Money in the Bank 2014

We are in the month of June and that can only mean one thing (aside from the World Cup): it is time for the Money in the Bank pay-per-view. This year sees the traditional ladder match for the briefcase with the contract for a title shot any time within the next calendar year. Added to the established tradition, there will be another ladder match for the actual title. Who wins, who loses? It’s all about who can climb the ladder to success!

Pre-show: Daniel Bryan for the first time addresses the WWE Universe after being stripped of the WWE World Heavyweight Title

Daniel Bryan showed up to his interview with Michael Cole all smiles and without the neck brace he was last seen in. When asked about his possible return he did his own impression of Bad News Barrett stating he had some bad news: the possibility of a second neck surgery. That will certainly set back the recovery time and may have an impact on who wins the title later on, a title that still feels like his. His favourites to win the title match were John Cena, Randy Orton, or Roman Reigns, the result of a fan-submitted question. He then got interrupted by Bo Dallas of all people, told to “BO-lieve” and that injury is a “pain in the neck” (yes the puns continued) which then followed with Bryan telling him to “BO-leave”, ending the segment in a YES chant. It seemed to me that that spot for Bo Dallas hurt him more than it helped him, picking on a fan favourite for a legitimate injury.

Tag Team Title Match: The Usos vs. Rowan and Harper

The match started with the Usos getting beaten up right away, but didn’t last and overall, it was a pretty even match. I particularly liked Jimmy (or is it Jay?) doing his best Jeff Hardy impersonation by jumping off the crowd barricade and a corkscrew moonsault. This match saw several superkicks and high flying action and to me was a great match to start the event with. The entertainment factor of the match was enhanced by a double superplex by the Usos and a double Uso splash, allowing them to retain the titles. While it was not surprising that the Usos retained their titles, it was nice to see them pulling out extra moves to pull out the win. The fans deserved to see something new at the pay-per-view and they got it. I just wish Rowan would have hit the top rope splash that he was planning on doing.

Divas Championship Match: Paige vs. Naomi

This match started with the usual hair pulling that one has become accustomed to in a Divas match, but it didn’t take long for the real match to start. The match in general was pretty entertaining and I was most pleased to see Paige retain with what appears to be a brand new finisher. This match was a pretty good showing for Naomi who pulled out a couple moves I never would have thought she was talented enough to do. It’s nice to see someone in that locker room good enough for the Divas title (even if she didn’t win it right now) that isn’t Paige or A.J. Lee.

Adam Rose vs. Damien Sandow (dressed as Paul Revere)

This match was the next installment in Sandow’s costume of the week phase, and not surprisingly, his costume couldn’t help him win against Adam Rose who brought his entire entourage along with him. Also on that note, I know JBL hates that bunny, and I’m starting to agree with him. If Randy Orton brings back the Punt, I hope that bunny is the first target. Sandow was once again the laughing stock of the night, which for me is a huge waste of his talent. It’s easy to forget this is the man who won the World Heavyweight Championship Money in the Bank Ladder match the year before and that is a shame.

Traditional Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Seth Rollins vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Jack Swagger vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Dean Ambrose

This first ladder match of the evening was of the traditional format, six superstars trying to grab a briefcase suspended over the ring with a contract for a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match anytime in the next calendar year. It was originally seven superstars, but Wade Barrett injured is right shoulder during the taping of Smackdown last week and could not compete tonight. That being said, the rest of the field put together a very entertaining match. RVD pulled out his usual arsenal of classic ladder match moves - five-star frog splashes (from the top of the ladder no less) and rolling thunder (onto a ladder) – and it went over huge with the crowd. These types of matches are supposed to be every man for himself and for the most part it was, until Kane surprised everyone by coming down to the ring to deliver the tombstone piledriver to Dean Ambrose as he was about to win the match, and then held the ladder in place while Seth Rollins ascended the ladder for the win. Despite being a superstar short (courtesy of Barrett’s injury), I thought this match was very entertaining throughout. It really felt like anyone (well anyone besides Kofi Kingston) could win, and honestly I am quite alright with Rollins winning the briefcase. And the Authority coming out to congratulate him afterwards was simply icing on the cake.

Rybaxel vs. the Dust Brothers (Goldust and Stardust)

This match (and Stardust) is a direct result of the extended losing streak the Rhodes brothers have been on for the past couple months. Cody Rhodes kept setting up different tag partners for Goldust to no avail, and thus Stardust was unveiled. The match itself had its usual entertainment value as all four of these competitors are good in-ring talents. Stardust would get the win for the team thanks to a roll-up pin (thus fulfilling WWE’s one-roll-up-pin-per-event rule that seems to be in place) and the fans seemed to love it. Personally I would rather have seen the Rhodes brothers against each other in place of this match, something I thought the extended losing streak was building to. It would seem that if Stardust doesn’t work out, that match will indeed happen sometime in the future.

Rusev vs. Big E.

This match was sort of billed unofficially as Russia vs. USA and it was the match I was most looking forward to outside of the two ladder matches. Despite suffering a huge spear from Big E. on the apron, Rusev would pull out the win thanks to his Accolade submission move. This match for me was the coming out part for Rusev as Big E. represented his first real challenge and Rusev excelled. Rusev proved he is a legitimate title contender and will be a champion someday.

Layla vs. Summer Rae (with Fandango as the Special Guest Referee)

This essentially boiled down to two women fighting for the affection of one man. Layla would win the match with a huge kick to the head of Summer Rae and end up with Fandango’s affections. Everything that the Divas title match did right earlier in the night, this match was a polar opposite by comparison. By this point it seemed like the crowd just wanted to see more ladders.

Money in the Bank Ladder Match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Sheamus vs. Bray Wyatt vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Cesaro vs. John Cena vs. Randy Orton vs. Roman Reigns vs. Kane

For the first time ever, the Money in the Bank ladder match saw the Titles on the line instead of a traditional briefcase with a contract inside. As the match got going it became clear early on that Kane was once again to provide a supporting role and help Randy Orton win the belts, something he ultimately failed to do. John Cena would be the man to claim the title belts, despite being quite ineffective most of the match.  Even though this match had two more competitor than the earlier ladder match, this one felt way more conservative in the action. Sure there was some pretty innovative offense making use of the ladders, like Orton delivering his patented DDT to Seamus on the floor from a ladder bridged between the ring and announce table, but it felt like ladders were dismantled and thrown out of the ring as much as they were used as weapons (although Orton got a pretty bad laceration as a result of a ladder). I particularly liked Roman Reigns hitting everyone in the match with one of his three signature moves and he looked the most impressive of everyone in the match. Cena won his 15^th major title in WWE, which I suspect will overshadow how well Reigns performed in that match, but it is a huge accomplishment nonetheless.

Overall Thoughts

Overall I thought that parts of the event were very entertaining and fun to watch and other parts left something to be desired.  The first two matches of the night were really the two best of the night that didn’t have a ladder added to the mix. I felt that with Cena in the title match, almost all unpredictability left the match because the only real people who were ever going to win were Cena or Orton. Roman Reigns would have made a great interim champion, but it appears his feud with Orton is what’s on the table for him in the near future. Add to that the entire Fandango segment that was essentially a filler match. All that said, it was an entertaining event for the most part and I’m interested in seeing when Seth Rollins cashes in his contract, but no doubt he’ll be calling himself Mr. Money in the Bank until he does.

NHL 14 Be a GM - Dallas Stars (Episode 14)

Taking the team through the middle of the season, will the Dallas Stars create some separation in the standings?

NHL 14 Be a GM - Dallas Stars (Episode 13)

Before the 2015 season starts, does the GM pull off any other moves?

NHL 14 Be a GM - Dallas Stars (Episode 12)

After a brief hiatus, the Dallas Stars Be a GM is back! See the Stars navigate through the 2015 off-season in this episode of the series.

Sports by Schmucks Podcast - Episode 26 (June 17)

Sean and Brett talk about the conclusion of the Stanley Cup and the NBA Finals, the lack of emphasis on the U.S. Open and dish out some high fives and face palms.

World Cup 2014 Preview: What to Look For in Brazil

It’s World Cup time again. It seems like only yesterday that Spain hoisted the trophy four years ago in South Africa. Four years has certainly passed however, ushering in new players and teams to challenge for soccer’s most coveted prize in the fervent atmosphere of Brazil.

This World Cup will be special, I reckon. Brazil is very much the Mecca of soccer, so it seems fitting that the Holy Grail of the sport be fought for in the heat of the Amazon. Additionally, Brazil’s culture coupled with the country’s enthusiasm for the sport will likely produce a party atmosphere for the duration of the tournament. My only hope is that enthusiasm for sport remain true and that passion does not spill over into concerns over Brazil’s political and economic instability – issues made worse by the hosting of the tournament.

I am most looking forward to seeing the influx of new teams and players and how they perform on the international stage. There are also quite a few rejuvenated teams, who will look to build on their nations’ previous appearances in the tournament with younger, rebuilt squads. Let’s take a look at a few of these teams:

Bosnia and Herzegovina

There is only one newcomer to this year’s tournament in Bosnia and Herzegovina, however the Bosnian team only barely missed out on qualifying for both South Africa 2010 and the European Championships in 2012. Bosnia boasts a wealth of talent across the pitch, particularly in attacking areas with Edin Dzeko and Vedad Ibisevic the main strike options. Miralem Pjanic is also one of the more underrated players in Europe, in my opinion. He possesses excellent vision and passing ability, look for the Roma midfielder to quietly have a good tournament. Despite this being their first appearance at the finals, Bosnia shouldn’t be overlooked. With Argentina being their only major competition in their group, expect them to advance past the group stages.

Full of goals, Edin Dzeko will lead Bosnia's line in Brazil

Colombia

Colombia have not qualified for the World Cup since France ’98. While the nation’s appearances in both ’98 and ’94 were met with widespread expectation of a strong finish, they did not progress through the group in either tournament, with their best finish coming in 1990 when they reached the Round of 16. Colombia’s teams of the early and mid-1990s were personified by their talismanic playmaker Carlos Valderrama, however since the team’s poor showing in France ’98, a new era in Colombian football has emerged. The team in now led by another talisman in Radamel Falcao, one of the world’s top strikers, who unfortunately will miss the tournament due to a knee ligament injury. Colombia is able to call upon two able deputies in the likes of Porto’s Jackson Martinez and Sevilla’s Carlos Bacca, both coming off of excellent seasons with their respective club teams. Colombia is also anchored by an experienced defense and a strong midfield led by Freddy Guarin. Even without Falcao, I would expect Colombia to put in a strong showing in Brazil.

Valderamma was a midfield maestro, but his Colombian teams never fared well when it mattered

Belgium

Belgium are probably the most talked about team leading up to this year’s tournament. The Belgian team has undergone a youthful transformation in recent years, and herald an extremely talented lineup. Despite not having qualified for the World Cup since 2002, Belgium went undefeated in qualifying, playing some excellent football in doing so. The team features a mix of an experienced backline, with the likes of Captain Vincent Kompany and Jan Vertonghen, coupled with Marouane Fellaini and Axel Witsel providing much needed steel in midfield. The real talent for Belgium lies in its attackers, with Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard, and Kevin de Bruyne providing pace and goal-scoring ability. The player to watch for me will be Adnan Januzaj, who after only recently pledging his allegiance to the Belgian team, has only one senior cap to his name. I’ll be looking to see how he fits into Marc Wilmot’s plans for this talented Belgian squad.

One of the best players in the world, Eden Hazard will be key to Belgium's success

Despite the influx of new talent, my prediction for this year’s tournament winner certainly does not go against the grain. I suspect that Brazil will lift the World Cup Trophy at the Maracana on July 13. Brazil are the favourites for good reason. They have a supremely talented and well-balanced squad led by an experienced coach in Big Phil Scolari, and showed in last year’s Confederation’s Cup that they are able to successfully compete with the most powerful teams in international football. Secondly, the home field advantage will spur Brazil on, and give them to push they need to succeed. Additionally, the fact that the tournament is played in Brazil should also favour the South American, and indeed African, teams as well. The climate should certainly be considered, and it will wear down teams over the course of the month-long tournament, particularly those who are not used to playing in 30 degree heat. As such, I would expect a strong performance from teams such as Uruguay, Argentina, Ivory Coast, and the Iberian teams. Despite having strong squads, I’ll wager that the Eastern and Western European teams, such as Russia and England, will not fare particularly well. I’ll conclude my preview by looking at a few players to keep your eye on in Brazil:

Antoine Griezmann – France

Griezmann possesses excellent pace and finishing ability from either flank. Playing his club football at Real Sociedad, Griezmann hasn’t received the same media attention as many of his Les Bleus teammates, however he is quickly making headlines with his play. He has only four caps to his name, however he has featured and played well in France’s tournament warm-up matches. With Franck Ribery set to miss the World Cup due to injury, look for Griezmann to patrol the flanks in his stead.

With his pace and ability, Griezmann will be sure to turn heads in Brazil

Julian Green – USA

Having dual-citizenship, it seemed surprising to me that Green decided to opt for the more modest USA outfit, instead of trying to break into the German senior squad. However, it seems that his desire for regular international football factored into Green’s decision making. Despite making only two senior appearances, Green was one of the surprise inclusions in Jurgen Klinsmann’s USA squad, relegating the likes of Landon Donovan to a seat at home on his couch. Green has been widely heralded as supremely talented and having superstar potential. I’m excited to see how he fits into Klinsmann’s plans in Brazil, and whether he’ll be able to make a name for himself on the world’s stage.

The USA's phenoms have never quite panned out - will Julian Green break the mould

Marco Veratti – Italy

It was only two years ago that Marco Veratti was playing for Serie B team Pescara. He has since been courted by powerhouse club PSG, and is quickly becoming one of Europe’s premier central midfielders, scooping the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award this past season. With the unfortunate injury to Riccardo Montolivo, Veratti may well be thrust into Prandelli’s midfield to be the legs alongside elder statesmen Andre Pirlo’s vision and touch. Veratti’s club play has been solid, but I’ll be looking to see how he fares against some of the best midfield pairings in the game.

The old and the new: Pirlo and Veratti could anchor Italy's midfield in Brazil