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Post by "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay on Mar 23, 2014 6:37:52 GMT -5
I was rewatching this yesterday and after a standard PPV of often awful commentary with a few good moments, they got to the main event (Punk vs. Cena for those of us who somehow don't know) and suddenly, the commentary is some of the best I've ever heard. Booker T is absolutely terrible in his adorable way, as he always was (I think he said 'whoa' about six times in the match) but Cole and Lawler just raise their game for one of the hottest angles of the 2000s - Lawler questioning how the Chicago crowd can cheer for Punk when he'd be leaving the company if he wins, Cole observing how Punk has for years had a cult-like power over people; they bring up the character motivations, they actually discuss thigs that happened on screen earlier in the night without for a second patronising the audience or making it clunky.
What was it about this angle that 1. led to the commentators raising their game 2. led to Vince seemingly not screaming at them the WWE style that MUST be followed?
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Post by xCompackx on Mar 23, 2014 6:49:19 GMT -5
It probably was Vince telling them to step it up, honestly. The buildup for that match was white-hot going into it so it wouldn't surprise me if they wanted every bit of effort from the commentary.
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Woo
Hank Scorpio
Posts: 5,317
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Post by Woo on Mar 23, 2014 7:21:55 GMT -5
Such an amazing match, feud and PPV in general. After a year out this CM Punk angle hooked me again and I have followed it ever since. One of the best PPV's ever? Excluding the big 5 this along with No Way Out 2001, Backlash 2000 and One Night Stand 05 has got to be right up there.
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Post by champviadq on Mar 23, 2014 8:16:55 GMT -5
Commentary was garbage at that time. But it still was an awesome show throughout the card, top to bottom.
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Post by The Tank on Mar 23, 2014 8:19:38 GMT -5
Something I've noticed with the Network as well.
You know how for a lot of these times where commentary is "better", Vince McMahon is, you know...on screen?
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say when Kevin Dunn shouts into the earphones, no one listens.
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543Y2J
Patti Mayonnaise
Seventh level .gif Master
Posts: 38,794
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Post by 543Y2J on Mar 23, 2014 8:28:44 GMT -5
I liked it during the match. It wasn't perfect and it would have been better if they brought back JR, but I appreciated the effort all three put in and they have definitely had worse nights quality wise.
I just despise the fact they spoke over Punks (and to a lesser extent Cena's) entrance when it was an all time classic pop, they should have let his entrance and the moment speak for itself.
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Post by Kayfabe FAN don't want none on Mar 23, 2014 9:11:34 GMT -5
I remember when Punk did a headlock and Cole started yelling ANACONDA VICE! ANACONDA VICE! Like a f***ing moron.
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jetsonic
Team Rocket
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Post by jetsonic on Mar 23, 2014 10:55:35 GMT -5
how about from earlier in the show "DAT SUPAHERO D-BRYAN"
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Post by JTG Fan on Mar 23, 2014 11:53:15 GMT -5
Watching some 2010/2011 shows again, heel Cole is right up there with 2000 Mark Madden as the worst goddamn announcer ever.
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Post by Hit Girl on Mar 23, 2014 12:04:04 GMT -5
Personally I thought the commentary was awful. Cole and Lawler trying to force the narrative that Punk was the one in the wrong and the fans were misguided for supporting him.
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Ryushinku
King Koopa
Posts: 12,188
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Post by Ryushinku on Mar 23, 2014 12:13:38 GMT -5
Over the years, Cole has quietly put in some first-class work and calls on big matches. But because a lot of what he does usually isn't so good, it gets ignored and downplayed. Plus his online support has never been that strong.
I get it, but it's a shame. Get Vince's voice out of his head and I think his grade would tick up even more.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2014 12:15:00 GMT -5
The best moment on commentary for that night was Michael Cole's yell of 'NO, NOT AGAIN!' when Punk kicked out of the second Attitude Adjustment. Plus Cole's reaction when Punk won the title. What a great PPV. Personally I thought the commentary was awful. Cole and Lawler trying to force the narrative that Punk was the one in the wrong and the fans were misguided for supporting him. That was the story though wasn't it? I mean those company men than Punk was speaking out against included Lawler & Cole. They were selling it as an incredible slap in the face for CM Punk to dare speak out against the company (like yes/company men often do) and reacted with horror when he took the belt out of the WWE. Though maybe that's just me filling in logic gaps for the company.
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Post by Sumbody Gon' Get Dey Kneelift on Mar 23, 2014 12:38:00 GMT -5
I thought the match was really sloppy.
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Post by Some Guy on Mar 23, 2014 12:41:27 GMT -5
The commentary almost ruined the match for me.
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ratetankmark
Samurai Cop
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Post by ratetankmark on Mar 23, 2014 12:56:44 GMT -5
I kind of agreed with them, why support someone who was (in kayfabe) leaving the company, it's why I don't get why CM Punk is still supported now, I mean the dude genuinely took his ball and went home with him like some sort of pathetic spoiled child.
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Post by Chestnutrice on Mar 24, 2014 0:42:25 GMT -5
Personally I thought the commentary was awful. Cole and Lawler trying to force the narrative that Punk was the one in the wrong and the fans were misguided for supporting him. That was the whole point though, he attacked everyone with his promo, and implied that the company was full of yes men. I think Cole's "oh my god" when Punk won, is one of the best calls ever. Really put it over like something big just happened.
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ayumidah
Patti Mayonnaise
DOOM TIME!!!!!
Posts: 30,735
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Post by ayumidah on Mar 24, 2014 2:35:09 GMT -5
I love that PPV, the match, all of it. It was the first PPV I'd ordered in almost two years, and got it on DVD when it was released there too. I'm not sure when I'll be able to watch it again, still a little glum over what's happened, but eventually I'll dust it off and give it another watch. The commentary was a bit grating, but when isn't it? The most I remember of the commentary then was when King confused Cody and Wade in the MITB match earlier in the night (like how he confused Sandow and ADR on Raw... ), and making some ridiculous joke about the Bellas wanting to take K2 camping so they could rub her legs together to make fire. IT was so stupid, haha.
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Post by -Lithium- on Mar 24, 2014 4:44:22 GMT -5
Personally I thought the commentary was awful. Cole and Lawler trying to force the narrative that Punk was the one in the wrong and the fans were misguided for supporting him. That was the whole point though, he attacked everyone with his promo, and implied that the company was full of yes men. I think Cole's "oh my god" when Punk won, is one of the best calls ever. Really put it over like something big just happened. I had typed out the same thing earlier but never posted it, I guess. The way he says it is PERFECT. Not the typical over the top "OH MY GOD NOOOOO" sounding thing, just a "...holy s***, it happened..." vibe. Just amazing. Oh, and anytime someone mentions Cena/Punk at MITB 2011, I have to bring up that even as a guy who watched Breaking Bad from the first second it was on the air, I actually opted to record the Season 4 premiere of Breaking Bad and watch Cena/Punk as it happened. Keep in mind that I had actually bought MITB, and was recording it as well, but I STILL picked it over the Season premiere of my favorite show that I had waited a year to see. BTW, Cena/Punk at MITB 2011 was 10x more special seeming that Rock/Cena 2...
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SEAN CARLESS
Hank Scorpio
More of a B+ player, actually
I'm Necessary Evil.
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Post by SEAN CARLESS on Mar 24, 2014 5:55:11 GMT -5
The best moment on commentary for that night was Michael Cole's yell of 'NO, NOT AGAIN!' when Punk kicked out of the second Attitude Adjustment. Plus Cole's reaction when Punk won the title. What a great PPV. Personally I thought the commentary was awful. Cole and Lawler trying to force the narrative that Punk was the one in the wrong and the fans were misguided for supporting him. That was the story though wasn't it? I mean those company men than Punk was speaking out against included Lawler & Cole. They were selling it as an incredible slap in the face for CM Punk to dare speak out against the company (like yes/company men often do) and reacted with horror when he took the belt out of the WWE. Though maybe that's just me filling in logic gaps for the company. The problem with the narrative was that the company was portrayed as soullessly corrupt and rotten for the previous 13+ years going into the match. And by proxy, it was really just one asshole putting the screws to a company and its owners who were even bigger assholes. WWE, as an entity, was completely unsympathetic. It was and still is impossible to ever support the McMahon family as characters in any logical way as victims considering the absolutely evil things they've done in stories to their talent, announcers and even each other. Individual wrestlers themselves? Sure. Regardless though, WWE just undid all the hyperbole the next night when they crowned a fake replacement champion anyway.
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Post by Oh Cry Me a Screwball on Mar 24, 2014 6:08:28 GMT -5
The best moment on commentary for that night was Michael Cole's yell of 'NO, NOT AGAIN!' when Punk kicked out of the second Attitude Adjustment. Plus Cole's reaction when Punk won the title. What a great PPV. Personally I thought the commentary was awful. Cole and Lawler trying to force the narrative that Punk was the one in the wrong and the fans were misguided for supporting him. That was the story though wasn't it? I mean those company men than Punk was speaking out against included Lawler & Cole. They were selling it as an incredible slap in the face for CM Punk to dare speak out against the company (like yes/company men often do) and reacted with horror when he took the belt out of the WWE. Though maybe that's just me filling in logic gaps for the company. To me, Cole and Lawler HAD to be against Punk because the idea of the WWE champion leaving the company with the title was supposed to affect the prestige and monetary well-being of the WWE itself. And if the WWE is seen that way because the champion is gone, it could potentially affect their own paychecks. Not only that, but they even mentioned that it was distressing that Chicago, one of the most important cities for WWE and and pro wrestling industry historically, was in support of something that could be potentially harmful to the business.
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