DISCUSSION - The WWE is dead, unless they can do one or both of the following:

[Heyman]

DISCUSSION - The WWE is dead, unless they can do one or both of the following:

1) Give Cesaro the push that Roman Reigns got last year (and give Cesaro back his Jack Swagger 'Patriot' theme, along with Cesaro doing that airplane move more often).


2) Do whatever they can do bring CM Punk back.




Cesaro and Punk are literally the only two guys in wrestling that can save the company right now. Lesnar is the 3rd guy, but his infrequent appearances/contract will prevent him in being 'that guy.'

[ron the dial]

please provide reasons why these things are true.

[Heyman]

please provide reasons why these things are true.



Unfortunately, I cannot.


I've only watched the WWE a handful of times since 2013.


CM Punk would give the company a much needed jolt in the arm, and so that's that.


Cesaro actually is way over with the fans, but Vince hasn't bought into him for whatever reason.

[ron the dial]

if you have not really watched since 2013, how can anyone view your opinion as valid? i'm not saying either of those things wouldn't help in some way, but it's just a bit far fetched to say they are the only things that could save the company at this point. the problem is much bigger than pushing one guy and bringing back another.

[Lock Jaw]

The Ryback is more over than Cesaro

[Lock Jaw]

So is the Dolph Ziggler.

[Lock Jaw]

And a number of others.

[Ultra Mantis]

They gave Fandango his music back and he's still a jobber on shows nobody watches. There is no hope.

[Heyman]

The Ryback is more over than Cesaro



That's pretty cool if that's the case.


Do you think the fans would get behind a Ryback main-event push? (i.e. Ryback possibly going over Rollins or Lesnar at Mania to win the title?).

[Heyman]

if you have not really watched since 2013, how can anyone view your opinion as valid?


Because Jim Ross sucked my dick without a condom. That's why my opinion is fucking valid.

[Ruien]

That's pretty cool if that's the case.


Do you think the fans would get behind a Ryback main-event push? (i.e. Ryback possibly going over Rollins or Lesnar at Mania to win the title?).

Hell yes. Even after being booked shitty for an eternity he is still over as majority of the roster. Who else can get a loud fan chant going g whenever they want?

[Heyman]

Think the WWE will push him, or will they try and re-push Roman Reigns again? It seems like the WWE are a bit short on the main-event face department.

[Fignuts]

That's pretty cool if that's the case.


Do you think the fans would get behind a Ryback main-event push? (i.e. Ryback possibly going over Rollins or Lesnar at Mania to win the title?).

Ryback can definitely get to the top just fine. The question is how long can he stay there. He has all the tools to get the fans behind him, and reach the main event, but what then? Talk about another self help book he read from the lifetime channel?

He hasn't shown me anything characterwise, that makes me believe he can sustain a run at the top.

[Ruien]

Think the WWE will push him, or will they try and re-push Roman Reigns again? It seems like the WWE are a bit short on the main-event face department.

Not for awhile. Brock is still the huge draw and he is a face. After that you have Roman Reigns. Ryback may get a title shot at a throw away ppv but that is it in the near future.

[Heyman]

WWE seem to be in a tough spot. Lesnar is a huge draw no doubt, but appears so rarely. The fans don't seem to have embraced Reigns as a main-event guy. At some point, you have to do something. Cena and Orton have been around forever and so I don't think the fans would really get behind them. WWE don't see Ziggler or Ambrose as being on that level, while Bryan's career is in jeopardy.

[Heyman]

Ryback can definitely get to the top just fine. The question is how long can he stay there. He has all the tools to get the fans behind him, and reach the main event, but what then? Talk about another self help book he read from the lifetime channel?

He hasn't shown me anything characterwise, that makes me believe he can sustain a run at the top.



Good point. That's how I always viewed Ryback as well. That's why I figure that if the WWE ever had a chance of reviving their brand, you either have to push a guy like Cesaro or do the unthinkable and beg Punk to come back.

[ron the dial]

the only way punk coming back matters businesswise is if he has created a bigger name for himself outside of wrestling. otherwise his return brings in no new viewers and doesn't matter much in the big picture.

[Heyman]

the only way punk coming back matters businesswise is if he has created a bigger name for himself outside of wrestling. otherwise his return brings in no new viewers and doesn't matter much in the big picture.



True.


p.s.____________I know this has been about 7-8 years in the making, but is turning Cena heel even an option anymore? (i.e. eventually get Rollins out of the Authority and make Cena the Authority's guy).


Heel Cena can feud with a face Rollins, Lesnar, Orton (feud would be somewhat fresh since Cena would be the heel), Ryback, Cesaro, Roman Reigns, Ziggler, etc.


Hell - even turn Bray Wyatt face and have him "stalk" Cena and the Authority.

[Simple Fan]

Punk could stay gone, if he did return to wrestling I'd see him going to ROH over WWE.

[Ruien]

Ryback can definitely get to the top just fine. The question is how long can he stay there. He has all the tools to get the fans behind him, and reach the main event, but what then? Talk about another self help book he read from the lifetime channel?

He hasn't shown me anything characterwise, that makes me believe he can sustain a run at the top.

Good point. That's how I always viewed Ryback as well. That's why I figure that if the WWE ever had a chance of reviving their brand, you either have to push a guy like Cesaro or do the unthinkable and beg Punk to come back.


That is all character development though. Ryback is able to be over despite having almost no character for his entire WWE career. This is out of his control but does not mean he does not have the tools to sustain a run at the top. This is also why most people can't sustain a run at the top. Ziggler is an internet darling but what does he have going for him character wise? Lana is more interesting than he is (Who I hope ends back up with Rusev when its all said and done). Seriously, get Summer far away from Rusev.

[Emperor Smeat]

Wouldn't say the WWE is close to dead regardless of Ceasro's push status or bring back Punk but they are becoming a lot closer to niche status because of a lot of questionable stuff in recent years.

Between clinging on to the Cena era for far too long and the horrible booking in general, probably not going to see another boom any time soon regardless who is the star of the next major era. Then you have stuff like their botched handling of the WWE Network in general and new tv deals which ended up hurting them more than it should have.

Ratings-wise, they pretty much lost out on almost all of the relapse fans The Rock brought back and a huge bulk that was behind Bryan's rise last year. Booking decisions and the WWE being really stubborn were the big reasons why both groups left.

[Blonde Moment]

The Wwe isn't close to being dead but they need to change with the times and reivent themselves again. They need to use the network more to try new things out to see if it will work elsewhere. Why not try a 2hr/wk show dedicated to female wrestlers where they are given the same time as men to tell their stories in the ring while giving a little insight on their lives outside the ring (say 60/40 wrestling/filler). What about a WWe cribs or a show where wrestlers get a chance to show their other talents.

[Ruien]

Not that I agree with the Diva idea because there is already Total Divas but making new shows on the Network is a wonderful idea. The shows that get nice ratings (or clicks) can be sold to other Networks.

[Blonde Moment]

Not that I agree with the Diva idea because there is already Total Divas but making new shows on the Network is a wonderful idea. The shows that get nice ratings (or clicks) can be sold to other Networks.

I just want to the womens division get a chance to shine and show what they have and the network would be a way to do that rather than 3 min a week on raw and smackdown

[DAMN iNATOR]

I hear what you're saying, but unfortunately, right now, that seems to be a pretty hard sell to make the creative team/writers/Vince/Steph/HHH/any of the other powers that be in the company, give more than 1/64th of a fuck about the Women's division. It's a shame, but, unfortunately, I don't see it changing anytime soon.

[Blonde Moment]

Maybe they just can't think of a name for a show that doesn't sound silly. In any case, they would be well served to use the network to test out some alternative ideas to see if anything sticks. Hell buy the rights to show Lucha underground on the network, do what Jarrett is doing except do it better....

[Mr. Nerfect]

Cesaro's odd booking was one of the biggest wrestling blunders of 2014, but he seems to be organically gaining some steam now. He needs to work on connecting his gimmick to the masses though. I think where the WWE went wrong was not pushing him credibly based on just how good he is though. They started to do that and it was working, but then he started losing like every match.

Cesaro is like the Jason Statham of WWE. He just needs to go out there and do what he does well and the announcers need to be like "By gawd, doesn't Cesaro do that well?" It seems they are going this route now, and Cesaro is actually starting to get some chants going when he wrestles.

The bonus of pushing a guy like Cesaro is that he always makes his opponents look great too. Ryback doesn't have that touch yet. I've become more and more of a fan of him, but I like him in his current spot. It seems to be making him better and better.

I'd actually have Ryback forfeit the IC Title and have it held up in a Triple Threat between Big Show, Miz and Cesaro at Battleground. How does he get in? Lana is impressed by Cesaro being the second man to ever pin Rusev (well, third if you count Ziggler in NXT), and she wants to enter a "business relationship" with The King of Swing. Cesaro hits The Neutralizer on Big Show, but Miz breaks it up and tries to pin Cesaro, but gets caught in the Crossface and taps out. Cesaro keeps the spirit of "fighting champion" alive, and he beats The Miz, Big Show and even Rusev in IC Title matches in the coming weeks.

SummerSlam sees Ziggler vs. Rusev added to the card, with Cesaro defending the Intercontinental Championship against the greatest IC Champion of all-time -- Chris Jericho -- a challenge Cesaro makes to prove himself. Cesaro beats Jericho with his own version of the Liontamer, and Rusev beats Ziggler when Lana throws the towel in out of a concern for Ziggler's safety.

This starts Dolph on a "Don't you believe in me?" trajectory. I mean, he and Lana have horrible chemistry. Basically, Lana's personal relationship with Ziggler is a liability out there, whilst her professional relationship with Cesaro is flourishing. Cesaro stands up for Lana whilst Dolph is angsting on her one night, and Dolph makes the challenge for the IC Championship. Lana doesn't want the match to happen, but Cesaro accepts. Lana is announced as the Special Guest Referee for the match.

Meanwhile, Ryback takes some time off to re-generate his character a bit, and eventually comes back to get involved in the IC Title scene along with Rusev.

[ron the dial]

cesaro needs to bring back the "EYYYYYYYY" thing he did on the indies. he'll bust it out sparingly, but he needs to do it more. it's fun, and it's something with a bit of personality and crowd interaction.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I was thinking that the other day. People like frivolous, fun little things like that.