Cole vs Jerry Lawler

[Jordan]

I just wanted to make some space to talk about this story WWE is running with Cole and Jerry Lawler. I feel like this is one the best feuds WWE has done in years, and maybe in the long run one of the best ever. It's been quite genius, starting with Michael Cole's transformation to a prick during the original NXT and feuding with Daniel Bryan. Aligning himself with The Mix and Alex Riley and seemingly the Anonymous Raw General Manger to become one of the most hated characters we have had in years.

WWE is smart to use other on screen personalties in productive ways, Michael Cole and Vicky Guerrero immediately come to mind. WWE has basically nixed the idea of "managers" but now seems to have something that works similar and gets the same affect, getting wrestlers over and getting heat. Cole's way of announcing the past year has helped get Daniel Bryan over (well, during their program at least now they are doing something different), The Miz and Alex Riley to name a few. Vicky Guerrero helped the already competent Dolph Ziggler seemingly come into his own and get over well for a first main event run. She also kept Edge relevant at a time when he was drying out big time.

Now, to Jerry The King Lawler... An interesting career would be a light way to put it. He has over a 100 different title reigns under his belt, has become a legendary color commentator, and now is blossoming as a wrestler once again. It's a huge risk at the start, but whoever's idea this was should be well paid. The King has been with us for YEARS, my whole coherent life more or less. He and JR were like family to me. So to take a guy in his 60's a put him in the ring if he can still go immediately plays to my heart and I and many others end up pulling for him and are tuning in to see what happens with The Miz, to see if maybe WWE would go so crazy as to give him a title run.

Does he deserve a WWE Title? No, not really. His legacy is complete and it was a good move to have The Miz go over at Elimination Chamber. However, we still have one more dream, to wrestle at Wrestlemania. And the choice that is made is quite genius. Because we are all tired of Cole and want to see him get his ass handed to him. I know Cole has been running the ropes and learning bumps at FCW (I hear he can nearly run the ropes for two hours without breaking a sweat or taking a swig of water). I am looking forward to a big stall-fest Memphis style Lawler/Kaufman match where Lawler is allowed to leave his last gift to the ring and show everybody what drama, heat, and anticipation can do to a match. It won't be about "wrestling" but I can easily see this being one of the most entertaining matches at Wrestlemania. I really feel like they can tap into that Kaufman/Lawler style of crowd reaction, I hope thats what they go for.

[Lara Emily]

Cole vs King is about the only thing I'm looking forward to at Mania. It's also the only feud that has had any long term build.

[ron the dial]

i've honestly enjoyed every second of it, and not just because michael cole has been the jam for a while now. lawler has more than held his own, and become more useful than he's been in a long time. not too long ago i was sick of hearing him every week, but they've given me a reason to care again and it worked. interested to see how this plays out heading into mania.

[Lara Emily]

I want a huge piledriver finish, followed by Cole selling it for several months after with a neckbrace.

[ron the dial]

the mental image of cole in a neckbrace and whining for months is tickling me insides right now oddly enough.

[Nicky Fives]

If it doesn't end with a Piledriver and Cole selling the injury with a neckbrace for the next couple of months, then I do not want to see the match.....

[Jordan]

Perfect!

[Providence Peep]

You can add me to the presumably long list of fans who are enjoying this angle... but am I the only person who was disgusted by Cole's reference to King's deceased mother? Sure, it was scripted, but it was also completely tasteless and unnecessary. And yeah, obviously Lawler was told about it beforehand, but why did he ever agree to it? In fact, I'm even more surprised and upset at the fact that somebody was low enough to even ask Lawler about mentioning his dead mother for a wrestling angle. I mean seriously, how the hell does something like this even get brought up during the planning process of a promo?!? If I didn't know better, I'd ask if the WWE has hired back Vince Russo.

[ron the dial]

or perhaps lawler offered the taunt up himself?

[Providence Peep]

or perhaps lawler offered the taunt up himself?

Yeah that's possible, but why? I mean, basically all Cole was saying was Lawler's mother was watching down from Heaven and was disappointed that Jerry didn't win the championship. Cole really didn't anything bad about her at all. But still, why go there at all? Why drag her into it in any way? It just felt cheap and unnecessary, to me.

[MoFo]

I agree w/ just about everything in this tread.....

Would never of imagined a feud between two announcers could be so weirdly entertaining.

[James Steele]

Cole vs King is about the only thing I'm looking forward to at Mania. It's also the only feud that has had any long term build.

Then quit watching and bitching about it. You act like such a bitter cunt on here that is getting to the point of being a gimmick.

[Lara Emily]

Then quit watching and bitching about it. You act like such a bitter cunt on here that is getting to the point of being a gimmick.

Oh fuck off. You're the last one to talk about gimmicks. I enjoy what I enjoy and I dislike what I dislike, I'm sure some matches are gonna be good at Mania but so far none of the feuds are interesting to me based on what's being set up. Maybe that'll change but going into Mania this is the only fued that has more than 1 month of build.

[James Steele]

No, I should be one of the first ones to talk about gimmicks since I have one of the best ones going.

[dronepool]

If Daniel Bryan wasn't the US Champ, I'd say King and Daniel Bryan vs Cole and Ted Dibiase

[Disco Apocalypse]

Hasn't Dibiase jobbed enough? And did you just swap Maryse for Cole?

:wtf:

[Rammsteinmad]

I wasn't really looking too forward to this match to be honest, but Jordan X's post has kinda put things in perspective, and yeah the match does make sense to me now.

Good job JX. :y:

[Rammsteinmad]

I know Cole has been running the ropes and learning bumps at FCW (I hear he can nearly run the ropes for two hours without breaking a sweat or taking a swig of water).

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Team Sheep]

You can add me to the presumably long list of fans who are enjoying this angle... but am I the only person who was disgusted by Cole's reference to King's deceased mother? Sure, it was scripted, but it was also completely tasteless and unnecessary. And yeah, obviously Lawler was told about it beforehand, but why did he ever agree to it? In fact, I'm even more surprised and upset at the fact that somebody was low enough to even ask Lawler about mentioning his dead mother for a wrestling angle. I mean seriously, how the hell does something like this even get brought up during the planning process of a promo?!? If I didn't know better, I'd ask if the WWE has hired back Vince Russo.

Jerry obviously loves the company enough to let them use it. Yes it's unfortunate that his mum died, but it adds good fuel to the feud, and Jerry obviously realised it would be some good material to use. He's obviously been in the business long enough to know his mother would be okay with it, and that she'd understand.

[RiX1024]

I'm looking forward for this match, I agree with the fact it's going to be like the Lawler/Kaufman match in Memphis. I'm interested to see how this feud develops from now.

[Rammsteinmad]

And so in true, internet fan fasion, Michael Cole goes from that 'annoying guy nobody gives a shit about' to being in 'one of the most interesting feuds in the last few years'.

[ron the dial]

or perhaps he's actually been booked well and we've been given a reason to be interested in what he has to offer? maybe?

[Volare]

I wonder what Cole's theme will be. Hell, give him massive amounts of pyro for his entrance. I wouldn't be surprised though if A-Ri gets involved in this a bit, since Miz, Riley, and Cole are butt buddies.

[parkmania]

I wonder what Cole's theme will be. Hell, give him massive amounts of pyro for his entrance. I wouldn't be surprised though if A-Ri gets involved in this a bit, since Miz, Riley, and Cole are butt buddies.

We've got several choices:

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[addy2hotty]

Of course Jerry was ok with the mention of his mother. The man knows the business, it was heavily mentioned last week and at Elimination Chamber and was a perfect way to continue the feud and heat things up.

Fucks sake, they gave Lawler the night off on the last Raw before a PPV where he had a world title match. Hardly unfeeling. And it's not like Cole actually MEANT what he said. It's all part of the build to the biggest night of their careers.

Then again, I was one of those people that laughed at The Big Show chasing after his fathers 'coffin' being dragged by a speeding car.

[Impeccable]

At least Lawlers mother didn't get the Katie Vick treatment...yet :shifty:

[jskinnyg]

Of course Jerry was ok with the mention of his mother. The man knows the business, it was heavily mentioned last week and at Elimination Chamber and was a perfect way to continue the feud and heat things up.

Fucks sake, they gave Lawler the night off on the last Raw before a PPV where he had a world title match. Hardly unfeeling. And it's not like Cole actually MEANT what he said. It's all part of the build to the biggest night of their careers.

Then again, I was one of those people that laughed at The Big Show chasing after his fathers 'coffin' being dragged by a speeding car.

My thoughts exactly... :yes:

[Londoner]

Cole vs King is about the only thing I'm looking forward to at Mania. It's also the only feud that has had any long term build.

I can see why people give you so much shit around here. :nono: Only thing you're looking forward to?? Really?!

[Lara Emily]

I can see why people give you so much shit around here. :nono: Only thing you're looking forward to?? Really?!

On a storyline basis as of today absolutely. (Could change by Mania though there's still time for some build)

Edge/Del Rio has no story other then I want your title

Punk/Orton should be good cause of Punk but Orton is so dull right now I can't really get too excited

Cena/Miz I don't get excited about anything with Cena in it.

Barrett/Show: It's such a downgrade for Barrett that it's too depressing to get excited about.

Taker/HHH: They better figure out something quick, 2-22-11 was totally lame

There is literally no matches that I have any emotional investment in other than Cole/Lawler, it's the only one with any sort of actual story.

Look just because I say that all I'm looking forward to doesn't mean I think the the show is going to suck. It just means I'm not hyped up for any of the other matches yet, I'm sure some of them are going to be good but none of them scream OMG I want to see that for me right now except the idea of King destroying Cole and Piledriving him

[Mr. Nerfect]

I get what you are saying, Lara, but I think things are really starting to get moving now:

* Edge/Del Rio will probably have Christian involved in some way. That's always awesome. Del Rio has a rocket strapped to his back, and to be honest, I don't think they need much more story beyond "I want your title."

* I get what you are saying about Punk/Orton, but I also feel that Punk will make this a must-see feud. The way he brought up 2008? Priceless. If you ask some, then this actually has years and years of story behind it. I'm going to be bummed out when Punk eats an RKO at WrestleMania, though.

* Cena has been impressing me for half a year now. I mean, the guy's always had talent, and I do think there still needs to be a shift in his character, but his feuds with Nexus and now The Miz have been refreshing. Especially with The Rock involved, and Cena busting out his old gimmick to take The Rock to task. The Miz seems like a top star even though he's lost to Jerry Lawler in like ten non-title situations this year.

* Barrett/Show I agree with. I just couldn't care.

* Taker/Triple H could be made or broken on Triple H's promo work. If the story is that he's come back from injury because he wants the glory of being the guy to end the fabled streak -- awesome. They can put years and years of tension into this storyline. The last time they really feuded, in my memory, was 2001 -- ten years ago. I think the story there was "I've beaten everyone!" "I don't think so." So simple, but it works. And now, a decade later, both men are still around, have built up separate dynasties, and get to now contest them against each other again. If they can somehow bring Shawn Michaels into the feud, without making it about him, that would be brilliant, as well.

Michael Cole vs. Jerry Lawler does have me pretty intrigued, though. That segment on RAW was amazing.

[Mr. Nerfect]

You can add me to the presumably long list of fans who are enjoying this angle... but am I the only person who was disgusted by Cole's reference to King's deceased mother? Sure, it was scripted, but it was also completely tasteless and unnecessary. And yeah, obviously Lawler was told about it beforehand, but why did he ever agree to it? In fact, I'm even more surprised and upset at the fact that somebody was low enough to even ask Lawler about mentioning his dead mother for a wrestling angle. I mean seriously, how the hell does something like this even get brought up during the planning process of a promo?!? If I didn't know better, I'd ask if the WWE has hired back Vince Russo.

Because Jerry Lawler knows a few things about this business. This is the guy who struck Andy Kaufman on Letterman. He understands that Cole being the slimiest, most annoying heel on the planet is what his match at WrestleMania thrives on. He knows that Cole is essentially a civilian, so if he beats him up -- he's a bully. Cole has to really earn what he has coming. King understands that even though the passing of his mother obviously deeply upsets him, that it's something a bad guy could exploit to get at him.

Lawler is a trooper who is pouring everything he has into his first WrestleMania program. It's taken King so long to get there, in an active competitor role, and it's also going to be the biggest thing Michael Cole has ever done, too. They're really trying to show how much it means to them.

It should say something that I think Jerry Lawler has become a ridiculous boring commentator, but I am still marking out for him in this feud. It should also say something to the build that I wanted nothing more than for King to punch Michael Cole in the mouth on RAW. I was completely baited. That is building a WrestleMania match.

[Mr. Nerfect]

And also, Michael Cole MUST have a titantron at WrestleMania, and I do suggest something like the first one posted in here.