Okay folks, here's a simple question that came to me while I was watching WrestleMania XX on DVD. Now, The Rock isn't a full-time wrestler. He comes back once in a while to boost ratings and shake things up, then leaves. He was involved in last year's WrestleMania. With buyrates reported to be down compared to last year, do you think The Rock will be at WrestleMania 21 in Los Angeles? It's an easy way to guarantee at least a tiny buyrate boost, right?
EDIT: For reference, recent WWE buyrates: -Survivor Series: ~320,000 [about the same as 2002] -Taboo Tuesday [RAW]: ~180,000 -No Mercy [SD]: ~200,000 -Unforgiven [RAW]: ~230,000 -SummerSlam: ~410,000 -WrestleMania: ~850,000 -Royal Rumble: ~580,000
(edited by Freeway420 on 4.12.04 0136) "Illusions, Michael. A trick is something a whore does for money...or candy!" - G.O.B. Bluth, Arrested Development
That show needs everything it can get, but David A says that Rock is filming something in March, which means he probably is not going to have time to do any TV, let alone work a program building to a match. Based on that, I'm thinking special cameo, hopefully promoted in advance or else there's no point. Maybe as a guest referee.
On the other hand, Dave says you will probably see Steve Austin and Mick Foley involved in some capacity.
While rummaging through WWE's Investor Relations site, I found a simple answer to a question we've seen posed here: The WWE requires 1.6 million pay-per-view buys to break even for the year, at least according to their 2004 fiscal numbers. For the curious, the WWE did 5.4 million buys in fiscal 2004, accounting for about $95.3 million in revenue.
"Illusions, Michael. A trick is something a whore does for money...or candy!" - G.O.B. Bluth, Arrested Development
I have a gut feeling. It says this: The Rock will be involved, in some capacity, with the next Wrestlemania. He's got his freedom, but he's still a company man. He'll do what he can.
The Goal: SLACK The Method: The Casting Out of False Prophets The Weapon: Time Control The Motto: "Fuck Them All of they Can't Take a Joke"
I would cautiously say yes if it was anywhere in the world, but the fact that it IS in Hollywood and The Rock would practically be down the street, he's definitely showing up.
I would bet that he'll be there in some capacity. Against who, or with who... it's probably too early to say. But I would think he'll have to put in some kind of appearance, for his sake and WWE's sake.
That said, I think The Rock is producing the law of diminishing returns. Seeing him a couple of times a year isn't the guaranteed buy-rate pop that it used to be even a year or more ago. Not to suggest that he can't draw money, but each time he returns is going to be a little less "special".
I kinda disagree with the law of diminishing returns his last few apperances espically coming back to help Eugene the first time popped the ratings huge. I like the idea that Rock can show up at an second, because it makes Raw ten times better, because Rock won't let his segments deal with HHH unless its to mock him. I don't think Rock will ever return to full time status which is sad, because he is obviously the most over guy in the company and he is so young that he could be like Flair and just do **** to ***** matches with anyone right now. Yet, if I were Rock, I'd take the money and movies, guy has a family to take care off and I'm sure he'd like to be able to play with his kids when he is 40 too.
I would expect him back at Wrestlemania 21, because I have a feeling he will be at the Rumble this year since both events are in California. I don't know what he would do, but a program with either Edge or Cena would be tight. As for his shooting schedule, I head he was taking some time off between Spy Hunter and Johnny Bravo.
"All faith reguires is giving into the possibility of hope."
Originally posted by Freeway420Okay folks, here's a simple question that came to me while I was watching WrestleMania XX on DVD. Now, The Rock isn't a full-time wrestler. He comes back once in a while to boost ratings and shake things up, then leaves. He was involved in last year's WrestleMania. With buyrates reported to be down compared to last year, do you think The Rock will be at WrestleMania 21 in Los Angeles? It's an easy way to guarantee at least a tiny buyrate boost, right?
EDIT: For reference, recent WWE buyrates: -Survivor Series: ~320,000 [about the same as 2002] -Taboo Tuesday [RAW]: ~180,000 -No Mercy [SD]: ~200,000 -Unforgiven [RAW]: ~230,000 -SummerSlam: ~410,000 -WrestleMania: ~850,000 -Royal Rumble: ~580,000
(edited by Freeway420 on 4.12.04 0136)
I'd attribute more of the WrestleMania buy rate to the fact that it's WrestleMania, and a lot of people ONLY order WrestleMania.
I never, to the best of my knowledge, cut my toenails.
I hope the Rock doesn't show there as he'll take away match time from people who deserve to be there and have worked with the company for the previous year or so...
OverpusHHHed...Patterson was right...
"Win if you can, lose if you must, but in the end, always cheat..." - Jesse "the Body" Ventura
I was thinking about WrestleMania the other day, and considered the Smackdown side.
* It's looking more and more like JBL will (shudder) hold onto the belt until WM21, where he'll defend against John Cena.
* Angle might face off against Shawn Michaels in a cross-brand legends match.
* The guys who I keep seeing as left out of a lot of big-money matches are Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero...so why not square them off in an interbrand match? It can be booked around mutual respect and a "who's the best pound-for-pound" type of angle.
So on the Smackdown side, this leaves Undertaker as the only big main eventer without a headline match. Since Los Angeles was the start of Undertaker's WrestleMania unbeaten streak, why not schedule him against the Rock...the new 'king' of Hollywood? This would certainly be a high-profile type of main event that can pull in some buyrates, and Rock/Undertaker haven't locked up in a few years to make it seem like a fresh matchup. Undertaker would have to win, but Rock suffers nothing since everyone loses to Taker at WM, and it doesn't look like Rock is just coming in to job to some new guy (i.e. his last appearances).
You know, first of all, we are doing this for her, okay? Because neither one of us wants to get divorced. And second-of-ly, I know you're the big marriage expert... Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot. Your wife is dead.
[laughs] [beat]
...I'm sorry, that was 100% inappropriate, and I do apologize profusely...I'm...oh...
Well, if the Rock isn't at Mania this year, I think it will be like closing a book on the best era in the WWE. If he can't work his schedule out to work 4 or 5 shows every March, he probably will be making no appearances at all this year. And the fact is, the Rock is still the most oevr guy in the company, which is kind of sad in a way but shows how great the Rock is.
And since people are talking about Michaels/Angle, how about Michaels/Rock. That match has never happened either.
I think he'll definitley be there in some capacity, whether it's wrestling or just cutting a live interview or something. I'm sure there are still alot of Rock fans out there who are waiting for his annual WM appearance. Plus, the fact that it's in LA this year doesn't hurt.
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Taker and Kane are supposed to unite to face Snistky and Heidenriech. If Taker retires after this match, disappointment would not be the word. I would have liked to see Taker/HHH part II at Wrestlemania, but I doubt it. So far, the rumored Kurt/HBK match would be the only thing interesting me as Orton/HHH will be down right tired if they don't do something soon.
"All faith reguires is giving into the possibility of hope."
Originally posted by Big BadThe guys who I keep seeing as left out of a lot of big-money matches are Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero...so why not square them off in an interbrand match? It can be booked around mutual respect and a "who's the best pound-for-pound" type of angle.
I'd personally like to see a Los Guerreros reunion before WMXXI and have them involved in possibly a Ladder match again whoever is the Smackdown tag champs at the time.
"Taker and Kane are supposed to unite to face Snistky and Heidenriech."
Taker is still earmarked for Angle as of yet. I believe Brothers of D vs. Snitsky/Heidenreich was just Meltzer making a joke with which someone must've run.
"If Taker retires after this match, disappointment would not be the word."
Taker isn't retiring.
"It's looking more and more like JBL will (shudder) hold onto the belt until WM21, where he'll defend against John Cena."
I had thought so too, but I asked Dave and he said probably not and the belt would be on Angle or Undertaker.
"The guys who I keep seeing as left out of a lot of big-money matches are Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero...so why not square them off in an interbrand match?"
I was thinking similarly, but I'd much rather see Benoit vs. Jericho, because they haven't wrestled since early 2001.
"So on the Smackdown side, this leaves Undertaker as the only big main eventer without a headline match."
Unfortunately it's Angle, although I'm holding out hope that someone will separate that ultra-dull match in favor of Angle/Michaels, because that's the only special match left and the show's main event, Orton vs. Triple H, is so dull that it's anti-special. My politically conceding-consolation is Taker vs. Cena in the world title match, but while that would give Cena the biggest win and rub possible at this stage of the game as his crowning moment, UT is not going to give up that streak.
Based on everything that's gone down and the chance for a special angle and a big payday, I'm wondering if Foley isn't going to ultimately end up wrestling Flair here. It really sucks to reward Flair for being a complete moron toady though.
See, I've got this crazy idea in my head that, if they booked it properly, JBL Vs. Foley in an old-school bloodbath could be both a good draw AND a great match. It's just one of those matches I really wanna see, if only to put an end to my curiosity. Buuuut as you say, it does seem like he'll end up fighting Flair in what will pretty much amount to a worthless match.
As for other matches: I'd rehire Dustin Runnels around February time and unveil him as booker's surprise partner against Carlito and Jesus, which I tihnk would make for an uber-hot tag feud; I think they'll end up going the Benjamin/Benoit route for the Intercontinental strap, with the whole respect deal buoying it up; they REALLY should book Angle/Michaels, as it's probably gonna be their last chance to do so, which leaves Taker free to face Cena or someone else (Guerrero?).
Once upon a time in China, some believe, around the year one double-ought three, head priest of the White Lotus Clan, Pai Mei was walking down the road, contemplating whatever it is that a man of Pai Mei's infinite power contemplates - which is another way of saying "who knows" - when a Shaolin monk appeared, traveling in the opposite direction. As the monk and the priest crossed paths, Pai Mei, in a practically unfathomable display of generosity, gave the monk the slightest of nods. The nod was not returned. Now was it the intention of the Shaolin monk to insult Pai Mei or did he just fail to see the generous social gesture? The motives of the monk remain unknown. What is known, are the consequences. The next morning Pai Mei appeared at the Shaolin Temple and demanded of the Temple's head abbot that he offer Pai Mei his neck to repay the insult. The Abbot at first tried to console Pai Mei, only to find Pai Mei was inconsolable. So began the massacre of the Shaolin Temple and all 60 of the monks inside at the fists of the White Lotus. And so began the legend of Pai Mei's five point palm exploding heart technique.
It's insane if Cena doesn't win the Smackdown title at WM. They're waiting and waiting and waiting with the guy and the moment might pass. Angle v. UT won't have much heat at all. Cena is really the hottest star in the company, it seems to be they HAVE to build the show around him.
You'd think. I hope he does. On the one hand, there's probably a feeling that they don't want to do the same "superstar of the future wins world title" story that they'll be doing with Randy Orton.
At the same time, as much as I and everyone else have cooled on Cena this year, at least he stayed mega-over as a face, unlike Randy, and the idea that he should be taking a backseat to Orton is silly in every aspect other than Orton is better in-ring and Orton is Triple H's opponent.
Of course, if they both were to both win the belts, WM21 could have the "young star" equivalent of Benoit and Guerrero at WM20 -- foreshadowed by their conversation at SummerSlam. They'd actually be in business if they'd held off Orton's turn until, like, right now and ran basically the same buildup to it for him that they're doing with Batista.
(Not that I'm saying it's all the angle and Batista has no special appeal, because it's clear that he does, especially over the last month. It's just that how they're doing it exactly right with Batista makes the boneheaded handling of Orton that much more egregious. I hate Orton as the top face, but if they were going to do it, they at least could've done it right.)
osh: "As for other matches: I'd rehire Dustin Runnels around February time and unveil him as booker's surprise partner against Carlito and Jesus,"
That's nifty. Booker should've brought in Goldust to counteract the Chief of Staff, Orlando Jordan.
I am kind of thinking Guerrero vs. Carlito, probably with Chavo and Jesus involved? Latino Heat vs. Caribbean Cool. Perhaps because I subconsciously want to segregate the Hispanics.
"I think they'll end up going the Benjamin/Benoit route for the Intercontinental strap"
What would rule is Interbrand Matchup of Benjamin vs. Haas, but for that to work and be anything more than a major step down for Shelton, they'd have to build up Charlie from some guy to mid-level heel status.
Originally posted by TL_HopperIf John Cena DOESN'T win the WWE Title at Wrestlemania I'll shit nickels. He is the ONLY logical choice.
Keep in mind people were thinking this about RVD not too long ago...just think about that. As for the original subject of Rock at WM21 Im positive its gonna happen. He loves performing and theres only one man you could put him agaisnt at this this stage...RIC FLAIR!!! Just say that to your self a few times, Flair vs Rock, Rock vs Flair...you can almost hear the "cha-ching" and smell the cash.
In other words Vince probably won't do it.
(edited by mercer on 5.12.04 1343) Later God bless Marvelous Matt Mercer www.MattMercer.tk
I’m not sure has anyone on Raw they can dump on Smackdown to make up for a lot of the DOA acts they got stuck with. Almas looks like a lock for Smackdown now which is exciting.