The Wrestling Thread Saw the End of An Era - Part 55

[Keyser Soze]

But this is still the greatest Bryan Danielson promo ever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSh2s_lmthI

 

[Metallo]

Kaufman was a comedic genious. I even watched his tv specials. I don't know if you've seen Man on the Moon but Carrey and Lawler do a great job re-enacting everything.

I read Carrey stayed in character with Lawler. Not sure how true that is but it would be a very Kaufman-like act.

I only watched 3 things on SD this week, Ryback's failure of a re-debut, Damien Sandow's intriguing promo, and AmDrag breaking up with AJ. That was such a good segment.

Thats who that was? He pulled off the scholarly thing very well. It seemed very old style classic WWF. He might have something.

Is Ryback like...a cyborg form the future or something? A this rate Vince will bring in frozen Nazi Heidenreich to fight him.

I also want to say that I'm not anti-characters, or thinking that wrestling should be all about the grappling and not about story and drama. While arguing for the virtues of wrestling here, I'm having an argument with someone on another forum who says that wrestling should be ALL matches and no promos/storylines, as "characters are only for people who can't get over with their wrestling." WTF!?

That could only work if you were running a VERY particular kind of niche promotion. The steak needs some sizzle as JR would say. You have to have SOME character in the show somewhere.

First of all let me say this, Nell you are entitled to your opinion and to enjoy what you may. I respect that.

Now having said that, there's nothing wrong with just being entertained, but when it comes at the expense of long-term planning and logical booking and choices that build a product, there is a problem. The goal is to have both. That's the point so many having been trying to drive home. Metallo, Hunter, and others can defend themselves, but I see the point they are making and it goes far FAR beyond "over-analyzing every single segment."

I will not go as far as to say you are not a pro wrestling fan. Clearly you are. You just value something different about it than the rest of us. That being said, using that line does not somehow validate your reasoning.
I think you are in the minority when it comes to wrestling fans and what grabs the casuals in your line of thinking. Vince Russo is clearly a pro wrestling fan, but that does not make his ideas or way of thinking good for the business.


Look back at wrestling history and what makes stars and the business bloom. The proof is in the pudding when it comes to drawing money in wrestling.

Notice we've never seen Vince Russo in Nell in the same room together...hmmm.

 

[Wheels]

Knowing how wrestling works enhances my enjoyment of it, as well as increases my respect for those in the industry. It's like respecting a director of a film after knowing the process that he went through to make it.

This how I feel as well.

 

[Metallo]

This how I feel as well.

Ditto. Knowing something about the filmmaking process doesn't affect my enjoyment of a movie either. If anything its always fascinating to see how "the magic" happens. Wrestling is classic slight of hand stuff.

 

[The Sage]

Taker has 20 straight wins at Mania. Now that they're preparing a 20-0 dvd set, I wonder if the streak will end next year.

 

[Superark]

Anyone else but me love AJ Styles new theme?! Every time he does a new take on his "I AM" theme it gets better and better


I AM (Remix)
[YT]IKosmNkZUxc[/YT]

 

[The Apocalypse]

But this is still the greatest Bryan Danielson promo ever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSh2s_lmthI

Bryan Danielson, 'The American Dolphin' and Paul London, 'The Dolphin Master'.

 

[The Sage]

Anyone else but me love AJ Styles new theme?! Every time he does a new take on his "I AM" theme it gets better and better?


I AM (Remix)
[YT]IKosmNkZUxc[/YT]

Wow, AJ's theme has come a long way after ten years.

This is great. And that artwork is really cool. What's AJ been up to in TNA lately? He was my favorite guy to watch.

 

[Van Petrol]

I already want to punch Dean Ambrose in the face, so I guess he's doing his job well.

 

[Metallo]

Anyone else but me love AJ Styles new theme?! Every time he does a new take on his "I AM" theme it gets better and better


I AM (Remix)
[YT]IKosmNkZUxc[/YT]

You're right. I liked the last one and this one is pretty cool too. Fits him perfectly somehow. Wish they'd give Roode a better theme.

 

[Van Petrol]

But this is still the greatest Bryan Danielson promo ever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSh2s_lmthI

I miss Paul London.

 

[Wheels]

Wow, AJ's theme has come a long way after ten years.

This is great. And that artwork is really cool. What's AJ been up to in TNA lately? He was my favorite guy to watch.

He's been stuck in neutral for awhile. I don't see anything left for him to do in TNA.

 

[Slushy]

Brock vs Rock have styles built on speed and athleticism, Rock has clearly lost a step or two and Brock has had a major illness.

It's apples and oranges.

True, but then again, Kurt Angle had a fu**ed up neck and Michaels busted his back and they put on one of the greatest matches in Wrestlemania history.

 

[Superark]

Wow, AJ's theme has come a long way after ten years.

This is great. And that artwork is really cool. What's AJ been up to in TNA lately? He was my favorite guy to watch.

Indeed! That artwork is awesome. There's a copy of it on deviant art.

AJ was feuding with Daniels and Kazarian and wrestled them in atag-match at Victory Road with Mr. Anderson. They haven't really done anything with AJ the past few weeks since then outside of a match with Storm this past thurs.

I get the feeling he's in the doghouse given his recent comments on twitter. He's at least not happy with management. I suspect he'll be on Team Garrett Bischoff (UGH!) for the Lockdown PPV.

It's a shame, he could be so better utilized. He's the heart and soul of that company.

You're right. I liked the last one and this one is pretty cool too. Fits him perfectly somehow. Wish they'd give Roode a better theme.

Get Ready to Fly was a great one too! I like the new one better surprisingly.

Get Ready to Fly
[YT]G2nfWKgwR98[/YT]

Roode's theme grew on me. I hated it the first time I heard it, but since they took out the lyrics and just made it an instrumental I grew to like it.

TNA does a good job with their themes overall.

 

[Slushy]

Oh about us ****ting on Del Rio or Miz.At least Miz was build up with the U.S. Title and MITB.Del Rio has been shoved down our throats with nothing to show for it. He's decent in the ring but on the mic he had potential at first, but now he's absolutely dreadful. We **** on him because he's getting a push he doesn't deserve.

Yes and no. I think he's great in the ring, but of course needs more work on the mic. I'm hoping the "Si!" chants will finally be the answer in him connecting with the crowd.

The biggest problem was the way he was built up. WWE did not give him the Intercontinental Championship last year heading into Wrestlemania 27 to give him some much needed credibility and when he was the WWE Champion, he didn't have it for long, either losing it back to Cena or Punk, so that made him damaged goods.

 

[Superark]

He's been stuck in neutral for awhile. I don't see anything left for him to do in TNA.

I think it would be a good idea to have AJ sit out for awhile and take him off tv for a few months. It'll give him some time to rest and also allow him to come back a fresh face.

If I was TNA I'd book AJ to get taken out through some kind of injury angle and let him take about 4 months off. Then they could have him return on Impact in a big way. I'd book him to proclaim his intent on winning the world title and him running through guys the next few months until he gets his title shot.

 

[Wheels]

Hey Sage is it okay to send a promo video with some colorful language to another poster via PM?

 

[The Sage]

True, but then again, Kurt Angle had a fu**ed up neck and Michaels busted his back and they put on one of the greatest matches in Wrestlemania history.

One of the reasons for that is despite his back problems, Shawn Michaels could still go and put on four to five star matches.

And Angle? Well...he's crazy. But he's one of the best in-ring performers.

Those two together created magic. On top of all that, both of them were full-time performers and didn't have any ring rust.

The jury's out on what Rock vs Brock II could be. We still need to see how Brock can perform in the ring. Rock's work at Wrestlemania left much to be desired, for me anyway.

 

[Metallo]

He's been stuck in neutral for awhile. I don't see anything left for him to do in TNA.

At this point I think he should consider giving WWE a shot. Styles should be a main event mainstay in TNA but he's not. All due respect to Daniels and Kaz but AJ is on a different level than both of them. Styles should be righ tin the mix with Roode and Storm at the top. He doesn't have Michaels mind and ability to tell a story but in terms of ring work he's one of the best to come around since HBK in his physical prime. AJ's still improved tremendously as a worker in the last five years though and his promos have gotten better too.

True, but then again, Kurt Angle had a fu**ed up neck and Michaels busted his back and they put on one of the greatest matches in Wrestlemania history.

Michaels is on a different level as an in ring performer than either one of them. Especially psychologically. Thats why he made it work. And Angle is just competitive as hell. Put them together and thats why that worked. Rock and Lesner never had Michaels gift: his mind. Thats why he could basically work anybody and had clinics with the Undertaker while Rocks matches with him were never anything to write home about.

Angle basically gave Ken Anderson a brilliant cage match, the best match he's ever had despite not being a mind blowingly amazing in ring talent. so Angle has improved a lot as a worker himself.

HBK was a TRUE innovator in every sense of the word. He was doing things with an attitude that I'd never seen any man do. He was in the first HIAC, ladder match, and EC in WWE. Theres reason for that. The guys never really had an "off" day and I never NEVER underestimate him.

 

[The Sage]

Indeed! That artwork is awesome. There's a copy of it on deviant art.

AJ was feuding with Daniels and Kazarian and wrestled them in atag-match at Victory Road with Mr. Anderson. They haven't really done anything with AJ the past few weeks since then outside of a match with Storm this past thurs.

I get the feeling he's in the doghouse given his recent comments on twitter. He's at least not happy with management. I suspect he'll be on Team Garrett Bischoff (UGH!) for the Lockdown PPV.

It's a shame, he could be so better utilized. He's the heart and soul of that company.

I've been a fan of AJ since TNA started back in 2002. I actually did see him during a brief stint in WCW with Air Paris in Air Rad tag team. I bet hardly anyone remembers that.

It's really a shame, especially when you think about the end of 2009 when he was world champion and the company was turning around for the better. He was an awesome main-event face. Then they brought Hogan and company in, turned AJ heel and paired him with Flair. I had thought it was a bad idea at first, but AJ rose to the occasion and his promo skills got even better. So I was digging it until he dyed his hair and started wearing a version of Flair's robes to the ring. That was head scratching. And from there, it just started to go down.

It's really annoying when you think about the big names that came out of Ring of Honor. The names I associated with the company are CM Punk, Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, and Bryan Danielson. All four are now former or current world champions in the mainstream wrestling industry, though only two are getting their due in WWE while the other two are being wasted in TNA.

Too bad AJ and Joe can't go to WWE. It would be good for them and the company.

 

[Metallo]

I've been a fan of AJ since TNA started back in 2002. I actually did see him during a brief stint in WCW with Air Paris in Air Rad tag team. I bet hardly anyone remembers that.

I do. I even rememebr seeing AJ in a release of the old XWF stuff a few years after WCW folded.

It's really a shame, especially when you think about the end of 2009 when he was world champion and the company was turning around for the better. He was an awesome main-event face. Then they brought Hogan and company in, turned AJ heel and paired him with Flair. I had thought it was a bad idea at first, but AJ rose to the occasion and his promo skills got even better. So I was digging it until he dyed his hair and started wearing a version of Flair's robes to the ring. That was head scratching. And from there, it just started to go down.

It's really annoying when you think about the big names that came out of Ring of Honor. The names I associated with the company are CM Punk, Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, and Bryan Danielson. All four are now former or current world champions in the mainstream wrestling industry, though only two are getting their due in WWE while the other two are being wasted in TNA.

Too bad AJ and Joe can't go to WWE. It would be good for them and the company.

The jury is still out on Joe...though he and Magnus have done some good work together. But AJ is still at his peak and if WWE made him an offer I think he might be smart to take it. TNA jobbing AJ out to RVD a while back shortly after RVD joined up was asinine. He was having a good run before that despite the stupid Flair related ideas they put on him. Hated seeing Nigel McGuiness/Desmond Wolfe go down with an injury. He was just as good as some of those guys. Shows how short a wrestling career can be.

 

[Dr. Evil]

Why do people think that Andy Kaufman is still alive? The man is dead. Besides isn't it illegal to fake a death? Newsflash to those people, Tupac is also dead and not hiding out in Brazil or anything like that.

Also every time I think of Andy Kaufman, this song comes in my head:

[YT]1hKSYgOGtos[/YT]

 

[NDX]

Source: The Wrestling Observer

More on Terry Taylor's WWE Status

It's being reported that while nothing official has been announced between Terry Taylor and WWE, the former TNA employee was down in Miami this past weekend for WrestleMania 28, and the feeling is that Taylor will end up working with WWE in some capacity.

At this point, Taylor is expected to be heavily involved in WWE's developmental process, and could be part of a new program based out of Stamford, CT.

That's good. I approve.

Edge to Continue on "Haven"

WWE Hall of Famer Edge is reportedly set to begin filming the next season of Syfy's "Haven" in the upcoming weeks. Edge had previously guest starred on the show shortly after retiring from WWE.

Awesome, I really like this show, and he's good in it.

 

[Superark]

I've been a fan of AJ since TNA started back in 2002. I actually did see him during a brief stint in WCW with Air Paris in Air Rad tag team. I bet hardly anyone remembers that.

It's really a shame, especially when you think about the end of 2009 when he was world champion and the company was turning around for the better. He was an awesome main-event face. Then they brought Hogan and company in, turned AJ heel and paired him with Flair. I had thought it was a bad idea at first, but AJ rose to the occasion and his promo skills got even better. So I was digging it until he dyed his hair and started wearing a version of Flair's robes to the ring. That was head scratching. And from there, it just started to go down.

It's really annoying when you think about the big names that came out of Ring of Honor. The names I associated with the company are CM Punk, Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, and Bryan Danielson. All four are now former or current world champions in the mainstream wrestling industry, though only two are getting their due in WWE while the other two are being wasted in TNA.

Too bad AJ and Joe can't go to WWE. It would be good for them and the company.

Oh I remember Air Paris ROFL! They were wrestling there around the time Bischoff was getting ready to buyout the company. I remember thinking how green and generic looking those two were.

I think the thing with AJ is Hogan and Bischoff aren't really a big fan of him. I think they see him as one of those small "flippy-dippy" guys, hence Flair remodeling and the lack of push there after. Hogan and company like a certain kind of look and size for their main event guys.

It doesn't help when AJ publicly criticizes the company, but I don't blame him.

All four guys have had their main event runs, only Punk and Danielson did it on a bigger stage and at a later time. Punk is pretty much the top player behind Cena, but even Punk is not where he should be. WWE dropped the ball on him big time when he returned. There's speculation he's going to become even less important now that Brock has returned and Punk is going to end up as the "odd man out."

The jury is still out on what's going to happen with Bryan.

I would not count on Joe going to WWE unless he changes his look. Every time his contract has expired WWE has shown ZERO in him. The main reason is said to be due to his look.

The jury is still out on Joe...though he and Magnus have done some good work together. But AJ is still at his peak and if WWE made him an offer I think he might be smart to take it. TNA jobbing AJ out to RVD a while back shortly after RVD joined up was asinine. He was having a good run before that despite the stupid Flair related ideas they put on him. Hated seeing Nigel McGuiness/Desmond Wolfe go down with an injury. He was just as good as some of those guys. Shows how short a wrestling career can be.

I think Joe's run at the main event is done, regardless if Hogan & Co. are still there or not. He just doesn't have the backing of the management that's been there for ages. I think the best he can hope for is to be a solid upper mid-card guy. He's in a good role now.

While I wouldn't mind seeing AJ in WWE, I'd have little faith they'd use him correctly. He turned them down years ago and Vince tends to not like that sort of thing. Plus AJ is on the smaller side and southern, both of which don't bode well in Vince's world. I think the best he could hope for is an Evan Bourne type role. He won't get the Bryan type push because he's a completely different wrestler and personality.

Plus, I've always got the feeling from AJ based on his interviews that he does not want to take the time away from his family and young boys to work the WWE schedule. I'm guessing that's a big factor in his decision. Plus, despite his frustrations with his role right now, he strikes me as the type of guy who would be loyal to Dixie and TNA and will ride out the rough patches.

 

[DeLaHaystack]

I don't know, it seems to make you feel pretty good about yourself for you to seemingly "put me in my place" instead of just putting me on your ignore list if my posts annoy you that badly.