Wrestling: The Kayfabe Countdown - 04/28

#1 Sheamus [--] (22-9-1)
It was another week of recycling on WWE programming, this time on Main Event! Mark Henry took three wins from four matches in a big man spotlight similar to a Big Show feature, Feb. 20. Show didn't need it, this week, getting the better of Sheamus in The United Kingdom. The Undertaker was a surprise mainstay for the UK tour, duking it out with The Shield in varied iterations that ultimately put the three-man group over strong.

#2 [--] Randy Orton (22-10-1)
#3 [--] Alberto Del Rio (21-4-1)
#4 [+3] Mark Henry (18-4-0)
#5 [-1] Kane (17-10-0) [Tag Team Champion]
#6 [-1] Bryan Danielson (17-11-0) [Tag Team Champion]
#7 [-1] Jack Swagger (16-3-1)
#8 [--] Ryback (14-5-0)
#9 [--] Big Show (14-12-1)
#10 [--] Wade Barrett (13-14-1) [Intercontinental Champion]

#1 [--] Kane & Bryan Danielson (12-4-0) [Tag Team Champions]
#2 [--] Sheamus & Randy Orton (9-2-0)
#3 [--] Dean Ambrose & Roman Reigns (6-0-0)
#4 [--] Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins (6-0-0)
#5 [--] Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins (6-0-0)
#6 [--] Brodus Clay & Tensai (5-2-1)
#7 [--] Cody Rhodes & Damien Sandow (4-6-1)
#8 [--] Sheamus & Big Show (3-1-0)
#9 [--] Randy Orton & Big Show (3-1-0)
#10 [--] Brie Bella & Nikki Bella (3-1-0)

Superstar Spotlight:
#18 Dean Ambrose (6-1-0)
While the team record for The Shield remains unblemished, Dean Ambrose has the distinction of taking his first loss for 2013. The honor of facing The Undertaker was bestowed upon The Shield's leader on this week's Smackdown, where he was pretty much out classed by a superior opponent. That might not sound like a great endorsement for Ambrose, but to my mind, it is the best result possible.

Regardless of The Undertaker's physical condition, he remains a character of awesome wrestling talent, skill and tradition. Nothing is so obviously wrong with Undertaker that he could have lost to Ambrose without it ringing completely false.  Dubious victories don't do talent any favours. Being in the match was special enough. There was a tone of mismatched styles and physiques that I kinda liked. It reminds me a little of Undertaker/Ken Shamrock -- another style clash that seems wrong on paper, but was intriguing. Having The Shield take "The Phenom" out in a post-match 3-on-1 assault: the most appropriate course of action.

I maintain that Dean Ambrose is too unskilled in the ring, and too unintentionally comical on the mic' to justify the heaps of praise he's received. I'm sceptical about his long term value because of that. You've got to give them credit for going all the way with it, though. I fully expected the experiment that is The Shield to end at Wrestlemania. Instead, the undefeated streak continues, and with Undertaker taking a devastating beating from The Shield, questions about streaks start to arise. I'm unconvinced The Shield can be strung out for another full year, but you never know! If nothing else, a compelling case for a Tag Team Championship match begins to emerge -- and that's a good thing for everyone.

The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records. Tallied results only include matches broadcast during WWE 2013 programming. At present, this includes RAW (Mondays), Main Event (Wednesdays), Smackdown (Friday), and monthly Pay-Per-View events.

Wrestling: The Kayfabe Countdown - 04/21

#1 Sheamus [--] (22-8-1)
The unlikely alliance of Sheamus & Randy Orton rolls along, keeping both at the top with no convincing signs of that much rumoured Orton heel turn. In one of the stranger twists for 2013, it appears as if Smackdown was booked by reusing a call sheet from January, with a few minor adjustments. This time Orton & Sheamus were on the losing end of a Big Show tag team, which included Mark Henry instead of the almost irrelevant Antonio Cesaro [who teamed with show during the week of 01/06/2013].

There were plenty of other similarities, but I'll let you look those up for yourself, to enjoy the same shock I had. Instead, lets just ponder the disappointment of a world where the second most storied tag team of the year doesn't appear to be in line for a Tag Team Championship. Their chemistry has never struck me as anything more than a card filler, even though some so-called experts have pegged Sheamus & Orton's claim to a title shot without the aid of the stats. With the benefit of stats, I have to say I wish there was more to it. It just doesn't seem right that an opportunity like this should be overlooked. That's World Wrestling Entertainment, folks.

#2 [--] Randy Orton (22-9-1)
#3 [--] Alberto Del Rio (21-3-1)
#4 [--] Kane (17-9-0) [Tag Team Champion]
#5 [--] Bryan Danielson (17-10-0) [Tag Team Champion]
#6 [--] Jack Swagger (15-3-1)
#7 [+1] Mark Henry (14-3-0)
#8 [-1] Ryback (14-5-0)
#9 [--] Big Show (13-12-1)
#10 [RE] Wade Barrett (12-14-1) [Intercontinental Champion]

#1 [--] Kane & Bryan Danielson (12-3-0) [Tag Team Champions]
#2 [--] Sheamus & Randy Orton (9-2-0)
#3 [--] Dean Ambrose & Roman Reigns (5-0-0)
#4 [--] Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins (5-0-0)
#5 [--] Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins (5-0-0)
#6 [--] Brodus Clay & Tensai (5-2-1)
#7 [RE] Cody Rhodes & Damien Sandow (4-6-1)
#8 [-1] Sheamus & Big Show (3-1-0)
#9 [-1] Randy Orton & Big Show (3-1-0)
#10 [-1] Brie Bella & Nikki Bella (3-1-0)

Superstar Spotlight:
#29 Kofi Kingston (4-14-0)
[United States Champion]
Say what?!? The utter deconstruction of Antonio Cesaro continues as the United States Championship changes hands in one of the worst possible ways conceivable. I'll grant that time was lending itself to a title change, but for Kofi Kingston to come out of nowhere on the back of a dozen jobber squashes and a one match build? You've really got to wonder what the hell these clowns are thinking, sometimes.

For my money, the guy to take the strap was Ryback. The once rising star has been completely obliterated by what I would call mismanagement. He was tracking wonderfully on the Goldberg plan for making a superstar, making in roads by progressing from no-name local jobbers, to bottom tier WWE talent. That gradual curve should've continued and the US Championship was the logical first port of call. Instead, he was prematurely pushed into a program of rock-and-hard-place against a CM Punk sitting neatly in a WWE Championship run. It was all downhill from there.

A US title win would've been the perfect way for Ryback to get back on track -- doing away with a competitive Cesaro, before stomping his way past other second tier challengers. It would've been good for the strap, good for Cesaro, and best for Ryback. Instead, we're booked into what has the potential to be yet another forgettable title reign, meandering its way through irrelevance. God bless Kofi Kingston, whose work is dependable, and quality of character is worthy of rewards. Rewards much better and more legitimate than this. A bitter pill in a month that's given us equally sickening results for the IC Championship (including a pointless 24 hour Wrestlemania reign by The Miz, of all people), and the ever-despicable hardcore 24/7 diminishment of the MITB World Championship contract. A sorry state of affairs for championship credibility. Here's hoping something good comes of it.

The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records. Tallied results only include matches broadcast during WWE 2013 programming. At present, this includes RAW (Mondays), Main Event (Wednesdays), Smackdown (Friday), and monthly Pay-Per-View events.

Wrestling: The Kayfabe Countdown - 04/14

#1 Sheamus [--] (21-7-1)
A wacky week took us out of Wrestlemania and into the real meat of the coming year. So far, 2013 is turning into a three-horse race in terms of wins as Sheamus, Randy Orton and Alberto Del Rio trade places in the Kayfabe Countdown Top 3! Not only have these three managed to break away from the pack on the Road to Wrestlemania, but also seem to have plenty of momentum moving forward, while other storylines and superstars meander to a halt.

With the Money in the Bank cash-in earning Del Rio his third loss for the year. he's back in the chase stakes. Meanwhile, the question looms -- now that he's World Heavyweight Champion, will Dolph Ziggler actually start winning matches? If he doesn't get shuffled sideways for the likes of Jack Swagger (whose position remains unclear after a DUI), maybe this is actually a dent in the Del Rio win count. It isn't all doom and gloom for the Countdown's #3. There's still the long teased break-up of Kane & Bryan Danielson to put some space between the unwashed masses and the elites. Maybe...

#2 [+1] Randy Orton (21-8-1)
#3 [-1] Alberto Del Rio (20-3-1)
#4 [+1] Kane (16-9-0) [Tag Team Champion]
#5 [-1] Bryan Danielson (16-10-0) [Tag Team Champion]
#6 [+1] Jack Swagger (14-2-1)
#7 [-1] Ryback (14-5-0)
#8 [--] Mark Henry (13-3-0)
#9 [--] Big Show (12-11-1)
#10 [--] The Miz (11-7-1)

#1 [--] Kane & Bryan Danielson (11-3-0) [Tag Team Champions]
#2 [--] Sheamus & Randy Orton (8-1-0)
#3 [--] Dean Ambrose & Roman Reigns (5-0-0)
#4 [--] Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins (5-0-0)
#5 [--] Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins (5-0-0)
#6 [--] Brodus Clay & Tensai (5-2-1)
#7 [--] Sheamus & Big Show (3-1-0)
#8 [--] Randy Orton & Big Show (3-1-0)
#9 [new] Brie Bella & Nikki Bella (3-1-0)
#10 [-1] Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso (3-2-0)

Superstar Spotlight:
#12 Dolph Ziggler (10-16-0)
[World Heavyweight Champion]
For a while there, the guy couldn't buy a win, but after months of speculation, the Money in the Bank contract was finally cashed in on a beleaguered Alberto Del Rio. To my mind, it's a pathetic way to crown a champion. Made only worse by multiple instances of title reigns measured in minutes by way of a post-win cash-in. At least Dolph Ziggler gets away without being responsible that indignity, as well. He does, however, still have a lot to prove.

I'm assured Ziggler has been a darling of the so-called "Internet Wrestling Community" for quite some time. I want to support the notion of a new guy coming through, but I can't escape the obvious sense of something missing in young Ziggler, even after all these years. For all intents and purposes it feels like the beginning of a genuine push, but he needs to develop something mighty quick to make it stick. A great place to start might be his work style, which is sorely lacking offensive manoeuvres. He's got a lot of energy and natural talent, but like so much of the modern WWE product, there's a level of competitiveness and grounding that's lacking in the psychology.

The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records. Tallied results only include matches broadcast during WWE 2013 programming. At present, this includes RAW (Mondays), Main Event (Wednesdays), Smackdown (Friday), and monthly Pay-Per-View events.

Wrestling: The Kayfabe Countdown - 04/07

#1 Sheamus [--] (20-6-1)
I had Sheamus, Randy Orton & Big Show finally ending the three-man reign of terror that is The Shield. Shows what I know! The Wrestlemania opener kicked things off in ways that can only deliver down the road. Everybody's talking heel turn for Randy Orton, so you've got to think that's on the table. With Jack Swagger on the out (after a drug charge), it's no surprise Alberto Del Rio is making motions toward the top of the Countdown again. I'm not sure I ever expected Swagger to be the man to take the World Heavyweight Championship -- certainly not at Wrestlemania -- but it's his future that's really in doubt now.

#2 [+1] Alberto Del Rio (19-2-1) [World Champion]
#3 [-1] Randy Orton (19-8-1)
#4 [--] Bryan Danielson (15-9-0) [Tag Team Champion]
#5 [--] Kane (15-9-0) [Tag Team Champion]
#6 [--] Ryback (14-5-0)
#7 [--] Jack Swagger (13-1-1)
#8 [--] Mark Henry (13-2-0)
#9 [--] Big Show (12-10-1)
#10 [--] The Miz (11-6-1) [Intercontinental Champion]

#1 [--] Kane & Bryan Danielson (10-3-0) [Tag Team Champions]
#2 [--] Sheamus & Randy Orton (7-1-0)
#3 [+1] Dean Ambrose & Roman Reigns (4-0-0)
#4 [+1] Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins (4-0-0)
#5 [+1] Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins (4-0-0)
#6 [-3] Brodus Clay & Tensai (4-1-1)
#7 [+2] Sheamus & Big Show (3-1-0)
#8 [+2] Randy Orton & Big Show (3-1-0)
#9 [-2] Jimmy Uso & Jey Uso (3-2-0)
#10 [-2] Cody Rhodes & Damien Sandow (3-5-1)

Superstar Spotlight:
Wrestlemania XXIX
Another year, another dubious Wrestlemania.
It had to be one of the all-time worst builds to the biggest show of the year, with many matches only coming together at the last moment. I find it galling that the event was dominated by first timers, let alone wrestlers who were making their in-ring debut!

Fandango and Big E Langston made their competitive debuts in matches that felt like a last minute waste of talent. I wasn't down on Fandango/Jericho entirely, not as a mid-card bout, but I can't help but acknowledge the potential for so much better for Chris Jericho. Likewise, the tag team situation stumbles its way through all kinds of clumsy missteps. Langston had absolutely no business debuting at Wrestlemania, let alone at the expense of various tag teams that have been putting in the hard yards. Cody Rhodes & Damien Sandow -- absent from the card -- stand out immediately as a duo who should've not only been there, but arguably picking up the straps. Kane & Bryan Danielson would've been far better off following through on those January teases for a singles mid-card match with some story behind it. A more disappointing story than the bumped 8-Person tag, which, truth be told, was probably a better decision for the shape of the entire card.

Despite complaints and a flimsy build, the event still carried a certain atmosphere. It is Wrestlemania and with a set that inspired delusions of grand, King Kong-style city brawls, it was hard not to be in awe of the spectacle, if not the wrestling. Brock Lesnar/Triple H was the no brainer for match of the night, in my eyes. The pair put on a brutal battle that lived up to expectations. Undertaker's defense of the streak was solid, but lacked the technical excellence of the past four years, and the spectacle the storyline deserved. With all the back and forth over urns and ill speeches toward the dead, I really wanted to see CM Punk carted out in a druid-manned casket. It's tough to penalize them for something they didn't do, but that felt like a real hole in the finish.

The main event capped off a Wrestlemania with few surprises, but I maintain that there's no shame in that. I think back to the last Wrestlemania's that really blew me away, like Wrestlemania XX, where Chris Benoit's World Championship victory was widely seen as a foregone conclusion. There comes a time when sometimes you just need to deliver the good result. John Cena is far from my favourite wrestler, but it made sense to finish the Three Act story. He's the WWE Champion and now the only question is -- what comes next? With Ryback suffering a shock loss to Mark Henry, expectations in that area have at least been subverted for the following Monday. It might be a nail too many for Ryback, whose time in the spotlight came far too soon, but I'm more than happy to take Mark Henry for the contender he deserves to be.

The Kayfabe Countdown is based on the cumulative tally of wrestler win/loss records. Tallied results only include matches broadcast during WWE 2013 programming. At present, this includes RAW (Mondays), Main Event (Wednesdays), Smackdown (Friday), and monthly Pay-Per-View events.