Benoit is 'just a transitional champion'...

[Guest wrestlingbs]

None of this is completely surprising. While HHH did a class act at WM and dropped the belt in a great mach, his track record speaks for itself. And unless he's had a religious change of heart (and not like the one HBK had) I doubt that's going to change. I mean, he made Goldberg, the star of WCW, a transitional champ. Goldberg!

 

And no matter how bad Benoit is treated, it will never come close to Jericho's reign. Have Rock build him up, only to have the NWO, Austin, HHH and Steph tear him down.

[Guest wildpegasus]

So HHH could concievably win the title back from Benoit, lose it again and win it back once more to get up to 10. But who's after that? Michaels vs HHH has been beyond played out. The guys left that he could feud with (Hey, maybe this is why the draft is happening because there nobody on Raw) are the Big Show, Undertaker, Edge in the future, Cena once he gets through everyone else and maybe some unknown player as of now. I suspose he could do it. Especially with the draft. The only problem is wether or not his body can hold up.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

Shit...I don't care. When I pop in that WrestleMania tape 20 years from now Benoit and Eddy will still be standing in the middle of the ring with the belts.

 

Anything after that...I fully expect the WWE to screw up.

 

But they gave me a moment...and that's more than I'm used to.

[AndrewTS 0]

Folks, this is ridiculous. Benoit is not going to hold the belt FOREVER. No matter WHEN he loses it --- or whom he loses it to (I suppose Jericho notwithstanding), you're going to gripe about it.

If it's done wrong, as the article suggests it will be, yeah, there are reasons to gripe.

 

Don't be so fucking dumb.

We'd probably be griping a hell of a lot more than Benoit himself.

 

Every statement Jericho has made indicates he's happy as a pig in slop with his crap-scooping, second-fiddle-to-Steph Undisputed Title reign.

 

Benoit was booked a hell of a lot better, so maybe he wouldn't care, especially since he probably isn't as interested in winning the title as he just wrestling. Winning the title once, period, is probably a crowning achievement for him, and he likely doesn't expect to win multiple reigns or become a bonafide main eventer.

 

The main reasons Jericho and Benoit are so prone to politicking is that they don't rock the boat much or expect special consideration from the office. They aren't obsessed with being in the main event, getting the huge main event paydays, being the stars, or hogging the glory. It just isn't their personality type.

 

HHH on the other hand...

 

HHH has less talent, but much more ambition. It's the same reason that talented persons might end up stuck in middle management positions, and incompetents that shoot their mouths off end up in executive positions.

[Michrome 0]

The ladder match point is silly--everyone was reporting it, including Keller and Scherer until they reported that it was off about 2 weeks before the show. All 3 said the plan was for it to be a last minute addition to the match, but then they decided it would be better to end mania with a pin in the middle of the ring.

[Guest MikeSC]

Folks, this is ridiculous. Benoit is not going to hold the belt FOREVER. No matter WHEN he loses it --- or whom he loses it to (I suppose Jericho notwithstanding), you're going to gripe about it.

If it's done wrong, as the article suggests it will be, yeah, there are reasons to gripe.

 

Don't be so fucking dumb.

We don't know HOW it will be done. Meltzer doesn't know how it will be done.

 

And if simply enjoying the reign rather than fretting that it won't be permanent is stupid, then stupid is a good choice.

-=Mike

[Guest wildpegasus]

Every statement Jericho has made indicates he's happy as a pig in slop with his crap-scooping, second-fiddle-to-Steph Undisputed Title reign.

 

 

The main reasons Jericho and Benoit are so prone to politicking is that they don't rock the boat much or expect special consideration from the office. They aren't obsessed with being in the main event, getting the huge main event paydays, being the stars, or hogging the glory. It just isn't their personality type.

 

HHH on the other hand...

 

HHH has less talent, but much more ambition. It's the same reason that talented persons might end up stuck in middle management positions, and incompetents that shoot their mouths off end up in executive positions.

Jericho puts on a happy face but it's been reported on how he feels on some things about the going ons in the WWE.

 

HHH may have more ambition in the sense that he's reported to use alterior motives to get to the top but that's about it. It's kind of a battle of ambition vs ethics where ambition wins. But on the other hand Jericho and Benoit have more ambition in their ethics in the sense that they don't do anything outside the ring to get to the top despite the fact they want to be at the peak of the mountain. But yet, they're there or close to it meaning their ambition to do what they love is stronger because they have survived despite the pitfalls laid out by the ambition of HHH and others. For their ambition to remain strong, it shows that their ambition was stronger in the first place.

[Vern Gagne 0]

What's the planned match for Backlash? Because if it's Benoit vs HHH one on one I'd be stunned if HHH puts Benoit over again.

[Guest wildpegasus]

What's the planned match for Backlash? Because if it's Benoit vs HHH one on one I'd be stunned if HHH puts Benoit over again.

The Torch was saying everything but I believe the Monday before last Monday the Observer was saying the current plan at that time was a Benoit vs HHH ladder match at Backlash.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Ok. That would make more sense. HHH doesn't have to be pinned to lose the match.

[Guest wildpegasus]

Ok. That would make more sense. HHH doesn't have to be pinned to lose the match.

But still, I would almost guess creative is behind this. I used to think it was HHH who loved the stip matches and perhaps he does but I just can't imagine him wanting to do a ladder match on several levels(although it would get him out of doing a job). Why would anyone want to do a 3way ladder match at Wrestlemania? Seriously?

[haVoc 0]

Unless it's someone winning the big one for the first time, title wins don't even feel special any longer.

 

Everytime Bret Hart won the title I was excited and it felt special. Bret's 2nd ,3rd, 4th, 5th title win felt like it meant something. Same with Flair along the way.

 

Just don't feel that with Triple H. Or anyone today, really.

[2GOLD 0]

If they really wanted to piss fans off, have Bret come out and push over the ladder just as Benoit is about to grab the title. Then sit it up, help HHH climb it and then give him a big hug as he comes down the ladder with the title.

 

I'm not shocked it will go right back to HHH. After all, in his mind he is the only true heel on RAW.

[Guest MrPhil28]

Jericho should have taken the torch from Micheals years ago, but too many top guys have it out for him. Why else would he be booked to be a total pussy for Trish?

It's been well documented several tims over thta Jericho ahs been the one booking the Trish storyline. So if anyone has made him look like a bitch in that situation, it's Chris Jerico.

[alfdogg 0]

I was wondering if he wanted to break Flair's record or if he would respect his idol by leaving it alone.

Well, didn't Flair just have a bunch of short reigns, as opposed to long reigns?

Flair had at least three reigns that lasted over a year.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

 

Jericho should have taken the torch from Micheals years ago, but too many top guys have it out for him.  Why else would he be booked to be a total pussy for Trish?

It's been well documented several tims over thta Jericho ahs been the one booking the Trish storyline. So if anyone has made him look like a bitch in that situation, it's Chris Jerico.

I'm pretty sure that Jericho hasn't been booking it for a while now.

[cawthon777 0]

Since my predictions about Benoit's push have been correct since December, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say IF ... and I do mean IF ... Triple H wins the title back, it won't be anytime soon.

 

To put so much effort into making Benoit be percieved as world title material just to have him drop the strap in a month or two isn't the way to go - and Vince is smart enough to realize that. That would have been like having Bret go over Flair in 92 just to drop the belt back to him a few weeks later.

 

Also, with all the main event caliber matches on the card at WrestleMania, it really says something about their intentions for Benoit to send him out there last and close the show with Eddie, Benoit's family, and the confetti celebration (a handful of which I took home as a souvineer).

[humongous2002 0]

HHH will get his someday, hopefully someday Stephanie dumps his butterface ass and starts going out with a normal looking guy.

[Secret Agent 0]

The only people I'd like to see Benoit drop the title to is Kane or Jerico. But that's only if they build Kane back up as a true force to be reckoned with and not someone Shane can manhandle. Jerico is believable so long as he gets back to his 2000 face-days and not this chicken shit heel that champ that we saw in 02. Other than that, Benoit can keep that strap until the company folds.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

To put so much effort into making Benoit be percieved as world title material

 

By "effort" you mean having him be HHH and HBK's bitch for 2 months? Or how about all those promotional packages with Benoit as the focal point? Or how about that feud with Benoit as a focal point? No... wait... I'm sorry, those 2 things never happened. I think what you mean is "to put so much effort into that one match".

[cawthon777 0]

To put so much effort into making Benoit be percieved as world title material

 

By "effort" you mean having him be HHH and HBK's bitch for 2 months? Or how about all those promotional packages with Benoit as the focal point? Or how about that feud with Benoit as a focal point? No... wait... I'm sorry, those 2 things never happened. I think what you mean is "to put so much effort into that one match".

No, I mean him making the then-champion Brock Lesnar tap at Survivor Series ... having he and Brock put on a hell of a match last winter ... earning a spot in the Rumble ... breaking all previous records in the Royal Rumble and dumping the Big Show to win it ... and then making Triple H tap at WrestleMania.

 

We can gripe and complain about how he was used on Raw prior to Mania but the end result is the same - he has the belt. He could have been booked to be the modern day Virgil for all I care - he still has the belt.

[nl5xsk1 0]

To put so much effort into making Benoit be percieved as world title material

 

By "effort" you mean having him be HHH and HBK's bitch for 2 months?  Or how about all those promotional packages with Benoit as the focal point?  Or how about that feud with Benoit as a focal point?  No... wait... I'm sorry, those 2 things never happened.  I think what you mean is "to put so much effort into that one match".

No, I mean him making the then-champion Brock Lesnar tap at Survivor Series ... having he and Brock put on a hell of a match last winter ... earning a spot in the Rumble ... breaking all previous records in the Royal Rumble and dumping the Big Show to win it ... and then making Triple H tap at WrestleMania.

 

We can gripe and complain about how he was used on Raw prior to Mania but the end result is the same - he has the belt. He could have been booked to be the modern day Virgil for all I care - he still has the belt.

Plus, on top of all that cawthon (rightly) pointed out, they also had the end of Mania be Benoit & Guerrero stand in the middle of a confetti shower in the center of the ring. Which they'd probably not do if they had intentions of giving him a one month cup of coffee as champ.

[clean rob 0]

By "effort" you mean having him be HHH and HBK's bitch for 2 months? Or how about all those promotional packages with Benoit as the focal point? Or how about that feud with Benoit as a focal point? No... wait... I'm sorry, those 2 things never happened. I think what you mean is "to put so much effort into that one match".

I think you're exaggerating things in order to make your point. It's not like Benoit was getting steamrollered every week by Trips and Michaels. He was just made to appear as an underdog, which made his eventual title win all the sweeter when it finally happened, and as far as I could tell he seemed to get his fair share of screen time in the video packages.

 

Anyway, personally I prefer the face challenger (or champion) to appear as if he's up against the odds constantly, especially a face with Benoit's character - it would have been less satisfying to see Benoit go into Mania as the favourite to win before doing so, IMO.

[Guest Brian]

I'd be surprised if they don't do a Benoit/HBK feud over the title.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

But when you're saying that the WWE has "put in all this effort" when they've made him constantly look bad and wouldn't even make him the central focus of the feud (which, btw, was in between "can HHH retain his title" and "HBK wants him some revenge"); it's a bit silly to think they've invested a lot of Benoit when it really has been one win. The Rumble thing has very rarely (and I'm thinking never) been brought up or played a central role in anything (considering Benoit, the night after, was upstaged by Foley/Orton). The Lesnar thing actually works against him since he never resolved that issue on Smackdown and ran away to RAW (for reasons which have been completely ignored).

 

Benoit wasn't booked _strong_ going into Mania, and that's a problem. He wasn't booked as a Main Event Superstar or anything that the fans should jump out of their seats and cheer. And that will (and has) greatly effect his title run (He didn't even start off the show Monday and the thing everyone is talking about Tuesday morning is the Draft Lottery). When I see the WWE investing in someone; Lesnar, HHH, Austin being the most prominent, I know when they aren't. They aren't (which is the point of what Meltzer is saying). They don't expect Benoit to go the long haul and I'm sure we'll see Benoit stuck in the midcard at one of the PPV events this year with a lacklustre title reign behind him. Had he been pushed strong, they could have kept him up there. But even as champ he's playing second fiddle to something else and that's how it was when he was contending for the belt too.

 

And Benoit was made to look like an idiot all throughout those 2 months leading up to Mania.

[Guest Repo Man Reborn]

I just think that it's funny how HHH had no problem dropping the belt to Benoit at the biggest PPV of the year and lo and behold next week, we have a roster shake-up.

 

If Vince vacates all titles as part of blowing up up Raw and Smackdown, I will laugh my bag off.

 

 

They may need to change WWE to FHE (For Hunter's Entertainment).

 

 

Who loves Hunter more Stephanie or Vince?

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

Also, according to RAW, HBK is next in line for a title shot, or so the storyline says. No way WWE will do THE SAME 3-WAY 2 PPV's IN A ROW WITH TITLE CHANGES. Besides, HBK owes Benoit a win.

[CanadianChick 0]

I'd be surprised if they don't do a Benoit/HBK feud over the title.

They'd have to be complete idiots not to, quite frankly. There would not be a better suited match than Benoit vs. HBK at Backlash in Edmonton. Can you imagine the heat? HBK would get significant more heat than Trips would in Edmonton. The feud writes itself.

[AndrewTS 0]

I'd be surprised if they don't do a Benoit/HBK feud over the title.

They'd have to be complete idiots not to, quite frankly. There would not be a better suited match than Benoit vs. HBK at Backlash in Edmonton. Can you imagine the heat? HBK would get significant more heat than Trips would in Edmonton. The feud writes itself.

I thought HBK was going to have knee surgery and retire? That's why we're supposedly going to have HHH vs. Benoit now, right?

[CanadianChick 0]

I'd be surprised if they don't do a Benoit/HBK feud over the title.

They'd have to be complete idiots not to, quite frankly. There would not be a better suited match than Benoit vs. HBK at Backlash in Edmonton. Can you imagine the heat? HBK would get significant more heat than Trips would in Edmonton. The feud writes itself.

I thought HBK was going to have knee surgery and retire? That's why we're supposedly going to have HHH vs. Benoit now, right?

I haven't heard anything about him retiring. Has anyone else?