411 Fact or Fiction 10.10.13: John Cena’s Return, Shawn Michaels at Hell in a Cell, Warrior Hall of Fame Worthy, More

1. The ending to the WWE Battleground PPV was an insult to paying customers.

Sean Walker: FICTION It wasn’t an insult, to me at least. I mean it could have been done better, but it was at least a great match before the screwy finish. Plus, we all knew what we were paying for when we bought the PPV. There was obviously going to be a non-finish, it was just flat. VERY flat. Not insulting.

Sean Garmer: FICTION I actually ordered Battleground because my best friend and I split the cost. That being said, people need to remember this is entertainment and it is simulating a sport, not the other way around. They are trying to continue storylines on a television show. There is no specified rule that says “the main event of a PPV most have a decisive finish every time.” And honestly, we’ve seen plenty of non-finishes to end PPV’s before, so this shouldn’t surprise people. I can understand casual fans getting upset enough to ask for refunds because they suspend disbelief a lot more than the more intelligent wrestling fan. I’m not saying we need just accept what happens, but I felt the Night of Champions finish was worse because they just screwed Bryan on RAW the next night. At least with this it became obvious that WWE plans on making Hell in a Cell the definitive end for this storyline, and I for one am happy to get to the finish line already.

Score: 1 for 1

2. You are shocked that John Cena has been announced as returning to the ring at the Hell in a Cell PPV.

Sean Walker: FICTION I wasn’t shocked at John Cena returning, but I was shocked at how they nonchalantly announced the return of your biggest superstar. I thought it was a joke so Alberto could get pinned, but they legitimately half-assed the return of John Cena. Oh and don’t get me started on WHERE he is returning! Hell in a Cell?! Really?! He could have returned at Survivor Series where could have recycled the old 2008 storyline when he returned against Jericho. Sure it wouldn’t have that same special feeling, but it would still be a decent storyline.

Sean Garmer: FICTION John Cena has proven time and again that when it comes to injuries he is super human. You might as well cut any recovery time he’s supposed to take and cut it in half. Nothing shocks me anymore when it comes to John Cena. I actually like this decision by WWE to have Cena wrestle Del Rio for the World Title and try to elevate SmackDown in the process, while WWE continues the Bryan storyline for the WWE Title. If Punk can hold his own in a bubble, I’m sure Cena can do it as well. I wouldn’t mind seeing a Cena vs. Bryan 2, World and WWE Title Unification match at Wrestlemania 30. Who’s with me?

Score: 2 for 2

3. Having Shawn Michaels as the referee for the Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan Hell in a Cell match has increased your interest in the match.

Sean Walker: FACT However only for the match, and only the match. I’m hoping the storyline will not shift the focus to HBK and HHH having a rift. Can we for once have a main storyline where a good guy, and a bad guy are feuding over the most prestigious title in North American wrestling? As for the match, I expect something screwy to happen where Shawn gets knocked out and he gets replaced by the obligatory ‘screw job’ ref.

Sean Garmer: FACT I live in Miami and I’ve been going back and forth on whether or not I should pay 45 bucks and get a cheap seat to Hell in a Cell. After watching RAW, I think WWE is inching ever closer to having me put out the cash to go to the show. HBK is my favorite of all-time so having his name on the card is enough for me to pay the money to go see the show. But having him in a referee capacity gives the main event a good feeling of unpredictability that I like. I could see things going about three different ways right now and that’s just because Shawn Michaels was added to the match. I wouldn’t feel the same way if Booker T would have been the ref.

Score: 3 for 3

4. Ryback challenging Undertaker at WrestleMania XXX would be a horrible idea.

Sean Walker: FACT If you would have asked me this BEFORE Wrestlemania 29,I would have said fact. Ryback’s character was so damaged by the feud with Cena he turned into a complete pussy running from The Miz of all people. Then he shifted into an anti-bullying bullying character, which pissed me off even more. It makes me want to kick Stephanie and the creative team in the uterus (thanks Larry).Ryback could have been the next Diesel (figuratively), where he could have held the WWE Title dominating the main event talent like Y2J and John Cena until they found someone to finally defeat him (Daniel Bryan). He would still be a monster heel, and he wouldn’t have to rely on Paul Heyman to get heat. Feuding with CM Punk has done nothing for him, and putting him in the ring with The Undertaker would truly reveal how damaged he is, as no one would believe he has a chance of actually winning.

Sean Garmer: FACT Seriously, has WWE not been watching RyBack wrestle as of late? It seems like he’s been getting worse instead of better. I’d assume at this point Undertaker picks his opponents and there is no way he chooses what would be seen as a squash match by many. This is the 30th Wrestlemania we are talking about here and Undertaker needs a big opponent to match the enormity of the occasion. Brock Lesnar or John Cena are pretty much the only opponents that would be acceptable for him. The only young guy I would be ok with is Bray Wyatt, but WWE would have to give us at least two months worth of an interesting storyline to convince me.

Score: 4 for 4

SWITCH!

5. Hulk Hogan’s departure angle on last week’s Impact Wrestling made the company look stupid.

Sean Garmer: FACT What a way to kill the “heel GM” thing before it even really got started. I don’t really care who’s fault it is, this was TERRIBLE. It didn’t help anyone and made TNA look bush league. People were chanting “We Want Vince” and “We Want Vickie” I mean seriously? That tells you everything you need to know. Why in the hell would you have the PRESIDENT of your company holding onto a decrepit Hulk Hogan’s leg like a child. Hogan didn’t even act like he cared to be there at all and I hope TNA doesn’t bring him back and put themselves in a bigger hole financially. Dixie should have just said “NO Hulk you aren’t quitting on me, YOU ARE FIRED!!!” and that been it. But of course, they had to give Hogan creative control and have a stupid segment like this. The TNA talent deserve better than this crap.

Sean Walker: FICTION No, no there are things much worse that has made the company look stupid. If I had a week, I wouldn’t have enough time to list the things that TNA continues to fail at. Having Dixie Carter in your main angle is stupid, knowing the travesties that she has caused on national television (*coughClaireLynchcough*).TNA has become a burden to watch, as there is nothing watchable anymore. There is no Tag Team Division, the X-division has potential, but are rarely featured (By the way, why the hell would they bury Kenny King, and shoehorn Jeff Hardy into the X Division title match at BFG ,it makes no sense), and the Knockouts need serious repairing. Three of your company highlights are no longer there. I have a feeling that this company will relocate to India or the UK, where their stronger markets are.

Score: 4 for 5

6. If you were running a wrestling hall of fame, you would NOT induct the Ultimate Warrior.

Sean Garmer: FICTION So, I’m guessing we keep everyone who’s already in WWE’s Hall of Fame and just add onto it? Either way, if Koko B. Ware and Vince’s Limo Driver can be in the Hall of Fame, then where are you drawing the line. Regardless, Warrior Warrior was one of the biggest stars of the 90’s and he’s a WWE and IC champion. Just because he “self-destructed” later in life and got away from wrestling doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve to be in the hall of fame. Bob Backlund and Iron Sheik are as unpredictable on the microphone as it gets, and they are both in WWE’s Hall of Fame. So, I don’t think I’d care if he went off on a 15-minute diatribe about the moons, stars, parts unknown, and all that crap. I’d be thinking about I put in one of the Legends of the business into my hall of fame.

Sean Walker: FCTION Why would I not induct the Ultimate Warrior? He is a household name to anyone who watched wrestling before 1996 and he is easily a credible inductee. His Self Destruction DVD was fantastic. I would feel honored if someone took time out their busy lives to shit on me for an hour and a half. I honestly see no reason not to induct him.

Score: 5 for 6

7. If TNA were to wipe the slate clean and start fresh from a creative standpoint, they should bring in someone like Mike Quackenbush (CHIKARA) or Gabe Saplosky (ROH, EVOLVE, DGUSA) to head the creative team.

Sean Garmer: FACT I really wish TNA would wipe the slate clean and start fresh honestly. But if you can’t get Paul Heyman, these guys might be the best you could find to bring a fresh perspective to your product and make TNA the alternative to WWE it needs to be. TNA has the talent to focus a lot more on wrestling and doing less talking. I’d say Gabe might just be “best for business” for TNA.

Sean Walker: FACT TNA missed the biggest opportunity of the lifetime making the decision not to hire not Paul Heyman. He foresaw Hogan and Bischoff ruining the company, and wanted them fired. Obviously Dixie’s head was shoved too far up Hogan’s broken ass to listen. Sometimes you should choose credibility over star power. Paul could easily made someone on the TNA a household name like he did Lesnar. Gabe Sapolsky is similar to Heyman, so maybe he could clean up the mess they’ve made for the last three years.

Score: 6 for 7

8. You want to see Ken Shamrock make an in ring WWE return.

Sean Garmer: FACT Why not? If he can still go in the ring and is ok with having Chris Jericho, RVD, or Brock Lesnar type runs he’s a good guy to have. He was a huge deal at one time for MMA and a key cog in Attitude Era WWE as well. I know plenty of people that are big fans of his and ask me if he’s ever going to comeback at least once a month. Ken Shamrock was one of my favorites watching wrestling in the late 90’s, so I’d like to see him make a return. If it doesn’t work WWE could always cut their losses and know they didn’t miss out on anything.

Sean Walker: FICTION HAHAHAHA, er, no. I mean if this were the year 2003,and there was still the brand extension, I would have enjoyed the hell out a 2003 Kurt Angle vs. 2003 Ken Shamrock. Now? Nope. Not a chance in hell.

Score: 6 for 8