The General Wrestling Thread

[Kuzzy Powers]

A condensed version of this week's RAW and infinitely more entertaining.

LOL is this done weekly? Theres literally no reason to ever watch Raw again.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

That Raw was bad. I thought that Vince's return would do something, but instead they ended it in the worst possible way. Looks like we are stuck with People Power until at least SummerSlam.

Also, am I the only one that is wondering what the writers have behind the pushes of all of the big men? They are really selling Big Show as a heel, Kane is knee deep in another "love" storyline and has a rare championship shot, and they've put a lot of effort into pushing Ryback, Tensai and Brodus Clay up through the ranks.

This is beyond hopeless right now.

 

[SuperKevin]

All of Albert's back hair turned into tattoos

 

[IamMedellin]

Raw's rating went from a 2.97 to a 3.24

apparently Vince McMahon is a big Draw

editr wait was this the 1st RAW w/o NBA playoff competition?

 

[Rayman]

lol if RAW were like that youtube vid, I'd watch every week.

 

[FedEx227]

Raw's rating went from a 2.97 to a 3.24

apparently Vince McMahon is a big Draw

editr wait was this the 1st RAW w/o NBA playoff competition?

Bingo.

But all credit will go to McMahon-A-Mania.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

A condensed version of this week's RAW and infinitely more entertaining.

Wow, this literally missed nothing.

This needs to come out weekly.

 

[Rayman]

In honor of Yankees/Barves.

http://www.wwe.com/videos/edge-christian-mock-the-atlanta-braves-raw-july-31-2000-26025488

 

[st lickem]

I thought the tensai sheamus match was very stiff and good. His best WWE match easily so far.

 

[IamMedellin]

PWTorch Livecast with Chris DeJoseph (a/k/a Big Dick Johnson)
Host: Wade Keller
Audio available at BlogtalkRadio.com.

DeJoseph on what it's like behind the scenes when Vince McMahon decides to appear on TV after an absence: "I think there were numerous times where that could be brought up in totally different ways," DeJoseph, also known on air as Big Dick Johnson, says. "Sometimes it could be a request from the writing team. For the most part Vince didn't like to be on TV if he didn't have to be. I'm just using my own judgment here; I think this might have something to do with - usually it's like the McMahon Million Dollar Mania, or now the three hour Raws - I'm wondering if it's some kind of play to make some kind crazy announcement to get ratings."

Did the writing team usually collaborate with him or did he just say "this is what I'm doing"? "There were lots of time where it was, 'We have this idea, we'd like to do it.' And he would be, like, 'Okay, that's great.' There were other times, for instance the Million Dollar thing, where he came to us with the idea and [that meant] we were doing it. (laughs)"

Does Vince care about storyline consistency?: "It would always be brought up. Logic would always be brought up, but sometimes it'd just be thrown right out the window. He'd sometimes say he couldn't even remember what happened three weeks ago, so how is the audience going to remember it? I think sometimes that was his thought…"

DeJoseph says the blame should be on Vince himself, and not the writing team, for the big gaps in logic, dropped storylines, and stream of aggravating contradictions. "I'm sure they're going to try or at least they've been pitching all week or they're going to try to explain something. I'm sure they have something in mind to explain it logically. If they don't that'll be interesting, too... It's a big promotional thing that's going to get eyeballs on this TV show and I think that's what he thinks [matters]."

Does it chip away at fans investing in the product? "Yeah, it sucks. [Fans have to be thinking,] 'Why should I invest my time and everything into this storyline when they're just going to sh-- on it without explanation.' I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that maybe they will on Monday. I don't know what they're going to do on Monday."

DeJoseph says the writing team cares even when Vince doesn't: "At least when I was there, and I'm sure it's still the same way, we would try to present every logical thing. We'd say we need to explain that, and whether it was ignored or we were told 'No, we f---in' don't,' that's the way it was... If not for Vince, the writers such as Michael Hayes, Ed Koskie, and Brian Gewirtz would try to make sense of their ideas, but with Vince "you're constantly dealing with switching and changing things.

"Sometimes it's even hard for yourself to keep up on everything. I think they would try for sure. I'm sure when they knew that Vince was coming back, it was probably one of the first things that came up - how in the hell are we going to explain why he's back. And then it was probably, like, 'Don't f---in' worry about it.' And they go, 'Okay.' I think the writing team wants what most fans want because, for the most part, they're all fans."

Another major Vince McMahon storyline was abandoned five years ago this month, when he appeared to die inside of his limousine when it exploded. Chris DeJoseph was part of the team who wrote that storyline. He reveals who came up the storyline, why it was created, and where it was headed before the Chris Benoit Family Tragedy caused the limo storyline to be immediately abandoned.

http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/wwe...orking_For_Vince_His_Disregard_For_Logic.html

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Does Vince care about storyline consistency?: "It would always be brought up. Logic would always be brought up, but sometimes it'd just be thrown right out the window. He'd sometimes say he couldn't even remember what happened three weeks ago, so how is the audience going to remember it? I think sometimes that was his thought…"

And that right there sums up why Vince is the dumbest (sometimes) billionaire of all time, and why he has left millions of dollars on the table.

 

[Aso]

I'm really enjoying TNA. Definitely 10x better than WWE. Not sure why people bag on it so much.

 

[Bigpapa42]

I'm really enjoying TNA. Definitely 10x better than WWE. Not sure why people bag on it so much.

Many of us could make a long list. But if you're enjoying it, enjoy it. That's really the only that matters when it comes to being a fan.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Back to our little discussion about TNA staying the course with James Storm and Bobby Roode...

I will say this...there is nothing offensive about either guy...but nothing exactly special either. Both have good looks, both can talk a bit, both can wrestling at an above average level...

I will also say this...after watching TNA tonight...I think they are doing something wise with James Storm. Had him beat that undefeated Crimson scrub...now its obvious they are going to push him to the moon with the Bound for Glory Series...it also seems obvious they'll keep both he and Roode apart until Bound for Glory, which means Roode as champ until Bound for Glory.

Neither guy may be "the man"...but that's a good little program right there, building up to that match.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Storm has to win that match, but the problem is I have no confidence that the booking team will go through with it. There is a lot of time for Hogan or Bischoff to think of something stupid to trick everybody with between now and then.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

That is what I am thinking...but TNA needs to stop trying to swerve...they need to just make good, predictable wrestling television...

Keeping Roode strapped and just running through the roster until Bound for Glory and having James Storm run through the Bound for Glory Series to meet Roode at Bound for Glory is predictable, but very good, logical booking.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

And that right there sums up why Vince is the dumbest (sometimes) billionaire of all time, and why he has left millions of dollars on the table.

He's quite content with what he has, I guess? Though I think, even taking the money that he's leaving off the table, that he would want to put out the best quality possible. That is what I don't get.

 

[Aso]

That is what I am thinking...but TNA needs to stop trying to swerve...they need to just make good, predictable wrestling television...

Keeping Roode strapped and just running through the roster until Bound for Glory and having James Storm run through the Bound for Glory Series to meet Roode at Bound for Glory is predictable, but very good, logical booking.

What about Austin Aires though? Of that choice that Hogan gave him I think it's obvious what he'll choose. He'd be a fool not to try for the World Heavyweight Championship.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

What about Austin Aires though? Of that choice that Hogan gave him I think it's obvious what he'll choose. He'd be a fool not to try for the World Heavyweight Championship.

I think TNA ran into a little bit of a "good problem" as Aries is the best guy in the company and, its only right for him to drop the title and move on to the upper half of the card. They don't want him to drop the title to a talent, but they'll have him drop the title and move on to face Roode, somehow lose, but in the midst...lose the X-Title and elevate him to the top half of the card.

Unfortunately, smart money says Aries beats Roode, but its just not Aries' time yet, unfortunately.

I would just have Aries hold the title for another year, but whatever.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Aries has successfully resurrected the X-Division title. That thing was D-E-A-D when he won it, being passed around like a cheap whore and being held by geeks like Eric Young and the Jersey Shore guy. Aries was just the latest one week geek, but he got himself over, and in the process elevated both himself and the title. The X-Division title means something again, and Aries is on the cusp of finally breaking through.

I was listening to some shitty radio show today on Sirius ('Busted Open' is what it's called, and its fucking terrible, all they do is talk about shitbox WWE nonsense, and not even in a good, analytic, interesting way), and the host actually made a good point. He said TNA, ever since Russo has been ousted, has really done a great job elevating the titles and making them important, much more so than the WWE titles which mean absolutely nothing. And it's true. Part of that is the fine work of guys like Aries, and great matches like the tag title match at Slammiversary, but the booking has been solid lately, too.

Let's hope TNA doesn't fuck this up. The momentum is good. The show has my attention.