I'm scared for the Bret return.

[@TenaciousBe]

It's no secret (to those who read my posts anyway) that I think Raw is at its all-time worst right now. Especially after the last few months, it feels like such a hit-or-miss crapfest the majority of the time.

That said... bringing back Bret Hart into today's Raw environment doesn't feel like it's going to work. 3 or 4 years ago, it would have been a mark-out moment of epic proportions. On today's Raw? I just don't see it. It's like they're saying they know the product is horrible, so we're going to get so desperate as to bring on the one guy everyone has been clamoring for for 12 years now.

Bret Hart returning should be a remarkable, monumental day in the history of pro wrestling. What it's going to be (in my estimation) is just par for the course in the history of sports entertainment.

I want Bret to walk in, kick Shawn in the face, and go on a 20 minute live shoot on Vince and everything he's done to the WWE, the way they handled Owen's death (and the Eddiesploitation that followed), the way they've turned the company into a mockery of everything it once stood for.

What we're probably going to get is Bret and Shawn shaking hands, Hornswoggle dancing around them, and Santino showing up with a megaphone and a colorful jacket thinking Jimmy Hart was coming back.

I hope I'm wrong... but assuming Bret is indeed the host next week, I forsee what should be the Greatest Night in the History of our Sport™ being just another day at the office.

[I Like Your Poetry]

After 12 years of speculation, don't you think the final product would be nothing close to the surrounding hype and hope for that magical moment/night?

[Steveweiser]

As long as the episode ends with Bret putting the Sharpshooter on both Vince and HBK, and then him having sex with Melina in the middle of the ring, he'll be happy.

[Deleted]

I'm personally wishing this whole Hart thing wasn't happening since I really have no interest in seeing him come back, but either way. I'd say chances are he'll keep his distance from DX while feuding with Vince - no way they're turning DX or Bret, and I'm sure Trips and Michaels have better plans for Mania than being bit players in a feud between a couple of ancient guys.

[Krimzon]

Dec 28, 2009 17:39:52 GMT -5 I Like Your Poetry said:

After 12 years of speculation, don't you think the final product would be nothing close to the surrounding hype and hope for that magical moment/night?

That's it right there. 12 years of hype, speculation, and fantasy scenarios have built up expectations to nuclear levels. With the current state of WWE writing, it can't do anything but disappoint, which is why I'm still skeptical about watching the show over iMPACT!. Had the WWE been on fire recently, cranking out good RAW after good RAW, I'd think my skepticism would diminish to a point where I'd be comfortable watching RAW and missing TNA.

[@TenaciousBe]

Dec 28, 2009 17:39:52 GMT -5 I Like Your Poetry said:

After 12 years of speculation, don't you think the final product would be nothing close to the surrounding hype and hope for that magical moment/night?

Ask Axl Rose.

[RareTradU]

I agree with the OP here. They cartoonish nature of WWE now worries me that they will drop the ball big time here. This should be a defining moment in the WWE but it will probably end up being another goofy segment.

I will be keeping my hopes up though and will still be marking out for Bret 'The Hitman' Hart on Monday Night Raw though! I'm glad he is healthy enough and in good enough spirits for any kind of return.

[calibancalhoun]

If hornswoggle even comes NEAR a Hart and HBK confrontation I walk, that's it. I might come back when HBK and Taker are retiring and check on here from time to time to see if there has been improvement but that Leprechaun needs to stay the hell away from this.

I actually want to see HBK and Hart shaking hands, maybe a little shooting on Bret's part, and a confrontation with Vince. It doesn't have to be great, they can throw in some "entertainment" if they really want to, hell I won't even mind if Bret did a Santino segment but Hornswoggle is where I draw the line. If Bret and Shawn are right in the middle of their moment and he comes out to pull some crap I riot.

[Young Game]

So...Bret Hart = The "Chinese Democracy" of RAW Guest Hosts?

Nah. Really?

[Doctorin' The Tardis]

I think they're just (correctly IMO) saying that there's just no way this Bret Hart return can turn out as well as 12 years of build-up deserves.

[@TenaciousBe]

Dec 28, 2009 18:06:53 GMT -5 Doctorin' The Tardis said:

I think they're just (correctly IMO) saying that there's just no way this Bret Hart return can turn out as well as 12 years of build-up deserves.

Sort of. I'm saying that in a different time, if the E was still like it was a few years ago during the Lesnar/Angle years and less of a live-action cartoon with Swoggle and Chavo and such, it would be so much better. I don't think the payoff can be worth the buildup in today's environment.

Then again, the Jesse Ventura episode, I felt, was pure gold from start to finish. So if they can capture that magic with Bret, good on them.

And by the way, why does everyone think there'll be a huge Bret-Vince blowup? Didn't we get that picture of the 2 of them smiling and shaking hands over the DVD release a few years ago? In kayfabe terms, they've already kissed and made up. Or was that picture more of a line-blur than I imagined?

[Apricots And A Pear Tree]

I'm scared for most things WWE does.

[rnrk supports BLM]

Dec 28, 2009 17:38:27 GMT -5 @TenaciousBe said:

I want Bret to walk in, kick Shawn in the face, and go on a 20 minute live shoot on Vince and everything he's done to the WWE, the way they handled Owen's death (and the Eddiesploitation that followed), the way they've turned the company into a mockery of everything it once stood for.

If that's what you're hoping for, I can't see how having Bret return now is any worse than at any point in the last 12 years, because there's never been a chance in hell of Vince letting that scenario play out at any point in time.

[Solid Stryk-Dizzle]

a 20 minute live shoot. What is this? TNA?

Also, having a guy come out and say that the product is terrible is not a good way to do business.

Nobody is going to buy your chocolate bar if you come up to them and say "This used to taste like absolute crap. But it's better now, I swear."

[Fade is a CodyCryBaby]

Dec 28, 2009 18:31:48 GMT -5 Solid Stryk-Dizzle said:

"This used to taste like absolute crap. But it's better now, I swear."

Did You Know?: That's basically WWEs motto these days.

[wrestlecrapcrap]

WWE gets defended by me an awful lot...but that Jimmy Hart thing makes me wanna say 'PLEASE DON'T GIVE THEM IDEAS!', I could totally see them doing that, and it would totally ruin how serious we should be taking Bret when he comes back.

[steamboat1]

Bret Hart has had matches with a guy dressed as a centaur....a dentist....a clown....a sumo wrestler...and a vampire(in WCW). And after all that bad booking he is considered one of the best if not best of all time


It would take something absolutly pathetically bad for me to be disappointed with Bret's comeback.

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Dec 28, 2009 18:31:48 GMT -5 Solid Stryk-Dizzle said:

a 20 minute live shoot. What is this? TNA?

Also, having a guy come out and say that the product is terrible is not a good way to do business.

Nobody is going to buy your chocolate bar if you come up to them and say "This used to taste like absolute crap. But it's better now, I swear."

Pizza Turnaround?

[Cry Me a Wiggle]

Well, let's look at the history of earth-shattering events we all talked about for years before they finally happened:

-WWF vs. WCW. They botched it.
-The nWo in the WWF. They botched it.
-Eric Bischoff vs. Vince McMahon. They botched it.
-An ECW revival. They botched it.

Bret Hart is the last golden moment left. I wonder how it'll turn out?

[Solid Stryk-Dizzle]

Dec 28, 2009 19:38:10 GMT -5 Cry Me a Wiggle said:

-Eric Bischoff vs. Vince McMahon.

When did they go for that?