w. josh

There was a rumor going around a few months ago that they were planning on bringing Carter up as a Miz stalker/imposter/something. If it was true and that was really the only thing they could come up with for him, I'd guess that the utter failure of Miz to get over as a face since then may have something to do with his release.

Cole actually called it "The Knee That Beat John Cena" last night, which is really a lovely bit of assonance.

That's good booking if it's on purpose, though - Bryan didn't even need the fast count, which makes it an even more infuriating technicality. They can't keep up the "IF Bryan can beat Orton" thing - he did, but they found a loophole. It can go a few different ways, too - it was a setup and HHH told Armstrong to do a fast count if Bryan hit The Move That Beat John Cena, Armstrong got caught up in the moment, someone on the face side (Dusty!) colluded with Armstrong in a misguided attempt to do the right thing...

Is there a match stip where he could beat Ziggler for five of those?

When he strips Bryan of the title or holds it up, HHH should spin a ridiculous conspiracy theory that Dusty Rhodes used his history with the Armstrong family to convince Scott to do the fast count as retribution for Cody's firing, while Dusty and Armstrong just stare at him incredulously.

Man, could that crowd not be bothered to care about anyone other than Punk and Bryan. It's almost like booking your midcard as an amorphous blob of Mendoza-liners for years leads to apathy. On the other hand, the presumed Dusty finish tomorrow is perfect. Bryan got to be champ for a few minutes the first time, then makes it 22 hours or so this time before HHH screws him over again. Bryan needs to go apeshit this time around, though, instead of just shrugging it off and seething.

So...the storyline going into BFG is that Styles' contract is up and he could win the belt and just leave. I....I see.

I hear the Batwoman writer is available.

Between Ambrose, Rollins, Zayn, Neville, and Ohno, I've gotta think someone has either already taken it or could take it safely. Whether they'd be allowed to is another story entirely. He's pretty much got to be a face already if they bust it out, because it will instantly turn him otherwise.

It's pretty sad that Ambrose's US Title reign has to be considered a success not because he's had a ton of good singles matches or elevated the title, but simply because he doesn't constantly drop pinfalls in non-title matches.

Repo guy and tax man really do seem like characters that you could never book as faces in pro wrestling. What's more unlikeable than guys whose job it is to take your stuff? How do you put a good spin on that characterwise? Along those lines, I'm surprised Vince never ran a "divorce lawyer" or "insurance claims adjuster" gimmick in the 90s.

Graves as Dawson's meth dealer cousin would be the perfect 2013 Southern tag team.

Given their history, they really should involve Miz in a featured way for at least one show. Either have him be the first (or one of the first) to align with Bryan, saying he still can't stand the guy but it's about time someone stood up to the regime, or turn him because he still can't stand the guy and everybody hated him when he and Truth stood up to the regime. I'd rather see new faces (Cody, PTP) get the big spots in the angle, but Miz can be a useful part.

I hope we can all agree, at least, that Big Show coming out as one of Los Matadores will fix everything.

I'm more talking about the royal "you" than you specifically - I don't post enough or have a unique enough presence to make anything personal (well, except for that "it's a gimmick, bro" crack, which was sooooo aimed at you). I'm saying that anyone who immediately starts lecturing anyone else that they're getting worked and it's only been x weeks and just repeats the same lines over and over again could maybe back off and have a discussion instead of just yelling things that make them feel smart.

But to be fair, a lot of people are saying that he should be getting beaten down and the roster should be put in their place - just not as poorly as it's been done so far. You can agree with the story and still hate the storytelling. Specific to last night, for example, and as others have pointed out already: either book Bryan as Show's equal instead of a guy with no chance once Show starts trying to fight him, or have Show refuse to fight at all and try to lie down for Bryan. Then end RAW the same way. Still a beatdown, still stacked odds, but the faces don't look like absolute morons with no chance whatsoever. Well sure, but the MOST important thing is to never listen to people who disagree with you and respond to the point they're actually trying to make, but instead just keep repeating the same stupid pithy bullshit over and over again and then fall back on "it's a gimmick, bro!" when you get called out on it. And to make hamfisted blanket statements that perfectly encapsulate your entire worldview while seemingly lacking the self-awareness to recognize the irony therein.The point is: this angle will suck.My point is: not yet.You can whine and complain the whole time, or you can whine and complain when Show takes Bryan's spot. Why not wait until you get fucked before complaining about how painful the experience is? But a lot of people aren't saying, "the angle will suck." They're saying, "the execution so far is pretty fucking iffy, and that makes me worry about whether or not they can actually pay it off successfully." That's an entirely fair point worth a discussion, and it doesn't deserve to just get shouted down with "hyurk hyurk marks hyurk hyurk worked hyurk hyurk losers!" every week. Ignore everyone who's actually, explicitly saying it's definitely doomed and WWE is shit and no one should watch it, sure. But don' t act like every single person who disagrees with you is "whining and complaining" and making the same hivemind point.

Well sure, but the MOST important thing is to never listen to people who disagree with you and respond to the point they're actually trying to make, but instead just keep repeating the same stupid pithy bullshit over and over again and then fall back on "it's a gimmick, bro!" when you get called out on it. And to make hamfisted blanket statements that perfectly encapsulate your entire worldview while seemingly lacking the self-awareness to recognize the irony therein.

To be fair, that's how GOOD serialized TV works. Bad serialized TV works (or doesn't) by writers throwing a ton of crap at the wall and ignoring anything that doesn't stick, or taking their one decent idea and trotting it out every single week with no nuance or progression until they have to panic and then Steven Urkel has a suave alter ego and the daughter becomes a porn star. That's my problem with everyone lecturing people who don't like the execution of the angle so far. Yes, it's a slow burn. Yes, it's being booked right now toward a logical conclusion of Bryan beating Orton for the title on a big PPV. EVERYONE SEES THAT. Some people, however, also see WWE's track record with this sort of thing. Slow burn only works if the writers and management themselves have the patience to see the angle through without panicking the first time ratings dip and hitting the SuperCena button, and I don't know that "patience and consistency are virtues" is exactly embroidered on the pillows in the writing room. As much as WWE loves to tell everyone that they're accomplished storytellers whose real competition is dramatic shows like Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones...they aren't, and it isn't. They tend to tell good stories poorly and poor stories often, and that's why people throw shit fits when a really great angle comes along and the warning signs start coming that it's all going to go off the rails any minute now.

Moxley/Ambrose, I assume...

"I'm friends with Criss Angel..." Of COURSE you are.

I'd love to watch the Punk/Lesnar match again, but every time Justin Roberts says "Minnesooow- taaaah" with the accent in his Brock intro, I die a little inside.

To people saying NBD because of Pat Patterson...he was winkingly acknowledged as being gay in the most sneering, condescending, gay-panicky ways possible. Sure, he had backstage power and wasn't held back on the basis of his sexuality, but guys like Jim Ross went out of their way to make sure everyone knew it was Not Okay. See also: Goldust, Billy and Chuck, the Rock implying every opponent he ever faced was a nancyboy. If they handle the DY thing right, it will be a big deal. As for what they should do, I'd say acknowledge it in passing and then move on. If they have to turn it into a story, the best bet really might be to turn them face by having some obnoxious heel (any of 3MB would work) pull out one of good ol' JR's shitty lines and letting Titus beat the ever-loving shit out of the guy and ask if anybody else has a problem with his partner. Biggest actual Be A Star move they can pull off.

Jeremy London as Eric Bischoff Eric Close as Randy Savage Lori Loughlin as Miss Elizabeth

Sadly it will just be a chance for Cena to do the noble thing and not grab the pin. Ugh. yeah. Shield attacks, Cena grunts "Not like this! Not like this!" then they attack him and Bryan takes the win, THEN Orton cashes in. Worst possible outcome. Almost certainly happening.

Didn't AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, and a few other indy guys already make those videos a few years back?