TheInsane

This is something that I think WWE needs really bad. presentation is the first impression. I remember when they changed RAW's set and it was almost the same as before and it just felt dull. The song isnt any good either. Samckdown had a even worse song but they do have a killer set. Im not sure that I want them to change that cool fist thing. Some things that I think is important though: Have both brands look totally different. And also have them both look different from PPV sets. * Change the intro song for both RAW and SD since both suck. * Let one of the brands have Japan like corners. That is not three padded things for each rope but one large covering the whole corner. I believe ROH uses this as well. * Dont use a ramp on either RAW or SD. It should be used only at PPV's to make them look more special. * RAW is RED. Sure thats the way its always been and while I dont think they should move away totally from that color scheme I think something new is needed. * Maybe place the shows logo in the middle of the ring or on the turnbuckles/turnbuckle. * Smaller entrance. This is a part of not using the big ramps. I was always a fan of the small entrance ways where the face made sure to touch ever fans hands and the heel would do everything to avoid them/ignore them.

Of course everything is based on how well a champion is doing in that specific role and stuff like that. But if I had to choose between long reigns and short reigns I would choose long reigns any day. Sure it can be done badly like some of HHH's reigns. As already stated the problem wasnt the long reign but that no one was really made to look as his equal. However I remember in horror the year 2002 (I think). Look at this bad title history (from OWW): Triple H (5) 17/03/02 Toronto, ONT Wrestlemania X-8 Hulk Hogan (6) 21/04/02 Kansas City, MO Backlash Undertaker (4) 19/05/02 Nashville, TN Judgement Day The Rock (7) 21/07/02 Detroit, MI Vengeance 2002 Three Way Brock Lesnar 25/08/02 New York, NY Summerslam No matter how you book things that isnt what I would prefer in matter of the number of different champions over such a short time as 5 months.

To be honest the first thing that came to my mind was the phrase: "To win the ROH championship you just have to get a contract with WWE". With that being said I think its nice that they do things that no one expects. And I guess they have a safety in that ROH and WWE work together quite a bit nowadays. I just want WWE to send ROH some of their cameras and some new mikes for the commentator (or why not kick him out while we're at it?). Right now I dont even want to watch ROH because of the commentary which takes away from the whole experience for me.

In 2001 me and my father was in the United Stated (I'm from Sweden) over my 18th birthday. It was a gift I got and we attended No Mercy 2001 (I was ringside of course). At this point in time I hadn't seen a single RAW och SmackDown since WWF hadn't been on swedish television since 1994 (they switched to WCW and then stopped showing any wrestling in late 1995 - one small exception of one hour RAW/SD which aired for six months last year. Shortly after No Mercy I found out about releases on the Internet and have seen all RAW's and SD since). Anyway I loved the PPV and the next day I was watching RAW on tv. I remember being shocked that a shitload of titles changed hands on that show. I remember predicting the matches with my father and I said that I didnt think any of the belts wuld change hands because it was on free tv but all belts that were on the line that night did indeed change hands with the exception of the hardcore title (ironic isnt it?). That was October 22nd 2001. RAW October 22nd 2001 recap: http://rajah.com/wwf/raw/52.php That was very shocking to me.

I cant remember Holly getting that big of a pop when I have been to WWE shows. I always thought his entrance pop was canned heat. However lately people have been screaming for Holly during matches (and you can _see_ them screaming for him so its not just canned heat). I think he really is over. However they cant push him too high because people wont take him seriously in a upper mid card or main event situation. I think he really should be a tag team wrestler. Let him tag with someone who can sell good (play the face in peril) and let Holly be the "Animal" (LOD) of the team. I think that is where he is most useful to WWE.

Bob Holly. Sure he spent most of his carrer as somone no one cared about but lately he has been over and did even get "We want Holly" chants several times while tagging with Charlie Haas.

I never said anything about Marufuji either. It was just a short sum of my thoughts. It was more along the lines that it was damn good even if Suzuki was in there. And I also had to say that I've found Akiyama getting more lazy and boring. He really have come a long way down (negative) from where he was last year when he main evented IMHO. Of course! But the fact is that Rikio now does not work. And his challenger doesn't work either. And I expected him to get way more momentum after his Kobashi upset seeing how over he was right after that match and the fact that he was the first in years to get a singels pin on Kobashi.

Well, I dont think a review should be objective. Its subjective and this was the match I enjoyed the most on the card. I never complained about Hashi. I liked his work here and I think he can be pretty good in other matches as well. I dont think he does. The one sole reason I base that on is that no one who is there live seems to care about him. Its pretty much silent when he enters and there is not a good pop when he gets a 3 count. Of course it was right to have it as a main event but with the knowledge I have know it, as a match, would have benefited from being second to last. Now it suffered from a burned out crowd. I believe that the crowd can really make or break a match. This wasnt a bad match but it was nothing like we had expected (not me anyway). Bear in mind that I havent actually seen the classic Misawa vs Kawada matches from the 90's. Just one of them (not one that is rated the highest - I think someone gave it ***1/2). I just expected alot anyway because I have seen much Misawa and some Kawada stuff before. That + I had imagined the cowd would go nuts during the match. I like ROH but I cant watch it. I jus cant deal with the awful commentary. It really annoys me and takes away from much of the experience.

1. Takashi Sugiura, SUWA & Masashi Aoyagi vs. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, Mitsuo Momota & Katsuhiko Nakajima Good opener. Im not to excited about NOAH under-card (and especially not the 3 and 4 tag matches). This was good though. Perfect opener for a card like this. 2. Mohammed Yone & Takeshi Morishima vs. Tamon Honda & Go Shiosaki I liked this as well. Nothing special but everything was good. 3. Akira Taue, Takuma Sano, Jun Izumida & Haruka Eigen vs. Akitoshi Saito, Shiro Koshinaka, Masao Inoue & Kishin Kawabata First bad match of the evening. Alot of the older gues were in this one. I had no expectations and they didnt surprise me at all. Boring stuff. 4. Mushiking Terry Debut Match: Mushiking Terry vs. Black Mask I thought this was ok. Childish but good. The opening part of the match was good I think. Then I didnt really feel for it but they turned it up a notch towards the end. 5. GHC Jr. Heavyweight Title: Yoshinobu Kanemaru © vs. KENTA MOTN!!!!! Totally awesome match. KENTA is so damn good and I marked out so much towards the end. See this one, its amazing. 6. GHC Tag Team Title: Minoru Suzuki & Naomichi Marufuji © vs. Jun Akiyama & Makoto Hashi I tend to hate Suzuki and I dont really like Akiyama that much anymore either. This was damn good anyway. I know Akiyama is able to pull off great matches (he's just lazy at times). This was great though. Especially the last part of the match. 7. GHC Heavyweight Title: Takeshi Rikio © vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi Rikio does not work as the champion. I thought he would after the Kobashi match but they need to take the title off of him. Not a bad match though. Its just that people dont buy Rikio as champ. 8. Yoshinari Ogawa vs. Genichiro Tenryu I did not like this. Not a good build and the end came out of nowhere and felt misplaced and mistimed. Not very fun. 9. Kenta Kobashi vs. Kensuke Sasaki Awesome match. Second best of the show I think. The chopfest went on a little long but I liked it anyway. Everything was done well and the crowd was really hot for this. Simply awesome! 10. Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada A big let down. Looking back and I see that Kenta Kobashi vs. Kensuke Sasaki should have main evented. I think people will rate this higher than it deserves because of who's involved. It wasnt bad but it wasnt great either. A good match but the audience was burned out from the Kobashi match and this one never really got on the right track towards **** territory. Conclusion. Easily the best big show of the year from the organizations that I watch (WWE, NOAH and TNA). Bot Kobashi vs Sasaki and KENTA vs Kanemaru was MOTYC. Nothing stuk the house up totally even if there are two matches I'd rather not see again. Still the best show of 2005. Awesome job NOAH.

Of course there are other better wrestlers that should get the title or should be pushed hard to elevate to the world title level. One of the people that comes to mind is Christian. If he were given the chance I believe he would run with it and be a good champion. Granted he isn't on RAW anymore. On RAW I believe Val venis has been misused most of his time in WWE. I think he could have been a credible main eventer if they had put some trust in him several years ago. RVD could be a champion (even if it might only be a 2 month reign) as well as Ahelton benjamin (if he got a more distinct and interesting personality). I do prefer Edge overall to Cena. However Cena is better with the talking even though I dont enjoy what he is saying right now. I dont think Edge can talk very good at all. But just like you I prefer the actual wrestling to what goes on around it (the show part if you will). I just watch TNA's PPV's for that reason. I like RoH sometimes but their undercard sucks (or used to suck anyway) and I cant stand the guy who does the commentary (Lovey?). He actually ruint the whole RoH experience for me. The best wrestling organization today for me is clearly NOAH. Thanks for the welcome message

But does he really need the title to sell merchandies? But does he really draw? Do the figures support your statement? A heel has to lead a match. Is Cena capable of that? Cena hanged in there because he was being carried, something that he is incapable of doing. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> No he doesnt need the title to sell merchendise. I said that he is a bigger draw than Edge (not that he is a big draw compared to others). I have no numbers but I'm pretty sure Cena draw more than Edge. I'm not sure if Cena is capable of leading a match. From what he shows right now he isnt capable of doing that. However that can change. I just said I enjoyed his heel gimmick way more than his face one. In fact I loved the out of ring heel Cena (even though I actually despise rap/hip-hop music and culture). As a face I dislike most of what he does. And about him being carried to a good match. Yes thats right (its pretty much what I said as well). At least he isn't Heideneich/Viscera/Tomko bad so that you cant even drag a good match of him. The question for the thread was who was more worthy as champion and that is Cena according to me. He doesnt actually need the title to stay popular or to sell merchendise but he does deserve being champ more than Edge does right now.

Cena definately deserves it more. He makes loads of money on merchendise for WWE and is also more of a cross over star from what I've heard and seen (not in any way like Rock or Hogan but you know what I mean). He is very over and he is a bigger draw than Edge. I loved his first heel run with the rapper gimmick so I hope that the people booing him will lead to a turn eventually. He does need to get better in the ring though. He isnt very good at all. Allthough he can hang in there when facing someone good (i.e. Angle or the match against Jericho and Christian).

WWE lays out the pieces and I connect them. Fair enough. My point is that they did it only to have people make the connections. They do so with every other angle as well. The audience always have to connect the pieces but WWE know what kind of a picture they want to present to the public. Maybe I havent been totally clear if you missed what I said in my other posts (why else would you ask me all the questions I had already answered?). English isn't my first language and I dont live in a english speaking country. I think I was pretty clear anyways though. I also have to say that I agree with the posts of MikeofEvil, bob_barron and Dangerous A.

Well, a war is a big thing and makes headlines. A murder makes headlines but only in a small region (if not a important person is murdered). Same thing. Loads more are effected by major happenings like the tsunami, the terror in London and other things. The London thing paralyzed a capital of a highly powerful country. That is different from a prson being murdered in a alley, don't you think? I feel that you dont read what I actually write. Every question you ask me in that post I have already answered SEVERAL times. Its WWE presenting it as the stereotypical terrorist. I even explained that it wasnt my opinion because I wouldnt use the word stereotypical if I though the ethnicity was the reason I made the connection to terror. Please READ what I write instead of just putting your own argument forth.

Dude, check your history Angle was face well before 9/11. I know this because I was at the Raw w/ Austin Appreciation Night/Milk Bath which was the day after Summerslam '01 (Coincidentally, taped in the same venue where said bit in question occured). My bad then. Sorry about that. I think I proved my point with the other examples though.

You always miss the point that it about how everything was presented. That is a big thing. If JBL had choked Meanie with wire it wouldnt have been the same thing. Its all about how everything was presented. Can you see the difference between what happened on SD and my scenario with JBL and the Blue Meanie? No guns shouldnt be banned in movies (or fantasies) and cheating could be part of a WWE storyline even though it has destroyed many families. This is what I wrote (try to READ it sometime): "And yes I do think you have to reconsider what you air (and thats is the networks fault as well) in regards to major world happenings (recently London and 9/11). You have to show respect for people who have suffered from whatever bad things have happened to them in such a major event that have shocked a whole country (or even more)." I dont mean that it was a symbol that was meant as a beheading only that it was obvious that the inspiration came from that disgusting footage of masked extremists beheading a soldier with a saw. Together with every other reference to terrorism (without actually mention the word "terror") it made for a sick and repulsive image.

Easy: The circumstances of the whole segment (as mentioned before) as well as the fact that Vince couldnt ever air a beheading of a wrestler. It wouldnt be aired because its repulsive as people see wrestling as more real than a horror movie (which is also why people think its stupid to watch because it has a script). And he couldnt do a believable beheading anyway in a live setting such as a wrestling ring. And piano wire would actually behaed a person if used with actual force.

I'm not American and I'm not particulary fond of the US (especially not the politics). As I said before I actually agree with Hwhat Hassan has sais in many of his segments. I like what metr0man said on this: "Hassan is a heel. A stereotype, a muslim terrorist, used to capitalize on real life terrorists to build heat. That's what his character is, and has ALWAYS been presented, for the sole explicit purpose of getting the audience to boo." I dont think he has always been presented as a terrorist though. Only on the last episode of SmackDown. Besides I never said I considered him a terrorist beause of his religion. It was a piece of the puzzle. Let me explain: * The stereotype of a terrorist in these days: Arab descent, martyrs and extreme islamists. (If this had been in the 90's maybe The Arabs and islam points would have been replaced by North Irish descent (IRA) and extreme christianity). * They way WWE portrayed Hassan on SmackDown: Arab descent, martyr (ok that was Daivari) and muslim. I dont think every muslim is a terrorist. I know several muslims and I dont think I have any thoughts like that. I'm talking about how WWE portray a character based on the stereotypes that are around us all the time. I recognize the stereotypes (heck if I believed in the stereotypical terrorist I wouldnt even sit here and write the word stereotypical as it indicates that its a wrong standpoint). I still laugh about your point on fantasy as well. Fantasy is meant to create feelings in us (reality based or not). What else would it be good for? And yes I do think you have to reconsider what you air (and thats is the networks fault as well) in regards to major world happenings (recently London and 9/11). You have to show respect for people who have suffered from whatever bad things have happened to them in such a major event that have shocked a whole country (or even more).

Ever saw the movie Salo? Were you offended by it? See it and tell me it had no effect on you. Believe it or not but fantasy do create emotions in people. Shocker... I dont know about you but to first sacrifice a man (Daivari) and celebrate him for it (thus making him a martyr - even Tazz called him that) and then have masked men choking Taker (as I see it a blatant try to build on IRL happenings as I've said before). And they do it in the name os Islam (seeing as Hassan praised Allah in the end) just like how people do percieve the 9/11 attacks for example (as a way of "promoting" extreme islam). Hassans gimmick is built on stereotypes, thats no secret. That is the point of it as well. He is the stereotyped muslim. Therefore people will see him as an enemy of the USA and as a terrorist linked person. I have said it before but I feel the character Muhammad Hassan is right in much of what he says and I laugh at the fact that Americans boo him for speaking the truth. This angle was over the line however.

Do people not read what I write? I wrote this: "1. Have you even read what people have said. First Daivari is making a sacrifice for the cause of Hassan (whatever his agenda). Taker squashes him. Afterwards the amsked men carry him out and Tazz says "It's like a martyr" (or alike). That is a clear reference to the suicide bombers and such people who are seen as giving their life for their cause and thus becoming martyrs. 2. Masked men that strangles Taker with piano wire is (in my opinion) a play off on just those tapes where the amsked terrorists cut off the head of a american soldier. I havent seen it all but they showed parts of it on the news a year ago or so (before the killing had started) and several people I know have seen it. Its all over the internet. 3. In the contex of everything, the fact that WWE play off cheap heat with Hassan being Arab and muslim yes that does imply that it is about terrorism." They never said they were terrorists but it was pretty damn clear in the symbolic language.

Were you also as pissed off when a train blew up in Batman Begins? Because's that's a lot closer to home in respect to yesterday's events rather then what happened on Smackdown. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> The difference being that SmackDown clearly played off on terrorism and Al Quaida. There is no question about it. Anyone who didnt see it is just plain stupid. I havent seen the new Batman movie but Im guessing its not in the same vein at all. WWE played up real world happenings and tried to get cheap heat by using things that have actually happened and made a angle out of it. They had their martyr (just like 9/11 and the suicide bombers), They had their masked men who clearly played off on the thing the Islamists did when they cut off a soldiers head. They were all associated with a muslim of Arab descent (we all know that muslims from the Arab world are who most people think of when they ehar the word "terrorist") It is all about the ramifications. Everything WWE did was made for it to look like a terrorist act that was based on real world events. And the timing was awful. I dont think Batman begins even had the slightest attempt to portray it as something that had already happened IRL. I already answered that. there is no need to post the same comment again. So tell me, what would you be offended by? Or what have you been offended by in the past?

Why? Because some overly sensitive prissy bitches are offended by a fake zombie getting choked by fake Arab-American hitmen? It's stupid tripe bullshit television. Nothing more, nothing less. Get over it. Go outside and play a sport - get a new hobby. Stop crying because of a television show. IT'S JUST TELEVISION. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Still playing on the real life happening with stuff that really shouldnt be touched. They play up terrorism as entertainent on the very same day that London is attacked my a big attack. Sure it was taped before Thursday but there is no reason to still air it. I seldom feel this way with anything displayed on tv but this was totally disrespectful. I do complain if I see something I see is wrong. I wont sit back and just relax and be a bag of potatoes in the couch. I dont want WWE to disrespect any of the victims of the attacks. I feel it is wrong and I know others do as well. Its not about things being fake with made up characters or not. Its about making entertainment out of something that is a threat to the safety of people in the western countries. A very real threat. Making entertainment of terrorists that just yesterday managed to choke a whole twon (they closed London - no one could get in and no one could get out, and mny people lost their lives). Respect the people who dies for no reason at all. 1. Have you even read what people have said. First Daivari is making a sacrifice for the cause of Hassan (whatever his agenda). Taker squashes him. Afterwards the amsked men carry him out and Tazz says "It's like a martyr" (or alike). That is a clear reference to the suicide bombers and such people who are seen as giving their life for their cause and thus becoming martyrs. 2. Masked men that strangles Taker with piano wire is (in my opinion) a play off on just those tapes where the amsked terrorists cut off the head of a american soldier. I havent seen it all but they showed parts of it on the news a year ago or so (before the killing had started) and several people I know have seen it. Its all over the internet. 3. In the contex of everything, the fact that WWE play off cheap heat with Hassan being Arab and muslim yes that does imply that it is about terrorism. Many things in WWE apply to the real world. Why did you think The Iron Shiek was there? Why did you think the Un-Americans formed when they did? Why do you think The Blue Meanie got pushed against Bradshaw? Why do you think Hawk had a drug abuser gimmick in the WWE? Why do you think Kurt Angle turned face in 2001?

Its not about watching or not. Its about common sense not putting that stuff on the air. Its the same as I never would want WWE to somehow play off on 9/11 with some wrestler crashing in a plane (hey if WCW could blow up boats WWE could crash planes). Of course sickening stuff attracts people in some way. I mean some people actually find it fun to watch Jackass and that can be pretty offensive just like a car wreck. I watched it pretty much because I wanted to see how it played out (but then again I'm one of those nerds that seldom skip any wrestlinge eccept for the DIVA stuff). The thing is that they play it off of a real even where terrorists filmed how they cut off a american soldiers head with a small saw. Of course WWE couldnt do that but choking with piano wire and also Taker selling it like death (btw one of his best selling ever probably). Its obvious what they were doing. You know its still offensive even though they didnt bomb the arena, or shot someone with a gun. Most people probably saw it on Thursday nigh. I saw it today (friday). Its also about how it comes off on tv. Some stuff might sound worse than they are and reverse. And yes I'm more sickened because of what happened in London. Do you think that is strange?

I am a bit bothered that some are so insensitive and that they think this is ok. First off they make Daivari a sacrifice. He is sacrificed to a "greater good". Afterwards he is carried out symbolically as if he had given his life. They play him up just like the extremists do with the suicide bombers. Masked men choke the Undertaker with piano wire. Well everyone was chocked at the footage of the muslim extremists that cut off the head of a person (wa she american?) that they had cought. Now WWE does an angle based on the footage and the death of a real person. I have never had a problem with the Hassan character actually. I feel that much of what he has to say is probably true. America does hold a grudge to people of Arab descent and I bet that they do get checked more on airports and downst have it as easy getting opportunities IRL. But this segment was far over the line. Its basically a WWE Al Quaida we are seeing on TV. THAT is disturbing. And with the terror in London in mind they should have edited out that segment alltogether. Sure they had a warning but its not enough. Its bad taste. They didnt even shoot the planned flag burning with the Un-Americans at Ground Zero. Compared to what they did show on SmackDown that would be a drop in the ocean (at least for me as a non-american). The angle was well done but they shouldnt have let this air at all. They shoudnt even have done it on the tapings. I really dont care that Taker will kick Hassans BUTT (if he will do that) and let the "good side" win. That has nothing to do with it. What they aired was tasteless and just plain stupid.

Hurricane has been tag champ before as well. Well that is if you count the tag titles as just that. I dunno how they look at the history of the titles after they split them up in two divisions. I guess the RAW tag title history goes back to whenever the tag titles were created in the early 70's while the SD tag titles go back only to 2002 and Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit.