Welcome everyone to the first edition of The Showstopper. In this edition, I am going to break down TWF’s upcoming Pay-Per-View, the Royal Rumble, as well as give my predictions for the card. Before that though, I would like to dedicate this initial column to Dylan Jansens for all that he has done for TWF. We all appreciate your dedication to us and hope you will return someday soon. Now, onto the Royal Rumble.
Canadian Flag Match
Rob Storm vs. Val Venis
This match will showcase two great Canadian athletes who are still trying to get into the forefront of Raw. Val Venis, a former TWF Champion, has been having a hard time finding a constant role in the brand lately. He made a splash last year in the late summer and early fall during his feud with Joe Corey, but since losing to “The Show”, he has not been seen too much. Rob Storm on the other hand has been somewhat successful since coming to Raw, yet he is still looking for that first big win. This will be a hard fought match that I feel will help both men, regardless of who comes out on top.
Winner: Rob Storm
TWF Women’s Title Match
Jazz w/Brother Long vs. Gail Kim
If you ask me, this will be Gail Kim’s toughest challenge since she won the title at Doomsday. Not only that, but don’t forget that Brother Long will also be at ringside and he is not above getting involved in a match. This should do a lot to give the Women’s Division the appreciation it deserves. In the end, the match will come down to how involved the man on the outside can be.
Winner, and NEW Women’s Champion: Jazz
TWF Lightheavyweight Title Match
The Ultimo Dragon vs. Essa Rios
Ultimo Dragon will make his first Pay-Per-View title defense at the Royal Rumble. Essa Rios has been quite impressive lately, but mostly in his tag team matches with Sean O’Haire. Dragon will come out with his title in a match he will control. His biggest challenge for the title will be when Shane Thompson finally gets his rematch.
Winner: Ultimo Dragon
TWF Raw Tag Team Title Match
Los Guerreros vs. La Resistance w/William Regal
Ever since winning the titles from Scott Steiner and Billy Gunn at Doomsday, La Resistance has defeated everyone that has challenged them. With the help of William Regal, no one has been able to stop the champions. On the other side of the ring, Los Guerreros have been having trouble working as a team lately. That will hurt Eddie Guerrero the most because he deserves a title run. In the end, Eddie might have to contend with a four on one beating.
Winners: La Resistance
TWF Tag Team Title Match
Jordan Rockwell & Rhyno vs. The Dynamic Duo
Speaking of teams having problems, Rhyno and Rockwell seemed to be heading for a split over the past couple of weeks. However, after their deception of The Chosen, they seem to have patched things up. The Dynamic Duo also seems to be on a role, they did beat Brock Lesnar and Batista to win the titles after all. Since winning the titles, they have been very successful in their matches since the win, but Rockwell and Rhyno have been denied too many times, and that trend will end at the Rumble.
Winners, and NEW TWF Tag Team Champions: Jordan Rockwell & Rhyno
Street Fight/King of Cable Match
Nails vs. John Cena
Since regaining the title from A-Train a few weeks ago on Raw, John Cena has been an unstoppable force. The same can be said about Nails, who’s wins over Austin Pyromania have propelled him to title contender status. Being a Street Fight, one would think that the advantage would have to go to Nails, but I am not so sure. Being the Doctor of Thuganomics, it is no secret that Cena has street experience. The wildcard in this match may turn out to be the man that many consider to be the real #1 Contender for the King of Cable, Austin Pyromania. It is no secret that Pyro is gunning for that title, and how do you think he feels about his nemesis, Nails, getting this shot? Not only that, but how do you think “The Show” feels about this match?
Winner: John Cena
TWF World Title Match
The Undertaker vs. “High Octane” Damion West
Over the course of his illustrious career, The Undertaker has demanded respect from the entire TWF roster. That is something he has received from everyone, either voluntarily or by beating it out of them. “High Octane” had quite a year in 2003, getting to face his mentor, Shawn Michaels, on Pay-Per-View, making it so that Triple H would no longer be the Enforcer of Raw, and then finally getting Triple H in a one-on-one match, the match he won to get this title shot. Damion West has proven himself to the locker room he respects so much, and that respect has been entirely reciprocated, at least almost entirely. Out of all his previous challengers, it seems that “High Octane” is the first that The Undertaker has shown no respect to. Taker feels that he is not deserving of this title shot, and he is making that no secret. However, Taker will have to show West the respect he deserves when he gives Taker the greatest challenge he has faced for that title. On this night Taker’s experience will overcome, but “High Octane” isn’t going away anytime soon.
Winner: The Undertaker
TWF Universal Title Match
Chris Tirpak vs. Brock Lesnar
During 2003, no one was as dominating as Brock Lesnar. With the exception of about two months, Lesnar has held the Universal Championship since Evil Intentions last May from Chicago. Chris Tirpak, on the other hand, is just coming off of the loss of his Intercontinental Championship. However, Tirpak has done something that no one else has done before, he singled out Brock Lesnar and challenged him to put the title on the line at the Royal Rumble. At first, Lesnar rejected the challenge, but PrimeTime Enforcer, Stone Cold Steve Austin, forced him to have the match, much to his chagrin. That one short moment of weakness may be all that Tirpak needs to accomplish his goal. Tirpak won the TWF Tag Team Titles and the Intercontinental Title, from Lesnar’s tag team partner Batista non-the less, in 2003, and if he wins the Universal Title at the Rumble, he will have taken the PrimeTime Triple Crown in less than a year. Lesnar has had his hand on the pulse of PrimeTime for far too long now, and it is time for that to end.
Winner, and NEW TWF Universal Champion: Chris Tirpak
Royal Rumble Match
This is the match that is the most anticipated match of the year to many TWF fans. This match is the only time of the year where Raw and PrimeTime superstars will be in the same ring at the same time, unless the rumor of interbrand matches at WrestleMania V has any truth to it. In this year’s Rumble, it is very hard to select one person who has a definite advantage over the other 29. As has been said over the last few years, the Royal Rumble match really does come down to the luck of the draw. Also this year, there is a tremendous group of people taking part in their first Royal Rumble match. Of those, Axl Irvin, Shane Thompson, and “The Show” Joe Corey are looking to be the cream of the crop. Not only that, but “The Show” was also one of the first people to throw his name into the mix when the Rumble talk all started. No one knows, but one of these men could be punching their ticket to the main event at WrestleMania. From there, there are a lot of other people who look to have their sights set on the main event at WrestleMania. These men include Scott Steiner, Triple H, Austin Pyromania, and Kurt Angle on the Raw side. These men all took part in the Mini Rumble last week on Raw, with Angle coming out on top. It is unknown at this time what number he will enter the Rumble, but it will definitely be between 20 and 30. On the PrimeTime side, Chris Benoit, Rob Van Dam, Randy Orton, and Batista are all looking to get that all important win. However, the man that needs to win this Royal Rumble more than anyone is Travis Wakeman. Ever since Batista’s New Year’s Resolution, he has been banned from competing for the TWF Universal Championship. The only way that can be overruled is if Wakeman is able to win the Royal Rumble. Something like this has not been seen since Lex Luger was in this same situation in the WWF in the 1994 Royal Rumble. As much as everyone has an equal shot at this match, no one needs this win more than Travis Wakeman. Finally, with the rumor that the winner of the Royal Rumble will be able to choose which brand’s champion he wants to face at WrestleMania V, there has been a lot of speculation as to what we will see in March. Imagine a main event of Rob Van Dam vs. “High Octane” Damion West, Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar, Austin Pyromania vs. Chris Tirpak, or The Undertaker vs. Travis Wakeman. This is going to be the most star-studded Royal Rumble ever, and something that fans will remember for a long time to come.
Winner: Travis Wakeman
RANDOM THOUGHTS
What is the deal with The Undertaker? I still don’t understand how someone who has built his career around respect is shortchanging someone with so much raw talent like “High Octane” Damion West.
Do you think Shawn Michaels is really as happy as he is coming off that “High Octane” is getting this shot? I mean, it was HBK that defeated Triple H at Deadly Games, yet Damion West gets the #1 Contender’s Match with Triple H, and now this title shot. Don’t be too surprised if Shawn asks the new Champion for a shot sooner than West might have thought.
Since the time they were deceived by Jordan Rockwell and Rhyno, The Chosen has had only one goal on their minds, and that has been revenge. What do you think would hurt more, costing Rockwell and Rhyno the Tag Titles, or taking the belts away from them?
Austin Pyromania seemed to have everything going his way. He was right on the heels of John Cena for the King of Cable. Then he got involved with Nails, and now it is Nails that is getting the title shot. Also, it seems that week after week Stacy Kiebler is getting more and more fascinated with the Doctor of Thuganomics. Pyro needs to decide where his attention needs to go, the nemesis, the title, or the girl.
Is anyone else is wondering why “The Show” Joe Corey is trying to get Austin Pyromania into a title position? These two men look to be the future of the Raw brand, and they could be spectacular in the ring, either as opponents or possible partners.
Speaking of “The Show” and partners, last week marked the beginning of an amazing tandem, as he teamed with Taylor Made. This team could have been a one-night deal, but many people are hoping that it could continue.
*NOTE: This edition of the ShowStopper is also included in our Columns link.
I, Alex Miran, was asked to come up with a list of who I thought were the top 10 sexiest male wrestlers in the TWF. Somehow, I managed to do it! Trust me, it was quite difficult! I mean, have you seen how many men are in the TWF? My top 10 are:
1. Val Venis. At the top of the list is Val Venis. I mean, I've tagged with him a few times and he's just ... wow. There's not much you can really say about the guy, except for the fact he's bloody gorgeous, he's got a great body, and he gives off just a sexy vibe.
2. Hulk Hogan. Yes, I am a bit weird on this one, but it's Hulk Hogan! When I was young, I grew up watching him. Hulk Hogan is my hero! He's one of the reasons I got into wrestling! Watching him pick himself up after the match hadn't been going his way, and then turning the tide to get an amazing victory... I still get shivers! Whenever I see him, I just go sort of googly-eyed!
3. Shawn Michaels. He's Shawn Michaels. I don't think I need to say any more with this one!
4. Jordan Rockwell. Lita's probably going to want to beat me for this one, but Jordan Rockwell is a rather good friend of mine. Big guy, big muscles, great wrestler. He and Lita make a gorgeous couple, as well.
5. Bahamut. Another big guy. I love just his whole bad ass attitude. That man is built to destroy people, and he does a rather fine job of it! He's also really intimidating, which I find rather attractive! Also love the long hair.
6. RVD. The whole damn show! I just love RVD, he's got such an amazing set of moves. He's not afraid to take risks and that's just awesome.
7. Shane McMahon. Think I'm crazy? I'm not, I promise you this! Shane's rich, powerful, has a quick wit, and he's got a few good moves. I swear I'm not a gold digger though! I just think those all play to his advantage. He's also pretty funny, I think.
8. Brock Lesnar. He's the next big thing! He's got a great body, he's a pretty big man, and EXTREMELY intimidating. Sometimes too intimidating, though, which is why he's not higher on the list.
9. Matt Hardy. He's got this...dark quality about him that sorta makes you want to know more about him. Matt's pretty cool and I thought he deserved a place on the list.
10. Carney. Don't really know a lot about him, but from what I've seen, he's a pretty good looking guy. May move up the list soon.
Well, that's it folks! Thanks to Travis for asking me to do this! It was really fun!
'til next time!
XoXo
Alex Miran
NOW IT's TIME TO TALK A LITTLE ABOUT A MAN MOVING UP THE PRIMETIME DIVISION QUICKLY..... AND YOU MAY NOT EVEN KNOW IT. HE's THE FBI's FRANKIE KAZARIAN! Superstar Spotlight: Frankie Kazarian
Name: “The Future” Frankie Kazarian
Height & Weight: 6’1-220
Finishers: Wave of the Future (Flatliner)-Revolution (One-Man Spanish Fly)
Career Highlights: EWF Tag Team Champion- EWF World Champion- ICW U.S Champion.- WCWA Heavyweight Champion- MPW Heavyweight Champion- PCW Tag Team Champion- UPW Tag Team Champion- ECWA Tag Team Champion- PCW TV Champion- UPW Lightweight Champion- PWG Heavyweight Champion- TWF Tag Team Champion
Born in Palm Springs, California, Frankie Kazarian enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle. He could have done anything with his life, luckily for us, at the age of seven, he chose wrestling. Frankie was mesmerized with wrestling and knew right away it was what he planned to do the rest of his life. He went out to the New England area to be trained by the legendary, Killer Kowalski. Frankie came back to So. Cal and made a name for himself in the independent promotions. After being noticed by TWF officials while wrestling in Southern California with his tag team partner, Nova, they were quickly picked up. “Evolution” soon became a hit with the crowd as Nova and Kazarian blended together like they had known each other their entire lives. They won the Tag Team Titles from Wakeman Enterprises on Primetime in 2002. Soon after losing the titles to Chono and Muta at the Royal Rumble, Frankie turned on Nova, joining the FBI. Since then he has enjoyed great success and looks to continue forward on his winning ways.
