WWE Wrestlemania XXVII Thoughts and Picks

In the opening video of Wrestlemania XXIV John Cena said "alot can happen in a year." Ever since the main events of this show were announced, that phrase came into my mind because it fits this year so much. The youth movement is in full effect this year and some people aren't happy, I'm in the middle. I think it's going to be a great show. That being said I'm going to do my picks definately than I have in other blogs and posts, I'm going to pick the match order as well as the winners. Here we go...

Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes
Winner: Cody Rhodes

I've been back and forth about this match. It's really Cody's "revenge match" so it's his to really win. But the heel rarely wins the opening match of Mania. What I do expect to happen is for these two to put on a hell of show to start up the night for Cody to cheat to win.

The Corre (Wade Barrett, Ezekiel Jackson, Health Slater and Justin Gabriel) vs. The Big Show, Kane, Santino and Kozlov
Winner: The Big Show, Kane, Santino and Kozlov

This feels like two matches put together into one. I would have perfer this being two seperate matches and have the tag titles on the line. Honestly I'll be surprised if Corre win this match. I think it's going to be interseting how over Santino truly is with the crowd at the Georgia Dome. I think Big Show is going to pin Jackson after a double chokeslam.

John Morrison, Trish Stratus and Snooki vs. Dolph Ziggler and Lay-Cool (with Vickie Guerrero)
Winner: John Morrison, Trish Stratus and Snooki

Holy random matchup Batman. I have a question. Right now Jersey Shore is one of the hottest shows in the world, so having Snooki on this card makes sense pop culture wise. But in five years when wrestling fans watch back this Wrestlemania, are people even going to remember who she is? That being said, this is a weird match up. J-Mo, Dolph and Lay-Cool belong on the card, they have been all over the place this past year. Trish is here to show she can still wrestle because she is a coach on Tough Enough. But this being a match makes no sense at all. I hope they know what they are doing with this one and also keep it short.

United States Championship
Sheamus (c) vs. Daniel Bryan
Winner: Sheamus

This seems like a random matchup. One year ago, Daniel Bryan was Bryan Danielson in ROH, Sheamus was still in Ireland. Now they have a chance to steal the show. I think they could. My guy wants me to pick Daniel Bryan to win this match but I think Sheamus needs this win more right now. Bryan will get another chance one year to get a WM win.

Randy Orton vs. CM Punk
Winner: Randy Orton

CM Punk was one of the HOTTEST heels in the last two years, now he's in a match with Orton who has really cooled up gimmick wise in the last year. Maybe it was the face turn at last year's Mania. That being said this could be a great match, especially with the New Nexus barred from ringside. The only way I see Punk winning this match is if there's a new Nexus member that we don't know about.

No Holds Barred
Undertaker vs. Triple H
Winner: Undertaker

This match placement might cause some controversy. I honestly don't think that this is a main event matchup in 2011. I think it's going two legends tearing each other apart and beating each other up. It's not going to be a classic by any means. I honestly don't even expect a great match at all. I hope I'm wrong. The unpredictability factor lowers the importance of this match for me. The only thing I'm looking forward to is where Shawn Micheals comes into play in this match, I am expecting him to superkick both men by the end of the match.

World Heavyweight Championship
Edge (with Christian) (c) vs. Alberto Del Rio (with Brodus Clay)
Winner: Alberto Del Rio

This match is interseting. Del Rio won the Royal Rumble and earned this title match. The problem I have is that Christian has beat him twice, which in my book makes this a triple threat. But it is not, so that being said, I can see Del Rio winning either clean, which would be a nice surprise, or Christian turning on Edge, which I hope doesn't happen.

Jerry "The King" Lawler vs. Michael Cole (with Jack Swagger)
Special Guest Referee: Stone Cold Steve Austin
Winner: Jerry "The King" Lawler

Why is this match so late in my card? Three reasons. The Stone Cold factor is #1. #2 is the fact this storyline has been going on since last December. It's a long running feud. #3 it's Jerry Lawler's first and probably only WM match. He deserves the respect to be this late in the card. It's going to be a quick match, the crowd is going to be happy because King wins and even Jim Ross might get his revenge on Cole as well.

2011 Hall of Fame Induction Announcement
I'm basing this mainly on the HBK factor. He's a legend and deserves his last hurrah in the near main event spot on the card. It's a fitting way to say goodbye to Mr. Wrestlemania for the last time.

WWE Championship
The Miz (c) vs. John Cena
Winner: John Cena

This is the match I would have never expected to EVER main event WM. The Miz defending the WWE Championship against John Cena. Not only that but The Rock is looming somewhere to get involved in this match in someway. To be honest this was the toughest match to pick on the whole card. I'm going to go with Cena, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if Miz wins because Rock costs Cena the belt.

The Celebrity Apprentice:Shock Value (3/27/11)

So far this season I've been able to predict the winner of the task before we get to the boardroom. This week I was way off. This week the teams had to make a 30 second commerical for ACN's new video phones. The company specificly asked for a video that pulled at the heart strings and be emotional. Then HOW DID TEAM ASAP LOSE?!?

Team Backbone-Winning Team

Project Manager: Lil Jon

I'm still trying to figure this one out. They decided to go the viral shock route for their video and had Jose play the gay fiance of Gary Busey's grandson. It was really funny but totally the opposite of where the company told them to go. After thinking about it, besides the fact that the adviors votes saw it as a huge viral success for the company, the fact that they had Lil Jon hosting it, giving off the massive energy and that they went second were the reasons they won. I wonder what the vote would have been if they went first.

Team A.S.A.P.-Losing Team
Project Manager: NeNe Leakes
The ladies went the more traditional route and had Marlee Matlin play the deaf mom of a teen overseas in Paris and talking in signs on the video phone. I was sure they were going to win. they lost 53-47%, very close, but still three losses in a row. So that led to a very interseting boardroom where LaToya and Dionne were put on the chopping block. Then Dionne shocked me, and probably everyone, by challenging Trump to fire her. So well he did. That being said something good came out of this, I've been wanting to get rid of her for weeks.

Gary Busey Line of the Show:

"Did you see Big Wednesday? That's what my fiancée calls my apparatus, Big Wednesday."

NCAA Tournament-Elite 8 Results (3/26-27/11)

Record: 2-2
Overall Record: 39-25

East Division:
#2 North Carolina vs. #4 Kentucky (76-69)

Southwest Division:
#1 Kansas vs. #11 VCU (71-61)

Southeast Division:
#2 Florida vs. #8 Butler (74-71 OT)

West Division:
#3 Connecticut vs. #5 Arizona (65-63)

NCAA Tournament-Elite 8 (3/26-27/11)

East Division:
#2 North Carolina vs. #4 Kentucky

Southwest Division:
#1 Kansas vs. #11 VCU

Southeast Division:
#2 Florida vs. #8 Butler

West Division:
#3 Connecticut vs. #5 Arizona

NCAA Tournament-Sweet 16 Results (3/24-25/11)

Record: 4-4
Overall Record: 37-23

East Division:
#1 Ohio St. vs. #4 Kentucky (62-60)
#2 North Carolina vs. #11 Marquette (81-63)

Southwest Division:
#1 Kansas vs. #12 Richmond (77-57)
#10 Florida St. vs. #11 VCU (72-71 OT)

Southeast Division:
#2 Florida vs. #3 BYU (83-74 OT)
#4 Wisconsin vs. #8 Butler (61-54)

West Division:
#1 Duke vs. #5 Arizona (93-77)
#2 San Diego St. vs. #3 Connecticut (74-67)

American Idol-The *@#*$@% Results Show! (3/24/11)

Well this wasn't your typical results show. On this night Stevie Wonder sang Happy Birthday to Steven Tyler, Hulk Hogan came out and surprised James and Paul and then threw Ryan into the crowd, Sugarland sang their big crossover hit, Jennifer Hudson returned to the Idol stage and the crowd almost rioted over the result. Yes folks, Idol has grown up to the point where Ryan looked scared at the crowd reaction.

Group Performance:Ain't No Mountain High Enough
I enjoyed this song, it was really entertaining and just great on the ears.

And now...dim the lights...on to the results....

Bottom 3:
1. Thia
2. Stefano
3. Casey

Okay I didn't see that one coming. Where did this bottom three come from? Out of no where.

Bottom 2:
1. Stefano
2. Casey

This is where the crowd started to get angry. Shock and anger was in the air.

Up for Elimination:
Casey

As Casey hugged Stefano, the crowd really got angry. To point where the censors came out and the sound dropped out for almost a minute because the crowd was cursing.

Then Casey started singing for his life and then Randy actually cut him and the judges saved him. That being said the gloves were off. I think Casey forgot he was on live TV and he started cursing up a storm.

So that means NEXT week it is the top 11 again and there will be two eliminations. What a night!

American Idol-It's Motown Week! (3/23/11)

This has always been one of my favorite weeks of the season, Motown week! Tonight I always have my amazing wife Mandy, tweeting in her comments on the show. Let's get right into it...

Casey
Song: Heard It Through The Grapevine
Blake: Very nice especially without the growling. His charisma is unreal. Performances like this will keep him a massive crowd favorite.
Rating (out of 5): ****
Mandy: Casey's got a Taylor Hicks vibe to him. It was screetchy and he needs to shave, but he is an original entertainer. Safe.

Thia
Song: Heatwave
Blake: Nice change of pace! She can sing fast paced music. But for me she seemed confused and like she was getting lost in the lyrics. It also felt like she was distracted by her background singers.
Rating (out of 5): ***
Mandy: Thia is absolutely gorgeous. I was kind of bored and she looked confused. Hell of a voice, but she may be in danger.

Jacob
Song: All I Need To Get By
Blake: Motown is defiantely his sound. This is the first time I can honestly say he sounds good. Still not a fan but I don't want to slit my wrist this week.
Rating (out of 5): ***1/2
Mandy: Church choir, yes. Broadway stage, yes. Idol, no. I just can't get on Jacob train. I actually cringe at his theatrics and voice changes.

Lauren
Song: Keep Me Hangin On
Blake: I really like this. Very fun and energetic. She's fiesty in a good way.
Rating (out of 5): ****
Mandy: Lauren breathed new life into this song. I love her spunk and attitude. She's Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood's love child.

Stefano
Song: Hello
Blake: Really good but not great. Very mellow but enjoyable. Could have done a little more and overall not the best he's done.
Rating (out of 5): ***
Mandy: Since Ricky Martin is gay, women need a new heartthrob. Hi Stefano. You oversang the song, but you will be fine.

Haley
Song: You've Really Got A Hold On Me
Blake: She's just bad. The background singers are better than her at this point. She's trying to be sexy and flirt but it's coming off as uncomfortable and annoying.
Rating (out of 5): *
Mandy: I think Haley's drunk. As my son said, she was wearing "no clothes." Please go home. Stop shrieking and growling.

Scotty
Song: For Once in My Life
Blake: Never did I EVER think I'd hear this song as a country song. Fantastic. I want this single. Best of the night so far. Most original by far.
Rating (out of 5): *****
Mandy: Scotty knows who he is and that could be a hit on the radio now. Loved it. He and Taylor Swift would have pretty, talented babies.

Pia
Song: For That's Fair in Love
Blake: I love her voice and she is amazing. I was just a little bored till the end but that's just me.
Rating (out of 5): ****
Mandy: Pia is gorgeous and her voice matches. A little boring for me, but she's safe. On a side note, her and Stefano should hook it up.

Paul
Song: Tracks of My Tears
Blake: Still do NOT like his voice BUT this was good. With his guitar he wasn't as spastic so it makes it easier to watch. Might be his best performance of the season.
Rating (out of 5): ***1/2
Mandy: Paul's best performance so far, it reminded me of Cook or Allen. I didn't want to punch him this week. I still want his drugs though.

Namia
Song: Dancing in the Streets
Blake: She made up for last week's eh performance. This was really good and she has the chops, charisma and dance moves. Bonus points for the Milwaukee shoutout!
Rating (out of 5): *****
Mandy: I may be partial to Naima, but she is a full package. Plus CJ clapped and unless you're a Mover, he doesn't care about you. Great!

James
Song: Livin For The City
Blake: Really good. More pure charisma. He knows how to play the crowd. Not his best, in my opinion, but still fantastic.
Rating (out of 5): ****1/2
Mandy: James is a much more tolerable version of Adam Lambert. He is just enough and I love that. He (pardon the pun) rocks!

Should/Will Go Home: (we both agree) Haley