Good afternoon everyone.  I thought it was time to write another blog as job searching tends to get rather boring especially with a now stagnant market and fancied doing something a bit more fun and much less depressing.  I'd like to take the time to wish everyone across the pond a happy thanksgiving.  We don't celebrate it over here even though the Pilgrims actually set off from my home town of Southampton, and not Plymouth to contrary belief, for the grand USA.  Hopefully I'll be back in your country soon enough!  So, happy thanksgiving everyone.  Enjoy the tukey and the football, which is always a great combination.

So we have just had the latest WWE PPV which has warranted some mixed reviews from a lot of people.  Whilst in my personal opinion it was a solid PPV it definitely was not as good as PPVs have been this year.  But lets remember that 2008 has been an excellent year for PPVs and I'm sure the last PPV of the year Armageddon will be back to previous form.  So here's a quick review of SS2008:

Team HBK v Team JBL-great opening elimination match with some great wrestling and some cool spots.  Probably the best match of the evening.

Team RAW v Team SD-typical divas match which was better than expected.  Still not great though due to the missed spots.

Undertaker v Big Show-not the best match from these two.  Taker is a legend but we all know that when working with hosses he does not excel at all.  We all have our shortcomings and this is Taker's.

Team Batista v Team Orton-a pretty good match.  Wasn't so keen about Batista plowing through Orton's team at one point but Orton winning was the right result.  It furthers his relationship with Cody Rhodes and the rumoured future stable.

HHH v Kozlov v Edge-this was an ok match but by no means the standard which we have seen from HHH matches.  Kozlov suffered from nerves during it and you could tell which wasn't his fault.  He should have had more experience dealing with big matches before inserted in a championship match.  It should never have been his PPV debut.  It exposed Kozlov's weaknesses which he will now improve on before entering such a big programme again.  The crowd chanting boring certainly didn't help.  Whilst the crowd are obviously entitled to chant what they want, there was no need to take their frustrations about Hardy no being in the match on HHH and Koslov.  I know mat wrestling isn't enjoyable to a lot of people but it was a shame that the crowd crapped on the match as much as they did.  The Edge surprise was a huge shock and really got the crowd pumped.

Jericho v Cena-again it was an ok match but Jericho suffered from the same problem as HHH here because we are not used to seeing anything but a high standard from the two.  Cena had a little bit of ring rust and after some pummeling by Jericho, then back and forth action Cena won the belt.  Just a question though.  Why has the internet forums criticised Cena for winning the belt on his first match back but Edge does the exact same thing and its awesome?

RAW the next night and the highlight is THE SLAMMYS ARE COMING BACK!!!!!!!!!!  I know some people have ridiculed it but come on, its always good fun and is going to a nice, less serious way of ending 2008.  My favourite memory of the Slammys is Owen Hart 'winning' his second Slammy in 1997.  It is forever etched in my memory of the late, great Owen Hart.  I can't believe next year is the 10th anniversary of his death-time sure does fly doesn't it?

Also who thinks Cena's new shirt looks like HLA?  I know its meant to say HLR but it really does.  Again the shirt has been criticised as it ripped off the AWA logo which has been controversial to say the least.  I'm a massive fan of old school, territory wrestling but it hasn't defamed the legacy of AWA at all.  Plus, no one moaned when they did the same thing to the old WWF logo.  Put it this way, I am not a Cena fan.  I have an enormous respect for the man and how hard he works, but he is pushed too hard and too in your face for my liking.  I was never a fan of the white meat, cookie cutter, eat your vitamins and drink your milk babyface.  Which is why I always prefered Flair to Hogan.  But he brings in enormous business for the WWE which is paramount in these hard economic times.  Look how many people are decked out in Cena shirts at the arena.  When I was last at a WWE event everyone was wearing Cena or DX shirts.  Randy Orton has proven to be very popular recently.  As Jim Ross said people respond to an anti-hero and Orton has been saying what is on the fans minds about the state of the WWE.

Time for me to get back to the frustrating job hunt.  Again happy thanksgiving to you all!

Soph x

Hello guys and girls and I trust everyone is well, or as well as they can be in a time where interest rates have been slashed and unemployment is at its highest since 1994 and is steadily increasing.  Good times.  But there is hope!  On Wednesday morning at approximately 4am in the morning UK time this blogger squealed in delight as Barack Obama was confirmed as the next US President.  Can you smell that hope in the air?  The highest voter turnout since 1960, the first time in 40 years that Virginia went blue, the first Senator to win since Kennedy and the first African American to be voted into office is a monumental feat only 44 years after the Civil Rights Act was passed, it truly was a wonderful moment.  OK so Obama is not my President althought if he wants to swap with Gordon Brown please be my guest.  But there is no denying the inexplicable links the UK has with the US.  As the old saying goes America sneezes, Britain catches a cold.  Don't ask me who said it, it was one my old politics teacher told me.

Another old saying is 'It's the economy stupid' and I'm certainly feeling the pinch.  Having spent years in education notching up some impressive qualifications as the moment they are not helping this blogger out.  Unfortunately companies don't want to train up fresh graduates which is a bit of a bummer but perserverance and resilience my dear friend.  I was offerred a job in London though with the 'liveable' salary of £10,000 however but at 10k I feel I will be in more debt than previous, especially with those student loans to pay off.  So the job hunt continues and I hope to have attained one by the time the next quarter comes around in which the dreaded R word will be confirmed.  You know I really hate knowing about this stuff.  Maybe JBL could give me some get rich quick tips?

But with all this strife and woe at least I have my wrestling to take my mind off it for a few hours a week which is lovely.  Nothing like grown men solving their problems with violence to take your mind off things is what I say.  Of course the WWE have been feeling the pinch of the economy as well so I'm not alone.  In the quarterly finance report Linda McMahon announced that profits have dropped signifcantly this quarter, attendances are down, PPV buyrates are down and this is no surprise whatsoever.  Times are tough and people are spending less and I will admit I haven't bought any PPVs in the last couple months as I can't afford it.

The three hour RAW was very entertaining and I enjoyed it thoroughly.  Whilst some complained about DX winning against the In Crowd I personally thought it was brilliantly done.  Morrison's effortless Superkick against HHH was fantastic.  I was as shocked as anyone and HHH was knocked out.  It proved that Morrison and the Miz had the match won cleanly and it was their egos and showboating that cost them the match.  It did more for them than a cheap heel win in my personal opinion.  Also are we seeing a sibling rivalry feud from Shane and Steph?  Say what you will about the McMahon's they are entertaining and I would like to see them back on TV.  There is rumours that Steph will be turning heel and if this does happen the question of whether she will reunite with HHH on TV is one that will want to be answered.  However the ratings over the past couple of months have proved that the product needs an overhaul and something new and exciting.  I still absolutly love it but even I will admit that it isn't 'unmissable' anymore and something does need to be done as it has arguably gotten 'stale'.  I think it is safe to say that Smackdown has surpassed RAW in terms of quality although I could do without the frequent DQ and cheap endings.  Smackdown has managed to get almost the same ratings it did on CW which is quite a feat on a ridiculously small network that I know a lot of people don't get.  One of the nicer things about living in the UK and having it on Sky Sports, no change of networks, hurrah.

What about the latest wrestling 'news' huh?  Supposedly leaked memos, Superstars being called entertainers, MVP's lack of push because of a flippant comment, rampant pot use etc.  You do have to love some of the ridiculous stories on 'news' websites.  In the end of the day these 'backstage' scoops come down to people believing them or not believing them.  Personally none of us work for the WWE, how the hell do we know what goes on backstage and why in the end of the day does it matter.    

Next weeks RAW/SD/ECW emanates from my little wonderful country.  I'm sure that people will be keeping an extra eye this week on the newz websites to see what incidents the wrestlers get up too next week.  There is always one on the UK tours! Unfortunately I'm not going as all the dates are too far for me to get too which is why I have bought tickets for all the tapings in London in April.  The SD taping will be a great way to spend my 23rd birthday in which I pray the Khali segment will have ended as I'm eight rows from the front.

So here is my $0.02 for the day.  Feel free to comment/insult/send job offers too!

Soph x

Wow, I go away for a while and when I come back we have a funky new name change and logo.  Awesome.  Sorry I have been away for so long and I trust everyone is well.  Got my thesis handed in and I shall know in one month whether I have passed my Masters or not so cross fingers, toes, whatever you have for me.  So now begins the job hunt which has been, lets say, less than successful.  Seems that no one wants to hire me at the moment which kinda sucks but hey, what's a girl to do.  So my hours have been spent perusing job websites seeing the dullest jobs on offer as 'sales executives' and 'recruitment consultants', which I must admit doesn't exactly fill me with enthusiasm.  Plus, really, do I look like I would make a very good sales person trying to sell snow to an eskimo?  So I'm toying with the idea of doing the NCTJ which requires some serious raising of monentary resources.  So guys, anyone think I would make a good journo?  Or if anyone has an exciting job that they would like to offer me that would satisfy my creative juices, please feel free to throw it my way.

But during my absence my love for everything WWE certainly has not fawned.  Whilst myself and my fellow postgraduates have gone our seperate paths of life, I still have weekly conversations with my fellow wrestling nut about the latest goings on in the world of wrestling.  Although watching RAW this week with my mum for the first time since I was 16 was an experience.  'Wow, is that Shawn Michaels?  My goodness he's aged'.  And 'when did William Regal grow his hair?  He looks younger'.  It certainly was an entertaining episode of RAW and enjoyed the wrestling.  However, despite my love of the Dirt Sheet the arguing over the diva match was funny at first, then got really annoying.  But other than that no complaints whatsoever.  Oh and don't special guest commentators usually commentate?  Randy just kinda sat there and didn't say a word.  I'm lreally ooking forward to SmackDown tonight and looks like to be another great show.  And the current booking of the WWE title scene at the moment on Smackdown is how a title scene should be booked.  Multiple main eventers striving for the ultimate prize, it certainly makes the belt feel special even if it does look like a toy.  Haven't had the oppotunity to see ECW yet as its been saved on my Sky Plus but from what I can see is another great show.

So I presume you guys all saw No Mercy?  Worth buying the replay for the two title matches alone.  Now they were simply brilliant.  HHH v Hardy was beautiful, old school wrestling at its finest.  Their in ring styles are different but by god it worked.  No gimmicks, no interuptions, no DQs, nothing.  Just two guys and a wrestling ring that kept the crowd enthralled with back and forth offense.  Jeff's time will come and he certainly proved he can cut it with the big boys.  Just avoid the booze before you board a plane for the forseeable future Jeff.  And HHH is quite simply one of the greats.  A man who has had so many great matches it would take an enternity to view them all.  The ladder match was always going to be every shade of awesome and you just didn't know who was going to win.  The crowd was pumped, enthralled, and emotionally involved.  It was a sight to see.

2008 has certainly been a great time to be a wrestling fan.  Being a fan of old school wrestling I'm glad that the focus has returned to the wrestling.  Dont get me wrong I enjoy gimmick matches but prefer them when they are a special attraction.  But lets get some more blood in them next time.  As a an it takes something away from a match that is meant to be brutal yet no man bleeds.  A little bit of reality here fellas.  

I'm off to the shows when they hit London next April which I am very excited about.  Going to both RAW and Smackdown this year which cost me a fair bob but should be great.  Had so much fun last time we just had to do it again.  Oh and the Smackdown taping is on my birthday so anyone wants to buy me a drink you are more than welcome!  I'm eight rows from the front guys, look out for me!

So Cyber Sunday in a few weeks and its on Sky Sports, yay!  I know a lot of people don't like it but I find it an enjoyable PPV.  Although I can't actually vote this year as I'm from the UK which is unfortunate, but I'm sure the votes that the Americans have cast, at 99c a pop, will produce enjoyable results.  Although I want to see Honky Tonk Man win just to see the reaction of Jerry Lawler.  I know, I'm mean.  Although at least it means by being unable to vote that I won't be tempted to vote for things that cost me money that I am severely lacking.  Seriously, the UK government bals out the banks in a £400 billion bailout yet they can't put a little bit of that to my growing overdraft.  So now will we see Alan Sugar doing a JBL promo thanking the government for letting him and his rich buddies keep their apartments overlooking the Thames in Docklands, hmm?

Right I guess I need to hit the job hunt again.  Hope all you guys are well and that you have a great weekend.  And WWE, you got any jobs going for enthusiastic, a bit mad, wrestling nerd graduates drop me a line!

Soph xx

Good afternoon everyone, I trust you all are well.  I need to apologise to each and every one of you.  My reviews for the shows have been lacking for the last couple of weeks.  But I have an excuse!  It looks like I may have been wrong in thinking that writing a 20,000 thesis in the space of three months was going to be plenty of time.  So August comes and I have orders from my supervisor beckoning a 3000 word chapter due in a week.  So obviously I had to spend all my time doing that.  Now I need to have 10,000 words written by the end of August which of course is going to be a feat.  And a 9am meeting to discuss all this on the 1st September.  And of course multiple viewings of Schindler's List and The Pianist doesn't leave you feeling in the best of moods lets just say.

I hope you all understand and in the next coming weeks I wont be able to post blogs.  I will certainly try of course but I cant promise anything so I apolgise again.  Whilst I am here however I shall offer some thoughts on tonight's Summerslam. 

I am dismayed how both title matches aren't the main events and recently there has been no emphasis on them.  RAW see's CM Punk pushed to the side to make room for the big boys Batista and Cena and also on SD which is firmly the Edge show.  I'd like to see more importance on the titles after this PPV.  The match that will steal the show is undoubtedly Edge v Undertaker.  I cant see any Foleyesque bumps but it will still be an awesome match.  MVP v Hardy should be a great match.  Winner take all will be a fun match to watch alone for Santino.  But I dont like the way after the one sided feud against the Burchill's they have just suddenly dissapeared to make room for Glameralla.  Batista v Cena I am not expecting too much from.  I dont mind either guy but truth be told they both need good workers to be in good matches and can see this match struggling despite the improvement both guys have made over the years.  ECW match should be short and sweet.  Henry has been a fantastic champion for ECW and cant see him losing, even against the popular Hardy.  As I said before both title matches are lacklustre.  Khali looks so lost out there and it remains to be seen if even HHH can get a good match out of Khali.  Punk has been booked as a fluke champion and cant see this match being more than kicks and punches. 

I'll definitely be watching Summerslam as I think this PPV will be better than a lof of people expect it to be.  Thank you very much guys, I need to get back to thesis writing!

Catch you later

Soph x 

Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of Sophs RAW Review.  Sorry about missing last week but if you read my SD Summation you'll understand why. But I'm back and ready for another fun filled installment.  I apologise in advance for any typos I make.  I have just drank half a bottle of wine.  Well what did you expect?  With Mike Adamle as the new RAW GM I needed it.  Anyways onwards and upwards shall we?

RAW was certainly an interesting show.  We had a new GM, an appearance by Shane O Mac.  JR back on commentary.  Mike Adamle on commentary.  Michael Cole beaten up (dont all cheer at once).  All in all a weird but fun filled show!

The show started off with a quite frankly awful promo between Cena and Batista.  Both guys stammered with their words and were obviously unconfortable.  Cena got a very, ahem, mixed reaction when he came out whereas the hometown boy Batista got a huge pop.  They argued about title shots or something, too be honest the promo was that bad I wasn't paying attention.  Cena had a new soccer style shirt that kids all over the globe will be buying.  After a little bit of unfriendly banter Shane O Mac came onto the stage.  Yes, he still does the dance.  He said that Punk will be facing one of the hottest free agents around which I guessed straight away was Regal.  Here's a question.  Hottest free agent?  Does that mean that Regal wont stay on RAW?  Shane then booked Cena/Batista v JBL/Kane for the main event.

Santino Marella/Beth Phoenix v Kelly Kelly/D Lo Brown:  A very short match here with Beth lifting up D Lo when Santino couldn't, and Santino pinning Kelly for the win.  It ended up with a passionate lip lock between the 'strictly professional' Beth and Santino with Santino letting out a Carlton Banks esque scream.  It was hillarious!

A Generation Rescue promo aired and Shane was backstage.  JBL tried to convince him to giving him a title match at SS when his phone rang.  Apparently Shane has his own entrance music as a ringtone.  Awesome!  Shane told him it was the new GM and JBL looked annoyed.

Jerry Lawler and Jim Duggan were announced to take on the tag team champs Priceless Inc.  But this was changed when Duggan was replaced by, um, Michael Cole.  Yes Michael Cole.  The crowd went wild.  I was happy.  So we inevitably had no commentary.  People complained.  Well if you see a live event there is no commentary.  Its really good fun!

Priceless Inc v Lawler/Cole:  Again very short match with the youngsters getting the better of Lawler and Cole.  Cole accidently tagged in when checking on Jerry and ended up getting laid out by a Cody clothesline.

The trainers checked on Cole and we had a new commentator.  Mike Adamle.  Sweet Mary and Joesph have mercy.  Adamle.  Live TV.  Help me!  Mike said that he recieved a call earlier in the week which I'm not sure is possible when its only Monday.  King sat down like nothing had happened.  So we had a brief promo from Jamie Noble with his valet Layla demmanding to take on Kofi, or Coffee as he called him.  I think Jamie was watched The Green Mile this weekend. 

Noble v Kofi: A Noble squash here with Kofi picking up the win with the Trouble in Paradise.

CM Punk vs William Regal:  So the hottest free agent is Regal eh?  Wonder if he'll stay on RAW. I would personally love it if he came to SD.  Put the hammer down and come to SD Regal.  This is where the talented people are.  This was a great match and Regal completely owned Punk. It was stiff, it was hard and the half Nelson suplex was phenomenal.  It got bloody, and despite Regal's ring gear, Regal looked excellent.  We missed you William, dont go away again!  However Punk hit the GTS out of no where for the win.  Afterward JBL and Kane came to the ring and laid Punk out.  So much for being the strong champ. 

Next up we had the last eve Highlight Reel.  Jericho looked mighty spiffy with his suit with Lance Cade.  Another gem of a promo by Jericho.  It was honest, it was brutal.  It was fantastic.  Jericho said how he matured and gone were the days of him being a comedian.  He then aired clips of him back from the early noughties, most of them insulting Stephanie McMahon.  Hey Steph, congrats on the new baby.  Here's clips of Jericho insulting you.  Oh, and those who dont know Stephanie gave birth to her second daughter yesterday so a big congrats go out to Steph and Triple H.  The girl was named Murphy Claire Levesque, which is um, an interesting name.  Anyway after the clips Jericho said that he had matured and Cade then thanked Chris for saving him.  Great, great promo.

JR came down to ringside, yay, and began to commentate showing Adamle how its really done.  Its great seeing him back for the one off but I actually dont want him to leave SD.  Him and Foley are just fantastic. 

Mickie v Jillian: Again a short match but I dont understand why they are making Mickie seem invincible, it isn't very convincing.  Jillian jobbed again despite her talents for the Mickie win. She then celebrated with her father until Katie Lea attacked from behind, doing the briliantly heelish act of blowing a kiss to Mickie's dad.  Her and Paul then came up the ramp to establish themeselves as future IC and womens contenders.

We then had a Smackdown Rebound.  Huh?  Its about time.  I'm personally so glad that the two shows are being treated equally.  Obviously RAW will have the edge because of its timeslot and the live factor but its a great sign.

Backstage Todd Grisham was seen sucking up to Shane and asking who the manager is.  Rumour has it that Todd is the new commentator is ECW.  Tune in tonight to find out.  Todd isn't bad.  His stuff for MLS is very good. 

We had a Generation Rescue promo aired again.  Note to the Americans reading this.  Please keep Piers Morgan there.  We really dont want him back here.  Pretty please?

Backstage Cryme Tyme were talking with Cena which firmly established themselves as a unit.  Soon Batista showed up and the two dont trust each other.  Oooooh.

Batista/Cena v JBL/Kane: A 12 mins match that was very back and forth.  First the faces had the momentum.  Then the heels.  The heels continued to work on Batista until he could make the tag to Cena.  Who cleared the ring and got the pin on Kane in around 30 secs.  I'm not sure why they couldn't have Batista do this in his home town.  It seems that they were too focused on getting Cena cheers which failed miserably.  After all this Shane came back on to introduce the new GM.  Mike Adamle.  You are kidding me right?  I guess this is a way of getting him off play by play commentary.  This could be great or a monumental disaster.  Us fans are quick to judge so lets see how this turns out.  It could work out for the best, you never know.  Give it a few weeks.  Remember all the furore that was caused when JR was moved to SD.  A few weeks later everyone was loving it.  Give it a chance.

So overall a very interesting show.  Lots of surpises and a new GM.  I enjoyed it and enoyed the surprise at the end, no matter what your opinion was no one expected it.  Thanks again for reading and see you all on Sat for the Smackdown Summation!

Catch you later

Soph x