WWE needs to get behind someone

[The Possum]

Last night going into Hell in a Cell, I was super pumped about the main event. As a huge Punk fan, I wanted to see my champion at his best, but as a fan of the wrestling industry, I wanted to see Ryback win the title and bring us something fresh. I had my fears that it could be Batista all over again, where I'd soon be more sick of him than I was of the status quo before him, but I wanted to see something big happen.

The main event had a big fight feel. Punk and Heyman played their parts perfectly, and Ryback looked like a legitimate monster. I was sure that someone mighty was going to fall, and we were going to see something special.

Then after the screwjob ending, I simply thought, "Get behind SOMEONE." The finish was a double vote-of-no-confidence in two of their top guys. Ryback wasn't trusted enough to carry the company (which I get, even I think he's still green) and Punk wasn't trusted enough to look strong against Ryback. Now Ryback's mystique is gone and Punk doesn't look any better than when he was jobbing the WHC to Undertaker in 2009.

Have we learned nothing from Nash/Goldberg? I simply want someone to be "the guy." The heel can cheat, that's fine. Triple H and Ric Flair won and kept their titles in some of the cheapest ways possible, but they still had an aura of prestige to them. I still believed that Flair was on Dusty's level, he just had less morals. I felt like RVD was an underdog when he challenged Triple H, but it seems like our reigning heel champion is an underdog to the faces, which just makes the whole psychology of the story work backwards.

TLDR: I think that the ending of Punk/Ryback cheapened both men, and they're both worth less money because of it. Do you?

[mrjl]

Oct 29, 2012 11:51:11 GMT -5 The Possum said:

Last night going into Hell in a Cell, I was super pumped about the main event. As a huge Punk fan, I wanted to see my champion at his best, but as a fan of the wrestling industry, I wanted to see Ryback win the title and bring us something fresh. I had my fears that it could be Batista all over again, where I'd soon be more sick of him than I was of the status quo before him, but I wanted to see something big happen.


Then after the screwjob ending, I simply thought, "Get behind SOMEONE." The finish was a double vote-of-no-confidence in two of their top guys. Ryback wasn't trusted enough to carry the company (which I get, even I think he's still green) and Punk wasn't trusted enough to look strong against Ryback. Now Ryback's mystique is gone and Punk doesn't look any better than when he was jobbing the WHC to Undertaker in 2009.

Have we learned nothing from Nash/Goldberg? I simply want someone to be "the guy." The heel can cheat, that's fine. Triple H and Ric Flair won and kept their titles in some of the cheapest ways possible, but they still had an aura of prestige to them. I still believed that Flair was on Dusty's level, he just had less morals. I felt like RVD was an underdog when he challenged Triple H, but it seems like our reigning heel champion is an underdog to the faces, which just makes the whole psychology of the story work backwards.

TLDR: I think that the ending of Punk/Ryback cheapened both men, and they're both worth less money because of it. Do you?

No I don't think either man are worth less. I don't think Ryback "lost" because he wasn't trusted, I believe he lost because WWE already has the script written up to Wrestlemania and a Ryback title reign doesn't fit in there.

[flatsdomino]

I think it builds up Ryback's chase - and if the last half-century (at least) of the wrestling business has taught us anything, it's that usually, a compelling chase will draw WAY more money than what comes after. Develop Ryback as REALLY wanting that win, and when he gets it, provided they continue to book him strong, it'll be a big deal. He's not Goldberg, and his entire gimmick wasn't the streak, nor was his streak going on for over a year.

What's more, WWE's hotshotted world titles on young guys so much in the last few years that it feels worthless. Seeing a hot new guy actually NOT get the belt right away was refreshing. It makes it so when another new guy on a hot streak DOES get the belt, it means something.

[Savage Gambino]

Agreed wholeheartedly. I didn't see the PPV, but when I heard of the ending, I basically felt the same thing, if nowhere near as eloquently.

I actually would have liked to have a Ryback victory, but if they were gonna end the streak to Punk, why not in a way that makes him look like a threat. Have Punk outsmart him, have him hit Ryback with a vicious kick, hell, have him beat him to crap with a weapon.

But to blow the streak off a lowblow from Brad the referee literally helps nobody.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

Punk beating Ryback- who up to that point had been built up as a man-eating beast- clean was the absolute worst thing they could have done last night. If anything, Punk may have looked too strong throughout the match.

[The Possum]

Oct 29, 2012 12:03:29 GMT -5 Savage Gambino said:

Agreed wholeheartedly. I didn't see the PPV, but when I heard of the ending, I basically felt the same thing, if nowhere near as eloquently.

I actually would have liked to have a Ryback victory, but if they were gonna end the streak to Punk, why not in a way that makes him look like a threat. Have Punk outsmart him, have him hit Ryback with a vicious kick, hell, have him beat him to crap with a weapon.

But to blow the streak off a lowblow from Brad the referee literally helps nobody.

My sentiments exactly. Heck, even have Heyman handcuff Ryback to cage while Punk wails on him with a chair. Ryback eventually rips the part of the cage he's handcuffed to off, snags it on the ring ropes while trying to get to Punk, tears through them, charges Punk in pure rage, Punk moves while Ryback dives head-first into the cage, gives him another chair shot, and gets the pin. Ryback looks like a monster, the ring is torn apart so we feel like something big happened, and Punk is better off.

[Deleted]

But he won't be taking it off Punk, so the chase won't mean anything. Ryback should've never been put in that match. They sacrificed his momentum for a horribly booked finish. No one came out better after last night.
Ryback has to beat Punk now. That's the only way to somewhat salvage this.

[RKTaker]

Oct 29, 2012 12:05:39 GMT -5 Clash, Never a Meter Maid said:

Punk beating Ryback- who up to that point had been built up as a man-eating beast- clean was the absolute worst thing they could have done last night. If anything, Punk may have looked too strong throughout the match.

it wasn't really a "clean" finish since maddox got involved and low blowed ryback and ryback destroying both men still made him look like a beast

[Deleted]

Considering Ryback was brought in as a stand-in for Cena because he was injured, I don't think they ever really intended on 'getting behind' Ryback.

This was just a last minute build-up to make Ryback a legit threat for Punk at the PPV. The rest of the year will probably revolve around Punk/Rock/Cena...and maybe another guy too.

Ryback's character has pretty much topped out in terms of what he can bring to the party so unless they add another dimension to his character I wouldn't expect to see him in the main even too much longer.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

Oct 29, 2012 12:12:26 GMT -5 RKTaker said:

Oct 29, 2012 12:05:39 GMT -5 Clash, Never a Meter Maid said:

Punk beating Ryback- who up to that point had been built up as a man-eating beast- clean was the absolute worst thing they could have done last night. If anything, Punk may have looked too strong throughout the match.

it wasn't really a "clean" finish since maddox got involved and low blowed ryback and ryback destroying both men still made him look like a beast

I know. That's why I think WWE got it right last night.

[RKTaker]

Oct 29, 2012 12:20:00 GMT -5 Clash, Never a Meter Maid said:

Oct 29, 2012 12:12:26 GMT -5 RKTaker said:

it wasn't really a "clean" finish since maddox got involved and low blowed ryback and ryback destroying both men still made him look like a beast

I know. That's why I think WWE got it right last night.

oh must of misunderstood your post

[Yami Daimao]

Oct 29, 2012 12:20:00 GMT -5 Clash, Never a Meter Maid said:

Oct 29, 2012 12:12:26 GMT -5 RKTaker said:

it wasn't really a "clean" finish since maddox got involved and low blowed ryback and ryback destroying both men still made him look like a beast

I know. That's why I think WWE got it right last night.

...heh?

[Allie Kitsune]

Oct 29, 2012 12:17:51 GMT -5 @personman01 said:

Considering Ryback was brought in as a stand-in for Cena because he was injured, I don't think they ever really intended on 'getting behind' Ryback.

This was just a last minute build-up to make Ryback a legit threat for Punk at the PPV. The rest of the year will probably revolve around Punk/Rock/Cena...and maybe another guy too.

Ryback's character has pretty much topped out in terms of what he can bring to the party so unless they add another dimension to his character I wouldn't expect to see him in the main even too much longer.

Since when do they "add dimensions" to face characters in WWE?

[Djm Doesn't Find You Funny]

They are behind someone.

John Cena. And no one else, forever and ever, Amen.

[froggyfrog]

i disagree completely. no one is cheapened at all. it was the best possible ending they could do while keeping everyone strong

[Marvelously Mediocre]

Oct 29, 2012 12:32:13 GMT -5 Yami Daimao said:

Oct 29, 2012 12:20:00 GMT -5 Clash, Never a Meter Maid said:

I know. That's why I think WWE got it right last night.

...heh?

I think he should've said 'would've been' instead of 'was'.

[xCompackx]

Eh, I sort of figured it wouldn't be a great finish considering the circumstances. I think they're either going to downplay the fact Ryback isn't undefeated anymore or just drop it completely and move on to Cena.

[nickcave]

I don't have any problem with Punk using HEEL TACTICS to retain a title. People forget he's a heel sometimes. Ric Flair did this kind of stuff all of the time and no one ever complained he looked "weak."

[hitch]

WWE doesn't work with the 'chase' aspect. Never has.

It's like a comic book. People want to see their comic book hero each edition challenged by the dastardly criminals - but ultimately win. Not lose for three editions just to make the third and the fourth more important for 'the chase'. They want to see him win all the time. To be THE guy. That's how WWE has always worked, always drawn best. Whether it be Hogan or Austin. Most of the time they'd get the upper hand.

I'm not convinced "the chase" has ever really drawn for WWE. Ever. The audience is just not suited to it. IMO it was a heel-dominated (by and large) reign post the 01/02 Attitude end that drove a lot of viewers away. For WWE you HAVE to have the good guy most of the time be on top and to get the girl....sorry, the gold. It's what the audience has been proven to like time and time again.

[WarChief]

Really, the best way to do things would have been to have someone other than Ryback face Punk, and have Ryback destroy Miz as it had been planned.