Impact Wrestling Date: January 23, 2014 Location: Von Braun Center, Huntsville, Alabama Commentators: Mike Tenay, Tazz Reviewed by Tommy Hall We're back with Genesis Week Two, featuring all of the matches that we couldn't get to last week because we needed a thirty minute opening segment. Tonight we have Roode vs. Angle in a cage, Gunner vs. Storm for the briefcase, Sabin vs. Aries for the X Title and Sting vs. Magnus in a contract vs. title match, even though Sting was forbidden from challenging for the title ever again just a year ago. Let's get to it.

Hi Scott, I was wondering if you would be able to plug my t-shirt company (website and Facebook blog addresses below)? I figured our Batman/Indiana Jones shirts might go down well with your readers. We produced a CM Punk one a few years back for Money in the Bank but figured Vince would come after us with a hammer if we ever tried to sell them. Keep up the good work! www.facebook.com/gungawins www.gungawins.com

Here are your choices: Paul London & Brian Kendrick http://www.rfvideo.com/briankendrickandpaullondonsexcellentadventure.aspx Nasty Boys, Voulme 1 http://www.rfvideo.com/shootwiththenastyboys.aspx Rock 'n' Roll Express http://www.rfvideo.com/shootwithrocknrollexpress.aspx Vote by clicking on the link below. Voting ends Saturday at 8pm http://poll.pollcode.com/4165121

Tonight is the final night of "Genesis." Matches for tonight: Bobby Roode vs. Kurt Angle in a Steel Cage Match Chris Sabin vs. Austin Aries for the X Division Title with Velvet Sky locked in a cage Samoa Joe vs. Rockstar Spud James Storm vs. Gunner in a Briefcase Match for a World Title Shot Sting vs. Magnus for the World Heavyweight Title. If Sting loses, his contract is torn up

OK, rather than a bunch of smaller posts, let’s hit a few topics in quick bursts here.

Hey Scott, Longtime reader blah blah rantsylvania blah blah smarks.com blah blah you know the rest.  As part of the Rumble season I participated in a few of the podcasts on Voices of Wrestling's Rumble Rewind series, and I would be very grateful if you could throw the link to them on the blog so folks can have a chance to hear them.  http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/category/podcast/rumble-rewind/   Thanks!

There you go, no Wrestlemania match needed now.

NXT Date: January 22, 2014 Location: Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida Commentators: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, Tensai Reviewed by Tommy Hall The main story coming out of last week is the live NXT special on February 27 which really is the closest thing to a pay per view that NXT has ever had. There are no matches announced for it yet but I can't imagine Dallas keeps the title coming out of that show. The question now is who challenges him on the special. Let's get to it.

In the words of Daniel Bryan...YES! 30 years ago tonight, Hulkamania truly ran wild.

Scott, So Batista's big comeback draws a huge number. I (along with many others, apparently) found the show and return to be the same dull, uninspired bullshit like usual.  So, knowing those two things, I'll ask simply: Is it over for us? You should watch NXT.  It's awesome, except for when they're WWE-ing it up with crap like booking matches for a live show a month in advance via HHH video cut-in.  

This interview was filmed in 2000 and conducted by Rob Feinstein. It runs for one hour and twenty-nine minutes.

Hulk Hogan Appearing at WrestleMania According to Dave Meltzer, Hogan will be making an appearance at WrestleMania. He also states that the call has been made to not have him do anything physical so he will not be wrestling at the show. Meltzer also speculates that Hogan will make his return to WWE television on the 2/24 edition of RAW, which is the day the WWE network launches. Credit Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Newsletter Original Plans for the American Wolves TNA Debut The original plans for their debut was to win the Tag Team Titles. However, Dave Lagana nixed that idea, stating that TNA had built up the Bro Mans up to the point that they got over. Now, the plans for the Wolves are to feud with Bad Influence. Credit Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Newsletter WWE.com Article About the Origin of the Royal Rumble Match   http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/story-behind-royal-rumble-match-26176232 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards Anno...

Hi there Scott.   I want to ask if you would be able to plug my hip hop blog on your site. http://mayepov.blogspot.com/ Dedication, showing love to hip hop music and its culture, almost 30 years and counting!!!!! The best hip hop blog online!!!!! (I also consider this to be my first stepping stone to achieving my ultimate goal/dream, which is entering the music business in a behind the scenes capacity!)

It's a little early in the morning, but I have a lot to do today. The 2013 Royal Rumble links are at the bottom, for whatever reason I'm having an issue embedding Dailymotion videos to the blog and if you want to see last year's Rumble you'll click, if you don't, you don't have to. Scott gave it ***1/4 stars and seemed fairly underwhelmed by the whole thing. I'm closer to ***1/2 for what's it's worth but the sucker died when Jericho got eliminated because what little drama was left went with him. (2013 Rumble Part 1 ) ( 2013 Rumble Part 2 ) After the jump are some personal thoughts on the Rumble, why it still works and where it fails.

Hi Scott - wanted to pass along the excellent first episode of The Kevin Kelly Show! http://placetobenation.com/the-kevin-kelly-show-episode-1-featuring-adam-cole/ In the first episode of The Kevin Kelly Show, the Voice of Ring of Honor talks the upcoming Pittsburgh ROH show. Daniel Bryan and the Royal Rumble, the Yankees signing Masahiro Tanaka, Hulk Hogan returning to the WWE and more. Kevin then speaks with ROH World Champion Adam Cole and takes your #AsKKevin Twitter questions plus much more!

The SmarK Rant for WWE NXT – 01.22.14 Taped from Orlando, FL Your hosts are Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton & Tensai

This poster was accidentally leaked.  It looks like WWE is pretty confident that they can pull off Undertaker vs Sting for Wrestlemania 30. I KNEW they were keeping things close to their vest for a reason!  And now I'll just click on that picture and...hey...I see what you did there.

Scott,         2 questions: 1) If the Wrestlemania "main event" is Batista challenging Randy Orton, doesn't this open a whole can of nepotism worms in the locker room.  Obviously Triple H married the boss's daughter and inherited the company, but having Triple H's chosen two (dating back to 2003!) main event Wrestlemania XXX... I just see this getting a huge backlash both on the internet and in the locker room AND in the crowds.  Lesnar has been back two years, and Taker is Taker.  Batista literally walked in and gets the Rumble win, Mania main event?  Do you see the crowd turning on this ala Bryan/Sheamus at WM 28?  2) Is there any chance of the following scenario happening?   Bryan pulls a Bret Hart (94) and gets "injured" in his match with Bray at the Rumble, maybe a postmatch beatdown and then limps down as a late entrant (24-27) and wins.  Batista can get eliminated by Punk and Triple H can recruit him as his avatar in that feud, p...

Dear Scott, Favorite blog topic again:  Assuming Daniel Bryan isn't kidnapped again (or in some way clearly incapacitated for the Rumble) by the Wyatts during his singles match, at what number in the Rumble will the crowd begin loudly chanting for Bryan to be the next entrant?  My guess is 25. I feel a Simpsons quote coming on... " I've been scorched by Krusty before. I got a rapid heartbeat from his  Krusty brand vitamins, my Krusty Kalculator didn't have a seven or an  eight, and Krusty's autobiography was self-serving with many glaring  omissions. But this time, he's gone too far!  WE WANT KRUSTY!  WE WANT KRUSTY!" Krusty's not coming, guys.  HHH is Mr. Black and he's here to break your spirits.  

http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/96-wwe/35063-surprising-raw-ratings-notes-regarding-the-return-of-dave-batista Biggest number in a LONG time for RAW.  If he wasn't winning the Rumble before, he sure as shit is now.