Howdy Blog O'Doomers!
What a great network special last night eh? It was pretty...blah for the most part although I liked the Bray-Ambrose match (hated the commentary) more than some people.
The story was clearly the last 20 minutes of the show. Dolph Ziggler gets it, he understands that the struggle is what draws the people in. The victory is the great feel good moment that makes us smile but it doesn't mean anything without the struggle. He gave us the struggle, he gave us the fight. He wasn't a plucky underdog trying to overcome the odds, he was a guy fighting for his "life" and just surviving long enough to last until the next move. That was what made Shawn Michaels such a great worker -- that concern for the details leading up to the outcome. Even when Cena is faced with a real struggle people get behind him. Look at the first Brock match from Extreme Rules 2012. He wasn't superhero guy, he was a guy getting his ass kicked trying to survive. I loved the whole sequence last night with the minor exception of everyone being laid out too long for the Sting-HHH stuff. Rollins should have tried to attack Sting and eventually take another Zig Zag. But I love the way Dolph sold the victory with the unbridled joy. I love the way he sold the beating with the referee helping him up the ramp. I even like the moment when Cena came out to hug him because it was a nice babyface moment. He wasn't mugging for the camera, he didn't do his stupid salute. He was congratulating and thanking his friend. It was one of the rare feel good moments of this rough year for the WWE.
And special props to Steph for actually SELLING the angle. I get that HHH is such an alpha male he has to be stoic and noble regardless of outcome so thank you Steph for having a human reaction and acting like someone that actually lost something they loved. She screamed, she cried, she panicked, she threw a tantrum, she hit every gambit of emotions from anger to shock to disbelief in 60 seconds. She's definitely willing to act like a fool sometimes for the greater good.
As for TV tonight it's a packed house.
Two MNF games: Jets-Bills on CBS for New York markets and Sunday ticket for everyone else.
Saints-Ravens on ESPN
Dancing with the Stars season finale
Gotham midseason finale
7 NBA games (Bulls-Jazz, Pacers-Mavericks, Hornets-Clippers look like good ones)
4 NHL games.
Keep it clean!
What a great network special last night eh? It was pretty...blah for the most part although I liked the Bray-Ambrose match (hated the commentary) more than some people.
The story was clearly the last 20 minutes of the show. Dolph Ziggler gets it, he understands that the struggle is what draws the people in. The victory is the great feel good moment that makes us smile but it doesn't mean anything without the struggle. He gave us the struggle, he gave us the fight. He wasn't a plucky underdog trying to overcome the odds, he was a guy fighting for his "life" and just surviving long enough to last until the next move. That was what made Shawn Michaels such a great worker -- that concern for the details leading up to the outcome. Even when Cena is faced with a real struggle people get behind him. Look at the first Brock match from Extreme Rules 2012. He wasn't superhero guy, he was a guy getting his ass kicked trying to survive. I loved the whole sequence last night with the minor exception of everyone being laid out too long for the Sting-HHH stuff. Rollins should have tried to attack Sting and eventually take another Zig Zag. But I love the way Dolph sold the victory with the unbridled joy. I love the way he sold the beating with the referee helping him up the ramp. I even like the moment when Cena came out to hug him because it was a nice babyface moment. He wasn't mugging for the camera, he didn't do his stupid salute. He was congratulating and thanking his friend. It was one of the rare feel good moments of this rough year for the WWE.
And special props to Steph for actually SELLING the angle. I get that HHH is such an alpha male he has to be stoic and noble regardless of outcome so thank you Steph for having a human reaction and acting like someone that actually lost something they loved. She screamed, she cried, she panicked, she threw a tantrum, she hit every gambit of emotions from anger to shock to disbelief in 60 seconds. She's definitely willing to act like a fool sometimes for the greater good.
As for TV tonight it's a packed house.
Two MNF games: Jets-Bills on CBS for New York markets and Sunday ticket for everyone else.
Saints-Ravens on ESPN
Dancing with the Stars season finale
Gotham midseason finale
7 NBA games (Bulls-Jazz, Pacers-Mavericks, Hornets-Clippers look like good ones)
4 NHL games.
Keep it clean!
New PWG dvd drops, all is right in the wrestling world again.
ReplyDeleteTime for Mass Effect 2 then MNF! !
ReplyDelete^^ I like your style sir
ReplyDeletePanda and Hanley to the Red Sox. As a Yankee fan, I am disgusted by GM Cashman's inability to get anything done thus far.
ReplyDeleteAt least everyone gets to hear Sox fans' latest reasoning why this doesn't make them just as "bad" as the Yankees.
ReplyDeleteI tried Mass Effect but I never got hooked.
ReplyDeleteDolph rules. #heel
ReplyDeleteHonestly my favorite video game of all time.
ReplyDeleteOof. They're probably really cheap now.
ReplyDeleteSurprised he isnt going after Scherzer
ReplyDeleteThey still need some pitching. I say adding 2 solid players like that can get you 7-10 extra wins, still that puts them only at about 81 wins
ReplyDeleteI can't be the only person who sees Brody from "Homeland" every time I see Scherzer.
ReplyDeleteSuper cheap
ReplyDeleteHa, I guess I never noticed
ReplyDeleteHate to jump on that "Odell Beckham greatest catch ever" train, but....that might really be THE or atleast Top 5 catch of all time.
ReplyDeleteI wish Xbox One was backwards compatible so I could get rid of my 360. There are lots of games I still want to play. Too many.
ReplyDeleteIt was amazing to watch live.
ReplyDeleteSame thing that bugs me about PS4. I never owned a PS3, was a 360 guy myself, but I made the switch over and noticed there are tons of PS3 games I want to play.
ReplyDeleteAlso bummed I cant download some PS1 classics like PS3 owners got to do :(
Oh yeah totally. I had a PS3 but it broke. If PS4 was backwards compatible I would have picked that up right away. But it wasn't.
ReplyDeleteMissed it live, but heard the soundbite of Colinsworth losing his mind
ReplyDeleteNothing worse than going Grocery shopping the day before, but still opting to eat out as I really dont feel like making anything...
ReplyDeleteI saw it as it happened and me and Colinsworth had the same reaction. It's funny because they had been showing him making all these one handed catches pre-game and one of them was eerily similar to the one he made in game.
ReplyDeleteI can't think of a better one.
ReplyDeleteHHH and Steph never really bothered me. Only thing that did was HHH jumping around from playing it straight to going heel. Steph was doing that in the beginning but stopped in the lead-up to Mania.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
ReplyDeleteI bought the Mass Effect Trilogy brand new for 30 bucks.
It's one of my favorite games of all time.
Kind of funny, all this talk about the bad storm we had here... it's 50 degrees out and there's no snow on the ground at all here.
ReplyDeletePlaying Madden right now, and God damn, Alex Smith SUCKS.
ReplyDeleteListening to Chael Sonnen on Jericho's podcast. I don't want him to wrestle in wwe, but I do think he'd make someone a great manager/mouthpiece.
ReplyDeleteNo way dolph was getting up after the pedigree. This older HHH may show ass a little more but when he hits the pedigree you lay there and sell that shit like death.
ReplyDeleteOh I don't care, we have the money, spend away.
ReplyDeleteShame Buck wasn't there to ruin it.
ReplyDeleteSteph was the star last night. She was in fucking tears. She was crying! Awesome freak out.
ReplyDeleteCrazy as it may sound, they haven't really missed the title. Maybe they really aren't needed as much as we think? Just a thought
ReplyDeleteSo are the Bills and Jets playing yet?
ReplyDeleteShould be, game was supposed to start at 7.
ReplyDelete15 mins in, Bills just scored.
ReplyDeleteNot having the title be won and lost every 3rd RAW or ppv is a good thing because it has a chance at making the title special again like it was back when Hogan had it and it was a big deal when he defended it.
ReplyDeleteSo how long until HHH & Stephanie return? I'll be generous and say the February PPV.
ReplyDeleteYep, Bills a TD up
ReplyDeleteESPN and NFL Network are completely ignoring it. I just saw on the ticker that it started.
ReplyDelete(15 minutes of TV time, not a whole quarter)
ReplyDeleteat the same time they managed to build stakes around something that wasn't a title. Maybe they can't do it all the time but they showed it can be done.
ReplyDeleteThe constant 20 minute promos saying the same shit every week plus the backstage skits...too grating.
ReplyDeleteIt's only on TV in New York and Erie PA. Plus it's the Bills and Jets, who gives a fuck?
ReplyDeleteI'm relying on the JETS offense to get me a fantasy win. So basically I'm screwed.
ReplyDeleteIn fairness, it is the Bills and Jets.
ReplyDeleteTonight.
ReplyDeleteYep. Still betting on HHH saying "I never signed the contract".
ReplyDeleteTriple H from Rumble-WrestleMania was brilliant as a foil for Daniel Bryan. And he was great with Evolution going up against The Shield. Haven't seen much since then.
ReplyDelete... in this very ring
ReplyDeleteWWE needs to make vignettes showing HHH & Steph pushing paper at their desks while watching the previous night's RAW and seething.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they'll have the balls to just say fuck it and put Show and Henry back together now he's a heel again.
ReplyDeleteI am so in that place right now.
ReplyDeleteMark turns face before Christmas.
ReplyDeleteWho are you to doubt Chris Ivory?!?
ReplyDeleteThe entire Macho Man documentary on the DVD is tremendous.
ReplyDeleteI'd just be speechless if they went that route.
ReplyDeleteMan, do I wish they'd step away from authority figures for a while. This is the perfect time to do it, but they won't.
ReplyDeleteI'm a guy who needs him to abuse Buffalo's defense.
ReplyDeleteIt'd actually be fun to have them be a dominant heel tag team while taking every opportunity to stab each other in the back.
ReplyDeleteThere is a strong chance I will watch Raw tonight. I will however stay away from the live thread, as it is a major buzzkill, with people going out of their ways to nitpick negatives out of good segments. :)
ReplyDeleteI was watching and was like, what, he caught it?
ReplyDeleteI say we get a "farewell promo" from them tonight and we don't see them again for at least a few months.
ReplyDeleteSo now that Dolph Ziggler's back on the path to stardom, what do they do with him next? A feud with Rollins is the logical next step, but they made it seem apparent that Rollins is feuding with Reigns in a few weeks.
ReplyDeleteHHH >>>>>>>>>>> Steph
ReplyDeleteSteph's hot, which is obviously a plus, but her overacting is atrocious. Trips actually seemed to be fighting for his life last night. Steph screeched a lot and attempted to look concerned.
I give this post **. I had to deduct 1/2 a star for a lack of a comma between "will" and "however". I don't know if this post got over with the fans in attendance at the BoD ;)
ReplyDelete"I'm sorry man. I guess I'm just rotten. We good for next week?"
ReplyDeleteShe's always been that way.
ReplyDeleteCould you live with an Orton/Ziggler/Rollins 3 way ladder match at TLC?
ReplyDeleteI actually see Triple H asking to be reinstated as a full time wrestler so that he can at least try to control things that way.
ReplyDelete:) is not a creative emoticon. Lazy booking. At best this is a *3/4 post.
ReplyDeleteYour complaint is noted but I thought it was harmless. Someone is going to babble for 20 minutes and I'd take them over Cena.
ReplyDeleteAll his posts are -*****.
ReplyDeleteAnyone laying bets on who opens the show? I'm thinking Vince tonight.
ReplyDeleteTrue. In fairness, she's much better now than she was in say 2001 or 2002.
ReplyDeleteCena
ReplyDeleteYes.
ReplyDeleteThis Ferguson stuff is out of control.
ReplyDeleteI'll take long odds on a match starting the show. Rhodes' vs. some tag team.
ReplyDeletehave they announced the verdict or whatever it's called?
ReplyDeleteRandom question I've been thinking of:
ReplyDeleteIf this is the last we've seen of AJ Lee, how much do you think the CM Punk chants influenced her decision to retire?
I don't think they could have scripted it any more retardedly
ReplyDeleteYou think a match is starting the show? ultimate lulz
ReplyDelete9 PM EST I think. There are already tons of people on the streets ready to uproar.
ReplyDeleteRandom: I'm playing Madden and have the option to trade Alex Smith and a couple picks for either Eli or Roltlisberger. Now, Big Ben is the better QB (though not by much), but he's also a rapist. Who should I go with?
ReplyDeleteHey man, I acknowledged it was a long shot. I'll leave the obvious choices of "Sting" & "Hunter and Steph" for others. I'm a giving person.
ReplyDelete(Eli to the grave)Eli's better than Roth
ReplyDeleteOne man shot another man. Can't we just focus on the loss of a son and a person?
ReplyDeleteProbably not much. She has no future there and it probably stopped being fun a long time ago. Plus, she now needs to keep track of her man. Can't do that on the road 300 days a year.
ReplyDeleteHe's only a rapist in real life. Virtual Ben can be as clean as you want.
ReplyDeleteGo with Big Ben if you think he's better. His rape doesn't translate into the game.
ReplyDeleteStick it out for this season and draft one.
ReplyDeleteIt is duly noted.
ReplyDelete*makes note to make sure I always bet against you*
Big Show to explain why he turned on John Cena.
ReplyDeleteC'mon, we all know you have to turn your Big Show every six months or 6,000 chinlocks.
I already traded my #1 pick for Cato June (yes, I'm playing an old Madden, it cost me $1), so that's not an option.
ReplyDeleteNo matter what the result tonight, idiots are just looking for an excuse to riot and then claim it's "for the people". We had a similar thing in the UK in 2011 which ended up spreading throughout the country.
ReplyDeleteLast night's OTT screeching was great though and the crowd was rabid for it too. HHH was more like "ughh I've just been Scorpion Death Dropped, is this really happening?" They both sold it amazingly
ReplyDeleteWhich one? I bought Madden 2009 for $2 and I played the hell out of it for years.
ReplyDeleteno
ReplyDeleteHe'll be in a diaper by New Year's.
ReplyDeleteBen shitting himself in his first SB should weigh heavy in any discussion
ReplyDeleteI think the Big Show situation is actually quite interesting. He turned on his friends to protect his job which is a legit believable reason. Only to find that it was all for nothing.
ReplyDeleteDoes he join with guys like Rollins & Henry or does he become a loner?
I'm more interested in Big Show now than I have been for years.
They've announced Cena is going to choose the general manager of Raw
ReplyDeleteHe sure wouldn't have done it for a sensible reason like "that self-centered prick didn't help me when I was being beaten like a dog".
ReplyDeleteI would really have no problem if his reasoning was "fkuc John Cena"
ReplyDeleteHere's the thing: I don't want Cena to be the next one to try to get even on Big Show. I would -- seriously -- throw Ryback at him. "You almost got me fired because you were HEDGING YOUR BETS!?"
ReplyDelete08. I'm playing as the Niners, and the only guys that are still one the team are Gore and Willis. Weird seeing Reggie Bush still on the Saints and McNabb and Culpepper still in the league.
ReplyDeleteMy prediction was really half baked, I cannot deny. I couldn't even name another team!
ReplyDeleteBen. He's a significant upgrade.
ReplyDeleteEli's had about 8 good games his whole career. He picked the right ones to show up but those are the only ones he played well in. Overall, Ben is a better qb in every conceivable way
ReplyDeleteNah
ReplyDeleteI think that was the last Madden I bought new(before Madden 15) but it broke. I've got '07 and '09.
ReplyDeleteIt does get weird playing the old ones and it has a bunch of players that are gone.
According to the ratings they're about equal. I'm going with Ben because he's cheaper.
ReplyDeleteSo I DLed the PPV and watched the last match just now.
ReplyDeletePretty good. Good psychology and logical booking mostly.
Sting's entrance video is bad ass, especially when the light swings from one side to the other so you can see the entire face.
Sting himself looked old, the hairline wasn't good, and it seemed like he was walking carefully.
His video's music is of course terrible. I was hoping it would go into Crow Sting's music, but of course Vince won't pay for that.
...eh, in Madden-world, Ben's probably more mobile too
ReplyDeleteThat would be fine - Show out there popping off at Cena and Ryback reminding Show he almost screwed everyone.
ReplyDeleteI still dream that Ziggy turns on Cena out of envy/anger at his grandstanding.
Ryback and Show had a match on Raw last year that I remember being pleasantly surprised by. Ryback managed to hit Show with the Shell Shocked too which was a great visual, though sadly wasted since he lost.
ReplyDeleteThat's my reason for a lot of things and I don't work with him.
ReplyDeleteI thought he got to say if HHH/Steph can stay? Now he gets to name the new GM? And they wonder why fans boo him.
ReplyDeleteSandow's turn on Miz is going to blow the roof off the joint.
ReplyDeleteI've felt like crap the past five days. It'd probably be in my best interest to take a day off from work.
ReplyDeleteI remember playing 2K1 when I still had my Dreamcast and getting really weirded out by seeing Rae Carruth in the game.
ReplyDeleteI still play '08, but I play it on the PC, and there's a website with a shitload of mods & DLC for free like modern rosters and more accurate uniforms & stuff.
ReplyDeleteI think they'll hold it for a later episode.
ReplyDeleteWhich is bizarre, because the Crow theme plays in the WWE 2K15 ad.
ReplyDeleteIt is about time for the Rhodes' to get a rematch. I mean they have waited a whole 24 hours. That's like 2 years in 20th century time.
ReplyDeleteThat is going to be a great moment.
ReplyDeleteHope you get better man. Drink lots of fluid and watch lots of WWE Network.
ReplyDeleteI do still play 08, the last one made for the PC and roster updates are available.
ReplyDeleteThe theme song was horrendous. Sounded so generic. The whole thing felt very WCW to me. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteYou should never need motivation to take days off.
ReplyDeleteDamn. You'd think Ziggler would at least get to do it.
ReplyDeleteHopefully Cena picks Johnny Ace. People Power.
To be fair, they've implied he's only choosing the person in charge tonight, not from now on.
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to be part of a riot. Not one like that, but if the Bills or Sabres ever go all the way (not happening...), I will definitely help turn over a cop car.
ReplyDeleteThat's what a Vita is for!
ReplyDeleteOh no wait, it says HHH/Steph will kick off with a farewell address, then Cena will do that later. I know man they just make it up as they go along
ReplyDeleteThe end of last night PPV featured two future main eventers laid out on the ring whilst the evil authority figure was taken out by Sting despite him barely being able to move.
ReplyDeleteWhy is WWE turning into TNA?
Won't you be too stoned to do anything, or is that just your BoD gimmick?
ReplyDeleteAnd then it's going to be all downhill from there.
ReplyDeleteBut man, that's going to be an insane moment, and I can't wait.
Whoever the colour guy is in this Bills game doesn't know how to pronounce "groin" properly. He keeps saying "grow-en".
ReplyDeleteI'd love to read live VJ posts about how he is enjoying the show. You're a great yin to the all around yang of the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteIn years gone by, my friends and I would have Madden fantasy draft parties.
ReplyDeleteHow about we wait for them to screw up before we declare it screwed up? Yes, they have a bad track record, but Sandow is a HHH guy (both trained by Kowalski) so I imagine he'll be looked after.
ReplyDeleteI've got some crud as well. I could be working OT right now from home but I'd be useless.
ReplyDelete100 million for Kyle Seager?
ReplyDeleteCena's choice...
ReplyDeleteTEDDY LONG, PLAYA!!!
Hmm I'm reading "Who will John Cena choose as the NEW WWE Raw GM?" Sounds permanent but you could be right
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's what I did. Now I have no draft picks for the first 3 rounds, but I figure if I win the whole thing then fuck it. I still have plenty of cap room and my roster is pretty stacked.
ReplyDeleteWell I guess my prediction of a match kicking it off was wrong.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking at it on youtube. The theme sounds like parts of the Crow Sting's song. Remember when WWE changed Goldberg's theme to something similar but different? It's kind of like that. It's like extremely drawn out of the intro part.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlnStiTnplQ
http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2014/01/RAW_1077_Photo_061.jpg
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't mind them just going all the way and doing a "freestyle" Raw similar to Battlebowl for one of their throwaway December shows
ReplyDeleteMy most vivid Madden memory is selecting the Pats to go through a season, only to have Tom Brady tear something on the first play of the season. Fuck that, I started over randomly selecting the Packers. What happens? Brett Favre also goes out on the first play of the season. I just gave up.
ReplyDeleteMust be why they've done so much with him so far. He hasn't been made to look like a fool at all.
ReplyDeleteAnd now, what you've all been waiting for. A lengthy and detailed interview with a horsefucker.
ReplyDeletehttp://nymag.com/scienceofus/2014/11/what-its-like-to-date-a-horse.html
The money reflects the blowing up of TV money, the same reason shit is going to go down in the NBA in a couple of years.
ReplyDeleteI'm an active stoner, smoking up gets me motivated to go out and do shit.
ReplyDeleteNext GM should be announced tonight, I can't be the only guy hoping for William Regal!
ReplyDelete"No, Kevin! Not like Juwanna Man! This is way cooler than that!"
ReplyDeleteI'm scared to see what LeBrons deal will be.
ReplyDeleteWhy not put an ad on craigslist for the new GM job and let people interview for it? It could be fun.
ReplyDeleteI'll allow it!
ReplyDeleteI can't be the only one hoping they can go one goddamn week without an authority figure.
ReplyDeleteMy first choice is no authority figure at all, at least not as a regular on screen role.
ReplyDeleteI always sim the pre-season and if someone significant gets hurt I re-load and start over.
ReplyDeleteTime to do the liveblog post. Let's hope this show doesn't suck.
ReplyDeleteYup I'm here. You're Welcome.
ReplyDeleteNice to see you but you're on my interview time.
ReplyDeleteI've got leftover gumbo on the stove. LET'S DO THIS!!!
ReplyDeleteHuh?
ReplyDeleteOh boy...I'm glad I live in between Buffalo and Pittsburgh markets. I get the Bills/Jets...like saying you got the clap.
ReplyDeleteSpaghetti and garlic bread over here.
ReplyDeleteDaniel Bryan the new GM? He's supposedly backstage?
ReplyDeleteThe fuck? I wonder if people my age were as much turned off of sports when like Kirby Puckett or Clemens signed their first big deals. Fucking insane numbers for middling players
ReplyDeleteWhat's the score?
ReplyDeleteDid Jack Tunney have a son? If so, it should be him?
ReplyDeleteShane-O-Mac as new GM.
ReplyDeleteCan never go wrong with that.
ReplyDelete7-3 Bills
ReplyDeleteBut it's STING!
ReplyDelete(said by way too many people)
Its always better when you're around.
ReplyDeleteOne of those guys was Dolph Ziggler.
ReplyDeleteThat would work, and as they don't seem to know when he'll be able to wrestle again they need to do something with him
ReplyDeleteI was just about to post that..
ReplyDeleteTo quote a retuning guy, It's Showtime folks!
ReplyDeleteI stopped caring after they lost to Miami. They're done, and as usual they did just well enough to not get a good draft pick.
ReplyDeleteExcept if you're like the Pirates and locked into a shitty local TV deal for several more years...
ReplyDeleteAnd here... we... go!
ReplyDeleteA man who knows all about Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect...
ReplyDeleteJACK TUNNEY JRRRRRR...!!!
Sting!
ReplyDeleteTriple H!
Tom Servo!
CROOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
Well, here we go......
ReplyDeleteJust use his WCW theme, geez.
ReplyDeleteNew GM is Roger Goodell.
ReplyDeleteShowtime/Cinemax beware!
ReplyDeleteHunter starts us off, of course.
ReplyDeleteYep, that's how the show will be remembered.
ReplyDeleteOkay WWE don't make me turn it back to Bills/Jets...
ReplyDeleteI really don't think that he should be allowed to use this music any longer.
ReplyDeleteListen to the canned pops on the Sting video
ReplyDeleteRAW has traded Booker T and the Dudley Boyz to the unemployment brand for Triple H.
ReplyDelete