The Shield: Presence, Unpredictability & Intimidation

Taking a deeper look into one of the best stables in recent memory.

Nearly a year ago, I posted this Great Debate article detailing my three step program to create the next great heel stable in the WWE.  I had noted that for me, it was the missing element in the WWE product at the time.  It's amazing how quickly things can change.  Come November of 2012, The Shield would make their impactful debut, costing Ryback his WWE Championship match at the Survivor Series PPV.  Since then, the group has taken apart every major WWE superstar or legend that has crossed their paths.  And taking a look at their rise to prominence and current status in the WWE, it's hard to picture anyone being able to take them down.

The 2013 PWI Poll: Breaking Down A Few Of My Selections

Pro Wrestling Illustrated releases one of their most anticipated issues of the year.

In the newly released July issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated the well respected mag has revealed the results of their annual "PWI Poll".  Generally, I make my picks, but they never really coincide with those of the majority of their beloved readers.  I never really mind because everyone is entitled to their opinion.  Still, if you're reading this, then I'm safely assuming you respect mine to some extent.  So what I've done here is reveal my choices for the top 7 questions that really piqued my interest.  Some of my answers may surprise you, but I'll explain just why I made my decision and then kindly ask you to leave a comment or hit me up on twitter with your thoughts/picks as to just who is the most deserving of the following awards.  Sound good?  Well then join me for more after the jump!

Amazing New Interview With The Miz

Sam Roberts recently sat down with The Miz to discuss Wrestlemania, CM Punk, Vince McMahon, messing up on live TV & more!  It's a very enjoyable look into where he's at with the company at this point in his career.  Check it out below.

G9Z Favorites: Toshiaki Kawada

Welcome to the second article in my brand new series called G9Z Favorites!  Occasionally, I will select one wrestler and list some of my favorite matches, moments, memories & more! This will be the first series on the blog primarily run by reader (yes, that means YOU) request!  So if you have a favorite wrestler and want them featured here, you can contact me either via email (g9zwwe@yahoo.com) or on twitter (@g9zwrestling).  This week, we are going to take a look at reader Simon Islam's favorite wrestler Toshiaki Kawada!

The G9Z Wrestling Honor Roll: Class Of 2005

Welcome to another edition of the HONOR ROLL. Every year during my "Year End Awards" I give out roughly 15 awards. Of those awards, "the big four" are the Wrestler, Woman, Tag Team & Match of the year. The winners of these awards were generally the most awesome performers of the year and with hundreds of prominent wrestlers worldwide, it's a true honor to be able to snag one of the four. This section of the blog will be dedicated to the winners for every year dating all the way back to 1990 (roughly the time I first began watching wrestling)! Every week I will add another year's winners until the database is up to date. This is just a fun series that will give you an idea of what the best of the best was in any year you may have missed. Any current and/or future winners will also be added to the honor roll and join the most prestigious group in all of blogging!

This week, we're announcing the class of 2005!

Awesome! Photo of the week! April 15-21, 2013

Check out this nice photo of CM Punk & Lita at a recent UFC event.  They look like a punk rock hallmark card.

A Strong Candidate For The Match Of The Year

In my review of New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Invasion Attack iPPV, I gave the main event match between Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada the utmost praise.  If you want to see just how good the match is for yourself, you can check it out below.  It's one of the greatest matches I have ever witnessed.

The G9Z Wrestling Honor Roll: Class Of 2004

Welcome to another edition of the HONOR ROLL. Every year during my "Year End Awards" I give out roughly 15 awards. Of those awards, "the big four" are the Wrestler, Woman, Tag Team & Match of the year. The winners of these awards were generally the most awesome performers of the year and with hundreds of prominent wrestlers worldwide, it's a true honor to be able to snag one of the four. This section of the blog will be dedicated to the winners for every year dating all the way back to 1990 (roughly the time I first began watching wrestling)! Every week I will add another year's winners until the database is up to date. This is just a fun series that will give you an idea of what the best of the best was in any year you may have missed. Any current and/or future winners will also be added to the honor roll and join the most prestigious group in all of blogging!

This week, we're announcing the class of 2004!

The G9Z Wrestling Wrestlemania Weekend Awards

Nigel McGuinness wasn't the only one who had a great time last weekend!

Welcome to the first ever G9Z Wrestling Wrestlemania Weekend Awards (man, that's a shitload of Ws)!  This past weekend was easily, the most fun I've ever had as a wrestling fan in a long time.  With major events from WWE, ROH, DGUSA, NJPW & Shimmer all on the table, I made it my absolute goal to soak in all the best each promotion had to offer in order to give you just an idea of how amazing this past week has been.  After a multitude of classic matches and a ton of title changes, I've made an account of the best of the best from April 5-8 (Friday through Monday) and an overall examination as to why this weekend will be one to remember in the years to come!  Find out just what made this the best weekend in wrestling history after the jump!

NJPW PPV Review: Invasion Attack 2013

Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi main event another all time show.

 

 

Kazuchika Okada has been the fastest rising star New Japan Pro Wrestling has seen in ages.  At just 25 years of age he ranks high among the absolute best main event performers in any promotion.  After a long road to Wrestle Kingdom, he would fail in recapturing the IWGP Heavyweight title from champion Hiroshi Tanahashi in a very strong MOTYC.  After this crippling defeat, he would be defeated by veteran Minoru Suzuki in both singles & tag team competition.  Many were questioning if he would ever make it back to the title.  Okada would silence all critics when he won the 2013 New Japan Cup after a superb performance at the event.  This win would set up Okada/Tanahashi IV and it's safe to say that this main event is one of the biggest matches of the year.  Would Okada be able to finally get redemption against the current Ace of the promotion?  Find out in my review of NJPW Invasion Attack with special guest Billy Carpenter of Four Corners Radio (@4CR_ Billy) after the jump!

WWE Monday Night Raw: 4/8/2013

Dolph Ziggler won the world title in one of the best moments in RAW history.

New Jersey is always the place to find some of the more colorful citizens of the US, but this week's audience took the cake.  They brought it all night long and made the entire episode one of the most memorable of all time.  Last year, I hailed the RAW after Wrestlemania as one of the best wrestling events ever.  In many ways, this one was even better.  Get the full scoop one the 1,037th episode of Monday Night RAW when I detail the good & the bad with my special guest Ashley (@smashley_ashley) after the jump!

WWE PPV Review: WrestleMania XXIX

One of the best Wrestlemanias of all time will go down as one of the most controversial as well.

So did you hear?  Wrestlemania 29 was last Sunday?  And apparently, it was the worst Wrestlemania of all time!  If you've been hearing this and you feel as if the whole world has gone batshit crazy, then have no fear, G9Z Wrestling is here with a review you can call your own.  Also for the second year in a row, Pearl (@SexySmarkY2J) stops in here and there to give some insight as well.  Find out our thoughts on one of the best Wrestlemanias in recent memory after the jump!

G9Z Favorites: Paul London

 

Welcome to the very first article in my brand new series called G9Z Favorites!  Occasionally, I will select one wrestler and list some of my favorite matches, moments, memories & more!  This will be the first series on the blog primarily run by reader (yes, that means YOU) request!  So if you have a favorite wrestler and want them featured here, you can contact me either via email (g9zwwe@yahoo.com) or on twitter (@g9zwrestling).  This week we're going to start with reader Oliver Newman's (@brummieol) favorite wrestler and all around high flying extraordinaire, Paul London!

The G9Z Wrestling Honor Roll: Class Of 2003

Welcome to another edition of the HONOR ROLL. Every year during my "Year End Awards" I give out roughly 15 awards. Of those awards, "the big four" are the Wrestler, Woman, Tag Team & Match of the year. The winners of these awards were generally the most awesome performers of the year and with hundreds of prominent wrestlers worldwide, it's a true honor to be able to snag one of the four. This section of the blog will be dedicated to the winners for every year dating all the way back to 1990 (roughly the time I first began watching wrestling)! Every week I will add another year's winners until the database is up to date. This is just a fun series that will give you an idea of what the best of the best was in any year you may have missed. Any current and/or future winners will also be added to the honor roll and join the most prestigious group in all of blogging!

This week, we're announcing the class of 2003!

You Readers Are Quite The Meme Generators

It's safe to say that I don't find a slogan or popular trend on the Internet more fitting than this one as a representation of the ideals upheld here at G9Z Wrestling.  With the general feeling of panic often displayed on forums across the net, I think everyone could use a little R & R.  Thanks to reader Will Tierney for this.  Just in time for Wrestlemania too. 

Anyone else want to send in any fan work, feel free to send to g9zwwe@yahoo.com.  I will proudly display it on the site and shout your name from the highest possible mountaintop.

Enjoy yourselves this weekend folks,


-G9Z

A Late Five Star Match From 2012: Kana vs. Ayako Hamada

Joshi standouts Kana & Ayako Hamada competed in what is now one of my favorite matches ever at Shimmer Vol. 50.

If you haven't seen any Shimmer event yet, Vol. 50 would not be a bad place to start.  These women always do their damnedest to put out the best wrestling product in the world and this show was no different.  Highlighted by a dream match that saw one of my favourite wrestlers in the world today Kana, square off against a woman I don't hold very far behind, Ayako Hamada.  I have been waiting to get my hands on this match since I got wind of it last year and unfortunately, was not able to view it until recently.  These two had an absolutely flawless match that culminated with an ending that damn near brought me to tears.  Please do your best to seek this one out.  It's one of the best matches I have ever seen.  I do not exaggerate.  The only negative about this match for me is that I could not have seen it live.  If I had, it damn well would have been in the running for MOTY.  I was able to add it to the ongoing Top 25 thread though.  And it also received a perfect score from me.  I do not hand out five star ratings easily, but this is one I feel, is very well deserved.  Words can not express how important this match is for the promotion and for the women of wrestling around the world.  It was physical, emotional and borderline transcendent.

The Road To Wrestlemania 29: Dolph Ziggler & Kane

Team Tiny Ring Attire & AJ are set to collide with Team Hell No & Kaitlyn this Sunday. 

Welcome to the latest addition to my Road To Wrestlemania series!  Dolph Ziggler, Big E Langston and AJ Lee have been on quite the roll lately and the hope to take down the trio of Kaitlyn, Daniel Bryan & AJ come Wrestlemania.  However, only Ziggs, Bryan and The Big Red Machine have had any real experience at the event.  Well, Bryan has much less experience, but we love the little guy so much that we're going to include him just for kicks. 

What?  Is it because I said kicks?  I meant that in the best way possible....what?....

 

 

 

Oh....I see. 

 

 

 

Um yeah, we won't be including D-Bry in this one, sorry guys.  But I think he'd appreciate it more if we left that whole Wrestlemania XXVIII debacle out.  However, if you'd like some insight into just which team has the best shot at winning here, then read on.

 

The Road To Wrestlemania 29: Randy Orton, Big Show & Sheamus

Could these three get along long enough to topple The Shield?

Welcome to the latest article in my Wrestlemania XXIX preview series!  This time around we're going to be taking a look at the team of Randy Orton, Sheamus & Big Show and checking into each man's mindset heading into their big match with The Shield. 

CM Punk Tells Smart Marks "F*ck You!"

Peter Rosenberg conducted a series of interviews after the Wrestlemania press conference and CM Punk in particular, had some choice words for smart marks around the world.  Even though I review and rate events, I don't consider myself fitting of the "smart" mark label.  My optimism and general perspective is a drastic contrast to many here on the Internet and it's something I'm actually very proud of.  Nevertheless, the powers that be are probably not going to like much of what Punk had to say here.  You can see that interview along with a few questions with John Cena and Mark Henry below:

Best Of The Month: March 2013

Kazuchika Okada and Hiroshi Tanahashi are again set to collide after Okada won the 2013 New Japan Cup.

Here are the highlights from March 2013:

How Rosa Mendes Stays In Ring Shape For Wrestlemania

Rosa's "Musclemania" Tweets & Touts have been of great help to men & women all around the world.  Check the below video to get an inside look into just how important staying in ring ready shape is to the WWE Diva. 

Oh and btw, it's 2:53 of Rosa Mendes working out.  Watch it!