What the hell is going on with Antonio Cesaro?

[Anybody Thrilla]

He was in straight beast mode for months, and now he's jobbing all over the place. As the United States champion, no less. He wasn't on Wrestlemania. He wasn't on Raw. What's the deal? Is there something I don't know about? What did he do to deserve this de-push?

[itsmeJD]

News sites reporting Vince McMahon is not high on Cesaro which could explain his Kofi Kingston like de-push.

[Keith]

A bad run after a push usually means something even bigger is coming up.

Who knows? I mean, in the grand scheme of things, it's not that bad. He's still US Champion.

[Bad News Gertner]

He's boring as all hell

[itsmeJD]

A bad run after a push usually means something even bigger is coming up.

Who knows? I mean, in the grand scheme of things, it's not that bad. He's still US Champion.

Tell that to Kofi...and 3MB...

[Keith]

He's got to show he's more than just the overplayed and typical heel foreigner who is anti-USA.

Somehow, he's got to prove he's got the charisma necessary in order to achieve more and go beyond his current status. He's got to take the necessary steps in order to kinda re-invent himself. If the don't open the door for you, bring it down.

Vince McMahon wasn't a fan of CM Punk's once upon a time, but things kinda turned out alright.

[Anybody Thrilla]

He's not really supposed to step outside of the gimmick they gave him, is he?

I love his ring work. Did he ever show charisma as Claudio Castagnoli? Does he have it in him? I never saw.

[Keith]

I don't know, man.

I'm just a positive dude.

"Optimistic" is my middle name.

Half-empty? Half-full, baby!

[ron the dial]

yes, yes he did. as the most money making man he had plenty of charisma. his whole "aaayyyyyy!" shtick was beautiful. still think he has charisma now, he's just saddled with a generic gimmick. and on top of that, he can literally work with any size guy to perfection. so why not push him?

[Anybody Thrilla]

I don't know, man.

I'm just a positive dude.

"Optimistic" is my middle name.

Half-empty? Half-full, baby!

I was optimistic when he was being pushed to the moon and being competitive with the top dogs. When he's not booked on the main show and they didn't even have him on Raw the next night (3MB, Truth, Santino, and Ryder all found their way onto the show), it makes me worry a bit as a realist.

[Keith]

Well, Dolph was on quite the losing streak.

We'll see.

[Anybody Thrilla]

At least Dolph was on TV. And at Wrestlemania.

[Bad News Gertner]

yes, yes he did. as the most money making man he had plenty of charisma. his whole "aaayyyyyy!" shtick was beautiful. still think he has charisma now, he's just saddled with a generic gimmick. and on top of that, he can literally work with any size guy to perfection. so why not push him?

He has horrific mic skills though

[ron the dial]

they are definitely not horrific. great? of course not. but that's part of his charm. it's not like you can't understand him. and it's not like he'll get any worse.

[ron the dial]

if that's your only reason for not pushing the guy, it's really weak.

[Bad News Gertner]

Mic skills mean more than wrestling skills, so not really.

[Shisen Kopf]

Workrate means more than mic skills home skillet

[ron the dial]

i wish i had as narrow a view of wrestling as you geniuses.

[Ruien]

Duh. Work rate is serious rassling.

[Ruien]

Mic skills is a pretty large aspect to lack for a main eventer.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Mic skills is a pretty large aspect to lack for a main eventer.

But Gertner says Ryback is main event material. Has he ever cut a great promo?

[Shisen Kopf]

What about Andre the Giant or Yokozuna? They were crap on the mic but they got huge pushes. Maybe b/c they were above average weight??

[Ruien]

He gets the crowd to chant louder than anyone else. If the crowd is into it then I have to say yes.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I bet Monday's crowd would have gone nuts for Cesaro.

....maybe that's why he wasn't booked.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Jeff Hardy has shit mic skills and he was/is a main eventer. What got him over? Oh yeah, what he can do in the ring.

[Bad News Gertner]

But Gertner says Ryback is main event material. Has he ever cut a great promo?

With Ryback's look all he has to be is average. Cesaro isn't even that.

[Ruien]

Basing it off the past 6 months really. Monday was not a promo for Ryback really. Has he ever cut a amazing one? Naw. But he keeps the crowd interested and that is what will, partly, propel him. Everyone sleeps when Cesaro gets on the mic.

[Bad News Gertner]

Jeff Hardy has shit mic skills and he was/is a main eventer. What got him over? Oh yeah, what he can do in the ring.

Jeff Hardy was also a once in a generation performer and was hugely over with women.

[Anybody Thrilla]

If Cesaro would have hit Cena with the Neutralizer on Monday, he would've outpopped DX.

[Ruien]

Look at the journey Jeff took to get into the main event too.

[Keith]

And all the drugs he took, as well.

[Bad News Gertner]

When Cesaro speaks he sounds like he's literally reading off a promo sheet. It's awful. He has zero change in his voice.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Jeff Hardy was also a once in a generation performer and was hugely over with women.

So there are other factors. I get that. You guys keep talking about his poor mic skills like that's what's holding him back. For one, there are ways around that, and for two, they're not even that bad.

You say he's boring, and it sounds like that's due to mic work for you. You can't shit on what he does in the ring. He's easily one of the most impressive and astute workers on the roster. Why do you feel the need to shit on him?

[Bad News Gertner]

If Cesaro would have hit Cena with the Neutralizer on Monday, he would've outpopped DX.

That crowd was literally a once in a decade crowd.

[Bad News Gertner]

So there are other factors. I get that. You guys keep talking about his poor mic skills like that's what's holding him back. For one, there are ways around that, and for two, they're not even that bad.

You say he's boring, and it sounds like that's due to mic work for you. You can't shit on what he does in the ring. He's easily one of the most impressive and astute workers on the roster. Why do you feel the need to shit on him?

So is Charlie Haas. Put the belt on him.

[ron the dial]

because he is an "indy darling" and that's gertner's gimmick

[ron the dial]

So is Charlie Haas. Put the belt on him.
who said to put the belt on him? assuming you mean THE belt.

[Anybody Thrilla]

That crowd was literally a once in a decade crowd.

I understand that. My point was that anybody could have gotten Ryback's reation last night.

[Bad News Gertner]

Ryback has been getting that for months

[Ruien]

Look at his reactions for the past 6 months.

[Bad News Gertner]

because he is an "indy darling" and that's gertner's gimmick

Cesaro actually had me interested when he debuted.....then he opened his mouth and that was it for me.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Ryback has been getting that for months

Look at his reactions for the past 6 months.

Ryback is a product of his push. He was shoved down peoples throats until it caught on. At first, all he got was "Goldberg" chants, and he still does sometimes to this day. He's never really done anything spectacular. It's all about what you're given to do. Remember Skip Sheffield on NXT?

[Anybody Thrilla]

Cesaro actually had me interested when he debuted.....then he opened his mouth and that was it for me.

As Asksana's rugby-playing boyfriend? Doubtful. I didn't even dig him then.

[Bad News Gertner]

He's lost pretty much every ppv match he's had and he's still very over. How was he shoved down peoples throats? He had no feud until September, wrestled in 2 minute squashes and never spoke and didn't fight for any titles. If anything he hasn't been pushed hard enough.

[Bad News Gertner]

As Asksana's rugby-playing boyfriend? Doubtful. I didn't even dig him then.

He had a decent look. Hell, Fandango has a dancing with the stars gimmick and is the talk of the wrestling world and people were going nuts here before he even debuted.

[Shisen Kopf]

I think to be great a rassler needs to rule in the ring and on the mic. That's why Bret Hart is best rassler ever. He was super awesome in the ring and cutting promos. Someone who was shit on the mic but great in the ring was "dogs are by the pool" Canadian murderer, forgot his name though.

[Anybody Thrilla]

He's built up as an incredible, unstoppable machine. That's easy to get behind. Only because he's booked that way. Mason Ryan could have been given his role and gotten a following, I bet.

[Bad News Gertner]

You know what I've never gotten about Ryback naysayers: they complain that no new talent is over or being developed and here comes Ryback who gets over and just because he's not a workrate king they shit on him.

[Bad News Gertner]

He's built up as an incredible, unstoppable machine. That's easy to get behind. Only because he's booked that way. Mason Ryan could have been given his role and gotten a following, I bet.

Mason Ryan is horrific in every which way.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I'm not even a Ryback naysayer. I'm just asking you to tell me what Ryback does so much better than Cesaro. There's room for more than one in the main event.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Mason Ryan is horrific in every which way.

Mason Ryan could pull off Ryback's move set. His look is impressive. His promo is probably lateral movement. I'm reminded of Batista all of a sudden, too. He wasn't even a good promo until he turned into a cocky douche.

[Bad News Gertner]

He's got a better look, sadly better on the mic, not as good a wrestler though. Cesaro isn't a main eventer, but I have no problem with him being upper-mid. People think just because you label a guy not a main eventer that it's a huge diss, but the problem with the company is there is a huge lack of a supporting cast and Cesaro slots in well. Just not in the main event.

[Bad News Gertner]

Mason Ryan could pull off Ryback's move set. His look is impressive. His promo is probably lateral movement. I'm reminded of Batista all of a sudden, too. He wasn't even a good promo until he turned into a cocky douche.

Ryan has almost Khali level stiffness. Ryan could get over. In a bodyguard role, but not on his own. He doesn't have Ryback's explosiveness, but then again, Ryback doesn't have Goldberg's either.

[Droford]

FWIW...saw a bunch of people wearing Cessaro's shirt at WM.

If the back of it wasnt terrible, the front of it is one of the better logos for a shirt they have.

[ron the dial]

i agree that he's not main event material right now. but that doesn't exclude him from working his way there over time.

[Anybody Thrilla]

He's boring as all hell

Somehow, this came off to me as you shitting on Cesaro.

[Bad News Gertner]

He's got to improve on his promo's. If he does than I have no problem moving him up.

[Anybody Thrilla]

i agree that he's not main event material right now. but that doesn't exclude him from working his way there over time.

And he still deserves TV time over Brodus Clay, I feel.

[Skippord]

Ryback is not better on the mic than Cesaro. Cesaro at least sounds like he has all of his chromosomes

[Skippord]

#CesaroMarkRybackH8er

[Bad News Gertner]

Somehow, this came off to me as you shitting on Cesaro.

Right now he is. His mic skills are holding him back and with his size he's the type that Vince would like.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Thing is, I never even mentioned him main eventing in this thread. I was just wondering where the hell he's been. He was a highlight of many Raws for me over the past few months, and his downplay has been quite noticeable to me.

[ron the dial]

And he still deserves TV time over Brodus Clay, I feel.
a million times over, yes.

[Malfeitor]

I still think Ryback's catchphrase is more over than he is.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I still think Ryback's catchphrase is more over than he is.

I think he should go back to "YUP YUP YUP...WHAT IT DO!"

[Bad News Gertner]

a million times over, yes.

Clay is in a comedy tag team going nowhere.

[Anybody Thrilla]

A team that still gets exposure.

[Skippord]

I would like to hear Ryback say in his intense Ryback voice "Yup Yup Yup, What it do"

Also I would like to hear Titus O'Neill's weird awkward make it a win speech again.

[Skippord]

I miss NXT :'(

[Bad News Gertner]

I need Rufus Pancake Patterson to return

[dronepool]

Paul Heyman likes him, so let's see what he can do in the next few months.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I need Rufus Pancake Patterson to return

I still have no idea what the point of that segment was, but I was entertained.

[Bad News Gertner]

Omg it was so random and people on 411mania just shit all over it, and I thought it was funny as hell.

[Juan]

I'd love to see a feud between Ceasaro and a returning Christian

[Droford]

Cessaro will win the WHC MITB match..or at least be on the short list of contenders..

[Shadrick]

I see Cody or Sandow winning it.

[Corporate CockSnogger]

There just aren't really that many midcard guys at the moment for him to do anything with without it getting repetitive. There's a bunch of lower and upper mid guys so they could bump someone up or down, but they're all a bit busy right now.

I wouldn't mind seeing him and Christian though, could probably get some big spots from them with Cesaro' strength and Chrisitans size and ability to bump.

[Keith]

I'd love to see a feud between Ceasaro and a returning Christian

Hmm, Christian.

I wonder if we get Dolph Ziggler vs Christian for the WHC at some point.

[Bad News Gertner]

That would make Christian a face and he's bland and dull as a face, so God no.

[MoFo]

lol, just read the Smackdown spoilers.

Why does he even still have the belt.

[wwe2222]

As someone who recently came around on him, I was there at Axxess when he was being interviewed for the few hundred people standing around the ring.

I was hoping he would show a little something extra since he wasnt on TV and didnt have to totally stay in character.

He was trying, but I thought he was pretty bad.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I love Antonio Cesaro, but there just wasn't room from him around WrestleMania time where it's basically the top stars and a few other guys. They will now give a babyface the chance to try and take the US Title off him, but probably keep him going over for a few weeks before he loses to a face that they think would make a great long-term opponent for Cesaro. Christian is actually a pretty good choice for that. They could also go with Sin Cara, given that Cesaro is one of the few guys that can work easily with Sin Cara.

[xREDxONxYOUx]

I don't care if his promos are weak, his in-ring skill makes up for it. If he can make me interested in a match with Brodus Clay or The Great Khali, he must be doing something right.

[Skippord]

xREDxONxYOUx makes a strong point

[Volare]

I don't care if his promos are weak, his in-ring skill makes up for it. If he can make me interested in a match with Brodus Clay or The Great Khali, he must be doing something right.

The only thing cared about in those matches is if Cesaro could actually pick them up without either Kahli or Clay "helping".

[Bad News Gertner]

Brodus Clay is more entertaining than Cesaro

[Poit]

He had a decent look. Hell, Fandango has a dancing with the stars gimmick and is the talk of the wrestling world and people were going nuts here before he even debuted.

I'd say that's not really comparable, since Fandango was already entertaining as Johnny Curtis.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Poit gains points merely for his avatar.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Brodus Clay is more entertaining than Cesaro

I find Tensai more entertaining than Brodus Clay.

[whiteyford]

Tensai was wasted on his return.

[Curd]

Maybe Cesaro has been obviously boinking Sara del Ray.

[Shadrick]

Tensai was wasted on his return.

some might argue that he didn't help his own cause

[Ruien]

Ehhh. They brought him in with a gimmick that related to almost no one.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Tensai's gimmick was out-dated it was not funny. Does anyone remember his motivation for doing things? No?

[Anybody Thrilla]

Tensai's gimmick was out-dated it was not funny. Does anyone remember his motivation for doing things? No?

As far as I could tell, he failed in America, moved to Japan, got really good there and tattooed his face, then he came back to finish what he already failed at. Sakamoto was to be blamed for all of his failures. For no good reason. Whatsoever.

[Skippord]

He should've wrestled in that sweet mask he wore to the ring

[XL]

Brodus Clay is more entertaining than Cesaro

Or, is Clay's gimmick more entertaining than Cesaro's gimmick?

[Mr. Nerfect]

As far as I could tell, he failed in America, moved to Japan, got really good there and tattooed his face, then he came back to finish what he already failed at. Sakamoto was to be blamed for all of his failures. For no good reason. Whatsoever.

Exactly this. How about a story where he chose to leave the WWE after he failed to defeat the likes of The Undertaker and Eddie Guerrero on the SmackDown brand and got injured, realizing that he needs to step things to the next level. He vowed to never return to the WWE until he was ready to be a World Champion.

There's history there of him competing against some top names. There's a reason he left and a reason he came back. And there's a mission. You don't bring him back and shove him right into the World Title picture, but you bring him back on Superstars and have him work his way up. Don't give him such out-dated finishers and let him use stuff like the De-Railer, a Vader Bomb and a Train Wreck for smaller opponents. If it looks like he's going to lose a match, he spits Mist in his opponents faces and then beats them to a pulp viciously -- giving people a reason to boo him. Not just because he's angry and speaks Japanese.

There was nothing actually wrong with Tensai himself, but his motivations and achievements were brushed over and he was shoved too far too quickly.

[NoRoolz]

Coming out of the TPWW woodwork to say that literally all the points each of you make, make sense. No-one's wrong it's all down to opinion... But to the casual wrestling fan/guy-who-watched-in-attitude-era-still-has-soft-spot-so-watches-a-couple-of-PPV's-a-year.... Ryback should be head and shoulders higher than Cesaro. He looks nuts, he's super intense, he's just a really credible monster. Goldberg, Batista, Lesnar... he's the current 'that guy' and after watching Mania and Rumble with a group of casual/twice a year wrestling fans they were all seriously into Ryback.

And Brodus Clay/Tensai would also generate more interest to casual viewer than Cesaro. The mid-card/lower card needs big comedy characters, unfortunate as it may be, and hard for some to accept actual in-ring talent as your shining quality means you'll take a long time to get over, and IMO correct push for Cesaro is the long and slow one. There's nothing wrong with being involved in healthy upper-midcard feuds with occasional IC/US title runs for next 5 years then once it's obvious that he's over and everyone's into him enough to push him to the next level.

The worst thing for Cesaro in terms of fans would be a main-event push now. He'd be another Jack Swagger, Miz, could even argue Del Rio. Where the majority of fans (not TPWW posters) are just like why the fuck is this guy champion? Crowd reactions mean by far the most, best judging stick really. And the 'this guys a good wrestler push him!' clearly doesn't do well on said stick. Del Rio gets a slight reaction largely thanks to his announcer. Miz is mildly over now, 4 years later and Swagger's only getting any heat cos of his new controversial, yet, has-to-be-short-lived gimmick.

Gotta stop kidding yourselves thinking that in-ring skill is the most important thing for main-event success. It's a few notches down. When you scrape the barrel for names who made it through in-ring-skill (and no, not Y2J, Punk, Angle, HBK etc - they made it through being 'the full package') you know suttin' up... the only guy I can think of in recent times is the man erased from all WWE memory. But even he just had *something* about him, extremely good ring skills and an intensity which turned out to be a little too much.

Total tangent to the original point of thread just throwing in some NR analysis and opinion not seen in some time on TPWW. Continue :kiss:

[Anybody Thrilla]

I would just like to see a great wrestling match close out a PPV, opposed to whatever that was that The Rock and John Cena did at Wrestlemania. Cesaro has a better probability than most of making a great match happen. I understand that's not exactly how it works, but a boy can dream, damn it. Even if his great matches aren't at the top of the card, I still wish they were...you know...on the card.

[Vastardikai]

I think Cesaro could be much more interesting if they stripped away some of the stupid shit and let him be himself. Some times, the over top theatrics and gimmicks work. Look no further than Fandango and the Undertaker. But other times, even the most out there made up story can't compare to the guy's real life.

I mean, does anyone remember the psychologically abused piano player gimmick? Do you remember who PLAYED that role? The guy came up with much of it himself, but it made little sense and was hard to follow. Eventually, they decided to retcon it in favor of the story of the guy growing up wanting to be a wrestler, even filming a video of himself jumping from the roof of his house, emulating Jimmy Snuka. The story of a guy who slept in his van after driving all night to chase his dream. The story of a guy who wrestled many barbaric contests and has the scars and missing ear to show for it.

Drop the yodeling, drop the rugby. He's simply a athletic guy from Switzerland, who was a member of the Swiss Army, made a name for himself wrestling all around the world, and incredibly strong for someone his size. Want to keep him a heel? Play up a vicious streak, using his power to brutalize people. The giant swing into the guard rail was perfect for this.

Will be an overnight sensation? No. Give him time and the ability to develop his own character, and he could be a big deal.

[Schlomey]

I've always found him boring. I really enjoyed his match with Jericho. Ill stick up for him and join the group who say its a shame he missed out on Wrestlemania. I understand why he was left off. His character is underdeveloped, he hasn't said or done anything of significance yet. And most importantly he's bland. Yes he can wrestle, well in fact, but look at the Wrestlemania line up....FULL of over the top characters and colorful personalities. He would have been a complete after thought....just like Barrett and Miz were on the pre-show.

He's a decent worker and I think he's got a future but he needs work and honestly I'm glad they are focusing on other young talent who already have their A game while Cesaro is still developing his WWE persona.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I thought Cesaro was flopping last year and then he just got this massive burst where he was working with top names and looking so credible against them. It's very possible that he could go back to that now that WrestleMania is done. SmackDown indicates that there might be a program coming with Kofi Kingston. I hope they don't give Kofi yet another mid-card title reign. Let them work to the best of their abilities and put Cesaro over cleanly and strong. Let Cesaro go over Christian and Sin Cara at the subsequent PPVs. Run Antonio Cesaro vs. Rey Mysterio at SummerSlam, providing that Rey is ready to go. It will be Cesaro's last stop before making it 365 days at United States Champion. Sin Cara helps Rey Mysterio win the championship there, making Mysterio the third modern Grand Slam Champion behind Edge and Big Show.

Then put Cesaro and Ohno together as The Masters of the Universe and let them have a massive reign as WWE Tag Team Champions.

[DangoFan]

Let's just hope that the yodeling thing is over.....what were they thinking?

[Mr. Nerfect]

The yodelling is completely harmless. He's annoying and gets him some cheap heat as he is beating up the babyface. The dude needs something that makes people care about him. Right now he's just a European dude who is pretty strong. It's an IWC thing to say this about all directionless heels, but he could really benefit from being a Paul Heyman guy. If he just continued being US Champion and occasionally appeared in CM Punk or Brock Lesnar's corner, he would garner far more attention than he currently is. Perhaps Kassius Ohno could join Heyman as well, and that can be the device which gets Cesaro & Ohno into tag team competition occasionally.

It's perfectly within Punk's character to want a group of people aligned with him. He tried to take over The New Breed back in ECW, and then he had the Straight-Edge Society. Then he stole the Nexus from Wade Barrett. In fact, the only thing Punk's character seems to really enjoy more than forming his own group is taking over already existing ones. Perhaps Heath Slater should look out. :shifty:

What's struck me about Cesaro in public appearances and such is how he doesn't really seem like his character. When Cesaro is performing, he seems quite bland and like he's not really doing much, but he's actually quite emersed in a character. Maybe he could alter his personality a bit and move away from bland heel into something else. Would a face turn against Jack Swagger work? It's hard to think of Cesaro as a babyface, since he plays such a stock heel at the moment, but all it would take is Cesaro to bump into Swagger backstage and Zeb Colter to say some nasty things about the Swiss and how Cesaro speaks six languages -- English, French, German, Swiss, Italian and Coward. Cesaro takes offense and attacks Swagger later in the evening and aims his anti-American shtick at the sort of Americans that Swagger and Colter are.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I love coming up with scenarios for this guy, since I think he's got a lot of potential.

How about Cesaro heads into Vickie Guerrero's office and demands to speak to Vince McMahon. Vickie and Brad Maddox want to know why but Cesaro refuses to say anything to anyone other than Vince. Eventually, Cesaro tracks down Vince McMahon and Cesaro asks him if he is insane. He left the greatest United States Champion of all-time off the biggest show of the year. Does he have any respect for America? Vince is getting more and more furious as Cesaro is speaking and Antonio tells him to "be quiet" when Vince goes to say something. A Cranky Vince then tells Cesaro that if he wants to compete so badly, he's got it. He's going out to defend the United States Championship tonight. And he won't get to know who his opponent is.

Cesaro goes out there, clearly upset at the turn of events. JBL says that he is both impressed with Cesaro's courage to approach Vince McMahon like that, but that it's possibly the stupidest thing you can ever do. Cesaro's opponent turns out to be Sheamus and the two have another one of their really good big man matches. Perhaps Cesaro can even do some things like hit a giant swing on Sheamus for a prolonged period of time. Eventually, just as it looks like Sheamus is about to win the US Title, Big Show attacks him causing the DQ. Big Show gives Sheamus a Chokeslam through the announce table or something. They announce Sheamus as the winner by disqualification, but still the United States Champion...Antonio Cesaro! *Crowd boos*

SmackDown has Cesaro & Big Show teaming up to face Orton & Sheamus. A miscommunication in that match between Orton & Sheamus allows Cesaro to roll-up Orton for the victory for his team. Vince McMahon makes a rare backstage SmackDown appearance and tells Cesaro that he shouldn't celebrate...not yet. At Extreme Rules Cesaro will defend the United States Championship in a Fatal 4 Way, against Randy Orton, Sheamus and The Big Show! And it will be an Elimination Match! Cesaro is none too happy about that at all.

The whole point of the match is that Cesaro is facing guys that are bigger than the US Title scene. The match sees everyone gang up on Big Show first, with Show fighting everyone off. Eventually they brawl to the floor and Big Show Chokeslams Cesaro through a table. JBL rights off Cesaro's chances of winning the match right there. Sheamus & Orton then work together and manage to hit some double-team moves on Big Show. Eventually Big Show goes to Chokeslam Orton, but it's countered into an RKO from The Viper. Big Show stires, however, so Sheamus nails him with a Brogue Kick while Show is on his knees. Sheamus then pins Show and he is the first man eliminated. Sheamus and Orton then battle. Eventually Cesaro finds himself in the mix again as JBL talks about what a great champion he is. They all go back and forth and hit some multi-man match spots. Sheamus goes for a Brogue Kick on Cesaro, but Cesaro dodges and Sheamus takes out Orton instead. Sheamus shrugs and goes to pin Orton, but Cesaro breaks it up, because he wants the glory of pinning the former nine-time World Champion. Cesaro pins Orton to eliminate him. Sheamus and Cesaro now fight it out and Sheamus gets Cesaro in a Texas Cloverleaf. Cesaro manages to use his power to get to the ropes and Sheamus is clearly impressed. As the referee is checking on Cesaro, Orton hops back into the ring and gives Sheamus an RKO however. Cesaro then realises what has happened, cranks his neck, then he hits Sheamus with a Neutralizer to retain the United States Championship.

On RAW, Cesaro has a big European celebration where he celebrates how he defeated three former World Champions at Extreme Rules. There are people in tuxedos and women in elegant dresses with guys bussing drinks around for them. Cesaro dubs himself "Simply the Best" and reminds us that he can beat any American. "One of a Kind" hits and Rob Van Dam makes his way out and Cesaro looks confused and agitated. RVD enters the ring and grabs a little bite from one of the food trays and goes to say something to Cesaro, but then just kicks him in the face. RVD attacks Cesaro as all Cesaro's guests stand around shocked. RVD hits a Five Star Frog Splash on Cesaro to close the segment.

Cesaro vs. RVD is signed for Payback in Chicago. In the meantime, Cesaro beats a few babyfaces in non-title bouts and cuts a few promos about how Payback will be his. Cesaro and RVD work the best match they can, and eventually Cesaro pins RVD cleanly with the Neutralizer, because RVD will probably remain over even without a championship.

[Curd]

Or maybe he stopped boinking Sara del Ray, and now she's causing political trouble, being in a fairly good position to do as a trainer.

[Wishbone]

I find Tensai more entertaining than Brodus Clay.

Tensai honestly does the Funkasaurus thing better than Brodus in my opinion. When they split them Sweet T should be the one to remain baby face and keep the gimmick.

[Anybody Thrilla]

:'(

[Bad News Gertner]

Heh

[Rollermacka]

I will say this, the yodeling has grown on me. They should find a way to have him yodel the Fandango theme song. (That would be a great heel tag team too)

[XL]

I find the yodelling hilarious.

[Anybody Thrilla]

How the fuck has the yodeling grown on anyone?

[scatterbrain28]

Absolutely nothing. He's a talented guy but they haven't done jack with they guy. No angles, no run-ins, not even hitting a guy with a chair and juicing him after the bell has rung. He comes in, does his squash match, he gets out.

[Vastardikai]

Absolutely nothing. He's a talented guy but they haven't done jack with they guy. No angles, no run-ins, not even hitting a guy with a chair and juicing him after the bell has rung. He comes in, does his squash match, he gets out.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vnsgodH2g2c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

No run-ins, what. so. ever... :shifty:

[The Snake]

What about Andre the Giant or Yokozuna? They were crap on the mic but they got huge pushes. Maybe b/c they were above average weight??

To be fair, Andre pre-dated television and was THE draw back in the territory days when seeing a man of that size was usually something left to Ringling Bros and the circus crowd. And in that venue you'd just see them do feets of strength, not actually beat the shit out of 2-3 other guys. There was no push needed. He set attendance records just for the chance to see him compete in person. If he'd started out in this era of television where you can flip the channel and see a 7 footer or a 400 lber in a variety of venues, well see The Great Khali.

People are kinda desensitized to the awe of it nowdays.

Edit: took out big show because he's got charisma and mic work when they give him the right angle.

[MIZantine Empire]

Perhaps wwe was seeing how he would react given a shit yodeling gimmick, and being jobbed out every week. Seems like they are going a different route with him now since he has seemingly taken this recent downfall in stride. Unless of course this leads to him getting destroyed by someone high profile

[XL]

Well he did lose to Orton this past week.

[MIZantine Empire]

Main event doesn't count!