Another good show last night. I know that a lot of the Undertaker/Kane stuff going on with the lights off is cheesy but I still cheered in my living room. Kennedy and MVP have a lot of great energy and their facial expressions and selling are some of the best around.
I thought David Taylor was supposed to be out for a few monthes with an injury. He sure looked great in the ring.
JBL really makes the wrestlers seem like the Superstars the company wants them to be seen as. His banter with Michael Cole about kissing Vito was pretty funny.
I only saw the Matt Hardy vs Joey Mercury match. I thought it was good, and it looks like we might be about to embark on another Matt Hardy mini-push. JBL did put Hardy over huge in this match too which I thought was a nice touch.
JBL is the best thing to happen to wrestling commentary in over a decade. Fact.
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
The funny thing is, Ireally didn't like JBL when he first started. I thought he was still trying too hard to get himself over, a lot of times at the expense of the wrestlers. He's sure moved past that phase though. I especially liked the way he sold Helm's title reign last night. He started off by being indignant that Helm's title reign could be compared to his own, but by the end of the match he had grudgingly admitted that Helm's accomplishment was greater.
Also, JBL on Benoit: "That man was a hero to me, and look how he's fallen."
I like JBL on commentary, but I don't like him during the Vito/Sylvan matches. If these guys are never going to be taken seriously then what is their purpose? And some of the crap JBL was spewing during that match seemed pretty offensive. It was like that match was set up just so JBL could go on his homophobic rants.*
*I didn't actually watch that part last night, but read about what JBL said later.
(edited by geemoney on 16.12.06 1413) College, Sports and more!: Experience It
You don't want JBL putting everyone over though or else he ends up sounding like a joke. I'll be interested to see if he can stay behind a couple of guys and actually help their cause down the road.
Ladies and gentlemen, the following public service message is brought to you by your friends from D-Generation X, who would like to remind each and every one of you that if you're not down with that, we've got two words for you...
Originally posted by geemoneyI think he hasn't found that "happy medium" between putting someone over and burying someone (like he's doing with Vito).
Give JBL time. He's at this gig what, six months? Personally, I'm still astounded that he's come this far this quickly to the point where he's easily the best color guy in North American wrestling (which, admittedly, is due in large part to everyone else except for Tazz being utterly awful).
smark/net attack Advisory System Status is: Elevated (Holds; June 18, 2006) While the switch from Cena to RVD should alleviate some complaints, the inevitability of the belt's return to Cena (note where Summerslam is this year) and the poor initial showing by the new ECW are enough to keep the indicator where it is for now. The pieces are in place, though, especially on RAW, for improvements to be made to the IWC's psyche in the near future.
I watched Smackdown for the first time in at least a year, and it was pretty enjoyable. As much as I should have hated Taker surprising Kennedy in the limo, I loved it. The facial expressions and the timing was so spot on.
I also came away with the impression that Regal LOVES being a professional wrestler. I especially enjoyed when he cheap shotted London on the floatover attempt, and he walked away shaking his hand, with an expression suggesting "if my hand hurts like this, imagine how his head feels!"
EDIT: Also, I was on the phone during the Chavo-Funaki match, and the aftermath made for a weird vibe with no sound, as Benoit glowers down on a frightened widow with a neckbrace, terrified that Benoit is going to hit her. I know that in storyline she is exaggerating, but without commentary it came off very weird and off-putting.
(edited by hansen9j on 16.12.06 1658) Proud member of the Dwight Army of Champions.
Bradshaw's commentary against Vito no doubt carries a hint of homophobia behind it, but hey, he's the heel commentator and Vito is the face. Cole is the one saying how Vito just likes wearing the dress and how he's expressing himself....it just doesn't have the same impact because nobody listens to Michael Cole. And, well, it's a dumb gimmick anyway.
"I don't know what is more disquieting -- the fact that the rest of the statue is missing, or that it has four toes."
Yeah, Vito and Sylvan aren't meant to be taken seriously. They're mid-card fodder.
Fun show.
I really like Kennedy's and MVP's interactions together. It's really cool that they don't like or trust each other but have to work together to get past Kane and 'Taker. Them dismissing each others' upcoming matches was great. It's similar to the Booker and Finlay dynamic.
What a horrible angle for Benoit. The Eddy stuff is bad enough but now he's accused of abuse to women? Vickie on her days praying was unsettling.
Originally posted by Big BadBradshaw's commentary against Vito no doubt carries a hint of homophobia behind it, but hey, he's the heel commentator and Vito is the face. Cole is the one saying how Vito just likes wearing the dress and how he's expressing himself....it just doesn't have the same impact because nobody listens to Michael Cole. And, well, it's a dumb gimmick anyway.
It seemed more like JBL was expressing his disgust for homosexuality. I didn't get the sense that he was afraid of homosexuals, he wouldn't of said anything negative about homosexuality if he was afraid of homosexuals. By the way, did anyone else think that Vicki Guerrero looked like the ogre version of Princess Fiona from Shrek? Maybe it was the neck brace that made her face pudgy.
Originally posted by Big BadBradshaw's commentary against Vito no doubt carries a hint of homophobia behind it, but hey, he's the heel commentator and Vito is the face. Cole is the one saying how Vito just likes wearing the dress and how he's expressing himself....it just doesn't have the same impact because nobody listens to Michael Cole. And, well, it's a dumb gimmick anyway.
It seemed more like JBL was expressing his disgust for homosexuality. I didn't get the sense that he was afraid of homosexuals, he wouldn't of said anything negative about homosexuality if he was afraid of homosexuals. By the way, did anyone else think that Vicki Guerrero looked like the ogre version of Princess Fiona from Shrek? Maybe it was the neck brace that made her face pudgy.
Maybe, but she is just not a pretty girl either. Also, the JBL anti-gay stuff seems a bit dated to me, but maybe it's a sentiment shared by the WWE demographic.
True, but at the same time they're probably not going to be complaining about the drop in expenses, especially during a lean year otherwise. And I just thought of two more: Rikishi and Sable.
Thread rated: 4.22
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