The Wrestling Thread Has Until 5! - Part 40

[Vapor]

Stopped watching wrestling back in 01/02 but kinda kept abreast of happenings, on a casual basis, by reading wrestling mags we get at work. Then me and some friends went to watch Wrestlemania at a bar in town because The Rock was hosting and since then I've tried keeping up with what's going on by watching what I can on the internet (I don't have the channels they come on here in the UK) or reading this forum or the WWE site... and I've noticed a steady rise quality over the past sort of year, definitely seems better then any thing from the last 10 years at any rate...

But I just wanted to weigh in on the 'It Begins' thing because I watched a local radio interview video on Youtube, recently, with Jericho, and in it he basically says that to return there would have to be something that interests him and right now he is busy/enjoying touring with Fozzy and that he has jan/feb/march/april/may planned out with a new record and hollywood stuff..

When asked about what many people are putting out as a dream WM match - Jericho vs. Punk and would he be up for that, his answer is

"...to go back to the WWE I would have to have something that interests me personally, you could say any name, it could be CM Punk, The Rock, it could be Funaki... But to me, I'd have to feel it and right now I'm happy doing all the stuff I'm doing"

Here's the interview for anyone who would like to watch it, it's only from about a month a go so it is quite recent. It's around the 10 min mark he starts to talk about wrestling (stealing moves, TNA, wrestling websites) but the question he talks about returning comes around the 17 min mark.

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Now, he comes across as very genuine and honest in his interviews so I don't know if he would necessarily 'lead people astray' but I also know that plans can change and all that... so even though he had plans it could still be him, I dunno.

The promos do seem to suit Jericho though... or an evolution of his character. The idea of him coming back to 'reclaim' the title of best in the world from Punk. And he's probably the only guy, besides Taker, they would spend so much money and time on for a return.......... I dunno, if it's not Jericho then I'm calling it now, it's Shane O'Mac

 

[Kaleb]

I love the idea of two wrestlers claiming to be the best in the world ( and being able to back it up) go at it, to me its the closest thing we gonna get to a fued like Bret vs Shawn (think build up to WM12)

 

[bullets]

I hope they give him a limited schedule so that he can come back but still do his Fozzy stuff without getting burned out.

 

[Kaleb]

I hope they give him a limited schedule so that he can come back but still do his Fozzy stuff without getting burned out.

I thought thats what he asked for, but WWE didnt like that idea so they broke off contract talks.

 

[E-Man]

Part of me thinks they should really focus on making SmackDown the "wrestling" show. I know it kind of was before (Raw had more skits and whatnot) but why not stack it with guys like Punk, Bryan (already there, obviously) Ziggler, Rhodes, Ryder, ect.

They could even BILL the show as a "wrestling" show... More so since they're not afraid to use the word "pro wrestling" anymore.

Keep the "Supermen" on Raw.

That would be ideal since it worked out so well in the past. The problem now is that the brand split is practically done. You have all of Smackdown's top guys on Raw and everyone has been on Smackdown besides Cena when it's live. With the new network I think they should just end the brand split officially. Maybe then they could use the ECW, or hell even WCW, name on a show for the young stars. Then they could let the big storylines develop on Raw while the guys "fight out their frustrations" on Smackdown.

 

[Metamorpho1977]

Can anyone tell me if that's a different guy in the Kane mask?

 

[Dr. Evil]

Can anyone tell me if that's a different guy in the Kane mask?

It's the same guy, Glenn Jacobs.

 

[Metamorpho1977]

It's the same guy, Glenn Jacobs.

He has really lost a lot of weight, he looks really cut now.

 

[Van Petrol]

I'm kinda' surprised the WWE haven't gone a Barrett/Sheamus/McIntyre/Ryan/Regal stable route, as of yet.

 

[RoughNTumble]

Woo! I'm going to smackdown on jan. 17th!

I've never been to a wrestling show before. Any advice?

 

[Hunter Rider]

The Cashbox: Chances of Punk Losing to Ziggler on Raw

I'd say this is a pretty rational article.

VIDEO: Matt Hardy Posts Update, Thanks WWE For Rehab

He at least looks sober and healthy.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Wrestlezone has learned exclusively that WWE Smackdown main eventer Randy Orton's back injury was discovered last week, and that the storyline played out on Smackdown last night was to cover the injury.

Orton is expected to undergo several tests in the next few days to determine the severity of the injury. If you're reading elsewhere that Orton "will be back for WrestleMania," or that Orton "will miss WrestleMania," both of those reports are premature. Orton's status for WrestleMania is unknown. Right now Vince McMahon and Stephanie McMahon LeVesque have asked the writers to prepare for scenarios with Orton included in Mania, and for Orton to be out "at least until a month or two past Mania."


Orton himself is said to be upset with the injury, "but dealing with it much better than in the past when he faced similar situations with time off," we were told by a key WWE insider this afternoon. We will keep you up-to-date with our inside information on Randy Orton's injury as it becomes available.

As I suspected the injury happened last week, I'm almost certain it was the car spot.

 

[Hunter Rider]

- WWE officials held a meeting last week after the RAW ratings came in, during which Michael Cole's commentary was discussed according to F4Wonline.com.

TV rating's patterns show fans have little interest in seeing anyone on TV besides the top Superstars. It was considered that a reason why might be Cole's continual burial of talent on Raw and Smackdown for the past year or so.

- This past Monday's edition of WWE Raw finished with a 2.93 cable rating, which is up slightly from the 2.92 number the show drew last week. The show averaged 4,460,000 million viewers overall, up from 4,290,000 the week before. It also broke an eight week streak of viewership declining during the second hour.
This is the fourth consecutive week that the show's rating has come in under a 3.0.

 

[MMMMM...Pancakes]

Woo! I'm going to smackdown on jan. 17th!

I've never been to a wrestling show before. Any advice?

Poo and pee before you leave your house and grab food before the show starts. Enjoy the show!!!

 

[Project862006]

i could of told you cole burial of superstars was not a positive vince lol

 

[The Sage]

- Super Luchas started the Jeff Hardy-WWE story today because it's Innocents' Day in Latin America, which is like April's Fools Day here in the United States.

- Details are still sketchy but WWE has reportedly changed creative plans this week for several top stars including Dolph Ziggler, The Miz, R-Truth and WWE Champion CM Punk.

- John Cena was moved to both the 10pm and the 11pm timeslots on this week's RAW from CM Punk's hometown of Chicago because Punk's TV ratings patterns haven't been good. While many feel that Cena's feud with Kane is going to lead to a Cena heel turn, it seems highly unlikely that officials will turn a guaranteed ratings draw like Cena.

Source: F4Wonline.com

http://www.pwpix.net/pwpixnews/headlines/327115593.php

 

[Hunter Rider]

- Details are still sketchy but WWE has reportedly changed creative plans this week for several top stars including Dolph Ziggler, The Miz, R-Truth and WWE Champion CM Punk.

This change has been since Raw? I mean I can't see where they can change the Miz and Truth stuff as it seems pretty straight forward.

- John Cena was moved to both the 10pm and the 11pm timeslots on this week's RAW from CM Punk's hometown of Chicago because Punk's TV ratings patterns haven't been good. While many feel that Cena's feud with Kane is going to lead to a Cena heel turn, it seems highly unlikely that officials will turn a guaranteed ratings draw like Cena.

This is getting so irritating, firstly where is it said that heels can't be ratings draws? I recall Vince, Hogan, HBK, Triple H, Jericho and The Rock all doing good ratings as heels. Cena's merch sales and ratings drawing ability is not gonna be hurt by a heel turn, that logic might apply to the 80's but it's nearly 2012.

As for the Punk thing, this all goes back to the angle with Triple H, despite what some said about being too obvious blah blah blah, Triple H should have turned heel on Punk, because instead Punk was simply proven wrong despite telling the truth about H and on top of that it was merely used so Triple H could have a bit more glory poured on him, while Punk was left to try and carry one of the dullest, least over WWE heel champions in history ,and now it's all HIS fault that segments with him where he has no credible challenger and an authority enemy that 90% of the audience don't even get, aren't drawing ratings?

 

[MMMMM...Pancakes]

- John Cena was moved to both the 10pm and the 11pm timeslots on this week's RAW from CM Punk's hometown of Chicago because Punk's TV ratings patterns haven't been good. While many feel that Cena's feud with Kane is going to lead to a Cena heel turn, it seems highly unlikely that officials will turn a guaranteed ratings draw like Cena.

Source: F4Wonline.com

http://www.pwpix.net/pwpixnews/headlines/327115593.php

I think a heel Cena would increase ratings, draw interest in people who've stopped watching because of face Cena.

If he is turned and it's handled well it would make Cena feel fresh.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

What I don't get is this - they blame CM Punk for low ratings, but then they are going to (potentially) put the belt on a newcomer to the main event scene that hasn't proven himself a ratings grabber.

No. This isn't a knock on Ziggler either. But keep the belt on Punk (unless they are going to have Jericho come back to screw Punk out of the title, and build the storyline from that). I don't want to see Punk drop the belt yet.

(Did you ever think you'd see me say those words?)

Cena is a ratings draw? Really?? He's the reason the ratings are in the position they are in to begin with.

 

[Project862006]

are the ratings any lower than when cena was champ? i think not

acting like punk is bringing in 1.0's lol

wwe does'nt seem to realize punk does'nt have a competitive or interesting heel to go against

every hero needs a villain

punk does'nt have any yet then low tier guys like adr and miz

its like a batman film with bruce fighting mad hatter and cay face and wondering why it bombs

 

[Trainwreck2100]

- WWE officials held a meeting last week after the RAW ratings came in, during which Michael Cole's commentary was discussed according to F4Wonline.com.

TV rating's patterns show fans have little interest in seeing anyone on TV besides the top Superstars. It was considered that a reason why might be Cole's continual burial of talent on Raw and Smackdown for the past year or so.

You mean maybe just maybe they'll tell him to tone down his schtick.

 

[Hunter Rider]

WWF 1998 - Stone Cold Steve Austin feuds with Interim Raw GM Gerald Briscoe.

WWF 2000 - The Rock has a huge title feud with Val Venis.

Yeah, guess how hot those ratings would have been.

The answer is simple, give Punk a proper challenger and an angle with some substance and he'll deliver, hell he did in the summer, he made Cena and Triple H the most interesting either has been in years.

 

[Dr. Evil]

I don't think Cole is allowed to say something extremely negative about Triple H, although I could be wrong.

 

[bullets]

Money in the Bank Returning to WrestleMania, Dusty's Book for Kids, More

Posted by Marc Middleton on 12/28/2011
- WWE will return to Madison Square Garden with a Supershow on Sunday, March 18th. Tickets go on sale January 7th. The pre-sale begins January 4th and the code is WRESTLEMANIA.

- Jim Ross said on Twitter that he's not on WWE TV because WWE is not high on his look plus officials like Michael Cole.

- The children's book that WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes is currently working on will be released some time next year and is apparently titled "Red The Zebra."

- As of this week, the plan is to bring WWE's Money in the Bank match back to WrestleMania 28 in Miami. The match was not featured at this year's WrestleMania event.

********

That just sucks about J.R.

Glad to hear about MITB returning to WM though, maybe they have a different idea for next years ppv.

 

[Dr. Evil]

Why doesn't JR just quit?

MITB PPV should be replaced by King of the Ring.