Hart Dynasty gets Big Bump in Google & Twitter Trends

Twitter and Google Trends both reveal immense interest in WWE personalities following the culmination of this week's RAW.

Most notable is a surge of interest in The Hart Dynasty, which currently sits as the fourth most popular search on Google. The Hart Dynasty received a rub Monday when it came to the aid of Bret Hart, who was being accosted by The Miz and Big Show. The Dynasty beat Miz and Show via countout.

As the group has had limited exposure on RAW--WWE's primary show for buzz generation--this far and away represented its most high-profile appearance to date

Wish Someone Would Give Taker this Memo...

In an interview with the Ottawa Sun, WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin spoke about how WWE has changed since his days as an active superstar and said that he “absolutely” has one more match left in him.

“WWE has changed. It’s a different climate, more of a PG image. They’ve cleaned it up a bit. For me to go back, I have to watch my Ps and Qs. It’s another day and age. They’ve got young superstars to sell.”

When asked whether we’ve seen the last of Stone Cold in the ring, he gave a surprising answer that’s totally different from what Jim Ross has repeatedly stated in his blogs about Austin wrestling a final match.

“Do I have a match left in me? Absolutely. Do I want to do one more? I don’t know. I’m very content with leaving well enough alone. I don’t want to be 90% of what Stone Cold was.”

I find it utterly ridiculous that Stone Cold would state the obvious. Shawn Michaels is still wrestling the best matches of his career, and Undertaker is still limping his ass down the ramp... this is backwards. And I'm getting angrier the more I think about it.

Dave Meltzer Says TNA Has "Big Financial Problems"

From SEScoops.com:

One oft-overlooked factor in TNA’s destiny to compete with rival promotion World Wrestling Entertainment are the added expenses entailed.

Since January, the company has ballooned its roster to over 70 performers with the notable additions of high priced stars such as Ric Flair, Rob Van Dam, Jeff Hardy and the former Mr. Kennedy. Furthermore, the company has added the costly expense of going live every other Monday night and promotion of said move (i.e. airing commercials during Monday Night Raw and running Billboards in Times Square). Other than slight bumps in house show attendance and merchandise sales, TNA has to little to show for its efforts. In fact, ratings are at its lowest levels in four years due to the move to Monday nights.

Wrestling Observer editor Dave Meltzer cryptically said during a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio that TNA is having bigger financial problems than most realize.

“I’m worried about my friends who work for TNA because they have bigger financial problems than anyone knows,” Meltzer said.

WWE has posted some great post match footage of HBK, talking to his wife and kids after his match, and getting a standing ovation from his peers. I got a little emotional watching it. Shawn says he'll "always be a part of this place." WWE.com doesn't let you embed video. The link is below.

Click Here

For those wondering, the angle is legitimate and Michaels days as an active performer are likely over. The word backstage at WrestleMania is that last night was Michaels’ final match (at least for a long time) and everybody was congratulating him on a great career and saying their goodbyes to him. The WWE Public Relations representative in the media section at WrestleMania was also telling reporters that the retirement is legitimate.

There has been talk of holding a retirement ceremony for Michaels on tonight’s RAW or in the near future. While the door is always open down the road for Michaels to wrestle “one more match,” he really is leaving WWE.

Wrestlemania Recap

This is just the opinion of one contributing member of this blog, but I think all in all I'd give Wrestlemania 26 a B+. I'm really only writing this because I got out of bed at 4:30am to watch this thing, because I couldn't sleep. I wanted to watch it before Raw anyway, so why not... here are the matches.

Big Show / Miz Vs R-Truth / John Morrison

This match was pointless. It was short, and no one will remember it. This was no Wrestlemania moment for any of these mean. Except 72,000+ singing "What's up" back to R-Truth.

Cody Rhodes vs Ted Dibiase vs Randy Orton

This one was sadly predictable. The match was slow and boring, until Randy got finished having his butt handed back to him. When he finally did make a comeback, the match definitely picked up. I still think Cody is going to try to side with Randy, and that's why Ted took the pin. Cody is a follower, and I thought it was right for Ted to get the pin, because Ted was the mastermind in the break up of Legacy. The punt and the RKO finish was great acting and psychology on Randy's part. Randy of course did his arms out Legend Killer taunt at the end, but I'm still not sure he's a face...


Money in the bank

This match was pretty uneventful. For the second year in a row, WWE teases a Christian win, only to make it ridiculous. Kofi biffed his one big spot, and Christian didn't get a spot to write home about either. I'm concerned there is now a whole PPV dedicated to this match, especially since this one was no good. And where was Drew McIntyre? Really, he got this mega push and wasn't even involved in the direct outcome of the match. Who gives a rip about Jack Swagger?

Sheamus vs Triple H

I hate Shaemus. So I'm more than okay Triple H won. Did Triple H need the rub, of course not. Should Shaemus have won to solidify him as a worthy contender, yes. Does WWE think he's a worthy contender. No, not with Edge and Batista back. Is Shaemus going to former world champion purgatory? Yes.

CM Punk vs Rey Mysterio

This match was good. I'm not sure where they're going with Rey winning, but the performance from both of these guys was really very solid. Look forward to keep following it.

Bret Hart vs Vince Mcmahon

This was Vince just basking in his own glory. He took 20 chair shots, and all the big bumps. I was surprised that Bret looked so swift. It was definitely a nice cap on over a decade of animosity, but Bret is supposed to stick around, so I'm sure we have more of this to look forward. Joy. *eye roll*

Chris Jericho vs. Edge

This match was fantastic. Jericho is amazing. Edge is amazing. This match was just great. The finish was a 10. The after finish with Edge, an 11.5. This is far from over, and I am happy about that!

10 Diva Tag

I get it. I didn't like it, but I get it. Alicia Fox almost falling on her face, thinking she's cute. That was priceless. Made me laugh pretty hard. Vickie doing the... ummm... (Bovine Splash was my first thought, but that's just mean.) I get the homage. Really, I do... and the pointing to heaven, and the Eddie shakes. I get it. He'd be very proud of her. I... liked it for sentimentality. That's all.

John Cena vs. Batista

Cena is champion. I'd like to remind you that this blog is called Cenanuff. But Cena is champion, and I'm OKAY with that. It's not because I hate Batista, because he's growing on me, but I'm actually excited to see his pissed off, no longer champion promos. Let's see how this goes! Also, that was the MOST awesome Attitude Adjustment I've seen in a long time. Very, very impressive.


Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels

Shawn Michaels wrestled better than half of the people on this card, including his opponent. He is without a doubt still wrestling as good as the thirty year olds in the company. That was one hell of a match to go out on. I think we'll hear a formal goodbye from him tonight, but that was beyond excellent. I wish he would have won it, but Shawn didn't need to end the streak to have a celebrated career. The streak is about all the Undertaker has left, since he's continually embarrassing himself with botched old man moves, and has been for about three years now.

Wrestlemania overall was good for me. It got me excited about this product again - AND - I'm actually interested in what happens between Batista and Cena - which is tough for me to admit. Let's see where this goes!

A Reason to Go to Bed Early

Celebrate with us! We finished the match without needing a hip replacement!

As of late this afternoon, WWE officials have been reported to be still going over the order of the final matches in the Wrestlemania card. Sources say that the original plan was that the WWE Championship match between John Cena and Batista would be the last match of the night, however there is a growing possibility (get this) that the final match of Wrestlemania XXVI will be changed to the No Holds Barred grudge match between Bret "The Hitman" Hart and Mr. McMahon. Official word has not yet been reached on which match will close the night.

This is actually quite brilliant, if you think about it. The WWE realizes that a growing percentage of its fan base needs to be in bed early enough to be up before the bus arrives for school, so they're gearing it so that the matches no one cares about are at the end. Good ole Vince really is thinking about the kids!

2002 Called. Stop Stealing its Stories.

After a string of comments about TNA by Vincent K. McMahon, who called their product "tawdry and blood-soaked action", Eric Bischoff logged on to his Facebook account and fired back a salvo at the WWE Chairman.

"So according to reports, Vince McMahon, the guy who wanted to watch his son-in-law perform a sex act on a dead body, asked me to make out with his wife AND daughter, owns a boat called "Sexy Bitch" and wanted me to promote "Hot Lesbian Action" on his show considers TNA "tawdry"..come on Vince, you are a lot of things (and many that I admire) but don't be a hypocrite."

Forgive me if I'm mistaken Eric, but aren't all of those things about storylines and events that occurred over 8 years ago, looooooong before WWE had its format change? Harp on the past much? Now, I'm not saying that I love the WWE's current PG-rated product. If I could take WWE's talent and storylines and combine them with TNA's "tawdry and blood-soaked action", I would have the perfect wrestling product. What Bischoff doesn't get is that if he wants to make a valid point about the WWE, it's that Vince has turned what used to be a quality sports entertainment show and turned it into Barney the Dinosaur in Wrestling Tights. What Vince McMahon doesn't get is that if TNA had solid booking, continuity in their storylines, and younger talent in the spotlight, they would take the Ratings ball and run away with it. Heaven help the WWE if Dixie Carter ever figures that one out...