Vince McMahon restarted the Wrestling Thread and ruined it

[Metallo]

I don't think it's about money. I truly think that Sting, who I imagine respects the WWE and Vince McMahon, still does not like them or trust them on a very fundamental level. Even though the WWE now is cleaner than WCW was in Sting's day, I think he still feels like he's getting in bed with the devil, and I can't find too much to disagree with there.

I agree. I think he also feels a sense of loyalty to TNA and even Jeff Jarrett (through is family) that goes back to when he broke into the business.

On some level maybe he even likes the idea of being the greatest star to never work for WWE as a contracted performer. He's one of the few to become world famous without ever doing so and thats pretty damn impressive.

Plus, I imagine most want Sting signed so he can face Taker at Mania, where he'll inevitably lose. So you have to wonder why should he do it? I respect Sting for caring about his legacy more than for money.

Then again, I realise he's in TNA, so caring about his legacy doesn't really apply I suppose.

If anything he probably sees helping TNA rise to greater sucess (the same way he did with WCW) as PART of his legacy. I think he wants to do everything he can for them for as long as he is able.

I also think even Sting knows only one major super large company and such a disparity between number one and number two is a bad thing.

And yeah its clearly not JUST about money for him. Its obvious he was smart with the big money he made in WCW so he doesn't need money.

A version of Stone Cold shaking hands with McMahon kind of deal. And wouldn't you know it, Rock would've gotten the worse of it both times, lol.

What a terrible heel turn that was. That part of it just didn't feel organic. I know WHY they did it because they felt it was the only way to make people hate Austin but it wasn't the right move.

I always compare it to Hogans turn in WCW and Heenans reaction which all worked out much better. Heenan knew it would be terrible if he suddenly started sucking up to a heel Hogan after years of hating him. The rivalry between them had gone on too long and run too deep for that to work. It was the same way with Austin and McMahon. They'd despised each other far too much to ever become best friends.

Maybe Cenas heel turn could come right after beating Rocky.
Cena is celebrating, Rock gets up the stare down and Rock gets the crowd to chant for Cena, they look like friends after a 2 year battle, Rock puts his hand out, Cena goes to shake but picks him up and lays him out with an AA, then goes to trash talk him on the mat ... picks up his bling belt and struts off.

However they do it he can't be a chickensh** heel. Just wouldn't seem right for a guy like him. He should play it as a total bastard but he has to be careful that he doesn't become a cool heel. Might not be a problem since a segment of the audience will always boo him no matter what he does.

If he goes chickensh** and cheats to BEAT the Rock that just proves Rock and all Cenas haters right and says he's inferior.

The design of a Cena heel turn should begin by looking at early Kurt Angle and "Canada vs. USA" Bret Hart as a basis model: sanctimonious moral righteousness and feelings of being betrayed by the fans. Then add in a little bit of Corporation Rock or Corporation Triple H to make him the "establishment guy."

THIS.

its the kind of turn that makes the most sense for Cena. The slighted hero who turns his back on the people and is now in it only for himself. Then play off his status as Vince's chosen one. Run him against Punk as the anti estableshment and who knows how far it could go. Thats NATURALLY who these two guys are anyway.

lol Yeah with Punk they've been really trying to get everyone to boo him. Sure he gets boos, but there's still a lot of people that cheer him. With Cena they'll have to have him go beyond the point of no return. A big thing would be to end Undertaker's streak and brag about it, but Cena doesn't really need that feather in his cap.I'm trying to think of something he could do on the level of Hogan creating the N.W.O. back in WCW, but Cena isn't loved the way Hogan was back then.

It wasn't just about love for Hogan. Some of those WCW fans hated Hogan just as much as many WWE fans hate Cena now. In some ways Hogan's turn played off that dislike because he never really fit in WCW for his first two years. Sting and Flair took a back seat to him and a lot of fans resented that. Sure familiarity with Hogan was important to WWF fans that remembered him or may have followed him to WCW but the NWO angle also affected WCW fans AND brought in new fans who didn't care either way.

There was a growing sense of dissatisfaction in the business especially since Bischoff was signing more of those WWF names and replicating some of WWF's more cartoonish elements. It was happening before Hogan got there too but people were tired of that stye as the times were changing.

When Hall and Nash came as "invaders" from that big company up north Hogan being the third man made PERFECT sense. Who knew that big company up north better than Hogan? He was the face of that company and represented all that it stood for for a decade.

All the elements of Hogans turn made it work. AL the pieces werre important and had to fit. Its almost impossible for Cena to replicate that kind of sucess as a heel because those elements aren't there. Like you said Cena has never been as over as Hogan was at his peak or as big an icon as Hogan was. There is no catalyst like Scott Hall either. Hall and Nash brought a cool factor that also made the NWO a sucess. When WCW did the NWO angle and pulled the curtan back a bit to show us those gritty reality based backstage attacks it had never really been done at that level before.

Now its ALL been done. That kind of crash tv shock value won't be as potent because the novelty has worn off.

The Monday Night Wars were such a huge hit because WWF and WCW caught the essense of the times like lightning in a bottle. What is the essense of THIS time? Now? Until WWE figures out how to tap into that and what is driving the current cultures entertainment appetites they will never reach those kinds of sucesses.

They think its easy sh** like twitter but they have to go deeper than whats on the surface to find the key.

 

[X Knight]

do you think one of the reasons why the wrestling product feels so "stale" lately is because it's essentially a monopoly with the WWE?

there is no other top-dog competitor that can give the WWE a run for its money and force it to be creative and innovative.........

 

[chamber-music]

do you think one of the reasons why the wrestling product feels so "stale" lately is because it's essentially a monopoly with the WWE?

there is no other top-dog competitor that can give the WWE a run for its money and force it to be creative and innovative.........

Yep.

There isn't much reason for the WWE to try being more innovative, groundbreaking or work outside their comfort zone anymore.

I think Triple H is ambitious. He would be more willing to try new things but Vince is pretty much stuck in his ways.

Vince isn't willing to stray from the tried and tested formula unless he has to.

 

[TheFuture]

Probably pretty badly. Some of his injuries are probably beyond surgery fixing outside of replacing his knees BOTH hips, etc. A man his size means the high impacts are going to be much harder and much more devestating. He did it for 20 years in WWE alone as a pretty regular performer too.

When it comes to athletes, at his age, the injuries only compound when you get past a certain number of them.

I always thought reaching 20-0 would have been a good way of retiring the guy, but I wouldn't be happy as things stand now (bowing out alongside HBK and HHH rather than on his own).

But if the guy's that banged up, I'd hate to see him do serious damage to himself. He deserves to finish with reasonable health like Edge and Michaels.

I'd be happy with one more match (seeing the streak prolonged for 2/3 more years doesn't appeal to me), but I'm not sure if this year's WM is enough time for Vince and co. to come up with a definitive end to the man's career. So it might not be the worst scenario if he skips WM this year, and instead has the big finale to his career in 2014.

And thanks for the kudos, sometimes my Irish humour can be a bit much for people round here.

If anything he probably sees helping TNA rise to greater sucess (the same way he did with WCW) as PART of his legacy. I think he wants to do everything he can for them for as long as he is able.

I also think even Sting knows only one major super large company and such a disparity between number one and number two is a bad thing.

And yeah its clearly not JUST about money for him. Its obvious he was smart with the big money he made in WCW so he doesn't need money.

Well yeah that's fair enough, but it's mighty ambitious to hope TNA can significantly close the gap in terms of rivalling the global brand that is WWE.

I always respected Sting as he always struck me as a guy with a sensible head on his shoulders while those around him were pissing away their money and careers (let's put it this way, the man is never going to be promo fodder for young up and comers if you know what I mean). I mean I never felt sorry for a wrestler more than the debacle he had to put up with Jeff Hardy. The guy is a bonafide legend in the business and rivals Taker in a lot of ways, but can you imagine Taker having to put up with that crap?

What a terrible heel turn that was. That part of it just didn't feel organic. I know WHY they did it because they felt it was the only way to make people hate Austin but it wasn't the right move.

I always compare it to Hogans turn in WCW and Heenans reaction which all worked out much better. Heenan knew it would be terrible if he suddenly started sucking up to a heel Hogan after years of hating him. The rivalry between them had gone on too long and run too deep for that to work. It was the same way with Austin and McMahon. They'd despised each other far too much to ever become best friends.

Hated the heel turn at the time because I was a kid and a Stone Cold mark, but looking back the heel turn wasn't so much a bad idea. The problem was the execution. The two man power trip had potential but once HHH got sidelined and Stone Cold was turned into this clingy fool desperate for the love of Vince McMahon, that's when things went down hill. I seriously don't know what they were thinking going in that direction because it was HORRENDOUS.

 

[MMMMM...Pancakes]

http://m.wrestlezone.com/news/26743...-major-impact-wrestling-announcement-revealed

First on the road Impact in the Chicago burbs? ****, I should probably go.

 

[Metallo]

do you think one of the reasons why the wrestling product feels so "stale" lately is because it's essentially a monopoly with the WWE?

there is no other top-dog competitor that can give the WWE a run for its money and force it to be creative and innovative.........

I think thats one of the reasons. There's no reason for WWE to change right now. On one level they are happy coasting. They are too arrogant to really examine their problems and put in place the right solutions on another level and even ignoring the problems all together. In some ways they are in denial.

But its not just competition that put Vince Mcmahon in a corner over 15 years ago. WWF's business was also declining before WCW became a threat because of people losing interest as the product got stale and scandals hurting business too. WCW's dominance and the general audiences long growing apathy FORCED Vince McMahon to give another way a chance.

The Crocketts weren't nearly as much of a threat to WWF as Turners WCW would be a decade later but WWF still put on strong quality shows in the 1980's. Vince had a fresh vision back then and he had a lot of untapped resources and ideas to draw from. Now all that is exausted and he's an out of touch old man.

Even without competition a fresh mind at the helm (the RIGHT mind) could do wonders with improving the WWE product. Competition or not I think the top of the company needs a fresh set of eyes looking at things. Vince is becoming a modern day equivalant of old promoters like Verne Gagne and Fritz Von Erich and is using gimmicks to try to stay relevant instead of spearheading some real creative growth.

Even without competition if business went down low enough it would force the WWE to seriously rethink the way its doing business right now. I don't think its right to put the burden of WWE's mediocre product on a company like TNA not doing better (the way some fans do) but if they WERE doing better and stronger competition it would made WWE try harder. Some fans want TNA to do better only so WWE will do better. I want ALL wrestling companies to do better so I will have more options of what to watch. I want to see them all suceed for their own sakes and on their own merits. Competition breeding higher quality entertainment between them is a welcome added bonus.

Its also good for the wrestlers and other talents. Gives them more job options and work security and helps them improve their skills. The people who want TNA to go under or be bought out are insane. The second and third top wrestling companies in the USA went away 12 years ago and look where we are right now. It wasn't a good thing. Even when the other companies weren't putting on the best product it was still better for everyone when they were still in business.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I joke about TNA, but on a more serious note, assuming that they are turning a modest profit (as a non-public company their books aren't as open as the WWE) they are in a fairly good position. History has shown that, in a "dog industry" (one that has low growth prospects and is easily replaceable by substitute products) the smaller and nimbler competitor often has the advantage.

The WWE is profitable and has a ton of cash, but as a public company with, at times, a hit and miss track record on major business initiatives, I wouldn't be surprised to see a major media giant acquire a controlling interest in it as some point in the next 5 years. After that happens, the WWE we all know could change at a major structural level, and the sky's the limit on how severe that would be, and whether we would even recognize it anymore.

 

[Metallo]

I always thought reaching 20-0 would have been a good way of retiring the guy, but I wouldn't be happy as things stand now (bowing out alongside HBK and HHH rather than on his own).

But if the guy's that banged up, I'd hate to see him do serious damage to himself. He deserves to finish with reasonable health like Edge and Michaels.

I agree. I think that last image should be of him as a lone figure instead of sharing the spotlight in some kind of shared end of an era thing. Much like HBK and Flair he deserves to have the stage all to himself when it comes time to walk away.

Much like you I'd rather he go out healthy instead of sticking around to the point where he can't function. he deserves to play with his kids not watch them in a wheelchair. he's hurt bad enough as it is but he can still save some of his long term health. He's more than earned an easy retirement life.

I'd be happy with one more match (seeing the streak prolonged for 2/3 more years doesn't appeal to me), but I'm not sure if this year's WM is enough time for Vince and co. to come up with a definitive end to the man's career. So it might not be the worst scenario if he skips WM this year, and instead has the big finale to his career in 2014.

At a certain point its going to be "going on just to go on." If they can't offer him some compelling storylines and interesting opponents worthy of the event I don't see the point in continuing the streak beyond JUST being a draw. Creatively speaking thats not enough to keep my interest. They've set the bar so high with HBK and HHH's 4 matches with him in the last 4 years that almost no one will be able to top them anyway. Those expectations will probably never be met again.

And thanks for the kudos, sometimes my Irish humour can be a bit much for people round here.

Hey man it was funny as hell AND true. Doesn't get much better than that.

Well yeah that's fair enough, but it's mighty ambitious to hope TNA can significantly close the gap in terms of rivalling the global brand that is WWE.

I always respected Sting as he always struck me as a guy with a sensible head on his shoulders while those around him were pissing away their money and careers (let's put it this way, the man is never going to be promo fodder for young up and comers if you know what I mean). I mean I never felt sorry for a wrestler more than the debacle he had to put up with Jeff Hardy. The guy is a bonafide legend in the business and rivals Taker in a lot of ways, but can you imagine Taker having to put up with that crap?

I doubt TNA will ever "catch up" in this day in age the way WCW did for a lot of reasons but I think Sting is a good soldier the same way the Undertaker has been for Vince. Both are incredibly loyal and hard working. I think Sting has been the backbone for WCW and TNA the same way Taker has been for WWE for over 20 years. That kind of loyalty is rare in the business. I'd love to see Sting go out at a big show like Wrestlemania because he deserves it but if he doesn't its not really going to bother me. I don't think it would bother him a whole lot either. He knows he already has the real fans respect no matter what.

Hated the heel turn at the time because I was a kid and a Stone Cold mark, but looking back the heel turn wasn't so much a bad idea. The problem was the execution. The two man power trip had potential but once HHH got sidelined and Stone Cold was turned into this clingy fool desperate for the love of Vince McMahon, that's when things went down hill. I seriously don't know what they were thinking going in that direction because it was HORRENDOUS.

I didn't mind the heel turn but like you say it was the execution. The details of it and the way they did it.

Honestly I think Stone Cold NEEDED to turn heel. He lost some of his momentum while he was away and The Rock had really surpassed him during that period. It was still close but Rock was in his groove (before he left for a while too). I think Austin knew he had to do something to get some excitement and momentum back to make his charcter fresh again.

I joke about TNA, but on a more serious note, assuming that they are turning a modest profit (as a non-public company their books aren't as open as the WWE) they are in a fairly good position. History has shown that, in a "dog industry" (one that has low growth prospects and is easily replaceable by substitute products) the smaller and nimbler competitor often has the advantage.

The WWE is profitable and has a ton of cash, but as a public company with, at times, a hit and miss track record on major business initiatives, I wouldn't be surprised to see a major media giant acquire a controlling interest in it as some point in the next 5 years. After that happens, the WWE we all know could change at a major structural level, and the sky's the limit on how severe that would be, and whether we would even recognize it anymore.

For years I would have said no way, even after WWE went public but then again I never EEEEEEEEEEEEEEVER thought King George would sell Lucasfilm to Disney. Or that The Hensons would sell out to Disney. Or that Marvel would be sold to Disney. I've let out many audible "WTF's" in recent years. What you say is very possible.

Mostly because I see this growing trend in entertainment. There used to be more smaller entertainment companies. Now there are a few ever growing corporate giants swallowing up more and more smaller companies so they have more properties to exploit. Sometimes its easier to just buy something thats already a hit than to create something new and make it a hit. I'm half joking but it seems like we are seeing more and more OCP's and Weyland-Yutani's that control everything.

The older Vince gets maybe his or his family's pride may buckle and they begin the process of another group or organization taking control. Who knows what might happen after Vince McMahon dies.

 

[Metallo]

2012 WWE Salaries for The McMahon Family, How Much Stock Does Shane McMahon Own?, More
By Marc Middleton
Jan 31, 2013 - 8:44:53 AM

- Here is the current line-up of the major players running the direction of WWE:

* Vince McMahon, Chairman of the Board and CEO

* Kevin Dunn, Executive Vice President, Television Production

* George Barrios, Chief Financial Officer

* Paul Levesque (Triple H), Executive Vice President, Talent

* Michael Luisi, WWE Studios President; Executive Vice President, Business Development; General Counsel

* Stephanie McMahon (who has dropped the McMahon-Levesque last name she had been using), Executive Vice President, Creative

* Michelle Wilson, Chief Marketing Officer

- Here is the list of straight salaries for 2012:

* Vince McMahon, $1.1 million

* Barrios, $575,000

* Dunn, $800,000

* Levesque, $500,000

* Wilson, $575,000

Those employees will also earn another 25% to 200% of that total based on company profitability as set forth at different levels. The totals for 2012 aren't in yet so the amount of bonuses they will get has not been determined.

As far as stock ownership goes, Vince currently owns 39,722,641 shares worth $334 million. Stephanie's stock is currently worth $31.78 million. Shane McMahon's stock is worth $15.55 million and Triple H's stock is worth $405,227.

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
​

If all that is true...Kevin Dunns making some serious dough.

UFC Ad Money Compared to RAW, New Tag Team Formed on WWE Main Event, Lesnar Cover
By Marc Middleton
Jan 31, 2013 - 8:23:02 AM

- Brock Lesnar will be doing a cover feature for Muscle & Fitness magazine to promote WrestleMania 29.

- As seen on last night's episode of WWE Main Event, Tensai defeated Titus O'Neil in singles action. The match saw Brodus Clay come to Tensai's corner to even the odds with Darren Young at ringside. After the match, Clay and his Funkadactyls congratulated Tensai before they all danced together. Apparently WWE officials were so happy with the dance off from Monday's RAW that they decided to put the two together in a tag team.

- An interesting note is that even though WWE's RAW has drew more viewers than UFC's show on FOX has lately, the ad sales for RAW are barely one-third of the price that UFC on FOX is getting.

Partial source: F4Wonline.com
​

 

[TX85]

So Tensai turned face and will be tag teaming with Brodus!?,Might as we'll turn him back to Hip-Hop Hipo

 

[Pink Ranger]

For years I would have said no way, even after WWE went public but then again I never EEEEEEEEEEEEEEVER thought King George would sell Lucasfilm to Disney. Or that The Hensons would sell out to Disney. Or that Marvel would be sold to Disney. I've let out many audible "WTF's" in recent years. What you say is very possible.

Mostly because I see this growing trend in entertainment. There used to be more smaller entertainment companies. Now there are a few ever growing corporate giants swalloing up more and more smaller companies so they have more properties to exploit. Sometimes its easier to just buy something thats already a hit than to create something new and make it a hit. I'm half joking but it seems like we are seeing more and more OCP's and Weyland-Yutani's that control everything.

The older Vince gets maybe his or his families pride may buckle and they begin the process of another group or organization taking control. Who knows what might happen after Vince McMahon dies.

One scenario I am thinking is that a media giant (let's say Viacom for arguments sake) buys the WWE, or a big slice of it. They bring in an expensive group of hatchetmen consultants, who look the WWE over, and think they can increase profits by reducing costs.

- Why do we need two weekly shows? = Smackdown cancelled
- Too many pay per views = reduced to 4-6 a year
- A live show is too expensive = Raw is filmed on Fridays and edited for broadcast on Monday
- Talent is too expensive = 30% of the roster is released, as is a comparable proportion of the creative and talent relations staff
- New media is fun, but isn't making us any money = no more tout, no more YT channel, WWE.com is stripped down
- House shows are important, but logistics are costly = fewer live shows outside the northeastern USA, and almost nothing live in Canada and other non-American markets
- Merchandising needs to be streamlined = fewer new T-shirts, fewer DVD releases, fewer toys
- Wait, why are we running a second wrestling company with a miniscule audience? = Development league gets stripped down, leading to more reliance on indy leagues for new talent and a gradual erosion of the WWE's distinctive working style.

So suddenly, without TNA even having to lift a finger, from an audience-facing content standpoint they are as on par with the WWE as they've ever been. And since they are at this point the nimbler company, they can grow on the back of these theoretical changes.

 

[Metallo]

One scenario I am thinking is that a media giant (let's say Viacom for arguments sake) buys the WWE, or a big slice of it. They bring in an expensive group of hatchetmen consultants, who look the WWE over, and think they can increase profits by reducing costs.

- Why do we need two weekly shows? = Smackdown cancelled
- Too many pay per views = reduced to 4-6 a year
- A live show is too expensive = Raw is filmed on Fridays and edited for broadcast on Monday
- Talent is too expensive = 30% of the roster is released, as is a comparable proportion of the creative and talent relations staff
- New media is fun, but isn't making us any money = no more tout, no more YT channel, WWE.com is stripped down
- House shows are important, but logistics are costly = fewer live shows outside the northeastern USA, and almost nothing live in Canada and other non-American markets
- Merchandising needs to be streamlined = fewer new T-shirts, fewer DVD releases, fewer toys
- Wait, why are we running a second wrestling company with a miniscule audience? = Development league gets stripped down, leading to more reliance on indy leagues for new talent and a gradual erosion of the WWE's distinctive working style.

So suddenly, without TNA even having to lift a finger, from an audience-facing content standpoint they are as on par with the WWE as they've ever been. And since they are at this point the nimbler company, they can grow on the back of these theoretical changes.

Y'know...SOME of those sound like good ideas.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Y'know...SOME of those sound like good ideas.

You've got a bright future ahead of you, Mitt.

 

[chamber-music]

So Tensai turned face and will be tag teaming with Brodus!?,Might as we'll turn him back to Hip-Hop Hipo

Tensai gimmick is lame and is not working. They should of just brought him back as a face Albert/A-Train. Atleast the audience might give a damn about him if he had his old gimmick a fun persona.

 

[Hunter Rider]

I don't know which one to believe , but I'm leaning towards the injury report. It's been rumored for many months that Punk would face Undertaker and I'm assuming he was already in agreement. If Undertaker is out they can add Punk to the Cena/Rock match.

I don't think we'll see much of Rock after Wrestlemania 29 either. He definitely won't go another three month stretch, but he might want to pick up another win after losing to Cena sometime in the next couple years. There's nothing left for him to accomplish ( aside from putting over a younger star) and I don't mind when he heads back to Hollywood. I like him as an action star.

I'm inclined to believe the latter as well, simply because Taker has never been one to pull a hissy fit because he didn't get the match he wanted, so the injury reason makes more sense. As for Punk, I don't think it matters what happens Vince wont veer from Rock vs Cena II.

My views on The Rock are known but if he does work more matches I hope it's to help create a star, rather than come back now and then to just beat somebody.

I don't think it's about money. I truly think that Sting, who I imagine respects the WWE and Vince McMahon, still does not like them or trust them on a very fundamental level. Even though the WWE now is cleaner than WCW was in Sting's day, I think he still feels like he's getting in bed with the devil, and I can't find too much to disagree with there.

I also think it's because of how hard he'd have to work after well over a decade of easy matches with limited physicality, whatever anyone's view is on Taker he brings it all every time, it's why he is in such bad shape.

Back in the day, there were times where the WWF Champion couldn't work house shows. That's why the Intercontinental Championship was created. I don't mind The Rock not working house shows even if he is champion.

That's not accurate, the demand was so big for WWF at that point Vince used the IC title to headline one show in one town while the WWF champion headlined the other house show in an adjacent town at the same time, thus generating two big gates in one night.

That's why I strongly disagreed with Cena winning in Miami. If he beat Rock right off the bat, people would've hated it. I think him beating Rock in a rematch is more acceptable/believable (Rocky III).

When Cena defeats Rock and Undertaker at Wrestlemania back to back, then he will be considered truly of the all-time greats in WWE history.

I don't think so, that's like saying Hogan should have beaten Rock at Mania 18. Plus no one is going to like it or feel any differently about Cena winning this time, those that hate him will still hate him and those of us who are on the fence about him that thought he should have won last year, will hate him for wasting another Mania for us on a match and feud that was mediocre at best the first time.

That wont happen either because the hate is too strong and kayfabe died about trwo decades ago so pointing to wins doesn't equate to greatness, ending the streak will only add to resentment at this stage.

If Cena turns heel, it won't be until his feud with Undertaker. He'll stay babyface, make Rock tap to win the belt back, and all the Cenation members as well as some on this board will rejoice.

This Cena vs Taker match seems to be something you are just inventing, all the talk is of Taker vs Punk this year and Taker vs Lesnar next year, plus Cena making Rock tap will be the type of ending that will be the opposite of "Send the fans home happy."

Yeah, that's pretty bad. It would suck for Undertaker to miss out Wrestlemania this year (as much I would hate to see Punk being fed to him which IMO is worse than him dropping the title to Rock), but maybe its for the better.

I don't get this, how is losing to a guy who is 20-0 at Mania against the likes of Flair, HBK, Edge, Triple H, Orton and Batista, and is booked as the most unbeatable force in WWE history, worse than losing to an actor who has worked 3 matches in a decade?

John Cena decided to blast Rock one day over a personal choice he made. What gives him the right to judge? Personally, I think it was an elaborate way to goad Rock into coming back, but if that's how Cena really feels then he's just a jealous, hyprocritical b*tch. Again, another reason why I'm glad he jobbed at Wrestlemania last year.

Cena said the Rock is a phony with his "I love the business" stuff because he didn't come back for any of the special occasions and left before Ric Flair's induction, Cena was right, fact.

John Cena winning the main event of Wrestlemania in one of the biggest rematches of all-time while making the Royal Rumble meaningful again isn't good for business? Seriously?

Yes, Cena is not going to become a bigger star or draw by beating The Rock, if anything all it will do is make him more hated, and 2 weeks after Mania no one will give a **** because 4 of the 6 guys taking the main event spots at Mania will be gone and we'll be back in the same cycle of "The champ is here!" every week for the next 10 months.If Rock was doing all of this but facing a Ziggler or Sheamus who had been built up over 2012 THEN it would be good for business because we'd come out of Mania with CVena and Punk already established but with a 32rd true top guy to help build Raw and SD around.

If there's going to be a rubber match, I'd booked it for SummerSlam 2013. That way Cena can face Undertaker while Rock takes on Lesnar at The Biggest Show EVER!

That would be horrible, another Mania where nothing will matter two weeks later because the main events are built around guys who work 2 matches a year. All this nostalgia crap needs to end, it's time the company really got behind the guys of the here and now.

True. That always annoyed me. Cena and Punk also made these bold promises they were so sure of and they still lost. But Rock makes a promise and wins? You damage your credibility when you can't deliver on promises like that. They killed Punk's halfway when they had Triple H go after Punk with a kayfabe proof promo that Punk COULDN'T respond to without directly saying all of wrestling is fake.

I remember that, Triple H maneuvered the promo to a place where Punk simply had no way of responding bar going into booking and such, which of course crossess the line from worked shoot, into full shoot.

Hated the heel turn at the time because I was a kid and a Stone Cold mark, but looking back the heel turn wasn't so much a bad idea. The problem was the execution. The two man power trip had potential but once HHH got sidelined and Stone Cold was turned into this clingy fool desperate for the love of Vince McMahon, that's when things went down hill. I seriously don't know what they were thinking going in that direction because it was HORRENDOUS.

The weirdest aspect initially was Triple H being fine with his father in-law supporting someone else as WWE champion and Triple H then falling in line, it made no sense, especially since Austin was feuding with Triple H only a few weeks prior because Triple had tried to have Austin killed in a hit and run.

 

[Metallo]

Hulk Hogan Says Back Surgeries Left Him "Twisted Like The Exorcist"

By Steve Carrier on 01/31/2013

Bang Showbiz recently spoke with Hulk Hogan about his lawsuit against the Laser Spine Institute, saying they left his body in a contorted state. Hogan compared the ordeal to being "twisted like The Exorcist", and said the proposed Wrestlemania 25 match between him and John Cena was cancelled because of the surgeries. Here is an excerpt from the interview.

"The people who worked on my back, Laser Spine, said I didn't need a fusion. So they cut on my back one time and I felt pretty good after a couple of weeks. I called (WWE owner) Vince McMahon and said, 'Man I'm good to go, let's do this deal.' So we started planning, then suddenly I was like, 'Ah, ah, my back!' That put the deal on hold. Then they cut on me six more times and they kept cutting more bone away, until I had to have a spinal cord stimulator put in my back. The stimulator has wires that go up your back and stops the pain. They put that in my back because my body was twisting like 'The Exorcist'. I couldn't pull my head around front, my body was all contorted."

As noted earlier, Hogan says the surgeries cost him a lucrative contract with WWE, and the rumored match with Cena.




Bret Hart Says HHH's Match with Undertaker Was Mediocre


By Steve Carrier on 01/31/2013

Bret Hart spoke with Wrestle Talk TV Extra. Here are some of the things he had to say about Triple H.

"I have a certain amount of respect for Triple H. I remember when he first came in, I remember commenting on stuff that he did. Because I'd usually give wrestlers my thoughts and try to help them on stuff... Triple H has always been a good wrestler. But great? What is he now, a 1,000 time world champion? How great really is he?

"I look at [CM] Punk... I can look at certain wrestlers and I go, this guy is an innovator. Like a Rey Mysterio, who's done stuff that no one has ever thought of before. Punk has done stuff -- really unique moves and you go, 'gee I've never seen anything like that before.' They innovate all the time, and they create new sequences and moves and things.

"Then you look at someone like Triple H. When I look at him -- he's always had a good look as far as his body went -- he always had a pretty muscular physique. But you look at someone like Hunter and you wonder, what has he really done. One move that he ever created that nobody ever saw before or some highspots or an idea for a match... He's mostly a guy that just showed up and they made him. He's always been a decent wrestler -- I would consider him a good wrestler and pretty talented. But great? I don't know, I don't think so.

"What has he ever done that's great? He's never had a great match, I don't think ever. Whenever I look at Triple H's matches, including the last one he had with Undertaker -- and I don't really mean it as a knock -- but I told myself before I watched it because I'm trying to like Paul now these days, that I want to see him do something to make me think he's got greatness in him.

"Before Triple H wrestled Undertaker last year, I remember watching it and going, 'I can picture the whole match in my head, I can tell you exactly what this match is going to be like and how it's going to go. And I remember watching it and it went exactly how I predicted it... I thought it was mediocre at best, maybe a 4 out of 10, or 3 out of 10.

"I think Paul is a little overrated... overrated for being great. I can sit here and tell you that there was one match that he ever had with anybody that I thought was great. It's kind of a shame, he should have a great match somewhere with somebody. And you'd think that he would have had it by now, but I don't think he's a great wrestler."




Jeff Hardy Compares TNA Wrestling to WWE


By Steve Carrier on 01/31/2013
Jeff Hardy compared TNA Wrestling to WWE during a Q&A with Mlive.com.

“We’re way different than WWE. We may never be as big as WWE, but the cool thing about TNA is that we are the alternative. So people who get tired and bored with the WWE – I’ve been there, I understand – there’s an alternative and something else to watch. For special wrestlers, there’s somewhere else to go – as long as you’re not brainwashed by that WWE mentality. There’s other worlds out there; it’s okay to switch around.”

When asked about how he is still able to perform acrobatic wrestling movies, Hardy replied:

I really have no answer for that (laughing). I think I’m just lucky more than anything. I was wrestling with my brother (Matt, both of The Hardy Boys WWE tag team) for years, and he had several injuries along the way. I’ve had injuries, but nothing that’s put me under the knife - yet. I’m 35 now and I’m feeling pretty good now. I’m taking extremely good care of myself. I think my daughter has a lot to do with my new-found success and my belief in myself. Overall, I think I’m just lucky, and I hope I continue to be lucky. But I do get a lot more nervous now. But I’m doing good, I’m doing good, and everything is alright.






Wow. Lots of stuff to think on there. Thoughts?

 

[Warhammer]

Y'know...SOME of those sound like good ideas.

I was thinking the same thing. A few of those did sound good, no lie.

 

[Metallo]

You've got a bright future ahead of you, Mitt.

Hey thems fightin words. I said SOME.

If I were Mitt the first thing I'd cut would be Raws muppet appearances.

 

[MMMMM...Pancakes]

Looks like we won't be seeing Bret in the WWE for a while.

 

[Warhammer]

Wow. Lots of stuff to think on there. Thoughts?

Damn, Hitman put HHH on blast.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I partially agree with Bret on Triple H. His wrestling style never really matched his appearance; he had a Tony Atlas body but a Jake Roberts fighting style. That stated, I think sometimes Bret takes his craft way too seriously; yes, Triple H was not an innovator, but that doesn't mean he didn't refine and excel in things that other wrestlers pioneered. Samsung didn't invent the smartphone or the touchscreen but is the most successful at making them now.

 

[venom892]

Hunter has never been Ric Flair, despite desperately wanting to be. I disagree with Bret that he hasn't had a great match, but those matches were a result of him wrestling someone great, like Shawn or Jericho.He never made a match great.He just had great sparring partners.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Wow. Lots of stuff to think on there. Thoughts?

As usual with Hogan the truth will probably lie somewhere in the middle of his exaggerated story.

Good to hear Jeff sounding in such a good place, hopefully his daughter will continue to keep him on track.

Bret has some genuine points, Triple H is not on the true great workers list as he didn't sustain the quality of his matches from 2000, and I think his status is greatly overplayed simply due to firstly who he was friends with and then the family he married into. I think had the latter not happened he'd have not maintained a top spot for so long or gained the luxury of his current "Special attraction" role, he'd have been more like Edge and Orton. However to say he's never had a great match is silly IMO.

 

[Dr. Evil]

TNA did a smart thing but cutting their 2013 PPV schedule in half.

 

[Dr. Evil]

The Rock searches for Milk:

[YT]X0a4Wb1fswM[/YT]