The thing is of the current roster who could Punk work that was bigger than Cena?
Exactly, Hunter. No one besides Rock and Cena get enough attention from creative to be bigger stars OR get bigger programs. The only thing that could be bigger is breaking the streak and I do mean BREAKING the streak. A match alone where Punk loses just won't cut it in comparison.
I think JR does it that way as he is still oldschool and not of the shoot generation, so in the open media he is either gonna praise someone or be diplomatic in his answer, when it's the latter just read what he doesn't say lol.
JR is a pro and thats something I've always respected about him. Every once in a while he'll give his honest feelings on something like the way Nash and Hogan screwed up WCW. Then things will accidentally slip out like the way he criticized Tenay when he thought he and Taz had a weak early period together in TNA and told Taz it wasn't his fault. Although...to be honest...I think its more Taz's fault than Tenays for any problems now. Tenay isn't the strongest as a traditional play by play guy (he's more of a third man analyst) but even when Tenay is good Taz is all over the place. Tenay still isn't the best guy to bounce off of though. Maybe Taz needs to be produced more.
The beauty of Del Rio vs Henry is that it only needs that one destruction of Ricardo by Henry and the heat for the match is there as Ricardo is actually over, and simple may be the best way to go at this late date.
Funny you should put it that way. The beauty is Ricardo is more talented as a character performer and more over than Del Rio.
Agreed, both are really crying out to be multi-man matches just to add some intrigue and action to them.
I wish it wasn't that way but the roster is just so thin on REAL stars and most of the part timers don't have it any more so it seems like they have to double or triple up on big match participants to really rise above the bar thats been set in years past.
In 1995 I think he was more over than either Nash or HBK, and as you say he carried that into WCW where he remained over with the survey gimmick.
As a babyface he was one of the foreunners to the Attitude Era anti hero and as a heel he was a cool heel. Hall really was an underrated worker for a man his size. He could wrestle AND talk. I think of all the Kliq guys in the mid 90's he may have been the second best all around total package talent behind Shawn Michaels at one point.
I still think if they'd had Ziggler cash in and win the title at EC and then defend it successfully at Mania against Jericho, it would have been the best thing for the title and Dolph going forward. In the build up they could have played off the fact Jericho had faced Triple H, HBK and Punk at previous Mania's so this was a huge first challenger for Dolph, then when he goes over in a great match he comes out of Mania looking like a main event star.
I agree. My idea was just me trying to make chicken salad out of chicken sh**. The potential match as it stands now is just so "meh." Your idea is more traditionally sound though. Just a shame WWE thinks otherwise.
Originally Posted by UnionJack
Rock V Punk will be a better match as Punk can carry Rock more as he is more athletic and conditioned.
Rock V Cena is too big men having a slow match, that's not entertaining ... plus like most have said what will it really do for Cena the guy has had everything his own way for far too long, he could do with an injury story to get him off tv for a few months.
Agreed. In order for Rock vs Cena II to work like it should they'd need something as good as Hogan vs Warrior booking/planning/creastive and thats impossible now for so many reasons.
Originally Posted by Pink Ranger
Miz and Maryse are a perfect couple. They each know the exact same number of wrestling moves.
And they both execute them just as badly.
But I have a feeling Maryse may know a few more rest holds and ways to work on her back since she signed up during the Johnny Ace era of divas.
Originally Posted by Antman
Swagger is a doofus. He had a massive push handed to him on a silver platter and decides to get high. I hope the boys are laughing at him
I hope HHH chewed him the f*** out
Originally Posted by the_ultimate_evil
ohh yeah because this will end well.
seriously vince take a lesson from the internet for once do not feed the trolls
Its a waste of time but its one time I don't mind. Beck wont show up but hes such a piece of sh** that I hope WWE makes fun of him.
Originally Posted by Van Petrol
Not sure when exactly. But I think it was during a match against Rick Rude or the Honky Tonk Man when Savage was WWF Champion, and one of the latter were the IC Champion.
If thats true I wish I could see it. I always wanted to see those two wrestle in WWF. Two of the best workers of their era.
Originally Posted by Antman
I'm confused. Who are these people calling Miz the new Flair?
The cokeheads in WWE creative. Its the most absurd gimmick/storyline Ive seen in a while. You need a Bobby Roode type if you are going to call someone the next Flair.
Originally Posted by Dragon_316ca
Zeb's message to Beck:
Mantel just became more awesome in my eyes.
Originally Posted by The Sage
In a year's time this needs to happen:
- Dolph Ziggler as a permanent main-eventer and world champion.
- Daniel Bryan elevated back to main-event status and going after the world title.
- The end of Shield, all three rising up the ranks.
- Cena starts to losing to people not Rock or CM Punk. Or Lesnar. Or Taker. Or Triple H.
THIS!!! All This. I guess the Shield could stay together a little longer but it all still needs to happen.
Originally Posted by
Hunter Rider
I hope the in-fighting between the heels during the 8 man tag on Impact means TNA are going to give us Aries/Roode vs Bad Influence at Lockdown.
I didn't realize Velvet had won the KO title, I must have missed it when I read that batch of UK spoilers from a few weeks ago. Personally I thought Tara's heel run as champ deserved a better ending than first pinned in a 4-way, and why not save Velvet's win for the Lockdown PPV?
Bully Ray is trolling hard with his "I'm so honoured" stuff with Hogan and Sting, he's got the crowd buying it as well lol. The highlight this week was him hobbling up the ramp to get to his wife and an injured Hulkster, as the camera focused on the Orange one laying in agony we heard Bully coming with a shout of "DAD!!!"
I figured it would come down to Velvet vs Tara but I guess they thought Gail could carry Velvet to just as good or better a match and it would be more unpredictable. I think lately they've been explaining away Taras losses by saying that she can't focus when Jessie isn't around and is distracted. Not sure if they will do anything more with that or not. She's got to get a rematch I would think.
As thick as Bully Ray is laying it on he's got to be turning heel at some point soon. Who knows he might be able to save Aces & 8's from being a total bore.
I also hope we see Bad Influence vs Aries and Roode. It could easilty be the best tag team program going today if it happens.
Damn...now I want to see Aries and Roode vs Bryan and Kane
Originally Posted by OnTheAir
I kind of want to see Roode, Aries and Bad Influence in one stable...kind of a Fortune 2.0, but with in-fighting/one-upsmanship. But, a feud between the two teams is the next best thing. These four guys are without question my favorite part of TNA right now...absolute gold every time they are on the screen!
I've found Tara's title run to be very entertaining, and I agree...she deserved a better end than that. Velvet just hasn't done it for me since her return. She needs to be a heel again.
Bully Ray could not come off more heelishly insincere than he is right now with this marriage angle. I can't say that I like the overall storyline, but Bully's certainly playing his role extremely well.
I pretty much agree with everything you just said. I might not want to see them as a stable or faction but I'd love to see tag matches. I'm happy for Velvet because she deserves it but Tara deserved to go out losing stronger. Hopefully this isn't the end of it. Ray has been a diamond in a turd storyline.
Originally Posted by bullets
I wouldn't even call Miz a poor man's Ric Flair. I would rather someone like Cesaro or Ziggler using the figure four leglock. Miz is an ok wrestler , but he certainly doesn't echo Flair in any way.
Ziggler is closer than Miz. Even as a talker Miz is different than Flair. They may as well be calling Miz the next Rick Rude or the next Shawn Michaels or next Rock while they are at it.
Originally Posted by ImWithTeamConan
Armchair booking but I would love for The Shield to make a big mark on Wrestlemania this year. Something along the lines of destroying Cena and the Rock after the main event. Wrestlemania 29 ends with the future of the company standing tall, The Shield has arrived and are here to stay.
That would be a lot smarter that the quasi cliffhanger ending of WM27
Originally Posted by Hunter Rider
I agree to an extent but the focus on the actual titles has gotten lost amid the personal issues with Bryan and Kane. I think they need to put Rhodes Scholars back together and put the belts on them as they are going to get lost in the singles shuffle right now. Then you have quality heel champs for a re-pushed Uso's, Fat Funky's, ReyCara and the PTP's to chase.
Ditto. Rhodes and Sandow are way too talented to be as underused as the are right now. They need something worthwhile to work with.
Originally Posted by The Sage
Why not just give the tag belt to Shield and let them dominate for several months all the way to Summerslam?
Originally Posted by Hunter Rider
While the Freebirds rule idea appeals to me I don't think wrestling the Prime Time Players, ReyCara and the Uso's is going to do anything for The Shield and it will look like a step down when you take into account their PPV matches so far have seen them beat main event guys.
Exactly. In order for that to work the Shield needs strong teams to feud with and a stronger team to take the tag titles from.
Its like the idea of AJ going after the Divas title during her high point in the Punk/Bryan feud. It would have been a step down from a main storyline to a lesser spot on the card. The Shield could make the tag titles matter but they'd need the proper support all around first.
Originally Posted by TheFuture
Maybe it's just me but I think Zeb and Swagger showing disdain for Barrett makes sense. It'd be too simplistic for their hate to just be focused on Mexicans and African Americans.
I agree. As xenophobes they should hate any outsiders who come here and in their mind "wreck their way of life." Its not a race thing. Hell as a Brit someone like Barrett should be a guy they hate. If Colter is Tea Party-esque just where do people think the Tea Party got its name? There was that little thing called the Revolutionary War where America fought for its sovereignty and its American sovereignty that Colter is preaching about now. And Barett is still a foreign star coming into an American company like WWE and taking a job. The kind of hardcore groups Colter and Swagger are emulating would be angry at someone like Barret. Its not about race or ethnicity.
Originally Posted by
Kaleb
Thank you. Ohhhhhh Layla
Dear God yes. Not crazy about the hair but she's still fine as hell.
Originally Posted by bullets
I don't think Rock is giving them the publicity they had hoped for. I'm sure it's helping , but it's not all over the news. The mainstream media usually gives WWE the crap end of the stick.
So far you're right. I haven't seen a huge surge. Maybe that will change once the WWE Wrestlemania hype machine really kicks in.
Originally Posted by IncredibleJeff
Guess who wrestled at a house show.possible spoiler
Hmm...strange way for him to return but he may have done it there since it was close to where he lives and to see what he can do in the ring now. He could also work out and around any kinks or rust/physical issues where most wont see.
Triple H did the same thing a few years back after he took time off.
Originally Posted by Scar Predator
Honestly, that would be a waste. Cena's win is all but etched in stone and Punk's style doesn't mesh well with Rock's style.
Punk's style does mesh with Cena's though and Punk had better matches with Rock than Cena did with Rock. All that shows WHY the title match needs Punk. Thats not a waste. With an extra man like Punk in the match Punk and Cena can carry the load that Rock wouldn't have to. Punk adds a more dynamic element. Even if Cenas win is etched in stone Punk can add enough to make a mediocre rematch into at the very least a much better, more entertaining, and fresher triple threat.
Its not any more of a waste than anything else Punk would be doing. Certainly not more of waste than jobbing to Taker.
Originally Posted by Scar Predator
But Vince doesn't like the last match at WM ending with the heel going over.
Unless its a big deal. Miz was the heel at WM27 and went over so it could set in motion the Rock vs Cena match the next year. And if the streak DID end theres a strong chance Taker vs Punk would go on last because thats a big deal. Especially if its Takers final match.
Originally Posted by the_ultimate_evil
I'm an adamant pusher for the streak remaining intact. Before it was because it was one of the few remaining bits of kayfable left. Now there is just no point in ending it, it does nothing to beat an older taker.
Punk vs taker will no doubt be a great match but there absolutely no point in it.
Taker has 2 last great possible mania matches. Lesner and sting
Only thing that last one would have going for it is marquee value to older fans. The match might be a real dog. I love him and am a huge fan but Stings past his prime and probably won't go all out the way HBK and HHH did to live up to expectations. The time for Sting vs Taker would have been five years ago. I feel the same way on Sting vs Taker as you do on the streak ending, Evil. At this point whats the point of doing it?
Lesnar could at least do some more physical stuff but the question is how much of a beating would The Undertaker be willing to...er...take? Part of me says he would be game for anything but I also don't want to see him cripple himself in a last match.
As far as the streak I don't care either way. If it ends thats a great thing (if its the right guy ending it) but if it doesn't it won't bother me because if anyone's earned going out a winner its the Undertaker.
Originally Posted by TheFuture
I really don't think that Punk is the logical opponent for Taker. Maybe if the title was involved but it won't be. A match against Punk isn't really raising the stakes after 2 wars with Trips and as far as I'm concerned, there are only 2 choices: Lesnar or The Shield. In regards to the latter, they are being put over as unbeatable as no-one know hows to take them on: this to me is a pretty could set up for Taker to confront them.
I'd also go along with your line of thinking of why would Taker cost Punk against Cena?
Yeah. The major creative problem with Punk vs Taker is there is no story there. No reason for Taker to challenge Punk. I guess Punk could make th challenge as a grand claim to his superiority to Taker and the biggest thing he could do is break the streak. But why would aker accept? What does Taker get out of it? What does Punk have to offer? It seems like the ante has been upped in recent years to make it worth our AND The Deadmans while. As far as prizes Taker might want...Punks career isnt as enticing as a Shawn Michaels career (yet).
Right now creative is just not doing a very good job even for bigger names that arent Rock or Cena.
Originally Posted by The Sage
Majority of wrestlers rely on rest holds to get from one sequence to another. And Punk's style to me is almost a cross between Chris Jericho and RVD, moreso leaning towards the former, and ten years ago, Rock had good to great bouts with both men.
The issue is in each of Rock's single matches since his return, there's an extra use of rest holds by his opponent on him as if to give him additional to catch his breath. CM Punk rarely uses as many as he has with the Rock in match, nor used as much stalling.
Their matches have been cold to lukewarm to me, nothing hot. The speed the Rock used to have is gone. He doesn't really have bursts of moves in his matches anymore as a result. And it's one of the things missing that he used to have that made his matches exciting. Heck, his last match consisted of Punk on offense mostly, with Rock doing a few moves. There was hardly a strong comeback sequence by him.
That's why adding Punk to the Mania main-event would've been good, both for the promos and the match.
Exactly right, Sage. The biggest problems in Rock vs Punk and even Rock vs Cena hasn't been the lack of meshing styles. Its The Rock and his in ring condition. Punk AND Cena have shown they can go with different kinds of opponents and even similar opponents. They've both had to work at carrying a Rock (insert pun here) who is dealing with ring rust, cardio issues, and who hasn't put in enough time in front of live crowds in full tilt matches to deal with either issue.
If anything all this just shows WHY the title match needs Punk. To cover up any shortcomings that are already there and to infuse some freshness into a stale match we already saw last year that has an even more predictable outcome.
Any EXTRA restholds Punk used was to let Dwayne catch his breath but most guys use em. Even Jericho and he's one of the best workers in the business right now and he sure as hell s in better ring shape than Rock.
That's why I want him against The Shield, the streak continuing may be a foregone conclusion, but putting him against 3 guys will add that unknown element that Punk and even Lesnar never could.
