JoeDirt

Rank these guys from most to least, as far as how "over" they were with the fans at their peak. Also, maybe mention when you think their "peak" was. Hogan Flair Austin Rock Bret HBK Sting Andre What do you think?

If you think the WWE thinks Cena is on the same level as Christian, you're crazy. Uhh...? How aren't they? WWE sees Cena and Orton as the future of the company. They see Christian as a midcarder who won't be any higher than he currently is. I'm not saying anything about talent or anything like that...but the WWE clearly sees Cena in a much higher light than they do Christian. He's easily one of the biggest stars on Smackdown.

Yes, but we've also established that I am an idiot. Nah, I'm just like the WWE...I do my booking on the fly, baby.

2004 has been better than 2002 or 2003. At least now they are pushing some new people...Benjamin, Snitsky, Carlito, etc. A year and a half ago we had Roddy Piper vs. Mr. America and Kevin Nash vs. HHH on pay per view. 2002 had Hogan vs. HHH and Hogan vs. Undertaker for two months as the main event on PPV, followed by HHH vs. Undertaker. I'd say now is better, they're just going through a rebuilding time.

Good points made so far...

It depends on what you're booking. Booking ROH like Sapolsky does is different then having to book a TV show.

I was watching an old RAW the other night from early 1999, when Mankind had just beaten the Rock for the title I believe leading into the Rumble. Looking back...damn that show wasn't very good. An opening 25 minute mic segment, several 2-3 minute matches, the horrible Undertaker forming the Ministry segment...uggh. But do you think if the WWF changed styles, and went back to the Russo-esque style of having lots of 2-3 minute matches, lots of entertainment skits, mic work, everybody having catch phrases, etc, do you think ratings would go up? It's not a question of whether or not this would be good TV or not...after all, most Hollywood blockbusters are HORRIBLE, and yet the people flock out to see them. So do you think that if the WWE went back to this "crash TV" style ratings would go up, or that it wouldn't change things at all?

To Raw: 1) Big Show: A big name to counter HBK going to Smackdown. Has fresh matches with HHH, Edge, Snitsky (uggh), Kane, etc. 2) Charlie Haas: Has a nice feud with Shelton waiting to happen. 3) Jackie: Send her along so she can be with her husband. 4) Hardcore Holly: Just move him away from Dupree, lol. 5) JBL: He won't have the title by the time the draft comes around, so why not? Again, he's faced all the top challenges on Smackdown during his title reign. 6) Doug Basham: He's the better Basham, so give him a singles push or something. To Smackdown: 1) Shawn Michaels: As its been said, he needs to get off RAW. Get him some fresh matches on SD, he's already burned through HHH, Benoit, and Kane on RAW, and we REALLY don't need to see HHH vs. HBK again. 2) Hurricane: Get him in the cruiserweight division, he's dead weight on RAW anyways. 3) Stacey: Balances out Jackie going to RAW, she can't wrestle anyways. Have her manage someone on SD. 4) Rob Conway: Find some other Canadian guy to team with Grenier and let Conway break out as a singles star. 5) Kane: Another case where he's burned through a lot of the top programs on RAW, as he's had PPV matches with HHH, Benoit, Snitsky, and Edge already. Get him away from Lita and that horrible storyline. 6) Tyson Tomko: Not doing anything on RAW. --Of course we'll probably get something again where a big star is drafted and then traded back, or something like that. The keys here are HBK and Kane to Smackdown , while moving JBL and Big Show to RAW. This allows Smackdown to have somebody else take over top heel position (Angle, and then obviously someone else needs to turn, because you'd have HBK, Kane, Eddie, RVD, Misterio, Undertaker all as faces), giving you fresh matches. Conway should also get a big singles push, I think.

If you think the WWE thinks Cena is on the same level as Christian, you're crazy.

Hold on, ten guys go from each brand on this? I thought it was just five from RAW and five from Smackdown, and then the GM's can make any trades they want along with that. EDIT: Nevermind, it was six each this year. Of course they could always change it, but who knows.

So other than last years inductees and Patterson, who is already in the HOF? I think Dibiase is a must, btw. He's one of my top picks for sure.

Did Bret Hart and Mick Foley ever have a televised match?

Just to name a few that haven't been mentioned... Owen Hart Ted Dibiase Sid Jim Duggan Demolition One Man Gang King Kong Bundy -Are there any particular qualifications to get in the Hall of Fame, or do they just pick who they feel like?

When did Goldberg start to get his police escort entrance to the ring?

Spike Dudley v. Rey Mysterio v. Billy Kidman v. Chavo Guerrero Cruiserweight Title This was a high-flying match. Spike never should have retained. Rey Mysterio is the greatest Cruiserweight of them all and he can't win the title. Spike retains when Kidman hit a Shooting Star Press on Chavo and Spike covered. 6/10 Shelton Benjamin v. Christian IC Title This was a very good match and it is worth seeing. Shelton Benjamin kicks Tomko & Christian BUTT to retain his title. 7/10 Team Guerrero=Eddie Guerrero, John Cena, Big Show & Rob Van Dam v. Team Angle=Kurt Angle, Luther Reigns, Mark Jindrak & Carlito Carribbean Cool This was an incredible match. When Cena comes out Carlito and Jesus start running all over the place. Carlito, Jesus & Cena all go into the back and Cena beats up Jesus and Carlito escapes. Team Guerrero won after an F-U, Chokeslam & a Frog Splash on Kurt Angle to win. 10/10 Heidenreich v. Undertaker This was another great match. Another Undertaker classic. Heidenreich pts up a fight then Taker hits a Chokeslam, a Last Ride & a Tombstone Piledriver to beat Heidenreich. 10/10 Trish Stratus v. Lita Women's Title This was a very quick match. I'll only give it a rating because of the Chair Shot. Lita should have won the title and this actually be a match instead of a brawl. 1/10 JBL v. Booker T WWE Title This was another Smackdown! match that was incredible. JBL said that if he lost to Booker he would never wrestle again. Josh Matthews tried to come and save Booker but he got a Clothesline From Hell. JBL retained when he did the same on Booker T. 10/10 Team Orton=Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit & Maven v. Team Triple H=Triple H, Edge, Gene Snitsky & Batista This was a very good match but it should have been the Main Event. The Winner of this match got to control Raw for 1 month while Bischoff is on vacation. Team Orton picked up the win when Orton hit an RKO on HHH to win the match for his team. 7/10

Great review, Tom. I'm glad to see a match like this reviewed, which you wouldn't usually see. When you see Ian and Tank work, you have to realize that it's not going to be quick matwork you might see in a match with Alex Shelley or Nigel McGuinness. It's going to be slow, no doubt about it, but it'll be smart and hard hitting. I liked Ian's match with Ray Gordy, and his match with Arik Cannon recently was a lot like that too. Tank has really shown in a short time in IWA that he is tough as hell (some really bloody matches in the KOTDM tournament), and can really go with somebody who can work the match. Cool stuff. Can't wait to hear what you think of the big main event.

Check out this picture of Ian's spider bite... (CAUTION, IT'S NASTY!) http://65.75.163.10/iwamidsouth/2004_11_26...spiderbite2.JPG

I think Stevie Richards is a good pick. Even today, he is SO incredibly underused by the WWE. He could be a GREAT heel manager. He gets into every role he plays and works his ass off to make it work. Stevie is truly an under appreciated talent and it's too bad he never really got a bigger push anywhere.

Sydal's very good. I think he's seen as "less" than some other stars because of the whole "he's a flippity floppity cruiserweight" mentality some people have. But I think he's very good.

Funk wrestled Candido at Wrestlepalooza 97, and beats him with a roll up to retain his title. Taz wrestles Sabu and then Douglas.

I'll post my pick later after doing some research, but we need a thread for worst Thunder ever too.

Exactly. And I doubt the talent wants to do half their shows in Europe and Japan.

If they were really thinking, they'd have Edge get injured or something earlier in the show so he couldn't be in the battle royal. Play off his bitter heel character even more. But that would make too much sense.

From the CZWFans board...