We know what the Divas are doing at WrestleMania: Eve and Beth Phoenix vs. Kelly Kelly and Maria Menounos is on. (wwe.com) Weird. It's like this match is taking the place of the Shaq and Big Show idea that may or may not have been a real thing after Shaq's Mania appearance was disavowed by WWE. Menounos has two victories and one direct pinfall win over Phoenix. It's not necessarily out of the question Phoenix will get to beat this year's WrestleMania celebrity. But I wouldn't bet on it.
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I have loved Maria ever since she guest hosted and working out the match before the show, she hurt her hamstring or something like that. Then she did the match and she was so happy she got to wrestle that she did a cartwheel after the match and cried.
The Snooki match last year involved Morrison, Ziggler, Trish, and LayCool and lasted about three minutes. But Menounos is a big fan. Maybe this will be more than a parade of entrances.
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Originally posted by JustinShapiroI have loved Maria ever since she guest hosted and working out the match before the show, she hurt her hamstring or something like that. Then she did the match and she was so happy she got to wrestle that she did a cartwheel after the match and cried.
I've loved Maria after all of the above and then tweeting with me about it afterwards. (backofthehead.com) No Trish this year, but Maria takes her place as the Greek Diva (she's close enough after 3 appearances) who's (probably) going to win at WrestleMania.
@CMPunk
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Good thing that they had to break up the Divas of Doom so that Natalya could do that wonderful gimmick on Smackdown, huh.
Instead of an actual storyline with a pair of dominant female wrestlers, we'll get Random Tag Team Pairing #2984 that lasts three minutes and does nothing for the crowd.
That's not true. The crowd gets to SEE them. That's all WWE Creative really thinks the Divas are good for week to week. The Divas get to be looked at and gawked at for a couple of minutes, then they send them away again. With Maria Menounos, who has her own entertainment news show, they have the bonus of having an immediate outlet for mainstream coverage of WrestleMania, and the novelty of a very attractive fan of the product who's already gotten in the ring twice, to perform at their biggest event. There's no downside. This is a much more advantageous scenario in the business sense than the Divas of Doom vs. whomever or even Kharma vs. Beth. I'm not saying the match will be "good", or that it will advance the poor state of the Divas division, but who cares. This match is an entertainment showpiece to transition between some of the bigger, more important matches. Ten minutes of novelty spectacle with four great looking women to watch (probably all the Divas will end up at ringside for everyone's favorite Lumberjill scenario). If you want to go to the bathroom instead of watching it, have at it.
(edited by John Orquiola on 16.3.12 0501) @CMPunk “@ZackRyder: @CMPunk She played me bro” I got your back.
I have never heard of this woman and I missed the episode she was on, so I could really care less. I think if we all agree it can't be any worse than Snooki and its there as the breather between one of the big three matches, we will be ok. If anything I am more curious what they are going to do with Ryder. Are they going to let him interfere or actually remember he hates Johnny Ace and put him on Team Teddy? With the Kharma issue, minus turning Nat or Beth face, this is the best they can do on short notice.
(edited by lotjx on 16.3.12 0739) The Wee Baby Sheamus.
Twitter: @realjoecarfley its a bit more toned down there. A bit.
Originally posted by lotjxit can't be any worse than Snooki
The Snooki thing was considered a huge success by the company. The match itself was perfectly fun and watchable because of Trish and McCool doing 97% of the work. This is just take two. Unfortunately, no Trish this time. Kelly will be doing most of the work for her team. There'll be a lot of ridiculous selling from Beth and Eve when Maria gets the hot tag.
@CMPunk
“@ZackRyder: @CMPunk She played me bro” I got your back.
Originally posted by lotjxit can't be any worse than Snooki
The Snooki thing was considered a huge success by the company. The match itself was perfectly fun and watchable because of Trish and McCool doing 97% of the work. This is just take two. Unfortunately, no Trish this time. Kelly will be doing most of the work for her team. There'll be a lot of ridiculous selling from Beth and Eve when Maria gets the hot tag.
I am not sure if I would call it a huge success, we really really lowered the bar for that match. I think her not totally fucking it up was a win. Then again considering you had Trish, Morrison, Dolph and LayCool, there was a ton of talent to hide her to the end. Snooki did a few moves any random high school cheerleader could do and that was it. I don't think people were buying Mania for Snooki and I don't think they will for this Maria chick either. I don't think people will dread this match like they did with Snooki.
The Wee Baby Sheamus.
Twitter: @realjoecarfley its a bit more toned down there. A bit.
Originally posted by lotjxit can't be any worse than Snooki
The Snooki thing was considered a huge success by the company. The match itself was perfectly fun and watchable because of Trish and McCool doing 97% of the work. This is just take two. Unfortunately, no Trish this time. Kelly will be doing most of the work for her team. There'll be a lot of ridiculous selling from Beth and Eve when Maria gets the hot tag.
I am not sure if I would call it a huge success, we really really lowered the bar for that match. I think her not totally fucking it up was a win. Then again considering you had Trish, Morrison, Dolph and LayCool, there was a ton of talent to hide her to the end. Snooki did a few moves any random high school cheerleader could do and that was it. I don't think people were buying Mania for Snooki and I don't think they will for this Maria chick either. I don't think people will dread this match like they did with Snooki.
Note the huge success --by the company-- It got them attention, she did NOT screw up. There were no downsides for the company. And as viewers, it was harmless, short. Yes her moves were something anyone could do, but so what?
I do think Maria's participation could be an even bigger hit. She's a fan, she's already been in the ring and raved about it, and most importantly- She is not reviled by many like Snooki and she has the E! show where she can plug it.
I don't disagree with anything really in this thread, and I don't really have a problem with this match.
But does bringing in Snooki or Maria Menounos translate into more PPV buys? Are there a lot of people who are huge EXTRA! fans that are on the fence about plunking down $50 to order Wrestlemania?
It could be worse though - remember drunken, slurring, broken handed Burt Reynolds?
Originally posted by I Breastfeed John MaddenI don't disagree with anything really in this thread, and I don't really have a problem with this match.
But does bringing in Snooki or Maria Menounos translate into more PPV buys? Are there a lot of people who are huge EXTRA! fans that are on the fence about plunking down $50 to order Wrestlemania?
It could be worse though - remember drunken, slurring, broken handed Burt Reynolds?
I don't think it directly translates into more PPV buys, but undoubtedly being featured on Extra! a lot leads to more mainstream media attention and maybe what Vince&co are hoping for-acceptance of wrestling.
This should be a perfectly acceptable exhibition. Each side has one good worker, so Eve and Kelly shouldn't bring down the quality too much.
I won't lie. I was *really* looking forward to seeing Shaq. I wonder what went down there.
Originally posted by I Breastfeed John MaddenBut does bringing in Snooki or Maria Menounos translate into more PPV buys?
Right. How do you define tangible success from a midcard celebrity appearance? Also, I'm guessing it cost a lot more $ to get Snooki to appear than it does Maria.
Originally posted by I Breastfeed John MaddenAre there a lot of people who are huge EXTRA! fans that are on the fence about plunking down $50 to order Wrestlemania?
Maybe, maybe not. But I think Maria being on Dancing With The Stars starting this Monday might do more to generate awareness for WrestleMania.
(edited by Mr Shh on 16.3.12 1115) You askew my mirror. I askew yours. Behold, my plunger. Anagrams posted to http://twitter.com/paragonSMASH
I won't lie. I was *really* looking forward to seeing Shaq. I wonder what went down there.
My guess is probably that Shaq didn't have the time to fit in publicity rounds for Mania and basic in-ring training. Shaq is a full-time analyst for TNT, right? I'm sure TNT probably wasn't keen about giving Shaq a bunch of time off for this.
Or, it could be that Shaq just threw out "Oh, it'd be fun to do Wrestlemania!" without really thinking it through.
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." --- Bart Giamatti, on baseball
I won't lie. I was *really* looking forward to seeing Shaq. I wonder what went down there.
My guess is probably that Shaq didn't have the time to fit in publicity rounds for Mania and basic in-ring training. Shaq is a full-time analyst for TNT, right? I'm sure TNT probably wasn't keen about giving Shaq a bunch of time off for this.
Or, it could be that Shaq just threw out "Oh, it'd be fun to do Wrestlemania!" without really thinking it through.
Meltzer has speculated WWE was willing to spend the money it'd take to bring in Shaq when they thought that would be launching the WWE network the same day - Shaq alone wouldn't be worth it to the PPV but could help promote the new channel - and WWE dropped the idea of bringing in Shaq the same time as the network was put on indefinite hiatus.
Think of it this way. A five-minute cooldown match after Hell in a Cell with Alicia Fox in it is now a five-minute cooldown match after Hell in a Cell with Maria Menounos in it.
Originally posted by lotjxIf anything I am more curious what they are going to do with Ryder. Are they going to let him interfere or actually remember he hates Johnny Ace and put him on Team Teddy?
I prefer the latter but it seems more like they're building to Ryder On A Pole or something. Perhaps -- perhaps -- the long-awaited payoff to Brie Bella winning a Mistletoe In The Bank contract that allowed her a kiss with any WWE Superstar of her choosing.
Originally posted by CRZMost Americans who watch any television on a regular basis know who she is.
I'd never heard of her before she was on Raw the first time either. (Also not American, so.) But I like it when they bring in celebrities who really want to be there, like Menounos or Seth Green. It looks a lot better than when they bring in bigger names who are clearly only there to push a project or collect a paycheque.
Semifinals, The Final Four: Gran Metalik d. Zack Sabre Jr TJ Perkins d. Kota Ibushi Non-tournament: Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa d. Cedric Alexander and Noam Dar The Cruiserweight Classic Final: TJ Perkins d.