Even The Rock can't draw these days

[Warner2BruceTD]

WWE released preliminary estimates of 280,000 buys for the Survivor Series pay-per-view. The buys are up from the 244,000 buys for the event in 2010 and 235,000 buys in 2009.

He meant next to nothing. Sure, the number was up slightly, but then you have to be fair and credit CM Punk for MITB being up 7% or whatever it was after "the promo".

If you recall in April, I had the feeling that he didn't really help the WrestleMania number all that much despite what others were saying. WrestleMania sells itself, and whatever Undertaker match they come up with is really all that matters otherwise.

Seven years. My feeling is the kids who are watching now don't remember him and don't really care about him, and his old fans simply didn't give a shit and have largely moved on. His lame promos certainly didn't turn the trick.

The question now, is will The Rock vs. John Cena still be a huge difference making draw at WrestleMania? I say no, and I still say the Undertaker match is still the bigger potential dial mover.

The finish of last year's Undertaker/HHH match suggests a rematch, but I think they should move on to something else (not Kane). HHH has cooled of considerably after the Kevin Nash flop.

I'd go with Mark Henry. He'd be a credible threat to end the streak due to the nature of his push, and they could just ignore the first match like they did with HHH. The problem, is you have the great match standard to live up to, and there is no fucking way they have a great match.

The other match you could do is Undertaker vs. Daniel Bryan. Bryan loses a hard spirited match, shows great fight, and has his first WWE epic match. Undertaker helps him up and shows him respect in defeat, putting him over stronger than any win ever could.

Anyway, i'm drifting here. Rock kinda bombed. Discuss.

[dave]

The Rock performed admirably for a guy who hadn't stepped in a ring for 7 years, but everyone knows his re-appearance in the WWE isn't sincere.
I thought the WWE was stupid putting him in the Survivor Series. If anything, the WWE weakened/devalued Wrestlemania with that stupid move.
Rock fans got their look at him in the Survivor Series, why pay for Wrestlemania?

I don't blame The Rock for abandoning the WWE for full-time acting, but to pretend he's WWE again is just too fake.

[IamMedellin]

i remember hearing that Punk's impact this was downplayed by the WWE higher ups b/c the MITB buy rate was ONLY up about 7%...

wonder what the spin on this will be...
and is Cena subtly turning heel?

its gonna be taker/HHH, the Nash fued was perplexing and unwanted, yet still went thru.....just like the last time.

[Warner2BruceTD]

The Rock performed admirably for a guy who hadn't stepped in a ring for 7 years, but everyone knows his re-appearance in the WWE isn't sincere.
I thought the WWE was stupid putting him in the Survivor Series. If anything, the WWE weakened/devalued Wrestlemania with that stupid move.
Rock fans got their look at him in the Survivor Series, why pay for Wrestlemania?

I don't blame The Rock for abandoning the WWE for full-time acting, but to pretend he's WWE again is just too fake.

Good point.

Rock did a promo on RAW right around WM saying he was "never leaving again!", the proceeded to disappear for months.

Nobody is buying the idea that he is "back".

It's the old Jim Cornette rule...the babyface should never lie.

[Warner2BruceTD]

I think they will do Taker/HHH too, but I think it's a mistake and won't add any buys.

[dave]

I think they will do Taker/HHH too, but I think it's a mistake and won't add any buys.

I have never been a HHH fan, I find his style boring, blah, blah, blah ... but it's hard to deny his overall career success.

That said, who would you suggest for The Undertaker at WM Warner?

[Warner2BruceTD]

I have never been a HHH fan, I find his style boring, blah, blah, blah ... but it's hard to deny his overall career success.

That said, who would you suggest for The Undertaker at WM Warner?

lol, c'mon dave did you even read the OP?

I'd go with Mark Henry. He'd be a credible threat to end the streak due to the nature of his push, and they could just ignore the first match like they did with HHH. The problem, is you have the great match standard to live up to, and there is no fucking way they have a great match.

The other match you could do is Undertaker vs. Daniel Bryan. Bryan loses a hard spirited match, shows great fight, and has his first WWE epic match. Undertaker helps him up and shows him respect in defeat, putting him over stronger than any win ever could.

[EmpireWF]

No Taker match against any full-time guy will add any significant buys. Unless they throw a shitload of money at Michaels to come back which they won't, nor should they....I don't want to see another match with HHH just because I was happy with last years and there's no reason to do another. And god help that fucker if he beats him, too.


They sure didn't help matters re: Survivor Series with the absolutely shitty build up to it. The show was built around Rock & Cena teaming against a couple of jobbers.

I think WM will at the very least break a million buys and if they get into their usual cycle of good writing in the main event scene leading to WM, they should break last years mark (which was under 1.1 million worldwide).

Rock on TV for however many weeks talking shit with Cena leading to an actual 1-on-1 match will do fine.

[dave]

lol, c'mon dave did you even read the OP?

Sorry, I didn't.
Just read it now.
I don't think Mark Henry vs. Undertaker would draw much now thanks to what's happened over the past few weeks.

But I like what Mark Henry has done this year. Amazing. Totally turned his career around.

Daniel Bryan??? No. Unless Undertaker is willing to do business. I don't see that happening.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Isn't it about time Undertaker starts putting people over, though? How many of these matches does he have left?

I'm not even suggesting Bryan wins. You can put Bryan over, make him a true star, and keep the streak alive, all at the same time.

Doesn't even have to be Bryan, but he's the best choice for something like this IMO.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Remember, the match that got Bryan over in the first place was a loss to Jericho on NXT.

[dave]

Isn't it about time Undertaker starts putting people over, though? How many of these matches does he have left?

I'm not even suggesting Bryan wins. You can put Bryan over, make him a true star, and keep the streak alive, all at the same time.

Doesn't even have to be Bryan, but he's the best choice for something like this IMO.

It's just my opinion, but the only true way Bryan gets over is him winning outright and saying after the match "I am Bryan Danielson, not Daniel Bryan!"
It would be the WM CM Punk moment.

Remember, the match that got Bryan over in the first place was a loss to Jericho on NXT.

I agree, that match was fucking awesome.

[EmpireWF]

Isn't it about time Undertaker starts putting people over, though? How many of these matches does he have left?

I'm not even suggesting Bryan wins. You can put Bryan over, make him a true star, and keep the streak alive, all at the same time.

Doesn't even have to be Bryan, but he's the best choice for something like this IMO.

Who is Taker suppose to put over at WM? No way they'd have Bryan put over or Taker volunteers for that this year. Although it would be one hell of a fucking swerve (Taker comes back, wins the Rumble or Elimination Chamber....challenges Bryan at WM and actually loses. It'd be a HUGE deal if done well).

I could see it for someone like Orton but he doesn't need it. I could see it for a heel Sheamus (I'm big on him) but he's their big midcard babyface now.

They really don't have any big heels who can do it in credible fashion.

Remember, the match that got Bryan over in the first place was a loss to Jericho on NXT.

Did that really get him over? It was a 6-7 minute match on the NXT premiere. I don't even know if there is one singular event that did it for him. Certainly wasnt Cole ragging on him from day 1.



I was thinking they could finally unify the two big belts at WM between Punk & Danielson. Only problem is that match should not be second from the top, which it would be with Rock/Cena.

Besides, who the hell is Punk going to defend against? I hope it's not Miz and it can't be Orton or ADR. Unless Stone Cold finally decides to return, but I'll assume he's busy with whatever film he's doing.

[EmpireWF]

It's just my opinion, but the only true way Bryan gets over is him winning outright and saying after the match "I am Bryan Danielson, not Daniel Bryan!"
It would be the WM CM Punk moment.

Better shot of them hiring Abdullah for a first blood match.

[IamMedellin]

Besides, who the hell is Punk going to defend against? I hope it's not Miz and it can't be Orton or ADR. Unless Stone Cold finally decides to return, but I'll assume he's busy with whatever film he's doing.

Punk/Jericho for the WWE title