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Kevin Owens is our Austin, not Ambrose

Scott,

I think I'm the last person to come to this realization, but Kevin Owens is essentially the PG Era Steve Austin. Rolling out of the ring during matches, kicking people when they are down, doing all the little heel things perfectly, being a bull, and backing it up by just beating people up and laughing about it. That power bomb to that dopey musician might as well have been a stunner. He just hasn't really gotten his comeuppance yet. 

I know people want Ambrose to be the new Austin, but I feel like we already have him in Owens and it's pretty amazing to watch. Ya dig?

​Everything about Owens is awesome and if he's seriously not World champion at some time this year then there is no justice in the world.  He's just killing everything they give him.  I think we might be witnessing one of the first real rocket pushes of the post-Cena era, where we're on board from the launch and never get to the "disappointing payoff" stage​.  If they can manage to not fuck up both Owens and Ambrose for the next year, they'll have something to build on.  

Comments

  1. Something to build on until Vince is bored with them and have them trade wins with Wade Barrett for weeks on end.

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  2. The clapping after that guy finished performing put it over the top. The guy goes to shake Owens' hand and he just looks at it. That sealed it for me.

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  3. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 10:09 AM

    I could see an Austin-like trajectory taking place. Owens destroying the WWE-endorsed, forced "hero" babyfaces then organically turning into the world's biggest megaface once he no longer plays ball with the Authority. You KNOW HHH would put him over big when the time is right. A lot of storyline potential too:


    - Maybe Owens dominance--and defiance of Authority--is the impetus for the Shield reunion. Owens vs. Ambrose, Rollins, and Reigns, with KO refusing to accept any help from anyone gives you months of great match-ups.


    - Owens dominates babyfaces and heels alike until the Authority can no longer dictate his trajectory. The last resort: Brock Lesnar. Do Owens vs. Lesnar at Wrestlemania.


    - A simpler anti-authority run of Owens vs. Rollins, then Owens vs. HHH by Wrestlemania timeframe.


    For now though, just have him keep wrecking the faux-heroes and just generally doing everything better than the "WWE Superstars"

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  4. Barrett's a jobber. Gotta trade wins with R-Truth, instead.

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  5. Kevin Owens has made me DVR Raw every week now. I'm not gonna watch 3 hrs of that crap, but I will watch and love wvery segment he's a part of. He's pulling me back into the product.

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  6. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 10:16 AM

    That's about as "Austin-like" as it gets, TBH

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  7. I'm digging Owens too, but these projections needs to slow down. You're just setting yourself up for the disappointing payoff.

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  8. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 10:18 AM

    I can see Owens being an "Authority guy" for as long as they let him be on his own program, running roughshod over the roster and beating up whoever he wants. The natural progression would be targeting Rollins' WWE Title, at which point the Authority has to make a choice. You can either have Owens win, stay full heel, and turn Seth after he drops the title. Or have the Authority back Rollins and screw Owens over, kicking off an Austin-like crusade for Owens to fight through the Authority and win the title.

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  9. I think Owens is the person to beat Lesnar.

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  10. I see Owens & Balor as being this era's Austin & Rock (obviously not exactly the same, but both being able to be megastars), if the company doesn't cut things off at the feet.

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  11. Can you imagine the bragging promos for months?

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  12. Owens-Lesnar in Dallas would be sweet, but doesn't seem to have the part-timer, mainstream vibe Vince seems to want for the card. I just wonder which one turns face first - Lesnar already is basically, but Owens is rapidly getting over and powerbombing celebrities only makes him more of a face.

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  13. So what does this have to do with putting heat on Stephanie?

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  14. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 10:29 AM

    Owens eliminating her once and for all with an apron powerbomb would implode the universe with its awesomeness.

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  15. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 10:30 AM

    If anyone is worth sacrificing Lesnar's unbeatable persona to, it's Owens. Not Reigns.

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  16. If this ever happened then they can just drop the title at his feet.

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  17. It reminds me of when the Shield debuted and everyone was talking about how they'd all have multiple world titles and be Hall of Famers in a few weeks.

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  18. As great as Owens is on the mic, I think he would make a great 'Heyman guy' too.

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  19. The money feud will be Zayn v Owens. That will be incredible because it will be one of the best faces ever versus one of the best current heels.

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  20. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 10:40 AM

    I love the idea of a slow-burn toward Owens as top babyface, because he's the most "Austin-like" in years. It works in kayfabe, for a change, because he really is the "fuck you, I'll do what I want" character.....but he has the babyface "out" of doing it "for his family."

    The family thing is an odd touch for a heel, but would make everything work once he turns toward the outcast tough guy raging against the Authority machine.

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  21. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 10:42 AM

    The cool thing is, you can totally have Austin-style top babyface Kevin Owens exist in the same universe as John Cena. It would be Rock and Austin for the modern era, in a way. They can both be top faces without being Superfriends and the fact that they have heated history and don't like each other just makes them all the more interesting once they are sharing the spotlight in, say, a year.

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  22. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 10:44 AM

    Owens beating Lesnar and becoming what Reigns was "supposed" to be at this year's Wrestlemania could turn into the ultimate "lemonaide out of lemons" scenario for WWE. If Owens ends up turned into an Owens 3:16 tweener, they should just embrace the fact that the fans just never took to Roman like "they" wanted. Make that the motivation for Reigns going Authority 4 Life as the corporate sell-out

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  23. Is anyone else seeing Owens-Taker at WM? If for no other reason than the MONSTER pop the "GONGGGGGG" would get at some point on the road to WM and the potential awesomeness of Owens flat-out mocking Taker for two months before having to face him, I think that would be flat-out amazing. If Owens is built correctly, it may also make total sense for him to go over.

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  24. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 10:46 AM

    ONLY if they have Owens completely no-sell Taker's "mystique" during the build-up and play it up as the "gunfighter's last stand" sort of story arc. Then Owens goes over completely clean and Taker retires the next night in Texas. It wasn't worth doing for Wyatt, but would totally work for Owens

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  25. Precisely. They couldn't half-ass it and have it work.

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  26. Same here, I stopped watching raw weekly when punk left but fuck if Owens is sooo much more awesome.

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  27. So, before he stalked and got beat up by Taker's wife, DDP kidnapped Austin's wife?

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  28. It certainly looks that way for them.

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  29. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 10:52 AM

    If there is going to be an "Owens as Authority hired gun" phase, I think it's an awesome opportunity to showcase the NXT guys. Zayn, Riley, Balor, Itami, Joe, et al have an axe to grind with Owens, but when they all return healthy, Owens is now on the main roster, insulated by the powers that be. They have to band together on a crusade against the "machine" in order to get at Owens. I know it's LOLCenaWins, but having Cena endorse the NXT guys and lead them against the Authority gives a rub without him overshadowing.


    Cena, Balor, Itami, Zayn, & Samoa Joe vs. The Authority (HHH, Owens, Rollins, Reigns, Sheamus)

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  30. Does that make Sami Zayn, Mick Foley?

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  31. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 10:53 AM

    Such a weird use of one of their only legit upper-card WCW guys. Makes Vince sense though

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  32. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 10:59 AM

    Owens' character just fucking WORKS. As a character, not a WWE superstar. As a heel, he's the insecure tough guy who doesn't fit the traditional Superstar image. But he's got a ton of ability, can fight, and isn't afraid to cheat to win (like Flair, in a sense). Yet he has the layer of "doing it for his family". To me that's the catch-all that will allow him to be a babyface eventually too. Not the heart-warming Lifetime movie story good guy. Just the dude who came in guns-blazing because he HAD to. He targeted the Cenas of the world because he knew that was the way to the top. He isn't the underwear model pedigree of a former WWE Superstar like Randy Orton, so he can't expect a million chances (kayfabe). He isn't the baby-kissing movie star who will be kept on top no matter what, like Cena or Rock. Character-wise, he does it for himself and for his family, so you can basically justify any heel or face turn along the way. Make him a Corporate sell-out working for the Authority for a while? Great, that fits. When he gets tired of being jerked around by the Authority and molded into something unnatural? Turn him into a defiant babyface. The best part is, just like early-Stone Cold, none of it changes his fundamental character.

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  33. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 10:59 AM

    That's....probably perfect.

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  34. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 11:01 AM

    "Fight Owens Fight" could totally become the next "Austin 3:16". The "Yes!" thing was great while it lasted, but 100k people chanting "Fight Owens Fight" as he makes the ultimate bloodied-up comeback against Brock Lesnar?

    FUCK

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  35. The easiest way to justify a face turn is to have him cut a promo saying his son told him he doesn't respect him anymore, and all the money he's bringing in as a hired gun isn't worth that.

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  36. Just wait til Vince or Dunn see Owen's stomach accidently during a match (shirt comes up). His push will die instantly. HHH can't protect him from those idiots forever, unfortunately

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  37. That will never happen

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  38. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 11:03 AM

    That works great as well. Great character motivation: he maybe gets "soft" working for HHH and Steph, loses a couple matches he shouldn't have, then gets reinvested when his family tells him he's sold his soul. Comes back with new fire and goes on his next rampage

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  39. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 11:03 AM

    They will have him in a tag team with Bray Wyatt as dancing, rapping fat boys in no time

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  40. It's not really a catch phrase though. He needs something thats tacked on to end sentences WWE style like " An that's.... FINAL!"

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  41. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 11:05 AM

    That's the best part. We don't have Owens out there leading a chant of "Fight Owens Fight". It's just a thing for the fans. No pandering like the "What?" thing or character-participation like "Yes! Yes! Yes!"

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  42. Today.... is going to be.... a bad...day!

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  43. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 11:08 AM

    Owens could become the perfect blend of Bryan, Punk, and Austin without changing a thing.

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  44. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 11:12 AM

    Yeah, they would have to make it feel like Taker was the actual underdog on some level.

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  45. HowmuchdoesthisguyweighJune 20, 2015 at 11:12 AM

    Owens stealing the Nash line, "I ain't afraid of the dark", would be awesome

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  46. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 11:13 AM

    Owens ending Taker's career at Mania 32 would be the perfect inception for KO vs. Brock at WM 33. Owens is the only OTHER guy to beat Taker at Wrestlemania, only his is bigger because he ended Taker's career. Heyman vs. Owens promos. Owens vs. Brock build for a year.

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  47. Let him pop out of the crowd on every Raw and Smackdown, Diamond Cutter to everyone in sight, then you've got a real leader of the WCW side and don't need to idiotically turn Austin or Angle.

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  48. I'd just have him do the same thing but against a top heel. Heel is pimping himself in the ring, KO comes in and destroys him telling he's next so to speak, easy enough. I like how Sheamus's initial face turn was him answering Mark Henry's challenge that no one could beat him simply because he was looking for a tough fight.

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  49. And Reigns is Billy Gunn?

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  50. Like when Punk was in a position to do the same thing four years ago. I don't have any faith in them doing a top face 1A and 1B like that after the Summer of Punk fiasco.

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  51. Don't forget Neville and Barrett. ;)

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  52. The most revolutionary thing to do would be to leave him as he is. He's damn good at maintaining a logical basis for all his actions; rather than changing anything about him to turn him one way, then the other, just let him be himself. He could lead a new era of guys who are guys, who do good things and bad things and can just be themselves. After all, I'm tired of Creative ruining guys with idiotic turns or turns that are too early to help a guy or too late to matter.

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  53. Is doing it for his family part of his motivation on the main roster? (I only get to watch the shows here and there when I get the time). If it is, I would disagree with your scenario only in how it deals with his character motivation. Sheamus was a guy who loved to fight, so it made sense for him. Owens is a guy who needs to be the best to support his family. If they're playing his character right, then he wouldn't care if somebody is running their mouth if it didn't advance his paycheque.

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  54. Joey Jo-Jo Junior ShabbadooJune 20, 2015 at 11:22 AM

    This is a case where Vince and the creative team needs to get the fuck out of the way and just let the guy BE. Don't try and "fix" what isn't broken just to prove a damn point that only Vince cares about and any of that nonsense.

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  55. Does no one else foresee Cena winning the rubber match and Owens pushed down the card? I know he's much more deserving and capable than Bray or Rusev and I'm loving his work, too, but the cynic in me predicts Cena winning at Summerslam, then it ending.

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  56. Kill Owens Kill is what I would like to see. Kill Steen Kill was always fun to chant.

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  57. Ambrose always struck me more as a Roddy Piper type but Ambrose vs Owens could definitely feel like a Piper/Austin feud that never was.

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  58. I cant pinpoint a time when YES! YES! YES! ran its course. It was really sudden though. One raw I was into it and the next I was like "ugh!" It was about the time when he came back at the royal rumble. Still though, im pretty sure Orton never had a catchphrase. Just RKO. So I dont think Owens will be ending senteneces with "It's either the easy way, or the Owens way!"

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  59. I know I am totally in the minority and that my opinion comes from a smark perspective of having some knowledge about the business, but I am not as high on KO. I resent his push.

    He is easily the most protected guy since Goldberg in WCW. He gets to do moves other wrestlers would be banned from doing. He might have paid his dues in the indies but since in WWE he has walked on water.


    I am not saying the guy isn't talented, but he has been given a massive opportunity no one in recent memory has been given. He is running with it. He is getting over. But he is not getting himself over organically like Austin.

    Most stars get themselves over in a midcard or upper midcard feud, the promoters notice and push them more, and eventually they are made men. This guy has been made from day 1.

    This is the WWE's dream come true. Everyone, marks and smarks, loving the guy THEY have chosen for greatness from day 1.

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  60. Ambrose is exactly that. Austin was an anti-hero. Piper was the Lunatic Fringe of his day (or so Cole would say. I hate that nickname). I'd love to see Ambrose stay in the mid-card for a little while, get a solidly-booked feud, work on his moveset, and just let the insanity flow. Maybe even give him a Piper's Pit-style segment every week, or on the Network in the Quick Hits section.

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  61. Joey Jo-Jo Junior ShabbadooJune 20, 2015 at 11:32 AM

    Wasn't the story that DDP gave Vince a big hug when they met face-to-face and it creeped Vince out and thus the creepy stalker angle and (later) Motivational Speaker DDP?

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  62. Extant1979 - Extreme SuperstarJune 20, 2015 at 11:33 AM

    We'll know exactly what's happening with Owens after the July 4 Japan show. I assume he's losing the NXT Title to Balor, but how he loses it will show WWE's hand.

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  63. ... and this is how they should treat everybody! Back in the jobber days, the "stars" always won their matches during the weeks, and so most of them were over from day one. At the PPVs they also lost matches, but it didn't matter, because they were almost all over.

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  64. Joey Jo-Jo Junior ShabbadooJune 20, 2015 at 11:37 AM

    I don't necessarily agree, but it's a fair point. Guy beat Cena CLEAN in his first official WWE match. That's pretty significant for a number of reasons.

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  65. But he's killing everything he's given, and it's not like he's having any weaknesses hidden. That's what you do when you find a guy with the complete package.

    Most stars get themselves over in the midcard because they start out lacking something or another on the main event level. The last guy to get the rocket push that KO is getting was Brock in 2002, and he got Heyman to protect his weak mic skills. What does KO need to tweak, add, or modify? (That's a serious question; I find the post-Cena star-building topic fascinating to discuss)

    He's over as a monster heel, and as the first thing to feel different and unique in WWE in a very long time. At first, I thought it was just smarks carrying over their love of him from the indies, but he's getting a reaction from everyone in the house, from kids to adults, marks to smarks.

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  66. Joey Jo-Jo Junior ShabbadooJune 20, 2015 at 11:38 AM

    Nobody pinned Hulk Hogan or Austin in their debut match, though.

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  67. The biggest loser in this whole scenerio is Dolph Ziggler. The guy is a WWE creation, endured some bad characters, has a good look, good promo, over in spite of jobbing - Owens & Ambrose were indy darlings and they are being discussed as tippy top guys within six months from now. Sucks to be Dolph.

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  68. Joey Jo-Jo Junior ShabbadooJune 20, 2015 at 11:40 AM

    "...good look, good promo..."

    Let's not go crazy here. But yeah, sucks for Dolph.

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  69. And if someone has all the answers Ambrose can change the questions.

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  70. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 11:44 AM

    Yes. It was never going to be as huge without the bigger name guys, but they certainly could have put together a serviceable first wave with DDP & Booker T leading the charge against Rock, Austin, and Taker

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  71. But what Vince cares about is the only thing that matters in the company

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  72. I assume in this scenario, the heel would be a belt holder. KO is just taking out whoever has the gold and the cash that he wants.

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  73. At this point, heel Cena vs face Lesnar is the only chance they have to fill that big stadium. But they have half a year before the 'March' to figure out something. Owens should be near the top of the card regardless.

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  74. Vince and the Creative team are the ones who booked him to beat Cena clean in his debut match and attack that rapper guy, tho ...

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  75. Ziggler is good. Not crazy talk. But he can be better if he was pushed that way. Is he still paying back for the Orton comment?

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  76. Rumor is Dolph is letting his contract run out in a couple months.

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  77. Imagine Dean catching a beer before it explodes in his face and knocks him out cold (stone cold).


    Then the mysterious hooded Higher Power saunters out to ringside. It was Bray all along, Ambrose. Sister Abigail. Pin.

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  78. I'm expecting Owens eventually loses the feud to Cena, like every other heel does because CENAWINSLOL. And then hopefully Sami is back around then, setting up that potentially awesome feud that could catapult both.

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  79. This really feels like the same story we've been reliving for the last decade. The WWE always has promising talent in place to make something special happen, but it seems they always find a way to screw it up.

    The best way I can liken this is to a Randy Orton situation: Orton has been given the keys to the kingdom, and has become a solid main eventer for the company over the course of his career. But for all that he's achieved kayfabe wise, and for as much time and effort that he's been given by the WWE, you almost feel underwhelmed by Orton in totality. As if he was good, but never the superstar that you were expecting him to be in the spring of 2004. That's my fear with Owens: he gets title runs, he becomes a made guy, but his current awesomeness is derailed by the same old, same old from Creative.

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  80. I rarely watch Raw nowadays...but I try to read up about it. I keep seeing people, including Scott, refer to Cena as "post-Cena". Is he leaving WWE soon or something? Or has it been confirmed he's done in the main event scene?

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  81. Kinda reminds me of Foley. If he becomes a face then, I can see his son being paraded around for a few years.

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  82. Neither Ambrose nor Owens needs to be the next Austin. They just need to be pushed like it, because I absolutely believe they have what it takes to be the top two full-time guys in the company within a year.

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  83. Why do either of them have to be the next Austin? Why can't they just be the first Owens and Ambrose? Austin certainly wasn't the "next" anything, same for Rock, same for Brock, same for Foley...they were unique characters that were new & different & the booking at the type played to their strengths.

    The WWE's desperate attempt to shoehorn new talents into old archetypes is KILLING the product. We've been rehashing Austin v McMahon for nearly 20 years at this point. It's over. Move on.

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  84. You could totally do an Owens vs. Lesnar main event... no one would question it... and it would be awesome. Hell, you could do it at WM XXXII.

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  85. He has truly taken his place as the premium Billy Gunn.

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  86. Still unreal Ambrose has what 1 ppv win in the past year?? and ppl thought he might be rollins at mitb too. The real main event was Owens Cena and after that match the rest of the show was pointless. And post Cena era is now Scott (thats what I am lead to assume your saying, if im wrong my apologies)?? Last time I checked he was still the top draw, the man that puts asses in house shows and if for some reason he's not there they have to offer a refund so people dont start a mutiny that they paid to mainly see him and he couldnt be at the house show. Just turned 38 is in excellent shape yea I see him getting a few more title reigns before he becomes a special attraction. For christs sake the guy has made the US title more important the WWE title. Right now he has been more interesting than he has in a while and is absolutely bringing it every night. /rant (ps working on no sleep lol so yea I know this is long winded, any who have a great weekend yall).

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  87. Sadly, I don't think Sami is due back until 2016, due to the shoulder surgery, which is a damn shame.

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  88. Dolph has Hollywood connections. He can be a Jericho-type that has non-WWE interests. It would be really smart of him to leave WWE and become a real star on his own, since the company apparently won't let him.

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  89. Still though they really have put themselves in a pickle with the wy they booked Brock that beating him clean with anybody would just not be believable at this point unless they bring him down a peg.

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  90. I think Raw had its highest quarter-hour last week when Owens was wrestling. If that continues, he may break that streak. Bray & Rusev failed to move the needle.

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  91. We've also had CM Punk and Daniel Bryan, who managed to transcend all of that tedium. If someone can evoke the same things those guys did- and I think Owens and Ambrose do- but manage to stick around, there could absolutely still be something special. I think the main reason it's been hard for anyone to break through has been Cena. There hasn't ever been anyone who's been on top for anywhere near as long as him, and there still hasn't been much reason for that to change. So any major breakthrough guy, like Punk or Bryan before, or Ambrose or Owens now, has a ceiling of sharing that level with Cena.

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  92. True. It's why I'm actually interested in watching Battleground, as I'm intrigued how they book his match against Rollins. Unless they're building to a face turn for Rollins, which would be absolutely stupid because he works so well as a heel... oh wait, it's WWE so of course that is what they will do.

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  93. They have to sell 100,000 tickets. The main event is going to be The Rock vs. Brock Lesnar.

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  94. by premium im assuming you mean wayyyy better wrestler??

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  95. Probably true. I'm OK with that as well. Owens vs. Lesnar can be XXXIII. :)

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  96. If they keep "choosing" Kevin Owenses and Finn Balors, they'll get that dream to come true more than once!

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  97. It doesn't seem like he's the "panic button" anymore for Vince... could be wrong, but they seem to see him as the person who elevates others now, rather than the one they put the belt back on because ratings go down due to their shitty booking.

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  98. Brock should win in 30 seconds thats how pathetic Rollins reign has been. Like I have said many times Cena has made the US title seem wayyy more important than the WWE Title.

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  99. Yes, much better wrestler, gets to be a kind-of-former-world-champion, but has ultimately become the perma-over guy who gets pops in the midcard (even "The One" Billy Gunn got loud pops for his entrance, it was kind of insane) but doesn't usually accomplish anything of much meaning, and loses about half his matches. Plus he looks and kind of moves like him and does a Fame-asser.

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  100. I'm sure he still has a title run or two in him, probably at least one more WrestleMania main event. But yeah, I think we're at the point where they're seriously looking to elevate the younger guys and kind of manage Cena's minutes, to use an NBA term.

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  101. Agreed, though the Money in the Bank match at least made it look like he could win on his own without the interference, etc. But then the next night it was back to "Yes, sir, Mr. HHH," and "yes, ma'am, Ms. Stephanie," which kills him.

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  102. i respectfully disagree. owens is not the next austin. between the owens and ambrose i like ambrose better.

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  103. To be fair though, Orton has derailed himself a bit with wellness issues, with a 60 day wellness suspension in April 2006, another 30 day suspension in late 2006 and a 30 day suspension in 2012. With the three strikes, you're out deal, and seeing as how he's been given an extra one already, I would imagine there's a little fear in permanently strapping a rocket to him in case he were to screw it up a fourth time.

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  104. Chance for Cena Taker than?? I mean they should have done it years ago when Taker could still bring the goods, but the match would draw bc of the two of them alone.

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  105. I've said it for awhile now, but as good as he may be he's in the same camp as Sheamus and Orton: they just seem outdated.

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  106. Also guys like Jericho who had the total package (with the exception of knowing the WWE style) from the gate had to deal with the "the other guys made this guy so we have to break him down first" barrier. Nobody really has to deal with that these days because there isn't a strong "the other guys" entity out there.

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  107. also Ambrose has been a perrenial loser the past year since the shield broke up. Including getting his ass handed to him by Bray Wyatt who never wins feuds that matter and dare I say is in dire need of a huge tweak or maybe even a repackagin after Reigns beats him 3 straight ppvs

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  108. Well, there went my pants, and I wasn't even wearing any.

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  109. I was getting a lot of Austin in '97 vibes from Ambrose last year and I think he can still be that guy. (Which isn't to say he'll be as huge of a star by any stretch.) And that doesn't mean he's the same character or should have been doing the same things, but he evokes similar feelings and themes, the same kind of anarchism and nihilism, but totally in his own way.

    Antihero v. overbearing authority figure is a story that can always work, with the right guy. Ambrose can make that story work, just like Punk and Bryan did in their own ways.

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  110. Cena and Brock are their cash cows, Cena more so bc of merch. They are trying to let others shine while putting him in the midcard but hes still just too good at his job that his matches have that mayweather big fight feel while people yawn at the authority bs. But you can tell he is having a blast working with Owens and vice versa.

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  111. I love his selling, its such a shame that he basically had to sell for everyone in that god awful chamber match. I hope no one batted an eye when he grabbed an ice pack after that match lol.

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  112. Who thought Ambrose would win at MITB. I never did, and it sounded like the crowd didn't either. It's amazing Ambrose remains over despite what a loser he is.

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  113. Agreed... but he seems SOMEWHAT bulletproof since the crowd still gives him pretty good appreciation even despite all the wackiness. But they certainly fucked up making him into a bigger superstar than he is at this point, of course.

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  114. Why? Dude's personality just isn't ever gonna mesh with what the WWE wants from him and he's derailed his own pushes at least three times by (drunk?) tweeting, not following the advice to tone down his tendency to oversell, etc. Why should he keep wrecking his body when anytime he gets above "jobbing to Sheamus" level, it ends up exploding on launch?

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  115. The only way Ambrose was gonna win at MITB was if they were gonna turn Reigns heel and have him cash in the same night.

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  116. he really needs to bulk up. those pipe cleaner arms arent helping him as well as the jeans he wears that look like their painted on. Its like that Seinfeld ep where Kramer boguht a pair of slim fit jeans haha.

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  117. I'm all for Dolph quitting whenever he wants. He's never going to get a better push, he's hitting 35, made good bank. Go be a comedian or whatever he wants.

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  118. I don't think it matters if Owens wins or loses the feud. They're all in on him in a way that makes it seem ridiculous to compare him to someone like Rusev or Bray. He just lost clean on Sunday to Cena, and since the end of that match did like four things- beat the fuck out of Cena, cut another awesome promo, squashed Dolph and powerbombed that Make-a-Wish kid off the stage- in the next 24 hours that made him even more over. Dude has the rocket strapped to him. I don't think someone like Bray, Rusev or Umaga was ever meant to be anything more than a guy who feuded with Cena. Owens, whether he wins or loses the feud, it's just the launching point.

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  119. Thanks for the info, guys. You know, for all the shit he gets, at least he's not so insecure to be seen in the midcard at this stage in his career.

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  120. "I resent his push."
    BAHAHA, you resent it? Either eat a bag of hammers or just go outside for awhile.

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  121. o I didnt buy him winning for a second, but I still felt Owens and Cena should of closed imo.

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  122. Yeah, a little too soon for Owens to be main-eventing WM, but I can buy it at 33.

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  123. haha TNA ROH or Japan??? It could be a shot in the arm for either ROH or TNA to get him if he wants to leave. In all honesty doing what Christian did going to TNA for a couple years was a good call looking back on it and it might do good for Dolph to do a year or 2 in either company than come back.

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  124. Depends if "Next Austin" refers to actually trying to be like his character, or just being a big star in general.

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  125. As far as doing moves nobody else can, I imagine that mostly likes in who he has faced. If John Cena wants to take crazy moves, I imagine he is allowed to say it is happening.

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  126. If he pulls a Christian I think it would be better for him if/when he goes back to WWE. I would love to see an Angle Dolph match personally.

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  127. This. Which I thought was a legit possibility.

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  128. You mean hes no Phil Brooks?? aka CM Punk? God I cant stand that guy anymore, and his stupid feud with Hogan over who is a bigger hockey fan is just embarassing and making him look bad. Guy is just a straight up dick.

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  129. Now that the Streak is gone, this match is no longer a draw. Now it would just be Cena picking on an old man.

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  130. I feel if they turned him heel it might stunt owens move up the card a little bit bc Im sure they would make Reigns #1 heel instead of moving fwd with Owens in that spot which idk about anyone else is what i really want. But first he desperately needs to get rid of that developmental title ASAP. What would be great is if he cuts a promo at NXT and says Im too good for you guys and just throws it down and says hes onto the big leagues full time. Big heat for that and Balor and others can use it as part of angles when they move up to main roster. He should not job in NXt even if its not clean imo.

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  131. I actually agree with you. I don't like that I resent his push. I would much rather enjoy it like everyone else. Its the anti-establishment smark in me that wants to go against the guy the machine is pushing if I didn't like him first.

    Its totally wrong but also pretty subconscious at this point.

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  132. Umm Goldberg won 176 straight matches before losing.... And Brock Lesnar is the most protected as i said before they are in a huge bind to the point that how can anyone beat him clean and people actually buy it. It could backfire with the crowd on the guy they tab to beat him that the only choice they have is to soften his character up gradually.

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  133. Why does everybody have to be the new somebody?

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  134. Beats being their own nobody.

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  135. thats why you can tell he is having a ton of fun wrestling Owens....

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  136. Seeing as how they blew the Brock build up on Reigns, maybe the idea is to build up Owens for Reigns next year?

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  137. I mentioned Goldberg and he still got over in the midcard.

    I forgot about Brock, but for whatever reason I didn't feel that resentment with him.

    You are totally right though. He was protected and marked for greatness from the start.

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  138. I dont care as long as the match is another moty candidate!

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  139. Adam "Colorado" CurryJune 20, 2015 at 1:17 PM

    I'm just going to skip the "I told you so" about Owens and just say that I think Ambrose sucks. His offense is garbage, his selling blows, and he looks like a fucking crackhead. Send his ass to the midcard and leave him there.

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  140. Given what happened at WM31 and historical precedent Rock is gonna face the game.

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  141. Demott harped on Owens doing too many big moves and while most guys in development would have to change their style, Owens complained about Demott and got to keep his moveset.

    He is treated differently.

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  142. All that doesn't matter, he's over with the crowd.

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  143. Yep. He's already taken the modified package piledriver, the superplex reversal, done a hurricanrana reversal off the pop-up powerbomb, that....Styles Clash? C-4? Some crazy shit, whatever the fuck it was. Cena's gotta be loving this shit.

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  144. Adam "Colorado" CurryJune 20, 2015 at 1:20 PM

    It matters to me. I don't give a shit if he's over, he sucks.

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  145. Well to the people in charge he doesn't

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  146. Yea idk what that move is that Cena pulled off before the springboard stunner towards the end, but it was fucking sick. Its great when 2 wrestlers have trust in one another that they are in good hands and wont be hurt, bc than it just opens up the playbook for some cool shit to go down and we the fans are the winners!

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  147. Adam "Colorado" CurryJune 20, 2015 at 1:25 PM

    The people in charge are morons. I know I'm in the minority when it comes to Dean, but the people in charge of WWE are fucking idiots. That's not opinion, that's a straight up fact.

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  148. You got me there.

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  149. I know he can do moves besides "sloppy slappy punches", his finisher and the ridiculous business exposing rebound clothesline. I know he has actual wrestling moves.

    I'd just like to see them sometime. He's one of my 3 favorite characters on the roster and also one of my 3 least favorite workers right now.

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  150. I would suggest you enjoy it for what it is, and enjoy it because he's good enough to justify the spot regardless of he's "earned" it.

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  151. Adam "Colorado" CurryJune 20, 2015 at 1:31 PM

    Pretty much. To me Sheamus isn't BAD or anything, but every time I see him I just think "dude, fuck off, I don't fucking care". I'm getting really close to feeling the same way about Dolph, and can totally understand why some people are way past that point.

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  152. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 1:31 PM

    It obviously doesnt work on the scale of a Streak match, but it works as a legends dream match of guys wanting to prove they are still the man

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  153. but even kayfabe wise it makes ZERO sense for a guy that has lost that much to be #1 contender which like i said has cheapened the title big time. I'd even maybe give them a pass if they did the laziest number one contender determiner and had a beat the clock challenge lol. where was Wyatt and all the others who have beaten him to take umbrage with him getting title shots?? smh at creative.

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  154. Adam "Colorado" CurryJune 20, 2015 at 1:33 PM

    I don't care for his character either, and this email reminds me why. It's like a bad Austin ripoff, and I never really liked Austin.

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  155. plus they have been seperated since '03 when Cena was a heel. Plus Cena could def carry him to a better match than Wyatt thats for damn sure.

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  156. I thought Cena was an old man himself.

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  157. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 1:35 PM

    If he could promo like Owens or Ambrose, I would care more

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  158. 13 years younger than taker i believe?? and even at 38 the dude is in amazing shape.

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  159. Adam "Colorado" CurryJune 20, 2015 at 1:36 PM

    If he or anyone else could promo like Owens they'd be fucking stars.

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  160. Im thinking the mixed tag with Rousey as Dwayne has his movie career to think about.

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  161. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 1:38 PM

    Demott probably was jealous that Owens is the talented version of him

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  162. I can not stand that recovery off the ropes thingy he does 10 times a match, and im with you. Dolph is over too with the fans and he still loses.

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  163. he doesnt have biceps his shoulder goes straight to his forearm.

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  164. I think Owens (and the Owens/Cena thing in particular) is kind of on its own plane of existence right now wherein nothing that Rollins/Reigns/Ambrose/Lesnar/Sheamus is doing in the world title picture is really affecting what he does.

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  165. his kleptomaniac gimmick is a rip off of Syxx in WCW, but I guess the statute of limitations has long expired, but i thought that keeping the title shit was whack. Just made your heavyweight champ look that much more incompetent and weaker.

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  166. Totally agree on that one. Always wonder if they could actually make their "Power Rankings" legitimate and kayfabe. Say you beat whoever is #1 on the "Power Ranking" and then you're the #1. So Dean could have done that and it would have been more "justified" giving him the title shot. Yes, it's all predetermined, but that's the point... you could get fans interested in seeing people move up the rankings by... gasp... ACTUALLY BEATING OTHER PEOPLE.

    Yes, I know, I know... telling stories.

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  167. no one is the next austin, just like no one is the next michael jordan. In the PG era it is boarderline impossible to even have someone that similar in all honesty.

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  168. Yeah, that was... odd. I'm sure Hogan was begging Vince to bring Punk back for a match at WM XXXII, however. :)

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  169. yea but tell stories that make more sense lol. He lost a feud to super loser Bray Wyatt for petes sake. I am not looking fwd to Reigns Wyatt at all. Reigns has improved in the past year, but I am pretty sure those matches are going to stink.

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  170. Maybe Owens had the balls to stand up to him.

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  171. that goes without saying, but I have never heard of any positive fan run ins with Punk and this guy was a hero to the IWC and he could of cared less it seemed.

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  172. Fat, Ugly Inner-City SweathogJune 20, 2015 at 1:55 PM

    Yes. I mean that match isnt the same draw it would have been, but dudes saying its not a draw at all are insane

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  173. Eh, we'll see. I think the story they're doing, with Bray using Roman's family again him psychologically, COULD be interesting, but I'm sure it's going to get really, really STOOPID fast.

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  174. He became Vince's pet wacky skit project

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  175. If he's gonna lose it have Cena cost him the belt. It would give their match even more heat and make it the nearest thing to a blood feud we're likely to get.

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  176. Well Cena isn't on top of the cards but I know what you mean. However, Hogan did beat Flar in his WCW debut match. If you want someone to be on top in wrestling, you have to present him strong. The Outsiders also did beat Sting, Luger and Macho Man when they came back to WCW. Mankind was strong in his first WWF feud against the Undertaker. And why not? Owens is not a real rookie only because he wasn't in WCW or TNA before.

    I think they are doing the right thing (since AGES). The only thing that surprises me is that they push someone who is the total opposite of EVERYTHING a WWE Superstar should be (at least according to that Vince wants, if the rumors are true). =)

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  177. Austin and Owens both have great "journeyman" stories. Austin toiling in WCW for years before getting fired and Owens toiling in the indies while his friends get called up.

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  178. Im very curious where he goes after the Cena feud. Its times like this where I miss D Bry as he would get nuclear heat on Owens and be a perfect second feud.

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  179. They need to let Ambrose be the best that he can be not make him Stone Cold Lite.

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  180. Extant1979 - Extreme SuperstarJune 20, 2015 at 2:03 PM

    I don't think Cena interfering in the match makes any sense, unless Owens interferes in a Cena match earlier on.

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  181. Thats where I am gonna have to disagree with you buddy. I have found nothing bray Wyatt has done really interesting. His promos are long winded and to about 85 % of the crowd especially the kids they have no fucking clue what he is talking about. Also he has come off as the shittiest cult leader of all time. For chrsts sakes he should of had at least a stable the size of ravens flock if not bigger. How many davidians were there in Waco?? lol. James Storm in TNA stole his gimmick in the fall and did it a million times better than him. After he loses 3 straight to Reigns he needs a loooooong break and be semi repackaged.

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  182. No a fact is sometging that can be proven. You've proven nothing.

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  183. Oh without a doubt. Your trying to tell me those 2 in front of 100k people arent going to blow the roof off the place even in the seconds before they initially lock up?? Child Please. If they bill it as his last match or a retirement match than it could probably even headline the show.

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  184. And he stayed over as fuck through it, because even if he's kinda goofy as a promo and an inconsistent worker, there's something special about the dude.

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  185. Until Bischoff took over Austin was in upper midcard and was fucking awesome in WCW for a time. Especially Dangerous Alliance angle.

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  186. I used to mark out for the no laughing matter finisher!

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  187. In a few weeks...no.


    But they've by far surpassed everybody's expectations.

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  188. Ridiculous.


    Owens doesn't need to beat people to get over.

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  189. I say he wins and just throws the title down and says on to the big leagues. He cant lose even in a schmozz after he beat Cena and I dont think Cena will fly to Japan for 2 mins of work to cost him the minor league title, idk maybe he will but I hope he just vacates it and steps on it for more heat. than when Balor and others get to main roster they alreadt got beef with him for being a disrespectful DICK. More heat.

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  190. Reigns is Batista.

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  191. Im sure Cena had a little input too and unlike Wyatt and Rusev he actually sees a bonafide star in this guy and was more than willing to stare at the lights. Think all the other top guys back in the day, Austin flat refused to job to Brock, if it were 96 or 97 HBK would never let a debuting guy from the indys go over and thats just to name a couple.

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  192. lets hope he is nothign like punk in real life. smug assholes who think they are better than everybody in everything are very unlikable people.

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  193. well he was fighting (and losing) in matches for the ic title, than less than a month later hes got a title shot haha.

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  194. Hated it when Nigel McGuinness did the same thing. After watching a ton of online friends gush about Nigel's ringwork, the first thing I noticed was that, and how stupid it looked. They basically flipped out on me when I pointed it out.

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  195. Rowdy Cannon Roddy Pillman

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