RVD and Benoit have an IC title match at Summerslam this Sunday. This PPV is WWE's best card in recent memory, and has had the best build up in the WWE since WM X-7, yet why is this match seem to be the only one on the card that isn't being built up at all? RVD and Benoit had that ONE match on RAW. They've never cut promos about each other, or even snuck into the other's show and give 'em a beating. All there is that they are fighting at the PPV.
That's not a bad thing, but there is really no feud at all between these 2 guys. Shouldn't RVD be pissed that Benoit beat him in screwy fashion, or cut some sort of promo about that. Why isn't Benoit ripping into how RVD likes to showboat and do lots of stunts instead of getting down to business? Hopefully their match won't be disappointing, but the feud has. I don't know, maybe it will continue further after Summerslam.
"It is a strange fate that we suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing...such a little thing." -Boromir
Where is it written that two men must hate or insult each other to wrestle each other? I like the fact that the are wrestling for possession of the IC championship (for the brand, too), and that WWE realizes that is important enough!
Seriously, they are presenting the IC title as a very, very important prize, adding a "feud" on top would just diminish the importance of the title! I say leave it alone. (:
"And in front of the entire world, I want to show my little boy that sometimes - just sometimes, you have to FIGHT to be a man." - Michael S. Hickenbottom, the man who does not take part in angles that conflict with his religion, swearing violent revenge on HHH in full view of his two-year-old son. 11:06 PM, EST. 08/05/02. This angle, which has gone from being a "clean" wrestling match to an all-out unsanctioned street fight for bloody revenge is apparently sponsored by the book of Joshua.
Personally I think it helps enhance the surrounding the match, and make the match that much better itself. Do they have to insult each other or hate each other. I don't think they need to do that. But they aren't really addressing each other at all. There's no interview with Cole or Lloyd asking what they think of their match in the opponent (albeit this will probably be at the PPV). But everyone's talked about how good this ppv has been built and how good it looks, and I think Benoit/RVD match could've just had a bit more buildup to it. Pretty much every match on the card has had a significant amount of buildup and TV time toward (hell, Test and UT fricking opened up RAW!) except this match.
"It is a strange fate that we suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing...such a little thing." -Boromir
This is just a result of their being on separate shows. I'm actually glad that the split is being adhered to in this case, rather than Lesnar ALWAYS showing up at Raw with a "ticket."
I was born in a manger, like that other guy. You know, he wore a hat?
Bischoff wanted RVD rested on Monday so he could get the belt back. Stepj is peptalking Beniot. You know something? I can actually see this fued elevating the IC belt back to it's rightful status as a presitgous title.
I also like the non-build-up going into this one. For me, it's more of a case where, since they aren't spending a ton of TV time going over it, not only are they building up the IC Title as prestigious in the process, but they're also setting us up for a pleasant surprise when Benoit and RVD come out and put on the match of the night.
I don't know if it will be better than Brock/Rock. Brock/Rock is either gonna' be really awesome or a disappointment. As for them "fueding," they've talked about each other little, Benoit getting in some jibes about not wanting to defend it, but WHO CARES!? We're getting the match, and I don't care if there is little build-up. It'll be purely based on wrestling and who wants the IC title more. Good. By the way, I've learned responding to every other post in your thread is boring. Please stop.
Looks forward to an "unbuilt up" Benoit/RVD matchup.
The REAL question is, "Who Bettah Than Cory Dillon"!?
I think they're doing the best they can, given that the guys are on different shows. Although the FedExing back and forth is getting a little old.
I'd like a little more interaction between the two, but I really don't see it — short of Benoit chopping off RVD's ponytail, then tacking it up backstage at Smackdown.
"My brother saw the Undertaker walking through an airport." - Rex
I do not need a feud to think this could well be the show stealing match for summerslam. Frankly, at times the whole "feud" concept is overdone. Beniot won the belt and went to smackdown with it, RVD is finally getting a shot at getting the belt back. If the whole idea is that wrestlers want to be the champion of whatever division, it makes perfect sense to me that RVD would have all the motivation in the world to defeat Beniot. It does not always have to be about "______ stole my mask!!!! (not even mentioning his name, for fear he might return.)
I look at this match as a "GM ego" match. The pep talks from Steph to Benoit stressing the improtance of retaining the title for Smackdown. Good King Eric wanting to rest RVD in order for him to be more rested than Benoit, thus gaining an advantage for RAW. Look for either GM to celebrate more than the actual winner of the match. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw both Steph and Bischoff in some capacity during the match.
van Dam's basically dead in the water on Raw at the moment, so they should move him to SmackDown! He should beat Benoit, THEN Steph signs him away. That way the feud can continue past this Sunday.
Molly, Goddess Amongst Mediocrity, The Only TRUE Diva! I Worship At Your Big-Assed Altar!
Originally posted by RawLoI think just their reputations for their in-ring work is enough hype for this match! Hell man- it's RVD and Chris Benoit!
...which means what to the casual fan?
Screw the casual fans. It's for the belt. All that matters. If the avaerage idiot can watch and not understand the important of fighting for a belt, then screw 'em.
I agree with BobHollyRules (cheap plug) new article on the slash. Everyone always talks about why can't guys just feud for the belts and now it finally happens and then people have to just complain and bitch about how the feud "wasn't given enough time". Anyone who's watched the last month of tv knows why they're fighting. It's a pissing contest between the GM's now as well. A feud based on a belt. Imagine that.
The REAL question is, "Who Bettah Than Cory Dillon"!?
A feud based on one guy having a blet and the other guy not having the belt and wanting the belt is always good. I think the problem people might have is that the only build towards it they did this week was on the Raw side, where Bischoff wanted to make sure his wrestler, RVD, didn't get hurt so he could get the belt back.
Over on SmackDown, Benoit hasn't been defending or really mentioning his IC Belt, so it hasn't been built up as something that other people are gunning for so that they can be champ and have money to eat at Olive Garden like Jamie Noble, or have the honor of defending it at the 2nd biggest show of 'em all. Benoit's been floating around the world title scene instead of beating up people for looking at his cool belt, the one that Rob Van Dam doesn't have and, if Benoit has his way, will never get. Something with Benoit gloating like that to Eddie would have been neat. Or on the other side, RVD making note of how Benoit stole the belt last time or saying something like "Man, I sure could go for some Doritos. And also the Intercontinental Title."
I still think it's a really good matchup and the Bischoff thing was a good attempt to work around the unfortunate seperation of the two, but a little more attention to the belt itself and Benoit as an angry guy determined to not lose it would have really turned it into something special like it could be.
This feud is fine. These are the two best in ring workers. All they have to do is leave them along and give them enough time to work. It would have been worse had they thrown in Stephanie and Bischoff in promos and had them overshadow these two wrestlers. I'm looking foward to this match the most.
I'm just a little sorry that neither Benoit or RVD cut a promo about the belt. No imtimidation, no nothing. Granted, it is about the belt, and that's a good thing. But the wrestler's themselves have been pretending like they don't even have a match against each other.
Although its possible I just missed something immense.
Scott Keith posted his reviews of the matches over the past weeks. That's a tempting set for lots of reasons, and I recall being utterly convinced Flair would be retired by Vader.