Scott,
I'm not sure why I'm surprised but we're getting Reigns vs Bryan then?? Are WWE going to be as surprised with the reaction they get this time around when Reigns wins?
This is going to be an even bigger "fuck you" to Bryan fans than the rumble was?! This is Reigns directly throwing Bryan over the top rope himself...
Why are WWE continuously putting themselves in this position when they must know the reaction they'll get for it? Unless they're going to turn Reigns (which they're not) then they deserve what's coming to them...
Top stuff as always, Scott!!
Yeah, but the thing is that Reigns SHOULD have thrown Bryan out at the Rumble. Half-heartedly getting Bryan out of the match before Reigns is even in there just pissed off the fanbase. If they had let Bryan stay in there until the end and Reigns throws him out, GREAT. That's an actual issue between them, fans can focus their heat on Reigns, and he actually has a claim at doing something in the match to justify his push. Much better than the authority figures being all "Uh, controversy or something, Reigns has to defend his title shot BECAUSE REASONS, FREE NETWORK FOR A MONTH!" as booking strategy. I'm sure the match will be fine, but when all your major angles are damage control to salvage your previous bullshit booking decisions, then you're not doing something right.
Another thing. With Reigns recent comments about how he's doing it for money or whatever, wouldn't it be hilarious if the WWE straps a rocket to him and he leaves them for the movie industry or something eventually?
ReplyDeleteIt's seriously the dumbest argument ever. Not believable? In that case every Brock Lesnar match should end in 5 minutes with him skull fucking a corpse.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes down to it, if you're booing at their guy, you're still paying to be there to boo.
ReplyDeleteIf you care enough to stop paying them money, they may care more about your opinion.
Better yet, WWF Champion Dan Severn.
ReplyDeleteHe'd re-break Austin's neck, then break Owen's neck for fun.
Yes but with mania....most people spending that kind of money for mania tickets know Brock is on his way out. I think you need the face to actually be over as a face against the guy who is on his way out the door to avoid a Brock/Goldberg situation
ReplyDeleteThat move is perfectly legitimate...
ReplyDeleteIf you're in Cirque Du Soleil.
I don't think The Tonga Kid had that cred yet. Maybe 89-90... hey, no Warrior run on top!
ReplyDeleteI'll never understand the mindset of Bryan being in the main event of a PPV fighting the top guy and losing in what will probably be a match booked to make him look as strong as a guy losing a match can look being "a FU to Bryan fans"
ReplyDeleteThere is some hero worship going on with Bryan that's borderline crazy.
World Champion King Haku from 89-Forever because he's just so tough.
ReplyDeleteThen Kurt shows up in 00 to take up the mantle until Brock shows up in 02....the strategy pays off with Kurt and Brock. Maybe he's on to something!!!
Dude needs to put on a fruity clown costume and play some pretentious Latin-language Techno music when he does that move.
ReplyDeleteAfter their classic UFC 9 bout, Shamrock/Severn is a main event anywhere in this universe. Throw Meng in there.
ReplyDeleteA ménage a trois of pain.
It's gotta be Roman. Bryan beating Lesnar? UnBELEEDATable.
ReplyDelete..............
ReplyDelete.................
Oh.
Well I'm saying it now and I'm a somebody dammit.
ReplyDeleteWhy is it so hard for smarks to realize other people don't share their opinion? Just one of those mysteries that the world may never know
ReplyDeleteIt was there, but not very loud. The cheers were definitely louder. Some comments below pointed out it was a Cena-like "high-pitched cheers, lower-pitched boos" reaction.
ReplyDeleteis another one of those mysteries how in the hell I'm supposed to believe Daniel Bryan could ever hope to beat Brock Lesnar? Because that's so unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteIf we fall too deeply into "who would win in a real fight?" we've really missed the point.
ReplyDeleteLove how he faced Undertaker in the main event at Wrestlemania.
ReplyDeleteScrewing Reigns would be the best thing for him. You could turn him into cold blooded (fits his emotion challenged personality) bitter heel who starts tearing through people on his way to a title shot at..Summerslam or ...whatever.
ReplyDeleteDavid vs. Goliath but this time they get it right.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty cool that, at least so far, the main story line coming out of the Rumble involves Lesnar, Rollins, Reigns, and Bryan. No Orton, No Kane. No Cena.
ReplyDeleteThat almost excuses Big Show pinning Reigns and poor Dean Ambrose feuding with Curtis Axel!
It's not really the people though as much as the hardcore fans. hell I was listening to two guys talking during a filler segment on Sirius and they started talking about how unbelievable it would be for bryan to beat lesnar. They aren't the only ones. A lot of people are legit happy about the mania main event, but the crowd you run with isn't. Which is cool, people are allowed their opinions. You just need to realize you aren't the end all be all of wrestling fandom, something many hardcores forget. If they catered to just you they would alienate thousands of other fans which isn't really good for business.
ReplyDeleteBy that logic, Steve Blackman might have been WWF Champion. Can you imagine?
ReplyDeleteWhen in doubt, bury the talent as much as possible to kill everyone's spirit.
ReplyDeleteWrestling is fake and anyone who doesn't know that should really be euthanized
ReplyDeleteIs this rhetorical?
ReplyDeleteHeh- my initial reply was gonna be Severn, but then I remembered Bob Holly's sucking off of Blackman in his book for badassery. And Blackman was just the most uncharismatic guy EVER. But Severn was overall a worse act, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah. It's funny how your death and resurrection slips your mind after 24 hours.
ReplyDeleteWell there's a reason you are back to the land of the living.
ReplyDeleteOh wait, I forgot:
ReplyDeleteCable News.
I have a shitty most things.
ReplyDeletewhat is happening?
ReplyDelete"A grown man pretended to be an undead zombie for 20 years and is one of the biggest stars ever."
ReplyDeleteWhat are you trying to say, zombies aren't REAL?
Haku-Severn/Shamrock would be some HELLACIOUS battles. Both wrestlers leaving lines of jobbers laid out on the way to the showdown...
ReplyDeleteYou weren't their live..you don't realize how big he really is..
ReplyDeleteWatching the podcast...HHH is spinning but being some...what honest so it's interesting. Hunter certainly isn't putting the stamp of approval on Reigns and is constantly talking about them adapting to the fans....interesting.
ReplyDeleteI think people still want to like him and are waiting for him to give them a reason to do so.
ReplyDeleteI-O!!
ReplyDeleteAdapting to the fans.
ReplyDeleteI don't know. But others have been writing off people getting booed because "it's the cool thing to do" and I wanted to fit in.
ReplyDeleteThat would be amazing. All during the Bryan/Brock match you've got 70,000 chanting "Roman Reigns!"
ReplyDeleteWorld Champion Haku! Sorry Hogan in 86 but no ones gonna believe you can beat Haku. He's just so darned tough.
ReplyDeleteI think the first instant reaction is always going to be from those cheering because that's the people who are actually excited to see him. I wouldn't suddenly jolt out of my seat and boo as soon as Reigns music hits.
ReplyDelete"adapting to the fans"
ReplyDelete.........
say what now?
ICWUTUDIDTHARE
ReplyDeleteFRYING PANS, I TELL YOU!
ReplyDeleteFRYING PANS!!!!!
No one says that. No one has ever said that.
ReplyDelete"If you care enough to stop giving them money, they may care more about your opinion."
ReplyDeleteDing. Ding.
Not hero worship at all. Bryan was the most over thing for the last two years. Since coming back from injury, he's had nothing but Kane matches and still is the most over. He was tossed randomly from the Rumble when he was obviously the most over guy there with a vast majority thinking he should've won the match. Then taking him and teasing the crowd again by giving them that small chance that he might main event WrestleMania only to kick the fans in the nuts again.
ReplyDeleteNot comparing him to Austin or Hogan here, but this would be like having them tossed out of a Rumble halfway through in 90-91 and 98-99 respectively, giving them a chance at the next PPV to win a title shot then having them lose again.
You have a shitty ending.
ReplyDeleteNo, it's esoteric.
ReplyDeleteHaving Reigns beat Bryan at Fast Lane will make the crowd boo and hate Reigns even more than they do now. I think they've pulled an audible and Bryan will be winning and going onto Mania. Reigns can face Rollins.
ReplyDeleteDamn. I love dealing in rhetoric.
ReplyDeleteAnd if someone can't book Lesnar-Bryan in a believable manner, they need a new line of work.
ReplyDeleteUgh....terrible. I like you.
ReplyDelete[Simpsons reference]They don't enjoy it on as many levels as I do.[/Simpsons reference]
ReplyDeleteSomething really must be done about women and children.
ReplyDeleteWhy is it unbelievable for Bryan to beat Brock? This is a business where Santino put a cobra sleeve on his hand and people pretended to be paralyzed. Pro Wrestling starts at unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteThat's my reaction to people who say it would be unbelievable for Bryan to beat Lesnar, for Reigns to beat Lesnar, for whatever. A grown man pretended to be an undead zombie for 20 years and is one of the biggest stars ever.
You know what they say....A spear in defeat is worth two in the win.
ReplyDeleteI'd laugh if we all switched into angry Roman Reigns Is Being Buried mode just to annoy the fuck out of those who consider us inconsistent hypocrites.
ReplyDeleteRollins screwed Reigns in the opening match, Reigns screws Rollins out of the main event.
ReplyDeleteYou know Rollins is screwing Reigns at Fast Lane.
HHH using the porno as to why Chyna isn't in the HOF...while ..her porno partner was on RAW a couple weeks ago...pretty weak
ReplyDeleteWonderful job offering a logical counter-argument. As usual.
ReplyDeleteIt's not just that it's Bryan though...replace him in this scenario with Ambrose or Ziggler and the reactions would be the same. Maybe a little less, but still the same kind. The Rumble crowd would have loved lots of guys winning, not just Bryan.
ReplyDeleteSo...#ActionSoapOperaGate?
ReplyDeleteGood.
ReplyDeleteYup. I said this in the live thread and people laughed at me. They are obviously going with Lesnar/Bryan and Reigns/Rollins. This is good for Reigns because the crowd would be more inclined to cheer for him against Rollins than they would vs. Lesnar.
ReplyDeleteRight on the money Scott Keith. My main issue with the Royal Rumble wasn't Reigns winning, nursery rhyme promos aside he is a fine performer, but the match itself was so BAD. No excitement, no outstanding performance, no memorable spot. Reigns has show he is a good performer in the past so let him perform some fans will come around on him more once they saw what he could do.
ReplyDeleteThe only remedy I see for wwe is to turn Bryan heel before Fast Lane. And not cool heel. Not Stone Cold whoooooo Do you smell what the Daniel is cooking heel. But heel heel. You guys know what I mean.
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying that the guy shouldn't be used better, or that they shouldn't even have gotten behind him for this year.
ReplyDeleteI'm just saying "FU to Bryan fans" plays into this notion that WWE is actively sabotaging him for whatever crazy reason people come up with to think that they want to bury him. And I just think people who think that are being worked like the markiest marks around.
I mean, even HHH said last night Bryan comes to them and says "pull back on me" at certain points because they're working the fan reaction.
This seems logical
ReplyDeleteIf that's so, they can have Lesnar beat Bryan, and Reigns come and cash in at the end of the show.
ReplyDeleteWWE has been actively trolling its audience since Survivor Series. Literally.
ReplyDeleteWe're all smarks with different opinions debating on a blog comments section aren't we? I've seen people arguing over absolutely everything on here.
ReplyDeleteTrolling is HHH's new finisher.
ReplyDeleteBoobs
ReplyDeleteAn illiterate Twitter account and porn are two different things.
ReplyDeleteI think that was his way of nicely saying "She's nuts"
ReplyDeleteI don't think we'll ever see a heel cash-in to end Mania. It's not a good go-home feeling. It went over like a wet fart when Orton did it to Bryan at SummerSlam 2013.
ReplyDeleteTrue, but in their minds, Reigns would have beaten Rollins and Lesnar on the same night, and A Star Is Bored.
ReplyDeleteNo, Lesnar wins as the heel, then Reigns wins to make the face go over.
ReplyDeleteYeah but we were cheering LOUDLY
ReplyDeleteYou must've bought like 14 shirts a piece too.
ReplyDeleteThat announcement really shaked the WWE foundation to its core!
ReplyDelete#announcement
Plus a guaranteed Sting appearance.
ReplyDeleteReigns doesn't have the briefcase, Rollins does.
ReplyDeleteBesides, cashing in to beat Lesnar is just the lamest possible way to use his rub.
"We listen to our fans (at some point)"
ReplyDelete-Creative
Triple H: "We can't put Chyna in the Hall of Fame because what kids will find when they Google her!"
ReplyDeleteOkay Hunter, try Googling Iron Sheik sometime. Yeah, you won't see him naked, but kids would have a LOT of fun with that one, too.
Just in case we needed a new place to discuss Reigns/Bryan/Lesnar/Fast Lane, Scott has just put TWO posts up about it, bless him.
ReplyDeleteReigns doesn't have the briefcase.
ReplyDeleteYour mom is wrong, jack!
ReplyDeleteThat would be even worse than Reigns just beating Lesnar straight up.
ReplyDeleteDon't mean you, just speaking in general. "No one wants reigns in mania" "everyone wants bryan lesnar" "if you don't want mcmahon dead you aren't a true fan" "nobody pays to see (insert wrestler here)" "everyone booed xpac because they didn't want to see him on their tvs not because they dislike him" "blandy boreton sucks all he does is chin locks. No one wants to see him" etc etc etc
ReplyDeleteThere were two fans cheering for Reigns at the Rumble. WWE is listening to those two.
ReplyDeleteI was referring to his copious amount of vulgar videos from Howard Stern and shoot interviews.
ReplyDeleteIf Lesnar really is ghost after Mania and he doesn't resign then I agree that whoever beats him should do it strongly and convincingly.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be so sure on that yet.
ReplyDeleteDa tomorrow?
ReplyDeleteIf they really want to add some more credence to the Bryan/Reigns match, have Bryan bring up Roman's past in the Shield, more specifically how while Roman won the tag titles from Bryan and Kane, Bryan was personally responsible for handing the Shield their first loss ever. Since they're going in what appears to be a tweener direction with Reigns, have him tell Bryan that while Bryan may have done that, that's all in the past, and the future is Roman Reigns Superman punching Bryan's beard right off and going on to beat Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania, while Bryan sits on the sidelines like the B-Plus player that he always will be. Bryan and Roman get into an intense staredown, nearly coming to blows, when Hunter breaks the two up.
ReplyDeleteThat alone would be a great segment to hype the match.
Someone pointed out last night that Memphis, where Fast Lane is, is where the "Bryan Occupy Raw" segment took place. That place is hot for Bryan like Triple H is hot for women with manly speaking voices.
ReplyDeleteI can't possibly see Reigns getting cheered for beating Bryan there, even if Bryan does a "respect" handshake afterward.
Explanation: WWF1987 posted Reigns/Rollins and Lesnar/Bryan. Reigns beats Rollins and wins the briefcase. Lesnar beats Bryan. Reigns cashes in his newfound ticket and beats Lesnar, thus becoming champ, vanquishing Rollins, and beating the guy who overcame the fans' hero.
ReplyDeleteThat's what might happen if they go down this road. It's just like WM9, but with someone who isn't old.
Those who voted him Superstar Of The Year can't. be wrong.....
ReplyDeleteEh, and they can find Stephanie on Stern saying she likes anal, and John Cena saying he likes boning fat chicks.
ReplyDelete"That place is hot for Bryan like Triple H is hot for women with manly speaking voices."
ReplyDeleteI LOL'd.
I know. Rollins does. But if Rollins loses at WM to Reigns, Reigns can win the briefcase and cash in the same night. Then Brock leaves and you've made your new "star".
ReplyDeleteBecause it works. Anytime you can convince the audience in an era where there's no secrets that you really are trying to bury a guy while simultaneously selling them his brand new T-Shirt and having him main event PPVs, that's a hell of a hook.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's my point. I'm drawing a distinction between the guy could be used better and the guy is being buried because he's not Vince material.
Rock and Roll providence! Talk about a hot crowd.
ReplyDeleteWhere was the Raw where Bryan beat up Bray in the cage?
ReplyDeleteI think Providence
ReplyDeleteHis heel heel act got cheered like crazy in ROH. He's just a likable guy.
ReplyDelete"Too much wrestling, and NOBODY remembers that old shit. Let's have Reigns call Bryan "Yosemite Sam" instead. Because you know, this means war."
ReplyDelete-WWE Creative.
P.S.: Fuck you, that's why.
"Yeah Hulk Hogan, I f****n break your back and bend you over and f**k your a** you piece of ****. You not Iron Sheik class and have a nice day!!" - Iron Sheik, pick your day
ReplyDeleteThis reads to me like something I've been trying to say recently, but you've said it way better, shorter, and less crazy-reading than I can ever manage to.
ReplyDeleteI've not seen the Austin/HHH Network podcast yet, that sounds interesting.
His heel act in late 2011/2012 turned him the biggest Babyface in town.
ReplyDeleteExcept that is such an awful idea that even WWE won't do it.
ReplyDeleteYeah, fans will LOVE if Lesnar beats Bryan and then Reigns cashes in the briefcase and wins the belt in 30 seconds.
"From Aberdeen, Washington. Weigthing at 205 pounds, he is the ROH World Champion and too good to ever wrestle in CZW, Bryan Danielson!"
ReplyDeleteAt least they can set up Bryan vs. Reigns with the old pickle jar argument.
ReplyDeleteReigns: "I beat Brock Lesnar"
Bryan: "yeah but I loosened him up for you!"
They need to find a way around that. Have him turn on the next biggest babyface in the company or turn on the fans but don't do it like the Rock does.
ReplyDeleteNever said it was a GOOD idea, but neither was the way they made Reigns look in the Rumble. In their minds, if they want Reigns to stand tall with the gold, that's one way to do it.
ReplyDeleteShort of spitting on an American flag that won't work. Fans ain't booing Bryan.
ReplyDeleteRight. Now Cesaro, there's a guy with an argument about being sabotaged.
ReplyDeleteNow there's an idea. He reveals himself as secretly Canadian! There's nothing an American crowd hates more than an arrogant Canadian.
ReplyDeleteFuck yes.
ReplyDeleteI agree I just don't understand the attempted placating -- move on. Don't put Bryan in a match to attempt to win over those fans...
ReplyDeleteYeah, Vince flat out told you in a shoot he doesn't see anything in the guy.
ReplyDeleteConsidering that from the live crowd reactions Daniel Bryan has more fans than anybody with the exception of Cena, I would say it is WWE's exact duty to make Bryan's fans happy. Why wouldn't you want to make your face with the loudest and largest fanbases fans happy?
ReplyDeleteWWE's saying is that they put smiles on faces.
Providence is responsible for the Diesel push. No amount of YESing will make up for that
ReplyDeleteExactly. Yeah, I guess "all the fans" are technically "a portion of the fans," but.
ReplyDeleteOk I got it. Near the end of the match Bryan quits and walks out. Grabs the mike and starts berating the fans. "You ask too much of me. Don't put all your hopes and dreams on my shoulders! I don't want the burden!" Then he declares, "Oh and by the way, I was actually born in Canada!!" American crowd immediately turns on him because you know, US fans hate evil Canadians. Bryan grabs an American flag and tears it to shreds. Shows up on Raw the next night fully shaved and with short hair. Nobody ever cheers him again. Reigns is held up as a god by the fans in the rematch. Done. Book it.
ReplyDeleteReigns' overness is debatable. Bryan's overness is not. Fans are clearly invested in the storyline of Bryan getting the title back that he never lost. For 18 months either The Authority or injury has stood between Bryan and the title.
ReplyDeleteI know Bryan isn't Austin, but imagine if 2 months after Mania 14 Austin went down with an injury that put him on the shelf until Royal Rumble 1999. You can be damn sure the storyline would be Austin coming back for the title he never lost.
They know it would take a lot to make those fans stop watching.
ReplyDeleteSo they need to give them just enough to keep them from walking away. And that's how they're going to work it.
Bryan being denied is what works that group of fans up, you eventually have to pay it off (or else they do become jaded), but the money is in denying the guy 90% of the time and paying it off 10% of the time.
If they started booking Bryan like every single one of their top babyfaces throughout the years, the whole thing would be finished in a couple months. People would get bored.
Yes, but women in porn are whores. Men in porn are dudes just trying to get laid, yo.
ReplyDeleteEquality, AMIRITE?
I guess we've come to a point where people are arguing that it's not WWE's job to make most of their fans happy.
ReplyDeleteEven the that would probably just the flag heel heat.
ReplyDeleteNot sure about Triple H liking women with deep voices but there is this....Triple H worked with Chyna. Shortly afterwards her boobs got much bigger. Triple H worked with Stephanie. Shortly afterwards her boobs got much bigger. Triple H worked with Ariel WInter. Shortly afterwards her boobs got much bigger....Coincidence?
ReplyDeleteIt was better than that, was surprised by the rating.
ReplyDeleteSomething tells me Reigns wouldn't make it as an actor.
ReplyDeleteHHH called Kane underrated...all hope is lost when HHH takes over
ReplyDelete