Hell In A Cell Review (Brock vs Taker Finale)

This past Sunday, WWE hosted Hell In A Cell at the Staples Center in Los Angeles California. It had its share of violence and carnage, along with certain surprises along the way. There were chapters that closed while others opened. Now, time to get into the action.

Kickoff Match:

Dolph Ziggler, Cesaro and Neville vs. King Barrett, Rusev, and Sheamus

The show kicks off with a typical babyface vs. heel 6-man tag match. The heels gained control early in the match with a methodical pace. Ziggler and Neville took the most punishment. Cesaro led the charge to make the comeback for his team to win. There was no real buildup or story, other than the fact that Ziggler and Rusev had a feud over Lana and Summer Rae (Glad that is over). Barrett also has issues with Neville. Meanwhile, Stardust is nowhere to be found. It had plenty of action, but narratives that really need to go away.

Winners: Cesaro, Ziggler, and Neville

Grade: B-

US Championship Match (John Cena Open Challenge):

John Cena presents his open challenge for the US Title. Zeb Colter rode in on a scooter and called him a "divider". The ultimate surprise of the night came when Zeb introduced Alberto Del Rio as the crowd gave him a positive reaction. WWE hit the crowd with something they did not anticipate with the surprise return of ADR.

After being fired from WWE last year because he attacked an employee over racist remarks, Del Rio went to Lucha Underground. Some people did not expect him to ever return, or at least for a long time. Then, he returns with a bang. Cena and Del Rio sized each other up from the beginning. ADR outwrestled Cena and kept him on the ground for most of the match. The match was fairly short with Del Rio winning the title with a Backstabber followed by a kick to Cena's jaw. knocking him out for the three-count to become US Champion.

Two years ago, John Cena made his return at HIAC to defeat Del Rio to become the World Heavyweight Champion. ADR returns the favor in the same fashion on Sunday night. I guess turnabout is fair play.

Great to see that WWE realized the error that they made in firing him so that they could make things right.

Winner: Alberto Del Rio

Grade: B+

Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt:

This was the first match inside of the Cell. Roman Reigns and Bray Wyatt circle each other like caged animals. Roman charged in and punished Bray with right hands. Wyatt answered with a Kendo Stick to the face before beating Reigns multiple times with it. Bray continued his onslaught but replaced the Kendo Stick with a Steel Chair before slamming him into the cage wall. Roman answered back with his own weapons after pulling some toys out from under the ring. Wyatt proceeded to slam Reigns through a table. The Hound of the Shield made enough of a recovery in order to return the favor by slamming Wyatt through a table. In the end, Roman avoided more kendo stick attacks and overcame Sister Abigail with a spear to seal the win.

This was the perfect match to end this feud because it had a barbaric feeling about it. Roman proved that he has what it takes to survive matches like this, and we can finally conclude this chapter. Roman has redeemed himself after the debacle earlier this year when he was pushed to the top prematurely. Now, he is ready to climb the ladder for the WWE Title. This was a story of a warrior overcoming his greatest threat. Meanwhile, Bray continues to look like the big bad wolf who huffs, puffs but cannot blow the house down.

Winner: Roman Reigns

Grade: A

Tag Team Championship Match (New Day vs. The Dudley Boyz):

With Xavier Woods at home nursing an injury, one would think that the Dudley Boyz had the win locked. Early in the match, Bubba Ray and D-Von had very little trouble with the champs as they dominated Kofi Kingston. However, things started to change when Big E got involved as he changed the dynamic with his power. Kofi pulled an Eddie Guerrero and tried to make it look like Bubba Ray hit him with the trombone. The Ref did not fall for it. Meanwhile, Big E used the trombone to stun Bubba just in time for Kingston to nail him with Trouble in Paradise.

The New Day defeat the Legendary Dudley Boyz to keep the Tag Team Titles. Bubba and D-Von are at their best when Tables, Ladders, and Chairs are involved. This goes to show that they are simply back to enhance talent without a title run (a la Chris Jericho).

The New Day continue to elevate their status by defeating the Best Tag Team of our Generation via pinfall.

Winner: The New Day

Grade: C-

Divas Championship Match (Charlotte vs. Nikki Bella):

In the rematch for the Divas Title, Nikki Bella made improvements compared to her match at Night of Champions. Like the previous match, Nikki focused on Charlotte's injury. However, she was more physical in this match. Nikki pulled out all of the stops, from hurling Charlotte into the guardrail, slingshotting her into the ring ropes, along with an Alabama Slam on the ring apron. Much like the NOC (Night Of Champions) Match, Charlotte won with a comeback as she rolled out of the Rack Attack and hit the Figure Eight.

Winner: Charlotte

Grade: B+



WWE Championship Match (Seth Rollins vs. Kane):

Going into this match, the expectations were never high. Kane and Seth have had a feud because of how Rollins turned on him, but working with Kane does not do him any favors at all as Champion. Nobody realistically had Kane on the radar as the Champion, even if it were out of revenge. Seth did his best to make the most out of this match, as he used his speed and agility to get the best of the Big Red Monster. Kane fought back with a Chokeslam but failed to hit the Tombstone. The fight moved to the announce table. This match was so lame that even the Spanish Announce Table did not sell for the match. Seth hit a Powerbomb, but the table did not break. After a succession of kicks, Seth finishes the match with a Frog Splash followed by a Pedigree for the win.

Seth has had some shining moments as Champion, and this was his dullest.

Winner: Seth Rollins

Grade: C


Intercontinental Championship (Kevin Owens vs. Ryback)

Not much to expect from this match. Ryback dominated the slugfest of the match, but Owens raked the eyes to set up for the Pop-Up Powerbomb. Sound familiar? Night Of Champions on repeat. Owens needed to move away from Ryback because this was not working.

Grade: D

Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar

This is the marquee showdown that everyone has been waiting for. Heading into this match, WWE promoted this as the Undertaker's final HIAC Match. Taker's retirement looks even clearer than ever before because this year marks 25 Years of his Dominance in WWE. The buildup of this match created a level of uncertainty about the outcome. On one hand, it would make sense for Undertaker to go off into the sunset winning this match. On the other hand, he could still be involved in Survivor Series since it will be the 25th Anniversary of his debut. That means that it would make much more sense for Brock to win. Undertaker slams the cell door shut before going into the ring. Before locking horns, Taker stares down Brock. Meanwhile, Lesnar laughs.

This match exceeded my very expectations, as both Monsters told a great story. When you put Undertaker and Brock Lesnar inside of a Cell, expect a violent bloodbath. Expect destruction. They brought it in every way. Undertaker delivered a methodical punishment as he rammed Brock into the ring post. Lesnar started to bleed profusely. Brock responded with some vicious chair shots. Taker would bleed afterward.

The WWE Officials tried to get in the way, but Brock was not going to let the match stop because of blood. He pushed them to the side. Lesnar drilled Undertaker with a pair of F5's. Even those could not keep the Deadman down. Even a shot from the ring steps couldn't stop him.

Brock's frustration grew as he tore the canvas off of the ring. I have never EVER seen that before in any match. This match was far from anything of the Modern PG Era. It draws similarities to the matches of the Attitude Era and Ruthless Aggression Era. In fact, this is shades of their match from No Mercy 2002, when Undertaker's face was flooded with blood. His entire face was crimson red.

In this match, both Taker and Lesnar were bleeding excessively. but not to that extent. Taker hit Lesnar with a chokeslam and Tombstone Piledriver on the exposed wood but still could not get a three-count. During one point in the match, Brock pounded the Undertaker with some heavy punches. His ground and pound game is nothing to take lightly, and I am sure that Taker did not want him to go easy at all.

Lesnar finally defeated The Deadman with a Low Blow after an F5. This match was absolute carnage from start to finish. The level of Intensity was at 10 throughout. This was not just a match, but a war.

After the match, the cage is lifted. The Undertaker struggles to get up as he pulled himself up by the ropes. Suddenly, he was attacked by the Wyatt family. The night ends with the Wyatt Family carrying him away.

Grade: A+

Overall, the PPV went above the expectations of many fans. The Central Storyline for the PPV was Brock vs. Undertaker. It was very simple: Brock Lesnar conquered a Titan, but paid a heavy price to win. I still prefer the 2002 match, but this war had enough drama and suspense to keep me excited.

Meanwhile, Undertaker is in a war with the Wyatt Family heading into Survivor Series (Silver Anniversary) and possibly into WrestleMania Season.

This has been a great element to add to the Final Chapter of a very Storied Career of a Titan that has left many bodies in his wake.

I give this show 4 Edge Rated R Superstar WWE Titles out of 5.

Stone Cold Podcast w/Brock Lesnar Review

This week, Monday Night RAW took place at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas. For weeks, there were conflicting reports about the status of Stone Cold Steve Austin. He was promoted to be part of the show with Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair and Brock Lesnar in the lead up to the "Hell In A Cell" PPV. As great as RAW was, the highlight of the night was the Interview between Austin and Brock Lesnar.

This Interview was highly anticipated in every way, considering the fact that Brock normally is an introvert when it comes to doing media appearances. However, when Lesnar speaks, he has no problem sharing his thoughts no matter who he offends. Austin also jokes about not wanting to go to Suplex City.

Anytime Lesnar does an Interview without Paul Heyman as his mouthpiece, it is something to look forward to.

Now, time to get to the points:

• Working with Others: Brock thanks Steve for having him on the show. Austin and Lesnar joke by saying that if this episode isn't good, it might be the last one. Stone Cold talks about Brock's reputation as being hard to get along with and not liking people. Austin wants to know if Lesnar does it on purpose. Brock responds and says that he realizes that he may come off as arrogant, but it is not intentional. That is just how he was built. Brock opens up about how he always had a chip on his shoulder growing up. Lesnar said that he always had a chip on his shoulder and was the kid beating up other kids. Steve asked if he had ever been picked on. Brock said no because he was the one doing the picking. Brock said that he had to work hard to achieve what he has and that his passion is what made him who he is today. Lesnar applied his passion into weightlifting, and we clearly see the results. 
• Working on a Farm: One thing to know for sure about Brock Lesnar is that he is a true farm boy. When asked about growing up on a farm, Brock says that if he could cut it on a farm, he could cut it anywhere. Growing up in South Dakota, there was no extra money. All of your income was based on how well you produced, calling it a way of life. Austin said that it was a lot of work, and Lesnar agreed. Brock said that you had to be married to farming. No matter the weather, you had to wake up at the crack of dawn to milk the cows. Brock says that he applied that same work ethic to every stage of his life. Then they joked about never hunting together and discussed linking up to kill some animals.
• Country Life: Austin comes up with quick questions to give people an idea about the life of Brock Lesnar. Steve says that he knows that Lesnar is a truck man, so he asks if he prefers Ford, Chevy or Dodge. Brock prefers Dodge. He is currently driving a 2014 Dodge Ram, and Stone Cold shows a picture of Brock's million dollar project: a 1978 Dodge Power Wagon. Lesnar's favorite gun is a .300 Remington Ultra Magnum, and for scopes, he won't buy anything but a Leica. One of the other topics was food. No surprise that Brock's favorite food is Steak. He loves to grill steak (the kind he probably killed himself). He prefers medium well ribeye on the big green egg grill (he has four of them). Austin asks about music. Lesnar likes country and metal. From Willie Nelson to Johnny Cash to AC/DC to Motley Crue, as well as Metallica. Once again, no surprise.
• Pro Wrestler or Sports Entertainer: Everybody knows where Stone Cold stands on this topic, but he asks Brock what he identifies himself as. Brock responds by asking "Is there a difference?". Austin says he thinks there is. Lesnar replies by saying that he is in the entertainment industry because he sells tickets and puts butts in seats. He says that it is the American Dream, and he is doing something that he loves while getting paid for it. Brock says that he is fortunate to make a pretty good living from this business.
• Not Growing up a Wrestling Fan: Brock Lesnar says that growing up he never watched wrestling because growing up he was never exposed to it. They only had two television channels and they only worked part time. Instead, he watched Little House on a Prairie. Just imagine a genetic monster like Brock watching Little House on a Prairie. Austin chuckled himself. The conversation moves to Football. Brock says that he played virtually every position in high school. He says that he never received scholarships from wrestling. When Brock tried out for the NFL, he says that he knew that he was a fish out of the water but went through the process because he is not a quitter. 
• Breaking Into Wrestling: Brock says that after winning the NCAA Championship, he fell into a rut because he did not know what he would do with his life. He says that he fell into a depression and went into hibernation for two months. Lesnar started visiting wrestling coaches again to put a game plan together. Austin transitions into how Brock signed to Ohio Valley Wrestling and the rest is history. 
• Start in OVW/Learning from Veterans: Austin reveals the famous OVW class picture that features Brock Lesnar, John Cena, Randy Orton and Batista and asked what were his initial thoughts when he first reported there. Lesnar credits Shelton Benjamin (another member of that class) saying that they were College roommates and moved together in Louisville. He called the OVW weight room "barbaric" and compared it to the gyms and weight rooms that he was used to. Lesnar also gives credit to the veterans like Curt Hennig and The Big Bossman who took him under their wings. Lesnar says that they were very influential in his learning process. Lesnar also says that he offered to buy the gas for Undertaker and Kane whenever he would jump into the car with them. Brock says having veterans like that in his ear smartened him up for what the business had to offer. 
• Working With The Rock: Stone Cold comments about how impressed he was when Brock went from being an OVW Rookie to wrestling The Rock in a Main Event within less than a year. Lesnar tells the story about how he was in a Triple Threat Match with The Rock & Triple H in Australia. Brock jokes about how they hung him out to dry and out of the loop for a teaching tool. Brock says that The Rock did a lot for him. People could say what they want to about the Hollywood Megastar, but Lesnar says that The Rock taught him to watch his back and to be selfish. He says that in this business, you have to have a certain element of selfishness. The Rock ultimately gave back to Lesnar by dropping the WWE Title at Summerslam. 
• Not Liking People: Here is another part of the Interview that is not a surprise. Brock Lesnar does not like people! He says that he feels more comfortable in a ring surrounded by 20,000 people compared to being in the middle of a crowd in public. Lesnar says that when he is inside of the ring, he feels like he has a dome protecting him. Austin asks if it is a phobia, but Lesnar just says that he gets uncomfortable. 
• The Shooting Star Press at WrestleMania XIX: Long before breaking the Streak, Brock Lesnar's WrestleMania Moment involved him doing the Shooting Star Press at WM XIX. However, he botched the move and almost injured himself. Stone Cold shows the video and says how painful it was to watch it. Brock says that he was talked into doing the move by a wrestler who will remain nameless. 
• WrestleMania XX: The Conversation transitions into Brock's last match with Goldberg at WrestleMania XX. Austin talks about how he was the Special Referee for that match and how they were just booed heavily by the fans. He then asks why Brock decided to leave after only two years into the WWE and at the top of his game. Lesnar said that he did not care anymore. Stone Cold wanted to know if it was the life on the road, the pace of the business, etc. Brock said that it was all of those things that factored into his decision to leave. 
• Getting Along with the Boys: Stone Cold asks Brock if there was any dissension or resentment from the locker room when he returned because of his part-time schedule. Brock says that he doesn't pay attention to that. Instead, he looks at it like a job where he clocks in and clocks out. He says that working for WWE is no different than putting on his singlet to wrestle for the University of Minnesota. The only difference is that Minnesota was not putting money into his bank account. Of course, that made Austin and some people off camera start to laugh. 
• Joining UFC: This is where things start to heat up. Steve asks Brock how he got his start in mixed martial arts. Lesnar says that after trying out for the NFL he went to New Japan Pro Wrestling to perform. NJPW tried to get him to try some MMA. Brock used his connections to sign a one fight deal with K1 where he beat Min Soo Kim. After unsuccessfully hooking up with Dana White, Brock told his manager that he wanted to attend the UFC event that featured Randy Couture vs. Gabriel Gonzaga. Lesnar bought his own tickets and sat in the crowd. After the fight, Lesnar jumps the rail to grab Dana so that he could introduce himself. They went backstage to discuss everything but money because that was not his goal. Brock said that he just wanted to prove himself to Dana and that if he could not draw money, then he would not return for a second fight. 
• Losing to Frank Mir/Winning UFC Title/Diverticulitis: When talking about UFC, Austin and Lesnar start off by talking about the fight with Frank Mir. Stone Cold said that it was a really good fight before talking about Brock tapping out to the kneebar. Steve wanted to know if it was unlike any other hold that he had been put in before. Brock says that he was disgusted with himself because he trained to get out of that exact hold. Yet, he did not have an answer for it. Meanwhile, Dana White was excited and impressed with Lesnar's performance. They signed a contract extension as Brock would later win the UFC Heavyweight Title. The discussion later moves into Brock's diverticulitis. Lesnar says that it was unfair and that if he had not had to fight that illness, he could still be in UFC smashing heads. I am sure Vince loved to hear that. Brock says that he felt he was at his best against Randy Couture, but he knew there was something physically wrong. Brock says that he was too stubborn at first to get a CT Scan until he fell out of his deer stand in Canada. The Dr. focused more on saving Brock's life than his career. 
• Returning to WWE/Comparing Vince McMahon & Dana White: Steve asks Brock what it was like to mend the fence with Vince McMahon, admitting that he burned some bridges himself in the past. This leads into something I had been waiting for. Austin talks about his decision to walk out of having a match with Lesnar. Brock said that he understood where Austin was coming from, because it is still a business. Austin wants to compare and contrast Vince and Dana. Brock says that he thanks them both for giving him opportunities. 
• Place in the Locker Room: Austin asks if Brock feels like there is any competition among his peers. Lesnar says that he doesn't deal with colleagues that much, but instead is hands-on with Vince. 
• Breaking the Streak: Steve talks about the surprising and career-defining moment at WrestleMania XXX when Brock Lesnar snapped The Undertaker's streak and asks what that honor meant to him. Brock says that as a businessman, it was huge for him because of how special the streak is. Lesnar says it was his biggest honor next to winning the WWE Title. He also gets criticized for ending the streak before asking who within the current industry has the credentials and credibility of ending the streak (honestly, nobody else does). When asked about the misconception from fans, Brock simply says, "I really don't care, Steve". 
• Hell In A Cell vs. Undertaker: The Interview concludes with Stone Cold bringing up Sunday's match with The Undertaker inside of Hell In A Cell. Brock says that he is going to end Undertaker inside of the Cell. 

Overall, this was simply a look into the Journey of Brock Lesnar. Brock has never been a man of many words, so it was good to get his insight without Paul Heyman involved. When Heyman was the guest, he provoked Austin by bringing up Brock Lesnar's name up. Stone Cold went into full form saying that he would welcome a match with Brock Lesnar. Unfortunately, they never had a face to face stare down. Stone Cold was not talking trash like he did with Heyman. Looks like that "match" for WrestleMania XXXII was just smoke and mirrors. 

This Interview was not as highlight-filled as Austin's episodes with Vince, Triple H and Heyman, but it was much better than the Paige Interview. 

In Conclusion, I give it 3 out of 5 Brock Lesnar WWE Titles. 

Is the Seahawks Legion Doomed?

Lately, the Seattle Seahawks Legion of Boom defense has lost their edge. The Internet has killed this team with the Memes and punchlines. I read on Twitter someone said LOD stands for “Lost Our Defense”. In this case, I can agree. Seattle got off to a sluggish start when Defensive Captain and Powerhouse Safety Kam Chancellor held out for the first two games because he wanted more money.

Without Chancellor, the Seahawks went 0-2. Now, they are 2-4. Russell Wilson has been taking a beating as he leads the way in most times Sacked. The team that was a few feet away from clinching their second straight Super Bowl is now losing their grip on this Season. They are falling further away from being the juggernaut that they have recently become under Coach Pete Carroll’s regime.

A team that was full of confidence and swagger is not in disarray.

The highlights this season for Seattle were the 26-0 blowout of the Chicago Bears and their Monday Night win over Detroit when Chancellor helped to save the game by punching the ball out of Megatron’s hands in the End Zone. After their two-game win streak, the Seahawks blew a 17-point lead over the Cincinnati Bengals as they lost in OT 27-24. Then, they lose at home to the Carolina Panthers.

The Seahawks have fallen to third place in their Division. They are currently ranked 17th in Points (22.3), 15th in Total Yards (352.3), and 27th in Passing Yards (214.5). On the bright side, Seattle is ranked 2nd in Rushing Yards (137.8). However, Marshawn Lynch is struggling with injuries as he is only ranked 42nd in Rushing Yards (182).

Russell Wilson ranks 15th in Passing (124/180, 1,433 yards, 7 TD’s, 3 INT’s, QB Rating 98.7). Yet, he continues to take punishment because of his lack of protection at the line. Somewhere, Future must be laughing about this.

As I have said before, Seattle’s common place for problems is at Defense. Most of their injury problems have taken place with their defense. This team has even fallen to 12th place in the ESPN Power Rankings.

The meltdown has been felt all across the board for this team.

I am hoping that they pull things together and become a stronger team as the season continues.

Let's Dance (vol 2.- Randy Savage)

In this edition of "Let's Dance", I would like to focus on the greatest rivalries and opponents of one of the most Charismatic and Iconic Wrestlers to ever step into a wrestling ring. This man is no stranger to feuds, whether someone started a feud with him, or if he started a feud himself.



This man was the Cream of the Crop and the King of the Madness. He perfected the Elbow Drop. OH YEAH, I am talking about none other than "Macho Man" Randy Savage:

Through the Course of his Legendary Career, Randy Savage has taken on the best of the best during his Era. Savage has been a magnet for compelling matches and storylines. Macho Man performed with great rhythm no matter who he had to dance with. He had a tendency to bring his dance partner to the same beat that he was. He has had a wide variety of dance partners, whether they just great matches, great storylines or both. Here is a look at his storied dance partners:

Hulk Hogan:

Length of Feud: 1985-98

Featured Matches:
WrestleMania V
Summerslam '89
The Main Event III
Halloween Havoc '96
Uncensored '98

Match Quality: 4/5
Storyline Quality: 9.5/10
Rivalry Rating: 9/10

From the time that they first encountered each other in 1985, Randy Savage, and Hulk Hogan would forever be connected. Their rivalry started without a true storyline, but Macho Man always proved to be a threat in those early years of '85-'86 during their series of House Show matches. Even in that time, Savage would continue to be a thorn in Hogan's side as he taunted the Hulkster in his promos as IC Champion. During their matches, Macho Man would prove to be a different kind of challenge for Hogan. Unlike most Hogan matches, Savage would get cheered.

Then, their paths would collide on the famous Saturday Night's Main Event episode in October 1987 when the Hulkster came in for the save. This was the night the Mega Powers formed. In a roundabout way, their storyline started from that moment.

During Savage's reign as Champion, the seeds were being planted even with Hogan as his partner. Randy became suspicious of how close Hulk was getting to Ms. Elizabeth. This animosity even spilled over into the locker room. Eventually, they came to blows during a match against Big Bossman and Akeem when Hogan left the match to take Liz to the locker room. After the match, Hogan and Savage got into an argument that ended when Macho Man nailed him with the WWF Title.

The Stage was set for WrestleMania V where The Mega Powers would officially explode. Heading into the match, Macho Man would show edited footage of Hogan being flirtatious with Liz to make him look like the bad guy. Their match at Mania V is where the feud reached its climax. Hogan would ultimately win, but Macho Man walked away with plenty of respect from the fans.

After the Summerslam '89 Tag Match, they went their separate ways for the most part until both men joined WCW in 1994. They teased another head to head, but it became official when Hogan joined the NWO. They would have a match at Halloween Havoc, but it was a far cry from the Mega Power Main Event in The WWF. Things would go even further with Savage joining the NWO.

Eventually, their egos would clash within the group as Randy helped to form the Wolfpac. Their careers have become forever connected.



Ric Flair:

Length of Feud: 1992-2000

Featured Matches:
WrestleMania VIII
WWF Survivor Series 1992
WCW Great American Bash 1995
WCW Bash at the Beach 1995
Starrcade 1995

Match Quality: 4/5
Storyline Rating: 8.5/10
Rivalry Rating: 8.5/10



Randy Savage and Ric Flair are responsible for four of the top five matches of the 80's. (WrestleMania III vs. Ricky Steamboat, and Flair's trilogy with The Dragon in 1989). They have two other things in common: 1.) Both had spectacular matches with Ricky Steamboat 2.) They could be counted on to deliver spectacular matches within under 30 minutes or over 30 minutes. Both men were the total package when it came to in-ring performers of their time. Not to take anything away from Steamboat, but they could put on epic matches.

Fast forward to 1992. Ric Flair has already shaken up the wrestling world with his arrival in the WWF in September 1991 as he proudly carried the WCW World Title proclaiming to be the "REAL World's Champion". He challenged everyone that was a top star at the time. In the 1992 Royal Rumble, Flair backs up his claim by winning the Rumble to become the new WWF Champion.

Soon after, Flair and Mr. Perfect talk about how the Nature Boy had a relationship with Miss Elizabeth long before she met the Macho Man. Flair even threatened to show a centerfold of Liz at WrestleMania VIII if he won the match. In the buildup of the match, Savage was silent. At WrestleMania, he did not even give Mean Gene an interview before the match. The Nature Boy was playing mind games with him.

I noticed that some of Savage's Greatest Feuds involved Elizabeth. From his Mega Powers feud with Hogan to his feud with Ric Flair, Liz was involved in some way. The casting was perfect for this storyline. Flair, the conniving villain who wanted to challenge the honor of Miss Elizabeth. Meanwhile, Randy Savage was the crazed knight in shining armor.

I believe the high point of this feud was their WrestleMania VIII match. This match was fantastic, with a great mix of high-quality ring work and an intense storyline. Savage defeated Flair for the WWF Title and to protect the honor of his lady. After the match, a busted open Flair kissed Liz on the lips. Randy went ballistic and attacked him.

The feud would continue for the rest of the year with encounters that were not as stellar, but still good. It would culminate in Flair winning the title back from Macho Man with the Figure Four as Savage passed out from the pain. This feud would rekindle in WCW in 1995, with Liz still being involved in the equation. This time, Savage's elderly father Angelo Poffo was brought into the feud when Flair attacked him. They had a series of special matches throughout the year.


Ricky Steamboat:

Length of Feud: 1986-87

Featured Match:
WrestleMania III (Enough Said)


Match Quality: 5/5
Storyline Rating: 8/10
Rivalry Rating: 8/10

In the early years of WrestleMania, it was just about the spectacle of Sports Entertainment. Style, but little substance. It was about Hogan and Piper sharing the same ring with Mr. T. It was about Cyndi Lauper managing Wendi Richter, Liberace dancing, etc. I take nothing away from those early celebrity appearances, but WrestleMania in its infancy was not focused as much on what went on in the ring as it was about the Pomp and Circumstance surrounding the show.

Suddenly, things started to change at the dawn of WrestleMania 3. They wrestled each other before on House Shows for the IC Title, but things went to a different level when Savage crushed Steamboat's larynx with the ring bell on SNME (Saturday Night's Main Event). You know the rest of the story. The brash heel Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage stayed true to his name as a Savage going after the ultimate babyface Ricky Steamboat. This would lead to a Match for the Ages in the Pontiac Silverdome. Their match put more attention on the quality of a match and the mechanics in the ring.

Steamboat captured the IC Championship after defeating Savage in a thriller. People talk about the impact this match had on the WWE quality of matches for years to come, but few people talk about how this benefited both parties when they went their separate ways. Savage had proven that he was ready for prime time, and this match helped to propel him to the very peak of the WWF as he won the world title the following year. After that, he would wrestle Hulk Hogan for the WWF Title at WrestleMania V.

When it comes to Steamboat, you could say that he was just starting to get things rolling in his own way. Two years later, The Dragon would feud with Ric Flair over the NWA World Title. Before Bret and Shawn and Rock and Triple H, Savage and Steamboat elevated each other from the mid-card to main event status with a feud that only lasted for a matter of months.

When Savage and Steamboat danced in the ring, they both had great rhythm and timing. Nothing was off-beat.


Ultimate Warrior:

Length of Feud: 1991-92

Featured Matches:
WrestleMania VII
Summerslam 1992

Match Quality: 5/5
Storyline Quality: 8.5/10
Rivalry Rating: 8.5/10

The Ultimate Warrior jumped to superstardom shortly after Macho Man Randy Savage. Warrior arrived in late 1987 and quickly rose as one of the shining stars and household names along with Savage and Hulk Hogan. Warrior fizzled faster, but his light was just as bright as Savage's and a shade under Hogan's.

When Warrior made his debut in the mid-card in late 1987, Macho Man graduated to the Main Event. When Warrior moved to the Main Event, Savage took a step back to Warrior's position in the upper mid-card as the Macho King. During WrestleMania VI, Ultimate Warrior headlined with The Hulkster. Meanwhile, Macho King wrestled the Polka Dot version of Dusty Rhodes.

Fast forward nine months later. Savage looked for every way that he could get a title shot at WrestleMania VII. Warrior denied him. In his way of revenge, Savage interfered in Ultimate Warrior's WWF Title match with Sgt. Slaughter at the Royal Rumble. Macho Man nailed Warrior with the Sceptre to help Slaughter become Champion.

This put the stage together for WrestleMania VII. Hogan would battle Slaughter for the WWF Championship. Meanwhile, Savage and Warrior would battle in a Career-Ending Match. Macho Man and The Warrior put everything on the line in this match. This was another classic in the careers of both gladiators. The Ultimate Warrior would emerge as the victor in this match.

When the dust settled, Savage and Liz would reunite. Ultimate Warrior and Macho Man would clash the next year at Summerslam after Savage was reinstated and Warrior returned. This time, Macho Man's WWF Championship was on the line. This storyline was compelling enough to be the first main-event program in a world without Hulk Hogan in 1992.

The Storyline had enough passion and intensity, but it also helped to bring out the best quality work from the Warrior. When they danced, Savage helped Warrior move to the same beat.

Ted DiBiase:

Length of Feud: 1988

Featured Matches:

WrestleMania IV

Summerslam 1988

Match Quality: 4/5

Storyline Quality: 8/10

Rivalry Quality:8/10

At a time where Hulk Hogan was the top draw and battled other stars with larger than life physiques like Andre The Giant, Ultimate Warrior and King Kong Bundy- you had ring generals like Randy Savage, Ricky Steamboat and Ted DiBiase with great technical prowess and great stamina to put on longer paced matches. Savage and DiBiase knew how to hold their own on the mic. 

DiBiase came in late 1987 with lots of momentum as a heel. After failing to keep the WWF Title after trying to buy it from Hulk Hogan, The Million Dollar Man entered the WWF Championship Tournament at WrestleMania IV. DiBiase had an easier route in the tournament then Savage, which would naturally give him a better chance to win. In the finals, Savage and DiBiase put on an underrated classic Main Event. The victory launched Savage's first reign as a main-event star on a national stage with the WWF Championship. 

Savage and DiBiase would wrestle each other in a series of House Show matches for the Title. Their feud would culminate at Summerslam when the Mega Powers defeated the Mega Bucks. 

The feud between Savage and DiBiase was about something more important behind the scenes. The story goes that Ted was originally going to win the WWF Title at WrestleMania IV. The idea was for him to be the heel Champion while Hulk Hogan stepped down so that Macho Man could win the gold at another event (possibly Summerslam). Instead, Savage walks out victorious with his shining WrestleMania moment. Macho Man would become one of the most storied champions in WWE History while The Million Dollar Man became one of the greatest heels in WWE History. 

Jake Roberts:

Length of Feud: 1991

Rivalry Rating: 7/10

The history between Macho Man and Jake "The Snake" goes back to 1986. Roberts was one of the contenders for Savage's Intercontinental Title. Even as a heel, Jake was really getting over although he was the challenger. 

Fast forward to the Summer of 1991. Business was going through somewhat of a drought. Ultimate Warrior did not quite work as the Champion that they had expected. Hulk Hogan's popularity was winding down, and the only thing holding it was his feud with Sgt. Slaughter. Bret Hart just became the IC Champion and was a year away from taking the main-event crown. 

The WWF was running very short on top baby faces to keep things steady. Randy Savage was called from the announcing table back into the squared circle. Macho Man still had enough to offer, so it was out of place to see him behind the table. 

In order to justify bringing Savage back after his WM VII match with Warrior, WWF created a storyline where he was Elizabeth's knight once again. Jake became an even more vile heel by crashing the wedding reception and threatened Liz with his cobra. Roberts then let the Snakebite Savage's arm during an altercation. 

They never had an official high profile match to culminate this feud, which takes points away from what could have really been a great rivalry. There was no proper blow off. It already got off to a hot start. They had a short match at Tuesday in Texas (the week after Survivor Series), a brawl at the Royal Rumble, and their final confrontation at Saturday Night's Main Event. 

I believe that if things were properly aligned, Savage vs. Roberts could have taken place at WrestleMania VIII. It was building up to be that way. As we know, WWF got cold feet about Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair. As a result, that show was shuffled in so many different directions. Instead of Hogan vs Flair, we got Savage vs Flair. Instead of Jake vs Savage, we got Jake vs Undertaker. This might have also been a result of Hogan's intentions to retire after the show. 

Diamond Dallas Page:

Length of Feud: 1997

Featured Matches:
Spring Stampede 1997
Great American Bash 1997
Halloween Havoc 1997

Match Quality: 4/5
Storyline Quality: 8/10
Rivalry Rating: 8/10


If you want to talk about a rivalry that shot one wrestler from the mid-card to main event level, this is prime exhibit A. If you want to look at how a journeyman wrestler that was a late bloomer can become a star player, this is the perfect example.

When Randy Savage joined WCW, he was an established top level star that was positioned to stay at the top. Through much of his time in WCW, Savage rekindled old rivalries with the likes of Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair. He also feuded with The Dungeon of Doom, Lex Luger, and The Outsiders.

Outside of his feuds with Hogan and Flair, nothing matched the heat, intensity, in-ring production and long-term impact of his feud with Diamond Dallas Page.

DDP was a journeyman who got off to a late start in the business. He started as a manager and did not get into the ring until he was in his mid-30's. He defied every odd that was stacked against him to make the rise as one of the top stars on a stacked roster.

Page brought the best he had to offer in his storyline with Savage. Macho and Liz antagonized DDP and Kimberly- the closest WCW equivalent to Savage and Liz. After multiple brawls on Nitro, DDP picked up a career-changing pinfall victory over The Macho Man at Spring Stampede 1997. This solidified his status as a major player in WCW. The feud would culminate at Halloween Havoc in a Las Vegas Death Match, with Macho Man winning. Savage won the match, but DDP came out as the real winner. It was Page's springboard further up the WCW ladder.

Wrestling an Icon like Macho Man did miracles for DDP. With no disrespect to Page, but this was a great demonstration of how Macho Man was able to take someone who was naturally not on his level and raising their game. This was the PWI "Feud of the Year" for 1997.


Conclusion:

Hulk Hogan:

In order for a feud to truly be compelling, it has to have an epic match, along with a powerful storyline. The feud also has to have the power to draw money. Randy Savage vs. Hulk Hogan delivered in those areas, especially when it came to drawing power to bring interest. It had the signature match (WrestleMania V) along with other feature matches. From start to finish, this rivalry was very well built.

With that being said, Hulk Hogan has to be remembered as Macho Man's greatest dance partner. The way that they have been connected for so many years is a sign of how great they have been able to dance together on the biggest stages. The way that they were able to create a buildup is what makes this Savage's best rivalry.

Savage had his best business when he danced with Hogan. One can make the same case for Hogan himself. After the Mega Powers formed, Savage rises to the top by winning the WWF Championship at WrestleMania IV. However, Savage had to be highly conflicted considering the fact that he was unsure if he was REALLY the number 1 guy even while holding the number 1 prize in all of wrestling (the WWF Championship). The prime reason for that conflict and self -doubt was the fact that he was in the same Federation as Hulk Hogan. While Savage was Champion, he had to share the cheers and main event spotlight with Hogan.

There was also the conflict of whether or not Macho Man would have been the champion if Hogan did not help him at 'Mania. Could Savage fight off DiBiase and Andre on his own? Then, you add Miss Elizabeth as the factor in the middle. Savage guarded her like a mad man, especially around a man like Hogan. We can tell it must have been frustrating for Savage to see Liz divide her attention between himself and The Hulkster.

They were both tailor-made for each other. The Mania and the Madness always created an explosive combination when they clashed. As time went on, their match quality may have gone down. However, their promos and storyline disdain for each other was the strongest fuel to their fire.

From a character standpoint and storyline standpoint, they were perfectly in sync as dance partners. It is only fitting that Savage's top two dance partners are two of the best wrestlers of his era (Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair). Macho Man is among the top three with both of those names. In the end, Hogan gets the nod considering him and Savage have the most detailed history.

Greatest Matches:

1. vs. Ricky Steamboat (WM III)
2. vs. Ultimate Warrior (WM VII)
3. vs. Ric Flair (WM VIII)
4. vs. Hulk Hogan (WM V)
5. vs. Ultimate Warrior (Summerslam '92)
6. w/Mr. Perfect vs. Ric Flair & Razor Ramon (Survivor Series '92)
7. vs. DDP (Spring Stampede 1997)
8. vs. Ted DiBiase (WrestleMania IV)
9. vs. Hulk Hogan (Philadelphia Spectrum, 1985)
10. vs. Jake Roberts (SNME)

This is the Top 10 Based on Savage's Dance Partners.

(Portrait Courtesy of Rob Schamberger. Twitter/Instagram: @RobSchamberger)

The Cincinnati Surprise

The Cincinnati Bengals have been making waves through the first five games of this season. This week, they defeated the defending NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks in Overtime. The Seahawks gave up a 17-point deficit as the Bengals continue to dominate with their Offensive Firepower. The “Red Rifle” Andy Dalton shot Seattle’s deficit down as he went 30-44 for 331 yards and 2 Touchdowns. When the Bengals trailed 24-7, Dalton threw for a TD and ran for another to cut the lead down on a 69-yard drive with no timeouts. Tight End Tyler Eifert led the team with 8 receptions for 90 yards and 2 TD’s while star WR A.J. Green had 6 receptions for 78 yards.

The win not only keeps Cincinnati undefeated, but it is also the second biggest comeback in franchise history. The Bengals have not been 5-0 since 1988 when MVP Boomer Esiason led them to Super Bowl XXIII. Dalton continues to make his case as an MVP candidate while WR A.J. Green continues to make himself known as one of the top receivers in the league.

Meanwhile, Seattle is in serious pain at 2-3. QB Russell Wilson has been taking a pounding this season as he was sacked four times in this game alone. For the season, he has been sacked 22 times at this point.

The Bengals have recently become a playoff contender again, but their biggest test is to claim a postseason victory. They have been turning heads and look for ways to continue.

So far, Dalton is 108-160 for 1,518 yards (1st in NFL) and 11 Touchdowns with a QB Rating of 115.6. You could very well say that he is one of the Top 5 QBs in the AFC with his production. Andy is bringing a sense of hope and signs of promise to the Bengals as they are the favorites over the likes of perennial AFC North Juggernauts the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. Dalton is on pace to produce a Career-High Season with 35 Touchdowns, 4,858 Passing Yards, a 67.5 percent completion rate, and a career-low six interceptions.

I am not jumping the gun on Dalton just yet, but things are looking up. We just need to see what he has in store for us in January.

Defining Champions: Bruno Sammartino

Recently, wrestling legend Bruno Sammartino celebrated a milestone as he turned 80. In honor of the Italian Superman, I would like to take a look back at his career as one of the greatest world champions in wrestling history. Bruno was the first wrestling attraction for the historic Madison Square Garden. He is still the all-time leader in most MSG sellouts. His name is still in the conversation for greatest WWWF/WWF/WWE Champion in History. Now, time to take a journey through his rise to greatness:

Beginnings:

Bruno was born October 6, 1935, in Italy. As a child, Sammartino's family hid from German soldiers in a mountain called Valla Rocca in the latter stages of World War II. In 1950, Bruno moved to the United States where he settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After spending being bullied in school, Bruno devoted his time to weight training. Sammartino's dedication to weightlifting nearly earned him a spot on the 1956 U.S. Olympic Team, but he was edged out by Paul Anderson who outweighed him by 70 lbs. In the early stages of his career, Bruno was measured as 5'10" and 280 lbs.

In 1959, Bruno made his pro wrestling debut in Pittsburgh for their promotion Studio Wrestling. In 1960, Sammartino joined what was at the time the Capitol Wrestling Corporation (later known as WWWF) under Vincent J. McMahon, Sr. His first match took place on January 2 in Madison Square Garden. Within his first six months, Sammartino was headlining MSG.


Becoming WWWF Champion:

On May 17, 1963, Bruno Sammartino made WWE History. That night, he defeated "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers to become the second WWWF Champion in history. Bruno defeated Buddy in just 48 seconds. Rogers claimed to have had a heart attack, but he never took time off from his schedule. Instead, he wrestled mainly in short tag matches.

Rogers retired prior to their title rematch. Instead, Bruno's first challenger was #1 Contender Gorilla Monsoon. During his time as Champion, Bruno headlined MSG on a monthly basis.

He was a fixture in New York. As WWWF Champion, Bruno faced the top heels of his time:
From Gorilla Monsoon, Freddie Blassie, The Sheik, Killer Kowalski, Giant Baba, Gene Kinitski and Bill Watts just to name a few.

Bruno's first reign as Champion was transcendent. He was to wrestling at that time what Ali was to Boxing, Chamberlain/Russell to Basketball and Jim Brown to Football. He defined wrestling for his time period nearly in a way that they defined their sports during that time.

Notable Matches:

5/17/63- Defeated Buddy Rogers to become WWWF Champion

8/23/63- Defeated Killer Kowalski by submission

2/17/1964- Defeated Shohei "Giant" Baba by submission

6/6/64- Defeated Gorilla Monsoon in a best 2 out of 3 falls match.

8/1/64- Defeated Freddie Blassie by submission with the bearhug

5/17/65- Defeated Bill Watts in 2 out of 3 falls match

12/9/68- Defeated The Sheik in a Texas Death Match

10/27/69- Defeated Waldo Von Erich

1/19/70- Defeated Ivan Koloff

1/18/71- Lost WWWF Title to Ivan Koloff

This is just a sample size of his remarkable reign on the wrestling mountain. Bruno's first title run lasted 7 and a half years (2,803 Days).

He was a true Superhero in the Northeast. However, Sammartino's run would come to an end at the hands of Ivan Koloff on January 18, 1971. The story goes that the crowd was in disbelief. Some fans were probably crying because this happened. Bruno proudly carried the flag for the WWWF for many years, and the dreams of the fans came crashing.


WWWF Champion (part 2):
However, Sammartino would regain the title to start another lengthy run as Champion. This time, his reign would last half as long as the first. On December 10, 1973, Bruno defeated Stan Stasiak to win the WWWF Championship.

Notable Matches:

12/10/73- Defeated Stan Stasiak to become WWWF Champion

1/14/74- Defeated Don Leo Jonathan

4/1/74- Defeated Nikolai Volkoff

5/20/74- Defeated Killer Kowalski in a Texas Death Match

12/16/74- Defeated Bobby Duncum in a Texas Death Match

3/17/75- Defeated Spiros Arion in a Texas Death Match (PWI Match of the Year)

4/14/75- Defeated Spiros Arion in a Greek Death Match by Submission

6/16/75- Defeated Waldo Von Erich

12/15/75- Defeated Ivan Koloff in a Steel Cage Match

3/1/76- Defeated Ernie Ladd

6/25/76- Defeated Stan Hansen by Countout (PWI MOTY)

4/30/77- Lost WWWF Title to "Superstar" Billy Graham (MOTY)

After recapturing the WWWF Title, Sammartino would continue to produce some of his best work. In 1974, Bruno was named "Wrestler of the Year" by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.

In his second tenure as Champion, Sammartino won "Match of the Year" 3 out of 5 times. Along the way, Bruno defeated a young Nikolai Volkoff, along with familiar foes from Killer Kowalski to Ivan Koloff. He also defeated Spiros Arion in classic deathmatches (Texas & Greek), as well as another new challenger named "Big Cat" Ernie Ladd.

His reign would come to an end at the hands of a flamboyant rising heel named "Superstar" Billy Graham. This would be considered as Bruno's swan song as the King of Wrestling. Sammartino's second run as Champion would last 1,237 Days.

Bruno defined his Era of Wrestling at a time where it was just starting to reach a national audience with the advent of television. You could say that he was the Champion in the first Golden Age of Wrestling, LONG before the mainstream crossover success of Hogan.

Sammartino was the flagbearer of his generation and personified his Era with pride. Sammartino is still the longest reigning Champion in WWE History, with a record of 4,040 Days after 2 Title Reigns.

With his significance to not only his Era, but to the Wrestling World collectively, Bruno Sammartino transcends wrestling. That is what makes him a Defining Champion.

First Quarter NFL MVP

We are now finished with the first four games of the NFL Season, which makes that the 1st Quarter. Now, it is time to look at the players who have had the most outstanding seasons within that timespan.

Tom Brady:

Completions: 96

Attempts: 133

Percentage: 72.2%

Passing Yards: 1,112

Touchdowns: 9

Interceptions: 0

QB Rating: 119.6

Tom Brady has the New England Patriots riding high as usual, leading the AFC East at 3-0. Tom has been absolutely brilliant in these first 4 games of the season, completing 72% of his passes for more than 1,000 yards, 9 TD's and 0 INT's. If the suspension was still approved, Brady would have fallen behind obviously along with his team. If anything, that has fueled his competitive fire to do what he has done for his whole 15-year career, silence the critics. The Patriots have enjoyed a Bye Week, but they look to continue their momentum. After all, there are still 12-13 more games in the season but for now, Tom has played at MVP level in the early stages.

Aaron Rodgers:

Completions: 89

Attempts: 123

Percentage: 72.4%

Passing Yards: 995

Touchdowns: 11

Interceptions: 0

QB Rating: 125.9

Perennial MVP Candidate Aaron Rodgers continues to lead his team while destroying defenses with his combination of passing and mobility. Rodgers is one of the ultimate double threats at Quarterback. The Packers continue to throw deep passes even without go-to WR Jordy Nelson. Still, nothing has slowed Aaron down from raising the game of his other receivers. Three of Green Bay's first four games were won in convincing fashion. Aaron's QB Rating is another indication of how dangerously precise he really is.

Julio Jones:

Receptions: 38

Receiving Yards: 478

Average YPC: 12.6

Touchdowns: 4

Julio Jones has certainly been the MVP for the Atlanta Falcons with his dominance over the secondary. His physical presence creates nightmares for opposing Defensive Backs while standing at 6'3" 220 lbs. Julio leads the NFL in Receptions (38) along with Receiving Yards (478) as well as yards per game (119.5). He ranks 2nd in Touchdown receptions with 4. The Falcons are currently tied with the Panthers for first place in the NFC South with a record of 4-0. Without question, Jones has taken the mantle of the Best WR this season with Cowboys stud Wideout Dez Bryant out for most of the season and Calvin "Megatron" Johnson suffering on a Lions team that is 0-4. Those are the three key receivers in the current NFL Landscape, but Julio is having a breakout season. Along with fellow WR Roddy White, the Falcons Wide Receiving Combo has made Matt Ryan look more valuable as a QB.

Andy Dalton:

Completions: 78

Attempts: 116

Percentage: 67.2%

Passing Yards: 1,187

Touchdowns: 9

Interceptions: 1

QB Rating: 123.0

The "Red Rifle" Andy Dalton has been a straight shooter as he has led the Cincinnati Bengals to a 4-0 record to lead the AFC North. Dalton has been vital in his team's success, as he ranks among the top 3 in Passing Yards (1,187). Dalton is nominated as a candidate for 1st Quarter MVP because of how his production has translated into his team's success along with the other players nominated such as Brady, Rodgers, and Jones. The Bengals are 4-0 for the first time since 2005, as they average 30.2 points. Led by Dalton, Cincinnati ranks second in total yards as they pile the points on the opponents. The Bengals are currently at the top of the class of an otherwise struggling AFC North Division, and The Red Rifle is the prime cause offensively.

 The 1st Quarter MVP Award goes to:

Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers has the Green Bay Packers standing tall at the top of the NFC North at 4-0 and leads the NFL in TD Passes (11) and QB Rating (125.9). The race is still tight, especially between him and Tom Brady. As for now, Aaron wins the award because of his efficiency and versatility. 

Let's Dance (vol 1. Chris Jericho)

Welcome to a New Series that I would like to Introduce called "Let's Dance". This was inspired by a segment with the same name that was created by Mr. Mike Knoxxx (@RealMikeKnoxxx on Twitter) on his Wrestling Podcast "Perfect Plex Talk Radio".

This segment was a way to spotlight a wrestler and discuss who his/her best opponent was. In wrestling, we call opponents "dance partners". This segment was about who was a wrestler's best opponent based on their quality of storylines, matches, drawing power, etc.

The obvious rivals were Rock vs. Austin, Bret vs Shawn, etc. However, there were others that were very debatable.

In this series, I would like to explore a series of wrestlers and dissect their opponents and what kind of chemistry they had based on the following criteria:

Storyline
Match Quality
Rivalry Rating

It is time for me to take that same concept and present it in my own way.

Today, I would like to explore who the best Dance Partner (Rival) was for, Chris Jericho:

Throughout his highly decorated career, Chris Jericho has had a wealth of opponents as he has honed his craft all around the world. With those opponents, he has had some of the best storylines and best matches of his career, and in wrestling history. It is time to see what dance partners he had the best chemistry with:

Shawn Michaels:

Length of feud: 2008

Featured Matches:

WrestleMania XIX

Great American Bash 2008

Unforgiven 2008

No Mercy 2008

Match Quality: 5/5

Storyline Quality: 9.5/10

Rivalry Rating: 9/10

This was a student vs teacher rivalry that turned into a very personal feud filled with bad blood. As we know, Chris Jericho was largely inspired by "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels. Y2J patterned much of his early career, character and even image after HBK. That was the driving element in the early stages of their rivalry in late 2002-early 2003.

 In the video packages, WWE would show Jericho doing the same moves that Michaels did in his early career with the Rockers. When Shawn returned, Jericho called him the "Has Been Kid" right before HBK knocked him out with Sweet Chin Music. 

This led to a feud that culminated at that point in a fantastic match at WrestleMania XIX. In the match, Jericho matched HBK move for move. Jerry Lawler mentioned time and again that it was like Shawn Michaels wrestled a mirror image of himself. After a great technical show stealer, Shawn wins. They would encounter each other on and off again before Jericho made his exit in 2005. 

When Jericho made his second run, he rejuvenated his career by taking on one of the greatest heel turns in history. When Shawn Michaels wrestled Batista at Backlash, Jericho noticed that Shawn faked an injury. HBK confessed that he did fake it. 

Chris invited Shawn as a guest on the Highlight Reel. In that segment, Jericho would make a turn that no one saw coming as he attacked Shawn and threw him headfirst into the Jeritron 5000. This moment had shades of the classic Barber Shop Segment where Shawn Michaels threw Marty Jannetty head first into the Barber Shop window. This would ignite the best storyline of Jericho's career. The personal elements of the storyline elevated the value of the matches. This was the Feud of the Year in 2008. 

The ultimate conclusion was the match that they have both become famous for the Ladder Match. In the end, Jericho would prevail. 

Chris Benoit:

Length of Feud: 1995-2005

Featured Matches: 

Super J-Cup from WAR in Japan (1995)

WCW Fall Brawl 1996

Triple Threat Match (w/Kurt Angle) at WrestleMania 2000 for IC/European Titles

Backlash for IC Championship

Judgment Day

Summerslam 2000 (2 out of 3 Falls)

Royal Rumble 2001 (Ladder Match for the IC Championship). 

2001 King of the Ring (Triple Threat Match vs. Stone Cold for the WWF Championship)

Submission Match (RAW from Japan in 2005)

Match Quality: 4.5/5

Storyline Quality: 7/10

Rivalry Rating: 8/10

The Careers of Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit were connected, which naturally made them great dance partners. They both got their start as students of the Hart Dungeon in Calgary.

 From that point, their paths would cross in Japan where their rivalry would start. They would compete in the J-Cup Tournament in the smaller Japanese promotion WAR. 

You can call them the B+ version of HBK vs Bret. They would meet up again in WCW, but with no real storyline involved. Things reached another level when they met each other in WWF/E. 

Their first big match was the Triple Threat at WM 2000 for both the European and IC Titles. Jericho and Benoit pinned each other to win those titles. After Jericho lost the European Title, he would feud with Benoit for the IC Title. 

Through the Summer of 2000, Benoit and Y2J would square off in three PPV Matches. Benoit got the best of him. Things finally came to an onset at the 2001 Royal Rumble, when Jericho defeated him. Y2J mocked Benoit's missing tooth. The Rabid Wolverine was not smiling. The only way that Y2J was able to defeat his long-time rival was to beat him at his own game with physicality. This match has been compared to Shawn vs. Razor from WM X. I would not rank it above that match, but very close. 

Rey Mysterio:

Length of Feud: 2009

Featured Matches:
Cruiserweight Title Match at WCW Souled Out
The Bash 2009 (Title vs Mask for IC Championship)
Extreme Rules 2009

Match Quality: 4/5
Storyline Quality: 8/10
Rivalry Rating: 7/10

Chris Jericho and Rey Mysterio have crossed paths long before becoming stars in the WWE. They were both the key players for the Cruiserweight Division in WCW as they battled for the Cruiserweight Championship.

They had naturally great chemistry in the ring, but they did not have a substantial storyline to build around. It was not until they encountered each other in WWE that they finally had a strong storyline to create a great rivalry.

In 2009, Chris Jericho and Rey Mysterio orchestrated a personal feud over the Intercontinental Championship that helped to strengthen the foundation of a storied title.

At the height of his legendary heel run, Jericho became obsessed with unmasking Mysterio. He wanted to know why Rey always wore a mask.

The feud started when Jericho disguised himself as a fan during one of Rey's matches on RAW. When the match was over, Mysterio went to celebrate with the fans.

One of the fans wore a mask and attacked him. The person took off the mask to reveal himself as Chris Jericho. It showed what lengths that Y2J would go to in order to get to Rey. Their matches for the title were personal and greatly executed, as these were the very best matches that both men have ever had with each other.

Dean Malenko:

Length of Feud: 1998
Featured Matches:
WCW/NWO Uncensored

Match Quality: 3.5/5
Storyline Quality: 7/10
Rivalry Rating: 6/10

This was definitely Chris Jericho's most entertaining feud in WCW. Dean Malenko called himself "The Man of 1,000 Holds". Jericho made a parody of it calling himself "The Man of 1,004 Holds". The feud was further ignited when Jericho read the list of holds. His most famous hold: Armbar.

Malenko was a man of few words, but Jericho was a man of many, many words. He still is today. Chris would constantly call out Malenko and claim that he was a better wrestler than him. He would constantly take shots at Malenko saying that he could beat him.

Jericho was the WCW Cruiserweight Champion at the time in his best year with WCW. The two finally met at WCW Uncensored, where Jericho would defeat him with the Liontamer.

After the loss, Dean took a break from the company. During that time, Jericho continued to insult him. One night, Chris had to defend the title against a Mystery opponent. Little did he know that it was Dean Malenko. The surprise took Jericho by surprise as Malenko defeated him for the title. Jericho would then claim to be a "Conspiracy Victim".

This feud helped to elevate Jericho's status among the Cruiserweights in WCW and made him stand out as an entertainer. This was his most noteworthy feud of his time in WCW.




The Rock:

Length of Feud: 2001

Featured Matches:
No Mercy 2001
Vengeance 2001
Royal Rumble 2002

Match Quality: 3.5/5
Storyline Quality: 8/10
Rivalry Rating: 8/10


This feud gets special recognition because Chris Jericho finally got to work with one of the biggest Box Office attractions in wrestling History, The Rock. The Great One and The Ayatollah of Rock & Rolla teamed up during the Invasion to fight off WCW and ECW.

 However, they still had their own rivalry going. The origins of this friendly rivalry started during Jericho's debut on RAW on August 9, 1999. As we all know by now, Y2J dropped a legendary missile of a promo aimed at the WWF locker room including one of the biggest stars in the wrestling world (The Rock).

Rocky stood there and let Jericho fire his arrows and made him look even better than ever before. In his book "Undisputed", Y2J says that he was more famous after 30 seconds on RAW than he was for 3 years on Nitro.

That says everything, especially when he went on a verbal war with the People's Champ. This indeed put Jericho over more than anything he had done in WCW. After Jericho finished shooting his verbal bullets, The Rock fires back and shuts Jericho down.

At the end of the day, Chris Jericho became a made man in that place in time. The rest of his career would speak for itself. Fast forward back to 2001, Jericho feuds with The Rock for the WCW Championship.

Y2J brings everything that he had against The Brahma Bull. At No Mercy, Chris Jericho defeats The Rock to become the WCW World Heavyweight Champion. Rocky would regain the title shortly afterward. At Vengeance 2001, Chris Jericho made history by becoming the first Undisputed Champion.

The first man that he defeated to unify the titles was The Rock himself. Jericho defeated Rocky for the second time to win the WCW World Title. This was the biggest mainstream dance partner that Jericho has had besides Austin.

His victories over The Rock put Chris Jericho on a different level than where he was in WCW. The significance of this feud is what puts The Rock in the conversation of Jericho's best dance partners.

Triple H:

Length of Feud: 2002

Featured Matches:
Monday Night RAW (April 17, 2000, WWF Championship)
Fully Loaded 2000 (Last Man Standing)
Monday Night RAW (July 2001, World Tag Team Titles)
WrestleMania X8 (Undisputed Championship)
Backlash 2002 (Hell In A Cell Match)

Match Quality: 4/5
Storyline Quality: 7.5/10
Rivalry Quality: 8/10

His first encounter may have been with The Rock, but Chris Jericho's first experience of a Main Event match was with Triple H. Jericho served as the thorn in the side of Triple H and Stephanie, because of his verbal attacks on the McMahon Princess. This infuriated The Game as it led to a great storyline between them.

Initially, Jericho went through his share of struggles after his legendary War of Words with The Rock. He was stuck in storylines with Chyna as he was running in circles. Finally, he got the chance to work with Stephanie and Triple H.

This led to a match for the WWF Title on an episode of RAW on April 17, 2000. The match was well executed with Jericho scoring the upset win over Triple H. Minutes later, Triple H forced the referee to reverse the decision. Y2J returned to give the title back, but he put the WWE on notice about what he was capable of. He earned the respect of the fans with his performance.

They would collide at Fully Loaded 2000 in a Last Man Standing Match. This was one of the best Last Man Standing Matches that I had ever seen, as I was convinced that Jericho would win. With a split second, Triple H won the match. However, he realized that Jericho brought the fight to him. This showed the toughness of Chris Jericho.

In 2001, Jericho teamed with rival Chris Benoit to defeat the Two-Man Power Trip of Triple H & Stone Cold Steve Austin to win the Tag Titles. If not for Benoit being erased, this would still be remembered as one of the greatest RAW Main Events in WWE History.

In 2002, the two would Main Event WrestleMania X8 in Toronto, Canada. This was a homecoming for Jericho, as he was able to close WrestleMania in front of what would technically be his hometown crowd. The match had great chemistry and was well organized, even though it followed in the footsteps of Rock vs. Hogan.

However, it was still a great match as The Cerebral Assassin defeated Y2J to become Undisputed Champion. They would clash again at Hell In A Cell, where The Game would reign Supreme to end their feud.





Conclusion:
In the end, after reviewing these great rivals, I would say that Jericho had his best dances in the ring with:

Shawn Michaels:

When it comes to matches, both legends are naturals at telling a story. When they added the personal element, it took their feud to a greater level.

This rivalry had the most substance out of all of Jericho's rivalries. His feuds with the likes of Benoit and Malenko were mostly based on matches while his feuds with The Rock and Triple H were mostly based on storylines. Jericho's feud with HBK was the perfect combination of both because Shawn Michaels had such a profound impact on his career.

It went from simply Student vs. Teacher to a man disappointed in a man that was once his idol. This was about a man proving that his hero was exposed as a liar. Even though Jericho was the heel, Shawn proved him right. Yet, the fans still cheered Michaels.

This feud revealed Chris Jericho's calculated heel side. This was also the point in Jericho's career where he needed to reinvent himself, and this rivalry came at the right time. Not only did Jericho spark new life into his career, but he sparked the most intense feud of his career.

In the end, it was still about the protege having the last laugh on his mentor. Jericho did it in a vicious way.

It provided the elevation that Jericho needed in order to be the most effective heel that he could possibly be. This proved why Chris Jericho called himself The Best In the World at What he did.



Greatest Matches:
1. vs. Shawn Michaels/No Mercy 2008
2. vs. Chris Benoit/Royal Rumble 2001
3. vs. Shawn Michaels/WrestleMania XIX
4. vs. Triple H/Fully Loaded 2000
5. vs. Shawn Michaels/Great American Bash 2008
6. vs. Rey Mysterio/The Bash 2009
7. w/Chris Benoit vs. Two-Man Power Trip/Monday Night RAW
8. vs. Dean Malenko/Uncensored 1998
9. vs. The Rock/Royal Rumble 2002
10. vs. The Rock/No Mercy 2001

Portrait Courtesy of Rob Schamberger (Twitter/Instagram: @RobSchamberger)