By Greg Parks, PWTorch columnist

At Buffalo Wild Wings tonight, Kurt, Gonzo and I were joined by Phil, Doug (back from a Summer in the Adirondacks), Kurt's girlfriend, and our friend Tim, who we know through Kurt. He doesn't watch wrestling anymore, but would at times reminisce about the past.

When I got there at about 7:30, Kurt, Gonzo and I cried in our drinks about our football teams today - okay not really, but they all lost (Panthers, Bills, Jaguars). We talked about how as each one of us got to the restaurant, it was like coming into the Rumble and how we should have themes playing. Tim wanted 80s Battlestar Galactica. I noted that Michael Cole would be all over him for that.

There was a guy in a Steve Austin shirt there, but no other wrestling paraphernalia. The crowd was also much smaller than in past months. I laughed at the "Free For All exclusive" with the Alberto Del Rio interview. Kurt expected a Henry Godwin vs. Rockabilly match to follow.

As the show began, I was surprised JR made it to a PPV finally. I figured they'd bring in Jack Korpela to replace King, just to stick it to JR and his fans. And hey, a new Spanish announcer!

(1) Christian vs. Sheamus: Tim tried to talk to us about MMA, asking if we watched it. We weren't really having it, though Kurt would listen and chime in on occasion. Kurt and Gonzo argued over Joaquin Benoit (since some TVs were showing the playoffs) and where he was from. The match was solid, but nothing we haven't seen on Smackdown **1/2

(2) Sin Cara vs. Sin Cara: Gonzo predicted a third Sin Cara coming out. The Caras reminded Tim of the Villanos in WCW. Several super-hero comments from the nerds at the table (Tim and Kurt), as the mirror Caras battling each other made them think of comic books. The crowd at Wild Wings popped for face Cara's arm-drag that sent heel Cara out of the ring. Gonzo was disgusted by the missed moves here. I wondered if this was Mistico's last shot to impress the WWE brass. **

(3) Air Boom vs. Dolph Ziggler & Jack Swagger: We explained to Kurt's gf (not a wrestling fan) about Owen Hart's death. Tim was actually the one who explained it. Tim asked if the fans still do the "what" chants. Sadly, yes. I don't know what I was thinking picking the heels to win here. I figured they could tease dissension as champions, as WWE has a history of doing the "odd couple" tag champs. Kurt called Swagger and Ziggler "The Hollywood Blonds." I wanted to slap him. In reference to Kofi, I believe, Tim remarked, "hey, Flash Funk was looking pretty good here." Bourne and Ziggler had a few good exchanges after a hot tag. ***

-Tim talked a bit about how he loved Booker T and Harlem Heat. Gonzo and I wondered what they'd do with so much time left on the show.

(4) Mark Henry vs. Randy Orton: Kurt and Tim once again talked about MMA. I had Joe Flacco starting on my fantasy team, so I was a bit distracted with that game going on as well. Kurt said Henry should kick out of the punt. I disagreed, as that's one of the few moves that's still protected in WWE. Post-match was no surprise with Orton getting his heat back, but he's teflon like Cena at this point I'd imagine. Still, Henry won cleanly so huzzah. **1/4

-When Cody Rhodes came out, we explained the Rhodes lineage to Tim. The reaction to the new IC Title belt was overwhelmingly positive at our table.

(5) Cody Rhodes vs. John Morrison: Morrison getting the shot here doesn't make sense on a couple levels. Maybe they'll use it as another example of Hunter's mismanagement! Gonzo complained that Cody's shoes were not regulation, much like his mask. As for why Morrison got this shot here: Kurt thought maybe Morrison broke up with Melina and was rewarded with a PPV payoff; Gonzo guessed that Rhodes was somehow being punished for what Orton did to him at the Smackdown taping where Rhodes was busted open. *1/2

(6) Beth Phoenix vs. Kelly Kelly: Kelly has that vacant stare and robotic holding of the title over her head down pat. Gonzo said Beth has either been tanning a lot or is more toned. "That dude is kicking her ass," said Tim when Beth was on offense. Gonzo was really getting into the near-falls, frustrated by what he thought was Kelly winning. *1/2

(7) John Cena vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. CM Punk: I wondered what the odds were that the finish would be someone hitting their finisher, then the third guy stealing the pin. Someone in the restaurant pulled a Nelson Muntz and shouted "haw haw" when Punk was pushed off the stairs and into the cage by ADR. Somehow I got thinking about Mark Henry here and thought that Henry should've used the same chair to injure Big Show, Kane, and Khali, and continue to bring the chair with him to ringside to symbolize the damage he causes. I couldn't figure out why the pin wasn't counted when Punk was put on top of Cena when ADR went to the top rope. Doug randomly started singing "Man Called Sting," said it was because he played Sting as a create-a-wrestler earlier today in the newest WWE video game. Punk seemed to be taking all the big bumps in this one. I thought maybe, once locked out, Cena would simply lift up the cage and go underneath it back in the ring. Cena also reminded me of Saw II when he was looking for the key. I imagined he'd have to get it from inside the fallen ref's stomach. ***1/4

As for the post-match stuff, I liked it for the most part. The only thing I couldn't figure was why some of the heels who have been plotting against Hunter would come out to attempt to get into the cage to get at Miz and Truth. Oh well. Thumbs down show, as this one predictably just didn't feel special.

PWTorch VIP members have first-look access to all of Torch columnist Greg Parks's latest blogs in the VIP Forum. His blogs are published first in the PWTorch VIP Forum, and Parks interacts with other VIP members and Torch staff and contributors in the blog comments area afterward. Some of Parks's blog entries will be exclusive to the VIP Forum. Parks can be reached via e-mail at g_man9784@yahoo.com and on Twitter @gregmparks

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