First, that was an excellent post. It's a shame it might get lost in the tail end of a Raw thread around the holidays, but tremendous job laying that all out.
The Summer of Punk might not have taken us where we were really hoping to go, but it's kind of interesting how it is getting us to where we always wanted to be.
I really underestimated the backstage voice of Punk. Here I think he's lost his way and giving in after coming back, but it really seems like he has Vince's ear at the moment. It's really the first time since Heyman that somebody has caught Vince's attention enough to at least steer the company in a different direction instead of just putting out stuff that Vince likes. I do think Vince likes new ideas, but when such an intimidating person surrounds himself with weaker yes-men you end up in these funks.
Originally posted by Dr UnlikelyAnd Orton doesn't get enough credit for taking a relative back seat this year (all the while upping his in-ring performance, at that!). He's quietly gone from #2 guy/co-#1 guy to arguably being behind Cena, Punk and HHH, while also giving Henry those big, meaningful wins that helped Henry be reborn as a legit main event guy in the eyes of fans. That's the real thing I'd love to see them take away from this: Henry getting those wins over Orton meant *everything* to Mark Henry and his perception among viewers, and it took *nothing* away from Orton, who could still provide the fan interest for a main event feud against anybody in the company tomorrow if they wanted him to do it.
I agree, but I still don't get why Randy Orton is so popular and it's not because I'm not a fan. I get why Triple H, Batista and Cena are over. I might not agree with it, but I can see it. Randy Orton just brings nothing to the table other than a lot of tattoos, solid but unspectacular ringwork and an icy stare. He doesn't have a flashy ring entrance, all his promos are the same and his RKO is so spotty that it makes DDP's Diamond Cutter look lethal. Yet there he is a top of the WWE mountain and still over as a sumbitch. I don't think I've ever been so perplexed over a top stars overness before.
I agree with the good Unlikely Doctor on everything except his claim that Wade Barrett is talented. Wade Barrett is exceptionally boring. The only difference between Wade Barrett and a jar of mayonnaise is you can't get gum out of your hair with a teaspoon of Wade Barrett.
Originally posted by Big BadShow has moved into that stage of his career where he seems happy to put guys over, so if we're lucky, maybe he's lobbying to let himself be tapped out by the Lebell Lock at the Royal Rumble.
I seem to recall a story about Big Show, way back during the days of WWECW, liking Punk's work so much that he actually wanted to tap to the Anaconda Vise, and that Vince was pissed off that Show even wanted to. God knows why.
Originally posted by BigDaddyLoco I agree, but I still don't get why Randy Orton is so popular and it's not because I'm not a fan...I don't think I've ever been so perplexed over a top stars overness before.
Orton is so popular, in many ways, not independent of Cena but almost, by way of contrast, because of Cena. While Cena is a sort of phony goody-two-shoes who seems like he's running for office (he even does that dismissive laugh when criticized like a politician), Orton is the guy on the block nobody messes with but all the housewives want. Cena poses with little kids, and Orton comes across like he'd bludgeon one to get a title shot. Society hasn't changed much, people still like a badass more than a choirboy. Orton, despite his shortcomings, is in the vein of a Stone Cold while Cena is in the vein of a Bob Backlund.
So much for this guy being the next Ric Flair. Although I was so sure that once his French Dance of French Rudeness got over he'd have a permanent roster spot.