![]() |
|
Greatest Intercontinental Champion of all-time entering a Ladder Match at WrestleMania makes sense.
|
That leaves Cesaro/Kidd and The Usos to have a straight-forward tag match. Either that or The Ascension/New Day and The Prime Time Players will get involved. Or Naomi and Natalya will be in there officially. I kind of just want to see a straight-forward match. They're building up to it nicely.
|
I've now decided I really want Luke Harper in that IC Title Ladder Match too.
|
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/GuyInGreenWWE">@GuyInGreenWWE</a> It's between <a href="https://twitter.com/WWECesaro">@WWECesaro</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/LukeHarperWWE">@LukeHarperWWE</a></p>— John Cena (@JohnCena) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCena/status/571043610579177472">February 26, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> |
I'd mark out if Cesaro did what he did last year, and sneaks into the Ladder Match at the last minute and wins the whole thing. :D
|
Actually, if he and Kidd lose the Tag Titles to The Usos (good bet), then I'd like to see Cesaro repeat win the Battle Royal. Seems more likely that it'll be going to Sheamus or Ryback, depending on who doesn't enter the Ladder Match, but I'd mark out for the Battle Royal coming down between Cesaro and Sami Zayn or something.
|
Quote:
|
If they play up the fact that being the IC Champion is the stepping stool to the WWE Championship it will work out great. Basically they should play up that fact hard that winning it is a essentially being the number one contender. Essentially it needs to come off like being Money in the Bank when they did it yearly at WrestleMania.
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
Problem is is that they have booked it, and the mid-card, like garbage for so long that people just won't buy the title as a "legit". What they really need to do is give it to one guy and let him hold it for a long time. I'm talking more than a year, here. I was hoping that after Survivor Series that man would have been Dolph Ziggler. Who The Authority would constantly make defend his title, but Ziggler would always come out on top. After a year of holding the belt, and defeating all challenges, both him and the belt would have looked aces. |
What's wrong with me that the most compelling storyline to me is Seth Rollins Vs. Jon Stewart?
|
Quote:
The real problem is that they refuse to use the new stars they lucked into. Bryan and Ziggler and Ambrose were/are all incredibly over. They've all been shoved back down the card because fuck you that's why. They're not hurting for people that are over and that the crowd is invested in. They're hurting the people that are over and that the crowd is invested in. |
Quote:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2V9mD4FrspQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> |
I really don't want Seth Rollins to be stuck doing something with Jon Stewart as his Wrestlemania segment, but this is the sort of "mainstream" exposure I can get behind. It's fun, not really detracting from the guy or show--assuming it doesn't become Rollins' Wrestlemania thing--and it's not being treated like a joke in the process.
|
Quote:
I still sigh wistfully when I think that about this time, Ziggler vs. Kofi for a number one contender match for the WWE Championship would not only be not farfetched, but thought of as totally legit AND would tear the goddamn house down. They always create magic when they oppose eachother, and that could have been used to elevate the prestige of the Intercontinental Championship, and later on, the main event picture. Instead, they insisted on repeatedly yanking the rug out from under Dolph, and Kingston keeps getting shoved into tag teams (Sydal, Truth, New Day...) instead of letting him shine as a singles competitor somewhere other than his requisite battle royal anti-elimination spot. That picture a few years back with "the future" could have been attainable and believable if actually expounded upon. Too much emphasis placed on "Punk whining" and "Bourne smoking weed" and not enough focus on the fact that WWE kinda stopped pushing (or in the case of Ryder, never really got behind IN SPITE of his popularity) the majority of them. |
Mania's poster that's been going around the internet recently (hasn't been confirmed yet by the WWE):
http://i.imgur.com/yM5dHGd.jpg |
Ranked in order of importance
|
Bray the guy who has to do all the work for the build to the match isn't even in the poster.
|
Jon Stewart should wrestle Seth Rollins at WrestleMania because attention.
|
Would anyone oppose Seth Rollins vs. Daniel Bryan (with John Stewart in his corner)
|
Absolutely not! Not only would it be a fantastic match, along with having mainstream attention, but it would help keep Bryan in the main event level.
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
I wouldn't like it because Rollins' obvious story is with Orton.
I would like it because it would mean Daniel Bryan actually had a story for Mania and wasn't just tossed into an IC Title multi-match. |
Yeah, that's why it's not happening. Orton and Rollins is pretty much set.
|
|
|
Quote:
|
Should have Crush's head instead of the word crush
|
I kind of hope that Rusev is accidentally turned face just by crushing people.
|
I've come to accept that Daniel Bryan will be part of the Intercontinental Title Ladder Match. On the bright side, he's got a very good chance of winning and becoming a world-beating Intercontinental Champion. They might even play up him being the first person to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship (as if it were a new title), Intercontinental Title, US Title and Tag Titles -- the new era's first Grand Slam Champion.
|
Can't decide whether I want Sheamus in the IC Title Ladder Match or not. He seems like a good pick to win the Battle Royal right now. I'm leaning towards Ladder Match. I'm also hoping that Finn Balor earns a spot and gets to do a grand WrestleMania entrance. He probably won't win the match, but it'd be an impressive way to make a debut.
Bad News Barrett vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. R-Truth vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus vs. Finn Balor I'm fine with that. Bryan, Ambrose, Ziggler and Barrett should all be doing bigger stuff, but I guess it's fine. My interest level for this is already greater than anything else on the card. |
I'm now REALLY hoping for Nikki Bella vs. Paige vs. Emma for the Divas Title at WrestleMania.
After the #GiveDivasAChance movement, I think they have to give the girls something a little meatier than a throwaway segment at WrestleMania. I can't see them wanting to give AJ Lee the spotlight, after she has spoken out. I can't see them calling up Charlotte to put the title on her just yet, and I can't see them doing a tag team match with The Bellas facing Paige & Charlotte -- just because it doesn't feel "big" enough right now. I think the best thing they can do is give Emma some redemption, allow Triple H to handle her creative direction heading into WrestleMania, and putting her in a Triple Threat against Nikki and Paige. Brie will be a heel at ringside to run interference, and she costs both Paige and Emma the title at separate intervals. The face girls then beat her up to a large pop. Nikki takes over and gets very close two counts on both her challengers. They do a Tower of Doom spot, and all that jazz. Nikki even Rack Attacks both girls at the same time. She acts like she's the greatest thing that ever happened...but only gets two after some showboating. She then covers Emma...but still only gets two. The final sequence sees Paige in the ring with Nikki, and she manages to counter a Guillotine Choke into a RamPaige. Brie breaks up the pin and then gets the Divas Title, she goes to blast Paige with it, but nails Nikki instead. A superkick from Paige allows her to send Brie out of the ring, then put Nikki in the PTO -- and Nikki taps out. Emma makes it back into the ring and hugs Paige, holding up the arm of the three-time Divas Champion...then attacks her from behind. She puts Paige in the Emma Lock as officials come in and break it up. There's your next main Divas story. |
In a titty honking match right?
|
For Rusev vs. Cena, I'm hoping that Cena adds some drama to this match by putting his career on the line. It'd make sense, given that Lana and Rusev don't want to give him another shot. Cena could goad them by giving Rusev a shot to be the one to say he did it -- he was the one who put Cena down for good.
Rusev's own greed would be the device which destroys him. It becomes almost a parable, as Rusev could have walked off with the championship and the Fastlane win -- but his ego and arrogance allowed him to be defeated. Have an Attitude Adjustment from the second rope be what puts him down. |
Quote:
|
Quote:
Right now it means less than nothing. Especially with Barrett fucking losing all the time. The IC champ should be a big fucking deal. Even more so now that there is only one world title. He should rarely, if ever lose, even in non title matches. |
That won't happen tho. Bryan will win, hold it for a couple months then lose it to adam rose or something.
|
To turn up the interest in the Wyatt vs. Undertaker match, I hope that they give Taker some connection to Sister Abigail. But the edge must favor Wyatt. I'm not sure what connection -- Heyman (the poster here) could probably come up with something good -- but I'm thinking something that ties their legacies together.
Maybe she has some connection to the urn? She could have been the one who crafted it? Or maybe she has an early connection to The Undertaker? Maybe she wandered Death Valley looking for him and found Bray Wyatt instead? Something in that realm to raise this beyond "I want to fight you!" |
Jim Ross said it well when he asked why a company would want one title to mean less than another.
|
How much better would this whole Wyatt vs Taker Feud be, if the streak was still intact? I've always been in the "streak should never end" camp, but I think I would have been OKAY with Wyatt ending the streak if built up properly.
If they were going to end it, he would have been the perfect guy to do it. |
Quote:
|
Here's the 30 for 30 short doc on The Von Erich's
<script src="http://player.espn.com/player.js?playerBrandingId=4ef8000cbaf34c1687a7d9a26fe0e89e&adSetCode=91cDU6NuXTGKz3OdjOxFdAgJVtQcKJ nI&pcode=1kNG061cgaoolOncv54OAO1ceO-I&width=576&height=324&externalId=espn:12394108&thruParam_espn-ui[autoPlay]=false&thruParam_espn-ui[playRelatedExternally]=true"></script> |
Every person in that Ladder Match needs to record a promo where they talk about what the IC Title means to them. If you don't air them all, cool, but every character needs to have a reason for wanting it.
* Bad News Barrett could have been in the audience when Davey Boy Smith and Bret Hart fought over the title in the main event of SummerSlam 1992, when he was just 11 years old. That could have been the moment that made him want to be a fighter. * Dean Ambrose has made his position pretty clear. * Dolph Ziggler can show off as champion. His hard work, his effort, his ability -- it is all displayed in the Intercontinental Division, because it attracts the hungriest young men -- young men like him -- who want to prove themselves worthy of the top spot. And being the champion means he's hungrier; he's better than all of them. * R-Truth has been training since 1997. When he first got into a wrestling ring, Owen Hart was the Intercontinental Champion. When he was scouting the competition, Stone Cold Steve Austin won his first Intercontinental Championship. Truth saw Triple H and The Rock fight in a Ladder Match at SummerSlam 1998, and that was it. "One day, I am going to be the Intercontinental Champion. I am going to be that good. That is what I was working towards every day of my life, so I didn't have to go back to prison. So I didn't have to be nothing." * Daniel Bryan is addicted to the feeling of being the best. He may not be the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, but he will be a champion. And he will fight harder and better than any other champion in the WWE. Any other champion in the world. People will look at him and say "That's the sort of champion I want to be." * Luke Harper tasted the money and the attention the Intercontinental Title brought him. He didn't like all the eyes on him, but he never felt like he had a...home before. The IC Title is his home. When he's the champion, he gets punched in the face harder. When he's the champion, he gets to punch people in the face harder. There's no home for people like Harper unless he's got that title. * Finn Balor has the chance to step onto the grandest stage of them all, and he gets to do what only one other person has ever done -- win the Intercontinental Title in his first match. Few men have debuted at WrestleMania, and no one has debuted at WrestleMania and left with a title. Balor gets to make history. He gets to become immortal night one. |
Wouldn't they go with Neville before Balor? Haven't been watching NXT, so I don't know.
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
I've got this weird feeling that the Dudley Boyz are going to be working at WrestleMania. This stuff between The Ascension and The Prime Time Players is getting them all on TV, but it doesn't really feel "heavy" enough for the main card. And I can see them trying to keep a lot of tag teams out of the Battle Royal, because it just makes sense that they would all work together.
Got this odd feeling that they might do The Dudleys vs. The PTP vs. The Ascension in a Tables Elimination Match or something. It'll be snappy enough for Mania, provide some "spotz," gives The Ascension at least on WrestleMania appearance and could be used to "crown" the PTP. |
Totally forgot about bubba. Has there been any updates of him coming back full time? Really would love to see Bully Ray in WWE. Dude worked for so long to improve his craft, and actually succeeded. Deserves to have that character in the spotlight.
|
I haven't heard anything, but he's obviously got a healthy enough working relationship with the WWE. If there's money to be made with them, you bet your bottom dollar they'll be back.
|
If you take The Ascension and The Prime Time Players out of the Battle Royal, it frees up four spots for the match. I can imagine the WWE using this year's Battle Royal for some "surprise" nostalgia returns. Somewhere between the Gimmick Battle Royal at X-7 and what NXT have done with Rhyno and Kendrick coming back.
|
There's only one reason I would be okay with Seth Rollins working in some form or fashion with John Stewart at WM31: It would mean that the person doing the celeb spot is NOT Big Show.
|
I'm surprised the WWE haven't given Chris Masters another shot yet.
|
He's a one trick pony. He even does the same gimmick in indy feds. Masterlock challenge etc.
|
Quote:
|
Hated Chris Masters. Really glad he's gone.
|
Really stupid looking face
|
Quote:
Though I sentimentality agree with you about "the streak shouldn't end" feelings, truth was Taker is just too old school a guy to not do the "go out on your back" business. Maybe he wasn't sure he had one more in him, and though not ideal for pushing new talent, the most believable and ready opponent there last year was Brock. Bray taking the supernatural mantle isn't necessarily a consolation prize. I just wish the build for this started sooner... then again, they had more time to build Sting vs. HHH, and even that's kind of a shit show considering how much hype SHOULD be on that match from Survivor Series onward. |
Quote:
Quote:
|
Quote:
One reason I was always against the streak ending, is that there is kind of a catch 22 situation there. A guy like Brock, or Triple H who can believably end the streak, doesn't need it at all. Conversely, the Undertaker at mania had been built up to such a degree, that anyone who isn't a living legend beating the streak would feel unbelievable. Right now, Wyatt is in that magical sweet spot. He's still young and fresh enough that ending the streak would do a lot for him, while at the same time he's been booked strongly enough since his debut (despite a few hiccups) that I can believe him taking the victory. Especially factoring in all the talk of taker's age and questionable health. |
lol oh WCW
this coloring book page looks nothing like Ric Flair. He never was that ripped ever. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BrgVJVRCUAA62py.jpg:large |
No wonder they went out of business!
|
first glance thought he was waving a nazi flag
|
Quote:
Woooooo? Hey look on the opposite page it's....Chris B- STEVEN RICHARDS! |
Quote:
Do you ever have the urge to smell Paige's armpits? |
I was thinking that with the ladder match for the IC title coming up, they should've done a former NXT champions match/tournament where the winner would get a spot in the ladder match.
Zayn or Neville would've been the ideal ones, why not debut someone who has "it", has the skills, been on the road with them already, and has done a ladder match on live TV already? Just a thought. |
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
I was about to say russo even screws up doing a podcast
|
Maybe TNARick can take it over.
|
Quote:
|
<font color=goldenrod>I do wonder how many matches will be on the WrestleMania card. Last year had just 7 matches on the main card, and one of the matches was about 2 minutes long. But in fairness there was a really long opening segment involving the 3 biggest stars in the history of the company and it made total sense given that it was a milestone Mania.
Before last year 8 matches seems to have become the norm for Mania even though it's a 4 hour show. And WWE still can't budget enough time for it, leading to some matches getting completely rushed. With that being said I'm not sure there will be more than 8 matches again, so the card would appear to be shaping up as such: <b>World Heavyweight Title Match</b> Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar (C) Triple H vs. Sting Bray Wyatt vs. The Undertaker <b>United States Title Match</b> John Cena vs. Rusev (C) Seth Rollins vs. Randy Orton <b>Intercontinental Title Ladder Match</b> Bad News Barrett (C) vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Dean Ambrose vs. R-Truth vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Luke Harper I don't see there being more than 6 participants. The first 5 seem like safe bets. Guessing at the last spot, I'm giving Luke Harper the nod to add another heel, he's a recent champion, and because he was great in the last ladder match he was in. But really the last spot could be Sheamus, Adrian Neville, or someone else. <b>Divas Title Match</b> Paige vs. Nikki Bella (C) The clusterfuck divas match last year was a trainwreck, so going to a more conventional match makes sense. I can see it being a "Lumberjill" Match though just to get all of the girls onto the show. <b>31 Man Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal</b> Adam Rose, Big E, Big Show, Bo Dallas, Cesaro, Curtis Axel, Damien Mizdow, Darren Young, Diego, Erick Rowan, Fandango, Fernando, Goldust, Heath Slater, Jack Swagger, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Kalisto, Kane, Kofi Kingston, Konnor, The Miz, Ryback, Sheamus, Sin Cara, Stardust, Titus O'Neil, Tyson Kidd, Xavier Woods, Viktor, and Zack Ryder Again, this is merely a way to get everybody onto the show. I kinda loved last year's battle royal though, it was a lot of fun. <b>Pre Show match: Tag Team Titles</b> The Usos vs. The Brass Ring Club (C) --- I think the reason there are so few matches on Mania anymore is because all of the "attraction" matches seem to get 20+ minutes. As a fan, I'm actually happy Sting and Taker will be there. But frankly I don't think guys in their 50s should be going for over 20 minutes at this point. Even Reigns/Lesnar for 20 minutes is questionable but the main event of the biggest show on the year pretty much has to be that long. If I had my doldrums I'd some shave time off of the Sting and Taker matches to avoid either man getting blown up and to maximize the novelty of their matches. I'd like to get the Tag Title match onto the main card to get every title defended on the biggest show of the year. Their battle royal spots can go to some NXT guys like Neville, Zayn, etc. who can do some cool things. It's not like losing a battle royal is going to be a black mark on them when they get called up permanently. Would not be averse to finding a way to give Goldust and Stardust a match either. Fast Lane wasn't that good but they've been asking to wrestle at Mania for years now and if this is the end for Goldust I think he should get a reward for busting his ass for years.</font> |
Mania has become too "Top Heavy", the element of spectacle has taken over the concept of putting on a wrestling show. Should there be a 10 minute "mini-concert" on the show when it means guys who've worked all year round get shunted off the show, or thrown into a multi-man match?
Is the spectacle of a returning Undertaker, a semi-retired HHH, a debut for a past-his-prime Sting, and a part-time World Champion undermining the marketability of the current, full-time wrestlers? Are WWE branding these guys with a "Not good enough for Mania" stamp? Should a Daniel Bryan, or even a Dolph Ziggler, be thrown into a clusterfuck match for a midcard title with little to no value? Those are the guys you'll have to book the company around when Sting, Taker, HHH, and maybe Brock go AWOL after Mania. |
I am genuinely not interested in Wrestlemania this year, there is absolutely nothing on the card that makes me want to watch it. Reigns beating Lesnar is a lame duck. Wyatt / Taker strikes me as something that sounds better on paper than it does in reality. I've seen enough of Sting in TNA to not be excited for him wrestling HHH. Shoving most of the guys the audience actually cares about into a ladder match for the IC title is also a shitty move. Fandango doesn't even have a chance of winning the battle royale. Pass.
|
Quote:
Basically, WrestleMania isn't the time to try to convince the world that guys like Dolph Ziggler are a hot commodity by suddenly treating them like something special. It's the time to reap the benefits of building them up to the point where a major spot on the WrestleMania card makes sense and draws people's attention. |
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
<font color=goldenrod>I'm going to watch it just because I have the Network for NXT anyway, but my expectations are quite low. The ladder match should be great, I've always been a sucker for battle royals, and I'd think Orton/Rollins should be a good match even if the build winds up being shit.
Also as a huge WCW fan I can't not watch Sting's first (and possibly only) WWE match. I feel like two legends like he and Triple H can find a way to put together something special, but my concern is that it'll be too long of a match.</font> |
Quote:
|
|
Its sounds to me that the only WM match that a lot of you are interested in is the IC ladder match. I have come to the conclusion that if you feel that way you are too invested in one character ( Daniel Bryan) to enjoy anything else. I am pretty excited for Sting / HHH, I mean its Sting in a WWE match. Also looking forward to Bray and Taker as I would like to see Bray win but don't know if he will. The title match isn't a dream match but should be good. Rollins and Orton will probably steal the show. If you are not interested in WM then you are simply not a fan.
|
That's what I've been saying for about a year now. I'm just not a fan anymore.
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
This is why WrestleMania should be in April and not March. The weather improves and peoples moods improve from all of the snow being gone. This has been a pretty harsh two months of snow.
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
<font color=goldenrod>And I should clarify this - I'll always be a fan of wrestling. As an entertainment medium, there's nothing like it out there and I don't see myself ever "outgrowing" it to the point where I never watch anything again.
But the current WWE product does pretty much nothing for me. And that's a damn shame, because the quality of wrestling itself is very high. Normally there are 1 or 2 really good matches on Raw a week, and there are loads of talented guys on the roster. But the matches more often than not mean absolutely nothing in the context of the story. Wins and losses don't matter, most of the titles don't matter, etc. I love NXT because not only is the wrestling good, but the stories actually make sense. I have very high hopes that the WWE product will be great once Triple H has free reign over creative. But that won't happen for a long time. So for now I'm basically just loving NXT and using the Network to watch old stuff I haven't seen for a really long time.</font> |
I'd try and keep the backstage antics and shit to a minimum at this year's Mania. I know it is a pipe-dream, but ditch all those frills. You might be able to give time to Goldust vs. Stardust and the Tag Team Titles then.
|
Quote:
|
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>BROCK has arrived at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UFC184?src=hash">#UFC184</a> <a href="http://t.co/ykbpJPSlll">pic.twitter.com/ykbpJPSlll</a></p>— Dave Sholler (@Sholler_UFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sholler_UFC/status/571871387020754944">March 1, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> |
And I know it's not going to happen, but I do hope they put Emma into the Divas Title match. Why not? It won't sink Mania, and it gets another girl on the show. One who could be over if the company fixes it's main roster/NXT disconnect. Even if her push only lasts a month, it'd be a nice moment for her and a spirit booster to the other girls.
|
I think Bayley would have made a better choice to be Santino's girl.
|
Quote:
|
Brock looks so weird in a suit.
|
Giant Jimmy Johns logo on the back of that suit, you just can't see it.
|
Quote:
But I meant as opposed to Ascension getting that win over New Age Outlaws and then kind of being forgotten about and simply being fodder for a Prime Time Players reunion, only to have them disappear from TV as well. Much like the Divas, the main roster WWE seems to have a problem focusing on more than one or two tag teams at a time for a length of time. Its getting a bit better, with the number of actual teams now, and an addition of the Dudleyz would only help in terms of drawing interest in the division as a whole and drawing money because of name value. An Ascension win over them (and subsequent reinforcement of that win by the announcers- just as important here) would be a boon to what they seem to want to accomplish with this duo. Also, being in the ring with vets like Bubba Ray and D'Von might serve to help Konnor and Viktor tighten up their ringwork as well. |
Quote:
|
Fandango looked all set to become the Intercontinental Champion before he suffered a concussion. What could have been...
|
But it was a concussion. It wasn't like he broke something like Barrett has or out for multiple surgical procedures like Danielson. Fandangoo could have done promos or been featured in some sort of way without having to do ringwork until he got the all clear. Seems kind of like a big fuck you to completely write him off.
|
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:15 AM. |
|
Powered by vBulletin®