The regular season has come and gone, leaving 12 teams with the opportunity to lift the Lombardi Trophy in Atlanta, Georgia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium after Super Bowl LIII. Last year’s participants in the Super Bowl (New England, Philadelphia) have both made the playoffs again but neither are in the same position of power as their previous season’s standing. New England still has a first round bye but is looking as beatable as ever in their recent renaissance of the last few seasons, and Philadelphia needed a late-season surge along with the reappearance of super backup QB Nick Foles to squeak into the NFC side of the playoffs as the 6th Seed.
Looking at the entire bracket, this might be one of the most wide-open playoff seasons in recent memory with at least 7 or 8 teams with credible chances of being the sole survivor at the end. Of course, there is also the chance it could end like many Super Bowls of late, with New England representing the AFC against a top seed from the NFC.
This year’s first seeds: Kansas City Chiefs (AFC), and New Orleans Saints (NFC) did not distance themselves from the pack and as late as the last few weeks of the regular season could have found themselves without a first round bye and hosting a Wild Card weekend game instead. Both teams have high powered offenses but inconsistent defenses that make the likelihood of shootouts possible.
The second seeds: New England Patriots (AFC), and Los Angeles Rams (NFC) are top teams that have flaws and are opposites in terms of experience. Everything about New England says old and reliable, the same old same old, while Los Angeles is bright and new and proving itself in the postseason with expectations on its results now after two amazing regular seasons.
The third seeds: Houston Texans (AFC) and Chicago Bears (NFC) feel like dark horses, as both had slow starts to the season with little expectations of challenging for a championship, yet caught fire and surged past their division competitors to get home field for the Wild Card weekend. Chicago feels like the 2018 version of Jacksonville, yet Trubisky continues to improve in ways Bortles didn’t. Houston has a healthy Watson and that makes a difference.
The four seeds: Baltimore Ravens (AFC) and Dallas Cowboys (NFC) have a lot to prove in the postseason. How much of their success was mainly due to the struggles of the rest of their divisions? And both face extremely tough opponents despite being the higher seed with home field.
The five seeds: Los Angeles Chargers (AFC) and Seattle Seahawks (NFC) played well enough to have home field in some round of the playoffs but had the misfortune of being in a division with a just as good or even better team as them. The Chargers were one hair away from being the #1 seed of the AFC, and the Seahawks slow start kept them from challenging the Rams more seriously for the division crown.
The six seeds: Indianapolis Colts (AFC) and Philadelphia Eagles (NFC) have both caught fire at the best time, leading to both hurdling other teams to snatch the last spot in the playoffs. Indianapolis has a healthy Luck at QB and he is one of those QBs that could win a game on his own if it’s a special night. Philadelphia has to feel the same with Nick Foles. Having come in for an injured Wentz, Foles is definitely playing the same chords as last season when he led Philadelphia all the way to the Super Bowl. The sixth seed is a new challenge but there is a chance.
Here are my predictions: (HOME TEAMS IN BOLD)
WILD CARD Weekend:
6. COLTS over 3. TEXANS
5. SEAHAWKS over 4. COWBOYS
5. CHARGERS over 4. RAVENS
6. EAGLES over 3. BEARS
DIVISIONAL Weekend:
1. CHIEFS over 6. COLTS
5. SEAHAWKS over 2. RAMS
5. CHARGERS over 2. PATRIOTS
6. EAGLES over 1. SAINTS
CONFERENCE Weekend:
5. CHARGERS over 1. CHIEFS
5. SEAHAWKS over 6. EAGLES
SUPER BOWL LIII:
(NFC) SEAHAWKS over (AFC) CHARGERS
Two brand new posters for Mission: Impossible - Fallout, coming July 2018.
Starring Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Henry Cavill, Ving Rhames, Angela Bassett, Alec Baldwin, Vanessa Kirby, and Michelle Monaghan.
Today, just weeks after Wrestlemania 34, WWE presents a new spectacle event from Saudi Arabia titled, The Greatest Royal Rumble. With an unprecedented 50-Man Royal Rumble Match, a Universal Championship Steel Cage Match, and a Casket Match with the Undertaker, this show has the promise to be just as memorable and unforgettable as a Wrestlemania. Here are TheCROWNED’s predictions for the match outcomes:
Cedric Alexander’s newly won WWE Cruiserweight Championship is on the line against veteran Kalisto, who won a gauntlet match on 205 Live to gain this opportunity after the #1 Contender Buddy Murphy failed to make weight. OUTCOME: Alexander retains. He has been involved in the championship picture for months and I don’t see him losing it after finally gaining it. Kalisto would likely need to pull it out of his dead hands.
Another new champion(s) would be the Smackdown Live Tag Team Champions, Harper & Rowan, the Bludgeon Brothers. This rematch, requested by the previous champions, The Usos, could be yet another vicious clash between these teams. OUTCOME: The Bludgeon Brothers stay champions. The Usos may have dominated the Smackdown Live Tag Division for the last two years but the Bludgeon Brothers are on a whole other level of viciousness.
The RAW Tag Team Championship is the one vacant title on the line after Braun Strowman and a 10 year-old had a Wrestlemania moment a few weeks back only to give up the championships on the next RAW. The former champions, The Bar, have been moved to Smackdown Live but have one last opportunity to regain the championship that they have owned for most of the last year. However, they have a pair of Woken Warriors standing in their way. OUTCOME: Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt, The Deleter of Worlds, will not only meet the Bar, but will surpass it. The Woken momentum is only picking up steam, and unfortunately this is as close as Sheamus & Cesaro will get to their former titles.
Seth Rollins has to put his newly won Intercontinental Championship on the line in a dangerous Ladder Match against the former champ, The Miz, Samoa Joe and Finn Balor. This is a main event level quality for this match, and they may very well steal the show. OUTCOME: Seth Rollins will do whatever it takes to hold on to this championship and make it happen tonight despite the stiff competition.
Jinder Mahal was shocked in the Superstar Shakeup when his move to RAW as United States Champion was short-lived after GM Kurt Angle not only demanded he defend his title against Jeff Hardy, but after Hardy won, sent Hardy and the United States Championship to Smackdown Live. OUTCOME: The wily veteran Jeff Hardy will find a way to keep the championship on the blue brand with a victory.
AJ Styles is the best in the company and solidly in his second reign as WWE Champion and nothing seemed like it could get in his way until Wrestlemania 34 happened and Shinsuke Nakamura took a dastardly turn and has begun a mission of low blows determined to unsettle the champion. OUTCOME: Shinsuke Nakamura completes his goal and comes out on top as the new WWE Champion.
The Undertaker stunned the WWE Universe when he returned at Wrestlemania and ran through John Cena. Now with a Casket Match against Rusev, the Deadman will truly be in his element. OUTCOME: Rusev will have no choice but to Rest in Peace on this Rusev Day as the Undertaker is victorious.
It’s been years since Triple H and John Cena, two long time stars of the WWE and surefire future Hall of Famers have faced off in the squared circle, but tonight they will go at it one more time. OUTCOME: John Cena will get the stink off him from his quick ouster in Wrestlemania to put to rest this long rivalry against the King of Kings and beat Triple H.
The Universal Championship has been held in a stranglehold by Brock Lesnar for now over a year since he toppled Hall of Famer Goldberg at Wrestlemania 33. Roman Reigns has struggled for the last year to get that championship and tonight he gets one more opportunity, this time in a Steel Cage. OUTCOME: Roman Reigns finally ends the reign of terror that Brock Lesnar has unleashed on the WWE Universe and will come home to RAW with the Universal Championship on his shoulders.
The 50-Man Greatest Royal Rumble match has never been attempted before by WWE, and there are sure to be surprises from the past or NXT to show up to make sure that the match steals the show. OUTCOME: Daniel Bryan puts a firm foothold back in the WWE since his return and wins the Royal Rumble match.
Enjoy the show and TheCROWNED will be livetweeting along with the show, TheCROWNEDsite, with the grades on the show to come out in the near future.
With Wrestlemania week now behind us, it means the start of the new year for WWE and since the brand split with that comes the second annual 2-day Superstar Shake-up that spans the second RAW & Smackdown Live shows after Mania. The Shake-up is a quasi-draft that is less formal and structured than the draft that headlined the summer of 2016 when this latest brand split started but is basically where some of the Superstars from RAW and Smackdown will move to the other brands with surprise debuts during the shows or announcements on social media during the time between RAW & Smackdown Live.
Last year saw 9 Superstars/teams from each brand change sides, as well as an announcer from each 3-man booth (Byron Saxton to SD Live, and David Otunga to RAW even though he never joined the RAW booth). While there were Superstars that needed a fresh outlook on a different brand like Curt Hawkins and Jinder Mahal, big names were not exempt from the shakeup. Alexa Bliss, The Miz and the current Intercontinental Champion at the time, Dean Ambrose, moved from Smackdown Live to RAW while Charlotte Flair, New Day and the current United States Champion, Kevin Owens moved from RAW to Smackdown Live.
The complete breakdown for each brand saw RAW gain 8 male Superstars with 1 tag team among them, and 3 female Superstars while SD Live gained 10 male Superstars with 2 tag teams and 3 female Superstars although Tamina was a free agent acquisition having not been active on the roster since the brand split had started the previous summer.
Looking at the main roster coming into this Superstar Shake-up, there are certainly a handful of Superstars that could benefit from a fresh start and new matchups to compete in. Since 9 was the number last year, I’ll go with that and pick 9 Superstars or teams to change brands. Here are my predictions:
From RAW to SD Live -
Bayley
Braun Strowman
Gallows & Anderson
Jeff Hardy
Alicia Fox
Big Cass
Sonya Deville
Seth Rollins (IC Champion)
From SD Live to RAW -
Daniel Bryan
Bobby Roode
Becky Lynch
Jimmy & Jey Uso
Mojo Rawley
Jinder Mahal (US Champion)
Mike Kanellis & Maria
Naomi
I definitely think WWE likes the idea of having a champion change sides during these drafts/shake-ups, so I went with the IC/US happening for the second straight year because I think Seth Rollins on Smackdown would create a lot of refreshing matchups, as well as moving Jinder Mahal to RAW would bring a new bad guy champion to their ranks. But I could just as easily see WWE move with women champions despite the color coordination, Nia Jax on SD Live and Carmella moving to RAW would be interesting.
For the women, instead I went with Bayley, Alicia Fox and Sonya Deville moving to SD Live, you get all three phases of a female Superstar, the crafty vet, the popular star and the young up and comer, and each would be a refreshing addition to the Smackdown Live women’s division. One of the problems of the SD Live women’s division has been a repetition of matches with so many long standing alliances between the superstars. Moving Becky Lynch and Naomi to RAW would give each the opportunity to wrestle other opponents than Natalya or the Riott Squad and have something new to do and not have to come out and side with Charlotte Flair at every turn.
Looking at the RAW tag teams, the match at Wrestlemania definitely suggested that Braun Strowman needs a new place to conquer where the brand championship wasn’t stuck in a Brock Lesnar & Roman Reigns gravitational pull. And Gallows & Anderson had a fairly rough WWE year since losing the RAW Tag Team Championship at Wrestlemania 33. As fun as their sometimes alliance with Finn Balor has been, reuniting them with AJ Styles on Smackdown Live may give them back that top level rub they’ve been missing for awhile. From the SD Live side, I’d like to see how the Usos would do on the RAW brand. They have dominated the Smackdown Live tag division since the brand split, and with the shift of the titles to the Bludgeon Brothers, it’s time for new pastures for the Usos and a break from battling The New Day for awhile.
Lastly on the RAW side, I’m looking at Jeff Hardy and Big Cass as two guys returning from long term injuries and finding their spots on RAW having changed without them around. Moving them to SD Live would give them an opportunity to establish their new identities without their tag team partner by their side. While there are quite a few blue brand superstars that could use a new place to call home, Daniel Bryan just returned to active status and there are still some matchups I’d love to see him in on Smackdown Live but him having not wrestled on RAW for about 3 years I could easily see him being selected. Besides him, I think Bobby Roode, Mojo Rawley and Mike Kanellis would benefit the most from a move to RAW. Rawley and Kanellis have languished or disappeared on SD Live and need help to get back up the ladder. Of course Maria would come along with Mike and Mojo needs to get away from Zack Ryder for the benefit of both of them to be honest. Bobby Roode has pretty much faced everyone on the SD Live midcard, and would be a refreshing opponent on RAW against say Finn Balor, Elias, The Miz, or Dean Ambrose when he returns.
Those are my predictions, I’m looking forward to watching GMs Kurt Angle & Paige make their selections tonight and tomorrow and seeing if I strike gold on any of my picks. Either way, the shake-up is perfectly timed and I’m eager to see how RAW and SD Live change as a result.
There are way too many series to keep track of but from the view here at The CROWNED, these are a few that we are looking forward to this year presented in chronological order of release.
Black Lightning S1. January 16, 2018. CW.
Jefferson Pierce, who retired from his superhero persona Black Lightning nine years ago after seeing the effects it had on his family, is forced to become a vigilante again when the rise of the local gang The One Hundred leads to increased crime and corruption in his community. STARRING: CRESS WILLIAMS & CHINA ANNE MCCLAIN
Krypton S1. March 21, 2018. Syfy.
What if Superman never existed? Set two generations before the destruction of Superman’s home planet, “Krypton” follows Seg-El, the legendary Man of Steel’s grandfather, who is faced with a life and death conflict – save his home planet or let it be destroyed in order to restore the fate of his future grandson. With Krypton’s leadership in disarray and the House of El ostracized, Seg finds himself in a difficult position. He must redeem his family’s honor and protect the ones he loves while being challenged by familiar DC characters Brainiac and Earthly time-traveler Adam Strange. STARRING CAMERON CUFFE, GEORGINA CAMPBELL & IAN MCELHINNEY.
FEAR the Walking Dead S4. April 15, 2018. 10PM. AMC.
NO TRAILER AVAILABLE YET.
In Fear the Walking Dead Season 4 we will see the world of Madison Clark and her family through new eyes -- the eyes of Morgan Jones, joining the story from the world of The Walking Dead. The characters’ immediate past mixes with an uncertain present of struggle and discovery as they meet new friends, foes and threats. They fight for each other, against each other and against a legion of the dead to somehow build an existence against the crushing pressure of lives coming apart. There will be darkness and light; terror and grace; the heroic, mercenary, and craven, all crashing together towards a new reality for Fear the Walking Dead. STARRING: KIM DICKENS, ALYCIA DEBNAM-CAREY & LENNIE JAMES.
Into the Badlands S3. April 22, 2018. 10PM. AMC.
NO TRAILER AVAILABLE YET.
Into the Badlands Season 3 finds Sunny living off the grid, doing his best to provide for his infant son, Henry, in the wake of Veil’s death. It is only when Henry contracts a mysterious illness that Sunny must join forces with Bajie and journey back into the Badlands, where The Widow and Baron Chau are entrenched in a drawn-out war that has destabilized the entire region. No longer supported by Tilda or Waldo, The Widow must find new allies in Lydia and in Nathaniel Moon — the former regent who lost his hand to Sunny and Bajie in Season two. But when a mysterious nomadic leader called Pilgrim arrives in the Badlands on a mission to restore Azra and usher in a new era of “peace," old enemies must band together to defend the Badlands. STARRING: DANIEL WU, NICK FROST & EMILY BEECHAM.
Elementary S6. April 30, 2018. CBS.
NO TRAILER OR SYNOPSIS AVAILABLE YET. SO HERE ARE SOME THOUGHTS:
Season 5 ended with Sherlock’s health coming into question. While the new season got shuffled off its regular fall rotation to a mid-season/nearly summer schedule, Elementary did get the good news recently of an upped episode order from its initial 13 to a near full 21 episodes. With her role on a certain HBO show over, one has to wonder if the show will finally be granted a return of its Moriarty with Natalie Dormer. STARRING: JONNY LEE MILLER & LUCY LIU.
Marvel’s Jessica Jones S2. 2018. Netflix.
NO TRAILER OR SYNOPSIS AVAILABLE YET. SO HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS:
Season 1 ended with Jessica finally overcoming the menace in her life that was Kilgrave. Since then Jessica has made her mark in the larger Marvel Netflix Universe with a spin on The Defenders, but season 2 of her self-titled show will probably include the consequences of her actions on Kilgrave and how that will affect Jessica and co. STARRING: KRYSTEN RITTER & RACHAEL TAYLOR.
It has never been a better time to be a fan and here at THE CROWNED, these are some of our most anticipated films for 2018 presented in chronological order of release.
Black Panther. Feb 16, 2018.
T'Challa, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. STARRING: CHADWICK BOSEMAN, MICHAEL B. JORDAN & LUPITA NYONG’O
Tomb Raider. March 16, 2018.
Lara Croft, the fiercely independent daughter of a missing adventurer, must push herself beyond her limits when she finds herself on the island where her father disappeared. STARRING: ALICIA VIKANDER
Deadpool 2. May 18, 2018.
STARRING: RYAN REYNOLDS, BRIANNA HILDEBRAND & JOSH BROLIN.
The Incredibles 2. June 15, 2018.
Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible) is left to care for Jack-Jack while Helen (Elastigirl) is out saving the world. STARRING: CRAIG T. NELSON & HOLLY HUNTER.
Aquaman. December 21, 2018.
NO TRAILER AVAILABLE YET.
Arthur Curry learns that he is the heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, and must step forward to lead his people and to be a hero to the world. STARRING: JASON MOMOA & AMBER HEARD.
High Spots: WWE Battleground PPV 2017 Grades; The Usos v. The New Day & The Power of Love steal the show
Kickoff Match: Aiden English d. Tye Dillinger via Pinfall 3 1/4 out of 5.
Tag Team Championship Match: The New Day (Kofi & Xavier) d. The Usos (c) via Pinfall 4 1/4 out of 5. MOTN.
Shinsuke Nakamura d. Baron Corbin via DQ 2 1/2 out of 5.
Women's Fatal Five-way Elimination Match : Natalya d. Tamina (BL), Lana (BL), Becky Lynch (N) & Charlotte (N) via Pinfall 3 1/4 out of 5.
US Championship Match: Kevin Owens d. AJ Styles (c) via Pinfall 3 3/4 out of 5.
Flag Match: John Cena d. Rusev 2 3/4 out of 5.
Sami Zayn d. Mike Kanellis w/ Maria Kanellis via Pinfall 3 3/4 out of 5. SOTN.
WWE Championship Punjabi Prison Match: Jinder Mahal (c) d. Randy Orton 2 3/4 out of 5.
Grades are based on a 5 category point system (Athleticism, Artistry, Flow, Finish and Story)
New Champions: The New Day (Tag Team) & Kevin Owens (US).
M(match)OTN: Tag Team Championship Match - The Usos (c) v. The New Day (Kofi & Xavier)
WWE's longest tag team champs, The New Day, continue to prove they are as talented in the ring as they are with the microphone. They put together a great match at WWE Battleground with The Usos, who have thrived with their new look and feel and have had a well deserved run at the top of the Smackdown Live Tag Division for the last few months. Despite a few unassisted kick outs on tag team moves, the match is well worth a watch as it was solid and exciting and gave Xavier Woods an opportunity to shine as a key contributor in a PPV match. The New Day are on top of the tag team division once again, this time for the Blue Brand.
S(Star)OTN: Mike & Maria Kanellis
WWE Battleground marked the in-ring PPV debut of Smackdown Live's new power couple, Mike & Maria Kanellis. Against a wrestling technician like Sami Zayn, Mike held his own and nearly pulled out another victory thanks to the savviness between him and his partner. They took the time to illustrate to Sami how powerful having a loving partner at ringside can be, and while they did not end up on the right side of the result this night, their chemistry and timing as a team will put them on top more often than not in the future. With their looks and skill, keep a watch out for these two because the Power of Love could quickly become a Summer of Love, because Love conquers all.
