15 in '15: Teams to Watch in College Hoops (Part 1)

A strange thing is predicted to happen this Christmas; it is going to be warmer on December 25th than October 31st. Pretty weird right? You usually don't expect the temperature in winter to be greater than the middle of the fall, but with winter comes some pretty weird things, I must say. Just this week, for instance, Temple took on the number ten ranked team in the country Kansas at home. Will Cummings led the charge for the Owls with nineteen points as TU cruised to a 77-52 victory. It is pretty strange to see Kansas lose to an unranked, non conference opponent, but like I said, winter brings some strange things sometimes.
Here are the first five of fifteen teams to look out for in 2015 in the world of college basketball.


15. Louisville Cardinals
Sitting at 11-0 in an ever-so difficult ACC, the Cardinals are up against the consensus #1 team in the country, Kentucky, on Saturday. This is the second to last non conference matchup before ACC play, and if the 3rd best rebounding team can pull out an upset win at home and cruise against Long Beach State three nights later, momentum will definitely be in Louisville's favor before they get started up in conference clashes with Clemson, #21 ranked UNC, and Virginia Tech. It is important to recognize that only three of the eleven wins have been against formidable opponents: the season opener against Minnesota, #14 Ohio State, and Indiana. Part of the convincing wins over the Gophers, Buckeyes, Hoosiers, and other schools that barely get D1 recognition is largely the rebounding stat I mentioned earlier; Montrezl Harrell, the feisty junior forward, averages a double double with 16.7 points and 10 boards and leads the team in both categories (tied for first with Terry Rozier). This matchup on Saturday will chisel out either Kentucky's dominance, or Louisville's legitimacy.


14. Virginia Commonwealth Rams
Having already played three ranked teams and six total early contenders, VCU has shown they are not flawless with an unexpected loss to Old Dominion, and not even hitting sixty points against both Villanova and Virginia. Living in the mid-atlantic region of the United States, and having two area teams in the Atlantic-10 conference, I've seen VCU and can say the nation's steals leader, Briante Weber with 4.2 steals per game, is one of the most exciting players in the country. Regarded as one of the most relentless on-court talents expect him to come off the bench in crucial situations and provide defensively.

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 15: Briante Weber #2 of the Virginia Commonwealth Rams passes the ball in the second half against the George Washington Colonials during the Semifinals of the 2014 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center on March 15, 2014. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) [CREDIT ESPN.com]

13. St. John's Red Storm
This surprise team in the Big East this season has provided some really competitive games early. Only losing to #10 Gonzaga so far, St. John's will be put to the test with an extremely deep Big East starting in the new year. Chris Obekpa, the forward from Nigeria, has made his presence known in the post: he ranks second in the land in blocks, only behind Washington's Robert Upshaw. Obekpa's best game so far was against Long Beach State on Monday, where he dropped 16 points, making seven out of the eight shots he took. Even with a post presence that many teams lack, Rysheed Jordan, a Robert Vaux High School product from Philadelphia, has impressed coach Steve Lavin this year who called him "outstanding". Lavin expects a tournament birth from his guys who he has said that he "enjoyed watching develop" in a SportsCenter interview and they frankly deserve a spot in March.
12. Syracuse OrangeNever sleep on Syracuse. As much as it pains me to say it, being a Villanova and Duke fan myself, they just have been too impressive historically. With a slightly different cast from last season, the four losses have been deceiving especially when one of them came against my Villanova Wildcats in Philly. The Orange held a lead for the entire game until the fourth quarter when JayVaughn Pinkston and Darrun Hillyard exploded with key baskets for 'Nova, leading them to a decisive overtime victory. The losses were against an on the rise Cal team, a Michigan squad I'm not sold on yet, and St. John's (who you have already read about). Even though 'Cuse could've won two of their four losses, they have dominated in their victories against smaller schools with one close game at home against Louisiana Tech, 71-69. Rakeem Christmas and Trevor Cooney's play are the two players Syracuse cannot go without. Christmas, another Philadelphian, is averaging 16.5 points this season and is always has some of the highest amounts of minutes on the floor. Cooney, a three point weapon, has dropped 24 of them, but has missed a staggering 44. Last year, 'Cuse fell in the second round to Dayton 55-53, and if Jim Boeheim is anything like he usually is, he will be expecting a big time bounce back postseason, wether I like it or not.
11. Florida Gulf Coast EaglesThe team that stepped up to the plate and hit a home run in the 2013 NCAA tournament: their only appearance, but Brett Comer and co. look to change that this year as they will take the Atlantic Sun by storm. The team's leader in assists, is often the one to lob the ball up at the top of the key to whomever may be ready for the slam, fitting for #DunkCity, right? The team's win at home against Furman, Comer helped seal the win with a couple of successful trips to the charity stripe, adding to his 19-point performance on the night. The following game would be a loss to Iona, the third on the year. Up next for the Eagles before A-Sun play are two away games against Xavier and Pitt, both schools boast a 6-0 home record for the year. Also, being one of two teams (South Carolina Upstate) with winning records in the conference, expect a run-away crown for the Eagles of Florida Gulf Coast.

10. Kentucky Wildcats
Always one of the most talked about teams, the John Calipari-led Wildcats might just go undefeated. Might. Kentucky seemed ready for another championship run, by stacking their schedule with early-season victories over small schools like Grand Canyon and UT-Arlington. Even though stacking the schedule has been a tradition amongst top 10 teams forever, I'm not a fan. That being said, like Louisville, there needs to be some analytics need to be done on their schedule. SEC opponents don't get the chance to dethrone UK until the New Year, giving Kentucky ample time to play only four top-25 teams and one formidable opponent (two if you count Providence). In terms of the South Eastern Conference opponents Kentucky will face, Arkansas seems like the team able to add that significant 1 to the loss column. Willie Cauley-Stein is poised to be a top-five pick in the NBA Draft after this year and with his tag team partner Aaron Harrison also opening eyes for the second straight year, the Wildcats will be a force to reckon with in March.

Part 2 coming soon! Make sure you follow all the Hive action and news on Instagram, twitter, and Facebook!

John's Jargon: 12th Edition

John’s Jargon

From Professional Wrestling to Baseball and Everything In-Between

An Adrenaline Junkie’s Dream:

My Top 5 Favorite WWE Crowd Pops of All-Time

By John Napolitano

            After witnessing the man they call Sting make his WWE debut to an ovation of adulation in St. Louis, Missouri, at the 2014 Survivor Series, I proceeded to recollect and catalog my all-time favorite crowd pops in WWE history. As I regressed into the annals of WWE history, I surmised that crowd pops are the key to the occurrence of iconic moments. What is Hulk Hogan slamming Andre the Giant if no one cheers? Who would care for Daniel Bryan winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XXX if the WWE Universe had sat on their hands for the entire match? The reactions or pop of the fanatics is what undoubtedly makes or breaks each and every moment in World Wrestling Entertainment, and I have assembled my five favorite hair-raising, bone-chilling, and adrenaline-pumping crowd pops over the decades.

5. Chris Jericho makes his debut on Monday Night Raw (1999)

           

For months, the WWE Universe sat with bated breath as a mysterious “Countdown to the Millennium” clock continued to randomly appear on Monday Night Raw. No one quite knew what the expiration of this countdown would bring, but it would surely be a monumental occurrence. On the August 9^th edition of Monday Night Raw, the Countdown to the Millennium would come to an untimely conclusion, interrupting a heated promo from the “Great One,” The Rock. The rabid fanatics of Chicago, Illinois, sat with anticipation as a burst of pyrotechnics erupted and an unfamiliar music video appeared on the titantron. The lull of the Chicago crowd turned into mass hysteria when the titantron then read “JERICHO.” The former underappreciated WCW Superstar, Chris Jericho, was now in World Wrestling Entertainment and basking in the bombastic approbation of the WWE Universe. He would go onto verbally spar with the “Brahma Bull,” The Rock, and take part in one of the most famous segments in Monday Night Raw history. As far as debuts go, Chris Jericho set the bar in the summer of 1999, and the WWE Universe ate up every bit of it.

4. Dolph Ziggler cashes in his Money in the Bank Contract (2013)

            It was about damn time when Dolph Ziggler cashed in his Money in the Bank Contract on the April 8^th edition of Monday Night Raw. The battered and bruised World Heavyweight Champion, Alberto Del Rio, was absolutely vulnerable as the man who won the Money in the Bank Contract nearly a year prior set his sights on his second major title victory in the WWE. The insatiably riotous crowd of the Izod Center erupted when Ziggler’s music hit the arena, but that ovation was nothing compared to when Referee Scott Armstrong’s hand hit the mat for the three count. Finally, the workhorse, Dolph Zigger, was the World Heavyweight Champion, and the WWE Universe congratulated him with an earsplitting explosion of emotion. Dolph Ziggler’s successes in 2013 would start and end with that title victory, but it will surely stand out in history as one of the loudest and evocative moments ever.

3. Brock Lesnar returns to the WWE (2012)

            One of the loudest receptions of the PG Era took place in Miami, Florida, on the April 2^nd edition of Monday Night Raw. Imagine the excitement of 19,000 members of the WWE Universe witnessing the return of the “Next Big Thing,” Brock Lesnar. John Cena stood in the center of the ring and called out his bitter rival, The Rock. After what seemed like hours of silence, it was not The Rock’s music, but rather Brock Lesnar’s music that blasted throughout the American Airlines Arena, and the place went haywire. In the famous words of Michael Cole, “The American Airlines Arena has come unglued!” After an eight-year absence, the “Beast Incarnate,” Brock Lesnar had returned to the WWE, and his eyes were locked on John Cena. The frenzy of exhilaration did not cease at any point leading up to Brock Lesnar ultimately hoisting Cena up on his shoulders and planting him with an F5. Lesnar capped off the night by kicking John Cena’s hat to the side and receiving adoration from everyone in attendance. Not only will Brock Lesnar’s return go down as one of the most historic moments in Monday Night Raw history, but as one of the most thunderous receptions in WWE history.

2. The Rock returns as the Host of WrestleMania XXVII (2011)

            When The Rock returned to the WWE on the February 14^th edition of Monday Night Raw, the WWE Universe produced a deafening chorus of cheers and screams that rivaled actual militaristic cannon fire. The WWE Universe was promised that on this night the Host of WrestleMania XXVII would be revealed, but no one was prepared for the return of the “Great One,” The Rock. As the arena went dark and the anticipation began to build, members of the WWE Universe in attendance and watching at home could hardly wait for this epic unveiling. After several seconds of silence, the WWE Universe was embraced with the ever-invigorating lyrics, “IF YOU CAN SMELL.. WHAT THE ROCK..IS COOKING!” All at once everyone in attendance jumped to their feet and unleashed a howl of elation as The Rock emerged from the curtain and delighted the fancies of all onlookers. It is physically impossible to watch this awe-inspiring moment and not experience a sensation of utter enthusiasm.

1. Steve Austin assists Mankind in winning the WWE Championship (1999)

            My all-time favorite crowd pop in WWE history took place on the January 4^th edition of Monday Night Raw when Stone Cold Steve Austin interfered in the main event to help Mankind win the WWE Championship, and stick it to the Corporation. WWE Commissioner, Shawn Michaels, promised Mr. McMahon at the start of the show that he would be in for a “stone cold surprise.” Later on when Mankind held Shane McMahon, Mr. McMahon’s son, hostage to gain a WWE Championship opportunity against The Rock in the main event, the stage was set for the loudest and most thrilling crowd pop of all time. The match was a no disqualification melee that saw D-Generation X in Mankind’s corner and the Corporation in The Rock’s corner. It did not take long for things to break down at ringside between D-Generation X and the Corporation. The anarchy between the two warring factions provided the perfect window for a “stone cold surprise.” When Stone Cold Steve Austin’s music hit the arena, the most booming reaction ever generated from a live audience came from the WWE Universe. The Corporation was not as delighted to see Steve Austin, as he took a steel chair and bounced it off the skull of The Rock and dragged Mankind’s lifeless body over The Rock. When Senior Referee, Earl Hebner, hit the mat for the three count, the energy in the arena increased tenfold as Mankind was the new WWE Champion. Never in my life have I witnessed such joy and jubilation in one place, and I can only imagine what it was like to be in attendance.

What are your favorite crowd pops of all time? Tweet me @JohnNap17 and let me know!

Who Will Survive the Series?

The November 3rd edition of Monday Night Raw gave us huge insight on the upcoming weeks and the next pay-per-view, Survivor Series. The concept of the "traditional Survivor Series match" of a 10-man, tag team, elimination match is awesome. I wish it was a more frequently used on Raw and Smackdown, but I understand why recently it hasn't been incorporated to the match card, for it would decrease the value of this PPV. This past Monday, we saw Vince McMahon add a stipulation to the match that makes this storyline even juicier: if Team Cena comes out victorious, the Authority will lose it's power.

What seems like an attempt to make up for the absences of Roman Reigns, Daniel Bryan, and the recurring disappearing figure that is Brock Lesnar, WWE needs to keep fans enticed. Also, there have been speculations of Stephanie McMahon's pregnancy, and that this all of a sudden treat to the authority, means a fourth McMahon-Levesque may be on the way. What I find interesting about this stipulation is that it sort of came out of nowhere. I thought the Authority would stay on top until Wrestlemania or shortly after. 

Here John Cena poses for a Survivor Series ad where he will lead a team of 4 other superstars against the Authority.

At Survivor Series, we may not see one of the most prolific superstars in the history, Randy Orton. The Apex Predator suffered an injury, though not extreme, but enough to keep a guy out for a while. WWE has pulled him from SS advertisements.

 This may or may not lead to a surprise return the night of to attack Seth Rollins. What good can come out of this situation is that the spotlight can be shifted just a bit more towards Dean Ambrose and Bray Wyatt, who could put together a good match. Personally, I don't think they seem to fit together in a one-on-one rivalry too well.

The Teams

So far, John Cena has only recruited Dolph Ziggler to his team. Superstars like Sheamus, the Big Show, and NXT Superstars Sammy Zayn and Adrian Neville have been rumored candidates. It may seem odd that a rookie would debut at Survivor Series, but if you think about it, what better way to get your foot in the door then to align yourself with the face of the company, or the top heel faction? Also, in the past the WWE Universe has gotten their first glimpse of stars like the Kurt Angle, The Rock, and The Undertaker at this very PPV. Angle, even though he was in the Olympics a short while before hand, made his in-ring, WWE debut here.

Team Cena vs Team Authority: How Each Squad Will Shake Out

Team Cena

John Cena (C)

Dolph Ziggler

The Big Show

Ryback

Sammy Zayn

Team Authority

Seth Rollins (Co-Captain)

Kane (Co-Captain)

Rusev

Mark Henry

Cesaro

Team Cena is led by three outgoing personalities in Cena, Ziggler, and Show, who always speak their mind. This is the theme of the whole rivalry, so having these guys on this team make sense. Ryback is coming off a lower back injury that kept him out a couple months so putting him in the main event of the second longest running pay-per-view would definitely boost him back into the main event level that we all saw from him in 2012. I picked Sammy Zayn to join Team Cena because if you really want to put the title of "The Future" on someone, it would be this guy. His multicultural wrestling backgrounds make him the perfect Intercontinental Champion on paper, and his high-flying skills could make the upper midcard a legitimate position. In NXT, Sammy Zayn was in a feud with Cesaro so having the two in the ring against each other. It warms the heart of every wrestling fan, doesn't it? I'm only kidding, becuase frankly, I am tired of people obsessing over Cesaro and his dumb swing. It causes zero damage and he only gets the guy around a couple of times but the crowd counts too fast... I digress. Big Show and Mark Henry have the history to back their spot up too. In 2011 at Survivor Series, for example, the two faced off for the World Heavyweight Championship held by Henry. More recently, however, you have seen them compete with each other in a series of tag-team matches only to split up because of Mark Henry's jealousy. (Caution: the video below contains a bit of NSFW language) 

As far as my prediction for the outcome of this match, I say it will come to a close with neither team getting the W, even after a long, physical match. I think, like many other members of the WWE Universe, that you will see the Legend Killer do what he does best and RKO the living daylights out of Triple H for the DQ. I wouldn't want the match to end right there though, I would like to see some action after the disqualification. But no matter what the stipulation, or the pride on the line, the Authority will barely Survive.

John's Jargon: 11th Edition

John’s Jargon

From Professional Wrestling to Baseball and Everything In-Between

The Top 5 Most Historic Survivor Series Moments Ever

By John Napolitano

        The arrival of November brings about a great deal of excitement to many Americans across the nation. Such staples of month include Thanksgiving, Black Friday shopping, and for the WWE Universe, the second longest running pay-per-view event, Survivor Series. Debuting in 1986, Survivor Series has been a Thanksgiving tradition for the last 28 years, showcasing many of the WWE’s most historic moments ever. The original appeal to this autumn spectacle was the unique five-on-five elimination matchup at the end of the night between the WWE’s best and brightest stars. Although this annual bout has become somewhat of an afterthought over the years, the five-on-five elimination match is a mainstay on the card and makes the event feel special.

This year’s Survivor Series Event is already heating up, as the five-on-five elimination match will feature Team Cena vs. The Authority. The participants have yet to be finalized, but if Team Cena is victorious, the Authority will no longer be in power in World Wrestling Entertainment. This added stipulation fused with the fact that the event will air live on the WWE Network for free, is already looking to make Survivor Series 2014 historic; but what other historic moments have taken place at Survivor Series over the last 28 years? I have compiled a list of the five most historic Survivor Series moments in WWE history. Let’s get started!

5. John Cena & The Rock vs. Awesome Truth (The Miz & R-Truth)

“Never before, never again,” was the tagline for the main event of Survivor Series 2011, which saw two bitter rivals in John Cena and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, team up to take on the turbulent tandem of the “Awesome Truth.” The Miz and R-Truth were running roughshod on the WWE and John Cena and The Rock were not only tasked to vanquish these vitriolic villains, but also to coexist mere months before their epic encounter in Miami, Florida, at WrestleMania XXVIII. The match was a calamity-filled clash between the two unlikely teams, and it added a brand new dynamic to John Cena and The Rock’s rivalry, which is one of the greatest in WWE history. The “Leader of the Cenation” and the “Great One” would pull out the hard fought victory at Madison Square Garden that night, and The Rock would cap off the evening by laying the smackdown on John Cena, planting his own teammate with a “Rock Bottom.” John Cena would roll out of the ring and retreat to the stage to make for a captivating foreshadowing of their upcoming clash at WrestleMania. No one ever conceived that John Cena and The Rock would ever square off, much less team together; and that is why their encounter at Survivor Series 2011 is one of the greatest moments in history.

4. The Rock Becomes the Corporate Champion

        

         Can you say, “swerve of the century?” In the fall of 1998, the WWE Title was vacated in a triple-threat match in which Undertaker and Kane simultaneously pinned the champion, Stone Cold Steve Austin. Following further controversy at In Your House: Judgment Day, Mr. McMahon set up a 14-man, “Deadly Games” tournament to be held at Survivor Series, in which a new WWE Champion would be crowned. Prior to the event, McMahon was positioning his corporate puppet, Mankind, to win the WWE Championship and be the torchbearer for his faction. Mankind would make it to the finals of the tournament to take on the fan favorite competitor, The Rock. In the latter half of 1998, The Rock’s charisma and in-ring ability was getting him over as a babyface, even though he was a heel. He began to portray a much more likeable demeanor as a result of being cheered by the WWE Universe. As he climbed through the ranks of the “Deadly Games” tournament at Survivor Series, he amassed so much support and admiration that it seemed as though he was going to become the number one babyface in the company. The match between The Rock and Mankind was satisfactory, but the real shocker would take place when The Rock put Mankind in the sharpshooter, and Mr. McMahon would call for the bell, signaling the end of the match. Mankind was not pinned, nor did he submit, but rather he was screwed by his boss, Mr. McMahon, who would embrace The Rock in the ring as his new “Corporate Champion.” A wave of confusion fell over the Kiel Center, including Mankind, as he begged for an explanation from his former number one supporter, Mr. McMahon. Mankind would get no such explanation, but rather a vicious “Rock Bottom” from The Rock in the middle of the ring. No one saw this swerve coming, which is why the 1998 Survivor Series will go down in history as one of the greatest.

3. Shawn Michaels Captures the World Heavyweight Championship

         In 1998, if you had told a professional wrestling fanatic that the “Heartbreak Kid,” Shawn Michaels would win the Big Gold Belt by superkicking his rival Triple H, inside of a structure designed by Monday Night Raw General Manager, Eric Bischoff, at Survivor Series 2002, they would have dropped you with a “Stone Cold Stunner.” Alas, when Shawn Michael’s return to the ring after a four-year hiatus culminated with him winning the World Heavyweight Championship inside the Elimination Chamber at Survivor Series, there was not a dry eye in Madison Square Garden. The match featured Chris Jericho, Kane, Booker T, Rob Van Dam, Shawn Michaels, and the World Heavyweight Champion, Triple H, and it was a gruesome contest to say the least. Seeing as though this was the first ever Elimination Chamber match in history, there was already an awesome atmosphere, add in the greatest in-ring performer in WWE history reclaiming his spot atop the mountain, and you have got yourself a historic night.

2. The Dawning of the ‘Deadman’

         Many a professional wrestling fan hold the 1990 Survivor Series in an unpleasant light, primarily because it featured the unveiling of the single worst gimmick in WWE history, the Gobeldy Gooker. It’s no secret the WWE product was very campy and cartoonish in the early 1990’s. To be unforgivingly honest, the debut of a second gimmick on that fateful night should have been, for all intents and purposes, doomed to go down in history as just another unsuccessful character; however, this character would not only prevail at the 1990 Survivor Series, but he would go on to thrive as “Phenom” and the greatest performer in WrestleMania history. Of course, by now you are all aware I am referring to the Undertaker. What many fans do not realize is that the Undertaker character has experienced the most longevity of any other character in professional wrestling history. The Undertaker was on top of the mountain in the “Golden Era,” the “New Generation,” the “Attitude Era,” the “Ruthless Aggression Era,” and the “PG Era.” Combine that with a Royal Rumble victory, multiple World Championships, and a 21-year undefeated streak at WrestleMania, and one could argue that Survivor Series 1990 witnessed the most historic debut in WWE history.

1. The Montreal Screwjob

         Ah yes, we have finally arrived to not only the most historic moment in Survivor Series history, but the most controversial occurrence in the entirety of all of professional wrestling spanning back to 1905. There have been magazines, books, and even films produced centered on the events that took place on November 9, 1997. I suggest that everyone who reads this go online and watch Wrestling with Shadows, a tell-all exposé about the dirty dealings leading up to the infamous incident that took place at Survivor Series 1997.

The best way to start this story is from WrestleMania XII in 1996. Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart would make history when they competed for over an hour in an Ironman Match for the WWE Championship. The two men were on relatively good terms and even considered each other friends, but when Shawn Michaels went on to win the WWE Championship at WrestleMania XII and told Senior Referee, Earl Hebner, to get Bret the “f*ck out of his ring,” their transformation into mortal enemies would begin. Bret Hart had visions of winning back the WWE Championship, having Shawn Michaels chase once again, and competing in a return match with the “Heartbreak Kid” at WrestleMania XIII; however, Bret Hart began to resent Shawn Michaels when he admitted that he only wanted to work with his “Kliq,” composed of X-Pac, Diesel, Razor Ramon, and Hunter Hearst Helmsley. Hart would watch on as Michaels’ ego grew exponentially. In February of 1997, Shawn Michaels would relinquish the WWE Championship, claiming he had “lost his smile,” and ultimately take himself off the card at WrestleMania XIII. This led Bret Hart to assume that Shawn Michaels vacated the title because his ego was too big to drop it back to him on the grandest stage of them all.

The plot thickened when the Executive Producer of World Championship Wrestling, Eric Bischoff, offered Bret Hart a multimillion-dollar deal to jump ship and turn his back on the WWE. Vince McMahon, who could not afford to let another top star join the rival promotion, offered Bret Hart a lucrative contract to stay with the WWE, and stay he did. McMahon would soon realize that keeping Bret Hart on board was doing more harm than good for his company, as he was signed to the highest-paid contract in WWE history, and simply did not have the drawing power that he once did. With great consideration, McMahon asked that Hart’s contract be reneged and that Hart sign with World Championship Wrestling. Hart was willing to comply with Vince McMahon, but there was one problem. Bret Hart beat the Undertaker and won the WWE Championship at SummerSlam 1997 and was in the middle of a heated on and off-camera rivalry with Shawn Michaels. The two foes would engage in heated verbal exchanges on camera, many of which hit more than close to home, including Shawn Michaels insinuating Bret Hart’s involvement in an extramarital affair with WWE talent, Sunny. Bret Hart would fire back by bringing Michael’s sexual orientation into question, and Shawn Michaels would have the audacity to perform antics like picking his nose with the Canadian Flag. All hell broke loose in Hartford, Connecticut, when Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels got into a legitimate physical altercation, resulting in the two men breaking through a wall. Bret Hart attempted to make peace with Shawn Michaels in saying that he respected him and his in-ring ability and would be willing to man up and drop the title to him at Survivor Series. The final straw that broke the camel’s back was when Shawn Michaels responded to Hart’s peace offering by saying, “I appreciate that, but if the roles were reversed, I can’t say I would do the same.”

Michaels’ snarky comment set Bret Hart over the edge, and he told Vince McMahon with finality that he would not lose to Shawn Michaels at Survivor Series in his home country of Canada. Vince McMahon and Lead Writer, Vince Russo, pitched every possible outcome for this match that would award Shawn Michaels with the title and make Bret Hart look strong in defeat. But Bret Hart would not budge; he refused to lose the WWE Championship in Montreal, Canada, at Survivor Series. Vince McMahon became very fearful seeing as though the man holding his company’s top prize refused to give it up and was set to leave for WCW immediately after Survivor Series. If Bret Hart were to show up on WCW Nitro with the WWE Championship, the WWE would surely take its final breath. Vince McMahon had no choice; he had to screw Bret Hart.

         On the night of November 9, 1997, four men knew what was going to take place. Vince McMahon, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and Senior Referee, Earl Hebner, knew that when Shawn Michaels applied the sharpshooter to Bret Hart, Hebner would call for the premature ending of the match. Once the bell rang, Shawn Michaels and Triple H retreated from the ring with the WWE Championship, and Vince McMahon stood at ringside where he was spat on in front of millions of people by Bret Hart. Bret Hart was taken completely by surprise as he thought the match was supposed to end in disqualification, and he would leave Montreal with the WWE Championship. The broadcast would end in Shawn Michaels exiting the arena and a very confused play-by-play commentator, Jim Ross, thanking everyone for watching. What the world did not see was Bret Hart destroying everything at ringside, signing “WCW” with his right hand, and eventually cold-cocking Vince McMahon in the right eye. There is no doubt that the Montreal Screwjob is the most historic moment in not only Survivor Series history, but perhaps WWE history as well.

John's Jargon: 10th Edition

John’s Jargon

From Professional Wrestling to Baseball and Everything In-Between

Hell in a Cell Pay-Per-View Review

By John Napolitano

        

            Emanating out of Dallas, Texas on October 26^th was the fifth annual Hell in a Cell Pay-Per-View event, which surprisingly did not disappoint. The Hell in a Cell Pay-Per-View has been historically disenchanting as we are smack dab in the middle of the PG Era, where raping, pillaging, and plundering in the cell structure does not jive with the squeamish parents tentatively allowing their children to watch the product. Take away the blood, the unprotected chair shots, and 30-foot free-falls, and the Hell in a Cell match becomes a very tame concept. In fact, ‘tame’ is the adjective I would use to describe just about every Hell in a Cell match since the Undertaker and Edge tore the house down at SummerSlam 2008. Albeit, it does not help that the greatest Hell in a Cell match of all time was only the third installment at King of the Ring 1998, featuring the Undertaker and Mankind, who had an utterly irreproducible showing, but I digress. Seeing as though it is virtually impossible to recreate the magic that the Undertaker and Mankind managed 16 years ago, I would say that Hell in a Cell 2014, as a whole put up a valiant effort.   

            The night opened with a thrilling 2 out of 3 falls match between the Intercontinental Champion, Dolph Ziggler and the “Swiss Superman,” Cesaro. I thought this was a great way to open the card; these two technicians are masters of the ring and it shows in their bouts. I do grow wearisome of the misdirection, or lack thereof for these two stallions. They are both great stickmen and can more than carry a match in that 20-foot by 20-foot squared-circle. I was relieved to see Ziggler retain the strap, but his promos, in-ring work, and reign as champion is essentially meaningless if he is not given a creative direction. I know Cesaro is more than ready for that proverbial push to the top, so one can only hope that his loss last night will allow him to show-off his skills in a fresh, new program.

            The Bella’s bout followed the Intercontinental Championship match in what was an effort to reinvigorate a stale program between the two sisters. The match was salvageable at best with a very predictable finish, but this match acted as the perfect buffer between two fast-paced matches. Overall, I am content with the Divas division right now and pleased that they are getting any television time at all.

            Michael Cole dubbed the contest between the Usos and Goldust and Stardust, the “Clash of the Clans.” Although this rivalry has certainly seen better days, and this match was not their best, these two teams have earned a pass as they are constantly being called upon to carry the card with their high-flying brand of entertainment. I have yet to witness a match starring Jimmy and Jey Uso this year that I have not enjoyed, and this match was no different. I am so proud of how far they have come and I know there will be many more tag-team championship reigns ahead of them. As far as Goldust and Stardust, as much as I am beginning to enjoy their new personas, I really hope that this run leads to a Cody Rhodes vs. Goldust match at WrestleMania XXXI. This concept has been teased for years, and I think now is as good as a time as any to deliver.

            The most bulbous blemish on the Hell in a Cell card was John Cena vs. Randy Orton inside the cell structure. Not only was this a recycled match from the inaugural Hell in a Cell Pay-Per-View main event, but it is a match that we have seen countless times over the better half of 12 years and have no apparent reason to become emotionally invested because it is a match we will see over the better half of the next 12 years. These two incredibly gifted workers lack any and all in-ring chemistry and failed to so much as excite me once throughout this “snoozefest.” The matchup might as well have been in the ball pit of the local Chuck-E-Cheeze as there were zero cell spots or any spot to reinforce the idea that the Hell in a Cell is a dangerous environment. As usual in John Cena bouts, signature maneuvers were being hit within the first five minutes and finishing moves were being undersold left and right.

There was a spot where Orton hit Cena with an RKO in the middle of the “Five Moves of Doom” sequence. Keep in mind that the RKO is move that has put tougher men than Cena down for the count. Usually, when a finishing move is hit in the middle of match, the striker has the obligation to protect the finish. Whether it be catching his breath before going for the pin, going for an unorthodox cover, or hitting the maneuver close to the ropes where his opponent can break the count. Randy Orton hit said RKO, rushed to cover John Cena, tightly hooked his leg in the middle of the ring, and John Cena kicked out at two like Randy Orton put him down with a press slam. I am sure you can see the utter lack of logic in this as I did.

On top of this despicable debauchery, John Cena won the bout and we are in store for yet another Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. This was undoubtedly the nadir of the show.

We were then delighted to a harmless bout between Sheamus and The Miz for the United States Championship. The highlight of the match was seeing Damien Mizdow take every bump The Miz took in the ring, outside of the ring. Sheamus once again retained the gold, much to my chagrin. I do not see the value in Sheamus being United States Champion that higher management sees, but they are the professionals. I would like to see Sheamus turn heel in the very near future and potentially a program between The Miz and Damien Sandow.

Next, AJ Lee and Paige continued the subsequent chapter of their rivalry for the Divas Championship. There was nothing exhilarating about this contest, and the program as a whole has lost a lot of weight with this viewer. It was nice to finally see retention of the strap between these two Divas as they have been trading victories all year. My hope is for AJ Lee to move on and take on a new challenger for her Divas Championship, while Paige and Alicia Fox mix it up for the foreseeable future.

Finally, we reached the crown jewel of the card, and that was Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose inside the Hell in a Cell structure. This contest was the one everyone was spending their hard-earned money to see, and these two studs did not disappoint. They started on top of the cell, traded blows, fell off of the cell, feigned a no-finish, battled into the cell, and actually made the match seem like the demonic structure that it is, and not some play pen for John Cena and Randy Orton to no-sell their most effective maneuvers. This match told a story while maintaining a hardcore realism. The cherry on top of this sadistic sundae was when Bray Wyatt appeared in the ring to attack Dean Ambrose and give Seth Rollins the victory. Not only does this protect Dean Ambrose in defeat, but also it hits the reset button for the WWE Universe, and we finally get a fresh new rivalry in Dean Ambrose and Bray Wyatt.

Overall, I would rate this Hell in a Cell Pay-Per-View a solid 6! It accomplished what it set out to do. No one was expecting a five-star night, but it certainly paved the way for the “Road to WrestleMania.”