I'm going to be honest here and give the WWE credit where I believe it's due. Since the brand split two years ago, they've done a damned good job of seperating the brands and selling the point that they're different shows with different wrestlers. To recap, the Inter-Promotional matches since the split:
Triple H def. The Undertaker [Insurrextion (UK); 5/4/02] Rob Van Dem def. Chris Jericho [King of the Ring; 6/23/02] Brock Lesnar def. Test [King of the Ring; 6/23/02] Rob Van Dam def. IC Champion Chris Benoit [SummerSlam; 8/25/02] Three Minute Warning def. Billy & Chuck [Unforgiven; 9/22/02] Booker T def. Matt Hardy V1 [Rebellion (UK); 10/28/02] The Royal Rumble Match [Royal Rumble; 1/19/03] The Royal Rumble Match [Royal Rumble; 1/25/04]
Over the last year, they've smartened up and used the novelty of the Rumble to make the split seem more real. That fact makes the trio of Inter-Promotional matches much cooler than they would be if they were doing them every damned month like they were a year and a half ago.
(edited by Freeway420 on 10.3.04 0122)
(edited by Freeway420 on 10.3.04 1330) THE FLAMES: 34-26-5-3 for 76 points in 68 games
While I didn't watch WWE too much during inception of the brand split, looking back and reading baout what happened, it is clear that it is being operated much better than it was originally. For me, the split has worked so well that I can't really see a good reason why they should eventually do away with it and combine the rosters again. Also, because of the different appearances on each show, with RAW being "red" and SD being "blue," it really makes you notice when a guy from the other show comes around. Lesnar definately looked odd being in a RAW ring when he attacked Austin. Also, is it just me or are the camera filters used in each show slightly different? Could just be differences between Spike and UPN, but when they show clips from the other show, it often looks significantly different.
Originally posted by Mystic Gohan 2003he edited after the fact...and he needs to edit again to remove both hurricane matches as inyourmouth beat me to it.
Word. Accidentally hit "Send" during original post...and now it's Hurricane-free, punks!
Originally posted by Freeway420 Triple H def. The Undertaker [Insurrextion (UK); 5/4/02] Rob Van Dem def. Chris Jericho [King of the Ring; 6/23/02] Brock Lesnar def. Test [King of the Ring; 6/23/02] Rob Van Dam def. IC Champion Chris Benoit [SummerSlam; 8/25/02] Three Minute Warning def. Billy & Chuck [Unforgiven; 9/22/02] Booker T def. Matt Hardy V1 [Rebellion (UK); 10/28/02] The Royal Rumble Match [Royal Rumble; 1/19/03] The Royal Rumble Match [Royal Rumble; 1/25/04}br>(edited by Freeway420 on 10.3.04 1330)
Okay, so two were UK-PPVs; I don't think they're WW cannon, though, so they don't REALLY count, right? And the Royal Rumble, well, that one, while participants are from both brands, lacks any real intra-brand storyline. So I would rate their consistency to sticking with the brand-split even higher than you, Freeway420.
But, yes, I do agree with you that they have really worked to make these matches much more special. (I guess getting twice the air-time to hype the match helps, too.)
Fashion Reporter Extraordinaire
Fear not the future. For that is where your dreams will come true.
Man, we get these threads every year. And nothing ever really changes. Last year, I was reading picks like: Booker T, Benoit, Edge, Rob Van Dam, Eddy Guerrero, Kane, and John Cena (as a darkhorse pick) This year, I am reading picks like: