Monday, June 28, 2010

The Swerved Presents: Dream Match the 93rd


Fatal 4-Way Match
Rey Mysterio vs. Mario vs. Luigi vs. Princess Toadstool


Do the Mysterio
Win every match from feud to feud
Come on — adjust your mask
Do the Mysterio

Take one leap
Break a face accidentally
Let's do the Mysterio
While avoiding knee injuries

You've suspended people's disbelief
It's the Mysterio

Do the Mysterio
Give children hoods to hide their faces
Come on — invade their personal space
Do the Mysterio

Take one jump
The hydraulics are faulty
Let's do the Mysterio
Technical ramp difficulties

Come on now
Just like that


The Question:
Who wins and how?


*****

NEXT WEEK

I agree with WWE. Only nerds use the Internet. Now, follow what these cool WWE guys do as they use the Internet.

AND

Dreams burn, but in ashes of gold.

GMail


The new RAW General Manager is a mystery, a authority figure that no one sees. Who could it be? So far, I have narrowed him or her down to anyone in World Wrestling Entertainment who knows how to use an e-mail account and is willing to have maintain close communication with Michael Cole. In other words, I have narrowed the GM’s identity down to three people. In my quest to determine the man or woman behind the e-mail address, I manage to accidentally stumble upon a series of messages that Michael did not read on the air. Thanks, Fisher Price Hacking Playset. I could not do this without you.

According to law, I have been told that my actions are less than legal. Well, if caring about WWE's well-being is illegal, throw me jail and keep me there until I roll two dice of the same number or pay fifty dollars in fake, pink money. Monday Night RAW is not a toy. Whoever this RAW General Manager may be, I pray that he or she is doing what is right for the company. After revealing that he was the GM of WWF RAW and WWE RAW, I do not need another Bret-Hart-like situation. He was controlling two shows in two companies, yet nothing was done to stop him. I, for one, am glad that his reign of tyranny is over.

The following e-mails serve as a telling window into this mystery GM's soul. Before you continue reading, prepare to be shocked, offended, and invigorated. For some of you, don't be surprised if you end up pregnant with the RAW General Manager's general babies. Surely, his or her words are powerful and sexually potent. If you are currently pregnant with child, do not even bother to read these e-mails because the GM's baby will defeat and replace the one that is already in your womb. To be honest, I'm not sure how that is physical possible, but I learned about the miracle of birth from various children's pop-up books. Don't take my word for it.

Wherever you are, mystery GM, I wish you good luck in your present endeavours. May your decisions send many a shockwave throughout RAW and change the landscape of the wrestling industry forever. To my knowledge, you shall be the first general manager to accomplish these lofty goals for nobody has tried what you're trying before. Early congratulations to you and yours, my no-named friend.


E-mail #1: Learning the Basics

In this e-mail, the RAW General Manager discovers the wonders of sending messages through electronic means. At the same time, Michael Cole makes plan to give the mystery GM limited access to his Facebook account.





E-mail #2: An Excellent Business Opportunity

No more than one week removed from being announced as the new RAW General Manager, the mystery man or woman informs Michael Cole of a sure-fire way to make them big bucks. Once Michael Cole is finished selling knives door to door for a substantial profit, he will be more than happy to join in on this deal.






E-mail #3: Stop Acting Like a Michael Cole, Michael Cole

In this e-mail, RAW's mysterious manager wants Michael Cole to read his messages like a man. As of this writing, Michael Cole is working part-time at an apprenticeship to become a real man. In my opinion, I highly doubt that working part-time will do the trick — unless he wants to be a part-time man.





E-mail #4: Knowing Your Superiors

The RAW General Manager and Vince McMahon are getting closer by the day. Whenever Vince McMahon sees Michael Cole reading an e-mail from the mystery manager, Vince says, "Is that the manager? Did the GM say anything about me?" In turn, the RAW General Manager is very interested in Vince's likes and dislikes and wants to make him a mixtape. Linda is jealous of their blooming relationship.





E-mail #5: Suit and Nothing Else

In the game of life, you either win or lose. In the game of dressing up in a formal manner while employed by WWE, you either win or lose, too. Why? The RAW General Manager does not accept ties. Michael Cole better take notes and start showing some upper chest.





E-mail #6: Take Care of Einstein for Me

Michael Cole and the RAW GM's exciting adventures through time have provided them with many lasting memories. Yet, for every action in time is met with an equal and opposite reaction. They are messing with the time-e-mail-message continuum. They must face the consequences. Their future e-mails are in danger.





E-mail #7: Celebrity Cameos A-Go-Go

World Wrestling Entertainment's decision to continue with the RAW Guest Host idea sits well with the mystery GM. Celebrities condescendingly interacting with wrestling and the wrestling audience has been a staple of the industry for the longest time. Why mess with tradition?





E-mail #8: The Debut

One day, the RAW General Manager shall emerge from the shadows, generally managing from locations with increasingly better light sources. On that day, we shall see his or her face and rejoice. Michael Cole believes he is talking to Batman. I see no reason why Batman is not the RAW General Manager. He has nothing better to do.


Monday, June 21, 2010

Superstars on Super Things: Oatmeal on a Stick


*****

NEXT WEEK

I have an announcement that will trump any Dixie Carter announcement. I'm not giving it away, but it has something to do with disappointment.

AND

What are you? A guy or something?

Wrestling with "Wrestling with Confessions"


Forgive me, Father of Wrestling Confessions, for I have returned. I have not spoken to you in quite a while. I consider myself to be a man of faith, but I do not care for confession booths. Whenever I enter one to tell you my deepest, darkest, wrestling-related secrets, I know what you're doing. I can hear you unwrapping your block of cheese. Don't bother trying to grate that stuff against the screen because I won't be returning the flakes to you. Please grate your fresh parmesan on your own time, Father.

The weight of these secrets have burdened me long enough. Everywhere I go, wrestling fans ask me about my true thoughts and feelings about the industry. While I am more than willing to divulge some of those thoughts and feelings on this site, I am keeping many for a future tell-all book entitled, "Ending Sentences I Began During Conversations with Wrestling Fans." The book will feature nothing but the last few words to incomplete sentences uttered years ago about professional wrestling. Because I don't remember which fan asked me what question, I will simply direct the answer to a detailed, physical description of a person. Based on my excellent, long-term memory, those descriptions are likely contain the phrase "person with human features."

Once you hear these secrets, you may not see me in the same positive light ever again. In your eyes, one secret could make me a saint, while another could turn me into a saintlier saint. In the case of readers who come across these confessions, I hope they do not think less of the real me. Despite my squeaky-clean reputation, I am far from perfect. Now and again, I am bound to make mistakes. For example, imagine my surprise when my weekly javelin practice in the Gulf Coast went awry. My hover yacht, from where I threw my javelins, was moving all over the place.

I urge you, Father of Confessions, to show me how to absolve my sins. Last time, I cleansed myself of wrongdoing by taking a shower in water rather than liquid gold. Although I still felt dirty for taking a regular person's shower, my conscience was clear. As you quietly unwrap your block of cheese on the other side of this confession booth, please work your magic once more.


1) Ever since Carlito's release from World Wrestling Entertainment, I have been inconsolable. In protest, I have gathered a large group of supporters who shall continue to have a slight dislike for apples. Outsiders will say, "Hey, supporters. Do any of you guys want to eat some delicious apples?" In response, we will say, "No, not really. We're tired of hiding from all of these doctors."

2) I know the mystery man behind TNA's "Ace Card" attacks on Shannon Moore and Jesse Neal. Even though Orlando Jordan was the first to use a playing card (The Wild Card) on his opponent, he is not responsible. If you want to know the man's true identity, look inside every wrestler's standard deck of playing cards — which he receives upon signing with TNA. If an Ace of Spades is missing, somebody is in trouble.

3) The other day, I entered a Fatal Four-Way with three beautiful ladies. To our dismay, nobody died or won a championship. In the end, we found ourselves sexing with each other. What was the point?

4) As a guidance counsellor for impressionable teens, young men and women often come to me for advice. Whenever they ask me how to French kiss their significant other, I get nervous and tell them to watch Maryse. To this day, I indirectly responsible for concussing three-quarters of the teenage population in my area.

5) I first taught female wrestlers the back handspring as a fun and flashy way to deliver the sandwiches they made to male wrestlers. Today, those females are ending the move with an elbow and nobody is getting sandwiches. My work was for nothing.

6) As a young boy, I thought that the sunset flip involved the moon leaping over a bent sun and putting it in a pinning predicament. With no referee present, the sun would kick out at around 6 A.M. I was a tender, innocent, seventeen-year-old child.

7) Rumours of an Extreme Championship Wrestling storyline in TNA could very well fulfill an impossible dream of mine. One day, broken-down, middle-aged men will have heated arguments at a theme park. On that day, my life will be complete.\

8) I have tried to grant citizenship to foreign objects, but they are unwilling to get married to objects born in this country.

9) John Cena and Batista's I Quit Match at Over The Limit has inspired me to take on my nemesis in an I Quilt Match. The first man who admits his love for stitching squares of fabric together to make colourful blankets will be the loser (or the winner, depending upon your opinion of public quilting).

10) After his successful run of imitating "The Macho Man" Randy Savage, I'm glad that Jay Lethal finally gets to be himself — an imitation of "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair.

11) The unforgiving steel cage is giving me the silent treatment. I have apologized to the cage numerous times for leaving it for a more understanding cage, but it will not return my calls. Also, every time I see the unforgiving steel cage around town, it shows off by grinding on top of a wrestling ring.

12) I heard that Rey Mysterio was only able to conceive his three children with his wife draped over the middle rope. Mr. and Mrs. Mysterio tried to conceive a fourth child, but his wife was out of position by the time they were ready.

13) Due to Percy Watson's sudden popularity, I am afraid that I must humble him by stifling his rise to the top of the wrestling world. In the next few weeks, watch out for the debut of faraway eye charts.

14) Last Monday, I like to think that Ted DiBiase took the hundred-dollar bill from Virgil's mouth because he mistook him for a big chain bank. In turn, I think average, middle-class people are doing a disservice to their savings by not holding them in Virgil's mouth. I assume his mouth has a low interest rate.

15) Although I do not have the authoritative power to fire WWE Superstars, I convinced the promotion to fire Daniel Bryan. Despite his years of experience and superior wrestling skills, I could really use a new Coldplay album right now.

16) When the Acolyte Protection Agency ran their Always Pounding Ass Bar & Grill, I refused to visit. I did not want to witness Bradshaw and Faarooq have butt relations with a restaurant. Butt relations are not sanitary.

17) I am not afraid of Kane. In fact, I feel sorry for him. Unlike other Big Red Machines, he wears one, coloured contact lens. Maybe he shouldn't have spent all of his money on one fancy, coloured contact lens. With his salary, he could have bought himself a decent pair of regulars. You cannot reason with him.

18) Hulk Hogan's Hall of Fame ring gives aspiring stars the power and confidence needed to excel in the wrestling business. After conducting a survey with wrestling fans, I have concluded that Hulk Hogan's Hall of Fame ring gives them the power and confidence needed to see what else is on Thursday-night television.

19) I wonder why former abductees who are featured in the news don't act like Samoa Joe and randomly interfere in wrestling matches. If I was a child who was recently abducted, I would want nothing more than to randomly interfere in wrestling matches. Forget about getting justice against my abductors. I’m hankering to mess people up in the Impact Zone.

20) I planned the NXT Rookies' assault on Bret Hart. With that said, I never instructed them to shove him into a limousine, then have the driver violently reverse the limousine into other cars. I just told them to open up his shirt without asking him. Calgarians loathe buttoning up their shirts. If they have to do it twice, forget about it.


Monday, June 14, 2010

Superstars on Super Things: Dead Man Wheeling


*****

NEXT WEEK

I will be in a vegetative state. That's right — I'm visiting Colorado.

AND

Your hands upon a deadman's gun and you're looking down the sights.

Choice Night


In an unprecedented and genius move, World Wrestling Entertainment handed over the booking reigns to their universe. In turn, the WWE Universe gave us a one-time, voting extravaganza that we will not soon forget. Last Monday, the Divas competed in a rare yet familiar Over The Bottom, Middle, or Top Rope Battle Royal. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper returned to exact revenge on a guy who played another guy playing a guy that Piper used to dislike. Last and kind of least, that District 9 dude was confused. If I were him, I would be confused, too. One day, you're a bug person jonesing for some delicious cat food. The next day, Gene Okerlund is dissing you.

Wrestling fans with a working, long-term memory might argue that WWE has done a Viewer's Choice Night before. I would not disagree with you, but aren't you glad we can relive the good times for free? Like that Motown song says about birds and bees on welfare, the best things in life are definitely free. To get an opportunity to vote for matches and match stipulations that have minimal to no impact on a storyline, feud, or character is the greatest freebie no money can buy.

For me, Viewer's Choice Nights belong on Mondays. I believe WWE put an end to the original Taboo Tuesday and Cyber Sunday because they were too good for those Pay-Per-View days. People were willing to pay millions of dollars to watch them, only for WWE to say, "Hey, we don't want your money. We don't know where that money has been." Plus, the Tuesday Alliance Against Discrimination was mad that WWE portrayed Tuesday as a special needs weekday. You see, Tuesday is not like the other days. His helper Wednesday assists Tuesday whenever it needs to go to the bathroom. Wednesday encourages Tuesday to learn about social dos and don'ts with flashcards.

In anticipation for the next Viewer's Choice Night, I have prepared several voting ideas. While WWE has not scheduled another three-hour voting special, I am willing to do the grunt work for them. From last week's RAW forward, every Monday should be left to the voters. They vote presidents to office and American Idol contestants to superstardom. Therefore, they should be more than able to be improve WWE programming.




How will John Cena return from the NXT assault?
(WWE viewers pick entrance)

Choices:
- Rolling down the ramp in a wheelchair
- Walking with a limp
- Sprinting to the ring without showing any ill effects
- Pulling a train through deep space

Following an impromptu invasion by the NXT Season 1 Rookies, John Cena was left a
battered and bruised mess. Due to his exit on a stretcher, one might think that Cena would be unable to make an appearance on the next Monday Night RAW. As for me, I have complete faith that he will return, but under condition will we see “The Champ”? Going through spotlights couldn't hurt him. Going through tables was a slight annoyance. Vehicular homicide attempts made him itchy rather than dead. Has NXT finally put out Cena for good?




How will Justin Roberts look after tie strangulation?
(WWE viewers pick facial expression)

Choices:
- Exhausted
- Furious
- Elated
- Like an inconvenienced Popeye with shampoo in his eyes

RAW Announcer Justin Roberts — the fresh-faced voice of Monday nights — suffered a similar fate to that of John Cena. With NXT Rookies destroying wrestlers, officials, and equipment alike, he got caught in the crossfire as victim of the dreaded Windsor Knot Choke. For years, wrestlers have tried to find a way to use formal wear against ring announcers. In 2010, nobody with microphone in hand and tie on neck is safe from such NXT Rookies as the forever-employed Daniel Bryan. Those who prefer bow ties shall feel the wrath next. Unfortunate gentlemen who enjoy wearing dickeys should go into hiding before it is too late.

What has become of Justin Roberts? The tie is in your hands.




What will Matt Hardy do with Drew McIntyre's hair?
(WWE viewers pick use)

Choices:
- Keep it in a sealed container (Years from now, future scientists will open the container, use the hair to make a Drew McInytre clone, and question the life decisions they made to get to this point.)
- Add them to his own hair
- Take a few strands from Tiffany's head, then play with both in his Hair Dream House
- Follow the hairs' verified Twitter account

Matthew Hardy's obsession with "The Chosen One" Drew McIntyre has consumed him. Ever since his indefinite suspension from SmackDown, Matt has desperately sought means for retribution. On the Viewer's Choice edition of RAW, he put a revenge plan into motion, ripping luxurious strands of hair from McIntyre's head. In my country, taking hairs from someone's head is the ultimate form of payback besides actually getting payback. Has Matt's plan come together, or is this only the beginning?




What will Edge use next to aggravate Randy Orton's shoulder injury? (WWE viewers pick person, place, or thing)

Choices:
- Uncomfortable shoulder massage with sensual undertones
- Open a door on it
- Shut a window on it
- Invite Randy Orton's shoulder to a dinner party with healthy and wealthy shoulders to make it feel inadequate

The R-Rated Superstar's recent attacks on Randy Orton suggest that Edge is not fooling around this time. His own storied history of injury woes has frustrated him to the point that he is taking it out on other people's injuries. Dear shoulders; hide your wives and injuries from Edge for he has his eyes on you. He will sleep with your significant other, suffer a freak injury, and cap the night off by temporarily holding you down with a shoulder pad. Clearly, Edge is not done tormenting Orton's shoulder. Wherever Orton's shoulder goes, Edge will be right behind him.

What is his next move? The choice is yours.



What is causing Jerry Lawler's computer problems?
(WWE viewers pick reason)

Choices:
- Computer is new
- Computer is an older model
- WWE refuses to shell out money for a decent WiFi connection
- Facial recognition software does not detect a real face

In the midst of showing viewers the ease of voting online, Jerry "The King" Lawler proved that the process was not easy at all. Being a man of tussling nobility, I do not expect Lawler to be a tech-savvy king, but I do expect him to have some semblance of control over his personal computer. Past instances of computer problems lead me to believe that something has gone awry in the relationship between royal man and machine. If Jerry Lawler is not at fault, what is the computer’s problem with Lawler?




Who will Quinton "Rampage" Jackson face in his first professional wrestling match?
(WWE viewers pick opponent)

Choices:
- Ted DiBiase
- Irwin R. Shyster
- Virgil
- A stronger pair of handcuffs made of materials other than paper or air

This summer, Quinton Jackson plays B.A. Baracus, combining the powers of having a bad attitude and being an abacus whittled out of a barracuda. Mixed-martial arts fans know him as a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, but Jackson has expressed an interest to take part in the world of professional wrestling. Can he translate his powerful fighting style to a wrestling ring? No, you silly goose. Light heavyweights aren't heavyweights. The Great Khali would kill him based on size alone.

Nevertheless, who will be his first opponent? You can vote here. It’s not a handicapped zone.



Who will be Tamina and The Usos biggest rivals?
(WWE viewers pick enemies)

Choices:
- The Hart Dynasty
- Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov
- John Morrison & R-Truth
- Slippery top turnbuckles

The Usos are the twin sons of Rikishi. Tamina is the daughter of Jimmy Snuka. Together, they are the Samoan Smart Team, bent on showing viewers that they are not your average Samoans. Unlike their stereotypical ancestors, they are not savage islanders or thonged dancers with gigantic posteriors. They wear modern clothes. One of them is sometimes seen in a sweater vest, also known as the intimidator's garb. For the most part, they are not in sync with one another’s movements.

They will have their day in the spotlight. One of them will leap into it several seconds before the other two, but I digress. Could another team beat them to the punch?




What move will the general public best recognize in a match between Chris Jericho & The Big Show?
(WWE viewers pick maneuver)

Choices:
- Body slam
- Body slam
- Body slam
- That fake WWF stuff with Hulk Hogan, no doubt

Currently, the public's interest in professional wrestling is at a definite low point. Close-minded analysts who are not me predict that no current star or angle can bring wrestling back into the mainstream. In my view, WWE is closer than ever before. With Jericho set to host a game show on ABC (Downfall) and The Big Show about to appear in the first comedy by WWE Films (Knucklehead), mainstream audiences will be paying attention. Despite wrestling's poor reputation with the general public, they are educated viewers who want to love wrestling; they just don't know it yet.

One recognizable move can reel them into the entertainment sport. Which one will it be? Your vote counts.


Monday, June 07, 2010

The Swerved Presents: Dream Match the 92nd


Randy Orton vs. Jayson Werth

I hear people say that I look like Edge
They're adamant
They call me Adam
They want to see some spears

They see me in left or right field
I often play in center field
But when the people think that I'm Edge
They start questioning my field
They say, "Why are you playing baseball?"
"Shouldn't you be pro wrestling?"
"Why do you look so much like Edge?"
"Can I touch your World Series ring?

I hear wrestling fans saying
What baseball fans aren't saying
They're not familiar with Edgeheads
Perhaps Edge looks like me instead

I hear people say that I look like Edge
They're adamant
They call me Adam
They want to see some spears, they want to see some spears
They tell me this when I'm up to bat
They ask about Lita while I make a catch
They want to see some spears, they want to see some spears


The Question:
Who wins and how?


*****

NEXT WEEK

Ashton Kutcher will be here live... on tape... in another place... last week.

AND

Please, I know it's hard to believe to see a perfect forest through so many splintered trees.

Next NXT


After months of mentoring, wrestling mentors, voting, drinking soda, and having deep discussions about flowers, World Wrestling Entertainment has found their next superstar. In Wade Barrett, WWE finally has a sports entertainer who doesn't like to correctly wear suit jackets. You might say that Wade was lucky to be a part of NXT, but I say that NXT was lucky to be a part of Wade Barrett's life. Polls don't lie. Forget about Daniel Bryan and Michael Cole's increasing sexual tension. Without a doubt, Wade Barrett will be number one in our hearts and minds for a long time to come.

As one tremendous season of NXT ends, a second one is about to emerge from a cocoon, turn into a butterfly, and appear on SyFy. This time around, eight up-and-comers will vie for a chance to become the next Wade Barrett, Justin Gabriel, or David Otunga. In order to be David Otunga, many of these NXT Rookies will have to marry Jennifer Hudson. With only so many Jennifer Hudsons available, look for this season to be full of great suspense and drama. Rookies will win, while others will lose. They might have to carry two kegs. I can't wait.

This season's NXT Pro lineup is a roll call of WWE's best and brightest. Co-Women's Champions Michelle McCool and Layla are ready to teach their rookie how to be flawless in a simplistic way. Current Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston will show his rookie how to embrace, then disown Jamaica. In addition, Montel Vontavious Porter gets to do something without William Regal borgarting his man. Skip Sheffield would have won if he had MVP's inflatable tunnel. Regal ruined it. He ruined it all.

The second season of WWE NXT will debut on June 8, but you might as well get your party supplies out now. In advance, I have prepared eight piñatas, modeled after the eight NXT Rookies. Even though I did not know what these rookies look liked when making the piñatas, I think I'll be okay. All eight NXT Rookies look like rainbow-coloured donkeys, right? If so, I'm golden. Thank heavens.


Husky Harris and Cody Rhodes

In his hype video, Husky Harris describes himself as a third-generation superstar. His grandfather is Blackjack Mulligan and his father is Mike Rotunda, also known as "The I.R.S. Man." He claims that he has been waiting for someone to let him off the leash and let him go. I don't know who this "someone" is, but I urge him or her to let him off the leash and let him go already. Not only did he have to change his last name to get onto WWE television, but he had to change his first name to an adjective that sensitively describes a fat person. Hasn't "The Husky Harris Man" suffered enough, someone?

Due to his lineage and pairing with second-generation superstar Cody Rhodes, I expect husky things from Husky Harris. Let's hope Cody's time with Hardcore Holly taught him how to treat potential superstars with dignity and respect. Do you remember that time Hardcore Holly showed up on Tough Enough, wrestled with Matt Cappotelli, and bought him ice cream? On second thought, let's hope Cody Rhodes learned nothing from Hardcore Holly.

Odds of Winning: 20:1


Eli Cottonwood and John Morrison

NXT Pro John Morrison describes Eli Cottonwood as a “giant redwood tree.” For those of you who don't understand this comparison, Eli Cottonwood is a giant redwood tree in that he is taller than the other trees in the forest. Furthermore, he is able to sexually and asexually reproduce. As Eli's mentor, Morrison believes that he can teach him how to burn the entire forest down to the ground. While Morrison has good intentions, he shouldn't promote forest fires. Smokey the Bear might be a member of the WWE Universe. I would contact him to make sure, but I don't believe in bears taking up work as forest rangers. They are already bears. They have too much on their plate.

Cottonwood claims that he wants to win NXT and "inflict pain and carnage" amongst all the people who step in his path. Standing over seven feet tall and weighing over three hundred pounds will help him achieve both of his goals, but what about his secret, third goal? Does Eli want to produce lumber for the sturdy construction of buildings or not? He can't achieve all three goals. He must set his priorities straight.

Odds of Winning: 2:1


Percy Watson and Montel Vontavious Porter

First of all, Montel Vontavious Porter wants Percy Watson to understand that being a WWE Superstar takes hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. Montel's mentor — Sherri Sheperd from The View — was the one who first taught him this important lesson. Also, she showed him that you don't have time to know if the earth is flat or round when you've got kids to feed. If Percy Watson wants to be as successful as Montel and Sherri, he must put an end to his partying ways. When you're a WWE Superstar, you shouldn’t party as you will be too busy training and wrestling on a flat planet. Lose focus for one second and you might fall off the edge.

According to Percy, he is a "Sexy Star Stud Stallionaire." For now, I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt. That's four things he claims to be. I'll need to conduct a background check to determine if he's telling the truth. I'll especially need to look into the stallionaire part. I haven't been to his home in South Beach, but I doubt his place has room to house millions of stallions. Perhaps he could put a few thousand in his pool or under a cushion. Nevertheless, this guy seems charismatic, yet shady.

Odds of Winning: 8:1


Titus O'Neil and Zack Ryder

Apparently, Zack Ryder is planning to teach his NXT Rookie how to dress, get girls, and get "Zacked." Although Titus should look forward to learning the first two lessons, he could do without the third lesson. Zack Ryder taught me how to get "Zacked" before. The overall procedure and results were underwhelming at best. Zacking mostly involves cutting one of your pant legs, then cutting communication with your former brother Curt Hawkins. I have no problem with my former brother Curt Hawkins. After cutting communication with him, he snuck into my house and sewed the pant leg back onto my pants while I slept. He's good people.

Stone-faced powerhouse Titus O'Neil hopes that "a lot of his movements" will put him in a position to win. I assume that he is looking to move himself into the winning position by standing there. If not, I don't understand what these movements are. Titus insists that this process will be difficult and challenging, which leads me to believe that NXT has turned into a calculus course or "The Eliminator" — the final obstacle course on American Gladiators.

Odds of Winning: 4:1


Kaval and Lay-Cool

Michelle McCool and Layla are the first-ever, female, NXT Pros, proving to young and impressionable girls everywhere that it takes two women to do one man's job. Since Kaval gets to learn the ropes from two professionals, I expect twice as much out of him. He can't be one of those low-key wrestlers who are content to fly under the radar. With Lay-Cool by his side, I suggest that Kaval emerge as NXT's fighting, Japanese warrior. I know TNA had one of those guys, but I forgot his name. Oh, wait. I remember now. That guy was Cute Kip. Kaval must become a Billy-Gunn-esque warrior.

Brooklyn's own does not care how big or tough his opponents may be for he will fight tooth and nail until the very end. I am in favour of undersized individuals taking on tooth decay and tetanus, but Kaval is a wrestler. He should use his experience to help him win NXT, not serve as the world's dentist or doctor. Let tooth decay and tetanus sufferers figure out a solution on their own. They should have flossed more, or watched where they were stepping. That's their fault.

Odds of Winning: 40:1


Lucky Cannon and Mark Henry

Mark Henry thinks that Lucky Cannon believes himself to be lucky. With a name like Lucky Cannon, he better think he is lucky. Otherwise, he would probably think he was a cannon and try to involve himself in an old-timey war of some sort. On top of being lucky, Mark Henry thinks that Cannon is lucky to have him as a mentor. In conclusion, Mark's thoughts have a gigantic ego. Mark Henry's thoughts should cool it with the ego stroking.

Due to a few close calls in his life, Cannon's family and friends named him Lucky. Actually, I don't think that makes him lucky at all. After years of being Jason (his placeholder name), Cannon's family and friends had to get together and have a lengthy discussion about what his actual name would be. Normal names such as Jeff, Joe, and Horseshoe Face were thrown around before they settled on Lucky.

In Lucky's hype video, he admits that he has a never-say-die attitude that prevents him from stopping. Having a predisposed lack of mental and physical control seems unfortunate rather than lucky.

Odds of Winning: 30:1


Michael McGillicutty and Kofi Kingston

Obviously, Michael McGillicutty is the son of WWE Hall of Famer Mr. McGillicutty. Unlike Mr. Perfect, Mr. McGillicutty was not perfect at everything. He couldn't play golf or basketball, but he did know how to cook an egg really well without breaking the yolk.

Kofi Kingston thinks that Michael is going to make his own mark, though neglects to explain why. Kofi just has that feeling about him. As for me, I don't believe anything Kofi says anymore. I bet he's not even from Ghana either. When WWE asked him where he was actually from, he took a globe, spun it, and put his finger on a random country. I hear them shouting, I hear them lying.

In one word, Michael McGillicutty's in-ring style is ruthless. In two words, Michael McGillicutty's in-ring style is ruthless and aggressive. In three words, Michael McGillicutty has Jamie Noble Hair. He wants you to call him wrestling royalty. Mr. McGillicutty knew how to cook eggs and was the reigning king of professional wrestling? I have to sit down for a minute. Michael's life is The Princess Diaries.

Odds of Winning: 3:1


Alex Riley and The Miz

Michael Cole and I are glad that The Miz has agreed to be a Pro on the second season of NXT. As for The Miz, he is glad to not be paired up with an arrogant, egotistical loser like Daniel Bryan. This June, The Miz will be paired up with an arrogant, egotistical loser like "The Talent Of" Alex Riley. "The Talent Of" is my favourite wrestling nickname of the 21st Century. The talent of what exactly? Before you answer, stop right there. Whatever it is, it sounds talented.

From the sight of his sleeveless letterman's jacket, Alex Riley appears to be a pompous frat boy who sold his sleeves to buy a servant monkey that doesn't exist. Alex is lobbying to change the show's name from NXT to Alex Riley and the Seven Dorks. I highly anticipate the debut of Alex Riley and the Seven Dorks. Any show that perpetuates the idea that Alex Riley is the leader of dorks is a good and accurate one.

Odds of Winning: 10:1