From: PWInsider

The only scheduled extras for the WWE Backlash 2008 DVD will be a post-match interview with Triple H and footage from Raw the day after his title win.

Leon Peters sent the following.....I was in FYE today and they had a poster up near the WWE section saying that WrestleMania XXIV will come in an FYE exclusive tin case. This was only mentioned for the DVD release, not the Blu-Ray release. They had one section with only the exclusive tin releases. So far they've released tin cases for WrestleMania 23, SummerSlam 2007, Survivor Series 2007 and Royal Rumble 2008(which I just found out existed today). Also, about the 3 disc(DVD) and 2 disc(Blu-Ray) difference for Mania 24. Both will include the full 4 hour Mania event, the pre-show Battle Royal and the Hall Of Fame. The reason Blu-Ray is only 2 discs is because Blu-Rays can hold more data than DVDs so the full Mania 24 event will be on 1 Blu-Ray disc while it will be split onto 2 discs for DVD. Also Blu-Ray will include the widescreen HD version while the DVD will include the full screen standard definition version.

Labels: backlash 2008, wrestlemania 24

Posted by Matt Loede at 10:46 AM | Permalink | Comments

I wrote an article last week for Epic Carnival about how the WWE needs to keep up the momentum coming out of Mania, as it seems that right after their biggest event of the year they have a knack for dropping the ball. Well, after watching the first two shows of the week, and getting some heads-up on SmackDown, where basically right where I thought we'd be - back to some bad TV and bad booking.

Backlash, the next WWE PPV offering, is two weeks from Sunday, and the TV on Monday and Tuesday did nothing to make me want to part with the $39.99 that they are requiring for viewing. The angle to start Monday night on RAW was about as confusing as I have seen from a booking standpoint on WWE TV in quite some time. You first have GM William Regal telling us that John Bradshaw Layfield is the "most deserving #1 contender in WWE history" (why I still have no idea), and then you have two lackluster matches to get both Triple H and John Cena in the main to make it a "fatal four-way."

The only thing fatal about this match or the card in general right now appears to be the buyrate, which will be awful. You decide to keep the WWE title on Randy Orton, then out of the biggest show of the year do a poorly thrown together match with an overweight and boring JBL, and the two men that he just beat at Mania. I actually would have had no problems with a rematch of the Mania title match, but at the same time, forcing JBL in this match is about as big a head scratcher as I have seen by the bookers in quite awhile.

The other two rematches I have no real issues with, other than it's a case of "been there, done that." Edge and Taker do deserve another shot on a big stage, and here is hoping it's again the main event of the show. I think if you really push it, this is the feud that can carry the company for the spring. As far as Chavo and Kane are concerned, I don't know exactly how well these two will work together, but it will have to be better than the 8-second squash at Mania that earned Kane the title. Plus now with Chavo bringing in a "bodyguard" (a developmental wrestler they are calling "Bam Neely"), it does add more flair (no pun intended) to the match.

The fourth match on the show I have very mixed feelings about, as they are putting two very over babyfaces in a match as Shawn Michaels will take on Batista. The angle is that Batista is mad that Michaels "retired" his friend - Ric Flair. Batista even is using the famous "Shawn doesn't job to no one" line that has been bantered about in the WWE for years. It's a silly angle from the standpoint that Flair's retirement was so long in coming, no matter who he would have fought last, you knew that it was coming.

There is that bit of shoot angle involved, but really, for those that just watch the WWE for what it is, they likely are confused as to some of the phrasing of what big Dave is saying, while those that do know some of the backstage stuff that goes on are not buying for a second the "real life" feel to the angle at all. Plus from all indications, neither of these stars are going heel, meaning you'll have a 1-on-1 at the PPV and that will basically be it. Strange.

Labels: backlash 2008, batista, chavo guerrero, edge, shawn michaels, undertaker

Posted by Matt Loede at 9:57 AM | Permalink | Comments

Below is the updated WWE Backlash card coming out of RAW tonight:

WWE Title Match
John Cena vs. Triple H vs. JBL vs. Randy Orton

WH Title Match
Edge vs. The Undertaker

ECW Title Match
Chavo Guerrero vs .Kane

Shawn Michaels vs. Batista

Labels: backlash 2008, batista, edge

Posted by Matt Loede at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments

The WWE now enters that time of the year where there seems to be a lull after the mega build for WrestleMania and the hype leading up to the event. The company in the past few years has had its best wrestling it seems leading up to Mania, only to have some of its worst in the few months following it. We shall see if that is the case yet again in 2008.

Mania for the most part was a strong card, and after being there as well as in Detroit last year for 23, I would have to honestly say that this years was a better offering. The hoopla with the Ric Flair match, the huge build around Floyd Mayweather and the Big Show, the best Money in the Bank match to date, and a strong finish with the Undertaker and Edge outdid what they had on the plate last year.

Last years build was mostly around the saga involving Vince McMahon and Donald Trump in the hair vs hair match. The two "hired" wrestlers to represent them, which was Umaga for McMahon and Bobby Lashley for Trump. While the match was okay, the spectacle was seeing McMahon getting his head shaved post match.

The two main events last year were both solid, with John Cena beating Shawn Michaels, and Batista losing the belt in a very good match with the Undertaker. While that being said, I still felt this year was slightly better due to the undercard being stronger, and the three main events being strong as well.

The attention now turns to Backlash, the next PPV venture coming up on Sunday, April 28th from Baltimore. Without giving out "spoilers" for the show, already there will be a few Mania rematches, with the RAW main being announced on Monday night, which also will be a multi-wrestler title match. In the past few years Backlash has also been pretty strong, so let's hope that same will be for the 2008 edition.

Labels: backlash 2008, bobby lashely, vince mcmahon, wrestlemania 23, wrestlemania 24

Posted by Matt Loede at 9:37 AM | Permalink | Comments

Labels: backlash 2008

Posted by Matt Loede at 8:16 PM | Permalink | Comments

Labels: backlash 2008

Posted by Matt Loede at 5:41 PM | Permalink | Comments