Update on Last Night's RAW Changes
According to Dave Meltzer, He got a text from a source stating that the writers were called in at 3:09pm to re-write the show. Bryan Alvarez also reported that a source told him that the original script did not include the opening promo by Daniel Bryan.
Credit Dave Meltzer & Bryan Alvarez, Wrestling Observer Radio
Sting Update
As of right now, the WWE is negotiating with Sting. According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com, they are discussing how he will be used, the schedule he will work, and what he is willing to do. He states that the WWE would like for him to make a decision about the offer in the next few weeks. Johnson also reports that there have been no discussions about Sting wrestling the Undertaker this year and there is a feeling among those in the WWE that Sting is the face of WCW and he can be used to help sell the network. Johnson reiterated the fact that Sting to the WWE is not set in stone.
Credit Mike Johnson, PWInsider.com
WWE Offers Contract to International Star?
The WWE has apparently offered a contract to Prince Devitt. However, it has been reported that the WWE wants him to make a decision soon about the deal. Devitt is mulling over the offer, which would have him move from Ireland to the United States if he accepted the offer.
Credit Mike Johnson, PWInsider.com
Japanese Star at the Performance Center
KENTA has been at the Performance Center this week, reportedly for a tryout. Mike Johnson brought up the fact that the WWE still might be looking to add a cruiserweight-themed show to the WWE Network.
Credit Mike Johnson, PWInsider.com
Well, the 1st part is a good sign that WWE is willing to change plans if needed.
ReplyDeleteI think I would be pretty alright if KENTA and Devitt both made it to WWE
ReplyDeleteExposing the WWE audience to a Bryan-KENTA rematch would blow minds to the point that it could change the company.
ReplyDeleteKENTA and Devitt only if they don't watered them down.
ReplyDeleteSting being brought in as a host of sorts, eh.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, you would think they'd have already done that before the Rumble.
ReplyDeleteIn WWE, they probably will at first.
ReplyDeleteI still want a Sting/Taker interaction.
ReplyDeleteI'm okay to cut a few suicidal moves,but let them be themselves,Prince is awesome now as a heel.
ReplyDeleteMeh, Sting hasn't played the creepy Crow character in 16 years, and there's no reason for him to go back to the gimmick now. I think this is one of those things that sound cool in theory but would suck in practice.
ReplyDeleteWe need KENTA vs Punk.
ReplyDeleteFirst they need to get the hang of treating foreign wrestlers with respect and don't get them stuck in stereotypical caricatures. I guess they are doing it slightly better (like sheamus I guess) but the real test is a japanese wrestler, I understand the challenges in marketing someone like that in the WWE, but I'd like somone in the WWE to at least try.
ReplyDeleteIf we could go back to 1998 and do it, awesome. The Sting I saw wrestling in a middle school gym vs. Undertaker just won't be good or even interesting.
ReplyDeleteTHREADJACK!~
ReplyDeleteWhat's your favorite Daniel Bryan anagram?
Bryan Denial
Drab Inanely
Bland I Yearn
Bri Anal Deny
They aren't changing plans unless they absolutely need to, hence the their problem. They are reactive not proactive. I have no doubt that they want Daniel Bryan to be one of the guys, but it's kind of stupid that it takes a reaction as extreme as Sundays to be forced into damage control.
ReplyDeleteValid question: What would KENTA use as his finisher in WWE?
ReplyDeleteRight, neither Sting nor Taker could carry the other to a good match. Maybe a quick interaction with them both in the ring fighting off The Shield or some such together would be good for a cool visual, but that's about it.
ReplyDeleteHope they both sign, would love to see them live at NXT events!
ReplyDelete1998 Taker sucked.
ReplyDeleteWell it's good enough for me anyway.
ReplyDelete*Cue Generic Orient Express music!!*
ReplyDeleteI would love to see some of these Raw scripts before the rewrites. Last night had some good stuff, but also a ton of crap. Curious to see what was left in and what was changed.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me worry that they just hot-shotted it as an attempt to placate the crowd so they can have Bryan lose in the EC and wrestle some midcard match at Mania.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Tensai? He doesn't fit the typical Japanese wrestler stereotype.
ReplyDeleteThe Community fan in me absolutely loves that somebody got this sign on RAW: http://i.imgur.com/XyGlti6.jpg
ReplyDeleteCool. Cool cool cool.
I feel Sting/Taker in 2014 appeals to 2 groups of people 1) comic book fans who want a wrestling angle to mirror some pseudo goth type comic book story 2) people who need to fulfill some fantasy booking void from 1997.
ReplyDeleteProbably the cloverleaf, or maybe the fisherman buster if it's allowed.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, to be fair, the fact that a) They went the whole nine yards and crafted it into a coherent storyline that re-started the Bryan vs. The Authority feud and b) Bryan was allowed to clearly get the better of Triple H on the mic does at least make me think they've worked out a legit plan for it. Seems odd that even they would waste that on a one off kind of deal.
ReplyDeleteThis is WWE.
ReplyDeleteHe would use a bodyslam. Give it a nifty name like Japanese Crush Bomb to disguise the fact that it used to be a transition move.
If Sting has to have a WWE match you have to put him with someone who can carry him, Punk, Bryan, Cesaro, Rollins, Cena
ReplyDelete1000 up votes!
ReplyDeleteI like KENTA and Devitt, but man, KENTA especially worries me, unless they do make a cruiserweight show to just have them do awesome shit. Any idea what NOAH is paying now?
ReplyDeleteOr NJPW, Devitt was getting pretty high in the pecking order, I'd be kind of amazed if the year+ in developmental that basically everyone ends up getting makes it worthwhile for a guy like him to go through, unless my guesses at their payscale are just way off.
I really wonder how well-received a match like that would be. Someday down the line when (too hopeful?) Bryan has the belt, have KENTA debut and go 30 minutes with Bryan on RAW to see what the reaction is.
ReplyDeleteIt's possible, but geeze, somebody's glass sure is half empty. :)
ReplyDeleteDoes this mean that Dolph is going to put a crazy blue streak in his hair?
ReplyDeleteAs a comic book fan, I have no interest in the 2014 versions of Sting and Taker wrestling. Just sayin'...
ReplyDeleteIt could also literally blow minds. Bryan would be lucky to get away with just a torn retina.
ReplyDeleteIt just feels like I've been burned too many times recently thinking they were about to pull the trigger. First at HIAC then after he turned on the Wyatts in the cage. I do think eventually management is going to realize what they have, and that the fans just aren't going to accept anything else at this point, but I'm just...not sure. It's still Triple H.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the guy holding the sign was also wearing a fake goatee...
ReplyDeleteKENTA spent most of the last year as GHC heavyweight champion. He doesn't have to be shunted off into a cruiserwieght division. He's not much smaller than Punk or Bryan or Shawn or Jeff Hardy etc. I doubt he'd be main eventing but he could mix it with everyone.
ReplyDeleteSting vs. Cena as a meta WCW vs. WWE thing could work if they kept it short enough.
ReplyDeleteJust look at Tensai, making $400k in WWE now and was making about 100K in Japan
ReplyDeleteYeah, the Crow was a very nineties-centric comic and doesn't hold up, nearly as well as one would hope. The main reasons for the popularity were as follows.
ReplyDelete1. Brandon died.
2. It was rated R which allowed them to actually be good. In fact, I would argue it was the first comic book movie not dumbed down and aimed at children.
3. It was far more emo than goth.
4. James O' Barr would sell the rights to anyone for super cheap if it allowed him to get heroin RIGHT NOW. I think he let WCW have the TV rights to the look for like 50,000.
People may want to wrestle in the U.S. over NJPW for reasons other than money or their 'spot on the card'. Japan is very different - the language is different, the culture is different, the food is different. You don't see your family, and the time difference makes it hard to even talk to them. People may want to try to work closer to home and family and not have to deal with visa issues, even if that means a pay cut.
ReplyDeleteShocked that KENTA and Devitt are both getting offers. They are small by WWE's "standards". Both excellent wrestlers.
ReplyDeleteSting will come in for 1) a HoF induction, 2) a complimentary and SORELY needed DVD set, 3) to help sell the Network, and 4) the occasional RAW segment a la Bret Hart or any other random legend they trot out on occaision, and THAT'S IT. Anything else is a pipe dream...the dude is a shell of his former self in every concievable way, much as it pains me to say it.
ReplyDeleteI still bet Sting re-signs with TNA.
ReplyDeleteJames O'Barr is one of the most egocentric creators I have ever seen give an interview anywhere. I didn't realize he was a heroin addict, but at the same time it doesn't surprise me at all.
ReplyDeleteIf the Crow property belonged to a bigger comic book company, that movie would have been watered down to the point where Batman & Robin would have looked like a cinema classic. Instead, they played to their base, which was a good choice. But the movie would have been forgotten long ago had Brandon Lee not died on set. It's the only reason the property succeeded the way it did.
Say hello to your new general manager of Raw! He has some experience, running Impact, after all.
ReplyDeleteI could see him having one good match left. I'd do SummerSlam maybe. Put him on a Legends contract to appear at the occasional house show. Though ultimately I agree with your four points.
ReplyDeleteI'd be happy with that. Everyone would.
too hopeful because of "Bryan has the belt"? no.
ReplyDeletetoo hopeful because of "30 minutes of Bryan vs. Kenta on Raw"? yes.
they might get some time for a longer match on Smackdown or Main Event though.
Language barrier is the only thing really relevant here, and just to Devitt. Assuming he lives somewhere in Great Britain, if not Ireland. I mean, the NJPW schedule isn't as nuts as the 'E's, so he can presumably fly home more often, right?
ReplyDeleteDevitt could be the middle size to Sheamus' large and Hornswaggle's small.
ReplyDeleteYeah, but Tensai was a returning guy who didn't have to go through developmental is sort of what I'm saying. Since the Developmental guys seem to only be getting 30 or 40K a year or whatever.
ReplyDeleteoutside of some insane rumor I read that Anderson said he was breaking 600 (which I didn't believe, but I kinda want to throw out there), I have to assume Devitt, who was pretty high up the card for NJPW, was getting a bit more than Tensai. or maybe not, I'm not that deep into puro.
I guess it's a matter of a pay cut initially with the chance to make much more down the line?
I problem is he sucks at promos.
ReplyDeleteno 98 take had decent matches with Kane and good matches with Austin. 1999 Taker sucked.
ReplyDeleteI would think he'd get one match, if only because it would sell even if it wound up sucking.
ReplyDeleteDoes KENTA speak fluent english? (I honestly don't know) Can you think of any Japanese guys who can't be listed as over 6 foot who do well in the 'E'? I'm honestly kind of impressed by your faith in them to use him in a meaningful way.
ReplyDeleteHe could still be a draw for a very short period. The novelty of seeing him in the wwe would be enough to sell a match or two, even if everyone knows it'll suck
ReplyDeletewhats the reference from? people were using it in various threads around here so i figured it was a BoD reference based on dr. who or something
ReplyDeletei have to admit that while i know the name i am not familair with KENTA's work. isn't he like a stiff mofo or something? based on that assumption (which might be totally wrong, like i said), wouldnt he be woefully out of place in wwe and require major reprogramming that would essentially destroy everything that makes him who he is?
ReplyDeleteUm, I'm not sure why people think Sundays boos had to do with Daniel Bryan. It was clearly due to Jake not being in the rumble.
ReplyDeleteThe TV show Community has a running gag that there are alternate timelines out there. The one where all the bad shit happens (one character lost his arm, another has a voice box, one died) is considered "the Darkest Timeline."
ReplyDelete"KENTA has been at the Performance Center this week, reportedly for a tryout."
ReplyDeleteNow they're just teasing us. Good trolling is good, WWE.
it would really depend on what the WWE sees in him in the first place.
ReplyDeleteprime example is Sin Cara: came in with A LOT more hype than guys his size usually do. and I am pretty sure if that whole thing had worked out just a little bit better, he would have been a upper midcarder.
All right, time to catch up on last night. I'll comment on today's stories later, I guess.
ReplyDelete2600+ posts? Sounds like a good morning for me.
on the other hand, if they still put on the matches they wanted to put on in the first place, what did they really change?
ReplyDeleteSting has been great at promos for TNA lately.
ReplyDeleteOr maybe he would be awesomely out of place and unique?
ReplyDeleteTheoretically, I wonder if this could be Triple H's token attempt to channel the Great Muta via 1989? We all know he's an old school mark at heart, so it would make sense at some point for him to try to recapture that dynamic, and he could do far worse than KENTA.
ReplyDeleteI've just seen a limited selection myself but his offense is strike based(though stiffness isn't a necessity) his bigger problem is that Punk uses his finish.
ReplyDeleteOn the subject of last night's opening promo, that segment exemplified to me everything that's wrong with the "heel authority figure" concept. Basically at the PPV on Sunday you had the entire fanbase crapping on the product—— paying fans who hated the title match so much they made a mockery of it, and then did the same for the last 10 minutes of the goddamn ROYAL RUMBLE MATCH. Again, paying fans who weren't booing heels, they were booing the actual product and telling the company that they felt ripped off.
ReplyDeleteSo what happens the next night? The people who run/own the company came out and mocked those paying customers. "Awwww, did someone not get what you want?" might have been great heel delivery, but it's bad business to have the owner of the company gloat about his audience telling him they felt RIPPED OFF. HHH & Steph aren't heels getting heat, they're getting heat on the actual company. Again, they're gloating about people hating the PPV. Why would their customers want to then give them more money?
And I'm sure DOugie and the like will go on and on about how I'm missing the point, that HHH is heeling the smarks! No, I get it, but it's fucking terribly stupid and is going to cost them money. The owners of the company shouldn't be relishing that their customers hated the product they spent $60 on.
Anyway, I can't wait for HHH's promo the night after the Wrestlemania stream on the Network completely fucks up. "Awwwww, did someone's stream not work? AWWWw, I so sad." He'll be so over as a heel!!!
More or less yes
ReplyDeleteI'd expect them to make him del rio's new house boy.
ReplyDeletei wasnt saying it pejoratively, but rather in stark contrast to the wwe norm
ReplyDeleteNo more Troy and Abed in the morning. 8 (
ReplyDeleteThis kind of depends on where the angle is going. If it was a shoot, yeah, it's dumb. If it's explicitly a part of the Bryan/Triple H angle it's more than fine.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the news this morning, Batista/Orton and Bryan/Sheamus is still the plan, so 'Ha Ha' to anyone who thought differently.
ReplyDelete1)you know something is going to go wrong with the wm stream. I don't get why they wouldn't try doing it first with the feb ppv to work out any kinks.
ReplyDelete2)this angle has sucked since the raw after summerslam and wwe has lost a lot of goodwill with its mainstream fan base
3)the fact that hhh and Stephanie didn't anticipate that reaction at the rumble tells me all I need to know about the future of the company
4)as hard as the wwe and the anti smarks trolls want to spin this as a master angle, just remember the wwe has run two straight atrocious big two ppvs that were disasters.
If Reading 2600 posts on here is your idea of a good day...
ReplyDeleteIf they're working with MLB.tv for the new Network, I have faith that it will work the way it's supposed to. I have never had a problem with the MLB online stream. They went and teamed up with a good group there.
ReplyDeleteMuch like you suck at typing.
ReplyDeleteI can't understand why Donald Glover would leave the show. Does he have movies or another show lined up? It seemed like all the problems had been cleared with Dan Harmon coming back and Chevy Chase leaving.
ReplyDeleteI hope the dynamic of the show isn't completely shot to shit.
Now that the WM card is taking shape, it's really amazing to me how badly the card is gonna be butchered. I really am confused on the direction they're going. This network launch is arguably one of the 3 most important things in the companies history and they're proceeding to piss of a portion of their fan base.
ReplyDeleteI guess it's just never good enough for some people.
ReplyDeleteSting is more than capable of having a good match when properly motivated. You can't take anyone's tna work seriously unless they are people who's only major exposure has been tna. The rest treat it as a vacation. Well besides Anderson, he sucks no matter where he goes.
ReplyDeleteI believe he has his own show on FX that he's developing. Plus his rap career.
ReplyDeleteTroy was my favourite character but I could see why glover would want to move on. He's a really talented guy and even Harmon has said he was crazy impressed with him when casting him.
If they really wanted to ignore what happened, the opening segment would not have involved Daniel Bryan at all, and it would not have been mentioned once. I like where it's going.
ReplyDeleteNo kidding. The 30th anniversary of Wrestlemania AND the launch of the WWE Network...you'd think they'd want to put on a monster card. But...nope.
ReplyDelete99 Taker was way worse
ReplyDeleteSo .... if Kenta or Prince Devitt were to be signed what would their NXT names be?
ReplyDeleteJust one question, why is anyone expressing an anti-smark opinion officially a "gimmick" or a "troll"? Is it not possible that they truly believe what they're saying?
ReplyDeleteAny news on Punk? He and Bryan are the only reasons I even watch anymore.
ReplyDeleteSee, here's the thing, in my opinion. They can afford to piss off a portion of their fan base this year. Look, I may not like the direction that WWE is going with Daniel Bryan or CM Punk or anyone else, but it's not going to stop me from ordering the Network, because they are two distinct things.
ReplyDeleteI want the Network to succeed because I like the concept behind it. It's a good plan, and I will support it.
Since I'm getting the Network, signing up for a six-month commitment, and can watch WrestleMania XXX for $10 a month, I'm going to watch the show, regardless of a shitty card, build or presentation. I doubt I'm alone in that.
It's a win-win for WWE, really. They can do whatever they want, have their fans be pissed at them and STILL come out financially ahead.
He wanted to focus on music.
ReplyDeleteThat Bryan segment was them tossing the fans a bone after the RR backlash. Doesn't change their plans for Bryan at all imo
ReplyDeleteI did learn from him in 1991 to never trust him, so it now makes perfect sense that he was hinting about being in it. Fooled again.
ReplyDeleteYeah. I think the split was amicable enough that Glover could come back, either for the finale, the movie or as a regular for the last season.
ReplyDeleteIn the words of Early 90's Vince Mcmahon: "MAYBE... MAYBE NOT!"
ReplyDeleteWhen Troy and Abed switched bodies, Glover played Abed better than I could have ever imagined. He's a great comic actor.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you. There is literally nothing they can ddo that would stop me from ordering the network. It's such a good deal, I won't pass it up. Not everyone will view it like us though. Why not just try to appease the fanbase the next few months? There is no downside
ReplyDeleteI hope he does come back. He really is a great part of the show every week.
ReplyDeleteSting has been pretty solid on the mic the past two years
ReplyDeleteYeah, I dunno. Bryan no sold Triple H's totally toothless insults, told Stephanie to get out of his way, and punked Triple H out. That's a hell of a bone if it's not going anywhere.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice of them to throw us Nathan Fillion this week as a consolation prize.
ReplyDeleteTaker, brock, cena, Batista, bryan, punk, orton. The card I think we are getting is probably the worst combination of those guys for me.
ReplyDeleteWhy not try to appease the fanbase at all over the last six months or so? Sometimes, there's no way to figure out what's going through their heads.
ReplyDeleteThey unified the titles in a throw-away match during a throw-away PPV, when WrestleMania XXX was right around the corner. They've been trying to squelch the amazing response Daniel Bryan has been getting instead of running with it and building things around him.
The WWE's decisions baffle me more often than not.
Also, there's a real damned if they do-damned if they don't aspect to this criticism. It's certainly not like anyone would have been happy with them pretending the RR crowd didn't exist or something.
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of news are you looking for? He's banged up, is clearly going to stick around through WM and no one knows who he's facing because no one knows who anyone is facing.
ReplyDeleteWhy are you buying into their story so much? The characters you see on TV are quite different from the people behind the camera. You keep attributing all the blame on Triple H and Steph when Steph has nothing to do with creative anymore and there's a slew of people that work these things out.
ReplyDeleteIf he's small-ish and can't speak English, he's never breaking out of the midcard in the WWE. That's fact,
ReplyDeleteNot to mention that given the way HHH has reshaped developmental and what the roster looks like, HHH is probably the main reason Bryan is still in the title picture.
ReplyDeleteVince still has final say and that's where the buck stops and the blame falls.
Yep, I called it the "Covered both ways complaining". I have at least a dozen examples, but I won't bore anyone with them right now. But yesterday's first segment was definitely a case of that.
ReplyDelete*INNDEEEEEEDDD....*
ReplyDeleteHe likes vagina...ALOT
ReplyDeleteYeah, but...It's like. Coca Cola is a huge company and they could afford to piss off their fanbase, but why on earth would they ever actively try?
ReplyDeleteIt's not trolling to hold the contrary opinion because you beleive it.
ReplyDeleteThe trolls in question seem to hold whatever opinion allows them to hate smarks more
"I want the Network to succeed because I like the concept behind it. It's a good plan, and I will support it."-- I don't think that sentiment applies to the majority of their possible customers. Yeah, you'll order whatever they give you because it's cheap and you get old PPVs.
ReplyDeleteBut for most people, they're gonna pay for something because they're happy with the product. Therefore, if they put out a shitty product and card that people aren't interested in, it's gonna get less buys.
They did try. It was called New Coke.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure MLB.tv has their shit together but, honest question: do they ever deal with any single stream getting the amount of views that Wrestlemania is gonna get? Let's say Mania gets one million views on their live stream. What single baseball game stream on MLB.tv has ever gotten that? Remember, MLB.tv is still something of a novelty (most baseball fans are still watching the games on TV), AND it's regionalized. So on any given night, all the users are watching different streams of different games, not the same one. I can't imagine even the streams of a YAnkees game has ever gotten more than a few 100,000 views.
ReplyDeleteI could be totally off base, but I would guess that the crunch on a single event like Wrestlemania would be more than any single live stream they'd done previously.
But they weren't trying to piss off the fan base. Pepsi was selling better, so they tried to make their soda more like Pepsi.
ReplyDeleteCocaCola was trying to give the public what Coca Cola thought the public wanted.
It failed, but at least they tried.
I've heard everything from he's sick of management to being injured or apathetic to the product, Just wondering if anything is known.
ReplyDeleteI'm betting the buys they lose from non-Network subscribed fans are dwarfed by the number of people who sign up for the Network.
ReplyDeleteWhen the company goes over its financials for the quarter, they'll be crowing about how many people watched WrestleMania via different devices and media.
And he's in a position to get a lot of it, so that works out well for him.
ReplyDeleteHe wasn't on one episode of Raw, so clearly it's a disaster.
ReplyDeleteAll that we know is that his contract is up in six months or so.
ReplyDeleteOh, I have no doubt about that. It's so clear the direction they're going: EC comes down to Bryan and Orton, everyone goes nuts with the YES chants... and then Sheamus sneaks back into the chamber, brogue kick on Bryan, and Orton retains.
ReplyDeleteSheamus, HHH, Steph and Orton pose to close the show
The next night HHH comes out with a retard in a baby diaper wearing a "WWE Fan" sash and announces the thrilling Mania pre-show match, Daniel Bryan vs Sheamus.
And rightly they should. It's a huge risk, it's the way of the future and if it pays off, they really should take credit.
ReplyDelete*reads about a possible cruiserweight themed show on the WWE Network*
ReplyDeleteJizz in my pants.
The same HHH who passed on the ROH guys and others because they "already had enough small guys"?
ReplyDeleteYou do remember who the last Cruiserweight champion was, right?
ReplyDeleteThat goes for most heterosexual males.
ReplyDeleteProbably better off he comes back next week instead of last night. Let the Bryan stuff be the central story last night, Punk can spend a week selling the Rumble table spot, and next week he demands a spot in the chamber.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is they put him up against a heel (maybe ADR, maybe a SHield member) and Kane costs him the match, leading to Punk vs Kane at EC.
There are people (not me) who believe they knew New Coke was going to fail and it was all a ploy to get sales up for Coke Classsic.
ReplyDeleteOnly because they were doing away with the division. See also: Gillberg from 1998-2000. The division was mostly pretty sweet from 2000-2007.
ReplyDeleteIt's not what Bryan should be doing come mania but they could really tell a good story with those two. Incorporate wm 28, have Sheamus align with hhh, and do the classic underdog thing with Bryan.
ReplyDeleteIt's gonna be so goddamn interesting if they stick to their guns and go with Orton vs Batista for the title at Mania. It's pretty clear now that Batista is NOT gonna get over with crowds as a face—— he's been roundly booed in two mark cities like Pittsburgh and Cleveland (the Let's Go Cena chants were pretty f'n loud), so that's that. Big Dave is a heel, whether they accept it or not. And Orton, well, the fans basically see him as Fandango with the title belts at this point.
ReplyDeleteDoes last night signal that they're throwing Brock in to make it a triple threat? I feel like that's the only thing (short of putting Bryan in the main, which IS NOT HAPPENING) that could keep fans from absolutely crapping all over it. I mean, I still think the Mania crowd chants "Daniel Bryan" throughout the title match, but Brock is their only chance of getting the crowd at all interested in it.
Batista vs Orton straight up though, jesus that'd be a disaster on the telecast AND I bet the buyrate/subscriptions suffer from it.
That reminds me. They need to get Muta in a Hall of Fame class.
ReplyDeleteGangrel as Special Guest Ref or GTFO.
ReplyDeleteIt would be a train wreck of epic proportions. I honestly never really entertained Batista/Orton just because I can't fathom they'd do that. My assumption was always Brock getting the title between here and mania and facing Batista at WM. I'd be ok with that.
ReplyDeleteEh, the problem is that they've just spent a year building up all these possible heels for Bryan to overcome (Orton, HHH, HBK, Bray) and then a month before the show they're gonna say: "Actually, the guy Bryan really needs to beat is...SHEAMUS!" Fans aren't gonna buy into it, and they're not gonna care if Bryan could beat SHeamus or not.
ReplyDeleteHe's been beaten by all those heels, and gotten revenge on none of them. Who gives a shit about that match? I just don't see that satisfying the fanbase, or making Bryan fans feel compelled to buy the show. It's such an obvious letdown.
Honestly, I'd rather they just do a Bryan/Wyatt rematch in a Cell or something, and put SHemaus with Cena. AT LEAST we'd get resolution to a feud we already cared about.
Valid points. I've been wondering all this too. Vince will no doubt here plenty of healthcare.gov jokes from his millionaire buds if the WM stream has problems.
ReplyDeleteWhat would make you happy as a Bryan fan?
ReplyDeleteI love the guy, but he was never advertised for the Rumble match, so I didn't really get people being that upset about it. He is the focal point of the company and the show. I think they should make him champion at some point, but I feel like the support for him is growing as they drag it out.
At this point there's zero chance that Orton isn't in the main event. They've gone this far with him, they're digging they're heels in and going for it. MAYYYBE they throw Lesnar in to make it a triple threat, but Orton is gonna be in that fucking match. As Batista says, DEAL WITH IT.
ReplyDeleteSo if Brock ends up in the triple threat, who does Taker face? My guess is Roman Reigns. I mean, Taker still has to acknowledge what The Shield did to him, right??? Or is the Mania angle gonna be Taker coming back wearing a Tap-out shirt and proclaiming "Let my fantasy camp begin!"?
Where is the poll link?
ReplyDeleteWell, they do.
ReplyDeleteCesaro, Punk, Bryan and Rollins are better all rounders than Richards and Edwards, and far more charismatic.
Why is it that I always picture you sweating bullets and hyperventilating every time you type in those novel list posts? Your blood pressure must be sky high, you need to relax a little.
ReplyDeleteWill do. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIf WWE were Burger King and came out of a new exciting burger that nobody liked, they'd take everything else of the menu so it was the only option.
ReplyDeleteCan I add a counterpoint to those who are that Daniel Bryan doesn't move the ratings, and thus shouldn't be used in the top face slot? I understand looking for the big new thing that'll catapult the business back to Attitude-era levels. But outside of one-off bumps in the numbers from appearances by returning legends, no one's moving the needle at all. So if you don't have anyone in house that can move the needle like that yet, why not SHORE UP YOUR BASE that's screaming for Bryan? You know what's worse than not finding the next Steve Austin-level personality? Pissing off enough paying customers that they'll stop paying money because the guy they want on top isn't thought worthy of being there.
ReplyDelete"AWwwww, are our burgers making someone all sick? Awww too bad." Smell the money!
ReplyDeleteIt's a fun theory. I've heard it but I don't buy it either. I think they quickly saw the writing on the walls, and booked on the fly as it were.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe they'd have Brock cutting all these wwe title promos without giving him the strap. I've always viewed Orton as just being in the right place at the right time with this authority thing. I don't think there was ever a plan to elevate Orton with this angle. Why I view him as disposal to Brock and or Batista. Still think it's Brock vs Batista but we'll see. If they do the 3 way you're proposing I'd rather they just throw Cena in there and do a 4 way.
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly my point. Well worded.
ReplyDeleteIt might be a great 'master plan', but the heat's not right, is it? How is laughing at your audience for being frustrated GOOD HEAT?
That's surely change the channel (or 'not bother with the network/PPV's' heat?) heat...?
Crazy.
Besides, WM30 is the biggest PPV of all time. That's where stuff's meant to happen, and we all know this. Bottom line is, the guy is getting shafted with a crappy match. What kind of fucking business is that?
Awww, poor lil audience don't understand who to cheer for.
Well fuck you. I hope it bites you in the arse, 'fellas'.
I think the Cruiserweight show would be awesome, but I really don't see it happening.
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad they didn't do something worthwhile like tee the crowd up to cheer for Bryan in unison or something like that. It would have been awesome if Bryan just got the crowd to say that they were there to see him and not Triple H or Randy Orton.
ReplyDeleteWhatever the reason they're blinded by Orton, I have no idea, but fact is they are. Again, there's no way they go this far with him to take the title off him a month before the show. Plus without the title Orton seriously has no more reason to be on that card than ADR or Fandango.
ReplyDeleteNo, they view Orton as a mega main eventer and he's getting the spot this year. The only question is whether they throw Brock in there.
Why not do HHH Vs. Bryan and make Trips tap clean? Surely that saves face, and makes more sense than a Punk/HHH match...
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I don't get why they don't do it on Raw. There's 3 FRIGGIN' HOURS. Give us SOMEthing different, christ almighty!
ReplyDeleteMy problem is that WWE keeps going back to the same guys over and over again (Batista, Cena, Rock, Orton, etc.) They aren't letting new guys make a name for themselves or even try to get ratings to jump. They see 2-3 weeks of a new guy at the top and ratings go go down a tad or stay the same then they pull the plug on the push and back to Orton vs. Cena again.
ReplyDelete"Again, there's no way they go this far with him to take the title off him a month before the show."
ReplyDeleteErm...why not? That's basically exactly what they did with Angle in 2000-01, just off the top of my head.
Triple H would be in for a huge "You Tapped Out" chant.
ReplyDeleteI'm confused what will happen with Lesnar in the title picture.
ReplyDeleteWow, someone clearly did not watch the show. that is PRECISELY what happened.
ReplyDeleteExactly, some pants down heat!
ReplyDeletePlus, another victory in the DB saga, before reaching for that illusive title.
Plus, it should lay some of the heat off of the Orton/Batista match. At least the crowd will be SOMEWHAT fulfilled.
I think the main problem that Bryan's fans have, and the problem I've had really, is the shitty resolutions he's had over the last five months or so. Ever since Orton cashed in at SummerSlam, he's lost out on every major program he's been apart of. He ultimately lost out to Orton in the end, moved down the card to feud with the Wyatts, and ultimately lost out to Bray as well. The fans want him on top, but he's just not being put there. At some point, the underdog has to overcome the odds, but he's basically never booked to climb the mountain.
ReplyDeleteYup, mocking your audience for spending money on yet ANOTHER poorly received PPV was totally worth it, because the crowd chanted Daniel Bryan! They got us again!
ReplyDeleteUgghhh.
I think four was the worst.
ReplyDeletehttp://oi39.tinypic.com/2vipcaa.jpg
I think this is the direction they are going since they haven't mentioned the Outlaws/Triple H connection with Gunn and Road Dogg walking out on Punk. Or they are sticking with Triple H vs. Punk with Kane vs. Punk being a feud before it.
ReplyDeleteThey DO.
ReplyDeleteI don't think they view him as a mega main eventer, I think they view the authority as the mega main event (just typing that part blows my mind). If they can get the strap off Orton by saying having Brock replace him as corporate champ or some other scenario, they'll pull the trigger in Batista vs Brock. The authority will be involved in the title picture, in some scenario. Like I said I'd be surprised if Orton is.
ReplyDeleteI can see it now..
ReplyDelete"WWE Announces PPV's will be available as VOD's the day after events. No more live PPV streams."
Can't upvote this enough. Most of them don't even make it on tv. No need for more of them
ReplyDeleteRemember when fans were annoyed that he was moved down teh card to feud with Bray... and in the end, they made it clear that Bray was better than him!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, there's no reason to think that he a has a chance against Sheamus at Mania. I assume Bryan gets distracted by Fandango to set up his next feud, and THAT'S the one he goes over in.
Yeah, I was being sarcastic.
ReplyDeleteI'm talking about it with worst in the world in here. I'm pretty sure Brock wins the strap and they go Brock / Batista at WM with the authority thrown in there in some form. Brocks not cutting all these wwe title promos and not winning it
ReplyDeleteIt's WWE logic. Bray Wyatt is a Triple H project. Sheamus is a buddy of Triple H. Cena is the moneymaker. Roman Reigns is Vince's big project. Batista and Orton are Triple H buddies and Vince's prototypes. The top of the card for the rest of the year is largely filled, and it doesn't leave any room for your CM Punks or Daniel Bryans, to say nothing of people like Dolph Ziggler, Wade Barrett, Kofi Kingston, etc.
ReplyDeleteSo what do they do with Orton at Mania? Again, I think we're on the same page with how WE view Randy Orton, but you're totally missing on how HHH/Vince view him. They spent the last 6 months putting him over Bryan and Cena. They had him unify their titles. Yeah they obviously view the AUTHORITY as bigger stars, but they think Orton is money. He's 100% in that Mania title match. They're not cutting bait on him now.
ReplyDeleteI...don't know that that's true at all. I doubt that it is, really, and don't think that they anticipated the crowd shitting on the Rumble PPV. But they did, so what exactly do you want the writers to do from there? Have Triple H come out and apologize to everyone? Pretend that the Bryan chants didn't exist?
ReplyDeleteI mean, sure, it'll be stupid if nothing comes out of it, and would have been really stupid if Bryan hadn't come out for the opening segment or been involved in the main angle last night. But he was, so for at least that segment Triple H was just playing the heel...and Bryan got the better of him! And the focus of the night was clearly Bryan. It sucks that they fucked up the Rumble, but they've still got to move on.
100% agree. I was also disappointed in the Rumble, but I feel like they made it right with that 1st segment. I won't obsess with the next 2-3 months, I'm happy with the way they handled it yesterday.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dominos.com
ReplyDeletehaha, I read it like 4 times, and said "he MUST be sarcastic right??" My bad. :)
ReplyDeleteVince: "WTF is healthcare?"
ReplyDeleteI think the right thing to do is NOT have the owner and booker of the company come out and mock the fans for not liking the product. That's putting heat on the actual company and it's a stupid move. (Hence the reason that the owner of teh company shouldn't be your lead heel. It worked when Vince did it, because A) It was new, B) Fans actually were loving the product, and C) Vince was actually giving them the guy they wanted
ReplyDeleteIt absolutely does not work to have the owner of the company come out and say "I realize you hated the show last night, well too bad." It's gonna make people not want to spend money on WWE.
What should they have done instead? Hell, I guess what they did do (put Bryan in the EC title match) was the best they could do short of putting him over Orton LAST NIGHT. But they should have done it without the owners mocking the fans for wasting their money.
Basically, they need to just shitcan the Authority angle pronto. Get Vince in there as a face, have him "take over" again and stop using heel owners to mock fans for not liking the show.
I must admit, I'm actually starting to enjoy Orton's whiny character. It's one thing for a heel to be upset with one title defense, but now he's doing it EVERY SINGLE MONTH. Like he feels he's above defending the title at all. What an entitled bitch (which is a compliment in this case)
ReplyDeleteNo idea on Orton at mania. I would have said Bryan a few weeks ago but it seems like this Sheamus idea is an actual thing. See I don't think Vince/HHH view Orton as money. He wasn't doing anything of any substance for like 2 years before Summerslam. He was just a name they could plug into the authority to make it go. They don't view it as investing resources and a push for Orton, they view it as doing it for the authority. If the can get the authority into the title picture somehow without Orton, I'd bet they do.
ReplyDeleteDamn you. I'm actually starting to think you're right
ReplyDeleteI usually am
ReplyDeleteLol. Well said
ReplyDeleteThey need that time for interviews and WWE Network commercials.
ReplyDeleteHornswoggle?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.411mania.com
ReplyDeleteYou'll fit in better there.
I'm sorry, but this is kind of dumb because it completely misses the point that *Bryan is feuding with Triple H.* He's effectively been feuding with Triple H since approximately Night of Champions. Has it been fucked up? Oh yes, yes it has. Is it beyond salvaging? Last night clearly proved it wasn't.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I don't want to argue that the whole thing is a work, but if you don't think the opening segment was a work then I think you're just looking to see what you want to see. Trolling the audience or not, Triple H and Stephanie went on essentially feed the crowd its lines when they teed up "YES" and "Daniel Bryan" chants, which the crowd responded to right on cue. The way Andy put it in his review was pretty spot on: They made the crowd an active character in the angle, and it was about the best way they could have done it. AND TRIPLE H LET SOMEONE BEST HIM ON THE MIC! It's really weird that no one seems to have noticed that.
Maybe we'll just have to agree to disagree, but I don't think they were trying to taunt the audience, I think they were trying to play heels while using the fact that the audience is forcing Bryan to the top as a part of the angle itself. And I don't see why that's going to keep anyone from buying any future shows if Bryan gets booked on top of them.
"Yeah they obviously view the AUTHORITY as bigger stars, but they think Orton is money."
ReplyDeleteAnd that there lies the problem. Orton was NEVER money.
It says a lot for his clean eating that he can maintain the schedule he has and still knock down choice women on a regular basis.
ReplyDelete*eats celery*
Yeah, we just disagree on this. Again, I think you're just way way WAY underestimating what a pet project of WWE's Orton is. They've invested a DECADE pushing his ass. He's probably the 2nd or third highest paid regular in the company. They restructured their Wellness Policy over the summer specifically so they COULD push him again without worrying about if he gets a third strike. They've pushed himas the star of the show since September.
ReplyDeleteThey absolutely would look at that as a major failure and change of plans to take the title off of him in February (storyline-wise, doesn't he get a rematch?) and just stick him in a midcard match with... who? Big E? Vince/HHH aren't gonna admit defeat like that, they're digging in their heels.
Like I've been saying, I think they might change plans and stick Brock in there for a triple threat as a way of giving the title match some star power, but there's no way Orton comes out of it completely. They've absolutely gone too far with him.
KENTA = internet-gasm. How will Meltzer be able to function???
ReplyDeleteHow can Sting not go to WWE at this point, unless he just wants to retire? There's nothing new for him to do in TNA, and they can't afford whatever they'd pay him. I like the idea of him being on the Network, and occasionally wrestling.
ReplyDeleteDude, I understand it was a work. I understand that they were playing heels, and it led to Bryan coming out blah blah. But THAT is not the point here.
ReplyDeleteThe point is that even as a work it's fucking dumb. People LEGIT hated that PPV on Sunday. The crowd wasn't booing the heels, they were booing the product. Booing the company. I get that HHH and Steph were playing heels last night, but it doesn't matter. The owners of the company, even in storyline, shouldn't be saying "I know you hated that thing you paid for yesterday, but we don't care." It's fucking stupid business to antagonize your customers that way, ESPECIALLY when they have no intention of giving them what they want.
So it led to Bryan getting a Yes chant started? He really needed HHH and Steph to make that happen?
Anyway, again, yes it was a work. That doesn't mean it's a good idea.
That's the main problem I have with their treatment of Daniel Bryan. I wouldn't mind if they Zack Ryder'd him if they have no plans for him and to kill his heat, but cockteasing us with these Daniel Bryan pushes is only going to make the fans crap all over the product even more when we're not going to get what we want.
ReplyDelete