cbacon

Of course, this whole angle COULD be botched. Triple H COULD regain the title sometime in the spring and Benoit will be shunned down the midcard. We all know the mentality of the WWE. But how fun will the product be if we have this cynical and pessimistic attitude towards Benoits biggest push of his career, even if it is brief? To counter act the previous statements, he could go on to have a helluva title reign throughout the year, or at least be in the ME scene and re-capturing the title down the line. With the amount of ME level stars on RAW, there's no reason why he shouldn't. It's understandable why some may have a negative outlook for the future of Benoit, WrestleMania and beyond, but if your going to dump on Benoit's quest for the gold now, then theres no hope for ever being satisfied because this as close as its gonna get, and it's damn close, if not being as good as its good (which IMO, it is)

Being the World Champion is equally as good as being the WWE champion. Benoit isn't neccessarily gunning for the WWE title, but for any of the top brands titles, because in kayfabe, not in the smark ridden 'insider' land, they both are considered EQUAL. Yes, he left WCW for the chance of being the world champ in the WWE, but now there are 2 titles, there are 2 options for him. Suspension of disbelief + a small sprinkle of optimism = Satisfied Benoit fans finally seeing the guy get his shot.

Relating that analogy back to wrestling, then yes, Benoit, a mid card wrestler his entire career , going to WrestleMania to wrestle in the main event for the title be the would be the best scenario.

Testify

I hate how Edge refers to performing "at WrestleMania X-8" during his promo for the Hogan/Warrior extra on the DVD. It sounds retarded.

Initially, the 16th WrestleMania was referred to as "WrestleMania 2000", the first Mania to go without the roman numerals. However a couple of weeks before the show and at the actual PPV it's referred to simply as "WrestleMania" sans any number. There is nothing on the DVD that indicates which WrestleMania it is either. Strangely enough, years later the WWE have referred to the show as either WrestleMania 2000 , XVI, or even 16. Anyone know what the deal regarding this was?

They did that in 2001 i believe

I'm a huge mark for time travel/alternate reality movies so i loved it.

They should actually have the guys cut promos, why they will win , their ambitions and such. The promos before the 92 Rumble were gold. Savage going about getting revenge on Jake, Paul Bearers plan for 29 body bags, and the repo mans planning to 'reposses' the WWF title. That's an aspect thats sorely missing in wrestling in general these days.

Honest question now: Should that belt even be considered to be the WCW title? The actual WCW title was changed in name to the World Title, but then again, that only lasted for about a month before it was unified. So Jericho won it and the WWF title, became the Undisputed Champion, and things stayed that way until Brock said he'd never show up on RAW again. Thanks to this, Bischof declared HHH the new Wold Champion, and gave him a belt that's very similar (but not the exact same) to the WCW title. So does that really count as the WCW title, kayfabe-wise? Brock Lesnar never lost the WCW belt - well, he did, but they never seperated. The only person who said they were seperated was someone who has no real jurisdiction (I think I butchered that) over the actual champion. I mean, I can understand him being able to pull out the IC belt, because he put it there in the first place, and one can assume that HHH would've given the belt back freely, as he had no need/desire for it. But how on earth could he be able to pull out the WCW title from the Undisputed Championship? Again, I understand that this company doesn't even try to make sense, but really now; The belt HHH has should be considered worth only slightly more then the WCW belt replicas anyone can buy, and only because it says "WWE" on it, which would make it much rarer then any WCW World Title belt. My take on the World Title from another thread: To the untrained eye, it may seem like the WCW title, but to the eye with power its......well its a new title.

Yes! He gets to hold that prize which was held by such legends as HHH, and ... HHH! Oooh, such a rich prize indeed. Goodie! I'm changing my whole POV, THIS IS GREAT! I'm excited! Come, feel! Well, its clear we're not going to come to a resolution on the validity on the World Title. Those who hold it in the same regard will see the title win all the more important. I'd say Benoit being classified with some of the industries biggest stars such as HHH, HBK and Goldberg a good thing. A fake title. It doesn't get much better than winning a fake title, that's what you mean. Right? It doesn't get much better than winning a fake title - the title that you don't want - in a feud that will more likely than not bury you and take the attention off your winning it. That's what you mean, right? Or are you thinking this is a different HHH and a different Vince McMahon and a different WWE that we're dealing with here? Man, I wish I could live in this fantasy land you're living it... it seems so great... tell me, is it cold there? Do wizards exists? How about 3 tailed dragons?? Initially it was percieved as a fake title. Years from now if the brand extension is still intact, nobody is going to refer to it as a 'fake' title Yes, he will be booked very strongly in the title picture... the IC title picture. And Summerslam in Toronto isn't confirmed... haven't you read the Toronto Sun?[/b] Pfft, The Sun is border line tabloid, SS will be in TO.

1. Benoit is getting the Big Gold Belt. Brock Lesnar holds the WWE title. Both world titles are held in the same regard in kayfabe. JR reiterates it everytime he refers to it as 'the richest prize in the business' (although they should be considered equal). Either way Benoit will go down in the history books as a former World Champion in the WWE. 2. You can't be a wrestling fan if you're happy with Benoit getting a second-best title. Someone who works as hard as Benoit has for so long deserves better. He'll be the world champ on the flagship program for the WWE. It dosent get much bigger than that. Nor does it get any bigger then winning a world title at the 20th WrestleMania in MSG. 3. I can PROMISE you this: Benoit will be worse off after his feud with HHH than was before it. Still excited? Considering SummerSlam is in Toronto, Benoit will surely be booked strongly and in the title picture until then. So in that regard, yes.

Exactly. And if Hunter thinks so highly of Benoit then its unlikley he'll be buried. Of course guys like Booker and RVD didnt escape his wrath, but whomever is on his good side (ie Shawn, Flair) usually benefit from a program with him. Goldberg of course, was a no brainer

I remain optimistic that Benoit will go over Hunter at Mania for the following reasons: 1. Triple H winning would result in viable post-mania programs for him to work, especially since the next PPV is a RAW brand 2. Trips went over at last years Mania over a guy that had been seemingly buried throughout the year in a match 4th from the top of the card. This year, being as big as it is, im sure the world title match will hold more merit, and almost certainly the hungry babyface challenger will go over. 3. The next PPV being in Edmonton, Benoit surely has to be involved in the main event. Losing to Trips at Mania and then having a rematch as the challenger again wouldnt quite have the same appeal. However, Benoit defending his newly one title would be a refreshing change of pace, whether it be against HHH again, Kane, or some sort of triple or fatal four way. Either way Benoit is finally getting the world title. I'm a little more excited to be a wrestling fan right now

Looks like they'll be playing up the whole "no title shot for Benoit" DESPITE winning the Rumble deal so he'll have no choice but to lay out heyman (and possibly Brock) on next weeks Smackdown before saying 'fuck this, i;ll take hunters title'.

Well, at least there's this to get excited about it. Benoit in the main event of the 'biggest PPV of all time'. Who'da thunk. Yeah...but it'll main event like Booker/HHH did. Oh yeah *tries to remain optimistic* But Booker was more of a throw in since the RAW brand had no one to challenge for the title. The winner of the Rumble is almost certainly due for bigger things.

Well, at least there's this to get excited about it. Benoit in the main event of the 'biggest PPV of all time'. Who'da thunk.

Some friends and I are chipping in to buy the show so it should only cost around $5 each. I normally wouldn't order, but i love the Rumble match itself. And the incentive of seeing Benoit winning the match to close the show would make it well worth it. The Title matches looked too predictable at first, but now that theres rumour of HBK/Benoit at WMXX, the Last Man Standing Match is more intruiging. Brock/Holly should be kept short and hopefully results in a pseduo squash as Brock rolls into WM. Eddie/Chavo and Mysterio/Noble should be good, but given the number of matches on the card, i have a feeling the CW title match will be moved to Heat AGAIN.

Is PWI still a mark mag? I flipped through a few recently and noticed their using terms like 'heel' and 'face' instead of 'rule breaker' and 'fan favourite'. When did this happen?

Plus its always fun to see WCW footage on WWE programs

Im not sure about live, but 3 Days Grace are a black eye on Canadian music.

Ya, but then we'd just be stuck with 2 minute 'mini matches' before the next guy comes in. What they should do is some sort of six pack elimination challange. Better yet , give the crusiers a bit more recognition by making it a ladder match to compliment WMX. Rey vs. Tajiri vs. Noble vs. Chavo vs. Ultimo vs. Paul London. They've got 5 hours to play with so it could at least go 15 minutes.

Last year the timings were all over the place. Some intervals lasted 90 seconds, others 60, others 45

Where the hell is the HOT NEWZ~!! guy?