It's a little surprising that Vince didn't have a huge angle leading into Hulk's title win. Maybe a little bit to strike while the iron was hot and also because Hulk was screwed so many times in AWA.
That Verne Gagne STILL doesn't see the huge mistake he made letting Hogan go (on the AWA DVD, he literally says "we didn't need Hogan, we were doing great") pretty much proves he didn't have what it took to survive in wrestling. Look at that reaction and the obvious charisma and star power he had, how could any promoter with half a brain NOT see this guy was the future?
Hogan was fucking incredible but I've seen all the 84 TV and piper did a lot of the heavy lifting on the week to week shows. But yeah this is the most historic match in wrestling IMO.
A few things: - Hogan said he blew his knee out during this match. - The Iron Sheik wrestled a really smart match here. - That was an ugly title belt. - Hogan can be linked to fucking up 3 promotions.
The entitlement behind saying "Is it over for us?" made me want to slam my head into my desk. If the person who submitted this sees this: Fuck you. Seriously.
It's not the greatest belt they ever used, but I actually prefer it to the 84-88 version, which just looked like any old generic belt. At least that ne was distinctive.
Has Batista cut some sick promos in the past? Has he put up plenty of 3 and 4 star matches in the past? Has he signed a long term/full-time deal? Will he get back into ring shape?
The answer's yes. I'm not sure why so many people are quick to write him off. Only IRS can do that.
I dunno... I get your point, but watching as a kid in the late 80s / early 90s and then again in the Attitude era, not once did I see so much as a clip of that match or even a mention of who he beat for the title.
Hogan could have been awarded the belt in a tournament in Rio, for all history remembers. But I'm struggling to say which match I would say is most historically significant instead...
Even JR said in his blog that he thought his return wasn't as good as it could have been - that he, for one, would have saved his return for the closing segment.
I've not seen anyone write him off, only that the return of BIG DAVE was shitty and unmemorable and that it did him no favours as an older guy trying to return after an absence.
I find it more perplexing that nobody is pointing to how last week ended to suggest that's why this week's rating is, in part at least, such a good one. The WWE is constantly emphasizing that they are episodic television. The rating for me only proves that the Bryan turn was well-timed, given the media attention.
Exactly. DVR and Youtube totally revived my interest in following the current product, and will be what allows me to keep watching no matter what. God, DVR actually works so well for something like wrestling in a way it never could for other scripted shows. (You're not gonna fast forward through the "slow parts" in Boardwalk Empire, you either watch the whole thing or none of it.)
It's like when I said how I barely watched any of Smackdown during the Batista era, because I was so disinterested in his character. If I had DVR then, I probably would have watched every week the way I do now, which is for like 40 minutes on Saturday morning.
I agree that Monday was "meh," but there's a lot of venom being spewed Big Dave's way around these parts. Give him time--he's got a good feel for things. I'm basically equating the "is it over for us" statement in the original post to writing him off.
MSG had some great short WWF title changes. Sheik beat Backlund in a short match, Graham beat Backlund in a fairly short bout, Hogan beat Sheik in a short one, Big Show beat Lesnar in a shorty as well. Diesel beat Backlund in a very short match though that was garbage.
Well, it was weird having both. I love Batista and I'm really happy to have him back. I think a Batista/Bryan feud could actually be awesome and do good numbers. (Assuming the big guy stays healthy.)
But if you're challenging Orton, why do the ADR thing as well? Pick one person. I personally would have gone with ADR first. Kicking his ass at the Rumble. THEN getting the belt in the Chamber and having a successful defense against (Rumble Winner...Brock or something) at Wrestlemania.
Raw? Has never been a good show. Neither has Smackdown. Somehow people have romanticised that they had a great period, instead of always having one or two good things (and, sporadically, one or two amazing things.) All those great shows you liked were actually comprised of a moment so good you overlook how average they actually were.
Like the Smackdown Six. Their matches were as good as the Divas stuff was bad. It was a balance of great and awful.
It's not a bad move in theory, but HHH is terrible as the benevolent authority figure that he plays in his NXT appearance. He's got to either go all heel with this role or GTFO.
Wrestling is always going to have stuff you or I or anybody doesn't like. Not everybody will like every style, and there are people out there who like every style. Except for the Miz... nobody likes the Miz.
I missed the bulk of Batista's career as I tapered off from watching regularly soon after WM21. Can anybody point me to some of these 'sick promos' from Batista?
Just go beyond the usual suspects; NXT as mentioned is pretty cool, and I've started to watch TCW from Stranger's recaps. If only TNA had kept on its decent path from '12-early '13.
1. That's quite the pop,clearly those fans were either A) Watching the AWA on the side or B) Remember Hulk Hogan from his earlier very successful WWWF run.
You know, can I just throw out there that while Batista's return obviously popped a big rating, as soon as it became clear that Batista and Bryan were pretty much done for the show (i.e., no matches or interview segments involving them remaining), the ratings seemed to die off? I include Bryan based off the ending to last week, I'm not saying he's responsible for the ratings boost (or not primarily anyway, it could have played a small part but I'm sure the main boost was for Batista). Not sure how that's possible when they spent all show hyping John Cena showing up late for work to confront Orton. Are you saying people...gasp...don't care about those two fighting again?
He had some great stuff at the very end of his run when he turned heel. I also wasn't paying attention for most of that time period though, so I'm not sure if he had some good stuff or not as a face. I have seen some solid matches from him. My issue on a personal level isn't Batista being back, because I'm happy to see him there...it's that I'd like to see him feuding with new people, not Cena and Orton.
This email actually angered me. It did it's highest rating in forever, we got back Batista (say what you will about him but his return is a net gain), and they're 1 week removed from people being relieved that the bryan/Wyatt thing is over. What more do you want, seriously? Dvr it if it's to much to sit through. That's what I do.
Yeah, I agree with you. I wasn't in love with Batista's segment with Orton (not his fault, I just don't care about Batista feuding with Orton and I hate the Authority "We're faces, no we're heels, no we're faces, no we're heels" bullshit), but I thought the ADR thing was fine and I'm glad to have Batista back although I'd like to see him feud with guys that hadn't already been multi time world champions the last time he left. I thought the show was mostly boring last night, but whatever. That's not out of the ordinary, there are going to be boring Raws and there are going to be exciting Raws.
Man I totally agree with you, I actually like DB and appreciate his work, so I would never wish for him to be depushed, but wow, the whining about Daniel Bryan is just irritating...
Very true. WWE is much like SNL in that respect. You point to the great sketches from 20 years ago as proof that it was better then than it is now...except you're only remembering the Waynes Worlds and forgetting whatever clunkers were in there. (And probably cut from the 60-minute Comedy Central versions that you actually watched.)
I think the legit criticism is that the high points or main event stuff in certain eras was much better than others. Yeah Mae Young was birthing a hand, but Austin/Rock/Vince on top was infinitely more interesting than the "Adventures of John Cena and Randy Orton and HHH" that we've gotten on top for the better part of 10 years.
I'll even say that I have little use for Batista - he is old, boring and looks like he came from porn. It's not the end of the world if the marks like him, though. If the IC title can be for the cool kids and the marks are happy with the main event, I can go to live shows and beat the traffic home.
Nope. Haven't seen the gimmick tho in awhile. Actually saw you talking about making dinner for a girl the other day. That's usually something you do for someone you respe...can't get thro it
LOL... if you read that carefully you will see I was talking about this guy I know, that I want to make clear ISN'T ME. I am a woman hating misogynist who only fucks married women!
How they did it, with the patronizing HHH video. Plus I prefer the week-to-week build of the show, rather than the regular WWE way of treading water for 4 weeks between shows because they don't know how to build PPVs anymore. With NXT there's issues in the background, but typically you get a week of build, then the match, then they move onto something else to keep it fresh.
I just assuming that's what he meant after reading this blog for awhile. I wish he would have given some tangible examples of why he thought things were so terrible.
I agree. To me, it basically boils down to this, obviously they view him as important, but not the #1 star, he's not going to be portrayed that way no matter what, you either enjoy what he's doing, or you don't. You can disagree with what WWE is doing and think he could be doing more, but continuing to whine and complain about it gets very tiresome after awhile.
If it's that hard for you then yes, it is over for you. Sometimes people outgrow childhood passions, and sometimes childhood passions outgrow the people. If either one of those things has happened, then move along, and find something else to do on Monday's.
One I specifically remember was right after Jericho won in 2008. Batista just strolls to the ring and says, "So when are you gonna give me my title shot?"
Unfortunately, I think we're in for some hardcore "diminishing returns" with Batista. Between babyface Dave's promos and WWE's booking in general, people are probably going to see Batista as Just A Guy by the time his big Wrestlemania match comes. I really think they need to go with Hollywood Dave as the big pretentious douchebag corporate sleazeball who can back it up in the ring.
Yea. Its odd, wwe is so hell bent on ingratiating these former guys as "wwe stars" instead of special attraction stars. Did it with Rock, Brock, now im sure Batista. There will absolutely be diminiahing returns but theyll be expedited byhow vince promotes him
Yeah. I mean, I hope it works out and Dave gives business a boost. I just fear that he will become Smiling Babyface #1034 and the fans won't care in two months when he's supposed to have a big Wrestlemania Moment.
I think there is a built-in failsafe with Batista winning the Rumble this year. If he wins and the fans are hot for it, maybe try him as a babyface. If they shit all over him with "Dan-iel Bry-an" chants, then turn him heel the next night with a big tantrum and make him HHH's corporate avatar hunting Bryan til he's dead.
The SNL comparison is perfect. The Attitude Era was not much better than the current product, on the basis of a three-hour program. The top stuff was better, but when I think about 1999 compared to 2013, I don't see a significant difference in overall quality of the weekly TV
Btw, I enjoyed reading your work (if this is the same Greg Phillips that had a link up on the blog the other day).
Being a fan of both Orton and Batista (truth be told I'm a fan of about 3/4 of the guys on the main roster), I can understand why people can despise them. They've had as many epic hits as they've had glorious misses. Sometimes, they're only as good as the role they're put in. Still, they are capable of putting out some extremely good and memorable stuff, and that's why I'll give them the benefit of the doubt--they're just that talented.
I look at some of the Batista hate and it reminds me of when I didn't like Kane. He spent half his career as the "Just for that, here's your punishment: you're going to have to face Kane" monster the GM would trot out. Fast forward to Hell No, and I realize the dude still has plenty to offer. So, I would hope that some of the hate is just for the role and not a blind "well, Batista's back--everything's going to suck."
But that is a different point, namely that Rock, Taker, Foley, HHH! Austin fought each other a ridiculous amount of times in that period. I mean Rock vs Foley had matches on every PPV from Survivor Series to St Valentines Day Massacre, trading the title relentlessly on Raws and Halftime Heat. Sure the matches were great, but the story itself wasn't inspiring.
It's a little surprising that Vince didn't have a huge angle leading into Hulk's title win. Maybe a little bit to strike while the iron was hot and also because Hulk was screwed so many times in AWA.
ReplyDeleteIf you just DVR raw it will never be over for you. I ffwd to the stuff I wanted to see and got the show done in 20 minutes
ReplyDeleteThat Verne Gagne STILL doesn't see the huge mistake he made letting Hogan go (on the AWA DVD, he literally says "we didn't need Hogan, we were doing great") pretty much proves he didn't have what it took to survive in wrestling. Look at that reaction and the obvious charisma and star power he had, how could any promoter with half a brain NOT see this guy was the future?
ReplyDeleteMight not have happened if The Shiek wasn't a man of honor.
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/ZffjflZA7LE?t=5m51s
Amen. Watch it or don't.
ReplyDeleteIf not watching wrestling anymore is a major, base-level life shift for you, you have problems that need to be addressed.
It's very...skanky. The bonus features with Mick and Jesse are okay, but that's about it.
ReplyDeleteHere is my review of the show, which was brutal besides this match.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rspwfaq.net/2012/08/wwf-madison-square-garden-january-23.html?m=1
Wow that's crazy
ReplyDeleteHogan was fucking incredible but I've seen all the 84 TV and piper did a lot of the heavy lifting on the week to week shows. But yeah this is the most historic match in wrestling IMO.
ReplyDeleteA few things:
ReplyDelete- Hogan said he blew his knee out during this match.
- The Iron Sheik wrestled a really smart match here.
- That was an ugly title belt.
- Hogan can be linked to fucking up 3 promotions.
Stop downvoting me, Hogan.
ReplyDeleteThe entitlement behind saying "Is it over for us?" made me want to slam my head into my desk. If the person who submitted this sees this: Fuck you. Seriously.
ReplyDeleteIt's not the greatest belt they ever used, but I actually prefer it to the 84-88 version, which just looked like any old generic belt. At least that ne was distinctive.
ReplyDeleteVirtous babyface Hogan there, raking the eyes, choking, and spitting on his opponent. Courage is the thing that keeps us free indeed.
ReplyDeleteI loved the big gaudy green belt. I loved the center gold plate on it. It was what an 80s belt should have looked like.
ReplyDeleteHas Batista cut some sick promos in the past? Has he put up plenty of 3 and 4 star matches in the past? Has he signed a long term/full-time deal? Will he get back into ring shape?
ReplyDeleteThe answer's yes. I'm not sure why so many people are quick to write him off. Only IRS can do that.
I dunno... I get your point, but watching as a kid in the late 80s / early 90s and then again in the Attitude era, not once did I see so much as a clip of that match or even a mention of who he beat for the title.
ReplyDeleteHogan could have been awarded the belt in a tournament in Rio, for all history remembers. But I'm struggling to say which match I would say is most historically significant instead...
Even JR said in his blog that he thought his return wasn't as good as it could have been - that he, for one, would have saved his return for the closing segment.
ReplyDeleteI've not seen anyone write him off, only that the return of BIG DAVE was shitty and unmemorable and that it did him no favours as an older guy trying to return after an absence.
Nobody pay any attention to sheiky baby's huge erection during the camel clutch. If you don't look it doesn't exist.
ReplyDeleteIt might just be the green strap, but it looks legitimate, like a boxing belt.
ReplyDeleteI did laugh at New Jack thinking he could be a Hollywood actor. Sure thing Jerome.
ReplyDeleteAlso a big lol at the thought police editing the graphic and even Hogan's INTERVIEW so they say "WWE".
ReplyDeleteI find it more perplexing that nobody is pointing to how last week ended to suggest that's why this week's rating is, in part at least, such a good one. The WWE is constantly emphasizing that they are episodic television. The rating for me only proves that the Bryan turn was well-timed, given the media attention.
ReplyDeleteExactly. DVR and Youtube totally revived my interest in following the current product, and will be what allows me to keep watching no matter what. God, DVR actually works so well for something like wrestling in a way it never could for other scripted shows. (You're not gonna fast forward through the "slow parts" in Boardwalk Empire, you either watch the whole thing or none of it.)
ReplyDeleteIt's like when I said how I barely watched any of Smackdown during the Batista era, because I was so disinterested in his character. If I had DVR then, I probably would have watched every week the way I do now, which is for like 40 minutes on Saturday morning.
:D
ReplyDeleteHaha I *think* it might just be the way the light hits his tights. If not, wow.
ReplyDeleteNew Jack talked about that in one of his dozen shoots. it was staged.
ReplyDeleteThey only do that with Hogan though (they did it again on WM5). Thank goodness for the Network so that this sort of thing is over and done with.
ReplyDeleteSHILL!
ReplyDeleteI agree that Monday was "meh," but there's a lot of venom being spewed Big Dave's way around these parts. Give him time--he's got a good feel for things. I'm basically equating the "is it over for us" statement in the original post to writing him off.
ReplyDeleteMan I feel old now... still odds are we are all wasting our time doing something else right now without this match.
ReplyDeleteDigging back in the archives!
ReplyDeleteMan Fink's tuxedo is one of the ugliest thing I have ever seen.
ReplyDeleteGorilla was great calling those big moments. I love how after the pin he goes silent for 15-20 seconds to let everything set in.
ReplyDeleteMSG had some great short WWF title changes. Sheik beat Backlund in a short match, Graham beat Backlund in a fairly short bout, Hogan beat Sheik in a short one, Big Show beat Lesnar in a shorty as well. Diesel beat Backlund in a very short match though that was garbage.
ReplyDeleteWell, it was weird having both. I love Batista and I'm really happy to have him back. I think a Batista/Bryan feud could actually be awesome and do good numbers. (Assuming the big guy stays healthy.)
ReplyDeleteBut if you're challenging Orton, why do the ADR thing as well? Pick one person. I personally would have gone with ADR first. Kicking his ass at the Rumble. THEN getting the belt in the Chamber and having a successful defense against (Rumble Winner...Brock or something) at Wrestlemania.
(If Batista is your guy)
Okay, here's the truth...
ReplyDeleteRaw? Has never been a good show. Neither has Smackdown. Somehow people have romanticised that they had a great period, instead of always having one or two good things (and, sporadically, one or two amazing things.) All those great shows you liked were actually comprised of a moment so good you overlook how average they actually were.
Like the Smackdown Six. Their matches were as good as the Divas stuff was bad. It was a balance of great and awful.
It's not a bad move in theory, but HHH is terrible as the benevolent authority figure that he plays in his NXT appearance. He's got to either go all heel with this role or GTFO.
ReplyDeleteI miss the babyface celebrations when one of their own won the title. I think the last time the WWF did that was when Bret Hart won at Wrestlemania X.
ReplyDeleteYou wouldn't count DX with Foley?
ReplyDeleteThey were already out at ringside though weren't they? So it was more of a the extension angle than an "organic" celebration.
ReplyDeleteThis one is from September: http://i.imgur.com/gsOuZrF.png
ReplyDeleteBack in 92, that was probably two shows, unlike today, where everyone on the roster has fought one another like 500 times already.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, blog questioner. You can stop watching wrestling! Instead you can start a hobby!
ReplyDeleteWrestling is always going to have stuff you or I or anybody doesn't like. Not everybody will like every style, and there are people out there who like every style. Except for the Miz... nobody likes the Miz.
ReplyDeleteI missed the bulk of Batista's career as I tapered off from watching regularly soon after WM21. Can anybody point me to some of these 'sick promos' from Batista?
ReplyDeleteSeriously...where's JTG :)
ReplyDeleteJust go beyond the usual suspects; NXT as mentioned is pretty cool, and I've started to watch TCW from Stranger's recaps. If only TNA had kept on its decent path from '12-early '13.
ReplyDeleteI was at that show. That was the night Bryan was STRIPPED of the title.
ReplyDelete1. That's quite the pop,clearly those fans were either A) Watching the AWA on the side or B) Remember Hulk Hogan from his earlier very successful WWWF run.
ReplyDelete2. That's an ugly fucking World Title
3. 25-30,000 people at MSG! LOL HULK!
An 8 second match that consisted of a boot to the bread basket and a jackknife powerbomb is garbage?
ReplyDeleteWhen he says he's gonna break one's back and........ ........ To humble them.... He means it...
ReplyDeleteBe a Star!
ReplyDeleteThey did it when Angle beat Austin at the PPV after 9/11
ReplyDelete"He also said that snake shit smells much worse than any other type of shit."
ReplyDeleteI used to have 2 ball pythons. Dog shit is still far worse.
Sounds like every NFL player. Or pro tennis player.
ReplyDeleteYou know, can I just throw out there that while Batista's return obviously popped a big rating, as soon as it became clear that Batista and Bryan were pretty much done for the show (i.e., no matches or interview segments involving them remaining), the ratings seemed to die off? I include Bryan based off the ending to last week, I'm not saying he's responsible for the ratings boost (or not primarily anyway, it could have played a small part but I'm sure the main boost was for Batista). Not sure how that's possible when they spent all show hyping John Cena showing up late for work to confront Orton. Are you saying people...gasp...don't care about those two fighting again?
ReplyDeleteHe had some great stuff at the very end of his run when he turned heel. I also wasn't paying attention for most of that time period though, so I'm not sure if he had some good stuff or not as a face. I have seen some solid matches from him. My issue on a personal level isn't Batista being back, because I'm happy to see him there...it's that I'd like to see him feuding with new people, not Cena and Orton.
ReplyDeleteThis email actually angered me. It did it's highest rating in forever, we got back Batista (say what you will about him but his return is a net gain), and they're 1 week removed from people being relieved that the bryan/Wyatt thing is over. What more do you want, seriously? Dvr it if it's to much to sit through. That's what I do.
ReplyDelete"is it over for us?" What does that even mean????
Yet I found more or less everything he did to be bordering on arrogant and heelish.
ReplyDeleteAs long as Bryan is treated at the same level as Batista, we should be fine.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I agree with you. I wasn't in love with Batista's segment with Orton (not his fault, I just don't care about Batista feuding with Orton and I hate the Authority "We're faces, no we're heels, no we're faces, no we're heels" bullshit), but I thought the ADR thing was fine and I'm glad to have Batista back although I'd like to see him feud with guys that hadn't already been multi time world champions the last time he left. I thought the show was mostly boring last night, but whatever. That's not out of the ordinary, there are going to be boring Raws and there are going to be exciting Raws.
ReplyDeleteMan I totally agree with you, I actually like DB and appreciate his work, so I would never wish for him to be depushed, but wow, the whining about Daniel Bryan is just irritating...
ReplyDelete""is it over for us?" What does that even mean????
ReplyDeleteWhen a husband says it to his wife it usually means I have met her
He won't be
ReplyDeleteVery true. WWE is much like SNL in that respect. You point to the great sketches from 20 years ago as proof that it was better then than it is now...except you're only remembering the Waynes Worlds and forgetting whatever clunkers were in there. (And probably cut from the 60-minute Comedy Central versions that you actually watched.)
ReplyDeleteI think the legit criticism is that the high points or main event stuff in certain eras was much better than others. Yeah Mae Young was birthing a hand, but Austin/Rock/Vince on top was infinitely more interesting than the "Adventures of John Cena and Randy Orton and HHH" that we've gotten on top for the better part of 10 years.
There he is.
ReplyDeleteDid you think I left or something?
ReplyDeleteI'll even say that I have little use for Batista - he is old, boring and looks like he came from porn. It's not the end of the world if the marks like him, though. If the IC title can be for the cool kids and the marks are happy with the main event, I can go to live shows and beat the traffic home.
ReplyDeleteNope. Haven't seen the gimmick tho in awhile. Actually saw you talking about making dinner for a girl the other day. That's usually something you do for someone you respe...can't get thro it
ReplyDeleteLOL... if you read that carefully you will see I was talking about this guy I know, that I want to make clear ISN'T ME. I am a woman hating misogynist who only fucks married women!
ReplyDelete#livethegimmick
Is_It_oVer_4_US
ReplyDeleteOh shit, I think it's the code to Y2J's new comeback!
All I remember him doing from 2006 to 2009 is coming out and saying "I want a title match" all of the time.
ReplyDeleteYeah, seemed like it was lots of injuries followed by "The Animal is back and he wants Edge/Booker/Khali's World Heavyweight title!"
ReplyDeleteAll of his good promos are as a heel.
ReplyDeleteAlso, he had a ton of HORRIBLE matches with Edge, JBL and Booker when he was on Smackdown.
How they did it, with the patronizing HHH video. Plus I prefer the week-to-week build of the show, rather than the regular WWE way of treading water for 4 weeks between shows because they don't know how to build PPVs anymore. With NXT there's issues in the background, but typically you get a week of build, then the match, then they move onto something else to keep it fresh.
ReplyDeleteI just assuming that's what he meant after reading this blog for awhile. I wish he would have given some tangible examples of why he thought things were so terrible.
ReplyDeleteHopefully Batista's big comeback lasts longer than Chan's did.
ReplyDeleteI agree. To me, it basically boils down to this, obviously they view him as important, but not the #1 star, he's not going to be portrayed that way no matter what, you either enjoy what he's doing, or you don't. You can disagree with what WWE is doing and think he could be doing more, but continuing to whine and complain about it gets very tiresome after awhile.
ReplyDeleteI know...
ReplyDeleteI hate fondant.
ReplyDeleteIf it's that hard for you then yes, it is over for you.
ReplyDeleteSometimes people outgrow childhood passions, and sometimes childhood passions outgrow the people. If either one of those things has happened, then move along, and find something else to do on Monday's.
One I specifically remember was right after Jericho won in 2008. Batista just strolls to the ring and says, "So when are you gonna give me my title shot?"
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I think we're in for some hardcore "diminishing returns" with Batista. Between babyface Dave's promos and WWE's booking in general, people are probably going to see Batista as Just A Guy by the time his big Wrestlemania match comes. I really think they need to go with Hollywood Dave as the big pretentious douchebag corporate sleazeball who can back it up in the ring.
ReplyDelete"Met her" or "Meated her"?
ReplyDeleteI think he's just fondly remembered because he went out as an awesome heel.
ReplyDeleteYea. Its odd, wwe is so hell bent on ingratiating these former guys as "wwe stars" instead of special attraction stars. Did it with Rock, Brock, now im sure Batista. There will absolutely be diminiahing returns but theyll be expedited byhow vince promotes him
ReplyDeleteYeah. I mean, I hope it works out and Dave gives business a boost. I just fear that he will become Smiling Babyface #1034 and the fans won't care in two months when he's supposed to have a big Wrestlemania Moment.
ReplyDeleteI think there is a built-in failsafe with Batista winning the Rumble this year. If he wins and the fans are hot for it, maybe try him as a babyface. If they shit all over him with "Dan-iel Bry-an" chants, then turn him heel the next night with a big tantrum and make him HHH's corporate avatar hunting Bryan til he's dead.
ReplyDeleteThe SNL comparison is perfect. The Attitude Era was not much better than the current product, on the basis of a three-hour program. The top stuff was better, but when I think about 1999 compared to 2013, I don't see a significant difference in overall quality of the weekly TV
ReplyDeleteLaunching his comeback on the BoD would be .... Different.
ReplyDelete.... And given her the herpes.
ReplyDeleteI think it was his outfit. The glasses and unbuttoned white shirt just ooze sleaze.
ReplyDeleteIt's sugary caulk. I can't imagine anyone enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteBtw, I enjoyed reading your work (if this is the same Greg Phillips that had a link up on the blog the other day).
ReplyDeleteBeing a fan of both Orton and Batista (truth be told I'm a fan of about 3/4 of the guys on the main roster), I can understand why people can despise them. They've had as many epic hits as they've had glorious misses. Sometimes, they're only as good as the role they're put in. Still, they are capable of putting out some extremely good and memorable stuff, and that's why I'll give them the benefit of the doubt--they're just that talented.
I look at some of the Batista hate and it reminds me of when I didn't like Kane. He spent half his career as the "Just for that, here's your punishment: you're going to have to face Kane" monster the GM would trot out. Fast forward to Hell No, and I realize the dude still has plenty to offer. So, I would hope that some of the hate is just for the role and not a blind "well, Batista's back--everything's going to suck."
Wrestling in general is 75% forgettable noise, 10% mind-blowing amazement, and 15% of the dumbest shit you will ever imagine.
ReplyDeleteI told you that in confidence!
ReplyDeleteAFTER you gave it to my girlfriend! THAT CONFIDENCE MEANT NOTHING!!
ReplyDeleteWait a sec.....the stuff that's in Cadbury eggs?
ReplyDeleteDownvote Downvote Downvote Downvote
Nah....the show was the drizzling shits. Can't hate a man for wanting to be entertained. It's over for us.
ReplyDeleteGood man
ReplyDeleteBut that is a different point, namely that Rock, Taker, Foley, HHH! Austin fought each other a ridiculous amount of times in that period. I mean Rock vs Foley had matches on every PPV from Survivor Series to St Valentines Day Massacre, trading the title relentlessly on Raws and Halftime Heat. Sure the matches were great, but the story itself wasn't inspiring.
ReplyDelete