ZOMBIES: Recap/Notes #TheWalkingDead finale 'Too Far Gone'

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH HUMANITY REARS ITS UGLY FACE AGAIN IN MID-SEASON FINALE
by
Bowie V. Ibarra

Things have once again come to a head in the mid-season finale of 'The Walking Dead'.  And with all the teasers we got up to the finale, I had one question from my dependable Wild Speculators: 

Who dies? this round?

JACKIE DRUGA,
author of 'The Flu' series from Permuted Press

I hate to say it ... Herschel.  But I'm hoping for Beth.

 R THOMAS RILEY
author of If God Doesn't Show from Permuted Press

Rick.

ARMY ED, Special Weapons and Tactics advisor to ZBF.com

No one.

Well, here are some notes from the show, including the body count.

LORI PARENTING SKILLS

So, what is it about the zombie apocalypse that has made parents think they can use the old 'stay where I can see you' school of thought.  It's like Lori with Carl not staying in the house.  This isn't play in the mud time anymore like in the olden days.  This is the zpoc, where zeds are randomly walking through the wood in packs.

This muddy zed might finally explain those zeds in the road the other episode.  The Governor stopped his car because of mud in the road.  It must have been a flood plain and the zeds got caught up in it.

Well, anyway, we got to watch a young child get bit by a zombie.  Not fun.

A SHOUTOUT TO LUCIO FULCI?

Am I the only one that noticed that mudslide zombie was reminiscent of Spanish Conquistador zombie from Lucio Fulci's classic, 'Zombie'?

Check it out here.

THE GOVERNOR AS JIM JONES

You got to admit, the Governor might be a sonovabitch, but he's got an assload of charisma.  this guy was like a Zpoc Jim Jones of Jonestown fame, leading his sheep into the flames for his own self-interests.

I mean, look at him.  Coming in to the new group, even after the mysterious deaths of previous leadership, he still earns the hearts and minds of the survivors and convinces them that making a move on the folks at the prison is the right thing to do.

I have to admit, I don't know how I would react to some dude showing up, mysterious deaths of leadership, and mobilization of a group of unskilled folks against a fortified position in the middle of the zpoc.  I don't know, maybe stay quiet, pack my shit, and run the other way with my friends.

BODY COUNT AND TEASERS

We had a huge zombie death teaser with the cutaway from Daryl as a zed was about to sneak up behind him, but that didn't go down. 

We had a huge teaser for Rick as the Governor took the full mount and was raining blows to his face when Michonne came in for the save, running him through.

I believe there's another big teaser for 'Lil Ass Kicker's alleged death.  Yeah, daddy Rick and big brother Carl saw the bloody baby carrier.  We also saw what a hard time the kids were having lugging that thing around.  Hell, you can see that most every day outside of the zombie apocalypse.  Those things are a pain in the ass.

So in the midst of the debacle, it stands to reason that since we didn't see the baby get eaten, that one of the kids or an adult picked the baby up out of the contraption and ran off with her.

Of course, I said the same thing about Lori, and that they would come face to face with her zombie and that didn't play out.

So, in the end, the Governor ate it, and he executed Herschel.  Dipshit Mitch the Bitch took a bolt to the heart from Daryl.  And the Governor's new family pretty much ate it as well.

HERSCHEL'S MEXICAN CARTEL STYLE EXECUTION

This sucked a lot. 

Herschel's an amazing character, and one of the most noble of the series.  He got a piece of his neck sliced by the Governor, sparking the skirmish to take the prison.  As the battle started, Herschel tried to slide away, only to be recaptured by the Governor and have the rest of his head hacked off.

Having watched Mexican Cartel decapitation videos online in an effort to research my 'cartel vs. zombies' work in progress, I've learned, much to my horror, that decapitations are not as glamorous or easy as we've been led to believe.  It would most definitely taken multiple hacks with Michonne's Hanzo sword to finally lop the head off.

You know, like Mary Queen of Scots.  The executioner's job was not easy.  And though I've seen some executions from the middle east that did not take as long as Mexican cartel dudes using knives to slit the throat and start digging in, the fact is there's lots of effort put into cutting folks heads off.  That's what made that final gruesome moment with the Governor finishing Hershel the most disturbing moment of the episode to me.

Also, whatever you do, don't Google 'Mexican Cartel Decapitations'. 

No, seriously, don't do it.

ALSO, WHY HERSCHEL?

So, The Governor has a choice to hack off the heads of Herschel or Michonne.  One is an old man who doesn't really have any serious beef with The Governor, apart from him being a total asshole.  The other is a woman who killed his daughter, messed him up in the head, and is his biggest reason for making the lives of The Walking Dead Fun Bunch miserable.  What the hell?  Just a strange choice.

CAROL'S LEGACY

Well, that one pre-teen finally took the exiled Carol's words to heart.  Well done on the pistol headshot, little girl.  I don't care what the internets says about you, you're fine by me making executive decisions in the heat of battle.

THE HEART OF HUMAN CONFLICT

And, in the end, we see the true problem with human existence bringing itself to the fore again.  The late Rodney King said it best when he said, 'Can't we all just get along?"

The Governor shows up with a tank and his 2nd militia to take the prison, demanding Rick and his friends leave.  Well, duh, Rick's not going to walk away from everything he and his friends have made at the prison and points out how stupid it is for the Governor to overrun the prison.  Then nobody gets it.  Rick even offers to squash the past and live together in a truce for the greater good.

But the governor's not having it, and everybody loses.

It makes one wonder if Carl would have taken that shot with his rifle and scored, what would have happened?  Would the militia have tried to move on the prison without their leader?  Hershel might have lived.  Who knows?

SEPERATE STORIES OF SURVIVAL

In the end, the Governor's 2nd Militia was decimated, the prison overrun by zeds, and the Walking Dead Fun Bunch were splintered.  You've got Glenn and the folks on the bus as one group.  You figure Tyrese, the kids, Maggie, and Daryl.  And Carl and his Dad.  Is that right?  Did I miss something?

The Daryl/Tyrese dynamic will be interesting, with Tyrese having beef with Carol.  We'll see how that plays out.  I'm already seeing an episode where this team meets Carol in the future.

Army Ed was a big proponent of seeing how different groups survive.  Looks like this will be the story for the second part of the season:  How these three groups survive and if they reunite.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

This is pretty easy to identify.  Three big things stick out:

Will Carol return?

What the hell was with that dissection of the rat?

Who were the folks that massacred that small group in the woods?

Well, that's that for now.  Until February, pick up one of my books or one from Permuted Press today.  It's good shit.  You should read them.

Down the Road, Down the Road: On the Last Day, and Down the Road: The Fall of Austin.  Pick them up in paperback or Kindle today.

 

 

 

BOWIE V. IBARRA earned his BFA in Acting and MA in Theatre History from Texas State University.  Network with Bowie at his official website, ZombieBloodFights.com today.

ZOMBIES: Recap - #TheWalkingDead Late Speculation/Notes "Indifference"

OLD WORLD PROBLEMS, ROSTER CUT, CRAPPY CARS HIGHLIGHT LATEST EPISODE
by
Bowie V. Ibarra

 

Another week down in the weekly z-day soapie, 'The Walking Dead'.  In 'Indifference', Rick finally addresses the large pink elephant in the room, a social issue of the old world rears its ugly head, and zeds get pwned.

 

But first, here's some predictions for this episode from my trusty wild speculators, R Thomas Riley, Jackie Druga, Army Ed, and Thomas (The VW Tech Guy)

 

Check it out:

R THOMAS RILEY
author of If God Doesn't Show from Permuted Press

I've got a real sick feeling in my stomach this week, folks. The prison is quickly becoming the new Farm. When I first starting writing this guest spot, I said I had a really healthy Love/Hate relationship with THE WALKING DEAD and that continues with this week's past episode. So here goes for this coming episode.

1) like I predicted, the group has been separated, Rick and company at the Prison, Daryl and company somewhere in the woods.

2) I'm thinking the goings on at the Prison may take a back seat this upcoming episode and we'll focus on Daryl and company.

3) This group will possibly lose a member, it should be "Bob" or whatever the heck his name is.

4) Daryl will be left in a very dangerous spot for the cliffhanger

5) there'll be a new group that's holed up in the Vet college, violence will commence

JACKIE DRUGA,
author of 'The Flu' series from Permuted Press

First just let me get my typical gripe out of the way. I hate the fact that they wrote all the Woodbury residents into the series, and now they have found a way to write them off. Gotta love that the immune are original cast. Hmmm. Maybe that has something to do with the illness.

My prediction is the illness is not what you think. I think Kirkman and writers got a hold of my book Flu 2 and stole the idea of taking a germ from a BSL lab. The Gov did that. It’s all him.

I called the Carol killed them thing. She and that little girl are doing the deeds. My prediction for next week, Rock finds out Carol is not alone. Hershel saves people but gets sick in the process and we find out that Michonne was actually a stay at home mom of a little boy who was snatched from the crib by walkers.

ARMY ED,
Special Weapons and Tactics Advisor to ZBF.com

Not sure where next weeks episode will go....I feel like the plague story arch will draw itself to the break... I think the second half of the season will involve to Gov. It would be interesting if the kill Glenn off to open the story up to new characters. they will keep Carol around because killing her would be too convenient, unless she sacrifices herself to save the sheriff. the next few episodes hopefully bring Tyrese into the fold as a major character and solidify his place in the group.

THOMAS,
VW TECH GUY

I see the team going out for meds having enough for a few, and Herschel gives up his meds for Glenn.

NOTES

FUEL ECONOMY AND THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE

So, we've seen that Hyundai made the right call for having its Hyundai Tucson set center stage in the Zombie Apocalypse.  And we've seen how Dodge has made its presence felt as well, with a Ram and a Charger being featured.  Ford got some action this weekend, too.  All I got to say is keep taking that free promo money, Walking Dead.

But what about fuel economy?  Here's how they stack up:
Hyundai Tucson:  4 cylinder, 2.4L, 21 city, 30 hwy, 25 average
Dodge Ram:  6 cylinder, 3.7L, 14 city, 20 hwy, 16 average
Dodge Charger:  6 cylinder, 3.6L, 18 city, 27 hwy, 21 average
Ford Taurus Wagon:  6 cylinder, 3L, 17 city, 25 hwy, 20 average
Plymouth Voyager:  4 cylinder, 2.4L, 18 city, 24 hwy, 20

So, what this says to me is the Tucson has the best fuel economy of the vehicles for those long trips.

Truth is, they need to find a VW TDI Turbo Diesel Passat or Jetta Wagon.  2L, 4 cylinder Turbo Diesel engine that will get in the 40s on long drives.

THE PLYMOUTH VOYAGER

Daryl and the search team uncovered a Plymouth Voyager on the trip hidden under some leaves.  Cover it back up, ya'll.

A SAD TRUTH IS DISCOVERED BY RICK

We learn in this episode as Carol and Rick are picking fresh tomatoes that Lori was a bad cook.  Specifically, she messed up pancakes.

How do you fuck up pancakes?  Did she not use eggs?  Was there not enough oil in the pan?  Was she not watching the bubbles?  Seriously, WTF?  The instructions are right there on the box.

Maybe she is better off dead.  Imagine her telling everybody she was going to make pancakes for everyone, and Rick is all like, 'Shit, I want to say something,' but then doesn't and everybody all looks at him all embarrassed and mad that he didn't say anything.  Lori has to stand there all dumb wondering what she did wrong.

ALCOHOLISM AND THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE

A social angle takes root in the series so far.  It's alcoholism, and Bob is the dude that is having to deal with his problem, and it has twice affected the folks around him.  The dude was ready to die over a bottle of whiskey. 

But lets face it, folks.  That was a premium bottle of whiskey by the look of it.  However, he should decide there whether he enjoys living, or the drink.  If its the drink, then cut him loose.  I'm surprised they didn't, even after he confessed to starting the ruckus at the grocery store.

I'm not going to front, I drink.  But I've got priorities.

Oh, who am I kidding.  I would have fought a small squad of zombies over that bottle of hooch, too.  I'm drinking some Jim Beam on the rocks as I speak.  Or write.

CAROL'S OFF THE TEAM

At the end of the supply run with Carol, Rick makes the executive decision to cut her from the roster as she's going to be a liability once Tyrese finds out she lit his sick girlfriend on fire to try to contain the outbreak.  She gets the Ford Taurus Wagon as a consolation gift.  As we've established, she could have done worse with the Voyager.

So with Carol riding the rails, will The Governor pick her up on the waiver wire?  Will the Voyager have enough gas to get back the 50+ miles to the prison?  There's my prediction.  We'll see how it plays out next week.

And if you enjoyed the blog, support the blogger by picking up one of his zombie horror titles. 

 Down the Road, Down the Road: On the Last Day, and Down the Road: The Fall of Austin.  Pick them up in paperback or Kindle today.

 

 

BOWIE V. IBARRA earned his BFA in Acting and MA in Theatre History from Texas State University.  Network with Bowie at his official website, ZombieBloodFights.com today.

ZOMBIES: Notes on #TheWalkingDead 'I ain't a Judas'

by Bowie Ibarra

We've hit some peaks in past weeks, now we hit one of those valleys in regards to action and adventure in zombieland and get some character development in 'The Walking Dead: I ain't a Judas'.  Here are some notes, courtesy the boys and girls at ZombieBloodFights.com.

RUN OR FORTIFY?

-- That was the big question that started the show out.  After having been punked out and then spared (?!) by The Governor and his death squad, the team had a decision to make.  Merle let everyone know the Governor would be back.  So they had to decide what to do.

--  Carl looks out for his dad, telling him he needs to take a break.  Rick has been running pretty hard, and rest might stop the hallucinations of Lori.  Or finding Zombie Lori and putting her to rest once and for all.

--  Folks in the prison aren't to keen about Merle being part of the group.  Daryl has to stand up for him several times.  Glenn thinks they should sell him out to The Governor as a sign of peace.

--  The two dismembered members of the Prison team, Merle and Herschel, have a talk.  Merle spells out the ruthless intentions of The Governor.  In the immortal words of 'The Red Queen', they're all going to die in the prison at the hands of The Governor if he has his way.

--  Carol and Daryl are reunited.  Carol has no reason to bring up Axel, who was her bad-boy crush before he got shot in the head by The Governor.  Her bad boy is back.  But Carol also believes Merle is a bad influence on him.

--  Merle tries to mend fences with Michone to minimal avail while she works on her strength training.  He recommends conditioning work as well.  Merle the personal trainer.

--

THE WOODBURY MILITIA

-- The Governor wants his revenge and will stop at nothing to destroy the prison.  So he begins to recruit all the able-bodied people in town for the mission.  It's also established that there are only thirty-five people total in the city, so he's ready to sacrifice some of his own people he was once so happy to address to get his revenge.

-- Andrea hears about the assault on the prison and the follow-up and wants to go. Governor says no, but she ends up going anyway.  Milton finds out and rats her out to the Governor, but the Governor says let her go and keep tabs.

--  Great Nicotero special effects as the Governor looks at his gouged out and healing eye.

-- Andrea and Milton sneak into the nearby woods to snag a zombie, and we get to see some great Greg Nicotero special effects with Andrea chopping off limbs and performing a 'curb stomp' (as seen in 'American History X) to secure her a zombie to travel with, ala Michone.

--  It's here that Andrea and Milton run across Tyrese and company, who are ready to do what it takes to get along in Woodbury.  They reveal that they were at the prison to The Governor, who paces himself and lets them get comfy before a probable interrogation.

ANDREA RETURNS TO HER OLD FRIENDS

--  Using the armless and mouthless zed, Andrea gets the cover she needs to walk to the prison.  She's let in and disarmed.  She tries to work a truce, but no one is ready for something like that.

--  Andrea catches up with the gossip from Carol, who updates her on the body count since they were last together, including Lori.  She also sees Judith "Lil' Ass Kicker" Grimes.  This is a fun moment when Carol suggests the old female spy routine:  Bang out the Governor, "Give him the time of his Life" says Carol, then kill him in his sleep.  It's the perfect way to stop the feud, and its actually a pretty good assassination plan.

--  Andrea asks Michone about her grudge against the Governor.  Michone makes it clear when she was the target of one of his ragtag death squads, it became all about revenge and hurting The Governor AND Andrea.

--  They give Andrea a crappy car to drive back to Woodbury and say their goodbyes.

THE MOMENT OF TRUTH

--  Andrea returns to her Governor, who is listening to Chopin's Raindrop Prelude as she comes in.  They embrace, and get it on.

--  Back at the prison, Beth begins to sing one of her family's traditional songs to put everyone at ease.  It's then Rick says he's going to go do some scouting and getting supplies, and he's bringing Carl with him.

--  Cashed out and satisfied, with Tom Waits 'Hold On' in the background, Andrea pulls a knife and walks to The Governor.  That was the first mistake.  Killing a dude is hard enough.  But stabbing a guy to death takes a special kind of psycho that Andrea just doesn't have in her.  She's had enough experience capping zeds with guns, she should have picked up one of them instead.  But she didn't, and she couldn't close the deal.

That is going to come back to haunt her.

Anyway, if you enjoyed the blog, please take some time to explore some of the zombie horror books from Permuted Press and ZombieBloodFights.com.  Books are available in paperback and Kindle at some great prices.

ZombieBloodFights.com will be live Tweeting again next Sunday (@wingback20).  Use the hashtag #ZBF to join in the conversation, which was basically just me last week.  So join me for some fun during commercials.

===========

BOWIE IBARRA is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press and Simon and Schuster.  His latest zombie story, The Fall of Austin, tells the story of military, police, convicts, and citizens of the Texas capitol as they deal with the zpoc.  It is available in Kindle and Paperback.

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Leave a comment below using your Google+ or Blogger account.

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You can network with Bowie and read about his Tex-Mexploitation stories and check out his book trailers at his personal website, ZombieBloodFights.com.

FIGHTS: Adrien Broner/Gavin Rees Recap/Notes

by Bowie Ibarra

Adrien 'The Problem' Broner, WBC Lightweight Champ of the world, put his title up against Welshman Gavin Rees at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.  Rees claimed he didn't think much of Broner, and this was his chance to grab the gold.

--  'Champ' Adrien 'The Problem' Broner came out to a unique entrance.  Broner likes to rap on his way to the ring, so tonight he came out to his rap tune, "We Niggas, but we Loud", which was a pleasantly rhythmic urban tune.  He seemed pretty happy with it, though it made me uncomfortable.  That might be part of the point.

-- That loud 'ch-ching' noise you might have heard at 10:49pm central was the million dollars going in to Micheal Buffer's bank account yet again.  Forget meteors falling in Russia.  That deposit is always fun to hear.

--  Rees started the first round very aggressive, unintimidated by Broner, who seemed to be letting Rees do his thing.  Broner ate a lot of punches in the first round, even punches in the back of the head as Broner weaved.

-- Broner woke up in the second round, getting cocky and landing some solid blows in the midst of showboating, but the Welshman kept the pressure, and the punches, on the champ.

-- In the third, Broner was able to take advantage of his reach and bring the power against Rees, even seemingly dazing the Welshman and working him up against the ropes until the spirited European came back.  First solid round to Broner.

--  Fourth round found the cocky Broner finally brought some power, knocking Rees down with an uppercut.  But Rees got back up and into the fight and stayed on the inside, giving back as much as he could and making it through the round.  The knock down puts Broner up on points.

-- The word was Gary Lockett, the trainer for Rees, was ready to throw in the towel for Rees in between rounds.  But Rees was still ready to go in the fifth, and came back to give it all he could in a great display of heart and courage.  But a serious body blow put Rees down, and though he got back up and gave all he got, he was overwhelmed by the confident Broner.

In the end, Broner's reach, power, and championship experience were too much for Rees, and his trainer decided to call off the fight by waving the towel.  Ref stopped the fight in the fifth.

It was a great test for Broner, and a good showing from Rees, who had never been knocked down before.  In the end, Broner had his fun and put on a good show for his fans and is a good rep for Golden Boy.

Pundits are ready to put Broner with Mayweather and Ward, but its ZBF.com's assessment that its still to early to put him up there just yet.  He's good, but not at that level just yet.

However, in regards to arrogance and trash talking, he's cut from the same cloth as Mayweather.  Broner is a boxer that's pretty good with a confidence that is annoying.  Like Mayweather, I look forward to watching his next fight, if not to watch his slick technical skill and strong chin matched up against another opponent, but to watch that other opponent knock him down a notch.

Check this fight out if you get a chance on HBO, or online.  It's a good showing by Broner as well as Rees.

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BOWIE V. IBARRA is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press and Simon and Schuester. 

His combat sports themed book, PIT FIGHTERS: BAPTISM BY FIRE, features a luchador from Mexico who transitions to mixed martial arts competition.  It is available in paperback and on Kindle for .99 cents.

Enjoy the blog?  Share it with your friends using the 'Facebook', 'Blogger' and 'Twitter' buttons below.

Agree?  Disagree?  Leave a comment below using your Google+ or Blogger account.

You can network with Bowie and explore his other titles at his personal website, ZombieBloodFights.com.

FIGHTS: Royal Rumble '13 Road to Wrestlemania notes from ZombieBloodFights.com

by Bowie Ibarra

It was pretty much WWE going 'lets return to the status quo, back to what everybody hated before' so they can pander to the people who are only going to stick around for 'mania and abandon them for the remainder of the year.  Ah, well, it had its moments.

DEL RIO VS. SHOW - WORLD TITLE MATCH

It was about two Rumbles ago now that Del Rio won the entire event.  And at that event, he was the 'Mexican Aristocrat' that was a not-so-subtle angle similar to the immigration issue that was at the forefront of politics at the time.  Now, with the issue being buried and only recently resurrected again, it was a good time for Del Rio to be a smiling good guy.  Either way, I've been a fan and will always be a fan.

Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez made show look stupid by taping his leg to the ring rope and having Del Rio humiliate him, taking the victory.  But Del Rio paid a steep price for it on Raw the next day.  We'll see how this progresses on the road to 'mania.

Photo courtesy WWE.COM

THE ROYAL RUMBLE

It was a good time.  I didn't mind it, and thought it was better than last year.  Here are some notable moments:

  -  Jericho returns at the number 2 spot - My buddy Brandon Stroud made sense of it on his review (which you need to read and follow to get his great 'Best and Worst' blogs).  But for me, it was just whatever.  He showed up before, and I thought it was cool.  But then he bailed afterwards.  I support him, bought the DVD, etc.  I just hope more comes from this run than just getting a check to finance his rock career.

-  Goldust vs. Cody Rhodes aka Brother against Brother - It was a confrontation the Twitterverse was calling for for years, and it went down finally at the Rumble.  It was great, with Cody getting the advantage on his brother and throwing him out.

- Kofi gets kicked out of the Rumble by Rhodes - After taking the time to hop back to the ring after being placed on the announce table by Tensai, Kofi hopped on a chair back to the ring.  But his return was short lived as Rhodes drop-kicked him the f**k out of the Rumble.

- Shemus getting kicked out near the end - I took great joy watching the fans cheer for that POS Shemus before getting kicked out near the very end.  I swear, if that turd won again, I was going to be mad.  So it was great to see him get thrown out at the very end and cheer in front of his supporters.

- Cena wins Rumble - And, for a minute there, I thought someone else was going to win.  This has definitely turned into a Hogan 'I'm sick of you always winning' run.

Photo courtesy WWE.COM

PUNK VS ROCK - WWE TITLE

Wild match up that ended strangely.  But it started strong, with Punk getting in the Rock's face with the title and the announcement like a pro-boxing title fight.  That was cool.

-  Rock 'breaks the count'  - I have to admit, I absolutely positively 'LOVED' Rock going old school and breaking the refs count during some crazy action outside the ring.  I wish I could see this more these days.

- Heyman needed to help pace Punk - I was upset at all the highspots Punk was taking to defeat Rock.  Lots of top rope maneuvers were killing me and taking a toll on Punk.  He grabbed at his knee several times, a clear sign he was not at 100%.  I've had knee surgery and it sucks.  It also takes time to heal.  I didn't want to see Punk re-injure it.  And for that, I felt Heyman needed to pace him on those risks.

- Rock gets jumped in the dark - Rock gets jumped in the dark, somehow, by mystery people, and Punk pins him for the win when the lights come back on.  That was a crappy finish to what was a pretty good match up to that point.  Then it got even more craptacular.

- Rock wins WWE Title - Rock calls off McMahon, who wants to strip Punk of the title with no definitive evidence of The Shield interfering, and gets back into the match and wins it.  I have to admit, I was okay with that, because Punk taking the win that way was kind of crappy.  I hoped he had enough to put a hurting Rock away, but a healthier and stronger Rock got the best of a recovering from knee injury Punk.

Considering that, I would have liked to see a 100% Punk against a 100% Rock.  I think Punk not having a match that pushed him like this one, a tune-up match so to speak, really played to Rock's advantage.  Rock's a beast when it comes to training, and even though he'd not been in the ring for months in a match like this, I think his strength, conditioning, rich WWE main even experience, and healthier overall fitness helped him out.

You got to respect Punk's title run, which is the longest run in recent memory.  And you've got to respect him stepping into the ring running on half a tank to defend the title he earned, loves, and has shown the most respect to.  Rock was just too much for an unhealthy Punk, and he takes the WWE Title down the road to WrestleMania.

============

BOWIE V. IBARRA is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press and Simon and Schuester. 

His combat sports themed book, PIT FIGHTERS: BAPTISM BY FIRE, features a luchador from Mexico who transitions to mixed martial arts competition.  It is available in paperback and on Kindle for .99 cents.

Enjoy the blog?  Share it with your friends using the 'Facebook', 'Blogger' and 'Twitter' buttons below.

Agree?  Disagree?  Leave a comment below using your Google+ or Blogger account.

You can network with Bowie and explore his other titles at his personal website, ZombieBloodFights.com.