UFC 121: Preview and Predictions

This Saturday night, we've got another big UFC pay-per-view coming our way! Smarks Anonymous is back with our preview and predictions for the big event!

UFC Heavyweight Championship

BROCK LESNAR (c) vs CAIN VELASQUEZ

The reigning, defending UFC Heavyweight Champion, Brock Lesnar might be facing his most demanding title defense in undefeated Knockout-Artist, Cain Velasquez. There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind -- probably even Brock’s -- that if Brock chooses to try to stand and exchange with Velasquez, he’ll most likely be put to sleep inside the first round. While I’m sure he’s been working on his stand-up game, it would be a surprise to me if he came into this fight with the tools to knock Velasquez out, outside a fluke-type counter punch. Please don’t misunderstand, I’m not saying there’s no chance Brock can knock Cain out, but it will MOST LIKELY not be due to superior striking skill.

Macho Man to Return to WWE?

Rumours have been circulating this month that The Macho Man, Randy Savage will not only be returning to the WWE to be the guest host of RAW on November 15, but has also signed a contract with the company, similar to that of Bret Hart, who returned at the beginning of this year. While Savage might not have left the WWE under such controversial circumstances as The Hitman, his absence has been three years longer and it will be wonderful to see the Macho Man at least one more time here in 2010.

As for the rumours that he's signed even a short-term contract with WWE, they are as of this entry, unfounded. I wouldn't hold my breath on that, to be honest as the WWE already has Hart kicking around as the old guy for nostalgia purposes.

The great news about Savage's return to WWE would be that he would most likely be taking his rightful place in the Hall of Fame this year at WrestleMania. Clearly whatever bad blood there was between McMahon and Savage is under the bridge, and the two are able to have a semi-working relationship. It will be nice to see Macho Man inducted into the HOF, if that is indeed what's going to happen.

I'm looking forward to hearing the classic, "OOOOOOOH YEAHHH!!!" live on Monday Night Raw, come November 15!

Wrestlespective's Weekly Power Poll

Power Poll No. 19 10/13/10

1. Wade Barrett (Last week: 3)

2. The Miz (7)

3. Randy Orton (1)

4. Kane (2)

5. Jeff Hardy (NR)

6. John Cena (4)

7. C.M. Punk (NR)

8. Sheamus (8)

9. Edge (6)

10. Rey Mysterio (NR)

Dropped out: Daniel Bryan, The Undertaker, Alberto Del Rio

MY OFFICIAL BALLOT

1. The Miz

Wade Barrett might be getting to boss around John Cena, but you as well as I do that when this whole Nexus thing is over, it'll be Barretts shoulders on the mat and Cena standing above him the triumphant Superman the WWE markets him as. The Miz got the victory in this match and became the captain for Team Raw at Bragging Rights. To me, that's worth number one.

UFC 120: Preview and Predictions

Before the summer of 2008, I was never really into the whole MMA thing. I thought it was a bunch of idiots going out there to physically hurt one another. I figured it was a sport for meathead pricks who had no respect for their opponent, and was looking to tear their arm out of its socket. I thought the ground game was a bunch of boring horse crap and that the small gloves were just begging to have someone die in the cage.

I can't even believe how wrong I was.

There was nothing else on TV when I decided to throw on an episode of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Forrest vs Team Rampage, and was pretty much hooked. But it wasn't until I bought UFC 86 which featured a Light Heavyweight Championship match between TUF coaches, Forrest Griffin and Rampage Jackson. What ensued was not only one of the greatest fights of the entire year, but it was the moment that I was absolutely, positively and irreversibly HOOKED on the entire world of mixed martial arts.

As Seen on TV: TNA's Terrible Booking, Swagger & Kingston Get Each Other Overs

Originally posted September 26, 2010 for Wrestlespective

In this week's As Seen on TV, I take a look at an Impact filled with nonsense and a Smackdown where two young stars stole the show.

As Seen on TV: Punk and Undertaker stay competitive, high-flying ROH, Cena and Orton get the tables

Originally posted September 14, 2010 for Wrestlespective

The Undertaker v. CM Punk
Singles Match
Friday Night Smackdown!

When this match was first announced at the onset of the show, I thought for sure it was going to be a red herring and that it wasn’t going to happen. Obviously, when it became apparent that it WAS actually going to happen, I couldn’t have been happier. The Undertaker is still more than capable than having the best match on the show, despite his inclining age and battered, broken knees. And CM Punk is hands-down the future of the business. The guy consistently cuts the best promos, can deliver a decent to great match with just about anyone inside the ring and doesn’t appear to have any qualms about putting guys over.

The story of this match was quite simple: Undertaker continues to be weakened after the attack from his brother Kane that left him in a vegetative for quite some time. And CM Punk was looking to pick up the pieces of the broken Deadman and take the momentum into Night of Champions for his match with Big Show.

On several occasions, CM Punk looked to be taking the Deadman to pieces. Of course, Taker sold his ‘weakness’ with a ton of sympathy. There were flashes of brilliance in the Deadman, but the tide would quickly turn and the Second City Saint would be there to capitalize. Undertaker swept Punks arm and then took to the top rope for Old School, but lost his balance (I do believe this was NOT a legit fumble, but more selling from a seasoned veteran), crotching himself.

For the finish, CM Punk even was able to connect with the Go To Sleep. Undertaker then channeled his inner Anderson Silva and threw up a hail mary pass, locking in the Hell’s Gate for the submission finish. This match did very, very well to keep both men strong going into NOC. The Undertaker was always going over in this match, as he is the World title contender. But I was impressed to see just how big of a rub they gave to CM Punk.

It was nice to see the WWE not burying viable young talent for once.

*coughEVANBOURNEcough*

Glory By Honor IX Review

Originally posted September 12, 2010 for Wrestlespective

Right off the bat, I want to say that this ROH pay-per-view further reinforced my opinion that the WWE needs to go back to a limited amount of PPVs every year. There was something special about Glory By Honor tonight that came from the fact that it had been a little while since we’d seen their last “big show.” They’ve had time to properly build the feuds involved, every angle came in hot and even the “special attraction” match was given a ton of time on air to promote it without it feeling like overkill (like every time we see a damn trailer for Legendary on WWE programming!)