CM Punk; WWE Has Me Hooked Again (2012 Official Pro Wrestling Thread)

[PrinceEatMeat]

Smackdown Chamber: Bryan, Orton, Barrett, Rhodes, Show, Khali. Like it except for Khali randomly being in there because of the Henry suspension angle due to his injury. I would've rather seen a returning Christian. I guess the options were kind of limited with Sheamus being the Rumble winner. Now I'm curious to see what the rest of the card will look like outside of the Cena/Kane gimmick match. Maybe they'll have Sheamus wrestle someone. Possibly a US title or tag title match. Likely some type of divas match. I'm sure Brodus Clay will see action one way or another.

[patrickgpe]

Smackdown Chamber: Bryan, Orton, Barrett, Rhodes, Show, Khali. Like it except for Khali randomly being in there because of the Henry suspension angle due to his injury. I would've rather seen a returning Christian. I guess the options were kind of limited with Sheamus being the Rumble winner. Now I'm curious to see what the rest of the card will look like outside of the Cena/Kane gimmick match. Maybe they'll have Sheamus wrestle someone. Possibly a US title or tag title match. Likely some type of divas match. I'm sure Brodus Clay will see action one way or another.

the great khali? the first 5 were obvious and could have been predicted on sunday night. the problem is that smackdown has 7 fighters that they could possibly put in on of these things, henry is hurt and sheamus won the RR. Shows how much Henry's injury affected the EC

[PrinceEatMeat]

Yep, the lack of depth on Smackdown is pretty sad. I figured this would be a good place for Christian to return, but I guess they thought otherwise. The Great Khali being in the match is a sham though. He's been gone forever, and gets a title shot. I get that Jericho did the same, but that's Chris Jericho. Khali was irrelevant when he left, and still is now.

[patrickgpe]

Yep, the lack of depth on Smackdown is pretty sad. I figured this would be a good place for Christian to return, but I guess they thought otherwise. The Great Khali being in the match is a sham though. He's been gone forever, and gets a title shot. I get that Jericho did the same, but that's Chris Jericho. Khali was irrelevant when he left, and still is now.

didn't he quit the wwe for some time to return back home to India? They need to balance out the rosters at their draft or just do away with it (my preference). Its dumb to have smackdown starts on raw each week and not vice versa. I usually only watch Raw anyway but it makes these 6 man matches pretty lame. Also Smackdown has alot more of the same wreslters fighting each PPV for 3 months stuff that Raw doesn't have to do. (Christian vs Orton last year etc)

[PrinceEatMeat]

The main thing this proves is how stupid the brand separation is. Might as well get rid of it for good. Even though I doubt they will.

[patrickgpe]

they got rid of the bragging rights ppv, so maybe they will

[radman12484]

Just looking at Smackdown now after the Chamber match was announced. It looks like that is the only match they can have on the whole card? Sheamus I'm sure will be wrestling someone, but the only question would be who? Is Christian gonna come back and fight Sheamus again for a two week feud? Sheamus gonna face someone on RAW? There is no one else on Smackdown that is over at the moment that they can have wrestle.

 

Also, read a rumor today that the Money In The Bank match at Wrestlemania may only feature former World/WWE Champions. I don't know how to feel about this considering the rest of the Wrestlemania card.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Let's see the options for that match based on the rest of the projected card would then be Orton, Show, Henry, Khali, Christian, Del Rio, Ziggler, Miz, Swagger, Kane, Booker T, Nash, Mysterio, and Foley. That at least leaves some leeway to fill the rest of the card. I think it's definitely doable. Even if Mysterio is hurt and you don't use Nash, Booker, or Foley. There's still 10 options there for the 8 spots. Could just take out Orton and Show for other matches and have Henry, Khali, Christian, Del Rio, Ziggler, Miz, Swagger, and Kane in the match. That wouldn't be wise though in my opinion. I'd rather see guys like Kingston, Rhodes, and Truth in there than bigger guys.

[patrickgpe]

Let's see the options for that match based on the rest of the projected card would then be Orton, Show, Henry, Khali, Christian, Del Rio, Ziggler, Miz, Swagger, Kane, Booker T, Nash, Mysterio, and Foley. That at least leaves some leeway to fill the rest of the card. I think it's definitely doable. Even if Mysterio is hurt and you don't use Nash, Booker, or Foley. There's still 10 options there for the 8 spots. Could just take out Orton and Show for other matches and have Henry, Khali, Christian, Del Rio, Ziggler, Miz, Swagger, and Kane in the match. That wouldn't be wise though in my opinion. I'd rather see guys like Kingston, Rhodes, and Truth in there than bigger guys.

here is the article:

The idea could include the likes of Jack Swagger, Randy Orton, Alberto

Del Rio, Mark Henry, Christian and Kane battling it out to see who gets

the coveted Money int he Bank briefcase.

http://www.sescoops.com/w...t-interested-in-lashley/

[brettac1]

The main thing this proves is how stupid the brand separation is. Might as well get rid of it for good. Even though I doubt they will.

They have devalued the big gold belt so much, they may as well get rid of it. I'm all for unifying the title for good. It's an opening match belt. They should just bring back the TV title instead. Of course, they make the mid-card belts useless, so no one that holds one gets any bounce from it, anyhow. They are at least on the right path by having Rhodes carry the IC belt. That should be a big deal. They seemed to be doing the same with the US belt when Ziggler had it, but then they put it on Ryder, who just sucks, and then threw it on Swagger who is dead right now.

[PrinceEatMeat]

The IC and US Titles would have a lot more significance if there was only one World Title. That was the main problem with splitting the brands. Basically all of the other titles became irrelevant. The Tag Titles could be more revived then too. I'd rather see one World Title, and bring back the Hardcore and European or something. Would be a lot better.

[brettac1]

It also hurts that they hotshot the belts so much. I think I read somewhere that if Rhodes holds the IC belt for two more weeks he will have had the longest reign as champ since like '04.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Not sure he'll even defend the title before WrestleMania at the earliest, so he'll break that record for sure.

[Invader3K]

I agree with others that they should just end the "brand extension", but my guess is that WWE will never do that at this point. From a business standpoint, it probably makes more sense to have two separate products, as messed up as they are.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Yep, the whole reason for the brand split was likely for business. I think it also makes it easier on the talent too. They split the house shows between Raw and Smackdown, which obviously wasn't the case before the split. Really the only reason Smackdown stars appear on Raw is to help get them over, because not as many people watch Smackdown. It really doesn't make any sense, but they do what they have to do. I personally would like it to end, but I guess it's decent how it is. I get to see all the top guys on Raw, so it's basically like their all on one show anyway.

[radman12484]

Getting rid of the brand extension is something I don't see them getting rid of. At one point it was used for bringing up all the talent they had in OVW that hadn't debut yet to get over. Guys like back when it started. Batista, Randy Orton, John Cena, Brock Lesnar, etc. However, some of the talent they have right now in FCW is main event worthy in my mind. Getting to that point where the next generation of stars are on there way and are gonna make for some great feuds with CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Randy Orton, etc.

[brettac1]

It made sense when you had two guys who could draw money that could be champions.

[brettac1]

As far as there being main eventers in FCW, the disconnect I have is that one has to trust that WWE will make them main eventers. I mean, I am totally down with guys like Mike Rotunda's kids (among others) becoming stars (they probably will, since they also have Barry Windham's sister as their mother and Blackjack Mulligan as their grandpa), but I can't possibly expect that WWE sees them as stars, or that they won't botch them once they get to the main roster. Look at the excitement people had about Brodus Clay. He was viewed as a main event-type of talent as a heel, and has a gimmick now that is strictly mid-card/comedy. I enjoy it, but there's not a high ceiling for it as a money drawing act.

[radman12484]

I completely agree with what you are saying. I was just pointing out that some of the talent they have in FCW is better then what they have on the main roster now. However, with the bad writers and Vince's visions not working out anymore for some of these wrestlers. These guys will get stuck in either some new lame show the WWE Network will make for them or Nxt like some of the ready talent already is.

[brettac1]

I saw this joke on a friend's Facebook and it fits with this topic, I think:

 

Stephanie McMahon and Triple H are walking down the street pushing their baby in a stroller when Stephanie's arms get tired.

"Hunter," she asks, "will you push the baby?"

"No," replied Triple H. "He's too small and he can't pop a crowd."

[Viva La Grinch]

I know that people defend WWE as a show that is better writen, and wrestlers are given better story lines and gimmicks then what is given out in TNA and even WCW back in the day. However, the WWE giving Natalya a gimmick that she has some digestion issues, and during exercise squats cannot control herself and embarrassingly rips out farts has to be one of the dumbest things I have seen in years.........

[PrinceEatMeat]

I know that people defend WWE as a show that is better writen, and wrestlers are given better story lines and gimmicks then what is given out in TNA and even WCW back in the day. However, the WWE giving Natalya a gimmick that she has some digestion issues, and during exercise squats cannot control herself and embarrassingly rips out farts has to be one of the dumbest things I have seen in years.........

The sad thing is that this is apparently part of a big push for her. How that makes sense is beyond me. Oh well, just another stupid storyline I guess.

[brettac1]

It's too bad. She's one of the few Divas that can work a match. I am honestly looking forward to the Kharma/Beth Phoenix feud. That should be some solid stuff.

 

As far as WWE vs TNA, it's honestly not all that much better, IMO. There are some aspects of TNA that I really like, and some that annoy the hell out of me. I feel the same way about WWE. TNA does have guys like Roode, Storm, Aries, Angle, etc. that are pretty excellent and a bunch of really good promo guys. I do think that creative has improved a bunch there in the past few months. It does suck that they seemingly build toward TV with their PPV's, but WWE does the same thing sometimes. I certainly wish that the old guys that can't work like Hogan and Sting would just go away, but WWE just had Foley hobbling around in the Rumble and is going to have a broken Undertaker work a prime-slot match at Wrestlemania (and may have Foley in a match there, as well).

 

In my opinion, the gap between the two companies isn't as wide as some make it out to be. WWE isn't lighting the world on fire right now. Sure, they have Punk and Bryan as champs, but they don't even push them as main eventers. They did a champion vs champion match in the first hour of Raw. They are pretty much making a joke of Bryan in my opinion, and he's clearly just a transitional champ that is being booked with zero legitimacy. Punk is most likely just holding the belt for a while until Cena finishes up with Rock so they can put it back on him.

[radman12484]

It's too bad. She's one of the few Divas that can work a match. I am honestly looking forward to the Kharma/Beth Phoenix feud. That should be some solid stuff.

 

As far as WWE vs TNA, it's honestly not all that much better, IMO. There are some aspects of TNA that I really like, and some that annoy the hell out of me. I feel the same way about WWE. TNA does have guys like Roode, Storm, Aries, Angle, etc. that are pretty excellent and a bunch of really good promo guys. I do think that creative has improved a bunch there in the past few months. It does suck that they seemingly build toward TV with their PPV's, but WWE does the same thing sometimes. I certainly wish that the old guys that can't work like Hogan and Sting would just go away, but WWE just had Foley hobbling around in the Rumble and is going to have a broken Undertaker work a prime-slot match at Wrestlemania (and may have Foley in a match there, as well).

 

In my opinion, the gap between the two companies isn't as wide as some make it out to be. WWE isn't lighting the world on fire right now. Sure, they have Punk and Bryan as champs, but they don't even push them as main eventers. They did a champion vs champion match in the first hour of Raw. They are pretty much making a joke of Bryan in my opinion, and he's clearly just a transitional champ that is being booked with zero legitimacy. Punk is most likely just holding the belt for a while until Cena finishes up with Rock so they can put it back on him.

I agree 100% with everything you say here. As soon as Cena gets the belt back on RAW, you'll see the heels they have built up for months on Smackdown come over to RAW and get buried by him. I'm sure Ziggler is also one of those heels that will get buried as well.

 

I do agree about the point that TNA isn't that far behind WWE right now. They just need that one last push to get them over the top and be neck and neck with WWE. Whatever it is, I hope they find it soon.

[Nader Raider Tim]

I just wanted to add that this is one of my favorite threads on Brewerfan.net. Not because I am terribly interested in current WWE but this thread made me reminisce about the good old day watching WWE growing up as a kid.

 

When going back and googling around at early 90s-ish wrestling stuff I was amazed at how vividly I can remember how I felt during certain storylines. I remember being heartbroken when Tugboat turn on Hogan and became Typhoon. I remember how my hatred for the Million Dollar Man, and my joy when Virgil turned on him. Nothing compares to the hatred deep in my heart for the Undertaker.

 

Didn't want to divert the thread just wanted to say thanks for making me reminisce about the good days of wrestling.