“Wound up, cant sleep, can’t do anything right.”

Boo-yah, here we go!!

***

Item #1 – So does this mean he’s a good wrestler now?

Here’s the question I pose…if a decent wrestler can be carried to great matches with great opponents, does that have any bearing on whether or not he’s a good worker?  Is there a difference between the two?  Should effort be rewarded regardless of end performance?

Hey...I’ll be the first to admit that Shawn Michaels has now helped to carry John Cena to two excellent matches over the past couple of months.  I’d even dare say that Monday’s match was better than their WrestleMania match.  But is this more because of HBK or because Cena seems to elevate his in-ring performance when the quality of his opponent is elevated?

Listen, Cena is a hard worker...that can’t be denied.  He’s been working his ass off over the past couple of years to gain the respect of the boo-birds that fill every arena he seems to be in.  When he gets the rare “overwhelmingly positive” fan reaction, he actually seems genuinely happy, surprised, and relieved.  Now, will he ever be compared with the likes of Ricky Steamboat, Bret Hart, or Chris Benoit in terms of technical prowess?  Hell no.  However, he’s not a horrible worker.  Is there a difference between the two?  I believe there is.

Cena has had very good matches with the likes of Edge, Umaga, Triple H, and now Shawn Michaels.  So the argument going around is that he only has great matches with great opponents and that he’s pretty bland when in the ring with somebody like a Randy Orton or a Carlito.  My response is simple...he doesn’t need to be Ric Flair in order to be great.  Cena’s role right now is to be the Hulk Hogan of the new generation. He’s booked like Superman and even though every single new opponent has kryptonite, he still finds a way to lock in a crappy-looking submission hold (as a slap in the face to those who don’t think he can wrestle) and emerge victorious the majority of the time.

Now, I don’t know if everybody can remember or not...but Hogan’s matches generally sucked ass.  What made his matches great were a combination of tremendous crowd participation, him killing the heel early, him getting beat down to near death, and the now (in)famous “Hulking up” comeback where he ended every match (EVERY MATCH) with a weak-ass boot to the face and a freakin’ leg drop.

I never cared for Hogan in the 80’s...can you tell?

Still, I will never take away from Hogan’s ability as a tremendous worker.  It was said famously over the years (stolen from Gorilla Monsoon, I believe) that Hogan didn’t know a wrist-watch from a wrist-lock.  But guess what?  He didn’t need to.  He went into the ring, the crowd went nuts, and he did his thing.  Wash, rinse, repeat.

Now Cena’s in the same position.  No, he’s not getting the same crowd reactions that Hogan did (nobody can, really) but that’s more of an online issue than a casual fan issue.  The bottom line is that Cena’s a hard worker...a very hard worker.  Because he doesn’t wrestle like Ric Flair in the 80’s is no reason to deny his current in-ring abilities.  I realize that most in the IWC dislike him immensely because he’s a watered down version of what he could be, and I certainly won’t cheer for him anytime soon...but I’ll give him props for workin’ his ass off each and every time he enters the squared circle.

The bottom line is that you cannot carry the company on your shoulders for an extended period of time if you suck tremendously in the ring.  Lex Luger, Deisel, Sid Vicious...many a person has been thrown into the WWF/WWE championship position because of their look and/or size and did not last very long because the people simply didn’t buy their matches as being good.  With Cena, his matches aren’t that bad...in fact, I’d dare say that they border on pretty decent.  So even though he’s in his position because of his look and personality, he has remained there because the crowds believe in him and his ability to wrestle.

Do I like his offense?  No.  Do I still think he’s a limp-dick pandering babyface that could be 100% better as a tweener?  Well duh...of couse.  Will I jump on the Cena-bashing bandwagon that is really starting to get tired now?  No...I don’t think so.  Much like the Triple H-bashing bandwagon, it’s too easy to join the pack when you don’t look at the overall situation.  I see crowds going nuts for his entrances and matches (“nuts” = good or bad reactions) so it’s obvious that he’s doing something right.  I’m seeing pretty decent matches and even though I know he’ll prevail in the end, I’m enjoying the ride right now in hoping that the next match will be the one that he loses (much like this past Monday night).

Hey, Cena may eventually win you over, too...so keep your guard up.  The next thing you know people may actually start cheering him more than they boo him.  Insanity, indeed.

***

Item #2 – Randy Orton sent home.

Now, the word goin’ ‘round is that Orton has a temper.  It affected his time at WrestleMania last year and it has gotten him into trouble on more than one occasion (I could make a steroid-rage-related joke but I’ll refrain for now).  This time, while the full details are not yet known, it has possibly cost him another title run.

An Orton title run??

Yes.  The timing couldn’t be any better.  Orton has been booked to be the underdog out of the four competitors at this Sunday’s PPV and he’s been dropping subtle notes that he wants to prove everybody wrong.  If ever there was a time for a shake-up, this would have been it.

But earlier this week, Orton was sent home for “unprofessional conduct”.  Jim Ross even wrote a bit about how in today’s day and age, young athletes who get rich and famous end up having issues to deal with.  He said that if Orton had grab hold of his anger issues then he may end up with a lot more success than he’s got now.

Anger issues?  Sounds familiar.  I’ll move on, though.

So I’ve been joking around the message boards that because of the heat that Orton is getting right now, he’s pretty much a lock to win the title on Sunday.  Why is that?  Well...I’ve mentioned it before...just think of how many superstars “with heat” have ended up with pushes over the past few months.  Melina, Carlito, Punk...all have apparently been crapped on by management yet here they all are in the middle of high-profile pushes. 

I’m really starting to think of pissing somebody off at work just so I can get a raise.

Anyway...this isn’t the first time that Orton has gotten himself into trouble and it surely won’t be the last.  While I joke, I’m pretty sure that Orton will not walk out of Backlash the new champion when he probably had the chance to be.  It’s a shame.  I’m hoping this talented individual can get his act together because he could very well become an all-time great.

***

Item #3 – The Insanity Tag Team Tournament!

Because of my severe lack of time, consider this week’s column to be primarily about the tag team tournament yet again.  As with last week, you guys’n’gals have been rockin’ my inbox for the past week and voting like mad and once again I’m thankful for the responses.

Anyway, as you all know, I’m a big fan of tag team wrestling.  Always have been...always will be.  I’ve spouted the wonders of those like the Kings of Wrestling and the Briscoes as of late in an effort to parlay my enjoyment of the 4-man beat-down into words for one and all.  Well, Insanity reader and message board poster vinrob recently sent me a fantastic-looking absolutely insane 64-team fantasy tag team tournament designed to help decide who Insanity readers thought the greatest tag team in the history of mankind really was/is. 

Of course, I had to update a couple of teams to include some ROH alumni and...because most fans aren’t up-to-speed on tag teams from around the world...99% of the teams listed here are from North America.  So I guess the whole “history of mankind” thing is out the window.  Still...stop bitching already...it’s all about having some fun.

Here are the winner’s of the second bracket in Round One:

It’s a shame that some of these teams had to go so early.  I mean, under different circumstances who knows just how far the Hanson/Brody or Gordy/Williams teams could have gone.  Still, that’s what makes this fun, right?

Definitely some close matches in this round, with a couple of small upsets.  First, I think seeing Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell actually defeat the ECW tandem of Rob Van Dam and Sabu was a little upset, simply because I didn’t know just how far back some memories went when it came to you, the readers.  Also, I was surprised to see the pairing of Austin Aries and Roderick Strong defeat MNM, who had a fantastic run while in WWE.

Big shout-out to WWI’s very own Dr. Tom Prichard, who overcame last week’s abysmal showing as one half of the Body Donnas to storm back and solidly defeat former WWF tag team champions The Dream Team.  The vast majority of you preferred the Smokey Mountain tandem of Prichard and Stan Lane to the WWF version of Prichard and Jimmy Del Ray...so keep in mind that when voting for a team you can vote for your favorite pairing (ex: Fabulous Freebirds, Midnight Express, Varsity Club, etc.).

Alright...now we’re on to Round Two!  Now remember, each team is to be judged based upon their skills during the height of their popularity/success.  So vote by sending an email my way or via PM on the message board. Either way, let your voice be heard!

Oh...and please................................no wagering.

ROUND TWO

The Dudley Boyz vs. the Hollywood Blondes

Dudleyz: Wow...this is a doozy of a match-up to start the second round.  I’ll assume that we’ll take the Dudleyz during their early WWF run right off the heels of their ECW run...just when they were putting women through tables and they were at their hottest (but Bubba wasn’t stuttering anymore).  Or maybe even during their babyface WWF run when the crowds were screaming for tables and “Wazzup?” was a normal thing to say to somebody.

Blondes: The Hollywood Blondes were never able to reach their full potential as a tag team but they were extremely successful and crafty during their time.  Pillman was just learning how to be an effective heel and Austin was at the height of his athletic ability before eventually altering his style to reflect the injuries and punishment his body was taking.

Summary: This is basically a power vs. speed match-up.  You take the cunning of Austin and the deviousness of Bubba-Ray...do they cancel each other out?  Which team, by hook or by crook, will walk into Round Three after this barn-burner kicks things off?

Paul London & Brian Kendrick vs. The Eliminators

Londrick: The team affectionately known as “Londrick” to fans were the longest reigning WWE-promoted tag team champions since Demolition.  Regardless of whether or not the competition is the same, that’s an incredible feat to accomplish.  The high-flying moves and speed of these two individuals can match-up with the power of most teams.

Elims: The Eliminators were hot during their ECW run and if not for egos, injuries, and contracts for other companies, who knows just how far this team could have gone if given the opportunity?  “Total Elimination” was one of the coolest, yet simplest, tag team finishers of all time when the timing was spot-on.  The ability of both Perry Saturn and John Kronos to both brawl and wrestle made them a deadly tandem.

Summary: Can Londrick’s speed overcome the power of the Eliminators?  I seem to recall Londrick getting tossed around the ring like rag dolls when facing the Gymini and they haven’t really faced big teams since.  Can the Eliminators ground-n-pound their way to victory and try to use their own high-flying offense to combat the quickness and ingenuity of Londrick? 

The Briscoes vs. the Outsiders

Briscoes: The current Ring of Honor tag team champions are two of the most talented in-ring competitors I have ever seen.  They’ve got a look that could be marketable with some tweaking and with a little bit more psychology and a little more patience; they could become two of the all-time greats.  Their current run is arguably their best so you can probably look at them now (maybe without the concussions and with teeth) to make your decision.

Outsiders: The reason why Kevin Nash and Scott Hall almost lost their match in the first round was primarily because they weren’t a regular tag team and rather were the cornerstones of a stable.  Will their size advantage make-up for their lack of double-team moves? 

Summary: Will Hall be sober enough to withstand the high-flying assault of the Briscoes? Will the Briscoes even be able to do any of their patented moves on two much-larger individuals?  How will things pan out when the speed/power team is reduced to just relying on their speed?

Team Canada vs. Edge & Christian

TC: Which combination will it be?  Petey Williams, Eric Young, Bobby Roode, even A-1 and Johnny Devine can be considered when making your decision.  Not only that, but keep in mind that Scott D’Amore will be on the outside of the ring and there is a distinct possibility that all members of Team Canada may attempt to interfere at any given time.

E&C: Edge and Christian are well-known as being one of the top tag teams in professional wrestling history and are certainly one of the favored teams going into this tournament.  Their size disadvantage was always made-up with cunning and intelligence.  Just when you thought there was no way that E&C could win a match, they found a way. 

Summary: The question is can Edge and Christian, on their own, overcome a possible numbers advantage and outside interference?  When two skilled heel teams meet like this, which team can pull out the dirtier tricks and snatch victory from the hands of defeat?

The Steiner Brothers vs. Los Guerreros

Steiners: To me it should be quite obvious that we’re going to consider the old NWA/WWF Steiner brothers.  At that time, the Frankensteiner was one of the most incredible moves that anybody had ever seen and these two power houses were suplexing their way through every single tag team put into their path...not only in North America but all over the world (their battles with Japanese teams are legendary).

Guerreros: Los Guerreros weren’t together for very long but they certainly carved a niche for themselves.  The theme of “lying, cheating, and stealing” was elevated to new heights thanks to Eddie’s trickery.  One belt toss in front of the ref and a collapse to the mat before he turned around often resulted in victory. Chavo seems to be the weakness here as he had been a lower mid-card performer most of his career until getting tag team gold with his uncle Eddie (the Cruiserweight title reigns were nice and all...but they were never seen as “important” to WCW or its fans).

Summary: The thing to consider here is how can Eddie use his trickery to overcome Chavo’s in-ring weaknesses against two of the biggest (and legit baddest) men in the entire sport?  This is one of the more intriguing battles in Round Two as your votes and thoughts on how the match will go are completely up in the air.  Will the Steiners win via pinfall after a top-rope bulldog or Frankensteiner?  Or will the Guerrero’s do something to get the Steiners disqualified and steal yet another victory?

Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson vs. La Resistance

Blanderson: It was brought to my attention that sometimes my naming of the teams took away from how they voted.  For example, I used the “Brainbusters” moniker for Blanchard and Anderson instead of, say, one half of the Four Horsemen.  Let’s just say that you can choose whatever time period you want to for these two.  I really enjoyed their WWF run but I totally understand that people may prefer their NWA work more.  Suffice to say, JJ Dillon or Bobby Heenan will probably be ringside for this match.

Resistance:  Ahhh yes.  The joy of Quebec.  Again, choose whatever tandem you want to.  Sylvan Grenier, Rene Dupree, and/or Rob Conway.  All three were just really starting out and had yet to hone their in-ring skills when the Resistance gimmick started.  I’d dare say that right now all three are solid performers (none of Ric Flair or anything...calm down...jeez) but I’m not sure about their tag run.  Plus, the stigma of having Batista shove a flag up the asses of two members of the team may be a stigma that can’t be overcome.

Summary: Much like Edge and Christian, La Resistance always ended up finding a way to win their tag title defences.  Will it be enough to overcome to vast experience difference?  Can they actually overcome two of the greatest technical wrestlers of all time?

APA vs. Doom

APA: I think it’s safe to say that the beer-swilling bar-brawling APA is the superior version to the original “Acolyte” gimmicked version.  Any team that needed to be taught a lesson (hi there, Public Enemy) would be thrown to the wolves in the form of the APA.  A spinebuster or Clothesline from Hell would be all it would take to dominate an opponent.  Hardly a weakness to be seen here.

Doom: With Ron Simmons being a former WCW world champion and Butch Reed being one of the most well-rounded muscle-bound athletes of his day, this team came out of nowhere to dominate the NWA scene in the late 80’s.  With Woman by their side (and masks covering two very similar physiques), Doom dominated teams from the Road Warriors to Sting & Lex Luger.

Summary: In this case, the universe is about to implode upon itself as Ron Simmons will battle Farooq in a dementia-inducing match for Trek fans to ingest (are Worm Holes to blame for this twisted shift in the time-space continuum?).  So at this point it then becomes a 2-sided coin to consider: Who’s better...Butch Reed or Bradshaw?  Of course, it’s also a battle of double-team moves and misdirection (i.e. Doom) against stubborn toughness (i.e. APA).  This is definitely a marquee match-up for Round Two...probably the best brawl of the round.

The Headshrinkers/S.S.T. vs. America’s Most Wanted

SST: This is tough...which version do you choose?  The World Class and NWA version or the WWF version?  It’s entirely your call.  I probably jinxed them by using their WWF moniker during the first round, but while they had success against the likes of High Energy and the Quebecers as the Headshrinkers make no mistake...while in both World Class and the NWA, the Samoan Swat Team were a lethal duo that battled the likes of the Von Erich’s, the Steiner Brothers, the Road Warriors and the Midnight Express.  Just think...in the NWA they were managed by different times by both Paul E. Dangerously and by Sir Oliver Humperdink and in the WWF they were initially managed by Afa before being taken over by Captain Lou Albano and becoming babyfaces.  Which version do you choose?

AMW: America’s Most Wanted is probably the most solid all-around tag team to come around professional wrestling over the past three-four years.  They are widely noted as being TNA’s best “home-bred” tag team and, while now feuding with each other, they had some amazing matches that really helped define the entire tag team division in TNA.  Which version do you prefer?  The babyface version that battled against the likes of SEX in a steel cage match or as heels who battled against the likes of AJ Styles & Christopher Daniels in a steel cage match.  Either way, this is a solid team.

Summary: This is old-school brawling vs. new-school wresting.  To me, the clash in styles could result in either an absolutely awesome match or a flat-out dud.  Very interesting match-up, indeed.

Harlem Heat vs. the High Flyers

Heat: How good was Harlem Heat?  How about starting off as a team called the Ebony Experience and then becoming  ten time WCW tag team champions?  That good enough for ya?  That type of success is extremely difficult to achieve in any form of entertainment.  So over the course of a 7 or 8 year run on top, which version is your favorite?  Heel or babyface?  With Sister Sherri as their manager or without?  Definitely a favorite going into the tournament.

Flyers: The High Flyers were one of the most technically sound teams ever formed.  “Jumpin’” Jim Brunzell and “Rambo” Greg Gagne (yeah...Rambo...right) were as solid a team as you were going to find anywhere.  The big question for them is durability and level of competition.  The AWA was a great technical breeding ground for wrestlers, but this team pretty much had their time before the AWA really hit it big.  As much as I loved the Jesse Ventura & Adrian Adonis tag team, it was far from the highest level of competition.

Summary: I’m surprised the High Flyers made it this far, to be honest.  I was kinda torn between the Flyers and the Killer Bees...so I took the team that actually won tag gold during their runs.  But can they overcome the odds of battling against one of the most decorated tag teams in history? 

Undertaker & Kane vs. Demolition

BoD: The Brothers of Destruction were a tag team made in heaven even though both gimmicks were made in hell.  Let’s note, however, that the team really became “a team” during 2001 and the  problem is that these two individuals can never remain a team for too long.  They only really had a tag run for a few months in 2001 before losing the belts to Booker T & Test (!!!).  Yes, they’ve destroyed everybody from Chuck Palumbo & Sean O’Haire to Mr. Kennedy & MVP to KroniK (ugh)...but can they get along long enough to get through two rounds against two of the toughest teams in the tournament?

Demo: Demolition...oh where do we begin?  Simply put, this Road Warrior knock-off tag team eventually became one of the greatest WWF tag teams of all time.  Ax & Smash (let’s forget about Crush for now) dominated the WWF tag team division against the likes of the British Bulldogs, the Hart Foundation, Strike Force, the Brainbusters, Andre the Giant & Haku, and yes even the Road Warriors themselves.  Not only that, but they had both “Lucious” Johnny Valiant and Mr. Fuji as their manager at different stages in their career.

Summary: I’m salivating at the possibilities of this match-up.  Everybody knows that Undertaker and Kane are dominant against everybody they face, but they never faced a team as all-around solid as Demolition.  What part would a manager play outside the ring?  Could Taker & Kane get along?  Would somebody get disqualified?  Oh the possibilities...

Austin Aries & Roderick Strong vs. the British Bulldogs

GenNext: Let’s face it; Generation Next was an ROH duo that was barely recognizable on the overall tag team landscape when you look back through history.  Then why are they in here?  Simple...they were awesome. In a world of aloof muscle-bound freaks, Aries & Strong made themselves known to indy fans by becoming two of the most respected in-ring technicians in the world today.  Add to that their want and desire to become the best tag team in the world, and you’ve got a recipe for success.  Quick, agile, daring...Aries and Strong were as good as tag teams come in this industry and if given a stronger platform, they’d have done many great things.

Bulldogs: What can I say about the British Bulldogs that you don’t already know?  These tournament favorites started as adversaries in Stampede wrestling before joining-up in the WWF to become one of the most beloved tag teams of all time.  Not only that, but they were tag team innovators...doing tag team moves not seen by wrestling fans before.  Injuries and egos led to this team’s downfall, but I’d rather prefer their WWF debut run than their “Matilda” days.

Summary: Will experience win out over untapped potential?  Both teams are extremely fast and are extremely good in-ring technicians.  With the Bulldogs leading in the experience and strength categories, it will be hard for GenNext to respond but no doubt they’re up for the challenge.  Definitely a sleeper choice for match of the round.

The Rougeau Brothers vs. the Rock’n’Roll Express

Rougeaus: To me, it’s a given that the heel run by Jacques and Raymond should be the version used here...but if you liked their babyface run that’s fine, too.  To me, once the brothers turned heel and joined-up with Jimmy “Mouth of the South” Hart, they became extremely dangerous.  Plus with the battles they had against the likes of the Hart Foundation, Nikolai Volkoff & the Iron Sheik, Terry & Dory Funk, Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake, the Rockers, and Demolition...their in-ring experience is definitely a factor to consider.

R’n’R: Of course, when you talk experience as a tag team you talk about the Rock’n’Roll Express.  Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson made up one of the most loved babyface tag teams in the history of professional wrestling.  Much like the Bulldogs, the R’n’Rs were the template that many a babyface tag team followed in the years after.  Their legendary feuds against the Midnight Express, the Koloffs, the Four Horsemen, and the Heavenly Bodies really help pad their already stacked resume.  The leaders in tag team in-ring  efficiency, this team has the ability to make it all the way to the end of this tournament.

Summary: So there you go...the under-rated Rougeaus vs. the sometimes under-rated R’n’Rs  Both have speed, both have double-team moves, both faced some incredible tag teams during their time.  If there was ever a classic “heel vs. babyface” match-up, this is it.  Will Jimmy Hart be a factor?  The Rock’n’Rollers had to put up with the likes of JJ Dillon and James E. Cornette on many an occasion so it’s hard to say.  This would be an excellent match.

The Road Warriors vs. the Impact Players

LoD: When people say “greatest tag team of all time”, the one team that usually comes out of somebody’s mouth more than any other is this one. Hawk and Animal, along with “Precious” Paul Ellering, obliterated teams on their way to multiple AWA, NWA, and WWF tag team championships.  The list of teams that fell to a 3-count at their hands is quite impressive:   the Koloffs, the Four Horsemen, the Freebirds, the Midnight Express (you can’t forget their scaffold match), the SuperPowers, the Powers of Pain, Demolition, the Varsity Club, Doom, the Skyscrapers, the Natural Disasters, the Nasty Boys, Sting & Lex Luger, the Steiner Brothers, the Godwins, the New Age Outlaws, the Samoan Swat Team...the list could very well go on and on and on. Which version will you choose for this tournament?

Impacts: Lance Storm and Justin Credible were dominant during their ECW run.  Of course, there weren’t really a LOT of teams left when they hit their stride.  Still, with Dawn Marie and Jason in their corners, anything is possible. Right?

Summary: Nah...I feel sorry for Storm and Credible.  Thanks for playing, guys.

Money Inc. vs. the Midnight Express

$$$: Two talented individuals, Ted DiBiase and Mike Rotundo, were nearing the end of their WWF careers and neither had solo title runs in their sights.  The WWF then decided that a tax-guy would be the perfect partner for an arrogant millionaire and, thus, Money Inc. was formed.  They defeated, of all teams, the Road Warriors to win the WWF tag team championships and were dominant against the likes of the Natural Disasters, the Nasty Boys, and the Steiners.  While only together for a couple of years, their dominance at the time has left a very memorable impression as the years have gone by.

Midnights: The Midnight Express epitomized tag team wrestling for over ten years in multiple forms.  Was there a version that was more famous than the other?  It’s arguable.  I first saw them as Dennis Condrey and Bobby Eaton, but I really think it was the Stan Lane and Bobby Eaton version that lit up the NWA for years.  Whether as a heel tag team with James Cornette in their corner or as a babyface team wowing everybody with their technical prowess, the Midnights are definitely a dark horse team in this tournament. 

Summary: Again we’re given two heel teams here so the question, once again, is which team will be more under-handed and crafty in order to gain victory?  Will Cornette get involved?  Will Jimmy Hart get involved for the money guys?  While this could be one hell of a technical match-up, I could see it totally breaking down into a donny-brook with only the most cunning team coming out on top.

The Heavenly Bodies vs. the New Age Outlaws

Bodies: Most people remember the Heavenly Bodies as a briefly-appearing tag team featuring Dr. Tom Prichard and Jimmy Del Ray disappeared almost as quickly from the WWF as they appeared (what...a year and a half?).  If that’s all you remember, then you’d be sadly uninformed.  Prichard spent most of his time in the team in Smokey Mountain wrestling (Cornette’s promotion in the early 90’s) and teamed with former Fabulous One and Midnight Expresser, Stan Lane.  If you want to see some flat-out crazy-ass action, check out some old Smokey Mountain tapes  and look them up as they face the likes of the Thrill Seekers (Lance Storm & Chris Jericho), the Rock’n’Roll Express, and the New Fantastics (Bobby & Jackie Fulton).

NAO: The New Age Outlaws were thrown together much like the Hart Foundation...just to give each individual something to do.  More than maybe any other team other than the Harts, the Outlaws epitomized the whole “taking the ball and running with it” analogy.  Who could have foreseen that they would eventually become five-time WWF tag team champions and defeat the likes of the Road Warriors, Cactus Jack & Terry Funk, Mankind & Kane, Owen Hart & Jeff Jarrett, Edge & Christian, the Acolytes, and the Dudley Boyz.  While kind of a joke now (Voodoo Kin Mafia??  Please...), the Outlaws were tag team wrestling in the late 90’s.

Summary: I like this match-up a lot.  Personally, I’d go with the Lane/Prichard combo of the Bodies against the tweener DX version of the Outlaws.  Will Cornette get involved?  Will anybody from DX interfere?  Definitely an under-rated match-up.

The Hart Foundation vs. the Hardy Boyz

Harts: One of the most famous tag teams in wrestling history and my personal favorite to win the whole thing.  Bret “Hitman” Hart and Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, along with Jimmy Hart, were thrown together on a whim and ended up being trend-setters in the tag team field by winning the WWF tag team titles and through the course of their career defeating a “who’s who” of famous teams such as as the British Bulldogs, the Killer Bees, the Road Warriors, Strike Force, Demolition, the Powers of Pain, the Rougeau Brothers, the Rockers, and the Nasty Boys.

Hardys: The Hardy Boyz started off as jobbers in the world of WWF.  However, their talent couldn’t be denied and soon they were given the opportunity to shine.  With the help of (first) Michael Hayes and then Lita, the Hardyz ended up becoming one of the most famous tag teams in history.  Their battles for fan respect included some incredible TLC matches and six WWF-promoted  tag team title runs and now, six years after their last title win as a team, they are again tag champions and have solidified their spots in the history books.

Summary: I received many a sad e-mail when fans voted the Harts and the Hardys into the next round because they knew that one of them wouldn’t make it to Round Three.  This one is brutally tough.  The Hart Foundation with Jimmy Hart or the Hardys with Lita?  Wow...quite the way to end the second round.  Probably one of the best matches of the entire tournament.

What did I tell you?  Great match-ups or what??  Yeah…I’m pretty impressed myself.  So yeah…get your votes in and don’t be shy!

***

Item # 7 – LOSER OF THE WEEK.

Each and every week, I pick somebody (not necessarily always from wrestling) who has either acted in a dumb way, said something stupid, or generally was an idiot in some way, shape, or form.  This week was a long time coming.  You know it…I know it…it finally happened.  Ladies and gents, ZAH’s Loser of the Week simply has to be...

Randy Orton!!!

I didn’t know how you can be given the world on a platter and continue to f*ck up each and every week until I started doing this on a weekly basis.  Britney Spears...Lindsay Lohan...Paris Hilton...Randy Orton.  Logical progression, no?  Randy...stop acting like a bitch  You are, without a doubt, my Loser of the Week.  Congrats, pencil neck. 

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Pillar to Post 

Sorry gang…no P2P again this week.  It may be a couple of weeks before we do it again.  What can I say?  I’m a busy guy with the (soon-to-be-ex) wife moving out of the house while I’m down in Houston, Texas.  But when I start up again, are you game enough to participate?  You ready to man up??  Anybody can participate in the column and join me as a guest.

No problem.  Seriously...it’s not a problem at all.  Really...let me know RIGHT NOW!!  You can let me know either by e-mailing me at Zah@worldwrestlinginsanity.com or hitting me up at ZAH Nation, found in the Insanity Message Board and letting me know that you’d like to participate.  Also, don’t forget to stop by my MySpace page and add me.

So until next week…

L8R