Hagan

Russo and Bischoff both come across as pretty good people, but no one ever suggested they were mass murderers or anything. The main criticism was their total mismanagement of companies they were involved with. Eric's rep is more redeemed than Russo because he had a pretty good run as a WWE character and is, generally, viewed as a good TV producer (though not great at creative). The problem with Russo is that he has a totally misguided view of what wrestling is, and what it should be. Plus, he's one of the biggest misogynists and racists in the business. And it's quite valid to think that both Cornette and Russo should never be allowed to book a wrestling company again.

Russo's comment about guys with Southern accents not getting over is the dumbest thing he's ever said. Putting aside wrestling, how many television/movie stars have Southern accents and are successful. How many athletes? HOW MANY PRESIDENTS WERE ELECTED WITH DEEP SOUTHERN ACCENTS? I mean, there's a bit of a stigma towards people with southern drawls but the idea that it's some deal breaker is such a close-minded East mindset that doesn't really jive with reality. .

They should put it on Hunter. May as well go full heel troll with it. Have Bryan come back and win it at SummerSlam.

I'm okay with the turn because a) main event guys never turn anymore. I mean, Orton/Hunter was the last turn and that was back in August b) From an in-ring perspective, it's easy for any of them to feel that they did all they could do as a unit and now it's time to look out for number 1. Now, I get the argument that Ambrose has more legs as a heel but, really, Rollins has been the star of the The Shield. Wouldn't it be natural that he feels the other two are holding him back from being the next WWE champion or whatever (which is where I imagine his promo will go)? Remember that Hunter turned on DX when he was the leader because The Corporation gave him a better path to the title. I mean, The Shield were great as heels. They kicked everyone's ass. They turned babyface and kicked more ass. At the PPV they kicked the ass of the top three of the biggest stars in the company history. I'm okay if this is the ending because I'd rather this than...I dunno...they start losing matches due to miscommunication and dissension. Everyone ends on a high note and now they get to run with a storyline that could run until 'Mania for these three guys. Now the issue is if it was done in the right way. I would have had Ambrose or Rollins win MITB, build to a Reigns title win and then do a turn but I guess they have other plans for the belt one way or another. If we can get past arguments about merch sales and WCW television ratings, do you guys think The Shield should replace the member and who would it be? I don't think an existing talent works. I think there'd be a stink of failure if like...Dolph came running down. Zayn is too lovable. It won't happen, but I'd roll out Devitt at MITB. Dude knows how to work a faction gimmick.

You gotta figure that Rollins will be able to get one hell of a singles match out of Roman. I think it's pretty cool that after everyone assumed Rollins would just be the worker of the group, and be overshadowed by the others, that he was positioned as the leader, mouthpiece, and, now, has the big heel run out of it.

Oh man, that was a great show. What strikes me is that compared to other developmental territories WWE has had, it seems that people actually enjoy wrestling in that environment. But yeah, top to bottom an awesome show. Loved the Zayn match, women's match had great emotion (though the rolling figure-four counter was a bit absurd) and the main event was perfectly acceptable video game wrestling.

Yeah, the way Bryan focuses on the weirdest shit is odd. He'll be with Sempervivie and talk NJPW for like a second and go two segments on Total Divas. Weird dude.

Dave and Bryan's epic Alicia Fox debate was something.

Go watch 1999 WWF. Those record ratings weren't drawn by work-rate, unless people really thought that Pete Gas was an underrated worker. The WWE is as much ring-rate centered as its been in years but it's not bringing in the eye-balls that like Edge's live sex act did. This isn't a bad thing, but WWE is more traditional than it's been in a while and I think they desperately need a hot angle to move the needle. Not just pushing new dudes, or switching titles, they need a big angle that gets people talking. I mean, even the most successful UFC/boxing fights usually draw on some sort of build/angle, whether real or manufactured. I mean, shit...Ultimate Fighter exists just for that reason.

Yeah, I get what you're saying, Ant but people still respond to characters/stories. It's just not just two guys beating the shit out of each other that draws real money/real ratings. As a television commodity, I tend to think that wrestling, in some form, has far better prospects than MMA. And who even knows how media content will be distributed in the next ten years. Boxing's downfall had far more to do with corruption, political gamesmanship, and a lack of exciting "name" fighters than gloves/12 rounds.

Good points about MMA, but UFC is in a bad spot when it comes to draws right now. Not that they're still not doing good to great PPV numbers, but it's definitely a cooling off from a few years ago. It seems that the "fad" fans of MMA are starting to splinter away too. I mean, they have Ronda as a draw, and Jones draws with an opponent and...uh...isn't that about it? Wrestling can still get hot because fads come and go and teens and young kids get into weird shit. I mean, maybe all the Cenation grows up and decides to spend all their disposable income on wrestling and gets their kids into it.

I was 6 years old in '88 and I distinctly remember Andre beating Hogan. I'm sure I watched it before because I remember at least watching the VHS version of WM 2. My brother and his friend were huge fans so it was just something we did. I discovered WCW in '89 (with I believe the Clash of Flair/Steamboat). Once I discovered the Apter bags I was pretty hooked. Was so fascinated that there was so much shit from all over the world.

And realistically, despite the WWE positioning itself, intentionally, as being bigger than any one guy or being a brand that's not tied into a single guy or a single star, if another Hulk Hogan or Steve Austin exploded, or if a feud like Austin/McMahon happened and the ratings doubled and new fans got pumped on wrestling, and old fans tune back in and discover that not only is wrestling hot again, but they can go and watch all the shit they watched when they were young, they'll be fine. Basically, just like every other wrestling promotion in history, what they need is a new star and a hot angle to turn the business around.

great interview with Bryan. he seems to really be in a bubble when it comes to fame, the perils of being a big star. Not that he comes across nearly as oblivious as Punk did, but it's interesting hearing how guys like Punk and Bryan and even Jericho handle their level of notoriety and guys like Cena, or other megastars handle theirs. You kind of wonder if a guy like Bryan really wants that tippy-top spot, or if he's a guy in three years decides that he's done all he set out to do and goes and retires on a mountain. I don't see Bryan moving to a gated community in Florida with a bunch of other athletes as his next door neighbor for security purposes, or him really digging being unable to enjoy a meal without someone asking to take a photo or screaming "yes" in his face. Not that he's a rude guy at all, but it'll be interesting seeing how he handles being in a spot that he never thought he'd be in. I mean, I can't recall someone being so candid thinking that he'd be happy just having a spot in the card and becoming a top guy. Guys that over-achieved like Eddy, Shawn, Bret, Edge, Jericho etc all had a lot more outward confidence that they deserved to be where they ended up.

It's hit me that one of the wrestling things I'm starting to hate is the whole "audience participation" schtick. It's like in the Attitude Era when everyone had a catchphrase and repeated the same spiel word for word every week. I mean, the Bryan thing is awesome, but for a television medium we spend a lot of time being asked to watch/be aware what the audience is doing. I dunno...it's like I hate sports fans that do the "white out" or "black out" thing in sports stadiums and it'd be like if the announcers kept talking about it. I guess what I'm really saying is that the Bray singing shit is killing him.

Yeah, this is one of those situations where if they didn't bullshit and bluster this wouldn't be seen as a complete disaster. The Network was something that they've gambled the short-term interest of the company, with the potential to either re-shape everything about their economics for good or bad. They have the content; they have the cheap price, they have the means to deliver it. All that aside, it still didn't explode, though I think the number they got for an initial period is okay. I do see it eventually catching up, either because it'll just become so established that people will just feel like it's something they need, or they'll jack the price up, or maybe wrestling gets hot again and it lifts everything up. The rights fees aren't great but not a disaster, if you ignore what they predicted. They're undervalued, but it's scary that they believe their own bullshit about how large their audience is. But hey...can't fault them for taking a step to preserve the future of their company for the next generation and beyond. It would be something if the company tanks because they decided that what their audience wanted was all the wrestling available in the world and the audience ends up rejecting it.

To an extent, but they're also stubborn and didactic and also seem to be stuck in the mindset that because something drew well in the 70s and 80s that it'll work now. Not that basic storytelling and setting up feuds has manifestly changed in those times, but, and I'm not on a Heyman apologists and definitely think he has weaknesses as a booker, but, unlike Heyman, I don't think they've been able to adapt/understand wrestling in 2014. No reasons that either guy shouldn't have a presence doing something, but they just seem stubborn and unwilling to change. Also, I think that both guys are carny as fuck and try to play to the IWC audience in a very transparent way. It's like..they pretend that if they ran wrestling every Internet/indy darling would be huge stars, when, in all likelihood, they'd be pushing the exact same guys/body types that are currently in main event spots.

JR needs to let the closed fist thing go. I mean, not that Cornette/Ross aren't smart wrestling minds, but listening to them rant every week you start to understand why they keep getting fired/sent home from management positions.

It's funny because as a big DDP fan, when the NWO angle started, I was really excited for him to join the NWO because of his past relationship with Hall and Nash. I figured that would be the thing to make him into a big star. They did just the opposite. So, if he HAD joined the NWO in '97, do things work out worse or better for Page? I don't think anyone thought he'd get as over as a babyface as he did. Also, loving this thread over the last few days. Another all-time poor managerial decision was Fonzie betting money on Sabu to beat Taz. I mean, if you're gonna bet against your guy and screw him, at least pull a Jimmy Hart and try to okie-doke him during the match. Fonzie placed a straight bet, lost, and then said "fuck it, let me hook up with this loser." On the bright side, Sabu wins the belt next month, giving Fonzie a bit of a payoff but Taz ends up with a much longer title run. Also, Fonzie decided that a better career choice was not to manage the athletic shooter but instead to join up with a certifiable foreign madman and his stoner buddy. Poor choices.

I think Sandow is a good promo and he's a pretty effective mid-card heel who can both be obnoxious and funny. His Russian Leg Sweep is really good. Putting him, Ziggler and Miz as a pissed off 3-man unit being managed by Alicia Fox could be pretty good. They can all cut really obnoxious promos and then fly around the ring selling shit. Works for me.

Assuming Daniel gets stripped, and from a storyline perspective it makes no sense for them not to strip him if he can't defend in 30 days, what do you guys think they do with the belt? Who do you put it on? I'd actually make the stips for the The Shield v Evolution match be whomever gets the pinfall takes the strap. Would add a shit ton of intrigue and set up future angles.

I think there's a lot of intrigue in having a member of The Shield win MITB (probably Ambrose, but with the way they're pushing RolIlins who knows?) and then have Roman win the title at, say. Survivor Series. Have them continue to be together for a few months and then do the turn/title switch to lead into a WM program. That's putting a lot of pressure on them, but they've all basically been main event players for a year and a half so I think it'd get over.

I remember it was the Reviews that lead me to this place, like, ten years ago (maybe longer). Very cool you guys are back doing this.

I'm in the Panhandle. There's a fair amount of indies in Alabama and in some of the smaller GC towns (I know Mossy Head runs shows). Not a lot, however and I went to one in Pensacola few years ago, but I don't think we have any shows anymore. This region is pretty interesting because we've had a ton of wrestlers come from here. Roman Reigns is from here and a lot of the other Samoans lived here at one time, the Armstrongs are from the region, Percy Pringle, Michael Hayes, Eric Embry, Austin Idol, John Tatum. Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling with the Fullers used to be a pretty big territory and it's a shame I was too young to really experience it. Oh, and the Panhandle isn't really that strange. I mean, Panama City is kind of a meth den, but Pensacola is a pretty tourist town with beautiful beaches. We're a tad fundamentalist but you just have to know where to avoid those people.

The opening of today's JBL and Cole Show (w/ Renee Young) will make you love Barrett, Cody and Young more than you already do. Also, Cody's NOLA umbrella celebration a few weeks ago was probably the most charisma he's ever shown.