Guest glennsoe Report post Posted April 21, 2004 (edited) As you probably know by now, Paul Heyman appeared on last night's Smackdown taping. Here's the story behind it. Originally, WWE had planned to have a banged up Kurt Angle appear on the show this week in the GM role. Over the last few days, they changed direction and instead decided to bring Heyman back last night to take Angle's spot and have Angle sell the injury (which frankly makes the most sense). It was announced at the show that it was "for one night". Whether it will end up happening that way is another matter altogether. I have heard from a number of people inside of the company that they see that Angle isn't getting over in the GM's role. There are some that feel that while it was a good thing to try, given that Angle's neck was bothering him and they needed to cut back on his in-ring schedule, it hasn't worked. Over the past few weeks, the ratings for the show have fallen. While the drop in viewers can't be solely pinned on Angle as GM (most people in the company that I talk to feel the push of John Layfield to the top heel spot is the main reason that viewers have been tuning out), it's clear that the show needed a change. So, earlier this week the decision was made to bring Heyman back to the show, at least for a week. It's fair to say that some people in the company have noticed that since the lottery, which coincided with Heyman's removal from the GM spot on the show, the ratings have dropped. Originally, Creative wanted Heyman to work in a heel manager's role after he was “picked” by Eric Bischoff since he understands the business so well and has strong promo skills, but from what I have heard, Heyman lobbied instead to "quit" when he was picked in the lottery by his antagonist. I don't know at this point whether Heyman is back on Smackdown for good or not. The working plan was to, at least, get him on the show this week and see what happens. I also don't know, if he does come back full time, what his role will be. I just hope that WWE realizes that the show is more interesting with him on it than with him off it and gives him the spot he deserves on the broadcast. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Referee Tim White was working as an agent at the Monday Smackdown house show in Medicine Hat, Alberta. I am not sure if it is a permanent thing. White has a bad shoulder that is expected to end his reffing career. Both Rob Van Dam and Eddie Guerrero didn't work Monday's house show because they were given the day off. The show didn't draw very well, doing less than 2,000 fans. I heard from a few of the wrestlers on the show that John Bradshaw Layfield did a promo there that went way too long, but that the agents praised it because Vince McMahon is the primary force behind the push of Layfield and no one wants to tell the owner that Layfield isn't getting over the way they need him to if he is going to headline next month's PPV against Guerrero. As we reported last night, HHH and Shane McMahon were both backstage at the show last night since they were in town for Raw and the PPV respectively. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I heard from a few people at Raw that Vince McMahon met with Bret Hart after the show. I don’t know the nature of the meeting but it didn’t surprise me since Raw was in Calgary. I do know that Bret and Vince have talked pretty regularly of late so it was probably just a case of them catching up and talking a little business. They have had open communication recently about Bret doing some work with WWE at some point. Steven sent this one. … I was at the US trademarks and patents website and I checked on the latest entries from World Wrestling Entertainment. They've trademarked 'Eugene' since April 5th, 'Mordecai' since March 16th, Hirohito since March 11th. They also have another name 'Luther Rains', trademarked since March 23rd. They also own the 'Horshu' trademark. Raw’s highest rated quarter hour was a 4.5 that they did for the overrun. Chris G sent this one. … WWE has added the SmackDown! Rebound from Raw to its SmackDown! site for the preview of this weeks show. I believe this is the first time they have done this. Also Tyson Tomko, Grandmaster Sexay, Johnny Nitro and Eugene’s Bios have been added to RAW superstars page. On SmackDown! they have a Chavo Guerrero Sr. Bio added. Michael Weaver of www.wrestlingupdateonline.com sent this one. … In the latest issue of "License! Magazine," they feature the 101 Leading Licensors. World Wrestling Entertainment made it at number 47. WWE was ranked higher than some of the best known companies in the world such as: Playboy, MGM Consumer Products, DIC Entertainment, Jordache Enterprises Inc., National Geographic, Marvel Enterprises, The LEGO Company, Kraft Foods, Time INc., Kellogg, and more. Edited April 21, 2004 by Goodear Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dynamite Kido Report post Posted April 21, 2004 Next time you steal news from another website, use spoiler tags if they are telling you it's a spolier..... geeze....or people are going to give you hell for it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanadianChris 0 Report post Posted April 21, 2004 The show didn't draw very well, doing less than 2,000 fans. I heard from a few of the wrestlers on the show that John Bradshaw Layfield did a promo there that went way too long, but that the agents praised it because Vince McMahon is the primary force behind the push of Layfield and no one wants to tell the owner that Layfield isn't getting over the way they need him to if he is going to headline next month's PPV against Guerrero. What a bunch of fucking toadies. I can't stand this company. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LaParkaYourCar 0 Report post Posted April 21, 2004 What's worse? The fact that no one wants to tell Vince that JBL isn't over or the fact that Vince can't notice this on his own? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted April 21, 2004 Luther Rains? ....I smell an invisible man character! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Banders Kennany Report post Posted April 21, 2004 Everyone liked JBL before it sunk in that it was Bradshaw. I wonder what he's going to wrestle in now? Maybe some briefs to make him look like a fat champ from some crummy indy in the the roaring idiotic hell that is the midwest. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haVoc 0 Report post Posted April 21, 2004 Everyone liked JBL before it sunk in Speak for yourself. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dandy 0 Report post Posted April 21, 2004 Luther Rains sounds like a bad pun for Lutherans, which would probably be Mordecai's real name or ally or something. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dynamite Kido Report post Posted April 21, 2004 Luther Rains sounds like a bad pun for Lutherans Don't give them any ideas before they start thinking that Lutherans are a demographic that they need to start increasing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Goodear Report post Posted April 21, 2004 The thing about this Bradshaw push and basically all of the 'new' heels on Smackdown is that they are all basically unproven and aren't really being put over as threats either. What has Bradshaw really done to show that he's actually a main eventer now? He hasn't wrestled once since the gimmick overhaul and has yet to really even get the best of Eddie other than on the first night he debuted the gimmick. Rene Dupree is supposed to be feuding with the second highest face on the brand John Cena, but he's gotten humiliated virtually everytime they have crossed paths so he's not being put over as a threat. And beating Orlando and Kidman aren't going to do that for him either. Haas is treated as a joke and Booker still needs something to push his new heel character over a bit more before it can be looked on as a serious 'change'. Short version, Smackdown needs to build its heels as threats but isn't. The Big Show is exempt from the previous paragraph. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Goodear Report post Posted April 21, 2004 Next time you steal news from another website, use spoiler tags if they are telling you it's a spolier..... geeze....or people are going to give you hell for it. I have no problems with 'stealing' since he said where it was coming from in the subject subtitle. I edited in the spoiler tags though because I like to flex my internet muscle. Points to the sky! Double bicep! Cups ears to crowd! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Hot Thumbtack In The Eye 0 Report post Posted April 21, 2004 The show didn't draw very well, doing less than 2,000 fans. I guess they decided to try to at least salvage one show since they cancelled the previous house show for Lethbridge(1.5 hours away). They cancelled the wrong one though since Lethbridge had 3600 confirmed sales. The manager of the arena here said they told him to advertise a cancellation do to scheduling conflict, when it was cancelled for lack of interest. I'm sure that I don't understand the logic Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C Dubya 04 0 Report post Posted April 21, 2004 Luther Rains sounds like a bad pun for Lutherans Don't give them any ideas before they start thinking that Lutherans are a demographic that they need to start increasing. <---------- Is a Lutheran and thinks that our demographic needs to be catered to. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes Report post Posted April 21, 2004 All I have to say is Smackdown is knee high in it's own shit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slayer 0 Report post Posted April 21, 2004 Everyone liked JBL before it sunk in that it was Bradshaw. I wonder what he's going to wrestle in now? Maybe some briefs to make him look like a fat champ from some crummy indy in the the roaring idiotic hell that is the midwest. I think he should wrestle in dress clothes, like IRS or Big Bubba I can't see any sort of tights doing justice to the character (whatever justice there may be) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chaosrage 0 Report post Posted April 21, 2004 Next time you steal news from another website, use spoiler tags if they are telling you it's a spolier..... geeze....or people are going to give you hell for it. I don't think anyone really cares. It's smackdown. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Nanks Report post Posted April 22, 2004 Luther Rains sounds like a bad pun for Lutherans Don't give them any ideas before they start thinking that Lutherans are a demographic that they need to start increasing. <---------- Is a Lutheran and thinks that our demographic needs to be catered to. On the off chance you're not being facetious, what exactly could be done to cater to Lutherans??? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kardo 0 Report post Posted April 22, 2004 First of all get rid of that fancy stage and fireworks.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted April 22, 2004 Luther Rains sounds like a bad pun for Lutherans Don't give them any ideas before they start thinking that Lutherans are a demographic that they need to start increasing. <---------- Is a Lutheran and thinks that our demographic needs to be catered to. On the off chance you're not being facetious, what exactly could be done to cater to Lutherans??? RAW IS LUTHER -As mentioned, no fancy stage. This is about wrestling, not pageantry. -Instead of giving rambling promos about why you're gonna kick somebody's ass, just nail a list of reasons why on said wrestler's locker room door. -When they say "he's literally been chokeslammed TO HELL~!", it's not so much that he was LITERALLY sent to hell, it's really more of a figurative thing, metaphorical, if you will.* -It's really not your workrate that elevates you, it's your gracefulness in doing spots. *: Widespread misuse of "literally" must stop Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Nobody in Particular Report post Posted April 22, 2004 Everyone liked JBL before it sunk in that it was Bradshaw. I wonder what he's going to wrestle in now? Maybe some briefs to make him look like a fat champ from some crummy indy in the the roaring idiotic hell that is the midwest. I think he should wrestle in dress clothes, like IRS or Big Bubba I can't see any sort of tights doing justice to the character (whatever justice there may be) Unfortunately it's the same pants he wrestled in before, only solid black with a gold "JBL" on his ass. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mearl267 0 Report post Posted April 22, 2004 2,000? Yikes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest UncleJesseMark Report post Posted April 22, 2004 3 things: 1. Read my Sig about the JBL thing. 2. To make the heat keep flying, JBL needs to wear the shirt and tie to the ring, and carry a metal briefcase full of stocks and bonds. 3. JBL has to prove he can change his in ring style/charisma. Until Then JBL+Main Event = Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
