RavishingRickRudo

The following piece of Fantasy Booking is rated RRR. To preface the storyline, I have to say that it felt great when I was writing it. My intent was to create a storyline that ties in WWE/WWF history and wraps it up nicely with current storylines and programs, and I feel I did that better than I could have imagined. You ever had anything just "click", that's what this felt like. It, really, put itself together in the end, and part of me feels like -oddly enough- it was destiny. Fate, however, may not be kind to my spelig grammar or and? Blame that on the Canadian Educational System, I know I do. The story "peaks" at Summerslam, and it doesn't take into consideration the draft. It is, however, very flexible and crosses over onto both shows (it does not end the brand split, it does not bring back any star that already isn't already under contract, it doesn't debut any wrestler, it doesn't do anything that cannot be set up today, tomorrow, next week, or next month) which means whatever direction the WWE goes in the next few months, this can adapt easily. Whatever matches happen at Summerslam, this can adapt to (assume that the big matches for Summerslam have already been made with the current champions involved). As long as the key players are around, it works well. There are no exact dates involved, it does happen in sequence and one show follows another. I think it's the best thing that I've written, yes even better than Steve Urkel RAW GM or Trish Stratus 50-year-old Black woman, so if you enjoy my stuff, I think you will really like this. If you don't, read-on because it doesn't have the "humour" (which tends to be a subjective thing ) that the previous 2 pieces had. I try to explain everything, so if you have a point of contention, please read-on before replying. It's long, but that's mostly formatting; it goes down pretty smooth Enjoy! *Raw* On an episode of RAW nearing Summerslam, Wrestler X is walking backstage when he hears something coming from behind a door. He opens the door to see 6 figures sitting around a table. They all have masks on (not typical wrestling masks) as well as cloaks. They get up, attack Wrestler X and the camera man following him. The video feed goes out, but the audio is still on. Voice 1 (sounds like HHH): Do you think he saw anything? Voice 2 (sounds like -----): Nah. Voice 3 (sounds like -----): He better not have. Voice 4 (sounds like ---): Hey guys, can we get back to business here? Voice 5 (sounds like Flair): Yeah, and get rid of both of these guys' bodies behind the arena. Voice 6 (sounds like Bradshaw): Yeah, and close the door you're lettin in a draft! *Feed cuts off* *Back to JR* JR: What the hell was that?! King: I dunno JR, I think it was just a meeting or something. JR: Why were those guys wearing masks, and I think that sounded like.. King: I didn't hear anything or see anything JR, let's just ignore it and get back to this great RAW action! ----------- *Smackdown* *Teddy Long approaches Bradshaw backstage in his dressing room* Teddy: I don't know what you are up to JBL, but I will find out. JBL: What the hell are you talkin about Teddy? Teddy: Oh, you know what I'm talkin about. JBL: No... I don't... Teddy: Don't play games with me JBL, I want to know what you were doing on RAW Monday! JBL: WHAT?! Teddy: Ya heard me playa. I heard your voice on RAW last Monday. JBL: You must have me mistakened for someone else Teddy, I was in New York on Monday with some investors. I can give you their names and they will tell you the same thing. Infact, here, you can talk to one of em yourself. *JBL takes out his cell phone and hands it to Teddy* Teddy: Hello? Hi, is this Warren Larson? Yes, hello, this is Theodore Long, GM of WWE Smackdown, and I was wondering where were you last Monday night? Uh huh, uh huh, New York, with John Bradshaw Layfield... ok, alright, thank you very much. *Teddy looks at JBL and JBL smiles* Teddy: Well I apologize John, I guess I made a mistake. JBL: That's ok Theodore, we're all human, we all make mistakes. Teddy: I'll see ya lata, playa. JBL: Don't forget to close the door, you're lettin in a draft. *Teddy immediately turns around back to JBL and just stares at him.* *JBL smiles* JBL: A draft... a lil cold wind from outside. It's freezin in here. So could ya hurry-it-on up and get outta here, Teddy. *Teddy slowly turns around to leave* ----- *RAW Week 2* *Bischoff is talking on the phone* Eric: Yeah Teddy, I thought i heard their voices too. Eric: Yeah, yeah, there is somethin big goin down if it's those 3 together, and I have my suspicions on the other 3. I mean, I've heard rumours, but... *Eric Sees the Camera* Eric: HEY! Did I tell you to come in here?! *Camera leaves, but manages to open the door to see/hear Eric say* Eric: I think we should meet up to, I'll see you on Smackdown... ------ *Smackdown Week 2* *Bischoff is seen entering the building from his car, he is walking quickly and is greeted by Long* Bischoff: This is worse than I thought. Long: Wuddaya mean Eric? Bischoff: I just got finished talking with some "sources" of mine, guys who have been around for a while, and this "thing", well, it goes deep. Really deep. Long: That's not good, Eric. I've got a bad feelin about this. Bischoff: That's not good for either one of us, Teddy. I've had to deal with this kind of stuff in WCW, and from what I hear, this is 100xs worse. Long: Hell Eric, that kinda stuff killed WCW! Bischoff: I know, which is why we gotta know how bad it really is and we gotta stop it before it gets worse. *Long looks around* Long: I don't think it's safe to talk about this right here, right now. Let's go inside. Bischoff: Agreed. ------ *Raw Week 3* (Bischoff had been absent for most of the night, JR said he had been taken to the hospital. At the end of the night, his music plays...) *Bischoff walks down to the ring, bruised and bandaged* Eric: If I could have everyones attention. Earlier today I was attacked. It was during an interview I conducted with HHH. Now, HHH didn't want you to see this interview. Infact, he beat up me and the Camera man and took the tape that was in the camera. I figured he might do something like that, so I had another camera hidden. Here is what he didn't want you to see... *HHH and Flair walk into Bischoffs office, the hidden camera is behind a plant* HHH: What do you want Eric? *Eric is sitting there with Teddy standing at his side* Bischoff: Come in, Hunter. HHH: What the hell is HE doing here? *points to Long* Bischoff: He's here because even though RAW and Smackdown are competing brands, it appears that some of our wrestlers are mingling with each other, and that affects both of us... HHH: I don't know what you are talking about, Eric. Flair: C'mon Champ, let's get outta here. Teddy: Oh waitta minute Ric, this concerns you too. Bischoff: You see, a few weeks ago there were voices heard, live, on RAW. One of them sounded like you, HHH. And another sounded like you, Ric. Teddy: And one sounded like JBL, John Bradshaw Layfield, one of MY guys, a Smackdown wrestler. Bischoff: So what was a Smackdown wrestler doing here talking with a RAW wrestler, HHH? HHH: Eric, like I said, I don't know what you are talking about. That wasn't my voice Eric, look, there are millions of guys who sound like me, it could have been any one of them. And I saw Smackdown, JBL was in New York at the time and he had someone confirm it for him. As for Flair, hell, the guy is so old he can't even remember where he was at yesterday, ain't that right Ric? Ric: Whah? HHH: See? Bischoff: Oh CUT THE CRAP Hunter, I know it was you! I know it was Ric! And I don't care where someone says JBL was I know it was him too. I also know who the other 3 were, so unless you want those names exposed to the public -and I know you don't-, then you better come clean and tell me what you 6 intend on doing. HHH: I want to see my lawyer. Bischoff: Why? There hasn't been a crime committed. HHH: Don't worry, there will be. *HHH turns and knocks down the camera man and attacks Bischoff and Long* HHH: YOU WILL NOT SCREW THIS UP! IT HAS TAKEN WAY TOO LONG TO PLAN FOR SOME LOSER LIKE YOU TO RUIN! Flair: AND YOU! TEDDY LONG! SOME DAMN REFEREE! PEANUT HEAD! I STARTED THIS LONG AGO AND I DAMN SURE WON'T HAVE SOMEONE LIKE YOU MESS IT UP! HHH: Oh *beep* the camera is still on. Flair: Take the tape and let's get outta here. *back to bischoff* Bischoff: So now, here are the names of the 3 other men on that tape. *HHH's music plays* *HHH rushes down and confronts Bischoff* Bischoff: What are you gonna do Hunter? You are going to have to kill me to keep me from talking! HHH: No... the only thing I have to do to keep you from talking is this... *HHH grabs Bischoff by the throat and takes him down* JR: Oh god no! I'm not one of bischoffs biggest supporters, but dammit he's not a wrestler, he just is protecting RAW, he doesn't deserve this! *Flair runs in with a chair and they put it around Bischoffs head* JR: Oh come on! Can we get some help here?! Is everyone so afraid of HHH that they can't help here?! Is bischoff so hated?! *HHH jumps off the ropes and crushes Bischoffs throat* JR: DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT! Damn you HHH! *HBK runs down and stops HHH* JR: YES! FINALLY SOME HELP! *Bischoff looks up in fear* HBK picks up the chair as if to attack Hunter and then motions to HHH. *Hunter and Flair go over and stretch Bischoffs arms out* JR: What the... *HBK takes the chair to Bischoffs hands* JR: OH MAH GAWD NO! NO! WHY! WHY SHAWN! JESUS CHRIST WHY!?! King: JR, the last man who said "why" is in that ring right now, so if I were you I'd stop asking questions! JR: THIS AIN'T RIGHT KING! AND YOU KNOW IT! AND YOU KNOW SOMETHING DAMMIT! WHAT DO YOU KNOW!! WHY WON'T YOU SAY ANYTHING! *King leaves the announce position* JR: THIS AIN'T RIGHT! RIC FLAIR, HHH, and HBK.. AND BRADSHAW. What's the connection and why?! WHO ARE THE OTHER 2! I need some answers dammit! *show closes* ------ *Smackdown Week 3* *JBL goes up to Teddy Long* JBL: Teddy, I gotta know. What did Bischoff tell you, about all this? Teddy: JBL, I am not talking to you. JBL: Teddy, I don't know what happened there on RAW, but I am telling you I was not a part of it. Teddy: Bradshaw, get out of my office. JBL: Teddy, you have gotta believe me. Teddy: Bradshaw, GET OUT. *JBL grabs Teddy* JBL: TEDDY, YOU WILL BELIEVE ME! *Kurt Angle rushes in from outside* Angle: HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY! *Angle pulls and throws Bradshaw off Teddy and looks ready to fight* Angle: Now I may not agree with Teddy Long all the time, but I respect him as a GM and you will too dammit! Or else I'll break your *beepin* ankle! *Bradshaw backs off and leaves* Angle: Are you alright, Teddy? Teddy: Yeah, Kurt, I am. Thanks. Angle: Teddy, what's goin on here? Teddy: You don't want to know, Kurt. Angle: Teddy, I gotta know. This involves me, you, everyone on Smackdown. What did Eric tell you? Teddy: Eric told me that there are a group of 6 or so guys who, well, we don't know what they're doin, but they're plannin somethin Kurt. And, well, they've been around for a while... that's all I know. Angle: How long? Teddy: Longer than any of us have been here, I'll tell ya that. Angle: Who's involved? Did Eric tell you the other 2? Teddy: No, no he didn't. He probably knew that anyone knowing that information would, well, end up like him. In the hospital, unable to communicate with anybody. Angle: Well, when this thing goes down. I've got your back. And I know a bunch of other guys in that locker room who got your back as well. We may not all like each other, we may pound the crap out of each other each night, but we'll fight together if that means saving Smackdown. If it means protecting our group. Teddy: Thanks Kurt, that means a lot. ------ Cole and Tazz have a talk... Cole: Ok, Tazz, you've been around this business, you hear lots of things. Now, The King ain't talkin. What do you know? Tazz: I know that, for years, at least a decade, there has been talk about a group of guys behind the scenes that, well, are in control. Cole: In control? Tazz: You know, they get more title opportunities than others. They get more air time on TV. They get paid more money. Cole: Do you know who these guys were? Tazz: I hear rumours of who they are, when I was backstage I saw certain people hanging out with certain people, but I know enough to know that if I name names, I'm done for, brutha, and let's leave it at that. Cole: Is this what is going on here? A big power play? Tazz: I dunno, but I wouldn't want to be in the crossfire when something like that happens. ------ *Week 4: Last Raw until Summerslam* *HHH, Michaels, Flair come out* HHH: There has been this big misunderstanding, on RAW -and on Smackdown. See, there isn't this big "power play" going on. There isn't this big "grand conspiracy" or secret group or anything like that. What happened to Bischoff last week was a mistake. We may have... overreacted. He simply was sticking his nose into the wrong business. And that was OUR business. HBK: For YEARS, now, HHH and I have been friends and we have been foes. And, guess what? We're friends again. That stuff happens between friends, it happens between family. And we, me, HHH, and Ric. We're a family. And Eric, last week you got inbetween family. Now that the cat is out of the bag, we might as well come out and say it. I want YOU Batista. In the ring, for the title. I would have liked to have said that with a chair shot from behind, you know, getting the upperhand in the feud and whatnot, but I guess now is a good of a time as any. I want the title. And I will strike you down and take it. Flair: WHOOO! That's right, big man! You may have beaten HHH, and you may have even beaten me. But we've got the heart break kid SHAWN MICHAELS! now and he's beaten you before, and by god, he'll beat you again. It's been a long time comin big man, and you're goin down very, very soon! As for that guy on Smackdown... There's only been THREE groups in professional wrestling worth mentioning... the four horsemen, DX, and Evolution... and lemme tell ya this right now, BRADSHAW, would never be good enough to lick THE BOOTS of any of those groups. WHOOOO! ------ *Week 4: Smackdown before Summerslam* *Bradshaw promo* JBL: I am being accused of many falsehoods. I am being called out because of those falsehoods. I am being called out by Kurt Angle. I am being called out by Ric Flair. I do not appreciate being slandered in such a manner. I have proven my innocence, I was never, EVER, on RAW at any time in the last 6 months. I have people who can confirm my whereabouts any Monday night of the year. And to be called out by Kurt Angle and Ric Flair is just disgusting and distasteful. And it will not go unanswered or unpunished. In 3 days at Summerslam, I will have my redemption! ----- *Teddy Long promo* Teddy: I don't know the full story goin on here. If I were to believe everyone BUT Eric Bischoff, then HHH, Flair, and HBK are on Raw saying they are together, and that Bradshaw isn't with them. Bradshaw is on Smackdown saying that he is not with HHH, Flair and HBK. And Kurt Angle has my back...and I'll believe that when I see it, playas. Bradshaw wants Angle and Flair. At Summerslam. But if I were to believe Bischoff, then Bradshaw, Flair, HHH, and HBK are together and there are 2 other guys that are planning to do something big... something that could destroy both Raw and Smackdown. Jerry Lawler, a man who has been around here for well over a decade knows something and is scared, and the wrestlers in the locker room either know something and are too scared to say anything, or don't know anything and are still scared to say anything. Well I want answers. And at Summerslam, I am going to GET answers. Because Eric Bischoff's nurse just called me, and said he'll be getting out of the hospital Friday, will be on a plane Saturday, and will be at *insert arena* Sunday and will lay the whole thing out. Now can ya feel me, playas? ----- *Week 4: Summerslam* *Teddy Long is waiting outside* *A motorcycle rushes by and throws off a large body bag* *Long runs over and opens it and sees Bischoff unconscious. Long gets on the phone and calls a medic* (*Later on in the show*) *Long is sitting in his room and is on the phone* Long: What do you mean he was in no condition to leave the hospital?! I got a call from his nurse saying that he was! What? He didn't have a nurse? HE WAS TAKEN?! By who?! 6 large men in masks... Oh sonnofa... (*Later on in the show*) *Long talks with HHH, Flair, HBK, Bradshaw, and Angle, seperately.* Angle: Why are you talking with me Teddy? I'm not a suspect in all this, am I? Teddy: Kurt, I don't know who to trust. All I know is that HHH, Flair, HBK, and Bradshaw all had skintight alibis and couldn't possibly have dropped Eric off here. So I gotta know, where were you today? Angle: I was with my wife and kids. The whole day. You can go ahead and ask them. Teddy: No need to, Kurt. I already did and they said what you said. Sorry to bother you. Angle: Just catch the guy who did this Teddy, and make him pay. ----- The end of the show has Batista, HBK, HHH, and Flair in the ring (whoever Batistas opponent is doesn't matter). JBL runs down and takes out Flair. Batista is still getting beaten down. Angle runs in, looks at JBL and sees him attacking Flair. He stops and thinks. JBL looks back. They understand each other. Angle attacks HHH and HBK, helping Batista. It is even. Cena runs down to give the advantage to Smackdown. It is hectic in the ring, punches flying everywhere. HHH, HBK, and Flair get eliminated. Bradshaw, Kurt, Batista, and Cena are in the ring. Then... *black* *BONG!* *The Undertaker makes his return to the WWE and walks down to ringside and everyone stops* *He stands in the ring between Batista, Cena, Bradshaw and Angle.* *HHH, Flair, HBK look scared shitless. Everyone else in ring is pumped up.* *The video screen turns on and everyone turns to it* *Video footage of Bischoff being loaded into the bodybag is shown. A guy in a motocycle helmet is zipping it up. He puts the body on the motorcycle and turns to the camera. He takes off his helmet to reveal The Undertaker, who does his eye and tongue thing.* *Batista and Cena turn to see HHH, Flair, HBK, Angle, Taker, and Bradshaw surrounding them, and smiling.* *Huge beat down* *Show ends with the announcers freaking out, and the belts being raised high by the 6. "A goddamn power play" is the last thing said.* ----- *RAW Week 5* *Vince McMahon starts the show in the ring* Vince: For 25 years I have controlled every single aspect of the WWE. I have always had power. Ted Turner. The Federal Government. They tried to take me down, they tried to take away my power... and they failed! I have never lost power, and I am not losing power now. What happened last night at Summerslam, that was just like the others. It was an attempt to take power away from me, the owner of the WWE. And it, and the 6 members who pulled it off, will FAIL. I still sign the cheques and the contracts, I still have the power to FIRE every single one of those 6 wrestlers. It was a nice lil coup for one night, but that's all it was... one night. It will not happen again. Because I signed the release papers of The Undertaker, HHH, HBK, Ric Flair, Kurt Angle, and JBL and as of right now they are no longer WWE employees! *New Music Plays* *The group of 6 come out and enter the ring* Vince: What the hell? You're all fired! Security, SECURITY, get them the hell outta here! *Security doesn't budge* HHH: What's the matter Vince? What happened to that power of yours? Vince: What's going on here? HHH: How stupid do you think we are Vince? Do you honestly think that we'd go up against you if we weren't protected? Vince: What did you do? HHH: What did we do? Maybe you should be asking "What have we done?" because all we are doing now is doing what we have done for the past 15 years! Only now, we're making it public. Vince: What? Ric: YA SEE VINCE, OL VINNY BOY! 15 years ago, an NWA champion named Ric Flair entered the WWE. But, this wasn't the NWA, oh no. This wasn't WCW. This wasn't Jim Crockett Promotions. This was New York~! Up north! Hulk Hogan and Vince Mcmahon! And there was no way, NO WAY, someone like me -even if he was the NWA champion- could have been a WWE champion. I couldn't have had that power without some guys watchin my back. And one of those guys is standing in the ring with me right now... *Vince looks at HBK* *HBK shakes his head* Ric: No, no, no. Look HIGHER Vince! Look at the dead man, the Undertaker! *Vince looks at Taker and asks why?* Taker: Put the pieces together in your mind Vince. I've been here all along. I've been here for 15 years, and I didn't stay around, I didn't stay on top, by luck. I've always had somebody watchin my back, lookin out for my interests. In 1991, three men got together and decided it was time to take the power away from you, and put in their own hands. To take their own destiny and mold it themselves. It was me... Ric Flair.. and Bret "The Hitman" Hart. JR: Bret Hart? What does he have to do with all this?! Flair: That's right. BRET HART! You never saw that one comin, did you Vince? Never saw it comin! That's what made our pact so good, no one saw it! No one knew! We were winning titles after titles after titles and nobody made the connection. But it was there. You look at every step along the way, and it was THERE! Whooooo... Who did I hand that title off to before I left Vince? Take a guess? That's RIGHT! Bret Hart. When you fired me, when I went back to WCW, I made sure the power stayed in the group. And when one goes, another takes his place. Michaels: And that's where I come in. In 1994 Taker and Hart came to me and they said "we want you in", and so rose the Heartbreak kid. We ruled the world. The title kept moving between us, the power always remained with us. By 1997 the only thing that could stop us was ourselves. Survivor Series. Montreal. Bret Hart made the wrong choice. WE came up with the idea to screw him over Vince, and with that, one goes out and another comes in. HHH! HHH: The late 90's was tough. Austin wouldn't play ball. The Rock was just in it for himself. But we played the game. We lasted. And then we thrived. We got in the ears of certain people behind the scenes. The producers gave us the best shots, the best music, the best lighting, the best spots on the card, the most TV time. The magazine people put us on the covers. The merchandise people gave us the best t-shits. We were on DVDs. And when Michaels got injured and gone... Bradshaw: I CAME IN. That's right. Cept I wasn't like everyone else. I didn't just rise up and take power... I waited. And I waited. Like any good investment, I waited until the time was right and then BAM, I go bull and I take the title. HA HA. Flair: And then you had to go and buy WCW. I said that very night, the last Nitro ever, I said that you cannot take our lives, our destinies, in the palm of your hand. You think you have the power, YOU DON'T HAVE THE POWER, YOU DON'T! So when I came back, after the big Invasion of the WWE, I came back because I wanted to take that power BACK. I owned 50% of the WWE! We, you and me, were partners! But you, you, you always come back. You always find a way to win, Vince. And soon enough, I lost that power. And then you tried to divide us up, Raw and Smackdown. Split the power! Angle: So in comes me. Shawn Michaels returns, that makes 5, and I make 6. 3 on Raw, 3 on Smackdown. And we got stronger. There's only one problem now... we don't have the gold. Batista, Cena... they have the gold. They have what we want. They stand in our way of ultimate power. But they weren't standing for long at Summerslam. Oh no, we CRUSHED them, and when they heal up, when they get back from the hospital, we'll crush them and then take their titles! Oh it's true. HHH: See, Vince. It was a consolidation of power. The 6 of us together, we are stronger than any force in the universe. And 6 of our minds together, all this experience... We've been working on this plan for YEARS, you'd actually think we'd go up against you unprepared. You think we'd make a mistake like "accidently" having some wrestler open a door and ruin our entire plan?! It was all a set up Vince. It was all leading to Summerslam, and it was all leading to this night, to this momment right now! Bradshaw WAS talking to some investors on wallstreet, YOUR INVESTORS. YOUR Board of Directors. Bradshaw told them what was what. And they didn't like the idea of their top 6 stars being fired in one night. Because something like that would KILL a stocks price, and it would kill their investment. So you know what they did, they took the power away from you, and they gave it to US. So you CAN'T FIRE us, because there's a new CEO of the WWE and HER name is Stephanie McMahon Helmsley! JR: Oh, my, god. *Steph comes down to the ring, smiling, bouncing, jiggling, jumps in the ring and hugs HHH* *Vince is shocked, dismayed, silenced, dead inside* Steph: What, daddy? Vince? What are you so shocked about? Jeez, how many times have I tried to take over this damned company? The problem always was, though I always had the position to take over, I never had the support of the board, and I never had the support of the key players. Well, now I have both. And now, WE have the power Take a look around you, it was INEVITABLE. When you have power for so long, you get lazy with it, you think you are inVinceable... and just when you think no one will take it from you, someone will most certainly take it from you. And that's the difference. These men have been busting their ass for you for decades, while you've been making millions of dollars just sitting in your office. They've been working, planning, scheming.. waiting... and their time has come. There was a powerplay, Vince... and you just got played. *Vince gets arrested by security and taken out of the arena* Flair: The King is Dead! The King is Dead! Long... live... The Kingdom... TAKER! HHH! HBK! JBL! KURT ANGLE! RIC FLAIR! *The rest of the show runs with the 6 taking charge.* -------

If you don't care for the excitement, what does it matter that it was taped 2 days earlier? It doesn't "matter". It just means that, all things being shitty, RAW is less boring, which doesn't really mean a thing if my 3 favourites aren't on the show. It's not a significant point, it's just my POV on the subject of which show is 'more exciting'. With RAW, there is the possibility -however far fetched - that a titty falls out or a fan rushes the ring, with Smackdown there isn't. Atleast when you don't read spoilers, if you try hard, maybe a little bit, it feels like it's happening right now. Almost. Nah. I mean, the very notion of me not reading spoilers is insane. I read the end of books soon after I read the beginning. It is in my nature. To last less than 7 hours for a PRIDE show takes all my strength and will-power.

But knowing the event happened 2 days earlier already taints it. Hell, even PRIDE with a 24 hour delay isn't as exciting as a live UFC show. You know there is going to be post-production and editing, so the "anything can happen" vibe gets taken away. But for someone who thinks neither show is exciting and I don't watch for the excitement, I'd rather Benoit, Benjamin and Rosie all be on Smackdown so I can know when they're on, tune in and see em, and then tune out.

It's also like saying walking blindfolded in a pit of snakes is better than going without the blindfold. I'd like to know what I'm getting into before I get into it, if Raw had spoilers I'd read em too. The only time I don't like reading spoilers is when there's a PRIDE show on a 24 hour delay.

I'd wonder if any of the writers have daughters, but then I remember that Vince McMahon has a daughter and I see how she turned out, so I pretty-much get my explanation there. ATM doesn't appeal to kids in the same way wrestling and the WWE does. I know that media typically objectifies women anyways (and they do it to men as well, to be fair) and should be held accountable as well, but since this is the WWE folder and the WWE is the worst offender that I can see on television and appeals to kids, it becomes a top target of criticism. The WWE has an opportunity to present strong, empowered women and fails on every level. Then again, their idea of empowerment is taking off your clothes, so maybe my wires are crossed and I'm just not getting it. RRR: Thinking Torrie Wilson looked her hottest with all her clothes on and little make up or photoshopping. Also thinking Torrie Wilson looked her worst in Playboy. It's odd how the director of creative is a woman, yet she has no idea how to present female sexuality/sensuality and strong women on television. It's also odd that Stephanie McMahon was the only on-air female who had a somewhat empowered role...next to Linda, of course.

Maybe they were digging to the centre of the earth.

Everything wrong with Benjamin outside the ring is the writers fault. His voice, if used right, is 100% badass. He is given bad material and his character is wrong for him - he isn't Dustin Rhodes who can take shit and turn it to gold like he did with Golddust in 2002. It shouldn't be the wrestlers' job to adapt to the writers, it should be the writers' job to adapt to the wrestlers. A cross-armed bridging suplex might be fun to see from Benjamin. As a when-all-else fails finisher, perhaps? I was thinking about a wrist-clutch exploder, but they wouldn't let him have it unless it was totally watered down. However, a watered down Exploder 98 is better than what he has right now. I also have to mention a flying armbar, just cause I always do when the discussion comes up

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I haven't finished watching the DVD (I bought and taped it live, but I needed Diaz/Parisyan in full), but I thought Liddell/White was a FOTYC (my FOTY was Parisyan/Diaz); Lytle/Jhun, IIRC, had awesome wrestling psychology with Lytle continually going for the guillotine and finally getting it; Justin Eilers had a break-out fight against Kyle; Yves Edwards/Thomson was great; Riggs/Dirte was good; the only disappointment was the main event, which I am hoping improves on a second viewing. I think UFC 49 is the best UFC show, from top to bottom. But it has some pretty stiff competition.

Maria has a nice body, and I love her idiot gimmick... Gimmick?

I find RAW to be less boring than Smackdown (I didn't say "more exciting", it's still rather dull), and that's probably because of the live aspect of it. I'll read the spoilers for Smackdown, which I am usually bored by, and will make note to tune in when only something remotely interesting happens - which isn't very often. I find chatting on this message board to be more exciting than either show right now. Hmm... maybe the WWE should, you know, fix some things on their shows, yah?

Bought UFC 49 on DVD today, FUCK YEAH Parisyan/Diaz rocked it. Check out HMV, they are carrying more UFC titles now.

I'm sorry. You must have missed the word "feud". It's an easy word to miss, I know.

Like a Luke Skywalker to someones Darth Vader or something?

How did Georges St. Pierre look?

He didn't create ECW.

And their heels and faces suck. Why should I care about any of them? The same thing applies to RAW, but at least they have the aforementioned 3 that I like. Newsflash, both shows are bad. It's pretty much which side of the bed you wake up on that decides which you like more. The Eddie thing isn't really anything new for people who have been watching him for a while now. Guess what? In a few months he and Rey will be best buds again. It _always_ happens. I don't think they are maximizing Cena's potential. The last feud with Bradshaw wasn't near what it could have been. Don't ever use "so bad it's funny". That's what people use to justify Viscera and Gene Snitsky and the Diva Search. They're wastes of time, they're not funny to me, they're just bad.

Why not just delete Hardcore Discussion and keep General Chat? HD doesn't serve a purpose. I mean, what exactly would HD bring to a merger? No post counts?

Viscera. Thus creating the worst feud ever.

But... "average" for Raw, to me, is "bad".

Fuck yeah. Rosie has great promos, and has one of the better movesets in the company. He is greatly underutilized.

And to add-on to that, it's absurd that the WWE is using "Be yourself" by Audioslave for the Diva Search.

I just sorta realized that the WWE is sending a really bad message to both men and women in regards to their bodies. If you are a woman, you are only of value in a bikini, and even then society will judge you and if you aren't what others want then you are a loser. It's objectification at its worst. Even Beauty Pagents go beyond the swimsuit. If you are a man, like Randy Orton, if you want to be anything you have to bulk up to an unrealistic body-size, and the only way you can do that is through HGH. And here's a problem - the WWE advertises to kids. There are lots of kids who watch, and they are influenced by this. I didn't much buy into the PTC saying "Think about the children!" when it came to the language aspect in the mid-90's, because I was a foul-mouthed kid and wrestling was clean back then. But I imagine that I'd have a significantly different perspective on body-types had I not watched wrestling and Hulk Hogan with his 24inch pythons. And even Hogan talked about the virtues of training and taking your vitamins, here "health" is never talked about. This is one of the more bad things the WWE is doing, and they do a lot of bad things. Is the WWE ever held accountable for this? Hell no. It's wrestling, people already assume it's reaching for the lowest common denominator - but that doesn't apply to the kids who watch it and the kids they're selling to.

Is there a possibility that there will be an "advancement" on the babies age? Like, either they skip a few years like they did on Alias (or so I've heard), or they pull an Angel and have him age through some mystical method? Because there is no way that Aaron can be effective as a baby.

Jericho was also awful hosting OTR.