Rock Update
When asking those in the WWE whether the Rock's segment on RAW will lead to a WrestleMania match, Dave Meltzer stated that those within the company told him it was "doubtful."
Credit Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Radio
Potential Reason for the Wyatt Family Splitting Up
There is a rumor within the WWE that Erick Rowan & Luke Harper are being split away from the family so that they can pair The Ascension with Wyatt.
Credit Bryan Alvarez, Wrestling Observer Radio
Michael Elgin Returning to Ring of Honor
Elgin has worked out his visa issues and is back in the United States. Elgin will be at this Saturday's "Champions vs. All-Stars."
http://www.rohwrestling.com/news/michael-elgin-returns-sat-night
UPDATE: Elgin quits RoH via Twitter?
https://twitter.com/ROHMichaelElgin/status/519253064398548992
When asking those in the WWE whether the Rock's segment on RAW will lead to a WrestleMania match, Dave Meltzer stated that those within the company told him it was "doubtful."
Credit Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Radio
Potential Reason for the Wyatt Family Splitting Up
There is a rumor within the WWE that Erick Rowan & Luke Harper are being split away from the family so that they can pair The Ascension with Wyatt.
Credit Bryan Alvarez, Wrestling Observer Radio
Michael Elgin Returning to Ring of Honor
Elgin has worked out his visa issues and is back in the United States. Elgin will be at this Saturday's "Champions vs. All-Stars."
http://www.rohwrestling.com/news/michael-elgin-returns-sat-night
UPDATE: Elgin quits RoH via Twitter?
https://twitter.com/ROHMichaelElgin/status/519253064398548992
I dont mind it either and the Ascension are bland and being paired with Wyatt can help them out
ReplyDeleteThe Ascension NEED Wyatt. I LOVE this move.
ReplyDeleteThe Rock's appearance was simply because Rock happened to be in NYC and they wanted him to pop a high quarter hour to prop up the ratings. Let's not look into it anymore than it really is.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that The Rock still loves the business, but any appearance he does now is really just charity considering how much he makes from his movies now.
TJ: I have finished watching the dozen or so "Girl Meets World" episodes, and I must say, while I like the show, I find it a bit creepy that 12 year old Farkle keeps hinting that he wants some 3 way action with Riley and Maya. A bit young for that kind of kinky stuff, aren't ya?
ReplyDeleteAny time Rock, Austin or Goldberg breathes, or sneezes, that gets parlayed into a Wrestlemania match rumor.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's true. It's especially hilarious with Goldberg since he's stated numerous times that he really has no interest in working with WWE/Triple H ever again.
ReplyDelete2012: Hey, Ryback sort of looks like Goldberg and fans are doing the old Goldberg chants. COULD THIS MEAN GOLDBERG IS COMING BACK?!??!?
I won't open up that Goldberg/HHH can again, but... Goldberg is being ridiculous. (oops, can opened again).
ReplyDeleteI don't mind the Ascension being paired up with Wyatt; it gives them some modicum of respectability from the get-go. I can also understand not wanting two different tag teams in a stable; part of me wishes they'd let Harper remain though and run as a four-man unit, because I think he runs the risk of getting lost in the shuffle on his own.
ReplyDeleteWasn't Harper the "good one" of the group? I'm guessing he'll do fine on his own.
ReplyDeleteLove the original show, but Girl Meets World just has too much of that weird Disney Channel "energy", feels like every character has ADD and is mugging for the camera after every line.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a good move but if the booking doesn't get any stronger for Wyatt it won't matter. Wyatt should have captured the WWE title and been the most terrifying heel champion in years. He could have been turning directionless mid carders to his cult. So much awesome potential all pretty wasted.
ReplyDeleteYeah, he's quite a ways ahead of Rowan, so I have no problem with them giving Harper a shot at a singles run. My only concern is what they're going to do with the guy, since he's allegedly using the Wyatt Family character sans the Wyatt Family. It just seems kind of odd to me, is all.
ReplyDeleteI don't disagree that they've wasted his potential thus far; he's not championship material yet, and I don't think he quite got to that level. But had they not botched the execution of the Cena angle and all that followed, he could've been on the way to higher levels of respectability.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about world champ (too early unless the build was good) but I agree he definitely should have been more terrifying. Kids should have been afraid of him like the Undertaker circa 1991.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first heard of the Ascension, I thought they were cool Demolition-like bad asses. But when I saw them, they were so bland. Pairing them with Wyatt is definitely a good idea.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Harper gets a new look if he goes off on his own. That'll be interesting.
I think he was ready for the title. He'd gone over Bryan at the Royal Rumble and should have gone over Cena at Mania and would have been made right there. A HUGE heel threat waiting for a babyface to come and knock off. Wyatt's mystique has been damaged by not being able to ACCOMPLISH anything in his feuds.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with your previous-stated thoughts on the SummerSlam Elimination Chamber match and Triple H's bicycle shorts, but I totally agree that Goldberg is being ridiculous. And his "WWE teaches kids bad things" complaints are totally empty in the PG-era.
ReplyDeleteThe dude could have made a nice chunk of money at any point over the last 5 or so years by doing a quick Mania match. He still could, but the clock is ticking. He's not a mainstream name anymore (he hasn't even done any cheap movies lately). I'm guessing he invested his money REALLY well because while he made a ton of money from 1997-2000 and in his WWE, I can't imagine it was enough to set him up for life.
At least he took the video game money last year.
If he goes over Cena cleanly at Mania, then yeah, he's probably entering the discussion. It's beating a dead horse at this point, but that program did the guy zero favors in the end.
ReplyDeleteI just think it's funny that he had a 1 year deal, and was clearly leaving after that 1 year, and STILL, 2 clean wins over the top heel, in exchange for 1 very fluky loss was still absolutely unacceptable! He should have won 100% clean ALL 3 TIMES, and then left! Screw the future of the company!
ReplyDeleteExactly. I think about Mankind's career in that he offered something truly different than the Main Eventer's of his time and when he first the WWE and went over the Undertaker twice it was unbelievable. I think Bray could have captured that same lightning in a bottle. You're right it's a dead issue now though.
ReplyDeleteHHH should bring those bicycle shorts back for his next appearance. Or make Orton wear them. Or Rollins.
ReplyDeleteOh please! Those bicycle shorts are being saved under plexiglass for the WWE Hall of Fame.
ReplyDeleteWith those white boots!
ReplyDeleteLike OMG guys, did you like, totally see what he was wearing?? I would like totally die if I was caught wearing that LOL
ReplyDeleteI get an "access denied" when I try that Michael Elgin link.
ReplyDeletePlus, didn't he just tweet last night that he was quitting? Or is that an angle?
http://prowrestling.net/article.php?ROH-News-Michael-Elgin-quits-Ring-of-Honor-39210
Goldberg barely even likes wrestling. Goldberg doesn’t care. Goldberg
ReplyDeletewould do a bunch of things probably if someone paid him $10 million. Ain’t
gonna happen. There’s no way he’d earn the company the money it’d cost them. 0%
chance ever ever ever.
Meh, the 1st season of Boy Meets World was kind of childish and cheesy too. I'm interested to see if that will change as they grow up (assuming it's a long running series)
ReplyDeleteRiley has her father's "goofy facial reactions" down to a tee though. Totally believe her as his daughter.
Harper and Rowan showing dissension and than being destroyed by the Ascension leading to a Bray vs Harper program would be pretty sweet.
ReplyDeleteI just included the Tweet underneath.
ReplyDeleteNo idea if this is a work or not.
What's wrong with criticizing a wrestler for shitty ring gear?
ReplyDeleteIt reeks of "high school girl clique". Very embarrassing.
ReplyDeleteSo no Samoa Joe as Bray's demon baby? :(
ReplyDeleteCan I criticize Bastion Booger's ring gear for its ridiculous asterisk straps?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.upwprowrestling.com/images/roster/lg-alum-bb.png
Can I criticize Batista for dressing like a trust fund douchebag?
http://www.allwrestlingsuperstars.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Batista-in-Pink-T-Shirt1.jpg
Or is that too high school girl too?
Just watched the ending of RAW last night and while it was goofy, I thought it was effective.
ReplyDeleteCriticizing ANYTHING WWE is wrong in VJ's book.
ReplyDeleteCan we criticize Warrior for wearing a baseball cap? There's a whole segment on the "Self-Destruction" DVD dedicated to that!
ReplyDeleteSo what's the verdict on Rusev from last night? Was he just selling fear, or was he legitimately scared shitless while standing in the ring with The Most Electrifying Man In Sports Entertainment™?
ReplyDeleteWasn't Bastion Booger originally supposed to be a sewer creature or something? Frankly, he should have stuck with Friar Ferguson.
ReplyDeleteElgin's always struck me as the prototypical "just a guy."
ReplyDeleteYou're being ridiculous as usual. It's the timing that was the problem. Goldberg should have gone over at Summerslam. The crowd was hot, Goldberg took like 3 others in the same match, while Triple H was injured and "out" via superkick. Make the change there, not a month later when Triple H was healthier to have a singles match.
ReplyDeleteThe tongs saved it. That, and Randy Orton covered in mustard.
ReplyDeleteHe is fine for RoH but that is about it
ReplyDeleteWell, being told that criticizing a wrestler's ring gear is immature is a first for me, I'll give you that...
ReplyDeleteYeah, they were reaching with that one.
ReplyDeleteHe's the new Dr. Death.
ReplyDeleteNot world champ. But he should gotten a long reign as IC or US champ. I know their booking isn't so great after somebody becomes champ, but he's still a heel, so using every dirty tactic to hold onto the belt at least fits with his character.
ReplyDeleteHe could have brainwashed a ref to make a fast count, he could have almost brainwashed a face into laying down for him until they break it last minute.
Not too happy this gimmick wasn't fully explored. There's still plenty of time to do these things however if they still want to push Wyatt.
You could replace Ambrose with Doink the Clown and no one would notice a difference.
ReplyDeleteThe crowd was hot every single time Flair defended his title. Should he have lost the title on the challenger's first try every single time? Sometimes, the heel can get a fluke win.
ReplyDeleteSo... He's an overrated shoot fighter?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sold on the Ascension but putting them with Wyatt might work. Kinda reminds me of the New Brood.
ReplyDeleteI don't see Rock coming back for a match unless it's a big name, which Rusev definitely isn't. Beyond that, after Rock's injury during his last match, I find it hard to believe he'll come back and risk missing movie time over another injury.
I know zero about ROH, but this screams work to me. Nobody quits a company via Twitter.
Reaching? It was true.
ReplyDeleteNow you're just being silly.
ReplyDeletePower wrestler that is talented in the ring. He'd be fine in Japan.
ReplyDeleteAnd then steal his heat by chaining him to the Chamber and sledging him 20 times. Right.
ReplyDeleteWe're almost guaranteed Sean dressed as a slovenly Doink at some point.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the horsemen never, EVER beat down a challenger after a tainted Flair win. EVER!!
ReplyDeleteSting's career was totally ruined in Clash 1, cause he couldn't even beat Flair for the world title. He never recovered I tell ya!
I know this might sound like I'm hating on the Ascension, but when I heard about them I assumed they were these huge powerhouse Road Warriors type of team, but when I saw them on NXT they just looked like two normal guys.
ReplyDeleteWWE's tag division would benefit from a team of huge guys ala Road Warriors, Powers of Pain, Twin Towers. It would be something different and a spark to the division.
Yeah, but summerslam was the only time the crowd was molten for Goldberg in WWE. His win the next month fell flat but if they would've done it in the chamber, it would've been much more memorable. But, you know, they did absolutely everything right.
ReplyDeleteI did the same when I first heard of them.
ReplyDeletePutting the Ascension with Bray would definitely be a welcome move. Basically wrestling fans love something NEW, and Bray REALLY needs to do something new, and to me this would be it. Brand new Wyatt followers, and a new team that you know WWE wants to push to the moon--- I'd be down.
ReplyDeleteIt's called a chase. It's happened hundreds of time in wrestling. And Goldberg had done more than enough during the match to keep his heat, and that's what made it so frustrating that HHH fluked out a win. Goldberg was so close. If only he could have one more shot, I'm sure he could win the title... Hey look at that, he just put his career on the line for a rematch at the next PPV, cause he KNOWS he can beat him.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a perfectly logical and normal chase to me.
But no no no, his career was ruined or something. lol
Agreed. They have a great entrance and name but other than that, I haven't been super impressed with them in the ring. Take the same gimmick and give it to two jacked monsters and you've got something.
ReplyDeleteI think everybody thought the same. I haven't seem them yet (not NXT), but now they just sound like the Bashams.
ReplyDeleteI hope the Acension stay the course and keep their look/gimmick and just add to it. Like, black tights with the Eye of Horus codpiece, chainmail tops, etc. Just put on a pair of coveralls or some dingy jeans and a tank top OVER IT. Keep cutting those awful "tell 'em, Vic" promos and enter the ring to a zydeco/butt rock mash-up of the old Road Warriors theme and "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands."
ReplyDelete"What exactly is your gimmick, guys?"
"ALL OF THEM."
Also, did they switch Ambrose's finisher last night to a double arm DDT? I hope not.
Yeah same here. This would be a surprisingly awesome idea.
ReplyDeleteI agree, but where does this put Bray?
ReplyDeleteUmm... As the leader of a new group, and a renewed push??
ReplyDeleteI like the DDT, actually.
ReplyDeleteWell to me it lets you do a little re-boot on Bray. Fans will be interested again because he's got brand new followers whom they've never seen before--- so basically new toys for Bray to play with. Plus the Ascension look & feel is more goth-like than hillbilly, so perhaps that allows you to push Bray in that direction.
ReplyDeleteANNNND sure now Luke Harper and Rowan are fine with being sent out into the world alone, but they might quickly resent it and go after Bray and the Ascension.
And just overall it'll be fun to see Bray actually bring someone into his goddamn cult.
It should be named the Coney Drop, or the Hotdog Plunge.
ReplyDeleteIt's supposed to be Road Warriors with a speed guy and a big guy. Problem is the big guys not big enough and the speed guys not skilled enough.
ReplyDeleteSame here. It's a much less awkward move to set up.
ReplyDeleteThough the show is obviously way out of may demographic, it's good to see that it's gotten good reception and is actually doing the original justice.
ReplyDeleteRemember in Foley's first book when he talked about how Eric Embry was basically the most stereotypical heel there ever was (short, dumpy, bad dye-job, etc.) who somehow ended up becoming one of the most beloved babyfaces in Texas?
ReplyDeleteThat's what Dean Ambrose reminds me of.
Dirty Deeds reminds me of Orton's backbreaker. It's a cool signature move but isn't impressive enough to be a finisher.
ReplyDeleteANNNND sure now Luke Harper and Rowan are fine with being sent out into
ReplyDeletethe world alone, but they might quickly resent it and go after Bray and
the Ascension.
That would be great and it keeps Rowan and Harper as a team, which I still think is best for everyone involved.
I doubt Dean will be the victim of the "Embry Pop", though.
ReplyDeleteKobashi and Foley is good lineage.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It doesn't seem good enough to be a main-eventer's finisher.
ReplyDeleteBTW, was at Raw last night and gotta say--- aside from Ambrose and The Rock it was a goddamn steaming pile of monkey crap. BUUUUT The Rock surprise was so goddamn awesome that my friends and I couldn't have cared less. Seriously, just absolutely lost our minds when Rock came out. Fucking AWESOME.
ReplyDeleteAlso, not sure how it came across on TV but:
- Crowd was molten for Dolph, couldn't give a fuck about the Usos. Cesaro also wasn't over at all, which is a shame.
- The Kathie Lee segment was getting insane hate pretty much from second one. They played Rose's music the whole time in an attempt, I'm guessing, to drown out the crowd. But yeah, just nonstop booing the entire time. Also, the crowd fucking hated Adam Rose--- Bunny included.
- After the Swagger/Kidd, Bellas, and Matadores segments ("This is stupid") the crowd was absolutely DONE. Seriously, if The Rock hadn't come out there and popped everyone a boner, it was about to be hijack the show time. A Big Show segment would have absolutely flopped right there.
- Amazing love for Damien Sandow. Pretty much nonstop chanting for the dude for about 6-7 minutes, though I think most of it ended up during the commercial break. But wow, Sandow was over as fuck.
- Ambrose was hella over. After the show Cena and Ambrose did the trading poses to the crowd, with the expected "Cena getting booed, Ambrose getting cheered" result. Cena then took off to let Ambrose close the show by inviting everyone to get back on the Q train with him and hang in Coney Island.
- In the subway after the show everyone was buzzing about whether Ambrose would actually get back on the train. I didn't see him, though I did see an old Chinese woman clipping her toenails on the N train sitting next to a dude in an nWo shirt. NYC 4 life!
He also wrote about other, uh, impressive parts of Embry.
ReplyDeleteI never understand why people think it's appropriate to clip their nails (finger or toe) on public transportation. Nobody would trim their nosehairs on a subway or bus, but for some reason nails are okay for some people.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in college this chubby girl next to me in my English class once whipped out a nail clipper and started clipping her nails in class.
Seriously, if The Rock hadn't come out there and popped everyone a
ReplyDeleteboner, it was about to be hijack the show time. A Big Show segment would
have absolutely flopped right there.
Like I mentioned in the live thread, part of me wants to believe that Vince flashed the Rock-Signal to summon the Great One to race down to the arena save the show. But that's probably not what happened.
Yeah it's pretty fucking disgusting. Not to be racist (which is inevitably followed by something racist, I know) but having ridden the NYC subway my whole life and seen it a ridiculous amount of times, I think I can say: Chinese people on the N/Q lines, get your shit together and STOP CLIPPING YOUR NAILS.
ReplyDeleteI take is more as the Eliminators though neither is as good as Saturn was back in the day.
ReplyDeleteIt might be more interesting for Acension to join the Wyatts, and then have Harper and Rowen get jealous since they're being pushed aside for the new guys.
ReplyDeleteMaybe book them as a mega-heel group for a few months, see who catches on. And then maneuver as needed.
HAHAHA, that exact theory was floated in the crowd. It seriously was the most ridiculous switch from "I hate this, WORST SHOW EVER" to "I've never been happier in my entire life" of 15,000 people that I've ever seen. Thank you Rock.
ReplyDeleteYikes, I'd hate to see how many toenail clippings are lying on the floors of the buses and subways in China.
ReplyDeleteYeah either way, though I can see the merits of Bray letting Harper/Rowan go just to immediately replace them. Gives you the choice of creating tension and a feud ("Why did you forsake us, Bray?") or just having everyone go their separate ways for awhile and keeping Harper/Rowan as faces.
ReplyDeleteWait...people actually think the Rock returning was a planned thing and it's going to lead to Rusev/Rock? Looooooooool
ReplyDeleteI just saw the rock thing on YouTube. It was pretty awesome even as a one off.
ReplyDeleteI think it's leading to Punk/Austin, actually.
ReplyDeleteYou're both wrong. It's leading to Yokozuna joining the Hart Foundation.
ReplyDeleteAnd Mike Tyson being revealed as the Higher Power.
ReplyDelete"It was me, Cold Stone! It was me ALL ALONG!"
So fucking awesome dude. It was seriously the most absolutely bizarre, out of nowhere what the fuck is this moment possible. The crowd completely lost our collective shit.
ReplyDeleteAnd the dude fucking SWAM TO STATEN ISLAND! That's so far. Good for Rock.
If it wasn't for the Rock appearance it would have been a weird NYC show. That felt like the only special thing about it (not counting the breast cancer stuff that would have been better served as a pre taped segment).
ReplyDeleteIt was INCREDIBLE. Especially after the horrible segment that preceded it. I had goosebumps.
ReplyDeleteI wish it would.
ReplyDeleteThey love to fuck around with finger and toe nails, and pubic hair
ReplyDeleteLOL!
ReplyDeleteIt's leading to the return of Kurt Angle! He'll betray America and sympathize with the Russians and only the returning Hulk Hogan will be able to stop him in the main event of WM 31. Of course they'll have to move to the Cow Palace because of bomb threats!
ReplyDeleteYeah and then rock actually crushed it on the mic too. That was one of his better segments in awhile.
ReplyDeleteMMm ice cream.
ReplyDeleteAmbrose isn't fat. He's in good shape. And tall.
ReplyDeleteVery small sample size so take it for what it's worth, but last night I was at the show with 3 friends. One of whom watches every week like myself, and the other two are lapsed fans (bigtime fans when we were kids and in the Attitude Era, not so much since) who watch Manias and Summerslams but that's about it.
ReplyDeleteBoth the lapsed fans were more intrigued by Rusev/Lana coming out of the segment than they were going in. Even though Rock kicked his ass, both guys remarked how they assumed Rusev must be a big deal cause he was in there with The Rock. So, with them at least, there's definitely something to the "put the new guy in the ring with a megastar and it'll rub off for the casual fans." Though obviously the megastardom of the fucking ROCK is quite an outlier.
Here's a hint to Vince. Two breast cancer segments is one too many. The Joan Lunden thing was classy and well done, and SHORT. The Kathy Lee thing was a disgrace and completely embarrassing. If you have to blare music to drown out all the boo's it's a failure.
ReplyDeleteI'm just saying that he looks like a scuzzy heel. In a good way.
ReplyDeleteYes, but as said repeatedly everytime you play this argument: The chase didn't work. No one cared about the Unforgiven rematch. People wanted to see Goldberg smash. He's not the wrestler you do the chase with
ReplyDeleteCompletely different situation. I mean, I ripped Meekin for the golf-wrestling comparison, but comparing Sting at Clash 1 to Goldberg is Summerslam is ridiculously stupid
ReplyDeleteI just thought Rusev looked completely overwhelmed. Hell, I would be too if I was a rookie and one of the biggest stars ever was staring me down on live TV.
ReplyDeleteYup. That's why Lesnar should be defending the title vs. younger up and comers.
ReplyDeleteIMO Rusev will lose all his heat after this pays off. I'm not even saying that's a bad thing or that doesn't make this worthwhile but he's a one trick pony.
ReplyDeleteAnybody buy a WrestleMania Travel package?
ReplyDeleteAs goddamn dumb as it is, when the Rock delivers a line like "you look like you've got a bottle of Smirnoff shoved up your Putin!" I'm just never gonna not laugh.
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah it's the cheapest of cheap face heat pandering, but he absolutely had everyone in that building wrapped around his finger with that ridiculous 5-borough travelogue story. (Right, like THE ROCK has ever been to Staten Island.) Christ man, I hate the Yankees with a passion and even I was chanting for fucking Jeter. Only The Rock!
Realistically, these types of real life issues should be addressed in the beginning of the show. Raw is live, so why take the risk of your paying audience shitting on everything?
ReplyDeleteHave Cole and company start the show, and then have the cancer awareness things upfront and center, let them do their things, and then start the sports entertainment. Wrestling fans will boo anything. Don't give them the chance to do so or setup others for failure. Get it over with in the beginning, and have Cole remind everybody maybe twice during the telecast for TV viewers.
Rusev still hasn't been pinned or submitted. He'll most likely beat Big Show to end their feud. The guy will be fine. The Rock destroying him verbally and physically last night did a lot for his career.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean, "they"?
ReplyDeleteWas Kathie Lee even talking about breast cancer? Between the Rose music and the nonstop booing from the FIRST SECOND they walked out there, you honestly couldn't hear a thing they were saying.
ReplyDeleteBut yeah, the Lunden thing was totally fine. Though put that segment out there after the Matadores match on a Rock-less show and I'm not even sure the cancer survivors don't get a "boring" chant.
I think Rusev should have attacked him first, get a little bit of a beating on Rock, who then makes the comeback.
ReplyDeleteBut even so, it was a great segment and Rusev's been thrown around by everyone he's fought with already. He'll be fine.
Yeah it really was. Crazy to think back to that MSG show in Sept 97 which had a Bret Hart/Goldust match, an awesome HHH/Foley street fight (with the piledriver through a table spot) ANNNNND Austin stunning Vince for the first time. And all that in two fucking hours.
ReplyDeleteWaitasecond. Aren't you the guy who took Austin mentioning that he's getting in ring shape to mean we're getting Austin/Brock at WM31?
ReplyDeleteZing!
ReplyDeleteI dunno maybe, but to be honest I do think he's a talented dude. Great facials and selling, solid worker for sure, and it's not like his size is SO BIG that he can only get over as an unbeatable monster. He could totally be a brawler type who doesn't need to win EVERY match to stay hot. Plus Lana is legitimately super hot and really good on the mic for a manager.
ReplyDeleteI could see him ending up in the Umaga spot, as a perpetually over upper card monster. BUT he does need to have some awesome showcase matches like Umaga had against cena.
He means Abeyance's favorite racial group.
ReplyDeleteHe's got a hell of a super kick for a big guy.
ReplyDelete1, when you are going up against the Rock, you have to stand there like a blubbering idiot and take it, unless your on his level.
ReplyDelete2, Rusev is playing the foreign invader gimmick. He kind of has to stand there like an idiot. When he did speak, it was to the quick and to the point.
He did fine. The problem is that it does make him look bad because how the Rock makes everybody look bad. I was worried the Rock would have brought out his good friend Stone Cold, Hogan, and Kurt Angle to squash the Russian hero once and for all in a epic stomp. They might be saving that one for a big PPV though.
His career is that he's an undrafted forgein heel. Once he jobs its over. And there's nothing wrong with building up a big heel and cycling him out. But Rusev has no future. He's there for one thing and when that's done he's done.
ReplyDeleteLesnar comes out and talks shit with Heyman-- leading to Cesaro coming out and getting the better of Lesnar in a big brawl. Fans would absolutely lose their shit and Cesaro would be a brand new star in one segment.
ReplyDeleteAt the risk of sounding like a teenage girl and annoying Vince Jordan, he needs a makeover. His current ensemble just screams "JTTS" to me.
ReplyDeleteI got 7 straight alerts about that from the network notification.
ReplyDeleteI was speculating on who'd he face and Brock is the only one that makes sense on the current roster.
ReplyDeleteBut sure, Rock/Rusev is happening because they would NEVER sacrifice a up and coming wrestler to the altar of the attitude ever just to pop a rating.
I think he means Chinese people.
ReplyDeleteNeither ones happening because they're both equally insane ideas.
ReplyDeleteIt really worked well for Sandow and DX.
ReplyDeleteWhen he said "I will crush you!" he had the whole deer-in-headlights thing happening. And Lana couldn't stop corpsing, so you know she was marking out.
ReplyDeleteI'm not so sure about going. The gold packages "start" at $1150 but the go to about $2000 for a four night stay. Seems like I may be holding off for another Mania trip until 32 in Dallas.
ReplyDeleteFigures that I miss the RAW where the Rock makes an appearance.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't work well for anyone. The only time a new guy gets a rub correctly is when that new guy SHOWS UP the old guy (eg - when Brock destroyed Hogan and Rock). Otherwise, he looks like a chump (eg -- what cult said, Sandow/DX).
ReplyDeleteSo for 5500 you can get floor seats (but you won't know exactly where) to mania, the hof ceremony and raw the next night, VIP axxcess tix, a pre HOF reception, a exclusive wine tasting with war superstars, 4 nights in an unnamed hotel, a train ride from San Jose to the Santa Clara stadium and back, and a 50 dollar restaurant voucher (LOL!)
ReplyDeleteSomeone made a comment in the PG RAW thread that I wanted to carry over to here, but add a little something to it. I don't admit to being the biggest smark in the land, and generally watch all the shows when and where I can from just a fan perspective and then move on with my daily life without giving what I saw a second thought. However, I got to thinking about all the things that the BoD complains about when it comes to the current product, and a lot of it is valid. The changes that would need to come about in order to make it a more enjoyable show are numerous: the production (set, lighting, graphics, etc.), the announcing, the pacing, the shilling, the stars at the top (well, there's only one really), the booking (is this even a thing anymore). It all comes down to this, really: WWE is a corporate entity with stakeholders and partners and a board of directors, and this is the "safe" direction that they have opted for. This is difficult to swallow for both hardcore fans and people that have been in the business. I can see this being an issue for a guy like, say, Triple H, but he's also on said board and probably has to tread the fine line between the corporate side and the actual on-screen product. With things planted firmly in place as they currently are, I don't see how what we see on-screen every week is going to change. It's been, what, six years since the HD era started? You would figure it would have changed by now if it was ever going to.
ReplyDeleteDoes Rick-Hurricane qualify?
ReplyDeleteI can't even remember Rock-Hurricane. You'll have to remind me how that played out. There was a big chunk in the 00's when I wasn't watching at all.
ReplyDeleteROFL. I got a good laugh over that one.
ReplyDeleteThey aren't going to change until they have a reason to change.
ReplyDeleteThe only way they change is if and when they end the deal with Mattel.
ReplyDeleteThe part that sticks out the most was Rock seeing the mask and giant H and assuming he was The Hamburgler.
ReplyDeleteOr just trying not to laugh out loud all the ridiculous things the Rock says. He has that effect on everybody.
ReplyDeleteI'd think about it but 1. Reigns vs Lesnar will blow and I don't want to see some loser wrestler with no heat pin Brock Lesnar while the crowd shits all over it 2. Not knowing where the tickets are is retarded 3. You know the hotel is garbage 4. I hate wine and have no desire to meet wwe superstars, I've never used my summerslam axxcess tickets once in 3 years 4. The last thing I want to do on a Saturday night is see some d list celebrity who made an appearance on raw 15 years ago prattle on for 45 minutes in a speech 5. Two tickets will set me back 11k and I can still gotta buy plane tickets!
ReplyDeleteNo, then he gets to do some dancing! Never forget the dancing!
ReplyDeleteThat actually doesn't sound too crazy.
ReplyDeleteHate to agree, but you're probably right. That's the history with foreign heels. Shame because I think Rusev is an impressive big athlete.
ReplyDeleteUmanga wasn't around for much more than two years in that gimmick though.
ReplyDeleteIt's the best super kick since Shawn Michaels, they need to make it his finish.
ReplyDeleteAsians
ReplyDeleteLots of Vietnamese and Laotian nail and wax places too.
ReplyDeleteIf you're not interested in the 'meet n' greet' stuff, which I feel exactly the same as you, I don't see why you'd spend the $$$ for this.
ReplyDeleteI think the PG label and the corporate structure is a cop out. The problem is Vince. He has a 100% lost it. WWE won't get better until he dies or is forced out.
ReplyDeleteHe doesn't have time to break them into groups!
ReplyDeleteBut it's not like the DX segment CAUSED Sandow's career to fail. Management got tired of him and depushed him and that was that. But Sandow was still in a perfectly fine place at that point where his career could have gone awesomely.
ReplyDeleteLike everything else, it's the follow-up. I'm not saying the "look bad in front of big stars" route is necesarily the way to go, but just as an anecdote those are a couple of casual fans who came out of last night thinking Rusev is a pretty big deal.
Also, The Rock is a thousand times bigger of a deal compared to the fucking ROCK. Nobody is gonna look good getting punked out by Billy Gunn.
Seriously... how does anyone afford this shit?
ReplyDeleteIf you didn't love The Rock-Rusev segment than you really shouldn't be watching wrestling. Or you're watching it for the wrong reasons
ReplyDeleteFloor seats at 3 shows is cool but I hate not knowing where the seats are exactly.
ReplyDeleteRock isn't getting in the ring with a C+ player.
ReplyDeleteI still say they should phase out the Authority and build the whole promotion around Wyatt as the top heel leading a cult-like army. Brainwashing people--hell, bring Vince in for a cameo and say Wyatt got in his ear and McMahon is convinced Bray's mumbo jumbo will make him immortal or somesuch. Referees turn evil. Tag teams are split up. The Family starts accumulating title belts. Faces & heels form uneasy alliances. Build to a big Cena/Wyatt match, then have Cena fall victim to the mind games and he joins the Family. The other faces fight to free Cena and rescue his soul. There are hundreds of angles & matches one could come up with and all of them would feel fresher than the current Faces vs. Authority dynamic.
ReplyDeleteWell, cause he died. But he was always in a good spot.
ReplyDeleteAnd hell, even two years at that level would be a success. It's just the nature of wrestling nowadays that everyone needs to stay on the same show for 20 fucking years straight.
Whatever you say, Baker!!
ReplyDeleteI didn't even spend 15% of one these on TWO awesome tickets to summerslam and I felt like that was a boat load of cash for wrestling (or any kind of) tickets.
ReplyDeleteIt got Helms WAY more over than sounds.
ReplyDeleteOr people just find Rusev boring and hate pretty much every segment he's in (that's me!).
ReplyDeleteOr The Rok's lackluster returns in years past have left people cold on him.
Or, as crazy as it sounds, people might just like things you don't and vice versa.
I guess this is really just for the peeps that want to meet everybody.
ReplyDeleteReally? nobody cared? Not at all? He was still pretty damn over when he won the title, then when he successfully defended it, with a shattered ankle. That damn HHH, burying Goldberg like that!!
ReplyDeleteRight. Was Sandow really needed was Rock calling him a faggot and hitting him with the Rock Bottom.
ReplyDeleteNot different at all actually, as Evolution was basically HHH's version of the Horsemen.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's not a stupid comparison either, both guys were on their first title shot against a long running champ. They did not quite win the match on their very first try, but eventually won it in impressive fashion.
Sad but completely true. If the wwe was followed in the media like any other company Vince would be shamed into retirement for sucking so bad.
ReplyDeleteYep, after sitting through Kathie Lee and Hoda and Gator, I tuned out and missed The Rock.
ReplyDeleteDammit, was hoping the Edge and Christian Smackdown show would still be on the Network but I don't see it. Anyone watch it last night? Worth seeking out?
ReplyDeleteI hope you're wrong, but I agree. Rusev strikes me as the kind of guy who's just going to plummet after his first loss, because the undefeated monster gimmick is what he's got. Sure, he's more talented than most with that role, but I don't think he'll be the Umaga type that continues to flourish after he's been beaten, because I don't trust Vince not to lose interest in him.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed watching it live, genuine surprise with WWE is very rare these days, and Rock obviously can connect with a crowd 100x better than anyone today. But, I think it's fair to question "Now what?" after making Rusev look like a chump.
ReplyDeleteActually it seems like everyone liked it this time. Probably because none of us are really that invested into what happens to Rusev and because the rest of the show was bad.
ReplyDeleteYea, it wasn't that great, buddy.
ReplyDeleteI dunno, his original look in NXT actually screamed JTTS even louder, to me. This MMA-inspired look is a much better fit for him, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteThe Rock was on fire, the crowd was molten, he didn't cut one of his eye rolling promos (no cookie puss) and it just showed how fun RAW and wrestling can be when done right.
ReplyDeleteI know someone who was at the show who sent me messages freaking out.
It was pretty great, budrick.
ReplyDeleteOh what could have been... That's one thing I'm still very disappointed in WWE about, Lesnar/Cesaro basically wrote itself.
ReplyDeleteThat's the other thing, the plane tickets. And what if you wanna spend more time in San Fran
ReplyDeleteI haven't watched it but it's available on the ps3 home page of the network when I open it. I'm sure they'll add it to the original specials section at some point.
ReplyDeleteIf anything, I make him more grandiose. Like give him some Cossacks for PPV matches, and a band to play the Russian national anthem as well.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Rusev really looked like a chump. It'll fire him up and make him kill Big Show
ReplyDeleteIt was cool. Check it out when you get a chance
ReplyDeletehttp://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2ff6LxpfVAo
I know you didn't mean it this way, but your post sounds like you're implying that they didn't plan on The Rock being there at all, and that he just showed up at the Barclay Center and interrupted a random segment without telling anybody. Which is an amusing thought, to me. Because if anybody could get away with it, The Rock probably could.
ReplyDeleteWhich is fine! I wouldn't tell anyone not to like something, but I also wouldn't say you're not a fan at all or you're "doing it wrong" or whatever if you didn't jizz in your boxer briefs because the Rock showed up and did his same tired, not-aging-well-at-all (to me, anyway) schtick.
ReplyDeleteYou and him could have girl's night off, and eat ice cream and talk about boys, while having cut up cucumbers covering your eyes!!! After that, the classic pillow fight!!
ReplyDeleteWhich is great. I'm glad you loved it. People who didn't can still be fans.
ReplyDeleteIf he did come back, Brock would be the best choice, but I doubt it happens if only because Brock is like an oversized kid who doesn't realize his own strength. And Austin would need to be protected by an impeccable worker, or else I can't see him agreeing to come back.
ReplyDeleteThis was better than some of his other appearances, didn't try to do any new lame catchphrases, no cookie puss or anything. It was just fun.
ReplyDeleteThat one was horrible actually. Austin's music hit, distracted the Rock, Hurricane rolled him up and pinned him, and ran away....
ReplyDeleteWHILE AUSTIN'S MUSIC KEPT PLAYING THE ENTIRE TIME... Hurricane was literally forgotten about 10 seconds after the pin.
Why bother watching RAW if that can't even fire you up?
ReplyDeleteWhat the fuck? It's THE ROCK and he was hilarious. Of course it was amazing.
ReplyDeleteThis.
ReplyDelete"Let's entrust Austin's neck to Brock."
I've rewatched the entrance three times now. That pop is insane, and the crowd's "HOLY FUCKING SHIT" excitement absolutely pours through the screen. It's infectious as hell.
ReplyDelete