Heyman asked Stephanie to step down

[Guest RickyChosyu]

[[However, I think its a pretty bold statement to say that he can't work that style anymore, as he still does use his "minimalist psych" in matches, just not always with Kurt.]]

 

Not just Kurt, but pretty much all the tags with Edge/Rey and the Guererros. Lots and lots of suplexes and hurty spots with all of them taking all kinds of abbuse.

 

Benoit has churned in a few matches with smart work (the singles matches with Rey and Chavito were a lot of fun, as well as the tag w/ Kidman vs. Los Guererros), but I've found those to be the exception rather than the rule. These matches are usually way better than anything else in the company, but they're not nearly as outstanding as Benoit's performances used to be. I don't think I've seen him work a match as good as the one with Austin since it happened even with the ten germans nonsense.

 

[[i think it's much more likely that he chose not to (and this is only speculation) because he wants to get over. Benoit has been in the business for something like 15 years now, and he still hasn't quite made it to the main event. He's probably much more willing now to adapt his style in order to finally get to the top.]]

 

It's possible that Benoit, finally being booked at the top, is willing to fall into late ninties AJPW nonsense to get over. I don't think that makes it any easier a pill to swallow for a fan of his, though.

 

[[basically, he's trying to work "WWE style" so that he can get his run with the strap before he finally has to bow out for good, and I can't say I blame him.]]

 

I don't think it's right for Benoit to whore out his body to get over just like I don't think it was right for Foley or Michaels to do it. When he makes choices like that, he doesn't just hurt himself but he hurts the business as a whole. The injuries on Smackdown! right now make it pretty clear that this stuff is dangerous and damaging to the product in general.

 

[[Or maybe I just don't wanna believe Our Lord and Savior has lost a step.]]

 

Oh, believe it. Do yourself a favor and rent WCW Spring Stampede '99 from your Blockbuster if they have it. Watch Benoit/Malenko vs. Raven/Saturn and see him and Dean carry the goofs to an awesome, ultra-fast brawl that uses smart work and proper selling to make the crazy bumps meaningfull and integral to how the match plays out as opposed to "cheap ways to get heat."

 

It's been a bit long since I've seen it, but I don't remember anything he's done since measuring up to that match (including the Austin matches from '01).

[Guest Brian]

The Hart match and the Regal match followed that. The latter, since I haven't seen it in a while, might have not measured up.

[Guest RickyChosyu]

I'm not a big fan of the Hart match from a work perspective. A rare, classy gesture on WCW's part, and certainly an emotionally significant match for both fans and wrestlers alike, but I feel the emotional impact kept the workers from wrestling as well as they usually would, just as it kept reviewers from rating it as objectively as they usually would. Good match, but not great like many have convinced themselves it is.

 

I actually haven't seen the Regal match yet. Everyone keeps assuring me that I ought to, but wrestling hasn't been as much of a top priority as of late. Hopefully I'll catch it next time I buy tapes.

 

"We'll just credit it to a number of sources, and not just the man in orange."

 

[bobobrazil1984 0]

http://Paul.Heyman.youaremyfriend.com

[Guest Brian]

The word trust was just a little too mcuh, since most ex-ECW wrestlers couldn't trust Heyman to get them a paycheck or tell them the state of the company you know, before jumping to the WWE.

 

Ricky, I'm here to make people smile.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

Does G-G-G-G-G-Goldust remind you of an-an-an-an-an-an-an-an-an-an-an *slaps head* anyone? Any former ECW Tag Champ. Not to say Heyman would take his ideas from ECW and put them in the WWE, buh-buh-buh-buh-buh-but I'd just like to point this out.

[Guest RedJed]

Does G-G-G-G-G-Goldust remind you of an-an-an-an-an-an-an-an-an-an-an *slaps head* anyone?  Any former ECW Tag Champ.  Not to say Heyman would take his ideas from ECW and put them in the WWE, buh-buh-buh-buh-buh-but I'd just like to point this out.

From what I understood Runnels has always done that as a joke thing backstage for years now though.

 

........as the neverending thread continues