CM Punk removed from all live events

[Swiss Ultimate]

Originally Posted by CSL you mean a poll conducted on the internet where disgruntled "internet fans" are much more likely to vote than pretty much any other demographic? Iron clad proof right there. A Facebook poll nonetheless.

But did it make money? And is the buzz helping it make more money? At the end of the day, I think the PPV was successful because it created such a visceral and emotional reaction.


*Rog, those are fair points, but I still think the comparison is apt. It's not as if I was comparing the return of someone like Maven to the epic(ly disappointing) return of the nWo. Batista was a multiple-time former Champion, had memorable feuds with Cena and Mysterio, had Hollywood exposure that the WWE has ALWAYS been keen on and he still looks like a badass. I imagine a lot of fans were pretty excited about his return and it would make sense for the character to play an important role at both the Rumble and Mania.

I will say that when the nWo returned, I think it was far too late. If not for them running out their contracts it would have been so much easier to capitalize earlier. If not for my love of Scott Hall and my hopes for a nWo return that would recreate the circumstances of the original angle I probably would have panned it altogether. The best thing that came from it, was the return of baby-face Hogan and The Rock's heel turn (their match as well) and I detest Hogan.

So if Batista's initially well-received return isn't as momentous as the return of the nWo I concede the point, but it's sure does bring back memories.

[The Rogerer]

Batista's Hollywood exposure doesn't exist yet. The marketing drive hasn't really started for GotG yet, never mind it's not out until August and it's not like people are anticipating it like The Avengers. At present he's got no Hollywood appeal - are they so desperate to have him there when the time comes that they'll send him to the top spot 7 months in advance to keep him happy when he generates a bit of interest for playing third billing in a summer blockbuster. That also assumes that the audience likes him.

The nWo returning wasn't great, but it was still a once in a lifetime opportunity that people had actively dreamed about at one point. That is not Batista in the WM main event by any stretch of the imagination. Also, nWo was quite a unique thing, and came into a product that was pretty diverse and full of new sights- Chris Jericho was main eventing wrestlemania . This is a shit retread of the Rock's return which happened an exhausting two times in a row. Something not great happens twice and then you follow it up with the same thing for a third time, only even worse?

[Swiss Ultimate]

Originally Posted by The Rogerer are they so desperate to have him there when the time comes that they'll send him to the top spot 7 months in advance to keep him happy when he generates a bit of interest for playing third billing in a summer blockbuster. That also assumes that the audience likes him. The nWo returning wasn't great, but it was still a once in a lifetime opportunity that people had actively dreamed about at one point. That is not Batista in the WM main event by any stretch of the imagination. Also, nWo was quite a unique thing, and came into a product that was pretty diverse and full of new sights- Chris Jericho was main eventing wrestlemania . This is a shit retread of the Rock's return which happened an exhausting two times in a row. Something not great happens twice and then you follow it up with the same thing for a third time, only even worse?

I think so. Yeah, pretty much all of this.