Michael Cole & Suspension of Disbelief

[wastelandwade]

Is anyone else finding it harder and harder (in a kayfabe sense) to believe that anyone who announces alongside Cole hasn't just tagged him in the jaw, consequences be damned?

I touched on this briefly last week in a thread somebody made regarding Cole's taunts about The King's recently deceased Mother. In a kayfabe sense, I couldn't see why King hadn't just smashed Cole's teeth down the back of his neck and said "f*** this job!" in order to defend his mother.

With The King though, you do have the stipulation of him being fired to fall back and also (at a push) the fact that he's a peaceful middle aged man now, nothing like the Jerry Lawler of old. He's seen it all and done it all perhaps doesn't want to go nuts on an announcer who he sees as just being a pain in the ass and not taking him too seriously.

Two people who don't have that excuse are over on Smackdown. On a lighter scale, there is Josh Matthews. Okay, he isn't an active in ring competitor but a lot of people are aware of his Tough Enough and Indy background and he is certainly capable of lamping Cole if needs be. So why doesn't he? Granted, Cole hasn't really targeted Josh directly so maybe Josh is just keeping out of it.

This leads me to somebody who could undoubtedly beat Cole's ass.



And really, why doesn't he? He said a few times last night he wanted somebody to snap Cole's skinny neck and then Cole laid into his suit and even his glasses and Booker just looked at him, disgusted.

I know I would mark out if they have Booker smash his way through the "Cole Mine" and axe kick Cole so hard in the back of the head that he shut his mouth for good and in the storyline, he has no reason why he couldn't.

Thoughts, opinions?

[Deleted]

What I hate is how King and Cole only half-sell it - they'll get along fine for most of the show, then to set up Cole's segment he'll randomly insult King for no reason and then they bicker until it's time for Cole to beat him down for the billionth time.

[Rorschach]

May 14, 2011 4:56:47 GMT -5 @wastelandwade said:

Is anyone else finding it harder and harder (in a kayfabe sense) to believe that anyone who announces alongside Cole hasn't just tagged him in the jaw, consequences be damned?

I touched on this briefly last week in a thread somebody made regarding Cole's taunts about The King's recently deceased Mother. In a kayfabe sense, I couldn't see why King hadn't just smashed Cole's teeth down the back of his neck and said "f*** this job!" in order to defend his mother.

With The King though, you do have the stipulation of him being fired to fall back and also (at a push) the fact that he's a peaceful middle aged man now, nothing like the Jerry Lawler of old. He's seen it all and done it all perhaps doesn't want to go nuts on an announcer who he sees as just being a pain in the ass and not taking him too seriously.

Two people who don't have that excuse are over on Smackdown. On a lighter scale, there is Josh Matthews. Okay, he isn't an active in ring competitor but a lot of people are aware of his Tough Enough and Indy background and he is certainly capable of lamping Cole if needs be. So why doesn't he? Granted, Cole hasn't really targeted Josh directly so maybe Josh is just keeping out of it.

This leads me to somebody who could undoubtedly beat Cole's ass.



And really, why doesn't he? He said a few times last night he wanted somebody to snap Cole's skinny neck and then Cole laid into his suit and even his glasses and Booker just looked at him, disgusted.

I know I would mark out if they have Booker smash his way through the "Cole Mine" and axe kick Cole so hard in the back of the head that he shut his mouth for good and in the storyline, he has no reason why he couldn't.

Thoughts, opinions?

Good question. It's a storyline "corner" that the untalented writers at WWE have painted themselves into. This also applies to ANY and all of the DIVAS Cole has crapped on, the mid-carders he's insulted, and the "guest commentators" who have been steamrolled by him in order to get himself over. Del Rio comes to mind as having been a victim of this recently, and he sat there docilely and let Cole speak over him and rant on. I know...he's a heel, and you don't want HIM of all people bitch-slapping Cole and getting a face-pop.

This leads to a SECONDARY question that the absolute morons writing this crap have overlooked since DAY GODDAMN ONE: So Lawler can't touch Cole; who's to say he can't f*****g PAY Daniel Bryan to kick the Cole Mine to pieces and then kick Cole's f*****g head in? Or hell, have Kane do it for him as a "favor for an old friend" (aka Lawler makes a "deal with the Devil")....or any number of situations where you add a young guy to the mix to counter Jack Swagger whilst doing what Lawler can't.

Also one other thing: Lawler has NEVER been one to play by the rules. NEVER. So why the HELL is he so concerned with doing it NOW? Why hasn't he been trying to find these loopholes in the GM's wording ALL ALONG?

*beats head against wall*

That, along with your point about Booker, is why I think this entire angle is Gooker of the Year material, hands down. SOOOOO many plot holes and such a terrible feud in general.

[Deleted]

I don't understand, either, why Lawler can't touch Cole, but challenging him to a match is perfectly acceptable and something that the GM would grant.

[Totorob101]

Probably because he is an announcer and i would think it is a ruling in the company that you cannot hit an annoucer or youll be severely punished.

[Rorschach]

May 14, 2011 6:02:32 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

I don't understand, either, why Lawler can't touch Cole, but challenging him to a match is perfectly acceptable and something that the GM would grant.

Or just wait for him outside the arena and beat the PISS out of him before he's officially "on the clock".

That's something they probably would have thought of back in the Attitude Era, as much as they liked to do "hardcore" matches and backstage skits and stuff. Hell, the "Shawn Michaels attack angle" was post-Attitude Era, and they STILL showed him getting his ass beat and left lying in a pool of blood. Shame they couldn't do that with Cole today. Just have Lawler catch Cole coming out of his limo or his luxury rental car, and just have him whale the bejeezuz out of Cole, and leave him in a bloody heap. THAT would have worked for Extreme Rules, since it's you know....all about the EXTREME and all.

Like I said, so many plotholes, the plotholes have plotholes in them. ;D

[hossfan]

King doesn't just beat the crap out of Cole because if he does so out of the ring he'll be fired.
King doesn't just hire someone to beat up Cole because he wants to do it himself.
Josh doesn't just beat up Cole because he's afraid of getting his ass kicked by Jack Swagger, or because he knows the RAW GM favors Cole and doesn't want to get punished, or because he's too busy laughing at Cole's schtick.
Booker doesn't just beat up Cole because all Cole's done is talk smack about him and physically assaulting him could lead to Booker losing his job or even going back to prison.

There. Problems solved.

[Ben Wyatt]

May 14, 2011 5:55:21 GMT -5 Rorschach said:

May 14, 2011 4:56:47 GMT -5 @wastelandwade said:

Is anyone else finding it harder and harder (in a kayfabe sense) to believe that anyone who announces alongside Cole hasn't just tagged him in the jaw, consequences be damned?

I touched on this briefly last week in a thread somebody made regarding Cole's taunts about The King's recently deceased Mother. In a kayfabe sense, I couldn't see why King hadn't just smashed Cole's teeth down the back of his neck and said "f*** this job!" in order to defend his mother.

With The King though, you do have the stipulation of him being fired to fall back and also (at a push) the fact that he's a peaceful middle aged man now, nothing like the Jerry Lawler of old. He's seen it all and done it all perhaps doesn't want to go nuts on an announcer who he sees as just being a pain in the ass and not taking him too seriously.

Two people who don't have that excuse are over on Smackdown. On a lighter scale, there is Josh Matthews. Okay, he isn't an active in ring competitor but a lot of people are aware of his Tough Enough and Indy background and he is certainly capable of lamping Cole if needs be. So why doesn't he? Granted, Cole hasn't really targeted Josh directly so maybe Josh is just keeping out of it.

This leads me to somebody who could undoubtedly beat Cole's ass.



And really, why doesn't he? He said a few times last night he wanted somebody to snap Cole's skinny neck and then Cole laid into his suit and even his glasses and Booker just looked at him, disgusted.

I know I would mark out if they have Booker smash his way through the "Cole Mine" and axe kick Cole so hard in the back of the head that he shut his mouth for good and in the storyline, he has no reason why he couldn't.

Thoughts, opinions?

Good question. It's a storyline "corner" that the untalented writers at WWE have painted themselves into. This also applies to ANY and all of the DIVAS Cole has crapped on, the mid-carders he's insulted, and the "guest commentators" who have been steamrolled by him in order to get himself over. Del Rio comes to mind as having been a victim of this recently, and he sat there docilely and let Cole speak over him and rant on. I know...he's a heel, and you don't want HIM of all people bitch-slapping Cole and getting a face-pop.

This leads to a SECONDARY question that the absolute morons writing this crap have overlooked since DAY GODDAMN ONE: So Lawler can't touch Cole; who's to say he can't f*****g PAY Daniel Bryan to kick the Cole Mine to pieces and then kick Cole's f*****g head in? Or hell, have Kane do it for him as a "favor for an old friend" (aka Lawler makes a "deal with the Devil")....or any number of situations where you add a young guy to the mix to counter Jack Swagger whilst doing what Lawler can't.

Also one other thing: Lawler has NEVER been one to play by the rules. NEVER. So why the HELL is he so concerned with doing it NOW? Why hasn't he been trying to find these loopholes in the GM's wording ALL ALONG?

*beats head against wall*

That, along with your point about Booker, is why I think this entire angle is Gooker of the Year material, hands down. SOOOOO many plot holes and such a terrible feud in general.

And to add: Ive said this before, but you're telling me that the only one willing to help King after months and months of verbal taunts and 2-1 attacks is *Jim Ross*? Really? NOBODY on the roster has thought "Gee, he keeps being assaulted over and over, maybe I oughta go at least bail him out from being in the Anklelock for the 15th time",

I know King has never been a saint over the years, but he's a 30 year legend and you'd think he would be more respected

[Tony Stark]

I still don't believe people are calling THIS the Gooker. Did Hardy/Sting become non-cannon or something?

[wastelandwade]

May 14, 2011 5:55:21 GMT -5 Rorschach said:

May 14, 2011 4:56:47 GMT -5 @wastelandwade said:

Is anyone else finding it harder and harder (in a kayfabe sense) to believe that anyone who announces alongside Cole hasn't just tagged him in the jaw, consequences be damned?

I touched on this briefly last week in a thread somebody made regarding Cole's taunts about The King's recently deceased Mother. In a kayfabe sense, I couldn't see why King hadn't just smashed Cole's teeth down the back of his neck and said "f*** this job!" in order to defend his mother.

With The King though, you do have the stipulation of him being fired to fall back and also (at a push) the fact that he's a peaceful middle aged man now, nothing like the Jerry Lawler of old. He's seen it all and done it all perhaps doesn't want to go nuts on an announcer who he sees as just being a pain in the ass and not taking him too seriously.

Two people who don't have that excuse are over on Smackdown. On a lighter scale, there is Josh Matthews. Okay, he isn't an active in ring competitor but a lot of people are aware of his Tough Enough and Indy background and he is certainly capable of lamping Cole if needs be. So why doesn't he? Granted, Cole hasn't really targeted Josh directly so maybe Josh is just keeping out of it.

This leads me to somebody who could undoubtedly beat Cole's ass.



And really, why doesn't he? He said a few times last night he wanted somebody to snap Cole's skinny neck and then Cole laid into his suit and even his glasses and Booker just looked at him, disgusted.

I know I would mark out if they have Booker smash his way through the "Cole Mine" and axe kick Cole so hard in the back of the head that he shut his mouth for good and in the storyline, he has no reason why he couldn't.

Thoughts, opinions?

Good question. It's a storyline "corner" that the untalented writers at WWE have painted themselves into. This also applies to ANY and all of the DIVAS Cole has crapped on, the mid-carders he's insulted, and the "guest commentators" who have been steamrolled by him in order to get himself over. Del Rio comes to mind as having been a victim of this recently, and he sat there docilely and let Cole speak over him and rant on. I know...he's a heel, and you don't want HIM of all people bitch-slapping Cole and getting a face-pop.

This leads to a SECONDARY question that the absolute morons writing this crap have overlooked since DAY GODDAMN ONE: So Lawler can't touch Cole; who's to say he can't f*****g PAY Daniel Bryan to kick the Cole Mine to pieces and then kick Cole's f*****g head in? Or hell, have Kane do it for him as a "favor for an old friend" (aka Lawler makes a "deal with the Devil")....or any number of situations where you add a young guy to the mix to counter Jack Swagger whilst doing what Lawler can't.

Also one other thing: Lawler has NEVER been one to play by the rules. NEVER. So why the HELL is he so concerned with doing it NOW? Why hasn't he been trying to find these loopholes in the GM's wording ALL ALONG?

*beats head against wall*

That, along with your point about Booker, is why I think this entire angle is Gooker of the Year material, hands down. SOOOOO many plot holes and such a terrible feud in general.

THANK YOU!

A point I meant to put in but missed out was that Harlem Heat were some BAD MOTHERf***ERS during the nWo running roughshod. They used to walk past Hall & Nash mugging them and holding the championships in their faces, they kicked the living shit out of Vincent just for mouthing off at them. Now Booker T is taking flack from a goof like Cole and not doing anything?

Terrible writing.

[Deleted]

May 14, 2011 6:25:08 GMT -5 Tony Stark said:

I still don't believe people are calling THIS the Gooker. Did Hardy/Sting become non-cannon or something?

At least that was a one-off thing on a PPV nobody bought in the first place. This has been six painful months with no end in sight.

[randomranter]

May 14, 2011 6:25:08 GMT -5 Tony Stark said:

I still don't believe people are calling THIS the Gooker. Did Hardy/Sting become non-cannon or something?

Hardy/Sting was a one-off shoot. Blame TNA for allowing Hardy to go out there in the first place, but in the end, they still never intended to give us that awful debacle in the first place.

Cole/Lawler has been going on for six months, is getting worse and worse every week, has absolutely no end in sight, and is something that the WWE is incresingly shoving down fans' throats for four hours a week.

They're both solid Gooker nominations, but IMO Cole/Lawler wins by a landslide.

[Hit Girl]

At this point I've learned to virtually ignore Michael Cole/Vince McMahon

[Deleted]

I wonder if Cole will display the Gooker trophy as prominently as he does the Slammy.

[CJ]

If he's so worried about the GM... then why doesn't he just bust through the ColeMine and destroy the laptop, and then beat the hell out of Cole? When Swagger tries to help, there are multiple weapons under the ring that could take care of him

And since we don't know who the GM is, and the GM doesn't wanna reveal himself... he can just destroy the laptop every week.

Also, there is no reason as to why Booker doesn't beat up Cole. There's NOTHING holding him back from doing so. Why don't Lawler and Booker just team up to get rid of Cole & Swagger? It'd be a helluva lot easier than teaming with JR

[Hit Girl]

The whole feud has been a disaster since it's so one-sided. Cole constantly wins both the matches, and the verbal exchanges.

[hossfan]

May 14, 2011 6:45:13 GMT -5 CJ said:

If he's so worried about the GM... then why doesn't he just bust through the ColeMine and destroy the laptop, and then beat the hell out of Cole? When Swagger tries to help, there are multiple weapons under the ring that could take care of him

And since we don't know who the GM is, and the GM doesn't wanna reveal himself... he can just destroy the laptop every week.

Also, there is no reason as to why Booker doesn't beat up Cole. There's NOTHING holding him back from doing so. Why don't Lawler and Booker just team up to get rid of Cole & Swagger? It'd be a helluva lot easier than teaming with JR

It's not like the GM lives in the laptop and won't be able to see what King does if he smashes it. And its been stated if King attacks Cole he's fired.
Cole uses an iPad to communicate with the GM. So again, destroying the laptop won't do anything.
Booker hasn't been subjected to a fraction of the abuse from Cole that Lawler has. Why risk getting fired over some lame insults from a guy you don't respect?
Who says Lawler and Booker get along enough to want to tag team?

I understand that there are people who hate this storyline (unlike say, the live crowd, who react strongly whenever Cole does his schtick). But to try and find logic problems with it, on a show where logic clearly takes a back seat in every single segment, is silly.

[Deleted]

I don't want to quote the whole thing again, but nice touch saying how Daniel Bryan should be the one Lawler hires. Cole has been riding Bryan since Day One.

Unless the entire roster just appears one day (maybe the PPV - which is why it should have ended at Extreme Rules, nothing is really "illegal") and get a free shot at Cole on behalf of "the King", there is really no satisfying pay-off.

Simply put, this was a one-dimensional angle that wasn't completely planned out. It's like Vince Russo came back and wrote this. The beginning was good, the middle had promise, but it's like they can't end it because they have no idea where this is going.

[The Ichi]

I think Cole has officially done the impossible: become a stronger booked heel than HHH in 2002/2003.

[The Shareholder is nude]

I have a REALLY bad feeling Cole is going to win at the next PPV. This angle is so bad, and seems to be loved by Vince so much that he keeps ramming it down our throats, that I honestly feel they will have Cole win AGAIN.