Silver Vision

The Funkasaurus, 1 year ago, was the bodyguard for Alberto Del Rio and was at his side while the arrogant WWE Champion to be threw Edge a retirement party. This was on SmackDown, April 22nd 2011, but doesn’t that seem a very long time ago?

Since that time Edge has made a few appearances on WWE TV and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, Class of 2012. He’s starred in a film and been the subject of his own new DVD and Blu-ray set; You Think You Know Me? The Story of Edge.

Alberto Del Rio has had a packed 12 months. First he won Money in the Bank, and then he went on to win the WWE Championship, twice. After an injury took him out towards the end of 2011, he returned to in ring action against Sheamus on Smackdown just 2 weeks, where he beat the WWE Champion by disqualification. That was the same match which saw Sheamus Brogue Kick the referee after the match - a move that cost him a lot of money.

Brodus Clay spent some time away from WWE TV to do some filming himself. When he returned he spent time on Superstars, crushing a succession of opponents like they were ants. After lots of vignettes advertising his return it wasn’t until RAW on January 9th 2012 that Clay came back, as The Funkasaurus, and accompanied by Naomi and Cameron, his Funkadactyls. I always thought they were the Funkettes but we were corrected when we met Naomi and Cameron at an appearance they made in HMV Cardiff a few days ago. The Funkasaurus has not had any trouble disposing of his opponents this far ad has recently struck up a friendship with fellow oddball Santino.

What the next year holds is anyone’s guess, but I predict big things for the dancing dinosaur, and I don’t think he’ll be hearing cheers from the crowds much longer. What are your predictions for The Funkasaurus and his old boss Alberto Del Rio?

It’s not often that the DVD and Blu-ray come into stock at the same time, but that’s exactly what just happened with WWE Best PPV Matches 2011 - so if you ordered it it is on its way, and may even be with you already! For those that haven’t, here’s a closer look at the packaging.

No surprises that Money in the Bank 2011 is the main feature on the back cover as many would say it was the best WWE PPV of 2011.

The reverse side of the Blu-ray cover lists the contents. Here’s a question for you - can you name which match and PPV the images on the discs are from? Here’s the inside of the DVD set so you can see Disc 2 which has a different image and you have a another match to guess.

Here is another photo of the inside of the DVD set:

My favourite PPV poster from 2011 is definitely SummerSlam, but I also liked Royal Rumble - what about you?

No prizes for guessing the match on the back of the DVD set - that one is obviously from WrestleMania 27. I can’t wait to see their re-match at WrestleMania 28 - I wonder if Triple will be the one to finally break Undertaker’s streak, or will we see the Phenom make it 20-0?

You’ll be pleased to know that the DVD does come with an insert listing the contents of the set, and here it is:

So there is your guided your of the WWE Best PPV Matches 2011 - I hope you enjoy watching it, and who is up for the disc match challenge that I set earlier?

Waiting for my lunch to cook I got thinking how WWE Superstars could be a bit like mythical beings from the world of fantasy and folklore. Back at my computer and a quick session in Photoshop and the Miztaur was created. Just like a Centaur The Miz is clever, strong and fast. Now it’s your turn to be creative - which WWE Superstar or Diva do you think would make a good mythical being?

This Sunday is the 2012 Royal Rumble so I thought I’d share a few of my favourite Royal Rumble memories with you.

1989 Numbers 1 and 2

The motto of the Royal Rumble has always been Every Man For Himself, and Bobby Heenan said in 1992 after Sid eliminated Hogan “There are no friends, only enemies!”. This was never truer than in 1989 when the first 2 men in the ring were Ax and Smash - partners in Demolition and the Tag Champions at the time. These guys put aside their friendship and beat the hell out of each other - at least until Andre The Giant entered the ring as the 3rd man and they turned their attention to him instead.

1990 – Hogan and Warrior

The build up to WrestleMania VI was immense and the tension at the Royal Rumble was off the charts when these two titans of the ring cleared everyone out and stared at each other, with looks that could kill. You could have cut the atmosphere with a knife and at the time I was a huge Warrior fan and wanted him to eliminate Hogan. Of course that didn’t happen, and after a double clothesline levelled both men it was actually Warrior that ended up being eliminated with some help from Hogan! When he got back in the ring I felt certain he was going to attack Hogan, but instead he went after Rude and Barbarian – a strange man indeed, but a great one.

1995 – Shawn Michaels is going to WrestleMania

I was always more of a fan of Shawn Michaels back in the day than British Bulldog, so maybe I was the only person in Britain hoping that Shawn would win the 1005 Rumble instead of the Bulldog. My heart sank as I thought Michaels had been eliminated but then rose again when he swung around, got back in the ring and threw Bulldog over the top rope. Not only had he won arguably the biggest match of his career, but he was on his way to WrestleMania to challenge for the World Title, held by his old friend Diesel at the time.

1996 – It’s Vader Time

What an impact this guy had! After being ousted, along with Yokozuna, by Shawn Michaels (has anyone ever eliminated as many pounds of humanity in one go?), Vader went absolutely nuts! He re-enetered the ring and proceeded to throw everyone out, including gorilla press slamming and launching Shawn Michaels over the top rope! Of course the eliminations didn’t count as Vader had already been eliminated himself, but what a debut for the man they call Vader!

2000 – Rikishi

Could Rikishi be the inspiration for  the Funkasaurus? In this Rumble match we saw him dance with, and then throw out both Scotty 2 Hotty and Grand Master Sexay – both his partners in the dancing trio known as Too Cool! It wasn’t just his buddies who were at risk though as Rikishi went on somewhat of a rampage and threw out every wrestler who entered the ring until Big Boss Man was scared to get in, and ended up being thrown out in by Test!

2002, 2008 and 2010 – I’m Back!

These three Royal Rumble matches were won by people making surprise returns to WWE, starting first with Triple H in 2002, John Cena in 2008 and then Edge in 2010. The ovations for all these guys was amazing.

So, there are a few of my favourite Royal Rumble memories, what are yours?