SummerSlam Recap

Here's a quick look at what went down at SummerSlam 2007:

1. Kane vs. Finlay
Well, this was a lot better than what I expected. This was an entertaining match, but unfortunately was another loss for Finlay. I'd really like to see him get one more run at the US title or something. Kane wins via pin.

Unofficial Rating: 2 (out of 5)

2. Umaga vs. Mr. Kennedy vs. Carlito
The theme of the night is that most matches were too short to be anything better than "okay". This never got a chance to get going and surprisingly Mr. Kennedy got pinned. Umanga retains.

Unofficial Rating: 2 (out of 5)

3. Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero
This was better than their match at last years SummerSlam and Rey looked quite good in his return. Not too sure about that silver body paint though. Good, solid match. Rey wins via pin.

Unofficial Rating: 3.25 (out of 5)

4. Diva Battle Royal
They could have easily just made this about 3 minutes long and no one would have been upset. Beth Phoenix gets the victory as expected.

Unofficial Rating: .25 (out of 5)

5. John Morrison vs. CM Punk
This was my surprise of the night. I really thought Punk was in perfect position to pull it off. This match suffered the most from a time aspect, which is a shame because things were going really well. Morrison is still your ECW champ via his feet on the ropes (well, kinda).

Unofficial Rating: 2.5 (out of 5)

6. King Booker vs. Triple H
I was pretty shocked that Triple H's match was 8 minutes long. I thought for sure it'd be 15+. Triple H looks leaner and better than he has in years, but looked a little stiff. A decent match, but real short.

Unofficial Rating: 2 (out of 5)

7. Great Khali vs. Batista
This match was actually worse than expected. After the three way match at GAB, I had a little more hope, but boy was I wrong. Batista gave a nice effort, but Khali is just awful. Not that we didn't know that. Batista wins by DQ.

Unofficial Rating: 0 (out of 5)

8. John Cena vs. Randy Orton
This match and a big match feel and rightfully so. Orton has been working hard as of late and Cena has been working hard forever. This match was entertaining all the way through, and while it wasn't the classic I was hoping for, it definitely was one of the more entertaining matches of 2007. Cena pulls of yet another victory in a very good match.

Unofficial Rating: 3.75 (out of 5)

Overall Rating: 3 (out of 5)

While it wasn't as good as I had hoped, it just felt like it could have been a lot better. Had they just given a few more minutes to Punk/Morrison, the IC title match, and Triple H/Booker, I think we would have been left with a better taste in our mouth. However, the majority was entertaining, earning a mild recommendation.

Booking SummerSlam

The "biggest party of the summer" is here and this is just a quick look at how I'd book it.

1. Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero
I think they're actually making a mistake by having both Triple H and Rey coming back at the same show, especially since Triple H is getting all the attention (no surprise). Truth is, Smackdown misses Rey and of course he's going to win this match. Plus, if this is the opener, this will have been an opener two years in a row.

Winner: Rey Mysterio via pin
Time: 10-15 minutes
Predicted Rating: 3 (out of 5)

2. Finlay vs. Kane
This one most likely will be ugly, so I think putting it second would be a good move. Finlay is able to pull off good matches against big men, so it could be better than expected. I expect this to go to a DQ ending of some sort, but this is me booking and I'd have Finlay go over here via a cheap victory.

Winner: Finlay via pin
Time: 5-10 minutes
Predicted Rating: 1.25 (out of 5)

3. Divas Battle Royal
This is just there for the T&A factor and it could be watchable if kept short. I remember they did something similar on Raw and it was a fun match. Hopefully lightning can strike twice. I say put Beth Phoenix over and instantly insert her in a feud with Mickie James once she wins the belt.

Winner: Beth Phoenix
Time: 5-10 minutes
Predicted Rating: .5 (out of 5)

4. John Morrison vs. CM Punk
I doubt this match will be this late in the card (I'm thinking probably either match 1 or 2), but I think the crowd seems to be getting into this feud a little more. I definitely would have Punk go over here because there are way more heels than there are faces in the thin roster that is ECW.

Winner: CM Punk via pin
Time: 10-15 minutes
Predicted Rating: 3.25 (out of 5)

5. Carlito vs. Umaga vs. Mr. Kennedy
In theory, Carlito probably should go over, but I think Mr. Kennedy would elevate the title (and his career) the most by winning this match. I'm not quite sure how the crowd will react to these guys, as essentially all three of them are heels. You can still keep Umaga as a monster by having Kennedy pin Carlito, and that really wouldn't hurt Carlito's career much either.

Winner: Mr. Kennedy via pin
Time: 10-15 minutes
Predicted Rating: 3 (out of 5)

6. Triple H vs. King Booker
These guys had an underrated match at WrestleMania XIX, but they were also about 4 years younger. However, the crowd should be way into this, and even though this will probably be the second to last match, I still believe that the Smackdown title match should be second to last. There's no way Triple H will lose this, but I think it'd be a great angle if he did, but I'd still book Triple H going over.

Winner: Triple H via pin
Time: 15-20 minutes
Predicted Rating: 2.75 (out of 5)

7. Batista vs. Great Khali
Smackdown is definitely weak right now, but I think they've done a great job of making Khali look like a monster. I am not a fan of either of these guys, but for right now, these guys are going to have to have at least one more pay-per-view match. I think by having Khali win would keep his momentum and stack up the odds against Batista. Then I'd have Batista win at Unforgiven.

Winner: Great Khali via pin
Time: 5-10 minutes
Predicted Rating: .25 (out of 5)

8. Randy Orton vs. John Cena
I think the world is expecting John Cena to drop the belt here, but I'm still not quite sure. I think by having Cena lose wouldn't hurt him and would definitely help Orton's long term career. He has been red hot as of late and very convincing as a mega heel. Let's hope he has his head on straight this time.

Winner: Randy Orton via pin
Time: 20-25 mintues
Predicted Rating: 4 (out of 5)

Overall: Well this show would have been a lot better on paper with the Hardy/MVP and Umaga/Hardy rematches, but it is what it is. Two big returns plus a good main event should make for watchable pay-per-view. It probably won't be the best show of the year, but I highly doubt it will be at the bottom.

Time: 80-120 minutes
Average Predicted Rating: 2.25 (out of 5)

Things That Rocked July

Here is a look at 5 things that rocked July:

1. Disneyland/California Adventure
No trip to southern California is complete without stopping by the original theme park Disneyland. The park has a timeless feel and it still may be the greatest park in the world. I was lucky enough to ride the brand new Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, which is a new take on an old classic. It's a definite must-ride for any fan. The underrated California Adventure park is also a must see. Featuring favorites such as the Tower of Terror, California Screamin', and It's Tough To Be A Bug, I'm not really sure why this hasn't caught on quicker. Just wait until Toy Story Mania is finished.

2. San Diego
This was the first time I actually stayed in San Diego and I instantly fell in love with the city. I took my first stroll through the Gaslamp District and it possibly is my favorite downtown area I have been to. The San Diego Zoo was fantastic as always, despite not seeing the kiwis again. We also got to see the Padres at Petco Park, which is a top notch facility. The fish tacos were delicious.

3. "Young Modern" by Silverchair
Forget what you think you know about Silverchair and purchase this album immediately. It is a definite candidate for album of the year and quickly soaring up my favorite albums list. This band has come a long, long way.

4. Wireless Internet
I finally have wireless internet in the house and within about 10 miutes of having it, I became addicted. I can now download games off the Virtual Console for my Wii and play Tetris against people from all over the world on my DS. With each passing day, I become more and more of a nerd.

5. "Bargain Basement" by Aquatic Zoom
With drummer Justin off to Florida for the next 10 months or so, the Zoom made a last minute effort to put their jams out for the world to hear. The end result is 37 minutes of non-stop pleasure featuring jams ("My Favorite Bass Player Is Me", "Too New For Words", "Silence Is The Sound"), insanely catchy pop songs ("Fourteen", "Precious Time", "Running Backwards"), and crowd favorites ("Mammon Metropolis", "Figure Skating In Singapore"). If you would like to find out how to pick up a copy of the album, e-mail us at aquaticzoom@gmail.com.

Also, check out www.myspace.com/aquaticzoom for a free preview.