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Monday Night Open Mic

This card is taped so you guys can discuss the results here now.

Otherwise after a weekend out of town I am catching up on the readings of the blog. I really disagree with Scott on what WM 2000 could have done at a big stadium because the product was so good at that point people were ready for an epic Wrestlemania. In a lot of ways Wrestlemania X-Seven was what Wrestlemania 2000 should have been, especially when you look at how good the first two cards of that year were.

Beyond that I never had a chance to talk about this past Wrestlemania. The Punk-Taker match was tremendous, just great stuff from Punk. I didn't hate the HHH-Brock match or the Rock-Cena match but I didn't like them either. They were there and as Scott said of Rock-Cena, it was fine for a big stadium main event. It could have been better and frankly it would have just taken a couple of adjustments to take it there. But that's often the difference between good but forgettable and great and memorable.

But overall the product is just hurting and what kills me is the booking is ruining the fresh matchups. Cesaro should have been winning the last three months and be the first guy facing Cena. I'm not saying he should beat him for the title but he's a good enough worker to get over as a top-card guy by just having a few good matches with Cena. With Punk out this was the perfect time to try Cena-Cesaro or hell try Cena-Barrett again although I don't think it would be as good. Point is Cena will never been the guy they want him to be in terms of winning the live crowd over but he is a damn good worker and with the right guys he can put over the in-ring product. Unfortunately Ryback ain't that guy in my opinion. Feeding Cena the giant of the week isn't going to work.

This is also probably the right time to move those tag belts to the Shield. I actually think it's good that Bryan-Kane have had a good run because I think they have brought a little more credibility to the titles but now that move needs to be made. Otherwise it's going to be interesting to see what they do to get out of this rut. They have painted themselves in a corner and I'm a little curious to see how they escape this time.

That's all I have to say, so enjoy the show, come out swinging and keep it clean.

Comments

  1. ITS OK. I'M HERE, YOU GUYS. I'M HERE FOR THE GOOD TIMES.

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  2. *SPOILERS(?)*


    Bryan jobs
    Ryder jobs
    Cesaro jobs


    Again... spoilers?

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  3. But does Cena overcome the odds?

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  4. You can't Cena (waves hand in front of face).

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  5. Knock it off with your ideas and medium to long term booking that might get someone new over. They have stories to tell.

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  6. One question about something you said Princess --

    "They were there and as Scott said of Rock-Cena, it was fine for a big stadium main event."

    I've seen this sentiment with others as well -- assuming you mean that "it was okay, but good for a stadium show", why should what it supposed to be the biggest match of the year get judged by a lesser standard with lower expectations just because it's in a stadium? I mean, lot of of stadium shows have had great main event matches with tons of heat, so I think the onus should be on Vince and the WWE and Rock and Cena for the match not being all that it could be.

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  7. Are getting blown?

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  8. 5-1 odds for a poop joke.

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  9. MY FAVORITE JEW! HEYMAN!

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  10. Cesaro not only jobs, he jobs to R-Turth. That'll teach teach guys like CM Punk and Big E to wear his shirt during Wrestlemania Weekend!

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  11. Man, that heat machine is really pissed!

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  12. Watching Raw these days is like getting a colonoscopy done. It leaves you feeling like a bloated mess and you pray that you can sleep through the worst of it without waking up in the God-awful middle portion.

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  13. Heyman needs a giant smart phone in his hands at all times.

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  14. No but he makes the goofy faces...

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  15. Big E has rape in his eyes.

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  16. But being bulky worked for the Rock in his last run....

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  17. Thats cuz nobody watches TNA

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  18. Is Big E related to Mel Phillips?

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  19. being in the UK, Big E must have just harnessed Regal's "power of the punch."

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  20. I'm pretty sure Steph will never allow Kaitlyn and HHH to be alone together.

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  21. Yeah, this match isn't connecting at all.

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  22. Cole ALWAYS telegraphs kickouts by talking really loud and fast while the ref counts.

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  23. LOL the crowd is so into it they're doing the wave.

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  24. also going the HBK route, Jericho's hair.

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  25. Fans doing the wave...Meh..

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  26. like Vince..


    ONE, TWO THREE ANDHEGOTHIMNOHEDIDN'T

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  27. Can't blame them though. These two are having an off night.

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  28. Did Jerry just say that AJ was 20 before she knew cars had a front seat? Cause that's pretty creepy.

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  29. this crowd has nuked the fridge.


    Jericho got some serious air on that springboard dropkick.

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  30. WWE uploaded a top ten video to their YouTube page, counting down the top ten Almost Streak-Enders. Each entry is only a few seconds long, but nearly EACH one features Cole spoiling what should have been an intensely dramatic nearfall by shouting, at the top of his lungs, "THE STREAK IS OVER! THE STREAK IS OVER!"


    Granted, I imagine it's all Vince, since this was his commentary style too. In fact, Vince was a hundred thousand times more obnoxious about it, treating every nearfall as a foregone conclusion. "Welp, that's it. Yes, Savio Vega has won the Intercontinent--and oop, a two-count." doing than anyone's

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  31. AWESSSSSOMEEEE

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  32. this crowd blows.

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  33. Goddammit, they had a great match going and they're pissing away with the exact same Fandango distraction finish they used a week ago.

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  34. Well I'll be damned. They put the right guy over.

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  35. Wait, who's the blonde guy in the ring that won? I thought Dolph was supposed to be wrestling? This is so confusing.

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  36. i'm sorry, but this fandango dance thing is fuckin' stupid. he's not over, his music is. and it's not really *over*, it's just ironic because the rest of the product is so predictable and blasé

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  37. Well, by 20, she'd be able to drive Jerry's girls to school for him

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  38. I don't know, something about that match just never clicked for me.

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  39. Same here. Definitely not up to their previous matches.

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  40. Cena's "serious voice" vaguely reminds me of Jim Halpert's Sling Blade impersonation.

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  41. Ziggler actually won? No Dusty Finish??

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  42. A week ago? It's the distraction finished they used for Brodus-Sandow a half-hour ago.

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  43. Wait, how does Ryback get a world title shot? He hasn't beaten John Cena in a non-title match yet!

    Actually, he hasn't beaten ANYBODY, for that matter.

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  44. Why is Cena's emblem him doing the A-OKAY hand signal? Do they not know what that means in some countries outside the US?

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  45. It's their worst finish. One guy loses because of someone else's music. Nice crowd reaction to the Fandango theme, though.

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  46. Victor Rodriguez JrApril 22, 2013 at 7:10 PM

    I appreciate the round about way you called Kaitlin a hose beast.


    Cuz she is.

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  47. Because... AMERICA!

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  48. Ryback wins that title and the emblems will be pics of Goldberg and "Who's Next?"

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  49. If that music keeps things up, it'll be jobbing to HHH next year at Mania.

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  50. I figured it would be two steaks.

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  51. I hate those commercials. Granted, not as much as those AT&T kids ads, but still.


    Comedy should at least have some element of truth to it, and I just keep wondering how the hell anyone could believe they ate the bones when it's a kind of chicken that you have to order boneless.


    Yes, I'm reading too much into this.

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  52. That commercial was unintentionally hilarious.

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  53. In the WWE, wins are for losers!

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  54. Foley has his hair cut like the ladies who worked in my high school cafeteria.

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  55. Glad to see Captain Kirk is still sexually harassing his subordinates well into the PC era. Some things should never change.

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  56. Ryback: 0-6 in his last PPVs.
    7th PPV: WWE Title match!
    It's like the NBA Playoffs in reverse. First team to lose 4 games wins.

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  57. Should be an extra half star for Jericho doing the wave.

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  58. He's just following Vince's cue. He used to do the same awful thing - so much so that I even noticed it as an 11 year old.

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  59. I imagine those ladies at least had the decency to wear a hair net.

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  60. I smell 50/50 booking coming up!

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  61. 9:15?? Was that the longest hour of television or what?? Sheesh..

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  62. I miss Dashing Cody.

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  63. A pony doing his one trick on one side... and exactly the same thing on the other.

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  64. Tensai is a legend in Japan?! That might be going a bit far...

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  65. Cole can't possibly imagine where the music came from....uh..

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  66. Why can't we get the Velvet Sky camera shot of Naomi and Cameron when they enter the ring?

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  67. Some really weird quid pro booking there.

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  68. "First, I'm going to start the match..." That rules.

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  69. "He doesn't exactly carry a cell phone!"


    Do YOU carry a cell phone, Kane?

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  70. I'm sure the Undertaker had a shit load of diagrams before his match with Punk.

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  71. Of course he does. He has to be on call at the dentists office.

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  72. Quick! Hide the diagrams! We can't let our enemy know our plan!

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  73. They can pretty much keep Bryan and Kane together forever and it would never get old...

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  74. "First, I'll punch him in the face; then, I'll do it again!"

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  75. They haven't quite perfected that style of wide angle lens yet... but when they do... pow!

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  76. Legitimately made me chuckle. The image of Daniel Bryan sitting at a desk, frantically sketching a ring and stick figures cracks me up.

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  77. I love stuff like what we just saw. Great interactions, and something different with the camera work with Shield attacking.

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  78. Kane uses a Blackberry Torch of course...

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  79. He just has a Kindle Fire.

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  80. Which Bella is Gina?

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  81. Neither was Rock sadly. Cena can obviously work but Rock seemed like he was beyond doing anything past the basics.

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  82. I like the fact that you can tell Jerry just doesn't give a shit by the way he dresses.

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  83. Is Sheamus a heel in England?

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  84. Must be an Irish thing.

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  85. Let's ask Oliver Cromwell.

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  86. If the WWE ran the NBA playoffs, you would have to beat lat year's champs in 7 games just to get the chance to play them again at the Finals.

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  87. He's definitely looking at cue cards.

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  88. Victor Rodriguez JrApril 22, 2013 at 7:31 PM

    is he seriously just reading from cue cards?


    COME ON

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  89. WINS/LOSS RECORD DON'T MEAN A THING ANYMORE. RYBACK JUST GOT BACK FROM LOSING HIS 6TH PPV IN A ROW AND NOW HE MAIN EVENTS AGAINST YEAR-LONG LOSER JOHN CENA.

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  90. AND THEN YOU HAVE THE SAGA OF JOBLPH ZIGGLER

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  91. Evil breathing!

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  92. Aww they changed Big E.'s music =;_;= Old song kicked ass.

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  93. at least we should get a kickass main event.

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  94. DIDNT DANIEL BRYAN BECOME CHAMP AFTER LOSING FOR LIKE 6 MONTHS STRAIGHT?

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  95. WWE: THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY

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  96. AT LEAST BIG E'S THEME IS KEWL

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  97. Big E is clapping dust off his hands like Ashy Larry.

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  98. and he forgot the most BASIC of basic: ring shape. Brodus Clay can work longer matches without needing a rest hold, I feel.

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  99. Victor Rodriguez JrApril 22, 2013 at 7:34 PM

    if only you can give up and down votes at the same time.

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  100. I haven't seen a wrestler covered in that much white powder since i took a road trip with the Iron Sheik & Hacksaw Jim Duggan.

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  101. Hey... shut up


    The kindle fahr is awesome!

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  102. Victor Rodriguez JrApril 22, 2013 at 7:35 PM

    coukdnt they have put rybacks cue cards behind the interviewer so at least he doesnt look like he's just staring into space??

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  103. one of those championship belts is not like the others.

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  104. I dig it. Simple but effective and kind of cool.

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  105. Talk about a piped in crowd response for Ryder..

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  106. Zach forgot his American Crew fiber.

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  107. Welcome to jolly ole' Jobtown.

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  108. Victor Rodriguez JrApril 22, 2013 at 7:38 PM

    so i guess zack doesnt style his hair anymore, huh? Seems like a "Fuck it why even bother?" kind of thing.

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  109. Zach is trying to get on Hunter's good side, I see. He's found conditioner.

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  110. Haha. This should be a tremendous late 80's like Saturday morning squash match.

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  111. I think Ryder forgot what the T was in GTL.

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  112. Pretty much. Why should he? I predict he quits by some point in 2013.

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  113. He's just trying to fit in.

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  114. Kinda sad Big E's theme says 'three ain't enough I need five' but he doesn't do his 5-count gimmick anymore.

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  115. Sure Kane does, he called Halle Berry on his cell.

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  116. Well, I hate to break half my word, but I must complement Fuj on his choice of namesake.


    I'm watching a 1977 WWWF show, and in a jobber tag match (no, he's not on the jobber team) he shows a bigger moveset than about half the WWE roster now. Judo Chop, Leg Drop, Nerve Hold, Kick, and he even busts out an Inverted Reverse Tornado Flying Power DDT Slam Bomb of Doom.


    Okay, maybe not the last one. But the hooking clothesline he finishes with looked pretty nice too. And Vince with the nice stereotype name for it: Kamikaze Clothesline.

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  117. Welcome back to job city Zack.

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  118. It's kind of a sad indictment on the product that Foley being touted as a 3-time WWE champion immediately comes across as an unimpressive number of reigns.


    Or it's a sad indictment of how the product has warped my perceptions of what constitutes "impressive."

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  119. When he turns face down the road I bet it will come back.

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  120. Big E is definitely the most intimidating flattop in wrestling.

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  121. And the most intimidating man boobs.

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  122. to be fair, they were pretty unimpressive. his longest reign was what...2 or 3 weeks?

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  123. they should give the main event a full hour.

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  124. Someone better tell Heath Slater the bad news.

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  125. ...and imagine if they gave one of their new guys an entrance that cool. Someone might get over.

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  126. OK YOU GUYS I GOT REAL LIT FOR THIS MATCH SO IT BETTER BE FUCKING GOOD OR ELSE I'M GONNA HAVE TO END THE STREAK

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  127. Is his partner Professor Tanaka? He used to give me nightmares when I was a kid.

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  128. the Iron Sheik was champion for four weeks. doesn't matter because the belt still really mattered at that point.

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  129. I saw the spoilers and decided not to watch tonight.

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  130. I see what you mean, although even that show despite the attendance was not supposed to be the biggest show of the year with the biggest match of the year. Mark, smark or anywhere in between, I wanna see something great that exceeds my expectations if they want my $70. If the match isn't going to be really solid, they better have great heat on the angle and the atmosphere better make up the difference. That's my problem with Rock/Cena, the match never had that kind of well-written storyline to begin with and on top of it, neither guy put out their best effort. It didn't impress on any level for me.

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  131. Not sometimes....all the time...

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  132. Did Cole just call Undertaker the immortal one? I think that nickname belongs to someone else.

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  133. MARTIN FROM THE SIMPSONS, BRO

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  134. Cole doesnt seem like a bad dude away from wrestling but he is awful with Vince in his ear....

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  135. yeah, but the belt still wasn't being hot-potato'd back & forth. they just didn't want hogan & backlund to square off for the title. rock & mankind just shared the title for a couple months. heck, mankind's 3rd "reign" lasted 24 hours.


    don't mistake me, Foley *IS* good, but he won't be remembered as a champion, really, even though his first win was one of the most insane pops & genuine moments of emotion in rasslin' history

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  136. New guys can't get anything cool until they pay their dues. Cuz it's not like UT had a cool entrance or manager during his debut.

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  137. Yep. They were tag champs at the time of that taping (October 1977). That was a pretty packed taping, also.


    World Champ Superstar Graham beats the hell out of Rocky's grandpa Peter Maivia with a ukelele (True hardcore, Jarrett ain't got shit on this), Tag Champs Fuji and Tanaka beat on a pair of jobbers, and Andre makes a funny appearance, failing to pop a basketball with either his arms or his knee.

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  138. "will the numbers game be too much?"


    no, dumbass, it's a six-man tag.

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  139. Eh, heel reigns didn't actually matter until Savage's heel turn. Every other heel, excluding Superstar Graham, was a transitional champ. And Graham was as popular as some of the faces he was wrestling.

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  140. LONDON SURE LOVES BRYAN

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  141. What's up with the jerky camera angles? Did they hire the guys from ECW?

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  142. LOL THAT IRON MAN/SUBWAY COMMERCIAL IS HILARIOUS LOL

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  143. Which would mean that Graham's reign did matter and he was a heel...

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  144. He was an exception because of the fact that he could have just as easily been a face.

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  145. THEY'RE FOLLOWING DANIEL'S PLAN!

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  146. Bryan in first, just like he diagrammed it.

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  147. It kinda hurts my brain that American Dragon is tagging with Undertaker.

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  148. That's the kind of subtle comedy they're usually awful at.

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  149. I swear Ambrose has been reading all these Terry Funk comparisons, and just embellishes it more with each match.

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  150. Jon Moxley is wrestling the Undertaker....

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  151. I agree with all of this. Sheiky Baby had his reign mean more because of who he beat and he did it clean...

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  152. as jazzed as I am about this match, I really think they should have saved it to sell Extreme Rules

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  153. If Undertaker had taken the time to study those diagrams, maybe he'd be a little less kicky-punchy.

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  154. Wasn't the smoothest Old School.

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  155. Is this the main event? Cause I could live with another hour of this match instead of whatever other bs they have in mind :P

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  156. Hey kid! Stop being Extreme! That's a thing people say, right?

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  157. Bryan just tweeted during the match :P Since it was taped earlier and all :P

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  158. THE WORLDS TOUGHEST VEGAN

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  159. Daniel Bryan vs. Tyler Black...in a WWE ring. Strange world.

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  160. The matchup I've been waiting for in the WWE for ages.

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  161. Bryan is more over than anybody on the roster...yes, that includes Punk....

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  162. Rollins is bumping enough for all 6 of these guys.

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  163. Rollins is gonna overtake Ziggler as the best seller in the WWE.

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  164. Bryan better be careful with moves like that, he doesnt want to have an XPac injury...

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  165. It's crazy how exactly they replicated the Freebird formula right down to even finding their own Buddy Roberts.

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  166. Even more crazy that they havent fucked it up yet...

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  167. how much more fat do you think he needs to lose? 20 lbs? that'll make a huge difference

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  168. Caps Lock Man... We have moved on.

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  169. HAHAHAHA VIC MACKEY HAS A BRITISH ACCENT.

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  170. Both are fighting for second behind Brock Lesnar.

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  171. Both are fighting for 2nd behind Brock Lesnar.

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  172. GIT HIM TAKER

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  173. "I'M SO ANGRY I'M GOING TO STAND IN THIS CORNER AND MAKE FACES AT YOU!"

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  174. I'M GONNA GRIMACE AT YOU SO HARD, YOU DONT EVEN KNOW.

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  175. I see what you did there.

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  176. The lead on Necessary Roughness looks TV 60 to paraphrase Jack Donaghy.

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  177. At this point, with that beard as full and as lush as it is, I'm just going to start calling Bryan "Father Comstock."

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  178. Dude Fuji used to kick the shit out of jobbers!


    Its okay... we all go a lil mad sometimes. /bates

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  179. Undertaker is moving pretty fast in there for an old dead guy.

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  180. Rollins screaming like a child who has just seen a monster was brilliant.

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  181. The greatest faction in wwe history, JBL? What of Los Boricuas?

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  182. There it was the most devastating finisher!

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  183. HowmuchdoesthisguyweighApril 22, 2013 at 8:12 PM

    Taker is awesome.

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