What I've Been Listening To Lately
I'm hoping to convince these guys to join my VOW Network in one way or another (I'll keep you updated), but I wanted to take a minute to put them over regardless. Pat Buck, Kevin Mathews and J-Silva make up the "Two and a Half Wrestlers" podcast, and they're pretty dang entertaining.
They are all pro wrestlers, so it's already starting with a different feel to every conversation. Plus, they are pro wrestlers who just don't give a sh*t. That makes it very raw and enjoyable if you like a "shoot" element to your wrestling programs.
Pat Buck is co-owner of Pro Wrestling Syndicate while Kevin Matthews is its World Champion. I think Silva works there too, but can't say for sure. I do know he's the producer behind the podcast.
There's really no format to the show, they rarely have structure or a pre-planned purpose — rather, they just go with the flow and say what's on their mind. They spill the beans behind all the backstage goings-on behind PWS, talk some WWE and TNA hot topics, and just "whatever" the rest of the time.
It's good, or at least I think so, so give it a shot.
CM Punk vs Ryback Will Not Happen…Yet.
It will be a high-profiled bait-and-switch job if it happens, but I can't see them carrying on with this match. They need to substitute Vince in for Ryback or something because I just don't see how anyone benefits from it otherwise.
Whether Ryback's immediate push to the (very) top was a counter to low ratings, a direct response to John Cena's injury, or a combination of both, WWE backed themselves into a corner the minute they booked this match. And now, IF the match goes through and the opening bell does in fact sound off, someone has to lose. And it's either your long-standing WWE Champion (who had new life breathed into his title run with the recent addition of Paul Heyman), or the undefeated Ryback.
WWE needs to consider EVERY possible scenario right now, and that's easier said than done.
For example, I fear they might use HIAC to sneak in a loss for Ryback, via interference or some other type of tomfoolery. Brock Lesnar's name comes to mind, of course. And although they haven't been pushing the undefeated streak that much right now, what if they wanted to in the future? Why would they, you ask? Well, it was reported a few weeks back that Goldberg has signed on to do a DVD. Open lines of communication and working with one another can often lead to more.
I'm not suggesting Ryback vs Goldberg is going to happen — I doubt it does, actually — but it's certainly not out of the realm of possibility. And if it ever did come to pass, WWE would surely be kicking themselves in the backside knowing Ryback's streak wasn't kept in tact to use in that story.
Furthermore, once you give Ryback his first loss, it becomes much easier to then give him his second, his third, fourth, and so on. And right now, the only thing he has going for him, besides a fun-for-now chant, is the fact that he never loses. Even more, he annihilates people nearly always. Once that's lost, he's just a bald, muscled-up freak that got pushed too early.
That's talking about Ryback, by the way. You also have a very good champion in CM Punk that needs protecting in all of this. He's the closest thing to Cena that you've found in recent years; I'm pretty sure that "should" make him number one priority. It likely won't, but it should.
I'm not guaranteeing this championship match won't happen at Hell in a Cell, but I just don't see how it can.
That being said, I do know that if the marquee remains CM Punk vs Ryback, in a cage, for the WWE Championship, my ass is going to be in front of my television that Sunday at 7, and my wallet $55 lighter.
In that sense, WWE has done exactly what they're supposed to do. The question now is whether or not it will carry into the next pay per view, and the next, and the one after that…you get the picture.
Chris Cash can be followed on Twitter @RealityofChris or emailed at chris.cash@wrestlezone.com. Catch him also throughout the week hosting several different video series, including the new Post 2 Post roundtable, the Voice of Wrestling show with Nick Paglino, and VOW Reaction after every WWE Raw and pay per view. Visit VOWLive.com for details and archives.
