Drew McIntyre</strong> (#5)<br />His Intercontinental Championship reign came with a lonesome DDT and an unconvincing elevation. It doesn't take a genius to slap the European title on wrestlers from outside the US, but I think that's more a testament to the credibility of the concept, than a criticism. Drew McIntyre could've established himself much more appropriately at this level.<br /><br /><strong>Cody Rhodes</strong> (#7)<br />Despite the pedigree of some of it's holders, the European title came to be associated with the underside of it's mid-card trappings. A certain style emerged as a result of that, and I feel Cody Rhodes might be at home there. The belt would certainly help break up his bizarre skinny-ankled grey boots that look like socks with underpants, and add some gold to his dashing demeanour, without compromising other belts.<br /><br /><strong>Ted Dibiase Jr</strong> (#50)<br />Once the more promising of the Orton-following <em>Priceless</em> tandem; Dibiase has struggled to find character or success in the RAW ranks. Recent battles with Bryan Danielson for the US title exposed how underdone his persona has become. Had the European title been active, Dibiase's post-Orton career might've been salvaged sooner by a more appropriate championship goal.<br /><br /><strong>Mark Henry</strong> (#58)<br />No matter how hard they sell his big-man status, I can't ever see myself accepting Mark Henry as a contender for the WWE or World Heavyweight championships. Somehow not quite in line with the image of an IC champion, I would be more than willing to accept a Mark Henry who dominates his opponents as a two-time European champion.<br /><br /><strong>Santino Marella</strong> (#46)<br />Soiled beyond repair by his extensive feature as a comedic foil, the Italian Marella could at least find a starting point to earn back some credibility by way of his European heritage.<br /><br /><strong>Tyler Reks</strong> (#94)<br />Emerging as one of the FCW recruits, Reks might not be ready for a championship reign just yet, but the presence of a European title would at least provide an avenue for him to get the rub from some of the other names mentioned on this list, with the potential to earn an eventual reign and benefit from that accordingly. He wouldn't be my first choice, but he'd certainly be welcome in the division. Appearances on <em>Superstars</em> highlight this.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtJdQ56JhGE" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.fcwwrestling.info/images/talent/percy_watson.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong>Percy Watson</strong> (#125)<br />It should be plain to everyone that Percy Watson is ready. Percy Watson is already happening. Percy Watson is bringing the party to your house, be it via FCW, or NXT. Percy Watson is already a legitimate fact, and the European championship would just be a stepping stone to bigger and better things. Ibiza pales in comparison. Percy Watson is the official party capital of the world. <strong><em>Oh yeah!!</em><br /></strong><br /><strong>Finlay</strong> (#137)<br />If he ever absolutely <em>has</em> to occupy a championship contender slot again, then it might as well be the Euro belt.<br /><br /><strong>Charlie Haas</strong> (#167)<br />Haas recently reunited with his Worlds Greatest Tag Team partner, Shelton Benjamin, in Ring of Honor, but if it wasn't too late for Haas, the European title would've given him a chance to flex his in-ring skills, putting a catch as catch can face on a belt, without the burden of his lack of personality getting in the way.<br /><br /><em>Rankings provided come from the <a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/search/label/Kayfabe%20Countdown">Weekly Kayfabe Countdown</a></em>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-3342670696346056714?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-19468960110319644282010-12-01T19:56:00.000+10:302011-01-12T00:28:56.458+10:30November 20th saw the launch of the third annual two-day <strong>Brazil Game Show</strong>; an expo designed to bring developers from around the world to the South American city of Rio de Janeiro.<br /><br />In preparation for the release of their latest installment in the long running <strong>Mortal Kombat</strong> series, producer <strong>Hector Sanchez</strong> of the <strong>NetherRealm Studios</strong> team was there to offer a playable demo of the game and interact with fans from the region. The presence of the fighting franchise; which was acquired by Warner Brothers in 2009 from Midway Games; helped spur the event onto a massive new attendance record of an estimated thirty-thousand people on the floor.<br /><br /><strong><a href="http://www.themortalkombat.com/" target="_blank">Mortal Kombat</a></strong> is expected to be released in the early part of 2011 for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. The game boasts classic returning characters featured in the BGS demo, such as; <b>Scorpion</b>, <b>Sub-Zero</b>, <b>Kitana</b>, <b>Johnny Cage</b>, and others. No new characters were featured at the show, with recent announcements, <b>Jax</b> and <b>Sonya</b>, absent from this build.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.netherrealm.com/" target="_blank">NetherRealm Studios</a> has released pictures from their trip to <a href="http://www.brasilgameshow.com.br/" target="_blank">Brazil Game Show</a>!<br />Find them attached above, or in the gallery of the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=35212&amp;id=117266501638089" target="_blank">official Facebook</a> for the game.<br /><br /><strong>Full Article: <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1301" target="_blank">http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1301</a></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-1946896011031964428?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-30352817758475042712010-12-01T10:47:00.001+10:302010-12-01T10:51:34.725+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WrestleMania_VII" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e5/WrestleManiaVII.jpg/200px-WrestleManiaVII.jpg" border="0" /></a>He is one of the most feared entities in professional wrestling, whose impact included winning the WWF Heavyweight Championship away from Hulk Hogan just one year after his debut, during the height of Hulkamania in 1991. Since, <strong>The Undertaker</strong> has forged a legacy of <em>two</em> decades of destruction, winning various major championships, and setting record firsts as a character unmatch in theatricality and spectacle. His history in Casket matches, Hell in a Cell cages, Inferno matches, and the Buried Alive stipulation that recently ended his current tenure as a World title contender, is legendary, but no accolade is greater than the unprecedented success he has enjoyed once every year.<br /><br />The Undertaker debuted at <strong>Wrestlemania</strong> in the year of his first championship, facing "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka in the mid-card of May's Wrestlemania VII. Victory was assured for the gloomy heel, who dispatched the Superfly in under five minutes. It was a significant victory even for it's time, but nobody could've imagined that it would be but the first in a sequence of a staggering <strong>eighteen</strong> unanswered victories at Wrestlemania!<br /><br />What if things hadn't been so <em>easy</em> for the Deadman, though? What if events unfolded in a very different way, and The Undertaker's incredible pageantry was rivalled by a force so awesome, no destiny could steer him towards victory?...<br /><br />In 1991, he was twenty-two, and in five years he would be writing his own name in the history books by winning an Olympic Gold Medal for America in grecco-roman wrestling. He is <strong>Kurt Angle</strong>, one of the most decorated superstars in the history of professional wrestling, whose accomplishments came faster and thicker than anything The Undertaker could handle.<br /><br />At Wrestlemania VII, The Undertaker certainly would've cut an imposing figure opposite the relatively diminutive grecco-roman grappler, but with youth in his corner and an intensity that cannot be matched, Kurt Angle's <em>American History K</em> would have changed the expectations of wrestling overnight. I mean, The Undertaker was already a hundred freaking years old in 1991, any way, wearing that stupid hat. He won matches because he avoided taking moves. If Vince McMahon told Koko B Ware he could act like nothing could hurt him, then he would've been undefeated at Wrestlemania too. But he didn't. He told him he was an idiot with a bird.<br /><br />Sure, Undertaker had size and power on his size, and maybe even the support of the crowd. In 1991 things were simpler. It's true, it's true. But once the audience witnessed a seven foot man being overhead german suplexed <em>with a release</em>, then the tide would've turned. The stupor of a man as excellent in the field of catch as catch can delivering a perfect moonsault would've been broken as the crowd listened to a grown man's cries be silence by the snapping of an ankle.<br /><br />WCW, in it's infancy after beginning in 1988, would've collapsed instantly. Kurt Angle would've been elevated to unquestioned main event status, facing Hulk Hogan as a babyface against the heel faker. Kurt Angle would have arisen to the absolute heights of professional wrestling glory in 1991, yet still competed for and won the Olympic Gold Medal in 1996. It is only during this period that the WWF recovers, having collapsed under the weight of a lack of competition for Kurt Angle's phenomenal style of wrestling. This is <strong>American History K</strong>, and you thank me for this education experience.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545499594354661714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tYiCGgNLJ8c/TPWSf--VGVI/AAAAAAAAI0k/GWT5Nl8yxJM/s1600/ahka.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Epilogue:</strong> <em>Crippled and embarassed beyond repair, The Undertaker was forced into an early retirement by this version of Wrestlemania history. Summoning the dark arts, he travelled backward through time, preventing Kurt Angle's premature rise through the ranks of the World Wrestling Federation by occult means. Undeterred, Kurt Angle went on to become the NCAA Division I competition runner-up, after interference from Paul Bearer prevented him claiming ultimate victory. With Angle out of the picture, Undertaker went on to win the hardcore championship as a cyclist, and punched Scotty 2 Hotty at the Royal Rumble.</em></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-3035281775847504271?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-38115336883886584832010-11-30T18:07:00.001+10:302011-01-12T00:33:02.358+10:30In 2011, <b>Mortal Kombat</b> will return in all it's gory glory, bringing with it the deadly finishing moves that were controversially scaled back for their 2008 crossover, <i>Versus DC Universe</i>.<br /><br />In preparation for the elaborate bloodletting and general dismemberment, <b><a href="http://www.ign.com" target="_blank">IGN</a></b> has picked up the gauntlet to list their <b>Unofficial Top Ten Best Fatalities</b>! Featured in the list are favourites like <b>Scorpion</b>'s <b>Toasty Flame Breath</b>, along with some more obscure fare you might not expect.<br /><br /><center><object id="vid_4cf53be20457bf46e0000517" class="ign-videoplayer" width="480" height="270" data="http://media.ign.com/ev/prod/embed.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="movie" value="http://media.ign.com/ev/prod/embed.swf" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><param name="flashvars" value="url=http://au.ign.com/videos/2010/11/30/top-10-mortal-kombat-fatalities"/></object></center><br /><br />You can find the full article on <a href="http://ps3.ign.com/articles/113/1137436p1.html" target="_blank">IGN.com</a>, or watch the video embedded above, for the office rundown with moving pictures. <b><a href="http://www.themortalkombat.com" target="_blank">Mortal Kombat</a></b> is currently in production under <a href="http://www.netherrealm.com" target="_blank">NetherRealm Studios</a>, with a pending release date expected for the first half of 2011.<br /><br /><strong>Full Article: <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1300" target="_blank">http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1300</a></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-3811533688388658483?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-25143305693492437992010-11-28T18:16:00.006+10:302011-01-11T00:01:50.294+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Wight" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Big_Show_Oshkosh_WI_030808.jpg/200px-Big_Show_Oshkosh_WI_030808.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#1 The Big Show</strong> [--] (39-15-2)<br />(WWE: Smackdown)</span><br />It was a "shock" upset victory for Alberto del Rio in King of the Ring qualifiers on Smackdown that handed Big Show a rare count out defeat this week. These situations <em>rarely</em> favour big men and with Del Rio's star on the rise, the win was all but secured. More shocking was perhaps the elimination of his rival, Rey Mysterio, who would've made for a solid tournament rematch in the same vein as what we saw on RAW, with a Survivor Series rematch between Ted Dibiase and Bryan Danielson, and a side-winding battle between Sheamus and John Morrison's pal, R-Truth.<br /><br />With only a month to go, it seems a statistical certainty that either Big Show or Kofi Kingston will end 2010 as the most successful wrestler in the Kayfabe Countdown. Eight wins clear of nearest rivals, Rey Mysterio (#3) and Randy Orton (#4), the chances of this two horse race being overtaken are close to none, with approximately only six-or-so dates for wrestlers from Smackdown, and one less for RAW.<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Kofi Kingston (38-22-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Rey Mysterio (30-13-4) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Randy Orton (30-18-6) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [+1] Drew McIntyre (28-30-3) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [-1] AJ Styles (27-11-5) (TNA) [Television Champion]<br /><strong>#7</strong> [--] Cody Rhodes (27-18-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [<a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2010/11/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-1014.html">RE</a>] The Miz (26-29-4) (WWE) [WWE Champion]<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-1] R-Truth (25-22-4) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-1] Dolph Ziggler (25-25-3) (WWE) [Intercontinental Champion]<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Tyson Kidd &amp; DH Smith (16-18-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (15-15-3) (TNA)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Alex Shelley &amp; Chris Sabin (12-9-2) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (12-14-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [+2] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (9-3-0) (WWE)<br />#<strong>6</strong> [-1] Drew McIntyre &amp; Cody Rhodes (9-5-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [-1] Justin Gabriel &amp; Heath Slater (8-1-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#8</strong> [--] Brie Bella &amp; Nikki Bella (8-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [--] Big Show &amp; The Miz (7-4-1) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [--] Shannon Moore &amp; Jesse Neal (7-6-0) (TNA)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight:<br />#83 Jeff Jarrett</strong> (8-10-1) (TNA)</span><br /><br /><center><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/c9azt4U_als?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/c9azt4U_als?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center><br /><br />TAP THAT MAT! 'nuff said.<br /><br /><strong>Special Note:</strong> On the November 22 episode of RAW, <strong>The Miz</strong> (#8) used his Money in the Bank contract to defeat <strong>Randy Orton</strong> (#4) for the WWE Championship. Orton had defended the title against <strong>Wade Barrett</strong> (#17) immediately prior, in a rematch of the Survivor Series main event.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-2514330569349243799?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-68360804821252077522010-11-21T21:55:00.006+10:302011-01-11T00:01:50.307+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Wight" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Big_Show_Oshkosh_WI_030808.jpg/200px-Big_Show_Oshkosh_WI_030808.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#1 The Big Show</strong> [--] (39-14-2)<br />(WWE: Smackdown)</span><br />It's been a mixed bag for The Big Show in 2010.<br />He entered the year as one of the vital forces reinvigorating WWE's Tag Team titles, and has finished the year as one of the headlining faces promoting Smackdown since it's move to SyFy, including a captaining role in many team matches. His workload has seen him have up to three matches a week between RAW, Smackdown, and Pay-Per-Views -- significant for a man of his size and condition. Yet, despite this sustained significance, accolades have been few.<br /><br />His <em>Team Smackdown</em> affiliations have kept him in close contact with Kayfabe Countdown rival, Kofi Kingston, and a return to the tag team division is always a possibility. There's also the fact that Big Show recently enjoyed a win over the World Heavyweight Champion, who very narrowly escaped defeat at Survivor Series when Edge was controversially counted for having his shoulders down after a spear-born pin cover. Edge might remain in the mix, but I do wonder if the year won't end with Big Show finally re-entering competition for the top championship, even if he doesn't best "the devil's favourite demon", Kane, in the end.<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Kofi Kingston (37-22-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Rey Mysterio (30-12-4) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Randy Orton (29-17-6) (WWE) [WWE Champion]<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] AJ Styles (27-11-5) (TNA) [Television Champion]<br /><strong>#6</strong> [--] Drew McIntyre (27-30-3) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [--] Cody Rhodes (26-18-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [--] R-Truth (25-21-4) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [RE] Dolph Ziggler (25-25-3) (WWE) [Intercontinental Champion]<br /><strong>#10</strong> [new] Montel Vontavious Porter (25-27-1) (WWE)<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Tyson Kidd &amp; DH Smith (16-18-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (15-15-2) (TNA)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Alex Shelley &amp; Chris Sabin (12-9-2) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (12-14-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] Drew McIntyre &amp; Cody Rhodes (9-5-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [+4] Justin Gabriel &amp; Heath Slater (8-1-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#7</strong> [--] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (8-3-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [-2] Brie Bella &amp; Nikki Bella (8-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-1] Big Show &amp; The Miz (7-4-1) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-1] Shannon Moore &amp; Jesse Neal (7-6-0) (TNA)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Sopp" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://smackdown.neoseeker.com/w/i/smackdown/thumb/d/d2/BillyGunn.JPG/200px-BillyGunn.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight:<br />#NR Billy Gunn</strong> (0-0-0) (<em>Independent</em>)</span><br />Between the recent "old school" RAW, WWE's overdue resurrection of the King of the Ring tournament, and it's flagging Tag Team competition, it's hard not to think back to better days like those of the late nineties. During the boom period of their Attitude Era, WWF created a roster that, peaking in 1999, had successful and popular characters from the top of the roster, to the bottom. One of their major properties was that of the New Age Outlaws; members of Degeneration X both; Road Dogg Jesse James, and Bad Ass Billy Gunn ("Mr. Ass" in formal situations, of course).<br /><br />It was as one-half of the tandem that Billy Gunn really made waves, but by 1999, each had enjoyed successful stints as singles competitors, with Intercontinental and Hardcore championship reigns to each of their respective names. 1999 also reflected the hopes to groom Billy Gunn for bigger things, with these plans signified by his victory in the 1999 King of the Ring tournament. When the dissolving of DX came and went, Billy Gunn's chance to shine soon followed, but it wasn't to be. Despite capturing another of the covetted grooming tools of major stars, the Intercontinental Championship, Billy Gunn's star failed to rise, and after meandering through various return spots, he was let go from WWE. Gunn has enjoyed mixed success since, spending significant years in TNA without garnering greater gold.<br /><br />I wouldn't characterize Billy Gunn as one of the great talents of wrestling history, but it strikes me as a shame that he never reached the heights that seemed laid out for him. In interviews after leaving the company, Gunn was critical of Triple H's involvement in his release, a fact made all the more bitter by the way their relationship produced Gunn's highs as a member of DX. Gunn remains a fixture of the independent scene where he has once again reformed the Outlaws team with Road Dogg. Here's hoping they can recapture some of the success they once had.<br /><br /><strong>Special Note:</strong> Countdown includes results from the WWE: Survivor Series PPV.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-6836080482125207752?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-77611747513658781162010-11-20T22:38:00.002+10:302010-11-21T23:56:35.466+10:30<img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 10px" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/77/Survivor_Series_%282010%29.jpg/200px-Survivor_Series_%282010%29.jpg" border="0" />It's been one of the classic WWF/WWE "big five" Pay-Per-Views for more than twenty years, but at the beginning of 2010, WWE announced it no longer had use for the antiquated event, aiming to replace it with another of it's many concept shows. Fortunately, Survivor Series did <em>not</em> go the way of the King of the Ring PPV, becoming reinstated as plans for the Nexus faction began to take hold in RAW's programming -- a blessing, to be sure! <p></p><p><span style="font-size:medium;"><strong>No Holds Barred WWE Championship match with special guest referee, John Cena<br />Wade Barrett vs Randy Orton (c)</strong></span><br />If you've been living under a wrestling rock, then you wouldn't know that this match comes with an added special stipulation: If Wade Barrett wins the title, John Cena will be released from the contract that binds him to Barrett's service. If Orton retains, then John Cena will be fired, as is apparently allowed by Barrett's powers over him. A situation that all but <em>forces</em> Cena to aid his begrudging master, or so it would seem.<br /><br />For us fans, the rock and hard place comes in the form of the unlikelihood of John Cena's absence from WWE programming, versus Wade Barrett's relative unreadiness to hold as covetted a top spot as the WWE Champion. A predicament, to be sure, but not one that's at all foreign. In 1998, for example, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin was given many challenges that threatened unemployment, such as Judgment Day, where he refused to count three for either Undertaker, or Kane. Steve Austin, a bigger star in stature and monetary gains, always found a way back to teevee and to the WWE roster. If pushed, I'm sure John Cena would have similar fictional methods available to him, as well. Will they go the long way around, though? I'm not sure it's in keeping with the WWE style any more, certainly not if they want to get away with this angle.<br /><br />Barrett <em>is</em> quite green, still. His power as a talker has carried him since winning NXT and forming The Nexus, but I'd be reluctant to say that makes him a worthy WWE Champion. Of course, being worthy has very little to do with championships in WWE, these days. Neither does the logical outcome though, either. What about <em>Money in the Bank</em> holder The Miz? He has until the end of the year to cash his championship shot in -- will he play a factor?<br /><br />I honestly don't know what to expect of this match, and that has elevated it above it's otherwise mediocre status. These usual suspects of the RAW main event rarely entice, but the possibility that WWE will make a hard decision is enticing. John Cena as a heel aiding Wade Barrett's victory with glee might be the best possible outcome, but that's too easy, and I don't think it'll happen. Exactly what <em>will</em> happen, I do not know!<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Randy Orton<br /><br /><strong>Survivor Series Elimination Tag Team Match<br />Rey Mysterio, Kofi Kingston, Chris Masters, Big Show &amp; Montel Vontavious Porter vs Alberto del Rio, Tyler Reks, Drew McIntyre, Jack Swagger &amp; Cody Rhodes</strong><br />Personally, I don't feel Survivor Series need revolve around these classic ten-man elimination tag matches. My favourite Survivor Series shows might actually be 1998, where the WWF title was contended in a King of the Ring style elimination tournament, and 2002, where the feature of the night was the first even Elimination Chamber -- a survior's match if there ever was one.<br /><br />The construction of the match has been somewhat clumsy, but it at least provides an eclectic mix of Smackdown's wrestling stars. Alberto del Rio continues to rise through the ranks, with many assuming he'll be groomed for a spot as a face. He certainly has a team backing him that should put up a worthy challenge against the heroes of the match-up. I think he might get the rub.<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Team del Rio<br /><br /><strong>World Heavyweight Championship match<br />Edge vs Kane (c)</strong><br />The last thing I want to see before the decade is through is Edge with another championship reign. Kane's first on-going reign in the top spot hasn't been anything to write home about, but it's serving a purpose. With any luck, this <em>will</em> be a decent match, but I don't need to see Edge get the better of it for a satisfying end. Perhaps a DQ finish, or some other non-title situation.<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Edge<br /><br /><strong>Sheamus vs John Morrison</strong><br />Morrison's role as rescuer made for a confusing build-up to this match, but at the end of the day, it's got the making of a great mid-card bout. These two have very different styles, and while there's potential for disaster, I think Morrison will be up to the challenge of working a good match. Sheamus was on the receiving end of a shock upset to Santino Marella (the man who Morrison saved). I would expect his winning ways to be restored here.<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Sheamus<br /><br /><strong>Tag Team Championship match<br />Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov vs Justin Gabriel &amp; Heath Slater (c)</strong><br />Why oh why, Heath Slater? Why?<br />There's a popular theory going around that Vince McMahon wants to destroy tag team wrestling. It's a symbol of the fictional premise of the pseudo-sport, and all he's interested in selling is "entertainment." This match might actually help make the argument. The best legit team, The Hart Dynasty, has been jobbed silly over the past few months, taking a pointless barrage of losses to patchwork pairing, Cody Rhodes &amp; Drew McIntyre, who've now dissolved themselves. Kozlov and Marella are barely comedy relief, but also one of the most successful duos of the year. Honestly, I wouldn't be too fussed if they picked up a shock win. I used to have a bit of a soft spot for Kozlov, and wouldn't mind seeing him finally get a credit to his name. I'd think there's more to come from the Nexus, however, and they will benefit from backing up their claim to the gold (or bronze, "big ass pennies" as Jeff Hardy put it).<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Justin Gabriel &amp; Heath Slater<br /><br /><strong>Intercontinental Championship match<br />Kaval vs Dolph Ziggler (c)</strong><br />Despite being a two-time X-Division champion (as Low-Ki), Kaval just can't buy a win in WWE, it seems. That's a path Bryan Danielson knows all too well, which, for both men, included statistically unimpressive runs through NXT, before joining the big shows with more losses to come. Danielson ("Daniel Bryan") finally got the rub when he won the United States title from rival, The Miz, and has been winning some of the better matches of each show, ever since. I don't know that the same fairytale ending is in Kaval's future, but hopefully this is the start of something. Ziggler has given the IC belt <em>some</em> sense of stability, but it's an otherwise forgettable run. In 2011, it'd be great to see prestige come back to the WWE titles. Good matches like this might be a start.<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Dolph Ziggler<br /><br /><strong>United States Championship match<br />Ted Dibiase vs Daniel Bryan (c)</strong><br />Ted Dibiase has been suffering from a severe lack of personality, something his former Priceless teammate, Cody Rhodes, has done well to avoid. I still prefer Dibiase of the two, but absolutely could not stomach a US championship reign at this point in time. Maryse adds some interest to his appearances, but no amount of bad singing and babes will be enough to make Dibiase a worthy contender to this title. The best we can hope for is a decent match. Bryan Danielson needs a better class of challenger to etch his name in history with, but at least he isn't on the losing end of this questionable encounter [I hope].<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Daniel Bryan<br /><br /><strong>Handicap Divas Championship match<br />Natalya Neidhart vs Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (c)</strong><br />I don't know what the point of this match is, or the Divas title, for that matter.<br />With TNA dropping the ball on their women's tag titles, they might as well make the Divas belt a tandem title (as discussed many times throughout 2010). Pointless either way.<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Michelle McCool &amp; Layla<br /><br /><strong>The Kayfabe Countdown: WWE Top Ten</strong><br /><em>Cumulative tally based on the win/loss records of televised matches.</em><br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> The Big Show [--]<br /><strong>#2</strong> Kofi Kingston [--]<br /><strong>#3</strong> Rey Mysterio [--]<br /><strong>#4 Randy Orton (WWE Champion)</strong> [--]<br /><strong>#5</strong> Drew McIntyre [--]<br /><strong>#6</strong> Cody Rhodes [--]<br /><strong>#7</strong> R-Truth [--]<br /><strong>#8</strong> The Miz (Money in the Bank) [--]<br /><strong>#9 Kane (World Heavyweight Champion)</strong> [--]<br /><strong>#10</strong> John Cena [RE]<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> Tyson Kidd &amp; DH Smith [--]<br /><strong>#2</strong> Layla &amp; Michelle McCool [--]<br /><strong>#3</strong> Drew McIntyre &amp; Cody Rhodes [--]<br /><strong>#4</strong> Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov [--]<br /><strong>#5</strong> Brie Bella &amp; Nikki Bella [--]</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-7761174751365878116?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-71822738153287760852010-11-20T09:23:00.002+10:302011-01-12T00:35:52.785+10:30Premiere Russian gaming magazine, <b><a href="http://www.igromania.ru" target="_blank">IgroMania</a></b>, has revealed an alternate cover for their latest issue, and in doing so, confirmed another favourite for <b>Mortal Kombat</b> in 2011!<br /><br /><center><img src="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/perl/cds.cgi?external_action=displayImage&id=2447" alt="IgroMania No. 12(159) Cover featuring Sonya and Scorpion." border="0"></center><br /><br />MK's first lady of fighting, <b>Sonya Blade</b>, appears in fully rendered glory alongside series mascot, <b>Scorpion</b>, in a mock character select screen that references the first two games, and characters from other articles as well. This is the first time Sonya has appeared officially, sporting a decidedly different look from her traditional outfits. The render(s) replace cover artwork designed around NetherRealm Studios' Mortal Kombat dragon symbol and title text [<i>pictured below</i>].<br /><br />The image confirms months of speculation regarding Sonya's impending status; leaked by IgroMania's Editor-in-Chief via their <a href="http://forum.igromania.ru/showthread.php?t=115865" target="_blank">website message board</a>. The issue, <a href="http://www.igromania.ru/magazine/134949/" target="_blank">No. 12 (159)</a>, officially goes on sale <b>November 23</b>, with a five-page feature on the new game.<br /><br /><strong>Full Article: <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1295" target="_blank">http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1295</a></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-7182273815328776085?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-22378539169041859212010-11-14T23:59:00.007+10:302011-01-11T00:01:50.320+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Wight" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Big_Show_Oshkosh_WI_030808.jpg/200px-Big_Show_Oshkosh_WI_030808.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#1 The Big Show</strong> [--] (36-14-2)<br />(WWE: Smackdown)</span><br />It was on Smackdown that Big Show picked up a tidy victory over current World Heavyweight Champion, Kane! He extends his lead to a clean win over nearest Countdown rival, Kofi Kingston, giving me the task of desperately trying to think of something interesting to write about a guy who has been in the top spot since I started doing these weekly updates, <a href="http://secrethammer.blogspot.com/2010/09/wrestling-kayfabe-countdown-926.html">back in September</a>.<br /><br />If you operate on the assumption of wrestlers <em>not</em> appearing on multiple shows, then there are approximately nine more ranking opportunities left in 2010, which makes Big Show's run to the end all but assured. The question that remains -- will a World Championship shot be the feather in his 2010 cap? A win over the current champ isn't a bad argument!<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Kofi Kingston (34-21-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Rey Mysterio (28-12-3) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Randy Orton (28-17-5) (WWE) [WWE Champion]<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] AJ Styles (27-11-5) (TNA) [Television Champion]<br /><strong>#6</strong> [--] Drew McIntyre (27-27-3) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [--] Cody Rhodes (25-16-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [--] R-Truth (25-20-4) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [--] The Miz (25-29-4) (WWE) [Money in the Bank]<br /><strong>#10</strong> [--] Kane (24-15-4) [World Heavyweight Champion]<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Tyson Kidd &amp; DH Smith (16-17-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (15-15-2) (TNA)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Alex Shelley &amp; Chris Sabin (12-8-2) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (11-12-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] Drew McIntyre &amp; Cody Rhodes (9-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [+2] Brie Bella &amp; Nikki Bella (8-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [-1] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (7-2-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [-1] Big Show &amp; The Miz (7-4-1) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [--] Shannon Moore &amp; Jesse Neal (7-6-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [new] Justin Gabriel &amp; Heath Slater (6-1-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samoa_Joe" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Samoa_Joe_Bloomington_IL_062008.jpg/220px-Samoa_Joe_Bloomington_IL_062008.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight:<br />#64 Samoa Joe</strong> (10-10-2) (TNA)</span><br />He's a former TNA Heavyweight Champion, a four-time TNA X-Division Champion, a former ROH World Champion, and former ROH Pure Champion. The question of Samoa Joe's status and legacy is a forgone conclusion -- he finished 2006 and 2008 at #4 in the PWI 500, and is arguably one of the greatest wrestlers to come out of the post WCW buyout and monopoly of WWE over professional wrestling's upper ranks.<br />Of late, Joe has been in a very different position to the highs of those previous years, however. The influence of the Hogan/Bischoff regime has not been kind to a wrestler like Samoa Joe, who certainly <em>has</em> been recognised as a legitimate contender through TNA's short-lived rankings system, but has failed to reflect that in his position on the card and permeation through the company.<br /><br />Joe is currently fighting the good fight against <strong>Jeff Jarrett</strong> (#90) and members of <em><strong>Immortal</strong></em> -- a team that boasts significant talent, but questionable relevance to the betterment of Samoa Joe. It is a situation that encapsulates some of the downsides of TNA's invitation to Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff, and the retro influences they inspire. The shift has gradually veered increasingly toward the "Entertainment" monopolized by WWE, leaving behind the "Sport" that TNA had done a good job to represent during Samoa Joe's reign as top champion. I hope TNA can find a way to get back in touch with that tone, and elevate Samoa Joe with it. Despite loitering in the mid-card, the potential for Joe to rise at the end of the year seems evident, given that Immortal's most active talent is current Heavyweight Champion, <strong>Jeff Hardy</strong> (#26), with whom I'm sure Samoa Joe would have some great main event bouts! He's a fine wrestler, unique in so many ways, and worthy of acknowledgment as our spotlight superstar.<br /><br /><strong>Special Note:</strong> I wanted to acknowledge the fact that, as we reach the end of the year, the rankings are much more stable than they were before I began these weekly updates. That's a natural symptom of things levelling out. I am undecided if I will continue the Countdown into 2011. It <em>would</em> be nice to share those more active observations, though.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-2237853916904185921?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-3490581187848408962010-11-07T23:59:00.005+10:302010-11-22T21:57:17.045+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Wight" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Big_Show_Oshkosh_WI_030808.jpg/200px-Big_Show_Oshkosh_WI_030808.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#1 The Big Show</strong> [--] (35-14-2)<br />(WWE: Smackdown)</span><br />Big Show reclaims the clear lead after doing double-time during the week, with a special appearance on RAW as Pee Wee Herman's giant-sized "cousin" and protector from Show's former tag team partner, The Miz. On Smackdown, Big Show reteamed with Kofi Kingston, his nearest Kayfabe Countdown win/loss rival, once again, picking up yet another team victory since the two combined as part of Team Smackdown at <em>Bragging Rights</em>.<br /><br />Big Show's win/loss dominance reminded me of a quote from Vince McMahon which, more or less, criticized WCW's handling of the then literally named Giant, with the conviction that he would do better. That hasn't necessarily been true over the years, but in 2010, the numbers cannot be argued with! Big Show <em>is</em> a dominant giant!<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Kofi Kingston (34-20-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Rey Mysterio (28-12-3) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Randy Orton (28-16-5) (WWE) [WWE Champion]<br /><strong>#5</strong> [+3] AJ Styles (26-11-5) (TNA) [Television Champion]<br /><strong>#6</strong> [-1] Drew McIntyre (26-27-3) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [-1] Cody Rhodes (25-16-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [+1] R-Truth (25-19-4) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-2] The Miz (25-28-4) (WWE) [Money in the Bank]<br /><strong>#10</strong> [--] Kane (24-14-4) (WWE) [World Heavyweight Champion]<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Tyson Kidd &amp; DH Smith (16-16-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (15-14-2) (TNA)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Alex Shelley &amp; Chris Sabin (12-8-2) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (11-12-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] Drew McIntyre &amp; Cody Rhodes (9-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [--] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (7-2-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [--] Big Show &amp; The Miz (7-4-1) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [--] Brie Bella &amp; Nikki Bella (7-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [new] Shannon Moore &amp; Jesse Neal (7-6-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-1] Velvet Sky &amp; Madison Rayne (6-1-0) (TNA)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brock_Lesnar" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mma-fighter-resource.com/images/brock_lesnar2.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight:<br />#NR Brock Lesnar</strong><br />(0-0-0) (UFC)</span><br />Millions of viewers flooded to YouTube to watch it, and the entire wrestling and mix martial arts community spent the next week talking about it. No, it wasn't Brock Lesnar's shock loss of the UFC World Heavyweight Championship [to Cain Velasquez]! Rather, the implied challenge issued to him by former WWE rival, The Undertaker, who was present at ringside for the fight, and broke from an interview to ask a just defeated Lesnar, "<em>You wanna do it?...</em>"<br /><br />Theories have been many, most connecting Brock Lesnar to a possible WWE return at Wrestlemania, reprising his role as challenger to Undertaker's legend, this time at the Deadman's undefeated home of 'Mania. <em>Wrestling Observer</em> has offered other arrangements of events, however, which conspired to inadvertently create a buzz out of aborted plans for a <em>contrived</em> challenge. It was allegedly to be at the post-fight press conference that The Undertaker emerged to converse with Brock Lesnar, but the Observer reported that it was cancelled when Lesnar felt his presence would take away from Cain Velasquez' victory celebration. He probably wasn't in the best of moods after losing his Heavyweight Championship, either, one should imagine.<br /><br />Plans for Lesnar to add some celebrity buzz to WWE's biggest event of the year seem to be unlikely, at least in the capacity of a wrestler. Zuffa's Dana White was quick to nix the concept, reaffirming the totality of Lesnar's exclusive contract to Ultimate Fighting Championship. Then again, maybe White's in on it! Who knows? The only thing certain is that a Lesnar/Undertaker rematch would be a <em>huge</em> draw for WWE, and an exciting way to challenge the Undertaker's secure undefeated streak at the annual showcase.<br /><br /><strong>Special Note:</strong> Results include the TNA: Turning Point Pay-Per-View, where <strong>Robbie E</strong> (#116) defeated <strong>Jay Lethal</strong> (#63) to win the X-Division Championship.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-349058118784840896?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-18697948338634411992010-11-06T23:06:00.000+10:302010-11-08T22:55:07.727+10:30<img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 10px" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9a/Turning_Point_%282010%29.jpg/200px-Turning_Point_%282010%29.jpg" border="0" />Jeff Hardy defends his ill gotten World Heavyweight Championship when he meets unlikely substitute contender, Matt Morgan, in the main event. Plus -- members of Fortune, EV2.0 and Immortal duke it out for supremacy in the undercard. <p></p><p><span style="font-size:medium;"><strong>World Heavyweight Championship match<br />Matt Morgan vs Jeff Hardy (c)</strong></span><br />Given that earlier in the year he made a habit of cracking skulls between his foot and the turnbuckle post, it's somewhat surprising that Matt Morgan would emerge as a spokesman for head injury safety. Then again, maybe a man with intimate knowledge about dishing out such injuries is the perfect person to stand up for Ken Anderson, who apparently sustained an unintentional legit head wound and concussion after a Jeff Hardy chair shot.<br /><br />As shocking as it is for Jeff Hardy to be pushed into a heel spot at the top of TNA, it's turning out reasonably well. Given Hardy's ability to be a draw as a face, I don't know if the show will represent a <em>Turning Point</em> for Hardy's cash value as a heel, but his heartless promos have been something to enjoy. I'm very much looking forward to seeing the Charismatic Enigma unleash a Twist of Hate in this match, which will presumably go his way. Matt Morgan has always struck me as a decent enough satellite contender, but his abrupt insertion into the match, intriguing as it's been, is no reason to put the belt on him. Hardy retains, but I wouldn't be surprised if the straight rules of the match produce a convoluted result, with cameo appearances by members of Morgan's former Fortune partners, or perhaps Mr. Anderson himself.<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Jeff Hardy<br /><br /><strong>Pink Slip Tag Team match<br />EV2.0 vs Fortune</strong><br />As far as I can tell, the specific line-up for teams in this match hasn't been clarified. AJ Styles, Frankie Kazarian, Beer Money (Robert Roode &amp; James Storm), and Douglas Williams are the available options, with various ECW originals free to compete in a team bout. I would probably think the Fortune members are too important to discard in any fashion per the stipulation that the winning team can fire a member of the losing team, so it's safe to assume they will walk away with the victory. (Although; when does Ric Flair's contract end...?) Which means Raven(!), Sabu, Stevie Richards, Rhino, or Brian Kendrick is headed for the chopping block.<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Fortune<br /><br /><strong>Tag Team Championship match<br />Team 3D vs Motor City Machine Guns (c)</strong><br />I have mixed feelings about the way Team 3D inserted themselves into a tag title shot at the Bound for Glory PPV. Claims of an impending retirement is a little tough to believe, particularly with reports flagging their contract renewal. One almost has the sense they might spring a heel admission into one of the various factions floating around, and put one over on Machine Guns, Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin. You couldn't argue that Brother Ray and Brother Devon aren't assured a place in tag team wrestling history, but for the good of the present and future, I'd like to assume the belts stay with the Machine Guns, with a big rub coming their way. I'd like to, but I'm not sure I should...<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Alex Shelley &amp; Chris Sabin (MCMG)<br /><br /><strong>Lumberjack match<br />"The Pope" D'Angelo Dinero vs Abyss</strong><br />I don't really know what to make of this match. This seems like the dregs of the faction-oriented storytelling going on in TNA right now, which really makes me long for unrelated singles competition, the kind of sports-referencing entertainment that was going on last year when the ring still had six sides. I haven't clarified the role of the lumberjacks. It'd be nice if some of the Xplosion relegated wrestlers, like Brutus Magnus, were getting some face time in the mix. It would probably make more sense for members of Fortune, Immortal, or some other nonsense to fill the void, but whatever. How many times can one man get screwed? Good luck, Pope.<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Abyss<br /><br /><strong>Tommy Dreamer vs Rob Van Dam</strong><br />A statistical note -- RVD held only one loss to his name prior to his return after losing the TNA World Heavyweight Championship (which was stripped without another loss added to his record). He's had to do the job lately. Even so, I wouldn't expect Tommy Dreamer to get the better of him. In-fighting within the ECW ranks is probably more variety than we could rightly expect of the current faction focus. I'm not real thrilled about wrestlers like Kurt Angle going absent, however, while Tommy Dreamer occupies a spot on the card. It's wearing a bit thin. Roll on RVD's title rematch against Jeff Hardy -- a combo with more chemistry than the main event.<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Rob Van Dam<br /><br /><strong>Samoa Joe vs Jeff Jarrett</strong><br />Speaking of wrestlers in the wrong position; I'm not especially convinced by Jarrett's rising significance. Samoa Joe has been nigh irrelevant for most of the year, and I'd very much like to see him scale the ranks again as a competitive singles wrestler with an eye for the top prize. He has been perhaps the biggest victim of the increasing dismissal of the sport of wrestling. Here's hoping he picks up a much needed win against a tired opponent.<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Samoa Joe<br /><br /><strong>Mickie James vs Tara</strong><br />I've never been a big fan of Mickie James, and I'm not likely to start any time soon. That damned "hardcore country" song has been haunting my dreams at night! It would make sense to keep her hot with a win here, leading to a title match with reigning Knockouts Champion, Madison Rayne. Unfortunately, the conventional wisdom that once made TNA's womens division a feature of the company has since gone by the wayside.<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Mickie James<br /><br /><strong>X-Division Championship match<br />Robbie E vs Jay Lethal (c)</strong><br />So convincing is his Jersey Shore-inspired gimmick, and so foreign is he to me, that I didn't realise Robbie E was actually a wrestler. His challenging for the X-Division title feels like a good idea taken in the wrong direction. It's a contemporary gimmick, but it's not fitting of what should be a prized title, I believe. I hope Jay Lethal cleans the clown's clock and gets back to fighting the likes of Amazing Red -- on Pay-Per-View and US TV, instead of house shows and Xplosion.<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Jay Lethal</p><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">The Kayfabe Countdown: TNA Top Ten</span></strong><br /><em>Cumulative tally based on the win/loss records of televised matches.</em><br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> AJ Styles [--] (Television Champion)<br /><strong>#2</strong> Rob Van Dam [--]<br /><strong>#3</strong> Kurt Angle [--]<br /><strong>#4 Jeff Hardy [--] (World Heavyweight Champion)</strong><br /><strong>#5</strong> Robert Roode [+1]<br /><strong>#6</strong> James Storm [+3]<br /><strong>#7</strong> D'Angelo Dinero [+3]<br /><strong>#8</strong> Abyss [-3]<br /><strong>#9</strong> Ken Anderson [-2]<br /><strong>#10</strong> Velvet Sky [-2]<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> Robert Roode &amp; James Storm [--]<br /><strong>#2 Alex Shelley &amp; Chris Sabin [--] (Tag Team Champions)</strong><br /><strong>#3</strong> Shannon Moore &amp; Jesse Neal [+2]<br /><strong>#4</strong> Velvet Sky &amp; Madison Rayne [-1]<br /><strong>#5</strong> Hernandez &amp; Matt Morgan [-1]</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-1869794833863441199?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-2217273511307302222010-10-31T13:17:00.004+10:302010-10-31T22:17:44.533+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Wight" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Big_Show_Oshkosh_WI_030808.jpg/200px-Big_Show_Oshkosh_WI_030808.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#1 The Big Show</strong> [--] (33-14-2)<br />(WWE: Smackdown)</span><br />The only superstars with a televised thirty-plus 2010 victories; Big Show and Kofi Kingston continued their winning ways this week, picking up a tag team victory on Smackdown! The Kayfabe Countdown allies reprised their role of <em>Bragging Rights</em> Pay-Per-View partners to defeat recently dethroned tag team champions, Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes! It was a far more successful collaboration than Big Show's latest film, in which he plays a dim-witted orphan whose gentle giant status is capitalized upon when he burns down the orphanage, and is forced to earn money in mixed martial arts bouts. <em>Knucklehead</em> might be unworthy of note as the latest flop in the WWE production line, but after earning an alleged $75US during it's miniscule opening week, it could be on the fast track to cinematic infamy! WWE have traditionally relied on DVD sales to make back their film productions, but one wonders if even home movie success can save this one from the harsh light of history!<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Kofi Kingston (33-20-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Rey Mysterio (28-12-3) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Randy Orton (27-16-5) (WWE) [WWE Champion]<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] Drew McIntyre (26-26-3) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [--] Cody Rhodes (25-15-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [+1] The Miz (25-27-4) (WWE) [Money in the Bank]<br /><strong>#8</strong> [+1] AJ Styles (24-11-5) (TNA) [Television Champion]<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-2] R-Truth (24-19-4) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [--] Kane (23-14-4) (WWE) [World Heavyweight Champion]<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Tyson Kidd &amp; DH Smith (16-15-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (14-14-2) (TNA)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Alex Shelley &amp; Chris Sabin (11-8-2) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (11-11-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] Drew McIntyre &amp; Cody Rhodes (9-3-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [--] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (7-2-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [+1] Big Show &amp; The Miz (7-4-1) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [-1] Nikki Bella &amp; Brie Bella (7-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [--] Velvet Sky &amp; Madison Rayne (6-1-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [--] Curt Hawkins &amp; Vance Archer (6-4-0) (WWE)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brutus_Magnus" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 217px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 309px" height="325" alt="" src="http://www.tnastars.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/brutus-magnus-02.jpg" width="217" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight:<br />#192 Brutus Magnus<br /></strong>(0-5-0) (TNA)</span><br />If you're a member of the wrestling mainstream, you could be forgiven for assuming former-TV Gladiator turned wrestler [Brutus] Magnus was given his marching orders at Total Non-Stop Action! With a 2010 record of 0-5, Magnus' winless cellar-dweller status in the Kayfabe Countdown belies the success he's actually had after an energetic comeback in June!<br /><br />International viewers will have seen Magnus return with a new look and single-name moniker way back in June on TNA's second-tier international television programme, <strong>Xplosion</strong>. The show, made-up of recap materials and mid-card bouts booked specifically for the international broadcast, has been created with an eye for the United Kingdom, and taken full advantage of the international talent still with TNA. Magnus worked his way on Xplosion toward a Global Title match against former-British Invasion partner and Welsh bodybuilder, <strong>Rob Terry</strong> (#60), before he united with <strong>Desmond Wolfe</strong> (#94; formerly Nigel McGuinness) to form the irreverent combination of <strong>London Brawling</strong>. With a combination of smarts, style, smugness, and good old fashioned cheating, London Brawling earned their way to a Tag Team title shot at the end of July, defeating Rob Terry &amp; Hernandez and Ink Inc in an elimination tournament. Alas; their <strong>No Surrender</strong> match never eventuated after Desmond Wolfe was sidelined by a mysterious medical condition. It proved to be another truncation of Magnus' rise in TNA, one that came in spite of his signing a new longterm contract with the company in July, and developing a beret wearing gimmick as something of a ladies man. [<strong>Note:</strong> Generation Me replaced London Brawling at the No Surrender PPV, where they were defeated and began a subsequent feud with champions, The Motor City Machine Guns.]<br /><br />Fans of TNA and Xplosion will have seen Magnus return to singles action, (accompanied by Wolfe's valet, Chelsea), where he suffered a surprise defeat against show regular, <strong>Eric Young</strong> (#106). An unceremonious return for a wrestler with as much talent as he has had bad luck, but a welcome one, none the less! It is a reminder of the value of the Xplosion television hour, which is all too often overlooked by American coverage.<br /><br /><strong>Special Note:</strong> <strong>Justin Gabriel</strong> (#28) and <strong>Heath Slater</strong> (#35) were crowned WWE Tag Team Champions on this week's edition of RAW, "winning" the belts from Sunday's newly crowned champions, John Cena (#12) and David Otunga (#36). It was part of a Nexus angle.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-221727351130730222?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-1552628653007258652010-10-31T01:13:00.001+10:302011-01-12T00:38:48.819+10:30<b><a href="http://www.netherrealm.com/">Netherrealm Studios</a></b> has released a new HD gameplay trailer featuring a montage showcase of fan-favorite fighter, <b>Scorpion</b>!<br /><br />The video shows off a wide array of the ninja spectre's trademark moves, weaved effortlessly into combo attacks by <b><a href="http://www.themortalkombat.com" target="_blank">Mortal Kombat</a></b>'s new fighting engine. Amongst the bone breaking blows dealt are transitions into Tag Team attacks, X-Ray specials, and the first glimpse of Scorpion's <b>Hellfire Backflip Kick</b>, introduced originally in Deadly Alliance.<br /><br />Scorpion's entrance in the video also features chilling new dialogue, revelling in his infernal origins with a stern warning to any of the unlucky combatants appearing later in the clip. It is unclear if this is simply part of a match entrance, or perhaps a glimpse into the much touted story mode, about which we know very little.<br /><br />Find the video embedded above, or watch it on <b><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/action/mortalkombat9/video/6283242/mortal-kombat-exclusive-scorpion-trailer" target="_blank">Gamespot.com</a></b>.<br /><br /><strong>Full Article: <a href="http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1283" target="_blank">http://www.mortalkombatonline.com/content/News/read.cds?article=1283</a></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-155262865300725865?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-79990965703614127902010-10-24T21:53:00.003+10:302010-10-26T14:36:00.893+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Wight" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Big_Show_Oshkosh_WI_030808.jpg/200px-Big_Show_Oshkosh_WI_030808.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#1 The Big Show</strong> [--] (32-14-2)<br />(WWE: Smackdown)</span><br />It was a clean sweep for Team Smackdown this week as Big Show led the group to victories on RAW, Smackdown, <em>and</em> the Bragging Rights PPV this weekend. Show survived a team battle royal as well as the fourteen-man elimination tag match he captained to pick up a triple threat of victories, fighting alongside Kayfabe Countdown rival, Kofi Kingston. Big Show's reign as upper most victorious wrestler of 2010 isn't yet secured, but the former Tag Team Champion, whose movie <em>Knucklehead</em> opened in select theatres over the weekend, looks assured to be the face of WWE Smackdown since it's move to SyFy. With the Undertaker buried alive and Kane standing tall as World Heavyweight champion, one wonders if Big Show won't refocus his attention on gold in the coming months, assuming the Phenom stays down, of course...<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Kofi Kingston (32-20-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Rey Mysterio (28-11-3) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Randy Orton (27-15-5) (WWE) [WWE Champion]<br /><strong>#5</strong> [+2] Drew McIntyre (26-25-3) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [+4] Cody Rhodes (25-14-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [-2] R-Truth (24-18-4) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [-2] The Miz (24-27-4) (WWE) [Money in the Bank]<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-1] AJ Styles (23-11-5) (TNA) [Television Champion]<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-1] Kane (23-14-4) (WWE) [World Heavyweight Champion]<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Tyson Kidd &amp; DH Smith (16-15-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (14-14-2) (TNA)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Alex Shelley &amp; Chris Sabin (10-8-2) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (10-10-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] Drew McIntyre &amp; Cody Rhodes (9-2-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [+3] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (7-2-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [--] Brie Bella &amp; Nikki Bella (7-3-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [-2] Big Show &amp; The Miz (7-4-1) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-1] Velvet Sky &amp; Madison Rayne (6-1-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [--] Curt Hawkins &amp; Vance Archer (6-4-0) (WWE)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Undertaker" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d6/IYH11.jpg/200px-IYH11.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight:<br />#71 Undertaker</strong> (8-5-1) (WWE)</span><br />He's been one of the most enduring characters in WWE's modern history and it's that longevity over two decades that has many commentators and fans speculating about his pending retirement. The "Deadman" has been battling half-brother Kane through a series of matches that recall the highpoints of his flamboyant existence, bringing back the special effects and trademark match stipulations that made The Undertaker a stand-out performer during the gimmick-laden boom period of the <em>Attitude Era</em>. A welcome change of pace in today's bland product, even if it struggled to live up to the classics.<br /><br />After surviving mythological showdowns, Hell in a Cell, and the betrayal of his manager, Paul Bearer; The Undertaker succumbed to yet another indignity when he was buried alive by Kane and the members of Nexus after seemingly reigniting the flame of his otherworldly powers. Though buried, a bolt of lightning promised The Undertaker's spirit would remain with the WWE Universe for some time. It's not the first time Undertaker has lost a match of this type, afterall, with each defeat usually signifying some sort of transformative experience. The only questions that remain now are -- when will the deadman rise again, and in what form?...<br /><br /><strong>Special Note:</strong> Includes results from WWE: Bragging Rights Pay-Per-View, where <strong>John Cena</strong> (#12) and <strong>David Otunga</strong> (#34) won the Tag Team Championships in an impromptu title challenge.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-7999096570361412790?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-70780769052129940982010-10-17T18:20:00.006+10:302010-10-17T18:35:07.590+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Wight" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ac/Knucklehead_movie_poster.jpg/220px-Knucklehead_movie_poster.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#1 The Big Show</strong> [--] (29-14-2)<br />(WWE: Smackdown)</span><br />Big Show's grip on the top spot is slipping after a few well timed defeats, but his Kayfabe Countdown competition will be working with him, not against, assuming teams remain the same for the inter-brand gimmick Pay-Per-View, <em>Bragging Rights</em>. The Big Show is set to captain a team currently consisting of Countdown rival, Kofi Kingston; Rey Mysterio, Jack Swagger, Alberto del Rio, Edge, and Smackdown new face, Tyler Reks. They'll battle for bragging rights against a RAW team featuring The Miz as captain, Sheamus, R-Truth, John Morrison, Santino Marella, and CM Punk. The fourteen man tag match, (which Smackdown won last year), will feature October 24th, which is also when Show's new feature film, <em>Knucklehead</em>, opens in select theatres.<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Kofi Kingston (29-20-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Rey Mysterio (25-11-3) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Randy Orton (25-14-5) (WWE) [WWE Champion]<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] R-Truth (24-17-4) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [+1] The Miz (24-24-4) (WWE) [Money in the Bank]<br /><strong>#7</strong> [-1] Drew McIntyre (23-24-3) (WWE) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#8</strong> [+2] AJ Styles (22-11-5) (TNA) [Television Champion]<br /><strong>#9</strong> [--] Kane (22-13-4) (WWE) [World Heavyweight Champion]<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-2] Cody Rhodes (22-13-2) (WWE) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Tyson Kidd &amp; DH Smith (16-14-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (13-14-2) (TNA)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Alex Shelley &amp; Chris Sabin (10-8-2) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (10-9-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] Drew McIntyre &amp; Cody Rhodes (7-1-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#6</strong> [--] Big Show &amp; The Miz (7-4-1) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [--] Brie Bella &amp; Nikki Bella (7-3-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [--] Velvet Sky &amp; Madison Rayne (6-1-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [--] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (6-2-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [--] Curt Hawkins &amp; Vance Archer (6-4-0) (WWE)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Hardy" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9a/Turning_Point_%282010%29.jpg/200px-Turning_Point_%282010%29.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight:<br />#26 Jeff Hardy</strong> (16-8-4) (TNA)<br />[World Heavyweight Champion]</span><br />Under a cloud of controversy, Jeff Hardy emerged from last weekend's Bound for Glory triple threat match wearing his first major championship in TNA, the World Heavyweight title! The victory came as <strong>Eric Bischoff</strong>, <strong>Hulk Hogan</strong>, <strong>Jeff Jarrett</strong> and Hardy revealed themselves to be the mysterious "<em>They</em>" who had been commanding the psyche of TNA's unstable monster, Abyss. A twist of fate which included retroactive confirmation that Hardy had endorsed a brutal attack on his former ally and contemporary, <strong>Rob Van Dam</strong> (#14), and welcomed interference that secured him his first TNA title reign!<br /><br />Hardy made a name for himself as one of WWE's biggest babyfaces during the decline of the <em>Attitude Era</em>, earning the respect of fans with highflying daring in ladder matches and others of that sort. With brother Matt, he became one of the premiere tag team competitors in WWF, besting the Dudley Boyz and other top teams. Jeff eventually emerged as a singles competitor, and after a stint in TNA during the mid-2000s; Hardy returned to WWE where he received the main event push many felt he was long overdue. As a top championship holding babyface he became one of the biggest names in the industry, but chose to leave WWE in 2009 despite these incredible highs. Drug related charges soon followed, but it seems Jeff has overcome these obstacles, rising to the top of TNA as a free man, and new TNA Heavyweight Champion. The question remains: will his new heel persona take off with the fans, or have TNA squandered one of their biggest aquisitions? Time will tell.<br /><br /><strong>Special Note:</strong> After a month of speculation, <strong>Matt Hardy</strong> (#62) has officially been released from his WWE contract. In controversial Twitter remarks he has alluded to his goals to join either TNA or Ring of Honor, but is yet to be attached to either company. He will presumably be bound by a ninety day no-compete clause, which will prevent him wrestling in the U.S. for that length of time.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-7078076905212994098?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-32177657290162600532010-10-10T23:59:00.002+10:302010-10-11T15:27:50.573+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Wight" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 40px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Big_Show_Oshkosh_WI_030808.jpg/200px-Big_Show_Oshkosh_WI_030808.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#1 The Big Show</strong> [--]<br />(29-13-2) (WWE)</span><br />After suffering a handicap defeat against the combined might of The Nexus during Smackdown's live return to SyFy; Big Show has now been announced as the leader of Team Smackdown going in to the inter-brand competitive Pay-Per-View, <em>Bragging Rights</em>.<br />The Nexus typically reside on RAW, but have operated as a rogue element, happy to decimate superstars from both brands at any given opportunity. How they will factor into the show, or the fourteen-man tag match Big Show will captain in, remains to be seen. Also remaining to be seen is the new WWE produced film, <em><a href="http://www.knuckleheadthemovie.com/" target="_blank">Knucklehead</a></em>. Starring Big Show, it hits theatres in limited release on the 23rd and 24th, and can be ordered on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003YGC7QM?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=secwaroninfea-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B003YGC7QM" target="_blank">Blu-Ray</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003YGC7JY?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=secwaroninfea-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B003YGC7JY" target="_blank">DVD</a>. Big Show stars alongside Denis Farina and others as a gentle giant who burns down his orphanage, in what looks to be a formulaic comedy that takes advantage of the growing MMA scene. <em>Fair enough</em>.<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Kofi Kingston (28-20-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [+1] Rey Mysterio (24-11-3) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [-1] Randy Orton (24-14-5) (WWE) [WWE Champion]<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] R-Truth (23-17-4) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [+2] Drew McIntyre (23-23-3) (WWE) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#7</strong> [-1] The Miz (23-24-4) (WWE) [Money in the Bank]<br /><strong>#8</strong> [+2] Cody Rhodes (22-12-2) (WWE) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-2] Kane (22-13-4) (WWE) [World Heayweight Champion]<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-1] AJ Styles (21-11-5) (TNA) [Television Champion]<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Tyson Kidd &amp; DH Smith (16-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (12-14-2) (TNA)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [+1] Alex Shelley &amp; Chris Sabin (10-8-2) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#4</strong> [-1] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (10-9-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [+1] Drew McIntyre &amp; Cody Rhodes (7-1-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#6</strong> [-1] Big Show &amp; The Miz (7-4-1) (WWE)<br /><strong>#7</strong> [+2] Brie Bella &amp; Nikki Bella (7-3-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [-1] Velvet Sky &amp; Madison Rayne (6-1-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [-1] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (6-2-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [--] Curt Hawkins &amp; Vance Archer (6-4-0) (WWE)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Angle" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 40px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/eb/Victory_Road_%282010%29.jpg/200px-Victory_Road_%282010%29.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight:<br />#23 Kurt Angle</strong> (16-7-3) (TNA)</span><br />Despite only debuting for WWF in 1999, Kurt Angle is one of the most storied and acclaimed superstars professional wrestling has ever seen. His Grecco-Roman grappling style complimented a pro wrestling adaptation without impediment, culminating in a rise of intensity throughout 2002 that made him, I believe, the prototype for the ultimate wrestler. Alongside the likes of Brock Lesnar, Eddie Guerrero, and Chris Benoit, he was at the forefront of a changing design in mainstream professional wrestling that has not been rivalled since. In 2006; Angle's departure from WWE and subsequent signing with TNA was a massive shock, and boosted TNA's in-ring credentials while WWE veered away from the match quality that had made Kurt Angle the highest paid asset in the business.<br /><br />Kurt Angle is now following in the footsteps of various other wrestling contemporaries, hoping to emulate the success of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson by entering the world of film. He has just renewed his contract with TNA, but is expected to appear in a slate of six films in 2011, including Warrior, in which he plays an MMA champion. On that note, it was on this week's episode of the <em>Right After Wrestling</em> radio show that Angle revealed he took and passed the UFC entrance test. Despite having accomplished so much, it seems Kurt Angle still has plenty of ambition left, with the vague potential for an MMA transition in the future. He was unlucky in the Bound for Glory triple threat championship match, where Jeff Hardy broke the deadlock of their first two epic encounters by joining up with the sinister forces of upper management. Angle promised he'd retire if he lost the match, but under the circumstances, which included Ken Anderson being pinned, I'd think Kurt will fight on!<br /><br /><strong>Special Note:</strong> This week's Countdown includes results from the <strong>TNA: Bound for Glory</strong> Pay-Per-View where Tara (#56) and Jeff Hardy (#24) captured the Knockouts and World Heavyweight Championship belts. WWE: NXT no longer contributes.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events. Dedicated to the memory of T. Haseloff (1991-2009): the best there is, best there was, and best there ever will be.<br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-3217765729016260053?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-75933869777612150142010-10-09T12:35:00.003+10:302010-10-11T15:27:50.581+10:30<p><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 10px" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b2/Bound_for_Glory_%282010%29.jpg/200px-Bound_for_Glory_%282010%29.jpg" border="0" />It's the biggest show on the TNA calendar behind their annual Slammiversary, and 10/10/10 has been promising big things! The vacant World Heavyweight Championship will finally be decided, while former-champ RVD gets payback, and a lethal lockdown cage sorts the extreme from the fortunate!</p><p><strong><span style="font-size:medium;">Triple Threat World Heavyweight Championship match<br />Mr. Anderson vs Kurt Angle vs Jeff Hardy</span></strong><br />I can't help but feel this match is in the middle of two better situations. With RVD on the card elsewhere, there's a big part of me that wishes this could've been evened out to a four-way to keep the title from being officially <em>stripped</em>. It's an ugly and unnecessary decision that will marr the records, an RVD loss would be superior. At the same time, on the flipside, I can't help but feel a one-on-one bout between Angle and Hardy was a much purer attraction, even if a potentially sticky affair given Kurt Angle's on-going claim that a loss will end his career.<br /><br />I'm not an Anderson fan and I simply cannot entertain the notion of his winning the top gold. Angle already has the most reigns as champ in the post-NWA title era, with three officially recognised reigns, one of those a combined two-fer. He can't lose, but winning asks a lot, so I would expect one of the others to pin the other, avoiding Angle's early retirement whilst naming a new champ. It seemed, for a while, Jeff Hardy's legal issues would keep him out of that predicament, but with the situation resolving itself and the next PPV poster boasting a solo shot of the big draw, I'm gonna put my chips down on Hardy's title win. I'm just not convinced by Anderson's credentials, even if that makes him the least predictable outcome. Hardy could enter a rematch program with RVD, which would probably be fun. Although, on that same note, the attraction of Hardy/Angle due to their never having fought probably rolls on to Angle/RVD, too. Fingers crossed there's no wacky swerve to delay a champ being named.<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Jeff Hardy</p><p><strong>Monster's Ball match<br />Rob Van Dam vs Abyss</strong><br />As already mentioned, I think it's a real shame to have RVD fit to fight on this card, while his title goes on the line in another match. Aftermath from being brutalized by Abyss' nail encrusted 2X4 would presumably give him a weakened out, but an unconvincing defense is better than no defense at all! That aftermath will <em>presumably</em> play a role in a match that's got the weight of other storylines on it, namely Abyss' mounting feud with Dixie Carter and the mysterious influence of 'them.' RVD's only had one loss from his nineteen televised matches, but I would think the smartest option here is to convert his weakness to an easily justified loss. That's not necessarily what will happen, particularly with those hardcore stips (which are billed as an Abyss trademark, but hand the perfect out to beat a monster). Maybe RVD gets the assist from his ECW buddies?<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Abyss</p><p><strong>Ten Man Lethal Lockdown match<br />Fourtune (AJ Styles, Kazarian, Matt Morgan, Robert Roode, James Storm) vs<br />EV 2.0 (Tommy Dreamer, Raven, Rhino, Sabu, Stevie Richards)</strong><br />It was easy to criticize the early Hogan/Bischoff decision to turn AJ Styles heel with a Nature Boy Jr gimmick. It seemed tired and part of a sweeping disregard for what TNA Had done under old management. The irony is that [Ric] Flair's team has grown to effectively represent the pure TNA Originals! With that fact in mind, I'm never quite sure who to cheer here. Quantity service for the big show. EV 2.0 haven't had a lot of luck in their clashes with TNA stalwarts, but then, isn't that spirit of the loser underdog what ECW was all about? I don't know where they intend to go with EV 2.0, and in the absence of a swerve, they might as well just aim to hurt someone.<br /><strong>Preiction:</strong> Team Fourtune</p><p><strong>X-Division Championship match<br />Douglas Williams vs Jay Lethal (c)</strong><br />Wacky antics during the month as Jay Lethal dropped the X-title for a couple of nights to Amazing Red via a hometown house show. Didn't do a lot of favours to the belt. Would be a real misstep to drop the belt off Lethal again so quickly. Douglas Williams was an awesome champ, but the best case scenario here is a high quality job, for the good of the strap.<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Jay Lethal</p><p><strong>Tag Team Championship match<br />Generation Me vs Motor City Machine Guns (c)</strong><br />Having the wholesome second-coming of the Hardy Boyz turn heel at such an early stage in their TNA rise really surprised me, but it clearly hasn't hurt their trajectory. The clean living Young Bucks (Max and Jeremy; GenMe) are more seasoned than they look, and with silky smooth tag team high flying, have all the chutzpah to make it work down the line when they've put some more yards in, I think. With the vacated belt up for grabs in the main event, I'd hate to see an arbitrary title change. Keep the Bucks in the hunt, but let Sabin and Shelley continue to wear the belts proudly.<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Motor City Machine Guns</p><p><strong>Tag Team Handicap match<br />Sting, Kevin Nash &amp; D'Angelo Dinero vs Jeff Jarrett &amp; Samoa Joe</strong><br />Despite a couple of false starts, Samoa Joe continues to loiter in the mid-card. The on-going feud between Jarrett and Nash/Sting runs the risk of getting real tired, but a recent interview spotlight of opposing views gave the Nash side of things a great short in the arm. To borrow the metaphor, one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. I like the philosophy behind the battle, but it seems a shame to drag Joe and The Pope into the battle. BFG isn't quite Wrestlemania, so I'd be willing to give the bad guys better than even odds.<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Sting, Kevin Nash &amp; The Pope</p><p><strong>Four Corners Knockouts Championship match<br />Velvet Sky vs Madison Rayne vs Tara vs Angelina Love (c)</strong><br />The Beautiful People have a stranglehold on the women's slot, it seems, as the likes of Sarita, and the Knockouts Tag champs (Taylor Wilde &amp; Hamada), remain off the big card. A change would do them good, but this should at least be an acceptable showdown. Not sure where they're going.<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Angelina Love</p><p><strong>Tag Team match<br />Eric Young &amp; Orlando Jordan vs Ink Inc.</strong><br />On paper, I'm not sure it should work, but Eric Young's wackiness and Jordan's... tackiness have a weird way of gelling. Internatioinal audiences will be a lot more familiar with what's going down here, which is something I appreciate. TNA critics and so-called experts should make an effort to be informed. Presumably there'll be a tag opening, particularly with London Brawling still missing in action (despite a Desmond Wolfe appearance on Xplosion). I'd like to see Neal/Moore get the shot, but you never know, and neither does Eric Young.<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Shannon Moore &amp; Jesse Neal (Ink Inc)</p><p><strong><span style="font-size:medium;">The Kayfabe Countdown: TNA Top Ten</span></strong><br /><em>Cumulative tally based on the win/loss records of televised matches.</em><br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> AJ Styles [+1] (Television Champion)<br /><strong>#2</strong> Rob Van Dam [-1]<br /><strong>#3</strong> Kurt Angle [+1]<br /><strong>#4</strong> Jeff Hardy [+1]<br /><strong>#5</strong> Abyss [-2]<br /><strong>#6</strong> Robert Roode [--]<br /><strong>#7</strong> Ken Anderson [RE]<br /><strong>#8</strong> Velvet Sky [-1]<br /><strong>#9</strong> James Storm [-1]<br /><strong>#10</strong> "The Pope" D'Angelo Dinero [RE]<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> Robert Roode &amp; James Storm [--]<br /><strong>#2 Alex Shelley &amp; Chris Sabin [--] (Tag Team Champions)</strong><br /><strong>#3</strong> Velvet Sky &amp; Madison Rayne [--]<br /><strong>#4</strong> Hernandez &amp; Matt Morgan [--]<br /><strong>#5</strong> Shannon Moore &amp; Jesse Neal [--]</p><p><strong>Originally posted: <a href="http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9059833" target="_blank">http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9059833</a></strong></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-7593386977761215014?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-53857695663203328932010-10-03T23:59:00.005+10:302010-10-11T15:27:50.601+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Wight" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 40px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Big_Show_Oshkosh_WI_030808.jpg/200px-Big_Show_Oshkosh_WI_030808.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#1 The Big Show</strong> [--]<br />(29-13-2) (WWE)</span><br />Big Show got the weekend off while fellow big-men, Undertaker and Kane, were featured at the Hell in a Cell PPV event. He was present for Smackdown's debut live broadcast on SyFy this week, however, where he suffered defeat at the hands of RAW's rookie quintet, The Nexus. One wonders if this might be pointing toward the October 24 Bragging Rights show, which will pit wrestlers from the two brands against each other. In the past few months, The Nexus has taken the opportunity to spoil various Smackdown events on PPV, including IC bouts involving Dolph Ziggler and Kofi Kingston. Ziggler was on the receiving end of a similar attack, along with MVP, on Smackdown. Might an alliance led by the Big Show be building? We shall see!...<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Kofi Kingston (28-19-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [+2] Randy Orton (24-14-5) (WWE) [WWE Champion]<br /><strong>#4</strong> [-1] Rey Mysterio (23-11-3) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> [-1] R-Truth (23-16-4) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [--] The Miz (23-23-4) (WWE) [Money in the Bank]<br /><strong>#7</strong> [+1] Kane (22-13-4) (WWE) [World Heavyweight Champion]<br /><strong>#8</strong> [+1] Drew McIntyre (22-23-2) (WWE) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#9</strong> [+1] AJ Styles (21-9-5) (TNA) [Television Champion]<br /><strong>#10</strong> [new] Cody Rhodes (21-12-2) (WWE) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> [--] Tyson Kidd &amp; DH Smith (16-13-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#2</strong> [--] Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (12-13-2) (TNA)<br /><strong>#3</strong> [--] Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (10-8-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> [--] Alex Shelley &amp; Chris Sabin (9-8-2) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#5</strong> [--] Big Show &amp; The Miz (7-4-1) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> [+3] Drew McIntyre &amp; Cody Rhodes (6-1-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#7</strong> [-1] Velvet Sky &amp; Madison Rayne (6-1-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#8</strong> [-1] Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (6-2-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> [RE] Brie Bella &amp; Nikki Bella (6-3-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#10</strong> [-2] Curt Hawkins &amp; Vance Archer (6-4-0) (WWE)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_(wrestler)" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Cage_en_la_TNA.jpg/225px-Cage_en_la_TNA.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight:<br />#13 Christian</strong> (20-20-1) (WWE)</span><br />2010 was shaping up to be a good year for Christian! He started it with gold as reigning ECW Champion, and enjoyed a string of successful defenses of the strap before ECW was dissolved in February, and the title was won by Ezekiel Jackson on the final show. He subsequently appeared on RAW by default, later traded to Smackdown, where he remained an active component in the Intercontinental Championship race as one of the bigger names on the depleted post-draft show. His success rate earlier in the year saw him remain at the top of the Kayfabe Countdown for several months, with a win/loss percentage that went unrivalled until the middle of the year, after a string of defeats in big game matches.<br /><br />Most recently, he was set to begin a feud with hotshot recruit, <strong>Alberto del Rio</strong> (#110), better known as Mexican legacy luchador, Dos Caras Jr. So esteemed is Del Rio that he claimed Rey Mysterio as his first scalp, with Christian set to develop as his first feuding buddy. Alas; a torn pectoral muscle has put Christian on the sidelines and forced Mysterio back from the injury bench prematurely.<br /><br />Christian has long been identified as one of the unsung heroes of the WWE brand, described in hyperbole as a talent with the wrong face for Vince McMahon's vision of TV wrestling. It was arguably his tenure in TNA that truly canonized his status, thanks to two reigns as then-NWA World Heavyweight Champion! Personally, I enjoyed the platform his character was given in a time when TNA had a better eye for the sports side of modern mainstream wrestling, aka; "sports entertainment".<br /><br /><strong>Special Note:</strong> As of the September 28 episode of <strong>WWE NXT</strong>, the show will no longer air in the United States, reverting to an online only programme. For the time being, this will disqualify future NXT results from being included in the Kayfabe Countdown. This week's Countdown includes results from the <strong>WWE: Hell in a Cell</strong> Pay-Per-View.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: NXT, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events. Shout out to Kron!</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-5385769566320332893?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-20898329158510679042010-10-02T18:00:00.000+09:302010-10-02T18:50:43.615+09:30<p><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 10px" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b4/Hell_in_a_Cell_%282010%29.jpg/200px-Hell_in_a_Cell_%282010%29.jpg" border="0" />Dedication to concept events introduced a year ago is leading WWE down a mediocre path, compounded by a short two week gap between now and the last PPV event. The demands of the Hell in a Cell matches look to only afford a short five-match card, with very little room for the majesty the variant cage match once held.</p><p><strong><span style="font-size:medium;">Hell in a Cell World Heavyweight Championship match<br />The Undertaker vs Kane (c)</span></strong><br />This unsurprising rematch comes loaded with the Smackdown return of Paul Bearer, and the restoration of The Undertaker's legendary mystic powers. Some critics have scoffed the heavy fiction of the feud, but personally, I am refreshed by this return to characters and big gimmicks. That said, in revisiting tapes of their legendary encounters through '97 and '98, I'm reminded how much more compelling this was the first time around, when the entire promotion supported big, fictionalized <em>characters</em> engaged in larger storylines than today's equivalents.<br /><br />A legitimate one-on-one encounter in the Hell in a Cell is the one match we never really saw Kane and Undertaker go at it in. In that respect, it has something fresh going for it. How they will make use of the structure, which was made famous early with dangerous bumps performed by Shawn Michaels and Mick "Mankind" Foley, is a bit of a mystery to me, though. Undertaker's resilience as a performer never ceases to amaze, but it's difficult to imagine either seven footer going for the high spots their dimensional, younger counterparts did. HIAC matches have proven there are plenty of methods to go about this business, such as the legendary 2002 No Mercy encounter between the Undertaker and Brock Lesnar. If WWE can lighten their stance on blood, that might be the brand of match that sells the significance and threatening nature of this special event. Bonus points if they can scar up Kane, who's lacked the awe of his earlier masked incarnations for a long time now.<br /><br />Theories abound say this won't be the last stop for the reunion feud. Rumors of an upcoming Buried Alive match set the stage for significant escalation, while the prospect of a Kane streak leading to Wrestlemania puts a twist on always anticipated preparations for Undertaker's legendary undefeated run at the big show. If it means the return of the classic 'Taker gimmicks, I say the more the merrier!<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Undertaker</p><p><strong>Hell in a Cell WWE Championship match<br />Sheamus vs Randy Orton (c)</strong><br />As of last year, Undertaker actually had one less victory and two more defeats in the Cell than Triple H. The numbers might not back it up, but I still think of the match as an Undertaker trademark, due in no small part to the depth of his feuds that led to these matches. The HIAC gimmick has appeared at least once a year since it's 1997 introduction, but until last year, it hadn't been a pre-announced fixture of any show. By staging multiple Cell matches in a single night, with the primary motivation being a calendar set agreement, I feel it strips the match of it's majesty and integrity. Case in point, the barren lead-up to Sheamus' rematch against Randy Orton. Orton picked up the belt last month in a six-pack elimination and I wouldn't expect them to go back on it that quickly. The only way the bout will redeem itself is if the younger, more able athletes are able to do something in the Cell we haven't seen in a while.<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Randy Orton</p><p><strong>Nexus Membership or Disbanding match<br />John Cena vs Wade Barrett</strong><br />If Cena wins, Nexus must disband. If Barrett wins, the posterboy of the PG-era must be their slave.<br />It's not a bad build-up for a mid-card bout, but with Barrett still wrestling a little underdone, and the adventures of Cena always a little bland, this isn't exciting me. Ironically, with the menace of the four other members of The Nexus, you would think this match at least had a bigger reason to be caged off by a Cell, but it's not to be. I can only hope that's to keep the deck stacked against Cena, who will no doubt spend the next month looking for an out if he is absorbed into the rookie group.<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Wade Barrett</p><p><strong>Triple Threat Submission Falls Count Anywhere US Championship match<br />The Miz vs John Morrison vs Daniel Bryan (c)</strong><br />Convoluted doesn't begin to explain this awkward match! While it's nice to see him get a guernsey, the most unnecessary aspect of the match might be Morrison, whose heat with former-partner The Miz is a distant memory. I'd rather see an honest one-on-one between the competent mat work of the US champ and his feuding buddy and former-champ, Miz. Adding the "anywhere" stipulation has the bonus of guaranteeing a finish with nowhere to run, but given that a submission match is usually no DQ, it makes me long for the days when they had a little garbage <em>hardcore</em> on the card. The rules and double-face of Morrison/Bryan seems to suggest a heel win, but it would be a mistake to take the belt from Bryan a month after his win.<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Daniel Bryan</p><p><strong>WWE Unified Divas Championship match<br />Natalya Neidhart vs Michelle McCool (c)</strong><br />I didn't catch how the belt transferred from Layla to McCool. It's neat to see Neidhart finally breaking away from valet/tag duty with the Hart Dynasty, who've been unfortunately sacrificed for the sake of an unimpressive makeshift pairing (McIntyre/Rhodes). I don't know how graceful the bout will be, but at least it's something new. Hopefully at least one other match surprises on the show.<br /><strong>Prediction:</strong> Michelle McCool</p><p><strong><span style="font-size:medium;">The Kayfabe Countdown: WWE Top Ten</span></strong><br /><em>Cumulative tally based on the win/loss records of televised matches.</em><br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> The Big Show [--]<br /><strong>#2</strong> Kofi Kingston [--]<br /><strong>#3</strong> Rey Mysterio [--]<br /><strong>#4 Randy Orton (WWE Champion)</strong> [+2]<br /><strong>#5</strong> R-Truth [-1]<br /><strong>#6</strong> The Miz [-1]<br /><strong>#7</strong> Drew McIntyre (Tag Team Champion) [new]<br /><strong>#8</strong> Cody Rhodes (Tag Team Champion) [new]<br /><strong>#9 Kane (World Heavyweight Champion)</strong> [--]<br /><strong>#10</strong> Michelle McCool (Divas Champion) [-3]<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> Tyson Kidd &amp; DH Smith [--]<br /><strong>#2</strong> Layla &amp; Michelle McCool [--]<br /><strong>#3</strong> Big Show &amp; The Miz [--]<br /><strong>#4 Drew McIntyre &amp; Cody Rhodes (Tag Team Champions)</strong> [new]<br /><strong>#5</strong> Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov [-1]<br /><br /><strong>Originally posted: <a href="http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9058662" target="_blank">http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9058662</a></strong></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-2089832915851067904?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-89544921297488471472010-09-30T15:46:00.003+09:302010-09-30T15:49:18.887+09:30<img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 5px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tYiCGgNLJ8c/S-io_NwTukI/AAAAAAAAIvk/C_6Zxi3y0NA/s400/issue0297.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong>BATWOMAN versus ALICE</strong></span><br /><strong>Elegy Part 2: Misterioso (DC)<br />Where:</strong> Detective Comics #855 <strong>When:</strong> September 2009 <strong>Why:</strong> Greg Rucka <strong>How:</strong> JH Williams III<br /><br /><strong>The Story So Far...</strong><br />Inspired by an encounter with the Batman, Kate Kane joins the Gotham City masked vigilante fraternity as Batwoman! Adventuring alongside her lover and ally, The Question, she becomes embroiled in a conspiracy involved Intergang and a mysterious text called the Book of Crime.<br /><br />The Question soon uncovers a disturbing prophecy that declares the "twice named daughter of Kane" will suffer a brutal end. An end she only narrowly escaped, having to survive mortal wounds inflicted during a sacrificial ceremony under Intergang's leader, Bruno Mannheim. Recovered; Batwoman returns to Gotham's streets and rooftops to pursue the thirteen covens of the Religion of Crime. An act that brings her into conflict with the newest leader of the criminal zealots - Alice!<br /><br /><strong>Full Article: <a href="http://secretearths.blogspot.com/2009/07/batwoman-versus-alice-elegy-part-2.html">http://secretearths.blogspot.com/2009/07/batwoman-versus-alice-elegy-part-2.html</a></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-8954492129748847147?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-39813455273523524802010-09-27T11:49:00.003+09:302010-09-27T16:52:55.082+09:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mask" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/13/Msktpb.jpg/250px-Msktpb.jpg" border="0" /></a>In 1994, a CGI effects extravaganza hit the big screen, and for it's time, <strong>The Mask</strong> was a pretty decent action-comedy. The movie introduced the world to Cameron Diaz, <em>Cuban Pete</em>, and delighted families with the cartoon antics of Jim Carrey's mystically empowered Stanley Ipkiss. Little did those families know, they were inviting into their hearts a homocidal world of murder, mayhem, and crime-fiction.<br /><br />The PG persuasions of the film fall away pretty quickly in the comic book original published by <a href="http://www.darkhorse.com/" target="_blank">Dark Horse Comics</a>. Conceptually envisioned by publisher, Mark Richardson, and brought to life by the crack team of <strong>John Arcudi</strong> and <strong>Doug Mahnke</strong>; "Big Head" first appeared serialized in the pages of the appropriately titled athology series, <em>Mayhem</em> (1989), before assaulting four issues of his own mini-series in 1991 in, <em>The Mask</em>.<br /><br />More <em>Joker</em> than <em>Tex Avery</em>; the comic book Mask has all the mania and hilarity of the film, channelled through the meanstreak you'd expect of an id-empowering magic in the modern world. It possesses a hard edge easily associated with the grim 'n' gritty trends of the eighties, but the first volume Omnibus from Dark Horse also packs <em>The Mask Returns</em> and <em>The Mask Strikes Back</em> into it's 300-plus pages, with a continuous saga that ends with a more bombastic flavour akin to the nineties. Stylistically and visually, it's certainly a book that reminds us they don't make 'em like they used to, particularly if you're conscientious of the fact that there were breaks between issues and mini-series. No mollycoddling in those days!<br /><br />A bastardly Stanley Ipkiss doesn't get too far past the first fifty pages, but by then, you should be clicked into this blood-spattered four-colour world that his antique store mask has opened up, enough to not care about the movie. Don't mind the spoiler, either! The original is as much about the human condition as it is the insane action, and over-the-top crime drama that unfolds as a result. The attitude of the early work, in particular, possesses the kind of colourfully callous self-interest that suggests both youth in the now seasoned writer/artist combo, as well as arrogantly simpler times of the Reagan era.<br /><br />Top cop, <strong>Lt. Kellaway</strong>, remains a constant throughout the entire span of the Omnibus, with the delightfully ludicrous <strong>Walter</strong> adding a touch of <em>Dick Tracy</em> to the backdrop of mafiosos. In comics right now, it's fashionable to laud strong female characters. <strong>Kathy</strong> -- Ipkiss' jilting girlfriend -- adds dimension to a blonde co-conspirator that the Diaz film character lacked. In fact, Kathy gets her hands dirty throughout <em>Returns</em>, as both vixen, <em>and</em> '<em>SUPER-HERO!!!</em>'<br /><br /><span style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px" alt=""><iframe style="WIDTH: 120px; HEIGHT: 240px" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=secwaroninfea-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=1593079273&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></span>I've always been a bit of a grouch when it comes to collected trades. I'm a monthly floppy comic reader and that's the artform and format I appreciated. Yet, when financial times are tough, or for works that are difficult to acquire naturally, I'm happy to make exceptions. Of the exceptions I've made recently, <strong>The Mask Omnibus Vol. 1</strong> has been one of my favourite!<br /><br />It's a fantastic shot of nostalgia, but with a dynamism that justifies it unto itself. The staggered serial nature of the material lends a delicious tone of stream-of-consciousness style writing that appeals greatly to <em>my</em> sensibilities, and is a rarity of modern comics. I strongly recommend checking out the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1593079273/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link" target="_blank">preview available on Amazon.com</a>, and if you're so inclined, using the purchase link provided stage-left [<em>your right</em>]!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-3981345527352352480?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-74222807871213860892010-09-26T14:34:00.006+09:302010-10-03T21:39:03.072+10:30<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Wight" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Big_Show_Oshkosh_WI_030808.jpg/200px-Big_Show_Oshkosh_WI_030808.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>#1 The Big Show</strong> (29-12-2) (WWE)</span><br />As Smackdown makes the move to SyFy, Big Show is among the headlining talents WWE will push to garner audience interest. This has been reflected by a string of victories over former top-champ CM Punk, which culminated last week in a odd-one-out match at the Pay-Per-View, WWE: Night of Champions. His success will no doubt continue as he carries the load of the mid-card, beneath the efforts of Kane and Undertaker, who seem unlikely to end the year at that position. A title shot might be in the future?...<br /><br /><strong>#2</strong> Kofi Kingston (27-19-2) (WWE)<br /><strong>#3</strong> Rey Mysterio (23-11-3) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> R-Truth (23-16-4) (WWE)<br /><strong>#5</strong> Randy Orton (22-14-4) (WWE) [WWE Champion]<br /><strong>#6</strong> The Miz (22-22-4) (WWE) [Money in the Bank]<br /><strong>#7</strong> Michelle McCool (21-12-0) (WWE) [Womens Champion]<br /><strong>#8</strong> Kane (21-13-3) (WWE) [World Heavyweight Champion]<br /><strong>#9</strong> Drew McIntyre (21-22-3) (WWE) [Tag Team Champion]<br /><strong>#10</strong> AJ Styles (20-9-5) (TNA) [TV Champion]<br /><br /><strong>#1</strong> Tyson Kidd &amp; DH Smith (16-12-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#2</strong> Robert Roode &amp; James Storm (12-12-2) (TNA)<br /><strong>#3</strong> Layla &amp; Michelle McCool (10-7-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#4</strong> Alex Shelley &amp; Chris Sabin (9-8-2) (TNA) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#5</strong> Big Show &amp; The Miz (7-4-1) (WWE)<br /><strong>#6</strong> Velvet Sky &amp; Madison Rayne (6-1-0) (TNA)<br /><strong>#7</strong> Santino Marella &amp; Vladimir Kozlov (6-2-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#8</strong> Curt Hawkins &amp; Vance Archer (6-4-0) (WWE)<br /><strong>#9</strong> Drew McIntyre &amp; Cody Rhodes (5-0-0) (WWE) [Tag Team Champions]<br /><strong>#10</strong> Hernandez &amp; Matt Morgan (5-2-1) (TNA)<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Batista" target="_blank"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Batista-SD-houseshow.jpg/200px-Batista-SD-houseshow.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Superstar Spotlight:<br />#102 Batista</strong> (4-11-6) (<em>Not Signed</em>)</span><br />With a WWE championship reign under his belt before he departed, you couldn't say the win/loss record of Dave Batista is in any way an accurate measure of his success. Before leaving to pursue other endeavours (such as acting, apparently), "The Animal" set about offending the sensibilities of every man, woman and child in the arena, by turning his nose up and walking away from competition. It was part of a persona that made him Smackdown's uber-heel, leading to a shady deal that ended John Cena's title reign at <em>Elimination Chamber</em> after mere minutes, when Mr. McMahon granted Batista a title shot straight after the titular match. It was his count out defeats and silent disdain for the audience that really elevated his final months to the plane of art, though.<br /><br />It's been a bit of a game, since his May exit, to see how long Batista could remain in the top 100. The fall finally came at the end of last week, when Bryan Danielson captured his fifth WWE win and the US title belt at <em>Night of Champions</em>. Surpassed by Taylor Wilde after her successful tag title defense on Impact this week; it seems Batista is destined to tumble ever downward.<br /><br /><strong>Special Note:</strong> Reports have revealed that <strong>Amazing Red</strong> (#116) has defeated <strong>Jay Lethal</strong> (#58) at a House Show on the 23rd to claim the TNA X-Division championship. The Kayfabe Countdown only acknowledges televised win/loss records, but <em>will</em> note the surprise belt change. <strong>Additional:</strong> Reports from a 25th House Show claim Jay regained the X-Division title! The match may be incorporated into the next Impact.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records, based on televised matches from <strong>WWE</strong> and <strong>TNA</strong> 2010 broadcasts. At present, they includes TNA: Impact!, WWE: RAW, WWE: NXT, WWE: Superstars, WWE: Smackdown, and monthly Pay-Per-View events.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/28188647-7422280787121386089?l=secrethammer.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Mike Haseloffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13245812535350962900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28188647.post-89536484917408280832010-09-25T22:15:00.008+09:302010-09-25T22:55:28.989+09:30<center><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nBkB0Qkoefw?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nBkB0Qkoefw?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center><br /><strong>Chromeo - Night by Night</strong> (Live on The Late Show/2010)<br /><br />New music that <em>really</em> grabs me is so rare these days, I tend to become somewhat obsessed by any track that tickles my fancy. Such has been the case since seeing Montreal based electrofunk double-act, <strong>Chromeo</strong>, who appeared recently on <em>The Late Show with David Letterman</em> performing their single, <strong>Night by Night</strong>. The eighties-infused track comes from their new album, <em>Business Casual</em>, and is my first really conscious introduction to them.<br /><br />One of my largest quibbles with the pop music scene right now is it's insincere and shallow plundering of the pop eighties. The machine of the music industry has never felt colder in it's soulless appropriation of the past, despite the fact that we're on the other-end of nineties boy bands, and that it was the eighties that gave us this manufcatured pop in the first place.<br /><br />In the nineties, I actually dared to miss the synth sound of the decade before, regularly wondering why it hadn't been kept alive adjacent to the movements relevant t