Elimination Chamber: Ruthless Aggression Era

Presenting Part 4 of 6--You know the drill:




The Ruthless Aggression Era

The Participants: Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Chris Jericho vs. Eddie Guerrero vs. Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle

Order of Entry: Rob Van Dam (3), Eddie Guerrero (4), Kurt Angle (5), Brock Lesnar (6); Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho start the match 

The Breakdown: Personal feelings about how the Benoit story ended aside, there's no denying that in his career, The Rabid Wolverine was both an integral part of this era in WWF/E and one of, if not the most skilled technical wrestler in the game. In fact, the only other superstar from this era who make a stake to that claim is obviously Angle with his amateur background and well-documented Olympic gold medals won during the 1996 Atlanta games to back it up. Benoit's in-ring battles, particularly with Jericho, Guerrero and Angle, are still celebrated by longtime fans (if not by WWE) and not to beat a cliche into the ground, but every meeting was a wrestling clinic.

As intensity goes, Benoit and Angle are practically unmatched. That is, until you throw Brock Lesnar into the equation. First arriving on the scene in March 2002 (specifically the night after Wrestlemania 18), Lesnar was the embodiment of "Ruthless Aggression" during this era. His three reigns as WWE Champion between August 2002 and February 2004 showcased the dominance and sheer brutality that took this NCAA prospect from the University of Minnesota from "The Next Big Thing" to "The Beast Incarnate" all WWE fans are familiar with today. Fans often cite the Lesnar-Angle feuds and Lesnar-Guerrero (their encounter at No Way Out 2004, specifically) as personal favorites from the period. It is the limited encounters between Lesnar and Benoit, Guerrero and Jericho that serve as a rather interesting x-factor in this proposed match-up.

Perhaps the TRUE wild card in this match would be RVD, who has in-ring familiarity with all five participants (including a notable loss to Lesnar that crowned Brock as the final PPV King of the Ring). Unfortunately for Van Dam, that in-ring familiarity rarely translated to success as his reckless abandon and high-risk maneuvering often spelled his demise in said contests. One might surmise that past experiences would help Van Dam better game plan for his adversaries, but in an atmosphere as volatile as The Elimination Chamber, it might prove quite difficult for this kamikaze zebra to change his extreme stripes.

The Analysis: As routine opponents as Benoit and Angle were to each other, no two counterparts in this match likely knew each other better than Benoit and his fellow Canadian, Jericho. Therefore, I have arranged for them to begin the match. As with most matches, the bell rings to Benoit and Jericho exchanging heavy right-handed blows. Jericho whips Benoit to the ropes and follows in with a back elbow and a textbook clothesline. Y2J forces The Wolverine to the buckle and begins peppering him with knife-edge chops and boots to the face. Jericho attempts an Irish whip to the opposite corner, but Benoit counters and sends Jericho in before charging into another kick. Y2J comes out of the corner, but Benoit answers back with an armbar, attempting to lock in the crossface. Jericho fights out and rolls into position for the Walls of Jericho, but Benoit is able to kick free of the hold.

Benoit starts throwing heavy rights again before throwing Jericho shoulder-first into the turnpost. Benoit drags Jericho out of the corner by the back of his head and throws a few more chops and punches before landing a shoulder breaker. Benoit sets up for another, but Jericho slides out and fires back with clubbing blows to the back of the head and a flying forearm to the face. Benoit rolls to the outside and Jericho heads to the corner for a springboard cross body block, but Benoit dodges and Jericho hits the steel floor instead. Benoit returns to his feet and slams Jericho three times off the chain wall of the chamber before grinding his face into the mesh. Benoit throws Jericho into steel beam support of Lesnar's pod shoulder first. The whip contains such velocity that Benoit is taken off his own feet in the process. Jericho attempts a running enziguri out of desperation, but Benoit ducks again and retaliates by throwing Jericho into Angle's pod also. Benoit begins working over Jericho with rights and lefts to the temple, but Jericho is able to return to his feet with Benoit on his shoulders and respond with an Electric Chair drop on the steel.

Both roll back into the ring and Jericho mounts an offensive with chops and clotheslines in the corner before throwing Benoit full speed across the ring. The momentum carries Benoit over the turnbuckle, crashing face first into the center beam of Guerrero's pod and careening out to the steel floor again. Jericho comes out to the floor as well and follows through with more chops before bouncing Benoit's skull off Guerrero's pod again. He tosses Benoit into Van Dam's chamber and Benoit hits the glass, but the pane only shivers. As the countdown clock for the next entrant reaches zero, Jericho tosses Benoit again and this time Benoit crashes through the glass and takes out RVD in the process. The buzzer sounds and as fate would have it, Van Dam ends up as the next entrant.

Stepping over shattered glass, Van Dam is met with a kick to the gut and is forced to the corner as Jericho works over RVD with more chops and a choke hold. Jericho whips Van Dam to the corner, but RVD rebounds with a cross body. Van Dam goes for a cover, but Jericho escapes and quickly falls victim to a flurry of deep arm drags. With Jericho backed against the ropes, Van Dam charges, but Y2J plants a boot in RVD's face. RVD answers back with a roundhouse kick for a two count. After another well-placed kick to the head, RVD whips Jericho off the ropes and attempts a leg sweep, but Jericho jumps over and comes back with an enziguri and a very close two count of his own. Jericho argues the count and follows up with a back suplex and a succession of elbows for another two. Jericho locks in a surfboard, but Van Dam escapes and tosses Jericho shoulder first to the buckle again. Benoit returns to the fray with a straight dropkick to Jericho's head, sandwiching Jericho between Benoit's feet and the casing of Kurt Angle's pod. RVD meets Benoit with a forearm to the head and whips him off the ropes before drilling him with a step-over spinning heel kick.

Van Dam jams Benoit into the corner and capitalizes with a Northern Lights Suplex before Jericho interrupts the count. Jericho whips RVD to the buckle and comes back with a running bulldog. Y2J goes for a lionsault but Van Dam moves, sending Jericho reeling to the outside. RVD goes for a Five Star Frog Splash on the steel, but Jericho responds in kind, dodging and sending Van Dam crashing into the grate. With RVD reeling, Benoit goes for a schoolboy pin, but Van Dam somehow rolls out at two. Benoit attempts an atomic drop, but RVD rolls backward over the top rope and back into the ring. Unfortunately he lands in front of Jericho, who locks in the Walls of Jericho instead. Benoit comes back into the ring and cinches in the Crippler Crossface to boot. Before RVD can tap out, the buzzer goes off and out comes Eddie Guerrero.

Guerrero scales to the top of the chamber and leaps on top of both Benoit and Jericho, taking all three men out. Benoit gets back to his feet and Eddie meets him with a stiff right hand and a snap suplex before stomping away at The Wolverine's back. Eddie takes Benoit to the outside and begins battering him in the far corner before choking him out with the chains on the wall and slamming him into the chamber door. Enraged, Benoit fires back with a swift chop, but Guerrero retorts with a thumb to the eye and another suplex before grinding his boot into Benoit's face. Eddie pulls Benoit back to his feet, but Benoit counters into an Exploder suplex that sends Guerrero off the steel and ricocheting off the chamber wall. Benoit with knee lifts to Guerrero in the corner and whips him to the opposite side, but Eddie comes back with a drop toe hold and a knee breaker to Van Dam before turning his attention back to Jericho. Guerrero re-enters the ring with a rolling senton and a two count. Eddie locks in a figure four leg lock on RVD and out comes Kurt Angle.

Angle immediately storms in and breaks up the submission hold, blasts Benoit with a vicious back elbow and begins brawling with Jericho. Kurt goes for a clothesline, but Jericho dodges and rebounds with a nasty flying forearm and a spinning heel kick. Jericho hits a springboard dropkick and Angle scrambles to the outside only to be met by Guerrero with a swift kick to the ribcage. Eddie rockets him into the wall and Jericho retakes control with a rope-aided neckbreaker. Jericho hits the ropes and Angle responds with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex that takes Y2J over the ropes and back first into the chamber walls. Angle backs Benoit into the corner and begins working him over with punches and knees to the face before hitting a suplex for two.

Angle applies a front facelock, but RVD re-enters the match with a roll-up for a near fall. Benoit takes Van Dam down with a German Suplex for a two count. Eddie Guerrero nails Benoit with a spinning back elbow before Angle sends Eddie flying with another belly-to-belly suplex. Kurt makes the cover and Eddie barely kicks out. Angle with a reverse chinlock, but Jericho emerges on the scene and catches Angle with a Breakdown. Angle kicks out and attempts another German suplex, but Jericho counters into a victory roll and moves into position for the Walls of Jericho only for RVD to nullify it with a diving thrust kick. The final buzzer sounds and here comes the pain.

Like a time bomb that was just waiting to explode, Lesnar grabs Van Dam out of mid-air and drives him into the corner. After a blizzard of shoulder thrusts Brock puts on the exclamation point with a clothesline of near-decapitating force. Targeting everyone in sight, Lesnar hits a snap suplex on Guerrero, a belly-to-belly on Angle and a German suplex to Jericho before dragging Benoit to the top for a superplex and a very close two count. Brock grabs RVD and delivers three consecutive powerbombs; one to the chamber wall and one to the steel floor before delivering the final one through the plate glass of his empty pod. Two pods obliterated now, Lesnar delivers furious knee lifts to Guerrero before suplexing Eddie through the glass walls of a third pod. Brock grabs Jericho and throws him with such ferocity at the chamber door that the pad lock breaks and Y2J falls OUT of the chamber and onto the entrance ramp. With devastation surrounding him, the champion takes up Kurt Angle and delivers and F-5 through the last of the plate glass in any of the pods.

Determined to start racking up victims, Lesnar goes back to Benoit and sets him up for another F-5, but Benoit has it scouted and delivers, not one, not two, not even ten....but TWENTY German suplexes in succession. The crowd is in a frenzy, chanting "one more time" and counting along as the suplexes are delivered. Van Dam rises from the wreckage of the pod he was thrown through and stuns Lesnar with Rolling Thunder. As the rest of the opponents slowly return to their feet, they resolve to use a group mentality and Benoit, Guerrero, Angle and RVD all scale opposite corners of the chamber to the top of each holding area and unleash a horrific four-post massacre--Eddie Guerrero lands first with a Frog Splash from 16 feet above the mat, Van Dam follows with a Five-Star Frog Splash. As RVD tries to catch his breath, Angle takes the crowd's away with a jaw-dropping moonsault and the exclamation point comes in the form of Benoit's diving headbutt. Y2J adds a lionsault and locks in the Walls of Jericho. Benoit joins soon thereafter and applies the Crippler Crossface. Eddie Guerrero administers a hammerlock on Lesnar's other arm and floats into a bridge. Finally Kurt Angle comes to and Jericho surrenders one leg for Kurt to lock in the Ankle Lock. At the mercy of four simultaneous submission holds, an overwhelmed Lesnar has no other option but to tap out.

Brock Lesnar is ELIMINATED. 

With all other participants trying to work up a second wind, Eddie Guerrero slips outside the chamber and grabs a chair. Eddie takes a swing at Benoit's back and swiftly tosses the chair to Jericho before playing dead. Enraged, Benoit turns his aggression on Y2J and this opens the door for Guerrero. Unfortunately, Eddie didn't take RVD into account and a Van Daminator drops him with the same chair. RVD hits a coast to coast Van Terminator, but Jericho drops him with a one-armed bulldog and takes credit for the ensuing pinfall on Guerrero.

Eddie Guerrero is ELIMINATED.

Jericho moves to RVD and tries one more time for the Walls of Jericho, but Van Dam has it scouted. As Jericho attempts to turn RVD over, he ensnares Jericho in a cross-legged victory roll for the surprise three count.

Chris Jericho is ELIMINATED.

Embarrassed, Jericho grabs the steel chair and levels all three remaining participants. Angle returns to his feet first and attempts to lock in the Ankle Lock on RVD. Desperate to counter, RVD goes for a feint enziguri and tries to come back with a mule kick, but Angle picks the other ankle instead and locks it in as tightly as possible. Van Dam wriggles and squirms to get away, but it's no use. Angle drops into the leg grapevine to ensure no escape. RVD hangs in for another minute or two before the agony forces a submission.

Rob Van Dam is ELIMINATED.

With the field narrowed to two, a re-energized Angle tackles Benoit to the mat, and immediately floats over into another German suplex. Angle rolls into a front facelock, but Benoit counters into a hammerlock and transitions to a side headlock. Angle throws Benoit to the ropes but Benoit comes back with a shoulder block and a deep arm drag. Benoit works Angle into the corner with blistering chops. Angle goes for the Ankle Lock again, but Benoit counters with a dropkick and a running back elbow. Angle whips Benoit shoulder first to the post and follows up with a release German Suplex that sends Benoit to the mat face first. Angle tries again, but Benoit counters, sending Kurt to the post himself. A clothesline to the back of the head sends Angle reeling to the outside where he's met with a DDT on the steel and a vertical suplex back into the ring. Benoit goes for another diving headbutt, but Angle moves at the last second. Kurt crawls to the cover but only gets a 2 1/2 count. Visibly frustrated, Angle tries for the Angle Slam instead, only to have Benoit reverse into the Sharpshooter. Angle reaches the bottom rope and breaks the hold.

Benoit pounds away with a back suplex and a belly-to-belly suplex, but Angle lowbridges a charging Wolverine and sends Benoit crashing to the steel floor. Angle hangs Benoit by the Ankle in the chain mesh of the Chamber wall and begins working over him with the steel chair that Guerrero introduced to the match. Angle clobbers a limping Benoit with a lariat, a belly-to-belly and another back suplex before both men take each other down with a double clothesline. The ref starts the count and both men reach their feet at the count of eight. Benoit and Angle exchange German Suplexes until Benoit gets the upper hand and hits three in succession. As Benoit climbs the ropes for another diving headbutt, Angle uses the last of his adrenaline to scale the turnbuckles and drill Benoit with a top rope arm drag.

Angle connects with the Angle Slam, but Benoit manages to kick out at two. Benoit counters the cover into the Crossface, but Angle gets to the ropes. Angle counters back into the Ankle Lock, but Benoit rolls through and comes up with an Ankle Lock of his own. Angle counters and slaps on his own version of the crossface. Benoit works back to his feet and reverses back into the crossface for a second time. Angle fights back to a vertical base and executes a drop toe hold to lock in the Ankle Lock again. Angle wraps Benoit with the leg grapevine, but Benoit won't quit and drags Angle with him to the bottom rope.

Livid, Angle goes for the Angle Slam one more time, but Benoit reverses again and connects with an Angle Slam  in return. With Angle down, Benoit slaps on the crossface for a third time. With the last bit of endurance he has left, Angle scratches and claws for the bottom rope and forces a break, but Benoit pulls him away. Angle makes one final anxious attempt to roll out of the hold, but Benoit refuses to break his grip. All options exhausted, a dispirited Angle ultimately surrenders the bout.

The Winner and NEW WWE Champion: Chris Benoit

To reiterate, personal feelings aside, I attempted to simulate this match to the best of my ability and provided what I believed to be the likeliest outcome. While never enjoying a high-profile victory over Angle in their feuds, there was always the suspicion that had the feud continued, Benoit was on the cusp of turning the tide and as intense as Lesnar and Angle both are (and trust me, they ARE), I felt that the environment of the Elimination Chamber was best suited for the Rabid Wolverine--which is why I gave him the nod in this particular contest (even if WWE doesn't feel comfortable saying his name anymore)....

Next one's not too far off folks, stay tuned for the five year period that the IWC (that's the Internet Wrestling Community, for casual readers) loves to make fun of...The PG Era. Thanks for reading.

-TSR

Elimination Chamber: Attitude Era

Let's not waste any time, let's dive right into it. The Elimination Chamber fantasy booking that those reading have undoubtedly been waiting to see...




The Attitude Era

The Participants: Stone Cold Steve Austin (c) vs. The Rock vs. Triple H vs. Cactus Jack vs. Kane vs. The Undertaker

Order of Entry: The Rock (3), Kane (4), Stone Cold Steve Austin (5), Triple H (6); The Undertaker and Cactus Jack start the match

The Breakdown: Perhaps the most star-studded match on the card of matches I've assembled, every one of the participants in this match spent a good chunk of March 1997 to July 2002 as the guy on top of the mountain. Three of them main-evented Wrestlemania 2000. Two others could have been in the same position save for a contractual dispute and a lengthy rehabilitation that kept them from competing. As for Kane, well, The Big Red Monster was easily one of the most intimidating, compelling and dominant fixtures of the Attitude Era and some might even argue into the Ruthless Aggression Era. The buildup to his ultimate reveal in October 1997 was one of the most gripping storylines of the New Generation Era and the payoff was just as much a heralding trumpet for the Attitude Era as Austin 3:16. As with the field of six presented in the previous post, these six got to know each other VERY well in the following five year window and would've made for a fantastic main event on any card at the time. It's truly unfortunate that the opportunity never afforded itself.

I've elected The Deadman and Mrs. Foley's Baby Boy to start the contest because classic moments tend to happen when this duo in particular clash at the beginning of a match (See: King of the Ring 1998). However, for a match of this magnitude I've decided that while Mankind performed admirably inside Hell In A Cell, only ONE Foley persona is sadistic and twisted enough to get the job done--Cactus Jack.

The Analysis: The match begins with The Undertaker slowly, methodically pacing from corner to corner trying to elicit some form of intimidation from each of his opponents locked in their pods. Cactus Jack emerges through the crowd and approaches the chamber door. As officials hold it open, awaiting his entrance, Foley assaults one of the referees and slams the door shut. Cactus wraps the chain around the latch and padlocks the gate. Having learned nothing from his encounter with Taker in Pittsburgh, Foley once again begins scaling the chamber and crawls onto the roof. Inviting the Demon of Death Valley to join him, Cactus needs not wait too long. The Undertaker begins climbing the turnbuckles, up onto a pod and through a panel in the ceiling to meet him on the roof of the Chamber. They trade blows until Taker gains the upper hand and positions Foley for a chokeslam through the roof, but this time Cactus has it scouted. The Hardcore Icon reaches through the grate of the ceiling and inexplicably produces his baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire before embedding it in The Undertaker's cranium.

Wounded but incensed, Taker kicks the bat down into the chamber and seizes Cactus by the throat, chokeslamming him through the chamber to the canvas anyway. In true Foley fashion, Jack lands back of the head first on the barbed wire. Shaking his head in a bizarre combination of disgust, disbelief and morbid admiration, Taker slowly climbs back down into the chamber and meets Foley on the floor, but there's no quit in the Human Crash Test Dummy as Cactus Jack responds with a Double Arm DDT on the bat. Foley crawls to the cover, but Taker kicks out at 2 1/2. After a breathtaking five minutes, the buzzer sounds and out steps The Great One.

The Rock comes flying out of his pod with lightning fast jabs and uppercuts, running lariats and punctuates his emergence with a Samoan Drop to Cactus Jack and a snap DDT to the Undertaker out on the steel. Rock leaps back to his feet and turns his attention back to Cactus Jack. He helps Foley back to his feet and starts directing traffic, instructing Cactus to roll Taker back into the ring. Rock begins stalking Taker and proceeds to plant him with a Rock Bottom as Foley heads to the corner. Climbing back to the top of the pod, Cactus Jack unsuccessfully defies gravity, connecting with a Cactus Elbow. Sensing the end is near, The Rock removes an elbow pad and throws it defiantly in the direction of Triple H's pod before connecting with The People's Elbow on the Deadman. With Foley still recovering from the landing, The Rock goes for the cover. Alas, just as the referee starts the count, the buzzer sounds and out steps The Big Red Machine to disrupt the count.

With Foley and The Undertaker in extremely dire circumstances, Kane instead focuses his aggression on the relatively rested Rock. Kane whips The Rock to the ropes and catapults The Brahma Bull to the outside and on to the steel grate with a back body drop. Kane then proceeds to press slam The Rock against each of the chambers four chain walls and concludes the barrage by shooting The Rock through the plate glass window of The Big Red Monster's recently vacated pod. With the rest of the chamber's participants momentarily at his mercy, Kane now turns to Cactus Jack and chokeslams him through The Rock's empty pod. The Undertaker returns to his feet and The Brothers of Destruction align against The Rock and Sock Connection--attempting an in-stereo Tombstone Piledriver, but The Rock escape's Kane's clutches and immediately frees Foley to help turn the tables. As Foley and The Undertaker and The Rock and Kane brawl in opposite corners, the buzzer goes off again and out comes the champion, Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Not one to discriminate, The Texas Rattlesnake blasts everything that moves in succession, a back body drop to Cactus Jack and knife-edged chops to both Kane and The Undertaker before pouncing on The Rock with a Lou Thesz Press and a flurry of right hands. Austin ricochets off the ropes and drills Foley with a pointed elbow to the skull. With each opponent crawling to a respective corner, Austin starts with a Mudhole Stomp to Kane, then Cactus Jack, followed by The Undertaker and finally the Rock...Seemingly unstoppable, Austin hits a Stunner on the Rock that sends The People's Champion careening across the ring in a series of three backward somersaults. Attempting to continue the momentum, Austin tries another stunner on Cactus Jack, but Foley answers with a Mandible Claw. Austin escapes but is thrown directly into the path of a Chokeslam by The Undertaker.


Having regained control, The Deadman turns his attention to Kane and executes Old School and a Suicide Dive that sends both crashing into the wall of the chamber. Both roll back into the ring and Taker sets up for a Tombstone Piledriver. Kane shifts his weight and counters into a Tombstone Piledriver of his own. Taker shifts BACK and in the process rolls over the top rope and out to the steel floor. The Deadman follows through with a resounding Tombstone on the steel grate that sends Kane to the back as the first elimination of the bout.

The buzzer sounds for the final time and out comes Triple H. Taking full advantage of his favorable draw, The Game corners Cactus Jack in one of the empty pods and begins pummeling him with straight fists to the face before choking him out. Hunter drops Austin with a Harley Race high knee, takes out The Undertaker with a DDT and nails The Rock with a knee smash to the face. Cactus Jack attempts to respond, but is met with a Double A Spinebuster and a Ric Flair knee drop. The Undertaker falls to a running neckbreaker and Triple H tries to finish off Austin with a shortarm clothesline, but Austin dodges and connects with another Stunner.

All five men down, Foley returns to his feet first and drops Austin with a Cactus Clothesline to the outside floor. Mick winds up for the Mandible Claw and locks it in on Triple H, but unbeknownst to Cactus, the Billion Dollar Princess, Stephanie McMahon arrives at ringside and slides Triple H's sledghammer into his waiting hand. The Game works back to a semi-vertical base and buries the sledgehammer directly into Foley's ribcage. With a bloodied Cactus Jack down on his knees, Hunter performs the coup de grace and with one mighty swing, snaps the sledgehammer in half across the back of Foley's head. A Pedigree later for good measure leaves Cactus Jack defenseless and narrows the field to four.

From here, the match begins to unravel quickly. Turning his attention to The Rock, Triple H attempts another Pedigree to put the Most Electrifying Man In Sports Entertainment away, but before he can completely lock in the underhook, Rock counters and comes back with a spinebuster on the steel. Before The Game can fully return to his feet, The Rock gets him into position for the Rock Bottom and connects. A cover and a count later and the field moves to three.

As officials open the door to release Foley and Triple H, The Big Show storms to the chamber and begins destroying everything in sight. Clotheslines, punches and chokeslams everywhere, Show obliterates Cactus Jack and Triple H before strangling The Rock in the chain link wall, throwing Austin through the last remaining pod with glass still in it and putting on the exclamation point with a chokeslam to the Undertaker that collapses a section of the steel grate floor. Security escorts the Big Show away, but not before he leaves a trail of carnage in his wake. A sanguine Austin crawls to cover the fallen Undertaker and as one might have suspected, it has come down to The Rock and The Rattlesnake.

The pair pull themselves to their feet with what little they have left and begin to trade rights and lefts, practically on instinct. Austin strikes first with a Stunner, but The Rock somehow escapes at two. As Austin drags The Rock back to his feet, a shot of adrenaline helps Rocky connect with another Rock Bottom, but it's not enough to vanquish the Bionic Redneck. In disbelief, The Rock argues the count and unwittingly staggers into a second stunner. Austin crawls to the cover, but The Rock refuses to die. The Brahma Bull answers with a spinebuster and a second People's Elbow, but something in Austin just won't let him quit either.

In a scene reminiscent of Wrestlemania 13, The Rock locks a bloody Austin in the Sharpshooter. The Rattlesnake screams in agony, but somehow finds it in himself to break the hold before losing consciousness. As a barely breathing Austin recuperates on the mat, a desperate Rock pleads with the official to ring the bell and declare him the victor. The Rock steps outside the chamber door, which was never closed following Big Show's departure and grabs two chairs. He slams one down on the canvas and wedges the other between the top and middle turnbuckles in the corner. As the Rock sets up for what would surely be a devastating and emphatic Rock Bottom, Austin counters out with a series of five back elbows to the temple and throws The Rock headfirst through the waiting chair in the corner. The Rock wobbles back out and into the path of a third and final stunner. The ref logs the three count, let the beer bash begin.

The Winner AND STILL WWF Champion: Stone Cold Steve Austin

Alright, so this one probably came as no surprise and was more than a little long-winded. For that, I apologize. I felt as though at least one of these fantasy matches should see the defending champion retain. All the same, though, I would have DEFINITELY paid the price of admission to see a match like this one play out at the time. Stay tuned for the next entry when I profile another match featuring superstars who shone brightly during the Brand Extension/Ruthless Aggression Era. The participants in this match might be a little harder to predict than this one was. Until next time, readers.

-TSR

Elimination Chamber: The New Generation

Good evening, readers. On Thursday night, I presented a brief glimpse into what possibilities could have existed had Eric Bischoff's brainchild, the Elimination Chamber match, had been made available to the Golden Era (March 1987-September 1992) of the World Wrestling Federation. There, we witnessed Hulk Hogan defend the title (presumably, as most of this time frame was spent with him as champion) against five equally prominent names of the era; The Ultimate Warrior, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Mr. Perfect, Jake "The Snake" Roberts and "Macho Man" Randy Savage.

Simulating the order of entry, I determined under ideal conditions that Piper and Perfect would start the contest, followed by Roberts, then Savage, Hogan and the Warrior entering last. After much deliberation, I determined that Hogan and Warrior's respective arsenals would offset each other, opening the door for the likes of Perfect and Roberts to seize on the opportunity and perhaps score an upset fall. This conglomeration of factors led me to the conclusion that this bout belonged to Randy Savage. Tonight, I will attempt to go a little more in depth with my summary of the same bout featuring arguably the six most prominent figures of the next generation..."The New Generation".




The New Generation

The Participants: Bret "Hitman" Hart (c) vs. Diesel vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon vs. Owen Hart vs. The British Bulldog

Order of Entry: Razor Ramon (3), British Bulldog (4), Diesel (5), Bret Hart (6); Shawn Michaels and Owen Hart start the match

The Breakdown: As in-ring chemistry goes, it only gets better from here--their matches are the stuff of legends--Bret/Bulldog at Summerslam 1992, Bret/Razor at Royal Rumble 1993, Bret/Owen at Wrestlemania X and Summerslam 1994, Shawn/Razor and Diesel/Razor at the same respective events, Bret/Diesel at Royal Rumble and Survivor Series 1995, Diesel/Shawn at Wrestlemania XI, Shawn and Razor had another classic that same summer--HBK would have a few great run-ins with Owen and the Bulldog (most notably In Your House: Beware of Dog) and of course, no list of this nature would be complete without the historic Iron Man Match at Wrestlemania XII, which cemented Bret and Shawn as the two defining figures of the generation.

Rivalries aside, the partnerships make this match phenomenal as well, as Diesel and HBK as well as Owen and the Bulldog are certainly no strangers to each other. So begins a Chamber Match featuring the two most dominant entities of the five-year period between Hulkamania and Austin 3:16--The Kliq and The Hart Foundation.

Analysis: Between the Iron Man Match and becoming the first Royal Rumble winner to enter from the #1 spot, HBK has earned his reputation for longevity. He therefore begins the contest with Hart the Younger, who spent a majority of his career with the largest of chips on his shoulder, feeling he always had something to prove. After five minutes of furious back-and-forth action and outstanding chain wrestling (Shawn and Owen had a penchant for that in their meetings), the buzzer sounds and Razor enters the fray.

Time wears on, alliances are formed (naturally) and eventually disintegrate (again, naturally) until finally the time comes for The Excellence of Execution to escape his pod. All participants still intact, the battle lines are re-drawn and members of the Kliq and the Hart Foundation duel in respective corners. The match begins to unravel as the Bulldog primes HBK for a Running Powerslam and Bret is set up for the Razor's Edge. Michaels slides out and swings for the fences with Sweet Chin Music, but the Bulldog telegraphs the blow and Razor absorbs the full impact of the superkick instead. Bret capitalizes and scores the first elimination of the evening.

Diesel goes on a blind rampage, throwing clotheslines, big boots and back elbows before hurling Owen through the plate glass of one of the pods and casting Bret to the chain walls of the chamber with the ease of a lawn dart. He even keeps HBK at bay with a thunderous sidewalk slam on the chamber floor. Big Daddy Cool begins brawling with the Bulldog, eventually gaining the upper hand and dropping Davey Boy with a Jackknife Powerbomb on the steel grate. A nonchalant foot cover later and the field has been narrowed to four.

One might suggest that perhaps The Undertaker should have been in this field; and yes, while The Deadman DID win his first WWF Championship during the Golden Era and was IMMENSELY popular during this time period, it is my firm belief that The Undertaker was far better represented in an era a little further down the line. That being said, his presence would still be felt here. Any longtime fan of the WWF/E could tell you that Kevin Nash (i.e. Diesel) had one last high-profile feud before the MSG Incident and his initial departure from the company--that would be with the Deadman. Whether up through the canvas or through myriad varying supernatural methods, Taker finds his way into the Chamber and stuns Diesel with a devastating Tombstone Piledriver. Michaels crawls to the cover and eliminates his on-again/off-again BFF while Taker vanishes as quickly as he arrived.

As most would have anticipated, two of the final three in this contest indeed end up being The Hitman and the Heartbreak Kid. What some might NOT expect is how the conclusion unfolds. After a ten minute exchange of brawling, various submission holds and several high-risk maneuvers (including a death-defying moonsault from the top of the chamber), no decision is reached. Michaels looks to score with a plancha to the outside, but Bret rolls through and cinches in the Sharpshooter and HBK has nowhere to go. Five minutes pass and Michaels refuses to succumb. Exasperated with Michaels' determination, Bret instead turns his attention to his supine brother, still lying in the wreckage of the chamber pod. Bret drags Owen to the center of the canvas and attempts to apply the Sharpshooter once again. However, out of desperation, Owen employs a beautifully executed spladle as Bret moves to turn him over and logs a stunning three count to eliminate The Hitman. Bret rises from the mat and can only look on in sheer disbelief as we are guaranteed a new champion.

The match returns to its original two participants as Owen and Michaels slowly rise to their feet. An invigorated crowd in attendance has done the same out of respect for the effort put forth. Chants of "This Is Awesome" ring through the arena. The duo trade blows and HBK eventually gains control, dodging an enziguri and answering back with Sweet Chin Music. Michaels falls into the cover and garners a LONG two count before The King of Harts wills his shoulder off the mat. Undeterred and certain the end is near, Michaels drops Owen with a body slam and mounts the turnbuckle in preparation for a diving elbow. He connects and drags himself to the opposite corner of the ring. The crowd remains out of their collective seats, knowing EXACTLY what's coming next.

...Allow me a moment to step outside this environment and just say that CLEARLY I gave this fantasy booking a lot of thought. I've back and forth on the outcome numerous times since Thursday, half of the time deciding that Bret would retain the title, the other half almost positive that HBK would leave as champion. After all, Michaels is the only one of these six with Chamber experience beyond one match.

But a novel idea crossed my mind on Saturday afternoon that ultimately gave me my resolution. Throughout his untimely short career, Owen Hart managed to capture every major title WWF/E had to offer....all except one. The big one. What better (and bigger) stage to finally secure the World Championship than the one I've booked here? Imagine the Jericho-esque ranting from Owen if he could lay claim to defeating Bret Hart AND Shawn Michaels, not only in the same night, but within moments of each other in the same match...now THAT would be something...he would have earned it, too...Alright, back to the action--

Stomping the earth, Michaels begins to "tune up the band" for one final Sweet Chin Music to close the deal. Zeroing in on the target, Michaels sweeps, but Owen ducks under and comes back with a rolling prawn hold and floats over into a Sharpshooter. Michaels is able to block again, countering with an inside cradle of his own, but cannot secure Owen's leg for the pinfall. Both roll through, return to their feet and Owen is quicker on the draw, firing back with a THUNDEROUS enziguri to HBK's temple and Shawn crumples to the mat face first. Owen scrambles to the cover and picks up the unlikeliest of three counts. At long last, The King of Harts; The Rocket--no longer The Nugget, now World Wrestling Federation Champion. Enough is enough, it was time for a change....

Stay tuned for the next installment, the much anticipated Attitude Era match. Should be fairly obvious who the participants in the contest are. However, should you need a little assistance in determining the sextet involved in the match, might I recommend WWF's Attitude Super Bowl ad spot from 1998-99, you'll find five of them. From there the sixth should be a piece of cake.

Thanks for reading folks, catch ya on the next one.

-TSR

In Memoriam: The Elimination Chamber

There's not too many instances in which the phrase "Great idea, Eric Bischoff" readily springs to mind.

But for the better part of the last 12 years, there has been one institution of WWE PPV that most fans have looked forward to as one of the highlights of the year...that is, until the front office at Stamford, CT opted to do away with it for this year's docket.

The Elimination Chamber.

Now, whether the abandonment of the concept is permanent or more of a temporary trial run remains to be seen. However, for now, February's showcase has been removed and replaced with a PPV entitled "WWE Fast Lane" (unsure if this show will have a premise or if it's just another anonymous speed bump in the "Road To Wrestlemania").

In commemoration of the stipulation that produced some of the most brutal and subsequently entertaining matches of the last decade, I have gone backward through various eras and initiated the inevitable speculation...How would a match, specifically one of the Elimination Chamber's nature, unfold between six of the most iconic names of their respective generations?

To preface this entry, I'll submit for your consideration that each era in WWF/E has spanned roughly a five year period--beginning with the "Golden Era" as many know it at the advent of the Slam Heard 'Round The World at Wrestlemania III and going forward from there:

-Golden Era (Circa March 1987-September 1992)
*The second most-celebrated era in WWF/E, with a rich plethora of characters, mostly enjoyable (and sometimes questionable) gimmicks, spanning from Hogan slamming Andre to Bret Hart dethroning Ric Flair carrying the torch into...

-The New Generation Era (Circa September 1992-March 1997)
*An awkward time of uncertainty for WWF. Still facing a healthy dose of competition from WCW (and not looking all that favorable in the public eye), The Federation did the best they could with the resources they had and were able to survive thanks in large part to dedicated workers like Bret Hart Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker and later, Stone Cold Steve Austin, whose incredible in-ring performances carried them into a flourish with...

-The Attitude Era (Circa March 1997-April 2002)
*Most recognize the official conclusion of the Attitude Era as WM X-7 in April 2001 or WWE vs. Alliance at Survivor Series that November; HOWEVER, the last throes of "Attitude" didn't wane until after Wrestlemania X-8 when the era finally gave way to the dawn of....

-The Brand Extension, aka "Ruthless Aggression" Era (Circa April 2002-June 2007)
*Upon inheriting most of WCW's locker room, WWE had far too much talent to go around one roster and thus had to make each superstar exclusive property of either Monday Night RAW or Friday Night Smackdown. Wanting to light a fire under superstars hoping to get noticed, Vince McMahon pushed a brand new initiative in July 2002 and several superstars took it to heart, most notably Jeff Hardy, who with The Undertaker produced what is still one of the greatest WWE title matches in RAW history. A rich five years that saw young names rise to prominence, old names that had been passed over numerous times finally get rightly deserved recognition and names that first emerged in the Attitude Era take the reigns as leaders of the company. This era has a tragic ending with the events following the Benoit incident (no need to delve into that issue again), which coerced WWE into dialing back the aggression, cutting down on the use of blood and smoothing the edges of some of their more violent scenes and stipulations, leading to...

-The PG Era (Circa June 2007-July 2011 or Present)
*Some could make the argument that this era is still going on--The Era where John Cena went from superstar, to face of the company and effectively WWE Champion-In-Residence. The Age of Cena, Orton and Triple H, with sporadic reigns by up-and-coming superstars while the other three were nursing injuries from shouldering the load. The era when support for Cena at large started to wane and "Cena Sucks" chants started to intensify on a weekly basis. By the summer of 2011, disenfranchised fans began to hitch their wagon to superstars, specifically Daniel Bryan and CM Punk who put more of an emphasis on in-ring performance than showmanship and bravado. Somewhere between the "Pipe Bomb" and Vince McMahon being relieved of his duties following Punk leaving WWE with the belt, the company retained the rating but moved into....

-The Authority Era, aka The Reality Era aka "The Future of the Business" (Circa July 2011-Present)
*The last three-and-a-half years have produced more than a few promising "blue chip prospects" that could easily become the new leaders of the company once the Cenas and Ortons of the previous generation do decide to step aside. The question is, which ones will grab the baton, so to speak?

Let's get into it with Part 1 of 6:




The Golden Era

The Participants: Hulk Hogan vs. The Ultimate Warrior vs. "Macho Man" Randy Savage vs. Jake "The Snake" Roberts vs. Mr. Perfect vs. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper

The Breakdown: Ask most kids who grew up in this generation who their favorite superstar was, odds are pretty good that one of the three across the top was at the head of their list. Not for nothing, the matches that Hogan, Warrior and Savage had against each other are bonafide classics. It's truly unfortunate that the trio never did compete in a Triple Threat Match of sorts while everyone was in their prime. Arguments could be made for Ted DiBiase and Ravishing Rick Rude among others, but outside Warrior and Savage, no two superstars pursued Hogan's WWF Title more doggedly during his reigns than the Hot Rod and Mr. Perfect. Each of these superstars had a history with one another and the in-ring chemistry between these six would be off the page. Perhaps the x-factor in this contest would be Jake "The Snake" Roberts. Who would feel more at home inside Satan's Structure than a man who used to be accompanied to the ring by Damien and Lucifer? Much like someone more recently introduced to WWE audiences, Jake could strike with the DDT from "Out of Nowhere" on anyone at any time and inside the Chamber, the results could be devastating and throw a real wrench into the works of how one might expect this match to turn out.

Analysis: I could see a Randy Savage elbow from the top of the Chamber being the high spot of the night. Between a manic Warrior throwing everyone in his path through glass windows, a resourceful Perfect meticulously picking his openings, a devious Snake dropping an unsuspecting victim or two with DDTs on the steel, a "Devil May Care" Piper striking everything that has a pulse and The Immortal Hulk Hogan's refusal to die even in the most dire of circumstances. The chaotic environment definitely favors the Warrior, but when the smoke clears on this classic, I see Hogan neutralizing the Warrior's threat and vice versa--leaving the door open for The Macho Man.

Winner: Randy Savage

Do you agree with this assessment? Who would you have included in this contest? Is someone here who shouldn't be?


Be sure to follow along for the next entries as we explore matches of a similar nature featuring some of the most iconic names of further generations.

-TSR

WWE Extreme Rules: An Early Overview

We're a little shy of a week and a half removed from the biggest pay-per-view of the year and even though we're better than a month away from the next one, some of the card is already starting to materialize. Following last week's RAW, I had devised what I believed to be an ideal card based on the direction certain storylines were going, but after tonight's show, most of the matches seem to be straying slightly from my template. Let's take a look at what's in the fold for the fans after tonight's show--



STEEL CAGE MATCH
TRIPLE H vs. BROCK LESNAR

Okay, so Triple H hasn't "accepted Brock's challenge" yet. Let's be honest, though. The only thing that's more of a lock than this is The Undertaker disappearing after next week only to return at Wrestlemania and win another match next year.

Long story short, the score is tied and there needs to be a decisive winner. Look for another war similar to the one we got at Mania, only a little more brutality and (dare I say it) maybe a little blood spilled. Brock has another good showing and Triple H gets the final victory in this rivalry.

What Should Be Booked In Its Place: Nothing. 

Triple H is reveling in his status among the "Once A Year Club" (See: The Rock, The Undertaker, etc.) and really has nothing else to prove at this point in his career. Brock is signed for a finite number of appearances over the next couple years and to use all of them up this soon would be foolish. I understand that The Rock's sudden disappearance threw somewhat of a wrench into the works, but the dust needs to settle on Triple H-Brock Lesnar II before we go rushing into the last leg of the trilogy. Lesnar could still make an appearance and an impact without going into overkill on a rivalry that could wrap one year hence from their initial confrontation at Summerslam. WWE should give Hunter the night off on May 19, but alas, that won't be the case.



WWE CHAMPIONSHIP
JOHN CENA vs. RYBACK

Don't get me wrong, this match works. I am very appreciative of the fact that they were able to affix MONTHS worth of developing storyline to support this feud, but there's ONE element missing.

What Should Be Booked: Steel Cage Match--John Cena vs. Ryback vs. Mark Henry

Last week, John Cena was in a fighting mood and issued an open challenge to anyone who felt that they had what it took to go toe-to-toe with the new WWE Champion and the first man to step up was the World's Strongest Man, Mark Henry. After an admittedly anti-climactic finish, Cena won the contest by countout, but Henry wasn't finished. Before Ryback came down to make his statement, Henry made one of his own and flattened Cena into oblivion. Ryback will make a fine #1 contender, but it seems that Henry got the shaft here.

 After dispatching Ryback last Sunday at Wrestlemania, shouldn't Mark Henry be able to stake a claim to making this a triple threat match? If there's one thing Creative likes to book for Cena more than overcoming insurmountable odds against one monstrous opponent, it's overcoming TWO. Take Cena, Henry and Ryback and throw them into a Steel Cage with the title on the line.

Have Cena retain if you choose, but have a twist ending prepared; say, PAUL HEYMAN cornering all three after the match and having THE SHIELD, BROCK LESNAR and CM PUNK close in from all sides. Punk slams the door on Cena's head, Heyman chains the cage door shut behind them and a post-match beatdown on all three ensues. A GTS to Cena here, an F-5 to Ryback there and a Triple Powerbomb from the Shield to Henry through the cage wall, signaling the dawn of a new Dangerous Alliance for The Mad Scientist of ECW.

 

WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
DOLPH ZIGGLER vs. JACK SWAGGER vs. ALBERTO DEL RIO

This will be a fine match on it's own, even not knowing what stipulation will be affixed to it. Ziggler has been well cast as the vulnerable, but capable champion and the opponents are filling their roles beautifully. Del Rio, works well as the determined former champion bent on getting the title back and Swagger, the slighted number one contender who gained some retribution by putting one over on the current titleholder makes a perfect third wheel. But again, I can't help but feel that this match is a little lacking.

What Should Be Booked: Six Pack Challenge--Dolph Ziggler vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Jack Swagger vs. Randy Orton vs. Big Show vs. Sheamus

In 2010, WWE took three storylines--John Cena's struggle against The Nexus, Chris Jericho and Edge's shady tendencies on the heels of the Summerslam match against said Nexus and their own personal desires to get back to the top of the game and added them to the main title hunt between then WWE Champion Sheamus and #1 contender Randy Orton. Combined, they created a solid six-man elimination match that saw Orton regain the belt.

Among (ahem) "Smackdown" storylines now, we have a similar set-up. There's the ongoing feud between Del Rio and Swagger, The new wrinkle of Ziggler as the defending champion, and we have Orton, Sheamus and Big Show battling between each other over their inability to form a cohesive unit against The Shield at Mania. In the course of the last year, 5 of these men (with the exception of Orton) have either held the gold or have been in the title hunt. And don't kid yourself, all of them would love nothing more than to hold it again. What better way to illustrate the "Ziggler vs. The World" mentality than to have him helplessly defending the strap against 5 very hungry challengers?

WWE Extreme Rules is taking place in St. Louis, MO. No doubt the hometown crowd would be WILDLY in favor of Orton leaving with the gold again. I could see the match coming down to Ziggler, Orton and Swagger with Orton dispatching the "Real American" with an RKO. From there, Coulter goes after Orton and gets one of those trademarked scoop slams. Ziggler capitalizes with a ZigZag and collects a nearfall.

The match ultimately ends with Orton's RKO getting blocked and The Viper getting sent into Big E Langston's path. The momentary distraction is enough for Ziggler to stun Orton with another superkick a la Survivor Series and The Show Off picking up the victory. Dolph gets over as a Sleazy Heel, Orton gets robbed, and St. Louis gets a great elimination match.


SHEAMUS vs. MARK HENRY

This one is inevitable. On Friday, Henry put Sheamus through a table. This week on RAW it was a wall. With Henry's penchant for putting Sheamus THROUGH things, I suspect a Tables Match is on the horizon.

What Should Be Booked: At this point, I've made it clear that these two should be in contention for the respective WWE and World Titles. However, it seems that this is the match we'll get. Meanwhile, Randy Orton and The Big Show will more than likely find themselves as opponents in another match (stipulation TBD) at Extreme Rules. It just seems that the ball is being dropped in favor of more feuds that don't really have much of a build.


2-ON-3 HANDICAP MATCH FOR THE TAG TEAM TITLES

This is the one match that seems like it's on the right track to happen as I intended. Next week, The Shield will square off with Team Hell No and The Undertaker in London. Once the Deadman is removed from the equation next week, The Tag Team Champions will be at the Shield's mercy. And since each match at the next PPV will feature some form of extreme stipulation, expect this one to carry the "Handicap Match" label. The numbers game will catch up eventually and The Shield will capture the gold, whereupon they'll defend using the famed "Freebird Rule". After eight months of functional dysfunction, this is where Kane and Daniel Bryan will implode as a unit, leading to the renewed feud for which most of us have been waiting.

The rest of the card is still up in the air. With that said, here's the card I've been hoping for and the card I expect we'll end up getting.

YouTube Pre-Show:


What Should Happen: Elimination Tag Match--Tons of Funk vs. Team Rhodes Scholars

Honestly, I don't really want to see this match again, but the "blue chippers" as Jim Ross would call them, that being Brodus Clay, Damien Sandow and ESPECIALLY Cody Rhodes, deserve better than getting bumped from the card.

What Will Happen: Talented Up-and-Comers will get bumped again.

Big Show's fist must truly be a Weapon of Mass Destruction--just look what it's done to Cody Rhodes' career since Wrestlemania 28--Losing the Intercontinental Title a 2nd time (this time to Christian), losing the rematch a month later, an also-ran at Money In The Bank, missed out on Summerslam completely, failed to recapture the IC Title at Night of Champions, teamed with Sandow and spent the next four months losing out on the tag team titles, including a month lost to a concussion). Since February, Rhodes AND Sandow have been locked into a downward spiral of continued matches with Brodus Clay and Tensai and the situation is not improving. Rhodes Scholars would need to employ the isolation game, hopefully drawing Tensai into a count out before outnumbering Brodus and getting both of their careers back on track.

As for the rest of the show--


What Should Happen: Wade Barrett vs. The Miz in a Ladder Match for the IC Title


What We'll Probably Get: Wade Barrett vs. R-Truth (Stipulation TBD)

As a former champion, Miz is entitled to a rematch, but when it comes to the undercard, continuity doesn't matter nearly as much as it might for a main event scenario. A ladder match could ensure that Barrett retains in dramatic fashion and could create an emphatic conclusion to the angle started prior to Mania. However, as R-Truth picked up an unlikely victory over Barrett on RAW this Monday, it leads me to believe that they're taking a different direction.


What Should Happen: Fandango vs. Christian in a Falls Count Anywhere Match
What We'll Probably Get: Fandango vs. The Miz (Stipulation TBD)

I'm not sure about either scenario here, but honestly Christian would work better. This would give Miz his aforementioned rematch clause and would give Christian an opportunity to return to WWE TV. I don't know if Vince is actively trying to keep Christian off the roster, or if Creative earnestly can't think of a good way to write him back in, but with Jericho going back on tour, Fandango needs a new feud and a couple months with Captain Charisma could do the trick.


What Should Happen: Kofi Kingston vs. Antonio Cesaro in a 2 of 3 Falls Match for the U.S. Title
What We'll Probably Get: Kofi Kingston vs. Antonio Cesaro (Stipulation TBD)

I'm not sure that this match won't still happen. Stipulation notwithstanding, the fact remains that Cesaro is supposed to get a rematch. And while The U.S. Title has a tendency of getting bumped from the card, a 2 of 3 Falls Match could serve as a good in-between for main events at the show. Considering the solid match that saw Kofi take the title in the first place, it might serve the card well to hold the return match at Extreme Rules. The contest would see Kofi win the first fall, Cesaro take the second and would set up for an interesting finish akin to Monday's match.


What Should Happen: Kaitlyn vs. A.J. (w/Big E Langston) in a Lumberjill Match for the Diva's Title


What We'll Probably Get: Kaitlyn vs. one of the Bellas in a throwaway match on the card

I'm probably the farthest thing from A.J.'s biggest fan, but if they're going to continue to push her in the same stable as the defending World Champion, she needs to step up her game and actually mix it up in the ring once in a while. The outcome could work either way in a title match with Kaitlyn. Have A.J. win the title with an assist from Big E or some of the lumberjills OR have Kaitlyn retain and send A.J. into one of her world class tantrums. A good payoff either way.

There's still several weeks before the Extreme Rules PPV, but I can't help but feel like we could still get a better card with a few extra hours in the Writers' Room....