The Wrestling Thread got interviewed by Sean Mooney

[Team Andino]

i don't see that face being randy orton either... I think he crapped the bag once to often.

ftfy

 

[Benstamania]

haha!

 

[Metallo]

Yes. Wasn't that exciting .. lol.

A lot of people called it. The way it was done was pretty lame though.

Doesn't Punk's merchandise sell more than Cena's? That DOES make me wonder why he turned heel. Anyone know how much of a contract extension he signed? Maybe only a year? Did we ever find out?

I know he was really cryptic in a Tweet he made a while ago about how long he'd be in the WWE...

Yeah seems silly to turn Punk when it comes to merch...unless they just want him to play heel to babyface Cena and Rock. Predictable.

You'd swear Punk broke his spine with that clothsline.

Not surprising with the way he oversells the Stunner.

Punk will be a regular WWE heel by the end of the month and then fed to movie boy at the Rumble to set up the rematch of one of the poorest Mania main events ever and SuperCena will get his win he should have already had instead of dragging this **** out 2 full years.

I'm sorry but anyone hoping for Punk's character change to anything new are in for a let down, it's time to pay the piper for last years pipebomb.

Turning Punk heel is ******ed as he's the only other truly over face WWE has, and it's not like WWE has a Storm or an Aries that are nipping at the heels in popularity and can be the guy to dethrone Punk and create a new top face, this is just more tired **** to feed Cena and the Movie star.

Well, I made to a 1000 Raws and bar the ending that was a good sign off point.

Say it aint so! Looks like WWEs going to just blow any momentum he had. There's not another full time face even close to being over enough to take Punks spot right now.

Ideally the heel turn would be so he could face Austin but I'd rather that be face vs face. If they are just turning him heel to feed to the Rock...screw that.

 

[TheFuture]

I hope Punk comes out with something compelling next week, and not an insecure cry of "I deserve the spotlight, Rock and Cena don't!1!!".

And **** the Big Show, I'd much rather it be Punk and D-Bry taking on Rock and Cena.

 

[Kaleb]

 

[TX85]

Marking for DX Taker!

 

[NDX]

Billy! t: Taker! t: X-Pac.

 

[Superark]

www.pwinsider.com

THREE HOUR RAW DOES A HUGE AUDIENCE
by Dave Scherer @ 5:07 PM on 7/24/2012

The ratings haven't come out yet for last night's Raw but the audience share has, and it was huge. The show averaged an awesome 6,019,000 viewers, which is a monster number for them.

The show did the following audiences by hour:
5,439,000 viewers at 8 p.m.
6,318,000 viewers at 9 p.m.
6,300,000 viewers at 10 p.m.
Obviously, it was a huge success for WWE.

 

[ImWithTeamConan]

I was incredibly disappointed with last night's show. For all the talent they were bringing in, there was a lot of dead skits or waste of space advertisements for Tout. If tonight was anything of a barometer, the future three hour episodes aren't going to be good.

Having Sandow with DX was good. I like Sandow a lot. DX's act got a little tiring after a while.

AJ being the new GM was a twist no one saw coming. The Rock/Daniel Bryan/CM Punk segment was gold, I loved seeing the People's Champ with Bryan/Punk. It's what Lesnar should be doing (working with people other than HHH and Cena).

Enjoyed the ending, it did what serialized television should do: make me want to turn in next week to see what happens next. If turning heel means Punk gets to just throw pipe bombs week in and week out I'm all up for it. I can also see Heyman starting a stable with him and Lesnar, the WWE would finally have some dangerous heels. Lesnar could turn on Punk at the rumble, Punk vs. Lesnar at Wrestlemania.

This situation reminds me a bit of the Survivor Series where Rock turned Corporate Champion against Mankind. The Rock was getting popular, he was the second in line face of the company behind Stone Cold, I remember at the time (and they talk about it a little in his documentary) that I was thinking "wow, you're turning him heel? He's just about to burst as a face."

And the rest is history. I feel this could be a similar situation. My only concerns are:
1. SS was an effective double switch with Mankind being a face. Other than Cena there are no other top notch faces, Sheamus hasn't been built correctly.
2. I worry that they're going to make Punk a chicken heel, and that's not what the WWE needs. When Lesnar came back it was such a breath of fresh air.

 

[Wheels]

It was fun while it lasted guys, but Punk will probably be jobbing 2010 style soon because strong heels don't exist in WWE anymore. He might cut some good promos, and he might get rid of the spinner title for a little bit, but I bet Cena brings it back again once he regains the title.

 

[The Sage]

Dang, I was leaving my feelings about Punk's heel turn until next week, but y'all are making me think...

 

[Superark]

Dang, I was leaving my feelings about Punk's heel turn until next week, but y'all are making me think...

I'm actually a little more optimistic about Punk's heel turn than everyone else. I think this will be a resurgence of his character and make him more interesting than he's ever been, if they let him.

My only gripe is that he is obviously being set up to lose to Rock at the Rumble so Cena/Rock II can be for the WWE title. I hate that aspect of it because as Hunter said, they are sacrificing Punk so Cena can get the win he should have gotten at the last Mania. Now you've had both of your biggest stars job to a guy who is not even a part-timer for your company.

 

[Benstamania]

Hayman/Punk/Lesnar stable... Never thought of that.

 

[Wheels]

The only way Punk will hold on to the title is if he hooks up with AJ. I doubt WWE allows him to do it by himself.

 

[TX85]

 

[Dr. Evil]

I wonder how many of the legends were forced by the WWE to join Tout last night?

 

[Hunter Rider]

Doesn't Punk's merchandise sell more than Cena's? That DOES make me wonder why he turned heel. Anyone know how much of a contract extension he signed? Maybe only a year? Did we ever find out?

I know he was really cryptic in a Tweet he made a while ago about how long he'd be in the WWE...

He signed a 5 year contract.

I can't believe this is happening. Punk is a good heel but I'm over Cena. There needs to be a face that rivals Cena in terms of popularity.

Say it aint so! Looks like WWEs going to just blow any momentum he had. There's not another full time face even close to being over enough to take Punks spot right now.

Ideally the heel turn would be so he could face Austin but I'd rather that be face vs face. If they are just turning him heel to feed to the Rock...screw that.

This is the crux of it gentleman, Punk wont be some tweener or whatever else some are dreaming of, he'll be a cookie cutter heel who will eventually get his comeuppance. I would lay good money that his promo next week is built around how he's been booked this year, and in turn he'll be branded a "Jealous crybaby", something King will push hard on commentary.

The other more distasteful aspect is that unlike the sudden Roode heel turn that flourished and will make two new main event faces before it's done, Punk will merely be jobbed to SuperCena or Rocky, neither of whom need that win.

I wonder if the success of a true mega heel like Roode has led to WWE turning the only guy they have who could pull it off right now, but I suspect other motives are in play.

If Punk were to play his role in the same way Sting did in the Main Event Mafia it would be cool, but WWE won't do that.

I think the heel turn is stupid on many levels but if the plan was to use it ala Roode to make new main eventers like say a face turned Ziggler? then I could get behind it, sadly it wont come to pass.

 

[NDX]

Christ, Punk turning heel last night is like yelling fire in a movie theater. Everyone just gets up and starts running in circles in a panic.

 

[Hunter Rider]

I'm not sure what the Gif maker is pointing out here? In the Cena pic Rock's eyes are shut and his body is oddly positioned, in the Punk gif he looks limp and his eyes look glazed over.

 

[TheFuture]

Oh, just forgot about the cringiest moment of the night: Waltman slithering his arm around Trish.

Rock referring to D-Bry as an oompa loompa/frodo and Sheen's "musings" throughout the night are close runner ups though.

And is it just me, or did Steph get in a few sharp barbs on Heyman while all Heyman got to say in response was "What daddy's princess wants princess gets!".

 

[NDX]

 

[Dr. Evil]

Damn it! The Rock calling Daniel Bryan an Oompa loompa made me want to watch Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory today!

Gene Wilder FTW!

[YT]r2pt2-F2j2g[/YT]

 

[TX85]

I was fine with Rock calling D-BRY an oompa loompa&frodo,I didn't think it was that hilarious But neither so bad and especially not cringing,And I'm a big mark for Danielson/D-Bry..But then I'm also an even bigger Rock mark!!!

 

[Dr. Evil]

I was fine with Rock calling D-BRY an oompa loompa&frodo,I didn't think it was that hilarious But neither so bad and especially not cringing,And I'm a big mark for Danielson/D-Bry..But then I'm also an even bigger Rock mark!!!

Well, your in the minority.

 

[NDX]

You know, I never did post one of my favorite RAW moments...

IT WASN'T MY FAULT!