Hey Scott,
Is this the most focused WWE booking has been in ages, or is it just me?
Orton vs Bryan is the single big title feud, but from it we get involvement from The Shield and Wade Barrett on one side, and Ziggler/Henry/Big Show/Miz on the other.
Elsewhere, Punk's feud with Heyman has been building nicely for a while, there are several over tag teams, and even the Divas have something to do!
I'm not saying that Curtis Axel's setting the world on fire, or that Cesaro couldn't be better used, but for once I'm looking forward to post-Summerslam/pre-Royal Rumble WWE and the solid, logical booking is a big part of that. I also realise we're building to a HHH/Mcmahon thing at WMXXX, but you can't have everything.
Curious to hear your thoughts.
Thanks, Ioan
It seems more focused because Vince and HHH are both directly involved and thus that's what they're paying attention to. Vince is not gonna involve himself in something that's midcard fodder, so it's in his best interest to make sure the storyline is well-constructed and delivering ratings, which this one is.
It's intriguing for sure. Punk/heyman would be better with someone better than Curtis axel involved though
ReplyDeleteBut doing that might pull attention off As The McMahons and Helmsleys Turn.
ReplyDeleteSo anyone else thrown out the idea that Vince will "see the light" with Bryan, turn face and pick him to face HHH at WM? That's what I'll put my money on for right now.
ReplyDeleteIf by "See the light", you mean, "HHH will completely usurp the rest of Vince's power and cast him out, which will spur Vince to back Bryan so he can take down Hunter & co. as a big FUCK YOU for crossing the boss", then yes, he will see the light.
ReplyDeleteActually I think the timing on this angle is a little suspect. They usually have the big summer program run and mutate all the way through the fall, then the winter is just little programs and come the Rumble it all resets building towards Mania. So I wouldn't be surprised if the whole Vince vs. HHH for the company story is radically different come Mania time and possibly not involving Bryan whatsover.
ReplyDeleteThreadjack: I stumbled across the first iteration of Christian's "At Last" theme, which I had forgotten about and remembered that it was AWESOME.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLexfNau0rI
It'll happen early next year when HHH suddenly starts backing Brock Lesnar to take out Bryan, because it's "good for business" and Vince determines that that's going too far.
ReplyDeleteI was bored and inspired a couple weeks back and wrote an entire fantasy booking of the DB / Corporate angle, sent it to Scott, but have a feeling it was too much to read for him. But if anyone wants to give it a read it is here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1x0S85v7IQ36rJpM-JdrEAaEQzHRooHlC3qzcsyY1esY/edit?usp=sharing
ReplyDeleteRemember this was written the day after the Raw that followed SummerSlam.
I'm sorry for spiking the WWE Kool-Aid. Carry on.
ReplyDeleteSupposedly Orton/Bryan is scheduled to last through October and Orton's in the WWE Title picture until at least January. I can't see them drawing out Bryan's chase for six months when he's already feuding with the champion.
ReplyDeleteSo, when Wrestlemania cames, who's the top heel? Orton or Triple H?
ReplyDeleteCena.
ReplyDeleteTriple H until the night after Wrestlemania when he doesn't wrestle again for 6 months- 1 year and Orton is top heel again.
ReplyDeleteLesnar.
ReplyDeleteThe more I think about it the more I'm counting on Cena to come back in 4 months and be the one to save the day.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, I can see it easily happening. Remember when from the pipe bomb on Punk and Johnny Ace had a huge beef going, yet suddenly after Wrestlemania Cena is the one to save the Raw roster from the wrath of Johnny Ace, with help from Vince McMahon of all people?
ReplyDeleteThe cm punk/ace issue was over after royal rumble. Cena/ace was based on brock lesnar initially.
ReplyDeleteCena and orton will prob feud, but Bryan will win in the end.
Vince makes a mistake, leading to Bryan pinning hhh. That's how vince and hhh fall out.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested whatever kind of kool aid you're drinking that makes you think pairing Punk with Axel is some diabolical scheme by Vince and HHH to make them look better.
ReplyDeleteIt's not... and my remark was mostly tongue-in-cheek.
ReplyDeleteI really think that Cena/Undertaker is the plan for Wrestlemania, so Cena may make his big return but only to 'help' Bryan, in the sense of countering interference against Shield/HHH to help Daniel finally win the title. We get Cena/Orton at No Way Out, or something, then that clears the path for the two big Mania main events to be Cena/UT and Bryan/HHH, as Hunter returns to the ring 'take care of business himself' (and then taps out to Bryan in the middle of the ring).
ReplyDeleteIt was still going on after, at Wrestlemania he added that last minute stip to Punk's match with Jericho, and kept booking Punk in title matches against Mark Henry after Wrestlemania.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that similar to the "Immortal takes TNA from Dixie" angle?
ReplyDeleteThis storyline so far reminds me in many ways of the HHH/McMahons/Rock/Jericho/APA/Buchanan-Bossman stuff before Backlash 2000, when several storylines at once (HHH's feud with Rock, his feud with Jericho, the Acolytes' feud with Buchanan and Bossman) were tied together into a really satisfying whole. It's nice to see everything connected, as it's pretty jarring when rivalries are in their own little pocket universe (as the Punk versus Heyman feud is at the moment, although it's mostly delivering).
ReplyDeleteWait, focused booking? I vaguely remember that from the 90's...
ReplyDeleteThis is pretty much awesome
ReplyDeleteAnd let's not forget that in the midcard The Miz and Fandango are recreating the Hart/Austin feud where Miz is the esteemed veteran and Fandango is the cocky upstart who seeks to establish his name off the former's reputation. I look forward to the angle paying off in a career defining'I Quit' dance-off.
ReplyDeleteLesnar will be top heel.
ReplyDeleteLesnar vs Bryan for WWE Title after Lesnar wins Royal Rumble and Heyman's group merges with the new corporation setting up this match.
Cena Vs Undertaker (Which of course Taker will win, but why pass on a match that can draw this much money?)
Triple H vs Punk (Punk's feud with Heyman extends to the corporation which leads to this match)
Orton vs drug test
These matches seem like the big money makers to me, but honestly I have no clue what Wrestlemania will be.
Meh. There have been far worse mid card feuds over the years. I see no problem with this one. At least both guys have a consistent story to work with.
ReplyDeleteI think it's inevitable, actually.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree with this. That's one of the reasons I love 1997 - the roster was thin so all of the storylines are interacting in a coherent manner.
ReplyDeleteI actually like both those ideas.
ReplyDeleteWe're gonna get a Steve Austin returning to help Rock win moment.
ReplyDeleteI can live with that, honestly.
I'd really love a Punk and Bryan vs. Orton and Triple H match, actually.
ReplyDeleteOr maybe Survivor Series is Punk/Bryan/Show/Henry/Ziggler vs. Orton/Axel/Shield.
Chances Heyman, and any of his stable, joins HHH in the future?
ReplyDeleteI was watching TNA at the time, but if it looks like a duck and quacks like one.
ReplyDeleteIf Bryan doesn't end Raw tonight standing tall or at least with some kind of upper hand, I'll have significantly less faith that this is for real. They've reached the maximum number of shows they can build heat before it just looks like Bryan can't hang, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with the focused booking thing for a couple of reasons.
ReplyDelete1. The committee approach to booking always leaves someone behind, in this case the midcard has been sorely neglected for some time. The best times in wrestling featured one person's vision.
2. The WWE is focused, however it is focused on doing what it wants, fans be damned. Since WCW closed, WWE has followed through with many, many plans that fans did not react well to or even want to see.
"FANDANGO'S TRYING TO PIROUETTE WITH A CRIMSON MASK!! MIZ IS FIGURE SKATING LIKE A MAN POSSESSED!!!"
ReplyDeleteDO NOT LET HHH NEAR PUNK AGAIN!!
ReplyDeletePunk's fine ya pussy.
ReplyDelete