Welcome everyone to another edition of Around The Ring. I decided to try and write another quick article before I leave on vacation. My wife and I are heading out Monday to North Carolina just to get away and visit one of my cousins. Should be a relaxing five days. We can't wait.

Well, the Supercard was a success, I'd say!! I was rather surprised with some of the results, but then again, maybe I shouldn't be. You can check out the results at:

http://supercard.aroundthering.com

Thanks to all of you that voted!! I really appreciate it.

Now on to the meat and potatoes...

Well since the last time I wrote an article, not much has changed. Vickie Guerrero is still really annoying. I can't stand the sound of her voice, the way she looks. Anything. I guess that makes her a pretty decent heel, wouldn't you say?

Watching Smackdown a couple weeks ago, and I like the way they are finally developing Cherry's character. However, she needs a little more work and I think Maryse would agree. Cherry went for a bulldog on Maryse and Maryse hit Cherry's side instead of hitting the mat. The way she hit, I was surprised Maryse didn't end up with a stinger or worse. Very lucky!!

Okay...One Night Stand, which I will give my predictions on a bit later, I just have a few things to say. Wasn't this PPV supposed to be exclusively ECW guys? It was just a couple years ago, that they played an angle with the Raw and Smackdown guys "boycotting" the PPV. Yet now suddenly, these same guys are the majority of the PPV. And what ever happened to the brand "separation"? I guess there really couldn't be such a thing.

WWE goes extreme for one night. Yeah right!! WWE has never been extreme. I don't count Foley off the cell as extreme. The first One Night Stand PPV was good. It was somewhat like the old ECW as it had a majority of ECW "originals". But now, it just kind of...what's the word I am looking for...oh yeah...SUCKS!! I watch ECW on Tuesday nights as it seems to be more of the "farm" league for WWE. Kofi Kingston has really caught my eye with his unique style and athleticism. But other than that, it reminds me of Saturday Morning Superstars. ECW...Extremely Cheap WWE?!!

Okay...why does Vince insist on shoving this Russian wrestler down our throats?? He sucks!! Boot his a$$ already!!

Whatever happened to the waft or hint of realism in wrestling. I know they do ECW and Smackdown tapings the same night. Now Kofi Kingston had a match with Shelton Benjamin on ECW and Shelton really worked over one of Kofi's legs. He should have still been limping or something on Friday for Smackdown. Now for the crowd in attendance, that's a little hard as they tape Smackdown first I believe. But to the viewer at home, and especially myself, I was like...Kofi, in the grand scheme of things, had 3 days to recover from Shelton's beating. To me, I would think that to sell it, that Kofi should have still been "feeling" the leg injury. But Kofi wasn't at all. Bouncing around like nothing happened. As Carlito would say Kofi, That's not cool!!

Well...we have a new third generation wrestler in the business. The Million Dollar Man's son, Ted, was introduced last Monday. Kid is pretty put together, but lets see what they do with him.

WWE...and even TNA has started, need to learn that people's attention spans can be short. So opening the show with a 15 to 20 minute gab fest is not cool. Most people end up tuning out. Be different. Start talking and in the first few minutes, have an impromptu match or something. Keep the interest up. Listening to the same old "I'm The Game...blah blah..." or "I am Randy Orton...blah blah..." or "I am Eric Knudsen and..." oh wait...I'm not on there. But it's the same thing week in and week out. Do I care if Edge is world champ? Do I care what he SAYS he is going to do?? Hell no!! So shut up and prove it in a match!!

Once again I caught Jericho talking to HBK during the match. And it looked worse. As Shawn went to send Y2J off the ropes, Jericho said something to HBK, but I guess HBK didn't hear him, so he put y2J back against the ropes and then sent him off the ropes.

I did like the way they brought Paul Burchill back in after being gone a few weeks...and starting a feud with Mr Kennedy. Speaking of Kennedy...and Melina, their respective face turns were really kind of quick. They are just suddenly the good guys. And it didn't take them having to do a run in to save someone or turning on their partner, or anything.

Now onto TNA. Bubba Ray had a decent match with Homicide a couple weeks ago. The only thing I was a little "iffy" on was after the match when Bubba Ray and company laid out Homicide and Hector. Then Bubba Ray says "All you Puerto Rican's are dead!" Is that good heat or bad heat? In a way it reminds me of when JBL was let go from Fox News for his "goose stepping" march on a tour of Germany a few years ago. somehow it just didn't seem right.

When did Abyss become the new Mankind? It isn't even funny, like in the way Jay Lethal has become Macho Man or Shark Boy becoming Stone Cold. I just don't think this is a good idea.

I actually like Matt Morgan but I must say I was a bit disappointed in his match against Robert Roode. Roode spent the match working over one of Matt's legs and suddenly, Matt Morgan comes back like nothing even happened. I think some of these guys need a refresher course in how to "sell" moves, holds, and injuries.

Ok...The whole thing with Karen and Kurt angle a couple weeks ago was so ridiculous that I actually thought I was watching WWE for a minute. It is such a bad story line...they need to scrap it. Or at least not drag it out for 10 or more minutes.

I had to laugh at this past weeks TNA show with Christian busting on Booker, using Bookers 5 Time, 5 time, 5 time,5 time, 5 time world Champ line. I was severely disappointed that they spent 17 minutes...yes I kept track...yapping. And then...just as it is about to get good, they cut to JB and Karen Angle for some B.S. interview. And then it was almost a full half hour before the first match. Don't start copying WWE.

I have to say I enjoy Jay Lethal and his perfect impersonation of Macho Man. It truly cracks me up. OOOOOH YEAH!!! Oh and it gets better. Then Ace Young...a former American Idol contestant, made a music video about Black Machismo and So Cal Val. I was rolling!!

Well I am going to try and wrap this up with a few last words. Enjoyed the Roxxi vs Angelina match. Very good match. Also enjoyed the way the match with Rhino and Storm started...in the back stage area. Another good thing is the way opponents are "selling" Rhino's Gore. Makes it look that much more impressive. Lastly...great match with Christian and Tomko. And to think that WWE had nothing for Tomko...he goes to TNA and he is a major player!!

Now I will give my quick predictions for the One Night Stand PPV. These are the matches listed thus far:

I Quit Match - Beth Phoenix vs Melina

Could be interesting, but I see Beth being just a bit too powerful. Winner: Beth Phoenix.

Singapore Cane Match
(Winner will face Kane for the ECW Title at Night of Champions)
- Big Show vs. John Morrison vs. Tommy Dreamer vs. Chavo Guerrero vs. CM Punk.

This match is going to be down right brutal and especially since Big Show threw his proverbial hat into the mix. I think Big Show will take this one. Winner: Big Show

Falls Count Anywhere Match
- Jeff Hardy vs. Umaga

I tend to think that this match favors Jeff Hardy because Hardy can use anything and everything around him to dive, jump, throw himself off of or throw at Umaga. A hard fought match, but in the end, Jeff takes it. Winner: Jeff Hardy.

Stretcher Match
- Shawn Michaels vs. Batista

I would have said Batista, but having just read a little tidbit, I guess Batista is going to be taking some time off. So with that being said, I would think they would have an angle with Batista getting hurt somehow that he will be out for awhile. winner:
Shawn Michaels.

First Blood Match
- John Cena vs. JBL

Probably one of the few matches that Cena will actually have the whole crowd behind him. Anyways, I guess I don't really care, but if I have to pick a winner...I will go with...
John Cena. Winner: John Cena

World Heavyweight Championship - TLC Match (If The Undertaker loses, he must leave WWE forever)
- The Undertaker vs. Edge

Isn't this just a repeat of Mania?? Ok...probably not going to be a match of the year or even of the night, but could be good. Winner: The Undertaker.

WWE Championship - Last Man Standing Match
- Triple H (c) vs. Randy Orton

Another hard fought match. Does Orton have what it takes? I don't know. I think I see the age of Orton dying off. Winner: Triple H.

***This Weeks Brainbuster***
(Be sure to send all answers and/or comments to ericknudsen@aroundthering.com. Remember to include your name.) Also...I won't be able to answer your emails until next Monday, so please be patient. Thanks.


Q: Before Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson made The Rock nickname famous, who was known as The Rock in the 1980's?

Well that's it for me. Thank you for joining me for this edition of Around The Ring. I am Eric, that’s my opinion and I am standing by it!!