Posted in: Mr. Tito
MR. TITO STRIKES BACK - WWE Payback Predictions and Thoughts on Chyna's Life & Death
By Mr. Tito
Apr 28, 2016 - 9:26:02 AM

Follow Mr. Tito on Twitter.com: @titowrestling

Welcome to back to Mr. Tito Strikes Back exclusively here at LordsofPain.net / WrestlingHeadlines. I come to you with a heavy heart tonight as I'm coping with a family event. Let's just say that I'm thankful that the Pittsburgh Penguins wrapping up their series with the New York Rangers early and then playing in Washington for the next series... I don't want to be stuck in that traffic when trying to get to the hospitals. What many of you don't know is that there is a man behind this Mr. Tito mask... But at the same time, wearing the Mr. Tito mask has been a great outlet to vent and is probably why I can't let go... I really need to be Mr. Tito right now to take my mind off of personal things.

In several of my recent columns, most notably my "Last Word" of my 12/23/2015 Column, I spoke openly about appreciating your friends & family because you never know what can happen in life. You can certainly live your life, but having a nice support system has great results. Family members especially are one-of-a-kind and once they're gone, it's permanent. Appreciate them while you can and don't take anything family/friend wise for granted.

I get the sense that Joanie "Chyna" Laurer was quite lonely for the past 15 years. Sure, she had a few relationships here and there, but I think that if asked, Chyna would have said that 1997-1999 were her favorite years ever. She had a solid relationship with Triple H and incredible support of the WWE locker room in her role as a unique tough female manager. Her relationship with Triple H crumbled during 2000 and then her WWE job did so during 2001. She has never been the same and I get the sense that she's clutched to excesses like drugs or adult films to get over what her WWE career used to be. If you watched MTV's True Life: I'm a Pro Wrestler, you'll see how happy she was as a WWE performer and you'll also see how proud Triple H was to be dating her. By 2001, both were GONE... The calls from Hollywood and other entertainment avenues dried up quickly.

But that was 15 years ago... She's an adult and she should have strived to "show up" her naysayers by making it despite the WWE. She had a very brief New Japan trip in 2002 and then barely a cup of coffee in TNA wrestling during 2011. Hollywood talk of using her disappeared especially as her personal excesses took over. I remember watching Vh1's Surreal Life - Season 4 and being legitimately fearful for her health during 2005 (I wrote about it regularly back then). And then I worried even more with her Celebrity Rehab appearance a few years later, also on Vh1. Lots of trouble there... Years later, I was so happy that she was given another chance in pro wrestling with her TNA appearance... But that ended and she chose a career in adult films. Not going to lie, I though the She-Hulk casting in the Avengers parody was great casting albeit for a very filthy role.

I think Chyna relied on substance use and the adult film industry as a means to fully separate herself from her WWE character (she had to fight to regain the "Chyna" name) and the heartbreak she had with Triple H. Never got over what happened during 2000-2001 and if you read her book, she had some unintended baggage from her past. It makes me wonder how much she embraced the 1997-1999 years as a salvation... That was her family and support system that she may have never had. Then, through early 2000, her relationship with Triple H ends and then just 1 Pay Per View after her big Wrestlemania 17 Women's Title win, she disappears from the WWE for good with a contract with many months left. WWE and Chyna have not been on good terms since with WWE showing zero interest in her return and Chyna making multiple accusations about money owed to her by the WWE and the abuse accusation of Triple H. She was bitter about how the her experience ended and would say anything to vent. Her personal and professional life came to a screeching hault through 2001.

Again - That was 15 years ago. In that time, she could have sought friends and family for support OR any friends/family could have openly questioned Chyna's behavior. Something was missing... I've always had the sense that since her Triple H break-up, she's been lonely... And think about her for a second... She's a female bodybuilder with a larger frame... Although I thought that by 1999, particularly after the chin surgery, she looked good... Chyna had to be intimidating to date. There was real romantic love between Triple H and Chyna but by late 1999, both grew tremendously as wrestling superstars. I believe that their careers put a wedge between them and the quick transition to Stephanie McMahon greatly bothered her. With the WWE locker room siding with HHH/Stephanie for obvious business reasons, things became very lonely for Chyna.

As I've said repeatedly both on Twitter and in my columns... If you see someone who is lonely or in need of help, reach out to them... You never know what could uplift their lives. Most who are in a bad situation are often crying through help not just by words, but by actions. Not everybody is fortunate to have a great network of family/friends. But if you do, appreciate them to the fullest. When you're down, they can help you out with support or even some tough love. I, myself, am not perfect... I'm pretty close to my family and I don't know where I'd be personally without them. I'm very lucky and fortunate... I just wish that many fallen wrestling stars, like Chyna, had a better support system in place to help guide their lives. It's PAINFUL to lose so many wrestling greats especially under the age of 50.

My personal favorite Chyna moment is when she was the final entrant of the Mini-Rumble that occurred on a RAW before Royal Rumble 1999. I can't track down the footage, but I think it was DX vs. the Corporation with Vince McMahon actually participating in the match. Vince cleared the ring and was getting cocky that he won the mini-Rumble and then Chyna comes out. Place goes crazy... And then Steve Austin arrives and the place explodes. Vince loses because of the Austin distraction and he takes on of the sickest bumps as he's tossed over the ropes (bottom rope DESTROYS him). It was a BIG win for Chyna and began the thought process of making Chyna more than just a bodyguard.

Overall, I consider her to be one of the best valet/manager/bodyguards of all time... She was devastating and intimidating on the outside. Anytime someone was thrown to the outside, you knew that Chyna would maul them. The psychology of male wrestlers being conflicted at hitting her back was always present and got her over anytime she attacked with those forearms. She greatly helped Triple H's wrestling career from 1997-1998 and helped him get over at a time when HHH needed a new direction from his blueblood gimmick. As a wrestler, ehhhhh... To her credit, she feuded with Chris Jericho and Eddie Guerrero who are incredible talents that can overwhelm anyone. I thought that WWE got it right in 2001 when they put her in a position to dominate the Women's Division... Almost like a female Brock Lesnar of 2013-2016 that destroys everything in her path and she could have been an even bigger boost to Lita/Trish Stratus to overcome that.

I thought it was nice of the WWE to do a tribute to her on RAW... Given the extreme things that she's said about the company and WWE, they didn't owe her anything... That includes a WWE Hall of Fame induction. But WWE did gave her some respect, as I can imagine there is some guilt running around the WWE offices right now. However, people break-up all of the time and there are other avenues (though not that many now) to make a living in "sports entertainment". And it was 15 years ago.

As I write this column, looks like Chyna died from a possible overdose of prescription sleeping and anxiety pills at least from what her Manager is suggesting. What a shame... If only she could have converted any anger that she had at WWE into being a positive contributor to another wrestling organization.

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Mr. Tito's PHAT WWE PAYBACK PREDICTIONS

I'm still laughing at how people are holding my Shane McMahon vs. Undertaker Wrestlemania 32 prediction against me. Yeah, even though most of my other predictions were pinpoint accurate including my call of having Charlotte retain her Women's Title which much of the Internet was NOT predicting. But if you see what's happening at WWE Payback, Vince McMahon is going to announce some sort of decision on Shane McMahon vs. Triple H/Stephanie. Thus, it proves my point that there was some remote possibility that Shane was going to win at Wrestlemania 32. Why else would there be a "Shane controls RAW" stipulation and Undertaker doing Vince's bidding in that match? Just sounded like a screwjob waiting to happen but like most things in the WWE, creative plans were probably shredded. But go ahead and overlook how well I did on my Wrestlemania 32 predictions, haters.

US Title (Kickoff Match): Kalisto (c) vs. Ryback
You know when you have a WEAK United States champion when he's performing on the Pay Per View kick-off show. Worse yet, this is a Pay Per View rematch. Being honest here, I DON'T CARE about either wrestler. WWE is trying to sell me that Kalisto is the "next Rey Mysterio". Sorry, but I watched Rey Mysterio for YEARS. Kalisto isn't even close. Just having great looking spots is part of Mysterio's appeal. He had HEART and a very friendly personality that drew kids to him. Mysterio was extremely talented in selling his role as an underdog and as someone who is hip compared to other wrestlers. Kalisto is a spot machine without the personality and ability to sell like Mysterio. And then there's big muscle guy, Ryback... WWE has no idea how to use this guy.

WHO SHOULD WIN: Ryback. Hit like `10 Shellshock finishers in a row to make a point, get heat.

WHO WILL WIN: Kalisto. Like I said, the WWE believes that he's Rey Mysterio 2016.

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Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin
I cannot recall this match even being built up but I think Hulu was cutting the segments/matches every week on me. Oh well... Honestly, I could care less about this match because WWE has ZERO focus on ever pushing Dolph Ziggler consistently. Ziggler needs to LEAVE the WWE and prove himself as a wrestler elsewhere. WWE won't take him out of their doghouse.

WHO SHOULD WIN: Dolph Ziggler... Come on, WWE... Quit screwing this legitimately great talent.

WHO WILL WIN: Baron Corbin. Ziggler is just an elevation guy and Corbin could use the win to strengthen his new WWE career.

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Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens
I would expect this to be a great match... But the question is this... What happens to both wrestlers AFTER this match? Sami Zayn has had nothing but great matches lately but he's LOST most of them... Kevin Owens gets pushed one second, undercut the next. I don't know where the WWE is going with either guy. If I were booking, I'd push Sami Zayn HARD as a upper midcard babyface and WIN matches while working to reshape Kevin Owens's image. Owens is a FANTASTIC wrestler and a GREAT personality/speaker... But his image looks like someone ready to play basketball with his friends on the playground. Seriously, he wears a cutoff sleeve t-shirt with basketball shirts. So what if he's thick? Did you see Dusty Rhodes wearing a t-shirt? Just wear something that resembles tights to LOOK PROFESSIONAL.

WHO SHOULD WIN / WHO WILL WIN: Sami Zayn. Zayn is off the charts lately in his matches and winning this match, I think, will be a reward for that.

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WWE Women's Title: Charlotte (c) vs. Natalya
Didn't we see this match at WWE Roadblock? But the real draw of this match is having Bret Hart in Natty's corner. I guess all is forgiven on what Bret said about Natalya's mother in his book. In my opinion, the WWE should have gone the Wrestlemania 20 route and just redid the Triple Threat match for another event. WWE did Michaels/Benoit/Triple H for 2 straight Pay Per Views and damn they were good. Many gave Sasha/Charlotte/Becky as "match of the night" honors for Wrestlemania 32 (not me) and WWE should try to capitalize on that momentum. Instead, the Women's Division is a sideshow to the real focus on this match and that's Ric Flair/Bret Hart in the corners. We need to get out of the past, people...

WHO SHOULD WIN: Charlotte. Sorry, but Natalya just doesn't have any momentum to be the top female wrestler.

WHO WILL WIN: Natalya. WWE isn't flying in Bret Hart for his niece to lose.

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#1 Tag Team Title Contendership: Enzo & Big Cass vs. the Vaudevillains
This match is more interesting than you think... Not just because it's two brand new WWE tag teams going at it (formerly from NXT), but we don't know where New Day is... Are they babyfaces? Are they heels? It's pretty clear what roles both of the tag teams at Payback are playing. As I listen to crowd reactions, Enzo and Big Cass are getting over and the mic work between them and New Day could get crazy. But the Vaudevillains are entertaining and could be perfect foils for the New Day to mock regularly. It's all about how WWE wants to push New Day and being honest here... Not a bad choice either way although my prediction will suggest the better way.

WHO SHOULD WIN / WHO WILL WIN: Enzo & Big Cass. They're fun and both wrestlers should be connected at the hip for YEARS. Even when the predictable HOSS PUSH occurs for Big Cass, Enzo is the perfect mouthpiece for him. Believe it or not, but Xavior Woods has presented the WWE with the perfect model for future wrestlers... Acting as a manager/wrestler gives you a ton of bang for your buck. Enzo won't be setting the world on fire as a singles wrestler but as someone that can help Big Cass get over, he's valuable. This is a nice new act for the WWE to have and I'm sad that Carmella isn't along for the ride (love the line "she's hot as hell").

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Dean Ambrose vs. Chris Jericho
I'm getting mixed messages on how WWE perceives Dean Ambrose and I would agree in some sense... Dean is a good in-ring performer, but his personality is not meshing well with other wrestlers. His Triple H and Brock Lesnar stuff was really subpar and Dean had the reputation coming into the WWE as having a strong personality and mic skills. I'm just not seeing it... Match with Triple H was great but I really didn't like the match with Lesnar. Even if Dean Ambrose was holding stuff back to help make Shane McMahon's big bump look strong, I was disappointed by that Wrestlemania 32 match. Dean vs. Brock was the match that we, as fans, begged the WWE for and Dean just seemed out of it. Meanwhile, Chris Jericho is doing well as a heel... If the WWE is going to continue the mirage known as Roman Reigns as a babyface, then let Jericho win and have WWE Extreme Rules 2016 headlined by Chris Jericho vs. Roman Reigns. Believe me, Jericho will work his ass off to get heel heat on himself.

WHO SHOULD WIN / WHO WILL WIN: Chris Jericho and push him to the main event.

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Intercontinental Title: The Miz (c) vs. Cesaro
I enjoy the FACT that the Miz has been Intercontinental Champion FIVE times since he was WWE Champion through 2011 and actually retained the WWE Title at Wrestlemania 27. It's hilarious! Now, he has his wife Maryse by his side and it's yet another chance to "get over" by the Miz. He is clearly the WWE Production Truck's darling and he's had his image redone more times than Brutus Beefcake (older fans will get that joke). Here's an idea... Teach Miz to stop performing like a mark and act like a real athlete. Sorry, but I was calling things "AWESOME" when I was 10 years old and folks, that was 25 years ago. When you're morphed your image a thousand times and get title chance after title chance, the fans have nothing to relate to on the Miz. Zero psychology in the ring... Just hits the same move after move without any pain or agony sold. Could you imagine how over Cesaro would be if he had Miz's favorable booking?

WHO SHOULD WIN: Cesaro and then he goes undefeated defending the Intercontinental Title for the next 6 months.

WHO WILL WIN: The Miz. Like I said, WWE Production Truck's darling. There are more WWE Films movies to create...

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WWE Title Match: Roman Reigns (c) vs. AJ Styles
Seems too obvious that we'll be getting a Bullet Club reunion. From Gallows/Anderson attacking Reigns/Usos to Finn Balor losing the NXT Title at a Houseshow. Meanwhile, ratings are skydiving following Wrestlemania 32... Sure, Roman Reigns is not a drawing babyface champion, but AJ Styles and Gallows/Anderson aren't exactly setting the world on fire either. I like AJ Styles and find him to be a highly talented in-ring performer, but other than that, he's lacking that personality, charisma, and simple ability to speak to get himself over. And he's oversized in the WWE. I can't say that I was that impressed with the debut Tag Match of Anderson/Gallows as they once again smashed fan favorite Usos. Dead silence from the crowd unless the WWE legitimately edited the sound on my Hulu broadcast (I find that hard to believe). I believe that Vince McMahon was talked into pushing AJ Styles while he had some momentum but I also believe that the recent ratings nosedive will cause swift action.

WHO SHOULD WIN / WHO WILL WIN: That's right, I'm suggesting that Roman Reigns SHOULD win... I hate to admit it, but AJ Styles won't add to the bottom line in the WWE. If anything, the best move would be for Anderson/Gallows to become hired thugs for Roman Reigns and let Roman fully turn heel at Payback. Beatdown AJ Styles and then consider where to go from there. I see real money in a babyface Bray Wyatt vs. Roman Reigns match-up. Did you see their match-up at Hell in a Cell 2015? Great match... Chemistry is there and Bray was very over in that tag match when acting like a babyface. Just have to keep him healthy... Otherwise, let Roman win and consider getting the WWE Title back on Brock Lesnar. WWE needs something that draws right now.

Unless I'm restricted on Sunday evening, which is a real possibility, I should have an INSTA-COLUMN posting of WWE Payback immediately after the show completes. If not, I'll post a review soon thereafter.

SO JUST CHILL... 'TIL THE NEXT EPISODE!

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