WWE Best of the Month: March 2012

Here are the highlights from March 2012:







Superstar of the Month: Chris Jericho

March 2012 saw its fair share of ups and downs.  One superstar however, made sure that it would be a month we may never forget.  Since Jericho's return in January, he has been the target of many a jaded smark.  Bloggers and fans alike expressed their overall disappointment with Jericho's awkward silences and confusing attitude.  I have to admit that I laughed the whole thing off, seeing the grand scheme of things and knowing that Jericho had a plan, one that no one would see coming.  His brilliant turn took place slowly over the course of the month, but once his true colors were revealed, we all witnessed a masterful return to form.   Jericho would infuriate WWE Champion CM Punk by cutting open some old wounds in an attempt to 'expose' Punk and turn him into the thing he fears the most, an addict.  Jericho's actions as of late may have been just enough to throw Punk off his game long enough for Y2J to become WWE Champion for the second time.  Will Jericho capitalize on his massive momentum?  Only time will tell, but if March was any indication, the best is yet to come.





Match of the Month: WWE Superstars 3/8/2012: Dolph Ziggler vs. Kofi Kingston

I may be a bit biased (I was in attendance for this match), but I struggle to find any contest on Raw or Smackdown in the month of March that comes even remotely close to this one.  Kofi Kingston and Dolph Ziggler may have not had much success in 2012 thus far, but they sure as hell have given us some of the best performances.  Both men dazzled at the Royal Rumble and both delivered the most memorable spots of the night at the Elimination Chamber PPV.  So how fitting that for the third month in a row, they tear down the house in a match that sadly, not many people were even fortunate enough to see.  The very same audience got to see a confrontation between John Cena and the Rock and were live when Shawn Michaels announced that he would be the special referee for Triple H vs. The Undertaker at Wrestlemania.  However, it was this match that got the loudest reaction and it was this match that everyone was talking about afterwards.  It's the best match of the month and come years end, it will be a strong contender for the best match of the year.

Match Rating: ****1/4

Moment of the Month: The Last of a Dying Breed

The brewing animosity between Triple H and The Undertaker alone would be enough to water the mouths of the WWE Universe.  Add in Shawn Michaels, and you've got one of the most unique stories ever told in the history of professional wrestling.  Never before has there been so much at stake.  Never before have there been so many stories, each with so much depth, character development and history.  It's the WWE's greatest saga.  Here you have The Undertaker facing the man who came closest to ending his fabled streak coupled with the fact that the referee is the man who gave him the best two matches of said streak.  It's magic.  It can never be done again.  That's what makes their three way confrontation on the March 19 episode of Raw so special.  The end of an era is looming and you could feel it in the air.  The three surviving members of a forgotten time.  A time where men fought to near death for pride alone.  This segment let us all know that it was again that time.  There will be sweat, there will be tears and most importantly...There will be blood.  





Surprise of the Month: Did someone call a Doctor?

I remember when the WWE announced that we would have a Rock concert and a John Cena rap on the March 12 episode of Raw, I initially shrugged off the idea.  I thought the tension between the two was as real as it gets, and that a couple of cheesy "talent shows" would soften the storyline.  My heart fell in my stomach upon hearing this announcement.  My eyes rolled so far I could literally see my brain thinking "Oh....fuck...".  Then Monday came, John Cena arrived to his "Basic Thuganomics" theme, and grown men all across the WWE Universe went through a sexual identity crisis because they got so excited that "it moved a little".  Yes, for one night only, we saw the return of the John Cena we all loved circa 2004.  A John Cena that doesn't give a shit, and as long as The Rock is hanging around, a John Cena that doesn't appear to be leaving anytime soon.  Sure, he may not wear throwback jerseys and a backwards cap, but then man beneath it all is here.  Welcome back Doc, you've got a patient booked on April 1st in need of some facial reconstruction.  Or maybe just a serious Attitude Adjustment.










Top Ten WWE Superstars Pound for Pound


*(The number in parenthesis is the superstar's rank in the last month's list)

1. Daniel Bryan (1) World Heavyweight Champion: For the second month in a row, Bryan emerges as the cream of the crop.  He has managed to become one of the more impressive World Champions in recent memory and has another pinfall victory over Randy Orton to show for it.  I will admit that his tactics are usually questionable, but the outcome never is.
2. CM Punk (2) WWE Champion: Punk has been a bit off as of late due to the mind games of his Wrestlemania opponent Chris Jericho.  Still, he IS the WWE Champion and his resiliency in the eyes of adversity is the champ's most valuable trait.  One he'll need to beat Chris Jericho and reclaim the top spot next month.
3. Chris Jericho (4): Jericho gave the best performances since his return this month and is slowly climbing his way back to the top of the rankings.  He brilliantly got inside the mind of CM Punk and is poised to capture Punk's WWE Championship.  He also earned an impressive victory over Punk in a tag match, got a technical victory over Sheamus, effectively slowing The Great White's momentum, and capped the month off with a fantastic showcase against Kofi Kingston on the final Smackdown before Wrestlemania. 
4. John Cena (5): Cena is fully focused again, making him the most dangerous competitor in the WWE.  Fortunately for the rest of the WWE roster, he currently has his sights set on The Rock.  Still, don't be fooled, it's best everyone stay out of his way.  Don't think so?  Just ask Mark Henry.
5. Sheamus (3) 2012 Royal Rumble Winner: As impressive as Sheamus' victories over Dolph Ziggler (twice) and The Miz (twice) may be, it's time for Sheamus to make good on his rumble win back in January.  He has lost a tiny bit of steam since then, but that's OK, as long as he can get the job done when it counts. 
6. Cody Rhodes (9) Intercontinental Champion: Rhodes' mind games over The Big Show are now the stuff of legend.  However, he has his work cut out for him come Wrestlemania.  To his credit, the longest reigning champion in the WWE is also the hungriest and brightest young star in the company right now.
7. Randy Orton (-): Orton has found himself at a bit of a crossroads lately.  He was once one of the most feared and dominant competitors in the WWE, but now he can barely survive most of his matches.  He bounced back a bit last month with a few notable victories, but something needs to change and fast for The Viper to slither his way back to the top.
8. Kofi Kingston (10): While Kofi Kingston picked up a big loss to Chris Jericho, he looked rather impressive against the crafty veteran.  He earns some extra points for his victory in the Match of the Month, but he needs a few more before he breaks into the top five.
9. Mark Henry (-): 2011's Superstar of the Year has had a horrible first two months in 2012.  Thankfully, the World's Strongest Man bounced back in March, again becoming one of the most dominant forces in the WWE and the cornerstone of Team Johnny at Wrestlemania.  Look for Henry to anchor the team to victory in my estimation, further climbing his way back to title contention.
10. Dolph Ziggler (10): Ziggler just can't catch a break these days.  He always delivers in the ring, often putting forth a solid challenge to whomever he is in the ring with.  Still, "the show off" may always steal the show, but he may need to add some focus to match that confidence if he wants to live up to his amazing potential.