Has there ever been a less-convincing title threat

[RavishingRickRudo]

The WWE positioned it all wrong. The reason why Holly (should be) a threat is because he's on a kamikaze mission. He doesn't care about winning the title, he just cares about getting revenge and hurting Brock at any cost. That's why he was DQ'd so early from the Survivor Series. Now, what they could have done was taken someone like Benoit - who couldn't fight Brock any more - and take Holly aside and tell him to calm down and that there's a better way of exacting his revenge. A more calculated way. That would give the current situation a sense of reality - rather than Bob changing his motives without any explanation. Now, it's still Bob Holly, so him as a viable title contender doesn't work. The key is on his wreckless abandonment. "How can you beat a man who doesn't care about losing?" - Brock has never faced that before; he's always been worried about people taking his belt, not his life. This is a whole new area for him, he doesn't know how to deal with it, this helplessness, this weakness, is new to him - he's scared. How does he deal with fear?? etc. etc. So it's not a question of accepting Bob Holly as a title contender, it's a question of accepting Bob Holly as someone who can injure Brock Lesnar... and given his Tough Enough experience beating up Matt and him getting his arm broken by Angle, and getting dropped on his head by Brock, I think that's a smaller "leap" for the audience to make than "Bob Holly, next WWE champion."

 

But this requires character development and motivation - can't have that in the WWE.

[Guest PowerPB13]

*shrug* I don't have much of a problem with the feud...one could suggest that WWE is counting on the Rumble match itself to be the selling point of the show and not Lesnar vs. Holly.

 

I can't recall Holly ever talking much about winning the title...and the PPV commercials have done a good job of establishing that he wants to hurt Brock first and MAYBE beat him second. The tag match where he won the title shot was more about him getting Brock in the ring(IMO), not getting a shot at the belt, seeing as how Brock didn't want to deal with him in a match under ANY circumstances.

 

On top of that, normally you'd see the traditional no-countout-no-DQ stips tacked onto a title match, but a) that environment seems to be reserved for HHH vs. Michaels Last Man Standing and b) that would give Holly free reign to use whatever is at hand to achieve his goal, as he did in the match with Big Show. Instead, it's looking like a standard match, with Brock(and Paul) counting on Holly getting himself DQed again and thus preserving Brock's title reign(with Paul likely to have scores of referees and security out there to get Brock out of dodge before any major damage can be done).

 

RRR's point is well-taken; it would add an extra level of intrigue if someone like Benoit DID try to talk to Holly to convince him that taking the belt would be the best revenge possible. It would simply be a matter of whether Holly would listen to reason or let his temper get the better of him.

 

-Patrick

[RavishingRickRudo]

That would be really interesting psychology leading up to and IN the match... whether or not Holly wants the belt or Brock. The key moment is when Holly lifts up a chair and could either get DQ'd-lose-the-belt-but-still-hurt-Brock-physically OR set-up-for-his-finisher-and-take-the-belt-and-hurt-Brock-professionally-as-well-as-emotionally.

 

But again, this is something that is actually "good" - the WWE can't do that. They must do what they always do; the basic title chase.

 

Cole has talked about Brock being worried about his title, Brock has always shown his title to Holly, Holly has made gestures saying he wants the belt - they rarely ever talk about him getting his neck broken.

[Guest Your Olympic Hero]

I would like to see a 5 minute or less match with Brock going over clean. Have him do an interview before the match saying he's not scared of Holly. Big Show and Matt Morgan offer their interference, but Lesnar refuses. Heyman offers to make this non-title at the last minute, and Lesnar refuses. He goes in and no sells Holly's offense and completely squashes him to further establish Brock as a monster. This will get Eddy even more over as champ next month if he can overcome the monster. Because Holly just isn't gonna get anywhere after this match.

[Cherry Blossom Viscount]

I would like to see a 5 minute or less match with Brock going over clean. Have him do an interview before the match saying he's not scared of Holly. Big Show and Matt Morgan offer their interference, but Lesnar refuses. Heyman offers to make this non-title at the last minute, and Lesnar refuses. He goes in and no sells Holly's offense and completely squashes him to further establish Brock as a monster. This will get Eddy even more over as champ next month if he can overcome the monster. Because Holly just isn't gonna get anywhere after this match.

Read the quoted post people. THAT is why no one takes this folder seriously.

[Guest PowerPB13]

It could be said that Brock is worried about his title because even if Holly DOESN'T defeat him for the belt, he may potentially have to forfeit it due to injury if Holly makes good on his threats. You can't very well defend a championship with a broken neck(err, forget about Kurt Angle for a second here).

 

Want to make me believe that Holly could possibly win the belt? You'd need to somehow make it a hardcore match or a street fight or something of that nature. Have Benoit/Cena/somebody intimidate Heyman into making it that kind of match. In a match with no holds barred, Holly's at his best, even beating Big Show, an opponent twice his size.

 

As for the TV selling, Brock often holds up the belt as his own personal gesture that he's the best...and well, Michael Cole may have vastly improved his game over the past few years, but he still makes his share of inane comments.

 

-Patrick

[RavishingRickRudo]

You can't just dismiss what the announcers says - they are the representatives of the company; they say what the company wants you to believe. Lesnar holding the belt up to Holly as if to say "it's mine, you'll never get it" is certainly putting the emphasis on the title; it would be MUCH better if Brock started holding his neck or motioning the powerbomb to mock Holly.

 

The first part of your post I do like, however The aspect of getting injured and not being able to defend would be PERFECT - especially with the Rumble being there. The possibility of the title being vacated and all these possible contenders out there would certainly put more interest and importance on the match.

[Lil' Bitch]

I would like to see a 5 minute or less match with Brock going over clean. Have him do an interview before the match saying he's not scared of Holly. Big Show and Matt Morgan offer their interference, but Lesnar refuses. Heyman offers to make this non-title at the last minute, and Lesnar refuses. He goes in and no sells Holly's offense and completely squashes him to further establish Brock as a monster. This will get Eddy even more over as champ next month if he can overcome the monster. Because Holly just isn't gonna get anywhere after this match. 

 

Read the quoted post people. THAT is why no one takes this folder seriously.

 

I'm all for Holly / Lesnar to be a squash.

[CanadianChick]

I would like to see a 5 minute or less match with Brock going over clean.  Have him do an interview before the match saying he's not scared of Holly.  Big Show and Matt Morgan offer their interference, but Lesnar refuses.  Heyman offers to make this non-title at the last minute, and Lesnar refuses.  He goes in and no sells Holly's offense and completely squashes him to further establish Brock as a monster.  This will get Eddy even more over as champ next month if he can overcome the monster.  Because Holly just isn't gonna get anywhere after this match.

Well that's stupid. Why would you just throw away a big match at Royal Rumble, one of the biggest PPVs of the year, on a squash match? I don't care if it's Bob Holly, you just don't do that. While I know people will argue that having Holly in the main event is the absolute worst thing ever (which I don't nessesarly disagree with), having one of your main events at Royal Rumble (hell, at any PPV) being a squash is a slap in the face of people who payed to see the event.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Hey, I'll be in attendance. I wouldn't mind Lesnar squashing Holly. I'd consider it money well spent.

[Lil' Bitch]

Well that's stupid. Why would you just throw away a big match at Royal Rumble, one of the biggest PPVs of the year, on a squash match? I don't care if it's Bob Holly, you just don't do that. While I know people will argue that having Holly in the main event is the absolute worst thing ever (which I don't nessesarly disagree with), having one of your main events at Royal Rumble (hell, at any PPV) being a squash is a slap in the face of people who payed to see the event.

 

Nah, its easily forgettable since it will be overshadowed by HHH / HBK and the RR itself anyway, so nothing's lost. The sooner this match ends, the better.

[RavishingRickRudo]

Saying that anything is "forgettable" on something that PEOPLE PAY FOR is silly.

[Lil' Bitch]

^ Not really.

 

See: Chris Jericho Vs. Ric Flair from Unforgiven

[RavishingRickRudo]

I didn't forget about that and I didn't even buy the show - the Flair/Jericho feud was horrible and continued Jerichos burial.

[Lil' Bitch]

People remembered Unforgiven for Flair's heel turn than his loss to Chris Jericho. A great example of a forgettable match on a PPV.

[CanadianChick]

People remembered Unforgiven for Flair's heel turn than his loss to Chris Jericho. A great example of a forgettable match on a PPV.

Oh, sorry. I didn't realize that it was for the WWE Title.

 

 

That's right, IT WASN'T! Having a WWE Title match as a squash match in the 3rd biggest event of the year is stupid, no ifs or buts. It would make the title look like a joke, especially if there's a good World Title match.

[USC Wuz Robbed!]

Maybe that's why.... to get people thinking Benoit's going for the better title.... yeah..... !

[Lil' Bitch]

Oh, sorry. I didn't realize that it was for the WWE Title.

 

 

That's right, IT WASN'T! Having a WWE Title match as a squash match in the 3rd biggest event of the year is stupid, no ifs or buts. It would make the title look like a joke, especially if there's a good World Title match.

 

Having Holly headline SD's main event of the PPV is already a joke.

[Downhome]

It's not going to be a squash match, I highly doubt they would allow something like that to air on PPV after all of this buildup.

[Guest Anglesault]

It's not going to be a squash match, I highly doubt they would allow something like that to air on PPV after all of this buildup.

So they've flushed Brock down the shitter.

[Lil' Bitch]

With this company, almost anything is possible. Hey, I can dream!

[ChrisMWaters]

Holly has beaten the Rock and Foley? I remember him pinning Kane, holding the Hardcore title before the 24/7 rule totally destroyed it's credibility, and making the Big show tap out ( Obviously), but when has he defeated The Rock and/or Foley?

He and Crash won the tag titles from Rock and Foley.

[deancoles]

Its Holly's own damn fault for getting his neck broken, so he gets no sympathy from me. I just HOPE Holly doesn't actually try to potato Brock (or worse).

Holly should be more concerned about lesnar kicking the shit out of him,if Holly had been professional in the match then his neck wouldn't have been broken and there would be no feud.

[RavishingRickRudo]

Hey, I can dream!

 

Actually, according to the WWE, you can't.

[The Metal Maniac]

I think that RRR summed up the whole thing best at the top of page 3. I had expected them to keep the whole thing based more on the neck injury then the belt, but whatever.

 

I still think, however, that the match is going to start with a strong Holly offense, then Lesnar will eventually take back control and win decisively. At least, that'd probably be the best way to do it. That way, no one is really hurt by it, as Holly doesn't look like a complete tool, and Lesnar finishes looking like the monster he is.

 

And I laugh at the people who say that people don't buy Holly because of Spark Plugg. I doubt the majority of people watching WWE these days even remember Spark Plug.

[AndrewTS]

And I laugh at the people who say that people don't buy Holly because of Spark Plugg. I doubt the majority of people watching WWE these days even remember Spark Plug.

Did anyone say that? Nope. You inferred that. The point is, Bob Holly's always sucked. He wasn't some underrated talent held back by a bad gimmick at one time.

 

Holly sucked then, he sucks now, he'll always suck. He's a bitter fuck who asked to be dropped on his head, and he was. He gives younger guys a hard time because he knows he'll never amount to anything other than "that guy who does a good dropkick."

 

Someone like that doesn't deserve a push, ever. Someone like that deserves a pink slip, so he can go to Japan where shitty, stiff wrestlers can be stars.

[Lil' Bitch]

And I laugh at the people who say that people don't buy Holly because of Spark Plugg. I doubt the majority of people watching WWE these days even remember Spark Plug.

 

It was so horrible, how could one forget?

[The Metal Maniac]

And I laugh at the people who say that people don't buy Holly because of Spark Plugg. I doubt the majority of people watching WWE these days even remember Spark Plug.

Did anyone say that? Nope. You inferred that.

Survery says....no.

 

Your Olympic hero stated:

 

BUT, fans remember Sparky Plugg. They remember the super heavyweight Holly Cousins. They remember the fact that Holly has been around for ten years and has never done jack shit... so why will he be able to now?

 

Thanks for playing.

[Guest GreatMuta]

So Holly should thank Brock for saving his career in a way

[The Metal Maniac]

If by "saving his career" you mean "getting him stuck into a one-month main-event program that everyone knows he's going to lose by almost ending the man's career but good", then yes.