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 * Cover design by Snowman  Internet, I'm not sure I know where to begin with this. To say we here at LOP Magazine have had some upheaval is to say that things are a little shaky in Japan these days. Too soon? I digress. The fact is... this will be the last issue of LOP Magazine as we know it. Well, quite frankly, the argument can be made that our previous issue was the last issue as you know it. You see, Internet, the last few weeks have seen the departures of Stinger from LOP Main and also Shane from LOP Mag. With those departures, the Doc and I were left to fill some seriously large voids. We're confident you'll approve of our selections. That sums up last month's potentially being the final issue of LOP Mag as you and I know it, but why is this one the really real last one? I'm glad you asked. Beginning next month, LOP Magazine will cease to be a supporting act and will debut as its own autonomous web entity. It will have its own url (to be named later), and its own website entirely. Furthermore, this new, subscription-based LOP Magazine will be expanded greatly,and will feature some of the best and brightest writers LOP has to offer. Not to mention Dr. Chad and I will still be there, as will Stinger, albeit in a somewhat diminished capacity. In addition to the three surviving originals, this new, expanded LOP Magazine will feature such names as Morpheus (not Larry Fishburne), YourAyatollah (he's not dead), Mazza (not my idea), Mr. Tito (yes, really), and even Neo-Tito himself, Hustle (Yes. Really.) Guys, I can't thank you guys enough for jumping on this with us, even if I had no idea until after the fact. (A.W.L.E.) This particular issue will feature the three of us, doing what we do. Chad's checking in with his exclusive review of the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, which at this point can be used to help you determine whether or not to buy the DVD. Speaking of things what can be bought and such, Stinger's in this issue with an exclusive preview of the not-quite-out-yet WWE All-Stars video game for whichever next-gen video game console it is that he has. I want to say PS3. Let's go with that. Stinger's got an exclusive look at WWE All-Stars for the Sony PS3 computer entertainment system! If that weren't enough, LOP Magazine's Senior Gossip Analyst, Jimmy the Squealer, is here with his unique take on the events shaping the wrestling world, and specifically WrestleMania XXVII. I'll bet you're wondering about the identities of our new staff writers, aren't you? Well, first off, we have an Australian who will I think be watching only his second ever live WrestleMania broadcast this year. Fenixx brings us his thoughts on that very subject in his LOP Magazine debut. Next, arguably the most prolific LOPForums columnist never to have a main-page run as of yet, Rey Ca$h joins the team with a look at one of the fastest-rising and brightest-shining stars in all of WWE in Alberto Del Rio. In a related story, I'm told that very article was personally approved by Rey's mother. Cross-generational appeal for the win. Finally, the Molestering King of the Columns Forum, Father Touchy himself, Priest, joins our ranks and brings with him some impure thoughts regarding Triple-H and The Undertaker. Jokes aside, His Holiness (okay, but just that one) breaks down just what The Game is up against, and why his undead opposition should think twice before assuming certain victory. We've had a hell of a ride, thus far, here at LOP Magazine, and on behalf of the four of us who conceived this thing, I say thank you. Thank you, and I truly hope you'll join us as we write the next chapter of the legacy of LOP Magazine. Stay tuned to our facebook page, which you can do by clicking the convenient “LIKE” button found after this letter, for all official announcements regarding this new beginning. Until then, enjoy this-- the March Edition of LOP Magazine. - “The Current Big Thing” Bryan Micklus  DEPARTMENTS:
FEATURES:
 Editor's note: We at LOP Magazine, in still another of our inexhaustible efforts to bring you the latest pro wrestling rumors and insight, sent ace reporter “Jimmy the Squealer” out on location for the absolute latest regarding WrestleMania XXVII You guys'll never guess where I am. Give up? Fine. I'm at Abdullah The Butcher's House of Ribs & Chinese Food in Atlanta! If this place was owned by anybody else I'd be shocked that they had both ribs and Chinese food in the same joint, but I guess that's Abby for ya. Listen, I gotta tell you something real quick: I know I was supposed to give you guys the latest information on WrestleMania and all, but I figure you can find that stuff anywhere you want. I thought it'd be more fun to tell you guys about everything else that'll be going down that weekend. For starters, Ring of Honor's gonna be running a show at the Center Stage Theater that Friday night which'll be headlined by new ROH World Champ Eddie Edwards defending the aforementioned gold against, of all people, the Fallen Angel himself, Christopher Daniels. If that ain't enough to make you open the old wallet, try this on for size: the Kings of Wrestling, Chris Hero & Claudio Castagnoli will accept maybe their toughest challenge yet when the defend their ROH World Tag Team Titles against the World's Greatest Tag Team, Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas. Davey Richards'll be there too. He's got a match with former World Champ Roderick Strong, and you gotta think a strong showing'll put him in line for a shot at his old buddy Eddie Edwards' World Championship That show's gonna be absolutely loaded. The Briscoe Brothers are supposed to be there. Same goes for Homicide, El Generico, and NWA World Champ Colt Cabana. If you have any way to make it to that show, you should. I wouldn't wanna miss it. If you do, they're gonna be running another one that Saturday afternoon, but the main event that afternoon's gonna be the World's Greatest Tag Team, Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas against the reuniting American Wolves, Eddie Edwards & Davey Richards. How 'bout that for a consolation prize? Saturday night will obviously revolve around the WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, but, if you don't have tickets for that, there's another show in town that night. Dragon Gate USA will be running a show at the Presidential Ballroom that night, and that show will be headlined by indie superstar Austin Aries, so check out that show if you have the chance. Should you miss that one, DG USA will be playing the Presidential Ballroom one more time on Sunday afternoon, in plenty of time for WrestleMania. There's also the WrestleReunion convention for you early-risers (as far as vacation wake-up times go), or you could even tour CNN Center while you're down there. For those of you with stupid looks on your faces right now, CNN Center used to be the headquarters of WCW. There's gonna be a ton of things to do if you're lucky enough to find yourself in Atlanta on WrestleMania weekend, so don't go missing out, you hear me? Now get outta hear and let me finish my Rib Lo Mein. One more thing-- I'm pretty sure I'm gonna have to tip like hell, and I'm using my company card for this. It's a travel expense! Besides, you guys wouldn't want Abby stabbing me in the head with my fork 'cause I stiffed his waiter, now would you? Me neither. ___________________________________  ___________________________________  Match 1: Alberto Del Rio defeated Kofi Kingston in about 10-minutes (CMV1 rating - **3/4) (CMV1 note - Good opening match that put Del Rio's skills in a showcase situation and allowed him to get some one-on-one PPV experience. Kofi held up his end of the bargain and performed well in a losing effort. The crowd was surprisingly very much behind ADR) Match 2: Edge retained the World title in the SD Elimination Chamber at the 31-minute mark (CMV1 rating - ****1/2) (CMV1 note - Here's your early front-runner for 2011 MOTY. An outstanding performance by all involved, especially Edge and Rey Mysterio. Their thrilling 8-minute string of near falls as the final two participants was excellently worked. Drew McIntyre and Wade Barrett also showed flashes of being consistent mainstays at the top in years to come. Big Show and Kane did well in their roles, too. Everyone came out of this match looking better than they did before it, but I cannot say enough about Edge and Mysterio's final sequences. Superb job!) Match 3: The Corre defeated Santino and Kozlov to win the WWE Tag Titles in 5-minutes (CMV1 rating - *1/2) (CMV1 note - This was little more than a throwaway match and certainly not a match that did any favors to the tag team belts. The titles are props more than anything, at this point. It's a shame) Match 4: WWE Champion The Miz defeated Jerry Lawler in 13-minutes (CMV1 rating - ***) (CMV1 note - The Miz has quietly been putting on some really solid matches during his title reign, and this was no exception. Lawler took his opportunity to wrestle for the title and made the most of it, showing why he's a Hall of Famer because of his ring acumen just as much as his commentating prowess. A very nice story was told throughout this match and both men deserve praise for it) Match 5: John Cena won the Raw Elimination Chamber Match to become #1 Contender for the WWE title at 33:12 (CMV1 rating - ****) (CMV1 note - John Morrison climbed up another rung of the ladder to WWE success and claimed this gimmick match as one they he will probably steal the show within for the rest of his career. The stunts that he pulled off were quite aesthetically pleasing, to say the least. Yet, much like with the SD Chamber, everyone performed really well. CM Punk was the lead heel in the match and continued to show why he'll likely main-event for most of 2011. Orton, Cena, and Truth all did what they needed to do. Sheamus is all deserving of high praise, as he stepped up as usual and delivered a performance to be proud of) Backstage Skits and Interviews (CMV1 rating - *3/4) (CMV1 note - The Trish Stratus segment was really bad, but the surprise of having her on PPV for the first time in over four years was not bad. A match between Daniel Bryan and Ted Dibiase would've been nice to put in place of that segment, especially since they did the re-hiring of Kelly Kelly segment, too) CMV1 PPV Rating System 0-1.5 stars = Demand a refund and don't take no for an answer. If it was this bad, they should pay you to watch the next two PPVs, at least. (Great American Bash 2005) 1.75-2.25 stars = A below average PPV that wasn't worth the money spent watching. (Survivor Series 2010) 2.5-2.75 stars = An average to above average event that was worth watching on that given night. (TLC 2010, Royal Rumble 2011) 3.0-3.25 = A really good show that you'd buy on DVD and watch again (Unforgiven 2006, No Way Out 2006) 3.5 = This is how PPV should be done (Summerslam 2002) 3.75-5.0 = You never thought a PPV could be this good... Elimination Chamber 2011's Final Score = *** (CMV1 note- It just barely bad it to the 3-star mark, but the two Elimination Chamber matches were good enough to carry the show to the best rating I've given since I started doing these reviews again 5 months ago. The SD Chamber is a match worthy of owning to view in future years, while the Raw chamber is a great match and the WWE title match is worth a second viewing.) ___________________________________  KINGS OF WRESTLEMANIA #1 - Randy Savage Now Available in the LOP Columns Forum ___________________________________ The Mexican Aristocrat Has Everything He Wants…Or Does He? By: Rey Ca$h. Contributing Editor As Alberto Del Rio comes in the locker room after his match, he sits down reflecting on the nights events. He thinks about how he has become the biggest thing in the WWE today. He thinks about how he made his opponent beg for mercy with his Cross Armbreaker. He thinks about the one thing he doesn’t have… The nephew of Mil Mascaras, Del Rio is literally Mexican royalty. The man literally has everything he could ask for. He has women, cars, money, and servants. He has his own personal ring announcer, that is willing to do his bidding at the drop of a dime. Greatness is in his blood. Most don’t know that Alberto is not new to the squared circle. He’s wrestled all over the world, extensively in Mexico, and is a living legend there. Much like his legendary uncle. Despite all of these accolades and treasures, Alberto has one passion in life. One thing that has eluded him, or any member of his family. One thing that, unfortunately for him, he can’t buy. The World Heavyweight Championship. As Alberto retreats to the shower to wash off the stench of another dominating victory, he hears a familiar theme in the loud speakers of the arena. You think you know me? This music makes Alberto cringe. Not because he’s afraid of the man who’s music it belongs to, but because he has a bulls-eye on his chest. The music belongs to the current World Heavyweight Champion, Edge, who Alberto won the right to face at WrestleMania. He won that right by outlasting 39 other men in the biggest Royal Rumble in history. He did it with relative ease. Unfortunately nobody’s talking about that anymore. They’re all talking about Edge. About how he had the match of the night at Elimination Chamber, where he outlasted 5 other superstars to retain his title. About how he’s an 11 time World Champion. About the fact that he simply is, the champion. For years, Alberto has broken his body to reach the pinnacle of his profession, and he has only one more obstacle to climb. This obstacle, however, has just as much savvy and longevity as him. The feud between the two men has grown lately, becoming more volatile every week. Del Rio has shown himself to be quite the brash opportunist, taking motivation from the very man who he attacks. The irony of this matter is that despite the huge differences in the two men, they’re quite similar in the ring. Alberto knows this. Edge spent his life dreaming to be a wrestler. Alberto spent his whole life wrestling. Edge has worked his self to the top. Alberto was born there. In that ring, however, both men do whatever it takes to get the job done. Both men would sell their souls to win that championship. The World Heavyweight Championship. This fact is one that Alberto revels in. In a sense, he feels like he’s wrestling a mirror image of himself. As Alberto walks out of the arena to his car, he hears a faint 1…2…3…and the sounds of Edge’s triumphant theme music. On this day, I see clearly. Everything has come to light. Alberto smiles, which he is known to do, as he thinks about those words. He does see things clearly. Everything has come to light. A lifelong quest is almost complete. Come April 3rd, Alberto will face Edge in the Main Event of WrestleMania 27 for the most prestigious championship in all of sports entertainment: The World Heavyweight Championship. Edge’s tag line for years has been “You think you know me?” Alberto laughs as he gets in his car. Of course he does, but you already knew that. ___________________________________  My Two Centsss Week 42 Now Available on LordsOfPain.net ___________________________________ Prophetic Warning: Can Big Show Survive The Destruction of Ezekiel Jackson? By: Priest. Contributing Editor. Life must be hard when you’re the largest athlete in the world, standing proud at over seven feet tall with all the respect of your peers in the world. No, I’m serious. When The Big Show returned to the WWE in 2008, he had in his own mind a set of objectives he wanted to achieve. He had a list of ambitions and dreams he wanted to fulfil in the autumn of his career. But these objectives didn’t matter for one simple reason; his size. No matter what The Big Show does to try and focus on his quests, somebody else has a quest of their own. I’m sure you have all heard of small mans syndrome. Well, The Big Show is the real victim of this, because everybody suffers from it when they are in the same locker room as him. They look at the sheer astronomical mass of the man and know that if they can beat him, it would send shockwaves through the entire locker room. Time after time, we have seen many a man look to make an example of Show for no other reason than he is a giant. He’s the blue whale of the WWE, with all sorts of predators lurking patiently, ready to pounce the first chance they get. However, this time it’s different. When Wade Barrett debuted on Smackdown and attacked The Big Show, there was nothing new to it. But when came next was something different entirely. Ezekiel Jackson. You see, for all the unruly egomaniacs Show has defeated through the years, nobody has ever managed to match his strength. They might have been able to better his speed or intelligence, but when it came to sheer power there was only ever one winner. That all changed when Jackson slammed The Big Show. The force when his back hit the mat could be felt throughout the entire wrestling industry, sending shockwaves rippling from superstar to superstar. It was almost befitting in a way. It is WrestleMania season after all, an event where twenty four years ago another giant was met with a similar fate. Perhaps that’s what frustrates The Big Show the most. After years of searching, he finally has a challenger that makes his spine shiver. He knows he finally has an opponent he can sink his teeth into, yet every week Jackson is wrapped in cotton wool by The Corre. It’s because they’re not fools. They know what a lethal weapon they have, and it is one that they will unleash at the right time. We've seen nothing more than a preview so far, the best is yet to come. Will WrestleMania XXVII be that time? Who knows. But one things for sure, Jackson has awoken a sleeping giant. Time will tell if it was the right move or not. ___________________________________  Available March 29, 2011 PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, PSP ___________________________________ WrestleMania, The Event Meant to be Experienced LIVE By: Fenixx. Contributing Editor. Close to one hundred fans screaming for their heroes. Bright lights. Booming theme music. The electricity that pumps through your body, leaving you wondering if this is the best you will ever feel. There are countless ways to describe the feeling of being at WrestleMania as every experience is unique. Much like how the WWE aims to entertain you in a different way every single year and does so without fail. But WrestleMania is so much more than just a live experience. This isn’t a Lady GaGa concert or a Broadway show. This is the biggest entertainment event of the year! Rarely do you find an event that can get you excited whilst watching it live from the other side of the globe. In fact, this writer would go as far as to say that he has never had that feeling matched whilst watching a live entertainment telecast. Passion is a feeling that is sometimes hard to put into words, but displaying that passion through the art of wrestling is what makes this event breathtaking. I’m sure I’m not the only one who jumped out of their seat when Shawn Michaels kicked out of the Tombstone at WrestleMania XXV. I watched that event live on a friend’s couch and despite not actually being there, I still had the same reaction that every member of the audience I could see in the crowd. Millions of people across the world jumped out of their seats and looked around in disbelief. Much like how we all watched on in awe when Steve Austin accepted the steel chair from Vince McMahon. Much like how we all felt a shiver down our spine as we watched The Great One fight The Immortal One. WrestleMania gives us fans what we want and more. We think we know what will happen before we watch WrestleMania, but a WrestleMania on paper cannot come close to the live experience. You forget about the faults. You forget the fact that there was a screw-up or that the lighting messed up. What’s important is the moment. It’s about taking the purest qualities of fandom and letting them shine at the forefront of your viewer experience. We throw our lingo out the window. What occurs is a human reaction to what is going on in front of us. You watch in the hope of seeing something unpredictable and something show stealing and you’re entertained without fail purely because WrestleMania is about channelling our emotions. It’s not about putting on a wrestling clinic, it’s about entertaining us. We spend our fifty or so dollars without a second thought because we know that we will see something special. As passionate as I am about WrestleMania and as much as I love it more than any other event in the year, I’ve only seen it live twice. The other times, I’ve seen a DVR recording or even waited until it came out on DVD. Folks, it just isn’t the same! You can’t match that live feel! You cannot connect with the crowd on your screen because they aren’t cheering at the same time that you are. The millions (...and millions!) of fans watching have moved on so it doesn’t make sense for you to jump off your seat and cheer. Nothing beats the live experience. The wrestlers go out there for us and put on a show for the thousands in attendance and the millions watching at home, but the most you can get out of a recorded show is a smile, maybe a gasp, maybe a couple of raised eyebrows. It’s not the same when you have the option to fast forward. It’s not the same when you realise that their air of unpredictability is gone. That same unpredictability is what makes us love WrestleMania so damn much. The WWE goes all out for us. They bring back our favourite stars, give us confrontations that we thought that we’d never see. The WWE is giving us The Rock when we thought he had moved on. The WWE is giving us Triple H vs The Undertaker just when we thought we’d never see anything come close to Shawn Michaels' two attempts at ending the streak. The WWE is giving the injection of new blood and the elevation of talent to the upper echelon with the Mexican Aristocrat dueling with The Rated-R Superstar. But this isn’t Raw or Smackdown. This isn’t your monthly pay-per-view. The Royal Rumble can’t hold a candle to the mystique and wonder that is WrestleMania. It shouldn’t matter that you can’t get to Atlanta. It shouldn’t matter if you’re not in the America. Order the show, get your friends around the TV because for one night, you get to feel and connect with millions of people around the world. You get high-flying chaos. You get unmatchable drama. You get edge-of-your-seat action that will place a new benchmark on even the highest standard. Readers, you get Wrestlemania, and the knowledge that you don’t know what’s going to happen on the third of April. ___________________________________ Read "The Blog Watch" and watch "The Five 5 Five" by Watcher. Available Now on LOP Forums Blogs ___________________________________ Game Over? Or Will Triple H Bury The Streak at WrestleMania 27? By: Priest. Contributing Editor. 18-0. Just allow that to sink in for a second. Eighteen times The Undertaker has stepped into the WrestleMania arena, and eighteen times he has emerged victorious. It’s a statistic that’s unprecedented. In fact, nothing else even comes close. Some need shiny championships or superhuman managers to make themselves frightening. Yet, The Undertaker doesn’t. All that is required is his mere presence. He’s never been a man, if you can refer to him as one, to obsess over titles or accolades. He remains an enigma to even the most intrusive journalist, but materialistic he is most certainly not. Still, it would surprise me if he doesn’t look back on his streak with a degree of satisfaction and pride. It’s quite possibly why it has lasted for so long. When he arrives on the grandest stage of them all, he becomes something more. He truly becomes the phenom, a force nothing has been able to shake in two decades now. As time wore on, it became clear something special was required to overcome the streak. Each year, more obstacles were thrown in front of him, and each time he would mercilessly toss them aside. World Champions? Not a problem. Two opponents at once? A piece of cake. Hell, even his own brother became just another number. It seemed there could only be one man who stood a chance of ending the streak. He was a man who rose for the special occasion too. After all, he was The Heartbreak Kid. ‘Mr WrestleMania’ himself. He had not one, but two stabs at the Deadman. He even gave himself the extra motivation of putting his career at stake. Yet still it was not enough. Still, The Undertaker’s impregnable yard remained untouchable. The streak had never been at such risk as it was last year against an almost desperate HBK who had everything to gain, yet everything to lose. That is, until now. Now, The Undertaker faces a man with a different motivation. Despite everything he has accomplished, Triple H is ignorantly looked upon as nothing more than a great. Despite being a thirteen time world champion, there is a serious argument made as to whether he is yet a legend. That kills him. That eats away at him like you wouldn’t believe. Yet, what else is there left for him to accomplish? What else can he do to prove his worth amongst the company he feels he evidently deserves? He has done all there is to do. Except, of course, for defeating the most elusive streak in wrestling history. He has attempted to overcome the streak before, falling just short. But now, he is a different animal entirely. He’s not the impressionable youngster he was then. He’s evolved. You see, for all the superlatives you can speak of Shawn Michaels, there was one thing he lacked, which coincidentally is the one thing that separates Triple H from his fellow DX member and indeed the rest of the WWE. Ruthlessness. When Triple H wants to be, there is no man more dangerous than The Game. When pushed, he is the most sinister man in the WWE locker room. He won’t show a fraction of the compassion and hesitation that HBK showed The Undertaker. He won’t care about the historic nature of their encounter or the iconic image of him and The Undertaker being in a WrestleMania ring. He will only care about one thing; getting the job done. We know they can beat each other; they have many times before. Yet, this is different. This is the one that means the most to both of them. What's more, it could well be the last time they face each other. If these two knights are to joust for one last time, this will be the perfect platform on which to do so. The added motivation of Taker retiring his best friend and tag team partner is the icing on the cake. And boy, will Triple H need that motivation. Come April 3rd, he won’t just be taking on The Undertaker. He’ll be taking on the streak. He’ll be taking on his very legacy. Most people say it is simply too much for any man to overcome. But believe me, if anybody has the ability, experience, drive and motivation to overcome all of that, it is Triple H. Come WrestleMania, we’ll find out if it is indeed enough. Come WrestleMania, we'll find out whether Triple H becomes a legend, or whether he becomes just yet another victim. ___________________________________  ___________________________________ A Dashing Love Story By: "Dashing" Cody Rhodes. Special Guest Contributor. It's spring. Love is in the air. It's something about this particular season that creates relationships. For me, being "Dashing" isn't a moniker. It's a lifestyle. Quite often, most women are intimidated by my "Dashing" nature. I understand. Wouldn't you be intimidated by all this. It isn't easy being this way. It took a lifetime of training and perfect Adonis DNA to be this "Dashing". Most women can't handle that. Most women can't be the second most "Dashing" person in the room. That is, until I met her. It's not often you meet someone who mirrors your every move and thought. It's not often that you find someone who loves you for you, regardless of how "Dashing" you are. I love her for that. In a relationship with me, you have to understand that I come first, and she get's that. She does all she can to make sure that I'm always "Dashing", and I appreciate that. It's not often that you find a woman who puts your well being before her own. She gives me that. It's no secret that I have...family issues. She doesn't see that. All she sees is me. She doesn't see a wrestler. She sees Cody. I appreciate that. Of course she sees me as "Dashing", but she sees past all that. She see's my flaws, which admittedly are practically nonexistent, and she loves me more for them. I've never loved anyone besides myself, but I think that's finally changed. I've been going through a lot. With that Mexican jumping bean breaking my "Dashing" nose and all, I'm a hideous beast. In fact, I look like all of you. Does she see that? No. All she sees is Cody. She lights up my dark days and shows me the err of my ways. She has my back when nobody else does. I appreciate that. At this point in my career and my life, I don't know what I would do without her. She's my best friend, she's my confidant, and she's the love of my life. I don't think I'd be able to live without my mirror. ___________________________________  ___________________________________  On Tuesday, March 29, 2011, the latest WWE video game hits store shelves and it’s called WWE All Stars. Just in time for WrestleMania, the game allows you to pit current WWE superstars against WWE legends in an over-the-top arcade fighter. To me, the game is a throwback combination of WrestleFest, WWF RAW, WrestleMania: The Arcade Game, and WrestleMania 2000/No Mercy. What does that mean exactly? Well the simple answer is, pure, unadulterated FUN. The best thing about the game is that it is not Smackdown vs. RAW, so don’t even try to play it in that manner. The demo is available now on Xbox Live Marketplace to Gold members and on the Playstation Store, and I encourage all gaming readers of LOP Magazine to immediately check it out if you have not yet done so. I have a special review planned for the game, that will not be part of the new LOP Magazine, but this demo alone tells me that this will be the best wrestling game in a decade. I don’t care that the wrestlers are oversized or cartoonish; I used to play with the action figures all the time so I rather love that this game is exaggerated. One thing that you’ll quickly notice from the demo is just how fast the game is. I really enjoyed Smackdown vs. RAW 2011, but I’ll admit that it got boring pretty quick. The AI in SvR is really not a challenge, even on “legend” difficulty. They may be frustrating because of the reversals, but reversing in that game is so easy that you reverse almost everything the AI does. Combined with awkward movements and leave you missing, it really makes for an experience that’s kind of slow and boring. Thankfully, you won’t find that kind of a mess in All Stars. From the time the bell rings, the action is fast and furious and does not let up. This is a very fast paced game, but and this is the really good part to me, the matches can be lengthy (6 to 10 minutes) when played on All Stars and are back and forth encounters. This is a level of excitement that has been severely lacking not only in THQ’s Smackdown series, but most wrestling games that have been released over the past decade (Legends of Wrestling, TNA Impact, Triple A: Heroes of the Ring, etc.). In the demo you can play as with Rey Mysterio (an acrobat) or Ultimate Warrior (a brawler). You’ll want to play as both many times because they play radically different. I’ve played the demo for many hours already, and I keep learning new stuff and new combos that just enrich the experience and makes me want to keep playing. This is what a demo should do; make me want the game. The Legends of WrestleMania demo had the opposite effect; it made me not want the game to the point where I won’t even buy it out of the bargin bin. With All Stars, I literally cannot wait until the game arrives and I can start playing. It’s been said that the Acrobat class is the hardest to play as, and from the two classes that I’ve experienced I would agree with that initially. When I first played the demo, I was Mysterio and I got my butt whooped by Warrior on Contender (medium) difficulty. I switched to Warrior and won a close match. But the more I’ve played with Mysterio, the more I’ve come to love his character (and I’m assuming the acrobat class altogether). I play on All Star difficulty now and routinely beat Warrior without even getting deep into orange health. My after match ratings are usually 5 star offense, 4 star defense, and 5 star technique… a gold star rating. I was beyond thrilled the first time I beat Warrior on All Star difficulty and got my first gold star. They said of SvR2011 that it would be an accomplishment to defeat Undertaker at WrestleMania, but I don’t think so. That was way too easy. Winning your first fight on All Star mode and getting that gold star for your efforts, while being only a finishing move away from getting beat yourself, now THAT feels like an accomplishment. I’ve written about All Stars before in my column Deadly Venom, and I mentioned that I was really pumped for the game. The videos and previews haven’t done it justice though. For as great as I thought it looked and could be, I always had my suspicions that I would be let down and it’d end up being a stinker like Legends of WrestleMania. The demo has really removed all doubt from my mind though. And I obviously can’t speak on the actual finished full game, but speaking only of the demo and it’s one match option, this is the most fun I’ve had with a wrestling game in many years and it’s easily something I can myself spending many months playing and enjoying just like I did the aforementioned arcade/SNES/N64 games. My recommendation would be to go ahead and pre-order the game, but for those of you on the fence who haven’t tried out the demo yet, you really need to go download it and try it out. It’s really a blast to play. Based only on the demo, Smackdown vs. RAW 2012 is going to have to do a lot better if it wants to pull me away from All Stars. The All Stars roster is great (it includes my all-time favorite, Mr. Perfect!) and the announced DLC insures that an already loaded roster is only going to get better (Road Warriors!). The only thing missing, that I’d care about, is Rick Rude and Demolition, but you can’t get everything you want. The demo is awesome; I really can’t say enough good things about it. I will be posting a special review after I get the game and spend ample time with it, and I’m sure I’ll write a few blogs about it too (available in the forums, blog title Fresh Brewed Libertea). 
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