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Focused booking

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Hey Scott, 

Is this the most focused WWE booking has been in ages, or is it just me?

Orton vs Bryan is the single big title feud, but from it we get involvement from The Shield and Wade Barrett on one side, and Ziggler/Henry/Big Show/Miz on the other. 
Elsewhere, Punk's feud with Heyman has been building nicely for a while, there are several over tag teams, and even the Divas have something to do! 

I'm not saying that Curtis Axel's setting the world on fire, or that Cesaro couldn't be better used, but for once I'm looking forward to post-Summerslam/pre-Royal Rumble WWE and the solid, logical booking is a big part of that. I also realise we're building to a HHH/Mcmahon thing at WMXXX, but you can't have everything.

Curious to hear your thoughts.

Thanks, Ioan

It seems more focused because Vince and HHH are both directly involved and thus that's what they're paying attention to.  Vince is not gonna involve himself in something that's midcard fodder, so it's in his best interest to make sure the storyline is well-constructed and delivering ratings, which this one is.  

Comments

  1. Zahid FayyazSeptember 2, 2013 at 12:32 PM

    It's intriguing for sure. Punk/heyman would be better with someone better than Curtis axel involved though

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  2. kbjoneSeptember 2, 2013 at 12:35 PM

    But doing that might pull attention off As The McMahons and Helmsleys Turn.

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  3. cultstatusSeptember 2, 2013 at 12:39 PM

    So anyone else thrown out the idea that Vince will "see the light" with Bryan, turn face and pick him to face HHH at WM? That's what I'll put my money on for right now.

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  4. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomerySeptember 2, 2013 at 12:58 PM

    If by "See the light", you mean, "HHH will completely usurp the rest of Vince's power and cast him out, which will spur Vince to back Bryan so he can take down Hunter & co. as a big FUCK YOU for crossing the boss", then yes, he will see the light.

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  5. theberserker1September 2, 2013 at 12:59 PM

    Actually I think the timing on this angle is a little suspect. They usually have the big summer program run and mutate all the way through the fall, then the winter is just little programs and come the Rumble it all resets building towards Mania. So I wouldn't be surprised if the whole Vince vs. HHH for the company story is radically different come Mania time and possibly not involving Bryan whatsover.

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  6. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomerySeptember 2, 2013 at 1:00 PM

    Threadjack: I stumbled across the first iteration of Christian's "At Last" theme, which I had forgotten about and remembered that it was AWESOME.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLexfNau0rI

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  7. VintageGamerSeptember 2, 2013 at 1:01 PM

    It'll happen early next year when HHH suddenly starts backing Brock Lesnar to take out Bryan, because it's "good for business" and Vince determines that that's going too far.

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  8. Ripner CabbitSeptember 2, 2013 at 1:01 PM

    I was bored and inspired a couple weeks back and wrote an entire fantasy booking of the DB / Corporate angle, sent it to Scott, but have a feeling it was too much to read for him. But if anyone wants to give it a read it is here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1x0S85v7IQ36rJpM-JdrEAaEQzHRooHlC3qzcsyY1esY/edit?usp=sharing


    Remember this was written the day after the Raw that followed SummerSlam.

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  9. kbjoneSeptember 2, 2013 at 1:07 PM

    I'm sorry for spiking the WWE Kool-Aid. Carry on.

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  10. Scream09_HartKillerSeptember 2, 2013 at 1:13 PM

    Supposedly Orton/Bryan is scheduled to last through October and Orton's in the WWE Title picture until at least January. I can't see them drawing out Bryan's chase for six months when he's already feuding with the champion.

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  11. Scream09_HartKillerSeptember 2, 2013 at 1:13 PM

    So, when Wrestlemania cames, who's the top heel? Orton or Triple H?

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  12. Paul MeekinSeptember 2, 2013 at 1:15 PM

    Cena.

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  13. Ripner CabbitSeptember 2, 2013 at 1:17 PM

    Triple H until the night after Wrestlemania when he doesn't wrestle again for 6 months- 1 year and Orton is top heel again.

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  14. VintageGamerSeptember 2, 2013 at 1:22 PM

    Lesnar.

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  15. Chris HirschSeptember 2, 2013 at 1:26 PM

    The more I think about it the more I'm counting on Cena to come back in 4 months and be the one to save the day.

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  16. Mar SoloSeptember 2, 2013 at 1:34 PM

    Oh yeah, I can see it easily happening. Remember when from the pipe bomb on Punk and Johnny Ace had a huge beef going, yet suddenly after Wrestlemania Cena is the one to save the Raw roster from the wrath of Johnny Ace, with help from Vince McMahon of all people?

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  17. Zahid FayyazSeptember 2, 2013 at 1:38 PM

    The cm punk/ace issue was over after royal rumble. Cena/ace was based on brock lesnar initially.

    Cena and orton will prob feud, but Bryan will win in the end.

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  18. Zahid FayyazSeptember 2, 2013 at 1:41 PM

    Vince makes a mistake, leading to Bryan pinning hhh. That's how vince and hhh fall out.

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  19. cultstatusSeptember 2, 2013 at 1:48 PM

    I'm interested whatever kind of kool aid you're drinking that makes you think pairing Punk with Axel is some diabolical scheme by Vince and HHH to make them look better.

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  20. kbjoneSeptember 2, 2013 at 2:01 PM

    It's not... and my remark was mostly tongue-in-cheek.

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  21. Buster AbbottSeptember 2, 2013 at 2:05 PM

    I really think that Cena/Undertaker is the plan for Wrestlemania, so Cena may make his big return but only to 'help' Bryan, in the sense of countering interference against Shield/HHH to help Daniel finally win the title. We get Cena/Orton at No Way Out, or something, then that clears the path for the two big Mania main events to be Cena/UT and Bryan/HHH, as Hunter returns to the ring 'take care of business himself' (and then taps out to Bryan in the middle of the ring).

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  22. Mar SoloSeptember 2, 2013 at 2:10 PM

    It was still going on after, at Wrestlemania he added that last minute stip to Punk's match with Jericho, and kept booking Punk in title matches against Mark Henry after Wrestlemania.

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  23. Charismatic e-Negro Jef VinsonSeptember 2, 2013 at 2:43 PM

    Isn't that similar to the "Immortal takes TNA from Dixie" angle?

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  24. Syed H.September 2, 2013 at 2:52 PM

    This storyline so far reminds me in many ways of the HHH/McMahons/Rock/Jericho/APA/Buchanan-Bossman stuff before Backlash 2000, when several storylines at once (HHH's feud with Rock, his feud with Jericho, the Acolytes' feud with Buchanan and Bossman) were tied together into a really satisfying whole. It's nice to see everything connected, as it's pretty jarring when rivalries are in their own little pocket universe (as the Punk versus Heyman feud is at the moment, although it's mostly delivering).

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  25. Amsterdam_Adam_CurrySeptember 2, 2013 at 2:56 PM

    Wait, focused booking? I vaguely remember that from the 90's...

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  26. KnockLesnarSeptember 2, 2013 at 2:57 PM

    This is pretty much awesome

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  27. BeardMoneySeptember 2, 2013 at 3:30 PM

    And let's not forget that in the midcard The Miz and Fandango are recreating the Hart/Austin feud where Miz is the esteemed veteran and Fandango is the cocky upstart who seeks to establish his name off the former's reputation. I look forward to the angle paying off in a career defining'I Quit' dance-off.

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  28. Glen4321September 2, 2013 at 3:39 PM

    Lesnar will be top heel.



    Lesnar vs Bryan for WWE Title after Lesnar wins Royal Rumble and Heyman's group merges with the new corporation setting up this match.

    Cena Vs Undertaker (Which of course Taker will win, but why pass on a match that can draw this much money?)

    Triple H vs Punk (Punk's feud with Heyman extends to the corporation which leads to this match)
    Orton vs drug test



    These matches seem like the big money makers to me, but honestly I have no clue what Wrestlemania will be.

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  29. Eric GriffithSeptember 2, 2013 at 4:10 PM

    Meh. There have been far worse mid card feuds over the years. I see no problem with this one. At least both guys have a consistent story to work with.

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  30. Eric GriffithSeptember 2, 2013 at 4:11 PM

    I think it's inevitable, actually.

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  31. Eric GriffithSeptember 2, 2013 at 4:12 PM

    Yes, I agree with this. That's one of the reasons I love 1997 - the roster was thin so all of the storylines are interacting in a coherent manner.

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  32. PhredericSeptember 2, 2013 at 4:29 PM

    I actually like both those ideas.

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  33. PhredericSeptember 2, 2013 at 4:30 PM

    We're gonna get a Steve Austin returning to help Rock win moment.


    I can live with that, honestly.

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  34. PhredericSeptember 2, 2013 at 4:32 PM

    I'd really love a Punk and Bryan vs. Orton and Triple H match, actually.


    Or maybe Survivor Series is Punk/Bryan/Show/Henry/Ziggler vs. Orton/Axel/Shield.

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  35. OfficerFarvaSeptember 2, 2013 at 4:48 PM

    Chances Heyman, and any of his stable, joins HHH in the future?

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  36. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomerySeptember 2, 2013 at 5:02 PM

    I was watching TNA at the time, but if it looks like a duck and quacks like one.

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  37. RyTheMurphSeptember 2, 2013 at 5:21 PM

    If Bryan doesn't end Raw tonight standing tall or at least with some kind of upper hand, I'll have significantly less faith that this is for real. They've reached the maximum number of shows they can build heat before it just looks like Bryan can't hang, in my opinion.

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  38. White ThunderSeptember 2, 2013 at 5:21 PM

    I disagree with the focused booking thing for a couple of reasons.


    1. The committee approach to booking always leaves someone behind, in this case the midcard has been sorely neglected for some time. The best times in wrestling featured one person's vision.


    2. The WWE is focused, however it is focused on doing what it wants, fans be damned. Since WCW closed, WWE has followed through with many, many plans that fans did not react well to or even want to see.

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  39. SatanSeptember 3, 2013 at 2:56 AM

    "FANDANGO'S TRYING TO PIROUETTE WITH A CRIMSON MASK!! MIZ IS FIGURE SKATING LIKE A MAN POSSESSED!!!"

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  40. Chris OlejkoSeptember 3, 2013 at 6:36 AM

    DO NOT LET HHH NEAR PUNK AGAIN!!

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  41. PhredericSeptember 4, 2013 at 12:24 AM

    Punk's fine ya pussy.

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