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Lukewarm 3:16 Reigns and Bryan


Sure, their brawl was nice, but Reigns (who couldn't pin Kane) and Bryan (who needed 14 minutes to pretty much take out Show before the DQ), respectively, spent the rest of their show smirking and selfie-ing like Tyler Breeze and acting like his (delusionally) smug heel character when paired with AJ.  Why should I cheer for either of these guys based on this build?

I was interested in Reigns-Lesnar after snow day and could have gotten behind Bryan getting his title back, but this shades of gray/stupid babyfaces fighting/stop-start booking has made me care less about Fast Lane.

"So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth."  Revelation 3:16

​I do feel like they're deliberately trolling everyone at this point with the "Everyone is sick of Reigns and Bryan against Kane and Big Show, so let's book them against more Kane and Big Show!" stuff.  I barely even understand what the story is supposed to be. Except that Big Show is really large and you have to see his frying pan hands in person to appreciate him.  I think we all understand that.  ​

Comments

  1. eh. The stuff they did last night got me more into the prospect of their match, but I largely ignored the actual bouts with Kane/Show. DBry was great on the mic, and the brawl at the end of the show was quite good.

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  2. From the reactions of the crowd last night and the week before, they're firmly behind Bryan.

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  3. I actually liked the storyline last night -- both needed more time against the big thugs because they were obsessed with each other. Basically Reigns is pissed at Bryan for stealing his thunder -- in his mind, he would be the fans' darling if it weren't for Bryan coming back. He wins the Rumble and people boo him because Bryan didn't win. Now he has to fight this fool to retain his title shot. From Bryan's viewpoint -- he never lost the title and this dude is being given everything pretty easily. I liked that Bryan was doing the YES chant to distract Reigns and then Reigns was like, "screw you, I can get fans too" and it came off to me like Reigns was mocking Bryan with the selfies. As in, "oh, so this is soooo important and the YES movement is sooo powerful, watch this -- these fans will like me if I take pics with them. It's not that big a deal, bitch!" Also Roman channeling some Nash attitude at ringside made me like that dude for the first time in a long time. Clearly it got to Bryan the character as he was pissed that his fans could turn so easily or at least be interested in Reigns. It's a cool babyface feud IMO and I'm very surprised because I was shitting all over this last week, but credit where it is due -- the writers or whoever (Vince, Trips, Steph, Hayes, etc) that helped come up with it sold me on the match. The handshake leading into another fight was awesome. Aside: what is UP with Reigns getting his mouth busted up so much lately? Is he running into fists? First the Rumble and now last night...jeez.

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  4. Same. I've more than had my fill of Kane and Show, but I didn't mind last night because it didn't matter who Bryan and Reigns faced - the focus was on their interaction with each other.

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  5. Agreed, but I do think Reigns got some support for the first time in a month or so. If he can run with the Diesel "if you've got a black glove, you're with me, if not, the hell with you" character he can make this work. They aren't out of the woods yet, but for the first time in a long while I feel like there is some hope of resurrecting Reigns. He just needs to be the cool heelish face. I don't think he will swing fans against Bryan, but if he can get 35-45% of the support by Mania...they've done well to fix some truly stupid moves with Reign post-injury.

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  6. This was actually the most interesting I found the feud. All of the babyfaces are always so laid back about everything -- nobody seems to mind that they're being screwed over or that they missed out on an opportunity. The night after losing the Rumble, Bryan is singing the praises of Reigns. Meanwhile, Reigns is talking about how fans have every right to boo him. Nothing seems to faze anybody, so it was nice to see these two character show some edge and actually express some hostility towards each other. Bryan mentioned that he was stripped of the title while Brock isn't defending the title any more than he had. Reigns is talking about how Bryan was eliminated fairly yet he has to give him another shot at the WrestleMania main event. It's refreshing to see these characters actually upset about something.

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  7. These guys really believe Kane and Big Show have standing with the fans to give these guys the rub. They really do.

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  8. Yeah, I used to use that site all the time too. You'd think that there would be an option for that on this site.

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  9. That Bossman/Barbarian match is an underrated classic.

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  10. I'll tell you what I'm doing as his personal assistant: I need the money. You don't get paid much when you job to King Kong Bundy in less than 30 sec at the 1st WM

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  11. Me too. That place was an endless fount of solid reading. Even as someone who lives just outside Philly, I couldn't help but laugh at Scott's ECW Mutants rant.

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  12. LMAO, WWE is so butthurt about crowds turning on Reigns, I'm surprised they can even sit down...

    https://twitter.com/indiandeathlock/status/567504285987241984

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  13. I got a 1/4th of a chub just reading this.

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  14. No way in hell that can be real. Right?

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  15. It occurred to me watching Parks & Rec that Dean Ambrose = Jerry Gergich.

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  16. Well, I'm sure you've made a lot of money from being part of a very successful tag team with Bubba Ray Dudley.

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  17. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonFebruary 17, 2015 at 10:32 AM

    "So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth." Lita

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  18. Yo Bayless, you going to accept my trade offer or what?

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  19. Well, obviously, they're all jealous of his amazing hair.

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  20. That's GOTTA BE FAKE!

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  21. I can dig that, SUCKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

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  22. To be fair, I actually am somewhat jealous of his hair. That man has amazing fucking hair.

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  23. *Rips off door to Twitter*

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  24. The Love-Matic Grampa!February 17, 2015 at 10:34 AM

    The story would work better if a) the Authority was still trying to screw Bryan out of his due or b) there actually was controversy at the Rumble. But the Authority seemingly has no issue with Bryan possibly regaining the title at Mania and Bryan got eliminated during the Rumble fair and square. So once again WWE has arrived at the destination without doing the actual work to get there (much like Cena's "worst year ever!" where he won the majority of his matches).

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  25. Dumb fuck Roma doesn't understand Rumble rules aparently. He's spent more time preventing people from being eliminated than he has actually attempting to eliminate them.

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  26. You know what's funny about this?

    This would be easily verifiable if anyone actually used the Second Screen feature of the app, yet there's still a question of its validity.

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  27. Haha thank you both for this wonderful piece of nonsense.

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  28. LOL @ WWE not checking grammar..

    http://www.wwe.com/inside/polls/whose-mind-games-were-more-effective-on-raw


    WHOSE

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  29. Old Simpsons running gags I miss:


    -Someone being put on hold to the most inappropriate song of the moment. Like Homer being put on hold to "Cat's In the Cradle" after worrying if he's a good enough father to Bart, or Marge being put on hold to Patsy Cline's version of "Crazy" after Homer is put in the psych ward.


    -Random, innocuous applause.


    "I warsh myself with a rag on a stick" (crowd applauds)
    "I, err...would like to respond to that comment with another glib remark." (crowd applauds)

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  30. SIDE IS HE ONE?!

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  31. You did it again.

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  32. I'm sleepy, today's going to be long

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  33. They should have watched CM Punk's Grammar Slam.

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  34. People did the stupidest shit in old Rumbles.

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  35. And even won a Slammy award for wrestler of the year too lol

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  36. But enough about Vince's response to daily living...

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  37. Oh...my...god.

    The clumsiness. The hot girlfriend/wife. The fact that everyone dumps on him...

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  38. I have a new avatar for you

    http://prosportsblogging.com/psb/uploads/2011/02/mariners-yankees-2001-116-wins.jpg

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  39. Whenever I hear a Simpsons reference, I am reminded how the show should have been cancelled in 2002.

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  40. *applauses randomly and innocuously*

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  41. Was just singing Brittney Spears ignore me.

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  42. Good this one won't work for some reason, it's too rectangle shaped

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  43. Marv! He's in for a long day! MARV! He's going the wrong way! MARV!

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  44. http://andrewstoeten.com/2015/02/17/strochez-have-themselves-a-quiet-dignified-night-out/

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  45. Davey Boy military pressing Flair over and over.

    Just dump him out, ya putz!

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  46. http://seattletimes.com/ABPub/2007/10/18/2003961161.jpg

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  47. What is the appropriate response for when a co-worker opens your lunch bag, heats, and then eats your lunch? Is stomping a mud-hole out of the equation?

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  48. The Love-Matic Grampa!February 17, 2015 at 10:42 AM

    Ain't that the sad, sad truth.

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  49. Smack it out of their hands.
    If you don't eat, they don't eat.

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  50. The brawl was pretty awesome. It was the rare instance where Even Stephven works, because both of them are refusing to quit. I even liked the no-sell chairshot. As someone said in the thread, Reigns was running on adrenaline.

    Last night was also the first time Reigns came into his own character. He's a cocky asshole; not a grinning storyteller.

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  51. Seriously, why would someone do that? Take someone else's lunch like that? It's like knowingly being a douche.

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  52. The hell have you been?

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  53. Ask Marv, he's been watching a documentary on this from the mid-90's hosted by a guy named Ross

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  54. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonFebruary 17, 2015 at 10:43 AM

    That's how he was in the Shield.

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  55. Report them for theft.

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  56. Just finished that episode last night actually!

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  57. Yeah, because that worked out so well for you.

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  58. And it's why people liked him.

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  59. You left yourself wide open dude.

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  60. empathetic nerd

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  61. I was at a friend's house this weekend and got back yesterday sleep deprived and thus slept all day.

    Blog should get back to their daily dose of Vandelay going forward!

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  62. For a douchey asshole response? Yeah, I did.

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  63. I'm glad I've never worked in an office. It sounds singularly infuriating.


    Someone actually posted a revenge story on a pettyrevenge subreddit, in which they essentially cop to jizzing in their food, knowing that the person who always steals their food would do it again. Much drama abounded over whether that counts as sexual assault or not. It was turbo-weird.

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  64. It's just so unfathomable to me.

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  65. You'd think a TNA fan would have thicker skin.

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  66. 1990. But yeah, it's wicked awesome!

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  67. Some men just like to watch the world burn

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  68. Honestly? There isn't really an appropriate response, other than to find out who did it and ask that they please bother to notice it isn't their lunch.


    Or spend a week or two bringing in the most rancid food imaginable and let them get into the habit of always being scared to look into bags with your name on them.

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  69. Forgive me for not being offended by someone making a joke out of a situation that cost me $600.

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  70. The Love-Matic Grampa!February 17, 2015 at 10:46 AM

    That no-sell was great. It was like, "oh yeah, this guy IS a bad-ass Samoan".

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  71. Just proves how fucking stupid kids are nowdays.

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  72. His excuse has become he doesn't speak English that well so he didn't know. I told him if he doesn't speak English how'd he get the job. And his response was he's just a mechanic. His manager gave me $20 to buy lunch with. He ate my goddamn dino-nuggets.

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  73. Cornette is one of the few guys I could listen to all day. Sammartino is another. JJ is quite fun too.

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  74. "He ate my goddamn dino-nuggets."

    I'm no law-talking guy, but I'm pretty sure that no matter the severity of your response, this will hold up in a court of law

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  75. I don't know if I would even be mad. Moreso amazed. I've had instances where I've taken another person's lunch because I saw Diet Coke through the grocery bag but then opened it up and realized it wasn't mine. never have I seen someone take it as far as your pal did.

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  76. My mother has this habit of talking out loud to herself to no one in particular while watching TV or browsing on Facebook. Even with headphones in, I can still hear her.

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  77. So because he doesn't speak English he didn't realize that he didn't bring a lunch that morning?


    I love having a small office, no one would dare eat my spinach salad.

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  78. And your challenger... Gene Ambrose!

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  79. BECAUSE IT'S SPINACH SALAD

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  80. Shit's delicious! Avocado and tomatoes and diced cucumber! It's yummy.

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  81. No one would dare eat your spinach salad because no one would even dare look into your eyes.

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  82. Not feeling this Rumble so far. It's been your average Rumbling but nothing great.

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  83. As opposed to the Mexicans made like so much other stuff in China

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  84. Yeah, the white beans as my friend calls them, people with the last name Cadengo that can't speak a lick of Spanish.

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  85. "I don't know if I would even be mad."

    http://ipstenu.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/iaintevenmad.jpg

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  86. Watch Royal Rumble 93, otherwise known as "How many times will Bobby Heenan mispronounce Narcissist?"

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  87. You can't see but I'm swooning right now.

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  88. He's Paul Bearer and you're not

    Well, I mean, he's not anymore, either, but you catch my drift

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  89. Sure, it was ok in that setting, but they bigger issue is this - why even bother trotting out kane/big show? If DB and RR are the stars you want to build around, have them beat midcarders clean and then have them brawl. The WWE is so conditioned to protect slugs that have no value they can't deviate from it. Use the Big show as an attraction to put over up and coming monsters, but they need to stop half assing it. It's beyond boring now

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  90. With barely a functional brain cell amongst them?

    That was mean of me :(

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  91. Fuck it, do Big Show vs. Lesnar and end Wrestlemania with the ring breaking superplex spot.

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  92. Gingivitis, like I said. Pens aren't the only thing Roman bobbles when he goes to pick 'em up - brush your teeth, fool!

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  93. You know, I would love a Brock vs Kane vs Big Show match. Honestly they should have booked that for Fast Lane as a tune-up for Brock. Make him look even more unstoppable.

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  94. From the week before, he got a few cheers - still majority Bryan, though. From last night? Pssssh, that was Bryan's peeps, lol. The dude came out to abject silence for the main event and looked like he was panhandling during Bryan's match.

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  95. I just can't remember the last time RAW had a main event that didn't involve Kane, Big Show, or Kane AND Big Show.

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  96. Diesel is an interesting comparison. Both he and Reigns were put over as the silent, ass-kicking muscle before being forced into a fan friendly, smiley happy guy at the top ('sufferin' succotash' and 'how sweet it is!'). Diesel bombed as that guy, BIG time. Reigns has even less experience than Diesel, and I just don't see him doing any better.

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  97. The Love-Matic Grampa!February 17, 2015 at 11:17 AM

    In 1995, Kane wrestled in his first WWF/E PPV main event against Bret Hart and Big Show won his first World title from Hulk Hogan. Roman Reigns was in fifth grade.

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  98. The Love-Matic Grampa!February 17, 2015 at 11:19 AM

    Yeah, that's pretty much a given.

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  99. Or, as somebody else pointed out, Sheamus interferes, sending Reigns to WM. Boy, I would almost kill to see how homicidal the crowd gets at that point.

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  100. Since everyone is so cool on Roman Reigns and Daniel Bryan right now, can we somehow get to a Kane vs. Big Show vs. Brock Wrestlemania main event?

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  101. True but once Diesel turns heel on Bret and Shawn he was hot and carried it over to WCW. He only bombed as the dochey face Diesel. Maybe Reigns bomb too but at least he's getting more to work with now n

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  102. Nash also had Bret and HBK to carry his ass like the luggage he was. . . .

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  103. Theberzerker, #HUSSAPPROVEDFebruary 17, 2015 at 11:32 AM

    Vince, actively trying to piss off all the "internet nerds" in the audience? The DEVIL you say!

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  104. February 2 was the Bryan vs. Rollins match, but they've been involved in almost every main event segment the past couple of months.

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  105. Definitely not their finest storytelling but I thought last night was the best they've had in a while. It requires the audience to work and controversy at the Rumble would be nice for sure to make it work best but eh. They should have had Bryan cash in his rematch for this shot to get back to Mania instead of waiting until Payback or whatever PPV follows Mania n

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  106. So there once was a fourth grader named Roman Reigns. And he had magic beans?

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  107. Theberzerker, #HUSSAPPROVEDFebruary 17, 2015 at 11:34 AM

    That was me. But odds on it being The Kane Show instead are about 50/50.

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  108. I admit to being biased just because I'm not a big Bryan fan but I thought he turned some with his signature act. If he doesn't get the response he can always turn heel and say "I tried to be nice. I signed autographs, I took pics, i gave you t shirts and you still want this miget?!"

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  109. Yup. The biggest pops he got w/ the Shield were when The Wyatts/Authority would hone in on them and Rollins/Ambrose would stand back, and Reigns would take a single step forward and glare like "You want to go? Let's do it".

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  110. Diesel character was hot because he was cool. When he snapped and jackknifed Bret through the announcers table and gave the speech about how you were either with him or against him that made those feuds. Reigns has Bryan and Lesnar to work with and he's a better worker than Nash so he will be fine if he can be he character he was last year that got him over in the first place.

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  111. I could actually get behind this, if the outcome is Show & Kane teaming up against Brock, managing after some close calls to both, simultaneously pin Brock. This can be part of HHH's "plan" to get rid or Lesner with both Kane & Show being co-champions. This sets up some interesting post WM angles where you can have Kane & Show united as a team, pulling each other's asses out of the fire from losing the title, defending and even losing their "half" of the title, and tease dissent between the two of them.

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  112. Reigns should go all in on this and tell people he's only slapping hands if they're wearing a black glove

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  113. So your the devil then?

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  114. I think I'm having a stroke. :(

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  115. Diesel worked as a face when he was in the red and black but that's because he kept most of his cool nWo attitude. WWF fucked up with Diesel the same way they fucked up with Luger. They tried to make this baby kissing boyscout when he was much better as a cocky bad ass. Plus Nash had a poor list of challengers for the belt outside Bret and Shawn.

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  116. I agree completely. I think Reigns can be something special, but not by repeating the same exact mistakes they made with another guy.

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  117. Probably biting his cheek. I do that shit all the time.

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  118. YOU CAN'T BEAT THE BIG SHOW!

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  119. Yes but he isn't exactly writing a story for the crowd that attends his shows either? What is the current story?

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  120. LOL, Memphis is suddenly gonna be filled with "a vocal minority" if that happens..

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  121. Erik Rowen really should have been hired muscle for the Authority.


    Backstage, I understand why Kane is still needed, because everybody trusts him in the ring, and he'll do just about anything. But the E has to know that Kane isn't a draw and isn't really useful for anything else.


    Big Show does at least the freakishly huge size thing going on for him, but the E constantly overexposes him and job him out to silly things.


    Vince's love for big guys is just out of control. Villain stables in other media have the fast little guys, the smart guy, etc. WWE villains are only big guys and bigger guys. God I hope Vince dies.

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  122. They should just have Brock v big show in a thumb wrestling match so we can finally highlight how big the big show's hands really are

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  123. To be fair, '95 WWF everything outside Bret and Shawn was just craaaaaaap. Oceans and miles and fields of crap as far as the eye could see, lol.

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  124. Definitely! If there is a use for Nash in WWE right now it is to train Reigns on promos. He has the natural cadence to be a good promo guy. Not sure if it's nerves, poor material or a combo of both, but he's been underwhelming on it. I don't think his promos should mimic the Rock or Cena -- his personality doesn't fit that style at all.

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  125. You're completely missing the point. Kane is big and the big show has huge hands. Got it?

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  126. Eventually when the mix it up, it'll just be Orton, Cena and maybe a renewed Mark Henry push if they feel wild.

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  127. It would be better with Bray Wyatt and Rusev since Bray was the dominant man of the Rumble and Rusev was the runner up. Also much, much better matches.

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  128. Also I don't care what anyone says -- his mannerisms to set up the Superman punch and spear are awesome. I love when he starts to get himself amped up.

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  129. You can't hurt a Samoan's head!!!!

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  130. Feels like in HD you really should get a good idea of how big the big show is.

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  131. I do too. And neither involves talking.

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  132. Kane is great for catching guys like Rey and Kofi in MITB, EC, etc., but he and Show should be in the special attraction spots for sure. Save Show for battle royals and surprise partner spots or just use him like 911 in ECW -- he comes out and saves the day for faces. He would get such a huge pop if "weeeeeelllll...it's the Big Show" hit if Bryan, Dolph, or Ambrose were in a 3 on 1 beat down situation.

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  133. Probably need 3D and a curved screen as well.

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  134. this times 100. I feel like it gets justified because the crowd constantly chants 'you sold out' at Show and gives half-hearted boos to Kane. "See, they're the only heels we have who actually get booed, they must be over!"

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  135. You know you could've avoided this whole mess if you just did Bryan/Lesnar at Wrestlemania. Just saying guys. In any case I think this direction is worse than just making Reigns Superman and just squashing everyone in Goldberg fashion on his way to Wrestlemania. Now everyone looks like geeks and I can't buy anyone beating Lesnar if they lose to 40 year old men every week.

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  136. God Daniel Bryan and his billy goat beard and the jumping and pointing and chanting yes. Am I the only one who finds his character so childish and lame?

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  137. Let's just say you're in a super low minority

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  138. I felt Bryan/Big Show was fantastic. Great pro wrestling, beginning to end. And the brawl afterwards was even better. It helped give Reigns some badass cred back, made Bryan look like somebody who just won't stay down, and they laid their shit in, as Austin would say. Which also helped the Big Show match.

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  139. Like the two-man power trip with Austin and HHH, only better!! I totally get it

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  140. The only thing is it got next to no heat, which hurts the momentum going into Fast Lane.


    Just remember how crazy the crowd went for Shield vs. Wyatts at the go-home show last year. Last night's crowd reaction was the opposite of that.

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  141. Lesnar is a monster that doesn't age.

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  142. Man, I heard plenty of heat for it, especially once it really got going.

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  143. His digestive system does.

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  144. It seems like every week I'm having a "did I just hallucinate the DB and YES chants, or" reaction.

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  145. That's what I meant -- even when they're not in a match, they're involved in the segment. It's gone on since at least Survivor Series.

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  146. We are in the minority, but I'm with ya. Great wrestler though -- can't deny that, but the character annoys me.

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  147. If anything him constantly sucking up to fans is getting old and notable mixed reactions in recent weeks just proving it.

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  148. The worst was after Punk's face turn where they had him start pandering to the fans in his promos - it was so blatant that it was embarrassing. Basically, all their top faces are required to cut John Cena promos.

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  149. Big Show is 42 and Kane is 47. Neither man can go in the ring nearly as well a they used to either. Plus big men generally age worse on average and Lesnar is a freak once in a generation athlete. Comparison doesn't really fit.

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  150. You're the one trying to make age the issue.

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  151. Austin was the only guy that they nailed 100% -- what made him cool was telling people to eff off and catching them off guard with the Stunner. I had someone ask me why anyone would want to be friends with the Austin character and I said, "any sane person wouldn't -- he's a freaking rattle snake that tells you all you need to know about Mankind -- he's a trustworthy knucklehead."

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  152. I thought that was Mr. Satan's gimmick?

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  153. Do you not like Lesnar?

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  154. Nope. Gotta be there live, my good man.

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  155. I'm saying the age is an issue when it's two guys that can't do half of what they used to.

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  156. Exactly. Imagine what they would do to Austin or Rock if they were in their prime now as opposed to 15 years ago

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  157. It's not so much their age as Kane & Show being booked as vulnerable, then having them beat Reigns & Bryan. Plenty of guys 40+ have been booked strong - Bret Hart in his last WWF title reign, Flair lots of times, Savage, Undertaker. Kane & Show have both been beaten so much lately that having your WM main event guys losing in any fashion doesn't make sense. Do they really need protection at this point? For what end?

    If it's going to be Reigns, have him beat the shit out of people. If it's going to be Bryan, have him beat the shit out of people. Make the WM main event guy (or guys) look like they have a ton of momentum.

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  158. So age is an issue, except when it isn't. Got it.

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  159. Neither Rock nor Austin fit the mold of what WWE wants now. WWE's moat around their brand requires no one person becoming big enough to launch a competitor. Change won't happen until the WWE is close to going out of business.

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  160. I think all those guys you mentioned could still compete at a high level into their 40s as well so it wasn't as big of a deal. But yeah you stated the ultimate point about how going over Kane and Big Show mean nothing and only hurt those they defeat because they haven't been traditionally protected all that much for people their size and all of a sudden are on a winning streak beating the top contenders.


    No one going up against a monster heel should be booked like this. It's baffling.

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  161. Exactly. And in the case of Big Show and Kane, it's an issue.

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  162. The one man audience.

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  163. These were all reasonable replies to being Dougied. Kudos!

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  164. Rock and Austin DID suck up to fans though.


    "THE PEOPLE!"


    "Give me a HELL YEAH!"

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  165. I'll be honest, the build this week is making me like Reigns's character more than Bryan's. Bryan is coming off as a suck up and Reigns is coming off as a bad ass. They're REALLY overexposing the "YES" chant.

    I think the best thing for Bryan's character going forward is going to be losing the Fast Lane match in some kind of screwy fashion. If they do indeed go forward with the triple threat idea and we have another month of every writer on staff working to make Reigns look cooler than Bryan, it's going to hurt Bryan's character long term.

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  166. Oh yeah!?

    Well you remember...Matthew...21:17!

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  167. I'm certainly over the Yes chant.

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  168. Unless they are going to take the Bryan character the full 360 and start making his YES! chant really annoying again, just as Vince McMahon originally envisioned it.

    Hell, Brock is basically a face anyway. Face Lesnar vs heel Bryan may be the way to go.

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  169. "PIMPIN' AIN'T EASY!"

    "LET'S GET READY TO SUCK IT!"

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  170. I'm pretty sure that's intentional. If they want Reigns to be the man, why wouldn't you start to turn Bryan heel? Sure, you're throwing away a while bunch of money, but WWE clearly doesn't care about "drawing" anymore. They only care about whether kids will buy action figures (I guess?)

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  171. And smellovision to get a good idea of the sweat coming out his pores as he lumbers down the aisle.

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  172. I really didn't mind it until they did the "Yes movement takeover" in the ring last year. That was way too over the top for me

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  173. "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN BOYS AND GIRLS CHILDREN OF ALL AGES! DX GENERATION X PROUDLY BRINGS TO YOU, IT'S WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS OF THE WWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRLLLLDDDDDD!"

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  174. I can in no way comprehend why Reigns didn't destroy Kane in under 2 minutes and why Bryan didn't have Show tap out in the middle of the ring. It boggles my mind why Kane and Big Show need to be protected like this.

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  175. I honestly don't know if they're planning on doing a 3-way with Reigns, Bryan & Lesnar at WrestleMania; or if Bryan is going to replace Reigns (with Roman perhaps turning heel); or if WWE has just been trolling us and Reigns will beat Bryan and face Lesnar at Mania as was originally planned.

    I suppose I should be excited by the uncertainty, but I really don't care about the FastLane PPV, and it's annoying that I won't know for another week what the Mania main event is. I am dead convinced that none of it matters because whoever wins will quickly drop the belt to Rollins on the briefcase cash-in.

    What really bothers me is how weak they're making Reigns & Bryan both look in all this. I look back at all the wrestling I've watched and loved for over 30 years now, and one constant through it all was that there were always certain badass wrestlers that usually won. They might suffer the occasional loss, or even be the underdog who got beat up a lot but always won in the end. The point is they were winners, and I want to root for winners. That's why when they faced the occasional indominable force (Hogan vs. Andre for example), it *meant more* because suddenly the notion of them losing--because it so rarely happened--had so much more weight. Stone Cold getting screwed over by Vince McMahon really meant something. Even John Cena losing used to mean something because he was Superman, and Superman never lost. Except when he did, and for a while the world would feel all topsy-turvy.

    WWE never puts anyone over anymore. Even John Cena loses half the time. For whatever reason they want to foster the notion that anyone can beat anyone else on any given night.

    That sucks.

    Making matches "unpredictable" by having everyone predictably lose half their matches just plain stinks. And of course they've made the individual matches mean so little anyways that if you are truly a fan of someone, they've all but assured that watching that particular wrestler every week will be a chore. You're lucky if you see them have a couple good matches or "moments" over the course of the year.

    I saw the brawl Bryan & Reigns had last night, and saw two guys trying hard to make all this nonsense work, and a crowd unsure how to react because they don't want to boo either guy--not even Reigns. They want to like both guys, and while a small "let them fight!" chant broke out for a few moments, most of the crowd sat there unsure how to react. Nothing that went on in that brawl would gave gotten a better reaction than had they just had Reigns squash Kane, Bryan get an impressive tap-out win over Big Show, then ended the show with the two staring each other down, the WrestleMania sign hovering in the background...

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  176. "WELCOME TO RAW...IS...JERICHO"

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  177. That is the same moment it starting annoying me too. A part of me actually wanted Orton to retain just to troll the audience lol.

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  178. I know nothing of any "overexposure" or "sucking up"...all I heard was the arena chanting it at Reigns during his match with Kane. I think we're safe from

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  179. I feel like, unless Reigns or Bryan win it's a big stumble. Just make a choice, and go for it. I'd love for Bryan to win but if you want to take a chance then go for it, have Reigns win. But, if it's wishy washy or there's a non-finish, I feel like the fans won't buy into whomever you want to go with post-Mania.

    Pick someone. Put them over strong. Give us a reason to believe in the person. That's all I'm asking.

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  180. I think it was just both faces were distracted by each other, but they absolutely protect those two way too much. One thing really bugs me -- they always use Big Show as the final elimination (or one of them) for guys winning a huge battle royal or Rumble (Triple H and Reigns both eliminating Kane & Show to win the Rumble, Benoit eliminating Show to win the Rumble, believe Rock eliminated Show to win the Rumble and the Andre battle royal had Cesaro eliminate Show to win) and it usually looks impressive, but have they ever once put that dude over in a battle royal? It seems like he maybe one some small on Smackdown like 10-15 years ago, but basically he's a choke artist in battle royals, but they want to make it seem like he's this battle royal specialist. If that's the case why not have an occasional battle royal on Raw or Smackdown for some BS cash or IC title shot or something and have the dude win them? Big Show in battle royals is like Flair going to the top rope -- shit rarely works.

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  181. And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.

    Reigns is taking an extended vacation, instead of becoming the champion no one wants.

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  182. Only thing I could see them do is a reprise of the WM 9 finish but a little different.

    Have Bryan win the shot at Lesnar by some sort of interference. Then have Lesnar just destroy Bryan worse than Cena at Summerslam till they stop the match.

    Have Reigns run in for the save and say "Hey Brock why don't you try doing that to me, you got the balls to put the title on the line right now?"

    The crowd will pop for this and Reigns will conquer Brock, save Bryan and be over...

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  183. This is what happens when you push a face nobody likes and heel nobody hates.

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  184. I remember a time when promotions used strong promos and the occasional pull apart brawl to hype a big match, instead of putting them in the ring to expose their weakness of ability (Reigns) or character (Bryan)

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  185. Sure, except they'd probably book a screwjob finish and make all 3 of them look like total doofuses. Show and Kane should be used to put over up and coming main eventers, not trotted out there every week to kill the crowd. They just can't break away from the idea that you can't job these guys cleanly.

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  186. Given enough time, you can always make people hate somebody. But it's much harder to make people like somebody.


    That's why it's so frustrating to watch WWE flush Bryan's organic, positive relationship with the fans down the toilet to make room for a shallow, manufactured feeling of ennui.

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  187. Joe's left TNA.

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