Scott,
Smarks tend to have all sorts of retro-booking and woulda/coulda/shoulda ideas for angles after the fact. With the Shield a hot angle right now and coming off the team being booked strong at TLC, what do you think is a good direction to go in? Should they start recruiting new members? Should they be working for someone after all? Win some titles? Allign with Punk/Brock/Heyman? In the Blogosphere, we pan stuff like Aces & Eights after it loses steam and we rebook every angle in the history of the business, but I'd be interested to hear the BoDs thoughts, and yours, on what could be some interesting ideas for moving forward with a hot angle like The Shield. Thanks.
1) Put the tag titles on Rollins & Ambrose RIGHT MEOW. Kane & Bryan was a rare case of pulling the trigger at exactly the right time but they've run their course as champions, and they need to switch the belts to the Shield ASAP and let them do the Freebird thing with them.
Smarks tend to have all sorts of retro-booking and woulda/coulda/shoulda ideas for angles after the fact. With the Shield a hot angle right now and coming off the team being booked strong at TLC, what do you think is a good direction to go in? Should they start recruiting new members? Should they be working for someone after all? Win some titles? Allign with Punk/Brock/Heyman? In the Blogosphere, we pan stuff like Aces & Eights after it loses steam and we rebook every angle in the history of the business, but I'd be interested to hear the BoDs thoughts, and yours, on what could be some interesting ideas for moving forward with a hot angle like The Shield. Thanks.
2) I would have them fuck over the Rock's title match (because of the injustice of Rock getting an unearned title shot) and seemingly reveal their allegiance to CM Punk, but that's just me. Just by interacting with Rock they'd immediately jump another 15 notches up the ladder. Then you do Shield v. Rock & Cena for the tag titles at Elimination Chamber and that's where THE MEGAPOWERS EXPLODE to set up the Wrestlemania rematch. Honestly, I'm liking the Punk's title reign v. Undertaker's streak idea at Wrestlemania more and more and I think they should just go with that instead of giving it to Rock. I know Rock really wants one last run with the belt, but he doesn't need it and GOD KNOWS Cena doesn't need it and their match certainly won't need it. For the Punk-Taker match, I think I'd have the Shield turn on Punk because of the injustice of Lawler's heart attack, which would then end his epic title reign at 500 some days. If Ziggler still has the briefcase by then he could even cash it in at Wrestlemania to get it off Undertaker (shut up, nerds, I don't care about the technicalities involved with the briefcase, they can have Vince wave his magic wand and make it for the WWE title too) Then Punk can be the babyface chasing the belt again and keep the Shield guys in the main event mix by feuding with him.
This all works for me, I'm buying. Although I did have the notion today that if the Rock wins the spinner belt at the Rumble, he junks it for the long rumored new design because he doesn't want John Cena's trash wrapped around the People's Waist.
ReplyDeleteIf Ziggles cashes in and beats Undertaker at WrestleMania... he ends the streak, no? Pretty sure if they're going to do that, it shouldn't be in a hot-shot environment like that.
ReplyDeleteJohn Cena should be revealed as the leader of the Shield. He acted as if The Rock beating him at WrestleMania 28 would be an injustice, and he surely would think Rock as WWE Champion would be the same. John Cena being revealed as the leader of the Shield and using them to finally conquer the Rock and win back the WWE Championship would be an extremely memorable a WrestleMania ending.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have them working for anyone; have them be their own entity. When has that *ever* worked, really? The biggest groups (4 Horsemen, nWo, and DX) weren't working for anyone but themselves. That just immediately knocks them down a notch from a group not to be messed with to regular ol' lackeys. If you want to keep them associated with Punk, they can just say they respect his philosophy on wrestling/life/whatever so they end up on the same side of justice a lot of the time.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of them costing the Rock the belt due to the injustice of an undeserved shot as well as them winning the tag titles and using the Freebird rule. And it makes sense with a lot of their early encounters being with Kane and Bryan.
You are technically correct, the best kind of correct. So let's instead say that Undertaker comes out the next night on RAW selling the injuries from Wrestlemania, and THEN Ziggler cashes in on him.
ReplyDeleteDid working with the Rock at Survivor Series help the Miz and R-truth at all?
ReplyDeleteAfter putting the belts on Rollins & Ambrose, they change their name to 'Team RAMROD' and pop Viagra before they wrestle.
ReplyDeleteI dunno...if I were booking, I'd start having Rollins wrestle Bryan and have a fued start that way. Rollins broke out in ROH when he wrestled Danielson in an awesome match in Dayton, so why not see if some of that magic can rub off again? Then I'd have Ambrose & Rollins win the tag belts at Royal Rumble and give Reigns the Diesel push in the Rumble itself and have it lead to Reigns winning the Smackdown world title from Sheamus or Big Show or whoever and then do a triple threat thing where they constantly talk trash about being the best and having all the gold.
ReplyDeleteI fully believe it's time for the WWE to go all in on some young guys. Love Cena or hate him, he's getting too beat up to keep being the guy forever and the Smackdown title is the perfect way to build new stars to rebuild the show around. A core of Punk, Bryan, Ambrose, Rollins, Reigns, and Ceasaro might be the way to go.
Can't help shit smell like roses.
ReplyDeleteMan, if they do title vs streak, I might have an aneurysm. I know in my head, that Taker would win that match 100% but that won't stop me from marking out like crazy when Punk hits him with a G2S. The nearfalls in that match will kill me.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely to all of it except Ziggler winning the belt with the briefcase...unless they write something really good into the story like Ziggler needs to beat Wrestler X at Elimination chamber to "convert" the briefcase to being for either title. I want to see some continuity on the briefcase being for the World title unless there is a good reason to make it more than that.
ReplyDeleteIf Punk beats Rock to keep the belt, I'd say that makes him the first real viable threat to end the streak since Batista. And I think if they sacrifice the Rock to Punk, they'd sacrifice the streak to him as well.
ReplyDeleteAnd THEN whoever beats Punk for that belt, that guy becomes a really, really big deal.
Super Troopers references are awesome.
ReplyDeleteHoly shit, this is brilliant booking. I agree with every word of it.
ReplyDeleteWhich is what CM Punk's character should have done and in fact said he was going to do "that belt has been way too ugly for way too long" (pop).
ReplyDeleteRock/Cena may not need the title, but the title needs Rock/Cena. Belts don't get wrestlers over, wrestlers get belts over.
ReplyDeleteMight as well make it Ziggler that beats Punk for the title. If they want to make Ziggler, that's how they do it. Sure, he was one of the many guys that Punk has beaten thus far in this title reign, but damnit, that would do wonders for him.
ReplyDeleteThat match wasn't about helping Miz and Truth, it was about building to Rock/Cena.
ReplyDeleteYou don't think that Punk's epic title reign, where they now track it by the day on every show, is doing anything for the belt's prestige?
ReplyDeleteI've said it before and I'll say it again, when I win the big powerball and start a professional wrestling company, the first guy I'm hiring to run creative is Scottie. I approve of all your choices.
ReplyDeleteJesse Baker.
ReplyDeleteAfter the reaction Cena's been getting in Philadelphia and Brooklyn, WWE has to now realize that having him beat the Rock for the WWE Title at Wrestlemania (and let's be honest, that arena is going to be FILLED with people from Philly and New York) is going end badly. Like "trash raining down on your supposed top babyface while being booed out of the building" kind of badly.
ReplyDeleteNo amount of smirking by Cena is going to make that any less embarrassing.
lol! Can you imagine Jesse Baker co-writing shows with Vince Russo? The universe would implode.
ReplyDelete>Then you do Shield v. Rock & Cena for the tag titles at Elimination Chamber and that's where THE MEGAPOWERS EXPLODE to set up the Wrestlemania rematch.
ReplyDeleteSo why would you team up Cena and Rock again? This isn't the Megaplowers explode, because the Megapowers exploded last year. They hate each other, and fans didn't like them teaming up at Survivor Series, and I don't see why thye would like this.
> For the Punk-Taker match, I think I'd have the Shield turn on Punk because of the injustice of Lawler's heart attack, which would then end his epic title reign at 500 some days.
So Undertaker, who is 19-0 at Wrestlemania, needs Shield's help to beat CM Punk?
Also what injustice of Lawler's heart attack? The Shield sent Tommy Dreamer to the hospital and sent Sin Cara into knee surgery and suddenly they care about King's heart?
>If Ziggler still has the briefcase by then he could even cash it in at Wrestlemania to get it off Undertaker (shut up, nerds, I don't care about the technicalities involved with the briefcase, they can have Vince wave his magic wand and make it for the WWE title too)
That's a pretty big plothole though. Plus, you're ending Taker's streak via MITB cash-in.
>Then Punk can be the babyface chasing the belt again and keep the Shield guys in the main event mix by feuding with him.
So we're turning Punk back to babyface? Another turn?
Not until a Punk title defense is the main event on a PPV Cena wrestles on.
ReplyDeleteThe Royal Rumble then?
ReplyDeleteSure. But a big problem with WWE is that they like to reinforce the idea that the current stars can't hold a candle to the previous generation. Taker losing the title to a Ziggler cash-in would reinforce that. Cena beating Rock for the title straight-up would put over the current product.
ReplyDeleteAnybody notice their theme song sounds kind of like The Sandman's WWE theme song? And they descend from the audience! I'm with whoever said they should be linked to Heyman's Personal Security guys. No, but seriously...
ReplyDeleteBreak them up, make sure nobody can tell the face/heel alignment, and put them in a Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania. THEY'LL MAKE MILLIONS!!!
Except Cena is part of the problem, not the solution.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather have The Shield turn out to be in league with the Rock; would be a better holy shit moment AND would do wonders to get the group over if Rock anoints them "the next big thing".
ReplyDeletePlus it would add a nice level of mind games for Rock versus Punk (turned face when the Shield attack him) to have Rock try and frame him as being the mastermind behind The Shield and set up Punk beating Rock at Royal Rumble as well as setting up Punk vs Undertaker (Undertaker is in league with the Rock and after Punk beats the Rock, Undertaker comes out to help his buddy out while Cena goes after Rock again, in a desperate bid to beat Rock....
As someone going to Mania, I reeeeally hope they change their minds about Rock-Cena 2 and Brock-HHH 2, as both matches bore me to death and thanks to WWE's even-steven booking we know who's gonna win. And yes, Cena-Rock was the biggest match ever, but I'd bet anything that the buyrate on the rematch doesn't do nearly as well. It's not like this has been some amazing storyline that everyone is dying to see the next chapter of— it was a well-built novelty, and in a rematch all of that novelty is gone. (Also, the guy that everyone expects to win is the guy that the majority of the audience dislikes.)
ReplyDeleteThe reason I say all that is because I'd love to see the Mania card get blown up so that The Shield winds up in a main event level match. Is it completely insane to suggest Ambrose getting a match with Rock (Shield costs Rock the match at the Rumble) or Undertaker (Shield destroys Kane) at Mania? So, some fantasy booking:
- Shield beats Hell-No for the tag titles. Destroys Kane.
- Shield costs Rock the Rumble match.
- Ryback wins Rumble
- Show goes into Mania as WHC
- Ziggler and Cena feud stretches to Mania, after Cena beats Big E.
- Sheamus attempts to get his mojo back by challenging Brock.
Mania card:
- WWE Title vs Streak: Undertaker vs Punk
- WHC: Big Show vs Ryback
- Tag titles: Shield vs Rock & Bryan
- Cena vs Ziggler
- Sheamus vs Lesnar
- US Title: Cesaro vs Jericho
- IC: Kofi vs Miz vs Del Rio vs Barrett
- Masks vs Facial Hair: Rey/Cara vs Rhodes Scholars
Have Rock & Bryan go over— could always do an injury angle on Rock the next night to vacate the belts. And goddamn it, end the Streak already and solidify Punk's reign as the greatest we'll ever see, thereby making the guy who beats him into a megastar. Otherwise, the above card would set Bryan, Punk, Ryback, Sheamus, Ziggler, Cesaro, Rhodes Scholars and Kofi up as legitimate top guys, who could carry the company day in and day out.
The Shield are going to be in a boring 6 man match against Miz, Orton, and ADR. I'd bet money on it.
ReplyDeleteExcept like I stated before, with the reaction Cena got in Philly and Brooklyn, no one wants to see Cena beat the Rock.
ReplyDeleteSo why would you team up Cena and Rock again? This isn't the Megaplowers explode, because the Megapowers exploded last year. They hate each other, and fans didn't like them teaming up at Survivor Series, and I don't see why thye would like this.
ReplyDeleteBecause Cena's all "Derp derp I don't like you but I respect you Rock let's put the past behind us hustle loyalty respect" and then Rock turns on him because they think somehow some way they can make New York cheer John Cena.
Also what injustice of Lawler's heart attack?
Punk and Heyman mocking it with the fake heart attack.
So we're turning Punk back to babyface? Another turn?
People want to cheer for the guy anyway.
I mean, if I had to bet on it you're probably correct. It's just that they've handled them so well up to this point that if they just stuck the rocket up their ass they could be seen as a legit threat for Rock at Mania, and then even with a loss they'd be MADE. To me it's just insane that Lesnar and Rock are going to be fed to HHH and Cena, rather than used to put over new stars. AND Punk will probably be fed to Taker. It puts the roster in a horrible position to draw post-Mania, all just to pop a buy-rate that probably will drop off significantly from last year's anyway. A card similar to the one above (new star vs established star in every match) would still draw a million buys, and raise the star-power of the existing roster.
ReplyDeleteBut you're right, Ambrose needs to eat an RKO to teach him about THIS BUSINESS.
I just don't understand their thinking regarding Cena closing the show with a babyface win over Rock. It makes no business sense. Cena has hit his ceiling as the babyface ace of the company, and beating Rock isn't going to draw a single new fan to the product. If anything it's just going to turn off fans who are bored to tears with the idea of another Cena babyface title run.
ReplyDeleteCena as the unbeatable babyface champ from Mania 21 til 26 was the right decision, no matter how much we "smarks" hated watching it. (In fact, I'd say they didn't go far enough in that period. Why the hell did HHH win the WWE belt from Orton around Mania 24 and have that long reign? Cena should have won the belt at Mania 24 and held onto it for another year.) But today is different. Cena doesn't have an upside. As a face, he's not leading to another upswing, just viewer attrition. Scoring that first clean win over Rock is a HUGE tool they have in building a big-time baby-face star, and the idea that they're gonna waste it on 2013 John Cena is insane to me.
Masks vs facial hair!! I can see Rhodes crying over his moustache already while sandow has his entire beard shaved off ala homer joining the navy haha
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I'd change is make it Shield vs. Bryan, Kane, and Rock. That way Rock's team can still go over without A) taking the belts off Shield and B) all three Shield members get in the match.
ReplyDeleteSo are you suggesting a Rock heel turn on Cena? Because you think that's what they'd do, or because that's what you think they SHOULD do?
ReplyDeleteI also don't see the logic of Taker winning via Shield interference. Taker shouldn't be winning any streak matches via interference, plus that's a pretty weak way to turn Punk face. (Him getting outsmarted by other heels, rather than him making the decision to go face.)
Obviously I respect your wrestling opinions and all, but I'm not feeling any of these ideas personally.
They should turn Rock heel. Hollywood Rock is one of the top 5 characters ever. But they won't because he has movies to promote.
ReplyDeleteRock as a heel is gold, Jerry, gold.
ReplyDeleteAnd why shouldn't Undertaker win by interference? He does one match a year, who gives a shit if he's kept strong or whatever at this point?
Go fig, I can see this making some sort of sense. It gives a new direction to Cena's false sense of piety, gives the group a Flair-like leadership figure while allowing the rest to develop (and really hammering home Reigns as the Batista of the team) and you have quite a few story options to pursue from there.
ReplyDeletePlus, if you want to really look for an obscure tie-in, you can reference the fact that Rollins put over Cena's leadership as far back as the build for WM, in that segment where Cena went to developmental to further his own training.
Oh I agree that heel Rock is amazing, but I just think he may be at the level of uber popularity in which turning him heel would be impossible. Especially on such a limited schedule, when everyone is gonna freak out in joy over his every appearance. All that aside, I can't see how he gets heel heat against John Cena, against whom a reincarnated Hitler would have a hard time getting a heel reaction against. (At least in MSG and Chicago.) Now Rock heeling it up against a universally beloved underdog like Daniel Bryan, that would be money.
ReplyDeleteAs for Taker, to be it's not about keeping Taker strong at all. Hell, I'd put heel Punk over him clean this year. (Then milk Mania 30 in Texas as Taker's retirement match for one last big draw.) But at this point I feel like the Streak itself, if not Taker, deserves clean finishes. As we've all said a million times, the Streak is more important than any title at this point. Having it decided in a TNA-style SWERVE fuck-finish would just be so beneath the gimmick, and would cheapen it for the following year.
True, I was just thinking that by keeping it a strictly Rock/Bryan team, it allows the marketing to put a brighter spotllght on Rock, who's obviously the big draw in all this. He might seem less important if he's part of a six-man tag, rather than a tag title match. Plus the 3 on 2 disadvantage puts more heat on The Shield. Could always have Reigns interfere (assuming the team is Rollins/Ambrose), only to be thwarted by Kane returning from injury. And like I said, the next night SHield injures Rock, causing them to vacate the titles.
ReplyDeleteObviously none of this will ever happen, but man I think it'd be awesome. Shield and D-Bry would be made men after being in a Wrestlemania semi-main event with Rock.
Every week that Heyman calls Punk "My Champion," I want it to lead to Lesnar-Punk at WM even more, with Heyman's allegiance in question leading up to the match.
ReplyDeleteFantasy booking alert: I imagine Heyman screwing Lesnar at WM in that match and it leading to Brock being a babyface against some unstoppable evil (The Shield?) on his next one-year contract worth however many millions they give to him.
I can't think of a WM match involving Lesnar I want less than vs. HHH and I can't think of one I want more than vs. Punk.
I think Ziggler cashing in on Taker at WrestleMania would be a pretty sucky way to end the streak.
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of doing Rock/Cena vs. The Shield at Elimination Chamber.
I still think they could do the Shield vs. 3 WWE guys inside Elimination Chamber but do it 3 on 3 style. Then it's basically wargames inside one ring.
Yeah I like Ziggler cashing in the next night a lot better. If they are gonna have him cash in and "end" the streak at Mania, might as well let him really do it. If not the next night works great. You can even wait a week and hype that Punk's cashing in his rematch clause. On Raw you have Taker vs. Punk. Close match with Punk taking Taker to the limit but Taker wins. Dolph cashes in. Punk turns face and can say I deserve a match with Dolph since I weakened Taker up enough for you to cash in you son of a bitch.
ReplyDeleteOr something like that.
Saying the Horsemen weren't working for anyone but themselves seems weird, even if I get what you're saying.
ReplyDeleteI think they might cancel each other out.
ReplyDeleteI don't know. I don't really like the notion of the Shield "working for somebody" As someone else said it just makes them seem like peons. Like they were doing someone else's bidding. Surely they can add a new member, but being ran by someone reduces them to henchmen. And then they become expendable in order to protect their leader from the face that is pursuing him.
ReplyDeleteSee, I figured that Triple H would have taken a sledgehammer to the thing in 2006. Of course, I also fully expected Triple H to beat Cena for the belt in 2006. But yeah, Punk definitely should have junked it by now.
ReplyDeleteWell, you could still have 'Taker win clean and just modify it to the Shield refusing to help Punk and beating him down after the match instead for a similar result.
ReplyDeleteI've been very iffy about ending the streak if only because it's a huge draw for WWE and you never know when Taker is gonna hang it up. Plus if the streak ends odds are Taker retires and I don't wanna see the big guy go. But Punk is one guy who I'd like to see end the streak if anyone does. And it's feasible that he could do it. Very few people have been able to beat Cena in a one on one match. Punk did it, and in subsequent rematches Cena hasn't been able to beat him. The huge long title reign. Facing the Rock. I say if Punk beats Rock we'll see Punk vs. Taker for the title.
ReplyDeleteYou're listing a myriad of why WWE is in trouble with very few new stars. Honestly with falling ratings if I were Vince I'd feed Taker to Punk.
ReplyDeleteI'd feed Brock to someone. Hell Daniel Bryan. Play up his submission skills and point out how that's Brock's biggest weakness.
I'd feed Rock to someone ANYONE else. Have Ziggler beat him. They need new guys to get over. They need to expose new talent and the best way to do that is on the biggest show of the year where nearly a million people will pay to watch these matches.
Now that I say it, Daniel Bryan vs. Brock Lesnar sounds like an AWESOME match for WrestleMania.
Paul Heyman, Vince Russo, Jim Cornette. Bigger fail than the XFL and twice as entertaining. I'll grab the popcorn.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you think. Especially a Lesnar/Bryan match. Given what he was able to do with Sheamus, I'd love to see him work with Brock.
ReplyDeleteAwesome Truth was an amazing tag team that died before it's time. I will not let their name be scorned on this blog!
ReplyDeleteExactly. Oh man that would be awesome.
ReplyDeleteThat might be the way Triple H finally resurrects it.
ReplyDeleteDude...they wouldn't even get a single show written. But it'd be awesome! haha
ReplyDeletePlus it would technically make UT not undefeated at WM. Have a match the next night on Raw and Punk helps someone screw Taker or have him vacate the belt or something. There are so many better ways out of that.
ReplyDeleteTaker could easily just come out on Raw and say "This wasn't about the belt..." and vacate it. No need for silly interference-laden hot-shotting.
ReplyDeleteEven though I'm scared about the card myself, I'm just excited to even be going,even if it's reduced to crapping on the whole show in NYC fashion. Anything that isn't Rock/Cena for the title, I'm with it.
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense. It was on the Smackdown games for a while. It's wargames just in one ring and with a higher roof.
ReplyDeleteShit I doubt they'd last five minutes. Just put a camera in the booking room and film that. Make an IPPV of the war that goes on backstage.
ReplyDeleteAlso, The Shield havent attacked Cena yet. All of their actions would work as just stopping Punk losing the belt to anyone other than Cena or Rock ( If thats the way to go)
ReplyDeleteI do agree they shouldnt just be henchman. I also like the way they haven't had any follow up matches after TLC yet, keeps them special
You lost me at "Right Meow"
ReplyDeleteI can see The Shield interfering (already called it) at the Rumble, but I think the Rock will be the first to successfully fight them off on his own while still beating Punk for the belt. (Besides, I would think beating the top star Cena was more than enough to warrant him a shot at the WWE Title.) I think the build to Cena/Rock II will be because Cena wins the Rumble. At least it gives a nice logic to them having a rematch even though their first was called "Once In A Lifetime." Because they did originally intend to only fight for one time and one time only (angle wise), which is why neither Rock nor Cena (unless my memory is bad) said anything about fighting again in the future the night after WM28. But then Cena wins the Rumble, and since Rock just happens to have the WWE Title, Cena chooses him to fight since he sees this as a chance to get a victory over the Rock just to prove he can. and also win the WWE Title in the process. This is a better logic for their rematch instead of just randomly coming out and saying they want to fight again (once in a lifetime rematch?) Plus, Rock having the belt again will be cool to see, and it guarantees the main event of the event will be for the WWE Title, which is always a good thing.
ReplyDeleteAs for The Shield, I honestly don't see them doing Brock/HHH II (yawn) and I think if HHH wrestles at all (I have a feeling he won't this year, he might decide this is the year he should sit back and let others have his spotlight), he'll be involved with The Shield. He comes otu and says The Shield are no different than any other group that has wanted to cause havoc just for the sake of it, they just hide it behind their excuse of "justice." This may or may not earn him a beat down, but either way, a challenge is made from either side, and Triple H says he's gonna gather the two best partners he can to fight The Shield. My predictions for that is Orton and Sheamus, most likely.
Last but not least, I'm fine with Undertaker/Punk in a Respect vs Streak match, without the title on the line.
He won't turn heel because he can't. His heel turn in 2003 was awesome (great Heyman booking idea to make the Rock heel with his Hollywood persona) but even it didn't last long because fans still wanted to cheer The Rock. He's so much of a legend now that he couldn't possibly turn heel, and I doubt anyone would ever buy him turning on the fans and insulting them.
ReplyDeleteWhat was that meow?
ReplyDeleteThat's revisionist history. He was a great heel and was booed all the way up until he left after jobbing to Goldberg.
ReplyDeleteYes, and that lasted just over two months. There's certainly no way he could turn heel now.
ReplyDeleteI suggested that a while back... it got over about as well as Tensai
ReplyDeleteExcept they did attack Cena on the go home show for TLC
ReplyDeleteBelt? You mean CHAMPIONSHIP!
ReplyDeleteAnd he is only going to be back in the WWE for 2 months. Rock could make his own mother boo him.
ReplyDeleteTwo things will work against him being a heel this time:
ReplyDelete1) Back in 2003, he was still a wrestler who was in movies. Today he's a
full-fledged actor. He's no longer The Rock as we knew him.
2) There's no great face for him to work against. Fans hafta choose between him and Cena, they're gonna choose Rock. Now when he goes against Punk, I could see fans taking Punk's side. But Punk will also be in full heel mode. I think a face Punk would cause Rock to be a heel but we won't see that.
^this guy gets it
ReplyDeleteSo the guy who ends CM Punk's 8000 day reign as champion simply vacates the belt the next night?
ReplyDeleteThe value of "The Streak" as a draw was that it creates big stakes for next year's Wrestlemania. With his career coming to an end, the only real value is in someone else ending it and getting the huge rub from it. Having him retire unbeaten at Wrestlemania does nothing for THIS BUSINESS or anyone else who could benefit from it.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of Bryan vs. Lesnar, even if it's after WM (assuming Brock extends with WWE). That could be a really cool david vs. goliath match
ReplyDeleteThat could work for sure. Punk gets so furious and crazy after his long reign ending that he demands to end the one thing no one else has, rather than chasing his belt.
ReplyDeleteI like it. It makes a lot of sense too.
ReplyDeleteThey already did that for Survivor Series. The audience showed that they didn't buy it then, and they won't buy it now.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Rock turned on him the last time they teamed, in New York!
So the heel Shield, who sent Tommy Dreamer to the hospital, crippled Sin Cara and Rey Mysterio and went after Ric Flair, but they draw the line at faking a heart attack? Why wouldn't they just attack Punk then?
But you're getting into Lex Luger syndrome with Punk. He was a heel from 2009-2011, turned face in summer 2011, turned heel in summer 2012, and you have him going back to face. He needs to be heel for a while.
Why force a heel turn just so a minority of people who would want to see him heel again can mark out over it? The huge reactions that he gets, the fans clearly don't WANT to boo him. Neither do I. I loved his Hollywood persona, but I wouldn't want to see it today.
ReplyDeleteHeel Rock rules, but it's just going to make him a bigger face.
ReplyDeleteBecause he's The Undertaker and the whole point of the streak that he survives everything on his own. He doesn't win because of luck, he wins because he's the Undertaker. Taker only winning because of Shield interference, dilutes everything.
I do like the idea of Punk v. Taker, and they can play up Punk jobbing to him in 09
Are we sure this isn't Jesse Baker posting as Scott Keith? Because this makes NO SENSE AT ALL. Undertaker v Brock Lesnar has been a done deal for two years now, they're not switching it up to put Punk in that match instead. And The Shield v Rock / Cena? WTF? WWE is not going to do a Megapowers redux in the weeks between the Rumble and the Chamber.
ReplyDeleteThe Shield will likely cause Rock to lose his match at Royal Rumble, but the ultimate payoff will be him beating Punk for it in their triple threat match with Cena at WrestleMania.
Punk v Taker would I think be potentially a classic. But not at the expense of Taker v Sid II, which I think we all would like to say. They missed out on the 15 year anniversary this year but I think it's clear that that's where they're going.
ReplyDeleteSee not say. DAMN YOU Disqus and your non editable text field bugs!
ReplyDeleteYou're nuts if you think Vince is gonna mix in Punk with Cena and Rock at Mania.
ReplyDelete"This may or may not earn him a beat down, but either way, a challenge is
ReplyDeletemade from either side, and Triple H says he's gonna gather the two best
partners he can to fight The Shield. My predictions for that is Orton
and Sheamus, most likely."
New Evolution? Ric Flair in the corner?
Yeah, those last two reigns by Triple H were head scratchers to say the least. In the first reign, you have Jeff Hardy chasing Triple H, then Vladimir Koslov gets involved, then Edge returns, and Hardy ends up beating Edge for the title and not Triple H.
ReplyDeleteThen Triple H wins the title back from Edge, has an awful feud with Orton, then loses the title to Orton at Backlash.
Lesnar-Cena II?
ReplyDeleteDid we actually think his appearance this summer was a coincidence? HA. Sid-Taker II, baby. Taker's gonna crap his pants THIS time.
ReplyDeleteI hate you for posting that Shield vs. HHH/Orton/Sheamus match. Now, I want it to happen... and when it doesn't... oy. I hate, hate, hate you.
ReplyDeleteWas there any reason for Dolph to put up MITB last weekend? He should've gotten some reward beyond the pay window for beating Cena in a ladder match where Cena has added incentive. You'd think "expanding the powers of the briefcase" would make a nice prize for the Zigglerman, and something that can be revealed later if necessary as the fine print.
ReplyDeleteWhen Scott does fantasy booking I end up wishing I were watching what he was booking. Why has he never been hired as a booker?
ReplyDeleteThis guy gets it! Maybe they'll bring back the Kiss My Ass stipulation. Sid has a totally different WM streak to live up to.
ReplyDeleteVince has been HUGE on swerving the smarks lately, like the last 3 years, but....Let's look at what the WWE intends to do with Maina this year (IMO, this is what we all can agree is likely going to happen):
ReplyDeleteZiggler vs. Sheamus for the World title: Is anybody psyched for that match? Nothing new outside of Zigg's bumping
Lesnar vs HHH- Hunter gets his win back and revenge for his haircut.
Punk drops the title to Rock at Rumble: Why? Because Rock wants another title run and it leads to...
Cena vs. Rock 2: The Rock does the job, gives the "passing the torch handshake a la Hogan" and Cena gets another title run.
If we agree that's what will likely happen then where does that leave Punk? Or Taker? That leaves you with a Punk/Taker match with no heat and without a reason to care. Combine that card with a anti-Cena crowd and guess what...the audiance craps all over it. Nothing about that garbage card is going to push the rating back above a 3.0 and it doesn't redeem Cena to the anti-Cena fans. Sorry.
Now that I said all that...The WWE has rejuvenated my faith in it within the past month. The Shield can factor into any of those matches, which is awesome. Ziggler's association with A.J. and Langston makes a World Title match interesting. And here's my big hope: Vince is aware that a Cena title win over The Rocks is going to die a slow death in Giants Stadium that night so...leave the title on Punk at the Rumble. Have him take on Taker, Steak vs. Title run and then do a switch with Leanar, HHH, The Rock and Cena. Maybe a tag match or switch opponents.
ReplyDeleteYou said at least in MSG and Chicago..don't forget Philly, Boston and Miami...He gets booed in all the major cities. Yup, he's a babyface (sarcasm).
ReplyDeleteMan, I totally agree with you. Cena as the sponsor of The Shield would be electric hot. It would be a total blindside (in a good way) and it finally would give us that Cena heel-turn we've been waiting years for. It worked for Hogan, right? I mean I know it won't happen with all the merchandise sales and Make-A Wish stuff Cena has going on...However, I don't remember terminally ill children dying prematurely in '97 when there was no more Hulkamania. They just put on nWo t-shirts. I know that's insensitive but true.
ReplyDelete