It's Thursday, so I can tell this thread isn't going to get started. I shouldn't start it either, but I have one of those questions I ask from time to time that just can't wait for another opening: Whatever happened to all those people who thought it was so cool to put HAIL SNITSKY in every RAW thread? Do you think they came around, or they're still morons but they post on some other board now?
Also, does no CM Punk on the show mean HE'S ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK OMG? I hope he is! He needs to go where he's TRULY APPRECIATED by people who TRULY APPRECIATE (themselves for being better fans than me) him, his craft, and his ART, MAN.
I think Matt Striker may still be out at ringside in some capacity.
Hairless Snitsky looks like that baby he caused Lita to lose. That's about all you can glean from this show.
Also, wasn't Punk let go from TNA for being a prick in the first place?
To those who say people wouldn't look; they wouldn't be interested; they're too complacent, indifferent and insulated, I can only reply: There is, in one reporter's opinion, considerable evidence against that contention. But even if they are right, what have they got to lose? Because if they are right, and this instrument is good for nothing but to entertain, amuse and insulate, then the tube is flickering now and we will soon see that the whole struggle is lost. This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires, and lights, in a box.-Edward R. Murrow
Re: Punk, I gladly admit I love his work generally. His stuff in ROH was awesome. I know that apparently makes me a combination of the worst kind of net smark and a baby killer, but I've been called worse.
That said, the people who are on the "Punk should quit and go back to where he can WRESTLE!" bandwagon are absolute morons. The guy's job is professional wrestler. And the only place to make a secure living doing that job is working for Vince (I don't count TNA since really, they are one programming shift by Spike away from folding it seems). So if getting that paycheck means shutting up and wrestling 3 minutes matches against Matt Striker, the luckiest man on the planet, then shut up and wrestle those matches.
Originally posted by spfRe: Punk, I gladly admit I love his work generally. His stuff in ROH was awesome. I know that apparently makes me a combination of the worst kind of net smark and a baby killer, but I've been called worse.
That said, the people who are on the "Punk should quit and go back to where he can WRESTLE!" bandwagon are absolute morons. The guy's job is professional wrestler. And the only place to make a secure living doing that job is working for Vince (I don't count TNA since really, they are one programming shift by Spike away from folding it seems). So if getting that paycheck means shutting up and wrestling 3 minutes matches against Matt Striker, the luckiest man on the planet, then shut up and wrestle those matches.
I couldn't agree more. There are probably hundreds of guys out there scraping by on $50 a night from wrestling in high gymnasiums that would kill to be in CM Punk's spot.
And in my personal opinion, WWE should book him as the 5th member of the "new breed" so we can finally get that RVD/Punk match before Rob packs his bags.
Without knowing the specifics of Punk's contract, its hard to say whether Punk is better off working for Vince or not, but I know that Raven said that he was able to make more money booking himself and selling his own merchandise after he left WWE than he was under Vince. Apparently wrestlers are responsible for paying for their own travel accomodations, and that eats away at a large part of their salary. That said, if Punk really felt compelled to go out and work 60 minute matches, there's nothing stopping him from quitting, a la Brian "Spanky" Kendrick a few years ago.
You believe me, don't you? Please believe what I just said...
Originally posted by EddieBurkettWithout knowing the specifics of Punk's contract, its hard to say whether Punk is better off working for Vince or not, but I know that Raven said that he was able to make more money booking himself and selling his own merchandise after he left WWE than he was under Vince. Apparently wrestlers are responsible for paying for their own travel accomodations, and that eats away at a large part of their salary. That said, if Punk really felt compelled to go out and work 60 minute matches, there's nothing stopping him from quitting, a la Brian "Spanky" Kendrick a few years ago.
I suspect that while Punk is a big name on the indie scene that Raven was probably able to make more money than Punk could doing that scene. Also, for Punk there would be the issue of why burn that bridge. Being let go by Vince doesn't generally mean you can't come back. Pissing Vince off by leaving tends to make the road back longer, Brian Kendrick excluded.
One thing to note also is that I've never seen anything that says Punk is in the slightest bit considering leaving. Mostly it is speculation from the most maniacal of the ROHbots who can't understand why anyone would ever want to do anything but wrestle there.
It still boggles my mind, even two days later, that anyone think a Lashley/Snitsky feud is going to draw any kind of money.
It hurts me to say it, but the ECW jump has killed Lashley's career. It's a shame, because I really like the guy and I think he can be something, but this has been such a career killer for the guy. Instead of staying on SmackDown! and getting some seasoning, he's thrust into a failing brand, handed a belt that means nothing, given talentless lunks to work with instead of more experienced wrestlers, and reviled by old ECW fans because he represents the total antithesis of what ECW once stood for. I really wish someone would just pull the plug already.
But then again, it's not like there's anyone else to give the belt to, anyway.
Originally posted by It's FalseBut then again, it's not like there's anyone else to give the belt to, anyway.
They can slap the belt on anyone if the champ is then given a decent contender. Moving in Lashley did nothing for the roster or him because he had no heat with anyone. His feud with Show ended quickly as it should have; Show had already carried the title picture for months and he was leaving to take a deserved rest. Then Paul, the evil GM, left. That left Holly and Test as natural opponents, and that led uninspired clubbering.
Lashley, a man who can't work the mic to enthuse the crowd, is dependent on a flashy opponent. Test and Holly can't provide that. Snitsky, if allowed to do the creepy foot-fetishist angle, might win over folks for a sheer freak factor, because the champ can offer nothing in response. And really, Snitsky brings nothing that Mike Knox didn't.
That leaves the flashy, small guys like Striker or Punk or RVD (unless he's gone). My pick for a fun title feud would be Kevin Thorn, but he isn't getting consistent play anymore.
I think ECW is best right now to cruise along in this big polarizing angle until whatever post-WM draft may emerge, and then a dramatic shake-up of the roster is required.
"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
It still boggles my mind, even two days later, that anyone think a Lashley/Snitsky feud is going to draw any kind of money.
I don't think WWE believe this either. They're just feeding him disposable monsters to build him up for the future (when ECW's gone and Lashley has the belt on some other shows and they need clips for video package hype).
No one can draw money on ECW anyway. There's no PPV for months, and they're put in non-drawing positions on house shows and other PPVs.
really like the guy and I think he can be something, but this has been such a career killer for the guy. Instead of staying on SmackDown! and getting some seasoning, he's thrust into a failing brand, handed a belt that means nothing, given talentless lunks to work with instead of more experienced wrestlers, and reviled by old ECW fans because he represents the total antithesis of what ECW once stood for.
It's better being a big fish in a small pond than a smaller fish in a big pond. At least that seems to be the idea here, and I'm not sure it's false - Lashley would be a midcard guy who failed trying to get the belt on SmackDown, and he'd be stuck behind Cena and DX and who knows what else on RAW. In ECW, he can be the top guy, and be treated like a top guy when he makes cameos on other shows. Now, no one believes he's at Cena or Batista's level and Vince's "no one's challenging Lashley - because he's the best champ!" line was wicked funny, but if he holds onto that belt and/or is treated like a huge deal, people are going to eventually buy into the hype. And if/when ECW's canceled, and Lashely is still on this level, he'll be a much bigger deal on his return to SmackDown/RAW than he would've been if he was trading wins in the midcard instead.
They can do far more to protect Lashley by sticking him on the ECW island.
Ideally, yea, they'd move over a good worker so Lashley could have good matches and learn a bit. (I'm sure they believe Hardcore Holly fits the requirements on that, too.) But they've also decided ECW is a developmental group that just happens to have a cable deal, so why would they waste a good worker there instead of a meaningful place where he can actually help?
I'd love to see a guy like Noble jump from doing dark matches to battling Lashley (because Noble is awesome*), but those kind of workers who'd be available would also be a lot smaller than Lashley, and WWE would rather Lashely impressively beat some who's as big or bigger. I don't know if I agree with that, but I can see why they'd think that.
Old school ECW fans would dislike Lashley whether he's champ or not, and WWE's not marketing to them anyway. Lashely ought to have the belt, because he's got the most potential to make something out of it. Just not now.
* - this has nothing to do with anything, but anyone realize that if ECW hadn't replaced Velocity, we'd be getting Yang/Noble matches on like a weekly basis? ECW SUCKS
In response to cubsfan's post, all I can say is that they should have kept Khali in ECW if that's the plan. At least with a heel that gigantic as his foil Lashley could look impressive by beating him. As it is right now he looks more intimidating than any heel they can throw up against him. And while that works if you have the strange natural charisma of a Goldberg, Lashley strikes me as someone who needs to be in more of an underdog role to click with the fans.
I know it makes no sense thus far from booking, but if they want to build Lashley, give him an impressive win, and something to do at WM, why not throw together a feud with Kane?
And for Pete's sake, if they're going to have Snitsky shave his head, beard & eyebrows, could they not have him update his ring attire a bit? The whole plain black trunks & boots is played out now.
Cubs: Bold statement I'll make...everyone in ECW that the company cares about were competing at the Rumble, and are probably the guys that get folded back into the main rosters once ECW folds in December.
Originally posted by spfRe: Punk, I gladly admit I love his work generally. His stuff in ROH was awesome. I know that apparently makes me a combination of the worst kind of net smark and a baby killer, but I've been called worse.
That said, the people who are on the "Punk should quit and go back to where he can WRESTLE!" bandwagon are absolute morons. The guy's job is professional wrestler. And the only place to make a secure living doing that job is working for Vince (I don't count TNA since really, they are one programming shift by Spike away from folding it seems). So if getting that paycheck means shutting up and wrestling 3 minutes matches against Matt Striker, the luckiest man on the planet, then shut up and wrestle those matches.
CM Punk is a young guy. I agree that he should do his thing with WWE now and he can do something else later, because if he does it the other way around WWE might not want him back.
However, I wouldn't say TNA isn't a viable option for a professional wrestler. They're taking Joe away from ROH and other federations and are probably going to do the same with other ROH wrestlers. They have to be paying pretty well to be able to do that. Saying that they are one show away from folding is the kind of attitude people have had about TNA for a long time now and yet this summer will be their five year anniversary. Plus they're obviously not going to lose their show any time soon since adding a second hour is pretty much imminent at this point.
Ok, so what they've done is take a guy, Gene Snitsky, who was never that over, and not all that great for ring work, and stripped away the unique look that got him the little bit of attention and fan reaction that he had managed to build up; then they took that and made it the number one contender to a belt they say on-air is the equal to the Raw and Smackdown championships. This booking is not getting a thumbs up from me. I'd have rather they put the title on Kenny last Monday. At least Kenny has charisma, and they'd be better off trying to field face challangers against a heel champion.
I think my favourite part about the last two shows is the OUTRAGE in some quarters that broken-down, end-of-their-career oldsters like Sabu, Balls, Sandman and Dreamer are *gasp!* getting beaten by youngsters like Burke, Cor Von and Thorne. Striker sucks, no doubt, but the other three are light years ahead of the ECW originals in terms of longevity and ability. They should be getting decisive wins over these guys.
To those who say people wouldn't look; they wouldn't be interested; they're too complacent, indifferent and insulated, I can only reply: There is, in one reporter's opinion, considerable evidence against that contention. But even if they are right, what have they got to lose? Because if they are right, and this instrument is good for nothing but to entertain, amuse and insulate, then the tube is flickering now and we will soon see that the whole struggle is lost. This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires, and lights, in a box.-Edward R. Murrow
Originally posted by oldschoolheroI think my favourite part about the last two shows is the OUTRAGE in some quarters that broken-down, end-of-their-career oldsters like Sabu, Balls, Sandman and Dreamer are *gasp!* getting beaten by youngsters like Burke, Cor Von and Thorne. Striker sucks, no doubt, but the other three are light years ahead of the ECW originals in terms of longevity and ability. They should be getting decisive wins over these guys.
I have to tell you my favorite part of ECW is My Teacher...Matt Striker. I think that he speaks better than most of the entire WWE roster. Matt Striker gets legitimate heat, not XPac heat. the crowd hates him. And he can take a beating. Put Striker in the tag division with someone who is a better wrestler but who needs a mouthpiece (along the line of Shelton benjamin) and you would have an awesome team.
I would love to see Striker on RAW doing a Piper's Pit type of skit every month (not week) and having a strong tag feud or a strong mid card feud with an up and comer.
Do you think God knew what He was doing when He created woman? Huh? No shit. I really wanna know. Or do you think it was another one of His minor mistakes like tidal waves, earthquakes, FLOODS? You think women are like that? S'matter? You don't think God makes mistakes? Of course He does. We ALL make mistakes. Of course, when WE make mistakes they call it evil. When GOD makes mistakes, they call it... nature. So whaddya think? Women... a mistake... or DID HE DO IT TO US ON PURPOSE?
Striker's the best talker of the "new breed", but also the worst wrestler. I personally think he's a great mouthpiece and lovelovelove Justin's Test suggestion, but I could see why some would take issue with him being pushed over the originals.
To those who say people wouldn't look; they wouldn't be interested; they're too complacent, indifferent and insulated, I can only reply: There is, in one reporter's opinion, considerable evidence against that contention. But even if they are right, what have they got to lose? Because if they are right, and this instrument is good for nothing but to entertain, amuse and insulate, then the tube is flickering now and we will soon see that the whole struggle is lost. This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires, and lights, in a box.-Edward R. Murrow
I just bought a few DVD's from Wal-Mart which is having a clearance sale right now on so many WWE DVD's for $6.99 each. Backlash 2002 is one of them (I wanted Lesnar's debut, even though it sorta sucked)