*WWE and pro wrestling discussion topic*

[Obecorp]

But back to thoughts on Raw. Although the feud between Orton and Cena for the title could be a good one, I honestly don't think it's the best resort. Why? Wasn't Randy Orton the one who destroyed a hotel room months ago? Not to mention, it was speculated many times that Orton has a bad attitude, yet he gets rewarded a main event spot? and presumably the WWE title? I dunno if I agree with this. The way I see it, if TNA wasn't around, Orton would not only be in the main event, but gone from the WWE altogether because of this attitude. Rhino got fired from the WWE for much much less.

I'm guessing the only reason why Orton's in this spot, is because of his friend HHH, and the stroke that he has behind the scenes. I know that Cena has held the belt for too long, and he needs to lose it, but in my eyes, it would be better off if he keeps it rather than losing it to Orton. Giving the belt to Orton just serves to help out HHH. This also shouldn't happen because arguably it is HHH's fault that the main event talent is thin after everyone got injured, because he didn't really put guys over during his World title reigns in 2002-2004. Yes, Cena has had the belt too long, so what's a few more months? But, if Cena did have to lose the title, I would choose Booker T, since he's had a credible reign last year. Instead of this happening, Booker T would likely have to job to HHH again in SS.

Anyway, just thought I'd share a few thoughts about wrestling. Wrestling (and occasionally other sports) is pretty much all that I talk about when I have a chance to stop by this forum anyway.
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[Rob1981]

King Booker doesn't seem to be going anywhere on Raw in my view. A dumb feud with another king, Jerry Lawler is a bit pointless. There is more than enough people on Raw, Booker shouldn't be feuding with a commentator. Granted, Lawler is a wrestler himself, he isn't that great. End the feud, put Booker against someone else.

Cody Rhodes got his first televised win on Raw tonight: over Daivari. I somehow think Cody is getting brought up too soon. I can imagine he will get lost in the shuffle, and be put on Heat (or sent back to OVW).

I think a multi-brand title would help out the ratings. Either a TV title of some sort, or a 24/7 hardcore title. The randomness of the hardcore title during its early years was good entertainment, which could be recreated with the same results I think.

Harry Smith, Teddy Hart and Nattie Neidhart are the Hart Foundation 2.0 in OVW right now, as all are relatives of the original Hart Foundation. I see good talent here, as long as they don't go up to WWE too soon with a big push.
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[Obecorp]

I just read this... Raw has gotten it's lowest rating in nearly 10 years, scoring a 2.5, which is it's lowest since October 1997. I can't imagine how furious Vince McMahon has to be right now. Other than the Benoit situation, there shouldn't be too much excuse why the rating has gone down for Raw.

I'm not sure how the ECW rating did, but I'm guessing and hoping it has went up from it's previous low in the 1.3 rating from last week. The main event they put out last night was pretty solid. Nitro's promo was pretty good too, but the rest of the show, was just substandard. I'm thinking though it might be just enough to push the ratings up.

TNA news, not sure if anyone in this forum read the spoiler, but a new wrestler debuts this week on Impact. I'm not gonna spoil too much, but I will drop this... it's a former WWE star (sigh).

As far as the current youth movement in the WWE, I don't necessarily think Cody Rhodes is being brought up too quickly. When Randy Orton and John Cena started, they were being brought up a lot quicker. If he stays in the lower midcard to midcard status, he should be ok.

I heard about the new generation Hart Foundation as well. With the exception of Teddy Hart (who is rumored to be a jerk backstage), I think they should bring in Harry Smith and Natalie Neidhart up soon. Harry Smith has been stuck in OVW for more than a year now, just waiting to be called up, and Nattie, can wrestle in the Women's division, which is a little thin right now. If Candice Michelle (although she has signifcantly improved) is champion, it says how thin that division is.
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[Rob1981]

TNA signing ex-WWE wrestlers seems to be a common thing now. Test in TNA could work I suppose. But frankly, the company is looking like WWE from 2000, 2001 and 2002 (when Angle, Christian and others were spotlighted in the company).

Matt Morgan also debuted on Impact from what I read. He is Cornette's assistant apparently. Morgan has talent, it's a shame WWE gave him that stuttering gimmick and then fired him shortly after (if I remember right).

In WWE news: Lashley is injured, and could be out for a while. Jeff Hardy is suspended, but the reasons aren't known. So Raw is certainly taking some hits to their talent, but it's no excuse for the ratings drop. Mr. McMahon returns on Monday, so perhaps that could help the ratings a little. I doubt it though. He needs to announce or do something decent, otherwise his appearance will be useless. The ratings will continue to do bad, if WWE doesn't shape up. Overall, all 3 shows seem a bit bland.

Summerslam will either make or break the ratings situation in my view. Cena/Orton is the only confirmed match as of now though. The feuds going on right now, currently aren't that great, which is a problem in making Summerslam matches. A surprise could be in the works, but I doubt anything big. Foley and Austin are the typical surprises, as everyone else is either in TNA, retired or whatever.
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[Rob1981]

Raw just took place. The 2 big things that happened: Regal is now GM, after he won a battle royal. At the end of Raw: it was revealed Vince had another kid: not named obviously. All I have to say is: Triple H seems like the obvious choice for this "who is it" storyline.


Not that exciting in my view.


So the show didn't further Summerslam much in my opinion. The PPV is drawing closer, and not much for it still. It's going to be rushed, and be bad I believe.
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[Obecorp]

RAW was interesting, but not great. I do agree that they didn't do much for Summerslam. But, they have a lot of TV time between now and then to build up the PPV, including Saturday Night's Main Event.

The illegitamate child angle may add interesting stories, and also some shock value. It is rumored that it could be Kennedy, or possibly HHH. But, if they bring some kind of new guy, it may add to the story. But, McMahon's appearance since to have done what it was set out to do, which was raise ratings prior to the Benoit incident.

TNA Hard Justice is this Sunday. The big news is that Adam "Pacman" Jones from the Tennessee Titans will make an appearance. A lot of matches have been added as well. The match with Joe and Angle should be a good watch, but I don't like the idea that all of TNA's belts (and one that's not even theirs) can all be decided in one match. Some how, I think that this match is gonna have a stupid ending. I'm not sure if TNA changed the rule where disqualifications can still cause the title to change hands. Even though Joe deserves a title run, I think Angle will retain his title, and possibly put a little break on this feud for a while. I may post some thoughts about this PPV in a future post.
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[Rob1981]

Hard Justice took place earlier, here is a quick recap of some of it:

Adam "Pacman" Jones appeared, and was confronted by the returning Ron Killings. Jones was later taken out of the building by a stretcher, with all fingers pointing that Killings did it. Due to an agreement: Jones wasn't allowed to wrestle or be touched, so this is how TNA got around it. Like most celebrity angles: I doubt this will help ratings much.

Dustin Rhodes debuted his new darker gimmick "black reign". He has black and white facepaint, and was pretty violent. I suppose this could work to get him more over.

The Steiners defeated Team 3-D: in what I would think would be the end of their feud. D-Von and Ray's contracts are up in September I believe, and it's likely they will go back to WWE. I wish they would just retire, as their act as gotten very stale.

The cage match looked alright, but seems like another gimmicky match to draw in ratings. Abyss won it: so he will face World champ Kurt Angle at the next pay per view.

In the main event: Angle defeated Samoa Joe to win all the gold. This seemed like a great match.
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[Rob1981]

Brian Adams was found dead today. I believe he was only in his 40's, so he is yet another young wrestling death. For the most part: I enjoyed matches with him. I remember his career dating all the way back to when he debuted in WWF as the third member of Demolition.


Was Vito the boyfriend of Karen Angle at Hard Justice last night? I don't see any reports that confirm this. I read in a report that Vito was going to be backstage for the event, but that's all I could find.


Saturday Night's Main Event will be taped tonight. I believe the only match confirmed for it is a boxing match between MVP and Matt Hardy. Evander Holyfield might be the referee for the match. Also apparently booked for Raw and SNME: Mick Foley, Nikolai Volkoff, Iron Sheik and D-Lo Brown. It would be great for WWE to have D-Lo back fulltime.


In other WWE news: Sylvan was released recently, and Joey Mercury was rehired to be a trainer for Ohio Valley Wrestling.
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[Obecorp]

TNA Hard Justice wasn't that great. I'm definitely glad I didn't pay for it. With the exception of the 3-way tag team match in the beginning, the card didn't deliver. The cage match could have been alright, but it seemed rushed, and there wasn't nearly enough time. Joe-Angle wasn't what you'd expect from a Joe-Angle match. If you compare it to their first match from Genesis, and their second match from Turning Point, this match wreaked. This was focused much more on a storyline that is taking away from the overall TNA product. Not to mention, they buried Joe, a star who they developed for more than 2 years, for someone who jumped ship from the WWE less than a year ago. Don't get me wrong, I love Kurt Angle, but he should be used to put Joe over. I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't re-sign with TNA after his deal. If this is the case, WWE could be an option for Joe. He trained with John Cena in UPW, and they are good friends, so if he leaves TNA, WWE may be a good option, and if that happens, I think he'd be good in ECW (with a possible feud with CM Punk). Either that, or he'll go back to Ring of Honor, where he initially made his name.

Just looking at Hard Justice, it doesn't look like TNA will get good enough to compete against the WWE, for a while, which is a shame. Hopefully, I'm wrong, because WWE needs competition to help the wrestling business in general.

In sad news, RIP Brian "Crush" Adams. He wasn't a main eventer, but one of the more memorable names of wrestling in the 90's. I liked his tag-team runs in Demolition and Kronik. Plus, his unbelievable finishing moves placed a smile on my face, like the "heart punch" and "head crush".
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[Rob1981]

Apparently: Brother Runt, Matt Bentley and Doug Basham are all fired from TNA now. I think they might be in panic mode, because of how horrible the product has been lately. The nonsense with Pacman Jones wont help their ratings much I bet.

In other TNA news: Kurt Angle is pushing for them to sign Brock Lesnar. I suppose Brock could help TNA to a point, if he does indeed sign. Brock's price tag would be high: so TNA would need to do more firings if they hire him. Unless TNA magically gets some money or something.


Now that Kennedy was leaked as the likely person to be McMahon's child: it might be someone else. I'm not sure who it could be, unless it's Triple H or some new wrestler (which I doubt). An obvious swerve would be Steve Austin... but I believe they said it was a current WWE star (storyline wise at least), so he doesn't fit that.

Overall, both companies need to improve instead of doing the nonsense they are currently doing.
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[lucrosus]

[Obecorp]

[Obecorp]

Some TNA thoughts... it seems they are closer than ever to getting their long-awaited 2 hour deal. It is rumored that if this does happen, it will happen during the fall, with them keeping their 9/8 C Thursday slot on Spike, and them getting an extra hour afterwards.

Normally, I would be happy for TNA with their progress, but with my disappointment with the TNA product lately, I am not looking forward to this. From the way I see it, TNA will look a lot like the WWE.

TNA really does stand for Total Nonstop Angle. Even though I like Angle, they are holding back talent who were a big part of TNA for a long time (Joe, Styles, Daniels, Abyss), in order to put him over. Plus, the angle with his wife and the skits are a waste of TV time, and could be more effectively used for X-division matches. Plus, they gave him all 4 TNA belts, thus pretty much turning the company over to him.

Not to mention, they bring in big men like Test and Matt Morgan, giving them significant TV time. Plus, they throw money to Pacman Jones? TNA = We are wrestling? Looks a lot like WWE to me.

What's even worse, they are pretty much burying the X-division (a huge TNA trademark, that is a big part of their identity), and they have released a lot of talented wrestlers. If they release people like Alex Shelley, it would be messed up!

If TNA can put on a true alternative, instead of trying to put on a show similar to the WWE, I feel they would be more of in a position to compete. That's what got many fans to notice them. But, as of now, they may head for a downfall. They've never pulled a profit, and even with "starpower" like Kurt Angle, and Sting, they have remained stagnant. Yet they are expanding themselves? Doesn't make sense to me. Not to mention, it is rumored that the backstage morale in TNA is at an all time low (if anyone has the chance, try to listen to the recent Matt Bentley interview in "Between the Ropes").

Simply put, in order for the business to improve overall, TNA should improve, because they seem like the only promotion to be willing to compete with WWE. But as of now, they are not even close.
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[Rob1981]

[Rob1981]

Summerslam is in a few days, here is the card and my picks.

Randy Orton over Cena: should be decent. I hope Orton gets a few months as champion at least.

Batista over Khali: Batista must win, but I don't think he deserves a long title reign. This will be the worst of the 3 world title matches.

CM Punk over John Morrison: I see this as being the best of the 3, if they get enough time.

Triple H over King Booker: As it's Triple H's return, he wont be losing this. I see a DQ win possible, if they want to build this into a feud.

Rey Mysterio over Chavo Guerrero: Rey will win obviously, and hopefully this is one time match. I dont want to see another Rey/Chavo feud. This should be decent, but I'm sick of the feud. Plus WWE clearly ignores past things once again: their I Quit match from before was a loser leaves WWE match, yet Rey instantly gets back on the show with no problems. Poor storyline explaining.

Kane over Finlay: I don't see this as being very special.

Umaga over Carlito+Mr. Kennedy: This could be okay, but I don't see it being that great. If Umaga doesn't retain: Kennedy will win.

Diva Battle royal to determine the #1 contender to women's title: I'm not sure who will win this. It will just be for eye candy I bet anyway. Hopefully someone with talent wins, so they start a decent feud with the Women's champ.


I believe that could be the final card. So, no cruiserweight title match, no women's title match, no tag title matches, no U.S title match, no Mark Henry, MVP, Matt Hardy and others. I suppose MVP/Hardy could do another competition, but I doubt it.

Overall: a decent card, but leaving out big names such as Henry, Hardy and MVP is unacceptable. Undertaker isn't ready to wrestle yet: so Henry is off PPV until then? That seems dumb to me.
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