Wally Balls 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2006 hmm....I'm assuming The Rock or Austin will be back at least once to put over a heel...most likely on Raw. I hope they do something with Lashley's gimmick (or lack there of) pretty soon. Even with the canned heat on smackdown, it is becoming clear that he isn't getting over with the fans all that much. I'm not sure what we could make Lashley into.....He is basically Ahmed Johnson...which would be all good if this was 1995, but the fans have changed and they want to see more in terms of mic skills and such. I hope the Undertaker either brings back the ministry or goes back to his american badass gimmick. With his American Badass gimmick, he was seen as someone who could actually be beaten plus he could give more realistic promos. Although I think the ministry could work great on Smackdown. I think it could be the ministry vs everyone else. The ministry being the heels and everyone else being faces. I think that the Pitbills could be like the Acolytes, The boogeyman could come back and join the ministry and maybe put Matt hardy in there as well. Either way, I just love the Undertaker and want him on TV. As far as Raw goes....well I'm not sure what to do with them. I know that they will always be the A show so long as Vince still hangs around on Raw and as long as Cena and HHH are on there. Vince loves both of them too much to let them be second rate. Im not sure what to say about ECW.....I think Tazz should go back to the Smackdown announce team. I loved the chemistry that he and Michael Cole had....JBL is okay...but he spends too much time being an asshole and not enough time actually communicating with Michael Cole. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jericho2000Mark 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2006 3. Vince is just too high on Cena. Despite the fact that he turns off a number of viewers This is not true, and HTQ already proved why. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hawk 34 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2006 Iggy, never pays attention to pesky details like facts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Just call me Dan 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2006 We need Brock. I doubt it would draw much of anything, but Christ the rosters are depleted. Smackdown desparately needs Brock, a re-packaged Masters, Carlito and Kane. Jericho returning with an impending Rock/Austin return for the Mania slot coupled with Foley continuing to wrestle could keep Raw afloat. Add a rejuvinated Benoit push and we'd all be OK. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iggymcfly 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2006 3. Vince is just too high on Cena. Despite the fact that he turns off a number of viewers This is not true, and HTQ already proved why. Proved? That's a little bit of a bold statement. I read the little summary where he went over like three or four Raws, and pointed out how Cena's segments were higher rated than the others, but that certainly doesn't prove anything. I mean sure the segments with the title feud will be higher rated than the IC crap or stuff with the Spirit Squad, but I bet if they tried a main event feud without Cena right now, it would draw a hell of a lot better than having him start his third long title reign in the past year and a half. I guarantee you that if you switched DX and Cena right now so that HHH or HBK was feuding with Edge for the title, and Cena was screwing around with the McMahons and JOB squad '06, the DX segments would be rated a hell of a lot higher. Hell, they're probably rated higher right now. And if Batista, Undertaker, RVD, or Sabu came to Raw to feud with Edge, I bet they'd get higher ratings than what Cena's getting too. Cena's dull as crap, and while he was at least getting legit heel heat from the male fans for a while, after jobbing to RVD and Edge, they're just starting to get bored with him, and he's starting to get X-Pac heat. That match at SNME was the first time I've ever seen that uninterested response to a Dusty finish in a title match. A good IC challenger should get a better response than that when he's screwed out of the title. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jobber of the Week 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2006 I think Lesnar has depreciated his marketability value and probably rusted his skill to a shadow of his former self, but even in that state he is an excellent replacement for Mark Henry as a Big Ugly Evil Guy. That said, it's pretty obvious that Edge is a short-term champion because if he wasn't they would have done SOMETHING to revert the belt back to the original form. I don't care what he does, throw it off a bridge or just melt the thing, but the fact that RVD, Edge and others are having to carry around that goddamn "spinna" belt says it all. It doesn't matter what guy is Champion, the fact that he's still carrying around those modern-day smoking skulls proves who the main event angle is REALLY all about. This actually reminds me of the Rock's custom title and Vince backing out of it in fear that they would never bring the original eagle belt back. With the way things are going right now, that may happen for the next year at least. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Danville_Wrestling 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2006 That said, it's pretty obvious that Edge is a short-term champion because if he wasn't they would have done SOMETHING to revert the belt back to the original form. I don't care what he does, throw it off a bridge or just melt the thing, but the fact that RVD, Edge and others are having to carry around that goddamn "spinna" belt says it all. It doesn't matter what guy is Champion, the fact that he's still carrying around those modern-day smoking skulls proves who the main event angle is REALLY all about. I agree with this entirely. That spinner belt looks like shit and I don't care about merchandise and other garbage, give it to Cena when he's the champion but let the other guys get the regular WWE title back. It looks ridiculous when RVD and Edge have to carry it around and be all cute in spinning the WWE logo in it and reinforces the view that Cena will get it back quickly. In fact, I bet we don't see the return of the WWE Title belt in original form until HHH gets to play Harley Race or whatever old school legend is fashionable and crushes Cena at Survivor Series because you sure as hell know he won't be wearing some piece of crap like that around. I also agree with people's irritation in Cena refusing to sell basically anything now including trademark manuevers and this made worse by the fact that he does NOTHING to set up the STFU not to mention that the move is total crap to begin with. I have little interest in the Edge-Cena program because Cena CONSTANTLY gets the better of Edge and while I like Edge b/c its something new and different I know Cena will probably be going over at SummerSlam. For example, at SNME would it have KILLED them to actually have Edge walk out with Lita after he speared Cena? I guess so for WWE creative or Vince or whoever else was running the show as Edge had to have his ass handed to him some more by getting put through a table courtesy of the FU. How sweet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spaceman Spiff 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2006 For example, at SNME would it have KILLED them to actually have Edge walk out with Lita after he speared Cena? I guess so for WWE creative or Vince or whoever else was running the show as Edge had to have his ass handed to him some more by getting put through a table courtesy of the FU. How sweet. Well, they want to promote Cena as the future face of the company, so it doesn't make much sense for said future face to be laid out like a punk on a major network show that's supposed to draw in new fans. You have to remember that SNME isn't treated like a normal WWE show. It's 1/2 normal show, 1/2 promotional, so that's why you get Cena standing tall at the end. I also agree with people's irritation in Cena refusing to sell basically anything now including trademark manuevers The majority of Cena's matches involve him selling. Don't bring up the spear on SNME either, because he can't sell the move like death since he has to do the super FU to close the show. Blame the booking for that, not Cena. this made worse by the fact that he does NOTHING to set up the STFU Angle does nothing to set up the ankle lock, either, so what's your point? Should he set it up? Sure. But the only guy who really set's up his submissions is Benoit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Black Lushus 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2006 Cena REFUSES to sell? That's pretty funny...if anything, the guy OVERSELLS everything. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Downhome 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2006 I just had a vision where Hogan goes over Orton at Summerslam, and then they plug Hogan with Edge for a title match at Unforgiven to pop a buyrate and then put HHH up against Edge at Survivor Series (keeping in mind that theres another RAW PPV before Survivor Series).. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarvinisaLunatic 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2006 I actually would be willing to put money on Hogan/Edge happening the more that I think about it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lil' Bitch 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2006 I don't know about it Hogan / Edge headlining Unforgiven, but it would certainly be a great RAW main event and it would make sense seeing how Edge was making of his own hero last week on RAW. I couldn't believe it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hunter's Torn Quad 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2006 Iggy, never pays attention to pesky details like facts. It's always funny hearing people like him insist that Cena turns people off, even though his segments regularly draw a high increase in viewership and often manage to get Raw's peak rating. Though, I have come to expect it from someone who last year, just before the Hassan character was dropped, said that if he had the book he'd have Hassan beat Batista for the World title at Summerslam, in Batista's home town, and then have Batista get the belt back the month later at Unforgiven. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
uhftv 0 Report post Posted July 18, 2006 when Cena would start to get really loud boos they all of a sudden cut 90% of his mic time (before that he was still getting half the mic time of HHH but thats beside the point. He actually got much better on the mic and moved away from the raps which doesnt make sense considering his look. He's more likely to get over with than that with his work in the ring but they still let him talk very little. I think either way he'll get booed as Jericho put it once, "it's the cool thing now to boo Cena no matter what he does" My favorite "creative" decision was when he was in the ME with Edge and HHH against the Squad, literally the only babyface in the match, and he would still get booed. My friends see it as "he's this midcard guy from smackdown, they moved him to Raw with this gimmicky belt, and he's suddenly the top guy without ever bothering to explain why he's so good" Is that what JR is referring to when he always says 'the most controversial champ in history?' That's the controversy? A champ that isnt a great worker? Since when is that controversial? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Angle-plex 0 Report post Posted July 18, 2006 Cena feuding with an Umaga/Kahli team would be great if this was the 80s. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maztinho 0 Report post Posted July 18, 2006 Is that what JR is referring to when he always says 'the most controversial champ in history?' That's the controversy? A champ that isnt a great worker? Since when is that controversial? They are playing up "controversial" when Cena is supposed to be the face and was getting booed out of the building. They blamed "rowdy" fans, and started calling Cena controversial. The boo-birds have subsided somewhat, but he still gets a mixed reaction from most crowds. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iggymcfly 0 Report post Posted July 18, 2006 Iggy, never pays attention to pesky details like facts. It's always funny hearing people like him insist that Cena turns people off, even though his segments regularly draw a high increase in viewership and often manage to get Raw's peak rating. God, this isn't rocket science. I'll explain it one more time slowly. I'm not saying Cena isn't popular. I'm not saying he doesn't have a lot of fans, and I'm not saying that people stop watching when he comes on. I'm sure that more people watch when the title feud's on then watch a run-of-the-mill Umaga squash. I'm saying that the majority of the Raw audience is bored with seeing Cena as the top face and is bored with seeing him in the title feud for the last 20 months in a row. If they would have just turned him heel 8 months ago, or moved him down to the upper midcard, this wouldn't have been a problem. Vince is so stubborn with trying to keep a couple extra bucks of merchandising, that he's completely ignored the vocal response of the fans who don't want to cheer Cena, and the main event feuds have suffered as a result. The HHH/Cena and HHH/Edge/Cena stuff was all really awkward, and now this Edge/Cena feud has hardly any heat at all. Look at the small number for Backlash if you want to see how well a title feud with no face draws. Whereas Edge is really over as a heel right now, and would probably draw well in a title feud with just about any main event face right now if they booked him strong at all, Vince is passing on this completely, in the misguided notion that he's going to make Cena into "the next Austin" if he just protects him enough. The fact is that most of the audience isn't that into Cena right now, and he just doesn't work in that role. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lt. Al Giardello 0 Report post Posted July 18, 2006 Call me crazy, but I would build Carlito Vs. Edge for the RAW ME at Wrestlemania. After Summerslam, Edge should be champion, I'd have him fued with Shawn Michaels, and have HHH fued with Orton. As for Cena, possible ECW fued? Chris Masters? Nitro? Whatever, he's character is getting way to stale for me. He needs to stop main eventing and be in the upper midcard for a bit. In the mid-card, I would give Umaga the IC title, and ship off Benjamin to SD! or ECW. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites