Hey Scott,
After watching the Austin/Vince podcast on Monday night, I wrote this little analysis that I think underlines WWE as we know it in a nutshell.
I'm not sure if you saw it, but early on, McMahon was extremely tense and ill at ease, like he was testifying at his own trial. I attributed it to the fact that he had no control (I assume to some degree) over what a straight-shooting Austin was going to ask. We all know what a control freak Vince is.
Do you think this is a microcosm of WWE these days, that McMahon asserts too much control and overcooks the meal, so to speak? The podcast was wildly informative, in spite of some head-shaking responses from Vince (namely on Cesaro's 'lack of connection' with the crowd), and I think that uncomfortable Vince is the best Vince, as proven with the Monday Night Wars.
Yeah, Austin's turning into a really great interviewer, kind of coaxing stuff out of his subjects because he knows everyone respects and trusts him. Even Vince seemed to be warming up by the end and letting down his veneer of corporate bullshit.
I think in a way the problem is that Vince can't exert ENOUGH control these days. Stuff gets written and re-written by 24 different guys before it ever makes it to the wrestlers, whereas before Vince would get an idea ("Have Bret go out and work on Macho's leg for 15 minutes") and just pass it to the guys directly for them to interpret as they saw fit. Now everything has to be reworked and stretched out and fit into a three-hour show with Twitter plugs and whatever sponsored double-speak they're shoehorning in that week. DIET MOUNTAIN DEW IS DELICIOUS, MAGGLE!
Think Austin could ever convince HHH and Punk to come on his podcast together?
ReplyDeleteOne would think Vince could take control, if he wanted to. That would take him realizing there's a problem.
ReplyDeleteOk, if you're Cesaro, after that podcast what the heck do you do? Continue following their direction? Just start improving in the ring to make a stronger connection? Get in Vince's face? Quit?
ReplyDeleteHe is boring...that's the thing
ReplyDeleteDel Rio was boring and he left after a handful of world titles. Boring is relative.
ReplyDeleteThat pop Del Rip got at Houe of Hardcore was off the charts. Can't wait to see him in Lucha Underground.
ReplyDeleteDidn't mostly get those titles because they wanted to connect with the Mexican audience. And besides at least Del Rio played a rich arrogant jerk that you wanted to see get his ass kicked.
ReplyDeleteNah.
ReplyDeleteBoring in what way? Clearly he wasn't boring in the months leading up to WM30 when the crowd was going nuts for him
ReplyDeleteHe should ditch that robe he wears. He also needs a better theme. And a better haircut. Great thighs though.
ReplyDeleteNot in the ring sure but what exactly about his character would make you want to cheer or boo him either way?
ReplyDeleteCesaro was fine when he was tossing dudes around and using the swing. After WM30, he could have been a star. Someone decided that wasn't going to happen.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the thighs!
ReplyDeletedon't think he has control over his theme music or baldness though
If we're going back to when he was teaming with Swagger and getting face pops, he could denounce racist Zeb
ReplyDelete...or he could've gotten in Heyman's face about always talking about Brock Lesnar to set something up there...
I don't know I prefer logical motivation to "gimmick.' Cesaro is an impressive physical specimen with amazing wrestling skills. That's really all I need to latch onto a wrestler.
yes, Vince McMahon. But now that that's out in the open, I don't know how this guy goes to work now. His boss just shamed him publicly.
ReplyDeleteGreat thighs.
ReplyDeleteHe can decide he has nothing to lose and speak up. It's a risk, but maybe that's what he needs to do.
ReplyDeleteSo why couldn't dude post his analysis here? Does he have a non-compete clause in his contract or something? Don't have me going all over the web clickin' links!!!!
ReplyDeleteI mean presently, Cesaro can lift people in ways that seem impossible, I don't know what more one needs to want to cheer someone.
ReplyDeleteand Cesaro was playing an uppity Swiss jerk who hates America. That's what they gave him...not his fault that the writing team has 1 idea for non-Americans
ReplyDeleteI'm a fan of Cesaro's and wish he'd been better booked post-Mania, but I think lots of people exaggerate how over he was in general.
ReplyDeleteGet in Vince's face. Stand up to him. There's a reason he wants CM Punk back.
ReplyDeleteIf HHH ever gets fired from WWE.
ReplyDeletebut over is over. if the crowd is reacting to someone, run with it. I've never ran a wrestling company but that seems like the most logical decision to make
ReplyDeleteTell Vince to fuck off and tease the swing in a match a few times, then finally near the end hit it. Listen to the cheers erupt. Go back and tell Vince and Hunter "Did that connect?" and walk away.
ReplyDeleteCesaro sometimes makes these faces that I think, he thinks, looks like exasperation or frustration but often times seems forced and over acted. It's difficult to put into words, but I know when I see these things, it takes me out of his matches. It kinda comes off as bad acting. Austin speaks of acting like you are trying to reach the people in the back row, maybe that's part of it, but he does it silently, so it's awkward looking. I think as a face it would work, but as a heel it's just goofy and fake looking. More of a mean streak and maybe some wins, a novel idea, would do him wonders. Not tapping to Swagger during the pre-show maybe?
ReplyDeleteIf he would have taken the Andre trophy and swung Zeb and Swagger, and never saw Heyman, he'd have been in a good spot.
ReplyDeleteHow has this conversation just gotten gayer than the prison one?
ReplyDeletenot being able to appreciate a gorgeous pare of man-legs seems like your own problem kid
ReplyDelete1. Vince likes stupid humor. Ie pushing people into a pool is HILARIOUS! So we see stupid humor on Raw.
ReplyDelete2. Vince really likes CM Punk.
3. Vince is clueless if he thinks Cesaro didn't "connect" with the fans. Austin started pointing out that it wasn't the case, then backed off.
4. Austin needs to tease how he's sorry for walking out, then stun Vince again, drink beer, and say "EH EH JACKASS! DTA!"
You look uncomfortable, bro. Don't worry everything is totally chill.
ReplyDeleteDon't bother. It sucks.
ReplyDeleteExactly! I kept waiting for Cesaro to go off on Heyman for treating him as second rate.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't quit and start screaming and yelling. But I'd start throwing the swing in and just attribute it to getting caught up in the moment.
ReplyDeletereally thought that's where the story was heading
ReplyDeleteI'd love to hear the crowd reaction to him randomly busting out the UFO
ReplyDeleteSteve Austin seems so reasonable on PodCast. Hard to believe this is the same man who is the roid raging women hitter.
ReplyDeletepeople mature sometimes
ReplyDeleteHe's one of the most exciting wrestlers to watch in the ring.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I just don't think the crowd was generally going nuts for him in the months leading up to 'Mania. Not from my recollection anyway.
ReplyDeleteidk, re-watch some of those Real Americans tag matches
ReplyDeleteOK someone please explain the Maggle thing to me? I've seen it for months now and can finally admit that I am not hip enough for this pop culture reference. Anyone help a brother out?
ReplyDeleteWhen JBL says "Michael" it sounds like "Maggle" due to his Texas drawl
ReplyDeleteWell, believe it or not, 12 years is a long time. Some would even say that people learn from their mistakes and grow.
ReplyDeleteAnd stunning that you don't hear about HBK being a drug addled rapist. Guess it must be amount about 5* matches.
Nuts is quite relative.
ReplyDeleteBingo. "I've never ran a wrestling company"
ReplyDeleteHow about a global entertainment conglomerate?
How so? I mean sure, dude is strong as all fuck but so is Mark Henry.
ReplyDeleteOooooook...I guess. But I live in TX so I might not hear it the same.
ReplyDeleteI guess Vince doesn't do a particularly good job of running a global entertainment conglomerate then. I mean Network subscriptions are disappointing, attendance is down, cultural relevance non-existent, and the boss sees no value in the majority of his employees.
ReplyDeleteMark Henry doesn't toss human bodies around in interesting ways.
ReplyDelete*I like Mark Henry and don't want to make it sound like I don't like him
Thanks for the analysis, Mr. Kaepernick. Sorry about Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, Mongo was abusive to Debra as well, so she probably brings it on herself.
ReplyDeleteThing I enjoy about Austin's podcast is that he doesn't phone it in, he takes the time to do thorough research. He is very good in this forum...
ReplyDeleteMongo was abusive to all of us when he was on commentary or in the ring...
ReplyDeleteI think a silent assassin type role would work for Cesaro. WWE wants guys that can do 20 minute promos so this really works against Cesaro.
ReplyDeleteI'd much prefer Cesaro going over Brock at Mania than Reigns. The crowd seemed more connected to Cesaro around Mania time than they ever have to Reigns....
I would have liked to hear Vince's views on other specific wrestlers besides just Ceasaro, and I wanted Austin to delve more into the Savage issue, but otherwise I thought it was great. It was interesting to me how Vince looked so pissed when Austin said pro wrestling instead of sports entertainment, also I think Vince was trying to point out with the odd pushing in the pool story that humor is needed in a wrestling show instead of just wrestling match after wrestling match, but I could be wrong. Either it definitely came off as an example of the juvenile humor that we hear Vince enjoys so much.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Wish it was a 2 hour interview. I felt like Austin represented the common fan throughout (and he rags on the company constantly on his actual podcasts).
ReplyDeleteAnd it's constant and REALLY annoying. I can't believe he can get away with this while Kevin Dunn and McMahon thought Jim Ross, the greatest announcer ever, sounded "too southern" for a national broadcast. Ugh
ReplyDeleteJust my opinion, but referring to Carl from The Walking Dead as "Coral" > "Maggle". FWIW.
ReplyDelete