To Live, Die and Live Again in LA

Back in 2012, the Lakers figured they had their future cornerstone in Dwight Howard. He had worn out his stay in Orlando, the final act being his awkward relationship with then Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. 

Instead of Howard getting his dream to win a championship for a big market team with a ton of rich history and lineage, he got a nightmare of unfulfilled potential and resentment from the Laker fanbase. Love him, hate him- it just didn't work out as designed for either Howard or the Lakers.
The last image of Howard saw him foul out against the Spurs in a less than stellar performance, the final game of a 4 game sweep for San Antonio. His heart just was not in the City of Angels.

Next came the courting of Howard in free agency...or as I dubbed it, "The Dwight-pocalypse".

The Mavs, Warriors, Hawks, Rockets and Lakers were all competing to land the big man. Each team rolled out the red carpets for the former 2004 number one pick. No one was truly certain where he'd land, and even after the initial announcement of him being  Rocket was made...his flying to LA soon after started rumors of a possible waffling. Yet, all it was was a trip to inform Lakers brass of his decision: Howard was heading to Houston to team up with James Harden. He spoke with Houstonian and former WWE wrestler Booker T at the time:

"The one year was because I was traded there and I had one year left on the contract. I think a lot of people felt like I was just leaving L.A. because of everything that was going on and I couldn’t handle the pressure, anything like that. But I just felt like, with L.A., the direction of their team, wasn’t where I was trying to go. And I looked at the city and the team of Houston, I just felt like this team and this city was headed in a different direction and the right direction. One of writing their own history.”

He'd go on to say that, " I didn't run from LA, I ran to Houston." Definitely a glass half full approach.

His first season with Houston saw strides in his post game, yet he lacked the finesse of a player like his mentor, former Rocket great Hakeem Olajuwon. The pairing of him and Harden gave Houston the foundation it needed, but it was not ready to truly be a player in the West. They would go on to lose 4-2 to the Blazers in round one, courtesy of this:


This season saw the franchise make great strides, finishing 2nd in the West and Southwest Division Champs. But it wasn't because of Howard- but because of almost-MVP James Harden. Howard missed 41 games, and not even optimistic GM Daryl Morey was sure if Howard would be ready for the playoffs, or the effect he would have on them. But the time off helped, and the last ten games of the season prepared Howard for a first round 4-1 win over Dallas. Howard averaged 16.6 points, 13.8 rebounds and 3 blocks a game.

While Houston looked dominant against Dallas, before Game 5 they have looked anything but against the well-balanced Clippers.  Howard would often get in foul trouble, or fall victim to Hack-A-Howard. At times his temper would get the best of him, seeing him get T'd up in Game 4. DeAndre Jordan had the advantage, out-muscling Howard for rebounds and put-backs.

As a fan, I have never been so discouraged watching my team get owned in back-to-back games. The optimism was wavering, and everyone saw Game 5 as a mercy killing for the Rockets. Yet they responded with their backs against the wall.

After a Game 5 124-103 win in Houston, a different tone is set. Houston is still at a disadvantage on the road tonight, but they gained a little more credibility after adjusting to weaknesses in Game 3 and 4 blowouts. Their defense was rotating well. McHale threw Josh Smith in to the starting line-up, giving the more conservative Terrence Jones a chance to stabilize the second team. Harden (despite the flu) played with a ferocity not seen all series.

Make no mistake- going to the Staples Center for Howard and company right now is akin to an animal having to go to the vet. It's not what they want, but it has to be done if they want to live another game.

The iterations of Howard from teams past are dead and gone. The young, wide-eyed Orlando version who made fans "ooo" and "ahhh" with dunks and blocks out of bounds disappeared not long before his tense relationship with Van Gundy began. The veteran who outgrew his original team in hopes of playing for a big market contender eventually faded away, too. If his final year in Orlando began the snowball rolling down the hill, 2012 saw the snowball crush the city of LA at the bottom. No one ended up feeling satisfied. Everyone just wanted to move on to better things.

Now in his tenth season, Howard isn't taking things for granted. The entitlement he displayed a few years ago has gone to the wayside. In its place is a renewed appreciation and passion for the game, as by working with Olajuwon has proved old dogs can at least try and learn new tricks.

Los Angeles hasn't been kind to Howard in recent times, but tonight he and Harden must step up facing elimination. Franchises have small windows due to injuries, contracts, etc (as the Thunder could be a victim of next summer). There is absolutely no guarantee Howard will have a chance to get back to a conference final as he approaches his 30's- especially with his injury history.

If the Rockets can pull off what some would consider a miracle and win in The City of Angels tonight, maybe Howard can finally flick that devilish chip of winning when it matters in LA off his shoulder.



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Homeland is Where the Uncertainty Is

This poster for Season 4 gives you very little to work with- but the intrigue is by design. (via orzzzz.com)

If there was one thing that fans of Homeland could agree on after Season 3, it was that it was the weakest of the trio. A mix  of things contributed to that- such as the focus on Nicholas Brody's daughter and her bad decisions fueled by teen angst. Carrie's mental instability and love of crying. Brody being reduced to a shell of his former self who had recovered from already being a shell of his former self after being a prisoner of war. Then finally, the killing of Brody. While it made sense storyline-wise, it left a bitter taste in many viewers' mouths.

The lackluster effort was a cause for concern. Many wondered how the franchise would carry on and what direction it would go. I remember after the finale, all I could think was "Screw Homeland. Why do I want to watch anymore?" 

Could the show rebound and return to it's Season 1 and 2 prominence? Or would Homeland become a meme of itself and focus on only Carrie and Dana? (Kidding. That would be godawful.)

Most importantly, one question trumped all the rest.

What the hell are they going to do without Brody? 

As they say, life goes on. Whether in the real world or the fictitious one in Homeland- one death will not bring the world as a whole to its knees. Maybe instead of cursing the series for writing Brody off, we should be more thankful for the amount of Damian Lewis we got to see. Originally, his character was only supposed to last one season. Based off the reaction he received, Brody was made an even bigger focal point of the show in seasons 3 and 4. Yet while he's gone, the aftermath is very clear: life is different for everyone.

Season 4 sees Carrie in Istanbul as the youngest station chief in the agency's history. Her first move is to order a drone strike to take out high value targets. The order is carried out- and while it is immediately viewed as a success, it soon comes to light that innocent lives were lost since a wedding was taking place via a Youtube video from the cell phone of Aayan Ibrahim (Suraj Sharma). It puts the agency and everyone involved in a bind, and creates quite the situation for the Americans and the angry public. Ibrahim's friend is responsible for the posting of it (his cousin assisted), and that creates quite the ripple effect for the college student.

Back home, we are treated to Saul, yet not in his Director of the CIA role. Instead, he is a consultant for the military and is having trouble adjusting to the new role. He even ponders quitting, throwing a monkey wrench in the plans of moving with his wife to "that place on 103rd".

One of the biggest additions this season was adding Corey Stoll (House of Cards, The Strain, Law and Order, The Bourne Legacy) as Sandy. His inclusion to the series couldn't replace the loss of Lewis, but it could help offset it.

While the local population's outrage grows, Sandy walks outside the American station's protected walls and is caught on camera, his image shown to everyone with access to a television. Sandy is chased by an angry mob into the streets and meets up with Carrie and Peter Quinn (Rupert Friend) in an SUV. It does not end well for the trio, as Sandy is pulled out and put at the mercy of the villagers with Carrie and Quinn left with no choice but to flee.

If Homeland were the MLB Playoffs, Sandy was the Angels to the mob's Royals. His time was over before we even had a chance to fully appreciate it.

Part one ends with Carrie washing blood off of her face and looking in the mirror, possibly thinking to herself, "What the f*ck just happened?"

A successful reboot is what happened Sunday night. The second part of the special  two hour premiere dealt more with the big picture ramifications of the bombing. Carrie was sent back home, and Quinn was left mentally fried. Carrie's interrogating of Quinn proved futile.

"Why would you do this to me?" she asked, eyes wide as a deer's.

Quinn replied bluntly with this mic drop of a line: "Carrie, here's the thing: it's not always about you."

But to the Homeland franchise, it sure as hell is. It's now Claire Danes' show, with everyone else- no matter how integral to the storylines- around her as complimentary pieces.

Carrie's life isn't also different professionally, but personally as well. Her baby she conceived with Brody has been born and she's a daily reminder of Carrie's love for Brody, red hair and all. Her reunion with her is brief and somewhat tormenting. While giving her a bath, she submerges her baby for a moment. In that instant her face conveys an awful alternative option: What if I just get rid of this dilemma? She brings the baby back up and hugs her, sorry for even the slightest bit of mental weakness.

The task of taking care of her has been delegated to Carrie's sister, Maggie. It puts a strain on not only their sister/sister relationship but also Maggie's marriage and everyday life. While Carrie is overseas trying to capture and eliminate foreign baddies, her daughter is growing up without her mother. Carrie puts Maggie under the impression she had returned for a prolonged period of time- yet when she find out Carrie is headed back to Istanbul, she is livid (and rightfully so). Carrie isn't being forced to go- she angled for it, in an attempt to seemingly avoid her own daughter. Maggie sees right through it.

"No one's perfect at this, Carrie. 'Perfect mom' is not the standard. You show up. That's what you do."

After a quick good-bye to her daughter, Carrie jumps on a plane back to the agency's camp overseas. She is the only one aboard. The image of her all alone is symbolic of the series first two parts. For now, Carrie is all by herself. Brody is dead. Sandy is dead. Saul is back home as is her family and daughter. Quinn is mentally MIA.

While you might be alone now, Carrie- don't worry. Myself and the rest of those watching on Sunday nights are here to keep you company no matter how screwed up it gets.


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"The Equalizer" is All Business and No Frills

When you search "Denzel Washington" on IMDB.com, next to it name it says "Training Day: 2001". While the movie was thirteen years ago, it's timeless and can be watched over and over again. The then forty-seven year old Washington was a crooked cop and a bad, bad man. As Detective Alonzo Harris so infamously said, "King Kong ain't got sh*t on me." He would later get gunned down in dramatic fashion.

Fast forward to 2014, and not many actors have sh*t on Denzel in the "badass" category. You have Liam Neeson, Jason Statham and Dwayne Johnson who have carved out their respective niches in the action market. But there's only one Denzel. And his performance is the  opposite of Alonzo Harris: bulletproof.

Since then we have seen Washington give dynamic efforts in Flight, The Book of Eli, American Gangster and Man on Fire. His resume has earned him the right to pick and choose only the best of roles, the film equivalent to Floyd Mayweather. They might be once or twice a year, and they are always on people's calendars. The only difference is Washington challenges himself.

Washington is once again a bad, bad man- but this time he's hunting the crooked cops. His character, Robert "Call Me Rob" McCall frequents Bridge Diner where he is seen on multiple occasions chatting up Teri (Chloe Moretz). Teri is a prostitute for a group of Russian mobsters. Her fleeting moments of peace with McCall build up the chemistry between the two characters very well. Not many seventeen-year old actresses could hang with Denzel in a movie, but Moretz more than holds her own. You can see the pain in her face and hear it in her voice, as she wishes more than anything her situation was different. McCall updates her on whatever book he is currently reading on his goal to finishing the top one-hundred books in honor of his late wife.

McCall is later introduced to the mobsters as they assert their dominance over Teri, then again when he decides to pay them a visit. His character's obsessive compulsive nature is on display here with his reconfiguring of the Russian's desk and the setting of his watch. The moments slow down for him( making great use of the IMAX HD) as he analyzes the room and plans out his assault on this group of rough Russians. The scene would set the precedent for a character and a movie that wastes none of its time.

McCall's movements are fluid and with purpose, the marks of a trained assassin. His methods may not be a shining example of being good, but it gets the job done. It hints at a past life and adds intrigue to the character. Who is Robert McCall really? How does he know how to not only kill but do so with the utmost efficiency? By day he is your normal "Home Mart" employee (think Home Depot). By night he is a vigilante with his own form of brutal justice- not only on mobsters but also cops who abuse the badge.

Once he finds about Teri's vicious beating at the hands of the Russians, a switch is flipped inside the peaceful McCall. His mission is now to take down the mob and as he puts it, "brick by brick."

Marton Csokas plays Teddy, McCall's antagonist who is sent in to clean up the current mess. He, like Robert, is a no-nonsense kind of guy. The difference? Their intentions. Csokas' performance isn't groundbreaking, but it is on par with Washington's which only adds to the intensity of the film.

A lot of action movies either lack the ability to captivate the viewer or sustain the intensity for the duration of the film, but Equalizer achieves those tasks remarkably. Coming in at a little over two hours, the movie uses every minute of it to maximize the talent on screen and accomplish the good versus evil endgame. There is no sappy love story or extra unnecessary weight to slow it down.

Aside from the excellent trailer, the reunion of Washington and Training Day director Antoine Fuqua also gets attention from moviegoers. Fuqua's style mixed with a justice-reaping, ass-kicking Denzel is a match made in Heaven for those thirsty for story and action. He makes the most of IMAX HD which makes scenes featuring explosions, rain drops and the pre-assault "slowdowns" all the more impressive.

This isn't like last week's A Walk Among the Tombstones with Liam Neeson. It's not just a similar kind of action movie that keeps Washington's name afloat. He's past that. This is a cinematic event that already has a sequel planned even before it hit theaters.

Washington's McCall is a hero with a flawed past. You might even think a modern day Batman of sorts. Pushing sixty, Denzel may not be able to leap small buildings in a single bound like Superman- but he sure can be convincing as a man on a mission to take down whatever big, bad villain comes his way.

Rating: ****

 

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The Ice Bucket Challenge: Great Cause But Illogical Execution

If you haven't heard of the "Ice Bucket Challenge", or #IceBucketChallenge (or IBC if you're really cool), you have either moved to another planet- or been buried under a very large rock.

It's this year's Harlem Shake. It's this year's Planking. Tebowing. Griffining. Whatever- it's a trend. The difference between all those trends and this one, is it will likely become a yearly thing.

Now before you get your pants in a bunch and go all "man, what a grouch/this guy hates anything fun", let me state that this is for a great cause and that cannot be understated or ignored. However silly I think the actual Ice Bucket Challenge is, it has definitely raised awareness for ALS. According to MyFoxBoston.com, this newest social media trend has helped raise in the neighborhood of 1.3 million dollars in two weeks compared to 22,000 dollars this time last year.

Here's where the whole thing starts to get silly. Your Twitter, Facebook or Instagram is filled with these things left and right. They all range from 20 seconds to a minute for the most part. The person says they have accepted the challenge and thank the person who challenged them. (Because had they not been challenged to do this, there's no way they could ever donate money to ALS or bring attention to it.)

The person proceeds to either challenge four more, or do the ice bath and then challenge four more people. "YOU HAVE 24 HOURS TO DO IT." What, is this a hostage situation? How do you keep track of that? Do you have a timer?  Do you hack into their bank account and monitor their financial activity for 24 hours? Do you hide in the bushes and steal their mail from the mailman, then look at their bank statements weeks from now?

And if they don't accept the challenge/donate and you had plans to hang out that following evening, what happens? Do you ignore them? Do you judge them? Are you allowed to keep a non-ice challenged person as a friend on Facebook and in real life? Can you follow them on Twitter still? Or do you kidnap their firstborn years from now and tell them it was "because of the Ice Bucket Challenge of 2014"?

Three digressions:

1. I would love to watch a freeway chase with the cops on the nightly news with the caption "Didn't donate to ALS.org and spurned Ice Bucket Challenge from multiple friends" at the bottom of the screen.

2. I have also noticed not all ice buckets are the same size, or at times it is something even larger (such as a tractor or vehicle of some sort). Does this make that ice bucket challengee better than others? Is that fair to those who are using personal-sized Fridgemates?

3. If your circle of friends all challenges each other and you are not challenged....the writing is on the wall.

Then most of the time, if not all, the person admits they are donating as well as dousing themselves in frozen H20. So to be clear, the challenge is "ICE YOURSELF OR DONATE $100." The actual challenge is to essentially avoid donating the money, or at least sounds that way. But the one being doused can somehow do the challenge and donate. Hypocrisy, much?

Now this next part can be rather nitpicky (if the previous paragraphs weren't already). When I see a Gatorade bath on a football field, the best part is that you know they don't expect it. The coach is either overjoyed in the moment or can end up being irate. Either way- they didn't expect it. Knowing you are going to be freezing your ass off? Um, that's on you- literally.

Each video ends the same way. The person is all "OMIGOD IM SO COLD. I ALMOST CANT BELIEVE I DID THIS. O WAIT, I SET THIS WHOLE THING UP MYSELF. STOP FILMING. STOP NOW. MOM STOP, SERIOUSLY. I'M SO EMBARRASSED. WHY DID I WEAR ALL WHITE ON PURPOSE BY ACCIDENT? MY NEW LA GEARS ARE TOTALLY EFFED BEYOND REPAIR. I CANT FEEL MY TOES." If people are going to do this thing anyway, why not dare to be different?

To be fair, yes I did donate. No really, I did. Would I have without this whole #IceBucketChallenge thing? Probably not. But once again, the bi-products of this are very fruitful. The execution itself defies logic. Does that make me a better person that I donated without posting a video freezing my ass off in ice water? Hell no. Does it make me drier and more comfortable while I sit here at my laptop? You're damn right it does.

(photo credit: zpolitics.com)

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Let's Be Cops...and Then What?

credit: joblo.com

"so we dress up as cops. how do we fill the other hour and forty-eight minutes now?"

I have a feeling @LetsBeCops is going to be comedy of the year.
— Sean O'Brien (@SeanNeutron) August 11, 2014

Yes, I did indeed say that a few days ago. And I always man up when I am wrong. Boy, was I wrong. As much as I wanted Let's Be Cops to be the best comedy of 2014, it simply could not live up to my lofty expectations.  But maybe it was a lack of actual expectations for director Luke Greenwald and crew that led to such a dismal movie.

Looks funny, right? Unfortunately it suffers from Preview Syndrome. A great two minutes, but a very lackluster one-hundred and nine minutes.

Johnson and Wayans play two guys who live in LA and have seen better times. Johnson's Ryan O'Malley is a former Purdue quarterback who is jobless and makes himself feel better by playing middle-school aged kids in pick-up football. Wayans' Justin Miller is a video game designer who strikes out on his bid for a "Patrolman: LA" game. His boss is an arrogant prick played by Jonathan Lajoie (Taco from The League). While hilarious on the hit FX show- his brief moments don't showcase anything special. Adam Scott would have been ideal for this role in my opinion.

Neither Johnson or Wayans feels satisfied with their current status, and it is only made painfully evident by a college reunion that sees everyone inquire on their lives. (Spoiler alert: they dress up as cops to a masquerade party. LOL OMG amiright?)

Yet afterwards they walk the streets and notice the power of the badge and uniform. Females notice them. Citizens obey them. The scene that follows may be the most uniquely funny one of the entire film.

It's something that could have even worked for a Saturday Night Live sketch, or  a sitcom for thirty minutes...just not a full-length movie. Especially one that goes nineteen minutes past the hour and a half formula for most comedies. If it goes that long, it better be damn good.

So what else contributes to the underachieving Let's Be Cops? The casting, for one. While Jake Johnson has natural charisma and the ability to steal scenes, he's no leading man. He is better served as a secondary character. Making Damon Wayans, Jr. the straight man/sidekick does Johnson no favors, either. That might be the biggest flub of the whole thing, too.

You would think Wayans, Jr. would have a good amount of comedic talent based off his bloodline. Maybe he does- but it didn't show here. His abilities were quite limited. Anytime he was the main part of a scene that didn't include Johnson, it seemed to drag on. One scene in particular stands out. Wayans dresses up to infiltrate the evil crime lord Mossi's (played by James D'Arcy) party and has consumed a certain mind-altering drug. A talented funnyman would make that scene something special. Wayans tried to- and failed.

Even his serious tone to Johnson's funny one is grating and almost seems mailed in at times. The only instances where he is remotely funny is when Johnson does something so outlandish that Wayans issues a random "WTF?!" in a high-pitched voice.

Saving graces in the movie include Rob Riggle who plays an actual officer and a serious character for the first time ever, maybe? He plays his role well, but to cast him in that role almost robs the viewer of Riggle's supreme laugh-making abilities. Key and Peele's Keegan-Michael Key is a riot as Pupa, a lowly criminal who ends up befriending the duo of Johnson and Wayans. It made me wonder why he wasn't put in Wayans' role instead, which would have greatly improved the movie. Andy Garcia has an interesting role intertwined with Mossi, yet even this comedy feels like a reach for the Ocean's Eleven alum.

Oh, and Nine Dobrev plays Josie- an incredibly unique and layered female -sorry, let me tone down my sarcasm- who is a super attractive waitress in LA with a terrible taste in men. She becomes interested in Wayans' Miller.

While the initial reaction to the plot is "well that would be kind of funny/interesting", Greenwald and fellow writer Nicholas Thomas lack anything substantially entertaining to make this a memorable movie. Suspension of disbelief must be readily available, as will low expectations for this forgettable film.

5 out of 10

Like it? Love it? Hate it? Let me know @SeanNeutron

Playing the Percentages at WWE's Money in the Bank

Money in the Bank started as a staple of Wrestlemania in 2005 (thanks Y2J), and has evolved into its own pay per view...err- special event. Or whatever it is WWE is calling it these days with the network and all. It's one of the few events named after a match type that I can sink my teeth into. Why? Because of the sheer unpredictability of it all. We have seen a lot of crazy things happen in the past (Kane cashing in the same night, anything involving Kofi Kingston, Sheamus putting Sin Cara through a ladder, CM Punk beating John Cena). 

For those unaware to how MITB operates, a field is chosen and compete in a ladder match with a briefcase hanging above the ring. Whoever can climb up and grab it wins the contract inside of it that guarantees them a title match within the next 365 days at any time/location of their choosing. (As long as it's in a WWE ring. This isn't the 24/7 Hardcore Title rules from back in the day.) 

It's a match that favors bad guys and underdogs, really. The advantage of being able to strike at a moment's notice and gain the ire of the WWE Universe helped make Edge's singles career, and coined the term "The Ultimate Opportunist". The Miz, Randy Orton and CM Punk have all been aided as bad guys with this device. The plucky underdogs (CM Punk in 2008, Daniel Bryan in 2011 and technically RVD in 2006) helped cement their WWE careers, too. If you are a main event- caliber good guy (coughJOHNCENAcough), well- it's not really meant for you.

The difference with this year's edition is there is only one MITB briefcase match. The other is to determine a new WWE World Heavyweight Champion in the absence of one Daniel Bryan. Tonight  the WWE has a chance to surprise us all. How? It's not certain just yet. But based off the field for the respective matches, I'll run some numbers* and see who is in the best position to walk away with the gold and who will win the MITB briefcase. 

* all percentages were officially calculated using a universal formula: watching WWE on a  weekly basis.


Money in the Bank Contract Match: Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Wade Barrett, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, Kofi Kingston, RVD

Seth Rollins has the edge due to his recent swing in momentum- but how much confidence does WWE have him to be champion within the next year?

Seth Rollins (60%)

Ever since his turn a few weeks ago against his Shield brothers- or shall I say, business partners- Rollins has been a huge focal point if not THE focal point of WWE programming. CM Punk is gone for now. Daniel Bryan is injured. John Cena is, well, John Cena. No one knew who would turn first, but whoever was made to be the bad guy for the Shield would most certainly gain a lot of attention. Rollins was not anyone's first choice to be that guy based off his limited mic skills, yet he has flourished in his screen time since the beatdown.
He isn't a finished product by any means, and his ringwear is rather...unique- but Rollins should far and away be the favorite to come away with the briefcase in hand on Sunday. 

Dean Ambrose (20%)

Ambrose seems to have taken more offense to the Rollins' heel turn than Roman Reigns. In all fairness, Reigns was rather busy affecting the integrity of his maniacal boss's beverages in order to get a shot at the WWE WHC title to get bent out of shape over Rollins' dastardly actions. Get 'em, Dean. Ambrose is the most talented mic worker of the Shield, and his mannerisms/promo style bring a younger Brian Pillman to mind. If there is any chance of anyone not named Seth Rollins to win this match, Ambrose is an easy choice. 

Bad News Barrett (10%), Dolph Ziggler (10%) 

Once word got out that Barrett had injured himself at this week's Smackdown, his participation was immediately put in doubt.* Barrett has been on fire these last few months and was (still might be) a legitimate darkhorse to win the contract. His confidence is at its highest since his Nexus days, and he's pretty good in the ring as evidenced by Monday's show-stealing IC title defense against Dolph Ziggler. Barrett during any other time might even be a favorite, but Rollins and Ambrose seem to be on a collision course and edge the talented Brit out.

Ziggler is the WWE's best worker and still has plenty of miles left on his career (as long as he doesn't do that concussion thing again). He will likely submit another awesome performance come Sunday. Ziggler, like Barrett, will be limited to the current storyline with Rollins and Ambrose. As they say- never say never. Well, until you get to the rest of the field in this match as you'll soon see.

*as of this writing, Barrett is still a participant as noted by WWE.com. 

Jack Swagger, Kofi Kingston, RVD - (0%)

Well, that made this list a little bit easier. These three are here for a few reasons. The first being: bodies. Swagger along with Barrett will act as a big bruiser. Kingston will be the "special spot" guy ala Jeff Hardy/Shelton Benjamin as he always is. RVD is there to put over young talent. I'm not a huge fan of the guy, but his willingness to make the younger stars look good is very admirable. 

That being said, none of these wrestlers has a shot in hell at walking away with the briefcase.

BOLD Match Prediction: Rollins and Ambrose are so engulfed in their personal issues that either Wade Barrett or Dolph Ziggler come away with the briefcase, shocking the WWE Universe. 

As this image implies, John Cena is WWE's golden boy and the sure bet to win the WWE WHC title on Sunday. Also implied, John Cena is the second son of God and is the epitome is all that is good.

WWE WHC Ladder Match:  John Cena, Randy Orton, Kane, Roman Reigns, Cesaro,  Sheamus, Bray Wyatt, Alberto Del Rio

John Cena (55%) 

Shocker, right? At  this point, Cena being in the title picture and/or winning the title should never be a surprise. From an adult male standpoint, I can't stand it. His character hasn't changed in almost a decade, and he could really benefit from a heel turn. From a business standpoint, I completely understand it. Cena is their top guy not solely because of his charisma, physical appearance, in-ring abilities or even because of his merchandise sales. (Although all of those are great supprting reasons.) Cena is the face of the company because he is reliable. He's the safe bet. Sure, he's had injuries, but he's come back from them in the blink of an eye and stronger each time. The "smart" fans might shake their head at the notion of him being the champ, but I couldn't possibly blame WWE for putting the belt on a man who has been a driving force in programming since 2003.

Also, who else is excited to see Cena's "you love me, you hate me, OMG I'm polarizing" promo on Monday's RAW? Thought so. 

Kane (15%)

It sort of pains me to put Kane's chances this high, but the "Big Red Machine" still has a built-in storyline with Daniel Bryan. Kane has been The Authority's right-hand man for the better part of a year and like Cena is a safe and reliable bet. Kane is rarely ever injured despite his age and is a company man. Kane winning and continuing his feud with Bryan would still make me queasy, though. 

Randy Orton (10%), Roman Reigns (10%)

Orton is similar to Kane. His alliance with HHH and Stephanie since last summer gives him an advantage, yet the idea of him as champion anytime soon is still nauseating. He should not allowed to have any physical contact with John Cena during the match. If I see the two of them square off even one more time, I'll likely vomit. Orton has been the more vanilla version of Cena. While not THE face of WWE, he's been a huge part of it in programming since around the same time. 

Reigns is an option based more on his potential than actual ability at the moment. His ringwork has been strong and protected in six-man tags, and his promos have been limited as well. He has an aura about him. Whenever he is on screen, people notice. WWE is looking to groom him as the future of the company and could shock a few if they put the belt on him tonight. While an option, I still do not think he is ready for it just yet. 

Cesaro (5%) 

Cesaro has been on the rise since late last year and his aligning with Heyman was definitely a good thing for both men. Cesaro looks like a player, and Heyman stays busy while Brock Lesnar does Brock Lesnar things. The likelihood of Cesaro winning is very low, but IWC'ers and independent wrestling (read: Ring of Honor) fans would die to see it happen. If anything, we will be treated to Cesaro Swiss-death'ing and spinning the others like crazy. 

Sheamus (2.5%) , Bray Wyatt (2.5%)

If anyone could benefit from winning the belt, it would be Sheamus. He's been incredibly stale since coming back from injury (despite being US Champ), and is borderline irrelevant. Sheamus winning the belt after teaming up with HHH and Steph as a bad guy would make him a focus and...interesting. He thrives as a heel with his old-school gimmick and flops as a face. He likes to fight...yeah, that's about it. In real life, Sheamus is good friends with HHH, so the elevation to champ is not so far-fetched. 

Bray Wyatt has been around since being disposed of by John Cena at Payback. By around, I mean just sort of there. Sure, he cuts his promos and puts on great matches. But the best young mic worker next to Ambrose should be doing so much more. His winning is very slim, but would definitely add a "what happens next?" vibe to the immediate future of the WWE.

Alberto Del Rio (0%)

ADR is in this match? Oh, that's right. As the saying goes, last but not least. In regards to ADR- last and definitely least. The once highly-touted Del Rio is at his lowest point since debuting, and there seems to be no end in sight. Sure, he can put on great matches. But so can a host of other stars who haven't had half the chance Del Rio has. What is left to do with him? His heel turn failed. His title runs failed. His face turn failed. His recent heel run has been anything but memorable. 

The reason WWE hasn't released him yet is because of how much they invested in him and they still seek a Spanish star to market on the levels of Rey Mysterio. This is some misguided notion that they HAVE to have a Spanish star. While utopian, I don't find it necessary. 

BOLD Match Prediction: Roman Reigns wins. Rollins after winning MITB cashes it in, wins and steals Reigns' thunder.

Other MITB Musings: 

WWE Tag Team Championships

The Wyatt Family will win tomorrow and begin a dominant reign as tag champs. The Uso's will try and stay close to John Cena some more. 

WWE Divas Championship

Paige will retain over Naomi, likely due to Cameron intefering. Because we ALL are clamoring to see Cameron in the ring very soon. Not. The focus here should be on Paige and developing her character. But hey- Total Divas has a season three ahead and needs material! Way more important.

Layla vs. Summer Rae (special ref Fandango)

The only match I have less desire to see outside of Cameron/Naomi is Layla and Summer Rae. Who asked for this? Summer Rae and Layla can be great in the ring, but their recent backstage segments have done neither one of them any favors. Flip a coin. Summer Rae wins because CATTINESS.

Also, Fandango should be repackaged ASAP. Johnny Curtis still has a future, yet WWE fails to push him. 

Rybaxel vs Goldust and Stardust

While I wasn't a fan initially and believed Rhodes should be pushed more (still do), I have to admit Stardust grew on me last Monday. Rhodes is making it work and is showing his talent in spades. I'd root for them to win the tag titles, but we've been there before. That is, unless they plan to feud them with the Wyatt Family. Those would be spectacular matches. Rybaxel are a very underrated team. Each guy plays their role well, and Axel is actually entertaining and underrated in the ring. Rybaxel win if WWE pulls the trigger soon on a Cody turn. The Rhodes will win if they are to be looked at as tag title contenders. 

Rusev vs. Big E

Tell me if you've heard this before: Rusev beats up a black guy. Sounds repetitive, doesn't it? R-Truth, Kofi, Xavier Woods, Big E (multiple times). Also, he's branched out to other squashes with Zack Ryder and Heath Slater. Point is, what will be different about tomorrow's match? It's "shit or get off the pot" time with Rusev, and WWE needs to make a move with the Russian. 

Booking idea: Jack Swagger turns face and rescues Big E tomorrow night  during a post-win Rusev beatdown. After all, Swagger's list does have Rusev's name on it:

#WETHEPEOPLE

Like it? Love it? Hate it? Let me know @SeanNeutron

 

 

Power Ranking NXT's Potential

Ever since the WWE Network made NXT easily watchable every week, I have looked forward to each Thursday night 9 pm slot. It's a chance to see the future of the WWE grow and evolve, and say you knew them before they made it big on the two main shows (RAW and Smackdown). 

The biggest reason I look forward to every episode is that it's something different from the regular WWE product. Here we get less of the bullshit segments and more of what matters: wrestling. At times, the short matches can leave me wanting more...but their 2 hour quarterly specials (Arrival, Takeover) are truly special. 

The future looks bright for the WWE thanks to NXT, and I have chosen to highlight the top ten stars who would have the biggest effect in the WWE Universe. 

*The number to the right of their name is their age.


 The Top 10

1. Tyler Breeze (26)

 

 Breeze recently put his skills on display at NXT Takeover against Sami Zayn for number one contendership to the NXT title. The match was a classic, as the two have great chemistry with each other. Due to it being a special event, the duo had more time than usual to work with. Breeze's ring psychology is matched by his abilities in it and on the mic. His character with a lesser talent could have been doomed to fail, but he not only makes it work- but adds to it. He's a microcosm of our vane society, bent on selfies and an "all about me" attitude. His most recent foray into media was nothing short of brilliant. 

Breeze has a title match in his future against the champ, Adrian Neville. I believe if they mean business with the "Prince of Pretty", Breeze should win convincingly and hold on to the title for at a minimum of  a few months. Breeze has been with WWE since 2010 (in FCW, pre-NXT), and has the experience and seasoning of a veteran. While I think he is more than ready to be on RAW and Smackdown, there is no reason to rush it. We have seen a few NXTers who have debuted and seemingly plateaued already (Paige, Big E, Bray Wyatt). They have plenty of time to adjust since they are fresh faces, but all the more reason for WWE to take its time with Mr. Breeze. 


2. Bo Dallas (24)

 I know, I know. Bo Dallas debuted a few weeks back on RAW and Smackdown. But he is elgible for this list because he is so fresh, and he was just on NXT last week (disguised as Mr. NXT). If there was a "most improved superstar" award, Dallas would receive it.

Dallas "debuted" last year after winning an eight man tournament- the winner being a part of the 2013 Royal Rumble. After a quick rumble run and a few forgettable matches on RAW, Dallas was back to NXT and eventually made its champion. But the crowd turned on Dallas, despite him being a babyface and holding the title for about 9 months. This is what forced a change in booking, but for the better. 

While his brother (known to fans as Bray Wyatt) was pegged to be the future main eventer, Dallas was more of an afterthought. Except he didn't fade away...he got better. His lack of self awareness and constant positive nature bring back memories of a 1999 Kurt Angle. The positivity isn't only limited to Dallas, but he encourages his opponents as well. He's been able to take a very simple, ho-hum gimmick and make it special. Why? Because he - pun intended- believes. Dallas thrusts himself into his character, and it shows. He's entertaining as hell and turned me from a hater to a Bo-liever. While he is still very much limited in the ring, his character has plenty of mileage left on it. Give it some more time, and this time next year he'll likely be main eventing shows consistently. 


3. Enzo Amore (27)

If you follow NXT, you might wonder why Amore is so high up despite not being on television in months. The twenty-seven year old from Jersey has been recovering from a broken leg, robbing new fans of his abilities. He's a force on the mic, probably the best out of the top ten. But he's still weeks away at least from a return.

The one weakness Amore might have is he isn't the best in the ring, like Dallas. You likely won't see any mat classics from him anytime soon, but that doesn't mean he isn't fun to watch.

The biggest thing fans and the WWE look for is the "it" factor. Amore possesses this without question. His promo skills are rare, and his catchphrases are natural. SAWFTTT just rolls off the tongue, and fans are desperate to chant along with Amore. "Badda boom, realest guy in the room." He's from Jersey, and he plays it to his advantage. He isn't another Jersey Shore ripoff like Zack Ryder. He's just a guy with a chip on his shoulder, waiting for his chance to shine. Get him reintegrated in the NXT universe and have the new fans see him, and I can easily see bright things in Amore's future.

4. Charlotte Flair (28)

Charlotte is high on this list, but not because of her last name. Sure, that gets her in the door and gives her a slight marketing advantage...but the girl has skills. She's got size to her (5'10) and obvious athletic prowess. It makes her a natural in the ring. She also shows a ton of personality and could easily slide into a heel or face role depending on what WWE wanted. Right now she has earned her stripes to be the newest NXT Women's Champion, and I don't see her giving up the belt any time soon. Like Dallas, this time next year I'd be surprised if she wasn't the WWE Divas Champion. 

Just don't book her as a "woe is me", boyfriend-obsessed damsel in distress. Can you NOT do that WWE? Charlotte is way better than that.

5. Bayley (25)

  Bayley has won the hearts of NXT fans back in January 2013. Now that the WWE Network shows NXT every week, even more fans get to see her. She seems built to be a natural face, and can get any crowd on her side. Her entrance is unique, her personality is bubbly and she, like Flair, can go in the ring. She's like the opposite of 2013 Bo Dallas. As a male she'd be considered fake and phony. But as a female? Loveable; someone you want only good things for. While she's not ready to be brought up just yet, season her some more in NXT with an eventual title run and she'll get there. 

6. Adrian Neville (27)

The champ is..here? Quite low on the list for the best in NXT right now, no? But while the highflyer known as "The Man Gravity Forgot" holds the gold, his promo skills are almost non-existent. He talks in short bursts on the mic and is eons away from ever being a verbal jouster. But his workrate is what makes him a force in NXT. He can easily put on 15-20 minute classics and has great ring psychology (see: NXT Arrival and NXT Takeover). 

Neville can be a star one day if he improves on the mic. In the mean time, he can be a solid mid-card wrestler such as Justin Gabriel or Evan Bourne was- or he could flourish with a partner in the tag team division like Seth Rollins did with Roman Reigns.

7. Aiden English (24)

First off, I hate singing gimmicks. But that is not why English is at 7. English being at 7 might be higher than most would have him, but his talent is there. He hasn't had a chance to shine like some in prolonged matches, but you can tell his ringwork is crisp and accurate.

More often than not as of late, English has been on the losing end of things (thanks Mojo Rawley). While he loses, he's there to make the others look good. But I have faith in his promo and in-ring abilities and believe in the next year or two, English will be primed for a good shot at achieving his WWE dreams.


8. Sami Zayn (29)

 Zayn would be much higher if he had any chops on the mic. The former El Generico has been around a while and wrestled all over the world. We know he can go in the ring (most recently against Tyler Breeze at Takeover). But he is nothing but vanilla in backstage promos and on the mic. While his ringwork is WWE ready, Zayn will need a huge character development and more practice on the mic to ever be ready for the bigger stage. Fans need more reasoning to cheer him than "well, he's not the bad guy." He could easily fit into a tag team eventually.



9. Jason Jordan (26)

 Jordan is a former Indiana amateur wrestling standout and it shows. He's built like a superstar and can move like a powerful gazelle. He's obviously very strong with plenty of technique, and working in a tag team helps his case for now with as green as he is.

His NCAA background can aid him well like it did for Angle, Lesnar, Hass and Benjamin. At some point he'll need to evolve and have a presence on the mic, but for now he can show off his in-ring capabilities and let the rest develop later. I could see him coming in as a tag wrestler, moving to the mid-card and within the next few years having a shot at being  a regular WWE star.


10. Sasha Banks

So far, Banks has been known for her "boss" gimmick in NXT, and being one of HHH's Wrestlemania 30 entrance sidekicks. But hey, CM Punk did the same in 2006 for John Cena- and look how he turned out.

Banks is another star who has grown by leaps and bounds within the last year. Lately she has not been the focus due to Paige's recent success, Charlotte's winning the belt from Natalya and Bayley's rise...but her time will come. She has a unique and exotic look which helps. She has good in- ring psychology. Her acting leaves a bit to be desired- but her presence commands attention. Once Charlotte likely gives the belt up to Bayley, I can see Banks and Bayley feuding leading to some great matches.

If the three divas on this list are injected into the WWE within the next year or so, the future is in great hands.



Honorable mentions: 

Kalisto- great tag wrestler and could be the Spanish crossover appeal star WWE desperately wanted Alberto Del Rio and Sin Cara to be. 


Alexa Bliss- Cute as a button and pint-sized to boot, Bliss is green in the ring and on the mic, but has the potential to be an NXT star and possibly a WWE diva. Her real life struggle and battle with an eating disorder could tug at fans' heart strings, too.

Marcus Louis- I see Louis as the more talented Frenchman in NXT (over LeFort). His presentation skills promo is the stuff of legend and has been taken off YouTube by WWE. It was a riot and might only be the tip of the iceberg for the young man.

Tye Dillinger- Dillinger tags with Jordan as of now and looks decent. He has a long way to go, but shows plenty of promise and could be an NXT tag team champion soon.

Notable exclusions: 

Mojo Rawley- Rawley is the Sheamus/Cena of NXT. He has even less to cheer for with his flimsy "I don't get hyped, I STAY hyped!" catchphrase. His wrestling is almost non-existent as he is in short squash-like matches. Sorry, Mr. English. Rawley's moveset is based off knocking people down with his ass, then jumping and sitting on them for the 1,2,3. Maybe if it was the 1980's....sure. But in 2014? No thank you.

Adam Rose- Rose, like Dallas makes the list here due to his just recently having wrestled on NXT Takeover. His wins have also been in glorified squashes like Rawley, and shows no real ring psychology or actual charisma. For some reason, fans get behind his incredibly dry and boring "lemon/rosebud" party animal gimmick- yet his popularity all revolves around his entrance. Without that, he's just a barely there mid-carder. Repackage him as the South African Leo Kruger, please.

CJ Parker- Parker's new-age hippie gimmick is one that will run out of gas (no pun intended) sooner than later. The only way it can be made entertaining is if he promotes the environment while being a savage in the ring- and I have not yet seen that side. For now, he remains a boring nuisance. 

Corey Graves - Graves has been out for about a month thanks to a concussion. He's thought of to be a CM Punk-lite, complete with "STAY DOWN" tattooed on his knuckles. He constantly repeats the motto throughout matches, and is a Randy Orton-like black hole of charisma otherwise, in ring and out. His potential is very limited. He does, however, have great intro music.

The Ascension- The duo has been fortunate enough to be booked to win squash after squash match. Even as the longest reigning tag team champs, I cannot have faith in them. Ask them to put on longer WWE style matches and watch them eventually fail.

Sylvester LeFort - For some reason, LeFort gets chance after chance each week to show his skills. But I still have no desire to want to see him again. NXT. I mean....NEXT. 


Like it? Love it? Hate it? Let me know @SeanNeutron.