I miss Edge too! Every Friday night I turn to Smackdown hoping against hope that Edge will make his return. I get even more excited whenever a PPV comes around.

I think it would be absolutely hilarious if the fans voted for Hardy/Triple H. If the reports are right, and Kozlov is supposed to get a Title push over Hardy, but th fans throw a monkey wrench in that with voting I think it would be worth sitting through one more Triple H/Hardy match just for the entertainment value of the situation.

It's obvious the Triple Threat option is going to split the vote, but I wonder in who's favor? Are Hardy fans more likely to vote for a Triple Threat, or are Kozlov fans?

You hit the nail on the head, Eck. It's time the best in the business got back to stirring things up on Friday night. Also, do you think an Edge and Orton feud could be in order in the future? I think it could work given the fact that Orton's character pretty much hates everybody now. Plus it would be a cool way to get Edge back on Raw a couple times or so.

I was very disappointed with the way the Kozlov/ Hardy match was booked. It followed a similar pattern to the build for the Khali/HHH match at Summerslam: have a wrestler build up legitimacy as a threat with a lopsided win over Jeff Hardy, only to have HHH show his greatness by overcoming a seemingly unstoppable foe at the PPV match.
I know the second part hasn't happened yet, but is there any doubt that HHH will be the first person to beat the undefeated Kozlov? His ego would demand nothing less.
I would've much preferred an ending where somehow Triple H became involved in the outcome, ending the bout in a no-contest and setting up a possible triple threat match. Having Hardy lose in such a clean, decisive fashion really removes any valid claim he had for a rematch based on his near win at the previous PPV. As you said, between the match outcome and HHH's commentary, the WWE did a great job of killing any momentum Hardy has gained in the last month.
Maria winning the title shot was a rather unpleasnnt surprise to me: the thought of a Maria/ McCool title match seems like a botch-fest waiting to happen. At least if you feel it's vital to have a plastic-looking women's champion at all times, you could've given Maryse the shot, since she can at least combine her looks with some decent in-ring work. I know it's crazy to think Neidhart or Victoria could be given the belt, since neither has posed or will be posing for Playboy in the near future.
And lastly, I agree with you: it's time to bring back Edge!

As long as you're not super...and crazy at the same time; I think there's a guy out there with a trademark on that.

If the voting is legitimate, there is no chance Hardy is not involved in the main event. The only thing that will make it close is that Hardy voters will split their votes between the two choices involving him. But remember this is a guy that over 70% of the txting audience wanted to beat Trips at the last PPV. Not only that, but the whole txting thing lends itself to Hardy's base.

The question is, if Hardy gets the vote with a high percentage (coupled with the last PPV voting results) does the WWE toy around with the idea of putting the strap around his waist?

The Big Show's segment demonstrating to The Undertaker the 3 choices the fans have to vote for how he says he will beat The Undertaker had to be the worst part of the show. Big Show doing 30 second set up beat-downs on guys nobody has ever seen or heard of that are a third of his size was beyond stupid. WWE could have at least used the smaller guys like Funaki that we have had some experience with or a couple of the larger 3rd tier guys to at least make it look interesting

Kevin,
Do you think Edge is being held back to appear at Cyber Sunday, or maybe appear on the Smackdown episode following the PPV? I know the WWE is supposed to be putting out a dvd for him in November, so it would make sense to hype his return up to coincide with the release of that.

Along with that, where do you think they'll take his character/storyline when he comes back?

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: This is just a wild guess, but I think he might come back at Survivor Series.

Khali may benefit from low expectations, but his match - by Khali standards - wasn't bad at all. Also, this teased babface turn may be elementary, but Khali's facials actually made it look convincing.

As for the divas' match, the ring entrances? They were good. Maria celebrating in the ring? That was good. Everything in between? Um, not so good.

I think WWE rushed Big Zeke into the ring, but I have to give them credit for actually holding off as long as they did.

He's had such a mystique around him, as far as being "untouchable" so to speak. They could have gotten a lot more mileage out of not having him in the ring.

A perfect example of messing this up is Ban Neely. He was supposed to be Chavo's indestructable bodyguard.

He debuted on Tuesday looking good, then got his butt kicked by Undertaker on Friday, then was in a match the following Tuesday.

That week killed his "mystique," or "aura," so they had to switch his storyline and turn him into a dummy.

Are you really surprised that WWE wants the fans to vote for Kozlov? WWE has been trying to push Kozlov into the spotlight for many weeks now, constantly getting in the middle of Hardy and HHH's matches. There seems to be no such thing as working through the ranks anymore.

I'm starting to dig Kahli also.

If the WWE buries MVP any longer her won't be believable as a main eventer (can anyone say CM Punk). Please WWE stop tainting the talent. So of us have good memories!

Anyone think that a HHH-Hardy-Koslov could be a way for the WWE to slip Hardy the belt without a clean pin over Hunter.

Great blog Kev.

"Maria winning the title shot was a rather unpleasnnt surprise to me: the thought of a Maria/ McCool title match seems like a botch-fest waiting to happen. At least if you feel it's vital to have a plastic-looking women's champion at all times, you could've given Maryse the shot, since she can at least combine her looks with some decent in-ring work. I know it's crazy to think Neidhart or Victoria could be given the belt, since neither has posed or will be posing for Playboy in the near future."

I really wouldn't call Maria or Michelle "plastic", especially compared to Candice, Jillian, or even Beth Phoenix. Maria even pointed her "endowments" as all-natural on Raw back in January.

I would say Natalya should be involved in the title picture, but she's the niece of one of the most popular wrestlers ever, had a 3-month undefeated streak where she squashed Cherry and Kelly Kelly like bugs multiple times, had the announcers selling her, and still can't get heat. And the Maryse-Michelle feud has actually been better than what Nattie and Michelle did. I really don't know what the problem is. A very good wrestler who doesn't lose all the time like her should be over.

The only trouble I have with Koslov is that he went from squashing jobbers right to the main event. I think he has great potential as a heel, but if he doesn't win the belt, everything else will be a step down for him. That's a shame. I have a hard time believing that he will win the belt, but here's a possible reason he will win:

Koslov wins the belt from HHH, then sometime later - possibly Survivor Series, Hardy beats him, then HHH challenges Hardy at WM 25, and Hardy finally beats HHH..... that sounds like a pretty good story line.

Can't agree more that it is a shame that MVP is getting buried. I really like his performances, though I'm sure he'd be preferable as a heel. (just my opinion)

What did MVP do anyway to get in the dog house? It can't be drugs or he'd presumably be suspended? I have heard he's gotten in trouble but I don't know why.

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: The word was that MVP made some offensive comments to the person who takes the urine sample for the drug test.

Oh, Kevin, say it ain't so! Enjoying Kahli?!?!
You are sentenced to watching Giant Gonzalez matches for two hours.

Hey Kevin,

Koslov was billed as weighing 305 pounds, and HHH said during his commentary he was at least 290. Is this true? He certainly doesn't look that big.

RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: It's hard to say because many of the billed heights and weights are exaggerated.

Kevin,
Totally off topic but I was flipping through channels the other day and came upon AAA Lucha Libre show. I was quite shocked to see X-Pac on the show doing the Degeneration-X thing complete with crotch chops, "dos palabras", suck it, and DX music. I wonder if WWE knows or cares about him doing this in AAA. Do you have any scoop or is this old news?

oh joy. HHH vs Koslov. should be a real punch/kick fest with a minimal amount of actual wrestling..oh..wait. Koslov has the head butt thats right. you know, the one where he uses his hands and just pushes the guy down and his head is ducked down? yea. that one.
I hope this is a short program and we get better talent elevated.
i mean c'mon! even Batista busts out the back - drop and a drop toe hold now and again.

Kevin, who do you think misses their former employer more? Ron Killings or Cam Cameron?