WrestleMania Time Machine: WrestleMania 12

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In the months leading up to WrestleMania 29 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, we'll be taking a look back at the best and worst of WrestleMania's past.

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w/ Alex Archer & Violet Buttle

Date: March 31, 1996

Venue: Arrowhead Pond (Anaheim, CA)

Attendance: 18,853

On Commentary: Jerry "The King" Lawler & Vince McMahon 

Main Event: Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart in a 60 Minute Iron Man Match

Alex's Opinion

Best: Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart had the best match of this WrestleMania, hands down.  There wasn't even a close second.  The pace they kept was insane, and they nailed everything.  It's one of the best matches ever.

Worst: The Ultimate Warrior was completely gassed just from his entrance.  The only caveat in this match is that we get a glimpse of Triple H before he blew up.  Who would've thought he'd be the future king of wrestling?

Violet's Opinion

Best:  The Ultimate Warrior returned after a several year absence to squash the up and coming Hunter Hearst Helmsley. Generally speaking, I hate squash matches. But, what I hate even more than a regular squash match is one that takes place on PPV. And, I especially hate matches that put veterans over promising new stars. So, there was very little for me to like about this segment.

Worst:  The Iron Man match between Shawn Michael and Bret Hart stands out as the best segment of WrestleMania 12. The fluidity and pacing of the match was perfect. It didn't feel like there were any slow or rests points in the action, which is truly impressive for a match that was over an hour in length. I liked that the match had to go into overrun as it was a pleasure to watch Michaels and Hart do what they do best: put on an entertaining and athletic wrestling match. The fact that there was only one fall over the course of match made Hart look strong in defeat.

Full Results

Vader, Owen Hart, and The British Bulldog defeated Yokozuna, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, and Ahmed Johnson in a 6-Man Tag Match (12:51)

Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated Savio Vega (10:00)

The Ultimate Warrior defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley (1:40)

The Undertaker defeated Diesel (16:46)

Rowdy Roddy Piper defeated Goldust in a Hollywood Backlot Brawl (12:15)

Shawn Michaels defeated Bret Hart for the WWF Championship in Overtime of a 60 Minute Iron Man Match (1:01:52)

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@TheAlexArcher | @VioletButtle |  @FTLOW_official

Remembering Paul Bearer

by Alex Archer

There isn't much to say about Paul Bearer's career that hasn't already been said on every wrestling news site and blog on the internet, so I'm not even going to try.  These are some of my favorite memories of Paul Bearer.

Paul Bearer makes his debut on "The Brother Love Show"

Paul Bearer attempts to regain control of his Undertaker

Paul Bearer tells the story of Kane

Funeral Parlor segment featuring Jake "The Snake" Roberts

Paul Bearer, The Undertaker, The Ultimate Warrior, and a Casket

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@TheAlexArcher | @FTLOW_Official

Versus: Who Was the Better Partner for Kofi Kingston?

by Violet Buttle

Evan Bourne vs. R-Truth

 

Evan Bourne: Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne won the WWE Tag Team Championship on August 22, 2011, just seven days after teaming up. Soon after, the team began going by the name Air Boom. Air Boom was a well-received tag team and much of that has to do with how well-matched Kingston and Bourne were. Their high flying, energetic in-ring styles complimented each other well, and their jovial, upbeat personalities made them appear as believable friends. Air Boom dropped the titles on January 15, 2011 following Bourne’s second suspension for a violation of WWE’s Wellness Policy.

R-Truth: On April 30, 2012, Kofi and Kingston and R-Truth won the WWE Tag Team Championship, becoming the first black wrestlers to win the titles as a team. The team didn’t seem very cohesive, as Truth and Kingston had very different in-ring styles and gimmicks. For instance, every time the team entered the ring, Kingston would try to hurry Truth through his Little Jimmy antics, even though the Little Jimmy routine was an important of Truth’s character at the time. Kingston and Truth dropped the titles at the Night of Champions Pay-Per-View on September 16, 2012 to the up-and-coming Team Hell No. The team mutually parted ways on October 8th, but they have occasionally tagged together since.

The Better Partner for Kofi Kingston: Evan Bourne

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@VioletButtle

WrestleMania Time Machine: WrestleMania 13

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In the months leading up to WrestleMania 29 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, we'll be taking a look back at the best and worst of WrestleMania's past.

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w/ Alex Archer & Violet Buttle

Date: March 23, 1997

Venue: Rosemont Horizon (Rosemont, IL)

Attendance: 18,197

On Commentary: Jerry "The King" Lawler, Vince McMahon, and Jim Ross 

Main Event: The Undertaker vs. Sycho Sid in a no disqualification match for the WWF Championship

Alex's Opinion

Best: Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin was clearly the best match of this WrestleMania. It’s one of the all time classics. When you think about iconic wrestling imagery, one of the first things that come to mind is Austin in the Sharpshooter, blood pouring down his face, reaching for the ropes while he’s screaming in pain. When you take the storyline and the story of the match into account, it was one of the best matches and best finishes in wrestling history.

Worst: The Legion of Doom & Ahmed Johnson taking on The Nation of Domination was just awful to watch. Eleven minutes of guys bashing each other over the head with all sorts of absurd weapons, including an actual kitchen sink. The highlight of the match, however, is the infamous Colt Cabana punch! A young Colt Cabana was in the stands and managed to take a few swings at Hawk of the LOD.

Violet's Opinion

Best: Goldust and Hunter Hearst Helmsley had a very entertaining match that told a good, cohesive story. Outside the ring, Chyna and Marlena played their parts well and really enhanced the story that the guys were telling. Good work from everyone involved.

Worst: The match for the Intercontinental Championship made Rocky Maivia and The Sultan look like the most limited wrestlers that WWE has ever had. So dull. So uneventful.

Full Results

The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher) defeated The New Blackjacks (Blackjack Windham and Blackjack Bradshaw), The Godwinns (Henry and Phineas) and Doug Furnas and Phil LaFonp to determine the number one contenders for the WWF Tag Team Championship(10:39)

Rocky Maivia defeated The Sultan for the WWF Intercontinental Championship (9:45)

Hunter Hearst Helmsley defeated Goldust (14:28)

Owen Hart and The British Bulldog fought Mankind and Vader to a double countout for the WWF Tag Team Championship (16:08)

Bret Hart defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin in a submission match (22:05)

The Legion of Doom (Hawk and Animal) and Ahmed Johnson defeated The Nation of Domination (Farrooq, Crush, and Savio Vega) in a Chicago Street Fight (10:45)

The Undertaker defeated Sycho Sid in a no disqualification match for the WWF Championship (21:19)

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@TheAlexArcher | @VioletButtle |  @FTLOW_official

WrestleMania Time Machine: WrestleMania 14

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In the months leading up to WrestleMania 29 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, we'll be taking a look back at the best and worst of WrestleMania's past.

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w/ Alex Archer & Violet Buttle

Date: March 29, 1998

Venue: Fleet Center (Boston, MA)

Attendance: 19,028

On Commentary: Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler

Main Event: Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels w/ Mike Tyson as Special Guest Enforcer for the WWF Championship

Alex's Opinion

Best: Once again the main event was the best match at WrestleMania.  None of the undercard matches even came close to stealing the show in this one.  Austin and Michaels were both great; Michaels despite an injured back.  You could tell how excited Tyson was to be there and it was cool to see him having such a blast.  He did a good job of hitting the ring on cue and played his part perfectly.  I doubted that Tyson was a good idea before this all played out back in 1998, but it was clearly a great move.

Worst: The dumpster match was just a waste of 10 minutes.  I really don't like matches that leave the vicinity of the ringside area.  It really takes away from the match, in my opinion.  Not like there was much to take away from in a garbage (oh god...) match like this.  WWF Hardcore matches were always awful.

Violet's Opinion

Best: The main event match for the WWF title between Michaels and Austin was easily the best part of this lackluster WrestleMania. Usually I think that celebrities detract from the matches that they are involved in, but I liked the role Tyson played here. His betrayal of Michaels at the end of the match was surprising and exciting.

Worst: You know what’s dumber than a dumpster match? A dumpster match that finishes backstage instead of wrapping up in front of the live audience.

Full Results

L.O.D. 2000 (Hawk & Animal) won a 15 Team Battle Royal to become # 1 Contenders for the Tag Team Championship (8:19)

Taka Michinoku defeated Aguila to retain the Light Heavyweight Championship (5:47)

Triple H defeated Owen Hart to retain the European Championship (11:27)

Marc Mero & Sable defeated The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust & Luna in a Mixed Tag Match (9:05)

The Rock defeated Ken Shamrock to retain the Intercontinental Championship (4:49)

Chainsaw Charlie & Cactus Jack defeated The New Age Outlaws (Road Dogg & Billy Gunn) in a Dumpster Match for the Tag Team Championship (10:00)

The Undertaker defeated Kane (16:48)

Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated Shawn Michaels for the WWF Championship (20:01)

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@TheAlexArcher | @VioletButtle |  @FTLOW_official

WrestleMania Time Machine: WrestleMania 15

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In the months leading up to WrestleMania 29 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, we'll be taking a look back at the best and worst of WrestleMania's past.

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w/ Alex Archer & Violet Buttle

Date: March 28, 1999

Venue: First Union Center (Philadelphia, PA)

Attendance: 20,276

On Commentary: Michael Cole & Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross (Main Event)

Main Event: Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Rock in a No DQ Match for the WWF Championship

Alex's Opinion

Best: After three or four really good WrestleManias in a row, this one felt a little lackluster.  The match that really stood out, however, was the main event match between Austin and The Rock.  They put on a great brawl and we got all the interference we grew to expect during this era.

Worst: The Undertaker vs. The Big Boss Man was the worst use of time and talent, so I think it was the worst match overall.  Boss Man had no chance of winning this match, and then he got hung from the Cell.  What the hell was that?

Violet's Opinion

Best: While the main event match for the WWF Championship was pretty short (under 20 minutes), The Rock and Stone Cold made the most out of the time that they had. The match came across more as a brawl than it did an actual wrestling match, thanks to several referee injuries and changes, interference from Vince, chair shots, and a good portion of the match taking place outside of the ring. Luckily, this style of match suited the two men involved quite well.

Worst: Professional wrestler Bart Gunn faced professional boxer Butterbean in a boxing match. Naturally, Gunn didn't make it past the first round. In what way was this match supposed to be exciting? Should we not have seen the ending coming from a mile away?

Full Results
Hardcore Holly defeated Billy Gun and Al Snow in a Triple threat match for the WWF Hardcore Championship (7:06)
Owen Hart and Jeff Jarret defeated D'Lo Brown and Test to retain the WWF Tag Team Championship (3:58)

Butterbean defeated Bart Gunn in a Brawl for All Match (:34)

Mankind defeated "The Big Show" Paul Wight to become guest referee for the main event (6:50)

Road Dogg defeated Ken Shamrock, Goldust and Val Venis in a Four corners elimination match for the WWF Intercontinental Championship (9:47)

Kane defeated Triple H (11:33)

Sable defeated Tori to retain the WWF Women's Championship (5:09)

Shane McMahon defeated X-Pac to retain the WWF European Championship (8:41)

The Undertaker defeated The Big Boss Man in a Hell in a Cell match (9:48)

Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated The Rock in a no disqualification match for the WWF Championship (16:52)

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@TheAlexArcher | @VioletButtle |  @FTLOW_official

WrestleMania Time Machine: WrestleMania 16

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In the months leading up to WrestleMania 29 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, we'll be taking a look back at the best and worst of WrestleMania's past.

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w/ Alex Archer & Violet Buttle

Date: April 2, 2000

Venue: Arrowhead Pond (Anaheim, CA)

Attendance: 19,034

On Commentary: Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler

Main Event: Triple H vs. The Rock

Alex's Opinion

Best: The ladder match was obviously amazing, but my favorite match of this WrestleMania was the main event.  It had all of the elements that made the Attitude Era what it was: you had 4 of the most talented guys in the history of professional wrestling, you had the whole McMahon family involved, and you had all kinds of turns and double crosses.  Thirty-six very entertaining minutes.

Worst: The Hardcore Battle Royal was just awful.  I really didn't enjoy WWE's version of hardcore wrestling back then, and it definitely hasn't gotten anymore appealing with age.  Fifteen minutes of guys hitting each other over the head with cookie sheets and steel chairs for no reason.  On top of that, they botched the ending.  Colossal waste of fifteen minutes.

Violet's Opinion

Best: Edge and Christian, The Hardy Boyz, and The Dudley Boyz work incredibly well together. While watching this ladder match, I never really felt like one team or even one guy looked better than anyone else. Sure, there were some standout spots that involved only a few of the guys, but the action moved so quickly that the audience didn't get a chance to dwell on anything.

Worst: A catfight with Mae Young and The Fabulous Moolah at ringside and Val Venis as the special guest referee. Do I need to say more?

Full Results

The Big Boss Man & Bull Buchanan defeated The Godfather and D-Lo Brown (9:05)

Hardcore Holly won a Hardcore Battle Royal for the Hardcore Championship (15:00)

T & A (Test & Albert) defeated Head Cheese (Al Snow & Steve Blackman) (7:05)

Edge & Christian defeated The Dudley Boyz (Devon & Bubba Ray) and The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff) in a Triangle Ladder Match for the Tag Team Championship (22:29)

Terri Runnels defeated The Kat in a Cat Fight with Val Venis as Special Guest Referee (2:25)

Too Cool (Scotty 2 Hotty & Grandmaster Sexay) & Chyna defeated The Radicalz (Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, and Perry Saturn) (9:38)

Chris Benoit defeated Kurt Angle & Chris Jericho in the first fall, Chris Jericho defeated Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit in the second fall in a Two Fall Triple Threat Match for the Intercontinental Championship and the European Championship (13:35)

Rikishi & Kane defeated Degeneration X (Road Dogg & X-Pac) (4:16)

Triple H defeated The Rock, The Big Show, and Mick Foley in a Fatal Four Way Elimination Match for the WWF Championship (36:28)

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@TheAlexArcher | @VioletButtle |  @FTLOW_official

WWE Elimination Chamber Results & Afterthoughts

w/ Alex Archer & Violet Buttle

The Rock defeated CM Punk to retain the WWE Championship

Alex: A good main event that left the door open for Punk to stick around the title picture.  I'm hoping this means we see a triple threat at WrestleMania.  I'm not going to be excited for Rock / Cena 2 if that's really what they have in store for us.

Violet: Of course, The Rock won. Punk pinning Rock while the referee was out leaves me hoping that we'll get a triple threat match for the title at WrestleMainia instead of Rock/Cena: Part 2.

Alberto Del Rio defeated The Big Show to retain the World Heavyweight Championship

Alex: On one hand, I thought there was a chance that Del Rio would win the match.  On the other hand, I didn't think there was any chance in hell that he would win by submission or not get cashed in on if he did win.  This was one of the better matches these two have had in the last few weeks.  I'm glad it didn't involve the use of duct tape.  When does Ziggler cash in?

Violet: This was a quick, easy, and expected win for Del Rio. Now that he's done with making Big Show look like a great big fool, I hope we get to see Del Rio get a little more serious.

Jack Swagger defeated Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, Mark Henry, Kane, and Daniel Bryan in an Elimination Chamber Match to become the Number 1 Contender to the World Heavyweight Championship

Alex: While I'm happy to see Swagger getting a big push, I'm not sure that Del Rio vs. Swagger is going to be all that great.  I'm not really liking where Swagger's character is going with the white supremacist stuff, and knowing the WWE, they'll really ramp that up if he's involved in a feud with the Mexican Del Rio.  It'll be interesting to see how Ziggler plays into this feud between now and WrestleMania.

Violet: I'm not as excited for Swagger vs. Del Rio as I would be for Henry vs. Del Rio. Plus, I'm 100% sure that Swagger and Del Rio's feud is going to be horribly racist. Even though Henry didn't win, the fact that it took three guys to eliminate him keeps him looking like a threat. I also thought that Jericho looked great here. I hope they do more with him this time around than they did during his last run in 2012.

The Shield defeated John Cena, Ryback, and Sheamus

Alex: Impressive victory for The Shield.  They looked strong, especially since they won clean, and most importantly, they looked like a well oiled machine.  Their cohesion and teamwork was what gave them the edge over the team of Ryback, Cena, and Sheamus, and they did a great job of getting that point across.  Cena has to leave this storyline to get involved with The Rock, but what about the rest of these guys?

Violet: The Shield won, and they looked so strong while doing it. I just hope this doesn't set them up for a colossal loss at WrestleMania. A lot of the spots in this match left me excited for what will happen when Ambrose, Rollins, and Reigns branch out on their own and embark upon singles careers in the WWE.

Antonio Cesaro defeated The Miz to retain the United States Championship

Alex: The worst match of the night, unfortunately.  I'm into Cesaro, but I can't take the new annoying babyface Miz seriously.  I didn't think there was any chance that Miz would dethrone Cesaro as US Champion and was glad to see that I was right.  The finish, however, left a lot to be desired.

Violet:The finish was awful, but the right man won.

Dolph Ziggler defeated Kofi Kingston

Alex: This match didn't need to happen.  I was interested to see what they would do with Ziggler if they didn't have him cash in, but this isn't what I was hoping for.

Violet: I get that they wanted to fit Ziggler into the show somehow, but I really hate having to watch filler matches during PPVs.

Kaitlyn defeated Tamina Snuka to retain the Diva's Championship

Alex: Wasn't this feud happening like two months ago?  What happened in the Diva's Division since then?  Absolutely nothing, which is exactly why they had this meaningless match take place.

Violet: Kaitlyn won, I guess. It doesn't really matter. The Divas Division is in worse shape than it was a year ago, and that's saying a lot.

Brodus Clay & Tensai defeated Team Rhodes Scholars

Alex: Is there money in Brodus Clay and Tensai?  Enough that it makes sense to put Cody and Sandow back together to get beat by them?  I don't buy it.

Violet: I hope WWE intends to fix the mess they made out of Rhodes and Sandow sooner rather than later. They deserve better than this.

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@TheAlexArcher | @VioletButtle |  @FTLOW_official

WWE Elimination Chamber Predictions

w/ Alex Archer & Violet Buttle

The Rock (c) vs. CM Punk for the WWE Championship (If The Rock loses by count-out or DQ, CM Punk wins the WWE Championship) Alex: Though the DQ / count out stipulation is pretty intriguing, I think The Rock comes away from this one as WWE Champion.  If he's going to be involved with WrestleMania again this year, presumably with John Cena, what better way than to up the ante from last year and have him go into it with the title?

Violet:I can't think of any possible scenario in which CM Punk walks away from this match as the winner.

John Cena, Ryback, and Sheamus vs. The Shield in a Six Man Tag Team Match Alex: They've done a great job the last few weeks at making this look like more of an even match up than it is on paper.  You'd think that with Cena, Ryback, and Sheamus on the same team, it would be hard to bet against them, but WWE has been putting a lot of work into The Shield's act.  I think Ambrose, Reigns, and Rollins get the win.  No idea where it goes from there, though.

Violet:I think that we'll see Ryback, Cena, and Sheamus win here. Because, really, when don't they win? However, a loss for The Shield would really weaken the faction, so I hope that WWE has something in mind other than a clean win for the main eventers.

Randy Orton vs. Jack Swagger vs. Chris Jericho vs. Mark Henry vs. Kane vs. Daniel Bryan in an Elimination Chamber Match to determine the #1 Contender for the World Heavyweight Championship Alex: I can really only see Jericho or Mark Henry winning the Elimination Chamber event.  I think that the champion going into WrestleMania will either be Dolph Ziggler or Alberto Del Rio.  If Ziggler cashes in and wins tonight, then Jericho wins the Chamber.  If Del Rio beats Show and Ziggler doesn't cash in or is unsuccessful, Mark Henry goes on to face Del Rio at WrestleMania.

Violet: Realistically, the two guys I can see winning this match are Henry and Jericho. It's highly unlikely that Big Show wins the title tonight, so I expect that either Del Rio will remain Champion until WrestleMania or Ziggler cashes in before then. With their history, Jericho and Ziggler could produce a fun and meaningful WrestleMaina feud. On the other hand, Del Rio and Henry could have an entertaining feud as well. And, with his current feud with Big Show, Del Rio has proven that he can have interesting matches with bigger guys.

Alberto Del Rio (c) vs. The Big Show for the World Heavyweight Championship Alex: This match kind of goes hand in hand with my prediction for the Elimination Chamber Match.  I'll pull one out of left field and say that Big Show defeats Del Rio, Ziggler cashes in and defeats Big Show, and we see a Ziggler vs. Show vs. Jericho triple threat at WrestleMania.

Violet: This feud has made Big Show look more like a bumbling fool than an intimidating giant. Del Rio wins and removes Big Show from the main event picture for awhile.

Antonio Cesaro (c) vs. The Miz for the United States Championship Alex: Cesaro has looked dominant going into this match which is sometimes an indicator that the other guy is going to win at the pay-per-view.  I don't think that's the case here, though.  Cesaro is getting built up for something big, it seems, and a loss to The Miz doesn't seem like it.  Unless they plan on moving him up the ranks right after this feud, Cesaro retains.

Violet: Cesaro has been looking too strong to take a loss to The Miz right now. Since there isn't really a spot available for Cesaro in the main event picture quite yet, I see him holding the US Title for a bit longer.

Kaitlyn (c) vs. Tamina Snuka for the Diva's Championship Alex: Wasn't this feud going on like two months ago?  Why is it all of a sudden back?  It doesn't make sense to take the title off Kaitlyn right now.  Not that the Diva's Division doesn't defy logic at every turn...

Violet:A pointless match for the title of a pointless division. Does it really matter who wins? I miss Eve.

Brodus Clay & Tensai vs. Team Rhodes Scholars (Pre-Show) Alex: I wonder if they're only putting Rhodes and Sandow back together for tonight.  If they are, Tensai and Clay probably win.  If they're back as a tag team for another run, then Rhodes Scholars takes the win.

Violet:  If Rhodes and Sandow win then their split looks stupid, so I predict a win for Clay and Tensai.

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@TheAlexArcher | @VioletButtle |  @FTLOW_official

WrestleMania Time Machine: WrestleMania 17

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In the months leading up to WrestleMania 29 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, we'll be taking a look back at the best and worst of WrestleMania's past.

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w/ Alex Archer & Violet Buttle

Date: April 1, 2001

Venue: Reliant Astrodome (Houston, TX)

Attendance: 67,925

On Commentary: Jim Ross & Paul Heyman, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan & "Mean" Gene Okerlund (Gimmick Battle Royal)

Main Event: The Rock vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin for the WWF Championship

Alex's Opinion

Best: Going into viewing this WrestleMania, I thought for sure that the TLC match would've been my favorite of the night.  The star power of The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin, along with the McMahon family, Trish Stratus, and Mick Foley, really made the main event really stand out.  It was like they condensed a whole season of The Days of Our Lives into a 30 minute pro wrestling match.  While a lot of fans hated the complexity and the extent of how convoluted these types of storylines were, I think they're what pro wrestling is all about: colorful characters, personal storylines, and great in-ring action.

Worst: It was a toss up between the Gimmick Battle Royal and the Hardcore Match that featured Kane, Rave, and The Big Show.  In the end, the Triple Threat Hardcore Match wins the honors of worst match.  It was around 9 minutes long and more than half of the match consisted of the three competitors milling through the crowd and exploring the arena.  The Gimmick Battle Royal was bad, but at least it was short and provided some laughs.  The Hardcore Match, on the other hand, just dragged on didn't provide much entertainment.

Violet's Opinion

Best: The three teams involved in the TLC match made the tag titles look like something that's worth risking your life for. Some of the spots in this match were insane, and the transitions between every part of the match were seamless. As soon as one cool spot wrapped up, something else worthy of the audience's attention had already started. This match was truly a thing of beauty.

Worst: The Iron Sheik took so long getting to the ring for the 19-man battle royal that other guys were passing him. And then he won.

Full Results

Chris Jericho defeated William Regal to retain the Intercontinental Championship (7:08)

Tazz & The APA (Farooq & Bradshaw) defeated Right to Censor (The Godfather, Bull Buchanan, and Val Venis) (3:52)

Kane defeated Raven and The Big Show in a Triple Threat Hardcore Match for the Hardcore Championship (9:17)

Eddie Guerrero defeated Test for the European Championship (8:30)

Kurt Angle defeated Chris Benoit (14:04)

Chyna defeated Ivory for the Women's Championship (2:39)

Shane McMahon defeated Vince McMahon in a Street Fight w/ Mick Foley as Special Guest Referee (14:12)

Edge & Christian defeated The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray & Devon) and The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff) in a TLC Match for the Tag Team Championship (15:47)

The Iron Sheik won the 19 Man Gimmick Battle Royal (3:07)

The Undertaker defeated Triple H (18:57)

Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated The Rock in a No DQ Match for the WWF Championship (28:07)

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@TheAlexArcher | @VioletButtle |  @FTLOW_official

A Look at The Shield's New Look: Justice Isn't Free

by Violet Buttle

The Shield isn't about flash or panache. The Shield doesn't crack corny jokes, and they don't speak at unless they have a clear and concise message to deliver. They seek to reverse the injustices that are committed in the WWE, and their first t-shirt does a great job of representing this. Would a more realistic and detailed shield have looked better on the front of this shirt? Maybe, but it wouldn't really serve it's purpose. Look at the outfits the members of The Shield wear when they descend upon their targets in the ring. All black. Simple. Plain. The message The Shield sending is way more important than the clothes they (or their fans, if they buy the shirt) are wearing.

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@VioletButtle | @FTLOW_Official

The Best All-American Heroes and Anti-American Villains of All Time

by Alex Archer

Part One | Part Two

Two of the most successful and widely used wrestling persona's of all time have been the classic American Hero and his counterpart: the Anti-American.  There's no mystery as to why these characters get over so well as babyfaces or why they draw so much heat as heels; the audience can easily connect with them.  The wrestlers, the promoters, and the broadcast team have one goal and that's to make you care about the plight of the hero.  What better way to pull at an American's heartstrings and connect them to the story than to have an evil character attack the values or morals of Americans?  It sets up the hero to come in, wave his flag, say his prayers, eat his vitamins, and defend America's honor.

Over the years we've seen countless versions of the American Hero and just as many variations of the Anti-American character.  I'm going to profile some of the greatest wrestlers that have ever fought for, or against, America.

"You do not boo an Olympic Gold Medalist!"

Kurt Angle

Kurt Angle won gold for the US at the 96 Olympics, and is the only Olympic gold medalist to ever compete in professional wrestling.  Not only is he the only Olympic gold medalist in wrestling, he also did it with a damn near broken neck.  It's like the American Hero storyline wrote itself.

Or so you'd think.

Back in '99 when Angle debuted, the WWE knew it's key demographic wouldn't get behind an American Hero.  It was the age of the anti-heroes.  Stone Cold and the nWo were thriving.  The WWE made the decision to have Angle portray a cocky, arrogant American.  Angle would constantly stress his three I's: Intensity, Integrity, and Intelligence.  The fans hated Angle and serenaded him with a sing-song "you suck" chant to the tune of his theme music.

Although Angle never relied solely on an Anti-American shtick, his work as a heel revolved around the fact that he was an American hero, and that meant he was better than everyone else. 

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"HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan

Duggan was involved in a couple of feuds that played off of his patriotic character over the years. The most notable would be his debut feud with Nikolai Volkoff and The Iron Sheik. Duggan would hit the ring before Volkoff and Sheiks' matches would begin to interrupt Volkoff singing the Russian National Anthem.  Surprisingly enough, Duggan would eventually join forces with Volkoff and take on the Orient Express 3 years later.

If you were to play the word association game and you said "Hacksaw Jim Duggan", you'd undoubtedly hear one of three responses: 2x4, "USA!", "Hoooooo!", or American flag.  Or if you're asking a smartass, "cocaine with The Iron Sheik".

Although he is one of the most popular wrestlers of all time and a member of the WWE Hall of Fame (2011), Duggan never won the WWF Championship.  In fact, he only fought for the title once when he defeated Sgt. Slaughter by disqualification, allowing Slaughter to retain the belt.

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@TheAlexArcher | @FTLOW_Official

Wrestling You Should See: Volume 5

w/ Alex Archer

WrestleMania 19 - Jazz vs. Trish Stratus vs. Victoria for the WWF Women's Championship

This is another match I came across while doing our WrestleMania Time Machine series.  I didn't even remember this match, but damn was it good.  If all you're used to is the current WWE style of women's wrestling, this will be a real treat for you.  All three of these women can wrestle, especially Jazz.  She's got an incredible offensive moveset and comes across as one of the toughest females the WWE has ever seen.

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@TheAlexArcher | @FTLOW_Official

Versus: Better Televised Women's Champion

by Violet Buttle

Tara (TNA) vs. Kaitlyn (WWE)

Tara: Tara is a veteran women's wrestler. She held the WWE Women's Championship twice, and the TNA Knockouts Championship five times. Currently, during her record tying fifth title reign, Tara is involved in a storyline with TNA newcomer Jesse "Mr. Pec-tacular" Godderz. The two portray a wrestlers who are obsessed with being a Hollywood power couple. Before her pairing with Jesse, Tara was involved in a feud with her former tag partner Miss Tessmacher.

Kaitlyn: Kaitlyn is relatively new to the scene. After signing a developmental contract with WWE in July of 2010, she'd go on to win season 3 of NXT before winning her first Diva's title on January 14th. Prior to winning the title, Kaitlyn was involved in a feud with the then Divas Champion Eve. Kaitlyn was supposed to get a title shot at September's Night of Champions PPV, but she was attacked by a mystery assailant before she could compete. After some minor investigation and the passage of time, it was eventually uncovered that Eve was Kaitlyn's attacker. However, since Kaitlyn captured the title and Eve left the WWE, Kaitlyn hasn't been given much television time. In fact, despite holding the title, she is currently not involved in a storyline.

The Better Televised Women's Champion: Tara

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@VioletButtle | @FTLOW_Official

WrestleMania Time Machine: WrestleMania 18

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In the months leading up to WrestleMania 29 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, we'll be taking a look back at the best and worst of WrestleMania's past.

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w/ Alex Archer & Violet Buttle

Date: March 17, 2002

Venue: SkyDome(Toronto, Ontario)

Attendance: 68,237

On Commentary: Jerry Lawler & Jim Ross

Main Event: Chris Jericho vs. Triple H for the Undisputed WWF Championship

Alex's Opinion

Best: Two of the biggest names in pro wrestling history squared off for the first time at this WrestleMania: Hulk Hogan and The Rock.  The wrestling portion of the match left something to be desired, but it was still a damn good time.  The crowd came absolutely unglued when Hogan made his trademark comeback.  The Rock eventually came out on top and then both men beat up Hall and Nash, who made a post-match appearance to kick Hogan out of the nWo, and then Hogan and Rock posed for the crowd together.  This certainly could've been in the main event spot.

Worst: As we really hit the Attitude Era head on with Manias 15-19, it's going to be hard to find the "worst" part of these events.  Christian and DDP put together a somewhat lackluster performance, and because I was expecting more, I would say that their match was the worst of the bunch.  Though it was the worst of the show, it still wasn't bad.

Violet's Opinion

Best:  Even though I knew that Austin would end the match by executing a Stunner on both Nash and Hall, I was still really excited to see it happen and so was the crowd. Their reaction to this match was crazy even though they probably saw the ending coming from a mile away too. I was expecting Hall to look a little slow in the ring, which he did at times, but I was impressed with the energy he had. He sold every Stunner beautifully.

Worst: It's difficult for a hardcore match to get really hardcore when it only lasts for 3:15. Maven and Golddust didn't get a chance to make their match for the Hardcore title memorable or exciting before Spike Dudley came to the ring and pinned Maven. The multiple title changes after the match standout more than the actual planned match did.

Full Results

Rob Van Dam defeated William Regal for the WWF Intercontinental Championship (6:19)

Diamond Dallas Page defeated Christian to retain the WWF European Championship (6:08)

Maven fought Goldust to a No Contest in a Hardcore Match for the WWF Hardcore Championship (3:15)

Kurt Angle defeated Kane (10:45)

The Undertaker defeated Ric Flair in a No DQ Match (18:47)

Edge defeated Booker T (6:32)

Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated Scott Hall (9:51)

Billy and Chuck defeated The APA (Farooq & Bradshaw), The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray & Devon), and The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff) in a Four Corners Elimination Tag Match to retain the WWF Tag Team Championship (13:50)

The Rock defeated Hollywood Hulk Hogan (16:23)

Jazz defeated Trish Stratus and Lita to retain the WWF Women's Championship (6:16)

Triple H defeated Chris Jericho for the WWF Undisputed Championship(18:41)

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@TheAlexArcher | @VioletButtle |  @FTLOW_official

A Look at Cody's New Look: Groomed for Success

by Violet Buttle

I like Cody Rhodes, and I like mustaches. However, I don’t like Cody Rhodes with a mustache. With that being said, I’m into Rhodes’s new t-shirt. Mustache merchandise is popular these days, so making a shirt that capitalizes on that trend is a smart idea by WWE. The design itself is simple and appealing, but it’s the text on the back of the shirt that won me over.

The phrase “Groomed for Success” suits the young Superstar well. Whether it brings to mind his past “Dashing” gimmick, the fact that he is the son of the Legendary Dusty Rhodes, or how hard he’s worked to get where he is in the WWE, it is clear that Rhodes isn’t just a man with a mustache. 

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@VioletButtle 

The Best All-American Heroes and Anti-American Villains of All Time

by Alex Archer

Part One | Part Two

Two of the most successful and widely used wrestling persona's of all time have been the classic American Hero and his counterpart: the Anti-American.  There's no mystery as to why these characters get over so well as babyfaces or why they draw so much heat as heels; the audience can easily connect with them.  The wrestlers, the promoters, and the broadcast team have one goal and that's to make you care about the plight of the hero.  What better way to pull at an American's heartstrings and connect them to the story than to have an evil character attack the values or morals of Americans?  It sets up the hero to come in, wave his flag, say his prayers, eat his vitamins, and defend America's honor.

Over the years we've seen countless versions of the American Hero and just as many variations of the Anti-American character.  I'm going to profile some of the greatest wrestlers that have ever fought for, or against, America.

"Youuu Magggggotttt!" - Sgt. Slaughter

Sgt. Slaughter

The "Sergeant" in Sgt. Slaughter isn't just a gimmick.  Slaughter did actually serve as a Sergeant in the armed forces before focusing on professional wrestling.  Though he's known more for his role as the American Hero babyface, Slaughter's best work may have been as a heel.  One of Slaughter's best heel programs was with Pat Patterson, stemming from a $10,000 Cobra Clutch Challenge.  Slaughter would later turn babyface again, become a top star, and then leave the company in 1994 following a dispute over his involvement with the GI Joe toy line.

In 1990, Slaughter returned to the WWF and turned his back on the American fans in one of the most controversial storylines of all time.  The US was involved with Iraq in the Middle East, and Slaughter played the role of an Iraqi sympathizer disgusted with the American people.  Slaughter was so hated during this time period that he had to travel with a full security team while wearing a bulletproof vest.

Slaughter captured his one and only WWF Championship on January 19th, 1991 when he defeated The Ultimate Warrior at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view event.  He went on to drop the title to Hogan at WrestleMania VII.  Following this loss and a subsequent feud that involved both Hogan and Warrior, Slaughter would flip-flop between face and heel for the rest of his career, eventually settling in as one of the staples of the WWE Legends group.  Sgt. Slaughter was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004.

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"fuck the tuesday in the ass" -@the_ironsheik

The Iron Sheik

"Sheiky-baby" hasn't always been the bitter, profane, hilariously-angry man we've grown to know and love over the last few years.  Or he just didn't have anywhere to vent until Twitter came around.  Either way, The Iron Sheik is one of the best Anti-Americans in the history of pro wrestling.

Other than his infamous Twitter rants, Sheik is probably most well known for ending Bob Backlund's six year run as WWF Champion in 1983.  Just four weeks later, he would drop the title to Hogan, essentially giving birth to Hulkamania.  Sheik would go on to join forces with Nikolai Volkoff to form one of the greatest Anti-American factions in WWE history.  The two would enter the ring to blaring Russian music, and Volkoff would sing a very inspiring version of the Russian National Anthem.

After a 3 year absence from the WWF (he was fired for getting busted doing coke in Jersey with Jim Duggan), Sheik returned as Colonel Mustafa, an Iraqi sympathizer.  He would team with Sgt. Slaughter and General Adnan, an Iraqi General, to feud with The Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan.  This was the same storyline mentioned above that led to Sgt. Slaughter having to wear a bulletproof vest and ride with a security detail.

The Iron Sheik was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.

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Next up in Part Two: Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Kurt Angle.

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@TheAlexArcher

Versus: Reality-TV-Star-Turned-Wrestler

by Violet Buttle

"Mr. PEC-Tacular" Jesse Godderz (TNA) vs. Mike "The Miz" Mizanin (WWE) vs. David Otunga (WWE)

Jesse Godderz: Jesse first appeared on Big Brother during its tenth season. From there he would go on to be the first contestant to appear on five consecutive seasons of the show. Mr. Pec-tacular debuted on Impact Wrestling as Tara’s “Hollywood Boyfriend,” playing on his reality TV show past to create his arrogant and delusional character.  Though Jesse has only been on the TNA roster for a short period of time, he does get a lot of exposure. He is usually seen ringside during Tara’s matches, though he occasionally does wrestle.

The Miz: Mike Mizanin didn’t debut The Miz character in a wrestling ring; it was on MTV’s The Real World that The Miz first appeared on TV. After his run on the tenth season of the Real World, The Miz would appear on several other reality TV shows, such as Fear Factor and several seasons of The Real World/ Road Rules Challenge. In fact, The Miz’s first appearance on WWE programming was as a contestant on Tough Enough where he came in second place.  After joining the WWE roster, The Miz experienced a fair amount of adversity due to his reality TV past. Luckily for The Miz, he would go on to hold multiple championships in the WWE, including one run as the WWE Champion. 

David Otunga:Though it is rarely mentioned, David Otunga was a contestant on I Love New York 2. Otunga finished the competition for New York’s heart in third place. The loss is probably okay with the Harvard Law graduate, because he would later marry singer and actress Jennifer Hudson. While Otunga has been involved in some important storylines, he hasn’t been in the ring much as of late.

The Better Reality-TV-Star-Turned-Wrestler: The Miz

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@VioletButtle

WrestleMania Time Machine: WrestleMania 19

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In the months leading up to WrestleMania 29 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, we'll be taking a look back at the best and worst of WrestleMania's past.

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w/ Alex Archer & Violet Buttle

Date: March 30, 2003

Venue: Safeco Field (Seattle, WA)

Attendance: 54,097

On Commentary: Michael Cole & Tazz (Smackdown), Jim Ross & Jerry Lalwer (Raw)

Main Event: Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship

Alex's Opinion

Best: This was by far the best WrestleMania we've watched to this point.  Every single match was enjoyable, and it was really hard to choose the best match of the night.  I have to go with Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho.  The story they told during the match played perfectly into the storyline leading up to it, and the finish was picture perfect.

Worst: The worst part of WrestleMania 19 wasn't even a match.  It's a tossup between the fatal four way pillow fight that saw Coach lose his pants and the contest to four women (Stacy Keibler, Torrie Wilson, and two nobodies) and Limb Bizkit performing live.  Even the Vince McMahon vs. Hulk Hogan match was entertaining (well, the last 3 minutes of it, at least).

Violet's Opinion

Best:  Booker T and Triple H had the most disappointing outing of one of the best WrestleManias that we’ve looked back at. The match itself wasn’t awful, but it definitely fell short. The action was slow, and the crowd could not have cared less about what was happening in the ring. It was really hard to get into the match or buy any of the near falls when the live crowd is totally dead the entire time.

Worst: Although Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle closed the show with an energetic and athletic match, I preferred the Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho match from earlier in the night. Michaels is one of the best storytellers in the business, and this outing with Jericho really highlights this. Jericho vowed to end Michaels’s career at WrestleMania, and there wasn’t a point during the match where the back story didn’t influence the action.

Full Results

Matt Hardy defeated Rey Mysterio to retain the Cruiserweight Championship (5:37)

The Undertaker defeated Big Show & A-Train (9:42)

Trish Stratus defeated Victioria and Jazz in a Triple Threat Match for the Women's Championship (7:17)

Team Angle (Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin) defeated Los Guerreros (Eddie & Chavo) and Rhyno & Chris Benoit in a Triple Threat Match to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship (8:48)

Shawn Michaels defeated Chris Jericho (22:34)

Triple H defeated Booker T to retain the World Heavyweight Championship (18:45)

Hulk Hogan defeated Vince McMahon in a Street Fight (20:47)

The Rock defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin (17:55)

Brock Lesnar defeated Kurt Angle for the WWE Championship (21:07)

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Contact us on Twitter to discuss this article or anything wrestling :
@TheAlexArcher | @VioletButtle