The problem with Bray now is that if you stick him with someone like Roman, he'll no doubt end up losing and it would firmly establish Bray as a main event jobber, and once fans perceive you as that, it's very hard to shake off and a big reason why nobody cared about Del Rio after awhile.
If Vince really started letting Cena do a version of the stunner because of that issue between them, Vince is a more petty psycho asshole than I thought.
If I got the Wyatt family back together I'd add a repackaged Fandango as a Jesco White multiple personality Dancin' Outlaw type and have him do creepy tapdances behind Bray's promos.
Bray has the advantage of having a unique gimmick that can take a lot of directions if WWE would desire to... Del Rio didn't have that. I agree with you... A feud with Roman means Bray will decisively lose and Bray needs to be established as a top heel that actually wins. What feud of importance he's come out looking better than he did coming in? The one with Ambrose? That final ambulance match was lacklustre and anti-climatic at best.
I think you could have taken the Del Rio character a lot of directions too but when they pushed out Laurinaitis you could tell all support for him dropped and he was just a high paid guy they never had any plans for beyond "Be generic heel."
To hear him tell the story, he was basically told that he wasn't drawing enough heat as a heel, but was barred from all the tried and true heel tactics that heels use to draw heat. I can easily see this, considering that every WWE heel nowadays is a neutered dipshit.
Well, they took away his valet which really neutered the character. It would have made sense if it was to elevated Ricardo and do a Dibiase/Virgil storyline where he humiliated Ricardo and got his comeuppance in the end it would be one thing - but Ricardo just ended up a doofus in a pink shirt hanging out with Rob Van Dam.
And turning him face and making him the immigrant american dream - does WWE know who their audience are?
1. Bray should have gone over Taker. Period. At this point he's pretty much shot, the entrance is over (though it would be over no matter who's doing it, it's fucking sweet and the music is great) but the character is firmly established as a JTTS. Sure, he beat Jericho (though he lost on PPV), but so does everyone else. Best thing is to repackage him, say he's giving up the cult thing and playing it straight, maybe stick him with the Authority. Still better than Kane.
2. I don't see what Austin is getting mad about either. As stated, he's been retired for 12 years, Cena isn't using it as a finisher, it's not like Cole is screaming "Stunner, bah gawd!", and it's not really the same move. Besides, it's not like Austin invented the move anyway, he stole it from Johnny Ace, who IIRC stole it from someone in Japan.
3. I'm not a big fan. The champ shouldn't be working the second match of the night against a guy that's fresh from NXT, though at least someone came to their senses and had Seth win (assuming that rumor was true). Though at least he's working every Monday, which instantly makes his booking better than the previous champ. I don't like it, but I don't quite HATE it either. A clean, or at least not quite clean but a serious shitkicking win over Orton will do him a lot of favors. BTW, while I think Roman will win MITB to build him back up the endgame here is Brock destroying Rollins at SS.
4. I've never heard about any of this, but a web-only show wouldn't have worked in 2006, the technology just wasn't there yet for most people. 9 years later it's still not there for many people, especially outside of the U.S. Even those who can access good high speed internet might not be able to afford it. As for the WM number thing, it's simply because Vince is senile, or a moron, or both. People forget this actually started 2 years ago, 29 was always referred to as Wrestlemania NY\NJ.
In some way out there possibility, say they get Austin to come back to do another match at mania. Knowing Cena would have no qualms jobbing, they go Cena vs Austin. Say the match is even set up during some raw in Texas. Can you imagine the heat it would get if it's set off with Cena giving Austin a stunner?
I thought when I saw him do it at mania that it was just a freak accident, to be honest. If it was planned I thought that should have been the finish. Like he throws everything at Rusev, and has to go to something he's never done.
I mean, he uses a diving version of the Atomic Leg Drop (okay, it's a Fameasser, but the dynamic is there) and he does a weird Back-Suplex Rock Bottom...and he does a real shitty STF...
Is John Cena's moveset turned into the Vietnamese Knockoff of the Best Of Wrestling Champions Arsenal Of Finishers?
If he finishes off Rusev with some Spinning Atomic Drop (that was Backlund's finisher, right?) I will shit a brick.
The only difference between Mickey Whipwrecks Whipper Snapper and the Stunner was the kick to the gut, and that came before the WWF too, pretty sure he hit it on Austin in his brief ECW run as well.
Didn't Austin say his issue isn't with Cena using the Stunner, but that it's a waste to use such a spectacular (and dangerous for Cena) move as part of his general arsenal, rather than building it up as a super special finisher, that'd eventually get someone super over when they kick out of it.
I've said it before and I mean it. Cena should slowly start becoming a flippy spot monkey.
I can't think of anything that would make us hate him more.
"Oh yeah, I could always do a Shooting Star Press or gorilla press a guy over my head and then hit him in the back with a springboard moonsault before he hit the ground. I learned that on dropkick day, instead of dropkicks. Hustle, etc, etc."
The problem with Bray now is that if you stick him with someone like Roman, he'll no doubt end up losing and it would firmly establish Bray as a main event jobber, and once fans perceive you as that, it's very hard to shake off and a big reason why nobody cared about Del Rio after awhile.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure the biggest star of the Attitude Era was HHH.
ReplyDeleteIf Vince really started letting Cena do a version of the stunner because of that issue between them, Vince is a more petty psycho asshole than I thought.
ReplyDeleteSurely that's not the case with Cena doing the stunner. Why would he do a silly springboard variation if they wanted to stick it to Austin?
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean "pretty sure"?
ReplyDeleteSTAR WARS
ReplyDelete99% HHH, 1% that awesome tank that razed Atlanta in a way not seen in the south since Sherman's march to the sea
ReplyDeleteI've got a hunch it could be a big deal.
ReplyDeleteI wept.
ReplyDeleteUndertaker?
ReplyDeleteDoing a real one would get him booed more than he already is. Not sure that's something they care about though.
ReplyDeleteThat was basically Meltzer's theory on the radio show a couple of days ago.
ReplyDeleteIf I got the Wyatt family back together I'd add a repackaged Fandango as a Jesco White multiple personality Dancin' Outlaw type and have him do creepy tapdances behind Bray's promos.
ReplyDeleteBray has the advantage of having a unique gimmick that can take a lot of directions if WWE would desire to... Del Rio didn't have that. I agree with you... A feud with Roman means Bray will decisively lose and Bray needs to be established as a top heel that actually wins. What feud of importance he's come out looking better than he did coming in? The one with Ambrose? That final ambulance match was lacklustre and anti-climatic at best.
ReplyDeleteI think you could have taken the Del Rio character a lot of directions too but when they pushed out Laurinaitis you could tell all support for him dropped and he was just a high paid guy they never had any plans for beyond "Be generic heel."
ReplyDeleteTo hear him tell the story, he was basically told that he wasn't drawing enough heat as a heel, but was barred from all the tried and true heel tactics that heels use to draw heat. I can easily see this, considering that every WWE heel nowadays is a neutered dipshit.
ReplyDeleteWell, they took away his valet which really neutered the character. It would have made sense if it was to elevated Ricardo and do a Dibiase/Virgil storyline where he humiliated Ricardo and got his comeuppance in the end it would be one thing - but Ricardo just ended up a doofus in a pink shirt hanging out with Rob Van Dam.
ReplyDeleteAnd turning him face and making him the immigrant american dream - does WWE know who their audience are?
Well now that you mention it... I always thought Del Rio forming a "Cartel" like stable could have been great although a little edgy for #WWEPG
ReplyDeleteHe'll just forget the feud ever happened and start talking in rhymes against a new face.
ReplyDeleteCena is going to be walking with a cane at age 60 if he keeps doing that lame stunner.
ReplyDeleteIt's a really shitty springboard variation. I've seen that move executed perfectly and it looks fine.
ReplyDeleteCena looks awkward as hell trying
Because Cena looks a little flashier and more impressive jumping off the ropes in springboard fashion doing it?
ReplyDeleteWhat did anyone ever see in del rio? He struck me as totally bland and just average. Ok worker and all but nothing special.
ReplyDeleteEveryone saw that it was his destiny to be the best!
ReplyDeleteReally? By Vince's standards that's pretty mild.
ReplyDeleteI think he's already established as a main event jobber, and basically was before the Taker match.
ReplyDelete60 is a pretty normal age to use a cane, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteNot really, no.
ReplyDeleteOkay, going down the list:
ReplyDelete1. Bray should have gone over Taker. Period. At this point he's pretty much shot, the entrance is over (though it would be over no matter who's doing it, it's fucking sweet and the music is great) but the character is firmly established as a JTTS. Sure, he beat Jericho (though he lost on PPV), but so does everyone else. Best thing is to repackage him, say he's giving up the cult thing and playing it straight, maybe stick him with the Authority. Still better than Kane.
2. I don't see what Austin is getting mad about either. As stated, he's been retired for 12 years, Cena isn't using it as a finisher, it's not like Cole is screaming "Stunner, bah gawd!", and it's not really the same move. Besides, it's not like Austin invented the move anyway, he stole it from Johnny Ace, who IIRC stole it from someone in Japan.
3. I'm not a big fan. The champ shouldn't be working the second match of the night against a guy that's fresh from NXT, though at least someone came to their senses and had Seth win (assuming that rumor was true). Though at least he's working every Monday, which instantly makes his booking better than the previous champ. I don't like it, but I don't quite HATE it either. A clean, or at least not quite clean but a serious shitkicking win over Orton will do him a lot of favors. BTW, while I think Roman will win MITB to build him back up the endgame here is Brock destroying Rollins at SS.
4. I've never heard about any of this, but a web-only show wouldn't have worked in 2006, the technology just wasn't there yet for most people. 9 years later it's still not there for many people, especially outside of the U.S. Even those who can access good high speed internet might not be able to afford it. As for the WM number thing, it's simply because Vince is senile, or a moron, or both. People forget this actually started 2 years ago, 29 was always referred to as Wrestlemania NY\NJ.
By wrestling standards 60 isn't a normal age to be alive.
ReplyDeleteIn some way out there possibility, say they get Austin to come back to do another match at mania. Knowing Cena would have no qualms jobbing, they go Cena vs Austin. Say the match is even set up during some raw in Texas. Can you imagine the heat it would get if it's set off with Cena giving Austin a stunner?
ReplyDeleteWould never happen, but it'd be fun to see.
I thought when I saw him do it at mania that it was just a freak accident, to be honest. If it was planned I thought that should have been the finish. Like he throws everything at Rusev, and has to go to something he's never done.
ReplyDeleteThe latino market is big. Thus I get why they made the attempt.
ReplyDeleteHe was over on Smackdown when he was breaking Rey Mysterio's arm.
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonder how WWE managed to take one of the most over faces in Mexico and fuck that up...twice.
ReplyDeleteCena's also one hundred pounds of muscle heavier than most guys doing that move.
ReplyDeleteAlso his body was designed by a really shitty 80s action figure company and he can only bend at like two points, his waist and his knees.
I mean, he uses a diving version of the Atomic Leg Drop (okay, it's a Fameasser, but the dynamic is there) and he does a weird Back-Suplex Rock Bottom...and he does a real shitty STF...
ReplyDeleteIs John Cena's moveset turned into the Vietnamese Knockoff of the Best Of Wrestling Champions Arsenal Of Finishers?
If he finishes off Rusev with some Spinning Atomic Drop (that was Backlund's finisher, right?) I will shit a brick.
I think Johnny Ace invented it.
ReplyDeleteAnd DDP invented doing it with a cravate.
Didn't Austin say on his podcast, that everything is fine with Vince?
ReplyDeleteThe only difference between Mickey Whipwrecks Whipper Snapper and the Stunner was the kick to the gut, and that came before the WWF too, pretty sure he hit it on Austin in his brief ECW run as well.
ReplyDeleteI think Kane will still be wrestling in the main event of Raw when he's 60.
ReplyDeleteUh...the middle finger?
ReplyDeleteDidn't Austin say his issue isn't with Cena using the Stunner, but that it's a waste to use such a spectacular (and dangerous for Cena) move as part of his general arsenal, rather than building it up as a super special finisher, that'd eventually get someone super over when they kick out of it.
ReplyDeleteI've said it before and I mean it. Cena should slowly start becoming a flippy spot monkey.
ReplyDeleteI can't think of anything that would make us hate him more.
"Oh yeah, I could always do a Shooting Star Press or gorilla press a guy over my head and then hit him in the back with a springboard moonsault before he hit the ground. I learned that on dropkick day, instead of dropkicks. Hustle, etc, etc."
I'm still laughing at Cena=80's action figure
ReplyDeleteSecond biggest face in Mexico, and he's like...six foot five.
ReplyDeleteI get why Vince would've wanted him.
I'd say he's already a spot monkey...
ReplyDeleteIn that his matches don't really have anything to them other than spots/signature moves.
Not to be pedantic Scott, but YouTube WAS around during 2006; it's just that it wasn't as big back then, than it is today.
ReplyDelete