Dark Horse for No Mercy MotN

[Guest AndrewTS]

Okay, that may not sound like much when the only other possible candidate is the SD tag title finals, and maybe it'll blow this out of the water, but hear me out.

 

Something that even the RVD haters must admit is that RVD has vastly improved, selling and bumping well, learning transitioning, and incorporating more psychology into his matches--such as the legdrop through the table instead of the ***** a few weeks ago on Raw. However, there's still a lot he could learn. Being put in the ring with an experienced veteran can help. Who BETTER than Ric Flair?

 

RVD vs. Ric Flair has main evented many a house show, probably to help get over the unfamiliarity of styles. Now, as the Warrior/Hogan match (the first one) showed, when carefully planned out even lousy workers can pull off a classic. However, the athletic RVD who has incredible potential working with arguably the best wrestler to ever come out of North America (Benoit before being toned down somewhat and the Dynamite Kid may have had him beat perhaps) can't be a bad thing. Flair tells stories in his matches, was always charismatic, and his technical low-risk style certainly wouldn't seem too out of place with the so-called WWE style if he were given the time.

 

Now obviously, RVD's matches don't focus on strategic body-part weakening, but could certainly adapt high-impact, more exciting deviation on the theme. Maybe, just maybe, RVD is being groomed as HHH's next challenger and perhaps to beat him, since I think the message is finally getting through that HHH is not a good champion, and that the Raw roster needs to push the stars ready to break out since HHH is the only true main eventer, and he's less over than the midcarders (HHH has to resort to the cheapest of cheap heat to get a reaction).

 

So, come No Mercy, I'd think that what we'd get would be a bitchin' match with RVD perhaps having some of Flair rub off on him. Flair's old, yeah, I know, but an over-the-hill Flair is still better than the lousy, worthless talent, and he has so much he can potentionally give back.

 

After Flair officially "retires" (anyone got a tally on how many times he's retired? Funk has him beat of course...), WWE would be insane not to keep him on board as a trainer, due to his knowledge and just the respect he commands from his peers.

 

As far as intense spots and excitement, probably the tag finals will indeed blow RVD/Flair away, but this could be RVD's finest hour as a developing wrestler, while the tag title participants are all well developed or nearly there (Edge).

 

Thoughts? Disagreements? Am I simply too optimistic about the WWE having any sense?

[Guest Pop Culture God]

Will Flair/RVd help RVD?

 

Yes.

 

 

Will it be better than Benoit/Angle vs. Rey Rey/Edge?

 

Judgeing by SD! last night... no chance in hell

[Guest nikowwf]

No one wants RVD to be in this match. Its really not looked forward too, which should hurt the heat. Flair doesnt really have strong heat as a heel yet either.

 

I think this will be the opening match if anything, and less than 10 minutes for a RVD squash.

 

NiKo

[Guest Pop Culture God]

No one wants RVD to be in this match. Its really not looked forward too, which should hurt the heat. Flair doesnt really have strong heat as a heel yet either.

 

I think this will be the opening match if anything, and less than 10 minutes for a RVD squash.

 

NiKo

I think they'll go with BookerDust vs. Canadian Chrises for the opener.

[Guest DJ Jeff]

RVD vs. Flair does have the possibility of being the Match of the Night, and I think it will be. Benoit & Angle vs. Mysterio & Edge will be right up there as well, and that too is a match that could be *** maybe even ****. Just to think, these matches are going to be better than the two main events.

[Guest AndrewTS]

RVD vs. Flair does have the possibility of being the Match of the Night, and I think it will be. Benoit & Angle vs. Mysterio & Edge will be right up there as well, and that too is a match that could be *** maybe even ****. Just to think, these matches are going to be better than the two main events.

True...point is, likely we'll see a hot crowd before the so-called main events kill them. I would love though to see a signifcant portion of the crowd get up and leave before the double main event.

[Guest El Psycho Diablo]

There's no chance in can be Match of the Night, or even close. Remember, RVD didn't sell the arm at Summer Slam.

 

*cough* Getting -that- nonsense out of the way before it starts.

 

..as bad as Flair is, there's no way it'll beat Rey/Edge v Benoit/Angle. Sad thing? Flair will probably win.

[Guest XdojimeX]

"Flair tells stories in his matches, was always charismatic, and his technical low-risk style certainly wouldn't seem too out of place with the so-called WWE style if he were given the time."

 

Flair is also old. Very very old. IMOHTEP old. Flair can't bump. RVD matches require bumping. RVD can't sell. Flair matches require selling. Flair had a stinker with Eddy freakin Guerrero.

 

I'm not looking forward to this match. Nope.

[Guest AlwaysPissedOff]

Eh, read the soon-to-be-posted Crossface to see my opinion on this match...

 

Needless to say, it's not very positive.

[Guest Brian]

Flair's good for brawls now but not much else really. I think we'll see a total styles clash as Flair doesn't have the moveset that makes RVD's bumping look good, RVD won't consistently sell the leg because it puts a restraint on his offense, and Flair can only bump so much for RVD.

[Guest El Psycho Diablo]

Two words: Train Wreck.

 

Hey, it fits the theme of the PPV, too!

[Guest Pop Culture God]

I thought the theme was "As Paul Levensque Turns"

[Guest AndrewTS]

"Flair tells stories in his matches, was always charismatic, and his technical low-risk style certainly wouldn't seem too out of place with the so-called WWE style if he were given the time."

 

Flair is also old. Very very old. IMOHTEP old. Flair can't bump. RVD matches require bumping. RVD can't sell. Flair matches require selling. Flair had a stinker with Eddy freakin Guerrero.

 

I'm not looking forward to this match. Nope.

He's been increasing his selling--BECAUSE OF THAT SCREW UP AT SUMMERSLAM, from what I've seen from RVD. RVD's selling has improved, which is a key factor to keep in mind and why I'm optimistic.

 

Flair's not afraid to bump, although likely he'll be taking less than the usual RVD opponent. And yes, Flair's old, but he still keeps in damn good shape and his usual recoup time is much more than the active wrestlers. Freakin' HBK with a broken back shocked the shit out of us, so I wouldn't be surprised if Flair pulls a good match out of his ass at this advanced age. Have more faith.

 

Working the leg could be a problem, because RVD offense is heavy on moves he'd have to restrict or eliminate, but Flair's leg-working offense would have a slow, cumulative effect, not immediate. Keep in mind that most of the WWE wrestlers except for the main eventers oversell their fatigue, acting as if they'd been in the ring 5 times longer than they have.

 

And I don't see an "RVD squash" based on the sole fact that HHH would like to see it go long and take a while, since RVD having a hard time beating an old man would make him look a little less impressive. (Hey, had to fill my HHHating quota in there.)

[Guest eirejmcmahon]

Flair's past it.

 

There could have been a lot of heat behind this match if the writers had a clue what they were doing - as it happens, they pretty much ignored Flair costing RVD the title and threw together that crap lumberjack match last week to set up this PPV clash.

 

RVD has a lot of problems - not least of which is his awfully dull character, but he deserves better than this.

[Guest Pop Culture God]

Ummm, RVD's character has been getting a great a reception so far. It's just "Sarcastic Stoner" what's wrong with it?

 

He gets the best verbal knockout of the night whenever he opens his mouth.

[Guest The Hamburglar]

Flair had a bad match with Eddy Guerrero. How the hell is RVD supposed to drag anything out of him that will be even worthy of being on the same card as Rey/Edge vs Benoit/Angle? Anyways, RVD has become dull lately because he's fallen victim to formula in his matches. That, and acting like you do't give a shit whether you win or not removes the need for people to care about your feuds.

[Guest Brian]

He' been formula for a long while. Basically, it was formula with different spots.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

RVD/Flair could be match of the night...

 

IF Booker, Goldust, Christian, Jericho, Angle, Benoit, Misterio, Edge and possibly Trish Stratus all decide to no show.

 

Flair is too old to do anything but a psychological battle, and RVD is definitely NOT the guy to have one with. Just about anyone on the roster (short of Jeff Hardy) is a better match for Flair than RVD.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

Unfortunatly, this is how the match looks to go.

 

Flair works the leg for 6 minutes.

 

RVD gets up, kicks Flair in the head 5 times, Rolling Thunder, Frog Splash.

 

You'll note how all RVD's big moves require legs. Too bad all Flair can do at this point is kicking a guy in the leg. Oh, I forgot the dreaded "Bounce off ropes and sit on your knee" move.

 

So anyway, my point is, this match has no chance of being good. I like RVD, and I like Flair, (like him to retire), but this is gonna be fugly.

[Guest cabbageboy]

I've actually read reports saying this has been pretty good at the house shows. It all depends on the crowd heat. I'd like to see a dueling "RVD" and "Whoo" chant go up.

 

The problem here is that you just KNOW going in the whole match is going to be Flair working the knee, and the thing is that RVD simply cannot have an effective match (in storyline or real terms) without using his legs.

 

All I'm asking for is an RVD victory regardless of how crappy the match is....having him job to Flair is counterproductive on so many levels it's not even funny.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

All I'm asking for is an RVD victory regardless of how crappy the match is....having him job to Flair is counterproductive on so many levels it's not even funny.

 

Even I will agree to that.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

BTW...I bet he jobs to set up a rematch at Survivor Series.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

Oh...and the match will suck.

 

At this point the concept of RVD just isn't going to work anymore.

 

1. It's not that exciting to see him beat everyone, including multiple champions, but constantly not win the title.

 

2. Losing to HHH on RAW makes him a joke of a contender for the title anyway.

 

3. The only people who can carry him are on the other show.

 

I think the ship has sailed on RVD after a year of being monsterly over...the WWE finally ran out of time.

 

Which means he'll get his title win soon.

[Guest CanadianChick]

Oh...and the match will suck.

 

At this point the concept of RVD just isn't going to work anymore.

 

1. It's not that exciting to see him beat everyone, including multiple champions, but constantly not win the title.

 

2. Losing to HHH on RAW makes him a joke of a contender for the title anyway.

 

3. The only people who can carry him are on the other show.

 

I think the ship has sailed on RVD after a year of being monsterly over...the WWE finally ran out of time.

 

Which means he'll get his title win soon.

I don't think that the RVD ship has sailed yet...he's still the most over guy on the Raw side. The fans still love this guy and I think that marks and smarks alike would view RVD as a viable champion.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

I'd like to beleive you...but the beleivabilty factor as champion is tough to get back after a while.

 

Just ask Jericho.

 

Besides...I'm now on board with Booker getting the push first.

[Guest CanadianChick]

You think that Booker T, the guy who just jobbed to big show in the female locker room, is going to get a push? RVD, to me, seems like more of a likely canadate. And lets not forget that Booker plans on retiring within the next few years ( I think he has stated this in a interview), so any push would probably be short lived.

 

And about Jericho..he hasn't really been given the oppertunity to get credibility back, so it would be hard to get it back without any chances.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

Those are all the reasons I said not to push Booker too.

 

But I've decided that I like RVD in the roll of being the biggest star in a match with guys like the Dudley's and Dreamer (which, as an RVD fan makes me interested in those midcard matches) than I do Booker fighting Big Show.

[Guest CanadianChick]

True. Big Show/Booker feud wouldn't captivate me at all, even with Booker in it. But why can't both of them be pushed? Other than Kane, is there a main event face even on RAW?

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

Kane isn't even a main event face.

 

He's just getting the monthly push as one.

[Guest CanadianChick]

So the only actual maineventer on Raw is HHH? Well its always a good sign when there is only one established main eventer.

This begs the question, who's HHH going to face after Kane? Booker? RVD again? Jericho? Who will it be?