Looking Back at past Money In The Bank winners

With Money in the Bank happening a couple of weeks back, I thought it might be interesting to take a look back at all the past Money in the Bank holders, and see how their winning the briefcase worked out for them, so, I took a look at when they won it, when they cashed it in, how long did they hold the title for (if they won it), and then a quick look at what happened in their careers post-MitB win.  Take a look, maybe you’ll find some interesting stats along the way!

2005 – Edge

Won Money in the Bank: April 3, 2005

Cashed in MitB:  January 8, 2006, defeating John Cena for the WWE Title

Held that title until:  January 29, 2006 (21 day title reign)

After MitB:  Edge went on to complete a Hall of Fame career, winning the WWE Title on 3 more occasions, and the World Heavyweight Title on 7 occasions, always remaining near the top of the card.

2006 – Rob Van Dam

Won Money in the Bank: April 2, 2006

Cashed in MitB:  June 11, 2006, defeating John Cena for the WWE Title

Held that title until:  July 3, 2006 (23 day title reign)

After MitB:  Van Dam never quite got back to that top level again, never holding the WWE or World Heavyweight Titles again.  He left WWE full time in 2007, made a few sporadic appearances after that, and then joined TNA Impact Wrestling, where he is still a featured performer today, including one run as the TNA World Heavyweight Champion.

2007 – Mr. Kennedy

Won Money in the Bank:  April 1, 2007

Cashed in MitB: Never cashed it in, lost the briefcase to Edge on May 7, 2007

After MitB:  Never quite made it back to the top, never holding the WWE or World Heavyweight Title during his time in the company.  He was released in 2009, and now works for TNA Impact Wrestling, where he has held the TNA World Heavyweight Title on two occasions.

2007 – Edge

Won Money in the Bank:  May 7, 2007 (in a singles contest with current briefcase holder, Mr. Kennedy)

Cashed in MitB:  May 8, 2007, defeating The Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Title

Held that title until: July 19, 2007 (73 day title reign)

After MitB: See 2005 entry for Edge

2008 – CM Punk

Won Money in the Bank: March 30, 2008

Cashed in MitB: June 30, 2008, defeating Edge for the World Heavyweight Title

Held that title until: September 7, 2008 (70 day title reign)

After MitB:  Punk is one of the top two guys in WWE at the moment, having won the World Heavyweight Title 2 more times, and the WWE Title 3 times as well (which he currently holds as of this writing).

2009 – CM Punk

Won Money in the Bank:  April 5, 2009

Cashed in MitB:  June 7, 2009, defeating Jeff Hardy for the World Heavyweight Title

Held that title until:  July 26, 2009 (50 day title reign)

After MitB:  See 2008 entry on CM Punk

2010 – Jack Swagger

Won Money in the Bank:  March 28, 2010

Cashed in MitB:  March 30, 2010, defeating Edge for the World Heavyweight Title

Held that title until:  June 20, 2010 (83 day title reign)

After MitB:  Swagger has not found near the success since losing the World Heavyweight Title.  He has held the US Title, but currently is used more as an enhancement talent who occasionally wins matches on Superstars.  He may be the Money in the Bank winner who has been helped the least in the long run after winning the briefcase (at least in this writer’s opinon). 

2010 – Kane

Won Money in the Bank:  July 18, 2010

Cashed in MitB:  July 18, 2010, defeating Rey Mysterio for the World Heavyweight Title

Held that Title until: December 19, 2010 (155 day title reign)

After MitB:  Kane hasn’t won the World Title again, but is always a main stay in the upper midcard to main event level in WWE.  Kane was a guy who didn’t need MitB to push him up the card, and hasn’t been hurt after it either. 

2010 – The Miz

Won Money in the Bank:  July 18, 2010

Cashed in MitB:  November 22, 2010, defeating Randy Orton for the WWE Title

Held that title until:  May 2, 2011 (162 day title reign)

After MitB:  The Miz has had a quick fall from grace since that title reign, ending up in a tag team with R-Truth, and now is the reigning Intercontinental Champion, with no real return to the main event in sight.  After how The Miz performed as champion, it is beyond me why he has been buried so far, but it seems something happened to have him fall from the good graces of those in charge. 

2011 – Alberto Del Rio

Won Money in the Bank:  July 17, 2011

Cashed in MitB:  August 14, 2011, defeating CM Punk for the WWE Title

Held that title until:  September 18, 2011 (36 day title reign)

After MitB:  Del Rio has had one more month and a half run with the WWE title, and has battled injuries.  He has been near the top of the card since then when healthy as well.  He is currently involved in a feud with Sheamus, the current World Heavyweight Champion. 

2011 – Daniel Bryan

Won Money in the Bank:  July 17, 2011

Cashed in MitB:  December 18, 2011, defeating The Big Show for the World Heavyweight Title

Held that title until:  April 1, 2012 (106 day title reign)

After MitB:  Bryan has been near the top of the card and in major storylines since his title loss, including a short lived feud with CM Punk over the WWE Title (which he failed to win).  He appears to be headed towards some sort of showdown with Charlie Sheen at Summerslam. 

2012 – John Cena

Won Money in the Bank:  July 15, 2012

Cashed in MitB:  July 23, 2012, defeating CM Punk by DQ, but not winning the title, becoming the first man to fail to win the title when cashing in. 

After MitB:  Too early to tell, but let’s be honest, it’s John freakin’ Cena…it won’t hurt him in the least. 

2012 – Dolph Ziggler

Won Money in the Bank:  July 15, 2012

Has yet to cash in the briefcase, so the story is yet to be told with Ziggler.  Will he fair better than his recent tag partner, Jack Swagger?  Will he stay at the top like Del Rio, Punk, and Bryan?  Too early to tell, but this could be the moment that Ziggler finally gets his shot!

Just a few stats:

Shortest title reign after cashing in:  Edge, 2005

Longest title reign after cashing in:  The Miz, 2010

Average Title Length after cashing in:  77.9 days

Shortest time between win and cashing in:  Kane, 2010 (same day)

Longest time between win and cashing in:  Edge, 2005 (281 days)

Average time between win and cashing in:  71.27 days

John Cena, Edge, and CM Punk have all had the briefcase cashed in on them twice, though Cena and Edge are the only two to lose their title twice that way, since Punk retained against Cena this year. 

So, there are the stats, does Money in the Bank help a star get to the next level?  I’d argue that yes, more times than not, it has.  Many times (Punk, Del Rio, Bryan, Edge), they have been able to stay there, though there are stars like Swagger and Miz who have struggled to find the success again.  It all comes down usually to how WWE books the guys after they win the briefcase, and especially after they lose the title.  It can work really well when done right!

13 (More!) Questions with Gabe Sapolsky!

Dragon Gate USA presents it's next two shows this weekend, with it's Detroit area debut, "Untouchable 2012" on Saturday night in Taylor, MI, and then the 3rd Anniversary Show in Chicago, IL on Sunday night.  Both shows are available on WWNLive.com with three different pricing options, starting at $9.99, you can get signed up at WWNLive.com by clicking the picture above if you'd like!  DGUSA Vice President Gabe Sapolsky took some time to sit down with Two Spot Monkeys and talk about the upcoming shows, the past few years in Dragon Gate USA and EVOLVE, and so much more. 

1. First off, Happy Anniversary and congratulations on wrapping up 3 years and kicking off year 4! When we chatted a year ago, one of the themes from our conversation was the roster being all on equal footing in terms of “original” Dragon Gate talent and “homegrown” stars. What do you think has been the biggest or most successful growth for Dragon Gate USA/EVOLVE in the last year?

Gabe:  Thank you very much. We are only here for our 3rd anniversary because of the support of everyone reading this and we greatly appreciate that. To answer your question, I think our biggest growth has had to do in the iPPV area. We are really proud of the fact that our iPPVs have grown, and that we have been able to deliver a quality service. The last time we had a major problem was in January and that was only a 5 minute delay based on a human error that will never happen again. Besides that we have had great, uninterrupted streams including on the EVOLVE tripleshot in June and EVOLVE doubleshot in May. The $1.99 DGUSA iPPV on Wrestlemania weekend was a huge success for us. I assure you that we will continue to work our hardest to make WWNLive.com even better. It will continue with live iPPVs this Saturday and Sunday. I'm especially excited about the one this Sunday because we are in the traditional wrestling Sunday night PPV timeslot for our anniversary show. That's huge.

2. It was Thanksgiving time last year when the announcement was made that a “union” between DG USA and EVOLVE was established that would allow them operate more in conjunction with each other. Has that worked as you hoped for, in terms of a more consistent product, stronger storylines and the ability for more growth & development of the roster?

Gabe:  Yes, definitely. I feel it has been a huge boost for our storyline and character development. An example would be the Sami Callihan vs. AR Fox feud, which carried over in each promotion. I think Johnny Gargano has really benefited as Open The Freedom Gate Champion as it has given him more title matches and helped him build momentum. It's been a lot of fun and very rewarding to be able to book with this continuity and it'll continue this weekend and beyond.

3. Along with the above opportunities and growth, WWNLive.com is the source for wrestling iPPV’s. Has that been part of the successful business model in terms of profitability? How do you grow and better what are already doing to make it more of a destination for wrestling fans?

Gabe:  I can't emphasize how important the growth of WWNLive.com has been. It has been a game changer. Things have changed. People want things immediately and now. WWNLive.com has given us the ability to put 90% of our shows on live iPPV and deliver that. We are able to do it affordably for the customer with three pricing options on our live iPPVs starting at just $9.99. I mean when you think about it, it's a great deal. You used to have to pay $20 plus shipping for a DVD and wait a few months to get it. Now you can watch a show live as it happens for just $9.99. You can't beat that.

4. Is there something from DG USA/EVOLVE or someone that you are particularly proud of in terms of development over the last year?

Gabe:  Well, I think it's clear so far how much pride I have in our iPPV service at WWNLive.com. As far as talent development goes I can be here all day talking about how proud I am of our entire roster. Johnny Gargano has really led the way as Open The Freedom Gate Champion. He has completely grown into that role. It's something I always tried to do booking wise when I was at ROH. I always wanted to take a guy that was on the cusp of getting to the next level to make champion, and then I hoped he would grow into the role of champion and then you'd have a new star. Samoa Joe did it. Austin Aries did it. Bryan Danielson did it. Nigel McGuinness did it. Now we are seeing Johnny Gargano do it in DGUSA. He has led by example in and out of the ring in becoming the face of the company. The moment with the little girl in Concord, NC at EVOLVE 14 was something special and shows what kind of person Gargano is. I have to admit sometimes you sit there and get upset about the small crowd, but then you see how much the show means to just one person and it makes everything worth it and Gargano gave us all that moment at EVOLVE 14. That's what it's about. I could go on and on about our roster, but I'll just focus on Gargano here.

5. On the flipside of that, what has been the biggest or most frustrating challenge of the last year?

Gabe:  Excellent question and I don't have to think for more than a second to answer. It's been finding a home. We lost the former ECW Arena in January. The Ace Arena was shut down last year. BB King's in Manhattan didn't invite us back. They were happy with the crowd size, but said we didn't sell enough food or drinks at our shows to justify having us on the deal we had, which was an incredible deal. Wonderland Ballroom in Revere, MA also changed ownership and we can't get back in that building. So basically we lost all the accessible, affordable buildings in the Northeast. This has led us to trying new markets like North Carolina and Florida, which haven't drawn the biggest crowds. It's the crowd that makes the show. A good, lively crowd can make a good show into a great show or a great show into show of the year. I feel we've had some awesome shows this year, but we have needed slightly larger crowds to take them to the next level and really get some buzz going. You can see this on our DGUSA Miami shows, where we had nice sized crowds that really took the shows to the next level. If we had some homes in the Northeast we could build the crowds to that level. Right now we are working on finding something and I think doing that is the next key to our growth. Don't get me wrong though, the fans that have come to our shows have been great and really supportive and we truly appreciate that.

6. How has the transition to a full-time iPPV booked product changed you as a booker or promoter? Are you able to find or hit a “groove” when everything is live and there is little to no room for error or misstep?

Gabe:  It's been amazing as a booker and promoter. The ability to have all the angles and character development seen live as it happens has been a huge advantage. It puts the pressure on everyone to deliver and perform at their best. It's not well known, but we used to edit things on the older ROH shows like crazy. Now we don't have the luxury of doing that and everything has to click live. That pressure drives everyone to perform better and makes everything more exciting.

7. WrestleCon 2013 was just announced for WrestleMania weekend next year. How did the concept come up and what kind of opportunity do feel this provides for the many companies, wrestlers, vendors and fans that will attend?

Gabe:  I feel this is the culmination of a lot of great relationships that we have been built since the start of DGUSA. I'll admit I was in a bubble when I was with ROH, but since that time I have been lucky to build relationships with a lot of great promotions and the people behind them. Sal Hamaoui, my partner in DGUSA and EVOLVE, was then instrumental in putting this all together. This is going to be the biggest weekend in independent wrestling history. We saw an opportunity to bring all these promotions together at a great location on the biggest wrestling weekend of the year. Everyone was really cooperative and helpful in putting it together. It's an incredible opportunity for each promotion to put their best foot forward and blow people away, for wrestlers to showcase their stuff to wider audiences and pick up a lot of bookings, for fans to see five unique brands and for vendors to have a Black Friday type of weekend during a normally slow period of the year. It's a win for everyone involved and I'm so excited for this. I really can't wait.

8. Dragon Gate USA returns to action this weekend for the first time since the Miami show, in Taylor, MI on Saturday, 7/28 and then Chicago, IL on Sunday, 7/29. What does it mean to debut outside Detroit and return to Congress Theatre, where you’ve had some great DG USA memories? If fans cannot make it to either event live, WWNLive.com offers the events on iPPV and recently created various pricing options for all events. Can you explain those options/tiers and how that came about?

Gabe:  We've heard from the fans in the Detroit area and Michigan for a while now asking for DGUSA. Now we are delivering so hopefully the fans will give us a good turnout and make the show a success. I'd love to be able to go back and even bring EVOLVE and with the right support we will. I'm really happy to have our anniversary show at The Congress Theater in Chicago. That building and Chicago has been a home to Dragon Gate USA since the second show. We have had some incredible events and memories there and it is only fitting we celebrate our birthday there. We are putting both events this weekend on live iPPV. We offer three pricing options to make the shows as affordable as possible. For $9.99 you can watch the live showing. For $14.99 you get the live showing and then unlimited On Demand access. For $24.99 you get the live showing, unlimited On Demand access and then the DVD when it is released. That's really the best deal when you look at potential savings. We feel that these three options offer everyone a great deal and make iPPV very affordable, especially compared to DVDs or cable PPV.

9. Johnny Gargano has a big weekend ahead of him, with arguably his toughest Open The Freedom Gate Title defense against Akira Tozawa on Saturday and then an “I Quit” Match against Chuck Taylor on Sunday. Acknowledging his unfortunate injury earlier this year, has Gargano met the call that you had for him after dethroning YAMATO last November?

Gabe:  Yes, Gargano has risen to the role of champion both in and out of the ring. A champion is more than the best wrestler in the locker room. He is someone who leads by example in the locker room and in the ring. Gargano has worked incredibly hard to spread the word of DGUSA and EVOLVE, be a guy who tirelessly does media, gets in better shape and improves his wrestling. In addition, his matches have delivered. That's what makes a champion and Gargano has met the call. Gargano vs. Tozawa was incredible when we had it last year in Chicago, I think it'll be epic with the title on the line this Saturday.

10. Speaking of YAMATO, he makes his United States return for the first time since he lost that time and much of this weekend’s excitement centers around his matches with Ricochet and Jon Davis (two very different opponents/styles). What are the “hype points” for those matches?

Gabe:  I think it revolves around three simple things. YAMATO was an incredible champion and had an amazing 2011. Now he returns for the first time since dropping the belt and he wants his top spot back. Ricochet is one of the most exciting wrestlers in the world. He has risen as a top player in Dragon Gate and DGUSA. This is one of those no hype marquee matches. It speaks for itself. Jon Davis is having a breakout year with his matches against Fit Finlay, Low Ki and then in Style Battle. He has a storyline where if he loses (a match), he walks away. He is definitely the underdog against a guy of YAMATO's stature. The question is if he can win. I think the bottom line is everyone who knows these three talents knows that these will be two very different types or matches and both have potential to be completely awesome.

11. Another really significant match is the Decision Match for the Open The United Gate Tag Team Titles, pitting CIMA & his choice of AR Fox as partner vs. Ricochet & his choice, fellow World-1 International stablemate, Rich Swann. There is a lot at play in this match, between the CIMA & Ricochet relationship and the “teacher-student” connection as well as the history between Fox and Swann that spans both DG USA and EVOLVE. With all of those elements and possibly others, what do you see as the tipping point in this match? Additionally, with the previous hiccups connected to the titles (injuries, scheduling conflicts) how do you view this “re-boot” and set the tone for consistency in the tag division with teams like The Scene, Super Smash Brothers or even YAMATO & Shingo Takagi from Dragon Gate as potential contenders?

Gabe:  I really like the fact that this match is in Chicago. The Congress Theater is where Ricochet broke out of the pack as CIMA's tag team partner. Now we have AR Fox teaming with CIMA in that building in a similar situation. On that note, Ricochet and Rich Swann have the potential to be the best tag team in the world. They have worked out a lot in Japan and have incredible chemistry. I think the video promo they sent in last week shows how well they have clicked. This is a chance to make two, new, incredible tag teams and really heat up our tag team division along with the Super Smash Brothers, The Scene, D.U.F., Gentlmen's Club and I look forward to seeing how Zero Gravity has progressed over the past year this weekend. Also, we have El Generico and Samuray Del Sol teaming up for the first time this weekend and they could instantly click and be one of the most exciting teams in the world. This will be a huge weekend for rebuilding the tag division.

12. MASADA makes his Dragon Gate USA debut this weekend. What lead to that addition and how do you see him as part of both DG USA and EVOLVE? Along with that debut, El Generico, Samuray Del Sol have also been great additions to the product. Is it ever fair to say that talent-wise the promotion is as strong or stronger than it ever has been before? What match is “under the radar” ahead of this weekend that fans should pay close attention to?

Gabe:  I've wanted to work with Masada for years, but we just never connected. I've always been intrigued by his talent. He is unique, he stands out and he's a guy that you wouldn't want to get in a fight against. Really, with the loss of Brodie Lee and Silas Young, it has opened the door for Masada to walk in and make an immediate impact. He's ready to take the ball and make the most of this opportunity and he's at the point in his life and career where he's not going to let anything stop him. Our roster is really deep now and it will only get deeper. El Generico has been a great addition this year. He is an elite talent and we are lucky to have him. It has given us the chance to put on some really fresh, incredible matches. Samuray Del Sol will be the 2012 breakout star. The rest of this year belongs to him. As far as an under the radar match this weekend, Super Smash Brothers vs. Arik Cannon & Pinkie Sanchez on Sunday in Chicago jumps out at me. We have a stacked card that night, but I really wouldn't be surprised if this one steals the show.

13.DG USA and EVOLVE are very active through social media (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube) along with with e-mail blast DG USA/EVOLVE alerts and the WWNLive E-Mail Magazine. Feel free to list those specific ways that fans can stay more connected to the products and how do you continue to be ahead of the curve with those opportunities to market the product and wrestlers?

Gabe:  I think in this day and age you really have to bring your message directly to the fans. You can't sit back and wait for people to come to your website anymore. We have really put a lot of emphasis on our DGUSA/EVOLVE Alerts email blast. I love the concept there. You deliver the news right to people's inbox and they can read it instantly on their phone, ipad, laptop, whatever. You can sign up for it under the left menu at www.DGUSA.tv. I am also very active on Twitter @BookItGabe and at www.Facebook.com/BookItGabe. I value all your feedback and am very interactive on those forums. I hope you will sign up for our email blasts, follow or like us. We do protect your email and won't give it to anyone. We respect the fact you trust us with it. I hope to hear from you on Twitter and Facebook.

We'd like to thank Gabe for taking the time to sit down and talk with us here at Two Spot Monkeys!  Be sure to check out the two live iPPV's this weekend at WWNLive.com!  If you don't have an account yet there, just click HERE to get signed up and order!

Quick Update = We are STILL Here!

Hey everyone!!!

Hopefully you haven't given up on checking back every so often here...and Jim and I hope to make that worth your while in the near future.

As Summer tends to do, schedules and opportunities do not often cooperate with blogging activities. Additionally, Tom just recently made a very positive career switch and Jim was participating in one of his many annual mission trips!

If you are re-visiting today, you will see that the Head 2 Head stats are updated. Through 6 events, Jim has taken the lead over Tom, 25-13 to 24-14 ! With football season right around the corner and the wager of Tom wearing a Bears t-shirt or Jim wearing a Lions t-shirt, you can expect the competition to get more intense and competitive. We will be back with Head 2 Head for SummerSlam in a few weeks.

Later this week, Tom heads to night 1 of the Dragon Gate USA weekend events in Taylor, Michigan outside of Detroit. Headlined by Johnny Gargano's defense of the Open the Freedom Gate Title against Akira Tozawa and complimented by CIMA & AR Fox vs. El Generico & Samuray Del Sol and Chuck Taylor vs. Rich Swann, this event should be excellent! Check it out in person or on WWNLive.com and Tom will be back with a review as early as Sunday!

Look for more later this week from both Jim and Tom!

UFC 148 Preview

UFC 148 comes to us live from Las Vegas this Saturday night and is headlined by one of the biggest rematches in recent MMA history.  Long time Middleweight Champion, Anderson Silva defends his title against challenger Chael Sonnen.  Back at UFC 117 on August 7, 2010 , Sonnen beat up Silva for 4 and a half rounds, and was well on his way to winning the Middleweight Title, when seemingly out of nowhere, Silva caught Sonnen in a triangle choke and got the tap out.  Sonnen is the king of trash talkers, so he’s been saying for almost 2 years that he won that fight…Saturday night, the talking ends, and the fists fly!  But, Silva/Sonnen II is not the only interesting fight on the card, let’s take a look at the six(!) fights that will air on the PPV, and what I think will happen there!

Mike Easton vs. Ivan Menjivar

Menjivar was originally going to fight Renan Barao here at UFC 148, but Barao got moved into the Interim Bantamweight Title fight against Urijah Faber (which has since been moved to UFC 149), and Easton steps in here.  Easton is on a 7 fight win streak, including a 2-0 record in the UFC.  Menjivar is on a 3 fight winning streak, winning his last 3 fights since moving over from the WEC.  This will likely be a battle of wills, and if I’m Menjivar, I probably try to take this to the ground, and avoid Easton’s hands.  That being said, Easton seems like he’s putting it all together right now, I’m going to go with Easton by KO/TKO. 

Chad Mendes vs. Cody McKenzie

Mendes fights for the first time since getting knocked out at the end of the first round in his attempt at taking the Featherweight Title off of Jose Aldo.  Mendes is a wrestling machine, but shooting for double legs against McKenzie can be deadly, as he is a submission master, especially with the guillotine choke.  McKenzie has lost 2 of his last three fights though, so both guys need this win, and it’s McKenzie’s debut at 145 pounds.  I see Mendes finding another way to get McKenzie to the ground and riding him out to a Decision win.  Probably not the most exciting fight of the night, but Mendes gets back in the win column.

Dong Hyun Kim vs. Demian Maia

Maia is a submission expert, but had a terribly boring fight back when he fought Anderson Silva for the Middleweight Title.  This will be his debut at 170 pounds, so you have to wonder about the weight cut for him.  Maia lost two of his last three, dropping decisions to UFC on Fuel 4 headliners Mark Munoz and Chris Weidman, but getting a decision victory over Jorge Santiago.  Kim on the other hand has only lost once in his pro career, and that was to UFC Interim Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit about a year ago.  I think Kim is a tough matchup for Maia’s first foray into the Welterweight division, and I think Kim will get the win by Decision…but to do that, he’ll need to keep the fight standing more often than not.

Cung Le vs. Patrick Cote

Le was originally set to fight Rich Franklin in a much bigger sounding fight, but when Vitor Belfort had to pull out of the UFC 147 main event against Wanderlei Silva, Franklin got moved to that spot, where he earned the unanimous decision victory.  Cote has gone 4-0 in his four fights since a three fight losing streak sent him out of the UFC.  I think Le is a super exciting fighter, but Cote is a much more well rounded MMA striker, which is a different animal than Le’s upbringing in Sanshou.  This one could go either way, but I’m betting on someone going to sleep.  If I had to guess, I think Cote wears Le down and gets a TKO in the 2^nd or 3^rd round. 

Forrest Griffin vs. Tito Ortiz

This is Tito Ortiz’s swan song, as he is retiring after this fight.  He’ll also be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame the night before this fight.  This is the third fight between the two, with Ortiz winning their first meeting by split decision in 2006, and Griffin winning their last meeting, also by split decision back in 2009.  Griffin has won 2 of his last three, with that win over Ortiz, a decision win over Rich Franklin, and his most recent fight, where he got knocked out 11 months ago by Shogun Rua.  Ortiz on the other hand is on a 2 fight losing streak, and has lost 6 of his last 8 (with 1 win and 1 draw sprinkled in).  Ortiz’s one win in his last 8 fights was a shocking submission of Ryan Bader a year ago, but since then he has taken TKO losses to Rashad Evans and Little Nog.  Ortiz is at the end of his career for a reason, and while I completely agree with him going into the Hall of Fame, he’s going to go out on the losing end I believe, as even though I think Griffin’s best days may be quickly passing him by as well, he is 4 years younger, and in my eyes, he knocks Ortiz out in the 2^nd round. 

For the UFC Middleweight Title

Anderson Silva (C) vs. Chael Sonnen

Well, we all know what happened last time as mentioned above.  Since that fight, Sonnen has dealt with a suspension for elevated testosterone, been found guilty of criminal charges, and oh yeah, gone 2-0 in the UFC, with a submission win over Brian Stann, and a decision victory over Michael Bisping.  Silva on the other hand has defended his title twice, with KO/TKO victories over Vitor Belfort and Yushin Okami.  After the last fight, Silva claimed to have a rib injury.  If true, and he still found a way to win, I think that makes it very interesting.  Sonnen won that fight for four and a half rounds, and made one mistake and got caught.  So, Sonnen can fight a great fight, make one mistake, and lose again.  Silva on the other hand has shown that even when apparently hurt, he is always dangerous.  Personally, I think Sonnen had the night of his life last time, and didn’t get the job done.  I see Silva knocking Sonnen out, and afterwards, Sonnen will still complain about the stoppage, even if it’s a great stoppage.  If Silva wins, where does he go from here is an interesting question that we may need to examine after the show if that does in fact happen! 

So, what do you think?  Who’s winning this HUGE rematch?  What other fights are you looking forward to?

13 Questions with Kyle O'Reilly!

Kyle O'Reilly is one of the best young talents on the independent wrestling scene today.  He's appeared for all of the major indy promotions, and currently makes his home in Ring of Honor, alongside his trainer and training partner, Davey Richards.  O'Reilly sat down with Two Spot Monkeys to talk about his career, his "Hybrid Rules Match" coming up against Adam Cole on iPPV this weekend, and so much more!  

1. Tell us about your earliest memories of wrestling, and what made you decide to pursue it as a career?

O'Reilly:  My earliest memories of wrestling consists mainly of early 90's WWF. I didn't watch wrestling regularly but I knew the characters synonymous with the sport like Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior very well. When I was finally old enough to watch wrestling my favorites included Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker and Steve Austin. I think like a large majority of wrestlers, one decides at an early age that they want to be a professional wrestler, then as time goes on people tend to outgrow the notion. I just never outgrew the desire that I wanted to be a wrestler, so when the time was right I pursued it.

2. For fans not aware, how did your relationship and the growth of that into being Davey's protégé' come about?

O'Reilly:   Davey had been wrestling regularly at the promotion I trained under (ECCW based out of British Columbia), I guess he saw some potential on my end and he would book me for a promotion he and Tony were running (Pinnacle based out of Washington), we traveled together a few times and became friends. When Davey moved to Saint Louis the invite was open to move down and continue training and taking my career to the next level. So I jumped at the chance and would pack my car and drive down to Missouri, haven't looked back since.

3. Davey Richards stated recently that you train in BJJ along with him 5 days per week. Do you have aspirations in MMA as well as pro wrestling?

O'Reilly:  Yeah, absolutely. The training regimen that involves elements of mixed martial arts is something that I enjoy very much, I also consider myself to be a somewhat competitive guy. I'm sure somewhere down the road I'll opt for a MMA fight but for now I'll stick to grappling tournaments and pro-wrestling.

4. How does your disciplined training help you to grow as a pro wrestler and strive to be one of the best?

 O'Reilly:  I've found since I've been training in MMA my ability and confidence in the ring has heightened immensely. I feel more fluid and polished incorporating MMA inspired techniques into my repertoire. I also feel my wind and stamina has greatly improved so there has been nothing but positive impacts. I grew up playing almost every sport but I feel martial artists are probably the most elite and uniquely trained athletes around.

5. How does or has being so closely linked to Davey and Tony Kozina helped you in your early career? Is there any ways you feel that it has hurt or had less than positive effects?

O'Reilly:  They were really the driving point behind having to get out of the northwest to gain exposure. They were right, and I'm thankful for everything that they've done to help me in my career. I'm very proud of the fact that I've gained success based off my own merits, trials and persistence, but both Davey and Tony helped fuel the fire inside me that would have me seek the opportunity to do so.

6. Your career thus far has been closely tied with Adam Cole’s, from your pre-show match for Dragon Gate USA, to your team as Future Shock in ROH, and now your first big single’s feud.  What are the main similarities or differences you see with yourself and Adam Cole?

O'Reilly:   I feel both myself and Cole have a very strong work ethic and desire to succeed. We're both confident in ourselves and believe in everything we do inside the ring. We each followed completely different paths to get to this point, yet our paths crossed at opportune moments. It will be interesting to see how our paths continue to cross or separate in the future.

7. As we mentioned, you started your ROH career off in a tag team with Adam Cole as Future Shock.  The knock on the team was that you never quite got the “big wins”, but always had outstanding matches.  Is not winning the ROH Tag Team Titles with Future Shock something you look back on as a disappointment in your ROH career?

O'Reilly:  I think we're both a bit disappointed that "Future Shock" never gained the success that it had the potential to. Wrestling has a way of surprising everyone though so perhaps the book isn't quite closed on what "Future Shock" could bring to the table.

8. At ROH's "Best in the World '12" you get to face Adam Cole in a match where you've seemingly got the advantage with "Hybrid Fighting Rules." If you feel Cole is truly only one-dimensional as you mentioned on ROHWrestling.com, is this a matter of you wanting more than just to settle the feud/issue and prove something more?

O'Reilly:  I absolutely have the advantage in this match, that much is true. I train every day in Muay Thai and submission grappling, so considering the rules, yeah I'd say Cole doesn't have much of a shot. The statement about Cole being "one-dimensional" is simply a doctored quote. I consider Adam Cole to be far more dimensional than myself as far as pro-wrestling standards are concerned. He has a superstar aura and quality look, impressive mic skills and a unique mat based/high flying repertoire of maneuvers. Adam Cole will outclass me any day of the week from a traditional pro-wrestling standpoint. However, when it comes to striking, submission ability and strait up toughness I'll destroy Adam Cole, hurting and embarrassing him. This isn't about ending a "feud" or an "issue", I made a challenge and Cole accepted. We may never see to eye again, we may have 100 more matches before the dust is settled, but when it comes to this Sunday June 24, I will dominate.

9. How would you deal with Adam Cole defeating you in New York City and cementing himself as ROH's "Breakout Star" - would it be a breaking point for you and what would come next for you?

O'Reilly:  A breaking point? I've been an athlete my entire life. I've won and lost at both the provincial and national level, losing just means re-evaluating and coming back stronger, tougher and hungrier. Losing is just part of an athlete's journey, I'm sure that's something Cole and I can agree on, we lost more times as "Future Shock" than I can count. That being said, there's no way I'm losing to Cole this Sunday, I simply cannot allow it, I've trained too hard for this match and I need to backup everything that I stand for.

10. Davey Richards also stated recently that he will retire from pro wrestling in August 2013. What would it mean for Davey Richards to publicly pass the torch to you within the next 13+ months? Is that something you would hope to have happen, specifically in ROH and have it be the next step in your ROH career?

O'Reilly:  I don't think Davey will be "passing the torch" to anyone if and when he walks away from wrestling. The proverbial torch isn't something I consider possible to be just handed away. I'm just thankful to keep being given good opportunities to perform at the best of my ability. When I'm ready I'll take the torch and I'll run with it. A lot of things can factor if and when that will be, may or may not be when Davey retires. When the time has come I'll know and you'll know, and there will be no question.

11. Beyond thinking that a feud or series of matches with Davey might be at the top of your professional "wish list," who else within ROH or elsewhere would you really like the opportunity to wrestle?

O'Reilly:  There's so many talented guys in the ROH locker room and all over the indies for that matter. I feel Eddie Edwards really brings out the best in me that I've come to realize so far, but like I said at the end of the day I'm just thankful to be getting opportunities to wrestle. I'm fortunate to be a part of such a hard-working locker room and everyone inspires each other to perform to their top potential.

12. What are your goals in the next year?  How about the next 3 years?  5 years out?

O'Reilly:   I try not to look too far into the future as far as wrestling is concerned. I keep focused on the present and trying to improve myself to be the best wrestler I can be day by day. It's always been a goal and dream of mine to wrestle in Japan so perhaps one day, but I cannot predict when and where that will be. I will say that I hope to become a Blue belt in Jiu-jitsu within 2 years.  

13. How can fans stay up to date on where you’ll be appearing, and how can they be in touch with you for merchandise, etc?

O'Reilly:  @ROHOreilly is my twitter handle. I don't think anyone would buy merch from me. Can I have some money? 

Two Spot Monkeys would like to thank Ring of Honor and Kyle O'Reilly for this interview!  Be sure to catch ROH's next iPPV, "Best in the World 2012: Hostage Crisis" this Sunday, June 24th at 5pm Eastern live on ROHWrestling.com!  

Head 2 Head: WWE No Way Out PPV

Hey all!  Long time no talk huh?  Sorry about that.  Many things have been going on in both of our personal lives that have just taken precedence lately, but we are still obviously very committed to Two Spot Monkeys and hope to get back to a more regular posting schedule now that things are hopefully calming a bit!  No worries, all is well, just busy lives you know?

With that in mind, we need to get back to our Head to Head competition here!  Unfortunately we missed Over the Limit, but we are back and ready to go for Sunday’s No Way Out PPV!  Here is how we see it playing out! 

Pre-Show Match

Brodus Clay vs. David Otunga

JIM:  They seem to be making Clay a bit more focused in his matches, and then do the fun stuff afterwards.  I hope they keep that up.  Clay is turning into a modern day Junkyard Dog, and that’s not a bad thing (except that I think the ceiling on Clay could be higher if they don’t pigeon hole him too much here).  Otunga is best served as Johnny Ace’s lackey, and not in a prominent role in the ring, so to me, no chance Otunga wins here, Clay all the way!

TOM:  How can you not get behind the “Funkasaurus?”  I think the match being the on-line pre-show bout is good, as WWE wants to get people into that concept and Brodus is a good talent to draw them in.  He gets the W here.

Tuxedo Match

Santino Marella vs. Ricardo Rodriguez

JIM:  This match was added this week on WWE.com.  This probably goes on between the title matches and the Steel Cage as a “breather” bout.  Santino winning is the only thing that makes sense.  Frankly, I’m kind of bored…Santino is the US Champion, he shouldn’t be feuding with a ring announcer/lackey.  Either move Santino into an actual feud over the title, or get it off of him, please.

TOM:  Fun gimmick, especially because Ricardo is the one who is always dressed well.  But, I am with Jim on this…Santino deserves better, the United States Title deserves better.  Santino gets to excel at the comedy bit and gets the win, but let’s hope there is something more in store.

Intercontinental Title Match

Christian (C) vs. Cody Rhodes

JIM:  At first I was going to complain about Rhodes not being on TV this week to push this match, but he was on a promotional tour in Turkey apparently.  I do question the wisdom of sending him over there the week of a PPV, with a match to build to, but it tells you how little the company values the Intercontinental Title, which is a sad statement.  Long gone are the days of Greg Valentine, Tito Santana, Randy Savage, Ricky Steamboat and the Honky Tonk Man making the title actually mean something.  They don’t care…so why should I?  Christian wins, and WWE goes back to not caring. 

TOM:  Cody is one of my favorites to watch in WWE.  He could (and probably should) be in a higher profile match on Sunday, but WWE just doesn’t build up its talent as they have done previously.  A good re-match from last month, but the title is not switching back.  Christian wins.

Divas Title Match

Layla (C) vs. Beth Phoenix

JIM:  Layla has been a dud as champ so far, but that is more on the WWE booking of her in my eyes, her matches have been ok, but they just don’t seem to have a direction for the Divas right now.  Get the belt on Beth and go back to a dominant Divas champ, having her destroy everyone until Kharma comes in and we get a big Divas Title showdown between the two.  Beth Phoenix for the win here!

TOM:  I am surprised that they are running this match again.  It has likely been years since back to back PPV events featured the same Divas Title Match.  I am going to go with Layla to retain her title here.

World Title Match

Sheamus (C) vs. Dolph Ziggler

JIM:  Ziggler fills in for Del Rio here who has a concussion.  Why they don’t push Ziggler more often is beyond my understanding (and Tom’s too I know).  I mean, he’s been beaten cleanly by Sheamus twice in the last few weeks, and now we’re to believe he has a shot at winning the title?  Yeah, not a chance.  I get that they can’t plan for injuries…but don’t bury your good workers so far that when they are needed, they look like jobbers.  No chance in hell Ziggler wins here.  Sheamus by brogue kick. 

TOM:  As Jim stated above, I really just wish WWE would get behind Dolph Ziggler for 6-9 months or more.  The guy is oozing talent and could do SO much, but he is stunted by the system instead.  I think this is the match of the night , but Sheamus isn’t losing. 

WWE Title Match

CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Kane

JIM:  I hate to sound so negative in this preview, but it’s how I’m feeling.  Punk and Bryan have a really good match last month, and there is this subplot of crazy girl AJ playing in as well, and a controversial ending to boot.  So, that nicely builds to a rematch here right?  Nope, WWE has to muck up the water and insert Kane into a spot he doesn’t belong.  Why in the heck did this story need Kane?  What has he added except one more person for crazy AJ to fawn over?  And does that help anything?  Have Kane get smitten with AJ, have him stand in a trance on the outside watching her, and let Punk and Bryan do what they do best, and what they should have been left to do here, have a great match.  I honestly could go with either Bryan or Punk as the winner here, as I think Bryan as WWE champ would be great as well.  But, I think Punk hangs on to the title here. 

TOM:  I feel a little different than Jim on this one.  This is actually one of the better (if not best) stories going on right now.  Did adding Kane do anything to make this more meaningful?  Probably not, but those involved and in creative are making this at least worth investing in and I care about how it plays out more than anything else on this show.  I think Bryan and AJ have actually been in cahoots the whole time and it will lead to him winning his 2^nd World Title – YES! YES! YES!

Steel Cage Match

The Big Show vs. John Cena

JIM:  Smackdown Spoilers within, so be warned.  They have changed the stipulation to this match, now if Show loses, Johnny Ace is fired, but if Cena loses, Cena is fired.  Well, nothing like telegraphing the winner again most likely.  Unless they are going to rehash the “Cena gets fired” angle from the Cena/Barrett feud, no chance John Cena loses here.  Johnny Ace gets canned as GM, but sticks around as a character.  He’s been listed as “Special Advisor to the Board of Directors” or something like that in future bookings, so he’ll still be around, but we can get a new GM (and hey, let’s get someone new, not Teddy Long again ok?).  Cena wins here.

TOM:  Much like Jim, the Smackdown Spoilers caused me to scratch my head.  Does that actually add drama to the match?  I really wonder how many of the “WWE Universe” buy what they are being sold on a weekly basis.  I think WWE really has the shot to make Big Show a top level heel again here and here could move into a feud with Sheamus while ADR recovers.  On the flipside, if Cena gets fired as he did back in the Barrett-Orton storyline of a few years back and come back in short order, then it is another step towards making storylines and stipulations meaningless once again.  I want to go with Show here and WWE to make him a killer heel.  That could have happened without the added stip.  Cena is still John Cena and he’s too valuable for WWE to lose in a “firing angle.” Cena gets the win.

There they are!  Jim and Tom differ on a few matches, so the tie currently in our competition will be broken.  Check back next week, as we will have our REACT article from No Way Out and an exclusive ROH Interview ahead of the “Best in the World 2012” iPPV!!!

3 Things About...EVOLVE and ROH iPPV's This Weekend!

Quick Head 2 Head Update:  We didn’t get a chance to get a React column up for Extreme Rules and we apologize for that.  Jim went 5-1 with his picks, while Tom went 4-2 with his picks, so Jim has tied up the competition with each Spot Monkey having a 16-10 record.  We’ll get back to our regular “React” columns with Over The Limit”.

We decided that we liked the “3 Things” format, so instead of just using it for live shows we’ve attended; we may also from time to time use it to preview or review other shows when we don’t want to go match by match.  So, here are our 3 Things about this weekend’s Evolve and ROH shows! 

Jim’s 3 Things For The Evolve Shows

1. Who will break out?

On Friday night, we will see Mike Cruz vs. Alex Reynolds and a three way with Caleb Konley vs. Jake Manning vs. Adam Page, then on Saturday, the two winners of those matches will meet in a one on one match.  At this point, I would bet on Alex Reynolds vs. Caleb Konley being the matchup on Saturday.  Can Reynolds or Konley use these matches to really break out from the young up and comers?  Konley definitely has an exposure advantage here with his membership in The Scene, and this weekend he’ll have guest manager Johnny Fairplay watching his back.  Can Reynolds overcome that if he really does make it to that match on Saturday?  I’m going to go with Konley winning the Saturday match after some shenanigans, but Reynolds is going to have a heck of a weekend either way! 

2. Can Jon Davis step up his game?

Davis has two HUGE matches this weekend as he faces Fit Finlay on Friday night, and then goes one on one with Low Ki on Saturday night.  To say these are his most high profile singles matches in his career would be a vast understatement.  This is a make or break weekend for Davis as a singles star, and if it goes well, he should shoot to the top of the card in Dragon Gate USA and Evolve.  Personally, I don’t know if he’ll win either matchup (though I think a win over Finlay is much more likely than over Low Ki), but I do think he’s going to look great in defeat if that is what happens.  He brings a brute force aspect to the roster that is missing without him, so I absolutely expect good performances from him this weekend, and for Davis to move up.  I think it’s his time! 

3. Who does Gargano face on Saturday night?

I love the idea of a four way with the winner getting a title shot, as I love anything that makes someone earn a title shot, rather than just randomly giving someone a title shot.  They’ve moved Chuck Taylor out of the four way, so it’s now Jigsaw vs. AR Fox vs. Samuray Del Sol vs. Ricochet.  Truth be told, I honestly haven’t a clue who will win this one.  I don’t think Fox gets the shot.  If I had to guess, I’d go with Jigsaw as a fresh matchup (though Ricochet getting another shot to have a better match than Evolve 10 could work too).  Either way, no way Gargano is losing the title at this point, not with a big money match with Taylor coming down the road.  So, the question will be, who is it, and how do we get there?

Tom’s 3 Things For The Evolve Shows

1. What’s up with Low Ki?

After the very match between Low Ki and El Generico at EVOLVE 11, Low Ki commented on the microphone that Generico “wasn’t as good as he thinks he is” and left the ring.  On the heel of coming back to pro wrestling in a major way and wanting to “take his profession back,” Ki has racked up a tremendous win streak and had very good bouts along the way.  With Jigsaw and Jon Davis respectively this weekend, does that trend carry on?  Will we get more of a picture on his seemingly brash attitude?  Will he encounter El Generico?

2. Del Sol’s Time to Shine

I’ll admit that our interview with Samuray Del Sol has sold me on him.  I liked what I saw in from the Miami shows and at EVOLVE 11, but getting the background story and knowing that there is more behind the mask is what really interests me.  He has a great shot this weekend to be an ally and challenger for Johnny Gargano.  I look forward to seeing what he does in the ring and beyond.

3. What level of violence will we see in Evolution’s End?

AR Fox and Sami Callihan will wrap up their issue that has gone on for over 1 year on Friday night.  With the newly introduced “Evolution’s End” Rules, Fox and Sami must obey the rules of EVOLVE in the ring, but on the floor it is ANYTHING GOES!  I’ve really enjoyed this feud and the matches between the two.  I feel like they will pull out all of the stops and give fans more than we can even expect.  It should be a wild ride!

Jim’s 3 Things for ROH: Border Wars

1. How awesome will the atmosphere be for Davey Richards vs. Kevin Steen in Toronto?

I honestly think this is the biggest matchup that can be put together on the indy scene right now, and to do it in Steen’s home country is going to create a hell of an atmosphere.  Add in that this is Steen’s one and only ROH World Title shot, and now the near falls will mean so much more.  I won’t get to see the show live on Saturday night, and Sunday is booked solid, so I will likely see this sometime on Monday.  It will be killing me to avoid spoilers and not know, but it will be so worth it to see it play out without knowing.  I am sure we’ll have something to say next week about how this turns out either way! 

2. Will Michael Elgin vs. Adam Cole steal the show?

All the attention is on Richards vs. Steen, and rightfully so.  But the match outside of that I am most looking forward to is Michael Elgin vs. Adam Cole in a match of the two break out stars in ROH so far this year.  Both of these guys should be regular main event talents by the end of this year (and honestly, I think Elgin could be there now after the match with Richards at Showdown in the Sun), and I fully expect them to tear down the house on Saturday night.  Cole’s quickness against the crazy stupid strength of Michael Elgin will be a really fun style clash to watch play out.  If I’m a betting man, I go with Michael Elgin here, but perhaps Roderick Strong has interference that backfires and Cole gets the win leading to the break up of Strong and Elgin.  Should be great either way!

3. Will Tommaso Ciampa finally get pinned?

It sure seems like they are building to Ciampa getting his first loss here at Border Wars.  While I think it’s probably time to end the undefeated streak, I think it will be a huge mistake if Jay Lethal is the guy to end it.  Beating Ciampa in the middle of the ring should be a major moment in someone’s career, as he has been undefeated for over a year in singles matches.  Lethal is the last guy who needs a big win like that, so I personally hope they give Ciampa the win here and save the big loss for a guy like Adam Cole, or if they really want to strap a rocket to the guy…Matt Taven would be my choice! 

Tom’s 3 Things for ROH: Border Wars

1. WinSteenWin

Nearly a year of build up and we finally get Kevin Steen challenging for the ROH World Title and against Davey Richards.  I am personally buzzing over this match and know that the majority of my friends who follow ROH are as well.  With the expectations over the match, it will have to deliver to leave fans satisfied.  Can that occur without Kevin Steen winning the ROH World Title?

2. ROH takes iPPV in-house

After the problems with GoFightLive in Ft. Lauderdale, ROH will be going their own way with the presentation of the “Border Wars” show and it will come directly from ROHWrestling.com.  After a “test” of sorts on Wednesday yielded very poor results, ROH has got to get things right before Saturday.  They simply cannot afford the loss of goodwill with fans if this show for those who order on-line does not deliver.  I’ll be one of them, so my interest is very much vested.

3. The End

It comes down to a Fight Without Honor between Jay & Mark Briscoe and Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas.  The issue between these two teams has extended to its 15 month mark and we’ve seen almost every variation of match between the duos.  It will be resolved in the ultimate feud ender for Ring of Honor.  I expect a lot of blood and violence; I just hope it is good.

There you have it – plenty of wrestling options this weekend.  Order a show.  You will most definitely enjoy it!