Popcorn Culture
Ruminations on TV Shows, Comics, And Music
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We start to come out of the doldrums with WWE, as they do start to push more exciting, younger wrestlers, like Cody Rhodes, Kofi Kingston, Evan Bourne (formerly and futurely Matt Sydal of ROH), MVP, Dolph Ziggler, and a few others. It's certainly not a Golden Age yet, but it's really starting to build up to a more exciting era, as long as you can slog through a billion John Cena vs Randy Orton matches. Sadly, it's meager pickings for Impact and ROH, despite very talented rosters. There are just even worse booking choices than WWE, which is quite an achievement. Sixty minute matches with no definitive winner was an exciting staple of early ROH but it is well rusted by 2009. And while Impact has truly moved almost all the way on from its previous Dinosaur generation, it's still guilty of throwing Mick Foley, Sting, and some other past-primers in a spotlight that still should really belong to the X and Knockout Divisions, which fade into the background a bit this season. You might imagine that this meant more WWE episodes this season, but my ROH & Impact timelines were a little bit behind where WWE was, so this season gets everything properly aligned again. I wanted to end the season with one of the best Wrestlemania matches of all-time, The Career Vs Streak Match. I mean, we ended Season Nine by saying goodbye to Hulk Hogan, Season Ten saw Shawn Michaels retire Ric Flair, now it's Michaels's own turn to bow out of the competition. And unlike the others, he never came back. NO, HE'S NEVER EVEN BEEN TO SAUDI ARABIA. This was his final Ever match.  SEASON 11:Starring: Chris Jericho, Awesome Kong, Jeff Hardy, John Cena, Randy Orton, Edge, Shawn Michaels, Undertaker, Rey Mysterio, AJ Styles, Kurt Angle, Nigel McGuinness, Samoa Joe, Batista, CM Punk, Triple H, Seth Rollins, Austin Aries, Caesaro, Daniel Bryan, Bobby Rhoode, Sting, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Cody Rhodes, Tara, ODB 1101. Priceless Opportunists The Michaels/Jericho feud is one of the all-time best, and though we join it already in progress, it's going to fester beneath most of this season, and never disappoint. Also, Legacy's origin starts in this episode. Announcers: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Tazz, Mick Foley, Mike Adamle, Lilian Garcia, Tony Chimel, Justin Roberts 1. Shawn Michaels vs Chris Jericho 2. World's Greatest Tag Team vs Hardcore Holly & Cody Rhodes 3. Edge vs Undertaker in a TLC/Loser Leaves WWE Match for the WWE Heavyweight Title 4. Hardcore Holly & Cody Rhodes (WWE Tag Team Champs) vs Brian Kendrick & Paul London 5. Chris Jericho (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Kofi Kingston 6. Hardcore Holly & Cody Rhodes (WWE Tag Team Champs) vs Priceless 7. Edge (WWE Heavyweight Champ) vs Batista 1102. New Horizons Just a series of brutal matches from the names and faces who would dominate the sport in the coming decade. Announcers: Dave Prazak, Lenny Leonard 1. Nigel McGuinness (ROH Champ) vs Caesaro 2. Daniel Bryan vs Seth Rollins 3. Roderick Strong & Naomichi Marufuji vs Sweet & Sour Inc 4. Daniel Bryan vs Seth Rollins vs Kenny Omega 5. Austin Aries & Briscoes vs Age Of The Fall in a Steel Cage Warfare Match 1103. Escalation, 2008 We don't often see storylines continue from episode to episode on ROH, so I put these two together to resolve some feuds from the previous episode. Also, I forgot that Ace Steel used to wrestle on stage in ROH before he was a backstage biter in AEW. So I plopped one of his six person tag team matches here in the midst of the Age Of The Fall story, and Daniel Bryan's long awaited rematch with Nigel McGuinness. Announcers: Dave Prazak, Lenny Leonard 1. Age Of The Fall (ROH Tag Team Champs) vs Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn 2. Sweet & Sour Inc vs Ace Steel, Brent Albright & Roderick Strong 3. Austin Aries vs Jimmy Jacobs in an I Quit Match 4. Nigel McGuinness (ROH Champ) vs Daniel Bryan 1104. Mayhem Impact revisits their early glory days by holding an international X Division tournament of high flyers who haven't yet ascended to the main event level. It's long and convoluted, but the semifinal Survivor Series style match was an absolute blast. But most of the episode continues to be about the heavyweights, including Awesome Kong, the woman who helped wrestling companies realize that women had evolved into excellent wrestlers years ago, and maybe it was time to start treating them like the athletes they were. Announcers: Mike Tenay, Don West, Frank Trigg 1. Awesome Kong (Impact Knockout Champ) vs Gail Kim 2. King Of The Mountain Match Samoa Joe (Impact Champ) vs Christian vs Booker T vs Rhino vs Bobby Rhoode 3. Survivor Series Match Team TNA vs Team Japan vs Team Mexico vs Team International 4. Taylor Wilde (Impact Knockout Champ) vs Awesome Kong 6. Full Metal Mayhem Match Kurt Angle & Dudley Boyz vs AJ Styles, Christian & Rhino 7. Kurt Angle vs AJ Styles in a Last Man Standing Match 1105. Slow & Steady Finally, CM Punk reaches the main event scene in the WWE. Sure, he was the ECW champ for a few minutes, but WWECW was such a bummer to watch. Plus, more Jericho/Michaels and Edge/Undertaker. Announcers: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Tazz, Lillian Garcia, Tony Chimel 1. Triple H (WWE Champ) vs John Cena 2. Matt Hardy (WWE US Champ) vs Shelton Benjamin 3. Chris Jericho vs Shawn Michaels 4. CM Punk (WWE Heavyweight Champ) vs JBL 5. The Undertaker vs Edge in a Hell In A Cell Match 1106. No Surrender There's a seemingly objectifying storyline in this episode that goes against the women's revolution, but don't worry, they resolve it in a very Wrestling Way. The highlight of this episode is Mick Foley signing on as an authority figure and all the former WWE guys taking shots at him and "Daddy Vince". Sure, Jeff Jarret returns, but it's for a decent story. Announcers: Mike Tenay, Don West, Mick Foley, 1. Awesome Kong vs ODB in a Falls Count Anywhere Match 2. Sonjay Dutt vs Jay Lethal in a Ladder Match 3. Steel Asylum Match Jay Lethal, Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, Curry Man, Jimmy Rave, Johnny Devine, Petey Williams, Shark Boy, Sonjay Dutt & Super Eric 4. Taylor Wilde (Impact Knockout Champs) vs Awesome Kong vs Roxxi 4. Monster's Ball Match for Impact Tag Team Championship Beer Money vs Dudley Boyz vs LAX vs Abyss & Matt Morgan 5. Jeff Jarrett vs Kurt Angle 6. Samoa Joe (Impact Champ) vs Sting 1107. Untitled Announcers: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Tazz, Todd Grisham, Matt Striker, Lillian Garcia, Tony Chimel, Justin Roberts It's Jericho's time at the top of the title scene, as he has another stunner of a match with Shawn Michaels, and then has to defend against Batista. We also see the Hardy Boyz in the singles title scene for a change, and we finish off with a classic Survivor Series match between former members of Evolution. 1. Triple H (WWE Champ) vs Jeff Hardy 2. Chris Jericho (WWE Heavyweight Champ) vs Shawn Michaels in a Ladder Match 3. Matt Hardy (WWECW Champ) vs Matt Sydal 4. Undertaker vs Big Show in a Last Man Standing Match 5. Chris Jericho (WWE Heavyweight Champ) vs Batista 6. Team Orton vs Team Batista in a Survivor Series Match Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Mark Henry, Shelton Benjamin & Mark Henry vs Batista, CM Punk, Matt Hardy,Kofi Kingston, R-Truth 1108. Final Armageddon Announcers: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Tazz, Todd Grisham, Matt Striker, Lillian Garcia, Tony Chimel, Justin Roberts Just as it seems everything is going well for the Hardyz, uhhhh, it stops. Plus we see Legacy absolutely dominate The Royal Rumble. 1. Rey Mysterio vs CM Punk 2. Edge (WWE Champ) vs Triple H vs Jeff Hardy 3. Jake Haeger (WWECW Champ) vs Matt Hardy 4. Jeff Hardy (WWE Champ) vs Edge 5. Royal Rumble Rey Mysterio, John Morrison, Carlito, MVP, The Great Khali, Vladimir Kozlov, Triple H, Randy Orton, JTG, Ted DiBiase Jr., Chris Jericho, Mike Knox, The Miz, Finlay, Cody Rhodes, Undertaker, Goldust, CM Punk, Mark Henry, Shelton Benjamin, William Regal, Kofi Kingston, Kane, R-Truth, RvD, Brian Kendrick, Dolph Ziggler, Santino Marella, Jim Duggan, Big Show 1109. Final Countdown It's Daniel Bryan...I'm sorry...Bryan Danielson's last hurrah in Ring Of Honor before heading off to the sunny pastrues of WWE. Plus, our first look at The Young Bucks! Announcers: Dave Prazak, Lenny Leonard 1. KENTA (GHC Jr Heavyweight Champ) vs Davey Richards 2. The American Wolves (ROH Tag Team Champs) vs Daniel Bryan & Seth Rollins 3. The Briscoes vs The Young Bucks 4. Daniel Bryan vs Davey Richards
1113. Middlin' Impact A lot of time passes in this episode as The Main Event Mafia angle, while a fun little nostalgic trip just served as a sort of Senior Citizens Of Wrestling clique with some fun ideas, but not so great wrestling. There is also the silent passing of the announce desk, as Don West gets promoted to backstage marketing guy, and a freshly released from WWECW Tazz joins Mike Tenay. Announcers: Mike Tenay, Don West, Tazz, Lauren Thompson 1. Beer Money Inc vs Dudley Boyz (IWGP & Impact Tag Team Champs) 2. King Of The Mountain Match Mick Foley (Impact Champ), Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, Jeff Jarrett 3. Steel Asylum Match Christopher Daniels, Alex Shelley, Amazing Red, Chris Sabin, Xavier Woods, Elijah Burke, Jay Lethal and Suicide 5. ODB (Impact Knockout Champ) vs Awesome Kong vs Victoria 6. Bobby Lashley vs Samoa Joe in a Submission Match 7. Kurt Angle vs Matt Morgan 8. Victoria vs Awesome Kong in a Six Sides Of Steel Match 1114. Title Vs Mask CM Punk continues his rise to the top of the WWE, and Chris Jericho, having wrapped up his mega feud with Shawn Michaels, puts on another set of classics against Rey Mysterio. Announcers: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Todd Grisham, Josh Matthews, Matt Striker, Lillian Garcia, Tony Chimel, Justin Roberts 1. Umaga vs CM Punk 2. John Morrison vs Shelton Benjamin 3. Rey Mysterio (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Chris Jericho 4. Edge (WWE Heavyweight Champ) vs Jeff Hardy 5. Rey Mysterio (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Chris Jericho in a No Holds Barred Match 6. Edge (WWE Heavyweight Champ) vs Jeff Hardy in a Ladder Match 7. Chris Jericho (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Rey Mysterio Title vs Mask 1115. Breaking Point This episode is all about CM Punk and Jeff Hardy with the cheeky return of DX as they begin their battle with Legacy. Also, our first look at Dolph Ziggleras himself and not a cheerleader. And ... there have been, I don't know, thousands of matches between Randy Orton and John Cena, and most of them are unspectacular but this I Quit Match is one of their absolute bangers. Announcers: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Todd Grisham, Josh Matthews, Matt Striker, Lillian Garcia, Tony Chimel, Justin Roberts 1. CM Punk (WWE Heavyweight Champ) vs Jeff Hardy 2. Rey Mysterio (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Dolph Ziggler 3. DX vs Legacy 5. Randy Orton (WWE Champ) vs John Cena in an I Quit Match 6. CM Punk (WWE Heavyweight Champ) vs Jeff Hardy in a TLC Match 1116.Survival Of The Fittest The era of Rollins has arrived (ok, he's still Tyler Black for now) as he fills the gap left behind from the departed Daniel Bryan. Plus, we get an early Young Bucks match, and Jushin Thunder Liger makes an appearance. Announcers: Dave Prazak, Lenny Leonard 1. Survival Of The Fittest Match Seth Rollins, Caesaro, Colt Cabana, Roderick Strong, Chris Hero, Delirious 2. Kevin Owens & Samy Zayn vs Young Bucks 3. Austin Aries vs Jushin Thunder Liger 4. Austin Aries (ROH Champ) vs Seth Rollins 1117. Bragging Rights Settle in for the longest episode in this chronology. Beginning with a fun segment about the incredibly stupid "rivalry" between Smackdown and Raw, this episode mainly focuses on the rise of the next generation of wrestlers, some of whom end up becoming the future of WWE/AEW, some of them disappearing into obscurity. But it ends with probably the best ever Cena/Orton match, a one hour Iron Man battle. Announcers: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Todd Grisham, Josh Matthews, Tony Chimel, Justin Roberts 1. John Morrison (WWE Intercontinental Champ) vs Dolph Ziggler 2. Jeri-Show (WWE Tag Team Champs) vs Batista & Rey Mysterio 3. DX vs Legacy in Hell In A Cell 4. Team Smackdown vs Team Raw in a Bragging Rights Match Chris Jericho, Kane, Matt Hardy, R-Truth, Finlay, Tyson Kidd, David Hart Smith vs Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Big Show, Mark Henry, Cody Rhodes, Kofi Kingston, Jack Haeger 5. Randy Orton (WWE Champ) vs John Cena in an Iron Man Match 1118. TLC Tables, and ladders, and chairs, oh my!It's a nearly all Gimmick event featuring a mildly diverse cast of wrestlers. It's also our first glimpse of Sheamus in this chronology. Announcers: Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Matt Striker, Josh Matthews, Tony Chimel, Justin Roberts, Savannah 1. Christian (WWECW Champ) vs Shelton Benjamin in a Ladder Match 2. John Cena (WWE Champ) vs Sheamus in a Tables Match 3. Jeri-Show (WWE Tag Team Champs) vs DX in a TLC Match 4. Undertaker (WWE Heavyweight Champ) vs Rey Mysterio 5. Royal Rumble Dolph Ziggler, Matt Sydal, CM Punk, JTG, The Great Khali, Beth Phoenix, Zack Ryder, Triple H, Drew McIntyre, Ted DiBiase Jr., John Morrison, Kane, Cody Rhodes, MVP, Carlito, The Miz, Matt Hardy, Shawn Michaels, John Cena, Shelton Benjamin, Yoshi Tatsu, Big Show, Mark Henry, Chris Masters, R-Truth, Jake Haeger, Kofi Kingston, Chris Jericho, Edge, Batista 1119. Three Degrees Of Pain Nigel McGuinness jumps ship from ROH to Impact under the guise of "Desmond Wolfe" to torment Kurt Angle while AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, and Samoa Joe revisit their glory days of ROH and early Impact. 1. Kurt Angle vs Nigel McGuinness 2. AJ Styles (Impact Heavyweight Champ) vs Samoa Joe vs Christopher Daniels 3. The British Invasion (Impact Tag Team Champs) vs Motor City Machine Guns 4. Kurt Angle vs Nigel McGuinness in a 3 Degrees Of Pain Match 5. AJ Styles (Impact Heavyweight Champ) vs Christopher Daniels 1120. Career vs Streak
There's some who think that the Undertaker/Sean Michaels match we saw earlier in the season is the greatest Wrestlemania match in history. There's others who think this rematch is even better. Either way, it's Shawn Michael's swan song closing out our season. Announcers: Jerry Lawler, Michael Cole, Matt Striker, Josh Matthews, Tony Chimel, Justin Roberts 1. WWE Championship Elimination Chamber Sheamus (WWE Champ), Triple H, John Cena, Randy Orton, Kofi Kingston, Ted Dibiase Jr, Batista 2. The Miz (WWE US Champ) vs MVP 3. WWE Heavyweight Elimination Chamber Undertaker (WWE Heavyweight Champ) vs CM Punk, Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, R-Truth, John Morrison 4. Chris Jericho (WWE Heavyweight Champ) vs Edge 5. Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels in a Career Vs Streak Match
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