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[Net_Wrecker]

This is sports entertainment. Part of the rise of WWe in the late 90s was the watering down of the wrestling. As much as I like Rock/Stone Cold, they weren't the best workers. Cena, Orton, Sheamus, etc continue that tradition except they don't have the legendary mic work that could have fans eating out of their hands.

Yes, Dana White has done a good job of marketing his fighters but they'll never be living room names like Hulk Hogan, Rock, Stone Cold, Cena, etc (hence the merchandising). However, they do have the luxury of putting on entertaining fights (especially since it's real).

WWe is the opposite. Only people like Miz, Jericho, CM Punk, Christian and a few others are capable of working a real match.

Sunday Night Heat used to be on TV. I want to say it was on MTV and might have moved somewhere else.

This is a different time. The wrestling is as watered down as ever in all aspects yet the ratings continue to decline. People aren't looking for the type of stuff people were looking for with wrestlers like Hogan anymore which is all John Cena is. The supernatural crap from Hell in A Cell, and the bad reaction it got should be the ultimate example, that stuff doesn't fly anymore. TNA has the right idea with their promos and some of their matches, but they're still much too dependent on OLD gimmicks, and OLD wrestlers to take advantage.

 

[British Monsoon]

Fucking AWESOME promo for Kevin Steen vs El Generico at ROH's Final Battle 2010;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6hp4X-cVKs

And who says indies can't do video fantastic packages?

Also, Steen vs Generico is not only the feud of the year, but has lasted all year, while WWE struggle to book a coherent storyline in the (increasingly short) gaps between PPVs.

 

[Spiderjericho]

UFCs fighters already ARE living room names. Silva, Lesnar, GSP are all household names.

The PPVs draw MILLION plus buys and sold out arenas. Fuck man, UFC is getting covere in the USA Today sports section now!

But you can't get to the level of WWE talent due to one factor... they're not on TV every week.

I know these guys but they're not as marketable or well known as say John Cena.

Anderson Silva is marketable for a card but not for merchandise. He can't speak English. His popularity has been slightly waning with lackluster fight after lackluster fight.

GSP, Couture and Lesnar are exceptions are the organization's most popular fighters. But they're not Rock/Hogan/Cena big.

I'll admit, UFC is creeping on the come up but unlike the WWE who can advertise the same stars every show. They have to rely on the fight card to sell cards when Lesnar, Couture or GSP aren't on the card, case in point Mir vs. Crocop (terrible main event).

But WWe has kids and adults. UFC is more adult-orientated, especially with the violence and language.

 

[Rafa=FedKilla]

Darren Young is wrestling Regal on Superstars!

 

[Net_Wrecker]

But WWe has kids and adults. UFC is more adult-orientated, especially with the violence and language.

80's: Adults are into it, wrestling is booming
Early 90's: Adults get tired of it, joke gimmicks all around. Wrestling is in the crapper
95-2002: Adults come back due to engaging stories, matches, characters, and themes. Wrestling is booming again
2003-2010: Wrestling slowly loses momentum with adults because of MMA taking off, top stars retiring, and kid friendly programming. Wrestling is in the crapper.

 

[Spiderjericho]

This is a different time. The wrestling is as watered down as ever in all aspects yet the ratings continue to decline. People aren't looking for the type of stuff people were looking for with wrestlers like Hogan anymore which is all John Cena is. The supernatural crap from Hell in A Cell, and the bad reaction it got should be the ultimate example, that stuff doesn't fly anymore. TNA has the right idea with their promos and some of their matches, but they're still much too dependent on OLD gimmicks, and OLD wrestlers to take advantage.

I'm not sure what the cure for what ails the WWe is right now but they need to work on legitimacy.

People should care about feuds. People should care about matches. There should be a pay off.

It's really lacking right now.

80's: Adults are into it, wrestling is booming
Early 90's: Adults get tired of it, joke gimmicks all around, wrestling is in the crapper
96-2002: Adults come back due to engaging stories, characters, and themes, wrestling is booming again
2003-2010: Wrestling slowly loses momentum with adults because of MMA taking off, top stars retiring, and kid friendly programming. Wrestling is in the crapper.

Yeah, but the ratings can't solely be due to children. There is still an adult contingent watching this crap. I agree with your point though.

 

[British Monsoon]

Uploaded a bunch of matches that WCW cross-promoted with NJPW in the 90's;

Dustin Rhodes & Scott Norton vs Masa Saito & Shinya Hashimoto - (NJPW 04/01/93)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMFJj3uWPYk

Dustin Rhodes (aka Goldust) & Scott Norton face off against Masa Saito & Shinya Hashimoto in this tag match from NJPW's Fantastic Story in Tokyo Dome show which took place on 04/01/93.

The Hell Raisers (c) vs The Steiner Brothers - (NJPW 04/01/93)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmA45RzUa9M - 1/2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqJJFvYFhZQ - 2/2

The Hell Raisers (Road Warrior Hawk & Power Warrior) defend the IWGP Tag Team Titles against Rick & Scott Steiner in this tag match from NJPW's Fantastic Story in Tokyo Dome show which took place on 04/01/93.

Sting vs Hiroshi Hase - (NJPW 04/01/93)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB4LMJ4xsXk - 1/2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orTT7eEjYyc - 2/2

Hiroshi Hase challenges Sting in this singles match from NJPW's Fantastic Story in Tokyo Dome show which took place on 04/01/93.

The Giant (c) vs Power Warrior - (NJPW 07/16/96)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxX1r8Au5QU

The Giant defends the WCW World Heavyweight Championship against Power Warrior (Kensuke Sasaki) in this match from NJPW's cross-promotional World in Sapporo event with WCW which took place on the 16th of July, 1996 in Sapporo, Japan.

This one's a bit of a squash, but it's interesting to see Big Show in Japan, and makes me wonder how the 2010 version of Big Show vs Kensuke Sasaki would play out

Sting & The Great Muta vs The Road Warriors - (NJPW 07/16/96)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFTDDb8uUMA

The Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal) take on the team of Sting & The Great Muta in this tag match from NJPW's cross-promotional World in Sapporo event with WCW which took place on the 16th of July, 1996 in Sapporo, Japan.

Randy Savage vs Jushin Liger - (NJPW 7/17/96)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzSLew2cPCA

'Macho Man' Randy Savage takes on Jushin 'Thunder' Liger in this match from NJPW's cross-promotional World in Sapporo event with WCW which took place on the 17th of July, 1996 in Sapporo, Japan.

Power Warrior & The Road Warriors vs Mutoh, Choshu & Kojima (NJPW 7/17/96)

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

Keiji Mutoh, Riki Choshu & Satoshi Kojima take on the team of Power Warrior (Kensuke Sasaki) & The Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal) in this 6-Man Tag match from NJPW's cross-promotional World in Sapporo event with WCW which took place on the 17th of July, 1996 in Sapporo, Japan.

 

[Brinbe]

It really doesn't make much sense... At a time when their product/bottom line is clearly suffering, they're doing the absolute worst thing by just going through the motions, being conservative, and offering bland staleness.

And awesome list once again, Bootaaay. Definitely gonna go through it tomorrow.

 

[Net_Wrecker]

Yeah, but the ratings can't solely be due to children. There is still an adult contingent watching this crap. I agree with your point though.

Of course, but not as many. Little Billy won't get his parents to spend $45 on PPVs every month, and he won't get to come to the shows as often if his dad won't take him.

 

[Spiderjericho]

Man, Paul Wight used to be so skinny.

 

[rvd2kewl]

It's just so ridiculous. They even admitted on conference calls they need to build new talent, but all they do is bury them. I don't know what they think is going to happen. Smackdown is going to be cancelled if their ratings go down, which they most certainly are going to. So that is going to leave them with 1 brand, 1 tv show, and their house show business will be cut in half. They keep insulting their fans, when it is obvious they have all moved on to a more mature product that takes its fans seriously in UFC.

Nobody can tell them that either because they know it all. You didn't build a billion dollar company, they did. :rollseyes:

Sigh, I was expecting big things tonight because of the ratings the last two weeks and what did we get? A predictable battle royal as the main event, US Champion Daniel Bryan got killed, and three matches during the show that totaled probably 5 minutes. Disgusting.

Bryan should've started his next program tonight so they build up the undercard matches for Bragging Rights because everybody knows the main event's going to get enough attention between now and then.

The way WWE produces shows is just ridiculous now IMO. The corporate execs have totally taken over control of the show. We get the John Cena and Randy Orton show every week, make-a-wish videos, D-list "celebrity" guest hosts that can't even be bothered to learn the performers' names, and the company stroking themselves with those stupid "Raw has produced more episodes than Friends, Simpsons, and Seinfeld combined" graphics. That stuff should be saved for quarterly conference calls/reports and every second of the TV show should be devoted to stuff that entertains people and gets over the talent that's out there.

Just look at how many people were simply "there" tonight:

Natayla (Got a squash win but I doubt she gained much at all by it)
Alicia Fox
Gail Kim
Melina
Husky Harris
Michael McGillicutty
Daniel Bryan
Michelle McCool & Layla
The Bella's (Same as Natayla)
John Morrison
R-Truth
Santino Marella
Vladimir Kozlov
David Hart Smith
Tyson Kidd
Darren Young
William Regal
Primo

Ridiculous. Hell, you can make a case for Randy Orton too tonight considering he was only out there a minute to stare at Wade.

 

[BoboBrazil]

Just look at how many people were simply "there" tonight:

Natayla (Got a squash win but I doubt she gained much at all by it)
Alicia Fox
Gail Kim
Melina
Husky Harris
Michael McGillicutty
Daniel Bryan
Michelle McCool & Layla
The Bella's (Same as Natayla)
John Morrison
R-Truth
Santino Marella
Vladimir Kozlov
David Hart Smith
Tyson Kidd
Darren Young
William Regal
Primo

Ridiculous. Hell, you can make a case for Randy Orton too tonight considering he was only out there a minute to stare at Wade.

Your list has atleast 5 people that should've been the squash match for Sheamus instead of Daniel Bryan if they wanted to go that route. How do they expect the guy to get over. They have Michael Cole telling the world how much he sucks, how weak he looks, how much of a nerd he is every week and then they have him get squashed. They should have made him a badass like Chris Benoit that just goes out there and destroys people with submissions. The bad thing with this company is they don't have anyone to light a fire under them like WCW did in the 90s. TNA fucked up their chance on Monday nights and their booking is ridiculous, so Vince doesn't even look at them as competition anymore. Vince is nearing 70 I think and Steph and HHH will be running the company. Shane was the only one in that family with a clue and he left, because Vince gave Steph the company instead of him.

 

[Joe Prodigy]

Holy crap, it was awesome seeing Cena come out to the Nexus theme song. I hope next week he's forced to wear the shirt.

I never thought I'd be this excited about a Cena story line.

 

[rvd2kewl]

Your list has atleast 5 people that should've been the squash match for Sheamus instead of Daniel Bryan if they wanted to go that route. How do they expect the guy to get over. They have Michael Cole telling the world how much he sucks, how weak he looks, how much of a nerd he is every week and then they have him get squashed. They should have made him a badass like Chris Benoit that just goes out there and destroys people with submissions.

Funny you mentioned him because I was thinking the same thing. His size wouldn't be an issue in WWE if he were booked like Chris Benoit, a bad ass that could beat anyone on any given day due to his wrestling knowledge and experience all across the world. I don't think anyone would make the connection between Danielson and Benoit (which is what WWE would be afraid of). They'd just see a guy that knows how to WRESTLE and fans would get behind him for that alone, though I think Danielson is better than Benoit on the microphone and could win people over that way too.

 

[Striker]

WWe is the opposite. Only people like Miz, Jericho, CM Punk, Christian and a few others are capable of working a real match.

I agree with your post, but one little name kind of caught me off guard... i.e. he does not belong. His name begins with M and ends with Z.

The Benoit-Danielson thing is a great comparison. Hopefully he stays healthy and is actually given the chances Chris got. Remember he was involved in some great matches and angles, especially when Triple H was at his highest peak (plus his stuff with Angle).

 

[rvd2kewl]

From PWinsider.com:

NEWEST MEMBER OF RAW IS....

CM Punk appears to be heading to Raw to replace Edge. Advertising for this Friday's Raw house show in Anaheim now features CM Punk replacing Edge.

 

[Cruceh]

From PWinsider.com:

Damnit, Punk is fucked.

 

[Dark Ninja]

Damnit, Punk is fucked.

At least he's away from Taker but now hes in CenaLand oh and HHH will be back soon...

 

[Striker]

We should have expected so. Ever since his awful feud with Rey where he won once in a PPV out of so many matches, he has gone nowhere. The SES was subdued due to piss-ass booking, and got squashed repeatedly by Undertaker and The Big Show.

Let's hope they allow him to continue being a heel. Though RAW is extremely limited in its face value right now.

 

[Net_Wrecker]

From PWinsider.com:

Sigh...Punk has been so good live, but with the way the WWE is handling talent right now, the question is will he even have anything to do?

Probably not.

 

[Forkball]

But we can see Punk vs. Danielson.

 

[DMczaf]

Damnit, Punk is fucked.

He hasn't won a match since 1989 on Smackdown.

 

[NameGenerated]

If WWE wants better ratings and buy-rates, book Team Soufian vs. Team Mahdi at Bragging Rights.

Also I think Punk to RAW could be pretty sweet.

 

[Lunchbox]

Also I think Punk to RAW could be pretty sweet.

why? so he can job to blandy until hhh is done campaigning for linda, and then job hhh?

 

[NameGenerated]

why? so he can job to blandy until hhh is done campaigning for linda, and then job hhh?

I mean...I guess that could happen, but it wouldn't be any worse than what he's been doing on SD.

 

[Knox]

why? so he can job to blandy until hhh is done campaigning for linda, and then job hhh?

Better than jobbing to Big Show and Rey. If he actually gets a feud with Orton or HHH it would be amazing, even if he jobs. Winning and losing doesn't matter, Punk will get over on the mic against either of those guys.

More realistically I think he'll probably be the guy to hassle the guest host every week, which would be entertaining, but hopefully he gets something to do in the ring instead.

 

[ryutaro's mama]

why? so he can job to blandy until hhh is done campaigning for linda, and then job hhh?

HHH returns and I think I'm out again on the WWE.

I was never a fan and if he returns to be top dog, eh.

 

[Striker]

HHH returns and I think I'm out again on the WWE.

I was never a fan and if he returns to be top dog, eh.

I'll admit I was never a fan of Triple H, but seriously, it's been all about John Cena and Randy Orton the past year. Actually, it's been all about those two, plus HHH, since at least 2006 or so. It's the same old shit. Triple H isn't close to being the performer he was prior to all the injuries, but he's at least capable on the mic compared to monotone and no-sell. Either way, RAW is just boring anymore, and with Jericho gone, it's just giving many more wrestling fans another reason not to watch.

 

[spindashing]

WrassleGAF isn't happy with anything at ALL. CM Punk is being "underused" on Smackdown and they bitch. CM Punk gets sent to RAW and they bitch.

I guess CM Punk should leave WWE. Oh wait, WrassleGAF will complain..

 

[British Monsoon]

WrassleGAF isn't happy with anything at ALL. CM Punk is being "underused" on Smackdown and they bitch. CM Punk gets sent to RAW and they bitch.

I guess CM Punk should leave WWE. Oh wait, WrassleGAF will complain..

WrassleGAF is just pessimistic, and rightfully so. What is there to suggest that Punk's status on RAW will be any different from Punk's status on Smackdown? He'll come out, cut the best promos on the show, wrestle a match where he's made to look like a total coward and then lose clean to whatever random face needs (or more often than not, doesn't need) a push.

WWE should turn Punk tweener on RAW and use his "better than you" catchphrase. It'd certainly be more entertaining than seeing him job to Boreton and Lobster Head. Also, when HHH comes back he should come back as a heel and feud with Punk, who then uses the Pepsi Plunge on Hunter

 

[DKehoe]

I'll admit, UFC is creeping on the come up but unlike the WWE who can advertise the same stars every show. They have to rely on the fight card to sell cards when Lesnar, Couture or GSP aren't on the card, case in point Mir vs. Crocop (terrible main event).

But even though Mir/Cro Cop was a terrible main event it will still have more PPV buys than any of the recent WWE PPVs which all featured their top stars. Right now UFC is easily better at creating new stars than WWE is.

 

[AdawgDaFAB]

For the couple other Manami Toyota fans out there found a match of hers from back in July. Not in her best shape, but still better than the any of the Diva shit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtzeRTVnm-w

Thanks! Don't think I can ever get enough good Manami matches ^__^. Also, once again thanks Bootaaay for all the stuff ya always post.

WrassleGAF isn't happy with anything at ALL. CM Punk is being "underused" on Smackdown and they bitch. CM Punk gets sent to RAW and they bitch.

I guess CM Punk should leave WWE. Oh wait, WrassleGAF will complain..

The IWC in general can be like this, not just WrestleGAF. I for one am excited for the move because there really isn't much left for him on SD. Taker, Kane, Rey, and Show are the 4 biggest names there right now and he has lost recent feuds to 2 of them and got destroyed by Taker last week. Moving him to Raw could give him a chance to freshen up again. Plus he has been fantastic the last few times he has been live.


Edit:

Just saw this, Haas got set off by Raw apparently:

"WWE creative is a joke. Way to kill off Daniel Bryan. Your brightest youngest star. Michael Hayes must have written this shit. Please retire"

"There is great talent in WWE, they just don't know how or refuse to write for them all."

"When the Monday night wars were going on, everyone on the roster had a story line. From Crash Holly to Stone Cold. Its an easy formula"

 

[Rated-Rsuperstar]

Last nights show was truly the John Cena power hour from start to finish. I knew the day was coming when the entire show would be built around him and everything else is filler. That's what happens when you don't build anyone up for 5 years. My interest is at an all time low.

 

[bill0527]

WrassleGAF isn't happy with anything at ALL. CM Punk is being "underused" on Smackdown and they bitch. CM Punk gets sent to RAW and they bitch.

I guess CM Punk should leave WWE. Oh wait, WrassleGAF will complain..

Well I will complain.

Because its not so much the shuffling around of the roster, its that they have no plan at all for certain people. Its almost like they're booking shit 5 minutes before air time.

I'm not a huge Daniel Bryan fan, but I recognize that he's an up and coming talent in WWE and he's been getting a push. Why for the love of God would you send him out there to get squashed by Sheamus. It makes no sense at all. Half of those guys, i.e., jobbers, in the battle royal could have went out there and taken the beating. You don't send your TV champion out to get beaten down by a main eventer if you want that TV champion AND the TV championship itself, to have any credibility. If you want to know everything that's wrong with WWE right now, just look at what happened to Bryan last night.

 

[Kusagari]

Yeah, the Daniel Bryan match was horrible. WWE has no idea how to book or protect their champions. Team Dashing is fed to Orton and look like jobbers. Danielson gets squashed by Sheamus. In fact, even though I normally go against this line of thinking, the match made Miz look like trash too. This is the guy he's been feuding with and losing to the past couple months and Sheamus squashed him like a bug.

 

[jmdajr]

Last nights show was truly the John Cena power hour from start to finish. I knew the day was coming when the entire show would be built around him and everything else is filler. That's what happens when you don't build anyone up for 5 years. My interest is at an all time low.

In my opinion most monster faces happen by accident, they are not built up alone. You either have IT or you don't. With that said, I don't see anyone who can replace Cena at the moment.

 

[bill0527]

Yeah, the Daniel Bryan match was horrible. WWE has no idea how to book or protect their champions. Team Dashing is fed to Orton and look like jobbers. Danielson gets squashed by Sheamus. In fact, even though I normally go against this line of thinking, the match made Miz look like trash too. This is the guy he's been feuding with and losing to the past couple months and Sheamus squashed him like a bug.

If I was Daniel Bryan, I would be on the phone with creative this morning and I'd be like, "Fuck the whole lot of you".

There used to be a day in wrestling when the mid-carders really didn't interface with the main eventers unless they were pushing the mid-card guy up to main event status. By doing it this way, you at least retain some semblance of credibility on those mid-card belts.

 

[spindashing]

WrassleGAF is just pessimistic, and rightfully so. What is there to suggest that Punk's status on RAW will be any different from Punk's status on Smackdown? He'll come out, cut the best promos on the show, wrestle a match where he's made to look like a total coward and then lose clean to whatever random face needs (or more often than not, doesn't need) a push.

WWE should turn Punk tweener on RAW and use his "better than you" catchphrase. It'd certainly be more entertaining than seeing him job to Boreton and Lobster Head. Also, when HHH comes back he should come back as a heel and feud with Punk, who then uses the Pepsi Plunge on Hunter

I agree with this. That catchphrase is long overdue on WWE TV.

The IWC in general can be like this, not just WrestleGAF. I for one am excited for the move because there really isn't much left for him on SD. Taker, Kane, Rey, and Show are the 4 biggest names there right now and he has lost recent feuds to 2 of them and got destroyed by Taker last week. Moving him to Raw could give him a chance to freshen up again. Plus he has been fantastic the last few times he has been live.

I got you. I saw the move to RAW a start of a new chapter for Punk. The S.E.S. thing ended, and Punk is in new need of new wrestlers to fight and I did not see anything else for Punk to do with a lack of Christian, Matt Hardy, etc. Latino Ted DiBiase can have Smackdown. New feuds on RAW. New storylines possibly on RAW. But, it all depends on the creative team. I'm not going to throw myself out of a building because he was moved to RAW. In all honesty, RAW is just as crappy as Smackdown, so honestly it just means I'll see Punk on Monday rather than Fridays. Hell if Goldust can get a push and bring back shades of his old self on Monday, I'm optimistic that some other talent will get utilized to their optimal abilities.

Well I will complain.

Because its not so much the shuffling around of the roster, its that they have no plan at all for certain people. Its almost like they're booking shit 5 minutes before air time.

I'm not a huge Daniel Bryan fan, but I recognize that he's an up and coming talent in WWE and he's been getting a push. Why for the love of God would you send him out there to get squashed by Sheamus. It makes no sense at all. Half of those guys, i.e., jobbers, in the battle royal could have went out there and taken the beating. You don't send your TV champion out to get beaten down by a main eventer if you want that TV champion AND the TV championship itself, to have any credibility. If you want to know everything that's wrong with WWE right now, just look at what happened to Bryan last night.

So he got squashed. Relax. I understand that match was pointless and could have been any other wrestler, but I felt with Sheamus squashing Bryan, Sheamus comes off as stronger rather than defeating an OVR 11 wrestler like Trent Barretta.

Not that Sheamus NEEDED that boost in strength in front of the crowd, but I felt by doing that, his work as a heel was complete. It makes other people "look weak" too, and that's the meaning of a champion, for someone to seem as if he's stronger than someone else.

I wonder if it was Daniel Bryan who squashed Sheamus like that, if Bryan was champion. Would reactions be the same?

 

[Lunchbox]

who then uses the Pepsi Plunge on Hunter

he barely lets anyone do a spinebuster anymore because its one of his 5mod, let alone letting punk use a superior version of his special

 

[bill0527]

So he got squashed. Relax. I understand that match was pointless and could have been any other wrestler, but I felt with Sheamus squashing Bryan, Sheamus comes off as stronger rather than defeating an OVR 11 wrestler like Trent Barretta.

Not that Sheamus NEEDED that boost in strength in front of the crowd, but I felt by doing that, his work as a heel was complete. It makes other people "look weak" too, and that's the meaning of a champion, for someone to seem as if he's stronger than someone else.

I wonder if it was Daniel Bryan who squashed Sheamus like that, if Bryan was champion. Would reactions be the same?

My reaction would be exactly the same if the situation were reversed.

Its not about Daniel Bryan to me. Its about the TV championship which is supposed to represent the best of the mid-card. If Sheamus was an up and coming mid carder who had the TV title, and Bryan was the main eventer and he came out and squashed Sheamus, hell yes, I'd have the same reaction. There's no reason to go out and squash the TV champion, because it diminishes the whole mid card.

 

[ryutaro's mama]

"WWE creative is a joke. Way to kill off Daniel Bryan. Your brightest youngest star. Michael Hayes must have written this shit. Please retire"

"There is great talent in WWE, they just don't know how or refuse to write for them all."

"When the Monday night wars were going on, everyone on the roster had a story line. From Crash Holly to Stone Cold. Its an easy formula"

We'll that's the key point--the Monday Night Wars had the WWE pitted against competition and as a result, they had to deliver higher value product. Now, with the WWE as the only choice on Monday nights, there is no incentive to get better because they have no competition. That's why they are perplexed and scrambling over the falling ratings. This, in their mind, isn't supposed to happen since they have 100% on the business on Monday Nights.

 

[spindashing]

My reaction would be exactly the same if the situation were reversed.

Its not about Daniel Bryan to me. Its about the TV championship which is supposed to represent the best of the mid-card. If Sheamus was an up and coming mid carder who had the TV title, and Bryan was the main eventer and he came out and squashed Sheamus, hell yes, I'd have the same reaction. There's no reason to go out and squash the TV champion, because it diminishes the whole mid card.

But on the other hand, I can argue that that's why it's a "mid card" and not the top of the roster. I understand there are a lot of gems in the mid card, no doubt about that.

I got you, though. Solid point. I just probably don't see the hairpulling rage aspect..

We'll that's the key point--the Monday Night Wars had the WWE pitted against competition and as a result, they had to deliver higher value product. Now, with the WWE as the only choice on Monday nights, there is no incentive to get better because they have no competition. That's why they are perplexed and scrambling over the falling ratings. This, in their mind, isn't supposed to happen since they have 100% on the business on Monday Nights.

Someone said it before and I did not give props to them, but thank you, I cosign these views.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

Well I will complain.

Because its not so much the shuffling around of the roster, its that they have no plan at all for certain people. Its almost like they're booking shit 5 minutes before air time.

I'm not a huge Daniel Bryan fan, but I recognize that he's an up and coming talent in WWE and he's been getting a push. Why for the love of God would you send him out there to get squashed by Sheamus. It makes no sense at all. Half of those guys, i.e., jobbers, in the battle royal could have went out there and taken the beating. You don't send your TV champion out to get beaten down by a main eventer if you want that TV champion AND the TV championship itself, to have any credibility. If you want to know everything that's wrong with WWE right now, just look at what happened to Bryan last night.

You don't even know what title Bryan holds, and you're trying to pretend like it matters.

 

[Brinbe]

Even with no comp, it's puzzling how they can treat & book their own product like shit, it makes no sense from a business stand-point. You're paying some of these people thousands, possibly millions, and this is what they're getting in return. It's just not right that people on here and other places, with real jobs, who only watch a few hours a week, can come up with more plausible/compelling TV.

 

[Deleted member 47027]

What if HBO or Showtime bought out a smaller promotion than the WWE (any, really) and built a federation that would get Monday Night viewing on their network, and have NONE of the rules to adhere to that WWE has to deal with? Violence, swearing, even nudity - cater to adults - would this make any kind of dent, or is the 'premium' cable channel too much of a barrier to gain any kind of foothold? Just thinking out loud.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

What if HBO or Showtime bought out a smaller promotion than the WWE (any, really) and built a federation that would get Monday Night viewing on their network, and have NONE of the rules to adhere to that WWE has to deal with? Violence, swearing, even nudity - cater to adults - would this make any kind of dent, or is the 'premium' cable channel too much of a barrier to gain any kind of foothold? Just thinking out loud.

Here's the thing, most people don't like wrestling.

Paul Heyman and Dana White have said similar things about the UFC, too. Most people don't like MMA. But there are a lot of people that like the UFC. It's a brand thing. WWE is a strong brand and that's where people are going to go for the WWE product. Wrestling itself is just a part of it that can't be easily sold by any other company.

Wrestling has never, ever, ever, fucking ever catered to adults. EVER. Even the Attitude era, which was supposed to be for teens and adults, only really appealed to kids and younger teens, which most of this thread was at the time. Adult content for the sake of adult content isn't an easy sell to adults, but kids will find ways to sneak in watching that shit when their parents aren't around.

 

[Dork Knight]

I missed the live commentary of Raw last night, but just a few thoughts:

1. Sooooo glad Cena will actually get punished for disobeying the Nexus. Now the storyline might actually go somewhere. Amazing!

2. What did Daniel Bryan's squash accomplish? Exactly. Oh, and it's also weird how John Morrison was able to take Sheamus to the limit a few weeks ago, but Daniel Bryan (the guy who BEAT Morrison the night before) got squashed in 2 seconds. Hilarious!

3. Heel Cole (while undoubtedly entertaining) is wildly inconsistent and jarring -- why does he go nuts on Edge one minute, but then back up Cena the next minute? If he really was a heel, shouldn't he be yelling at Cena to listen to Barrett's orders? I love heel Cole, I just think he should be consistent in his annoyingness. :lol

4. I so called Goldust being the mystery love letter-sender. :lol I'm glad he's back in the mid-card -- I've always enjoyed his work.

Overall, I thought it was an OK Raw. Just sad the computer didn't talk again. Sigh....

 

[Net_Wrecker]

But on the other hand, I can argue that that's why it's a "mid card" and not the top of the roster. I understand there are a lot of gems in the mid card, no doubt about that.

My hair is a bird, that argument is INVALID. The champion of the midcard should not be getting squashed, period. The Tag Champions of an ALREADY dying tag division should not be getting squashed, period. The Intercontinental Title matches should not be constantly interrupted by a stable from THE OTHER BRAND. The WWE Champion should not be featured for only 2 minutes of the show after a PPV.

They could've fed Santino, or someone like Yoshi Tatsu to Sheamus if they wanted to make it look like he needed to blow off steam, but they fed him the US Champ THE NIGHT AFTER he had a huge win over Miz and Morrison. And not only did Bryan not come out during the Battle Royal for revenge, but they probably won't even follow up on the squash in any way. How does that match help ANYBODY?

You don't even know what title Bryan holds, and you're trying to pretend like it matters.

In his defense, the WWE doesn't make it easy to know who holds what title, nor do they seem to care.

 

[ryutaro's mama]

3. Heel Cole (while undoubtedly entertaining) is wildly inconsistent and jarring -- why does he go nuts on Edge one minute, but then back up Cena the next minute? If he really was a heel, shouldn't he be yelling at Cena to listen to Barrett's orders? I love heel Cole, I just think he should be consistent in his annoyingness. :lol

The Play By Play guy needs to shut the fuck up and call the matches. It's entertaining that King has a personality but then again, he is the color commentator. It makes sense for him to have character, but not Cole.

Cole inserting himself as the spineless, company lapdog heel angle is annoying as all fuck and when he goes to the cpu, I usually FF and don't miss a step.

I've said it before, this "mysterious GM" angle has run it's course. Kill this shit.

 

[mooooose]

Last year the tag division was amazing. Jerishow carried it across every brand and main evented and made them credible. Jericho did the same over the Summer for the intercontinental title.

It's not hard to make the tag titles good. Honestly, just give them to main eventers. Don't let them be midcard titles. There isn't a point. Tag team wrestling can be awesome, WWE just doesn't let it.