Welcome to the 3rd edition of Thunder's Take! Vengeance 2011 is almost here and we've had a solid two weeks of action to build up to the show. I know a lot of people have been unhappy with RAW as of late, but I personally feel the card for Vengeance has molded quite nicely and part of that is due, like it or not, to the storylines from RAW. I only picked two outcomes correct from Hell in a Cell, so let's see how things go for our second pay per view in October.
Sheamus vs Christian: Didn't Sheamus just get a win over Christian at HIAC? If this match is anything like their last, it will be good quality for a non-championship match. I look for Christian to find a way to steal this one. Perhaps he'll get some help from the superstars he's been seen with on tv lately? I don't think this will do anything to hurt Sheamus' potential run at the WHC, because I read somewhere WWE is considering a WHC six pack challenge for the Survivor Series. These two will both most likely be involved in that match and the winner on Sunday will be somewhat meaningless. Official predicted winner: Christian
Dolph Zigger and Jack Swagger taking on Air Boom for the Tag Team Championship. I don't even want to mention the V word when it comes to this match. I'm sure she'll have some sort of involvement and be terrible annoying per the usual. Air Boom has been a fun tag team to watch and I really wish WWE would do their part and bring in more tag teams to compete with them. I don't see ZigSwag winning the titles this time around, but I'm certain this won't be the last time these teams face off. Official prediction: Air Boom retains the gold.
Zack Ryder vs Dolph Ziggler for the US Title: I've already said a lot about Zack Ryder if you've read some of my past stuff. The saddest part about Ryder deserving the US Title is that most fans haven't had a chance to see what Ryder can really do in the ring. His most recent push has had him barely wrestling in matches, but getting over with the fans as an underdog. Ziggler has been a great champion and is definitely improving on the mic, but I see Ziggler heading for the main event scene in 2012. I know that Zack Ryder will win the US Title before the year is over, but I'm not sure that it's going to happen just yet at Vengeance. I think Ziggler and Ryder need to have a couple more matches before they give Ryder the belt. Official prediction: Ziggler retains the title in an entertaining match with some outside help.
Eve challenges Beth Phoenix for the Divas Championship: A change of pace with Kelly Kelly not in this match, though you can bet she'll be involved. I'd like to be clever and predict a jealous KK costing Eve the match, but I don't know if WWE cares enough about the Divas division to spend time on a legit storyline. This should be another five to ten minute match that ends in some sort of submission. Official prediction: Beth Phoenix defeats Eve and retains her Divas Title.
Cody Rhodes vs Randy Orton: Nothing about the Intercontinental Title has been mentioned for this match. These two have the potential to put on the match of the night. I love where things are going for Cody Rhodes and I expect him to be in the World Title picture sooner rather than later. Orton has accomplished almost everything one can accomplish in WWE. I look for this feud to be a major stepping stone for Rhode's career and I expect him and Orton to main event several pay per views in the future. For this match, I'm officially predicting Cody Rhodes to find a way to get the victory. Originally I wanted to pick Orton to win this match, but it just does nothing to put the former World Champion in a match with the IC Champion and then defeat him.
Big Show challenging Mark Henry for the World Heavyweight Championship: What is there to say about these two giants going at it? Didn't they just have a match at Money in the Bank? As I recall, Henry came out the winner in that one as well. Now, I know Show has come back on a role and the name of the Show is Vengeance, but I'm expecting Henry's dominance to continue and for him to retain the title. I'm also predicting that Kane will make his return after the match and save Big Show from another busted ankle. Official pick: World's Strongest Man continues his streak and defeats the Big Show.
WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio defends his title against John Cena in a Last Man Standing Match: Let's face the facts here. Fact: The WWE Title has changed hands a lot this year. Fact: John Cena is closing in on Ric Flair's World Championship record(yeah you can argue that times have changed and it's a different era, but it's a record no matter how you look at it). Fact: John Cena's feud with the Rock is supposed to get kicked into high gear heading towards Survivor Series and it would make very little sense for Cena to be the champion during all this. But, going against the logic and facts, I've seen Cena in Last Man Standing matches, and I won't pick against him. I'm basing this off WWE's way of handling Cena matches. He just doesn't lose important ones like this(with the exception of the tables match with Sheamus long ago, and that may have been a messed up finish). The only way Cena loses this match is with Del Rio getting help from someone else. Wasn't Brodus Clay the bodyguard for Del Rio before he got hurt? What about a surprise appearance from the Rock? It's all speculation, however. Unless Cena is cheated out of his opportunity, I predict that he defeats Del Rio and becomes a 13 time Heavyweight Champion.
What should be the main event of the night features the team of CM Punk and Triple H taking on the Awesome Truth(I like the phrase and don't care if it never becomes official). I'm saying that this match will be the best of the night because it features the most talented and entertaining superstars in the company. Yeah, Hunter is older now, but he proved at NOC that he can still carry a good match. Truth and Miz are great wrestlers and know how to work a crowd. We also know that the push for CM Punk as the elite No. 1 in the WWE in just on the horizon. I like Triple H and Punk to win this match, but I look for either Kevin Nash to return and attack them as the show ends, or I look for Miz and Truth to beat both guys down like they've done in the past. Either way, this will be a good, if not great, tag team match for the pay per view.
So, I've only predicted one title to change hands at Vengeance. It may not even be that much. I also think we'll see enough John Laurinaitis on this show to make us all sick to our stomachs. I wonder what the over/under is on how many matches he involves himself in during this ppv. Hopefully he doesn't stick around in the storylines for too long. Feel free to leave your thoughts and predictions below, and feel free to visit my Facebook page during the show for interactive chat throughout the evening. Until Survivor Series, this has been Thunder's take.
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Sheamus vs Christian: Didn't Sheamus just get a win over Christian at HIAC? If this match is anything like their last, it will be good quality for a non-championship match. I look for Christian to find a way to steal this one. Perhaps he'll get some help from the superstars he's been seen with on tv lately? I don't think this will do anything to hurt Sheamus' potential run at the WHC, because I read somewhere WWE is considering a WHC six pack challenge for the Survivor Series. These two will both most likely be involved in that match and the winner on Sunday will be somewhat meaningless. Official predicted winner: Christian
Dolph Zigger and Jack Swagger taking on Air Boom for the Tag Team Championship. I don't even want to mention the V word when it comes to this match. I'm sure she'll have some sort of involvement and be terrible annoying per the usual. Air Boom has been a fun tag team to watch and I really wish WWE would do their part and bring in more tag teams to compete with them. I don't see ZigSwag winning the titles this time around, but I'm certain this won't be the last time these teams face off. Official prediction: Air Boom retains the gold.
Zack Ryder vs Dolph Ziggler for the US Title: I've already said a lot about Zack Ryder if you've read some of my past stuff. The saddest part about Ryder deserving the US Title is that most fans haven't had a chance to see what Ryder can really do in the ring. His most recent push has had him barely wrestling in matches, but getting over with the fans as an underdog. Ziggler has been a great champion and is definitely improving on the mic, but I see Ziggler heading for the main event scene in 2012. I know that Zack Ryder will win the US Title before the year is over, but I'm not sure that it's going to happen just yet at Vengeance. I think Ziggler and Ryder need to have a couple more matches before they give Ryder the belt. Official prediction: Ziggler retains the title in an entertaining match with some outside help.
Eve challenges Beth Phoenix for the Divas Championship: A change of pace with Kelly Kelly not in this match, though you can bet she'll be involved. I'd like to be clever and predict a jealous KK costing Eve the match, but I don't know if WWE cares enough about the Divas division to spend time on a legit storyline. This should be another five to ten minute match that ends in some sort of submission. Official prediction: Beth Phoenix defeats Eve and retains her Divas Title.
Cody Rhodes vs Randy Orton: Nothing about the Intercontinental Title has been mentioned for this match. These two have the potential to put on the match of the night. I love where things are going for Cody Rhodes and I expect him to be in the World Title picture sooner rather than later. Orton has accomplished almost everything one can accomplish in WWE. I look for this feud to be a major stepping stone for Rhode's career and I expect him and Orton to main event several pay per views in the future. For this match, I'm officially predicting Cody Rhodes to find a way to get the victory. Originally I wanted to pick Orton to win this match, but it just does nothing to put the former World Champion in a match with the IC Champion and then defeat him.
Big Show challenging Mark Henry for the World Heavyweight Championship: What is there to say about these two giants going at it? Didn't they just have a match at Money in the Bank? As I recall, Henry came out the winner in that one as well. Now, I know Show has come back on a role and the name of the Show is Vengeance, but I'm expecting Henry's dominance to continue and for him to retain the title. I'm also predicting that Kane will make his return after the match and save Big Show from another busted ankle. Official pick: World's Strongest Man continues his streak and defeats the Big Show.
WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio defends his title against John Cena in a Last Man Standing Match: Let's face the facts here. Fact: The WWE Title has changed hands a lot this year. Fact: John Cena is closing in on Ric Flair's World Championship record(yeah you can argue that times have changed and it's a different era, but it's a record no matter how you look at it). Fact: John Cena's feud with the Rock is supposed to get kicked into high gear heading towards Survivor Series and it would make very little sense for Cena to be the champion during all this. But, going against the logic and facts, I've seen Cena in Last Man Standing matches, and I won't pick against him. I'm basing this off WWE's way of handling Cena matches. He just doesn't lose important ones like this(with the exception of the tables match with Sheamus long ago, and that may have been a messed up finish). The only way Cena loses this match is with Del Rio getting help from someone else. Wasn't Brodus Clay the bodyguard for Del Rio before he got hurt? What about a surprise appearance from the Rock? It's all speculation, however. Unless Cena is cheated out of his opportunity, I predict that he defeats Del Rio and becomes a 13 time Heavyweight Champion.
What should be the main event of the night features the team of CM Punk and Triple H taking on the Awesome Truth(I like the phrase and don't care if it never becomes official). I'm saying that this match will be the best of the night because it features the most talented and entertaining superstars in the company. Yeah, Hunter is older now, but he proved at NOC that he can still carry a good match. Truth and Miz are great wrestlers and know how to work a crowd. We also know that the push for CM Punk as the elite No. 1 in the WWE in just on the horizon. I like Triple H and Punk to win this match, but I look for either Kevin Nash to return and attack them as the show ends, or I look for Miz and Truth to beat both guys down like they've done in the past. Either way, this will be a good, if not great, tag team match for the pay per view.
So, I've only predicted one title to change hands at Vengeance. It may not even be that much. I also think we'll see enough John Laurinaitis on this show to make us all sick to our stomachs. I wonder what the over/under is on how many matches he involves himself in during this ppv. Hopefully he doesn't stick around in the storylines for too long. Feel free to leave your thoughts and predictions below, and feel free to visit my Facebook page during the show for interactive chat throughout the evening. Until Survivor Series, this has been Thunder's take.
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email joethunder06@Hotmail.com