Do you think the WWF should put Storm in the cruiser division? There are only four guys in it after the draft and i doubt the cruiserweight stigma would be any worse than the jobber stigma he has now.
Four guys? Tajiri, Kidman, Helms, Scotty, Christian, Funaki, Rey Rey, and ~EDDY~. They've got themselves a pretty swank cruiser division there. But I'd stick Storm in there anyway, just to give him some kind of purpose.
I don't care as long as I get to see him WRESTLE! Plus, he's actually feuding with Val Venis now, a full-on Jakked/Heat feud. Woo-hoo! I can't complain, I just don't watch those shows! I need more Storm. Hopefully if he is cruiserweight he's given chance to shine then at least. I remember his match with Edge as Summerslam being over as hell. Next night, nothing. No pop for him, no boos. Dammit.
Jerry Jones: So what's it gona' be Deion? Fifteen, or twenty? Deion: I'll take both! ME: PRIMETIME!
Originally posted by WeevilSpeaking of Jakked, did you see the Tajiri/Funaki v Kidman/Hurricane match?
They haven't wrestled such a cruiserweight style in ages. I hope we see more of that from now on.
More importantly, did you hear the commentary on Metal?
"All four of these men in the ring will be competing in the cruiserweight division on Smackdown!."
So they have a place for Funaki, after all, even though he wasn't officially drafted.
And it occured to me, the reason that they aren't giving any details about what will happen next week with Jakked/Metal, Excess, or HEAT is because they want a curiosity bump in the ratings. Not a bad idea. They're just saying that everything will be drastically different.
I really don't think that the WWF should stick Lance Storm in the cruiserweight division or Christian for that matter. As heelish as it is to say to a "smart" fan, the cruiser division is a compliment to the heavyweight division and is basically filler for all any promotion or the average fan is concerned.
Sticking Lance Storm, a guy who has the ability to get over and did an exceptional job of doing so in a WCW where almost no one was accepted by the fans, in the cruiser division is just severly limiting his potential. Lance Storm can be a main event heel or even face some day and limiting him to a division that is basically understood to be undercard relief will do nothing but most likely cripple him in the long run just like Chris Jericho's WCW career was limited when he spent too much time in the division.
This isn't Japan and unfortunately cruiserweight wrestling has never drawn extraordinarily well in the states, particularly WWF Lightweight wrestling which hasn't drawn a single bit of money or interest in 15 years. The WWF has the roster to turn that around and only time will tell if they actually do so. The division should be centered around Jason Jett (EZ Money) at the outset in my opinion as he is easily one of the flashiest and most over cruisers in quite some time using a unique sense of crowd involvement that made him the hottest thing in WCW in the 4 weeks before it died. Shannon Moore, Jamie Knoble, Shane Helms, Scotty 2 Hotty, Rey Rey, Tajiri, Kidman, X-Pac,Taka, Funaki, Shark Boy, AJ Styes and others are already under WWF/WWF developmental contracts and rumor has it even more cruisers are coming in with the host of new developmental deals the WWF is on the verge of inking. Mike Sanders, The Hardys, Lance Storm, Edge, Christian and Eddy Guerrero have way too much main event potential to be used as role players and thus should stay away from the ranks. The division can be a success if used right, lets hope it is.
The WWF doesn't have a legitimate cruiserweight division yet... but it looks like they are attempting at least. And from the looks of the people in the division i definitely approve.
I think you should stick Lance Storm into the cruiserweight division because:
1. He hasn't been seriously on tv for a while. Give fans a chance to see how well he can wrestle and do his promos.
2. And then based on the reaction from above use his own appeal and the creative writers to push him up the ladder into the main event status.
I am the JOBBER TO THE STARS. You better remember that.
I just don't see Lance making it to the top ranks of the WWF any time soon, and not because of anything lacking in skill. It's just he'd be in line behind a slew of guys who have been in the Fed longer, are bigger, or get better reactions lately (which isn't his fault, since he's been jobbed out so much, but such is life). I'd rather see him be a dominant heel cruiser champion than a JTS. He might really get the division over. And isn't that what we all want?
edit - fixed some grammar
(edited by Eli 300 on 31.3.02 2302)
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yeah, but more than that, if the fans see him as a winner he can use that to break out as a heavyweight star too.
Jericho was such a dominant champion that he didn't seem like just another cruiserweight. i think it was politics rather than fan perception that stopped him rising higher.
they announce him at being 230, 10 lbs over the "limit." ( They might raise the limit to 225. Collin Vassallo's wrestling-online newsletter says they heard from a wwf official the the LHW title has been officially retired. This is a mistake to me as X-pac, who was the last Champ, could have his own division on Raw and we could get Ric Flairs' reaction to the SD cruiserwieghts.) I agree that while he was a great CW, he has just enough size to be taken seriously as one of the mid size guys. He can hang a match with angle or RVD and be a credible opponent. But the cool thing about being a cruiserweight (as opposed to a Light Heavyweight) is that you are expected to "cruise" between light heavyeight and heavywieght. That was one of the stipulations Commisioner Foley put on Christian in a Heat match ( where Christian ran around in a chicken suit to lose 3 pounds for the night to be elligable for the Title.) But the Fed usually over announces the weights of the wrestlers to make them seem bigger, so I would think they would like us to think he's one of the heavyweights.
"My parents said I could be anything, so I became an ASSHOLE!"
Jay sez: "The division should be centered around Jason Jett (EZ Money) at the outset in my opinion as he is easily one of the flashiest and most over cruisers in quite some time using a unique sense of crowd involvement that made him the hottest thing in WCW in the 4 weeks before it died."
Jason Jett is greener than George Steele's (RIP) teeth. I think you have him confused with Shane Helms, who was crazy over in the last daze (you heard me) of WCW. Proposing the WWFE use Jett for anything but a "hot" feud in OVW with The Machine or David Flair makes me laugh out loud.
If you wanna talk future CW stars, Jamie Knoble and Matt Stryker are -so- right there....
Originally posted by CRZLast time I heard, the limit *was* 225.
I suspect maybe some of the wrestler's "official" weights may be worked...as such Lance could easily "lose" the 5 pounds. Or he could just call Disquo for some weight-loss advice. :-)
Someone actually thought it would be a good idea to run an angle where Randy Savage beat defensless women. How can anyone NOT love this business?
Randomwrestling: Not only do we actually know who Chris Hamrick is, but we know he sucks!
I am gonna have to respectfully disagree Travis. While Shane Helms was just awesome in his end of WCW persona with the kick ass music, brutal finisher and cool ring intro, he really wasn't that over in the ring, especially in his matches with Chavo. While Jett may not be the most well rounded guy in the world, he has some insane spots,good transitions, and the most innovative and unconventional moveset of any of the late WCW cruisers under contract and he knows how to make the crowd eat out of the palm of his hand. He's no Eddy G, Rey Rey or Jamie Knoble but he can be a key guy if the WWF wants to get the division over with more people than just us net dweebs. And yes, Matt Stryker rules.
Originally posted by SerWolfe1. He hasn't been seriously on tv for a while. Give fans a chance to see how well he can wrestle and do his promos.
Agreed, but this is the reason for the split is to give the second tier wrestlers (which in my mind Lance definitely fits) some more tv time. I'd have to agree with giving him a IC or tag reign. Lance is one of the better tag wrestlers the WWF has in my opinion.
As for whether he even fits the weight limit. Well, they could easily change the weight limit or just change the wrestlers weights since they aren't accurate but as someone pointed out, X-Pac has retired his Light Heavyweight belt, the Cruiserweight belt from WCW is the one they use now, perhaps they go by the weight limit the WCW used with it? Which Lance did hold at one time.
also holy crap why did Sheamus go out of his way to be so nice to Josh? Josh is looking stressed? I thought Brock was coming back to throw him into a fence. but no, Sheamus was just being very personable.