Legends with JBL (Undertaker's Rivals Review)

In the midst of "Undertaker Week", JBL hosted a Special Edition of his "Legends with JBL" where he has a roundtable discussion with some of the Undertaker's greatest opponents (Stone Cold Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels and Triple H). Everyone including JBL has a strong respect for The Undertaker. All four of them have their share of history with the Deadman.

JBL starts off by calling The Undertaker a Legend that transcends his sport as he compares the Phenom to Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, and Wayne Gretzky. I believe that many can make that case for Taker as he deserves to be in the conversation. JBL names Taker's accomplishments along with the Streak before introducing legends from Austin, HBK and Triple H. This is a great panel with men that also have decorated careers and have enough experience with Taker to share a candid discussion.

Longevity:
The Discussion starts when JBL transitions from accomplishments to longevity. Austin, HBK and The Game have all had great careers but did not have the staying power that Taker has. Austin is the first to talk about Undertaker's longevity by going back to their time coming up together in the business. Stone Cold speaks highly of how The Undertaker was able to maintain his character for so many years and how he has been able to carry himself professionally. Shawn Michaels talks about how there were skeptics of Undertaker when he first came in and how they thought that he would burn out quickly. However, Taker proved them wrong.

Transformations:

Triple H mentions how Undertaker was able to transform to keep up with the different eras. This is a testament to how dedicated Taker is to his craft. He has witnessed the Hogan Era, Bret Hart Era, Attitude Era and the time beyond that because he knew how to adapt to a constantly changing landscape.

(Side note: Another Hogan reference. I guess it is fine as long as you don't give him the spotlight.)

Stone Cold brings up how kids were legitimately scared of Undertaker. Shawn talks about how Undertaker's character was thought to be short lived. JBL goes through the different transformations and how those could have been career suicide. However, Taker was able to bring authenticity to the character because of his commitment. The Undertaker is somewhat of an extension of the man behind the character, but with theatrics included. HBK mentions how those transformations can be a credibility killer to anyone else.

Overlooked Gem:

Austin talks about Undertaker's come up in the USWA and WCW and how Vince was able to see what those promoters could not see and that is when "the cash register opened". JBL wonders how promoters like Jim Herd and others could not see Undertaker's value because of his size and presence. He says that those promoters missed 25 years on a money machine.

Shawn Michaels says that some of those same promoters have told everyone else the same thing. He says that Undertaker was able to make the gimmick work because of his quiet and cool nature which is part of what makes the character who he is. Mark himself is very reserved and stoic, so he is able to keep that core when playing the part. Part of what made Undertaker successful is that he was able to hold part of the steering wheel behind the gimmick.

Stone Cold says that Undertaker was able to remain his top spot because he paid his dues along with natural ability.

Ring Presence/Skill:

Now, the panel talks about a huge element of what makes Undertaker stand out: his athleticism. Triple H talks about Undertaker's different cadences in the ring from how smooth he moved in the ring and how he carried himself.

Arrival in WWE/Consistency:

JBL did his homework and talks about how Paul Heyman was trying to get Bruce Pritchard to get Undertaker a job in WWE. Taker had an injured hip but still went on to have a match with Lex Luger at the Great American Bash. That match is what caught Vince McMahon's attention. John says that he did not think that The Undertaker gimmick would have worked in WCW. Nobody knew what to do with him.

Triple H agrees that it would have been hard for the gimmick to work in WCW. The character has to be handled properly, and that is one thing that Vince and Mark have both been able to do for so long.


Loyalty:

JBL brings up the mid-90's timeframe where wrestlers were jumping ship to WCW and how devastating it would have been if Undertaker left.

Stone Cold talks about how scared he was when Bret Hart left for WCW. He says that the good thing in the whole situation is that Undertaker stayed in WWE. Austin said that he was not sure how Taker's career would have gone if he went back.

Shawn talks about how Taker wanted to prove everyone wrong in WCW. He shares a story about how he wanted to go, but Vince said that it would not work creatively.

JBL shares the story about how Kevin Nash tentatively tried to reach out to Undertaker. Everyone talks about Undertaker's loyalty because nobody believed in him in WCW and he was grateful for Vince giving him the shot to become the star that he is now.

Experience with Undertaker:

JBL shares the story about his first match with Undertaker and how Taker went out of his way to make him look better. He talks about how frightened he was by the bright lights of the WWE when he saw Taker's entrance and Shawn's WM 12 entrance. JBL talks about how Taker gave him the nod.

Stone Cold talks about his first match with Undertaker and how he tried to strategize his gameplan for the match. When the lights went out for the Undertaker's entrance, Austin's mind went blank.

Another funny story that JBL shares is that during his first match with Taker, he was giving him stiff punches. Taker yells "Do I owe you money?" and everybody starts to laugh. John thought that he was fired. Shawn says that Taker used that same line and said "Get Shawn back in".

JBL talks about how he picked Rey Mysterio as his opponent for his last match out of respect for Eddie Guerrero. Then, he asked Shawn if he picked Taker as the opponent for his last match. Shawn says no, but was presented the idea of a rematch from Michael Hayes. HBK said that it just felt right. He says that when you are in the ring with someone, you somehow become closer with them.

WrestleMania XXV:

JBL talks about when The Undertaker asked Michael Hayes where his match with Shawn Michaels was on the WrestleMania XXV card. Hayes tells him it was fifth. Taker laces his boots and says, "Let's raise this to another level". Shawn shares the same story. He says that when Taker looks up at Michael and says "Fifth, out of how many?". When he finds out, he tells Shawn they would raise it to a new level. The discussion transitions to the Iconic match of Taker vs. HBK.

JBL moves to Triple H and brings up how tough it had to be for him and Randy Orton to follow the blockbuster match that Taker and Shawn had. Even Triple H himself knew that he was dead in the water. Hunter says that within 15 minutes of the match, Randy walked into the dressing room. He tells Orton, "Dude we are screwed" (He used another word). Trips knew the impending doom of his match with Orton. Austin says "Great Match, Bad Timing".

Triple H says he was torn because he knew he was doomed, but he still had to tell them how great they were.

Greatest Match:

This had to be the lightning rod topic of the show. JBL asks the inevitable question. Was Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXV the Greatest Match of all-time? (A large consensus believes it is, even WWE named it that)

The Panel says that it is a very subjective topic, because you could choose from a variety of matches from Savage vs. Steamboat or Flair vs. Steamboat, etc. They go into what it really means to have the greatest match of all-time because it is hard for 10 people to get together and agree on what is really the greatest match ever. If it was hard for all four of these veterans to decide, imagine how it must be for writers, etc.

Shawn Michaels says that it was good enough just for him and the others on the panel to just be mentioned in the conversation for greatest of all-time.

Stone Cold shares his own story of having to follow an Undertaker match. He brings up how he had to follow Undertaker vs. Mankind at King of the Ring 1998 (Hell In A Cell).

Triple H compares wrestling to music. It is like deciding the greatest song of all-time.

End of An Era:

The discussion transitions to the "End of an Era" Match at WrestleMania XXVIII when Triple H wrestled Undertaker inside of the Cell with Shawn Michaels as the Guest Referee. JBL wants to know if that was their proudest moment with Undertaker. Triple H said yes. Austin chimes in and says how great they told the story of the match and the bond that they shared.

HBK said that it was the most enjoyable moment.


Breaking Character:

The Panel talks about times where they tried to make Undertaker laugh, including a time where they wanted him to do the Spin a Roonie (Taker Roonie) after a Monday Night RAW event. Vince and the fans wanted Taker to break character, but he refused. Even Vince himself could not get him to break, but that shows the respect Taker has for his character and the business.

JBL mentions the different backstage Kliqs in wrestling at the time from "The Kliq" to Bret Hart and his Canadian Kliq to Undertaker's "Bone Street Krew". Austin said that those Kliqs were a shoot and he was never part of one. He tells a story that Undertaker was so tired that he actually slept in the Undertaker casket. People started standing around as Taker got up and never said a word.

Triple H talks about how he saw Undertaker sitting down getting his ribs wrapped up and fighting through the pain. JBL talks about how Taker endured so much punishment and never sold any of it (never complained).

Stone Cold tells the story about how Undertaker knocked him out with a headbutt during their Summerslam '98 match. Austin finds himself on the announce table as Taker gave him the leg drop off the top rope. Steve said that he was not very proud of the match because he did not believe that he performed to the level of his standard or Taker's. JBL brings up how Taker broke his coccyx bone after landing through the table.

Austin talks about how intimidating Undertaker is because of his size. He says that Taker becomes even more intimidating when he is on the top turnbuckle. Steve shares a story in Kuwait where he made Undertaker laugh during the match.

JBL tells a story about when he got drafted to Smackdown he was given lines of jokes to make Taker laugh. He couldn't do it.

Layfield compares Undertaker's respect to Andre The Giant. Triple H says that when he got married to Stephanie, the one guy that he went to for advice was The Undertaker. HBK wanted to find out how Taker felt about the Montreal Screwjob. Shawn and Triple H talk about how Vince gave Taker the facts about the Screwjob, and he understood the business aspect.

Wisdom:

The Panel talks about Undertaker's wisdom and cool demeanor. He calmly analyzes a situation before giving sound advice. Taker was very calm and collected while HBK and Austin were very reactionary. They give Taker respect for putting up with his share of bad opponents (Giant Gonzalez). He NEVER complained.

Backstage Stories (Wrestler's Court/Fight with Kurt Angle):

The Group talks about how Undertaker was always the judge of "Wrestler's Court" and how it was meant to be funny but raised the morale of the locker room.

Taker has the ability to raise the morale and maintain the locker room.

Triple H talks about how Undertaker's ear was bleeding after Austin's knee brace hit him in the ear during their match at Insurrection. He says that at the Airport, Taker actually washed his ear off before a plastic surgeon came to repair the ear. On the plane, Undertaker sees Kurt wrestling Vince, and he chokes Angle out. Kurt was on top of Vince, and Taker made Kurt tap out.


The End of the Streak:

Another hot topic is the End of the Streak. JBL wants to get everyone's opinion on the Streak. Everyone was in total disbelief. Austin said that he had a beer in each hand during the match. When Brock's hand was raised, Steve said that his eyes grew wide just like the fan in the front row with the glasses that everyone makes memes about.

Stone Cold said that The Streak ending was good in helping advance Brock Lesnar, but he believes that it should have never ended. They also talk about how the Streak took on a life of its own. Vince originally did not have a plan for Taker to go undefeated when he won his first match. It just became a snowball effect. Shawn Michaels was the main person that brought that up.

Taker's farewell:

The Discussion ends with JBL trying to figure out the best way for Undertaker to give his farewell. Shawn Michaels and Stone Cold talk about when it was their time to end their careers. Shawn said that he felt more closure from WrestleMania XXVI than he did at WM XIV because he was able to leave on his own terms after his last match with Taker. Shawn was not able to do that in his match with Austin. Stone Cold said that he and a few other people in WWE knew that WM XIX with The Rock would be his last match. Triple H said it best. It is ultimately up to Undertaker to decide how he wants to retire.

Overall, I was highly impressed and very satisfied with this Interview/Discussion. Each of them has shown that they are historians. JBL has clearly done his research while using his own experiences with Taker. Triple H takes great pride in knowing his history, as it is always clear when he sits down for candid interviews like this and the one that he did on Austin's podcast earlier this year. It is also refreshing to see him away from the Authority character on WWE programming.

This is just what I expected from four guys who were each rival of Undertaker at some point in their career. JBL himself always speaks with an expression of gratitude and honor when he talks about The Undertaker. He is a Taker fan for life. Each of them has had their share of wars with The Deadman and carry the battle scars whether they won or lost.

I give this 5 out of 5 Undertaker WWE Championship Belts.

Let's Dance (vol. 4- Ric Flair)

Over the course of his remarkable 30+ year Career, "Nature Boy" Ric Flair has had his share of great dance partners that he has had amazing chemistry with. Flair knew how to dance with the best while also bringing others to his beat. When you have won 16 World Titles along with other accolades, you have to have some great opponents along the way to produce outstanding matches. Ric did that and then some.

Now, I would like to explore and discuss the Greatest Dance Partners of the Nature Boy's Career:

Harley Race:

Length of Feud: 1977-1985

Featured Matches:
Texas Death Match
Best Two out of Three Falls for NWA Championship (6/10/1983)
Steel Cage Match (Starrcade 1983 "A Flare for the Gold")

Match Quality: 4/5
Storyline Quality: 9/10
Rivalry Rating: 8.5/10

In order for Ric Flair to emerge into the Main Event Star that he became, he had to overcome the man that stood tall on the NWA Mountain, Harley Race. Both Flair and Race were a very sharp contrast of each other. Harley Race was hard-nosed and hard-hitting with very methodical promos. He was very sturdy and blue collar in every way.

He was even one of the first wrestlers to wear tattoos before they even became cool. Meanwhile, Flair was very flamboyant with the way that he wrestled, the way that he dressed and the way that he talked. Harley was the ultimate predecessor for Flair to defeat. They had a series of matches from the early 70's going into the mid-80's when Race was starting to slow down. Race even put a bounty on Flair's head. That is how serious this feud was.

The feud reached its apex at Starrcade 1983 when Ric Flair defeated Harley Race to win the NWA World Title in a Steel Cage Match. This will forever be known as the passing of the torch for Flair's career. Ric won the title before, but this was the official confirmation that he would carry the company going forward. Harley would briefly win back the title, but ultimately Flair would have the last laugh.



Dusty Rhodes:

Length of Feud: 1977-1987

Featured Matches:
NWA World Heavyweight Title Match (9/16/1981)
Best Two out of Three Falls for NWA Championship (1/1/1982)
NWA World Heavyweight Title Match (Starrcade 1984)
NWA World Heavyweight Title Match (Starrcade 1985)
Steel Cage Match for NWA Championship (Great American Bash 1986)

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

The Classic Story of the Working Class Common Man vs. The Limousine Ridin', Jet Flyin' pompous Villain. It was a tale of Rags vs. Riches. Dusty represented the hard working, lower to middle-class common person. Flair represented the high-class, snobbish socialite that lives a lavish lifestyle while looking down on others. Dusty and Ric have a history dating back to the '70s.

Flair patterned some of his styles after Dusty in a roundabout way. In fact, Flair won his first World Title from Rhodes on September 16, 1981, in Kansas City, MO. They would have a number of matches in between, but no real storyline until 1984. Dusty challenged the winner of the Flair vs. Race match from Starrcade '83. As we know, Naitch won the match.

Their feud would soon start to build as they would collide for the NWA World Title at Starrcade 1984 (Million Dollar Challenge). In that match, Boxing Legend Joe Frazier was the Guest Referee. This was not exactly their best match together because Frazier called for the bell when Dusty's eye was covered with blood.

This would transition the feud into Starrcade 1985, which is known for Dusty's passionate "Hard Times" promo heading into the match. This match made up for the year before as it was executed in a much better fashion. The match was at a very solid but intense pace. In spite of interference from Arn and Ole Anderson, Dusty picked up the win to become champion after pulling Flair in with an inside cradle.

However, the decision was reversed by referee Tommy Young. The outcome was changed for Dusty to win by DQ after interference from the Andersons. This launched the Four Horsemen in January 1986. Their feud would reach its peak and pretty much blow off at the Great American Bash in 1986 inside of a steel cage. I would say that this was the best match that they had together because Dusty was able to get his ultimate revenge on Flair with no Horsemen involved. Rhodes defeated Flair to officially win the NWA World Title for the third and last time.

This feud was carried by great matches but an even greater and more intense storyline. Flair and Dusty danced to different beats, but they were still in sync with each other.



Ricky Steamboat:

Length of Feud: 1977-1994

Featured Matches:
Chi-Town Rumble (NWA World Heavyweight Championship)
Clash of the Champions VI (2 out of 3 Falls for NWA World Title)
WrestleWar '89 (NWA World Heavyweight Title)
WCW Spring Stampede '94 (WCW World Heavyweight Championship)

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


Like his feud with Dusty, this was a clash of two different morals. Steamboat was the clean-cut, straight-laced family man who wanted to do things the right way. Meanwhile, Flair was the opposite. He was all about glitz, glamour beautiful women and living on the wild side. The one thing that they had in common was that they were both technical geniuses in the ring that had the stamina to deliver a great 20+ minute match.

They first crossed paths in the late '70's when Steamboat joined NWA Mid-Atlantic. Their most famous encounter at the time was when Steamboat ripped Flair's clothes. Naitch responded by attacking Steamboat and rubbing his face into the floor. At this time, they battled for the Mid-Atlantic TV Title and the U.S. Title. Flair has even said that he believes those earlier matches were better than the ones that they had in 1989, which says a lot.

When The Nature Boy was elevated to the Main Event picture, Steamboat would be one of his natural opponents for the World Heavyweight Title. They enjoyed a series of classic matches from 1983 to early 1985 before Steamboat left for the WWF. In 1984, Steamboat and Flair had three straight matches that went 60-minutes. They had Ironman matches long before WWE came up with the idea.

When The Dragon returned to NWA/WCW in January 1989, his focus was on Ric Flair. Steamboat revealed himself to be Eddie Gilbert's mystery partner vs Ric Flair and Barry Windham.

The Dragon became the number one contender for Flair's NWA World Title heading into Chi-Town Rumble. Steamboat defeated Flair in this contest of endurance and ring generalship. They took each other to the limit. Flair would have a rematch at Clash of the Champions VI (Ragin Cajun') in a 2 out of 3 Falls Match for the World Title. However, Steamboat remained champion when it was ruled that he had Flair's shoulders down even though Ric fell on him during a submission. This led to the final showdown of their trilogy at Wrestle War. In the end, Flair would regain the title after a remarkable series of matches.

Five years later, their paths would cross for the last time as Flair defeated Steamboat to remain WCW World Champion. The Dragon would retire that year.



Sting:

Length of Feud: 1987-2001

Featured Matches:
Clash of the Champions I (NWA World Heavyweight Championship)
Starrcade 1989 (WCW World Heavyweight Championship)
Great American Bash (WCW World Heavyweight Championship)
Starrcade 1990 (WCW World Heavyweight Championship)
Clash of the Champions XXVII (WCW World Heavyweight Championship)
The First WCW Monday Nitro (WCW United States Championship)
WCW World War 3 1995
The Final WCW Monday Nitro

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


This is the prime example of a guy with less experience who gets elevated by a legend and stays a Main Event Star for the rest of his career. Sting was a guy that was able to get over because he had the image and charisma.

Then, he gets in the ring with the franchise of the NWA (Ric Flair) and gets elevated to the Main Event picture. However, Sting found a way to maintain that status pretty much from the time that he stepped into the ring with Naitch.

Sting was a made man after his classic battle with Flair at the first Clash of the Champions PPV in 1988 (Same night as WrestleMania IV). Sting brought everything that he had to the table and did not disappoint. The match ended in a draw. This shows that you could put someone over without actually losing. Unlike Lex Luger, Flair's investment of Sting paid off in the long run.

Sting was dismissed from the Four Horsemen at Clash of the Champions X: Texas Shootout after refusing to relinquish his title shot against Ric Flair.

Sting was originally going to face Flair at WrestleWar in 1990 but suffered a serious knee injury in a Steel Cage Match featuring the Four Horsemen.

Once he recovered, Sting defeated Ric Flair at the Great American Bash on July 7, 1990. Sting's reign came to an end on January 11, 1991, at the hands of Flair in a rematch of Starrcade 1990.

Flair defeated Sting in a Title Unification Match at Clash of the Champions XXVII. Other notable matches include the first-ever WCW Nitro and World War 3.

This legendary feud came to a close on the final episode of Nitro. They kicked off Nitro together and ended Nitro together. Full circle.

Terry Funk: 

Length of Feud: 1981-2000


Featured Matches:
2 out of 3 Falls Match (AJPW- NWA World Championship)
Great American Bash 1989 (WCW World Heavyweight Championship)
Halloween Havoc 1989 (Thunderdome Match w/Sting & Great Muta)
Clash of the Champions IX (I Quit Match- WCW World Championship)
WCW SuperBrawl X

Match Quality: 3.5/5
Storyline Quality: 8.5/10
Rivalry Rating: 8.5/10

This was the Battle of the Master of the Figure Four vs. the Master of Hardcore. Flair vs. Funk at its core was brutal. Funk served as the Guest Color Commentator for Flair's match with Ricky Steamboat at Wrestle War. After the match, Terry came to the ring to congratulate Ric. He would also joke about challenging for the title. Flair said that he would have to wait in line with all of the other challengers. Funk was not cool with that at all as he attacked Naitch after the match with a Piledriver through the announce table. Flair said that he was legitimately hurt for months after Funk's Piledriver. This feud was so intense that Terry even tried to suffocate him with a plastic bag. He was hardcore LONG before ECW.

In his promo leading into the Great American Bash, Funk said that the "Glory Days" would become the "Gory Days" for Ric Flair. Flair defeated Funk at the GAB to remain Champion. At Halloween Havoc, Ric Flair teamed with Sting to defeat Terry Funk and Great Muta in a Thunderdome Match. Flair put Funk in the Figure Four as Gary Hart threw in the towel.

The feud would culminate with an "I Quit" Match at Clash of the Champions IX, where Flair would make Funk say "I Quit" with the Figure Four Leglock.

The feud with Funk was not as Iconic as the feuds with Race, Rhodes, and Steamboat, but it was a feud that Flair was into the transition from his war with Ricky Steamboat to a war with rising star Sting.

In the end, it was still great in its own way.

Randy Savage:

Length of Feud: 1992-1995

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


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

When Ric Flair made his arrival in the WWF in September 1991, he wasted no time shaking the landscape of the company. Everyone already knew of his reputation as the Wrestling Kingpin of the South. He called out everyone from Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage down to Roddy Piper. The Nature Boy proudly carried his Big Gold Belt from WCW as he proclaimed to be the "Real World's Champion". As we know, Flair won the Royal Rumble in 1992 to win the vacant WWF Championship.

After becoming Champion, Flair revealed how he and Miss Elizabeth had a "relationship" before she even met the Macho Man. Flair and Mr. Perfect called out Savage as a man. Perfect's promo was on point. "Macho Man Randy Savage. What makes you so Macho? What makes you a Man? What makes you a Savage?". They teased the idea of exposing a Centerfold of Liz after the match.

Macho Man was furious about this as he went silent in the time heading into WrestleMania. These ingredients mixed together created a highly intense and greatly executed match between the two for the Title. In typical Flair fashion, he was busted open. Savage won the WWF Title for the second time. This was the high point of their feud in the WWF. Flair would win the title back in September with the Figure Four while Savage passed out from the pain, but it was nowhere near their encounter at Mania.

Their feud was rekindled in 1995 after Savage's arrival in WCW. They had a series of good to great matches from Great American Bash, Bash at the Beach to Starrcade. Once again, the common themes were Elizabeth and the Title.



Conclusion:

Ricky Steamboat:

As I have come to my conclusion, there is no question that Ric Flair's greatest dance partner was Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat. They were like two great musicians with different genres but were on point with the way they danced together in the squared circle. Both Flair and Steamboat were technical powerhouses that never ever disappointed. Their 1989 trilogy was the peak of their rivalry. Steamboat wrestled according to morals and ethics as the ultimate babyface that never went heel. Meanwhile, Flair was at his best as a heel which made him the perfect thorn in the side of the Dragon. It is one thing to bring someone up to your level of rhythm as a dance partner. Flair has had a history of doing that (ask Lex Luger and others). It is another thing to have someone who can naturally dance to your beat during a match, and Steamboat was that guy for Flair. Overall, they made things better for each other as they brought the best out of one another.

Greatest Matches:
1. vs. Ricky Steamboat (WrestleWar)
2. vs. Ricky Steamboat (Chi-Town Rumble)
3. vs. Ricky Steamboat (Clash of the Champions VI)
4. 1992 Royal Rumble
5. vs. Randy Savage (WrestleMania VIII)
6. vs. Dusty Rhodes (Great American Bash 1986)
7. vs. Sting (Clash of the Champions I)
8. vs. Harley Race (Starrcade 1983)
9. vs. Sting (Great American Bash 1990)
10. vs. Dusty Rhodes (9/16/1981)

Second Quarter NFL MVP

We are now finished with the second quarter of the NFL Season (8 games). This is better known as the first half of the Season. Now, it is time to look at the players who have produced the best season within this timespan.

Tom Brady:

Completions: 225

Attempts: 328

Percentage: 68.6%

Passing Yards: 2,709

Touchdowns: 22

Interceptions: 2

QB Rating: 113.5

Tom Brady continues his rampage in the NFL  as he currently ranks first in QB Rating at 113.5, while ranking fourth in completions (225), third in passing yards (2,709), and first in touchdowns (22). Through this first half, Brady has only thrown two interceptions. This run is remarkable as Tom continues to make both the Defense and Roger Goodell pay. Brady is on a mission to terminate his opponents pass by pass as he leads the Patriots to an 8-0 start. In 16 Seasons, Brady is hardly slowing down at all. Tom already has two MVP's to his Resume, and he would have no problem adding a third.

Aaron Rodgers:

Completions: 163

Attempts: 252

Percentage: 64.7%

Passing Yards: 1,937

Touchdowns: 19

Interceptions: 3

QB Rating: 108.2

Aaron Rodgers continues to play at MVP form as the Green Bay Packers still reign over the NFC North. He is still producing at top form but has had a bit of a fall off in the past two games with losses against the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers. The way that the Broncos dominated the Packers gave a slight blow to Aaron's stock as MVP. At 6-2, Green Bay is still very lethal.

Andy Dalton:

Completions: 174

Attempts: 258

Percentage: 67.4%

Passing Yards: 2,226

Touchdowns: 18

Interceptions: 4

QB Rating: 111.0

"The Red Rifle" Andy Dalton continues to fire away leading Cincinnati to a perfect 8-0 record, making them one of the small handful of undefeated teams that still exist. Andy continues to float around the MVP conversation which helps his stock grow exponentially. In the midst of his peers like Russell Wilson, Andrew Luck and others, Dalton shines the brightest.

Cam Newton:

Completions: 132

Attempts: 246

Percentage: 53.7%

Passing Yards: 1,820

Touchdowns: 14

Interceptions: 9

QB Rating: 81.4

With the way that Carolina is taking a hold of their division, Cam Newton shares a great deal of the responsibility for their success. Cam has emerged as an MVP Candidate compared to where he was at the start of the season. Newton is playing the finest football of his career at this point as he is silencing his critics with great field generalship. Cam may not have the most aesthetically pleasing numbers compared to his contemporaries, but he gets the job done. Newton has improved his football IQ and instincts as a QB.

My 2nd Quarter MVP goes to:

Tom Brady:

The race is still ultimately between him and Aaron Rodgers, but Brady has pulled ahead by keeping his team undefeated. 

Let's Dance (vol 3. Eddie Guerrero)

In this installment of the "Let's Dance" Series (courtesy of @RealMikeKnoxxx and Perfect Plex), This series has gotten off to a strong start after highlighting the dance partners of future Hall of Famer Chris Jericho.

Now, I would like to focus on the great rivalries throughout the career of one of Jericho's closest friends, Eddie Guerrero.

During his storied Career, the late legendary Eddie Guerrero has battled with some of the best that the business had to offer. From AAA in Mexico to Japan, to ECW, WCW and finally in WWE, Eddie has danced with many partners. Like Chris Jericho, Benoit and others, Eddie was well versed in many different International styles of wrestling. Now, it is time to explore his greatest rivalries:


Chris Benoit:

Length of Feud: 1993-2003

Featured Matches:

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 1996

Fatal Four Way at No Way Out 2001 (IC Championship)

Four Way Elimination Match on Smackdown (w/Edge and Kurt Angle)

Armageddon 2002

Vengeance 2003 (US Title Match)

Match Quality: 4.5/5

Storyline Quality: 7.5/10

Rivalry Rating: 8.5/10

Their styles of wrestling and careers mirrored each other. The only difference is that Eddie had much more charisma. Both were technical wizards who crafted their skill Internationally. Eddie incorporated more of the Lucha-libre style while Benoit applied the Hart Dungeon Canadian style of wrestling. They were both fantastic in the Japanese strong style of wrestling as well. Their builds were also very similar. Guerrero and Benoit first crossed paths on the International Circuit in New Japan Pro Wrestling in the Best of the Super Juniors Tournaments in the 90's. They would battle each other in WCW as well, but things did not fully launch until they both jumped ship to the WWF as members of the Radicalz. Soon, tension started to build within the group as both leaders would find themselves fighting for the IC Title. At No Way Out 2001, Guerrero and Benoit were involved in the Fatal 4 Way Match that included X-Pac and IC Champion Chris Jericho. Y2J would ultimately win. Between 2002 and 2003, Benoit and Eddie would battle for the US Title with Guerrero being the ultimate victor. WrestleMania XX was a watershed moment for both of them as they closed the night with confetti as they held their World Titles in victory after years of dedication. The chemistry that they had together was among the best that wrestling had to offer. They had similar skills, but different characters. Sadly, they are also associated by the way that they died. Eddie passed away in 2005 while Benoit tragically took his life along with his family's life in 2007. They changed the business not only by their influence as wrestlers but also through their tragedies. 

Rey Mysterio: 

Length of Feud: 1995-2005

Featured Matches:

Halloween Havoc 1997 (Title vs. Mask for WCW Cruiserweight Title)

WrestleMania 21

Judgment Day 2005

Great American Bash 2005

Summerslam 2005

Match Quality: 4.5/5

Storyline Quality: 9/10

Rivalry Rating: 9/10

Both of these Latino Warriors are deeply connected because Eddie Guerrero's influence is what helped to propel Rey Mysterio. Without Eddie, there would be no Rey. Eddie and Rey's history traces back to their time in AAA. From that point, they would reconnect in WCW. This is where things really started to heat up between them. Rey and Eddie were fixtures as the backbone of the Cruiserweight Division. At Halloween Havoc, Guerrero and Mysterio tore the roof off of the building with their Title vs. Mask match for the WCW Cruiserweight Crown. Mysterio won the championship and kept his mask. This match put everything else on that show to shame. This was named WCW's Match of the Year, and rightfully so. Later, Eddie would form the Latino answer to the NWO called the "LWO" (Latino World Order). He tried to recruit Mysterio, but Rey denied. In WWE, Eddie and Rey would be members of the Smackdown Six, a group of workhorse wrestlers that delivered the best quality matches that WWE had to offer on the Smackdown Brand. Along with them were Edge, Kurt Angle, Benoit, and Chavo. Like they did in the Cruiserweight Division, Eddie and Rey formed their own identity away from the A level Stars. Eddie even defended the WWE Title against Rey at one point. Mysterio and Guerrero later won the WWE Tag Team Titles. At WrestleMania 21, Eddie and Rey put on a great match to start the show. Mysterio won as it helped to ignite the fire that was burning to create their feud. Soon, Guerrero turned heel and viciously attacked him. The feud culminated at Summerslam with Rey winning custody of Dominic. Following Eddie's death, Rey won the WHC at WrestleMania 22 in honor of the Latino Legend. 

Dean Malenko: 

Length of Feud: 1995-1997

Match Quality: 4/5

Storyline Quality: 7/10

Rivalry Rating: 7.5/10

Featured Matches:

ECW Hostile City Showdown

ECW WrestlePalooza 6-man Tag Match (Dean w/Cactus Jack & 2 Cold Scorpio vs. Eddie Guerrero & The Steiner Brothers)

Best 2 out of 3 Falls Match in ECW

WCW Uncensored 1997

WCW Starrcade 1997

This feud was built strictly off of one-upmanship. Malenko was one of Eddie's best dance partners, because of how well they were able to bounce off of one another. Their matches were the highlight of ECW as they carried many of the shows. In an environment fueled by blood-thirsty fans and violent brawls, Guerrero and Malenko provided substance and technique. Their series of matches from ECW is still the stuff of legend to this very day. They danced pretty much to the same beat and same rhythm in the ring. Both men received a standing ovation from the ECW crowd in their farewell match before going to WCW together in late 1995. In WCW, Dean and Eddie would cross paths again as staples of the Cruiserweight Division with feature matches in 1997 from Uncensored to Starrcade. No matter the environment, they created chemistry. 

Kurt Angle: 

Length of Feud: 2004

Match Quality: 4/5

Storyline Quality: 7.5/10

Rivalry Rating: 8/10

Featured Matches:

WrestleMania XX

Summerslam 2004

Much of Eddie's best work involves him dancing with great technicians, and Kurt Angle is one of the best that his generation has to offer. I find it quite interesting that after winning the WWE Championship from Brock Lesnar, Eddie transitioned from a storyline with one former amateur wrestler to another. Kurt Angle stepped in to become Guerrero's next challenger. Kurt attacked Eddie's character by saying that he has brought dishonor and disrespect to the WWE Title because of his problems with drugs and alcohol. This led to their awesome match at WrestleMania XX, where Guerrero retained the title by outsmarting Angle. Soon, Kurt suffered an injury and became the General Manager of Smackdown. The feud continued with Angle making things miserable for Eddie as champion. At the Great American Bash, Kurt pointed out how JBL reached the last turnbuckle in their Strap Match before Eddie's hand reached that point. Thus, JBL became the new WWE Champion. After his injury was exposed as fake Kurt Angle faced Eddie Guerrero at Summerslam. This time, Kurt won. Anytime Eddie and Kurt stepped into the ring to battle, you knew they would pull things out of the hat that they wouldn't use against anyone else. 

John Bradshaw Layfield:

Length of Feud: 2004

Match Quality: 4/5

Storyline Rating: 8.5/10

Rivalry Rating: 8/10

Featured Matches: 

Judgment Day 2004 (WWE Championship)

Great American Bash 2004 (WWE Championship- Texas Bull Rope Match)

Steel Cage Match (Smackdown)

Armageddon (Fatal Four Way for WWE Championship w/Undertaker and Booker T)

When Bradshaw returned after the APA split up, he became the arrogant JR Ewing-inspired John Bradshaw Layfield (JBL). The JBL character was like the Texan version of Ted DiBiase. JBL was like the Cowboy that struck rich on Wall Street. He carried himself like a Presidential Candidate. After fighting off Kurt Angle at WrestleMania XX, Eddie would have his hands full with the hard-hitting and pompous Layfield. JBL caused Eddie's mother to have a heart attack (kayfabe). From that point, the rivalry would kick off. JBL would mock Hispanics and Latinos and say that Eddie had no place as the WWE Champion (Long before Donald Trump). This would lead to a bloody and brutal battle at Judgment Day as JBL challenged Eddie for the WWE Championship. This match was the definition of Ruthless Aggression, as it was clearly a product of its time. It is most remembered by the way that both men would heavily bleed during the match as it was the extra element that made this battle unique. Eddie would retain the WWE title by DQ after hitting JBL with a chair. This would open the door for a Texas Bull Rope Match at the Great American Bash. Much like the Judgment Day match, Guerrero and JBL would bleed profusely in this match. Talk about a colorful rivalry. Their matches are best defined by blood. This match ended in very controversial fashion when Eddie would seemingly remain the champion. However, GM Kurt Angle reversed the decision when he showed that JBL's back reached the turnbuckle before Eddie's hand could even reach it. As a result, John Bradshaw Layfield became the new WWE Champion. They would have a rematch in a Steel Cage Match. However, Angle cost Guerrero the title when he dressed as El Gran Luchadore. It caught Eddie by surprise. Guerrero and Layfield would have their last encounter for the Title in a Fatal Four Way match that featured Undertaker and Booker T. JBL remained Champion. This feud did great things for JBL as a heel. I would go on record to say that Bradshaw had the best matches of his career with Eddie Guerrero. This is a testament to how Eddie could bring the best out of his dance partner. 

Conclusion:

Rey Mysterio:

Eddie Guerrero's most passionate and intense rivalry came against long-time friend Rey Mysterio. They were practically brothers, which added extra fuel to this fire. Their matches were technical classics, but their storyline is what gives this feud the edge over Eddie's other rivalries. The dances that Eddie had with Rey were his best. Guerrero was a major influence on Mysterio breaking into the business. The best Dance Partners are usually those who have a very deep connection with each other, and Eddie had his best dances and strongest connections with Rey. It was evident in their quality of matches and storylines. The rivalry essentially started with Eddie trying to take away Rey's mask and it basically ends that same way. The only difference is that it became much more personal years down the line in WWE. Both of these Latino legends had undying passion and that very passion was at its peak in their feud. Without question, Rey Mysterio will go down as Eddie Guerrero's greatest rival. 

Greatest Matches:

1. vs. Rey Mysterio (Halloween Havoc)

2. vs. Kurt Angle (WrestleMania XX)

3. vs. Chris Benoit (Vengeance 2003)

4. vs. Dean Malenko (Best 2 out of 3 Falls Match)

5. vs. Dean Malenko (Hostile City Showdown)

6. vs. JBL (Judgment Day 2004)

7. vs. Rey Mysterio (WrestleMania 21)

8. vs. Chris Benoit (Best of the Super Juniors 1996)

9. vs. Kurt Angle (Summerslam 2004)

10. vs. JBL (Great American Bash 2004)

Stephen Curry: "He's On Fire".

"He's On Fire". The legendary line from the classic NBA Jam when a player is on a hot streak where he shoots consecutive shots without missing. That phrase has transcended the Basketball world and it is the perfect way to describe Stephen Curry. Steph has been playing like he is in NBA Jam where he cannot miss. Just keep passing him the ball and watch him burn the net.

Defending NBA Champions the Golden State Warriors have launched to a great start this NBA Season, thanks to the scoring and playmaking of their leader Stephen Curry. Through the first 4 games of the Season, Curry has scored 148 points as he has become the second player in 40 years to accomplish that. The first was Michael Jordan himself during the 1985-86 campaign. He has also scored 20 points in the 4th quarter on three separate occasions. In the Season Opener (10/27), Curry cooked the New Orleans Pelicans with 40/7/6 (40 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds). His Airness did that on November 3, 1995. Now, Curry has 179 points in the first 5 games of the season.

Not to compare Curry to the King of the Basketball Universe, but he is separating himself from many of his peers. Although Steph has not yet reached the 50-40-90 club for shooters for an entire season, he has been lights out in his own way. Steph came close last season when he shot 44.3% beyond the arc and 91.4% from the free-throw line, but shot 48.7% from the floor. During these first 5 games, Curry has gone 50-50-90. (57% FG, 52% 3PT, 95% FT) The 3 PT % is subject to change, but those metrics are insane. The only players to do that are Steve Nash (4 times), Larry Bird (twice), Mark Price, Reggie Miller, Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Durant. Steph is backing up his MVP Season last year with the way that he is scorching opponents. Currently, Steph leads the NBA in Scoring (35.8 PPG) while leading Golden State to the best Record in the NBA as they are undefeated at 5-0. They currently sit at the 1st place in Points (117.6). Curry is practically neck and neck with Chris Paul as the League's Chief Point Guard. His MVP and Ring are what give him the extra nod over CP3.

The Warriors have faced their share of skeptics who say that they did not deserve to win the Championship last season. There are people that call it a fluke. That season was FAR from a fluke in every way. Golden State went 67-15, one of the best records in NBA History for a Championship team. They worked extremely hard to win that title. Automatically, the Clippers would finish in second place of the Pacific Division. Oklahoma City was in shambles because of Kevin Durant's injury. The Spurs won the season series 2-1 over Golden State, but the Warriors would have had the last laugh in the postseason because of their home court advantage.

The Warriors only lost 2 games at Oracle Arena, but neither one was against the Spurs. The Clippers were even worse against the Warriors, as Golden State won the season series 3-1.

Another knock against them is that they played injured point guards during the entire playoff run. While that is true, it is not Golden State's fault. The Pelicans (without Jrue Holiday), The Grizzlies (without Mike Conley) The Rockets (without Beverley) and The Cavs (Kyrie Irving was gone after Game 1). Golden State is among the best in the league when it comes to conditioning. With the way that Basketball takes a toll on the body, Curry could have been on the list. No disrespect, but if these teams were healthy I don't see them stopping the league MVP. Step had too much momentum going for him with this incredible MVP Season.

The next knock is that LeBron "had no help". Anytime LeBron's team loses, people want to say that he "had no help". It takes an entire team to win the Finals just as much as it takes an entire team to even make the playoffs. Yes, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving went down, but as we know LeBron is supposed to have a reputation for making others around him better. Cleveland did not have the best chance to win because of their chemistry issues through the season. Kevin Love was pretty much the third wheel and Kyrie Irving is not only injury prone, but he had trouble putting his ego aside for a legend like LBJ. Plus, LeBron was in gunslinger mode during the Finals, taking 196 shots while missing 118 of them. Not the best strategy to win a Title, especially with someone who has been deemed as "unselfish".

Golden State won their Championship through practice, determination, dedication, and teamwork. Curry has been general to lead the troops and he is not missing a beat so far. Instead of being complacent after winning a ring, Curry has elevated his game to another level while elevating those around him. Last season, Steph put up historic numbers as a shooter and he is carrying that play over into this season.

Give Steph some more time and he will be firmly placed among the likes of Bird, Nowitzki, Miller, Ray Allen, along with Steve Nash among the game's legendary shooters.

As long as "He's On Fire", keep feeding him the ball until it is time to cool off.

Panthers on the Prowl

This season, the Carolina Panthers have been ripping through the NFL during their 7-game winning streak. The pieces are all gelling together as they held Sam Bradford to 205 yards and sacked him five times in their win on Sunday. At the head of this dominance is Quarterback Cam Newton. During his career, Cam has had to withstand a barrage of critics. The criticisms range from things like his attitude to his style of play. Lately, Newton has been silencing his critics. Cam is a physical stud at 6'5" 245 lbs, and his athleticism is among the best the league has to offer. When it comes to the arena of mechanics, Newton has a powerful arm, but he is not the classically polished QB that everyone dreams of like Tom Brady or others. So what he lacks in classic fundamentals, he is able to make up for with a fluid, smooth, passing stroke. Cam's strong arm and his release draw similarities to the likes of Terry Bradshaw.

Carolina has a stronghold on their division with wins over the Buccaneers and the Saints. They have also defeated the defending NFC Champions the Seattle Seahawks who are currently suffering. This is still a huge feather in their hat. The Panthers extend their dominance with a win on Monday Night Football over the Indianapolis Colts 29-26 in OT. In that game, Newton went 16-35 for 248 yards and 2 Touchdowns.

Cam Newton & Co. look forward to riding this wave of momentum going into week 8 against the Green Bay Packers at home on Sunday.