NoCalMike 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 After watching the PPV tonight, or more importantly the Elimination Chamber match, I am totally DONE with the theory that Vince McMahon is somehow too "dumb" or "stupid" to realize certain things. I am sorry but you can't be in the business this long and be this incompetant, no my smart mark friends, tonights Main Event, in my opinion was basically hammering the final nail in the "ECW original" coffin. Vince is not deaf, nor blind. He knows damn well who gets pops and who doesn't. He also knows damn well that when you mention "ECW" that fans want something different then a WWE product. It doesn't mean necessarily that anything labled "ecw" is going to automatically work, or be better then WWE, but it absolutely MUST be different. He also knows who the fans want to see puhed and who they can care less about. The problem is, HE DOESN'T CARE. He's NEVER CARED. The worst part is that people like Stephanie McMahon and Brian Gerwitz probably think the show went flawlessly. They probably see Test and Lashley ME-ing WM for the ECW title. I was holding out hope, struggling to grasp at straws that for some reason, beyond this world, that Vince would break down and let Heyman handle the booking duties for the PPV, not make every decision, but at least take the decisions and let him mold it into somewhat of an "ECW" type show. Boy was I wrong, and basically slapped in the face. The most dissapointing part is that the ECW weekly tv show was actually doing a semi-ok job at doing just that, taking WWE material, in a WWE enviornment, mixing in a few ECW talents and making a show with somewhat of a different feel. Tonight's show seemed to have one point, and one point only, that from this day forward, "ECW" or what we all like to refer to as WWECW, will be nothing more then a vehicle for an hour of additional WWE programming. Honestly I wouldn't be suprised if within the next few months the entire "ECW" name and trademark will be dropped from the show completely and it will be renamed something such as "WWE's Hour of Extreme" or something just as insulting. EDIT: btw....at least they could have given RVD-CM Punk some time to work with each other....the one redeeming part of the EC. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mecca 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 After watching the PPV tonight, or more importantly the Elimination Chamber match, I am totally DONE with the theory that Vince McMahon is somehow too "dumb" or "stupid" to realize certain things. I am sorry but you can't be in the business this long and be this incompetant, no my smart mark friends, tonights Main Event, in my opinion was basically hammering the final nail in the "ECW original" coffin. Vince is not deaf, nor blind. He knows damn well who gets pops and who doesn't. He also knows damn well that when you mention "ECW" that fans want something different then a WWE product. It doesn't mean necessarily that anything labled "ecw" is going to automatically work, or be better then WWE, but it absolutely MUST be different. He also knows who the fans want to see puhed and who they can care less about. The problem is, HE DOESN'T CARE. He's NEVER CARED. The worst part is that people like Stephanie McMahon and Brian Gerwitz probably think the show went flawlessly. They probably see Test and Lashley ME-ing WM for the ECW title. I was holding out hope, struggling to grasp at straws that for some reason, beyond this world, that Vince would break down and let Heyman handle the booking duties for the PPV, not make every decision, but at least take the decisions and let him mold it into somewhat of an "ECW" type show. Boy was I wrong, and basically slapped in the face. The most dissapointing part is that the ECW weekly tv show was actually doing a semi-ok job at doing just that, taking WWE material, in a WWE enviornment, mixing in a few ECW talents and making a show with somewhat of a different feel. Tonight's show seemed to have one point, and one point only, that from this day forward, "ECW" or what we all like to refer to as WWECW, will be nothing more then a vehicle for an hour of additional WWE programming. Honestly I wouldn't be suprised if within the next few months the entire "ECW" name and trademark will be dropped from the show completely and it will be renamed something such as "WWE's Hour of Extreme" or something just as insulting. EDIT: btw....at least they could have given RVD-CM Punk some time to work with each other....the one redeeming part of the EC. In the end it is a WWE show.......the PPV was bad yes but to act like they just slap people in the face on purpose and things like that make me laugh to an extent. I'm sorry ECW originals can't carry a company......there's a reason ECW went out of business..not to mention most of those guys are old now and most fans don't buy any of them as credible maineventers Even RVD is borderline and he basically fucked himself...... You do understand when you say "look at them intentionally burrying ECW", why would they bring something back 5 years after the fact just to bury it? If that stuff was really true I'd like to know how Vince became a billionaire because this is the equivalent of beating yourself in the head with a hammer. And they had to get RVD and Punk out of the match before Lashley entered, that was why they went so fast. If they were still in when he entered the crowd would have probably shit on him more than they already did. This show was about establishing Lashley as the man that was why Punk and RVD had to be gone when he entered. Oh and for that other guy....Ariel ALWAYS brings something to the table just look at her..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hunter's Torn Quad 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 Meltzer on The Law is saying a reason for them not building to anything on the PPV was down to nobody agreeing on what to have and just on what not to have. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MillenniumMan831 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 It's not even the main event booking that has me terribly irritated. It's the fact that they trotted out 4 meaningless matches w/ no real intrigue or ppv-worthy surprise to them (perhaps w/ the exemption of Knox walking out on Kelly). You'd think they could transition 2-3 midcard matches one after the other to at least give a chaotic feeling to the show ala N2R 1999 when guys like Simon, Spike, Jazz, Nova, ect. were sandwiched in a 30 minute multimatch segment. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Enigma 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 ECW ON SCIFI MAIN EVENT, SABU'S "INJURY", SNOW VS. BURKE, CW ANDERSON The main event of ECW on SciFi will be new ECW World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Lashley vs. The Big Show for the title, with Big Show invoking his rematch clause. It will be taped tomorrow before Raw. WWE.Com is reporting that Sabu was "treated and released from a local hospital" but wasn't released in time to make it back to the PPV. The reason the Al Snow vs. Elijah Burke match that was advertised on the back of the PPV t-shirts didn't happen is because Snow had a family emergency that he had to deal with. Thus, the match was switched to Burke & Sylvester Terkay vs. The FBI. Christopher W. Anderson is not expected back in the ECW brand until the beginning of 2007. He's been dealing with a herniated disc and two bulging discs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ginger Snaps 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 No doubt in my mind they want to kill ECW. You couldn't do much of a better job than this so in a way it was very clever Kill it as in they just want it thought of as the 3rd part of WWE that is different than the other 2.......people have this highly romantisized view of ECW and obviously the WWE isn't going to do things that way.... Also Heyman probably does lobby hard for RVD seeing as that is his guy. I agree that people have a highly romanticized view of ECW. Like some of the people in this thread. They act as if Vince is ruining ECW. They don't understand, this is really only ECW in name only. This is just the same old WWE programming you see every week, just with a different name and every week you'll get one or two bad uninteresting 'hardcore' matches every week. BTW, this show sounded terrible. I was unhappy to see them have Punk get pinned first. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hunter's Torn Quad 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 You do understand when you say "look at them intentionally burrying ECW", why would they bring something back 5 years after the fact just to bury it? If that stuff was really true I'd like to know how Vince became a billionaire because this is the equivalent of beating yourself in the head with a hammer. It's not the first time, and won't be the last time, that Vince brought something or someone just to bury them so he can 'prove' a point or fight a war that is over. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Enigma 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 You do understand when you say "look at them intentionally burrying ECW", why would they bring something back 5 years after the fact just to bury it? If that stuff was really true I'd like to know how Vince became a billionaire because this is the equivalent of beating yourself in the head with a hammer. The same reason Vince spent $5 million to buy WCW when he knew damn well he wasn't going to do anything with it other than humiliate it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NoCalMike 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 After watching the PPV tonight, or more importantly the Elimination Chamber match, I am totally DONE with the theory that Vince McMahon is somehow too "dumb" or "stupid" to realize certain things. I am sorry but you can't be in the business this long and be this incompetant, no my smart mark friends, tonights Main Event, in my opinion was basically hammering the final nail in the "ECW original" coffin. Vince is not deaf, nor blind. He knows damn well who gets pops and who doesn't. He also knows damn well that when you mention "ECW" that fans want something different then a WWE product. It doesn't mean necessarily that anything labled "ecw" is going to automatically work, or be better then WWE, but it absolutely MUST be different. He also knows who the fans want to see puhed and who they can care less about. The problem is, HE DOESN'T CARE. He's NEVER CARED. The worst part is that people like Stephanie McMahon and Brian Gerwitz probably think the show went flawlessly. They probably see Test and Lashley ME-ing WM for the ECW title. I was holding out hope, struggling to grasp at straws that for some reason, beyond this world, that Vince would break down and let Heyman handle the booking duties for the PPV, not make every decision, but at least take the decisions and let him mold it into somewhat of an "ECW" type show. Boy was I wrong, and basically slapped in the face. The most dissapointing part is that the ECW weekly tv show was actually doing a semi-ok job at doing just that, taking WWE material, in a WWE enviornment, mixing in a few ECW talents and making a show with somewhat of a different feel. Tonight's show seemed to have one point, and one point only, that from this day forward, "ECW" or what we all like to refer to as WWECW, will be nothing more then a vehicle for an hour of additional WWE programming. Honestly I wouldn't be suprised if within the next few months the entire "ECW" name and trademark will be dropped from the show completely and it will be renamed something such as "WWE's Hour of Extreme" or something just as insulting. EDIT: btw....at least they could have given RVD-CM Punk some time to work with each other....the one redeeming part of the EC. In the end it is a WWE show.......the PPV was bad yes but to act like they just slap people in the face on purpose and things like that make me laugh to an extent. I'm sorry ECW originals can't carry a company......there's a reason ECW went out of business..not to mention most of those guys are old now and most fans don't buy any of them as credible maineventers Even RVD is borderline and he basically fucked himself...... You do understand when you say "look at them intentionally burrying ECW", why would they bring something back 5 years after the fact just to bury it? If that stuff was really true I'd like to know how Vince became a billionaire because this is the equivalent of beating yourself in the head with a hammer. And they had to get RVD and Punk out of the match before Lashley entered, that was why they went so fast. If they were still in when he entered the crowd would have probably shit on him more than they already did. This show was about establishing Lashley as the man that was why Punk and RVD had to be gone when he entered. Oh and for that other guy....Ariel ALWAYS brings something to the table just look at her..... No one said ECW originals can carry a company, but in case you forgot, ECW is not a company anymore, they are an weekly 60 minute show. Don't even begin to suggest that Lashley is better to carry it then RVD or CM Punk. Do you even LISTEN to the fans at all? This show was about establishing Lashley as the man that was why Punk and RVD had to be gone when he entered. Yeah I know, and this is exactly the problem. Bookers shouldn't establish stars, the WORKERS should establish who is going to be a star. This show was basically a message to the fans that Vince.Gerwitz and Stephy don't give a flying fuck who we want to see on top, and the only thing that matters is who Vince thinks makes a good main eventer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mecca 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 You do understand when you say "look at them intentionally burrying ECW", why would they bring something back 5 years after the fact just to bury it? If that stuff was really true I'd like to know how Vince became a billionaire because this is the equivalent of beating yourself in the head with a hammer. It's not the first time, and won't be the last time, that Vince brought something or someone just to bury them so he can 'prove' a point or fight a war that is over. I think it's one thing to do it to a wrestler, or to a company like WCW right after it happened........but to spend the money to start up a whole nother brand get TV for it, hire guys for it. Get bookers for it run a PPV for it, 5 years after it went out of business when at times the WWE was support it.......just makes no sense to me at all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ginger Snaps 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 I was holding out hope, struggling to grasp at straws that for some reason, beyond this world, that Vince would break down and let Heyman handle the booking duties for the PPV, not make every decision, but at least take the decisions and let him mold it into somewhat of an "ECW" type show. Boy was I wrong, and basically slapped in the face. I don't mean to be mean but it was foolish of you to feel this way to begin with. No one in the WWE ever intended for ECW to really be that different, they were just looking at a way to keep cashing in on the ECW fans who made ONS a successful PPV. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mecca 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 After watching the PPV tonight, or more importantly the Elimination Chamber match, I am totally DONE with the theory that Vince McMahon is somehow too "dumb" or "stupid" to realize certain things. I am sorry but you can't be in the business this long and be this incompetant, no my smart mark friends, tonights Main Event, in my opinion was basically hammering the final nail in the "ECW original" coffin. Vince is not deaf, nor blind. He knows damn well who gets pops and who doesn't. He also knows damn well that when you mention "ECW" that fans want something different then a WWE product. It doesn't mean necessarily that anything labled "ecw" is going to automatically work, or be better then WWE, but it absolutely MUST be different. He also knows who the fans want to see puhed and who they can care less about. The problem is, HE DOESN'T CARE. He's NEVER CARED. The worst part is that people like Stephanie McMahon and Brian Gerwitz probably think the show went flawlessly. They probably see Test and Lashley ME-ing WM for the ECW title. I was holding out hope, struggling to grasp at straws that for some reason, beyond this world, that Vince would break down and let Heyman handle the booking duties for the PPV, not make every decision, but at least take the decisions and let him mold it into somewhat of an "ECW" type show. Boy was I wrong, and basically slapped in the face. The most dissapointing part is that the ECW weekly tv show was actually doing a semi-ok job at doing just that, taking WWE material, in a WWE enviornment, mixing in a few ECW talents and making a show with somewhat of a different feel. Tonight's show seemed to have one point, and one point only, that from this day forward, "ECW" or what we all like to refer to as WWECW, will be nothing more then a vehicle for an hour of additional WWE programming. Honestly I wouldn't be suprised if within the next few months the entire "ECW" name and trademark will be dropped from the show completely and it will be renamed something such as "WWE's Hour of Extreme" or something just as insulting. EDIT: btw....at least they could have given RVD-CM Punk some time to work with each other....the one redeeming part of the EC. In the end it is a WWE show.......the PPV was bad yes but to act like they just slap people in the face on purpose and things like that make me laugh to an extent. I'm sorry ECW originals can't carry a company......there's a reason ECW went out of business..not to mention most of those guys are old now and most fans don't buy any of them as credible maineventers Even RVD is borderline and he basically fucked himself...... You do understand when you say "look at them intentionally burrying ECW", why would they bring something back 5 years after the fact just to bury it? If that stuff was really true I'd like to know how Vince became a billionaire because this is the equivalent of beating yourself in the head with a hammer. And they had to get RVD and Punk out of the match before Lashley entered, that was why they went so fast. If they were still in when he entered the crowd would have probably shit on him more than they already did. This show was about establishing Lashley as the man that was why Punk and RVD had to be gone when he entered. Oh and for that other guy....Ariel ALWAYS brings something to the table just look at her..... No one said ECW originals can carry a company, but in case you forgot, ECW is not a company anymore, they are an weekly 60 minute show. Don't even begin to suggest that Lashley is better to carry it then RVD or CM Punk. Do you even LISTEN to the fans at all? This show was about establishing Lashley as the man that was why Punk and RVD had to be gone when he entered. Yeah I know, and this is exactly the problem. Bookers shouldn't establish stars, the WORKERS should establish who is going to be a star. This show was basically a message to the fans that Vince.Gerwitz and Stephy don't give a flying fuck who they want to see on top, and the only thing that matters is who Vince thinks makes a good main eventer. You can say what you want but RVD has done everything to fuck himself over and look unreliable and not tow the line. Now as a fan you may think that's cool but as an owner it's not and it's not someone you want to be building around....... As far as Punk goes, I love Punk as much as anyone he's one of my favorite guys, but it's to soon for him to be champion. The money is in the chase, if he wins the belt not even a year into his stint there I'm not gonna be into that. I thought they put the belt on Lesnar far to fast.........the money is in the chase. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hunter's Torn Quad 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 You do understand when you say "look at them intentionally burrying ECW", why would they bring something back 5 years after the fact just to bury it? If that stuff was really true I'd like to know how Vince became a billionaire because this is the equivalent of beating yourself in the head with a hammer. It's not the first time, and won't be the last time, that Vince brought something or someone just to bury them so he can 'prove' a point or fight a war that is over. I think it's one thing to do it to a wrestler, or to a company like WCW right after it happened........but to spend the money to start up a whole nother brand get TV for it, hire guys for it. Get bookers for it run a PPV for it, 5 years after it went out of business when at times the WWE was support it.......just makes no sense to me at all. It does if Vince loses interest. Vince wouldn't be the first promoter to get all gung ho about something and then get bored and not care about it within a few months. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Enigma 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 I truly believe Vince kicked ECW back up with the intent to have it be a lot like what it used to be. The problem was when he got the SciFi deal, NBC kept telling him to put the established stars on the show and that probably warped him into thinking that his version of sports entertainment was more needed than ECW wrestling. It'd be interesting to see where this would have gone if they kept it Internet only or gotten the Saturday, 1am USA network slot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cabbageboy 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 I can't say I'm surprised at any of this silliness on the PPV. But here is one bit I found on 1wrestling.com that I'll share. It seems feasible: "Frustration among ECW Originals is said to be rampant in the lockerroom, and 1Wrestling.com reports that two top ECW names could be on their way out. Rob Van Dam's contract is due to expire in six months, and his colleagues say that the frustrated wrestler is counting the days until he's done with the company. Sabu, who has scored backstage heat for behavioral issues, is reportedly acting in a way that gives the impression he is almost 'trying to get fired.'" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mecca 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 I can't say I'm surprised at any of this silliness on the PPV. But here is one bit I found on 1wrestling.com that I'll share. It seems feasible: "Frustration among ECW Originals is said to be rampant in the lockerroom, and 1Wrestling.com reports that two top ECW names could be on their way out. Rob Van Dam's contract is due to expire in six months, and his colleagues say that the frustrated wrestler is counting the days until he's done with the company. Sabu, who has scored backstage heat for behavioral issues, is reportedly acting in a way that gives the impression he is almost 'trying to get fired.'" Yea and RVD has been pissed 52 other times to and everytime his contract was up he resigned.......the wrestlers bitch and moan but the only one who didn't take a contract that was offered and went to TNA was Christian..... Also I'd almost bet money his contract isn't up in July that's just when his contract has a rollover clause that they'll pick up.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mecca 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 By the way for the whole "Vince isn't deaf" thing and listening to the fans....you do realize that means you think acts like DX rule because they get great pops right? One of the biggest problems WCW had was listening to the crowd and thinking an act was over....not everything that's good live translates to TV. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Enigma 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 Doing some digging, it seems RVD signed a 3-year deal in July 2004, so it makes sense. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Downhome 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 Ha, this PWInsider postshow is great. They said that they got an IM from someone very high up in the company and it said something along the lines of "so, do you believe me now when I said that HHH built up CM Punk last week so he could slap him down this week?" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NoCalMike 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 By the way for the whole "Vince isn't deaf" thing and listening to the fans....you do realize that means you think acts like DX rule because they get great pops right? One of the biggest problems WCW had was listening to the crowd and thinking an act was over....not everything that's good live translates to TV. DX is a nostalgic act with established veteran STARS. Name a nostalgic act that doesn't get pops? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Banter 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 I can't believe I paid $40 for that. I wanted to watch the football game so I dvr'd the PPV. I ended up watching the first match live (which I thought was good) then I went back to the game. I flipped over during a commercial in time to hear that Sabu wasn't going to be in the Chamber. I immediatley felt ripped off, but I was still interested in watching the PPV. I went back to the game. I flipped back in time to see that fucking Bob Holly was Sabu's replacement. Not only did the WWE steal 40 of my dollars, but now I have to watch Bob Holly AND Test in the Main Event. Fuck that! Even though I was incredibly pissed I was still looking forward to seeing what RVD and CM Punk would do in the Chamber. Back to football. The kick is good, game over, back to the PPV. I fast forward to the Chamber match, figuring that I'll watch the midcard another time. Chamber starts, first 10 minutes are decent, then comes Test. Next thing I know Punk, Holly and RVD get eliminated in like a minute. YOUGOTTAFUCKINGBEKIDDINGME. Seriously, with all the meatheads in this match you going to get rid of Punk and RVD in the first 15 minutes. I watched the rest of the match just shaking my head. Then to top it off after the PPV ends I check to see what the midcard matches were. Yeah, no fucking way will I be wasting my time watching that crap. So I paid 40 bucks for two matches totalling about 50 minutes. Almost $1 per minute. God am I stupid. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mecca 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 Doing some digging, it seems RVD signed a 3-year deal in July 2004, so it makes sense. Ah alright......I think Benoit was the one who just reupped who had the TNA rumor must have confused them...... Either way we'll see if he has the balls to turn down a contract because during his last contract he was said to be mad about shit and complaining and when they plopped a deal down in front of him he resigned despite tons of reports about him wanting out..... We'll see, still to this day Christian is the only one that had a deal put down in front of him and said no to go to TNA. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mecca 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 By the way for the whole "Vince isn't deaf" thing and listening to the fans....you do realize that means you think acts like DX rule because they get great pops right? One of the biggest problems WCW had was listening to the crowd and thinking an act was over....not everything that's good live translates to TV. DX is a nostalgic act with established veteran STARS. Name a nostalgic act that doesn't get pops? Just like it's hard to judge with RVD because he will always get pops......he's not doing a nostalgia act but no matter what they do with him he always gets pops regardless. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scroby 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 I was enjoying tonight's ppv......until CM Punk, Holly, and RVD were elimated basically at once. After that, the main event went from a lot of "Oh!"s to "What the fuck!?" Everything on this ppv was pretty fun to watch just until the last 10 to 15 mintues of the elimation chamber. I don't understand why WWE is booking elimations to happen so quickly in elimation style matches. We saw it happen at Survivor series where multiple elimations took place very quickly and we saw here it again in the chamber match and what made things worse, it was all the guys that were over with the fans. I also don't understand why the EC match was booked if your going to have 3 of the 6 guys elimation so closely together, hell that could have been a regular extreme rules match just done elimation style and you would have gotten the same kind of effect. The build to the EC match was great, you really couldn't predict who was going to win the match but then at the end of that match, it was really to predictable on who was going to win, and damnit the fucking barbwire bat wasn't even fucking used! Like I said before, the actual Pay Per View was a fun PPV to watch, just until the final 10 to 15 minutes of the elimation chamber match, thats when the PPV went downhill and just kept going further and further downhill. I'm also predicting after tonights crowd re-action to Lashley winning the title, Lashley most likely won't keep the title that long. Oh and one positive from tonight's show: I grabbed me a lot of fantasy points! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NoCalMike 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 Just to ask: Anyone feel like that if Sabu was legit pulled out of the EC match for "kayfabe" reasons such as "punishment" then it should have been advertised BEFORE THE SHOW went on the air? I mean I understand shit happens, a worker gets sick, hurt etc...right before the match and it has to be modified, and that is alright, but if the decision to dump Sabu from the match was made before the PPV went on the air, I think it should have been told to the fans, just in case anyone didn't want the show anymore. Would I have still ordered it? Yeah most likely, but who knows what someone else would do!?! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Enigma 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 Doing some digging, it seems RVD signed a 3-year deal in July 2004, so it makes sense. Ah alright......I think Benoit was the one who just reupped who had the TNA rumor must have confused them...... Either way we'll see if he has the balls to turn down a contract because during his last contract he was said to be mad about shit and complaining and when they plopped a deal down in front of him he resigned despite tons of reports about him wanting out..... We'll see, still to this day Christian is the only one that had a deal put down in front of him and said no to go to TNA. Well, the big difference is Christian went there at the end of 2005. They were in a much prettier situation than they were back in July 2004 when RVD had the chance to leave. Back then, TNA was still paying FSN to air their show, weren't able to pay the wrestlers as much as they can now, and didn't have a cable station to help them foot the bills on contracts like they do now. The thing that makes TNA so formidable now is that they can make almost as much money with them as they are making now without having to deal with the constant travel and the backstage WWE political jungle gym. Back in 2004 when RVD had to either leave or re-sign, he didn't have much of an option then. If Christian had been in that situation in July 2004, I doubt he would have jumped. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haws bah gawd 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 I just got back from this show. I got a free ticket, so who am I to complain? My opinion of the show is mostly negative, though there were a small handful of shining moments. MNM vs the Hardys got the place going, and was a good match that was given a LOT of time, but for how much they got the crowd going, the Striker vs Balls match killed it. Jeff Hardy has secured my votes for comeback and most improved wrestler of the year with the performances and effort he has put forth lately. Striker vs Balls put the place to sleep. The less said about it, the better. Striker was "pitching a tent" for most of the match, which got a lot of laughs from the folks sitting in our area. There was literally no one in the building watching FBI vs Burke and Terkay. All eyes were on Trinity, and with the outfit she was wearing, there may as well not have been a match taking place. A few guys tossed her a dollar at one point, which she did a nice little dance to bend over and pick up, before the guys were taken out of the place by security. Thorn and Aerial vs Kelly Kelly and Mike Knox match was ok enough. Aerial got some of the loudest cheers of the night due to constantly being bent over the top rope (while wearing what could best be described as dental floss). I dont know if it could be heard on PPV, but after the second time she gave KK the boot choke in the corner, a rather loud 'ONE MORE TIME!' chant started. Again, no one gave a flip about the match and popped like mad for the women. Sandman got a nuclear crowd pop when he made his entrance and beat-down Thorn. Daivari vs Dreamer wasn't too great. Khali is an absolute BEAST to see in person, and is quite an intimidating sight to see. The slam that Dreamer took on the ramp after the match got a good reaction from the crowd. The crowd shit all over Lashley when he cut his promo on the tron, but popped for him when he came out and when he won. He was pretty much getting "Cena Heat". The EC looks a LOT smaller in person than it does on TV. If TV adds an extra 10 pounds to a person, it adds about 2 tons to this thing. It was still an alright match though. Punk getting taken-out the way he did, did not go over with the crowd at all. Neither did RVD getting pinned after Test's elbow drop of doom. This was met with a very loud bullshit chant (seconded only by the bullshit chant that followed Sabu being taken out of the match), and caused a very loud TNA chant to start. I dunno how it came across on TV but the ref only counted to 2 when Test pinned Hardcore Holly. This got a nice you fucked up chant. Following the match and what I assume was the close of the show (after Lashley's gigantic pyro celebration), Big Show got a deafening "THANK YOU BIG SHOW *CLAP CLAP CLAPCLAPCLAP* " from the crowd, and seemed truly grateful for it. He is from the area afterall. On a side note, you could tell the finish to the match was moments away when the tech crew came out about a minute before Lashley won and started laying out the insane amount of pyro all around the stage. If anyone has any questions about the show, feel free to ask. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hunter's Torn Quad 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 Just to ask: Anyone feel like that if Sabu was legit pulled out of the EC match for "kayfabe" reasons such as "punishment" then it should have been advertised BEFORE THE SHOW went on the air? I mean I understand shit happens, a worker gets sick, hurt etc...right before the match and it has to be modified, and that is alright, but if the decision to dump Sabu from the match was made before the PPV went on the air, I think it should have been told to the fans, just in case anyone didn't want the show anymore. Would I have still ordered it? Yeah most likely, but who knows what someone else would do!?! On The LAW, Meltzer said the decision to remove Sabu was made a few days ago. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cabbageboy 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 Look, RVD didn't leave in 2004 because TNA wasn't a real great option. It's that simple. They probably promised him some sort of push if he signed a new deal in WWE. I assumed at the time that RVD probably worked a clause into his contract saying he'd get the world title at some point. If RVD gets some kind of 6 figure deal from TNA to work less dates, he'd have to be nuts to not jump. Why sign a new WWE deal to work a hell of a lot more and get buried? Frankly I think Sabu would be better off in TNA as well. His feud with Abyss from last year blows away anything he's done in the new ECW. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Enigma 0 Report post Posted December 4, 2006 All eyes were on Trinity, and with the outfit she was wearing, there may as well not have been a match taking place. A few guys tossed her a dollar at one point, which she did a nice little dance to bend over and pick up, before the guys were taken out of the place by security. Ejected for tossing a dollar to her? That's hilarious. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites