C3C1 Preview: Revelations #6

Revelations #6 (FINAL ISSUE)
Writer(s): Paul Jenkins
Artist(s): Humberto Ramos

Detective Charlie Northern is close to the truth behind the death of the Pope’s successor, but he struggles with his quickly fracturing faith. With the implication of a dark, corrupt cult at the very heart of the Vatican, Northern’s investigation into one unexplained death might dismantle one of the oldest, most valued institutions of the world. Discover the truth in this final chapter of Jenkins and Ramos’ thrilling mystery!

Revelations has been a pleasant surprise. Paul Jenkins is a pretty good writer, but Humberto Ramos is the one who's made me turn my head the most. I'm so used to his over-the-top cartoon style in various iterations of Spider-Man that I had no idea he could pull something like a Catholic murder mystery off. Looking forward to reading this series wrap-up as this has been a cool story.

Oh, it's also a 17+ story, so parents should keep that in mind. And if you're Catholic and easily offended, this is your warning, too. Tread lightly.

Available at your local comic shop June 4.

C3C1 Preview: Big Trouble in Little China #1

From Boom! Studios press site:


Big Trouble in Little China #1

Writer(s): John Carpenter and Eric Powell

Artist(s): Brian Churilla

WHY WE LOVE IT: BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA is one of our favorite cult-classic films because it mashed together ’80s action and supernatural fantasy movies with ’70s kung-fu flicks. This is the first time any new BIG TROUBLE stories have been officially told, and we have the film’s original director, John Carpenter, working with Eric Powell (THE GOON) on the story. You can’t beat that!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: Eric Powell is a huge fan of BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA, so the sense of humor and over-the-top action he brings to THE GOON will be all over this book. Trust us, Brian Churilla’s (THE SIXTH GUN: SONS OF THE GUN) art on this is all kinds of fun.

WHAT IT’S ABOUT: Jack Burton, a macho, truck-driving adventurer, finds a stowaway hiding on his rig, The Pork Chop Express, but that soon becomes the least of his troubles. He helped his best friend Wang save his fiancée from the clutches of a demon, but now the wedding has been invaded by more evil forces with one thing on their minds—revenge against Jack Burton!

Seriously. If I may quote Jay-Z, what more can I say?  Got my copy and I'll absolutely have this thing read by the end of the day. Before work, if I can help it. You can get yours at your local comic shop on June 4.

C3C1 Preview: High Crimes #7

This is something I'm going to be trying out. Since I have access to this stuff, I may as well put some use to it. If you're not already reading comics, first of all -  you're missing out. Secondly, maybe you have a good place to start with posts like this.

So here's how it works: New Comics Day is pretty much always on a Wednesday. So, what you're seeing previews of here will always come out the Wednesday immediately after. Think you can follow along? Good deal. Because here's the first C3C1 Preview.

++++++++++++++


High Crimes #7

Writer: Christopher Sebela
Artist: Ibrahim Moustafa
Color Assists: Lesley Atlansky

Price: $0.99
Pages: 22
Rating: 17+

Dug in at Camp 2, Zan Jensen has lied, killed and drugged her way to within 8,000 feet of Mount Everest's summit. As desolate weather sweeps across the mountain and Zan readies herself to face her dream and the dead body of Sullivan Mars buried beneath it, she finds herself isolated, paranoid, sick and surrounded by Strange Agents playing a game all their own.

High Crimes was one of the Monkeybrain books that got mixed in with the #CS100. I read the first issue, and I'll be honest, it sucked me right in.

I've already read this issue. Don't worry, no spoilers. The slow burn tension that Christopher Sebela is using to build to the end of this book is tremendous. This issue is a great example of that.

Oh, and Christopher Sebela? He's a name to watch. In the next few years, I think we're going to be talking about him the way we talk about Ed Brubaker now. I've also been reading Dead Letters from Boom! Studios, and both of these books are excellent. Get on those ASAP. You can start with High Crimes #7, available right here.

I also still say that Ibrahim Moustafa is pretty damn good for a "self-taught artist."

Yackety Schmackety

Warning: this is a pro wrestling-centric post. If that's not your thing, by all means feel free to hit the "Back" button above.



If you are a wrestling fan and somehow have absolutely no idea what happened at WrestleMania XXX, same applies to you as well as this your obligatory SPOILER WARNING for you sensitive types. For something that happened live and everybody already knows about except you because analyzing that finale of "How I Met Your Mother" was just too important. Kthxbi



Now then, if you stuck around this long I'm sure you can see by the tags that we're discussing what everybody thinks is the biggest news in history - that being the ending of The Streak at WrestleMania XXX. The Undertaker finally lost. To Brock Lesnar. In a match that, honestly, was good-but-not-great and wasn't that well built at all. There was zero indication this was coming, and anyone who tries to tell you that they predicted it is just a bald-faced liar at this point.



But, yeah, it happened. There's no way of getting around it, no way of denying it, no way of turning back the clock in making it unhappen. For good or ill, it's a done deal.








You don't have to like or agree with it. Hell, I'm not 100% sure I do at this point. (In this arena of theater and entertainment, this is a little big to take in. Haven't quite processed the implications. Still working on that part yet.) There is one thing that some of you should do, however, and that's calm down.



It's one thing to dislike the booking or question why the decision was made. I'm all for that. But to proclaim that this is the "worst booking decision in wrestling history"? That there's nothing but doom and gloom from here on out? That this will ultimately lead to the company going bankrupt?



Get. The hell. Over. Yourselves.



Quit stamping your feet and holding your breath like a petulant child. Quit blaming creative, or Triple-H's ego, or Vince McMahon, or whatever other evil that you think ruined your life. (Because none of those may even be at fault.) Quit pretending you have a damn clue and could possibly have done this any better. (Because if you could, you'd be working for them in that capacity.) And really, quit raging with your little keyboard every single time something does not go your way. Because, quite honestly, now you're just ruining the internet for the rest of us.



My theory (which is based purely on speculation because I have no inside information and I certainly wasn't there when the decision was made)? In training for this match, Mark Calaway came to the heartbreaking realization that his body was not going to last as long as he or the company wanted it to. Maybe he got hurt or maybe he simply felt all of the injuries of time piling up on him. In coming to this realization, he decided that he would "do business" the right way, give his friend the best gift he possibly could, and begin the process of winding down his illustrious career. If that's how it went down, I could not think of a better way for history to have been made.



BREAKINGNEWSEDIT: Lending credence to that theory? This right here.



Again, in this arena of theater and entertainment...in this continuity...this is a big deal. I completely understand that. But it's certainly not so big that wrestling will cease to exist forever. What we saw was not the end of the WWE (although the stock is down several points the morning after it happened? The hell??), or the end of the world, or the sky toppling down on us. What we saw is rare in wrestling anymore - a legitimate surprise that resulted in a true moment in history. What we might have seen is a man who's given so much to this particular form of entertainment choose to give back to his company and to this form of entertainment one more time in very big, spectacular fashion.



Wrestling fans love to bemoan that we don't get any true surprises or memorable moments anymore. At WrestleMania XXX, we got both. In the biggest way anyone could have imagined. Instead of crying and yelling because it didn't go exactly the way I wanted it to, I plan on sitting back and taking this end. I watched wrestling history happen live. And I'm thankful for that.



And with that said...on a completely unrelated note...the #CS100 resumes today on Twitter. Feel free to check that out and thank you very much in advance.

Home Away From Home

I was born and raised in (and very near) Daytona Beach, FL. For good or ill, I consider Florida home (although I'll be the first to admit that Fark.com has a specific "Florida" section for a very good reason).

As I talked about recently, the last couple weeks have been the roughest of my life having to bury Dad. But there were some positives to the fateful trip north. Getting to see family I hadn't seen in a long time. And getting the opportunity to finally show my wife and kids my home away from home... Baltimore, MD.

I hadn't been there in a couple decades so I was afraid I wouldn't recognize the place. There were certainty some changes, but recognizable enough to bring back the kind of memories I had with my Dad - that I was finally able to pass along to my own family.

Harborplace had apparently been overrun by big corporations since the last time I had been there. Specifically the Light Street Pavillion, which was taken up mostly by a Hooters, Bubba Gump, and Ripley's Believe It or Not. Pratt Street Pavillion still had a lot of little shops and was laid out a lot more like what I remembered. We also finally got to see the Gallery at Harborplace - a five-story mall tucked inside a hotel lobby.

As an added bonus, there was snow! Being a Florida kid, this marked the third time I'd ever seen snow in my life. It wasn't of blizzard proportions or anything, but it was freely coming down. We all got a kick out of that as well.

I don't have to recap the whole day or anything, but suffice to say it was a joy I won't forget. It's not easy for a big family to just up and take a trip several hundred miles north, so I had to take advantage of the opportunity while I could. I'd like to think we all got a little closer, and I know I was able to get closer to Dad, even though he may have been watching from afar.

LIstening to: Prince - "3 Chains O' Gold"

Reflections and Convergence

Yeah, I took a break from the #CS100. It'll resume shortly, I promise. I also promise that this time, I have a pretty damn good reason for taking a break from writing for a minute.

I lost my father recently. At about 3:31pm on March 20th, 2014, to be exact. There's a lot to be told there regarding him and a lot of that will be told slowly but surely. Suffice to say, this month has absolutely sucked because Dad and I were real close. Truth be told, this whole writing thing? He's pretty much responsible for. Because I never would have been this much into music as I am if it weren't for him. Not only that, but the way he used to recite poems and paint inspired me somewhat to express myself as well.

Oddly enough, what has me thinking about this now is listening to the content regarding the 20th anniversary of Pantera's Far Beyond Driven on Sirius satellite radio's Liquid Metal channel. Because it dawns on me that I started writing about music, wrestling, comics (most recently), pop culture, or just throwing my own creative miasma out there...whatever it may be, I started about 20 years ago as well. I know this because Vinnie Paul of Pantera was my very first interview. That happened almost 20 years ago, before they played the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach on July 2nd, 1994.

The interview was over the phone several days before the show. Vinnie Paul was a great guy to talk to and I even got their side of the story regarding some controversy with MTV at the time. (In short: MTV tried to claim they were racist with the lyric "building a blood in water scent" in the song "Using My Third Arm". The song had nothing to do with African Americans and everything to do with hating crooked cops. The heavy metal version of NWA's "Fuck Tha Police.") At that July 2nd show, my photographer Brad was forced to leave his camera in the car because of an incident lead singer Phil Anselmo had with security in Buffalo, New York a few days earlier.

What would seem a disappointment turned out to be a landmark, as Brad and I both met Vinnie Paul and his brother, Dimebag Darrell, in person before the show started. We were led into the arena from the back, Brad was rescued from a rather violent mosh pit, and we went on to enjoy one hell of a show.

That's the truncated version of how this entire writing thing ever got started. It's strange now as I realize that Far Beyond Driven means more to me than just being a brilliant heavy metal album. It also marks where I got my start.

And for all of that, I can thank Dad. Because I can see now, looking back on his influence, that he is where all of this started. One of the hardest things I've ever had to do in my life was to make the decision to let him go and take him off life support. But it's exactly what he would have wanted. I know this because he'd told me that himself. The least I could do during his final moments was honor his wish.

Thank you, Dad. For your wise and steady hand and the influence that you've left on me and many others. There's much more to be said about you, and trust me it will be said. Thanks also to Vinnie, Dime, Phil, and Rex. Not only did the four of you create some visceral music, but you are where this all started in the first place nearly 20 years ago.

And who knows? Much to the chagrin of many people out there, there'll possibly be another 20 years to come.

#CS100

Yeah, I know. Been another long stretch of nothin'. For what it's worth, I have a couple story ideas I may want to put down on (digital) paper. I may be a little more active here again soon. But, then, I've been having too much fun on Panels On Pages. You remember me talking about that, right?

I need to start listing those pieces here, too. Maybe later. But, if it helps, having too much fun on Panels On Pages is kinda why I'm here right now.

Kit, Here's The Scoop on #CS100. You heard me talk about on it on Twitter all day yesterday. It came from a love of reading. And writing. And wanting to explore the "micro-blogging" properties of Twitter. #CS100 will accomplish all of the above.

This past weekend, ComiXology offered up 100 (!) titles from their "Submit" initiative for only $10 (!!). Of course I jumped on that. Not just because it worked out to a dime per title, but because it was all independent creators, which is where my tastes lie more nowadays.

I should probably back up a bit and explain what's going on for the uninitiated. Comixology is a digital comics platform where you can buy and read comics without all the messy paper. Comnixology Submit is their independent arm, launched a year ago at SXSW (where things like that apparently happen now). Instead of going for Marvel or DC (who it pains me to say is really tanking right now, at least in terms of quality), I've been leaning more towards smaller, independent books. Because more often than not, that's where the quality is at*. So, when they offered up 100 (!) titles from their "Submit" initiative for only $10 (!!), of course I jumped on that. Wow, deja vu.

I'm gonna have a blast reading each one of them. Yes, each one of them. And you get to come along for the ride and share in my madness, because each of the 100 titles will be reviewed on Twitter in no particular order. There'll also be a tie-in on the aforementioned Panels On Pages in a couple weeks. Now, this isn't the only thing I do on Twitter, so you'll know if it's a review by seeing the #CS100 (as in, Comixology Submit, 100 books) hashtag.

This is gonna be too much fun. Hope you come along for the ride.

* - Case in point: World War Mob by my pal, Vito Delsante. Imagine a croup of capos having to take out a hit. In the middle of the biggest war in our planet's history. This is good stuff, 2 issues in. And it's only about $2 an issue! Looking forward to more. I promise it won't disappoint if you give it a try.

Interview with Mayor Wertz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKwYHJlAeNc

No, the Count3rcu1ture series isn't making a comeback or anything. This is a one-off. And an exclusive. And a document of just some of the friggin' time I had at Nerdapalooza 2013.

I Can't Quit You

From the 12.31.13 post “Walking Away”:

No, this isn't a "retirement" post, per se. I've done more of those than Terry Funk.

Well, thank God I put that disclaimer in there.

Yes, this is going somewhere. Bear with me just a moment, because I have to pull another quote to explain what you’re about to read:

But, a much bigger reason I'm done with this? For good? Is because the internet has just become a cesspool. Opinions being treated as facts, shaming/guilting/humiliating people into thinking their way is wrong, getting on a soapbox, the proverbial chest-thumping self-righteousness of it all...yeah, no thanks.

Is the internet still a quagmire of self-righteous pieces of trash full of people shaming other people into thinking the same way they do? Of course it is. That hasn’t changed and I fear it probably never will. That in and of itself is unfortunate.

However, it’s not all bullying and boycotts. There are definitely good people out there who not only enjoy pleasant interactions, but feel the same way I do about false outrage and controversy for the sake of controversy! This is a group that likes to have fun, enjoys being fans rather than preachers, and has some level-headed, very likeable, and just plain good people among their ranks.

This is the Pop!-ulation. You can find them at Panels on Pages, as well as on their Podcast network. They’re a group that’s not really concerned with breaking the latest story and getting ALL TEH HITZ as much as they are having some fun and talking geekery. There are some great ideas and discussions that come from this crew. They have a place to converse among other civilized human beings.

And now I can announce that I am among their numbers.



I will be writing (semi-regularly) again, now for the fine folks at Panels on Pages. No news bits, no racing for the deadline…mainly just op-ed pieces and informative stuff about the things I like. Mainly what I do here*, except for an actual audience. Not to besmirch the…what, two? Three of you that check this place regularly? But Panels on Pages has a bigger audience than I do, and I dig on being part of a community that’s just doing the internet right. You’ll be able to read me there by the end of this week, as my first piece is set for Friday (August 9), with a five-part series starting on Sunday, August 11.

It’s nothing earth-shattering or life-changing, but it’s a way to me to get back to what I love doing and to actually be able to enjoy doing it. It kinda feels like a relief, and I’m excited to get the ball rolling. Overall, I’m looking to have some fun. And this crew knows how to do fun, for sure. Feel free to follow along and…you know, have some fun with us.



*Except for fantasy wrestling booking. That stays here because I can’t see many other site wanting a piece of that. Although, if you like that sort of thing, I may be doing some more here sooner than later. No promises, though.

"The Sami Callihan Story" - Conclusion

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Part 4

Part 5
Part 6
Part 7

The next night on Raw, Miz is asked backstage by Josh Matthews about Callihan's remarks after beating Kingston. Miz responds:

MIZ:

Really? Callihan wants to do this one more time? I nearly crippled him before, then pinned him thanks to him making someone else mad. But you know, Josh? Technically, we each have a win...and neither of those was very decisive, were they?

Miz walks away from Matthews with no more answers than when he started...

Later in the show, The Miz beats David Otunga. Post-match, Callihan comes out to the ring. Instead of attacking Miz, Callihan grabs a microphone and steps in the ring to address Miz face to face:

CALLIHAN:

Don't think I didn't hear you earlier, Miz. And you know, you're right. You haven't really beaten me and I haven't really beaten you either. And that presents a huge problem for me. See, when it comes down to it, Regal had a point. I've been so focused on who's been held back and who's towed the company line that I lost my real mission - to show I belonged here and that even sycophants like you couldn't hold me down. I don't need to hurt you or put you out of action...I need that [pointing at the US Championship]. I need to beat you once and for all and hold a championship that establishes ME as "The Next Big Thing." We both need to settle this and put to rest the question of who's the better man. You and me. Survivor Series. One on one. No Holds Barred. For the United States Championship. If you've got the stomach for it. Champ.

Callihan leaves Miz in the ring - untouched, angry, and confused.

The following week on Raw, The Miz is out to the ring to address Callihan:

MIZ:

Callihan left early last week before I could address his gracious request. But than, that's how you've handled everything since you've shown up, hasn't it? Walking away and attacking people from behind...you're the biggest coward the WWE has ever seen!

Callihan emerges from the back, angry. He stops at the of the ramp, scowling at Miz.

MIZ:

Ah, there's the WWE's favorite troll now. I'll admit, I was almost impressed that you didn't try to hit me from behind last week and that I didn't have to kick you off my ankle like a chihuahua. You can tell the WWE Universe you've changed all you want, but I think you're full of crap.. One thing you're right about - we need this settled. And you think I won't have the guts to meet you in a No Holds Barred match? That's where you're wrong, troll-boy. I've been in my share of wars. "I Quit" matches with John Cena. Battles with Daniel Bryan and Chris Jericho...hell, I sent John Morrison packing after our Falls Count Anywhere match on this show! I've got more guts than you certainly ever will. No Holds Barred for my US Championship at Survivor Series? You're on.

Callihan grins from the ramp as the match is made.

The following week, on Raw, Callihan makes R-Truth tap out to the Stretch Muffler in one on one competition. Afterward, Callihan grabs a microphone:

CALLIHAN:

You don't believe I've changed, Miz? I honestly don't care if you do. All you need to know is your days are numbered as United States Champion. I'll leave you breathing, but I'll leave you beaten and without your precious Championship. And I'll do it on my terms. No disqualifications, no countouts, there has to be a winner. And that winner has to be me because I need this more than I've needed anything. Once I've established myself here and prove that I belong, you can believe me then.

The following week, Miz also scores a decisive victory on Raw, this one over Cody Rhodes. After the match, Miz talks to Josh Matthews backstage:

MIZ:

You know, Callihan, no one doubts your ability. You can go; that's not the question. The reason you haven't proven you belong here because you've attacked guys like me and put us on the shelf like a coward rather than face us head on. All I need to believe, with zero doubt, is that I can beat a troll like you who's nothing but a coward.

Six days later at Survivor Series, Callihan and The Miz engage in final battle for the US Championship in a No Holds Barred match. The near 20-minute encounter is first spent with both wrestling, then breaking down much like their Night of Champions match. However, Calihan seems to escalate the violence only in retaliation; he does not instigate any if the out-of-the-ring brawling or use of weapons first. The Miz, still feeling wronged from Callihan's actions throughout their history, plays the aggressor. At one point, a wrench (used to tighten the turnbuckles, the announcers explain) is pulled from under the ring. Miz and Calliham both try to use the wrench as a blunt-force weapon at different points, but both men are thwarted. Even after Callihan has severely damages the Miz's knee throughout the bout, Callihan still can't get The Miz to submit to the Stretch Muffler. After surviving the Figure-4 from the Miz, Callihan goes for the Stretch Muffler one more time - with the wrench wedged behind his neck and The Miz's knee! The Miz, unable to take any more, finally taps out as Sami Callihan wins the United States Championship.




THE END. FOR NOW.

"The Sami Callihan Story" - Part 7

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Part 4

Part 5
Part 6

Next night on Raw, Renee Young asks Callihan about what happened with Regal post-match the night before. Before Callihan can answer, Kingston interrupts:

KINGSTON:

If I didn't know any better, I'd think William Regal finally beat some sense into you. But, that doesn't excuse the fact that The Miz isn't the only guy you tried to put out twice. I haven't forgotten nor forgiven that at all.

CALLIHAN:

The first time we crossed paths, Kofi, I actually had second thoughts about putting you down. The second time it happened, you were simply collateral damage. I've never been sure whether or not you've gotten your fair due in this company, but none of that ever seems to bother you. You're perfectly happy being a company guy no matter how bad they treat you here. You could be one of the greatest Superstars ever with the talent you have, but apparently you're perfectly content being an also-ran. Maybe I should have ended it when I had the chance.

Kingston punches Callihan and the fight is on! Referees arrive to pull the two apart.

The next week on Raw, the announcement is made that Kofi Kingston and Sami Callihan wil meet at Hell in a Cell. Kofi Kingston defeats Wade Barrett on Raw. After the match, Callihan appears at the top of a ramp with a microphone:

CALLIHAN:

I didn't get to answer you last week since you were so insistent on a fight. I've been trying to spare you because of how you've been treated. But, since it seems you can't let this go, I'll gladly meet you in 13 days at Hell in a Cell!

Callihan drops the microphone and walks away. Kofi is happy for the chance as the announcers question why Callihan chose not to attack as he normally would.

Next week on Raw, Callihan defeats Justin Gabriel by submission with the Muffler. Post-match, Kingston appears and attacks Callihan in the ring. Afterward, Kingston takes a microphone:

KINGSTON:

Ever since you arrived here, Callihan, you've been out of control! I already owe you for what you did to me, but it's bigger than that. Maybe I am a "company guy," ans this "company guy" is gonna stand up and out a stop to this once and for all at Hell in a Cell!

Callihan smiles at Kingston; the announcers note how odd Callihan's behavior is in that he actually seems pleased with what's happened and hasn't been the aggressor...

Six days later, Sami Callihan and Kofi Kingston meet in a regular rules match at Hell in a Cell. In an unusual twist, Kofi plays the aggressor while Callihan is cold and calculating. Callihan eventually defeats Kofi Kingston with the Stretch Muffler. Afterward, Callihan releases the  Muffler and states at Kingston just like he did Regal at Over the Limit. Referees emerge to protect Kingston and prevent another attack. Callihan leaves, but has a message: he stops at the nearest camera and makes the "championship gesture around his waist, yelling "Miz, you're time has come!"




TO BE CONCLUDED...

"The Sami Callihan Story" - Part 6

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

The next night on Raw, Josh Matthews is with William Regal backstage. Matthews explains that Regal has asked for this time to speak:

REGAL:

I understand my actions ruined a championship match last night, and for that I need to apologize to the WWE Universe. I am fully aware that my time may not be long for being here and I need to make the most of what I have. That's why I did what I did last night, because there's no way I could let my career come to a crashing halt at the hands of that charlatan, Sami Callihan. What he did to me, and what he has done to others such as The Miz and Kofi Kingston, must be rectified, and I refuse to rest until that has been done. That is why I did what I did last night, and I hope the WWE Universe can understand that. I also implore Vickie Guerrero or whomever I must to grant me a match with Callihan at Over The Limit to put an end to this toerag once and for all.

The following week on Raw, Callihan makes The Great Khali tap out to the stretch Muffler. After the match, Callihan takes the microphone:

CALLIHAN:

You know, once upon a time I respected William Regal. Hell, I nearly idolized him. Having him taking me under his wing and be given the opportunity to learn from one of the masters of the craft was a dream come true. That dream went sour when Regal tried to make me something I'm not. You see, Regal was a bad guy. He was the villain in every sense of the word, and as a kid growing up and watching him on TV, I loved it. However, Regal feels the need to make up for it in his old age and, to do that, he used me. He manipulated me to make up for his shortcomings until I smartened up to what he was doing. I already owed him, but then he went and cost me my chance at the United States Championship, my opportunity to shut The Miz up once and for all,  MY CHANCE AT REDEMPTION! For that, Regal, you pay the ultimate price. Over The Edge? You want to meet me one-on-one? You got it, old man. I only regret I can't put you out of your misery sooner.

Two days later on Main Event, William Regal defeats Wade Barrett in a grueling contest - one that ends with Regal using the ropes for leverage away from. The referees vantage point. Afterward, Regal runs at a prone Barrett and knocks him out with the knee to the head! After the commercial break, Regal talks to Renee Young backstage:

REGAL:

You know, young lady, I truly hated to do that to a fellow countryman. But, I did it to prove a point. Sami Callihan says I used to be a villain? My dear lady, I still am. And if I'm willing to do that to someone I respect that shares the same nationality as I do, can you imagine the beating that toerag Callihan will suffer once I meet him?

The next week on Raw, William Regal and Kofi Kingston take on Sami Callihan and Wade Barrett in tag action. The match ultimately becomes a singles contest between Kingston and Barrett when Callihan and Regal fight to the back almost immediately after the match starts! Kingston defeats Barrett as Calliham and Regal slug it out backstage until referees and officials arrive to separate the two.  Post-commercial, announcers indicate that the two have been ejected from the building by Vickie Guerrero.

Six days later at Over the Limit, the match between Sami Callihan and William Regal becomes a 15-minute war of attrition. As the contest goes on, Callihan seems hesitant to seriously hurt Regal. Callihan wins the match with the Stretch Muffler submission. Post-match, Callihan immediately releases the hold and stands and stares at Regal. Regal limps up to Callihan angrily - and shakes his hand. Regal can be seen telling Callihan, "I knew you had it in you, lad." Regal then limps out of the ring and up the ramp.



TO BE CONTINUED...

"The Sami Callihan Story" - Part 5

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Part 4

The next night on Raw, one of the matches announced for next week is a US Championship defense as Miz defends against Cody Rhodes after Rhodes defeats Tensai for a title shot. Renee Young gets reaction from The Miz backstage:

MIZ:

You know, Renee, I'll be the first to admit I did something stupid last night and lost my temper. That's an issue I'll have to deal with down the road, but next week, Cody Rhodes is coming for this [pats United States Championship] and I can't afford to look past that. The Callihan troll will have to wait his turn.

Later the same night, Callihan (with a slight but noticeable limp) defeats Santino Marella in short order by submission with the Stretch Muffler. Callihan releases the muffler immediately once the bell rings, then demands a microphone:

CALLIHAN:

Last night, Miz, I proved you can't beat me!  And everyone here saw it, just like they're seeing you running scared and ducking me now! You go ahead and hide behind that United States Championship that you still have because you got yourself disqualified. You go ahead and focus on Cody Rhodes. This "little troll" will wait his turn - but when it comes, I'll be the monster under your bed that'll make every nightmare you've ever had come true.

The following week on Raw, The Miz defeats Cody Rhodes in a close match to retain the united States Championship. We come back from commercial to see replay of what happened on the WWE app: Callihan viciously attacked Miz as he walked back through the curtain after the match. As The Miz is laying, Callihan asks him before walking away:

CALLIHAN:

Should I go after your knee again, Miz, and cripple you for good? Or would taking your US Championship torture you even more?

Next week on Raw, Callihan is on the way to the ring for a match before commercial when he is attacked by Miz! Miz lays out Callihan backstage without uttering a word as we go to commercial.

After the break, Vickie Guerrero and Brad Maddox are with Josh Matthews. Guerrero officially announces that Miz will defend the United States Championship against Sami Callihan in a No Disqualification match at Night of Champions. Guerrero also adds that, since they can't keep their hands off each other, they will be across the ring from each other next week in tag team action.

The next week on Raw, Sami Callihan and Antonio Cesaro face The Miz and R-Truth. The Miz has a hard time not going after Callihan, while Callihan seems focused on the match at hand. The announcers note that Callihan may have finally gotten inside Miz's head. The match ends when Callihan pins Miz after European uppercut/big boot combo while the referee's back is turned. Callihan leaves with Cesaro, laughing at The Miz as Michael Cole wonders aloud if Callihan has The Miz's number.

Six days later at Night of Champions, the match between Callihan and The Miz starts with Callihan out-wrestling The Miz and Miz growing more and more frustrated. After Callihan misses a running boot in the corner, the tables are turned and Miz begins frustrating Callihan by taking control. Seven minutes in,  the match breaks down into a fight as the two take it outside the ring in a wild melee. About 12 minutes, both are in the ring and Callihan, after getting the upper hand with brawling, scores with the running kick! The referee is counting what seems to be an academic pin when the returning William Regal runs down to ringside and pulls the referee out of the ring! Regal attacks Callihan, knocking him out cold with the running knee to the head. Miz, unaware of interference, covers Callihan as the referee comes to and counts the fall. The Miz retains the United States Championship.



TO BE CONTINUED...