Hey Scott,
How come we don't see refs take bumps anymore? We still get a fair amount distraction/screwy finishes but I can't recall the last time we saw a referee taken out while it happened. How come?
Last I heard, it's just a Vince thing, where one day he issues an edict that he wants the refereeing to be more "realistic" and thus no ref bumps. It's true, though, distraction finishes would be slightly less annoying if they changed it up with a ref bump here or there. Especially in a main event setting, if not overdone, it can be effective. Plus it's more realistic for a referee to be unconscious and thus not able to see interference, rather than ignoring stuff happening over his shoulder.
I'm of the mind that nearly anything in wrestling can be effective if used in moderation. Ref bumps included.
ReplyDeleteStill the best one of all-time.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0545UICGRVE
Shane was awesome.
ReplyDeleteWho needs ref bumps when we can see distraction finishes every show?
ReplyDeleteI TOLD YOU TO TRIM THOSE SIDEBURNS... YOU'RE OFF THE TEAM!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erkPXUxLrfo
ReplyDeleteVince's opinion of what is 'realistic' and 'unrealistic' never fails to boggle my mind. Of all the illogical crap on RAW every week, he fixates on ref bumps?
ReplyDeleteTo use a real sports example, what's more realistic....
a) an NFL ref is accidentally hit during a play and misses calling a key holding penalty, so a team gets extra yards
b) the Chiefs are two yards from the winning touchdown when the Broncos run onto the sidelines, distracting the Chiefs long enough for the other team to create a turnover and "steal one."
We've now come full circle and are asking for ref bumps. Pretty soon we will be wanting to see more super Cena comebacks and increased authority figure roles
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwmL8hPvDXM
ReplyDeleteIf we got a sunset flip... preferably from the apron to inside the ring, that would be nice.
ReplyDeleteI demand Vince's brain be donated to Nowinski's group for study. Now.
ReplyDeleteHBO's Real Sports just ran a segment featuring Nowinski, and amazingly did not mention that he used to be a pro wrestler.
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking about this during the last Smackdown when one ref -- and a small ref, at that -- was holding Ziggler back from Rollins. Like we're supposed to believe these guys are soft enough to get knocked out by a glancing body check, but now they're strong enough to subdue the Intercontinental champ solo?
ReplyDeleteAnyone got a location on Dr. Zahorian? He's gotten to the referees now.
ReplyDeleteSo a ref getting nailed by a guy 3 times his size and selling it is not realistic, but the shitty distraction rollup finish that everyone should have have found a way to counter 6 years ago is? Fuck this company.
ReplyDeleteBooooooom! Haha, that was awesome
ReplyDeleteI guarantee you, if Vince is still alive and in charge of everything 10-15 years from now, when he REALLY starts getting senile, edicts will start going out where all the guys have to have the same color shoelaces or all main event-level guy's names must be between 4-5 syllables ("DEAN...AM-BA-ROSE!").
ReplyDeleteFor shits and giggles, my top 5 list of worst wrestling finishes:
ReplyDelete5: Any finish where the match is just thrown out with no official decision announced.
4. Any time-limit draw on PPV (I'm fine with it on TV shows if it furthers the storyline).
3. The double-pin, including one guy lifting his shoulder at 2.75.
2. Any Dusty finish, especially ones where the decision is reversed the next night.
1. The WWE distraction roll-up.
Ref bumps are one of very few things I don't miss when watching 2000 stuff. They happened constantly back then. But, I'd take ref bumps over the stupid 'distraction', 'someone's music plays which makes you lose' lazy booking.
ReplyDelete