Guest Mr Monday Night Report post Posted December 20, 2002 Yes, with the return of Austin and the Rock supposedly being in early 2003. My question is, will that be enough? I'll be interested to see how the WWE will play out his return. Chances are they will somehow fuck it up. Personally, I think that saying Austin will return was a major fuck up on McMahon's part. I would have loved to see Austin show up at a show out of the blue and suprise everyone. The Rock's return will probably be at a Pay-Per-View, and have some kind of Rocky Appreciation ceremony, knowing how the WWE pushes him to the moon. My one hope is now that those two HUGE stars are back, Triple H will take the backseat. It would also be interesting to see how the roster split will be handled. I cannot see the WWE being able to hold it over much longer. There already have been continuity problems with it (namely the WWE champ going from show to show, etcetc). I just hope the WWE will bring Austin back in a cool way, doing something that will completely shake up the company. The Rock's return will probably blow. I can't see him remaining as an active roster member very long. His last return he would barely fight except in the Pay-Per-View matches. Lemme hear your thoughts... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest BoboBrazil Report post Posted December 20, 2002 HHH will still get the same amount of airtime. Just the midcarders will get less time to make room for Austin and Rock. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jobber of the Week Report post Posted December 20, 2002 They can't fuck up the Rock's return as much as they have the past few times: 2001: The Rock returns. Promptly jobs to Rhyno the next week. Jobs to Stephanie McMahon(!!!) the week after that. 2002: The Rock returns. Chattin' it up wid' Busta Rhymes, yo. Gets a short title run before fleeing back to the movie studio again. I think if they can bring back Austin, keep Rock for any extended length of time, and finish Brock's jesus push by making him into an ME'r they'll be doing pretty well. I don't expect to see sponsorship moneys and ratings at the 98 level, simply because the public has a pretty short attention span and wrestling has taken such a huge beating from the media as of late. But those three things could go far in bringing back the majority of wrestling fans. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Downhome Report post Posted December 20, 2002 I personally love the road that WWE is on right now. I really have no true beef with anyone, seriously. The Angle/Big Show/Lesnar angle is my favorite WWE program in years, Test is getting over and I like it, A-Train is showing signs of improving in the ring and is getting over and I like it, they seem to really be trying to build up Benoit, once again, HHH/Steiner may not be technically sound but it's a match I've always wanted to see, Austin will be coming back and very well might fight a returning Hogan at WM, Rocky is coming back in his true heelish form and very well could be fighting a debuting Goldberg at WM a match that I'm sure everyone here will be interested in even if you don't admit it. HBK, one of my all time favorites seems to be active full time now, and he is still able to go for the most part, and is now in a program with the guy that many of even you guys called the "new" HBK, in Chris Jericho. WWE apparently decided to NOT go in the dirrection of more shocking TV as they were originally said to be going. Booker T and Goldust is flying high, and other things I love. The only thing that is somewhat sad is that RVD is, just as he always is, just floundering around. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bob_barron Report post Posted December 20, 2002 Rock didn't job to Stephanie until September- more than a month after he came back Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Kahran Ramsus Report post Posted December 20, 2002 I would say it gets better. The last quarter of the year, has been better (or at the very least hasn't gotten worse). 2002 was doomed from the minute Vince signed Hall, Nash & Hogan. Now, they are pushing Angle & Lesnar as the big guys on Smackdown. Royal Rumble should be headlined by Angle/Benoit for the World Title, heading into a big match at Mania in Angle/Lesnar. Last year's Wrestlemania was horrible, HHH/Jericho in particular. I don't expect 2003 to be great, but it should be like 1996 was to 1995. In otherwords, an improvement, even if the numbers don't reflect it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Rob Edwards Report post Posted December 20, 2002 Hmm we'll see, the "promise" of shock tv being finished is a good sign, hopefully they'll play a little more attention to past storylines so things make more sense and plan a little further into the future Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest razazteca Report post Posted December 21, 2002 I hope Ultimo Dragon gets to do his thing in the Cruiserweight division, and the split ends so I get to see him on Raw. Ultimo Dragon vs SD6 Ultimo Dragon vs RVD, Hurricane, Jericho, Christian the hype machine has begun as the Apter mags are publishing Ultimo Dragon vs Tajiri for WM19, I doubt that this will happen because the same mag had HHH vs HBK at WM19 also. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Steviekick Report post Posted December 21, 2002 I hope Ultimo Dragon gets to do his thing in the Cruiserweight division, and the split ends so I get to see him on Raw. Ultimo Dragon vs SD6 Ultimo Dragon vs RVD, Hurricane, Jericho, Christian the hype machine has begun as the Apter mags are publishing Ultimo Dragon vs Tajiri for WM19, I doubt that this will happen because the same mag had HHH vs HBK at WM19 also. Ultimo Dragon's wrestling again? I thought he was retired due to the career ending injury...does anyone know what happened to Ultimo and his comeback? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Brian Report post Posted December 21, 2002 HHH and HBK is what should have happened at 19, in a blow-off without the title, but it's been hotshotted far too many times. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bps "The Truth" 21 Report post Posted December 21, 2002 It's not going to get better. Nash will return to further fuck up RAW. Rock will be back briefly, and will be pushed to the title again for no reason. Austin will return, and as much as I love the guy...it's just another name to place ahead of possible elavation of anyone at this point. Austin, Rock, Steiner, Nash, Goldberg... Undertaker will return soon. It's not going to improve by stacking the uppercard with big names most of which can't now, and never could go. That's exactly what WCW did. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Brian Report post Posted December 21, 2002 Rock will have six months post-Mania. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bps "The Truth" 21 Report post Posted December 21, 2002 In my book that's even worse. Sorry, Kurt...now that you've dropped the title back to Brock after another worthless title reign...it's back to the midcard for you. Rock is back for a short while. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted December 21, 2002 Test is getting over and I like it, A-Train is showing signs of improving in the ring and is getting over and I like it When is any of this happening? And why would it be any good? Maybe I should Make this clear. You are calling for the push of T AND A! A Team that was overshadowed by their manager's TITS! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted December 21, 2002 Oh, and the WWF is doomed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Will Scarlet Report post Posted December 21, 2002 I figure they will either fail miserably, or gradually improve. I think they will start improving by about June once they finally bottom out ratings wise and figure out that pushing guys like Nash and Michaels are not going to do much in the long term, and that they have to start thinking more long term. At least I can hope. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jobber of the Week Report post Posted December 21, 2002 Man, some people make me yearn for an ignore feature on this board. It's like, I already know what's going to be posted when I see the avatar. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest NoSelfWorth Report post Posted December 21, 2002 WWE will go even further downhill for most of 2003. RAW will continue to be the HGH Ego Show. Vince will almost certainly fuck up the returns of Austin and Rock. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest midnight_burn Report post Posted December 21, 2002 In 2003 the WWE will show signs of improvement and look like they're going to turn things around, and then Nash will come back to be with his buddies HBK and HHH and make everything worse again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ram Report post Posted December 21, 2002 Pessimistic: We'll drop into the 2.0's somewhere early in 2002. Bye bye roster split, hello Vince McMahon. Nash will return as Diesel in hopes of rekindling a popularity candle that doesn't exist. The only new stars that will be made will be more JTTS. The main event will be stacked with slugs and washed up gimps. The lower card and midcard will be half good - half the over wrestlers and half the hoss pushes. Optimistic- Vince will wake up and push the right guys and continue strengthening the roster split. The cruiserweights will be taken seriously and pushed as a strong division with little to no outside influence. The slugs will be dropped, used only to put over the new talent and then eventually gone from the promotion. New ideas will come and be used, rather than depending on rehashed storylines and angles. Realist- Nothing is going to change, really. The same people will be pushed all year, while Linda the Robot will continue telling us that it is a process and will take time. Blah blah blah.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest PhillyDogg Report post Posted December 21, 2002 I think by next year WWE house shows will be in high school gyms. WWE Pay Per Views will barely draw 4,000 (Just like WCW's later days). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Raven_Effect01 Report post Posted December 21, 2002 I think WWE may continue to get worse by next year with the way things are going now, unless by some miracle Vince actually makes the right changes to the product(dealing away with HHH's politics, having Steph to step down as head of the creative team and get a better creative team writer that knows wrestling, pushing talented/over wrestlers to the top, depushing/releasing hosses, building up feuds more, etc.), which I really doubt right now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Hamburglar Report post Posted December 21, 2002 People saying HHH WILL ROOL 4EVER HE IZ POLITIC STROKE BANG STEPH UGH-AH - well, I doubt it. I'll honestly be surprised if HHH is still a full-time wrestler by this time next year, as I just don't see his body holding out on him. Rock is back for six months? Sweeeet, that's long enough for him to be a heel. Heel Rock vs Face Brock or Face Angle = rulage. Austin will return and probably put someone over, but he will most likely be irritating and attention-hogging in the process. I'd love him to surprise me again though. Nash and michaels have the same problem as HHH, their bodies will give out on them. Sadly, I see the WWE fucking up Edge's heel turn, its the sort of piss-easy angle that they like to bugger up. Benoit will probably get a title run at some point, the ratings may increase to around 4.0 and no further, and the year will end much like this one - barring injuries, Angle and Lesnar will still be on top, everyone will credit Paul Heyman for everything good and Vince and Stephanie for everything bad. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted December 21, 2002 Angle and Lesnar will still be on top, Lesnar= Yes, Angle= no. If they were ever planning on seriously pushing Angle, this would have been the year. He'll probably end his career upper midcard, because they will never pull the trigger on his big push. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest TheZsaszHorsemen Report post Posted December 21, 2002 Angle and Lesnar will still be on top, Lesnar= Yes, Angle= no. If they were ever planning on seriously pushing Angle, this would have been the year. He'll probably end his career upper midcard, because they will never pull the trigger on his big push. Isn't Angle the number 1 heel on SD! in reaction and placement? That's a main event push. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted December 21, 2002 Angle and Lesnar will still be on top, Lesnar= Yes, Angle= no. If they were ever planning on seriously pushing Angle, this would have been the year. He'll probably end his career upper midcard, because they will never pull the trigger on his big push. Isn't Angle the number 1 heel on SD! in reaction and placement? That's a main event push. Angle is a lackey bitch who is third in command in a three person stable. WOW, what a push! WHO, WHO, with the exception of Ric Flair, who is on a totally different level, has ever gotten ANYWHERE witha push like this? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest TheZsaszHorsemen Report post Posted December 21, 2002 Angle and Lesnar will still be on top, Lesnar= Yes, Angle= no. If they were ever planning on seriously pushing Angle, this would have been the year. He'll probably end his career upper midcard, because they will never pull the trigger on his big push. Isn't Angle the number 1 heel on SD! in reaction and placement? That's a main event push. Angle is a lackey bitch who is third in command in a three person stable. WOW, what a push! WHO, WHO, with the exception of Ric Flair, who is on a totally different level, has ever gotten ANYWHERE witha push like this? Angle is Number 2. Heyman is the mastermind/Manager type. Angle is the Champ. Show is the Enforcer. That will be more clear next week. Give it time, Angle asking Lesnar for help makes a bit more sense now, right? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CanadianChick Report post Posted December 21, 2002 3rd person? Get real. Big Show is obviously being played like the dumb follower. Angle is *not* behind Big Show. And Angle outsmarted Brock and is World Champion. I don't' see the problem. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted December 21, 2002 Angle and Lesnar will still be on top, Lesnar= Yes, Angle= no. If they were ever planning on seriously pushing Angle, this would have been the year. He'll probably end his career upper midcard, because they will never pull the trigger on his big push. Isn't Angle the number 1 heel on SD! in reaction and placement? That's a main event push. Angle is a lackey bitch who is third in command in a three person stable. WOW, what a push! WHO, WHO, with the exception of Ric Flair, who is on a totally different level, has ever gotten ANYWHERE witha push like this? Angle is Number 2. Heyman is the mastermind/Manager type. Angle is the Champ. Show is the Enforcer. That will be more clear next week. Give it time, Why do I have to give it time? We saw it Bomb LESS THAN A YEAR AGO! And I was under the impression that Show outranked Angle, but maybe the hierarchy wil form itself next week. Angle asking Lesnar for help makes a bit more sense now, right? No, Not really. None of this makes any sense. Big Show is obviously being played like the dumb follower. So is Angle. He's being used by Heyman. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest TheZsaszHorsemen Report post Posted December 21, 2002 Angle asking Lesnar for help makes a bit more sense now, right? No, Not really. None of this makes any sense. He was manipulating him. Even my 3-Year Old could follow that. Dr. Doom did the same thing to the Fantastic Four ALL THE TIME. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
