I had to leave after the Finlay segment (which was awesome), but overall the show was pretty good.
The combination of Rey vs Angle and Heyman on commentary made that the most enjoyable TV segment I've seen in a long time. Heyman knew just how to elevate both guys with his comments. Angle was just awesome too, though a little hokey with his random grunting toward the camera after the match on the ramp. There's intense and then there's just being silly. All in all, great great stuff.
The mini Lashley interview was bad. He shouldn't be doing that until he can do it right. The guy's size speaks for itself right now. Get him some acting coaches.
Hardy vs Nunzio was filler for sure, but Hardy looked solid. Hope he ends up in ECW and has a few matches against Angle. Crossdressing Vito was sorta funny, but mostly stupid.
Pipers Pit was cool because I love Piper and like Daivari. Khali is ridiculous though. I mean, its cool that this guy is huge and scary looking. People who don't watch wrestling are probably impressed by him. But he should have spent a few more months learning how to wrestle before being put on national TV. Hopefully his matches stay short and sparse, and he is training his balls off inbetween. The guy doesn't need to speak, but he sure as hell should know how to do something other than choke, kick, and chop.
Diva segment was stupid. Not much else to say there. Nice outfits at least.
Mark Henry is one scary mofo, and I like how he's being used. He's the one man time-off scapegoat. I'm slightly grossed out by the immense spray of water from his head at his first sudden movement in his matches. I also think he should get rid of the shiny gold trim on his outfit as he looks like a circus animal. Burchill is awesome, and I hope he gets a good role when he comes back.
Finally, Finlay and the leprechaun. HILARIOUS. I couldn't believe how much I was laughing. The kicker was when he then returned the little dude to beneath the ring. And Finlay just plays it off as completely normal, though he did momentarily have a little smirk on his face as he went back up the ramp. This is gold, I just it doesn't get too dumb too quickly.
HBK: You’re flat broke aren’t you? MJ: Please let me wrestle on RAW! HBK: Fine, but I ain’t wearin’ no fruity tassels. MJ: Are these your mirror pants? HBK: Give me those!
I can't believe how that King Booker segment was a) about three minutes too long and b) still completely awesome at the same time. My favourite part was the glassy-eyed 'royal' look Booker had the whole time, like he was posing for a portrait. I cracked up when they came back from commercial and Regal's voice was starting to get hoarse.
"He looks like a perverted roofer who knocks off early on warm spring days to drink beer and ogle teenage girls at the river, but wrestles like a man who actually cares about his job." ---DVDVR's Raven Mack on "Gigolo" Jimmy Del Ray
Man, I'm sorry but Lashley has no charisma whatsoever. Get him off my tv. Booker is, as always, awesome. I'm totally glad they went with him for king. What I'm most excited about though, is Taz returing to action at One Night Stand. I was under the impression that he had a career-ending neck injury. Anybody know what's up with his health issues?
"Beat me if you can, old man. Survive if I let you."
Mark. Out.
Unfortunately, I missed most of Rey/Angle due to a screaming baby, but what I did catch was terrific. I almost decided to skip the rest of the show, and I'm glad I didn't.
"I don't think anyone anticipated the breach of the levees." -- George W. Bush, Good Morning America, September 1, 2005
"President Washington, President Lincoln, President Wilson, President Roosevelt have all authorized electronic surveillance on a far broader scale." -- Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, February 6, 2006
Originally posted by Tenken347What I'm most excited about though, is Taz returing to action at One Night Stand. I was under the impression that he had a career-ending neck injury. Anybody know what's up with his health issues?
He still has a bad neck. I don't know where Tazz/Lawler is going, but Tazz needs neck fusion surgery. He hasn't done it yet because he retired. I can't imagine they'll have a full-on match, since Tazz really shouldn't be bumping much w/ his neck.
Originally posted by Tenken347What I'm most excited about though, is Taz returing to action at One Night Stand. I was under the impression that he had a career-ending neck injury. Anybody know what's up with his health issues?
Tazz really shouldn't be bumping much w/ his neck.
Tazz shouldn't be bumping much to the offense of an "old man" anyway.
Does anyone know specifically why Heyman was emphasising so much how anyone from a four sided, six sided, or eight sided ring could challenge Angle?
Watching Grunge leg drop New Jack through a press table
Originally posted by 2P4EDoes anyone know specifically why Heyman was emphasising so much how anyone from a four sided, six sided, or eight sided ring could challenge Angle?
Angle could do a great program with many of the smaller young wrestlers from the wwe, he proved with Rey that he can make X-division guys famous and I think the heat he has with Puder could translate into a hot cross over program with a retrained UFC name. I wonder if Vince is partially eyeing UFC's audience with the ECW relaunch?
I just remembered that im absent minded wait i mean i lost my mind, i cant find it.
Originally posted by 2P4EDoes anyone know specifically why Heyman was emphasising so much how anyone from a four sided, six sided, or eight sided ring could challenge Angle?
I'm guessing this guy:
Although he was last seen in an eight-sided ring, the real reson it would be compelling to have him challenge Angle stems from the no-sided mat. He's Sylvester Turkay, the guy Angle beat for the NCAA championship.
Although it could be Puder, too. Or Rhyno. You'd think Rhyno's natural first feud would be with RVD, though.
"I tear my quadracep all the time! I tore it this morning, I'm fine! I'm here, I'm jumpin' around..." -- Kurt Angle
Originally posted by 2P4EDoes anyone know specifically why Heyman was emphasising so much how anyone from a four sided, six sided, or eight sided ring could challenge Angle?
I'm guessing this guy:
Although he was last seen in an eight-sided ring, the real reson it would be compelling to have him challenge Angle stems from the no-sided mat. He's Sylvester Turkay, the guy Angle beat for the NCAA championship.
Although it could be Puder, too. Or Rhyno. You'd think Rhyno's natural first feud would be with RVD, though.
The Miz makes my flesh crawl. He is so bad he should cross back over to good again, like the episode of Saved by the Bell where Jessie gets addicted to caffeine pills, but somehow, he doesn't even come close. He literally makes my skin tingle and redden with embarrassment even though I'm alone -- this is an impressive accomplishment that only the absolute worst TV is able to do. Between Christy Hemme and the Miz as wrestling "hosts," spastic and awkward Hemme is so much better, she should win a special Emmy or something. She should get a lifetime achievement award for all-time great wrestling-show hosts. I think she's probably better than Riki Rachtman, too.
The Miz also seems to be over, which is very disturbing and really drives home how far I've gotten from the target demographic. Then again, isn't everybody over when announcing big matches the live crowd is going to get to see? They do seem to be parroting his catchphrase, though.
I got a little twinge of excitement when Heyman mentioned the four-, six- or eight-sided ring challenge. Why, you ask? Well, it was the first-ever TNA reference on WWE TV. When I was a kid, once in a blue moon, the WWF would drop a reference to WCW of approximately this same level of subtlety. That was always very exciting. And though TNA is nowhere near where WCW was at the time, TNA is exactly where WCW was at the time to me, growing up in New York and thinking of WCW as hopelessly second-rate. Frankly, knowing what I know now about the comparative state of the companies, I'm surprised they'd do a TNA reference, but I guess that's ECW edginess for you.
I loved Tazz's old-school Taz promo, too. I know I'm in the minority here, but I don't really like Tazz as a color commentator. So Tazz as Taz was kind of awesome, and convincing, too. He sounded just like Taz!
Watching Lashley makes me think. (I bet you I'm the only person in the world ever to say that.) In this day and age, you really have to debut someone as a heel. See, what makes someone a good babyface today is heelish mannerisms. Everybody wants to see heelish mannerisms. But you can't bring a rookie out as a babyface with heelish mannerisms, because that makes him a heel. You really have no choice other than to bring him out as a heel and turn him if his heelish mannerisms catch on. You have to let the fans fall in love with the bad guy. Lashley's babyface baby face is at war with his heel body type and wrestling style, but really, the body type wins out and demands he be an asshole. He is not being that asshole right now. He needs to be a ruthless killer, and then if fans decide they love him a ruthless killer, well, so be it. Nobody likes interviews that contain phrases like "it's a great honor" and "It's been my lifelong dream."
Originally posted by DestrucityThe Miz also seems to be over, which is very disturbing and really drives home how far I've gotten from the target demographic.
I must be the same age or older but someone screaming into a microphone has passed me by.
First time I had heard Lashley and yeah uhh oh well I am sure he releases the animal when he wants
Loved Rey-Angle ( apart from the grunting)
And why do I feel Mark Henry is being set up for a program with Batista when he comes back? ie The monster who destroys Smackdown only to face a returning Batista who comes to restore order
I'm going to miss Paul Birchill's pirate gimmick. I read somewhere that WWE is pulling the character...which makes me wonder...WHY? Lord knows, there seems to be a positive reaction from the crowd when he's on.
I have a bad habit of loving short lived gimmicks. Mordecai, Birchill, Waylon Mercy (from way back)...it's almost sad. At least there's the rumour of Mordecai coming back to the new ECW show.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away.
Originally posted by OliverI'm going to miss Paul Birchill's pirate gimmick. I read somewhere that WWE is pulling the character...which makes me wonder...WHY? Lord knows, there seems to be a positive reaction from the crowd when he's on.
I have a bad habit of loving short lived gimmicks. Mordecai, Birchill, Waylon Mercy (from way back)...it's almost sad. At least there's the rumour of Mordecai coming back to the new ECW show.
Apparently Burchill's injured. They're not pulling the character due to hatred of it, but rather so he can get healthy.
What a good show. Great bookends, at least. Even with the bleh ending, Rey/Angle was **** and the best TV match of the year. (Its competiton, the Undertangle rematch, suffers from having an even worse finish.)
With a hotter finish it would've been a MOTYC, but they only have one legit candidate in half a year anyway, the first Taker/Angle match. Runner-up, Edge/Foley. I haven't seen Benoit/Finlay from Judgment Day yet though.
All hail King Booker
Yikes, what happened to Michelle. More like Michelle McTan. Getting an inadvertant pop because she was dressed like Stacy. Unable to deliver those lines about being hot without laughing. And clearly heavily instructed to chew on her glasses. At least Ashley still RULES.
HBK: You’re flat broke aren’t you? MJ: Please let me wrestle on RAW! HBK: Fine, but I ain’t wearin’ no fruity tassels. MJ: Are these your mirror pants? HBK: Give me those!
Originally posted by OliverI'm going to miss Paul Birchill's pirate gimmick. I read somewhere that WWE is pulling the character...which makes me wonder...WHY? Lord knows, there seems to be a positive reaction from the crowd when he's on.
I liked the silliness of it, but I don't mind the character's removal since it was (in storyline) created by Palmer Cannon, Network Executive, who wanted to make things a little more cartoony. Since the Cannon character (and wrestler portraying him) is gone from the company, from a logistic standpoint it doesn't make too much sense to keep Burchill in the pirate gimmick.
That being said, I doubt that was their actual reasoning behind it. Regardless, I'm not sure how far Burchill could've gone with a gimmick that heavy-handed.
It's unfortunate that Burchill's gimmick was shelved before the Pirates of the Caribbean movie was released, which seemed to be the entire purpose. He was giving it his all with the character, too, but I'm worried that now he'll go back to being just 'generic guy with his real name' and buried on the web shows. It's too bad, since he's easily one of the better wrestlers they have in the company.
"You know what the fellow said: In Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love. They had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock." --- Harry Lime (Orson Welles) in The Third Man
These are who I think will move to and from each brand and who I think will be drafting for each brand: Raw: (Drafted by Jonathan Coachman) 1. Mr. Kennedy (from Smackdown) 2. CM Punk (from ECW) 3. Mystery Pick (probably Jericho or Big Show) 4.