Former Creative Writer slams PPV finish

[parder]

I was reading through the Breaking Point feedback on F4WOnline.com, and apparently Court Bauer who worked on creative back in 2006 I believe sent this in:

I'm embarrassed for whoever suggested that finish. It was cheap and a cheaters way out and to me, cowardly booked. It's shameful that with such an incredible wealth of wrestling insight, this is where it ended up going. While it isn't the end of the world, it certainly  could end up being detrimental in a multitude of ways.

This finish had no heat in my eyes. And if it DID, it's on Teddy Long
and doesn't transfer to CM Punk where the money is - but even that heat is doubtful. I sense if there is any heat coming out of that match it's on the company and not the talent.

Equally important and concerning to WWE's North American endeavors is that they continue their initiative to alienate one of the most fiercely loyal and ravenous fan bases in Montreal and in a sense, Canada, by shitting on them and leaving them with a cheap finish on the main event. These fans that the promotion are seemingly determined to run off, will eventually "get it" and be gone for good. And would you blame them? They buy WWE Pay-Per-Views and TV tickets at a premium in a depressed economy and get THIS as a reward? It's obscene. But don't worry Quebecers and Canadiens, UFC loves Montreal and Canada and lets the fans know it and will again soon with the next fight card.

Also obscene: fans worldwide paying a premium on pay-per-view and getting burned on that investment when going in core and a few casual fans were curiously buzzing about "what do they do for this finish?" Well, they got their answer and it's a message heard loud and clear: don't invest your curiosity, imagination, time and most importantly your money in us." Instead, expect a hack play from a bad playbook.

Another concern I have from a business perspective is they built
little if any equity in their initial outing to brand a new annual
"submission" pay-per-view by giving such a comprised pay off in the main event finish. The goal should've been to deliver a memorable Breaking Point Pay-Per-View that resonates in a positive way so fans are compelled to comeback for the 2010 version of the concept. They have their work cut out to get the new concept over for another go at it in 2010.

Of course, if WWE closes the door on Canada (or vice versa), another door opens for someone else. Of course, UFC and GSP are ROCK STARS up north and perhaps Dixie Carter and TNA Wrestling can see this as an opening and give the loyal fans of Canada a wrestling product that embraces their nationality, culture and passion for the genre. WWE certainly isn't concerned with such.


Court Bauer

I have a new job that has an early start, so I haven't had a chance to check out the show yet. But I'm curious what the general consensus is around here about the close of the PPV considering this is the opinion of someone who has actually been involved in the booking process. It seemed to me they booked themselves into a corner by having to do the first Punk vs. Taker as a submission match. I'd be curious to see what Bauer would have done instead under the circumstances.

[Deleted]

I thought it was an okay finish, and about what I expect going in. I'd be complaining much more about the match - it sucked, though admittedly that one doesn't bother me much as I'm one of the few people who expected it to.

[MGH]

It was the biggest downside of these shows next to burning out the specialty matches themselves. Creative becomes handcuffed by themes, not by logic and where the story should go. Their match gets a pass from me because Taker is so physically effed right now still, but the finish(es) do not. So Punk tapped clean in about nine minutes. So, Taker owns him, more or less. Then they repeat the Montreal Screwjob for what, the fiftieth time? He's right. Punk won't get the hatred for this. It'll be either Long or Armstrong, or heaven forbid, Vince as a regular on Smackdown protecting "his" champion.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but they should have closed with Orton/Cena if things were going to end that way.

[YellowJacketY2J]

I thought the finish worked. How else would they have Punk walk out the champion?

[Jay Carroll]

Taker/Punk as a Submission match in Montreal was just dumb thinking anyway. And the only direction they could go in without making Taker look weak or taking the belt off of Punk was to rehash the Screwjob.

All of that said, the WWE isn't doing themselves any favors with their continual pissing on a market that is hot for wrestling despite not being catered to like America is.

[Perpetual Nirvana]

Sept 14, 2009 16:02:13 GMT -5 YellowJacketY2J said:

I thought the finish worked. How else would they have Punk walk out the champion?

Not rush into Punk/Undertaker and book it as a submission match. Feed Punk someone like Matt Hardy and have Undertaker stalk Punk until he's fully fit.

[carp (SPC, Itoh Respect Army)]

Sept 14, 2009 16:02:13 GMT -5 YellowJacketY2J said:

I thought the finish worked. How else would they have Punk walk out the champion?

Um, by having him win? Koslov beat Undertaker; no reason Punk couldn't.


Or, if you want to extend the feud, then he cheats? Maybe? It's not rocket science.

[Big Daddy Bad Booking]

I thought having Undertaker/Punk at BP would have been as hypocritical as having Morrison/Ziggler for the same reason: the finish. Undertaker shouldn't really be champ, yet its almost inconceivable for Punk to have a CLEAN submission win. This logic is also full of holes as a submission match is no DQ, and even BANNED moves should be allowed. Having Long turn heel made no sense, and it'll make Punk look even more stupid when he more or less loses at HIAC.

[Full of IT.]

Sept 14, 2009 16:06:08 GMT -5 Perpetual Nirvana said:

Sept 14, 2009 16:02:13 GMT -5 YellowJacketY2J said:

I thought the finish worked. How else would they have Punk walk out the champion?

Not rush into Punk/Undertaker and book it as a submission match. Feed Punk someone like Matt Hardy and have Undertaker stalk Punk until he's fully fit.

Agreed. Aren't there reports circulating that he's not anywhere close to 100%?

[YellowJacketY2J]

Sept 14, 2009 16:06:08 GMT -5 Perpetual Nirvana said:

Sept 14, 2009 16:02:13 GMT -5 YellowJacketY2J said:

I thought the finish worked. How else would they have Punk walk out the champion?

Not rush into Punk/Undertaker and book it as a submission match. Feed Punk someone like Matt Hardy and have Undertaker stalk Punk until he's fully fit.

I meant since Punk/Taker was already booked. I myself wouldn't have booked this match just yet.

[YellowJacketY2J]

Sept 14, 2009 16:07:02 GMT -5 carp (SPC, Itoh Respect Army) said:

Sept 14, 2009 16:02:13 GMT -5 YellowJacketY2J said:

I thought the finish worked. How else would they have Punk walk out the champion?

Um, by having him win? Koslov beat Undertaker; no reason Punk couldn't.


Or, if you want to extend the feud, then he cheats? Maybe? It's not rocket science.

How can he cheat in a Submission Match with No DQ?

[Nikita]

He lost all of his credibility around the TNA remark. I mean we are talking about the company that ends 3/4 off all PPV matches with some kind of screwy finish.

I can kind of see the point in this but it still was the only non-clear finish on the whole show and at least I liked it. It made sense and builds perfectly all Long, Punk and the rematch at Hell in a Cell.

[The Doctor]

Seems like a huge over-reaction to me.

[carp (SPC, Itoh Respect Army)]

Sept 14, 2009 16:08:54 GMT -5 YellowJacketY2J said:

Sept 14, 2009 16:07:02 GMT -5 carp (SPC, Itoh Respect Army) said:

Um, by having him win? Koslov beat Undertaker; no reason Punk couldn't.


Or, if you want to extend the feud, then he cheats? Maybe? It's not rocket science.

How can he cheat in a Submission Match with No DQ?

Kick him in the groin? Stick a knife in his eye? Threaten the safety of an innocent woman unless Taker submits? It doesn't need to be illegal, just dishonorable.

The other point is, he like could have WON. I have no idea why Taker losing is this impossibility. He loses all the time.

[Full of IT.]

Sept 14, 2009 16:12:05 GMT -5 carp (SPC, Itoh Respect Army) said:

Sept 14, 2009 16:08:54 GMT -5 YellowJacketY2J said:

How can he cheat in a Submission Match with No DQ?

Kick him in the groin? Stick a knife in his eye? Threaten the safety of an innocent woman unless Taker submits? It doesn't need to be illegal, just dishonorable.

The other point is, he like could have WON. I have no idea why Taker losing is this impossibility. He loses all the time.

[kayfabe]

Because a man whom is dead doesn't have a breaking point?

[/kayfabe]

[YellowJacketY2J]

I'm not saying I liked the finish (I'm getting sick and tired of the Screwjob being rehashed). I'm just saying that this was one of the only ways for them to book Punk leaving as champ.

Also, this ties into Teddy's probation. He screwed Taker so he could keep his job.

[faceinyourcrowd]

I disagree, I think WWE brought their A game last night, or at least gave a real effort to.

We had a really original type of I Quit match with two guys who are getting stale and IMO don't always get the job done.

We had the FIRST EVER submissions count anywhere match... and the falls count anywhere stip was made relevant from the opening bell to the end. We also, in this match, had a couple new guys go over DX.

We had Kofi Kingston and the Miz put on a great effort, probably Miz' first great singles match.

The Canadian crowd was given Christian Regal because creative was smart enough to know thats a match Montreal wants to see.

OK so we rehashed the screw job at the end, I see no problem with furthering the feud in a reasonable way. I think a big reason it isnt working for some people is that Taker isnt a sympathetic hero. Think about when McMahon/Rocky screwed Mankind, he was a sympathetic character that we actually felt bad for. I don't think that we empathize with Taker that way, we fans know him as our avatar of justice who smashes the bad guys. He's not our everyman hero that we want to see overcome the odds... in fact no one is anymore, but thats a story for another thread.

[BitterAF]

With it being their first match and it having to be a submission match, there really wasn't anything to do unless they dropped the no DQ part, had Punk hit Taker with a chair a few times and have the ref raise Takers had 3 times and fall and then go into the next PPV with Taker never really tapped and Punk used X object to knock Taker out.

[VengeanceGOD]

They hung themselves out to dry by making the submission match No DQ. Otherwise, Punk could've just locked in the vice, Taker gets to the ropes, and Punk doesn't let go. Bam, DQ ending, Punk looks like a jerk but not a putz, and Taker has a legit reason not to get in the ring again until the next PPV.

[faceinyourcrowd]

Sept 14, 2009 16:26:17 GMT -5 VengeanceGOD said:

They hung themselves out to dry by making the submission match No DQ. Otherwise, Punk could've just locked in the vice, Taker gets to the ropes, and Punk doesn't let go. Bam, DQ ending, Punk looks like a jerk but not a putz, and Taker has a legit reason not to get in the ring again until the next PPV.

damn son, that is EXACTLY how it should have been done