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WM21: Most Important WM

Hey Scott,

With all the talk of Best/Worst WM, I think the really important question is which WM actually had the longest lasting impact on WWE and to that I think WM21 is, by far (w/o really thinking it over) the most important WM, there has ever been or at least in the modern era.

To wit, 1) let's get the obvious out of the way, and note it create two main event stars. Other WM are lucky if they can create 1 star that won't flop within the year. But Cena is essentially still the top name and Batista is a damn movie star. 2) It was the first WM to really establish the UT streak (prior to this, it had really been more of a trivia question than a true storyline). Again, this is something that, arguably became the most important aspect of WM and it started here, 3) It established the MiTB, which is probably the most interesting and innovative concept WWE has come up with in years.

All 3 of these were monumental events with ramifications that affected the WWE up to this very day. That's pretty impressive when you consider WWE has trouble remembering what happened last week let alone 10 years ago.

While other WMs might have been better all around events (Which is debatable considering 21 is a 4 hour event with 2 classic matches and very little in a way of crap) or done better financially (again, debatable), I believe that, for sheer impact and long lasting influence, WM21 was truly best for business.

Thoughts?

​Good points, and it was also the biggest buyrate and highest grossing show up until WM23.  

However, I will throw down the trump card with WM14, which not only launched Steve Austin and Rock as big stars, but actually resurrected the Wrestlemania concept from the dead.  11, 12 and 13 had essentially been glorified monthly PPVs and in fact 13 was one of the least bought shows of the year, so 14 was especially miraculous in that it suddenly made Wrestlemania into a drawing card on its own and set the stage for all the stadium shows and "Wrestlemania Play Button/No Number" stuff that followed.  ​

Comments

  1. Yeah, the answer is wrestlemania 3.

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  2. Yeah, the answer is WrestleMania 14.

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  3. X-7 had a bigger buyrate. First wrestling pay-per-view to crack a million buys.WM21 came just short of that.

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  4. If I'm going to be a slave to childhood memories the answer is 6, because reasons.

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  5. III, XIV & 21 are three good picks for the three decades of WrestleMania.

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  6. Great point about 11, 12 and 13 feeling like regular PPVs. WM 14 was the first show since 10 that I was excited to watch.

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  7. I had no idea those guys didn't have deals with TNA already.

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  8. They did. Their contracts were set to expire so they were re-newed.

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  9. 3 is the standard which all following wrestlemanias have tried and failed to live up to.

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  10. What happens if Lesnar doesn't re-sign tonight? Does he storm off and not show up for the face-to-face with Reigns?

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  11. I just recently read what a huge butyrate WM 21 had. Was the HHH/Batista feud the reason? I knew people were invested in the feud - I had just never thought of it as a huge drawing feud.

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  12. So, if they don't know whether or not they're going to sign Lesnar I'm guessing they don't know who is going to win at Mania?

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  13. Mania 21 had to create new stars - it was the first Mania without Rock or Austin competing since they became the company's big stars. That in itself is pretty significant

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  14. YankeesHoganTripleHFanMarch 23, 2015 at 7:13 AM

    HHH/Batista was huge at the time, and Cena may have been hitting his peak of popularity, before the backlash began.

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  15. I think you could argue....in some ways that every Wrestlemania had an impact (some more than others of course) until the past few years when instead of actually having builds that lead to big matches and changes they instead bring in a crew of part-time Wrestlers and shove the ones that are around year round into gimmick matches with ladders or ladders with briefcases or battle royals.

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  16. E-mailer does raise good points about how many long-term effects came from 21. Cena and Batista, Streak Matches and Money in the Bank all played huge drawing roles in WrestleManias 21-now(Cena being the Sole Survivor)

    Good job WrestleMania 21. You rock.

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  17. I love Wrestlemania 14! The launch of the ATTITUDE ERA~! So many new faces being pushed, how crowd, perfect celebrity use, the AUSTIN ERA~! has begun and a true changing of the guard. 1998 in general was a WAY fun year to be a pro wrestling fan with the Monday Night Wars actually being a competition on both and ECW seemingly having a future and growing up. Good times.

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  18. Just heard a radio advertisement for Wrestlemania here in the UK. It's all "TRIPLE H AND STING IS HAPPENING"!!!

    "Plus Undertaker returns and Roman Reigns challenges for the title"

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  19. Meltzer also said that their plans do depend on whether Lesnar re-signs or not.

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  20. That's a little crazy no?

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  21. At least their some intrigue going into the match.

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  22. So..I just found out about the Rey/Aguayo thing.....holy shit. I imagine you guys all talked it to death over the weekend but I've watched the footage and while there was a little bit of force behind Rey's kick the fact Perro had his arms over the middle rope seems like it should have cushioned the blow. It's not as if he went neck first into the ring rope completely unprotected.

    If nothing else comes from this I hope it at least ends the show must go one BS. Guys still jumping and flipping over his lifeless body pretending to fight each other is enough make me stop and ask myself....do I really want to support this garbage business.

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  23. Latest Insider Report from MetsFan on Reddit: RAW tonight may be dedicated to the memory of Perro Aguyao Jr. It also may not be dedicated to him. Truly insider reporting that would make RajahWWF blush.

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  24. Even as far as who Lesnar would have a program with next if he loses to Reigns. His last contracted date is the RAW after Mania so if he stays, I'd think they would use that show to build a feud with him against someone.

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  25. I'm picturing Dixie handling the contract signings like Michael Scott and giving Lashley a gift bag filled with pencils and Chili's coupons.

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  26. Clearly they didn't realize he was dead at that point.

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  27. Or have Reigns beat him again

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  28. Since Perro never worked for the WWE I'd doubt they would dedicate a whole show to him. A mention and a graphic would be likely

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  29. Wrestlemania 17 may have been the perfect show. 14 is my sentimental favorite but I can't find anything wrong at all with 17.

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  30. even worse he might be savable but they are still flipping and flopping over him and around him.

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  31. I don't understand the hate towards him. He doesn't sell himself as an insider or news guy; he's just a guy who used to work there and passes on what he hears from old co-workers. I'm sure he enjoys the attention, but it's not like he's a "click here for the latest news" kinda guy.

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  32. "imagine you guys all talked it to death over the weekend"

    Too. Fucking. Soon.

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  33. The feuds were REALLY well built up. Angle vs HBK still has one of my favorite build ups ever, with Kurt replicating all of Shawn's career achievements with jobbers. Batista/HHH had HHH trying to convince Batista to wrestle JBL because he was scared and all that stuff. Rise of Cena. First Money in the Bank, and all of the competitors outside of Kane were credible choices to win. Last time I think I've truly been excited for an entire Mania card.

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  34. Sweet, TNA has a good roster with which they can continue to not book shows.

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  35. I'm picturing the Simpsons dotcom episode.


    "Have some more stock!"

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  36. At least when they do have shows, they are good.


    What will Samoa Joe's WWE name be? And how soon before he's jobbing to Roman Reigns in 35 seconds?

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  37. RIP Guy Killed By Rey Misterio.

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  38. Yeah that was really strange - they knew something was off because they tried to avoid him and then went home quickly, but why not move the remaining spots to the other side of the ring? I don't think they did any further damage but it still looked pretty bad.


    it reminded me of the battle royal where Barrett dislocated his elbow, and they kept throwing guys out on that side of the ring like dumbasses.

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  39. He already debuted in NXT:http://i.imgur.com/k3XoDKz.jpg

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  40. Biff something. Vince just saw Back to the Future, so Joe is getting the Biff character, where he picks on smaller guys and constantly says things like "make like a tree and get out of here!" HILARITY.

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  41. I think we've established that it was the rana before the kick that did the damage.

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  42. That was the first show where they started heavily promoting it internationally because Vince reeeeeeeally wanted to hit 1 million buys again.

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  43. Rey was kind of incredible not making any contact with him even though he expected Perro to move out of the way. Everything after that though is a little sickening. It's 2015 we all know it's fake AND even if it was real...MMA has shown us the ref will stop the damn match if a guy is lifeless in the ring.

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  44. You know in Mexico it's still a real sport.

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  45. I know this is not really relevant in the grand scheme of things, but did they completely drop the Adam Rose/Bunny angle?

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  46. really? why is that? I can see that being a possibility but based on that shaky footage he seemed to be moving ok getting back in the ring.

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  47. Welcome to the end of March in WI. Snow and road conditions were so bad that I literally couldn't get to work this morning. Granted, I have to drive about 40 miles or so, but damn.

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  48. He didn't seem okay at all to me.

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  49. I remember watching the second Kevin Smith Q & A where he talks about Prince's reaction to Kevin talking about his experience shooting a documentary at Paisley Park on the first Q & A and how he basically tore Paisly Park upside down and inside out looking for some release form he gave to Kevin about not mentioning Paisley Park to anybody. Kevin said he simply put the release form somewhere and forgot about it.

    I can picture Brock doing the same thing, except on purpose

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  50. Maybe the Bunny and Golddust will feud over whose angle got dropped harder.

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  51. I would think they wouldn't mention it at all..they really don't need to be cluing people in to in ring deaths if they don't have to.

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  52. As much as I'd like to choose WM14 or WM3, I still say the most important is still the original. If that show didn't work, well...

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  53. awww I was hoping for Joemoa Smo as a ring name

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  54. One of my favorite WMs. I still remember watching it live (on PPV, that is) with my buddies. Felt like such an important show, and it was the first WM for me after I stopped watching the product for a few years. Katie Vick and the year 2002 overall did me in.

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  55. I'm just a sexy Kurt!

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  56. Triple threat with Fandango.

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  57. I'm hoping Bash 91 levels of hilarity.

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  58. So what is this issue that hasn't been resolved yet? Bonus money not paid for? Catering done by Jimmy Johns? Toilet paper over instead of under? What?

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  59. I think the term "dedication" is being taken too literally. An opening graphic is far more likely, or a passing mention in the middle of the broadcast. I don't think anyone is really expecting it to be "RAW is Perro"

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  60. That Angle/Jannetty match kicked all kinds of ass, too. And Marty was just as responsible for that as Kurt.

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  61. I want to pick 21 since I was there, but I think the most important mania is the first one. It helped launch the Rock and Wrestling era with all the Cindi Lauper stuff and got Hogan and the wwf tons of mainstream press. It built Wrestlemania as a brand. You don't get 3, 14, 17 or 21 without the first one.

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  62. What more, the mods at r/SquaredCircle have verified that he used to work there. He admits he's just passing along the info he hears from his contacts still in the company. For some reason that infuriates people.

    Honestly, I think people are just annoyed that he doesn't have details for everything, and that he refuses to divulge exactly who he is or what he did for the company.

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  63. Almost everything on the WM14 card had been built up well to. Even the tag team battle royal had the LoD repackaging that had been built up for months.

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  64. 1, 3, 10, 14, 17, 21 and that's really it. Other ones are great shows where important things happened but long-term didn't work out. Notably Warrior winning at 6, the tragedy of WM20, Daniel Bryan at 30 and there are probably a few others.


    Gun to head, I still go with WM 1.

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  65. Probably money.

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  66. During the football there were ads for the PPV, at £19.95! Poor suckers who don't know about the network

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  67. He is wanting at least one of his PPV dates to be a show scheduled out at his place to he doesn't have to travel. ..that and "Puny humans do not talk or look at Brock...or BROCK SMASH"

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  68. Whether Brock wins or loses his last match with WWE. There is a time-honored tradition that guys lose their last match before leaving WWE.

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  69. So torn. Want to see Brock back in UFC/Don't want to see Roman Reigns as champion.

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  70. Whoever wins the title at Mania, is there anyway that the Champ's first post Mania feud isn't Big Show or Kane?

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  71. There is one way...it could be Big Show AND Kane.

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  72. And it saved WWF from bankruptcy

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  73. Reigns being champions is inevitable. Sort of like herpes if you're sleeping around. You can mitigate it or even try to defend against it, but eventually, it'll find you.

    So yes, Roman Reigns as champion = herpes.

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  74. THAT'S GOTTA BE KANE!

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  75. The only thing better would be if Gorilla Monsoon was still around to call him a "youngster". Actually, it would be better if Gorilla was doing this year's Mania to call Sting "this youngster Sting".

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  76. If they booked Brock vs. Kane I may just quit. Not quit wrestling just quit it all. QUIT. IT. ALL.

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  77. I just want any announcer to be as hard on the ref's as Gorilla. The ref is a nonentity in the WWE these days.

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  78. Maybe it's Kane OR Big Show.

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  79. He hasn't been a Demon in quite some time though! THEDEMONKANE THE DEMONKANE THE DEMONKANE

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  80. We'll get some forced Authority storyline.

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  81. In all seriousness, no way they book Lesnar with either of those guys. Shit, we won't see him for 3 months anyway.

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  82. "Yep Mode" Abeyance Brown ©March 23, 2015 at 7:58 AM

    But, what if Brock shoots on Kane?

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  83. HHH, Dunn, and Vinmce are discussing whether to dedicate tonight's Raw to Perro. Three guess as to which one is in favor and which two aren't.

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  84. I'm guessing he wouldn't have known how to work the hard camera.

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  85. Marty BROUGHT IT that week. He and Shawn had a great tag match with La Resistance on Raw a few days before the match with Kurt.

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  86. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonMarch 23, 2015 at 8:02 AM

    Jamoa Soe.

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  87. "Yep Mode" Abeyance Brown ©March 23, 2015 at 8:02 AM

    And Konnan was violently shaking him.

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  88. WM3 pretty much killed the territory system once and for all.

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  89. You get three guesses, and there's only three possible answers. I love this quiz!

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  90. Lousy Smarch weather...

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  91. I'm mixed on Brock in UFC. I don't want to see him lose more and get a less legit tag placed on him even though I am of the opinion that things would have been very different without the health problems. If he is going in to clear out some mid card match ups with name value that is one thing but I don't think years away from the sport will have made him any better at going over Cain or Dos Santos....so I can only see things going so far.

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  92. This Ted Cruz stuff is pretty exciting. Finally someone who wants to get BACK TO THE CONSTITUTION and has CHRISTIAN values

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  93. If you see one of the steadier clips (there must be a dozen at least--everyone was recording that match) you can tell that following the rana he's rapidly slowing down. Like it was adrenaline that carries him back into the ring, but that he probably would have collapsed soon had he stayed on the floor. Taking the dropkick and going down to the ropes seemed to take out whatever spark was left in him. His actual moment of death came a good while later at the hospital due to cardiac arrest, but he was pretty much gone in the ring. I haven't watched the entire match to see if there were earlier hits that accumulated, or if it was that rana that did it, but that looks to be what set it in motion.

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  94. Yea that too though I was telling myself they have no idea he has a neck injury and your first thought is oh he got knocked out cold or loopy.

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  95. http://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/2zz4b7/michael_cole_on_knowing_the_outcomes_to_matches/


    So at any given moment Cole has 6 guys in his ear on commentary.

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  96. As much as I love WM 21 and all of the milestones that went along with it (Cena and Batista to the top, MITB, 1st "Streak match", Eddie's last WM, HBK/Angle), it didn't usher in an era of prosperity for the business like WM 14 did, in my opinion. The rise of Stone Cold and the involvement of Mike Tyson kicked off the Attitude era, unofficially, and sent the ratings and gates into a place where it has yet to return.

    However, if you're talking long lasting impact as far as individual stars and the angles/booking that were to come after, there's an excellent argument for 21. Cena/Batista and MITB still remain as significant parts of WWE 10 years later and so does the Streak, really. So much came out of that show that is still a big part of WWE as a whole today.

    I still think WM 3 was the most "important" show in WWE history as it solidified that pro wrestling could be done on a very large scale on a consistent basis and be successful at doing so.

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  97. It does seem like maybe wrestlers and refs need to go through some sort of protocol training for how to deal with and check on an unconscious wrestler.

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  98. I for one shall vote for him.

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  99. Of course there's a way. It will be Big Show *and* Kane.

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  100. I feel bad for Cole. How can you be any good in that environment. Its the most insane example of micromanagement I have seen from the WWE.

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  101. Good luck with that!

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  102. I love crazy bastards in power.

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  103. "Okay there are two guys fighting and this is what they are doing" and
    call the match. That is, and I swear to God, so far from the truth."....pretty much describes everything wrong with WWE commentary right there doesn't it?

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  104. For a company looking to appeal to hispanic viewers, a respectful tribute would be a nice gesture. An opening graphic would be nice--a 10 bell salute even better. Give nearly 4 million American wrestling fans the opportunity to be made aware of his passing and show their respects. I'm sure it would mean a lot to his family & friends, the entire country of Mexico, and everyone in the business worldwide. There's literally no reason not to do it.

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  105. I don't see this ending well for him.

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  106. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogMarch 23, 2015 at 8:14 AM

    It feels like this Brock "negotiation" is a work to raise doubt about the Wrestlemania finish. Why would they have waited until a week before Mania to discus a new contract?

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  107. They might want to get some Hispanic wrestlers if they are interested in that...and then treat said Hispanic wrestlers with respect and let their characters have some dignity...you are right I guess a 10 bell salute is more likely.

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  108. "Yep Mode" Abeyance Brown ©March 23, 2015 at 8:15 AM

    If he ever leaves or gets fired, I'd love to see a shoot interview from him.

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  109. Was that the Angry Dad episode?


    "Bart, I'm not a woman and I can't have babies. But I can give life to animated Internet cartoons."

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  110. He is the best politician we have at the moment

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  111. ".....and then they kept telling me to say that losers were "building momentum"!'

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  112. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogMarch 23, 2015 at 8:16 AM

    Should be interesting for the millions of non-christians in this country

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  113. I think, for that to happen, we're going to have to wait on Mr. Stone-Age mentality McMahon to er, um, move on, if you catch my drift!

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  114. I don't remember, I haven't seen it in years. I just remember the toilet paper roll of stock - great visual satire of the dotcom bubble

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  115. "Yep Mode" Abeyance Brown ©March 23, 2015 at 8:17 AM

    "I had to laugh every time something 'funny' happened in the show, since Vince found humor in that stuff. If I didn't laugh, I felt that Vince would be upset or he would deduct my pay".

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  116. Cole can be really good if they'd let him do his job. He and Tazz had some good chemistry.

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  117. I agree that 14 was the most important (WM1 and WM3 aside).


    The Mike Tyson deal not only broke them back into the mainstream, but did so at just the right time to introduce the new (Attitude) direction to casual fans. It simultaneously revived the must-see big show status to WM and got a ton of new eyes on the product.


    Whatever they paid Iron Mike had to be a bargain for the return they got on the investment.

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  118. I still remember Cole on that satellite feed of Smackdown that got leaked last year asking Vince after they went off-mic "do you really want me to say that every time? Because I said it a shitload of times tonight" and after Vince replies (you can't hear him), meekly saying "yes, sir."

    I think it's generally agreed he was talking about THE DEMON KANE.

    So Cole knows how awful he is. It's how he's told to be, sadly.

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  119. Michael Cole sounds like a dunce nowadays but I have to say, he was pretty good when paired with Taz.

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  120. Not to mention the non-Canadians.

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  121. It's sad because it means that he isn't really even announcing anymore. He's basically a puppet. A wee little puppet.

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  122. I'm no expert on who the top Hispanic stars are but it is crazy considering how popular Eddie was and how much Rey merch they sold that they would be constantly trying to find the next guy.

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  123. But it was awesome and that was happening one way or another anyway.

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  124. He's really not.

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  125. I think an opening graphic would suffice. A ten bell salute probably wouldn't be approved considering Perro never wrestled for WWE and they wouldn't do it as a tribute to a "wrestler" because that's not what they do.

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  126. Alt commentary feeds with those two proved just how funny Cole can be.

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  127. Classic case of everyone knowing what was going to happen (Austin winning) but still wanted to see it because it was great, exciting and people we're asking for it.

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  128. That argument is highly dubious. Hulk Hogan was still setting attendance records in 85 with or without Wrestlemania.

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  129. I'm sure he was gone by then. There was already blood leaking from his eye by the time he slumped from the rope to the mat. I can't imagine the outcome being different even if they instantly knew, gently lowered him from the ropes onto a gurney, and wheeled him straight to the ambulance. From the moment it happened to them getting him to the hospital (which was apparently like a block away) was just a few minutes. Were they slow to realize how bad it was? Yes--but I don't think their response worsened what had already happened.

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  130. 6 was great. It probably held the most intrigue as to who would win the title. My friends and I totally marked out when the warrior won. Great event, just about perfectly booked

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  131. Also we don't need to discuss this tribute on social media use #10bellSalute "10bellSalute is trending worldwide maggle!"

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  132. The thing is, Eddie and Rey weren't typical "Hispanic wrestlers". The fact is people have tried pushing Lucha etc. in the US, and it just doesn't get over. The only "Hispanic" guys to get over, Eddie, Rey, Konnan, Tito Santana etc. etc., were guys who wrestled "American style".

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  133. Money is the only thing that makes sense.

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  134. Best part of the comments section is someone bringing up that Cole admits to being a.... Mets fan.

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  135. This is sarcasm, right?

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  136. I also hated the way they treated Del Rio - you fired him for standing up to a racist coworker. That's just shitty. You'd think the WWE would know better when it comes to race relations but who are we kidding.

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  137. Is Mitt running again? LOL...

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  138. No way does Brock care about jobbing.

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  139. True but if Mania I had somehow bombed it could and probably would have been lights out for Vince right outta the gate.


    He bet big on that show.

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  140. He did slap the guy though didn't he? I'm not saying going through the proper channels would have worked in that company but if get physical with a guy both you and the A hole being out of a job is about as good an out come you can hope for.

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  141. "Yep Mode" Abeyance Brown ©March 23, 2015 at 8:29 AM

    Cole with Taz and his first run with JBL were great.

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  142. People with severe concussions continue on autopilot all the time. They aren't doing it consciously and when they recover, they have no memory of the time following the concussion.

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  143. This. By the time he hit the second rope, he was dead. This wasn't a "seconds matter" situation. Dude was going by the time he got back in the ring and was gone by the time he was in 619 position.

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  144. They'll bring back the Mexicools to lead the memorial parade on their riding lawnmowers.

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  145. "Yep Mode" Abeyance Brown ©March 23, 2015 at 8:31 AM

    That was a great episode of Smackdown just for that feed.

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  146. I do think that ref seemed kind of clueless. They don't seem to function the same as a ref here in the states. Because of the way the matches are laid out? Just seems to me if that happened here, the ref would be over there and making the dreaded "X" signal once the guy didnt respond to him, and moving the action away--if not stopping the match completely.

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  147. So basically Brock's winning if he re-signs.

    Which means if he re-signs, the world title match doesn't close the show.

    I have no earthly idea what does.

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  148. America is the land of the free, so speak English or get the hell out! Also, don't be gay because then I can't be free!

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  149. WWE refs are constantly checking on guys, they'll whisper and after big spots even grab their hand and force them to squeeze to make sure they're okay.

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  150. I think you could end Mania with Brock soaking in the cheers of the fans, it wouldn't be a flat ending like Mania 16 (pre Steph beat up).


    Edit: Maybe Reigns could beat up Steph....

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  151. I see your point, and I agree with you. But I can't help think of the dumb stories I hear about Vince respecting folks like Joey Styles (?) slapping Bradshaw, and think of a double standard.

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  152. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CAv3X25UsAMlXtb.jpg
    Lana on the set of Interrogation. If she doesn't use her Russian accent, is WWE going to not feature her speaking in the trailers like they did with Santino in Jingle all the way2?

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  153. Justin Gabriel was the bunny several times and after he quit they just gave up.


    Like it's really that tough to find someone else to put on a fucking bunny suit or something. Lazy fucks! and i didn't even give 2 shits about the angle.

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  154. Yeah. The Lucha refs don't seem to play the same traffic cop role as a modern WWE ref. But I quickly note I haven't seen lots of Lucha matches recently, so I could be wrong.

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  155. "Today is the day in which the WWE hopes to sign Lesnar to a new
    contract. According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter
    the same issues that caused Lesnar to walk off at RAW a few weeks ago
    have yet to be resolved as of a couple of days ago"



    .....With the issue being, there is no way Brock wants to resign with WWE.

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  156. "Yep Mode" Abeyance Brown ©March 23, 2015 at 8:38 AM

    I hope they don't feature her, Santino without his accent was just weird to watch.

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  157. "Yep Mode" Abeyance Brown ©March 23, 2015 at 8:39 AM

    Get ready for the Reign of Pain on Sunday.

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  158. I would say, bring back Mysterio for a night, but they have already wiped out his chapters on the WWE Network.


    Seriously, I cant navigate anything in the early 2000's anymore.

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  159. I'm thinking it's more and more likely the match goes on first and lasts about 5 minutes.

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  160. Yeah, like watching air leak out of a balloon. He was already half deflated by the time the dropkick came, so to speak.

    I'm sure it'll be debated forever. They gave him an MRI at the hospital, I assume X-rays as well. An autopsy right after. The final report will lay it all out, but people will still be going over those videos like they were the Zapruder film.

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  161. Interesting part is, with no contract, Vince might job out Brock in a hilarious way.

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  162. Good ole Kevin Dunn, always sticking up for the boys

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  163. It's actually a reference to another match....

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  164. Raw's packed tight tonight guys, seriously, no filler all killer. There's no time.

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  165. has anyone else had enough of these fucking stupid "Articles" which have a paragraph or two of text, then make you click 'Next', repeat etc. Something that could easily be said on one page is spread out across several irritating pages.

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  166. I know that, but wasn't all of the money they spent from expanding nationally (signing so much talent, paying TV stations and arenas to run other promotions out, etc) putting WWF in a financial hole and keeping them from actually making money until all of the big closed circuit profits and tape sales allowed them to pay all of that stuff off?

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  167. Aye, it's awful. Bleacher report is the worst.

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  168. You know a lot of it may come down to how the talent feels. If the Lucha Dragons & Los Matadores went up to management and said they'd like to do a tribute match; or if a bunch of guys in the lockerroom pressed for the 10 bell... it could happen. Hell--ten years ago if the Undertaker went up to Vince and said "we're doing this, boss," you know it would happen. My respect for John Cena would go up a full level if he did that.

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  169. The irony is that I doubt they want WM to end with their #1 heel getting a raucous ovation, but if it goes the other way, WM ends with their "#1" babyface getting Batista'd.

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  170. WHY ARE WE DEDICATING A SHOW TO SOME WETBACK DOG?!!!

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  171. For me, it's that all of his reports are stuff that literally anyone who follows the product could guess. Like his report on Mania was that Lesnar may or may not retain the WWE title, Cena may or may not win the US title, and Bryan may or may not win the IC title. No shit! Any time he tries to break actual news, he's completely wrong (AJ being pregnant). He's no more of an insider than you or me.

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  172. He was great when Lawler had the heart attack and has been good doing commentary for matches released on DVD. He does have talent as a wrestling announcer.

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  173. I believe it had to do with the Bray Wyatt/John Cena angle. Some match involving the Usos or something.

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  174. Was it? Maybe; it's been a while since I watched it.

    The important thing is that Cole knows he's seen as a robot that dispenses nothing but buzzwords and nicknames, but that's how they want him.

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  175. "How can it be vintage if he does it every week??"

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  176. If he didn't, they wouldn't be negotiating.

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  177. The Love-Matic Grampa!March 23, 2015 at 8:56 AM

    $$$$$$

    But yeah, I tend to avoid those sites like the plague.

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  178. Agreed. Tyson's presence is often forgotten but given that his involvement (and showdown with Austin on Raw beforehand) made the BBC and ITV morning news bulletins in the UK (I remember vividly marking out as an 11 year old when hearing JR on GMTV) despite the general antipathy towards Wrestling from mainstream media in the UK shows how huge a deal it was, not just in the US mainstream but internationally

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  179. The Love-Matic Grampa!March 23, 2015 at 8:57 AM

    It's got to be about PPV./Network revenue.

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  180. And not surprisingly, the Republicans are trying to make the fact that he was born in Canada a non-issue, doing all but admitting the birther movement was stupid race baiting and foot stomping.

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  181. I have to say, this sounds like one of the circles of hell to me. Trying to talk to two other people and call the action happening in front of me WHILE anywhere from 1 to 6 people are talking to ME?

    No way. Nope. I wouldn't make it 5 minutes.

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  182. That's it. Ad impressions and clixxxxxx.

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  183. Buzzfeed lists are at least okay because you can scroll on one page.

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  184. "Quite frankly if Rey had honoured his contract with us this never would have happened."

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  185. Charismatic eNegro Jef VinsonMarch 23, 2015 at 8:59 AM

    I wanna see her try to explain leaving her partner to take a gig for a capitalist pig American movie company.

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  186. Aye, at least that's just one page of unreadable shit instead of ten.

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  187. Go Bonzai, it's your birthday, we gonna party like it's your birthday (meaning as a responsible 29-year-old with real-world obligations, you're going to work)

    ARF ARF ARF WU TANG

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  188. Up vote for "Quite frankly"

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  189. Happy birthday Bonzai!

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  190. The Love-Matic Grampa!March 23, 2015 at 9:00 AM

    I don't know, I think WWE would want to distance themselves from an in-ring death. If for no other reason than to keep from reminding people just how dangerous the product they're watching really is.

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  191. Cole/Tazz is easily my favorite post-Attitude team. Great chemistry and they called the fucking matches

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  192. Yes. EVERYTHING was a solid payoff to a well built story or the start of something new and it launched most successful period for the WWE ever. I just can't remember having so much FUN as a fan as I did during that time. Just walking down the street seeing folks where Austin 3:16 or DX shirts was something else for a guy who watched wrestling his whole life and had to live through 1996 WWE.

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  193. I like some of the lists but it's generally 2% hit, 98% miss. Bleacher Report is 100% miss.

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  194. B-O-N-Z-A-I MAN, B-O-N-Z-A-I MAN.....

    Seriously though, happy b-day

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  195. Spin it to a "Kids--Don't Try This At Home" moral.

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  196. 21 was easily the most important ever. That was the WM that had the privilege of hosting me in the stands.

    The next most important will be Sunday, when I show up for Mania #2 and everyone will remember the name.....BONZAIIII

    *deep Goldust breath*

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