Backstage Series "News"

[tpww7 0]

The Jamie Noble vs. Tajiri match was bumped off of the PPV last night in order to do the segment with Mark Cuban and The Coach. As you can guess, it didn’t make a lot of the wrestlers happy to see real workers get bumped off of the show for a non-wrestler, especially when two non-wrestlers were already working on the card.

 

Smackdown GM (though we don’t know for how long) Paul Heyman was at the show last night but was not used on camera. When Heyman originally came back as the Smackdown GM last month, he was scheduled to be a fill-in for Stephanie McMahon, who was away on her honeymoon. Stephanie is expected to return in the storylines this week, even though Smackdown’s TV ratings actually rose while she was gone. I don’t know at this time what will become of Heyman.

 

There was a lot of talk backstage last night that the Smackdown brand was treated poorly, like a second-class citizen to Raw, on the PPV. There were a few items that people were pointing to, such as the Cruiserweight Title being bumped to Heat, Raw champion Bill Goldberg speaking down to Smackdown champ Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker being “buried” by Kane, as the reasons mentioned. With the rivalry between the brands growing, the company has to be careful to keep both brands on even footing both in the eyes of the fans and the eyes of the workers.

 

A number of people at the show have told me how “remarkable” it was that Shane McMahon was able to overcome all of the obstacles that he did last night and keep wrestling while full time guys were pinned or eliminated much easier. Your pedigree is everything folks.

 

The word making the rounds at the show was that Kurt Angle would actually have his neck surgery tomorrow instead of today so that he wouldn’t have to rush back from the PPV and undergo the procedure. The operation is considered relatively minor and is not expected to keep him out of action very long.

[SamoaRowe 0]

I'm actually rather excited to hear about a rivalry developing Raw and Smackdown. This is exactly what the roster split needs to keep things interesting! Smackdown has been held back for a long time now and hasn't been the show it's capable of being (IMO, since Royal Rumble where Smackdown's matches made Raw look like a joke).

 

Bringing Stephanie McMahon back to tv is an awful idea. She needs to stay away for a long, long time. A prolonged Steph absense would do a lot of good in redeeming the McMahon vs McMahon match from No Mercy.

[the pinjockey 0]

Creating a rivalry in this environment is idiotic.

 

If they want a rivalry they need to get everybody who is involved in both shows, off of one. (ex. Michael Hayes, Raw writer, SD agent) You can't have that happening since it will undermine every decision that person makes.

 

Also, the office needs to get the fuck out of everybody's way if this is happening. You can't hamstring a show and create the aforementioned second class feeling. And you know this ain't happening.

[Guest wrestlingbs]

What are they trying to accomplish? Drive the other show off the air? And who else didn't know or care about Mark Cuban?

[razazteca 0]

Creating a rivalry in this environment is idiotic

I agree, since not everybody can watch both shows. UPN is being held down by the FCC in my area.

[cawthon777 0]

The Jamie Noble vs. Tajiri match was bumped off of the PPV last night in order to do the segment with Mark Cuban and The Coach. As you can guess, it didn’t make a lot of the wrestlers happy to see real workers get bumped off of the show for a non-wrestler, especially when two non-wrestlers were already working on the card.

I gotta say, for as little time as it was given, that Cruiserweight match was pretty hot. I marked the fuck out when Knoble blocked the mist.

 

The Cuban thing ... well ... save that kind of local stuff for the house shows - otherwise everyone outside of Dallas (or even outside of the United States) watching at home is going to fall asleep.

[SamoaRowe 0]

I had never heard of Mark Cuban before last night.

[Fökai 0]

And who else didn't know or care about Mark Cuban?

 

Considering it got the Dallas crowd hyped up again after an abortion of a match (Kane/Shane), I'll say it did more good than bad. For an example, see Pete Rose in Boston at Mania XIV.

[NoCalMike 0]

the brands feuding with each other is fucking ridiculous. I could understand moreso the old rule that the champions can be featured on both shows, but an all-out feud is lame.

[notJames 0]

And who else didn't know or care about Mark Cuban?

 

Considering it got the Dallas crowd hyped up again after an abortion of a match (Kane/Shane), I'll say it did more good than bad. For an example, see Pete Rose in Boston at Mania XIV.

When it takes a local celebrity to do the job that the bookers and writers are supposed to, that speaks volumes. In my mind, this did nothing but prove that Orton is useless and any attempt to push him will end in complete apathy.