Wrestlers posing with my belt. Got to give it to Edge though. He was a good sport about it. He looked at me, looked at my replica, then back at me saying "I'm not posing with that belt!" Dallas Page sadly declined my photo request.
I think that belt is kinda ugly but its cool that those guys did that for you! Nick Bockwinkle still exudes class. Ricky Steamboat can make any belt look good. The US title fits Sarge to a T.
Now that I look at it its got an old retro vibe like an old 40's tin cover or ceramic sign. I don't think it works as well as a belt but its got a kind of old classic promotional aesthetic only more blinged out.
The same could've been said for Hogan with Andre, but Andre's rub immortalized Hogan. Undertaker needs to do the same for Cena or Sheamus.
Thats a good point. I'm on the fence when it comes to Cena ending the streak. What you say is true and if Taker
IS in the Andre role Cena is in the Hogan role. The Rock's generational passing of the torch was more like the passing of a damp sparkler. Taker would get the job done far better.
The problem is Cena hasn't really taken the WWE to the promised land and the soaring heights of sucess that Hogan did. It would be a "moment" within the busines but not the kind of moment that trancends the business the way Hogan beating Andre at WMIII was.
And Cena gets such mixed reactions I don't think it would have the same feeling as Hogan beating Andre. The WWE audience and far more casual fans were more solidly behind Hogan as a triumphant hero. The smarks would crap all over Cena. I just kind of think a moment like that would be better served if it had the right emotion and amosphere surrounding it.
But...once again... if its a question of "precedent" then Hogan didn't really NEED that win over Andre either but he got it. The WWE was already huge and so was Hogan.
As for Sheamus...he could do a lot with breaking The Streak but he's not anywhere near that Hogan level and he's not even on Cenas level yet. They'd still need to do a lot of work.
It really does make me wonder what could have been if CM Punk had gotten the proper support a couple of years ago or if Jeff Hardy had stuck around WWE and literally kept his nose clean...
Originally Posted by Lobo
First time in forever I'm watching some Impact. The tag match was good, loved Morgans promo. Why did WWE ever release him and why did he have that idiotic stuttering gimmick?
I think his time in TNA has done more to help him improve as a performer than anything he was doing in WWE. Thats why its good to have other companies around.
If Morgan can finally get those last gears to click he could really be something else.
Originally Posted by Hunter Rider
The Barrett thing was a glaring example of the differences in ego vs business when it comes to these two, I mean Hogan does have too much storyline in TNA as you say, but the guys he interacts with are at least treat with respect by him which is about the biggest way Hogan can put someone over at this stage, treating them as if they matter.
Man Hogan would have made a mint working with Lesnar, I mean granted Brock would have to change his style a bit as we all know the Hulkster doesn't like working stiff brother, but for the money that could be made I'm sure he'd take some extra pain to get that big box office pay-off.
It makes me think of Impact last night. Hogans obviously keeping Morgan looking somewhat credible for SOMETHING down the line. Hogan hasn't totally squashed his momentum in a promo yet. The worst thing he did to him was call him selfish...which heels tend to be anyway.
With the Triple H/Barrett confrontation Triple H took him out like he didn't matter to him. Like he was beneath him and not worthy of his time or effort. This is a guy Triple H could have worked with down the road to build up but he made him look like a fool.
Hogan usually lets his ego get in the way AFTER he makes the money with someone he knows is special. Triple H often does it before. Thats probably one reason he's never been a star of Hogans magnitude. Hogan sees guys with potential and has them fed to him in a big money match. Triple H steps on them on his way to the top. If its someone that has the potential to draw some money in a match thats a huge mistake.
Its just like with Sheamus. Triple H beat him down like his fued with Sheamus was an afterthought just so he could put and end to it and get it out of the way to face the Undertaker. The smart thing to do would have been to keep the feud viable for a return to it down the road.
Triple H gets off pushing his cool smartass image on camera. At this point he knows he can because he's gonna have it all. But its bad business.
As for Hogan/Brock look at what he did with Big Show. He didn't squash The Giants aura the first time he saw him. He saw an opportunity to make some big money and he sold The Giant as this big monster threat first. It was about Hogans ego but it was about doing business more.
Oh yeah Triple H buried him in the match, Vince made the call and Trips took full advantage by kicking out of Booker's finish immediately and then yes, beating him with a single pedigree.
I think what should have happened is Booker should have snapped in the match, got DQ'd and beat Triple to a bloody mess, so while he didn't get the title he still got his payback.
This is one scenario I was thinking of too. Triple H gets to retain but Booker got to make him pay by being a man and giving him a real a** kicking.
Oh I agree that it was a jigsaw puzzle and required the numerous pieces to get the most out of the angle, but without Hogan they have no center piece because as you say who else would have fit the mold of being the leader of a group that was giving off the image of "Those up North" implementing a hostile takeover?
His heel turn was so shocking that it turned the industry on it's head, the promo he cut directly afterward is one of the all time great money promos, Hall and Nash drove the ball down field but it needed Hogan, just like Vince's vision in the 80's, to score the touchdown.
Yeah. I agree. Like I said Hogan made them legit. He was still the most well known name in the industry at that point. He brought them even more attention they wouldn't have gotten with someone else.
Hogan hadn't been a heel in over 15 years and even then many people either hadn't seen him heel or didn't know he had even been one at all. That alone garnered some press. They went from big deal to bigger deal.
Originally Posted by
Superark
The New TNA Knockouts site is up and running
http://www.wrestlingknockouts.com/
Oh My!
Originally Posted by
Superark
Originally Posted by
Hunter Rider
Sweet Mercy!!!!!! Here's a few more.
Darn you guys! Now I need some alone time!
Originally Posted by the dmg
Cesaro was doing well for himself until the yodeling. He had the Rugby character and the word in five seconds things, which sucked. Once they pushed him with the US title and dropped Oksana, he was being pushed for his throwback style and his rugby toughness. Think about him using the Neutrilizer on Khali and Clay. Yeah, they may not be upper tier, but it made him look strong, which was a great way to get him started. Since he's foreign, the US title is a good way to get their heel characters over, but it can only go so far. Hell, I think he even beat Orton cleanly when he had momentum, but then once he was paired with Ryback, he looked like a complete chicken ****, gets fed to Orton, and after destroying Miz is routinely losing to him.
It's really criminal what the hell they were thinking by changing this and have him do the yodeling on top of it. The guy is one of their best workers, as he can work against any style and make his opponent look like a million bucks. I've said it before, but it begs repeating that when he wrestled against Sin Cara, Sin Cara looked great because Cesaro world traveled. Hell, even against someone like Khali, who can barely do anything in the ring, Cesaro made him look good and showed his strength.
I'm sure Vince had a hand in Cesaro doing his anti-American stick, and when it got stale, Vince got bored.
Cesaro should be an old style tough guy mat wrestler. What they are doing with him is ridiculous. Everybody here can see it but Vince lets his ego get in the way. Like someone else said instead of giving Cesaro the right gimmick he just expeccts him to make anything work.
Originally Posted by vantheman77
I like seeing Hulk Hogan and Sting fight off the Aces and Eights like Superman and Batman. The hook of this week's Impact was the confrontation of Hulk Hogan and Bully Ray, which what the show was building towards.
Matt Morgan cuts a good mic promo, but I agree with Hogan's decision.
This is one of those instances where we have 2 Knockouts matches instead of one and both Taryn Terrell and Velvet Sky used rollups against veterans like Tara and Mickie James.
I like how the opening segment went from James Storm/ AJ Styles/ Bad Influence to Aces and Eights/ Joseph Park.
The tag team title match was good, but where do Chavo and Hernandez go from here? Probably Aces and Eights. They're third wheel to Roode/ Aries and Bad Influence.
I had a feeling they were going to pair up Robbie E and Jesse Godderz since Rob Terry broke up with E. I hope Tara and Jesse didn't breakup offscreen.
They're hyping up Chris Sabin's return as I look forward to his new in-ring style.
Loving the new Knockouts website as I bookmarked it.
I thought it was a good show. I was a bit antsy about Hogan fighting Bully Ray and punching him but it didn't hurt Bullys image or momentum too badly. I just see it as building to the next thing of TNA banding together to fight Aces & Eights. It was cool to see Sting back and hopefully he's also in a supporting role in building to the big showdown. The real fear is Hogan being the one to beat Ray but judging by how he moved last night thats not much of a fear for me anymore. I don't think he has a full on match in him. Not the kind thats required anyway. Hopefully thats the most we see Hogan do and it ends up being the younger stars of TNA that end up saving the day and winning the war.
Originally Posted by bullets
Orton ending the streak would of been a terrible mistake. The streak has been the best thing about Mania the last few years. Also with Orton's change of persona it wouldn't of done much good . Another thing is that Orton hasn't lived up to his potential.
Yeah I think Orton has peaked. His whole problem is he's never been dependable or reliable for very long. Its like Jeff Hardy but Hardy was a much hotter star at one point.
If it weren't for Edge's neck he would have been a much better candidate to end the Streak. He was a better heel and he and Taker had some great matches. Of course his neck meant his career was on borrowed time so that put him out of the running pretty quickly.
Originally Posted by Slushy
While Orton is to blame for letting world champion go to his head, I also fault Triple H for not putting him over especially at Wrestlemania 25. I lost count of how many times Orton jobbed to Hunter in their 5 year feud
I think his best period was 2009. He was consistent, had matured, and had the most momentum he's ever had. He should have gone over at Wrestlemania 25. Triple H going over screwed Orton. Again.
Originally Posted by AntMan
There is no clear leader of The Shield, because while Reigns does finish opponents with the powerbomb, Ambrose seems to get the most shine on the mic. Plus you have to factor in the all for one and one for all nature of the group.
Yeah I don't see how Reigns can be seen as the leader either. If anything they are all equels. Like you said Ambrose does most of the speaking for the group---like a leader. Reigns does the powerbomb and comes out alone much of the time because he's "the big strong guy"
Originally Posted by chamber-music
Reigns is the least intresting of the three
I like them all but I have to agree. Reigns has the build but Rollins has a pretty good look as well AND he's great at selling and working in the ring. Ambrose is the best at heeling it up, the best talker, and he has some strong psychology.
