So should RVD win it or not?

[Guest JHawk]

Should it be RVD's chance to shine?

 

At the very least, you can make up your own mind by reading this article.

 

</shamless plug mode>

[Guest FeArHaVoC]

Is RVD still new & Fresh?

 

Yup!

 

Is RVD Over?

 

Yup!

 

Would it be nice seeing someone new with a World Title belt?

 

Yup!

 

Should it be the RAW "World Title?"

 

No F'N Way!

-------------------------------------------------

 

At this point, I don't care if he wins or not! I'm More then Less watching "Wrestling" out of habit right now.

 

The Raw belt is crap and it has no meaning to it. They should have NEVER brought it back and kept to ONE Champion jumping back and forth from each show.

 

RVD is Money in the Bank. Putting the useless Title on him is going to hurt him & the Company. They should keep the belt on Triple H and let him work (For once this year) at being a meaningful Main event Guy and bring some creditability to that Belt.

 

Then, maybe 2-3 months down the road have RVD go over Triple H.

[Guest MarvinisaLunatic]

If the way that everyone says RVD wins happens, then I say NO. HBK costing HHH the title means that while RVD wins the *Heavyweight Title*, everything he does will play 2nd fiddle to the HBK HHH fued. Im not even going to mention the fact that the title is worthless. Not to mention who he would defend it against (Big Show? Jericho? Flair?)

 

However, if RVD wins the belt cleanly that isn't such a bad thing, however odds are pretty good that HHH will get the belt back next month. An RVD HHH feud would be pretty good, and it might help RVD in the long run.

[Guest notJames]

I agree with FearHavoc. The RAW belt is as useless as Lawler at a NOW rally. Giving it to RVD, after only being around HHH's waist (or shoulder) for a month, is just asking for trouble, especially at a throwaway PPV like this one.

 

I'd rather RVD at least look strong and lose, than have him win. Prolonging the chase will only serve RVD and the WW_ better in the long run.

[Guest cabbageboy]

Well, I have thought about this and I still don't know what to think for sure. On one hand we have "RVD winning via a Shawn run in"....this might hurt RVD's cred, it might not. On the other hand we have "RVD jobs here, wins in a rematch." First off how do we know that WWE will even continue this feud after this one PPV? Second, how do we know that HHH would job in a blowoff considering he NEVER has?

 

I had the thought that RVD could job on Sunday after being dominant in the match. Shawn then comes back and offers to train RVD for the rematch (shades of ROCKY III!). From here I'd have RVD use the tips Shawn gave him about HHH (stuff like "watch out for the knee!") and defeat HHH.

 

After that you can continue the HHH/Shawn feud and RVD goes on to face...damned if I know. Could just go the Bret route when he first won it and have RVD soundly defeat a bunch of guys.

[Guest Brian]

"On the one hand, the best wrestler in the company should be at least among the top two or three contenders to the title in order to ensure quality matches in the main event."

 

Benoit, Angle, Eddie.

 

"A) William Regal, who never seems to get a chance to work with anybody compatible, or B) Lance Storm, who is currently a Tag Team Champion."

 

Regal doesn't want to conform and I can't blame him. But as for Storm, why champion him when you have Jericho and Flair on you roster, plus Booker who doesn't fan you everytime. Or even Golddust, who gets no respect for being a good wrestler.

 

"2. Triple H needs to job to prove he's not the political mastermind he is."

 

Actually, he doesn't. He doesn't need to prove anything to us at all.

 

"3. The World Heavyweight Title means nothing right now."

 

They even talk out against it on TV.

 

"Why wouldn't Triple H be willing to job what appears to be a lame duck title?"

 

Because he's early into his heel turn and has already lost one match. Because even the lame duck champion gets to be a focal point of programming.

 

"They can try to make it seem like the title that dates back to Frank Gotch, to the NWA Title, or even the WCW title, but face it, even the NWA title doesn't technically date back to 1905."

 

Technically it starts in 1955 or so.

 

"A) Booker T: A good choice. Decent wrestler, decent charisma, very over, and a five-time former WCW Champion to boot. Plus he has a variety of quality finishers, so you never know how his matches are going to end. If RVD isn't the guy, Booker is."

 

Probably a better choice than RVD IMO, to take the title because Booker T has the tradition and respectability that would make the title worth something. Six time, six time...

 

"B) Bubba Ray Dudley: Hey, he's over,"

 

His tables act is.

 

"...he has charisma,"

 

He hasn't shown it in a while. His ring work is bland and hisplay to the crowd spots are all the same.

 

"His finisher is not seen as credible, and I don't think I've ever seen him win a match in the WWF/E without calling for the tables. Not a chance in hell in a just world."

 

If he wants a good finisher, he should use the unassisted 3-D.

 

"C) Ric Flair: Advantages--still a better worker than 90% of the roster."

 

The RAW roster, or the whole roster?

 

"Excellent interviews. Over out of respect as much as talent. Seen as credible in even the dumbest mark's eyes. Drawbacks--in his mid-50s. Booked to beat guys who should be high on the card, such as Eddy Guerrero and Chris Jericho, but to lose against guys he should probably eat alive, like Brock Lesnar and Rico. I think he'll get one more reign, but I'm not sure he's the cure."

 

Lesnar's a guy he needed to give some credibility. Flair's another guy like Booker who can try to give the title some instant credibility and respect.

 

"D) Kane: Probably WWE's front runner since he's a hoss and healthy. Had a cup of coffee with the WWF Title in 1998 and has probably earned a chance at getting a fair shot in the main event. His main drawback is that even WWE likes its PPV title matches reaching the 15-20 minute mark, and Kane's stamina might be in question. I'm also unsure as to whether the crowd will actually respond to him near the top of the card."

 

Kane sucks and I can't ever see him drawing since Undertaker proved sideshow acts don't.

 

"E) Goldust: Eh, tough call. On his good days, Dustin Runnels can work a very good match and keep the crowd involved. He's over like hell, and he's almost always entertaining. But (and there's always a but) it might take some work to get people to see Goldust as more than a comedy act. Every attempt they've made has met with failure."

 

If they split Bookerdust it could make enough momentum for both of them to get into the upper mid-card tier.

 

"A) Chris Jericho: You'd think this would be a no-brainer since he's charismatic, an above average worker, and the first-ever Undisputed Champion, but he's a prime example of a guy who's never recovered from a feud with Triple H."

 

Isn't he the only example?

 

"Even his Intercontinental Title win on Monday was marred by Hunter's interference. Plus, assuming RVD does win the title, how are fans going to react to seeing another month or two of this one? Give Jericho a solid winning streak and this could work."

 

Jericho needs credibility, and the only way to do that without taking months of work is turn him face.

 

"B) The Big Show: Only placed as a heel since he's not really a face either. This is a guy with a ton of potential. But he's already had a couple of failed pushes near the top, including a 6-week run as WWF Champion. While I'd like to see him with a title push that doesn't include a PPV defense against The Big freaking Bossman, take a pass."

 

So will everyone else.

 

"C) William Regal: See guys? I'm already stretching for heel challengers. As I said earlier, Regal might be the best pure wrestler in WWE, and his match with RVD at WrestleMania was not as awful as people made it out to be. But face it, he's bland. Vince McMahon hasn't had a really bland champion since Bob Backlund, and that was only because he couldn't find someone else to put it on until Hogan became available."

 

Regal a great guy in the uppercard but he'll never be a main eventer until he's allowed to rip loose.

 

"D) Lance Storm: See William Regal. Hey, I love the guy's ringwork, and he's got underrated mic skills, but I doubt he'd get a reaction if he was from, say, Jersey or the Bronx. Well, he'd get "Yankees suck" chants if he were from the Bronx, but that doesn't really count. Actually, could you be an Un-American in Jersey? It's like a foreign country already."

 

I couldn't see Storm main eventing either. He's bland in terms of personality out there.

 

5. Workrate has never been the most important thing in determining a champion. Exactly. The bottom line in Vince McMahon's eyes is if he thinks his champion will make money. And that standard has held true since Vince's father was running things. Bruno Sammartino? Something like 187 sellouts at MSG in 210 main events. Money in the bank. Pedro Morales? Money in New York with the heavy Puerto Rican population, and good enough in Philly and Boston to make him viable. Superstar Billy Graham? The only heel before Yokozuna to get any sort of steady run, simply because everybody paid to see him lose. Bob Backlund? Until late-1980 and early-1981, money in the bank, and only champion after that because Larry Zbyszko had a fallout with the McMahons. Hulk Hogan? Enough said. Randy Savage? Ohhhh yeah! Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin? Money, money, money. Diesel? OK, there are exceptions. But very few of these guys, especially before Ric Flair's 1992 Royal Rumble victory, were exactly technical marvels."

 

Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels were money?

 

"A) RVD wins clean: That's all well and good, but when Spike Dudley and Jeff Hardy are each within half a second of putting the man away the two weeks before that, the general vibe is going to be "He caught him when he was worn down"."

 

I would doubt it even if RVD would win clean. Fans never think of faces winning like that.

 

"D) RVD wins thanks to outside interference: This is the most likely finish. Hunter has issues with Bubba Ray Dudley, Ric Flair, and Shawn Michaels that could all be used to further the "Everybody Hates Hunter" storyline (look for that on CBS this fall...five days a week no less), but RVD is immediately pushed into the background with such a finish."

 

Most likely Michaels, and most likely finish, but with RVD hitting the five star at the end to seal the victory and thus give him some credibility. But look at you hallengers. Who is going to feud with RVD that will give him a matchof HBK/HHH profile. After SummerSlam, it's hard not to justify putting that in the forefront.

 

"E) Triple H wins clean: They do this, you can forget about RVD ever being elevated. Heels should win clean...against lesser competition. They should need something else to win against someone near their level."

 

How many guys did HHH go over clean as a heel?

 

"G) Triple H cheats to win: Could be the way to go. RVD in control, rolling thunder, false finish (foot on the ropes), charge in, fluke roll up, feet on the ropes. This still borders on the Spike and Hardy matches, but could still serve to put both guys over."

 

People won't compare Spike and Jeff to RVD.

 

"H) Triple H wins by interference: But who would interfere? Jericho? No sensible way to have him help Hunter. Big Show? Maybe, but who wants to see that?"

 

Ric Flair?

 

"8. It doesn't matter who has the title when business is dropping across the board. That was certainly true in WCW before they finally shut the door on it. And it's certainly possible when the economy's taking a hit to begin with. But the old cliche tells us that a promotion is as strong as its champion, so if the fans want to see World Champion RVD, they'll turn out."

 

Someone's got to stop the bleeding on RAW.

 

"9. Brock Lesnar is the real World Champion because his title in the one with the lineage. Agreed. You want a cookie?"

 

It has the WWF lineage, but not really the WCW lineage.

 

"Is RVD ready? In my opinion, yes he is. He's over, he's got the look, and he can keep the crowd fixed on his every move. But he should have Brock's belt. The one with the lineage. The one that isn't seen as a complete joke. But if you're serious about Hunter's belt eventually meaning something, then put it on RVD. Clean. To blow off an extended feud. But don't hotshot it to him just to try to stop our bitching. We get enough hotshotting as it is."

 

Why do they care what we think? Anyways, I think they're setting it up to mean something because they've badmouthed it on the air so much.

[Guest notJames]

I wouldn't even involve HBK at this point. It's not like RVD needs his rub. And HBK training anybody would come off very indyish and boring.

 

I say, if HBK is going to run in and cost HHH a victory (non-title of course), it should be against someone like Buh Buh Ray, someone who could use a leg up. And it should be months and months later, after RVD eventually wins the belt from HHH.

[Guest goodhelmet]

great fuckin article!!!!!!!

 

now, with that said, i don't want rvd to lose this weekend. i want him to win convincingly w/ no screwjob because lets face it... hhh as a champion of ANY sorts sucks! if necessary, let hbk interfere on rvd's behalf because hbk seems to be the only one who can get a halfway decent match out of trips. long live rvd. death to hhh (would that get me banned?). and here's to rvd winning the real world title sooner rather than later.

[Guest FeArHaVoC]

<Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels were money?>

 

I don't think he meant Big Money. But they were the main draws for that time and for what the WWF had to work with then

[Guest FeArHaVoC]

I can't see Shawn Michaels even being a factor in this. I would think they would want to save HHH/HBK for Survivor Series. By WWE standards, there is too much time from here to then. There is at least a Month in a half and a whole other PPV before Survivor Series.

[Guest Brian]

You have RVD win with Michaels out there and have the little thing where Michaels raises his hand and hands him the belt. The interference is just superkick, than RVD hits the five-star frog splash.

[Guest Big McLargeHuge]

Here's the type of interference I'll accept: Hunter cheats like a bastard throughout the match, realizing that Rob just won't stay down, thus making him look like a an actual threat. He resorts to using a chair, before he can Shawn runs down and takes it away (or superkicks it, whatever) allowing Rob an opening to set up the ***** frog splash and win. Shawn should NOT win the match for Rob, ya hear me Vince?!

 

That's IF he wins however. If Rob loses, I want the entire planet to interefere on HHH's behalf in order for the champ to finally get the pin. None of this sleeper shit. No no no. Hunter should have to drop Rob out of a building and then run over his corpse twice before getting the pin.

 

But IMO, Rob shouldn't win. He'll be left doing jack and shit. HHH is busy with Shawn. Jericho is the only other viable contender, unless Rob enters a fued with another face.

[Guest cabbageboy]

Well by training RVD I didn't mean Shawn would do campy video packages and stuff. But just show him maybe going over some tapes with RVD, pointing out HHH's weaknesses, giving pointers. The key here is that in the match RVD would have to use this new knowledge and win.

 

Lost in the "What will RVD do as champ?" hoopla is this: What is Lesnar going to do after UT? Face Edge? Won't draw. Benoit? Interesting match but won't draw. Angle? Might do ok as a main of a PPV but as a WM main it would suck ass. Besides, the SMDN list of serious contenders is as thin as Raw's. I can't see Angle/Brock being held off till WM.

 

I say let RVD eventually win the title on Raw, and then have him take on all comers to establish the lame title. After all, if RVD gave the friggin hardcore title credibility, he can definitely bring some to the former WCW world title. Let Brock do the same on SMDN, plow through everyone. Then come WM time, there is your match: it has a great champ vs. champ scenario, both guys would be built strong, and the first issue was unresolved. That might also be the time when Brock loses his first match via pinfall, and subsequently use that to turn him face.

 

Anyone got a better idea?

[Guest AlwaysPissedOff]

It's a bit too early to say that ANYBODY can draw right now.

[Guest Brian]

That's what I'm thinking APO. Saying Edge can't draw is like saying RVD will draw.

 

With two titles, you have two main events to sell shows on rather than just one. What if after HBK/HHH, HBK comes back after RVD.

 

I've talked to alot of casual fans in Seattle who will probably be at WrestleMania, and they've said they think Angle/Brock would fly if Angle can work as a face.

 

Do they have to defend the title every month? It'd be nice once in a while to have a tag, maybe Survivor Series, RAW vs. SmackDown.

[Guest AlwaysPissedOff]

I was thinking the same thing, Brian. ANd hopefully, Angle CAN pull off the face act if they go for it since I plan on being there for WM(hopefully).

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

My favorite vs. my least favorite over a title that I made sure to set the worth at 0 on my EWR game.

 

It's so sad how little I care about this.

 

Were RVD getting a shot at winning the actual title...I'd be so excited. But this cop-out don't fly with me.

 

I'll pass.

[Guest AndrewTS]

I could really care less...Raw doesn't have anyone else besides RVD that should be a main eventer at this point. The whole champ-for-each-show thing completely screws things up. Likely RVD bombs as champ with no worthy challengers, until they finally RE-merge the titles again.

[Guest Brian]

Having one champion defeats the purpose of the split.

[Guest cabbageboy]

Here is what I meant referring to various guys drawing. If Edge/Brock was a main event feud next month the feud wouldn't draw a dime. Edge is jobbing to the Guerreros in tag matches right now, he's not anywhere near the main event scene.

 

Benoit would probably have to turn face to go against Brock and it might be a decent match. I can't see people lining up to see it however.

 

From what I heard even WWE has given up on turning Angle face. That's why they are likely turning Benoit (and Eddie is teaming more with Chavo lately). They actually might turn Brock face before Angle, which is bizarre on a lot of levels.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

And when they do re-merge the titles again...you can be sure that the belt won't be around RVD's waist anymore.

 

Even if he can make his crappy matches work.

 

If we remember, when RVD was the HC champion...he would wrestle a Dudley or someone equally worthless...and the fans CARED.

 

Now...No one cared about Spike vs. HHH, or HHH vs. Jeff...

 

But who knows...His critics will deny it...but RVD has something going for him.

[Guest AndrewTS]

Having one champion defeats the purpose of the split.

No it doesn't. They just arbitrarily decided that they wouldn't have a world champ float anymore, and at some point made the Women's Title Raw-exclusive. Fact is, that Raw has a pretty shitty roster overall, with SD! having most of the good talent.

[Guest Brian]

Just like with the free agent signing, guys floating in and out of shows are not going to help develop the individuality of each brand.

 

It just all depends in how they treat Benoit and Edge and the title. You can't continue to sacrifice Brock in the short term for a guy like Undertaker, but with a guy like Benoit yoiu have someone who can make his opponent and himself look equally good. You just have to actually commit to pushing him, giving him a character, developing him; everything they haven't done so far with Benoit. Edge, we sort of get that he goes around calling people geeks and pulling down their pants but he doesn't have much to him either. If they developed them properly, and actually started letting them win (Benoit moreso than Edge), than you have something to work with. And fans, given the belief that these characters they like will win the title, will show up to buy. But they won't invest in something they have no reason to care about. It's just like cheering or booing somebody; why if they have no motives or any character development.

 

They haven't given up on Angle face at the moment but have rather put it on ice. They expected fans to be more willing to cheer Angle over Benoit, but they didn't. I like the Eddie and Chavo team as now there is a reaosn for Chavo to be on.

[Guest Angle-plex]

I don't want RVD to win. It just doesn't feel like the right time.

 

I would probably have Triple H go over after HBK superkicks RVD by mistake.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

Seems to me like the finish shouldn't be HBK superkicking HHH, it should be HBK superkicking RVD by mistake because he's a fuckup.

 

Then people would be howling for the eventual rematch, RVD wouldn't have to lose an idiotic sleeper hold, and it would maker RVD more credible. (people will think that RVD would have won had Michaels not interfered)

 

As for HBK, you could either A. turn him heel or B. drop him off a bridge

 

I vote for B.

[Guest JHawk]

A couple of comments to Brian's huge reply (which is appreciated):

 

"C) Ric Flair: Advantages--still a better worker than 90% of the roster."

 

The RAW roster, or the whole roster?

 

Raw of course. I wasn't including SmackDown guys since it's a Raw title (which is why Benoit, Eddy, and Angle aren't mentioned as being among the top actual wrestlers on the card.

 

Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels were money?

 

Compared to the rest of the roster in 1995-1996, yes. Compared to Hogan and Sammartino, no. But they were the most over guys when the company wasn't drawing great business, and both of them helped get Austin over the hump to kickstart his run and the subsequent WWF boom.

[Guest notJames]

As for HBK, you could either A. turn him heel or B. drop him off a bridge

 

I vote for B.

Yeah, but in the magical world of WW_, he'd miraculously survive and come back on RAW the next night to take away even more TV time from the other wrestlers...

 

... you know, the ones that actually work every week.

[Guest Brian]

But I mean compared to anyone they weren't money. They lost money for the WWE like Sid and Taker did. I'd say Bret helped Austin far more than Michaels did. Other than teaming and doing the final job, did Michaels do anything for Austin?

[Guest jester]

In an ideal universe, HHH and RVD would actually be feuding over a title shot to be the next person to face Lesnar. Not some shitty recycled belt.

 

If RVD is going to lose, I think the best way is through botched HBK interference (after all, HBK an HBK screwup led to Bret defeating UT once). A DQ finish would be lame because they did the same thing when they booked him into a corner with Brock.

 

If RVD is going to win, make it clean, and NO HBK. Let HHH and his boyfriend feud on their own time and stop sapping the heat from every other wrestler.

 

I still say RVD should declare the belt worthless and say he won't be a real champion until he pins Brock at the next PPV. They can have some real build up, as RVD has to find a way on to Smackdown, Bischoff tries to stop him from leaving, etc...

 

I can't believe RVD is getting a push, and I'm disappointed. Thanks WWE. You've done the impossible again.