Yes, indeed... WWE finally returns live to the Rose Garden tomorrow and I -unabashedly- can't wait! The wrestlers flew-in yesterday and the 16 big-rigs are probably already parked, so let the festivities begin. It was interesting to watch KPTV's 8 o'clock news last night do a story interviewing a couple of the performers (John Morrison and The Miz) and then watch the anchors trying to keep a straight face afterwards!

OK, so most of you will probably file this in the "who-gives-a-shit" file, but that's OK... I'm looking forward to going and seeing how the whole "WWE machine" works behind the curtains.

Oh, by the way.... The Undertaker rules.

Yea I am going. I was a bit worried it wouldnt sell out but now it looks like it might.

This is the fifth time I have seen a wwe show. Two house shows, one smackdown and Raw and finally one pay per view.

And yes, when the lights go down and the undertaker makes an entrance its probably one of the coolest things I have even seen


By the way, I went to the Blazer fan fast last night and there had to be over 10,000 people there. It as nice to see.

This is the second PPV in Portland and the first that I will not be attending.

Can't really stand the product and the overall direction of the WWE in recent years.

Although I still follow the business side of it religously.

Shawn Micheals vs Chris Jericho Ladder Match Main Event will be with out a doubt the best match on the show.

Mikekolb I am jealous if I caught you right in saying that you have backstage credentials for the show.

I will start paying more attention to the product if they develop correctly a stable led by Randy Orton("Cowboy" Bob Orton's son) along with Manu (Wild Samoan Afa's son) Cody Rhodes (Dusty Rhodes' son), and Ted Dibase Jr.

If they develop the storyline and fued correctly with opponents of a returning John Cena, CM Punk, The Hardy's and or Cryme Tyme it could be a really interesting fued to get the business hot again.

The business in general could really heat up this next year if Darren Aronofskys The Wrestler with Mickey Rourke does well at the box office as the movie is already getting alot of talk about best actor nod for Rourke's performance as a pro wrestler.

The wrestling business needs another nWo!

I'm not one to bash another person's entertainment, but what is it about WWE that I'm not getting?

Not much Skep.... I like TNA a little better... The new younger guys on RAW are BORING!

Nah TNA has had all the chances in the world tp be a decent #2 to WWE and have failed miserably because they have not elevated the younger talent like AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Christopher Danials/Curry Man, and Abyss. I hope things change a bit now that they have hired Mick Foley but I doubt it.

BTW did anyone see tonights Elite XC MMA show on CBS?

Gina Carano ROCKS!

And Kimbo Slice got ROCKED!

Kimbo sliced lost in less then 15 seconds to a guy who wasnt even supposed to be on the main card..

It might end up being "Sold Out" but when they came last time with Raw one side of the 300 level was blocked off so the building looked like it was sold out.

Who knows if thats what they will do this time.

Nope, no backstage pass... just want to wander around as much as possible, check-out the fleet of big-rigs outside, etc. It's my first WWE live event after watching it on the tube, so it'll be fun to see whatever ISN'T seen in a broadcast.

My last live wrestling show was at the Cow Palace in SF, when Ray Stevens successfully defended the belt against Haystack Calhoun, so that'll give you an idea of how often this comes up for me.

BTW, the missus is going too... a big Batista fan!

Good luck Mike at getting around and "seeing" how it all works behind the scenes. Its not the easiest as its pretty tight security wise.

But with that all said you and your wife are really in for a treat its a great experience seeing a ppv or television taping.

Hopefully you are not on the floor unless you are up close in the first 5-6 rows otherwise you would want to be in the first elevated sections of the Rose Garden.

The pyro along will scare and or excite a grown man especially Kane's.

I have seen WrestleMania XIX in Seattle
The first WWE PPV in Portland
King of the Ring in Providence
The first RAW taping in Portland
RAW taping in Providence
WCW Nitro taping in Providence
WCW Nitro taping in Boston
Numerous WWF/WWE house shows
Numerous Independent shows

Nah TNA has had all the chances in the world tp be a decent #2 to WWE and have failed miserably because they have not elevated the younger talent like AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Christopher Danials/Curry Man, and Abyss.

They go from NO major TV contract to a 2 HR show in less than 3 years? I don't know what success is to you but I find it HARD to count them out with a track record like that.... Bringing in Angle, Sting, Cage and now Foley? You have to start somewhere to promote the younger guys and that is what they are doing! Joe has the strap does he not?
WWE has the strap around HHH and Jericho for crying out loud!! They've SHOVED the younger guys into RAW without proper story lines. The Miz and John Morrison? COME ON!

Sure enough the Three Hundred Level on the Camara Side was curtained off to force the "Sell-Out". There were more people there tonight than for the last RAW appearance in Portland.

The better part of the PPV versus RAW is many of the "bouts" lasted longer since there were no commercial issues.

And for those who like Smackdown, it will be here in February.

The morning-after report: all in all, I'm glad we went. The place was easily 90% full and the crowd was pretty much "as expected" (read into that what you will).

The pyro was tremendous (shyguy was right, Kane's in particular). The best entrance of all was, of course, the Undertakers... too bad he lost his match to The Big Show, but there's always next week.

The one thing I hadn't expected: the lack of a ringside play-by-play left me sorta' empty. On TV, there's always the running commentary and tidbits of info, but there's nothing heard 'live' except for the mat smacks, etc. It was cool to see the PPV broadcast facilities (inside and out) as well as the fleet of WWE trucks that haul the whole circus around. Would I go again? Probably not, as it's better enjoyed (for me) on the tube. But it was worth a one-time glimpse into how it's done.

For the record, here's the match results:

Chris Jericho defeated Shawn Michaels in a ladder match for the World Heavyweight title

Big Show defeated the Undertaker

Triple H defeated Jeff Hardy

Rey Mysterio defeated Kane (disqualification)

Batista defeated JBL

Matt Hardy defeated Mark Henry

Beth Phoenix defeated Candice Michelle

In a non-televised warm-up match, the tag team of Carlito and Primo Colon defeated John Morrison and The Miz.

wrestlingobserver.com and its readers and subscribers are giving this show great reviews. People not from Portland who were viewing from home are saying this is one of the best WWE shows in recent months. Many were expecting a 1-2 match show and it ended up being much better than that.

Not alot of critism from this show aside from the show filler segment in the middle trying to get everyone who wasn't on the show on television.

Tonight RAW is live from Seattle.

PS: thanks to Craig Adams, who sent me a newspaper ad from last week, indicating that John Morrison and The Miz were doing a meet-and-greet at Ron Tonkin Hyundai in Gresham on Friday. They not only did the non-televised warmup at the match, but stood-still for a KPTV news piece Friday night.

Low-level but loyal soldiers, doing the necessary grunt-work!

That is just one of the reasons why WWE is the marketing machine it is today. Vince McMahon Jr no matter how much he comes off as a slimeball sometimes really is the only modern day version of PT Barnum.