Booker T/ John Cena at SummerSlam...

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

So what I originally thought was a "Best Three of Five Falls" match at SSlam is now MATCH 1 of a 5 Match series.

 

What the fuck?

 

Why would fans of Smackdown PAY to see a pretty much meaningless match (They always go to the last match...), where the title isn't on the line? Since SD! doesn't have a PPV 'til October, chances are that the next 3 (or 4?) matches will be on the free TV programs.

 

This is AWFUL booking, AWFUL marketing, and instead of a "so so" U.S Title match, we get a meaningless so so non-title match.

 

THAAANNNNNNNKS VINNNNCE.

[The Amazing Rando 0]

It will be an amazing athletic competition between two men who wish to show that they are the best in the business (/company line) without going near their brand's world championship.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

T.O will hopefully shit all over this. I do believe we're the only city that can say that we ended a HHH title reign.

[slimm44 0]

Well at least it won't all be stuck in the PPV. Thats what it sounded like from the spoilers. Now it makes more sense. And the reason to do the other matches on Smackdown....Ratings. But WWE hasn't learned (about the internet), so it won't do anything for ratings

[CanadianChick 0]

I'm not sure if I can even watch five matches between these two. Cena's a fine face and all, and can have an entertaining match with the right people (I, for one, thought his match with RVD tonight was quite fun), but Booker T is so *boring*. And these two have interacted so much in the last 2 monthes that it seems very repetitive. Because I'm bored, I checked out just how many times these guys have been in a match with each other:

 

June 10/04 (When Cena had to go through a gauntlet and Dupree, Booker, and RVD faced him for 5 minutes each)

 

June 17/04 (Tag Match: RVD/Cena vs. Booker/Dupree)

 

June 27/04 (GAB, Fatal 4 Way)

 

July 8/04 (Singles match)

 

July 15/04 (Handicap: Booker/Dupree/Kenzo vs. Cena)

 

July 29/04 (8 way elimination)

 

Now five more matches of these two? No thank you.

[Scroby 0]

I'll wait and see how the first match goes, then see if this series is meaningless or not.

[Guest TigerDriver91]

Best of Five Matches Series? So will Cena try to pretend he is in WCW and change his name to Benoit then force the series to seven matches?

 

Okay, nevermind my ramblings it's very late and I need some sleep.

[strummer 0]

T.O will hopefully shit all over this. I do believe we're the only city that can say that we ended a HHH title reign.

and started a Hogan one

[King Cucaracha 0]

Well, obviously I don't dislike Booker as much as the starter of this thread does...but I agree the matches will be nothing to write home about. Also, STARTING it at Summerslam is a very odd idea.

 

The only way they can salvage this is by giving matches 2 through 5 various stips. These two really can't work 5 seperate singles matches an make them all unique, like we saw with Benoit/Booker or even Hardyz/E&C...and even that needed a ladder match at the end.

[what 0]

So what I originally thought was a "Best Three of Five Falls" match at SSlam is now MATCH 1 of a 5 Match series.

 

What the fuck?

 

Why would fans of Smackdown PAY to see a pretty much meaningless match (They always go to the last match...), where the title isn't on the line? Since SD! doesn't have a PPV 'til October, chances are that the next 3 (or 4?) matches will be on the free TV programs.

 

This is AWFUL booking, AWFUL marketing, and instead of a "so so" U.S Title match, we get a meaningless so so non-title match.

 

THAAANNNNNNNKS VINNNNCE.

Yeah, I'm sure they're going to lose a ton of buys because of this HORRIBLE booking error.....

[Chazz 0]

At least when they did this similar concept In WCW back In 1998 with Booker vs Benoit for The WCW U.S. Title, they had the sense to book the deciding Match for The PPV.

[Silence 0]

So will Cena try to pretend he is in WCW and change his name to Benoit then force the series to seven matches?

[Guest Redhawk]

I wanna know what went on in the creative team meetings. Were they just like, "Booker did a series in WCW. He can do one for us." And the fact that they're stealing ideas from the very company they've been shitting on since 2001 is kind of sad.

[Guest Eugene`]

I like the idea of a best of 5, but not between these 2 guys, and especially having the 1ST MATCH at a major ppv like Summerslam. This is about as absurd as Kevin Nash being late for the booking meeting, and having La Parka help out Buff Bagwell.

[HollywoodSpikeJenkins 0]

I like the idea of a best of 5, but not between these 2 guys, and especially having the 1ST MATCH at a major ppv like Summerslam. This is about as absurd as Kevin Nash being late for the booking meeting, and having La Parka help out Buff Bagwell.

Remind me again why Nash was never made into an announcer?

[Guest Eugene`]

Nash should do commentary on all the dvd's wwe puts out.

[HollywoodSpikeJenkins 0]

Nash > Lawler and Cole put together.

[reign 0]

At least when they did this similar concept In WCW back In 1998 with Booker vs Benoit for The WCW U.S. Title, they had the sense to book the deciding Match for The PPV.

Not nit-picking but it was the T.V. Title...not the U.S. Title and it was just for a shot at it with Fit Finley of all people...I don't really know why they're doing it this way..it seems like a bad idea ripped off from a good idea that WCW had and Vince and Co. are just trying to say "we can do it better!"

[Youth N Asia 0]

I just don't like the idea that the US title is going pretty much undefended for the next month and a half.

[Only The Strong Survive 0]

John Cena gets stripped of the belt for no reason and Booker T gets handed the belt and flukes a win in an eight-way elimination match to retain (earn) the strap. He shouldn't even have the belt in the first place!

[Cheex Incarnate 0]

The only logic I can see with starting the series at SummerSlam is that obviously they want JBL going over in the SD ME. So, they dont want both heels going over for their top titles on the card, and this gives WWE a cheap excuse to put Cena over and hopefully satisfy the crowd.

 

 

-Cheex

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

At least when they did this similar concept In WCW back In 1998 with Booker vs Benoit for The WCW U.S. Title, they had the sense to book the deciding Match for The PPV.

They may still do the same thing here. Match 1 at Slam, matches 2-4 over the following SD's, then match 5 at the next PPV.

 

And I, for 1, have been enjoying the Cena/Book matches/segments of matches over the last month. I've certainly enjoyed the stuff between these 2 more than Cena against any combo of Reigns/Suzuki/RVD. They seem to mesh well, and Book looks motivated again. Granted, they haven't been 5* masterpieces, but I've found them enjoyable. As long as they don't make them go 25 minutes every night, the matches should be fine.

[Guest Tjhe CyNick]

I think most of you guys are overreacting to this concept.

 

The Cena-BT match is #5 or 6 on the depth chart of the PPV. Summerslam will be sold ont he top 4 matches (2 World title matches, Eddie-Kurt and HHH-Eugene). Everything else is just filler, and while it makes the PPV look deeper, I dont think its going to have a major impact on the buyrate.

 

And as Cheex pointed out, on a show that appears to have a lot of heel wins on top (JBL, Orton, Angle) they could use a babyface win, and since Cena is so over, he's a great choice to give a win to. Doing this 3/5 series gives Cena a win without getting the title.

 

I think its safe to assume the final match of the series will go down at the No Mercy show, which will need more help to sell because its a single brand show. Hopefully after a 4 match series over 6 or 7 weeks will make the final match seem more important and might sell some people ont he show.

 

Finally, I dont think they have plans to put the title back on Cena, so this series will hopefully help both guys, and it will make the US title seem more important than it does now. Cena can lose, and then go off and do his movie, and come back and start his march toward the WWE Title.

 

To me it seems like solid, forward-thinking booking. And I liove in Toronto, Cena will be over and so will the match. BT is over here as well, so it'll work. Will it be a great series? Well thats a different question, I cant see it comparing to BT-Benoit, but it should be at least decent.

[algrim 0]

I think this is Cena's chance to actually show something in the ring. He should try wrestling the way he did back when he was the prototype. More catch- as-catch- can.

[Guest Dazed]

Benoit said he found it an enjoyable challenge to try and work 7 different matches with Booker T. John Cena is no Chris Benoit.

[Lil' Bitch 0]

John Cena is no Chris Benoit.

 

Amen.

[Guest Anglesault]

This is such a better idea than asking Booker of all people to try and carry Cena through five matches in one night.

[Youth N Asia 0]

It would be nice though to see the WWE not always go the overly predictable route.

[Guest wildpegasus]

T.O will hopefully shit all over this. I do believe we're the only city that can say that we ended a HHH title reign.

How did Toronto end a HHH title reign?

 

 

 

And I vote for a Benoit vs Regal best of 7 series. Man alive, that'd be fun.

[Guest TigerDriver91]

As I recall, HHH won the title by defeating Jericho in Toronto at SkyDome.

 

Benoit-Regal 9/23/95 is still one of my favourite matches, but back to the topic now.