This whole "the WWE locker room is angry with the fans for costing Reigns his big moment" story has to be bullshit, right? I mean, I can see the JBLs of the world spouting that nonsense, but no reasonable person can look at how the Reigns thing was handled and claim that the paying customer is to blame for his downfall. And when did Reigns become some beloved backstage figure, anyhow?
Yeah I agree Brock going over Undertaker was a waste of the streak, especially since it wasn't his final match anyway. Brock suplexing the shit out of John Cena and destroying him in a 15 minute domination is what gave Brock his aura he has now.
The Streak was never bigger than when HBK put his career up against it at Wrestlemania 26. They should have gone with Cena putting a one-year title reign up against Taker's Streak at WM 27.
Once that didn't happen... I think it works well at Wrestlemania 29. HHH failed in back to back years. The Streak was still "unbeatable." Use the whole "Rock wants the title one last time" thing to put him in the Royal Rumble. Do Punk vs. Rock for the WWE Title (Punk's historic reign vs. Rock's last chance). When Cena doesn't win the Rumble, he challenges the ONE thing he has never beaten: The Streak. Book Brock over HHH and I think those three matches deliver bigger than what we got.
When THAT didn't happen... it still worked at Wrestlemania 30. Undertaker vs. Cena. HHH vs. Bryan. Batista vs. Lesnar, or Batista vs. Orton. Lesnar-Punk II would have been ideal, but Punk bailed.
Oh, the circumstances could've been better, I agree. Champion Punk vs. Undefeated Undertaker could've been magic. And since Rock won the year before, EVERYONE knew Cena would win.
But to say Cena Rock 2 "was nothing the world wanted to see" is a crock of shit.
The buildup would have been okay if they built up CM Punk wanting competition, but sadly they reduced themselves to the early 90's crutch with Punk stealing Undertaker's urn.
They could still do Cena/Taker, and I have no doubt Cena would take the loss. It wouldn't have as much impact as it could have, but they could do it, it would probably be good, and draw lots of attention. Sting/UT though is the big draw-in so do that next year to fill up that stadium, then do Cena/Taker retirement match at WM33. If Sting can still go reasonably well enough at 56-57, then Mark can at 51-52.
Nothing worse than an urn-stealer. I loved Cactus Jack fan when he was in ECW but totally turned on Mankind the boiler-room-dwelling-urn-thief. He won me over in the summer of '97 with the JR interview and Dude Love angle. But from his WWF debut up until that point, I couldn't stand him.
I'm glad you got this clarified. I was about to be bewildered and outraged, yelling, "BUT YOU GAVE IT FOUR STARS!" I'm so disappointed by the build-up of that match and its placement in the event...especially after hearing C.M. Punk talk about it on his friend's podcast. I really wish it had been 'Title vs. Streak', as Punk suggested.
Yup. Cena pins Rock to avenge his loss, Punk throws a shit-fit his record title reign ended without him being beat and Cena/Punk is good to go after WM.
Yes. You still get the boost of having Rock in the main event, but it allows Cena-Punk to be the driving force, continuing after WM. Payback was in Chicago, so maybe you do the definitive Cena-Punk blow-off at that show
Those three were just so far above the rest of the roster at that time in terms of importance, and they had dominated two years' worth of top storylines, and there were Cena/Rock, Cena/Punk, and Rock/Punk storylines and matches in that time that all intertwined. There's not a question in my mind that it should've happened.
Yeah, I think it kind of gets left out of the discussion that WWE still had TWO world titles at that point. Rock still could have gone for "one more world title" without taking the belt off Punk. Remember, WM29 had Alberto Del Rio vs. Jack Swagger as an actual World Title match instead.
Rumble '13: - Cena wins the Rumble, making Rock's title win look obvious. Punk def. Rock to retain and break the hearts of Rock fans.
Chamber '13: - Rock enters Elimination Chamber and wins World Heavyweight Title. Cena audibles from possibly challenging Punk for Mania 29 to wanting his re-match with Rock. With no challenger now, CM Punk is wide open to make a grandstand challenge to Undertaker. Punk's ego makes him want to take his 500+ day reign to where no one has ever made it: the Streak.
Wrestlemania 29: - Cena def. Rock to win World Title - Punk def. Undertaker to retain WWE Title, end the Streak - Lesnar def. HHH
Take could have beaten Punk at that juncture as well. Why end the Streak at that point? Taker stuck around for a bit afterward anyway. Have Taker drop at Extreme Rules to...Cena I guess. Then build up Cena/Punk.
I disagree with Scott on Cena vs. Undertaker. I feel like Undertaker's career being on the line would still be a pretty big deal. I see fit know better way to send him off than against Cena. It would take some real outside the box thinking and creative balls but I feel like this could still be a huge match. People make the mistake of thinking that "The Streak" was ever actually bigger than the wrestler himself. I don't feel like it is. Cena vs. Undertaker in a career match is brilliant.
Nothing the world of 2013 wanted to see. It would have been good for a Mania like this year's where there was a lot of negative reaction to the build and an overall lack of starpower. Ultimately the Rock/Rousey segment did a lot to bail out the show. They had to kinda hide The Rock for the better part of a year after Mania 29 to get his heat back since the main event was so poorly received.
Really the answer to the "one more world title" would have been just to book Rock vs. Punk for Mania instead of for the Rumble. I think he was going to be 500 days at the Raw after Wrestlemania. Punk touched on this in his podcast, pointing out how they could have done way more business than they did and despite his Punk-centric viewpoints he was talking sense as WM29 is an all but forgotten Mania remembered only for Punk vs. Undertaker.
I think Cena's a great opponent. The thing with Bray and I guess Brock is that they're big dudes who don't really go 'up'. Cena does, and that helps 'Taker look like a monster - see also Shawn, Punk, etc.
A rare disagreement I have with my online wrestling writing hero!
I think with Brock ending the streak it immediatelygot rid of his "losing his first match against Cena and triple h fued" stink.
It didnt even matter if the match was balls. It was the first time I had wrestling spoiled for me the next morning when the radio stations were talking about how the Undertaker lost his streak. (Still pissed about being spoiled by that. ) Would he have gotten there eventually? Probably. But damn, To me, that's when the monster was born not that trading wins with Triple H bullshit.
Saw this on Heelbook on Facebook ... made me laugh https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10929978_1060192233994951_6325182228130124857_n.jpg?oh=1183dc39d50a3d8e8682139f2245cd9f&oe=559E4DB2
I thought Undertaker/Punk was solid enough. Do you mean it was a weak match-up going in or that the match itself was weak?
ReplyDeleteWeak match coming off Punk losing the title like a nothing. The buildup with the four-way was pathetic, too.
ReplyDeleteFair enough. Yeah I guess looking back on it the match was born out of "We have nothing do with Punk so let's let him be Undertaker's opponent"
ReplyDeleteWhen did "that train has sailed" become a thing? Or did Scott just recently decide that it was funny and started shoehorning it in?
ReplyDeleteLike all hilarious topical references, it comes from the first Austin Powers movie.
ReplyDeleteAh, okay. I've somehow still not seen that movie. It's only been 18 years, I'll catch up any day now.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is when Austin stands on a 5 in Blackjack, and loses the hand to the dealer.
ReplyDeleteThis whole "the WWE locker room is angry with the fans for costing Reigns his big moment" story has to be bullshit, right? I mean, I can see the JBLs of the world spouting that nonsense, but no reasonable person can look at how the Reigns thing was handled and claim that the paying customer is to blame for his downfall. And when did Reigns become some beloved backstage figure, anyhow?
ReplyDelete20 beats your five.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, sir.
Watch it with Vince.
ReplyDeleteYeah I agree Brock going over Undertaker was a waste of the streak, especially since it wasn't his final match anyway. Brock suplexing the shit out of John Cena and destroying him in a 15 minute domination is what gave Brock his aura he has now.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'll get together with Meekin and we can run an Apocalypse Now/Austin Powers double-feature. I'll bring the booze and the earplugs.
ReplyDeleteThe Streak was never bigger than when HBK put his career up against it at Wrestlemania 26. They should have gone with Cena putting a one-year title reign up against Taker's Streak at WM 27.
ReplyDeleteOnce that didn't happen... I think it works well at Wrestlemania 29. HHH failed in back to back years. The Streak was still "unbeatable." Use the whole "Rock wants the title one last time" thing to put him in the Royal Rumble. Do Punk vs. Rock for the WWE Title (Punk's historic reign vs. Rock's last chance). When Cena doesn't win the Rumble, he challenges the ONE thing he has never beaten: The Streak. Book Brock over HHH and I think those three matches deliver bigger than what we got.
When THAT didn't happen... it still worked at Wrestlemania 30. Undertaker vs. Cena. HHH vs. Bryan. Batista vs. Lesnar, or Batista vs. Orton. Lesnar-Punk II would have been ideal, but Punk bailed.
"Two years ago would have been the time to do it, because Cena-Rock 2 was nothing the world wanted to see"
ReplyDeleteCena-Rock 1 did the highest buyrate in WWE history. They would've been foolish not to run it again. It still did a massive number.
They could have just waited a couple years on it. The gigantic rush and the meaningless addition of the title hurt it tremendously.
ReplyDeleteOh, the circumstances could've been better, I agree. Champion Punk vs. Undefeated Undertaker could've been magic. And since Rock won the year before, EVERYONE knew Cena would win.
ReplyDeleteBut to say Cena Rock 2 "was nothing the world wanted to see" is a crock of shit.
The buildup would have been okay if they built up CM Punk wanting competition, but sadly they reduced themselves to the early 90's crutch with Punk stealing Undertaker's urn.
ReplyDeleteGreat match, weak buildup.
ReplyDeleteI will say until my dying day that WM29 should've been a Rock/Punk/Cena triple threat.
ReplyDeleteThey could still do Cena/Taker, and I have no doubt Cena would take the loss. It wouldn't have as much impact as it could have, but they could do it, it would probably be good, and draw lots of attention. Sting/UT though is the big draw-in so do that next year to fill up that stadium, then do Cena/Taker retirement match at WM33. If Sting can still go reasonably well enough at 56-57, then Mark can at 51-52.
ReplyDeleteI don't love those movies, but that is a great scene. "I'll stay..."
ReplyDeleteIt's the classic case of WWE booking a match and then an angle... instead of the way it used to be where it drew money.
ReplyDeleteNothing worse than an urn-stealer. I loved Cactus Jack fan when he was in ECW but totally turned on Mankind the boiler-room-dwelling-urn-thief. He won me over in the summer of '97 with the JR interview and Dude Love angle. But from his WWF debut up until that point, I couldn't stand him.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got this clarified. I was about to be bewildered and outraged, yelling, "BUT YOU GAVE IT FOUR STARS!" I'm so disappointed by the build-up of that match and its placement in the event...especially after hearing C.M. Punk talk about it on his friend's podcast. I really wish it had been 'Title vs. Streak', as Punk suggested.
ReplyDeleteit did draw money though.
ReplyDeleteYup. Cena pins Rock to avenge his loss, Punk throws a shit-fit his record title reign ended without him being beat and Cena/Punk is good to go after WM.
ReplyDeleteYes. You still get the boost of having Rock in the main event, but it allows Cena-Punk to be the driving force, continuing after WM. Payback was in Chicago, so maybe you do the definitive Cena-Punk blow-off at that show
ReplyDeleteCena vs. Taker would have done just fine I think
ReplyDeleteThose three were just so far above the rest of the roster at that time in terms of importance, and they had dominated two years' worth of top storylines, and there were Cena/Rock, Cena/Punk, and Rock/Punk storylines and matches in that time that all intertwined. There's not a question in my mind that it should've happened.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think it kind of gets left out of the discussion that WWE still had TWO world titles at that point. Rock still could have gone for "one more world title" without taking the belt off Punk. Remember, WM29 had Alberto Del Rio vs. Jack Swagger as an actual World Title match instead.
ReplyDeleteRumble '13:
- Cena wins the Rumble, making Rock's title win look obvious. Punk def. Rock to retain and break the hearts of Rock fans.
Chamber '13:
- Rock enters Elimination Chamber and wins World Heavyweight Title. Cena audibles from possibly challenging Punk for Mania 29 to wanting his re-match with Rock. With no challenger now, CM Punk is wide open to make a grandstand challenge to Undertaker. Punk's ego makes him want to take his 500+ day reign to where no one has ever made it: the Streak.
Wrestlemania 29:
- Cena def. Rock to win World Title
- Punk def. Undertaker to retain WWE Title, end the Streak
- Lesnar def. HHH
Rock vs. Cena vs. Punk, WWE Title
ReplyDeleteUndertaker vs. Lesnar
HHH could stand to take a WM off. Imagine if Lesnar ends the Streak a year earlier?
I'm not even thinking that far ahead with it, because I'd assume Punk still takes his 2-3 month break after WM29.
ReplyDeleteI thought Rock Cena sold itself and you could have had Taker/Punk be epic IF Punk had the belt going into Mania.
ReplyDeletePlus allowed them to save Punk Rock for the title at Mania, instead of given away for free on Raw.
ReplyDeleteTake could have beaten Punk at that juncture as well. Why end the Streak at that point? Taker stuck around for a bit afterward anyway. Have Taker drop at Extreme Rules to...Cena I guess. Then build up Cena/Punk.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Scott on Cena vs. Undertaker. I feel like Undertaker's career being on the line would still be a pretty big deal. I see fit know better way to send him off than against Cena. It would take some real outside the box thinking and creative balls but I feel like this could still be a huge match. People make the mistake of thinking that "The Streak" was ever actually bigger than the wrestler himself. I don't feel like it is. Cena vs. Undertaker in a career match is brilliant.
ReplyDelete"HHH could stand to take a WM off."
ReplyDeleteHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA and miss a WrestleMania payday?
HA!
I thought it pretty clear they hate us and we hate them by now
ReplyDeleteNothing the world of 2013 wanted to see. It would have been good for a Mania like this year's where there was a lot of negative reaction to the build and an overall lack of starpower. Ultimately the Rock/Rousey segment did a lot to bail out the show. They had to kinda hide The Rock for the better part of a year after Mania 29 to get his heat back since the main event was so poorly received.
ReplyDeleteReally the answer to the "one more world title" would have been just to book Rock vs. Punk for Mania instead of for the Rumble. I think he was going to be 500 days at the Raw after Wrestlemania. Punk touched on this in his podcast, pointing out how they could have done way more business than they did and despite his Punk-centric viewpoints he was talking sense as WM29 is an all but forgotten Mania remembered only for Punk vs. Undertaker.
ReplyDeletePunk vs Rock was at the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber, not on Raw. Not sure if that's a typo.
ReplyDeleteI think Cena's a great opponent. The thing with Bray and I guess Brock is that they're big dudes who don't really go 'up'. Cena does, and that helps 'Taker look like a monster - see also Shawn, Punk, etc.
ReplyDeletePunk taking the break still works if he did what Brock did after WM31.
ReplyDeleteA rare disagreement I have with my online wrestling writing hero!
ReplyDeleteI think with Brock ending the streak it immediatelygot rid of his "losing his first match against Cena and triple h fued" stink.
It didnt even matter if the match was balls. It was the first time I had wrestling spoiled for me the next morning when the radio stations were talking about how the Undertaker lost his streak. (Still pissed about being spoiled by that. ) Would he have gotten there eventually? Probably. But damn, To me, that's when the monster was born not that trading wins with Triple H bullshit.
Saw this on Heelbook on Facebook ... made me laugh https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10929978_1060192233994951_6325182228130124857_n.jpg?oh=1183dc39d50a3d8e8682139f2245cd9f&oe=559E4DB2
ReplyDeletecant stand to watch any of the whole movies anymore, but some scenes are very funny like the Springer scene with Scott and Dr Evil
ReplyDeleteHeh...thanks for sharing. Made me laugh too.
ReplyDeletePunk pouring the ashes over Taker was glorious though.
ReplyDeleteWhat, flipping out and wrecking shit? Yeah, I like that.
ReplyDelete