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The SmarK RAW Rant–07.01.13

The SmarK RAW Rant – 07.01.13

Happy Canada Day!

I finally watched the rest of the NJPW Dominion PPV this weekend, having only watched the Tanahashi-Devitt match previously, and my GOD was that a great show. Tanahashi was great as usual, but even he only had like the third-best match of the show. I found it kind of personally sad how beaten-down as fans we’ve become when I’m watching a match where it’s totally logical that up-and-coming heel Prince Devitt is in a situation where he could really use a win over Tanahashi to get to the next level, and all I can think about is the WWE model where he’ll get some offense and then lose in the end because he’s small and Tanahashi is bigger. But no, Tanahashi laid down for the BULLETCLUB~! with Devitt doing a smarmy brat heel the likes of which we haven’t seen since 1998 Chris Jericho, and it was pretty great. Only **** great because it was a bit of a style clash, but still great. But let’s talk about Goto v. Shibata, which gave me the same sense of thrills and giddiness that I last had watching Cena v. Lesnar, probably because it was the same type of match, but BETTER. You know how WWE matches have tended to become overly choreographed and safe and predictable? This was the EXACT opposite of that. These guys went out there and did everything, to use an old wrestling term we don’t get much of these days, WITH AUTHORITY. It wasn’t really MMA-style because they were doing dropkicks and sleepers and stuff, but when Shibata would dropkick Goto, he would do it HARD. But safely. But I had so many involuntary cringes and moments where I was yelling out “OOOOOH MAN!” that it felt like watching a really exciting action movie packed into a 13 minute wrestling match. It was just awesome, an easy ***** match for me and probably the match of the year so far. Even with the language barrier, I would absolutely recommend without hesitation checking out New Japan’s PPV shows, because they’ve just been blowing away everything on American TV this year.

Also this weekend, I watched The Rise and Fall of WCW on Netflix because it was 90 minutes and I couldn’t sleep. It was interesting to see them finally give Crockett some credit 10 years after destroying WCW, although I felt like they could have delved much deeper into the causes of the “fall” and less on the “rise” portion. Yeah, they talked a bit about Kiss and harped on the Outsiders’ contracts, but this was begging for a patented WWE hatchet job with snarky editing and circus music, and it was actually mostly respectful and pretty bland. Plus they totally skipped over important stuff like the Radicalz (for obvious reasons) which actually had a huge impact on the promotion’s eventual demise. It was pleasant enough and nice to hear Flair and Dusty reminiscing about the good old days, but there’s better chronicles of what went wrong out there.

On with the show…

For those who care about this sort of thing, The Score is now Sportsnet 360 in Canada due to yet another huge media conglomerate buying more channels they already have. I know it happens pretty frequently in the US too, but up here there are literally three groups that own EVERYTHING on TV. It’s pretty brutal.

Live from somewhere that Michael Cole doesn’t want to mention. Also, there’s a new intro. Have they even been doing intros lately?

Your hosts are Michael Cole, JBL & Jerry Lawler

Daniel Bryan joins us to start, and he wants to be WWE champion. However, so does Sheamus, and they go back and forth with some comedy before Randy Orton also interrupts. And then Kane for more comedy, and Christian wants ONE MORE MATCH, and finally CM Punk is out because he didn’t want to be predictable and come out for this sort of thing, and then does so anyway. Finally Orton just hits Kane with an RKO to end the segment. This was certainly long.

We get videos about Buddy Rogers and Lou Thesz to celebrate the histories of the WWE and World titles, although it does highlight that Thesz isn’t actually in the WWE Hall of Fame. To pay tribute to the belts tonight for some reason, we’re getting the millionth John Cena v. Alberto Del Rio match as a main event. For the purposes of this show, the World title is apparently representing the lineage of the NWA World title, even though it actually does not.

The Shield v. Christian & The Usos

Here comes the 50/50 booking. Rollins gets caught in the Uso corner for a bit, but Ambrose takes over on Christian after a cheapshot. The Shield bails, however, and the faces hit them with triple dives as we take a break. Back with an Uso getting the heat, although there’s not really much actual heat. Reigns with a backdrop suplex for two as the announcers start drifting away from the match. Ambrose eats a superkick after getting too cocky, and it’s hot tag Christian. Missile dropkick on Rollins gets two. Christian stops to stare down Ambrose, and Rollins hits him with an enzuigiri before Christian comes back with an inverted DDT on Ambrose for two. Everyone else brawls out, leaving Rollins to roll up Christian and get their win back at 10:00. This was OK. **

Meanwhile, Daniel Bryan tries to mend fences with Kane by getting him a rematch with Orton. With Bryan as guest referee.

Dolph Ziggler v. Jinder Mahal

Well at least this isn’t a rematch from Smackdown. Ziggler shows off for a bit, but misses a dropkick and Jinder gets two. Butterfly suplex gets two. He stomps away, but misses a charge and Ziggler gets two. The bored crowd starts chanting for the announcers. Ziggler hits the Zig Zag for the pin at 2:23. So yeah, this sucked and I still don’t know if Ziggler is supposed to be a heel or a babyface or what his deal is. ½*

More title history, with Bruno Sammartino and Harley Race featured.

Meanwhile, HHH gives Vickie advice on how to deal with the McMahons: Listen to everything they say, and then do what he says.

Randy Orton v. Kane

I’m shocked they would name Bryan the guest referee without even consulting a Twitter or WWE App poll first. They slug it out in the corner and Kane gets the low dropkick for two. Orton comes back with the Thesz Press and pounds away as the crowd is still dead and this is going nowhere. This show is gonna be BRUTAL by the third hour, I can just feel it. Kane with a suplex and he drops elbows as the crowd is just dead silent, not reacting to anything. Orton slugs away in the corner, but shoves Bryan and gets disqualified at 4:45. Kane is upset at this for some reason, and Bryan restarts the match to placate him. So Orton dropkicks him out of the ring and we take a break. Back with a Kane chinlock, and he goes up and gets caught with a dropkick. Orton comes back with a powerslam and draping DDT, but Kane escapes and goes for the chokeslam. Orton reverses to the backbreaker and gets the DDT this time, then has to basically beg the crowd to cheer for the RKO. Kane boots him down, however, and Bryan fast-counts for Kane at 13:00. Despite winning the match TWICE, Kane is still upset with Bryan and threatens a chokeslam before leaving instead. Referee shenanigans aside, this was every Orton-Kane match we’ve ever seen. **

Meanwhile, Punk lets Heyman know that he’ll handle the Primetime Players by himself, and Curtis Axel just has to stand on the apron and watch. At this point a sign in the crowd informs us that we’re in Sioux City, Iowa.

Next batch of champions: Bob Backlund and Dusty Rhodes. And do you know why these guys were special? Because they didn’t do fucking meaningless non-title champion v. champion matches on a free TV show for no reason.

Fandango v. Sheamus

We get a bit of a dance-off to start and Sheamus gets a suplex for two, but Fandango elbows him down for two. Sheamus comes back with a kneelift as the commentary drifts to JBL mocking Verne Gagne for stiffing Lawler on the SuperClash payoff. Sheamus beats on him outside, but Fandango comes back with a head kick for two and grabs a neck hold. That just goes ON and ON before Sheamus comes back with the forearms on the apron. And Fandango of course runs away at 6:10 because they just love that finish for some reason. What the point of this was, I dunno. ½*

The Miz v. Ryback

Ryback pounds Miz down with various punches and kicks, as I’m far more intrigued by what Cole has on his iPad every time they cut to the angle behind the desk. Is that the script? Have they actually upgraded to the 21st century? It would even make sense because then Vince could literally do rewrites as the show was going on and push them to the script app. Miz goes to work on the knee and Ryback wants the match stopped, so the ref does so at 5:24. What the FUCK is going on with the finishes on this show? And so the Miz beats RYBACK?

Next pairing: Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair. Well that’s a natural duo. To this day I still find it funny that they’re so inexorably tied together in people’s minds even though they didn’t have their first match until nearly 20 years into their careers.

Mark Henry joins us to let us know that he’s going to beat up John Cena and win the title. We can only hope.

Meanwhile, Vince McMahon stops by to give his opinions to Vickie, and echoes my sentiments: They’re throwing away money by putting the champion v. champion match on TV instead of PPV. OK, but why SAY THAT on TV? Aren’t you just burying your own product again? And what’s with the huge scar on Vince’s neck? Yikes.

CM Punk & Curtis Axel v. The Primetime Players

Axel tags himself in, thus violating the entire premise of the buildup, and beats on Young. He adds a dropkick on Titus, but gets caught in the Primetime corner and double-teamed. I think I can literally see 500,000 people across the country tuning out as we speak. Titus goes to the abdominal stretch and slams Axel, but he fights out and makes the hot tag to Punk, whom the crowd is REALLY thankful to see. Flying elbow for Young sets up the GTS, but Axel tags himself in and takes the pin at 6:10. This would make you think Punk is facing Axel at the PPV, but of course they have nothing to do with each other at that show. *1/2

Next champions: Steve Austin and Sting. I would have gone with Goldberg there, but maybe we’re not allowed to acknowledge him because of Ryback? I dunno, WWE politics are so confusing sometimes.

Kaitlyn v. Alicia Fox

Kaitlyn pounds her down and gets two, but Fox gets a dropkick for two. Why is Alicia even employed at this point? She’s never on TV and serves no purpose since the division can only support up to four people at a time anyway. Kaitlyn spears her for the pin at 1:50. AJ comes out to cut another catty promo afterwards, giving us a funny visual with AJ being so small that the belt won’t fit her even on the tightest setting. AJ gives us a “hilarious” doctored photo of Kaitlyn. If you want better ones, do a Google image search for “Celeste Bonin”.

Meanwhile, it’s Stephanie’s turn to annoy Vickie, and gives us the exciting news that next week’s main event will be a JOB EVALUATION for Vickie. Thrilling! ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN ON RAW! Except a good show three weeks in a row, apparently. And Stephanie notes that Vickie might be promoted to full GM of RAW. Hasn’t she been running the show as “managing supervisor” for close to a year now? What exactly would a “promotion” to GM enable her to do…you know what, my brain is already breaking from all the McMahons, never mind.

Cody Rhodes v. Antonio Cesaro

Oh god, this is gonna be flaming ratings death. Cesaro gets a suplex, but Cody rolls him up for two. Another pinfall attempt in the corner gets two, and Cody bails, then comes back in with a backslide that Cesaro turns into the NEUTRALIZER at 2:20. Wow, Cody has fallen so far that he’s doing jobs for Cesaro. Even Sandow seems to realize that he’s hitched to the wrong train at this point. *

Of course, it wouldn’t be a celebration of legendary champions unless HHH was featured. Just ask him. Also, Booker T.

We get a lengthy backstage segment to plug the Divas show, which makes for easy FFWD material.

Alberto Del Rio v. John Cena

I’m sure this will be fine but at this point who gives a shit? They’ve wrestled hundreds of times, many of which were already on PPV, and this means nothing and builds to nothing. They trade takedowns and Del Rio takes over, and gets a double axehandle for two. We take a break and return with Del Rio holding a chinlock, but Cena mounts a brief comeback before ADR hits the backstabber for two. Cena RISES ABOVE MEXICO with the five knuckle shuffle, but ADR hits a german suplex for two. Cena with a belly to belly for two. He goes up and gets caught with the enzuigiri for two. Another one misses and they trade finisher attempts before Del Rio gets a backbreaker for two. He hangs Cena in the Tree of Woe, but Cena RISES ABOVE GRAVITY and powers himself to the top for a flying bodypress that gets two. Another finisher reversal series sees Cena gets the STF, but here comes Mark Henry. Del Rio rolls him up for two and the superkick gets two, but now Ziggler runs in, and Cena uses the distraction to hit the FU at 16:48. Of course in the one match on the show where a fuck finish would be appropriate, they have Cena get the clean win on the World champion. ***

And we close with a Wyatt Family promo video. That probably bodes well for their push.

The Pulse

Kind of wish I had reviewed NJPW Dominion instead.

Comments

  1. "Have they actually upgraded to the 21st century? It would even make sense because then Vince could literally do rewrites as the show was going on and push them to the script app."

    Would they even need a special app? Couldn't they just use Google Docs? Didn't the former member of the writing committee interviewed last year talk about how they had the year-long direction charted out on a Google Doc?

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  2. This sounds horrible, glad to have missed it

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  3. Well, look on the bright side: when the terrible, terrible ratings for this show come in, at least they won't be able to blame Daniel Bryan.

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  4. For some reason, I really liked the CM Punk & Curtis Axel v. The Primetime Players match, I guess I just thought everyone really played their parts well and like all four guys. O'neil is great, I think Hennig is great in the ring and Punk is ... well Punk- about the only thing really enjoyable this week.

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  5. This show was insanely dull. EVERYBODY had a promo tonight, there was wayyyyyyy too much talking. The Divas segment near the end was almost worse than the Holocaust. The camera cuts and dialogue were just painful.

    It felt so scripted tonight.. Like, really really scripted, rehearsed, and poorly acted out with no life or character individuality attached to it. I felt like I was seeing the words from the script on my TV screen as it went on.

    Last two weeks were very good, this week accomplished nothing. Hopefully it picks up next week with the Wyatt Family finally debuting.

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  6. You're being far too logical. This is WWE for fuck's sake. I have a feeling they'll blame Daniel Bryan and Dolph Ziggler both if RAW gets a bad rating.

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  7. They are going to say, "We need more McMahons"

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  8. Is Aurora old enough to memorize a script?

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  9. Why wasn't there a Bret and HBK video? They were great champions, especially Bret...both were better than Booker T.(as much as Booker its true)

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  10. Folks, I think I've figured out who writes Cena's promos.

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  11. The last two videos should've been Bret/Sting and Austin/Goldberg instead of Austin/Sting and HHH/Booker.

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  12. If the Attitude Era had gone on a little longer, we might have got Zombie Vince Sr.

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  13. The last video should have been Booker T and Marcus Bagwell.

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  14. Look at the bright side, the roster should be well rested because almost everyone virtually got the night off.

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  15. Damn, I thought Miz/Ryback would break his brain, but he made it to the Steph/Vicki thing before that happened.

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  16. I also miss the good old days where wrestlers would flake out about their booking, take off, and leave. Because "Ryback, you're going to quit because Miz kicks you in the leg, and then Jericho will beat you up for good measure" is one of those moments. If Miz and Jericho took Ryback and threw him out the door,he'd pretty much be Buff Bagwell.

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  17. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryJuly 2, 2013 at 3:30 AM

    The brainstorming behind this week's RAW script:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA5Pjw_cZn0

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  18. Herein lies the problem with 5 hours of main WWE programming every week, once you get to the middle part of the PPV build up, you don't really have much to do, because you've either done it before to build up the ppv or you are saving it up for the go home show. It also hurts the product that Smackdown stars are allowed on Raw so we've got 6 hours of great RAW tv, and now they need to fill up 6 hours more, they don't have the skill to do that.

    It also means smackdown is relegated to a glorified recap of Raw.

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  19. Bret/Sting, Austin/Goldberg, Rock/Booker.

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  20. Yeah but when you talk about the WHC, Booker obviously means more than Bret and HBK.

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  21. Anyone else assume the scar on Vince's neck is there because he forgot to take it off? Because the night before he was trolling the east end, and wanted to blend in with the bad-guys? This of course is before the pimp, and the tiny hooker stabbing him in the leg.

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  22. I think you misread "we're using google to find some direction for the year"

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  23. Zack Ryder: The most relaxed man in wrastlin'

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  24. This crowd might have been one of the worst crowds in a long while. The "WHAT?!?!" bullsh1t during the Henry promo made me switch channels, although the show overall sucked balls as well. When @crankyvince is making comments within the first 30 minutes of Raw bashing the product, you know it is going to be a long night.

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  25. Also, to build to Cena, they should have Henry destroying guys before/after he cuts a promo. This talking and then walking away is going to kill his heat.

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  26. My wife doesn't get wrestling at all and she called it Monday Night Shitty Skits

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  27. Was I the only one hoping that when they featured Triple H as the WWE Champion, they would then feature Triple H as the World Champion in the same segment?

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  28. Just started watching some NJPW and don't know much about it. Can anyone suggest any 5 star matches for me to check out? Thanks

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  29. Hand to God I thought that's where they were going.

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  30. "The Divas segment near the end was almost worse than the Holocaust."

    Must... refrain... obvious... joke... ungh...

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  31. YankeesHoganTripleHFanJuly 2, 2013 at 6:33 AM

    I don't know. Seems to me the Wyatt Family and Shield would get along. I am thinking they beat down the McMahons during the performance evaluation.

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  32. She's...not very clever, is she?

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  33. She then put the toaster in the dishwasher.

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  34. They should have come out and beat the piss out of creative and the McMahons for how crappy that show was last night.

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  35. Would anyone be willing to send grandpa over here a link and/or instructions on how to order NJPW iPPVs? I'm finding the USTREAM page and unable to figure out how to order older shows.

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  36. You have a TV in the kitchen? Aren't you afraid the distraction will take away from her womanly duties?

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  37. YankeesHoganTripleHFanJuly 2, 2013 at 6:49 AM

    I actually think that they had the right idea in trying to give a big fight feel to the title vs title match. The problem was that it's Del Rio as one of the champions so who cares. If, say, Ambrose was the champion it could be promoted as a present vs future type of deal.

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  38. I'm looking forward to the Wyatt's debut like everybody else (unless they wind up prolonging it for months like Brodus Clay's), but with this "creative" staff I just don't know if they'll be put to good use at all. I like an idea someone here had last night, where they abduct random guys and brainwash them into joining their little cult...give guys like Ryder or Cody something more interesting to be a part of (and in Ryder's case, someone could fight to save him from them or something). Hopefully whoever wrote for The Shield stuff is writing for them too.

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  39. The Radicalz leaving had a huge impact on the promotion’s eventual demise? Really? How? Why? The AOL merger and the rise of Jamie Kellner killed the promotion, the Radicalz leaving barely cracks the Top 25. I'm more interested in why JCP was in such bad shape by 1988 with that talent roster and a prime TBS nationwide slot. Did they really draw that poorly outside of the Mid-Atlantic or did they list Hookers & Blow as a business expense on their tax forms or what?

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  40. So will Sportsnet 360 buy back the Basketball Jones so they get a studio again, or am I just dreaming?

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  41. I'm still holding out hope that Heyman is telling the truth and Johnny Ace is the man behind Brock, because at least that would be something unexpected. As far as the rest of this show, we might as well have fans book it via the WWE app. It feels like a kid put it together anyway, what with the no patience and constant superduperstar matchups.

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  42. YankeesHoganTripleHFanJuly 2, 2013 at 7:19 AM

    Umm...something something Bret got screwed again, something something tears in their eyes, something something, lost his smile. There that should cover it

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  43. You have many options. Iv seen it on Youtube and DailyMotion. Torrents...its everywhere

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  44. YankeesHoganTripleHFanJuly 2, 2013 at 7:20 AM

    I don't know about you guys but I was PISSED that there was no Wildfire Tommy Rich tribute.

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  45. It's a shame that they can only really do that style with each other. Their from the same cloth (ROH, minus Sheamus clearly, but he doesnt mind getting stiff shots)

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  46. I understood it as complete financial mismanagement. Jim Crockett wasn't watching the money and unscrupulous people robbed him blind. JCP actually drew okay outside the Carolinas - Chicago and Philly were two HUGE cities for them. I remember a Dusty quote along the lines of 'the cars outside the JCP offices were more expensive and nicer than the ones outside Vince's offices'. Well, look who survived.

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  47. They have to assimilate a superstar.

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  48. Titus plays his role well and is entertaining. They should start giving those guys some wins.

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  49. I felt the same way when they skipped over Stan Stasiak.

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  50. Jim Cornette mentioned in one of his shoots that the MX was signed to a contract with "balloon payments", which meant "a balloon full of cash would have to drop in from the sky to fulfill this contract". So yeah.

    I also have to wonder how much assimilating the UWF cost them.

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  51. This. I haven't seen a crowd that dead in ages. Although, to be fair, they didn't have much to cheer for.

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  52. Not to mention Vince really putting the screws to em with Survivor Series 87 and Royal Rumble 88. That move killed Starrcade and Bunkhouse Stampede which seemed to be the final nails in the JCP coffin before selling it to Billionaire Ted. Still 85-87 they had to be raking in the dough,who was in charge of the books Paul E?

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  53. Could someone explain to me the alleged reasoning behind the WWE title MITB match having all faces, and the World title MITB match having all heels? Coupled with the fact that the WWE champion is a face and the World champion is a heel?


    And along that same line, the Cena v. Del Rio match should have been title for title. Think about this: Cena goes over and holds both belts. Then, after a month or too, after getting his ass beat down for any old reason, the winners of the MITB matches cash in their contracts one right after the other and take both titles over a period of 10 minutes. Who WOULDN'T pop huge for that?



    And does anyone think they're going to actually do something to break Ziggler away from Big E and AJ, or is this another situation where they hope we'll just forget?



    And for the love of all that is good and decent in this universe, please please PLEASE move the Diva bullshit to Main Event and leave it there.

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  54. NO! Main Event is my show where I get a couple of long-form matches with generally decent wrestlers. Move it to E! Entertainment.

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  55. YankeesHoganTripleHFanJuly 2, 2013 at 7:41 AM

    True the World Title MITB is all heels but you KNOW that the Philly crowd is going to be cheering for Ambrose

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  56. 'Stasiak, Garvin and Rich held the title for an impressive 37 hours'.

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  57. Garvin held it for two months... yeah, it might have been more months than successful title defenses, but at least he isn't in that poor company.

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  58. YankeesHoganTripleHFanJuly 2, 2013 at 7:47 AM

    Don't you make fun of Rugged Ronnie. Anyone who delivers the Garvin Stomp to Frenchie Martin is ok with me.

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  59. Flair was making beaucoup bucks during that time, not to mention all the $$$ they were making staying in the Carolinas and such.


    Did SS really kill them that badly? I know it didn't help them (and really, Bunkhouse was a HORRIBLE show, with Rhodes winning and some fans chanting "Refund!"), but I gotta think the seeds were sowed before PPV companies put their feet down.


    Still, SS shouldn't have hurt them that badly since they were still pulling in a lot of cash, but I gotta think financial irresponsibility and going national did them in.

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  60. Although I can't agree with you about the comparison to the Holocaust (which I think is much worse), the Divas segment was the first thing I saw when I tuned in and I vomited all over myself. I sat in it until the del Rio vs. Cena match ended.

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  61. I seem to recall the Apter mags reporting that his defense against Flair at Starrcade 87 was his first - and, as it turned out, only - title defense.

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  62. I think she's around 7. So take that for what you will.


    Monday Night Aurora!

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  63. Surprised the Apter mags would put that out there like that, since JCP ran a match between Garvin and Tully Blanchard that was supposed to be for the title (Flair interfered and Garvin did a pretty nasty - and obvious - bladejob).


    Of course, this from the same company that ran a non-title Rock 'n Roll Express win and said it was for the titles, so whatevs.

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  64. Well yes. Shawn had that title for a month and Bret's reigns were unmemorable.

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  65. I miss fireworks to start the show. The show opens so cold now.

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  66. That might actually be optimistic... assuming that the people who created the script even used any brain cells this week.

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  67. "who was in charge of the books?"


    From what I've read, pretty much no one. They spent like Flair today... make $1, spend $1.50.

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  68. I only hope they don't ruin them like they did with Sean O'Haire


    Awesome build up promos and then nothing..

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  69. It takes Cena three falls and 30 minutes to beat Ryback. It also took him 25 minutes to fight to a no contest with Ryback, yet it takes THE MIZ FIVE MINTUES TO BEAT RYBACK?!?!?!? Man WWE sucks so hard right now. I'm tired of the 5-6 guys at the top and everyone treading water at the bottom. The only thing saving them is the somewhat decent PPV events, but even those are chores to get through sometimes.

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  70. The DOMINION show was uploaded on Youtube:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xU8rddcz9I

    To order them:



    www.ustream.com/njpw

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  71. By the way, has anyone else heard that Ricardo Rodriguez got a wellness suspension?

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  72. You are apparently correct: http://www.wwe.com/inside/ricardo-rodriguez-suspended-26128277

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  73. NO BUT HIS LEG HURT

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  74. present vs future type of deal? how the heck can john cena wrestle himself?

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  75. 漢字仮名交じり文仮字じ漢字じ字漢字仮名漢

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  76. Yes, has to be the ganja.

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  77. not a wellness violation.

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  78. Pretty sure it is.

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  79. I was thinking that it might be an experiment to see who the Philly crowd cheers in the match. I would guess Ambrose and Cesaro.


    BUT, when you have a match with all faces and all heels on PPV... then you have to put face vs. face and heel vs. heel matches on TV, which last night proved was death to the crowd and today will prove death to the ratings.

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  80. Because instead of featuring Benoit, Malenko, Saturn, and Guerrero, they were featuring Palumbo, Norman Smiley, The Wall, and David Flair.

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  81. I think that was probably the worst finish I've seen since the death of WCW.


    So, pussy Ryback quits because Miz is kicking his LEG OUT OF HIS LEG... then Jericho comes in for no reason and gives him a codebreaker?


    And then, Daniel Bryan -- who's getting a main event push as a babyface apparently -- keeps bragging about his tap-out win, then is a crooked referee in his match.


    And then face Punk teams with heel Axel... ah fuck it, I've come to the conclusion that the company has abandoned the concept of 'good guys' versus 'bad guys' again.

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  82. they found him passed out huffing helium.

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  83. I'll check it out

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  84. you missed the point of the last two. Daniel Bryan likes rubbing it into kane that he can beat orton fairly and kane can't, since he hasn't got the opportunity to. Punk had to team with axel because heyman is trying to convince him to trust him still.


    the ryback finish was god awful, and i don't understand that decision at all, but to throw the others in with it is a stretch.

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  85. not really, was a joke about his high voice. i don't know what the hell they busted him on. don't they usually announce it with the suspension? hmm

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  86. I'm hopeful that this is a ploy by Ryback and he just kills Jericho dead at Money in the Bank.

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  87. let's hope so. otherwise they might as well change his name to BIGPUSSY.

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  88. If you're hoping for something to happen, is it possible for it to then be unexpected?

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  89. This company just doesn't give a shit anymore.

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  90. Unexpected in terms of how the story 'ought to go', i.e. Heyman being a lying shit.

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  91. Maybe on Smackdown they'll hold an on-air job evaluation for the pyro guy.

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  92. kellner and AOL didn't kill WCW. J.D. Dunn puts it best:

    "If your wife leaves you, maybe you can blame her. If every single woman on the planet wants nothing to do with you, you have to start blaming yourself.

    Corporations like money. If anyone had seen any potential in WCW, it would have been bought by Newscorp for FX, or by Universal for the USA Network, or any of about a dozen other companies that own TV outlets. No one wanted it and no one wanted to broadcast it. It wasn't just AOL/Time-Warner.

    Nash himself inadvertently steps on his own lie by noting the Braves, Hawks and Thrashers were all sold too. Why aren't the Braves and Hawks defunct organizations like WCW and the Thrashers? Because they were well-managed and profitable (the Braves more so than the Hawks). If the problem was AOL/TW, WCW would have thrived once it separated itself from them."

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  93. Just a few thoughts...

    As some already pointed out, with all the hype they're getting, it'd be nice if the Wyatt family interrupted the "performance evaluation." It's the only thing that would make sense because the McMahons have treated Vicki like crap the last few weeks, leaving the fans no one to cheer and no other emotional investment besides pity for Vicki. Why not just have someone screw with the McMahons and shake things up. That segment has death written all over it, otherwise.


    Because they want to revisit every dumb angle with this performance evaluation BS, they are also bringing back the Piggie James angle. Last week wasn't so bad, but the photoshop crap this week was insulting. It sends horrible messages to the younger portion of the audience, makes adults roll their eyes, and generally just has everyone lose their faith in Kaitlyn because we now know there's people in the company that hate her or view her as fat.



    I thought Scott was a little harsh for the Punk/Axel-PTP match. The storyline is progressing and making sense. AND Hennig is getting more comfortable with his new role while doing a fine job these last few televised shows.



    Ultimately, it's only one bad show... but it still felt like they undid some of the good accomplished the last couple of weeks.

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  94. I get the Punk thing... I guess it was just that a face/heel team was overkill for me when you already had face/face and heel/heel matches on the show.


    I disagree about the Bryan thing because if he's supposed to be a babyface, bragging about wins to the point of annoyance and trying to rub it in that you're better than your friend is not something that a top level babyface would do... I wouldn't want to be friends with that guy. You want people to get behind the guy, not have people get annoyed at him... he should be a bit more humble.


    At least we can agree that the Ryback finish was the worst... I still can't believe that happened.

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  95. I wonder if a 'blowjob' tag team would work in today's WWE. Throw together Kidd and Gabriel maybe, have one of them just beaten like a dog every match to get the girls/guys who like that sort of thing all revved up.

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  96. episode literally put me to sleep. missed the last hour, guess i didnt miss much. Way too much with the McMahons, yuck. Thankfully MNF is right around the corner folks!

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  97. I've stated I would love if they made the Wyatt Family kind of like The Whites of WestVirginia. Crazy Inbred family that is unpredictable, would be alot of fun, but this is WWE were talking about, we'll probably just have the Godwinns 2.0.

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  98. Guarantee that the performance review will be a non-finish, in the sense that the MMahons/HHH will disagree on her fate, they'll argue with each other and she'll somehow just slink away.

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  99. If only someone was selling an e-book that would explain how to use those services.

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  100. Am I the only one who like the opening segment? Sure it was predictable but it had a bit of an old school feel about it. I'm hyped for that match anyway at MITB. I also liked the 6 man that followed. I switched off somewhere during Sheamus/Fandango

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  101. Speaking of NJPW Dominion, I just picked up the show from last year. I really love these Tanahashi vs Okada matches. Oh so goooooooood.

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  102. If he does, it'll be because Jericho is trying to save him from what he's become. Looking at how Brokeback was booked before going against Cena......essentially a JTTS until after WM, and then fed to Cena for 2 PPVs.


    That finish was one of the dumbest I can remember, and Ryback no-sold it as soon as it was done. That match killed whatever mystique he may have had left.

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  103. Cannot wait until next weeks main event Cena and Ziggler vs Henry and ADR. So predicable and so BORING.

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  104. So much for the new talent going anywhere. The Shield? Becoming just another stable before our eyes. Ryback? Just a guy who loses to Miz in minutes. Cesaro? Sandow? Fandango? Just some guys. Yet they STILL can't deliver actual finishes in any of these TV matches.

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  105. These shows and these matches accomplish nothing and build to nothing. On the rare occasion that you get a match or promo that moves a storyline forward, what do you do? Praise it. "Oh, WWE is finally getting it! They moved a story forward! They are building to a match!" It's the most sickening example of setting for mediocrity I've seen. But then, you're not even settling for it... you're praising it! WWE has created a product so stale, so boring and so meaningless, that when they manage to do something they did a dozen times a week in 1998, you go batshit crazy and mark out for them. Is it genius? Is it not giving a fuck? I don't know, but I damn sure don't care. My involvement with this company begins and ends with Scott's rants. If he doesn't review a PPV, it's the biggest WWE-related disappointment that I suffer.

    For them to blame talent for low ratings or bored crowds is outlandish. I'm willing to bet that the wrestlers are the only ones with good ideas and the motivation to carry them out, but they are handcuffed by invisible shackles. If they speak up against 50/50 booking, giving away matches on free TV, no direction for their character or the product in general or how winning/losing a particular match is the obviously wrong decision, they get punished. They get punished for trying to improve the company! What kind of business model is that?!

    If WWE's primary audience wasn't mindless sheep who beg their mommy or daddy to buy the latest PPV/action figure/t-shirt/video game then they would have folded a long time ago. Maybe Vince realized that... maybe he knows they can't book a pro wrestling company and decided to appeal to the stupidest audience possible to compensate. There comes a time when you have to ask yourself, and I'm talking about McMahon, why can't I or my staff do what a million fans do every single day: book interesting, logical and entertaining pro wrestling cards?

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  106. So are we taking bets on how the Wyatts will debut? I'm putting mine on "Surrounding Cena, but he beats the odds"

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  107. I would SO mark out if the McMahons were all out there and the Wyatt's surround the ring and Bray says, "You don't understand, you aren't the family that is in charge any more!"


    Or something.

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  108. So now 'We the People' is getting over. Uh, guys?

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  109. That was the shittest crowd I've seen on Raw for a long time

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  110. Literally the ONE gimmick they can't turn face and that's the one they support. Well done, Iowa.

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  111. Actually if they give that time, I'd probably check that out.

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  112. Kellner did not want wrestling at all on Turner and without TV, you cant survive. Once they lost TV, it was dead.

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  113. Doctor FunkopolisJuly 2, 2013 at 2:44 PM

    Vince's brilliant legal team killed WCW. From what I gather, Bischoff had a group ready to invest in WCW and (at the least) keep the ship sailing.

    But Vince legally had what can only be described as "dibs" on WCW the moment it went on sale, all stemming from the "Outsiders" lawsuit.

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  114. Punk and Bryan cracked me up

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  115. How long until the Wyatt family are lost in the shuffle and doing six man matches against The Usos+1

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  116. To be fair, Sioux City is a haven for nutjob right wingers. These are the same people who keep reelecting Steve King to congress, after all.

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  117. Instead, the live audience should be given pillows and blankets.

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  118. That wasn't it at all with Bryan and Kane. Bryan kept trying to give the win to Kane in order to make him happy and cull favor with him so that he'd help him in the "every man for himself" ladder match. That's what I got out of it at least.

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  119. Great match. 4th or 5th best on the show.

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  120. If they actually make the Usos important, I'd be all for it. They'd be a great face foil for the Wyatt family.

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  121. it was a front. see smackdown, when he was on commentary bragging himself up and then threw kane in the ring when there was no need to. he's fucking with him.

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  122. i think he's babyface-ish but never fully turned and is still his own thing. it seems not everyone has to play into the "everything good guy stereotype" and "everything bad guy stereotype" anymore.

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  123. whities vs foreigners!

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  124. Jason Jeffrey BallJuly 2, 2013 at 7:52 PM

    The crowds on RAW the last two weeks have been horrendous. Seriously, if you don't give a shit...don't go...f'n marks. They only go for the $25 Cena t-shirts anyways. Wow, that was smarky.

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  125. Put me down for them debuting as backup for Brad Maddox, having usurped the GM position after Vickie's unfavorable performance review next week. Because that's why everyone tunes in for the GM drama. And the WWE App.

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  126. "Vince's brilliant legal team", ROTFLMAO, sorry I have a hard time NOT cracking up, seeing someone use those words in a serious non-ironic manner.


    I mean I suppose it's possible that THAT legal team had the foresight to see that WCW would be going out of business nearly half a decade later, but I SINCERELY DOUBT IT.

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  127. I seem to remember that the agreement was that the WWE would be considered as one of the bidders if they wanted to, NOT THE ONLY BIDDER! So the point still stands.

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  128. No other broadcasting companies besides Turner is out there?

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  129. Did I miss the part where they officially split Ziggler from Big E and AJ, or is WWE playing wait-and-see with the fan reaction to Ziggler before going all-in with him as a face and splitting him from his crew? Seems like if they were still a team, Big E would've been there when Ziggler had to face 3MB, just to even the numbers.
    And I still think they've got to shuffle the MITB lineups, because right now it just doesn't make sense. Sure, the WWE title ladder match has star power and stories within the story (Kane-Bryan-Orton, RVD-Punk), but the World Heavyweight ladder match is not only weak on star power but it's all heels. Who is the crowd supposed to get behind? I'm thinking during Vickie's performance evaluation they'll figure a way to move the players around a bit.

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  130. Doctor FunkopolisJuly 3, 2013 at 3:59 AM

    He had right of first refusal, but had it locked down so tight that it went beyond the standard circumstances that would have allowed the company to be sold.

    It wasn't a case of "You can be in on this". It was a legal case of "This is your's for practically nothing if you want it, no matter how much the next guy is offering."

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  131. Id be for it if they put importance on tag teams again, Shield vs usos vs Wyatts vs PTP, they have enough to make then important all they need are featured matches and feuds. But for some reason the only Tag Team division the WWE cares about is when they split guys up to make another lower midcard guy to exchange jobs with Kofi.

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  132. Does Bryan have any positive traits?


    He's whiny, delusional, arrogant, insecure and impolite. Beyond being a great wrestler, what kayfabe reason is there to root for him?

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  133. Uh, AJ's a heel.


    I'm not saying it wasn't a dumb segment. But not every "heel insulting the babyface" angle is the office insulting the babyface. Sometime's it's just old-fashioned heat mining.

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  134. Kidd and Gabriel were a tag-team (International Airstrike, or something like that), but Kidd's out with an injury at the moment.

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  135. I'm pretty sure Eric Bischoff said that Fusient Media Ventures (his company) would've bought WCW ONLY IF Turner would keep the shows on the air (they didn't).

    According to: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/883214-wwe-the-5-most-interesting-excerpts-from-wwe-related-lawsuit-filings-case-law/page/5

    They got "the right to bid" not "the right to be the only bidders"; but if you can find a source that can prove the latter that doesn't come from a Nash-like source, more power to you.

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  136. In kayfabe, Big E and AJ were busy photoshopping all night.

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  137. AJ's a fine heel, too. I wasn't suggesting every angle is the office insulting yada yada. But the Piggy James angle destroyed Mickie's heat because no one pointed out its insanity. So, now, AJ makes insane accusations of Kaitlyn being fat, Kaitlyn has to sell it like it makes her mad (as if it's a vulnerable spot for her), and the WWE Universe is once again subjected to a misogynistic point of view with hardly any true dissent. AJ could go after her weird hair, the fact that she cries so much, or how she dresses, but nope--it's WWE, so they are going after a woman's face or weight if they want to make it personal.



    People weren't making fun out of HBK's or Savage's bald spots for big time angles for years and years (sans an ironic Hollywood Hogan angle). People didn't make fun out of HHH when he got soft and bloated for most of 2004. But a sensitive issue like a woman's weight judged by ludicrous standards is okay. It's just friggin stupid.

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  138. Okay, that's your issue with it. I agree. Making women all catty, vain bitches is pretty misogynistic.


    Hell, I mean, it's still girly, but even AJ taunting Kaitlyn about how she doesn't have a man wold be something. Then maybe Kaitylyn could be like "I don't need a man, grrrl power!"

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  139. he wins his matches cleanly.

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  140. ADR and Ryback do too.

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