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Post by EoE: Well There's Your Problem on Feb 28, 2015 7:11:20 GMT -5
Popped WrestleMania XXX into the Xbox for a little bit of a watch earlier, and it got me to thinking about this topic. WrestleMania is often seen as the season finale of a wrestling year, and it's as good a time as any to take a look and see where our favourites and not-so-favourites have gone since the last WrestleMania. (For the purposes of this, I'm not counting guys that have left the company since (Del Rio, Mysterio) or debuts after Wrestlemania (Rusev)) --- Biggest Rises- Brock Lesnar - For all money, Lesnar was being looked at last year as just another victim for The Undertaker... But fate turned out differently and Lesnar walked out of The Superdome as The One in 21-1. Four and a half months later at SummerSlam, Lesnar would decimate John Cena to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and since that time, his reputation as something akin to The Incredible Hulk has only grown, especially after a superhuman showing at the Royal Rumble... One that has only put the pressure on Reigns even more. On the back of those results, Lesnar walks into Levis Stadium as the reigning, defending champion of the world.
- Damien Sandow - Sandow was in the middle of a career tailspin as WrestleMania XXX came around. And after an average showing in the Andre, it got worse for him as for whatever reason, he took up cosplay and dressed up as various celebrities and wrestlers, often leading to defeat and humiliation. But, by a stroke of fortune, this led to him becoming the stunt double for The Miz and getting him the biggest reactions of his career, some of the biggest reactions on the whole roster and his first taste of championship gold. Coming into this WrestleMania the Miz/Sandow alliance has crumbled, but should he choose to enter it, Sandow is one of the hot favourites to take out the Andre The Giant Memorial Trophy. And that's a vast improvement from last year.
- Roman Reigns - I mentioned Lesnar earlier, and this is the man in line to take a shot at him. For better or worse, Reigns finds himself on the fast-track to the brass ring, and it's come off the back off a strong year of results, despite taking a few months off for a hernia operation. After a quick dominating win over The New Age Outlaws and Kane at the last WrestleMania, Reigns has picked up wins over the likes of Triple H, Batista, Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan, as well as winning the Royal Rumble. And that sees him just one match away from the world title. It's going to take one mighty effort to topple Lesnar, but the fact is that he's going to try and do just that in the WrestleMania main event.
Other Mentions- Seth Rollins - Some recent exploits have slowed down his momentum somewhat, but few people have shown as much improvement in the last 12 months as Rollins has, who went from the quick six man tag at WrestleMania XXX and spent most of the preceding ten months as the top full-time heel on the roster. At the moment, Rollins is starting to get some minor mainstream coverage, as he has started a feud with Jon Stewart of all people, even appearing on The Daily Show to confront him face-to-face. He looks to be headed for a grudge match with Randy Orton, but regardless of the result of that match, Rollins still has the wildcard that could leave him having the last laugh on everyone at the end of the night...
- The Miz - The Miz was treading major water as a midcard face in 2014. As part of the Andre, Miz was unceremoniously eliminated by Santino Marella's Cobra strike. But, after a brief absence off of TV and a minor repackaging, Miz found himself again as an arrogant Hollywood heel. Now arguably, a lot of Miz's resurgence has come off the back of his partnership of the aforementioned Sandow, but it can't be denied that Miz is getting some of the best heel reactions he's had since the main event run that took him to a WrestleMania main event in 2011. He'll be set to play a major role in this year's Andre.
--- Biggest Falls- Big E - Big E went into the last WrestleMania as the reigning Intercontinental Champion and was being touted as one the future standard-bearers of the company. But it was around WrestleMania that it started going downhill for him as he fell prey to the now standard midcard champion booking. One PPV later at Extreme Rules, he lost the IC belt to Bad News Barrett. Since that time, he became one of Rusev's first major victims and kept on tumbling down the card to the point where he was taken off TV for minor repackaging... as part of the highly unpopular New Day stable with Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. A spot in the Andre like last year is the best he can hope for, but he will simply be making up the numbers in a worse spot than before.
- Randy Orton - Last year, Orton went into New Orleans as the reigning and defending WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Since that time, he has had a lean run of results, culminating in only one PPV win since WrestleMania. That was over Chris Jericho at Night Of Champions. In fact, Orton has only just returned to TV after three months out for filming a movie and a minor injury. This year, he is likely going to be the wrestler surrogate for Jon Stewart in his feud with Seth Rollins, one that had all the fuel it needed since Rollins was the guy that put Orton out with a Curb Stomp on steel steps, but has now had the story shifted away from being about Orton's revenge by virtue of the war of words between Stewart and Rollins.
- Daniel Bryan - Despite being the most unanimously over face in WWE today, Bryan is finding himself in the Intercontinental Championship hunt on the road to Levi's Stadium. Now whether that's part of a longer-term plan to use Bryan (and other top guys in similar positions, like Dolph Ziggler and Dean Ambrose) to rebuild the reputation and credibility of the IC belt, or something they've had to scarmble for him since it was unknown whether he'd be at WrestleMania at all, or just some busy work while the Reigns experiment goes on, is unknown. Unfortunately, going from world title in the main event to IC title multi-man a year later is a fall, and it can't be spun in any way. The fact that he's at least still going for a title of some sort (hell, just that he's going to be there AT ALL) is what's keeping him below Orton in this list.
Other Mentions- Cesaro - He's arguably in the same place he was this time last year. Hell, some would actually consider it better as he's holding a tag team championship right now. But where he's at now doesn't tell the story of the heights he should have reached, and the depths he actually fell to before rebuilding from scratch with his fellow Master Of The Universe Tyson Kidd. Whether or not he'll ever get the momentum back that he had from winning the Andre last year is uncertain, but he's on the right track after a very lean spell late in 2014. Expect him to either defend the tag titles on the pre-show, or try his luck in the Andre again.
- The Undertaker - This is unknown territory for The Undertaker, as this will be his first WrestleMania match after losing his famous undefeated streak to Brock Lesnar last year. That said, he's still the heavy favourite to defeat Bray Wyatt in preparation for the possible dream match against Sting at WrestleMania 32... But a lot of the magic is gone now. And all that's left behind is a man that is starting to look his age.
--- What say you? Agree? Disagree? Any other names you want to throw in? Let's get some talk happening. |
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Sephiroth
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Post by Sephiroth on Feb 28, 2015 7:26:51 GMT -5
Bray Wyatt-went into last year's WM as one of the most over heel characters in the company, fresh off his feud with Daniel Bryan and engaged in an actually well hyped feud with Cena. In the interval, the Wyatt Family was broken up, he got stuck in go nowhere feuds with Jericho and Dean Ambrose, and now is looking set to job to a guy who hasn't so much as appeared in TV in over a year.
Dean Ambrose-was red hot as part of The Shield, had a record setting run as US champion, and emerged as one of the most over faces in the company during his feud with Rollins. Is now going on several straight PPV losses and looks set to win the ever cursed IC belt at WM.
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Post by berlynwright on Feb 28, 2015 7:28:30 GMT -5
i think Lesnar is around the same. Facing Taker at WM is almost as high calibre as title match.
Biggest rise
RUSEV . i don't remember if he appeared at the battle royal, but this year he's going to face No.1 Guy in the roster
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Post by EoE: Well There's Your Problem on Feb 28, 2015 8:52:47 GMT -5
Bray Wyatt-went into last year's WM as one of the most over heel characters in the company, fresh off his feud with Daniel Bryan and engaged in an actually well hyped feud with Cena. In the interval, the Wyatt Family was broken up, he got stuck in go nowhere feuds with Jericho and Dean Ambrose, and now is looking set to job to a guy who hasn't so much as appeared in TV in over a year. Oh yeah, definitely... But the odd thing about that is that he's managed to build himself back up after the Cena and Jericho feuds to the point where he's not really THAT much lower than he was last year. Probably not as over, but he's got results on the board going into this Undertaker match. i think Lesnar is around the same. Facing Taker at WM is almost as high calibre as title match. Going into WrestleMania, Lesnar wasn't really unanimously considered to be the absolute final boss type of the company yet. His last two feuds before Undertaker was a 50/50 feud with Triple H that he barely won and a glorified squash segment with Big Show. It's not so much his placement on the card that's improved as it is his aura and credibility. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2015 9:03:39 GMT -5
Biggest rise RUSEV . i don't remember if he appeared at the battle royal, but this year he's going to face No.1 Guy in the roster This. Rusev for sure. He counts as he debuted at last year's Rumble. |
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Juice
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Post by Juice on Feb 28, 2015 9:36:39 GMT -5
This thread makes me sad that it isn't likely we will See Rusev vs Lesnar
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Post by PTBartman on Feb 28, 2015 9:49:51 GMT -5
I'd add Tyson Kidd and Nattie. Last year they were both pretty much Jobbers in their respective divisions. Thanks to Total Divas and some better than avg booking both are on the rise going into Mania. Tyson has the Tag Team Title with Cesaro and when I see Nattie on TV, I expect something to happen. I wouldn't be surprised if she was in contention for the Divas belt soon.
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Post by Rolent Tex on Feb 28, 2015 9:56:45 GMT -5
Daniel Bryan only fell because he was injured. Kind of hard to book a guy leading into Mania when you're not sure if he'll have to retire or not.
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Reflecto
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Post by Reflecto on Feb 28, 2015 10:01:16 GMT -5
Even if Rusev debuted at the Rumble (which was closer to Bo Dallas's 2013 "Preview" spot than a debut anyway, especially since vignettes for Rusev started afterwards), I'd argue the biggest rise AND biggest fall are tied into one act:
Biggest Rise: Tyson Kidd. Going into WM30, he could not have been more of an afterthought. Kidd couldn't even merit being "in a tailspin" going into the match- as he was...in the Andre battle royal. Just barely. And only as a warm body, "we have enough spots, it's WM30, everybody on the WWE roster page who's not injured gets in the match just to be nice" guy. A demotion down to NXT gave Kidd a new lease on life, allowing his amazing in-ring ability to finally be matched by Tyson Kidd- against all odds that people called for him- actually developing a personality for the first time in his career, turning him into an actual capable midcarder and a talent to watch. When the smoke cleared, Kidd's going into Wrestlemania as a tag team champion and having a chance to actually do something on the card.
Biggest Fall- Cesaro. By the same token, even if it was an other mention- Cesaro's clearly the Biggest Fall down the card for any of them. Even if Cesaro going from one tag match to another tag match, albeit as tag champion, is a lateral on paper, the spot, in practice, makes it how huge a tumble down the card it was. As of WM30, Cesaro was going into that tag team match as half of the Real Americans that everyone was demanding turn babyface, who had just been in the Elimination Chamber main event and seemed to have his star-making performance- and between that, the turn in the pre-show, and the Andre Battle Royal win, it looked pretty clear he was about to be a main event player in the WWE at the end of WM30. Fast forward to this year- and now Cesaro's going into WM as tag champion, but going in as part of a purely midcard tag team. It's still a good spot, and it could be a lot worse- but at this time last year it looked like Cesaro was about to be a major player and soon to be mega-star, and at this time it seems like the window for "WWE main event talent Cesaro" has slammed shut. You can't get into a "bigger fall from grace in the WM30 season" without going into the talent at WM30 who were released- and hell, I'd argue even Drew McIntyre/Galloway, Alberto Del Rio/El Patron, and Brodus Clay/Tyrus have a better chance at being a major player in pro wrestling than Cesaro right now.
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Abdullah
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Post by Abdullah on Feb 28, 2015 10:06:13 GMT -5
AJ might not even be at Wrestlemania this year.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2015 10:16:59 GMT -5
Even if Rusev debuted at the Rumble (which was closer to Bo Dallas's 2013 "Preview" spot than a debut anyway, especially since vignettes for Rusev started afterwards), I'd argue the biggest rise AND biggest fall are tied into one act: Biggest Rise: Tyson Kidd. Going into WM30, he could not have been more of an afterthought. Kidd couldn't even merit being "in a tailspin" going into the match- as he was...in the Andre battle royal. Just barely. And only as a warm body, "we have enough spots, it's WM30, everybody on the WWE roster page who's not injured gets in the match just to be nice" guy. A demotion down to NXT gave Kidd a new lease on life, allowing his amazing in-ring ability to finally be matched by Tyson Kidd- against all odds that people called for him- actually developing a personality for the first time in his career, turning him into an actual capable midcarder and a talent to watch. When the smoke cleared, Kidd's going into Wrestlemania as a tag team champion and having a chance to actually do something on the card. Biggest Fall- Cesaro. By the same token, even if it was an other mention- Cesaro's clearly the Biggest Fall down the card for any of them. Even if Cesaro going from one tag match to another tag match, albeit as tag champion, is a lateral on paper, the spot, in practice, makes it how huge a tumble down the card it was. As of WM30, Cesaro was going into that tag team match as half of the Real Americans that everyone was demanding turn babyface, who had just been in the Elimination Chamber main event and seemed to have his star-making performance- and between that, the turn in the pre-show, and the Andre Battle Royal win, it looked pretty clear he was about to be a main event player in the WWE at the end of WM30. Fast forward to this year- and now Cesaro's going into WM as tag champion, but going in as part of a purely midcard tag team. It's still a good spot, and it could be a lot worse- but at this time last year it looked like Cesaro was about to be a major player and soon to be mega-star, and at this time it seems like the window for "WWE main event talent Cesaro" has slammed shut. You can't get into a "bigger fall from grace in the WM30 season" without going into the talent at WM30 who were released- and hell, I'd argue even Drew McIntyre/Galloway, Alberto Del Rio/El Patron, and Brodus Clay/Tyrus have a better chance at being a major player in pro wrestling than Cesaro right now. I despise what they've done with Cesaro as much as the next guy, but I still have to give this to Rusev. Cesaro "fell" from midcard to midcard, Kidd rose from obscurity to midcard. Rusev rose from obscurity to semi-main. Cesaro has every ounce of skill he needs to be a main eventer, but he was never really given the chance to make it there. You can't really fall far when you're being held down close to the ground anyway. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2015 11:01:29 GMT -5
I'd disagree about Cesaro.
He is a tag champ now, but he's not nearly as over as he was with the Real Americans. He beat Randy Orton clean last February and, even though he was still in the tag team, he felt above that and ready to break out as a singles wrestler. The team with Kidd has been great, but there's no feeling that Cesaro is poised for bigger things. Last year he felt special, right now he feels like a good tag guy.
I would definitely have Cesaro as one of the biggest falls from last year. Its impressive how he dug himself back into a respectable place though, no doubt.
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Post by This Player Hating Mothman on Feb 28, 2015 11:21:11 GMT -5
Anyone who thinks Cesaro didn't have one of the biggest falls doesn't remember the Elimination Chamber lead-up, where he got to work matches with all the main eventers in the match and consistently knock every part of it out of the park. Dude was massively over and poised for big things. Then he got saddled with Heyman and a shitty theme, got no payoff on the Real Americans split or the eventual Heyman split, wasn't allowed to do his biggest move for the crowd, and got buried live on Austin's podcast. Sure, he's currently holding the tag team titles, but that is a huge step down from "guy who is in a tag team but holds his own against main eventers in actual, competitive matches".
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Post by bmfjules on Feb 28, 2015 11:21:21 GMT -5
Rollins had a small rise that could have caused a great fall
Again, I'll show myself out.
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JTH
Dennis Stamp
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Post by JTH on Feb 28, 2015 11:32:59 GMT -5
Biggest Fall - Undertaker and it's not even close
1 year, he goes from showing up to annually defend the streak, to an old man dragging himself out of the closet for no reason or purpose to fight a match with completely nothing at stake.
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RIHT
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Close enough.
Hey-yo.
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Post by RIHT on Feb 28, 2015 16:13:13 GMT -5
Rise: WM XXX was the first WM in a long time to completely deliver to all fans on every level.
Fall: WM XXXI will disappoint many fans on many different levels.
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Post by 1 Free Moon-Down with Burger on Feb 28, 2015 16:33:35 GMT -5
Rise: WM XXX was the first WM in a long time to completely deliver to all fans on every level. Fall: WM XXXI will disappoint many fans on many different levels. Got Lottery Numbers man? |
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Post by CATCH_US IS the Conversation on Feb 28, 2015 16:42:43 GMT -5
Miz's heel turn isnt a rise. He's a comedy jobber now who isn't even the star of his own stupid gimmick
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Reflecto
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Post by Reflecto on Feb 28, 2015 19:59:23 GMT -5
I despise what they've done with Cesaro as much as the next guy, but I still have to give this to Rusev. Cesaro "fell" from midcard to midcard, Kidd rose from obscurity to midcard. Rusev rose from obscurity to semi-main. Cesaro has every ounce of skill he needs to be a main eventer, but he was never really given the chance to make it there. You can't really fall far when you're being held down close to the ground anyway. That's my whole point though. For the year, as a whole, Rusev IS the biggest rise in one year on paper- but as I clarified from before- Rusev shouldn't count simply because, even with the Rumble appearance, Rusev was for all intents and purposes a rookie for the WM30-31 build. Just like Bo Dallas in the 2013 Rumble, Rusev was an NXT appearance wrestler- and if you consider it a debut, then the other facts: Rusev didn't have any matches between the Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania (signifying it as a NXT preview match more), was back in NXT following the Rumble (making it clear he was just the NXT appearance), and they started vignettes for Rusev between the Rumble and Wrestlemania (making it clear he was to be treated as if he hadn't debuted yet).Put those together, and Rusev doesn't "really" count. Rusev for the 2014-15 WWE Rookie of the Year? No one can really argue that point. Rusev for biggest rise in position between Mania 30 and Mania 31? Not so much. |
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Crimson
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Post by Crimson on Feb 28, 2015 20:03:33 GMT -5
Other Mentions- Cesaro - He's arguably in the same place he was this time last year. Hell, some would actually consider it better as he's holding a tag team championship right now. But where he's at now doesn't tell the story of the heights he should have reached, and the depths he actually fell to before rebuilding from scratch with his fellow Master Of The Universe Tyson Kidd. Whether or not he'll ever get the momentum back that he had from winning the Andre last year is uncertain, but he's on the right track after a very lean spell late in 2014. Expect him to either defend the tag titles on the pre-show, or try his luck in the Andre again.
I don't know how you can describe Cesaro's status as anything other than fall. Leading up to Wrestlemania, everyone was pegging him as being the Breakout Star of 2014 and his Victory in the Battle Royale seemed to confirm that belief. But then they squandered everything and now he's struggling to get a reaction in division that the company treats like an afterthought. |
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