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#1121 | |
Father of Hinduship
Posts: 21,083
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You know, it's crazy. Had it not been for CM Punk leaving the WWE last year, I think the whole Daniel Bryan/Sheamus rumors for Wrestlemania would have actually come to fruition. ![]() Batista and Orton would have been your main-event. The XFL + WWE Network + ????? I'm starting to wonder if Vince is really as smart as people make him out to be. Time will tell..........if it hasn't already. |
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#1122 |
Posts: 61,558
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Wow, are people actually cancelling their subscriptions over this? I'm actually greatly entertained by that. People say "if you don't like it, stop watching" and have used PPV buys in the past to pinpoint whether or not something works, but often people would purchase PPVs expecting them to be good, or not purchase because they have low expectations and then the blame is misplaced on a fresh concept not working. Now the Network almost allows a direct gauge to whether or not people are engaged in what they have seen; and with the WWE so dependent on it, they will be forced to listen.
Personally, I was deflated after the Royal Rumble. I don't usually say these things, but I could not give a fuck about WrestleMania right now. Lesnar vs. Reigns? No interest. Rusev vs. Cena? No interest. You can call me a smark if you want; but I have been watching wrestling for fourteen years now. I'm allowed to have my own taste, and something about what the WWE has been offering lately has just put me off. Bryan winning was the best option. It makes the most storyline sense, and it would have provided the best match. It just wasn't meant to be Reigns' year. He's been produced and marketed to be this next big thing, but it feels phony, artificial and it isn't clicking. A little weakness from Reigns might actually get people to find him less bland. I will continue to watch NXT, but until something changes, I am actually done with RAW and SmackDown. |
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#1123 |
Posts: 61,558
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If I were an investor in WWE, I would have been pretty pissed off at that PPV. Maybe we will start to see some changes soon. Although rumors suggested that Triple H wanted Reigns to win the Rumble too. I would like to think that he would have seen how weak Reigns has come across in recent weeks and shifted things up however.
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#1124 |
Wrestling Marks Rejoice!
Posts: 10,166
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I find it funny that the people arguing against the booing of Reigns are looking completely past the fact* that, just like The Rock initially, he is being built as a generic babyface that lacks personality and hasn't done anything of note yet. There is literally NO reason to get behind the guy other than WWE telling everyone they should.
I hope, for his sake, this leads to his own version of a "Die, Rocky, Die" moment: something he can expound on to become a memorabe character that resonates and leaves a lasting impression with fans and not just a blank token the back office thinks "should be the man" by 1970's standards of getting over. *wtf is a "feact"? We will never know. |
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#1125 | |
Former TPWW Royalty
Posts: 66,665
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#1126 | |
Father of Hinduship
Posts: 21,083
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I'm actually quite baffled as to how badly the WWE screwed the pooch on this one. |
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#1127 |
Posts: 61,558
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The thing is, this actually damages Roman Reigns' ability to draw. The WWE pushing him too hard was always a concern of mine, because once he crosses over into that "overdone" territory, a large contingent of fans will hold a grudge for a very long time. Reigns could have been the coolest thing in the world at one point.
This also hurts Daniel Bryan. Instead of proving that he is still "the guy" coming back from injury, he has to come out on RAW and say "Well, it turns out I'm not the guy." At least last year he was protected by not being in the match. People were pissed, but not deflated. Vince and co. have made sure that the average mark knows that Bryan can't win the big one anymore. Dolph Ziggler looks like shit. I haven't been as into him as everyone else seems to be (but I haven't been watching RAW or SmackDown much), but him getting knocked out and eliminated makes him look like a bit of a pussy too. The same goes for Dean Ambrose. Everyone the audience cared about was sacrificed at the alter of Roman at the Rumble, and now the WWE might have damaged everybody. Brock Lesnar and Seth Rollins were really the only two people who came out of the Rumble looking fairly good. It wouldn't shock me if Rollins wins the World Title between now and WrestleMania to get him into that main event. |
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#1128 |
King of Suplexes/Oxy
Posts: 18,466
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#1129 | |
Posts: 357
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WWE Network wasn't a smart move at all imo. Well having the PPVs on it wasn't but maybe it was combat the free streaming. But I can't imagine the likes of BSkyB being happy with that. Also people seem to be attaching way too much importance to the RR match and the WM title match. Firstly as you know from past experience, not winning the RR doesn't mean X superstar is eliminated from the prospect of the WWE title match re: triple threat, four way elimination etc. There is every possibility and given the amount of anger, WWE will probably relent and make it a 4 way elimination match. Secondly, the title match is not automatically the main event or considered the marquee match on the card. Hogan Rock was second to last at WM 18 but no doubt was the de fact main event. In recent years we've had Taker v HBK, Rock v Cena 1 close out the show, perhaps given the significance of those events. This year it might be Sting v Triple H. The title match isn't necessarily "the main event" at WM and hence winning the RR or losing it doesn't necessarily matter that much. And do you honestly rate the likes of Sheamus and Alberto Del Rio amongst the greatest Royal Rumble winners? Those guys were never bad by any stretch of the imagination but were not exactly on the same level as other legendary winners like Hogan, Flair, Rock, Austin etc. Besides Ultimate Warrior and Mick Foley never won the RR and it did no harm to their careers or their popularity amongst the fans. I see no reason why Bryan not winning the rumble would do the same. And some fans, cancelling subscriptions because a result doesn't go their way. Do you ask for refunds at an NFL game if your team doesn't win? Do you suppose Patriots or Seahawks fans will be asking for refunds if their team doesn't win the Super Bowl next Sunday? |
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#1130 |
Celestia's Left Hand
Posts: 17,359
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thing is I still don't think WWE understands the power the IWC has and probably thinks
we are just a few upset Smarks and don't matter Then #cancelwwenetwork trends worldwide.... |
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#1131 |
I'm a loner, Dottie...
Posts: 3,069
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This is like a terrible car crash that you know you should look away from but just can't... I'm not sure if I should laugh or cry right now. On the one hand an industry I've been invested in for damn near two decades looks like it's taking a major hit, but on the other this might be the kick in the balls it needs to actually improve.
Like Noid said though I may very well be done with RAW and Smackdown now... I'll tune in tomorrow, partially out of habit and partially out of curiosity to see if they can actually turn this around. However, outside a full on retcon of tonight I can't see how they could possibly appease the fans' blood lust. This is like a Marvel Ultimates level disaster. The WWE juggernaut may very well have been brought to its knees tonight. |
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#1132 | |
Celestia's Left Hand
Posts: 17,359
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#1133 |
Posts: 61,558
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#1134 |
the heartbreak king
Posts: 48,457
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another absurd comparison
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#1135 | |
King of Suplexes/Oxy
Posts: 18,466
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#1136 |
Posts: 3,755
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Gotta agree with Noid. Lesnar Reigns seems Shi blah. Reigns has no momentum. The story for him and Lesnar is non existent.
Rusev has had one of the best long term builds in fucking ages. And now he's going to become Cena fodder, just like Wyatt last year. |
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#1137 | |
Posts: 357
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I can't see the viability of $9.99 a month that includes all the PPVS when you could make so much more from individual PPV buys. Sure it consolidates all the archives but surely all of that is available somewhere on the internet for free as are streaming opportunities. |
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#1138 |
Posts: 562
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Also, there is a supposed to be a huge blizzard tomorrow in Hartford, where RAW will be. I wonder if they will postpone RAW and use it to their advantage to deflect the negativity.
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#1139 |
Posts: 357
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What would you prefer I compare it to?
Or are you just such a Bryan mark that you can't accept the reality that A) he lost, B) there are people out there who actually aren't Daniel Bryan fans shock horror? I'm sure Hogan had his haters back in the day who weren't into the whole hulkamania phenomenon. |
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#1140 |
King of Suplexes/Oxy
Posts: 18,466
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#1141 |
Posts: 61,558
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The WWE has never really understood the internet and the power it wields. Vince, despite his best efforts to turn "professional wrestling" into "sports entertainment", often still proves to have that carny-style disdain for his own marks. The presentation of the Roman Reigns character has been corny and transparent, and quite frankly, an insult to the intelligence of viewers. You can't "work" people into enjoying a persona like that any more.
And he should know that. Things have been shifting in that direction for years. |
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#1142 | |
the heartbreak king
Posts: 48,457
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#1143 | |
Posts: 357
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How ridiculous and boring would that be? |
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#1144 |
Posts: 61,558
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Reigns could have been a perfectly acceptable winner of the 2016 Royal Rumble. He could have been a perfectly acceptable WWE Champion by SummerSlam time. Now his rise is going to be associated with "#CancelWWENetwork."
If they leave it as Lesnar vs. Reigns at WrestleMania, I think the best option would be to pull a Lesnar/Reigns double-turn, and have Heyman help Reigns win. At least as a heel, Reigns won't be a bland Superman babyface. |
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#1145 |
The Champ is Here!
Posts: 13,614
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#1146 |
Posts: 61,558
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The thing is it is about Bryan. Sure, the crowd might have turned around for Ziggler or for Ambrose, but could you really see them headlining WrestleMania right now? The only smart option was Bryan once he was announced for the match. If you don't want him to win, don't have him in there.
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#1147 |
King of Suplexes/Oxy
Posts: 18,466
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#1148 | |
I'm a loner, Dottie...
Posts: 3,069
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#1149 |
Posts: 357
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No but ever point I make you label as an absurd comparison.
The whole behaviour of so-called fans on here "oh bryan didn't win boo hoo I'm not watching WWE again blah blah blah blah blah blah". Maybe Bryan isn't the best man for the job, to take the mantle full time, to be able to take hard knocks week in week out in the ring or in training etc and perhaps he needs to be eased back into action. What would you rather have, that he won the rumble, "won" against Lesnar but picked up legit injuries meaning he had to take time out again for an extended period and relinquish the title again. Or would you all rather he managed to regain his full fitness, carry on wrestling and further down the line say a few months from now, he returns to the main event picture and occupies the top spot for a longer period? |
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#1150 |
Posts: 61,558
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It might be the best course of action to have someone "take out" Reigns and do a Rumble rematch at Fast Lane.
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#1151 | |
Posts: 357
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It was an ill-fated and baffling move. |
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#1152 | |
The Champ is Here!
Posts: 13,614
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#1153 |
Wrestling Marks Rejoice!
Posts: 10,166
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Ironically, just about the only guy they are building right is Rusev, and they seem to have kinda put him on the back burner... which actually helps him, provided WWE remembers he's back there. They haven't really done anything to damage his credibility, but he's kind of just roster filler right now.
Armchair booking: he should have been Roman's target about now. Fuck this year's 'mania, maybe shoot for next year's. Build his stock with a solid midcard run instead of having him jump the line. The time they could have used to make this sit better with the audience was wasted with Reigns sitting in a hospital last year, but in spite of that, pulled the trigger anyway even with a giant blank spot in the resumé. |
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#1154 |
King of Suplexes/Oxy
Posts: 18,466
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Bad night for WWE.
Good night for my rep. ![]() |
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#1155 | |
Posts: 61,558
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#1156 | |
I'm a loner, Dottie...
Posts: 3,069
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#1157 | |
Posts: 357
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A rumble rematch is unlikely. I would however be open to the prospect of an elimination chamber match given that it seems the PPV has been shelved for the time being, they can use the EC as a gimmick/stipulation and it would satisfy the fans and a number of big superstars by having an EC match with Lesnar for the title at WM. Lesnar v Bryan v Reigns v Rollins v Ambrose v Ziggler v Wyatt all in an elimination chamber would be pretty awesome. |
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#1158 |
Posts: 357
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#1159 |
Posts: 61,558
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Best thing the WWE can do: Have Triple H announce on RAW that Roman Reigns is defending his WrestleMania title shot in a Royal Rumble rematch. It's evil, it's screwy, it might drive fan sympathy towards Reigns a bit more -- and they can move him out of the immediate title picture. Have him eliminate Seth Rollins and then have a pissed off Rollins dump him out post-elimination.
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#1160 |
Posts: 3,755
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There you go again making unsubstantiated injury themed posts. Why don't we just wait to hear he's actually injured before you start trying to use it to justify tonight's lackluster decision.
The reason you can't find a decent comparison to Bryan is because there isn't one. |
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