The Wrestling Thread: WWE WrestleMania 31 [NSFW]

[KK]

WWE.com accidentally revealed Cena will be teaming with Trish.

Another balls up.

O rly?

In which case it's a double balls up. Then again, knowing how Vince works he could have changed it at the last minute if word got to him it was on wwe.com.

There'll probably be something on it tomorrow.

Anyone else noticed how Hell in a Cell is just Breaking Point but contested in the cell? Must be well annoying for those that ordered BP.

[Cardinal Chunder]

I guess MVP or Mark Henry would've made more sense really.

[KK]

Crowd not really giving Trish much love tonight.

And BTW, Survivor Series, Tables Ladders Chairs & Royal Rumble are all on Sky Box Office.

[Return_of_the_STAR]

WTF is up with Jack Swagger on his way down the ramp? Walking like a 'tard.

They've killed his momentum on Raw. He's just some goof now, who looks a bit stupid when coming to the ring.

Agreed. When he joined he was seemed to be getting some decent air time and a was looking forward to him going for the US title, maybe fueding with MVP over it. But no they seem to be slowly ruinning him.

I'm just watching RAW now, but seen most of it. No santino yet So Batista back to SD, not suprising as he couldn't cut it on the main show RAW so more Taker & Batista fueds to look forward to in the future then

I was wondering yesterday, will Taker ever actually be a RAW superstar before he retires? hasn't he been on SD since the draft? if not it seems like it.

[A J Styles]

Watched Raw and there was no cheer for someone from Toronto and a very good wrestler like Trish .

Return of The Star, Undertaker was on RAW in 2002 when he was Undisputed champion but has never been on the brand before.

[Cardinal Chunder]

I gave up and went to bed after Trish announced the six man tag match and they went to commercials. strawberry float off am I sitting through more ads.

[Adam Pollard]

To be fair, didn't EVERYONE with any sense call the fact that Swagger would be lost in the shuffle on his drafting to Raw.

[A J Styles]

To be fair, didn't EVERYONE with any sense call the fact that Swagger would be lost in the shuffle on his drafting to Raw.

Yes but i like him and would think he would do well with a title or push.

[Baron Zemo]

To be fair, didn't ANYONE with any sense call the fact that Swagger would be lost in the shuffle on his drafting to Raw.

Fixed

Yes but i like him and would think he would do well with a title or push.

But when your entrance is similar to Donkey Kong, you don't

[KK]

Evan Bourne, Carlito, Festus (remember him?), Jamie Noble (& him?), Chavo Guerrero & Primo are all going nowhere either. The US Title has done nothing in elevating Kofi Kingston.

BTW, Big Dick Johnson is now listed as a "Raw Superstar" on wwe.com.

[A J Styles]

To be fair, didn't ANYONE with any sense call the fact that Swagger would be lost in the shuffle on his drafting to Raw.

Fixed

Yes but i like him and would think he would do well with a title or push.

But when your entrance is similar to Donkey Kong, you don't

It's alright, the push up bit into the low camera angle is awesome though.

[KK]

Former WWE Creative Writer Court Bauer has left his thoughts on the finish to Breaking Point on F4Wonline.com:

I'm embarrassed for whoever suggested that finish. It was cheap and a cheaters way out and to me, cowardly booked. It's shameful that with such an incredible wealth of wrestling insight, this is where it ended up going. While it isn't the end of the world, it certainly could end up being detrimental in a multitude of ways.

This finish had no heat in my eyes. And if it DID, it's on Teddy Long and doesn't transfer to CM Punk where the money is - but even that heat is doubtful. I sense if there is any heat coming out of that match it's on the company and not the talent.

Equally important and concerning to WWE's North American endeavors is that they continue their initiative to alienate one of the most fiercely loyal and ravenous fan bases in Montreal and in a sense, Canada, by s***ting on them and leaving them with a cheap finish on the main event. These fans that the promotion are seemingly determined to run off, will eventually "get it" and be gone for good. And would you blame them? They buy WWE Pay-Per-Views and TV tickets at a premium in a depressed economy and get THIS as a reward? It's obscene. But don't worry Quebecers and Canadiens, UFC loves Montreal and Canada and lets the fans know it and will again soon with the next fight card.

Also obscene: fans worldwide paying a premium on pay-per-view and getting burned on that investment when going in core and a few casual fans were curiously buzzing about "what do they do for this finish?" Well, they got their answer and it's a message heard loud and clear: don't invest your curiosity, imagination, time and most importantly your money in us." Instead, expect a hack play from a bad playbook.

Another concern I have from a business perspective is they built little if any equity in their initial outing to brand a new annual
"submission" pay-per-view by giving such a comprised pay off in the main event finish. The goal should've been to deliver a memorable Breaking Point Pay-Per-View that resonates in a positive way so fans are compelled to comeback for the 2010 version of the concept. They have their work cut out to get the new concept over for another go at it in 2010.

Of course, if WWE closes the door on Canada (or vice versa), another door opens for someone else. Of course, UFC and GSP are ROCK STARS up north and perhaps Dixie Carter and TNA Wrestling can see this as an opening and give the loyal fans of Canada a wrestling product that embraces their nationality, culture and passion for the genre. WWE certainly isn't concerned with such.


Court Bauer

WWE are on a destructive streak at the moment, especially on Pay Per View. WWE are doing in Canada what WCW did in Carolina.

[Adam Pollard]

Evan Bourne, Carlito, Festus (remember him?), Jamie Noble (& him?), Chavo Guerrero & Primo are all going nowhere either. The US Title has done nothing in elevating Kofi Kingston.

BTW, Big Dick Johnson is now listed as a "Raw Superstar" on wwe.com.

For some reason they seem to have invested a fair bit of time and effort with Kofi though, which is more than most of the rest of the names on that list. Whilst a Bourne-Chavo fued could produce some good matches (albeit shitty little three minute filler ones), the nonsense with Hornswoggle now renders everything Chavo ever does from now on redundant, and inserting Bourne into that mix does nothing for him.

They would have been better served keeping both Swagger and Bourne on ECW when the draft took place, or moved them to Smackdown. The problem is the exposure these guys get on the C-show means when they come up to Raw, most folks don't know who they are. And if the fans aren't instantly reacting, the bookers just give up. The system should see guys graduate from ECW to Smackdown, and then when they are more established with the larger audience there, then perhaps consider moving them to Raw.

[KK]

Cedric The Entertainer....




































WHO?!

[Return_of_the_STAR]

Former WWE Creative Writer Court Bauer has left his thoughts on the finish to Breaking Point on F4Wonline.com:

I'm embarrassed for whoever suggested that finish. It was cheap and a cheaters way out and to me, cowardly booked. It's shameful that with such an incredible wealth of wrestling insight, this is where it ended up going. While it isn't the end of the world, it certainly could end up being detrimental in a multitude of ways.

This finish had no heat in my eyes. And if it DID, it's on Teddy Long and doesn't transfer to CM Punk where the money is - but even that heat is doubtful. I sense if there is any heat coming out of that match it's on the company and not the talent.

Equally important and concerning to WWE's North American endeavors is that they continue their initiative to alienate one of the most fiercely loyal and ravenous fan bases in Montreal and in a sense, Canada, by s***ting on them and leaving them with a cheap finish on the main event. These fans that the promotion are seemingly determined to run off, will eventually "get it" and be gone for good. And would you blame them? They buy WWE Pay-Per-Views and TV tickets at a premium in a depressed economy and get THIS as a reward? It's obscene. But don't worry Quebecers and Canadiens, UFC loves Montreal and Canada and lets the fans know it and will again soon with the next fight card.

Also obscene: fans worldwide paying a premium on pay-per-view and getting burned on that investment when going in core and a few casual fans were curiously buzzing about "what do they do for this finish?" Well, they got their answer and it's a message heard loud and clear: don't invest your curiosity, imagination, time and most importantly your money in us." Instead, expect a hack play from a bad playbook.

Another concern I have from a business perspective is they built little if any equity in their initial outing to brand a new annual
"submission" pay-per-view by giving such a comprised pay off in the main event finish. The goal should've been to deliver a memorable Breaking Point Pay-Per-View that resonates in a positive way so fans are compelled to comeback for the 2010 version of the concept. They have their work cut out to get the new concept over for another go at it in 2010.

Of course, if WWE closes the door on Canada (or vice versa), another door opens for someone else. Of course, UFC and GSP are ROCK STARS up north and perhaps Dixie Carter and TNA Wrestling can see this as an opening and give the loyal fans of Canada a wrestling product that embraces their nationality, culture and passion for the genre. WWE certainly isn't concerned with such.


Court Bauer

WWE are on a destructive streak at the moment, especially on Pay Per View. WWE are doing in Canada what WCW did in Carolina.

Out of interest what did WCW do in Carolina? Also i totally get what this article is saying about WWE and Canada. A few months ago they had Sgt Slaughter treat the Canadian audience like gooseberry fool. The Canadians along with UK fans usually put out a great atmosphere but recently WWE just seem to treat canada like rubbish. It didn't use to be that way. Toronto hosted imo the greatest Wrestlemania of all time.

[KK]

Every time WCW went to Carolina they buried Ric Flair or put on a terrible show. By the end they could barely even give tickets away.

I think the Canadians have started to realise what's going on as Breaking Point wasn't anywhere close to being sold out - even with comps.

Was told that it was going to be a Triple Threat so that's want I announced. That's Live TV for ya. Have not chked out! Luv my job

What with the Cena/WWE.com balls up as well, a sign that things are changing on the fly throughout the course of the show (as with the Kofi match that was scheduled a few weeks ago, & that was alluded to on air by Michael Cole, yet never took place?) or simply a rib on Lilian?

[Return_of_the_STAR]

Every time WCW went to Carolina they buried Ric Flair or put on a terrible show. By the end they could barely even give tickets away.

I think the Canadians have started to realise what's going on as Breaking Point wasn't anywhere close to being sold out - even with comps.

Was told that it was going to be a Triple Threat so that's want I announced. That's Live TV for ya. Have not chked out! Luv my job

What with the Cena/WWE.com balls up as well, a sign that things are changing on the fly throughout the course of the show (as with the Kofi match that was scheduled a few weeks ago, & that was alluded to on air by Michael Cole, yet never took place?) or simply a rib on Lilian?

It was a very large arena though, i think the capacity would have been around 20,000. However that's no defence. 10yrs ago they would have sold out in 1 hour for that event.

[KK]

Raw did a respectable 3.4, on a night it went head-to-head with a new look Jay Leno on NBC & Monday Night Football.

Interesting logo for Bragging Rights...

[KK]

Sounds like a really horrible Smackdown this week...

Batista opened the show with a segment. Lead to Jericho coming out and receiving a spinebuster. [Ooooh, lets see if Jericho gets revenge later in the show...[1] - KK]

Scott Armstrong said he was told before-hand how the Submission match at Breaking Point was going to end. [What is this, Survivor Series 1997? - KK] Vince McMahon told Teddy Long to apologize to the fans. This lead to a brief apology in the ring. Upon leaving ringside, Long was locked in his limo and driven away with Undertaker as the driver. [Well seeing as they seem to be rehashing old storylines, might as well go the whole hog. Backlash 1999 here we come! "Where to Stepha....Teddy?!" - KK]

WWE Intercontinental champ John Morrison defeated Mike Knox. [Mike Knox has been losing every single week. So much for his push... - KK]

Melina pinned WWE Women's champion Michelle McCool in a non-title match. [Bound to be horrible - KK]

CM Punk had an in-ring segment. Same stuff he says every week about being straight edge.

Hart Dynasty defeated Cryme Time.

Kane vs. Great Khali [Not again... - KK] ended by DQ when Kane hit Khali with a chair. He then used the steel ringsteps on Khali's leg about five times. Khali did a stretcher job during the break.

Drew McIntyre beat up Charlie Haas, who was waiting for his opponent in the ring. [Is this actually going anywhere? - KK]

Batista defeated Chris Jericho after a Batista bomb. [[2]...don't be ridiculous, of course he doesn't! - KK]

Batista turns up & the show goes to pot.

[Skippy]

Raw did a respectable 3.4, on a night it went head-to-head with a new look Jay Leno on NBC & Monday Night Football.

Interesting logo for Bragging Rights...

Champion Vs Champion - Taker/Punk Vs Cena maybe?

I likes the sound of that, this is a free PPV no?