Smackdown
Date:
March 5, 2015
Location:
Verizon Center, Washington DC
Commentators:
Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, Byron Saxton
Reviewed by Tommy Hall
With
just a few weeks to go before Wrestlemania, one of the main stories
has been the Intercontinental Title scene. We're definitely getting
the big ladder match, but it's not entirely clear who is going to be
in it. It's also not clear who is going to hand over the title belt
to have it hung above the ring as everyone keeps stealing the thing.
Let's get to it.
Opening
sequence.
Here's
Dolph Ziggler with the Intercontinental Title. He says he never got
a rematch for the title against Bad News Barrett because he got fired
by the Authority. This is the fifth month that storyline has now
been mentioned in. Even Vince Russo didn't let stories go that long.
Dolph officially enters the ladder match, but thinks there's still
something missing. Last year, someone did everything he could and
never stopped fighting to become champion. The fans chant YES and
Dolph agrees, but he gets Bad News Barrett instead.
Barrett
says Ziggler has something he wants. Dolph: “Looks? Charisma? A
great Twitter account?” Bad News gets in the ring but Luke Harper
sneaks in and decks Ziggler. The champ goes for his belt but Luke
steps on it. Ziggler gets back up and everyone brawls so here's Dean
Ambrose to get in on the fighting. The champ is knocked to the floor
because he's just another guy in this story. Everyone brawls on the
floor again so R-Truth sneaks down in spy mode, crawling on the mat
and getting the belt before hiding under the ring.
Truth
is in the back (VERY quickly too) and says he got the title in
advance. “It's like when I eat when I'm not hungry, so when I get
hungry I don't have to eat.” He tries to give the belt to Renee
Young but she politely declines. “Where's Gene Ambrose?” As
usual, Renee Young is incredibly cute. I'm convinced she could be
bald and still be adorable.
Cesaro/Tyson
Kidd vs. Los Matadores
Non-title.
Diego and Kidd start things off but both guys tag out less than
thirty seconds in. Fernando hurricanranas Cesaro down and Diego does
the same with a headscissors, only to get caught in a tilt-a-whirl
backbreaker. A double stomp gets two for Cesaro and we hit the
chinlock. Everything breaks down and Cesar goes after Torito, who
kicks him in the leg. That's not a DQ for some reason but Natalya
trips him up, allowing the Cesaro Swing into a dropkick from Kidd to
get the pin on Fernando at 2:25. This was a good squash for the
champs that we haven't seen before.
Kane
and Big Show both say they'll win the battle royal.
We
recap the main event from Monday with Reigns getting pinned by
Rollins but cleaning house to end the show. Yeah, the dive over the
top and big spear were cool, but it's like a cool fireworks display
after your home team loses a ball game. It's a fun visual, but your
heart isn't in it.
Ryback
vs. Kane
Big
Show stares at the Andre trophy at ringside. Kane stomps him down in
the corner but runs into some spinebusters. Big Show offers a
distraction to no avail as the Meat Hook ends Kane at 2:07. Now why
did it take us this many months to get here?
Kane
makes Big Show vs. Ryback for right now.
Big
Show vs. Ryback
This
is joined in progress after a break with Big Show getting in the ring
and pounding Ryback into the corner. A clothesline puts the smaller
bald power monster down and Show follows it with a slam. Ryback
fires some shoulders in the corner but dives into a chokeslam
attempt. The KO Punch misses and Ryback hits an awkward looking
spinebuster. Kane gets dragged in for offering a distraction and
takes a second Meat Hook, allowing Big Show to KO Ryback at 2:58.
Dang that was close. We almost saw someone get one over on the Big
Balds and I just wouldn't want to live in that world. What was this
supposed to prove anyway?
We
look at Bray Wyatt lighting the casket on fire on Raw.
Bray
Wyatt wants an answer from Undertaker. He has something Undertaker
can relate to, and he'll unleash its spirit this Monday. Not even
Undertaker can outrun his own fate. The camera pans down and shows
the urn.
Sheamus
return video.
Video
on the Daily Show segment with Jon Stewart from Raw. That might be
the best celebrity appearance ever. If not then it's WAY up there.
Brie
Bella vs. AJ Lee
I'm
not a fan of how Eden says “this is a Deeeeevas match”. This is
fallout from AJ returning to help Paige on Monday. Nikki brings up
the “Give Divas A Chance” line but says that doesn't apply to AJ.
The Bellas have been giving the Divas a chance since AJ has been
gone and no one has lived up to their standard. It's why they're the
stars of Total Divas and they don't care who comes at them.
The
match starts after a break with Paige now at ringside to balance
things out. AJ cranks on an armbar and elbows Brie in the face. A
high cross body gets two on Brie but she comes back with a nice
middle rope dropkick for two of her own. Back up and AJ has to stop
so Brie can clothesline her before we hit a chinlock.
That
goes nowhere so Brie dropkicks her down again, followed by a
clothesline for some two counts. A Hennig necksnap gets an even
closer two as the fans don't seem all that interested. We hit
another chinlock before the running knee to the chest staggers AJ
again. Brie immediately goes to the corner but misses another middle
rope dropkick. Back up and AJ hammers away with kicks to the ribs to
send Brie out to the floor. We get a big staredown outside before
the Black Widow makes Brie tap at 7:42.
Rating:
C. This was better than your
usual Divas matches but a lot of that is due to it actually getting
some time. Brie seemed to almost run out of offense about halfway
through though. The Bellas are decent enough as the better than you
heels and I can live with them far more when they're not being
treated like all time greats who just happen to be heels now. And
when they're not dominating the show. That really drove me insane.
Daniel
Bryan thinks the Intercontinental Title picture is very interesting
right now and can't wait to see who comes out with the belt.
I
really can't stand the theme song for this year's Wrestlemania and I
keep forgetting that's what the song is for when it starts up.
New
Day vs. Miz/Damien Mizdow
Woods
is the odd man out this week. Before
the match we get a look at the commercial from Monday with Miz being
embarrassed. Miz slapped
Mizdow as a result but we still didn't get the big face turn. Kofi
and Miz get things going by trading armdrags until Miz runs him over
for two. Some kicks give
Kofi a breather and Mizdow tags himself in and cleans house.
Cesaro/Kidd/Natalya are watching in the back as Mizdow's figure four
attempt is broken up. Miz tags himself in and orders Mizdow to the
floor but Mizdow gets in his face. During
the argument, Big E. gets the tag and it's the Midnight Hour for the
pin at 3:15.
Rating:
D. This was the same thing
they've done multiple times now but at least it was Miz taking the
pin instead of Mizdow. I really wouldn't mind if Woods was left
outside as a permanent manager as he doesn't add much to the team.
The match wasn't very good though and it just reenforced the same
things we've established for weeks now. In other words, it's a
Smackdown match.
We
look back at Heyman's speech from Raw.
Brock
Lesnar video.
Reigns
says Heyman is known for running his mouth, but it's true that Lesnar
is going to hurt him at Wrestlemania. Everyone that gets in the ring
with Lesnar gets hurt and he'll be no different. The difference is
Reigns will get up, lock his fist and hit a Superman Punch. Then
he'll spear Lesnar in half to win the WWE World Championship, and
then Heyman and Lesnar will believe that. As usual, this was far
better because they kept it short and simple.
Jack
Swagger vs. Rusev
Non-title
and Swagger is thrown to the floor a second after the bell. Back in
and Swagger throws Rusev to the floor as we take a break. Back with
Rusev getting two off a dropkick and we hit the chinlock. Swagger
fights up and tries the Vader Bob but has to settle for the Patriot
Lock, sending Rusev to the ropes. Back up and Rusev kicks him in the
face and Accolades him for the submission at 7:50.
Rating:
D. Egads find someone new for
Rusev to beat up. This didn't prove anything and was the exact same
match these two have had roughly 19 times. Yeah we get it: Rusev is
big and strong and can beat up Jack Swagger. We've known that for
almost eight months now. FIND SOMEONE NEW.
Rusev
poses but Curtis Axel pops up on screen and says don't change the
channel BROTHER. He's often imitated but never duplicated DUDE.
This Monday he's going to put Rusev down 1-2-3 and then coming for
the US Title at Wrestlemania. Whatcha gonna do when Axelmania runs
wild on YOU??? If Buddy Landel can get over by being Ric Flair,
Curtis Axel can get over by being Hulk Hogan.
Cameron
thinks it's time someone gives her a chance. Summer Rae comes up and
says she should be getting the chance. Eva Marie thinks the two of
them have no chance. This is what I was worried about when this
thing started up. There are far more talented girls to give this
spot to, but instead it's going to the girls on the reality show.
Bad
News Barrett/Luke Harper vs. Dolph Ziggler/Dean Ambrose
Truth
is on commentary and doesn't quite get the rules of the ladder match.
He also doesn't like how heights look when you look down at them.
Harper Gator Rolls Ziggler to start but has to break up a sunset flip
attempt. The running DDT is easily countered and R-Truth thinks he's
talking to Byron Jackson. A double tag brings in Ambrose to stomp on
Barrett in the corner before the standing top rope elbow drop gets
two. Ziggler and Ambrose clear the ring but nearly come to blows as
we take a break.
Back
with Barrett elbowing Dean in the face and handing it off to Harper
for an elbow of his own. We hit the chinlock from Harper, who Truth
accuses of not buying his shirt. Barrett comes back in and gets
caught in a tornado DDT. Truth wants the match turned into a
stepladder match and claims ladder discrimination.
The
hot tag brings in Ziggler to speed things up but the big elbow drop
gets two on Harper. Now the running DDT connects but still only gets
two. A big side slam gets the same for Harper but Barrett and
Ambrose come in to fight right next to them. Those two head back to
the floor and Ziggler superkicks Harper, setting up the Zig Zag for
the pin at 10:03.
Rating:
C-. Totally standard midcard
tag match here but it's very nice to see that headlining the show
instead of more dull stuff. It also helps that this is a logical
part of the storyline and fits what they've been doing so far. Truth
continues to be funny on commentary with a bunch of “what did he
just say” lines. Oh and Barrett didn't get pinned! Life is good.
Post
match Barrett goes for the belt but Ambrose dives on him. Truth
kicks Harper low but Daniel Bryan shows up to look at Truth holding
the title. Truth hands him the belt and starts a YES chant. Bryan
poses with the title but Stardust jumps Bryan and grabs the belt to
end the show.
Overall
Rating: C. The show went by
fast enough and it's really nice to have stuff away from the main
event feud for a bit. It's also nice to not have the Authority
making my blood pressure go through the roof but that's a different
story. This still doesn't feel like a major show but I like the
Intercontinental Title picture when it's not as all over the place
and the battle royal is starting to look a lot better. This was a
nice way to cool things down and bring them back to normal after a
bad Raw, but it's still not a great show.
Results
Cesaro/Tyson
Kidd b. Los Matadores – Cesaro Swing into a dropkick from Kidd
Ryback
b. Kane – Meat Hook
Big
Show b. Ryback – KO Punch
AJ
Lee b. Brie Bella – Black Widow
New
Day b. Miz/Damien Mizdow – Midnight Hour to Miz
Rusev
b. Jack Swagger – Accolade
Dolph
Ziggler/Dean Ambrose b. Bad News Barrett/Luke Harper – Zig Zag to
Harper
Remember to check out my website at kbwrestlingreviews.com and head over to my Amazon author page with wrestling books for under $4 at:
http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6
"Video on the Daily Show segment with Jon Stewart from Raw. That might be the best celebrity appearance ever."
ReplyDeleteSounds like someone forgot about Kathie Lee and Hoda...
I always liked Samuel L. Jackson appearing as Shaft. Someone (Crash?) shows up and asks him for protection. Jackson: "Did you ask the APA?"
ReplyDeleteSimple, funny, and put over APA.
"With just a few weeks to go before Wrestlemania, one of the main stories has been the Intercontinental Title scene."
ReplyDeleteIt's such a main story that it was completely cut from the Hulu RAW edit!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IijyFbtqDq8
ReplyDeleteThey were really popular several years ago. Now, they are struggling badly.
ReplyDeleteOr Shatner singing the entrance music.
ReplyDeleteOr Bob Barker meeting Chris Jericho.
Uh, whatever. You're telling me that after months of whining I heard about every Raw ever from people like you, you still prefer it to SmackDown? Or are you just saying that to say I'm wrong, which wouldn't be a first?
ReplyDeleteShaft! Now THERE'S a sweet gimmick that's just waiting for some young indy worker.
ReplyDeleteWell, at least BNB didn't get pinned, so progress. And the Matadors didn't defeat the tag champs in a non-title match with a distraction roll-up finish to set up a title match next week.
ReplyDeleteAnd Cameron, Summer, and Eva having a short segment is better than them having a match, right?
So instead of the DustDust Wrestlemania payoff that they've been teasing for the past couple of years, they're going to waste Stardust on the IC title car wreck. How many more guys are they going to get to fight over the jobber belt?
ReplyDeleteI have zero problem looking at Summer Rae. The other two.....well it depends on how fast I can mute my TV.
ReplyDeletePretty much the rest of the roster that doesn't have a match or isn't in the Battle Royal. Maybe next year they'll combine the two.
ReplyDeleteWho's worse: Cameron or Eva Marie. I know the easy choice is Eva Marie, but we've (unfortunately) seen enough Cameron matches to know just how awful she is.
ReplyDeleteRAW i will watch (at least partially) because it's newsworthy.
ReplyDeleteSmackdown I never watch, because it's so meaningless that the WWE World Heavyweight Champion hasn't been on the show in over a decade.
I'd say Cameron is by far worse. Eva Marie is only there for the sake of looking good and doesn't have a ton of experience. Cameron didn't know how a pin worked. I really don't think that can be topped.
ReplyDeleteGiven half of the midcard is in the Ladder Match, that leaves the Battle Royal as a real jobberfest. Stephanie's friend Andre would no doubt be beaming with pride at the tribute they've created for him.
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying more meaningful. I'm saying more watchable.
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/xXOC6XqeK0A -- Axe Boom-Bah
ReplyDeleteWuh...
ReplyDeleteHow...how did it take this long for me to find this?
Because Bischoff told him too.
ReplyDelete1. Should have always been x-WWF guys only.
ReplyDelete2. Starcade should have been a near squash with Sting going over Hogan, and Bret pulling an Owen's on Sting after.
3. This would set up a few things. A Sting vs Bret feud, the NWO imploding from within, and WCW starting to do that same shit they did to them.
If he hadn't had so many demons, Scott would have a great mind for the business.
ReplyDeleteBefore everything got fucked up, it truly was a magical time to be a fan.
ReplyDeleteI think that's the problem with so many great storylines through the years. They begin so perfectly and end far from it because that get played out for too long.
That's why I will always love the Flair/Funk feud.
In fairness, her and Kurt were done and it's not like Angle was the poster child for fidelity or anything.
ReplyDeleteMine was Kelly. Sadly as the night went on I came to realize Kelly was a guys name in this instance.
ReplyDeleteCameron. Eva Marie is useless, but she is quite pretty. I don't get what they see in Cameron.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't all that much impressive last year. Who, beyond Cesaro, Show, and Sheamus, were even pushed as having a shot of winning? Ryback is no lower on the card than Cesaro was this time last year, Sheamus is rumored to bein it to win it, and hey, KANE is in it. Everyone loves Kane! OK, last one was major sarcasm.
ReplyDeleteI'd say Cameron has the edge on looks, but both in the ring... I say Cameron. Eva Marie can't do basic stuff, and Cameron has had 4 years to learn and still can't do basic stuff like running ropes and going for pins.
ReplyDeleteNo mention of Dominatrix Natalya? Highlight of the show.
ReplyDeleteThis is Ric Flair though. The man that built the house and the man fans were chanting for even when he wasn't there. It wasn't about having the world revolve around him, it was about acknowledging that he was still a key figure.
ReplyDeleteWCW having to turn to the one force that had tortured them for so long for help against the NWO made sense. Then when it was done you could have the horseman back to their old shit. Would have created a whole new feud out of it too.
Something with no meaning has zero watchability to me.
ReplyDeleteI love how she's the old lady of Total Divas, despite being three years younger than Rosa.
ReplyDeleteJust to give an idea of how much title value and competent champions actually matter, if you center the giant clusterfuck match around the U.S. title, it's a far more compelling idea. Mostly because you can actually buy Rusev killing everyone, while Barrett has been booked to trip over his shoelaces over the last few months.
ReplyDeleteTruth continues to be funny?
ReplyDeleteWhen did he start?
And is Bryan in that terrible IC match or will we get a Mania without him?
Truth: It's a conspiracy. C-O-N ....SPIRACY.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'd much prefer shaking his hand to shaking anything else.
ReplyDeleteHow could anyone not be a fan after that.
ReplyDeletegee, maybe the problem never was him for those saying he's boring, but rather the potatoes that run creative at the E.
I saw charisma out the wazoo in that video package. Couple that with a good look and he's a star.
Yeah, what happened there? Did they finally wake up one day and realize he looks like Ron Jeremy but with way less charisma?
ReplyDeleteWhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa??? The Vaudevillians are awesome, well minus the shitty music.
ReplyDeleteI think it was probably all of the above. A lot of guys didn't care for Jarrett, who benefitted greatly from nepotism and didn't have a lot of real talent. Austin was also VERY protective of his spot (given what he'd suffered through for it), and I would imagine that a loser like Jarrett being tied to him could be a big negative.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice that they're putting focus on the IC title, and post-Mania there is an established set of guys who are challengers for the IC title.
ReplyDeleteThat said, as much fun as a clusterfuck IC title ladder match will be, it never really puts anyone over in the same way as a well-structured feud would. I just hope they don't forget about the IC title after Mania and start some proper programs and feuds over the belt.
PS. I'm a mark for Battle Royals
I don't mind Truth when he's being "batshit insane" Truth.
ReplyDeleteI just find the rapping entrance, and everything he does in the ring, to be fairly dull.
Given the names who are in the IC ladder match for WM, I think my earlier prediction that Sheamus will win the Andre Battle Royal is pretty much a sure thing now.
ReplyDeleteSome folk are just born old, though. I'm 33, but I'd say I'm older, personality wise, than some of my friends who are 5 years older than me.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, tho.
I honestly think the person who does the Hulu edit of Raw is on some serious medication.
ReplyDeleteMulva
ReplyDeleteAt least Cesaro was in for a push! And then someone informed vince that he was Swiss and then suddenly he couldn't get over!
ReplyDeleteBryan's in the Elephant Graveyard IC Title Match?
ReplyDeletePeople are being paid good money to come up with this stuff.
I was the emailer, finally decided to make an account after about a million years. I agree about the graphic being false(because of the sponsor) but I distinctly remember looking forward to that match and wondering why it didn't happen. I have most of the 97 Shotguns so I'll have to check the July shows. I'm assuming I saw this on either Superstars or Livewire which I'm sure is near impossible to find as they were only recap shows.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the backup. I'm a Rhode Islander but it's possible I got WPIX still at that time which lends credence to the NY theory.
ReplyDeleteWow thank you for the repsonse. I should have realized I was wrong about what I remember because I read your reviews.(Unbelievable by the way, I feel like I'm 12 again) Also your love of B Shows impresses me. I was a devout Saturday Night watcher until it became Saturday morning for a few weeks(then cancelled)
ReplyDeleteFrom Thehistoryofwwe.com "prior to the bout, still photos were shown of Hennig defeating Ric Flair in their No DQ match the previous night at World War III; it was also noted Flair suffered an ankle injury in the match and would have to take a few weeks off;" I did notice that he wrestled Hennig on the 12/15 Nitro so maybe it was jsut WCW f'ing up the biggest show in their company's history.
ReplyDeleteQuick list:
1) No Flair vs Hennig cage blowoff
2) Obvious Sting stuff (getting pinned to a slow count and whatnot)
3) No Nash vs Giant - replaced by a qucik Scott Hall segment
4) No Raven vs Benoit. Saturn was good but we had seen that matchup a few times already
5) Luger jobs to Bagwell again only to win the next night on Nitro in a squash (acceptable if the main events work out fine)
6) Bischoff vs Zbyszko - Wasn't going to be a masterpiece but I still remember it being awful, especially the phantom kick with the fore...international object flying into the crowd
The one positive I can think of is Savage being a surprise replacement for Konnan (just read the unfortunate reason why Konnan missed the show)
He also jobbed to Hector Garza in Sept 97. I doubt it was a changed finish but it just shows he had no qualms about showing ass.
ReplyDeleteGreat rebook, DDP vs Hall and Benoit vs Hennig. Raven was out anyway (I think a legit injury). Have Flair at ringside and even let them cheat like mofos since cheating against the NWO is still a face move.
ReplyDeleteIf you read between the lines enough, you can connect it to Hennig not cheating well enough for Flair to beat Savage at WM8.
The Answer we were looking for, Bad News Barrett, is Amy Schumer. Thanks for playing, enjoy your year's supply of Rice-A-Roni
ReplyDeleteSo it's official: WWE considers Daniel Bryan to be at the same level as R-Truth and Cody Rhodes.
ReplyDeleteConsidering how dead the crowd was for their match at Fast Lane, their hand might have been forced.
ReplyDeleteI know people feel like it's bringing Bryan down to be in this, but I think that having a guy who was just in serious contention for the Heavyweight go after the IC title is a way to make it look more legit--kinda like they're doing with Cena and the US title.
ReplyDeleteI really hope that they just put Daniel and Dolph in there to make the match better, but knowing WWE.....
ReplyDeleteI'll take it over a match against Bryan at Mania.
ReplyDeleteI'm a battle royal mark as well
ReplyDelete"He's the C O O......that's coo coo!"
ReplyDeleteHe's really has had some bad news.....for himself.
ReplyDeleteWhich is why Cena should have been in it, he can overcome the odds.
ReplyDeleteYou better not watch that Rise and Fall of WWE trailer then.
ReplyDeleteAgreed with your second part, not your first. No way DiBiase would've worked as well as Bischoff. At that point in their careers, Bischoff was the one who had the passion to deliver great promos and generate great heat. Ted was there for a check.
ReplyDeleteThe gimmick didn't die until 1998, after a good year and a half of some pretty damn great Hall and Nash comedy. Mixed with serious stuff.
ReplyDeleteYet another example of how the HHH-led DX ripped off the nWo.
ReplyDeleteThat seems harsh. I think Jarrett had plenty of talent.
ReplyDeleteExactly. Smarks get mad that Cole/JBL/etc. spoon-feed them the storylines, but when something is actually done subtly, people ignore it and complain it isn't spelled out.
ReplyDeleteCan't we all just agree that all of it is shit
ReplyDeleteI am in a world of shit.
ReplyDeleteActually, I think there were some bread crumbs leading to the Bischoff heel turn. In the fake Sting angle, Bischoff was the one who said, "No, Sting, YOU stick it." And in the weeks leading up to the Hogan/Savage match at Havoc, Bischoff was the one showing Savage the latest messages from the nWo. I actually used these as support for my theory that Bischoff was going to turn when I told Bill Apter two weeks before it happened.
ReplyDeleteYes, really.
Bill used to have a side business doing event videos (weddings, bar/bat mitzvah), and his cousins went to my temple. He did my bar mitzvah video, and when I saw him a year and a half later, I made the call.
Actually, I think there were some bread crumbs leading to the Bischoff heel turn. In the fake Sting angle, Bischoff was the one who said, "No, Sting, YOU stick it." And in the weeks leading up to the Hogan/Savage match at Havoc, Bischoff was the one showing Savage the latest messages from the nWo. I actually used these as support for my theory that Bischoff was going to turn when I told Bill Apter two weeks before it happened.
ReplyDeleteYes, really.
Bill used to have a side business doing event videos (weddings, bar/bat mitzvah), and his cousins went to my temple. He did my bar mitzvah video, and when I saw him a year and a half later, I made the call.
Watched this show again tonight.
ReplyDeleteThat might have been the most sexually provocative pinning situations I've seen in a woman's match before.
the commercial may have aired in other nearby markets to sell tickets to the show but when I saw it air during WWF NY it was on NY TV 55 which was a local station unlike that somewhat broader ranged wpix in the area
ReplyDeleteJust confirmed Sid vs Vader. It is on WWF New York from 7/12/97 which was channel 55 like you said. I likely saw it on Livewire, Superstars, or Shotgun which was basically the same as WWF NY. The Autoland sponsor thing is legit. Either they were replaced by Stridex or they were a local secondary sponsor.
ReplyDeleteNice. Good work. Yeah I remember autoland being all over the summerslam 97 magazine/paper insert inside the Daily News the weekend of the show, so they likely were just the local company promotion.
ReplyDeleteThat's OK though. They had Hogan, Nash, and Hall, who could all do a heel promo. That's who people cared about, not Bischoff. They didn't need a mouthpiece. All they needed was a kayfabe reason that the nWo could actually get away with the things they did, get their videos played, win matches with WCW refs, etc. Dibiase as the "money man" gives you that. Crooked refs getting paid off, dudes in the production trucks getting intimidated, etc. Bischoff as the head of the company AND head of the nWo was just too much
ReplyDeleteYeah and the Benoit-Raven match can still happen at Souled Out '98 only for the US title now. DDP gets way more out of beating Hall, then maybe challenging Nash later on, than he gets out of the US title at that point
ReplyDeleteI totally disagree. Bischoff added a much-needed weaselly heel dynamic to the group. While Hall and Nash would sell the shirts, Hogan and Bischoff were getting the heat.
ReplyDeletePlus it was revolutionary in terms of presenting the heel authority figure character.
I agree to an extent. I just think there needed to be a larger "WCW Authority" that prevented Bischoff from having on-screen total control. It hurt the "reality" element they were going for. If you already have the guy who runs the whole show on your team, it gives them too much power. If Eric was just a stooge with booking power, then there would at least be some restraints on his kayfabe authority.
ReplyDelete