Possible smackdown feud

[Guest bcu1979]

After watching Smackdown tonight, it seems like they are heading in the direction of a Hogan/Jericho feud for post-Backlash. (Who the hell would have ever expected this 3 years ago?)

 

But I wonder if this is really a good idea. Hogan seems to be aging worse by the day and I just can't see them having a competitve 15 minute match. Hogan sold decently for Jericho and Angle tonight. But they were able to protect Hogan by just having him do a couple limp-ins. Besides, exactly what moves of Jericho's could Hogan even take properly? I guess they could do 10 minutes of Jericho working on Hogan's leg before he Hulks up. But that doesn't sound entertaining.

 

I think a better idea would be to put the tag straps on Jericho/Angle after Backlash. Then have J/A double team Hogan until Benoit makes his big return to save Hogan. He could do it to get revenge on Jericho for whatever reason.

 

Yeah, I know Benoit would most likely become Hogan's little buddy. But I think alligning him with Hogan could really help get Benoit over as a top face. Especially if Hogan cut some promos putting over what a great wrestler Benoit is and how much he'd love to team with him.  And remember, Hogan went on the radio after the Radicals jumped and talked about how he always told Bischoff to push Benoit more.  

 

It would also allow Benoit to do most of the wrestling and keep Hogan out except for the hot tags. The match quality immediately increases enormously with Benoit in there against Angle or Jericho.

 

Jericho and Angle could then be built up as the top heels on the show, while Vince fondles Stacy in backstage skits. And Triple H will hopefully be too busy on RAW with Taker & Austin to stick his nose on Smackdown. Let Jericho/Angle cut some scathing promos about how it's their time and they are the future of wrestling and they want to kill Hulkamania once and for all. Jericho could also take credit for Benoit's injury and rub it in his face that he became the first Undisputed Champion while Benoit sat at home.

 

Benoit comes back and is immediately inserted into the main event feud on Smackdown. He gets to work with guys he can have great matches with and he could get some rub from teaming with a legend.

 

And I think it could help increase the star power of all three by being in a feud with Hogan. Unlike with Rock and Triple H, Hogan can't overshadow them because he's already considered a bigger star. If Benoit is portrayed as a strong partner for Hogan and if Jericho/Angle are portrayed as credble main event heels who always get the best of the faces before the PPV, then this feud could elevate all three guys in the eyes of the fans.  I know that's a big if, but if they used Hogan to elevate the other three guys then his return could actually have a positive long-term effect.

 

Hogan could go take a break for a while and let Angle/Jericho/Benoit carry the show with Triple H and whoever else steps up. Then bring Hogan and Rock back in the summer after Angle/Jericho/Benoit have been built up as legitimate opponents.

 

What do you think? Does this feud have possibilities? or are Jericho and/or Angle better off facing Hogan one-on-one?

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

If Hogan is used to put Jericho over than i'm okay with it.

[Guest]

After watching Smackdown tonight, it seems like they are heading in the direction of a Hogan/Jericho feud for post-Backlash. (Who the hell would have ever expected this 3 years ago?)

Why not?

 

And remember, Hogan went on the radio after the Radicals jumped and talked about how he always told Bischoff to push Benoit more.  

Really? Or is that joke?

 

Jericho could also take credit for Benoit's injury and rub it in his face that he became the first Undisputed Champion while Benoit sat at home.

How could he take credit for it? He didnt do anything.

 

Unlike with Rock and Triple H, Hogan can't overshadow them because he's already considered a bigger star.

 

That doesnt make sense. HGH and Rock are already conidered bigger starts too.

[Guest bcu1979]

After watching Smackdown tonight, it seems like they are heading in the direction of a Hogan/Jericho feud for post-Backlash. (Who the hell would have ever expected this 3 years ago?)

Why not?

 

And remember, Hogan went on the radio after the Radicals jumped and talked about how he always told Bischoff to push Benoit more.  

Really? Or is that joke?

 

Jericho could also take credit for Benoit's injury and rub it in his face that he became the first Undisputed Champion while Benoit sat at home.

How could he take credit for it? He didnt do anything.

 

Unlike with Rock and Triple H, Hogan can't overshadow them because he's already considered a bigger star.

 

That doesnt make sense. HGH and Rock are already conidered bigger starts too.

Hogan went on some radio show - probably Bubba the Love Sponge - and talked about how he told Bischoff to push Benoit more. This was during his war of words with Perry Saturn, back when Saturn used to post commentaries on his website.

 

Jericho didn't do anything to Triple H either. But they tried to play up that Jericho injured him. They initially tried to blame Benoit's injury on Austin even though the move where he was "injured" was Benoit suplexing Jericho off the top rope. I think it would fit into Jericho's heel persona to take credit for the injury even if he didn't cause it. But the more important part of the promos would be Jericho bragging that he became WWF champ first while Benoit was sitting at home.

 

It would also be planting the seeds for Benoit's eventual chase for the WWF title later in the year.

 

What I meant about the overshadowing comment was that Rock and Triple H are two of three main event babyfaces in the company. Hogan getting cheered over them makes them look bad. Hogan came across as the huge star at Mania while Rocky looked like a fad. If the crowd is 100% for Hogan at Backlash, then it also makes Triple H look like a really weak face.

 

Angle, Jericho and Benoit are not pushed by the WWF as main event susperstars. They are pushed as guys just underneath the top. So I don't think they have as much to lose if an angle with Hogan goes bad. Angle and Jericho are also both heels so they could benefit greatly from getting a lot of heat on Hogan, even if Hogan wins the big tag match in the end.

[Guest Risk]

I think Triple H is trapped between the glass ceiling and the old, crumbling, concrete ceiling.  Maybe he knows how it feels now.

[Guest Cataclysm911]

If Hogan is used to put Jericho over than i'm okay with it.

agreed. Jericho needs the nudge. He isn't credible still, and I'm starting to have doubts if he ever will be.

[Guest Risk]

I can't believe Triple H made the first Unified champion a transitional champion.

 

You suck, Hunter.

[Guest Mystery Eskimo]

I don't really want to see Benoit involved with Hogan, but I guess if it gets him the rub and helps him get over, it might be ok, especially if Benoit gets to turn on Hogan at some point and german suplex the hell out of him.

[Guest RickyB]

And remember, Hogan went on the radio after the Radicals jumped and talked about how he always told Bischoff to push Benoit more.

 

I remember him saying something about this.  Someone asked him what he thought about Benoit badmouthing him and blaming him for never getting a push in WCW and Hogan looked genuinly suprised and said that Benoit can't know how much time was spent in the creative meetings about him.  He said some other time that he always seen real potential in Benoit and he pitched the idea of reforming the horsemen to Bischoff to try and help get Benoit, Malenko & McMichael over.  Hogan isn't as much of a bad guy as you think.  He supposedly always wanted the nWo to feud with the Horsemen because he thought that Flair, Benoit & Malenko were the best opponents for the nWo.

 

I think that a Hogan/Jericho feud would be a good way to go.  But yeah, if they threw Benoit in there then Hogan could carry the interviews and Benoit can play a face version of the "Silent but deadly" role that he played in the Horsemen and he could carry the matches.

[Guest Spaceman Spiff]

If Hogan is used to put Jericho over than i'm okay with it

Were you actually able to say that w/ a straight face?

[Guest dreamer420]

I like it.  Jericho got some good shots against Hogan last night and I wouldn't mind hearing Jericho verbally pick apart Hogan.

[Guest Just call me Dan]

This is a bit off-subject, but I want to know this and don't think another topic should be thrown out there to answer one question.

 

Someone said Benoit was injured while suplexing Jericho off the top.  Did he do anything after that? How much of the match went on after that and did Austin just fluke pin Jericho or something?  Benoit partially broke his neck didn;t he?  I'm just curious as to if he just lay there or he got up and hurt himself mre, etc.

 

Could someone just explain all that to me?  Thanks.

[Guest bcu1979]

This is a bit off-subject, but I want to know this and don't think another topic should be thrown out there to answer one question.

 

Someone said Benoit was injured while suplexing Jericho off the top.  Did he do anything after that? How much of the match went on after that and did Austin just fluke pin Jericho or something?  Benoit partially broke his neck didn;t he?  I'm just curious as to if he just lay there or he got up and hurt himself mre, etc.

 

Could someone just explain all that to me?  Thanks.

I was being sarcastic. I included quotes around "injured" because that was the spot the WWF blamed for Benoit's injury in replays when they showed him talking to the surgeon. Benoit's neck was in bad shape before KOTR and he made the decision to have the surgery before KOTR even happened.

 

If I remember correctly, the Observer pointed to the spot during the TLC Smackdown match where Benoit did the flying headbutt through the table as a possible cause of the injury.

[Guest Just call me Dan]

Oh ok, Thanks.

I just remember reading reports that he finished the match and took a Stunner in the end, so I just wondered how bad it looked on PPV.

[Guest notJames]

Hogan giving the rub to someone who really needs it? I'd buy that for a dollar... but I won't hold my breath waiting for it.

 

(And before you mention Warrior and/or Goldberg, they were both already over when Hogan did the job to them.)

 

And it would also be excruciating to see Jericho and/or Benoit dumbing down their fast-paced offense so as not to show up the Orange Dinosaur. But I'll hold off my ultra-Hogan-cyncism until after Backlash to see if he's still got something in him to keep the fans happy.

 

That's me... hoping for the best, expecting the worst...

[Guest]

I like the idea of having Angle/Jericho as main event tag champs. The Rock will be away making movies(how unusual), Triple H will be on Raw as you said, and there would be a lot more room in the main event spot to feud with Hogan and eventually Benoit when he returns. It would also restore a lot of credability to the tag titles, given the virtual "not there" status they have with no division.