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The SmarK Rant for WWE Night of Champions 2014

The SmarK Rant for WWE Night of Champions 2014

Live from Nashville, TN

Your hosts are Michael Cole, JBL & Jerry Lawler

WWE tag team titles: The Usos v. Goldust & Stardust

What is with the weird font for the graphics tonight? Jey slugs Goldust down to start, and Jimmy beats on Stardust with a low dropkick for two and a stungun. Jey gets caught in the corner, however, and double-teamed while the announce team debates whether the Cosmic Key is the tag titles or not. It’s a METAPHOR, morons. Jey slugs back on Goldust and Jimmy comes back in while Cole gets into a stupid argument with JBL over the semantics of which tag title that the APA held. They fight on the floor and Goldust gets powerslam out there, which gets two in the ring. Stardust goes all feral and stomps away, and Goldust hits the chinlock before hitting a spinebuster for two. Stardust with a facelock and he counters a samoan drop into a neckbreaker for two. Why is the ref wearing medical gloves out there? Was someone bleeding off camera or something? Stardust with another chinlock, but he charges and hits the post and it’s hot tag Jey. He throws kicks on Stardust and goes after the leg, while Jimmy hits Goldust with a dive. Jey with a cross body for two. Samoan drop sets up the running butt splash, but Stardust hits the Crossroads for two. He ties Jey in the ropes and we get the GLOVE SLAP, but Jey rolls him up for two. Then it gets crazy with Goldust and Jey both hitting dives to the floor. Back in, Jey with a flying splash that hits knees, and we have new tag team champions at 12:55. Good for them, they deserve another run with them. After all the stuff about Jey’s bad knee before the match, it factored exactly zero into the match. It didn’t really get past second gear until just before the finish, but it was solid tag action. ***

Meanwhile, Dolph Ziggler and his stunt double drink some Mountain Dew. Did you know they’re sponsoring the show? News to me.

US title: Sheamus v. Cesaro

But first, the announcers would like you to know that you’re an idiot for paying $55 for this, basically coming out and saying as much. That’s an interesting marketing strategy: “Say, you know how you paid all that money for this show? Well, you should have paid $10 instead. Jerk.” They have a nice little battle on the mat to start and then the fisticuffs begin. Sheamus with a knee to the gut and Regal Roll for two, and Sheamus drops knees but gets necksnapped. Cesaro with a double axehandle off the top and they tumble to the floor and throw down out there. Back in with a Sheamus shoulderblock for two and he goes up, but Cesaro forearms him to the floor. Back in, kneedrop gets two and Cesaro tries a sleeper, but Sheamus slugs out of it, so Cesaro puts him down with a backdrop suplex. Sheamus fires back with forearms, but Cesaro clotheslines him for two. Cesaro with a pair of forearms in the corner, but Sheamus hits him with a pair of backbreakers for two. Sheamus with the forearms on the apron, but Cesaro catches the arm and then boots him in the head to break. They fight on the top and Sheamus flips him down for two. Brogue Kick misses and Cesaro hits the Swiss Death forearm for two. Sheamus fights out of a suplex and hits a tilt a whirl slam for two. Sheamus hulks up, but misses another Brogue and Cesaro hits a butterfly powerbomb for two. Neutralizer is reversed by Sheamus, but Cesaro ducks the Brogue and hits an Angle Slam for two. Cesaro slaps him around and the fistfight is on, but Sheamus demands to be punched in the face even harder. Cesaro obliges, but walks into a Brogue Kick at 13:03. See, that’s all we want out of these two, 15 minutes of hitting each other as hard as they can. And what a great finish, as they just kept hitting each other harder and harder until one man went down. ***1/2 Although I didn’t really like that they had Cesaro play concussed while Lawler was like “Ha ha, he doesn’t know where he is!” I think we’re at the point where they shouldn’t joke about that sort of stuff.

Meanwhile, Big Show motivates Mark Henry and promises to have his back, so you can probably guess what’s happening there.

Intercontinental title: Dolph Ziggler v. The Miz

Florida Georgia Line join us on commentary for some reason, and they reveal that they’re going to do “the honor the troops thing there in December.” That’s my favorite event of the year! I loved last year’s Honor The Troops Thing There In December! Almost as much as Summerfest. And then Michael Cole plugs Slam City, describing the premise in robotic fashion. The show is funny because we say so. We’re off to a great start in this match. Dolph gets a Thesz Press for two as the announcers continue interviewing the band and basically ignore the match. Miz puts him down with a big boot for two and goes to the chinlock while the inane banter on commentary just kills the match dead. Dolph slugs back and hits a clothesline out of the corner, and a neckbreaker sets up the fameasser. Miz blocks it, but Dolph gets a sunset flip for two. They end up on the floor and Sandow trips up Dolph, which prompts a brawl with R-Truth. Sandow goes after the band and gets beat up, which is the stupidest thing of the show so far, and Ziggler boots Miz for two. So the stunt doubles run away and Miz gets the figure-four, but Dolph makes the ropes. Fameasser gets two. Sandow returns for the distraction, however, and Miz rolls him up for the pin and the title at 9:25. Yay, a distraction finish on PPV. *1/2 This program is ridiculously pointless and the commentary was obnoxious as hell.

Meanwhile, Roman Reigns suffers a hernia and is not here tonight.

Seth Rollins is out to accept Roman Reigns’ forfeit loss, following the customary 10 count. The crowd is already ahead of the curve and chants for Ambrose, even before Rollins issues an open challenge to anyone in the locker room.

Seth Rollins v. Dean Ambrose

Not really a match per se as Ambrose charges out and they get into a huge brawl before HHH gets security to pull them apart. Dean escapes and continues pummeling Rollins down to the ring again, but security jumps him again and this time they tie him up and haul him off. So for the second time on PPV, we get screwed out of a match between these two. Although you’ll note that the Authority is actively screwing with Ambrose and holding him down, and he’s getting over bigger than Reigns now because the fans actually have something to connect with him.

Mark Henry v. Rusev

Henry chases him out of the ring a few times, but Rusev runs him into the stairs to take over. Back in the ring, Rusev with corner splashes and he goes to work on the ribs and grabs a hold on the mat. That goes on for a while and Rusev tries the camel clutch, but Henry fights out FOR AMERICA and hits the World’s Strongest Slam. Rusev bails to escape and they make faces at each other, but Rusev boots him down and finishes with the Accolade at 8:20. This show is rapidly going downhill. This was no miraculously good Jack Swagger match. ½* They really need to put a title on Rusev to give his run some actual stakes.

Michael Cole notes that Hell in a Cell is coming up next month, and they can promise that at least one of the matches will be a Hell in a Cell match. Whew, that’s a relief.

Chris Jericho v. Randy Orton

They slug it out in the corner to start and Jericho clotheslines him to the floor and follows with a baseball slide. More lameness from the announcers as they try to quote Jericho’s insult of Orton where he accuses Orton of being on “Total Jackass”, but apparently “ass” is too hardcore for them and awkwardly pull back and go “double crooked letters” instead. Like, REALLY? It’s 2014, I think it’s OK to say ass now. They fight on the top and Orton brings him down with a superplex for two. Orton tosses him and beats on him outside to take over. Orton suplexes him onto the announce table and back in for two off that. This nearly costs them their DIET MOUNTAIN DEW, but luckily they save it. All the performers are disposable and interchangeable, but if the Diet Dew gravy train ever sails, the company is dead. Jericho fights back with chops and this crowd just does not give a shit, but Orton gets a powerslam for two. Jericho to the top with a double axehandle, but the Lionsault misses and Orton gets the backbreaker. Jericho blocks the RKO and hits the Lionsault for two, but Orton escapes the Walls. Jericho hits the post and Orton sets up the punt, but Jericho rolls him up for two and gets the Walls. Orton can’t make the ropes, so he powers out instead and dumps Jericho to set up the draping DDT. RKO is countered with the Codebreaker for two. Jericho goes up and shows some fire again, but lands in the same old RKO at 16:18. The camera angle made it obvious that Jericho wasn’t going to hit anything from the direction he was going. Usual Orton match with the usual Orton finish, but Jericho managed to pull the crowd into it at the end. ***

Divas title: Paige v. AJ Lee v. Nikki Bella

Brie Bella gives one of the worst promos I’ve ever heard before the match, delivering the line “Karma and my sister are both a bitch” like it was some kind of Shakespearean bon mot where the fans were hanging on her words. Nikki catches AJ in a sleeper while the crowd chants for CM Punk, but really that’s insulting to think Punk would waste his return on this show. Get a clue, Nashville. Paige saves AJ, but Nikki puts her into an armbar that would break her arm if real but is largely ignored here. Nikki gets tossed and AJ goes after Paige with a high kick for two, but goes up and gets shoved off by Nikki for two. And now Paige mysteriously disappears for a bit. More nonsense with Paige and AJ as Paige wants a creepy hug, but then beats her down while yelling about AJ not loving her for two. I guess now Paige is supposed to be a lesbian stalker or something? Nikki dumps Paige and lays out AJ for two. A vicious..uh..bodyslam gets two. Another one is reversed into the Black Widow, but Paige breaks it up and gets two on both. AJ goes up and we get a Tower of Doom spot, complete with the camera catching AJ and Paige conversing about the timing. Nikki gets a Torture rack on Paige for two, but AJ saves and tosses her, then hooks the Black Widow on Paige for the title at 8:47. This was needlessly long, to say the least. So I guess this feud must continue for another three months. ½* Nikki was beyond useless here, but at least she didn’t get the title, I guess. I would ask what the point of putting the title back on Paige for a month was, but really who cares?

WWE World title: Brock Lesnar v. John Cena

Brock immediately attacks, but Cena hits the FU for one. Brock catches him with a kimura, but Cena gets to the ropes. Brock starts with the suplexes again and goes to work on Cena’s arm and back to the kimura, but Cena makes the ropes again. Another suplex gets two. Brock uses rolling suplexes for one and pounds Cena down for two, but Cena fights back and gets dropped with a clothesline. Brock goes back to the arm and throws another suplex for two. Cena again fails to give up, but Lesnar beats him down in the corner. Cena fights back again, so Brock suplexes him again. More punishment in the corner and the gloves are literally off, but Cena catches him with an FU for two. STF, but Brock counters into the kimura and Cena powers out of that. Another FU and STF, but Brock makes the ropes and Seth Rollins runs in for the DQ at 14:19. He manages to curb stomp Brock and cashes in, but Cena chases him off and apparently it doesn’t count. Match wasn’t as special as last month’s, lacking the drama and feeling more like “How are they going to get themselves out of delivering a finish here?” but it was still pretty good. ***1/4 But really, a DQ finish in a PPV main event and we don’t even get the cash in? Come on.

The Pulse

Weak spots aside, it was a solid show for the $9.99, although I can’t imagine PPV providers will be thrilled with WWE mocking the fans who bought the show. Cesaro v. Sheamus was clearly the standout here and the first two matches plus the main event were enough for an easy thumbs up these days. Had they delivered Rollins v. Ambrose in the classic brawl we’re all waiting for, it would have been a home run show, though.

Comments

  1. Gunther the Nasty LoserSeptember 22, 2014 at 12:03 AM

    Can we agree that this show might be in the running for "worst overall commentary"?

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  2. Paige and A.J.'s conversation waiting for Nikki to hit her spot was spectacularly awesome bad camera work.

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  3. Gunther the Nasty LoserSeptember 22, 2014 at 12:04 AM

    "Ready?!"

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  4. Reminds me of Bischoff, Mongo, and Heenan on Nitro: They don't care about what's going on anymore.

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  5. How much does the florida/Georgia line weigh?

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  6. I feel like Rusev regressed with this Henry match. After some surprisingly good and well heated matches with Swagger, this was a huge turkey on an otherwise solid show.

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  7. Gunther the Nasty LoserSeptember 22, 2014 at 12:07 AM

    Also, it boggles the mind why the faces don't wait for Rollins to actually officially cash in - with the bell - before attacking him. Dean's done it, and now Cena did it this evening.

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  8. I cannot think of diet Mountain Dew without thinking of cartman

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  9. Gunther the Nasty LoserSeptember 22, 2014 at 12:08 AM

    Like I said in the live thread, had the nWo been in charge, the sponsorship would have been Mt. Dew *and* pot pies

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  10. Other than the amount of stalling from Rollins, on second thought I realize that I really liked the ending even if it didn't make a great deal of sense. I got chills when Rollins stopped, stared at a rising Lesnar and put him down again with the Curb Stomp, and Cena shouting at him in frustration and calling him a "fool" was pretty cool in an Obi Wan lecturing a defeating Anakin on Mustafar kinda way.

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  11. CruelConnectionNumber2September 22, 2014 at 12:10 AM

    All WWE commentary sucks INCLUDING the NXT announcers who have no chemistry and are distracting to me.

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  12. CruelConnectionNumber2September 22, 2014 at 12:12 AM

    Every month the threads are filled with "That women's match was actually pretty good!" and I wonder what the hell people are watching. AJ and Paige have dreadful characters, Nikki is terrible, and women's wrestling is poison when not conducted in mud pits or jello at a strip club.

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  13. Well I didn't love the Cena/Lesnar match like I did their Summerslam match. The action felt pretty flat without the great story of the last match to carry it along. Plus the DQ finish. I did like the start of the match with Cena hitting the FU only for Brock to kick out at 1. Then he hits it again and Brock kicks out right at 2. Decent match but nothing on their last two matches and definitely not enough to elevate the show. It was neat seeing Rollins hit Brock with that curb stomp if only because it's interesting seeing someone new interact with Brock.


    Sheamus/Cesaro was real good for the last 8 or so minutes and the Ambrose/Rollins brawl was solid. Rollins is pretty dumb though, he had about a minute to escape after seeing Ambrose pull up in the cab and have his music play.

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  14. Pretty much spot on with my own feelings on this show. I was seeing some solid in-ring action for the most part, even though it felt like a throwaway show the more it went on. If you're ending your show on a DQ, you better be building to something better the next show, however.


    Two things to take away: Sheamus and Cesaro are both being vastly underutilized right now, and should probably switch face/heel roles.


    The fans wanted Dean Ambrose, they got Dean Ambrose, and his pop was the best thing on the show.

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  15. CruelConnectionNumber2September 22, 2014 at 12:13 AM

    Henry is terrible, don't judge Rusev on the work of a 50 year old fat dude with no knees.

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  16. Mongo however is far superior to Florida Georgia Line.

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  17. Yeah, you know what? Fuck this PPV and fuck this company. Who does that main event finish help? I get that they booked themselves into a corner with Cena not being able to lose cleanly (although that in and of itself is patently ridiculous, Cena doing a hard-fought clean job and moving on to Rusev is fine if they want to get that route without hurting Superman at all), but COME ON. You spend all this time booking Lesnar as a monster who ends the streak and pounds Cena into mush last month, and now he almost loses but for the interference?


    Who does that booking help? What story does it forward, unless it's to get another match out of Cena and Brock next month? Does it transmit the heat from Cena/Lesnar to Cena/Rollins? If so, why? That feud does nothing for Rollins if he doesn't go over, and we all know he isn't. So Rollins gets to look like a moron who can't beat anyone?


    The only thing they're doing right is the rise of Dean Ambrose. I had it wrong; it's not Daniel Bryan all over again. It's Batista - Ambrose is Batista and Reigns is Randy Orton. Ambrose is the guy who is connecting with the fans and getting over organically, and Reigns is the chosen one who is just missing something somehow. Ambrose is doing the angle differently - whereas Batista was too cool for school, Ambrose is batshit insane, but the result is the same - he's getting the heat where Reigns wasn't.


    Miz wins the belt again? Who cares? Trade the belt every damn month for all I care. How can a title mean something if it switches every other show? Remember Flair waiting to job the title to Sting while sacrificing Lex Luger; remember how he was right? Part of what made the victory special was the fact that Flair kept the belt for so long and the conquering hero won the title after the fans couldn't take it anymore. Why is it so hard to replicate that? There's DECADES of wrestling history that prove the concept works!


    I think Sheamus forgot he was even the US champ. Cesaro is so good, it's insane. That having been said, they had the match of the night with little to no buildup for that feud because WRESTLING. People got into the match because they were beating the holy fuck out of each other, and it was awesome to watch.


    Whatever, I don't care anymore. I'll still watch, because I have the same Stockholm Syndrome that every fan does, and I like watching Cesaro, Ambrose, and Rollins ply their trade. And because I'm an idiot.


    But fuck, man - it's professional wrestling. It's not complicated. Why does the most successful promoter in the history of wrestling have to try to make it that way?

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  18. I prefer mason the line dixon

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  19. Ambrose isn't getting over "organically". His booking's been excellent his entire WWE career.

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  20. Looks like some good ratings for a non-marquee show that was built up rather poorly.


    Thought Cena needed some more offense but sounds like he got too much, and the cash-in attempt was stupid: why tease Rollins-Cena after Ambrose returns?


    Love the idea of Brie (and the writers) trying to do Shakespeare.


    Brie (holding a cheap bottle of wine): "To Brie Mode or not to Brie Mode? - that is the question...karma, something something, bitch." I'd actually see her as more of a Lady Macbeth for when Bryan returns, and WWE is forced to turn him heel to try to stop the crowd reaction.


    Wish Ambrose could have surprised Rollins by coming through the crowd, but their reaction would have given him away.

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  21. "All the performers are disposable and interchangeable, but if the Diet Dew gravy train ever sails, the company is dead".


    On the plus side, Surge is finally back so if that gravy train ever sails, they will at least have a backup sponsor in place unlike if TNA lost Direct Auto Insurance.

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  22. Sadly he never did commentary.

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  23. I don't mean his work ,I mean his character. That match sucked and made me lose interest in Rusev very quickly. Sticking him with a washed-up slug hurts him regardless of his ability in the ring. He's capable of good work, but Henry dragged him down to nothing tonight.

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  24. I think Rollins trying to cash in tonight made sense if only because he could rest easy in knowing that Ambrose had been restrained and wouldn't interfere with any cash-in attempts.

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  25. Why the hell was the announce team making a big deal about if lesnar was gonna tap when cena was clearly going for pin?! Do these bozo's even watch these matches anymore?

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  26. Agreed, but what I mean is that he's connecting to people in a way that Reigns was not; he's utilizing his booking stronger than Reigns was to this point. I can certainly see Reigns coming back and using his time away as a strength, but I don't think he's there yet, and I think that Ambrose ends up as the guy because he IS the guy at this moment in time. They'd be foolish to fuck with that type of support.

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  27. Probably should have just done the cash in because Rollins/Ambrose for the title is hot enough to carry the promotion until Royal Rumble. But instead it will either be Brock disappears with the title, or LOLCENAWINS.

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  28. They're too busy reading people burying their commentary on Twitter.

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  29. Where's Mongo when you need him to not pay attention?

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  30. The Attitude Adjustment is the most torturous submission in the business! It hurts so bad that the referees have to tap for the wrestlers!

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  31. Rollins vs. Ambrose in a Hell in a Cell, for the title? sign me up[ for $9.99 a month.

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  32. that in particular was really, really bad

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  33. Rollins/Ambrose doesn't need the title yet. They're doing great as a hot upper midcard feud.

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  34. They're watching old nitros on the network.

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  35. He was probably distracted by a can of green beans.

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  36. While everything around them is terrible. Might as well just throw all their eggs in one basket because their feud is the only thing people care about right now.

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  37. Or reading Mongo's book of "100 Sex Positions".

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  38. Despite what I said below, I think you're right. The feud has been so well-booked, the title could be utilized in a different feud since it isn't needed here.


    Bring on Big Show/Lesnar! /wrists

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  39. "Only $9.99! Dumb bastards paying $54.95 for this? HA! YOU DUMB MARKS! BUY THE NETWORK!"

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  40. "Fuck this PPV and fuck this company".


    You see, I don't get this attitude. I've seen it before from other posters. Not that one should be grateful for whatever they put on-screen, mind you. Not at all. It's just that the attitude seems to take on the semblance of a personal affront.


    Don't take it personally. After all, they gave you the Network for only $9.99. That's a fucking steal.

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  41. People care about the Cena/Lesnar feud.

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  42. That makes sense within this show (although being detained by security is never 100% in WWE world) but doesn't (to me, at the moment) make sense within the larger storyline: is WWE trying to transition to a Rollins-Cena feud? What would Ambrose do during that time? Furthermore, has there been any indication that Lesnar is no longer the Authority's choice to be champion? Isn't Rollins thus going against their wishes by cashing in on Lesnar (vs. waiting for Cena to win)?


    And, from a non-casual fan perspective, is it really plausible for WWE to defeat its monster heel who ended the Streak and crushed Cena on a freaking MITB cash-in by a fellow heel also aligned with the Authority? A babyface beating the unbeatable monster at WM may not be the only story to tell but is far better (in my opinion) to a MITB cash-in.

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  43. Long reigns require long-term booking, which does not seem to be WWE SOP anymore. Of course, Punk had a long reign that didn't really mean much once it ended.

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  44. Don't worry about TNA - I hear Chico's Bail Bonds has some liquid cash they want to burn...

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  45. I am frustrated by bad storytelling. I think that's just showing. I still love a lot of what they do, but MAN, I hated that finish tonight. I just think that they deserve praise when they do praiseworthy things, and scorn when they don't. At the end of the day, they still have the last laugh, because I love wrestling and will still watch and give them my money.


    All $9.99 of it.

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  46. That Rock/cena program desperately needed a World Title attached to it! ... WWE logic still sucks.

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  47. Come to think of it, it's been awhile since Ramen Noodles sponsored anything.
    They would be a perfect sponsor for TNA since that's the only food their wrestlers can afford.

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  48. Rollins pinning Brock in any manner is LOLtastic.

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  49. Ramen Noodles from a discount grocery store. Can't afford the bulk packages at Wal-Mart.

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  50. "Yep Mode" ABeyAnce1©September 22, 2014 at 12:32 AM

    Yeah, it would never work on a real level,

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  51. Reigns suffers hernia despite being carried by Ambrose and Rollins so far.

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  52. I understand what you're saying. When I see something stupid on-screen, I just laugh and call it what it is: stupid. Then I'm hoping the next segment is better than the last one. Three hour fucking RAWs are really exposing their lack of depth in the creative dept. however.

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  53. I love how Seth Rollins is the exact opposite of Edge with the briefcase.

    "I'm gonna cash it in on the baddest monster in the fed, while the dude I just screwed over is right there, and while another dude who hates me with every fiber of his being is still somewhere in the building. This will work out great."

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  54. "the baddest monster (who, like me, is affiliated with the Authority)"

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  55. "Yep Mode" ABeyAnce1©September 22, 2014 at 12:35 AM

    They really need to bring in guest that, you know, actually understand wrestling.

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  56. Plan C? Or did they have to come up with Plan D to explain Lesnar?

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  57. Or write better scripts or drive it home "we want you to say this" and not to improvise it with that there southern twang of theirs.

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  58. "Yep Mode" ABeyAnce1©September 22, 2014 at 12:37 AM

    That as well.

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  59. I'm guessing Cena and Rollins have some interactions over the next few weeks but they go with Ambrose/Rollins and Cena/Lesnar at HIAC. As for Rollins' motivations, I'm really, really hopeful that they have an interesting storyline with Rollins going rogue or HHH putting him up to it but denying it afterwards and Lesnar/Heyman splitting off from the Authority again. Heel HHH and heel Heyman having back-and-forths on the mic would be pretty entertaining methinks.

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  60. Poor Mark Henry couldn't event split one wig tonight.

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  61. Florida Georgia Line inbreds off camera: "So what's this Night of Champeens thing we supposed to be commentatin' on Mackel?"

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  62. Whoever beats Lesnar for the title(and the top candidates are looking like Cena, Reigns, Ambrose, Bryan) I think it would be awesome and hugely put over their finish if Lesnar doesn't kick out of it. For Ambrose that would require changing his because that bulldog wont do.


    But imagine the wonders it would do for Reigns' Superman Punch/Spear combo or Bryan's running knee/Yes Lock if they hit Brock with it and he doesn't kick out despite him being able to survive tombstones, FU's, Pedigrees, etc.

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  63. "Yep Mode" ABeyAnce1©September 22, 2014 at 12:38 AM

    On the bright side, at least Jerry survived the show, people on the here were saying how he was missing his cues.

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  64. "Yep Mode" ABeyAnce1©September 22, 2014 at 12:39 AM

    He was so sad about that.

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  65. One of the FGL guys looks like if Chris Jericho and Glenn Howerton (Dennis on It's Always Sunny) somehow had a child together.

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  66. I believe Lesnar was Plan C. Orton/Kane was Plan A at the Battleground Fatal 4-way, with Rollins offering to be Plan B. Heyman then offered Lesnar as Plan C.

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  67. "Yep Mode" ABeyAnce1©September 22, 2014 at 12:40 AM

    I thought that one looked like 2007 Jericho, and the other looked like 99 Jerciho.

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  68. Henry can join Jack Swagger in the "I let my country down" line. Why wasn't he buried and ridiculed by JBL for 5 minutes? He did way worse than Swagger did, AND he tapped out like a bitch.

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  69. One definitely looks like Heath Slater. Or maybe it was Heath Slater.

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  70. "Yep Mode" ABeyAnce1©September 22, 2014 at 12:41 AM

    Eh, only so much you can figure now with the current WWE logic.

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  71. Too bad their favorite wrestler is Kofi Johnston.

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  72. I'm sitting on the edge of my seat for Plan X. The heel turn of Daniel Bryan.

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  73. Has anyone kicked out of Bryan's knee yet? Felt like a big deal when both Cena and HHH laid down clean for it.

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  74. "Yep Mode" ABeyAnce1©September 22, 2014 at 12:43 AM

    I was watching but I don't remember hearing that line, did they really say that?

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  75. WWE Logic went from the opposite of common sense to who the fuck knows anymore.

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  76. I don't think anyone has. I know it finished Cena and Triple H. It's one finish where I'd actually be shocked when someone kicks out of it.


    They could get Reign's spear on that level by downing Lesnar.

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  77. Reference to the last time WWE booked redneck "celebrities" that didn't know anything about wrestling which was five years ago during RAW's godawful guest host era.


    The rednecks in question (NASCAR drivers Kyle Busch and Joey Lagano) called Kofi Kingston "Kofi Johnston".

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  78. "whereas Batista was too cool for school [...]"

    which is kind of ironic because that's essentially Roman Reigns (initial) face character.

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  79. Yeah, before they had him cutting promos that used setups taken from bad sitcoms. They really could have had something just keeping him silent but deadly, you know?

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  80. "Yep Mode" ABeyAnce1©September 22, 2014 at 12:47 AM

    I read that wrong, now I'm thinking that if they have to get the title off of Brock, it has to be a fatal 4 way, with every guy taking a turn hitting a finisher to take out Brock. I would mark out for a moment like that, and it seems like it could be a logical way to get it off of him without having him look too weak IMO.

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  81. "Yep Mode" ABeyAnce1©September 22, 2014 at 12:48 AM

    Ah yes, the episode that put Kofi as a near main eventer.

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  82. I know they wouldn't do it for obvious reasons but Lesnar vs. Ambrose is one match in which it would make sense to incorporate a chair shot to the head, putting the beast down.

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  83. But you're probably right, 'organically' is probably a bad word to use. A better way to put it is that Ambrose is more fully realizing his potential from his booking than most other wrestlers at this point.

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  84. I think it might come off a little flat at first with just a regular finish ending the match but it would do wonders for the person's finish.


    A No Disqualification match could work to make the one finish move less deflating because the Brock Lesnar character has been built up to the point where it takes weapons to make it a fair fight(Triple H notwithstanding)

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  85. It feels organic because a well booked push always feels organic. You felt that way because that's how a push should feel.

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  86. Knux to Menagerie: "I got great news. I was told we're finally getting paid and we can spring for ramen noodles at Kroger! How does that sound!"


    Menagerie in unison: "Alright! Finally we can eat!"


    John Gaburick: "Mike, can I see you for a minute?"


    Knux to Menagerie: "Can you hang on for a second guys? I've gotta take care of this".


    - Five minutes later, Knux heads back in to address the Menagerie.


    Knux to Menagerie: "Got some bad news. Our pay has been delayed AGAIN. But look at the bright side, our food stamps kick in next week and after we trade in enough to afford pills and steroids, we'll each have a $1.50 left to get some ramen noodles! So just hang tight guys!".


    - Menagerie heads to their computers and tablets and immediately starts re-checking the GFW site for new info on tryouts and job offers.

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  87. It would be a Shawn/Undertaker HITC type situation for me to buy that at this point

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  88. Orton kicked out of it at 'Mania when Batista went for the pin after throwing Bryan out of the ring first.

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  89. I'm thinking the long term plan for Ambrose might be beating HHH at Mania.

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  90. I feel like he's getting "more" over than they anticipated (maybe I'm projecting), but even I didn't anticipate how entertaining he would be as his pseudo-loose cannon character would be and how the fans are reacting to it...but you're right, the booking has been good, but the execution has been even better.

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  91. It's funny to imagine how the reaction to the whole Brock storyline would be different if it was Bryan instead of Cena as was originally planned.
    First, all the smarks that LOVED Brock killing Cena at Summerslam would have been depressed that Bryan didn't get much offense in and lost that way and would be whining about how WWE has no faith in Bryan and blah blah blah.
    Second, those same fans that hated that Cena almost won tonight and are mad that it wasn't a move for move repeat of the Summerslam match wouldn't have hated it quite as much if it was Bryan hitting some running knees and almost getting Brock to tap to the Yes Lock before Rollins interrupted.

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  92. I think so too. Lesnar will probably lose the WWE title to Reigns or Bryan, and I wouldn't be surprised if a babyface Rollins faces Orton (not that there's any real indication of that being the plan at this point, just more of a gut feeling).

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  93. Virgil's Gimmick TableSeptember 22, 2014 at 1:15 AM

    I think of it this way: an F-5 ended the streak and it's a killer move now. Whatever beats Lesnar will also become a killer move.

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  94. Florida - Georgia Line - The Taylor Swift of 'country' bands

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  95. I guess I'll allow that. There was at least a little delay, nobody's kicked out of it straight up yet, at least.

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  96. You're right, the reaction would be MUCH MUCH different.


    I can only speak from my point of view, but to me, the story in between the Summerslam ass beating and tonight, they totally failed on that, sure Brock dominating again would've been an interesting way to go, but at least if Cena in the meantime between the last match and this match actually showed he was learning/trying something different to beat a guy who destroyed him more than any other wrestler ever has rather than just "hustle, loyalty, and respect" harder, then this would've worked a whole lot better to me.

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  97. Sheamus and Cesaro had the best match of the night. Otherwise, another promising card ends up taking a giant dump.

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  98. Pretty much at this point in their careers, all 3 of them are much better faces, than heels, which then brings up the point of why did they feel the need to break them up as they were just starting to get their chops as top level faces.

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  99. What a novel finish for a Randy Orton match!

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