They can probably just spray it with any old person's scent and pass it off as "worn" though.

Probably be Aldis (Magnus) that wind it first. Be a better pick than Benjamin or Young in my opinion and if your going to be a global company a forigner as champ makes sense

The Miz is to good to be stuck on Main Event. Main Event can have Sandow.

You saying Paige smells like an old person?

Orton looks like a kid wearing his dad's jacket

So you finally sign a guy you've been clamoring to acquire for 14 years so that you can have rights to his likeness, sell a ton of merch and events he's featured in, and in his first match in your company, at the biggest show of the year, it's best for business to job him out in one of the few matches he'll ever wrestles your company? Over a barely part time wrestler who's essentially evolved into a high profile enhancement talent? Huh.

Who is that on the far right?

<font color=goldenrod>Mark Jindrak. He was originally meant to be in Evolution instead of Batista.</font>

Yeah, and instead he ended up getting saddled with a gimmick as the "Reflection of Perfection" and an overpowered (and way oversold) open-palmed "slap of death".

Always baffled me how anybody could think that gimmicks like that would get over and benefit a talent long term.

Same guy who thought the New Day initially would be over as fuck babyfaces?

<font color=goldenrod>After watching that segment, I am all in on the Cosmic Wasteland.</font>

Yep best thing the Ascension has been given since moving to the main roster. Hopefully Stardust rubs off some of his charisma on them. They could also use some better face paint to.

Are talking about him cutting off Sting? Do you really think a Sting win would have made a big difference in the number of people that order WWE network in September vs the number who will order now based on current events?

The babyface in the WWE vs WCW storyline was really Triple H.

But that aside, what big Sting matches did a loss to HHH prevent?

HHH and Batista were both heels. One of them turned so they could have a feud. It was a pretty big money maker. You assume the same would be planned here.

Again this passion for a guy who will maybe wrestle 3 more times is very confusing to me. Sting isn't The Rock, he's just a guy. His value is minuscule no matter what they do with him booking wise.

I wish I knew to tell you, loopy.

There it is. You accused me of Triple H hate, but there's the truth of where your argument comes from on this. "Sting is just a guy." I'm not even the dude's biggest fan, but I've the two points I'd like to raise are this:

1) No, he's not.

2) Even if he were, wouldn't it be a good idea to try and present him like he was more than that?

I wonder if they pay Sting "just a guy" money? That'd be interesting. I wonder if Spike TV fronted TNA's paychecks to the man because he was "just a guy?" I think the evidence against Sting being "just a guy" is pretty overwhelming.

Except it's not going down that way. If you remember back to late 2004, it was a sharply worded promo from Batista that made people go "Hang on -- this guy might be on to something." In the weeks leading up to his turn, Batista was made to look crafty, cunning and like a killer. Hell, he won the 2005 Royal Rumble. And when the turn came, he was a step ahead of Triple H and Ric Flair, who were trying to get Big Dave out of the picture.

What you have in Seth Rollins at the moment is a chickenshit who doesn't even care if he wins or loses matches (unless the title is on the line, of course), hides behind The Authority, and when they turn on him is suddenly going to become a ruthless killer again. OK. Let's see who buys it.

It's looking more like the Randy Orton/Triple H program of 2004, with Orton being a wormy deer in the headlights for most of it than the Badass Dave vs. Hunter feud of 2005, which was actually designed to get Batista over.

And, furthermore: Why are they trying to make Seth Rollins AFTER HE IS ALREADY THE MOTHERFUCKIN' WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION?!?! The shit makes no sense! For Triple H to bring a ruthless killer out in him after he's climbed to the top of the mountain? There's something else in common with the original Triple H vs. Randy Orton feud there.

The key to the success of the Triple H vs. Batista program was heat. The crowd was rabid for it because they were rabid for Big Dave, and they wanted to see someone finally get one over Triple H and Ric Flair. I can't see much heat coming from the guy in the suit with all the power kicking his chosen chickenshit heel while he's down amounting to much "YAY! Go...someone!" momentum. And I don't have too much faith in the company to get it right, because they just spent months having two heels do a story-time rivalry in the back, bickering like school children, which ultimately went nowhere (to this point in time, anyway).

Triple H and Seth Rollins are both great performers. The match itself will be good-to-great. Triple H also isn't going to let much he touches as an active wrestler in this day and age be the drizzling shits. I'm sure they'll save it to the point where people go "Hey, this is actually not bad." That being said, it won't make Seth as hot as he could be.

Sting is just a "guy" might one of the most daft statements I've seen in a while. Legitimate superstar in the 90s. At one point one of, arguably the hottest wrestler on the planet. Just a guy.

If Sting is just a guy, why did the WWE still sign him 14 years later and why do they make the biggest fucking deal when he's around?

Really? When? Like during the Attitude era? Because that's debatable. I mean, there wasn't an official storyline being worked between the two. I think you could make a claim that the biggest faces on each side were the "babyfaces" of the war. Triple H was very over for a long time, but at the demise of WCW he was a heel. Austin, The Rock and Mankind are the three babyfaces that spring to mind when I think about the Attitude era. The Undertaker also seems more like the "lifeblood" of the WWE.

If you mean the Invasion angle, then Triple H was on the shelf. The big babyface of WWE was...well, I guess either Vince McMahon or The Rock when he was there. I guess Kurt Angle was around there for a while too.

Maybe I'm not remembering correctly though, because it was a FUCKING DECADE AND A HALF AGO!!!!!

And that links me to my next point -- and with all the problems with the Invasion angle, I've never thought specifically of this link before:

It's all about the HEAT! The emotional investment people put in to wanting to see two guys fight and the outcome of said fight. During the Invasion, you didn't really have any hot babyfaces once you turned Austin. Angle got some steam around the late summer/fall, but he wasn't really built as a face. It would be like if Seth Rollins came out tomorrow night and started acting like a bad-ass that won't back down or pick his spots.

And you're right when you imply that Sting losing doesn't change the matches on the table. But you're damn wrong that it doesn't change the emotional investment people have in them. New fans? The John Cena ones? With their taste-buds, they might not know who Sting is. The older and more historically in-tune fans? They need to know that they can count on Sting. If they place the house on him, he's not going to put them on the streets. A hero needs to be a hero sometimes.

But you're right -- the WWE is doing their best to turn him into "just a guy." Watch the money roll in for that one.

And let me flip the question on you: What harm would have come out of Triple H, the guy that has acknowledged his full-time in-ring career is over and is now in a management role, putting over the legend and a man that they do want to put on some posters, t-shirts and DVD covers; and in some video games and high-profile matches? How will emotional investment be in the Triple H character if they actually think the big, bad evil is somewhat beatable?

Fuck.

Sorry to get so snappy about it. CyNick is a great poster, and I'm glad he's back; but I really didn't like the "some people don't see the big picture" remark. Some people can't see a plate of money in front of their fucking face.

This. This all night long.

https://38.media.tumblr.com/43d36b19...7fgso1_500.gif

Okay, I'm sold.

By the way, I ordered that EVOLVE 45 show I was going to.

* Heading into the show, there were apparently a lot of injuries, and Gabe Sapolsky said they were going to hot-shot some stuff.

* I'll say that I do like the way there isn't much (well, any) fluff and filler for the EVOLVE presentation. It's match-to-match, and that has a very old-school, sports-based presentation to it. SoCal Val talks in the ring, which is good, but it could use an interview or two to try and hook me on these guys more.

* Caleb Konley vs. Gary Jay was first up. There are too many people out here, in my opinion. The idea is that The Premier Athlete Brand are going to be showcased, but you've got three guys and two girls out here, and one of the girls doesn't even do anything.

* Konley impressed me. There were times he really summoned up a wrestler's presence. He seems like quite a solid worker too. Gary Jay can work and do movez, there's no doubt about it, but I didn't believe him. He's kind of got this "dirty Sami Zayn" vibe to him, and there's definite talent there, but he's sort of working outside his frame. I would have liked to have seen Konley destroy him with a few hope spots, some select moves to show off that Jay can do shit to try and get him over enough to bring back; but there were times this felt like it should have been done but it wasn't.

* Gary Jay would be a GREAT jobber if you are running a promotion. The dude looks crazy enough to get in the ring with an intended Superstar, and he's a good enough worker to take it and make the guy look good. Maybe in time he can find the connection for a few upset wins.

* Next up is Trent Beretta vs. Rich Swann. Mr. All Night Long has a cool entrance and gets people pumped. He's apparently got an intriguing and inspiring life story too. It's no wonder the WWE signed him. He says some stuff on the mic, which I liked, because it sounds thought up on the spot and organic. The dude could get quite over in the WWE, I feel. Beretta knows the little tricks to be a piece of shit heel. He'll be back in the WWE one day, unless he's burnt his bridges or doesn't want to go back.

* I know they're making up for injuries keeping guys out and changing the show, but this is another match where less would have been more. Beretta does like a half-and-half suplex on the ring apron to Swann, and it leads to the Roman Reigns "gets back in the ring at 9" countout spot. Fuck me, just sell a Deathplex occasionally and get people invested in you. Great work from both men though although they sort of lost me after it got turned up to 11 for no reason.

* Andrew Everett came out to challenge Anthony Nese next. It occurs to me at this point that the performers with the best names of the evening so far have been "SoCal Val" and "Caleb Konley." And "Caleb" isn't a tough name for a wrestler...

* This was my first time seeing these guys. Everett is sort of like a less ripped, straighter-haired Adrian Neville from Charlotte, North Carolina. I wasn't too impressed by him, to be honest. I've heard good things, but this wasn't really a great showcase. I sort of turned on the match after Everett did something to make it look like he fucked up his leg on a leap-frog, but then alleged veteran, Nese, didn't do anything to go after it and they stayed on their shit.

* By the way, Anthony Nese looks like he should have been a big star in WCW's Cruiserweight Division. He reminded me of what could happen if Buff Bagwell was a gymnast. He did some really crisp athletic stuff that made me legitimately go "Whoa," but the story of the match was kind of forced. Everett even uses a Shooting Star Press, which makes me think that this guy is really doing his low-rent Neville impersonation. That being said, he's really young and is only going to get better and better.

* Chris Hero vs. Trevor Lee next. This is my first time seeing Lee, who was trained by The Hardy Boyz. I didn't expect Lee to stand out as much as he did. I've read about him in PWG reports and such, but the name is sort of bland and didn't capture my imagination. The dude is tiny, but is kind of like a tiny Luke Harper in black trunks, and actually comes off as savage. The guy is only 21 and can tear it up, has presence and seems to be putting together a lot of what works at such a ripe young age. He'll be a star one day. Apparently he's (in the TV paradigm) one-half of the current TNA World Tag Team Champions with Curt Hawkins. I didn't know that. Good for him. WWE will sign him.

* A lot has been said about Chris Hero, and I was iffy on his NXT run. Something was there, but something was missing too. On the independents, he carries himself like a veteran though. This isn't his first rodeo, he knows his place, and although a lot of people critique his physique -- he makes it believable -- like Kevin Owens in the WWE. I wouldn't put my company's title on him, but if I had a promotion, I'd be using him. He has his own custom theme music which goes a long way to his presentation too. And I like that he wears trunks like he doesn't give a fuck what he looks like.

* Hero and Lee has been my favorite match so far, because it's been based around simple shit, told a story, and a house hasn't been dropped on the other guy to beat him. Kind of wonder if there was more to the story about Hero being dropped from the WWE -- like a personality clash with Triple H or something -- because the dude could be SO valuable working with younger guys and even on house shows.

* Hero cuts a good promo after the match. Like he's just had an epic and cut a good promo that even had crowd interaction. Fucking love Hero after that.

* I've started watching Sabre, Jr. vs. Strong, but I've had to stop because I'm now exhausted from the flow of the show. Every match is being worked like the WrestleMania main event, so I need to go and have a Coke.

Stars so far:

* Chris Hero - I know people don't like his look, but the dude is entering this stage of good where it really doesn't matter. If he looks like a bum, he's really Rassling Jesus in disguise.

* Trevor Lee - Little Luke Harper. I think they called him "The Caveman of Cameron" or something. Simple look, small frame, but comes off like a beast somehow. Has some sort of "legit" vibe to him that makes you believe. Not really what I expected from a Hardys find. A Daniel Bryan/Trevor Lee tag team would be a dream. I also see him either being paired with Luke Harper one day.

* Rich Swann has got something to craft.

I don't think you can really compare Hero and Owens. Owens is a big guy and apparently cut weight and got in better shape when he came in. I think he just has the type of body that is husky, but the way he moves in the ring, he is clearly in good shape. Again, I didn't see him previously, but fans have commented on his weight loss since his indie days.

Hero on the other hand is a slim guy who just looks sloppy, like his gut hanging and it gives the impression of a guy who got his opportunity and just didn't have the commitment to take advantage of it. I think that is what irked people. You work and work for this and then show up like he did. Same idea with Braden Walker.

Fair point, but I just think that there's something to Hero that isn't defeated by it.

Yeah, he obviously has talent and am glad he can still make a living, but by all accounts, it was his lack of dedication that led to him missing out on his biggest opportunity...seems like there are a few guys on that show that will get opportunities before he ever does again

I'm not expecting him back. He'd just have something to offer if they did bring him back.

Dirtsheets sponsored by Tony Atlus' little ducky buddies:
https://33.media.tumblr.com/3b2ac64f...focqo1_400.gif

Want to say its been in a serious decline ever since Bryan no longer made appearances but might be even longer than that considering how long the WWE's been half-assing the effort on Syfy. Same's probably going to happen with USA Network after a while once they get Smackdown.

Basically confirms he signed a deal with the WWE.

Part of a longer interview by Bruce Hart on a recent guest on Main Event Madness Radio episode. Whole story ended up being debunked by Tyson Kidd later.


Some other sheet news includes:

• If legal issues arise, WWE might have to change the name of Stardust's "Comic Wasteland" stable since a musical band already owns it.
• WWE released the official commercial for Night of Champions ppv. https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=18&v=appwczkN3oY
• In a "WWE Did You Know" type fact, Cesaro has just 1 clean singles win since the start of June in regards to RAW, Samckdown, and ppvs. All other wins have been either DQ results or tag matches. http://officialfan.proboards.com/thr...n-ppv-win-june
• WWE could face some new bad PR in the near future based on an upcoming Will Smith movie called "Concussion." Has to do with ties the WWE has with Dr. Maroon who is their medical director, Maroon's past of downplaying concussions for the NFL, and Sony Pictures being leaked trying to get the negativity of the film toned down. Article on r/SquaredCircle goes into way more details. https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCirc...oversial_will/

Tyson Kidd posted recently on his Twitter about not talking to Bruce Hart in over a decade.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just for the record I haven't had contact with Bruce Hart in over a decade. End of story, rumor mill over!</p>&mdash; TJ Wilson (@KiddWWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/KiddWWE/status/639944156689887233">September 4, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More on the injury Cena suffered during yesterday's house show.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Move that may have injured Cena <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWEHampton?src=hash">#WWEHampton</a> <a href="http://t.co/Hdp6jJHvKo">pic.twitter.com/Hdp6jJHvKo</a></p>&mdash; chris (@c_hawk1994) <a href="https://twitter.com/c_hawk1994/status/640000490013650944">September 5, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

NOT SEEING A PROBLEM SO FAR...