wrestling / Columns

The Wrestling 5&1 4.14.12: Buggy Nova vs. Beth Phoenix

April 14, 2012 | Posted by Greg De Marco

Another crazy week in The DeMarco Household as The Lovely & Talented Mrs. DeMarco was shipped off to Seattle to chaperone a student trip, leaving Daddy DeMarco home with the kids! Does craziness ensue? Yup, and it makes the Wrestling 5&1 late! But you can trust me, I make up for it with your debuting And 1 Model of the Week. In advance, you’re welcome!

Want to listen to the latest Greg DeMarco Show (featuring The Sheik) while you read?

BRING ON THE GIRLS!

Last Week: Maria Menounos defeated Rima Fakih in a special match-up: Versus WrestleMania Madness Celebrity Edition! Should Maria have a shot to move on? Let me know in the comments section!

This Week: Buggy Nova returns to Versus, and she’s immediately thrown into the Arena with some stiff competition—the Divas champ!

Beth Phoenix!

Buggy Nova!

YOU MAKE THE CALL BY PICKING YOUR FAVORITE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION!

Buggy Nova vs. Beth Phoenix. Take your pick!
Stay tuned as next week as I’ll reveal the winner!

There are a lot of cool things to discuss this week—more than I have space for, actually! But the final segment of what was actually a good edition of TNA Impact Wrestling blew me away. It was that good. Was it the week’s best?

Yes.

RAW had two great segments on Monday. The Brock Lesnar-John Cena pull-a-part brawl and the Chris Jericho alcohol attack on CM Punk both brought me back to the Attitude Era. Both segments were outstanding. I loved every second of each of them. But the go-home segment of Impact Wrestling? Far exceeded both. In fact, I said on Facebook that I thought Roode & Storm made the past month of Impact Wrestling look like amateur hour. Awesome stuff.

The promo started at one level, accelerated to talk about Beer Money, then went even higher when Roode talked about hating each other. Roode looked like a legit champion—not one that hasn’t won a match clean since winning the title. Storm looked like a champion of the people—one that every fan wants to see win at Lockdown. TNA didn’t need to pump in crowd noise. Hogan & Bischoff didn’t overshadow these two. TNA did the best job possible at promoting this match in the final week. they lost so much along the way, but they couldn’t have capped it off any better way.

You Decide: Did the final promo on Thursday’s Impact Wrestling sell you on Lockdown?

If Roode-Storm was the best in-ring segment of the week, then this clocks in at #2. For all of the returns that are mishandled in wrestling, TNA has hit a home run with the return of the Motor City Machine Guns. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin feel higher up the card than ever before, and their Lockdown tag team title shot at Samoa Joe & Magnus feels like the second most important match on the show. And they drove it home on Thursday with this promo…

They don’t hate each other. In fact, they appear to really respect each other! But both teams want to be World Tag Team Champions—and only one can. That’s what this match is about. That’s all it needs.

You Decide: Does MCMG-JoeMagnus feel like the most important tag title match TNA has put on since MCMG’s best of 5 series with Beer Money?

TNA presents Lockdown 2012 this weekend, and it has some serious potential. For good and for bad! Let’s have a look at the entire card, shall we?

And now let’s write about the entire card, shall we?

Matt Morgan vs. Crimson
I couldn’t care less about this match. These two guys have either been feuding or teaming for nearly a year, and TNA has done nothing to make me a) buy in to the rivalry meaning something, or b) Crimson being in danger of losing. Unless…TNA really wants to do something to “save” Matt Morgan. And as big and talented as he is, I bet they do.
Prediction: Matt Morgan unceremoniously ends “the streak.”

Television Championship
Devon (champion) vs. Robbie E
The only reason why I care about this more than Morgan-Crimson is because one of my favorite old-school concepts—the television title—is involved. Ironically, Devon hasn’t appeared on television since winning the television title. Robbie E hasn’t attacked, nor has he really done anything to make this match matter. Here’s hoping that we get some sort of return (Pope?) that makes this title matter.
Prediction: Devon retains

Knockouts Championship
Gail Kim (champion) vs. Velvet Sky
Ugh. Velvet Sky is bad. Beyond bad. Yes, she’s amazingly fine. But she sucks in the ring. Her promo skills are non-existent. She’s basically SoCal Val in wrestling gear. Val might actually be better. And yet here she is, wrestling on one of TNA’s signature PPV events and likely to win the Knockouts Championship. Except I don’t think they will. For some reason, I think we’re going to see her lose, and it will lead to a Beautiful People reunion down the road. Why? Because Eric Young & ODB can’t feud with Rosita & Sarita forever.
Prediction: Gail Kim retains

World Tag Team Championship
Samoa Joe & Magnus (champions) vs. The Motor City Machine Guns
TNA has done an amazing job of building up the return of The Motor City Machine Guns. In fact, they feel like bigger stars than ever. The tag team division is basically two and a half teams now, but Christopher Daniels & Kazarian could easily be paired and compete, along with AJ Styles & Mr. Anderson. You could also book Robbies E & T into being a legit tag team. However, this still leaves the division without heat. The best way to get some heat? Heels. The best way to create those heels? Have the Guns go over Joe & Magnus, then have Joe & Magnus flat out DESTROY them.
Prediction: The Motor City Machine Guns win the TNA World Tag Team Championships

Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Hardy
The easiest thing to pick here is this being a match of the night candidate. This is one of the few matches that feel like a blowoff on this card, and I think it will be just that. Face goes over.
Prediction: Jeff Hardy wins after two huge highspots

Lethal Lockdown
Team Garett (Garett Bischoff, Austin Aries, Mr. Anderson, AJ Styles & Rob Van Dam) vs.
Team Eric (Gunner, Bully Ray, Christopher Daniels, Kazarian & Eric Bischoff)
This match has potential. Look at the participants! Take out Eric & Garett, and you have six guys who can flat out go, plus Gunner and Anderson who can brawl with the best of them. But there’s one problem—you can’t take out Eric & Garett, this match is all about them. Which means they will manipulate the story, and the finish. I think we’ll see Garett Bischoff go away so he can get the big face pop when he returns—and I think Eric vs. Hogan is going to be a big focal point moving forward.
Prediction: Team Eric

World Heavyweight Championship
Bobby Roode (champion) vs. James Storm
This is the big one. The match that the company has been building towards since two weeks after Bound for Glory, if not subtly building to before. These two men were tag team partners less than a year ago, and now they’re in a heated feud. And two months ago, James Storm earned a shot at Bobby Roode’s world championship. But the build hasn’t been as great as people claim. One month ago, Roode wrestled Sting in a non-title match to main event Victory Road, attacking Dixie Carter after the match—and James Storm did NOT make the save. But over the past month, TNA has done a better job with this feud. And on Thursday? They knocked it out of the park. They finally got it right.

As for the prediction? This is James Storm’s night. It’s in his hometown, the crowd is going to be insane for him. The pop when he wins will be insane, it might literally blow the roof off of the building. No way Storm doesn’t win the title here. Right?

Yeah…I remember Bound For Glory.
Prediction: Bobby Roode wins…clean.

You Decide: What are your thoughts and predictions for Lockdown?

Maria reminds me of a girl I knew back in the day. I was smitten at first sight. She was flawless, just an image of perfection.

Anyway, I tried to get her to go out with me, but she always said she was too busy at work.

She hosted a show on some community access channel about local happenings and events. It was God awful…but every girl I knew watched it religiously.

Anyway she finally agreed to meet me for a drink…but she brought her co-host along. His name was Alfred Colonez, but everybody called him AC.

This motherfucker actually bragged that he was going to be the Latin Patrick Swayze and would just start humming and dancing for no apparent reason.

It actually scared the shit out of me at first.

As disconcerting as his humming and dancing were, I actually preferred that to his conversation.

He would not shut the fuck up about his high school friends.

One guy was the good looking smart ass who died his hair blonde, another a dork with a perm and a huge cock, then there was the pretty- but flat chested- cheerleader and some pampered black chick.

Even though they were 10 years removed from high school, they still got together once a week to torment their old principal, which struck me as odd.

Then he had to tell us about his high school girlfriend. He claimed she was both beautiful and intelligent…but when he said she was a stripper in Vegas, I knew the second part was bullshit.

Still from what he described, she sounded like the kind of chick you wouldn’t fuck with a safety word AND a witness present.

Try as I might to steer the conversation away from him, AC was just getting started.

He had some ridiculous story about some dance contest he’d been in. Apparently he lost to some football player, but claimed the voting had been rigged.

“BULLSHIT,” I finally yelled.

I’d started drinking heavily right around the time he began recounting his friends zany adventures with the principal, so I’d become fairly belligerent by that point.

My drinking only intensified when the object of my affection started gossiping about who local celebrities were banging.

It was at that point I realized that she was batshit crazy.

She had a disease known as “Star Fucking Syndrome”

It happens when women become so consumed with the sexual behavior of celebrities that she herself is unable to copulate without the assistance of specific visual aids: US Magazine, People, Star Magazine, etc.

Apparently she thought E! was a 24/7 porn channel.

Last I heard, she’d been indicted on 3 counts of stalking and everyday I wonder what might have been if only I had been famous…

Rima…definitely Rima

Posted By: Frisco Kid (Guest)

And that’s it.

What…

More comments should return next week! I know, I said that last week?

And if you’re gonna complain about it, then I have one question: Are you a dumbass?

The East Coast Wrestling Association presented their 16th annual Super 8 tournament, to a huge crowd in Newark, Delaware. This is the company’s biggest event of the year. This year’s tournament was won by ECWA Heavyweight Champion “The Greek God” Papadon. Notable past winners have included Low Ki, Paul London, Davey Richards, Jerry Lynn, Christopher Daniels (the only 2-time winner) and 2011 winner current Ring of Honor star Tommaso Ciampa. Papadon is the man to enter and leave as champion.

East Coast Wrestling Association 16th Annual Super 8
April 7, 2012, Greater Newark Boys & Girls Club, Newark, Delaware

Super 8 Quarterfinal: Bandido Jr defeated Azrieal
Super 8 Quarterfinal: Gregory Iron pinned Kyle Matthews
Super 8 Quarterfinal: Bobby Fish beat ECWA Mid-Atlantic Champion Kekoa The Flyin Hawaiian by submission (non-title)
Super 8 Quarterfinal: ECWA Heavyweight Champion “The Greek God” Papadon pinned Anthony Nese (non-title)
ECWA Tag Team Championship Triple Threat Match: The Midnight Sensations defeated Fusion-DS and The Flatliners
Super 8 Semifinal: Bandido Jr pinned Gregory Iron
Super 8 Semifinal: Papadon defeated Bobby Fish
Over-The-Top Rope Battle Royal: Mr. Ooh La La won a after last eliminating ECWA owner Mike Tartaglia
Super 8 Championship Final: Papadon pinned Bandido Jr to win the 2012 ECWA Super-8 Trophy

Notes:
* Papadon is the first participant to enter and leave the tournament as ECWA Heavyweight Champion. Christopher Daniels left the tournament as champion, but won the title during the event
* The Midnight Sensations will now face Fusion DS in a Loser Leaves ECWA Match on May 5 in Newark, DE
* Papadon will defend his ECWA Heavyweight Championship on the same card

For more information visit ECWAProWrestling.com/ECWA.

Some information used in this report was obtained from Brady Hicks/Pro Wrestling Illustrated.

You Decide: Do you follow smaller indie promotions like the ECWA in your local area? Why or why not?

Combat Zone Wrestling presents its eleventh annual Best of the Best tournament on Saturday night in Vorhees, NJ. Given the name of the city, maybe they should have held it on Friday night!

The following comes courtesy of CZW itself:

Combat Zone Wrestling is preparing for one of the largest wrestling events of the year that highlights the greatest talent in the world – ‘Best of the Best XI’ on Saturday, April 14 in the Flyers Skate Zone, 601 Laurel Oak Road in Voorhees, NJ and airing live on iPay-Per-View at HybridEnt.TV.

So far announced in first-round action of the tournament:

* CZW World Junior Heavyweight champion Sami Callihan vs. Tournament of Death winner and former (and longest reigning) CZW World Heavyweight champion Drake Younger vs. the United Kingdom’s Trent 7 vs. the United Kingdom’s MK McKinnan
* Former CZW World Junior Heavyweight champion Chuck Taylor vs. DragonGate USA Open the Freedom Gate champion Johnny Gargano vs. Samuray Del Sol
* Former CZW Wired TV champion A.R. Fox vs. Lince Dorado vs. ACH
* Alex Colon vs. Willie Mack vs. the soon-to-be-announced replacement for the injured Uhaa Nation (who will be out for the next year due to injury)
In non-tournament action:
* CZW Wired TV champion Jake Crist defends against his brother, turned bitter rival, Dave Crist
* CZW owner DJ Hyde has promised Matt Tremont an Ultraviolent Encounter
* A contract signing to settle the score between Nation of Intoxication member Danny Havoc and leader of the Gulak Campaign for a Better CZW, Drew Gulak!
Visit CZWrestling.com for ‘Tales of the Tape’ reviews on the ‘Best of the Best’ competitors and the latest video promos from the CZW locker room.

Combat Zone Wrestling has celebrated over thirteen years of success and regularly tours the world, with events not only across the country, but also in Japan, the United Kingdom, and Germany. The CZW locker room is filled with competitors that regularly travel the world. For tickets, event updates, and to sign up for the CZW newsletter, visit CZWrestling.com. Also, visit the ‘Best of the Best XI’ Facebook Event Site (http://www.facebook.com/events/241703979237388/). For information on The Flyers Skate Zone, visit FlyersSkateZone.com.

For more information, be sure to visit CZWWrestling.com.

The Greg DeMarco Show, presented by 411Mania.com/Wrestling, comes to you each Tuesday night at 10:30 PM eastern and airs all weekend at VOCNation.com. Greg and Patrick O’Dowd are joined by regular contributors Steve Cook, Tony Acero, Justin Freemyer and Buggy Nova! Plus, you never know who might call in or stop by “The Snake Pit” (chatroom). The call-in number is (310) 807-5103, and “The Snake Pit” generally opens 5 minutes before the show starts.

This week: The most controversial guest is back! The Almighty Sheik rejoins The Greg DeMarco Show. Sheik will follow-up on his first interview, plus share his thoughts on the independent scene today and his efforts to train and develop the stars of tomorrow through the Pro Wrestling Zero-1 USA camps.

ECWA Super 8 Champion “The Greek God” Papadon chimes in after winning the wrestling world’s oldest and most prestigious tournament. Representatives from All American Pro Wrestling. Future Stars of Wrestling and UCW-Zero will be on to talk about each company’s successes and upcoming events. Plus, RAW discussion, TNA Lockdown preview and more!

Click here to listen, or listen here:

The Greg DeMarco Show with Greg DeMarco & Patrick O’Dowd, presented by 411Mania and streaming worldwide through the Voice of Choice Nation—airs live every Tuesday at 10:30 PM eastern time and is heard by over 10,000 listeners throughout each week. Discussing current events in professional wrestling—including RAW, Smackdown, TNA, Ring of Honor and many US independent promotions and regularly features guests from Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Dragon Gate USA, Evolve and countless other promotions, Greg and Patrick present opinionated analysis on the wrestling world that remains rooted in a love, passion and respect for the business. The show is presented live on Tuesday nights by 411Mania at http://www.411wrestling.com/wrestling and streams worldwide each Saturday through Monday via Bruce Wirt’s Voice of Choice Nation at http://www.vocnation.com. You can reach the show via e-mail at [email protected], Facebook by searching for “Greg DeMarco Show” or Twitter @gregdemarcoshow.

And Maria Kanellis appeared on the mothership VOCNation.com show!

Maria Kanellis joined the VOC Wrestling Nation on WNJC Philadelphia this past Wednesday 4/12/2012. She spoke about her past, present, and future. Highlights are below, and you can hear the full interview at The VOC Nation Website!

On her gimmick as the first lady of ROH: Its great since its only me and Mia over there. All of the attention is on us two girls.

On ROH’s status: We have already surpassed TNA. We are bringing in new stars and making celebrities out of them. We have the top stars in the world.

On the YES chant: That was started over 2 months ago at ROH; we were surprised that it took that long to catch on there.

On the difference in the crowds between ROH and WWE:

On why she came back to wrestling: I took a year off and got the itch. I have always had passion for wrestling; I watched when I was a kid.

On working with Jim Cornette: It’s a lot of fun, I’m learning so much. He’s one of the greatest heel managers of all time.

On working with Donald Trump during the Celebrity Apprentice: He is very funny compared to what you see on TV. He knows how bad his hair is too.

On getting released by the WWE: John Laurinaitis called and released me the day after my birthday. I was starting to do more mainstream things and they didn’t want to give me a pay raise. There were tons of opportunities elsewhere. They didn’t want to give me the opportunity to do other things.

On doing Playboy: I turned Playboy down when I was 19, but I was ready when I was 25. It is great to be a part of that, and forever etched into history.

On Twitter: I want to come through the screen and strangle Michael Cole. He is not the person that should be talking about trends. ROH is more concerned with who is seeing the show than who is talking about it on Twitter.

If you’re looking for an awesome one-on-one match, this is for you. Back in 2006, everyone was on fire about KENTA. However, his first trip to the states was with Naomichi Marufuji, who has achieved a greater level of success and might be the better all-around performer. KENTA is a bigger badass, though. Here they do battle for ‘fuji’s GHC Heavyweight Championship in a great encounter.

GHC Heavyweight Championship
Naomichi Marufuji (champion) vs. KENTA
Pro Wrestling NOAH Autumn Navigation, October 26, 2006

Hit up the ‘Mania on the TWITTER (so Ashish will like me, okay?)

http://www.twitter.com/411mania
http://www.twitter.com/411wrestling
http://www.twitter.com/411moviestv
http://www.twitter.com/411music
http://www.twitter.com/411games
http://www.twitter.com/411mma
http://www.twitter.com/gregdemarcoshow – that’s me!

I take great pride in presenting you with ladies that you’re not always familiar with—and blowing your mind in the process. Buggy Nova, Barbi Hayden, Terra Calaway and Veda Scott immediately come to mind, and each has soared to great heights. So…tell me what you think of Scarlett Bordeaux…

Photo credits: George Mario, DPS Vision

Find her on Facebook, and tell her Greg DeMarco sent ya!

Get reading!

Randle’s Wrestling News Experience!
The News from Cook’s Corner!
Marsico presents The Wednesday Wire!
Kelly’s Sports Entertainment News Report!
Napier’s Handicapping the News!
Fact or Fiction!
The Triumvirate of Truth!

Plenty to talk about in the comments!

So I’ll help you…

Versus: Buggy or Beth??
Bonus Versus: Should Maria continue on?
What did you think of TNA’s two big promos?
What were your thoughts on Lockdown
How about indie tournaments like the Super 8 and Bes of the Best?

Until next time…

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