jester

Crap finish.

They did chant Batista. I can't figure out what they're chanting now.

That flushing I hear must be the sound of the Bret Hart DVD going down the toilet. Whenever they get close to closing the gap, they rip right apart again.

JR and Lawler look like potatoes in suits tonight. Lawler quoting Ric Flair's book.

But it's one of Raw's most popular angles! Matt Hardy said so!

Lita was a Ho as well. And still is, if the Kane/Hardy angle is any indication.

Victoria was one of the Godfather's hos, apparently. Diamond Dallas Page drove the Honky Tonk Man's car during a PPV appearance.

I believe Bret has said in the past that he thought Shawn was a very good worker (and rightfully so). He just thought he was a jackass backstage (also rightfully so). Apparently, Bret even thought they were having a good match at Montreal, up until the you-know-what.

That needs to be a Triple Threat match with Mabel.

Ok, this is taken from Dames' review of the Ultimate Ric Flair collection. It perfectly illustrates what Loss and I are talking about:

He doesn't need to cower. In fact, I think the way heels treat UT goes WAY too far in the other direction. There must be a middle ground. How about HHH give us some hint that all is not well in HHHland? That he's feeling the heat, that he's a little worried? Actually, I agree with this. I'd like to see more of this kind of thing if they feel Benoit's mike skills aren't up for it. Still, letting Benoit getting the last word (being victorious in a verbal exchange, not a physical one), would be a big help. It would.... IF it had been presented that HHH was so desperate he'd sink to using Eugene. But that's not how it was presented. It was presented as HHH getting a big kick out of manipulating Eugene. He didn't do it because he was desperately trying to think of anything that would him get the title. He did it because it was good evil fun.

Ok, here's another example. One last ditch effort. All of the heels that have been facing Undertaker practically shit themselves whenever he appears. He's really the flipside extreme of what we're talking about, and yes, sometimes it goes to far--Hell, sometimes heels become terrified just when they hear UT's MUSIC. UT's opponents make him seem extra credible, not because they talk about how great he is, but because they ACT afraid of him. They say they're not, but when they do, the ACT unconvincing. Now tell me you honestly don't see a difference between that and heel HHH's utter dismissal of anyone who gets the better of him? HHH barely looked miffed when Goldberg had the belt. Heels DO give props to their opponents. They just do them in subtle ways. Looking afraid, hurriedly changing the subject, and making obviously feeble excuses. The heel doesn't have to cut a promo where he says "He beat me, I suck, he's god." He just has to give some indication--physical, emotional, whatever, that tells the crowd yes, the face got to me.

He doesn't have to say it. He just has to show it. All he has to do is drop being smug for three seconds when the name "Benoit" is mentioned, and act worried.

Loss makes a good point too. There are ways for a heel to make an opponent seem great in a promo, while still acting heelish. I remember once Lawler was mouthing off about something, possibly Calgary, and then JR brought up Bret Hart and the Kiss my Foot matches. Lawler said sourly, "Shut up." That's a good way for a heel to be a dick, and yet still get over the fact that someone got his number.

AMEN. Putting over someone in a match is only half the battle. How promos are handed afterward are just as important. If tonight HHH cuts a promo where he is out of his mind with rage and frustration at his inability to beat Benoit, that does just as much to legitimize Benoit as letting him get the pin. Maybe even more. If he stands there smugly, not mad at the loss and acting like its only a matter of time before he gets the belt back, it gives Benoit no credibility. That being said, Benoit could be handled much worse. HHH made Nash look like a total bitch when he challenged for the title. Not that he didn't deserve it.

What I dislike about these articles (beyond them saying the same thing over and over again) is that they never acknowledge "positivity," to use Matt's term. I've seen a lot of positive threads about the Eugene angle, and even about HHH's involvement, despite him usually being Smark Enemy #1. I've even seen people who swore the angle would suck admit they were wrong. The point is, if we see something we like, many of us DO praise it. And even in the shittiest of shows, there's usually something somewhere to like, even if its minor. Hell, WCW had its defenders even in its darkest days. And when we do praise something, where are the WWE articles acknowledging this? I'm not saying that I want a personal thank-you note from Vince for liking Eugene, but an article thanking the fans for being enthusiastic about something would go a long way to closing the gap between WWE and Internet fans. The bottom line is that when they come up with a crap angle that they love and we don't, it's our fault.

I agree. That's really when I started to tune out of Bradshaw's column. The argument becomes even more idiotic when you realize it can be applied to ANY criticism, both liberal or conservative or anything else. For example, if a Republican complained that social assistance is too easily exploited by lazy, drug-addicted layabouts, couldn't you also say "If you don't like it, leave"?

Absolutely it is. I was merely pointing out the astonishing rage some people have towards Moore, and then they follow it up with a very civilized (and I suspect, somewhat bitter) "But in this country they have a right to their opinion." In my opinion, if they think Moore is a name-calling child, the best course of action is too argue his points, not to sink just as low or lower.

What does Bradshaw know about wrestling though? I love anti-Moore columnists. "MICHAEL MOORE IS EVIL AND 100% WRONG AND HATES AMERICA AND HE SHOULD SHUT UP AND BE RIPPED APART BY MARINES WEILDING CHAINSAWS AND SHIPPED TO CHINA IF HE DOESN'T LIKE IT HERE....but it's a free country and grumble grumble *sob."

It's not that HHH winning would be the end of the world, it's just that HHH with the belt would put us back into the same holding pattern we've been in four at least two years. I say give the win to Benoit. Clean. No Eugene interference. And establish with certainty that HHH couldn't crack Benoit. Then give Benoit a program with someone else while they build up a new heel. HHH can go play with Evolution for awhile.

Too funny. Seriously, if WM 21 was Taker's last appearance I believe Orton killing the legend of the streak would be awesome. I honestly think that Orton should have just come out of the blue and done that at WMXX. Orton's legend killer gimmick never worked for me because he didn't actually kill any legends. But if he'd cost Take that, THEN he'd have something to brag about, which would have made him extra hated. Plus Kane would finally have a win over Taker.

Fuck when he retires. How about Taker putting people over NOW?

I'd like to see the GM's spot replaced with some wrestling matches. Obviously, I will not be employed at WWE any time soon.

I like the Eugene/HHH angle too, and I have to admit I was skeptical at first. I thought HHH was positioning to ride the coat tails of something new and hot. Maybe he is, but it's actually making the angle better. I do think that they can go too far with this though. Eugene should eventually wise up and get some revenge on HHH. Otherwise he'll look like Loser #47 who dared stand in the way of HHH and the crowd will lose interest in him.

Shouldn't it be "loser is the father?" Don't we want to award the winner?