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Post by dxbang on Aug 15, 2016 23:26:06 GMT -5
I think the WWE is in need of more late 80s/early 90s type heels. I think guys like Honky, The Mountie, and Rick Martel were perfect at what they did. I hated all of them...and that was the point. Even Double J was cut from the same cloth and did a great job getting heat.
Guys like Rick Rude were even better, but the WWE is missing midcard d-bag heels like the ones I mentioned. They weren't necessarily tough, they were pompous a-holes, and we hated them for it...but they still found some success. The closest thing to it today would be The Miz, and he's great.
Who were your favorite heels of the time? Why can't they work today?
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Post by dxbang on Aug 10, 2016 8:53:27 GMT -5
So there are people that are not offended, people that are offended, people that are offended by the people that think others are offended, and people that are offended by those that are saying they're not offended.
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Post by dxbang on Aug 9, 2016 10:58:25 GMT -5
It's only an insult if you view it as one. So if Owens and Jericho were kayfabe mad that Cass referred them as being gay, then it worked. If the fans thought it was funny for any reason (and a lot did, though the reaction wasn't as big as it would have been in the late 90s) then whatever.
These aren't two great guys with intellectual insults or two super-focused guys just trying to get at them. It's a couple of NY/NJ guys that are supposed to be "street smart" with smart mouths. The type of guys (their characters) that would probably use slurs as insults in a real life setting.
It wasn't in good taste, but either is making fun of someone for being Canadian, or looking like an aging rock star, etc. We can all find something to be offended about, so if this is what you choose...then this is what offends you. Just my opinion.
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Post by dxbang on Aug 8, 2016 20:17:21 GMT -5
At 34 years old, I think Jack Swagger can be saved. In fact, he was getting pretty good pops during his run against Rusev. Almost thought he could be the one to beat him, even though we all kind of knew he wouldn't.
Here's my idea...
Bring an NXT guy up that has been in the minors a bit too long and the company doesn't have high expectations for (someone like Mojo Rawley was...except a heel). Have his debut match be against Swagger with Jack already in the ring when the ring announcer is introducing the debuting call-up. They have a decent match, but Swagger has the upper hand most of the match. To everyone's surprise, he ends up winning with the Swagger Slam (Angle slam) or something new to him that isn't the ankle lock (he can still use it as his submission finisher). The heel goes nuts afterwards and demands a rematch saying he wasnt supposed to lose his debut match. They wrestle again, this time at the next pay per view, and Swagger wins again...pretty decisively.
The debuting heel moves on to his next feud, which he wins, and Swagger continues his winning ways after seemingly finding himself.
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Post by dxbang on Aug 8, 2016 17:27:09 GMT -5
Are you all truly entertained by the women's division? I fast forward through just about everything. The wrestling is as if late 80s stiff mid carder are trying to perform moves they can't quite execute (except these women seem to be in incredible shape instead of roided to the gills like the guys im comparing them to).
I know this board has an unusual amount of love for Sasha Banks and Bayley, but even they are just ok. Maybe it helps in terms of bringing in younger female fans, but I don't think it makes a big enough difference.
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Post by dxbang on Aug 8, 2016 7:45:26 GMT -5
How long do you think it'll be until these are unified? If I had to give it a small range, I'd say 4-7 years.
I love the excitement that comes with a brand split, but I feel like they truly need tool most be two different promotions in order for it to work the way it seems the WWE wants it to.
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Post by dxbang on Aug 6, 2016 16:27:58 GMT -5
I've been watching some of the older Raws on the network and one thing that has stood out is the fact that they consisted of about three squash matches and a sub par main event.
I've seen Pierre vs. Lex Luger, Scott Steiner vs. Ludvig Borga, 1-2-3 kid vs. HBK, and matches of that caliber as the main event. Not only that, but a lot of these matches don't end clean...Steiner beat Borga by DQ when The Quebecers interfered.
With that said...the shows were all entertaining (generally speaking) and did a great job hyping the pay per views. I don't recall if Raw was an hour or two hours long at the time, but they did a good job mixing these squash matches with vignettes (Double J, Sparky Plugg), interviews (Owen after he started his turn at the Survivor Series), and these main events that aren't even "big" matches.
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Post by dxbang on Jul 31, 2016 17:13:13 GMT -5
If it's almost 50/50 amongst smarks, then it should be a go. #MainEventMiz
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Post by dxbang on Jul 31, 2016 9:51:39 GMT -5
With all due respect, I think those of you that think Bayley will be the one that reaches Hogan/Austin/Rock/Cena levels are insane (at least in regards to this topic 😊).
The Miz had crossover appeal because of the Real World. Some of my friends still see him and say "that's the guy from The Challenge (MTV show)," but that doesn't put him anywhere near the level of the four guys above...or anyone else listed for that matter.
Batista may have success in terms of getting better movie roles than everyone other than The Rock, but if he returned now his run would not be much different than the one just before Guardians of The Galaxy. Nowhere near the level of those four guys in terms of bringing in new fans, being the face of the company, and basically making wrestling mainstream.
I think Kevin Owens is great...but nobody outside of the wrestling world will tune in to see KO (just my opinion). Same thing with Ambrose. Seth and Roman are ahead of him when it comes to that.
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Post by dxbang on Jul 30, 2016 15:05:23 GMT -5
In terms of the WWF/WWE, I think there have been 4 megastars, with a couple more guys being almost there. Hogan, Austin, The Rock, and John Cena are the 4 (I can understand an argument to put Cena in the next tier). Guys like Savage, Warrior, and Taker are in the next tier and then guys that helped carry the company but weren't quite the megastars outside of the wrestling business like Orton, HBK, and Bret.
Aside from Cena, and possibly Brock due to his UFC fame, do you think there's a guy on this roster that has that Megastar capability? The guy your non-wrestling fan friends would know? The guy people would post clips of on Facebook because of how great/interesting/funny his promo was?
I think Rollins and Ambrose have an Orton/HBK/Bret type of ceiling. There is definitely nothing wrong with that, but I just don't think they have the potential to make wrestling as mainstream as it was with Hogan/Austin/Rock.
Reigns may have had it, but I can't see him ever recovering to that level after how he was shoved down everyone's throats.
KO/Balor can be main eventers, but I don't see either of them ever being at that level.
Thoughts?
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Post by dxbang on Jul 14, 2016 9:31:24 GMT -5
It's not ideal for those of us that are, and will be, wrestling fans no matter what...but the point is to bring in new fans and create new stars. Passing the torch to Rollins, Ambrose, etc. is great...but they are not currently the mega stars that will bring in new fans. I think only Cena and Lesnar currently have that ability. It's a way for the to continue passing the torch.
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Post by dxbang on Jul 14, 2016 8:21:41 GMT -5
After watching how amazing Cena's monologue was on last nights ESPY's, I think it's absolutely necessary for him to be champion.
While not the pioneer Hulk Hogan was, John Cena is closer to being The Rock than anyone has ever been (he has surpassed Steve Austin inside and outside of the ring). You can love him, you can hate him, but he's entertaining. He can transition to the tweener role that makes fun of people, but doesn't act like a heel when it comes to his matches. Cena is the ONLY guy on the roster, aside from Brock Lesnar, that has the recognition to make wrestling as mainstream as it was during the Monday Night Wars.
Cena should be the champ on Raw and Lesnar should have whatever belt is on Smackdown.
It's easy to say "they don't need the belts," but this is a business. In order for the business to improve as a whole, it has to be these two men that lead the company into The New Era. This is how new HUGE stars can be established and how the WWE can get the most of the last couple years these two have with the company. After a year or two with these two men on top, the company will flourish with new stars for everyone to enjoy.
It's best for business.
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Post by dxbang on Jun 21, 2016 0:28:56 GMT -5
Eh...kind of on the fringe
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Post by dxbang on Jun 7, 2016 19:59:52 GMT -5
I think this is kind of the point...having people hate the fact that they're not really doing anything. When they do wrestle again, they'll have some more heat because everyone is baffled/slightly annoyed by this. Then they go back to the vignettes for a month or two and it slowly builds. Probably wrong, but maybe?
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Post by dxbang on May 12, 2016 18:13:39 GMT -5
I saw Greg Valentine in an airport in St. Louis in 2001. He looked miserable, but I still approached him as I was in awe at the time (this was well after his WWF tenure had come to an end). He told me "5 bucks for a picture, 10 bucks for three questions." He was dead serious. His legs are also sooooo small, so I understand why he needed that brace to keep those twigs from snapping in the figure-four
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Post by dxbang on May 12, 2016 18:06:19 GMT -5
We always complain about how people are NOT being used, but let's appreciate some of the good booking in the WWE as of late...
AJ Styles.
They've done a great job quickly building him into a somewhat credible threat to the world title. Now I don't think that anyone believes he'll get the belt, but I am very intrigued in what will happen with him and the Bullet Club and in how he will lose to Roman. Kudos for some near-perfect booking when it comes to Styles.
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Post by dxbang on Apr 1, 2016 23:53:21 GMT -5
I always hear stories about Vince McMahon becoming obsessed with some kind of character and trying to create Superstars based on those characters (usually a little too late and unsuccessfully). Are there any characters you think would make for good gimmicks?
One character I always thought would make a heck of a gimmick was Adabisi from Oz. For those not familiar...he was a pretty big Nigerian gentleman. He was cocky and completely insane, but had qualities you could easily love or hate. He was also a beast that could handle most men fairly easily.
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Post by dxbang on Mar 29, 2016 14:08:46 GMT -5
I know today's wrestlers have the wellness program to abide by, but I think it's obvious a lot of them get around it one way or another. Do you think wrestlers from the modern era will pass away at an early age like those of the 80s?
I'd like to think it definitely won't be as bad as it has been since the abuse of anabolic steroids, pain killers, and other recreational drugs is down, but then you look wrestlers that aren't WWE guys or haven't been for most of their careers (Eric Young sticks out), and we can have similar results.
What are your thoughts?
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Post by dxbang on Mar 25, 2016 19:54:46 GMT -5
I absolutely loved the build-up to this feud. As a kid, I really thought Luger was accepting the money from DiBiase (especially since he wasn't far removed from his heel days).
Looking back, it was pretty obvious, but back then I was pretty shocked that Tatanka turned. I think they could've done more with Tatanka as a heel (or even as a face...he was really over during his undefeated streak).
I'd really like to see these kind of surprise turns in today's product. We knew Jericho would turn on AJ, but what if AJ turned on Jericho? Would've been interesting...
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Post by dxbang on Mar 25, 2016 19:51:06 GMT -5
So I watched Batman v Superman today and my creative juices started flowing. Anyway, I think I know how the Taker/Shane match is going to end...
As expected, Shane and Taker will nearly destroy each other. There may or may not be a lot of interference (but I'm confident there will at least be SOME). When both men are down, John Cena will come out to make sure nobody else interferes. After Shane hits some insane move and it seems like he may just win it...Cena seemingly helps him up, but gives him an Attitude Adjustment (maybe through a table or something). This will allow Taker to get the win and will finally provide us with that heel turn people seem to be clamp ring for. It also allows Cena to get involved without really having to do too much due to his injury.
The next night on Raw, Cena would explain that he did it because Vince stuck with him through the years and believed in him, etc. Shane will join forces with someone (possibly Roman, with Vince thinking it'll help him get over as a face...but it won't) and feud with Cena. Hopefully they won't make him "corporate" Cena, but rather just a guy that got tired of always doing the right thing and getting crapped on for it. Now he's in it for himself, etc.
Thoughts?
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