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Top 35 Albums of 2016

I’ve heard several different people argue that 2016 was where the music matched the of our newly elected President: trash. While there were a fair share of tepid releases, there were even more gems and masterpieces released as well. It marked the comeback of some major industry icons, the big break from some under the radar talents, and the domination of a legend. Below you will find my ranking for the top thirty-five albums of 2016. Feel free to comment with your opinions and feedback.

35. Ariana Grande, “Dangerous Woman” — Not quite on level with her first two studio albums, D.W. takes some risks where Grande has yet to explore. While standouts “Sometimes”, “Touch It”, and “Leave Me Lonely (featuring Macy Gray) are true delights, her transition falls short on tracks such as the unconvincing “Bad Decisions”, the overdrawn”I Don’t Care”, and the overrated radio-tune gem that is “Side to Side”. The album is probably the most evident of all of her releases that she is still trying to find her own sound, though there are some delights along her journey.

34. Shy Glizzy, “Young Jefe 2” — One of the most anticipated projects in the urban market was “Young Jefe 2” from Shy Glizzy. While ultimately the work doesn’t offer many full length tunes that enable you to crave it, it does suffice as a guilty hip-hop pleasure for 2016. Gems such as “Waiting on My Time”, “Rounds”, and “How It Go” prove that the rhymer can spit real life lyrics aligned with versatile concepts — a rarity amongst his generation’s peers.

33. Meghan Trainor, “Thank You” — Trainor’s sophomore release continued her trend of radio friendly pop tunes (“No”, “Me Too”), with some lavish, soul ballads (“Champagne Problems, “I Won’t Let You Down”) proving she why she continues to evolve as an artist. The standout track of the album is the median between these two styles, “Hopeless Romantic”, which has single written all over it. While the album didn’t exceed expectations in terms of sounds, it provides curiosity to what may come of her work in the future.

32. Childish Gambino, “Awaken My Love” — Another highly anticipated album in the hip-hop community came from Mr. Gambino. Riding high off of the success of his television show, “Atlanta”, he couldn’t have released new music at a greater time. Rich in sounds for the eerie and dramatic, the album takes an alternative route than that of “Because The Internet” album, while still focusing on real life centered lyrical content.

31. Blake Shelton, “If I’m Honest” — Adding to controversy this past year was the ever-blossoming relationship between superstars Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton. Sparking his album was about the relationship, the ‘honest’ approach behind the album lived up to expectations in a raw, yet predictable approach to his usual content. While a pleasant listen for Shelton fans, doesn’t overly add to the drama or impact of his relationship with Stefani.

30. Fifth Harmony, “7/27″ — One of the greater surprises this year was the quality behind pop girl-group, Fifth Harmony”. Riding off of the success of their single, “Worth It”, the group quickly capitalized with a sophomore release, leading to their second top-ten single, “Work From Home”. The album dances with balladry with the reflective standout, “Write On Me”, and showcases superstar powers with tracks “Flex (All In My Head)” and “Not That Kinda Girl” featuring Fetty Wap and Missy Elliot respectively.

29. John Legend, “Darkness and Light” — 2014 was the biggest year of John Legend’s career. It took him to new heights after being in the music business for a decade. Taking his time to properly carve out his next release to the world, “Darkness and Light” shed ‘light’ on where he planned to go next. While the lead single, “Love Me Now”, is a slight departure from his adult-contemporary work that has followed his career, the majority of the album sticks to typical John Legend formula. The tracks “Overload” and “Penthouse Floor”, are singles waiting to dominate urban radio, with the assistance of Miguel and Chance The Rapper respectively.

28. Miranda Lambert, “The Weight of These Wings” — One of the most consistent workers in country music is without a doubt Miranda Lambert. It isn’t just because she releases new music, but she releases QUALITY good music. Need proof? Listen to these cuts from the album: “Vices”, “We Should Be Friends”, and “Smoking Jacket”.

27. Shawn Mendes, “Illuminate” — For his sophomore release, Mr. Mendes further embellished in the sound that made him a hit with young teens the year prior: heartwarming ballads and luscious tunes to churn. Lead by the single “Treat You Better”, you’ll learn early that no single on the record quite tops that one, or that of “Stitches” from yesteryear; but that doesn’t mean you won’t find pleasant listens such as “Patience” and album-opener, “Ruin.

26. Post Malone, “Stoney” — After creating quite the buzz with “White Iverson” earlier in the year, Malone’s first full length album proved that he could handle the pressures of a new release. The album luckily doesn’t focus so much on the mainstream style that it’s lead single invokes, but that doesn’t say that it lacks appeal either. The Justin Bieber assisted “Deja Vu” is one of the albums greatest gems, while listeners will surely find plenty more worth vibing to.

25. Kid Cudi, “Passion, Pain & Demon Slaying” — It has been an interestingly rocky past few years for Kid Cudi. His personal life has been not just bait for the tabloids, but also for fellow rappers (just ask Drake). Luckily, that hasn’t stopped his abilities to produce a consistent album worth waiting for. Lead by singles “Frequency” and “Surfin”, the album would return Cudi to the sound that made him one of the leaders of the alternative rap game. Drawing inspiration from his first album, the album is broken into chapters. Standouts include “Swim In The Light”, “Baptized In Fire”, and “Cosmic Warrior”.

24. Usher, “Hard II Love”–It had been an overwhelming four years since Usher last blessed our ears with his music. Moreover, for his traditional, old-school Usher fans, it had been well past that since they had received music that they were satisfied with. Despite your opinion on what his past had produced, his current was a steady body of work. The lead single, “No Limit”, showed fans the the veteran still could deliver an urban radio gem. As for his slow jams, “Missin U” and “Tell Me”, prove he can still sing effortlessly amongst the records in his prime. Welcome back, Usher!

23. Britney Spears, “Glory” — To this date, Britney hasn’t been able to find a sound or album that recreates the magic of ‘Oops…’ or ‘Britney’, and critics don’t let her forget it. For “Glory”, Britney let go of those antics and simply focusing on the music. From start to finish, this album easily produces Britney’s finest collection of songs in over a decade. The songs, with the exception of the lackluster “Private Show”, display an album that is a full body of work, starting with the standout “Invitation” and its effortless transition into the G-Easy featured single, “Make Me”. Britney also ventures into new sounds with the reggae-sexy “Love Me Down” and “Slumber Party”, and delivers sonic perfection on the edgy “Liar”. If there’s any doubt to whether or not teen-pop’s most prized possession still has it eighteen years later, listen to “Glory”.

22. Alicia Keys, “Here” — It’s hard to believe Alicia Keys has been around for sixteen years. Unfortunately, for her past few releases, it has been somewhat apparent. That changed with 2016’s defiant “Here”. The album follows no current trends whatsoever, not even that of her own past works. The album is complete with conversations and interludes to transition between the different songs. Keys confidently displays her message through rap-styled delivery, playing with the apparent change in her vocals in an array of different manners. The true gem of the entire album comes in the form of lyrically, musically, and delivery is an absolute masterpiece: “Illusion of Bliss”.

21. Fantasia, “The Definition of…” — In search of a new-retro style sound, Fantasia produced what was a complete sleeper of the year. With production that perfectly blends with her rasp and power, the entire album gradually progresses and telling a story: the definition of the woman who is Fantasia, and not just the artist. She experiments as well with more gospel-tingled tracks, with a surprising cameo from Tye Tribette, and country music with the daring “Ugly”. Standouts include “No Time For It”, “When I Met You”, and “Sleeping With the One I Love”.

20. Travis $cott, “Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight” — Alternative rap has become a popular sound and trend in current music. No one currently showcases this with such mastery the way that Travis $cott does. His second full-length album showcases his versatility as a producer, as an lyricist, and as a storyteller. Features aside, he holds his own on the same track as Kendrick Lamar in standout, “Goosebumps”. If this album is any indication, expect to see many more great moments from Mr. Scott.

19. Rihanna, “Anti” — The first major release of 2016 came from Rih-Rih herself. Lead by her historic number-one single, “Work”, the album shows why Rihanna continues to dominate the music scene. The album features some of her absolute finest ballads (“Love on the Brain”, “Same Ol’ Mistakes”), and her at her absolute finest (“Needed Me”, “Kiss it Better”). While in some tracks its evident she should not reach of showcasing vocality, such as “Higher”, the album is still a solid welcome. See the full review for this album available on a separate page.

18. A Tribe Called Quest, “We got it from Here…Thank You 4 Your service” — An as a formal goodbye from one of the most acclaimed hip-hop groups to ever grace a microphone, A Tribe Called Quest blessed listeners with this cry for nostalgia. While not their finest body of work, it easily outpaces many of the releases from today’s rappers with its underlying messages, intellect, and assertive abrasion. To name just a few standouts, would take away from the overall message of the album so I’ll suggest to start with “The Space Program” and end with “The Donald”.

17. Metallica, “Hardwire…To Self Destruct” — There is no discussion on the greatest in heavy metal, without the inclusion of Metallica. After an eight year gap between this and their most recent work, this album proves why they should still be included in the discussion. The title track, “Hardwired”, speaks volumes for itself and sets the pace for a hard hitting album that rocks on all the way through.

16. Maxwell, “BlackSUMMERS’night” — Seven years is too long of a gap for what we need and deserve from Maxwell. He is such a gift to music. Changing the presentation of the title from his last effort, Maxwell reminds audiences why we fell in love with his last collection of greatness. The lead single, “Lake by the Ocean”, was just a sampler of an infectious collision of gems. The opener, “All The Ways Love Can Feel”, I would argue as one of the greatest songs of the entire year. If you’re looking for Maxwell at his finest, listen to the track “Hostage”, which is the perfect median from his last two albums. In entirety, the album is genius and draws large anticipation for where he will take listeners in the final installment of this trilogy.

15. Common, “Black America Again” — In the midst of the drama that is the election, Common produced one of the greatest odes to Black America in recent memory. From the cover art, to his HBCU campaign via social media, Common’s message was clear. And his album did not fall short of displaying that genius in work. The album’s closing track, “Letter to the Free”, is a perfect depiction and ending message to advocate for the message presented in a defiant, bold album worthy of its acclaim.

14. Lady Gaga, “Joanne” — One of the most overlooked projects from 2016 is the newest release from Lady Gaga. Known for her bold, daring pop creations, Joanne is one of her most personal releases to date and matches up with some of her best work. The lead single, “Perfect Illusion”, builds off of the successes that her former lead singles have seen in style and structure, but the remainder of the album explores the core of the pop star, revealing a side that’s been masked over the years. “Million Reasons” is one of her best singles to dates because the lyrics and power of her singing speak alone free of overproduced synths. “Grigio Girls”, “Hey Girl”, and “Angel Down” prove why she’s one of the greatest songwriters of her generation.

13. Jeezy, “Trap or Die 3” — A veteran to the rap game, Jeezy has seen many commercial successes. After experimenting with different arenas of rap, he returns to his roots: trap music. On an album that is feature heavy, Jeezy pulls his own weight with some of the most well thought out bars of his entire career. The production is also amongst his finest on an album from start to finish. While every track stands out for its own reason, “Sexe (feat. Plies)”, “Ain’t Bout That”, and “Pretty Diamonds (feat. Chris Brown)” confirms he is back in his element of trapping behind the microphone.

12. J. Cole, “4 Your Eyes Only” — Similar to the release of his last effort, “4 Your Eyes Only” follows the low-promotion approach to music rollout in attempt to let the music speak for himself. While the effort doesn’t surpass that of either of his two more recent works, it does suffice as a diligent listen. “Deja Vu” and “Folding Clothes” are standouts on an album that presents Cole focusing more on consistency than progression.

11. “The Hamilton Mixtape” — Released in the last month of the year, “The Hamilton Mixtape” is the epitome of nostalgia. As a compilation set comprised for the Broadway spectacle of the same name, this album does something that is a rarity amongst even the greatest of soundtracks (Titanic, the Bodyguard), sound like one cohesive body of work. Every song speaks its own story and brings to life the drama behind the Broadway production. The soundtrack is truly a well-vested production worthy of listening.

10. Sia, “This is Acting” — Long before she was a pop star herself, she was a critically acclaimed songwriter. For her most recent release, Sia’s primary interest was to showcase her skills as a seasoned, talented songwriter. Though the album is deeply regarded as being “impersonal”, it is very much an album true to its concrete form: a concept album. “Cheap Thrills” was such a gem that half it made folks realize Sia actually had an album out. Her genius collaboration with Kendrick Lamar is another stand out from the album and the title speaks for the record itself: “The Greatest”.

9. Drake, “Views” — Even if you have lived under a rock for the last year, you can recite the melody to “Hotline Bling”. You can recall the splendor that was “One Dance”. And you most certainly can’t state that you haven’t heard the radio banger that was “Controlla”. But the greatest moments on Views are the album cuts. While the album is definitely not a step forward creatively from any of his previous works, it is a steady median for those looking to become in tact with the Drake that was present on “Take Care” and “Nothing Was The Same”. The best song of the entire album is without a doubt the collaboration with Rihanna, “Too Good”, which is the perfect combination of radio and depth. Other standouts include “Redemption”, “Faithful”, and “Fire & Desire”. This is definitely not Drake’s finest hour, but it is without a doubt a steady worthwhile listen that defined 2016.

8. The Weeknd, “Starboy” — “Starboy” was one of the most anticipated albums of the entire year. In a way that many folks I’m sure didn’t expect, it delivered. For those hoping for more of The Weeknd that was on his earlier works, you are going to be disappointed. As evident in the singles from “Beauty Behind The Madness”, The Weeknd wants to continue to evolve as a pop-artist, following his inspiration behind Michael Jackson. That is present the most in album closer and second single, “I Feel it Coming”. Not only is the style reminiscent of Michael’s “Off The Wall” era balladry, but the way that he coos confirms the influence Michael had on his career. That doesn’t say that the record doesn’t include the more edgier tracks, the uncredited feature of Future on “Six Feet Under”, “Party Monster”, “Reminder”, and “Sidewalks (feat. Kendrick Lamar)” provide satisfaction. The album’s finest moments come in the form of the mid-tempo ballads, “True Colors” and “Die For You”, both combining the elements of alternative pop and soulful hip-hop.

7. Solange, “A Seat at the Table” — The perfect title for the perfect arrival of a superstar. Solange has spent majority of her career living in the shadow of her sister’s successes, but not letting any of that define her. She has made music that she believes in and that is just as relatable; it just never quite came all the way together for the masses. And then, there was “A Seat at the Table”. Easily one of the year’s most compelling stories, Solange flawlessly crafts real emotion with theatric, yet understated melodies capped off with slick, seductive production. Every single song and the interludes that coincide tell an intimate story, one worth indeed having a seat at the table to listen to. The interludes don’t at all feel forced together, as they are very reminiscent of vintage Janet Jackson styled-albums. As if “Cranes in the Sky” itself isn’t the gem of gems for the year, also listen to “Borderline”, “Mad”, “Where Do We Go”, and “Don’t Touch My Hair”, and it is clear that we have clearly overlooked a genius, star. Lets hope 2017 more tables are provided for us to have seats at.

6. Kanye West, “The Life of Pablo” — Mental state aside, there’s no arguing when Kanye puts his mind to the studio, fire ensues. ‘Pablo’ is no different. From start to finish, it is obvious that Mr. West has a story to tell, as present in the album’s first song, “Ultralight Beam”. The Rihanna-assisted “Famous” is an ode to controversy in the months that have followed it’s initial release. “Waves” and “Wolves” are also standouts where the production does take control, but not in a way thats overbearing; its very welcoming. While many may argue that many of the songs seem unfinished and a work in progress, the progression is what makes the album that much more enticing and satisfying to the ears. It allows you as a listener to create assumptions and do your own storytelling, which is the goal of any true author and songwriter. For what it’s worth, ‘Pablo’ is an example of Classic Kanye doing Classic Kanye. If you still need proof, just listen to the interlude “Old Kanye”.

5. Frank Ocean, “Blonde/Endless” — The most anticipated record of 2014, 2015, and 2016 was “Boys Don’t Cry” by Frank Ocean. Instead we got “Blonde” and “Endless”, two separate cohesive bodies of work. So why are they ranked together? While “Endless” is one visual gem put together, a la Prince, it serves as a teaser for what could come on a grander stage. That grander stage belongs to “Blonde”. It is hard to even put Frank into a genre, as he just yearns to be someone who continues to excel to new heights with his lyrics, his ad-libs, his harmonizing, and his production. “Nikes” is the perfect opener to those experiencing curiosity to Ocean’s style and sound. “Pink + White”, “Solo”,  and “Self Control” present the vulnerable aspect of being alone, uncertain, and most of all of worth. “Blonde” not only serves as one of the greatest musical releases, it is one of the releases that absolutely defined 2016.

4. Kendrick Lamar, “untitled unmastered.” — Most albums that are put together of unreleased work feel uninspired. There’s not a universal element that brings them all together musically. It is a compilation of songs that were deemed unworthy for the album released at the time of the recording. There is something remotely different about Kendrick Lamar’s version. Weirdly enough, every “leftover” track is a complete gem in its own realm. And for the records to me unmastered, there’s a sense of nostalgia that binds them altogether to where they seem to be all influenced from the same creative vision. Or, perhaps that is why Lamar selected these records — because there was a commonality that he found when listening to them. Whatever the method in discovering the potential in each of the songs, the end product was one of genius. For a man who has been robbed of his full critical accolades, maybe this serves as a teaser for what is to become in 2017. All I know is if this is what leftover tracks from the past few years look like, I fear what the ones we have yet to see released behold.

3. Bruno Mars, “24K Magic” — One of the last releases of the year was Mar’s third studio album. While the title track/lead single follows the formula that took “Uptown Funk” to #1 in 2015, the remainder of the album ventures more into rap-sung gems that bring the soul of the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s all to 2016. And unlike his counterparts, Bruno is fully capable of belting out the finest vocals right along with his cliche songwriting and divine production. “That’s What I Like” is the ultimate not-so-subtle invitation to romance that radios will be eating up in 2017. Meanwhile, “Versace on the Floor” is an infectious ballad dedicated to that special person for an anniversary, birthday occasion. If you’re looking to dance, get lost in the new-jack styled “Finesse”, which could’ve easily fit in on your parent’s wedding reception playlist in the 1980s. With assistance from Halle Berry, “Calling All My Lovelies” steals the show with a melody that flirts with the assumption that “all men cheat”. However, Mars puts up quite the dissertation to defend his actions. And if you’re looking for the churning of classics like “Just The Way You Are” and “When I Was Your Man”, the album’s closer, “Too Good To Say Goodbye” is a complete tear-jerker. Written and produced with the legendary Babyface, the song sounds directly out of the soundtrack to all of your favorite 90’s love stories. For a man who had many doubts about releasing an album that met everyone’s expectations, I think its safe to say Mars has completely exceeded them with the strongest release from any male vocalist of the year.

2. Beyonce, “Lemonade” — ‘You can taste the dishonesty/its all over you breath/as you pass it off so cavalier” coos Mrs. Carter with destain and restrain on the album’s opener, “Pray You Catch Me”. Speculation aside from what influenced the album, Beyonce took us to a place creatively she probably didn’t even think existed. After the slay that was her self-titled fifth studio album and the records it broke, what more was there for her to do? “Lemonade” answers that question with a short film and album that tell the story of woman’s journey back to happiness after being scorn by a lover. It is not an easy journey, just see rock-infused “Don’t Hurt Yourself” or the piano-driven “Sandcastles”. But that doesn’t say the album doesn’t have some fun moments as well; the-IDGAF “Sorry” dominated radio, the reggae “Hold Up” is everyone woman scorn’s first thought, and “6 Inch” is the perfect half-time performance before going back to love and heartbreak. The absolute showstopper, however, is “Freedom”, the rebellious anthem that adds the expertise of Kendrick Lamar. For an artist who has already achieved so many things musically, Beyonce once again cemented her legacy as a legend in this business with arguably the strongest album of her career.

Chance The Rapper, “Coloring Book” — While technically speaking, this was a mixtape and not an album, Chance has officially marked his presence as the future of all music. For an artist who isn’t signed and in control of his own music, he very meticulously crafted the best project of 2016 hands down. From start to finish, the entire project manages to color in the lines and never blur outside of them. The 2 Chains/Lil’Wayne assisted “No Problem” was an absolute juggernaut and still remains a massive hit. But that’s not it, there are so many things to be gained from his record. What he’s able to do perhaps more than any other project released in 2016 is produce an album that feels real and relatable from start to finish. The standout, “Same Drugs”, holds a double meaning. It derives not only from the literal content of the lyrics, but also as a metaphor for reaching new heights professionally and personally from fame and how it causes you to adjust in your life. The sexy “Juke Jam” reminds you of the days of early, dangerous infatuation as you began to understand your hormones. “All Night” should’ve been the highlight of every radio station this fall, and even though it didn’t, it certainly was a playlist favorite for everyone’s functions. To continue on a tangent and attempt to identify just a few stand outs would’ve be a crime as this ENTIRE album from start to finish. And it is evident with his commercial, endorsements, and appearances everywhere the Chance isn’t going anywhere or going to sellout anytime soon. 2017 will be a big year for Chance, with the hope all the recognition he deserves takes him to new mainstream heights. Until then, we have “Coloring Book” and every color properly merged on every page to depict the future of music for years to come, as long as Chance the Rapper is our author.

Here’s to more gems in 2017. Feel free to drop your comments and feedback below.

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WWE: 10 Things We Needs to See For Women’s Wrestling in 2017

img_9107 2016 will forever be known as the year that the women of WWE transformed from being divas to being equal counterparts to the male competitors. It was present not just in the amount of ring time that they were given, but the marquee matches that they competed in, the storylines that ensued, and the support from the WWE Universe that women’s wrestling has finally come full circle, and again an attraction worth mentioning —even surpassing that of the Golden Era that featured Lita, Victoria, Jacqueline, and Trish Stratus. Women main evented Monday Night Raw twice, had the closing match on SmackDown!, opened four pay-per-views, and main evented a pay-per-view. It was indeed the year that was women’s wrestling.

As we transition into the new year, there are high expectations in place for what’s to come for the women of the WWE. While early indications hint this will be a huge year for the likes of Bayley and Charlotte, there’s a plethora of women who most definitely are ready to make a lasting impression for the WWE Universe. Below is a list of 10 things that would ensure not only the progression of the division for the company, but for years to come. 1. More Marquee Matches: Women’s Royal Rumble & Money in the Bank Ladder Match — In 2017 we saw women compete in Tables, No Disqualification, Falls Count Anywhere, Submission, Ironman, and Hell in a Cell matches. The amount of talent present on the roster willing to risk their bodies night in and night out continues to increase by leaps and bounds. With two active women’s championships on the roster, what better time to introduce a women’s rumble match where the winner is guaranteed a championship match at WrestleMania, the same as the male competitors receive. There is definitely enough talent to have 15-20 competitors. Incorporate some legends to return for one night only and call up some NXT talent. With the women’s tournament also planned for 2017, maybe using some of the talent in that allowing them to get an opportunity as well. Including the feud with Renee Young and Maryse, there are officially seven active storylines featuring the women of Raw and Smackdown. It is definitely time to maximize on that. With that being said, the progression of the women’s division is almost certain to yield to the first ever women’s ladder match. Money in the Bank would be the perfect opportunity for that to take place. To afford the opportunity to women on both shows, the match could be contested at WrestleMania oppose to the MITB pay-per-view, which SmackDown! has. MITB typically produces the next big star and could be a great send off for stars such as Carmella, Dana Brooke, or Naomi to catapult into title contention. 2. Returns: Mickie James, Paige, Eva Marie, Tamina, Summer Rae — One thing that must be present for the expansion of the Women’s Evolution to be successful, is the return of some of the loyal women who have been with the company for some time. While Summer Rae may seem as someone completely under the radar, her absence on television has definitely gone noticed by those of the WWE Universe. There have been several tweets requesting insight on her return. Lets not forget the role she was on prior to her injury; she had quality matches with Sasha Banks in the late spring of 2016. Aligning her with a dominant female competitor, or even sending her back to NXT for some time before making a thunderous return, would do great for the division. Maybe aligning herself with Emmalina, who is sure to make a thunder when she returns. The two have already had similar rants on Twitter against Sasha Banks and Charlotte. Also injured on the Raw brand, is the powerhouse of Tamina. When you reflect on her career, Tamina has always been aligned with someone in her time with the company. While she definitely was effective in the Diva’s Revolution storyline as a member of Team BAD, there has never been a one on one push for Tamina, as there has been for Naomi and Sasha Banks. Termini’s veteran status should be used to boost the talents of Nia Jaxx, who needs formidable competition, or even send her on SmackDown! to conclude her ties with former partner Naomi, who is in desperate need of a storyline. Or, on the SmackDown! realm, there is arguably the most hated woman since Vickie Guerrero… Eva Marie. Her suspension came right in time when it seemed her career was on its path to rocketing her into a premier position in SmackDown!’s division. Why not have her return to lock horns with any of SmackDown’s women who have been creating one hell of a division in her absence. Suspended at the same time as Eva Marie, is former Diva’s Champion Paige. As one of the women responsible for the Women’s Evolution, we have seen a neglect from Paige since the Summer of 2016, due to both injuries and personal issues. Raw’s division definitely needs her talents to return and stir things up with the likes of Sasha Banks, Bayley, and Nia Jaxx. And most definitely, the return of Mickie James is highly appreciated. Mickie is a beyond talented veteran in the business and will produce some classic matches with the likes of Becky Lynch, Nikki Bella, and Natalya. What we need, however, is the return of Psycho James. Mickie’s crazy fan run from 2005-2006 was one of the most over heels in women’s wrestling history, that ultimately led to her eventual face turn. It will most definitely be welcomed on the SmackDown roster! 3. Three-Four Women’s Matches at WrestleMania — Typically, there has been one match featuring the women, with the exception of 2004 and 2006. That all changed at last year’s WrestleMania that produced two very well matches, one of them arguably the match of the night. What better way to showcase the support for the women’s division then providing them with a tremendous amount of opportunities to showcase their capable of handling multiple opportunities to steal the show the same as their male counterparts. There are two Women’s Championships, and both are featured as premier championships on their respective brands, unlike 2008-2010 with the Women’s and Diva’s Championships respectively. Both championships should be contested in compelling, action packed matches that tell a great deal of story behind them. And with the current champions being Alexa Bliss and Charlotte, there’s no reason to believe the two won’t walk in with the championships. But why stop there? WrestleMania is about making history and WWE has arguably its greatest women’s roster to date that deserve that opportunity. A massive one-on-one match, like Sasha vs. Mickie, should also be featured on the card, and a high stakes marquee match, like the first ever women’s ladder match for a future championship opportunity. 4. The Passing of the Torch: Askua vs. Ember Moon — One could argue that NXT is responsible for the opportunities being afforded to women’s wrestling presently. After the division’s major decline from 2010-2014, the division was foreseen as an after thought. With the debut of NXT and the chances given to the likes of Paige, Emma, Charlotte, Sasha Banks, Bayley, Becky Lynch, and others, an interest and support for women’s wrestling reached new heights. Currently, Askua has been reigning supreme in NXT for a year and a half. While other talent continues to grow and evolve, there’s one name in particular that fans are awaiting to cross paths with the current NXT Women’s Champion: Ember Moon. Ember’s charisma and abilities in the ring are unmatched by any other woman, except the champion. Askua has done virtually all there is to do for the NXT division, and her main roster debut is highly anticipated. It should also be noted that both women are indeed undefeated. The question isn’t if the golden feud will take place, but when. Askua’s transition to the main roster should be very similar to that of Sasha Bank’s in 2015. Ember’s first challenge to Askua should be at Takeover Orlando, in which she should take her first loss to the champion. Similar to Bayley’s resurgence in 2015, Ember should challenge Askua again at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn III and take the championship from Askua. Askua would go down as the longest reigning champion, outlasting that of Charlotte, and challenge in a rematch to main event the next NXT Takeover event, likely for Survivor Series. While this is beginning, have Askua begin to transition slowly onto the main roster with some sort of rivalry on RAW, with the likes of Charlotte or Sasha Banks, and the torch officially passed to Ember as the gem of the NXT division by making their score 2–1 in one on one matches. 5. Less Charlotte, More Bayley/Becky Lynch — The greatest rivalry of 2016 was hands down Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte. The two women put on absolute classics when in the ring with one another. Even with three championship wins, Sasha’s time never got the full threshold or centerpiece it deserved. Charlotte emerged as the queen of the women’s division for not just all of 2016, but half of 2015. There is no denying the incredible skills she possesses both in the ring and on the microphone, but 2017 should begin to shy away from the overuse of Charlotte’s dominance, and more on the likes of Becky Lynch and Bayley. Becky is the lone wolf of the NXT Four Horsewomen on the Smackdown Live roster and has become the face of their women’s division. This year should be another year full of big moments for the Irish Lass Kisser. She should bring to an end her hot feud with Alexa Bliss and transition into a program with soon-to-return Mickie James, that should display excellent wrestling matches. What could be even more huge for Lynch would be a heel turn that NO ONE sees coming. Heading into the summer, a Lynch heel turn pitting her against who holds the torch on Smackdown’s women’s division will add more versatility to her already impressive resume. Push her into more marquee matches; she displayed she can handle the spotlight in main event matches, as well as her tables match with Bliss. Make her name one of the top two to thrive in the discussion, oppose to the last. And then there was Bayley. When her fellow running mates were called to the main roster, Bayley became the focal point of NXT Women’s Division and would not only steal the show twice with her epic matches with Sasha Banks, but make future stars in Carmella, Alexa Bliss, and Nia Jaxx, who all made their main roster debuts prior to Bayley. When she finally passed the torch to Askua, there was little doubt of her time coming to the main roster. Poor booking due to the success of Charlotte and Sasha’s feud has had her lost in the sauce until more recently. 2017 will most definitely  be the year of Bayley. Expect her to become the Women’s Champion at WrestleMania. Her reign, unlike any of Sasha’s or Becky’s for that matter, shouldn’t be short lived. She should lead the pack with several high profile feuds and programs in this calendar year and culminate with the feud that made her the star she is today… 6. Overdue Push: Naomi, Emmalina — If you look at the entire women’s roster, there are two women who have yet to earn their due diligence. Emmalina has yet to have a big moment in the company. She’s had very little story lines or impact, despite being over with the crowd when she made her main roster debut. That all appeared to change when she returned to NXT to have a tremendous series of matches with Askua and aligning herself with Dana Brooke. When the duo made their big screen debut to the main roster, it appeared Emma’s time had finally come. And then, she was injured. While her return to television is anticipated in the coming weeks, her star power should not be wasted. Her match at NXT Rival in 2014 with Paige proved that she is capable of handling the spotlight. If that wasn’t evident enough, watch her program with Askua. Whether she returns as a face or a heel, there’s quite the room for her big breakout to take place on the RAW roster in 2017 with the likes of Sasha Banks, Charlotte, Bayley, Paige, Nia Jaxx, and even Dana Brooke, awaiting her return. But the woman most overdue for her push is without a doubt Smackdown Live’s only woman without a storyline for the second running month straight, Naomi. Naomi joined the company in 2012 and has grown into one of the most entertaining talents on the entire roster. Her style is unique displaying a great sense of athleticism and emotion when she competes in the ring. It seemed her time was coming in 2014 to become the Diva’s Champion, but she suffered an injury that derailed those plans. Fast forward to 2015, the heel turn that no one saw coming. Even with how over she became as a heel, the plan was to jump start the Diva’s Revolution and have Nikki Bella shatter AJ Lee’s record as longest running Diva’s Champion, so again— Naomi’s big moment never came. As a key player in the Diva’s Revolution, Naomi would eventually take a backseat to the debuts of Becky Lynch, Charlotte, and former ally Sasha Banks. In 2016, Naomi returned after the draft with a persona that is arguably the most over she’s been since her debut. The fans have been behind her wholeheartedly. Her in-ring work is as fine as its ever been. Yet, there’s no push for her greatness. With WrestleMania returning to her hometown, what better way to show Naomi she hasn’t been forgotten then provide her with the opportunity to have her big moment at the grandest stage of them all? Even if it isn’t a championship match, something historic to show her that her work is appreciated. Allow 2017 to be the year that her in-ring work isn’t just noticed, but rewarded with meaningful, dynamic storytelling. 7. Return of More Legends — Mickie James has officially made her return to the WWE and will no doubt be a draw to the SmackDown women’s division. Dream matches with the likes of Bayley, Becky Lynch, and Alexa Bliss, will make for great television. But why should the company stop there? There have been several big names in women’s wrestling history who would have dynamic matches with current talent, even if for one night only purposes. Perhaps the return of some of the greats of the Golden Era? Or the likes of Melina, Beth Phoenix, or Michelle McCool — women who could’ve been the cornerstone of the women’s division at a time when the diva’s division lacked true interest and engagement. Still need more convincing? Imagine the likes of some of these dream matches in 2017: Alexa Bliss vs. Melina, Molly Holly vs. Becky Lynch, Mickie James vs. AJ Lee, Beth Phoenix vs. Nia Jaxx, Jazz vs. Askua, Victoria vs. Paige, Alundra Blayze vs. Natalya, Gail Kim vs. Sasha Banks, Bayley vs. Trish Stratus, Michelle McCool vs. Charlotte. I’ll stop there. 8. Big Moments: Dana turns on Charlotte, Nikki challenges for the Women’s Championship — The biggest lack of depth in the Women’s Evolution in 2016 is likely that of storytelling. The in-ring action was excellent. The feuds were compelling. But the narratives behind many of them lacked true emotion and ambition, beyond Sasha vs. Charlotte. In 2017, there are two major stories that could set both brand’s women’s divisions ablaze. Wisely enough, the already established veteran Nikki Bella, has yet to be in single’s pursuit of the Women’s Championship. She has been occupied with feuds with Carmella, and presently Natalya. Nikki’s growth inside the ring is very reminiscent of that of Hall of Famer Trish Stratus. Her popularity is uncanny; just see her surprise return at Summerslam last year. Many of young females fans get behind her, largely due to her appeal on Total Divas. Whether she claims the gold or not, a dynamic storyline showing her finally challenging the Women’s Championship would do two things. First, it would show a true payoff from her comeback. One that focuses on the goals of returning to the ring after being told you may never return, something that Nikki isn’t shy of reminding us of. Secondly, in the event she isn’t successful in her pursuits, imagine the credibility that would do to whom ever the champion is to knock off Nikki Bella, arguably the face of the Women’s Division for the past three years. Nikki’s quest should culminate at the likes of WrestleMania, but if written properly regardless, will be a story with high intrigue and payoff for fans and the SmackDown Live women’s division. On the RAW brand, WWE has been teasing a break-up between Dana Brooke and Charlotte off and on for months now, only to unite them with little tension whatsoever at the close of 2016. The pairing issues shouldn’t be ignored and left behind, like that of the Bella Twins in the close of 2014. Dana’s potential star power has continued to grow leaps and bounds since uniting with Charlotte, making her one of the greater heels in the women’s division. With Charlotte being the top heel possibly on the entire roster, male or female, imagine what turning on her could do for Dana’s career. Dana has yet to have a face run, and with growing jealousy of Charlotte’s success or mistreatment of her, why shouldn’t that culminate in Dana costing Charlotte the Women’s Championship at the biggest stage of them all: WrestleMania. 9. The Evolution of Bliss + The Boss — One of the hidden gems of 2016 was the rise of Alexa Bliss. Her potential was always evident in her time in NXT, but who would’ve ever anticipated it to take her to the heights it did in the fall of 2016. Her in-ring growth and progress caught the eyes of WWE officials who called her up to the main roster during the draft this summer and she has yet to disappoint audiences since. Minus one or two big stage jitters, Bliss has shined and thrived since her arrival. Her facial expressions and mic skills are easily the best on the entire SmackDown! women’s roster. The fan support she has gained as a heel have arguably been what has allowed her star to rise so quickly. Her winning the Women’s Championship in 2016 was a shock, but not at all to say she doesn’t deserve it. And her trademark entrances with the championship, from her finishes to her matches, continue to grow showing she’s not going to drop the title anytime soon. 2017 should continue to rely on Bliss as the centerpiece of the Women’s Division for SmackDown Live. While her feud with Becky Lynch should soon conclude, there isn’t hope the two will rekindle it perhaps in the close of next year, after the amazing matches they’ve put on. For the meantime, here’s hope Bliss rises in programs along the likes of Naomi, Nikki Bella, and Mickie James. And after the emotion displayed after her winning the Women’s Champion, can you imagine the emotion that’ll be expressed the moment she loses it? On the subject of losing, someone who lost three Women’s Championships too many in 2016 would be The Boss, Sasha Banks. Heading into 2016, there was little doubt that she was the not only the crowd, but company favorite to take the women’s division to new heights. The moment she walked into the arena following Charlotte’s defense against Becky Lynch, the entire crowd erupted with large yes chants and approval for her return. While her big moment may not have come as originally planned at WrestleMania, in the summer of 2016 Banks would win her first Women’s Championship in one of the greatest matches of the entire year. Since then, however, she traded victories back and forth with Charlotte for the championships a whopping six times, with Sasha closing the year losing the gold to Charlotte for a third time in December. As the company looks to lean towards a Charlotte/Bayley feud for 2017, it should be well noted one key factor: both Charlotte and Bayley’s greatest foe is Sasha Banks. In NXT, Charlotte/Bayley was never the draw emotionally, systematically, or in the ring that Sasha/Charlotte or Sasha/Bayley was. From just glimpses of their story now, it won’t be quite as compelling. Sasha Banks to this date remains the greatest female heel that NXT has ever seen. The reason she was turned face in 2016 was to rival Charlotte, who had gone heel, and her enormous popularity amongst the WWE Universe. Banks may have her hands full presently with Nia Jaxx, but this feud should not exceed February. Sasha belongs in the main event picture. With all due respect to Charlotte, her spotlight has been on for well over a year, and the torch should be passed for the time being to allow her to develop feuds with fellow stars in the division, and not holding onto quick title reigns to help her challenge Trish Stratus or her father’s record of sixteen championship title reigns. Its as if Sasha’s purpose was to propel Charlotte even further as a performer with the audience, as she did, unlike her feuds with Paige, Natalya, and even Becky Lynch, with in each of those feuds fans chanting “We want Sasha”. 2017 needs to rebuild and reshape the Boss. Following her feud with Jaxx, Sasha should slowly transition into a heel turn as the year continues, with feuds between her and Emma or Paige gradually throughout the year, possibly even an innerpromotional feud/stint on SmackDown Live. Banks has been hinting since the summer that she is interested in the blue brand and in a world where she wrongfully feels to be becoming third string, perhaps the blue brand could be the best for her in 2017.  However, eventually this should all boil down to what will ultimately reignite the flame that we are all awaiting towards SummerSlamish or Winter of this year heading into 2018 for WrestleMania Season… 10. Sasha Banks vs. Bayley— The moment that Bayley pinned Sasha Banks to win the NXT Women’s Championship at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn, the wrestling masses lost their minds. The match was voted as the best NXT match of that year, and the second-best match of the entire year from all brands of WWE. The rematch the two had at NXT Takeover: Respect would become the first women’s match to not only headline a WWE Network Special, but also be contested as Ironman Rules, giving the women the two best wrestling matches of the Women’s Division of that year. And since that day, we’ve all wanted more. The moment that Bayley came as Sasha’s tag team partner at Battleground this year, we have wanted more. When Bayley arrived on the main roster, it was assumed that the end goal was to turn the best friends back into rivals. And there were small hints of the two beginning to build towards an eventual collision between the two. Tension began to surface all geared towards the Women’s Championship. And just when you thought it was going to be a reality, Charlotte regains the Women’s Championship and Sasha begins a feud with Nia Jaxx. While it is highly unlikely that the two will cross paths at WrestleMania, it is highly likely the showdown could occur in 2017. WWE should NOT WASTE any pointless one-on-one encounters. The boss should return to being the dominant heel that she thrived so well as in NXT and await patiently for her best friend’s championship victory. A story built on jealously and opportunity should ensue in either the summer, leading up to a big championship clash at Summerslam, or…ignite in the end of the year to set the stage for a collision at WrestleMania 34. The in ring chemistry that these two women can’t be ignored. The presence that both of them have with the audience is uncanny. They are easily the two most over stars on the roster. Sasha is a beloved heel who generates sensation heat and appeal from fans, while Bayley is the modern day Daniel Bryan. This shouldn’t  be a feud that first happens at a brand only event or on Monday Night Raw. Maybe move Sasha onto the SmackDown! Live brand. There is plenty of rivalries she could indulge in to rebuild her role as a heel before her grand return, maybe winning a women’s Royal Rumble in 2018 and challenging Bayley for the championship at WrestleMania. The possibilities are endless; the story should be perfectly written to bring to fruition, and above all else– NEEDS TO HAPPEN! It is literally what fans have been waiting for.

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N.Y.E.: End of Mimi?

Following a turbulent New Year’s Eve performance on Dick Clark’s annual special, social media has been ablaze in regards to the state of Mariah Carey’s future. Many speculate that the superstar’s career is over, with her being the target of several unfavorable remarks and antics. With 2017 officially six days in, will Mimi recover?  And if so, how exactly does she recover from what many consider a career ending performance and the end of her vocal domination?

The fact of the matter is Mariah has been in this position twice before; at the end of  her rope professionally and at the expense of her critics. Recall Mimi’s 2001 debacle, known now as a cult classic, “Glitter”. The release of both the movie and the soundtrack came at a time where Carey suffered an emotional and physical breakdown, as well as simultaneously occurring during 9/11. If you don’t recall that, think back to 2014. Not only did she release an album that many Americans don’t even know exist (yes it sold that little), but she separated from her then-husband of six years Nick Cannon, and suffered two tepidly reviewed performances: the opening to her Elusive Chanteuse Tour in Europe and the extremely popular 2014 performance of “All I Want for Christmas Is You”.

So again, what happened and what’s next for Mariah?

What happened: There are various stories that appear to be surfacing; one from Mariah’s camp, and the other from Dick Clark productions. Despite the saga of what did or did not happen in rehearsal, backstage, etc. the fact remains this. Mariah took the stage to perform for millions of fans watching at home, and hundreds of people in Time Square. Unfortunately, her ear monitors went out. To the normal person, that means absolutely nothing and you would think a performer can still hear what is going on right? No. With hundreds of people yelling and screaming in Time Square colliding with the music blasting from the loud speakers all coming together to echo off of the massive buildings in time square, there is nothing that you can hear; hence, why performers wear the ear piece. There have been several performances where Mariah has snatched her piece out before, however, that has been in environments more intimate where she could at least hear her audio. For anyone who missed it, check her brief interview with Ryan Seacrest prior to the performance, where she tells him she can barely hear him. After attempting to push through the opening intro, it became apparent that Carey couldn’t hear a damn thing. Instead of walking off of stage, she attempted at little moments to go through the motions and produce something, but to no avail. During “Emotions”, she was accused for lip-syncing for singing with a backing track, which is something that ALL performers… I repeat, ALL PERFORMERS do in certain environments as such. As evident in her backing track, Mariah was to sing to the music LIVE. Her verses and choruses were empty, nothing at all was present on the track to indicate she was going to lip-sync, with the possible exception of some of the whistles notes. Realizing she had been through a disaster, Carey attempted to fake through “We Belong Together”, and grew with frustration forcing herself to lip-sync to the backing track and ultimately giving up at the very end of the song. Photos of the night indicated Carey seen crying alongside the stage. While some may complain that even in these circumstances, as I did initially, a performer with Carey’s seasoned experience should’ve been able to finesse something to maximize the situation, in such a situation even that would’ve been cumbersome. At the end of the day, to quote Carey herself ��shit happens’, and her performance proved that on live television.

Now what?

So what does this mean for the sake of Carey’s future as a superstar? The one thing that was a huge question with Carey’s tepid performance in 2014 was the quality of her voice and her ability to hit her higher register notes. That was not the case with this performance, as she simply didn’t sing at all. As for the sake of her career, let’s revisit Carey’s history with overcoming adversity.

Mariah has been defying obstacles her entire life. Carey grew up biracial — which has been a subject of discussion throughout all of her career. She grew up in poverty and worked tirelessly to make herself a star, establishing herself as a working machine to ensure that carpet could never be pulled out from under her and her accomplishments. Her first album alone has sold close to ten million copies in the United States alone and gave her four consecutive number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. She won two Grammys the following year. She would continue by becoming the first artist to have their first five singles reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100, become the first female artist to have two diamond certified albums (sales exceeding ten million copies in the US), first female artist to debut at #1 on the single’s chart (and only artist to have three #1 debuts), release the biggest selling holiday album and modern holiday song in history, have the most number one singles for any solo artist, spend the most weeks at number one more than any other solo artist, has written and produced the most number one singles for any female artist, and have the songs of both the 90s and 2000s decades. These are just some of Carey’s many accolades obtained since “Vision of Love” in 1990. For a woman who won the awards of “Artist of the Decade” from Billboard, “Pop Star of the Millennium” from the World Music Awards, and “World’s Best Selling Female Artist” all within a month of one another, Mariah Carey will forever be apart of music history and should never be written off by anybody for her massive contributions, intellect, and legacy to the music business.

When Mariah went through her first divorce with Tommy Motolla, she released what is arguably her greatest album to date, Butterfly. The album itself continued the sound that she integrated into her previous album, Daydream, in fusing blends of hip-hop and rap with soulful pop and R&B. A style that Mariah perfected with her 1995 hit, “Fantasy”, and it’s infamous remix with ODB — responsible for single-handedly revolutionizing the way that every pop singer here after released, marketed, and remixed their future uptempo/urban singles. Period.

So while 1997 was recovery from a personal quarrel, her professional career seemed in tact. Unlike the train wreck that was the “Glitter” era. After having the lowest first week sales of any Mariah album, having samples stolen from her by Jennifer Lopez, her first lead single peak at #2 instead of #1, a physical meltdown, and a soundtrack album that was released on September 11, 2001, the stage was set for a world of dissatisfied reviewers when the movie was finally released. Not to mention, Virgin Records dropped Mariah from their label that spring. After releasing a moderately selling album in 2002, ‘Charmbracelet’, and teaming with rappers Busta Rhymes and Jadakiss and successful urban records in 2003 and 2004 respectively, ‘The Emancipation of Mimi’ was the biggest thing of 2005. The album sold over six million copies in the United States alone, and over twelve million worldwide. It would win Mariah three Grammys and give her two more number one singles; of them was ‘We Belong Together’, the second longest running number one single in Billboard history, only bested by Carey’s 1995 duet with Boyz II Men, “One Sweet Day”. Combined the two songs spent thirty weeks at the number one spot. The third single, “Shake It Off’, would be blocked from reaching number one due to the massive success of “We Belong Together”, and peaked at number two. The fourth single, “Don’t Forget About Us”, would become her seventeenth number one single, then-tying her with Elvis Presley for solo artists with the most number one hits; a record she would shatter in 2008, when “Touch My Body” would become her eighteenth number one single, not only giving her the most number ones of any solo artist, but earning her a total of 79 weeks at the number one spot in total. The single also set a record at that time for most digital downloads in one week. She married actor Nick Cannon in 2008. Her acting career saw a resurgence with an award-winning performance in the film, ‘Precious’. In 2010, she would release her second Christmas album, which would be the second Christmas album in history to top the R&B Chart. She gave birth to twins, Moroccan and Monroe, in 2011. The word comeback is a complete understatement.

Fast forward to 2014. After what was a debacle of a promotional push, Carey’s fourteenth studio album, “Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse”, tanked in terms of sales. What didn’t take however, is the quality of the album, arguably one of the greatest albums in her entire discography. The album is a complete body of work from start to finish and received critical acclaim from most critics, comparing the album to her classic ‘The Emancipation of Mimi’. Her personal life, however, was a wreck. She and husband Nick Cannon had separated in the fall of that year. Her opening show for her “The Elusive Chanteuse” tour was panned due to weak vocals from Carey having bronchitis. And the epic “All I Want for Christmas is You” performance that she was attacked for that came that December. Carey was indeed at an-all time low.

Later that month, Mariah began what would become an annual residency of Christmas shows in New York City at the Beacon Theater. Each show all three years has been a sold out venue, with critical acclaim of her performances. She would begin a residency in Las Vegas in the Spring of 2015, titled “#1 to Infinity”, that has too been met with critical acclaim from fans and audiences alike. She fell in love again in with former finance, James Packer, and was virtually everywhere on your television screens, including launching a deal with Hallmark to produce holiday films. Her Christmas classic, “All I Want for Christmas Is You”, would reach its peak position of #11 in the winter of 2015 and exceed 3 million in digital downloads. And Carey charged into 2016 with an international tour, both of her residencies, and headlining the 2016 Essence Music Festival all on her agenda. Her Essence concert was one of her best reviewed showcases in years. She launched a docuseries, “Mariah’s World”, and appears to be dating her backup dancer. Combined in 2015 and 2016, estimations are that Mariah has made at least $65 million in the United States alone.

So after these credentials and these degrees of comeback, you’re worrying if she can overcome an N.Y.E. performance? The answer is yes. Technical issues happen to the best of stars and talents. Anyone who is in the entertainment business, with the exception of Jennifer Lopez apparently, understands that. Mistakes take place and life moves on, and so will Mariah and her career. With her two residencies expected to continue this year, a tour with Lionel Richie, the conclusion of her Vegas residency, her Hallmark projects, a role in the upcoming Legos Batman movie, and a rumored new album, you don’t have to worry about your girl bouncing back… it’s obvious she can do that all on her own with the support of her Lambily.

The fact of the matter is, love her or hate her, Mariah is held to one of the most unrealistic levels of expectations by people who claim to not even ‘like’ her, but they can sing plenty of her hits. Or, they judge her antics and completely discredit her legacy in this business, which is complete blasphemy. If you really want to know what this woman is capable of, ignore her singles and listen to an entire album, i.e. Butterfly, Daydream, The Emancipation of Mimi, Me. I Am Mariah, Mariah Carey, etc. Once you’re done, watch her Essence Live Festival Show or Sweet Sweet Fantasy Tour performances from last spring. Lastly, read any professional statement by professional entertainers on what really happened with her NYE performance. After you’re done, done bother giving your opinion because the queen will collect her coin and continue to troll your fave’s entire existence alongside your own for by ignoring or reminding you, “I don’t know her (0r him), either”.

In the meantime, if anyone would like to come at Ms. Carey about her performance you can either “Come up to me and introduce yourself, and say ‘hey, this is my opinion’ That’s how you handle shit” or come reply below to quench your Mariah-bashing thirst…”Baby come and get it, let me give you what you need.”

*drops mic*

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WWE: WrestleMania 33 Endless Early Predictions

The road to WrestleMania is well on its way with the Royal Rumble less than three weeks from taking place. While this year is likely to be one of the largest Royal Rumbles in history, with the pay-per-view running four hours, it is safe to say that this year could very well be the biggest WrestleMania that we have ever seen. Each year WWE has gone out of their way to try and make WrestleMania bigger and bigger and this year shouldn’t disappoint. Below I have listed my very early projections for this year’s WrestleMania 33 Card. Being I plan to be in attendance, some of these are more so matches I would personally like to see. Others are based on WWE programming where I could see the possible storylines present taking us. I have rated each match on a scale of highly unlikely, possible, very likely. Let the showcase of the immortals begin. *Warning: This card contains close to 20 matches, so I am quite aware that all of these will not occur, but it is very tempting to dance with the possible options at this point.

WrestleMania Kick-Off Show: Multiperson Elimination Match for Cruiserweight Championship to be won by Nelville or Cedric Alexander: The cruiserweight have had some extremely poor booking on Monday Night Raw, but some excellent chemistry on the 205 Live show! With Nelville now an addition to the roster, and the impeding rising star that is Cedric Alexander, there’s no reason to think either shouldn’t have their big moment at the grandest stage of them all. Expect Tajiri, The Brian Kendrick, and Rich Swann, amongst others to also be involved in this match. Chances: Possible

Dolph Ziggler vs. Sami Zayn: The match that we were supposed to see at Survivor Series that would’ve definitely stole the show is the showdown between two of the most overlooked and underutilized men on the entire roster. Zayn is in need of a career shift, so moving him to SmackDown! Live would be huge for him. Ziggler is in the midst of a heel turn that has been so longly anticipated. What better way than for the two to develop a story and steal the show before it even begins? Chances: Highly Unlikely

Andre the Giant Memorial Day Battle Royal, Big Winner: Another NXT Call Up or Apollo Crews: For the fourth year in a row, this battle royal will return to WrestleMania. Last year’s winner, Baron Corbin, is no doubt on his way to finally chasing superstardom on the main roster. Expect this year to produce another breakout star from NXT. If it is a main roster talent to win, the likes of James Ellsworth or Apollo Crews would be pleasantly welcomed. Chances: Very Likely

Tag Champions vs. Tag Champions: American Alpha vs. Cesaro & Sheamus: While I don’t really anticipate Sheamus and Cesaro to still be RAW’s champions, I won’t write them off in this posting. The tag team division hasn’t been properly presented on the grand stage dating back to WrestleMania XX. It would be a great change of pace to see the two premier teams of the company do battle in a compelling match based solely on which team is the best. Chances: Highly Unlikely

Ladder Match to Earn a Future Women’s Championship Opportunity: Naomi vs. Nia Jaxx vs. Emmalina vs. Paige vs. Becky Lynch vs. Natalya: The women’s evolution continues to prosper by leaps and bounds, with a great assistance to some of the groundbreaking matches form 2016. 2017 should continue to thrive on those risks and what better way than the first ever women’s ladder match similar to the Money in the Bank. And to make it more credible, put all women who should be in conversation long overdue for championship opportunities. The match should put over hometown girl, Naomi, or the likes of Emmaline, Paige, Nia Jaxx as a threat to whomever walks out Women’s Champion. Chances: Highly Unlikely

WrestleMania Main Show: Intercontinental Championship: Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Baron Corbin: While the timing of Ambrose’s most recent mid-card run comes as odd, the success he attained as a mid carder shatters his as a credible world champion. He provides a sense of prestige to the IC Title. And then you have Baron Corbin– who since his epic Chairs Match with Kalisto at TLC has been on an absolute role. What better way to present him as a future big championship contender, then winning his first singles championship at WrestleMania. Chances: Possible

United States Championship: Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strauman: In a fashion much similar to the match prior, Braun looks like a legit threat in the eyes of the WWE Universe. He has been on a legit roll. While he doesn’t pose a threat just yet for World Championship contention, he does for Reigns US Championship. Even if he were to defeat Reigns prior to Mania and this be a rematch, a showdown between the two has the potential to be ridiculously physical. Strauman’s star should shine on this night. Chances: Very Likely

Smackdown Women’s Championship Match: Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Nikki Bella: Wisely enough, Nikki Bella has yet to have a legitimate storyline challenging for the SmackDown Women’s Championship due to other high profile feuds. What that has done is created the opportunity for someone who was never considered as the face of the division to emerge: Alexa Bliss. With the popularity both of these women possess, an interesting dynamic could make this a significant match for both women, especially with Nikki’s road to recovery and challenging for the top prize. The star of the night, however, should be a focus to continue developing the shine of Bliss. Chances: Very Likely

Big Show vs. Shaq: This match is all but basically confirmed to be apart of WrestleMania and has been teased for years. I would argue this match is the primary reason for the Big Show’s recent return to Monday Night Raw a month ago. This one won’t be long and will be to plug the celebrity, similar as many other WWE Celebrity match bookings. Chances: Very Likely

Triple H vs. Seth Rollins: Similar to the previous, there’s almost no way this match isn’t occuring. WWE has been slowly painting a picture for this match which will no doubt be a show stealer. There is absolutely no reason for a Triple H victory, similar to his controversial victory over Sting at WrestleMania 31. This match should put Seth Rollins back on the track to be a legitimate challenger for the World Championship and close out this feud he has with the authority. Expect some twists to involve Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley as well. Chances: Very Likely

Sasha Banks vs. Mickie James: There has been so much buzz surrounding why Sasha vs. Bayley is not the marquee women’s match for WrestleMania. While it is clear Vince’s theory is invested in Bayley and Charlotte, there’s no way to keep a huge star like Sasha off of the card. There is no woman on the RAW roster truly worthy of having a match with Banks the caliber of WrestleMania. SmackDown, however, definitely does and there would be no greater pot stirrer a collision with veteran Mickie James. Before the triple threat match between Charlotte/Sasha/Becky, Mickie James and Trish Stratus had the greatest Women’s Championship match in WrestleMania history at Mania 22. If these two phenomenal performers collide, expect a match rich in charisma, mystery, and big spots that could be the best of the entire night. Chances: Possible

Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar: While this will be the third encounter between these two, there’s no doubt it would easily have to be their best. Their first collision was a major letdown, on the heels of both men leaving WWE. Their second was less than a minute long, because Lesnar thought a bigger program between he and Goldberg would draw money for the company. If this third and final installment does come about, expect Lesnar to finally conquer Goldberg, and a likely Hall of Fame induction going into 2018 for Goldberg. Chances: Very Likely

Street Fight: The Miz vs. Shane McMahon: This match may be a little far fetched to some, and come off as a stretch. But hear me out first… there is no star on the main roster who is more deserving of a major push than The Miz. 2016 he completely proved that. He has had an increasingly long feud with Daniel Bryan, which unfortunately can’t result in a one-on-one match up for medical reasons. Still, that hasn’t stopped WWE from teasing us. Rumors have swirled that WWE wants to include Shane McMahon in action this year as well. Why not have him defend his partner on Tuesday Nights in a match that he knows best: a Street Fight. This match could be the crutch The Miz needs to finally catapult himself into true title contention. Should Shane lose, this could also produce friction between he and Daniel, which will be highly interesting to watch unravel in weeks to follow Mania. Chances: Possible

Kofi Kingston vs. Big E, Special Ref- Xavier Woods: The New Day has completely owned the tag team division in the last two years. They literally turned a gimmick that didn’t stand a chance into absolute royalty. Even with the titles no longer in their possession, they are a major draw to the company. However, 2017 should see the end to the dynamic trio. Big E has main eventer written all over him. He has proven that with his contributions to the New Day. Arguably, Kofi Kingston is far overdue for a main event single’s push too. Have an ego driven feud take place between the two that will ultimately result in a one-on-one showdown at WrestleMania to resolve their issues and see who the greater man of the trio is. Then, have Xavier turn on both men and walk out after the match…further separating the trio into individual stars. Chances: Very Likely

WWE World Championship Triple Threat Match: AJ Styles vs. Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton: I have gone back in forth in my mind about the possible showdowns that occur in both World Title pictures. When examining the SmackDown roster, there are few worthy of putting on a compelling match Mania caliber with Styles that would still general great fan interest. Corbin nor Ziggler will be ready, especially both as heels. I had thought of having the Undertaker and John Cena in the mix, but those two deserve a one on one showdown at the stage for the immortals. The Wyatt/Orton feud is just beginning to reignite, and produced excellent storytelling in the fall of 2016. Neither man has ever competed one on one with AJ Styles for that matter. The drama and in ring action that could ensue with this showdown is limitless. The match could either prompt Orton back to the top of the mountain, further progress the star that is AJ Styles, or create a new one in Bray Wyatt. Either way, I’m intrigued at the idea. Its possible, right? Chances: Possible/Highly Unlikely

Raw Women’s Championship: Charlotte (c) vs. Bayley: One storyline that is obvious from the backstage segments, the promos, the commentary, is recreating the magic that was Daniel Bryan’s big moment at WrestleMania XXX in giving Bayley the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 33. This one is about as predictable as it gets and would be highly unlikely for WWE to change its plan, unless they plan to include Emmalina, Nia, or Sasha in the mix. Expect Bayley to not only win the big one, but end Charlotte’s flawless single’s pay-per-view record. Chances: Very Likely Universal Championship Match: Either Kevin Owens (c) vs. Chris Jericho vs. Finn Balor, Kevin Owens (c) vs. Chris Jericho, or Kevin Owens (c) vs. Finn Balor — This is the match I probably went back and forth on the most. Kevin Owens no doubt needs to go into WrestleMania as the Universal Champion. This friendship with he and Chris Jericho shows great chemistry, but WrestleMania is the time for all of that to change. Owens and Jericho’s partnership needs to conclude at Mania one way or another. It could culminate with Jericho challenging Owens for the gold. If this is the option, a return from Finn Balor at the conclusion of the match would be dynamic; its a fresh rivalry to the main roster and the continuation of a great one from NXT. If Balor returns before Mania, having the three of them battle for the championship would be a very athletic display. Balor never lost the Universal Title and will most defiantly be involved in title contention when he returns. And the final option, Balor vs. Owens, with Jericho costing him the championship. It could even be accidental, with Owens turning on Jericho after he costs him the title. Endless possibilities but all can be confirmed that Jericho and Owens will implode on the grandest stage of them all. Chances: Possible

John Cena vs. Undertaker : A match that was supposed to occur at last year’s WrestleMania, John Cena and the Undertaker. John Cena has evolved and arguably has become the biggest name in the history of WWE, even over that of Stone Cold, Hulk Hogan, and The Rock. He has earned that status night in and night out. But when you get to that level, there’s only one other option for you to face at Mania: The Undertaker. With the Undertaker’s days on the main roster numbered, this match becomes less and less likely. However, this match is a draw that will easily outdo that of either man’s most recent WrestleMania opponents. This should conclude the night’s show with either the Deadman putting Cena to rest, or Cena giving Taker is second lost at his show. Chances: Possible/Very Likely

What do you think? Drop your comments below.