WWE news from the Torch

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

Credit The Torch.

 

Many in WWE are questioning whether Steve Austin can really be trusted with storylines now that his RAW sheriff gimmick has been turned into somewhat of a joke.

 

The feeling is that Triple H's promo about Austin as a "hillbilly sheriff" on RAW recently exposed the gimmick as silly and actually turned a lot of fans against Austin.

 

Given the fact that Austin has been so hard on WWE writers in the past, most no longer have faith that he can come up with good ideas.

 

Matt Hardy is not in the WWE doghouse, but is basically lost in the shuffle. WWE still does not know what to do with Hardy even though he is drawing strong face pops at house shows. Most are leaning towards turning him face. Many backstage are taking the fact that WWE did not even know to turn Hardy face until now as a sign of how out of touch they are with their own characters.

[Lil' Bitch 0]

*reads the news

 

 

So true.

[Karc 0]

Many in WWE are questioning whether Steve Austin can really be trusted with storylines now that his RAW sheriff gimmick has been turned into somewhat of a joke.

 

The feeling is that Triple H's promo about Austin as a "hillbilly sheriff" on RAW recently exposed the gimmick as silly and actually turned a lot of fans against Austin.

 

Given the fact that Austin has been so hard on WWE writers in the past, most no longer have faith that he can come up with good ideas.

 

In other words, Triple H accomplished what he had set out to do. Make the one guy more "over" than him look like a total dope so that even the fans can't stand it.

 

Exactly why did Austin come back, anyway? I mean he can't wrestle (due to injuries galore, so I let that pass), and now he can't cut it creatively. Funny how Foley was supposed to retire almost four years ago, and he's still around, too.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

I would be angry about the Austin thing, but the strongest booked guy on Raw is retired.

 

 

I think that speaks for itself.

[haVoc 0]

Remember when Austin first returned after the walk out and he said his in ring career was over but he wanted to stick around and help the younger guys with ring work, how to tell a story, cut a promo, work the crowd and help get them over?

 

He had a lot to offer the new crop of talent.

[humongous2002 0]

Remember when Austin first returned after the walk out and he said his in ring career was over but he wanted to stick around and help the younger guys with ring work, how to tell a story, cut a promo, work the crowd and help get them over?

 

He had a lot to offer the new crop of talent.

Damn, i'm still waiting for Austin to do any of those things.He's nothing more than a wifebeating locker room cancer and personally i want him to get off my tv with Orton and all the other untalented shitbags.

[dubq 0]

In other words, Triple H accomplished what he had set out to do. Make the one guy more "over" than him look like a total dope so that even the fans can't stand it.

I'm so glad that you, the mighty "Karc" know what Triple H had set out to do. THANK GOD!

[jester 0]

Remember the reports that Austin was really happy with his new gimmick before he came back?

 

So, the writers told him he'd be sheriff and get to chase people around in a quad runner, and he thought "Finally, some good writing"?

[Steviekick 0]

Remember when Austin first returned after the walk out and he said his in ring career was over but he wanted to stick around and help the younger guys with ring work, how to tell a story, cut a promo, work the crowd and help get them over?

 

He had a lot to offer the new crop of talent.

To a degree, he still does. Take him off TV, and have him be an agent with Johnny Ace and Fit FInley.

[Toxxic 0]

You can't take Austin off TV. Austin = ratings, at least in the minds of creative. Besides, he probably wants to be on tv, and no-one will pick up on the fact that paying someone lots of money to not do anything useful on tv isn't better than not paying them anything if they walk out given that they'd refuse to do what you actually want them to do, which is not be on tv.

 

If you can understand that sentence, you have my admiration.

 

The problem is that they *can't* turn Hardy face now. They had the perfect opportunity when he returned to Raw - not actually have him propose to Lita, but at least say that he'd switched brands in order to be with her or something like that. Now he's dumped her on-air that's just too fresh for him to be accepted as a face yet.

 

Oh no, sorry, this is WWE and this happened more than two weeks ago. Just have him drink beer and give Lita a Twist of Fate for not coming to Smackdown with him and he'll be well away.

[Mole 0]

If Cena is moved to Raw, the same thing will happen to him.

[Michrome 0]

Austin the heel sheriff in promos against John Cena the babyface would probably grab my attention.

 

I honestly think the next evolution of Austin's character is to have him get drunk with power, and "realize" how wrong he was in 98 and 99. As a heel, he could put over some faces.

[OldSchoolWrestling 0]

I remember reading a while back where he was meeting with the young guys like Jindrak and Cade and giving them tips and pointers on getting over, coming up with gimmicks, etc.

 

This way when they start to get over he can be the one to stun them and take their heat away.

[notJames 0]

Don't worry. Jindrak and Cade will never get over.

[Karc 0]

Austin the heel sheriff in promos against John Cena the babyface would probably grab my attention.

 

I honestly think the next evolution of Austin's character is to have him get drunk with power, and "realize" how wrong he was in 98 and 99. As a heel, he could put over some faces.

That's a good idea, except that they already did that in 2001.

 

Austin is miles past his prime, it's only the WWE's brainwashing of the fans that gives people the thought that they should tune in every week to watch Austin.

[The Tino Standard 0]

I thought the whole idea behind putting Austin into an authoritarian position was that it would eventually lead to him getting drunk with power and turning. He wouldn't necessarily think he was wrong in 98 or 99, he would just become so delusional now that he's on the other side of the power struggle that he would've morphed into everything he originally fought against.

[EdwardKnoxII 0]

I thought the whole idea behind putting Austin into an authoritarian position was that it would eventually lead to him getting drunk with power and turning.

I think that was something they were trying to doing with Jericho and Austn. But, the fact it was halfassed and Austin keep making Jericho look like fool stopped that.

[haVoc 0]

Why bother turning Austin? He never allows himself to look weak either way.

[MixxMaster 0]

Damn, i'm still waiting for Austin to do any of those things.He's nothing more than a wifebeating locker room cancer and personally i want him to get off my tv with Orton and all the other untalented shitbags.

EXACTLY...there's the truth, right there!!!! Get rid of Austin, The Heatless Wonder, and fucking Mark Henry from Raw!

If Vince is so damn sentimental with Austin, have him work in a total OFF-SCREEN role in creative, so he can't be putting himself over 90% of the guys.

[CanadianChris 0]

Austin = ratings, at least in the minds of creative.

That's the problem right there, and it's twofold:

 

1) Austin = ratings hasn't been true for a long time.

2) Ratings aren't what WWE should be worrying about. If they get more people buying PPVs and coming to house shows, ratings will go up along with them. Increasing ratings a couple of tenths isn't going to help when you're drawing 0.5 or lower on PPV and getting less than 7500 for mid-level towns on the road.