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Raw 3-10-14


MGFanJay

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That Bryan segment was great- it was the one of two ways I could see HHH logically agreeing to that.  The other way was Bryan making fun of HHH's wrestling ability and goading him into a match that way, and that would have been more contrived.

 

-might be breaking the no politics rule here, but it's relevant.

 

As for the political bent- I don't think it worked well, because lets face, most WWE crowds are the teabagger types- it's why the RA's got over as faces.  Not too many dedicated liberals like wrestling.   That said, being kinda of west-coast socialist leftie is part of Bryan's gimmick- and why I think it's a bit of a shock he got as over as he has- because that really doesn't appeal to your typical wrestling crowd- especially in the South and West.   That said, Bryan is so over, and they put it off for so long, it worked. 

 

 

Steph and HHH's heeling in that segment was really, really great, but it's something we need to see only once or twice a decade- they need to put it back in the closet for a few years so it's special.  Steph's especially, her ability to have a breakdown is so much better than Vince's.

 

Bray does look like he belongs on the mike with Cena/Hogan, it's the ringwork I worry about.   Part of me wonders if they should just have him stop wrestling except on special occasions, and become the big "heel manager" for the next decade- WWE hasn't had one of those in ages.  

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Last night, I went from "I'm looking forward to going to New Orleans" to "I'm looking forward to going to Wrestlemania".

 

Occupy Raw was great and had me on my feet.  When HHH gave Bryan his match and then Bryan went Columbo on him (oh sir, one more thing) it was just one of those "this is why I watch wrestling" moments for me.  I called my father immediately after and he answered the phone by saying, "I saw it".  It was one of those moments.

 

Bray Wyatt is hanging with the best of them in every facet and it is great to watch.  I think the fact that his match with Daniel at the Rumble isn't being talked about more is a testament to just how great this year has been in ring already.  The fact that he was in two of the matches that overshadow it says something about his ability.  He may not have been the star of any of those matches, but each week he is showing us that he has something special.

 

Nice moment on the pre-show for the panel to give Jerry Lawler a standing ovation in his hometown.  However, I am among those that think its time for Jerry to step down from the commentary table.  Cole having to walk him through what had happened in the Shield/Wyatts Elimination Chamber match was unfortunate.

 

I'm a battle royal mark and an Andre The Giant mark.  Moving the old pre-show battle royal to the main card and giving it a name just turned it into something I absolutely am looking forward to.

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Most of you seem to be assuming the World Title goes on last. If it does, Bryan has to go over with the visual of 50,000+ YESing with him. However, they could put Taker on last in which case, I'm 110% certain Batista is going over with Bryan getting his win in Seattle.

Extreme Rules is in NJ now, not Seattle.

 

Which as far as Bryan goes, he'll get the same, if not better, reaction.

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I'm guessing they do a Bad News/Bret finish with the Real Americans in the Andre Memorial.

Wasn't there some battle royal where a tag team (the Road Warriors?) were in at the end and agreed to split the prize money? They should either borrow that ending or tease it and do a swerve.

Have read through 5 pages and didn't see this answered yet but The Skyscrapers were the team to split the 50,000 two ring over the top rope battle royal at The Bash 89. Sid won in ring one and Spivey won in ring two and they were supposed to have a regular match to decide the winner but Teddy Long was the voice of reason.

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I'd argue Rock did more to put others over than Stone Cold Steve Austin even though he would clown them on the  mic too a fault at times but that's for another topic.

 

I'm cool with everything else.  Oh, and Heyman deserves some props for carrying that Undertaker segment.  Referencing the streaks of other big names at Mania was a nice touch.

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That was really brilliant reactive booking, especially putting Batista and Orton in a team vs. Bryan and whoever. They prolly coulda even pulled off the mass walk-out Bryan threatened, which is cool.

 

Yes, Mania would explode if Punk showed up at the main to save Bryan from a 2-on-1 and Bryan ended up champ, but I am about 25/75 on that one.

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The Real Americans didn't get over because the crowd is full of tea party types. They got over because people will repeat ANYTHING because they love to participate. Also the big swing.

Guys go back and watch that occupy segment again. Watch how they start to show less and less of the crowd and focus on the plants around the ring. That crowd was pretty lukewarm to what should have been a red hot angle. They were sleeping during the Shield match too until the very end, so I'd say it was just a lame crowd and not an indictment of Bryan's popularity.

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While I was watching the Occupy RAW stuff, I thought it was pretty cool, but have felt pretty disconnected this whole time since Bryan has kept referencing that he wants a match with HHH. That was neat and all, but EVERYBODY wants to see Bryan in the Title match at Mania, so it was a little deflating. So, when he got the match against HHH, that was where we all saw it going and it really didn't seem like that special of an angle. I didn't get any butterflies or get really excited about this supposed huge match announcement. I started to question if maybe I've gotten over those feelings when watching wrestling now; if I've become jaded to the point where these "big moments" don't affect me anymore. Then, as Steph and HHH were leaving and Bryan said "One more thing.....", I started to feel it. I wasn't sure if they were really going to do it. Then the more Bryan talked, I started to get goosebumps. Then he said he and everybody else doesn't just want him to face HHH, they want him in the Title Match. They actually finally acknowledged it, and I got that old feeling back.

 

I KNOW this was not their original plan. I'm positive they wanted to get the "Daniel Bryan Experiment" overwith after The SummerSlam and move on. They tried pushing him aside with the Wyatts and even had a rumored match against Sheamus at WM on the table at one point, but he wouldn't go away. They've always said they listen to the crowd and if the crowd gets behind somebody, they'll push them. That obviously has not always been true (Ziggler, Ryder) and it seemed like it wasn't going to happen again with Bryan, but Bryan's popularity just could not be ignored.

 

When they have old timers like Foley and Austin and Jericho harping all over the place about how they have to pay this off with Bryan, and they don't, it's discouraging. They tried stuffing what THEY want down our throats with Batista and Orton and it was heartily rejected. This was a moment where we can feel like we really did make a change in what they wanted to give us and what we really wanted. We didn't get it with Ryder (which is good, cuz I never liked that guy anyway) and we didn't get it with Ziggler, we did get a year long Punk reign but it constantly took a back seat to Cena. It seemed like no matter how hard we cheered, we just weren't going to get what we wanted again with Bryan. But it finally happened. They ARE giving the fans what they've been asking for. This is what the "YES Movement" is about.

 

I know this sounds really cheesy and is pretty out of place for the school of thought for a lot of you on this board because maybe you're "too cool" to fall for it, but fuck that. This was a great moment that was totally brought on by the fans demanding it. They couldn't ignore it anymore and now this under 6 foot bearded troll guy is in the Main Event at Mania. It was a pretty damn cool moment and made me feel like a true wrestling fan again.

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As for the political bent- I don't think it worked well, because lets face, most WWE crowds are the teabagger type

 

A study a few years back said that is not the case.

 

 

I'd argue it's regional.   Northeastern crowds definitely not, but a Memphis crowd or a Dallas crowd yes.

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I find it ironic Cena was mocking someone else's gimmick considering he spent his first few years as a cheesedick suburban rapper.

 

The "everybody gets a WM paycheck" battle royale sounds like fun.  I'm with the crowd that thinks Russev or Cesaro or some other up and comer will get the rub there.  Speaking of Cesaro, I really hope they give him something more substantial at Wrestlemania than the inevitable Real Americans match.

 

Is there a compilation of the random battle royales that would always be on the Coliseum Video tapes?  This is something that the Network really needs to have.

 

Ambrose mocking Kane was tremendous.  I'm wondering if there's a feud brewing there.

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If there was ever a time for them to reference Benoit again on TV. It'd be now, with HHH bringing up Mania 20, and the folly of how putting your idols on such a pedestal will only end bad.

 

In horrible taste I know, but seems a good way of reinforcing HHH feeling justified in his views towards Daniel Bryan, and his ilk.

 

"Everyone knows what happened the last time I wrestled a sawed-off midget at WrestleMania.  I'm just trying to protect your family."

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While I was watching the Occupy RAW stuff, I thought it was pretty cool, but have felt pretty disconnected this whole time since Bryan has kept referencing that he wants a match with HHH. That was neat and all, but EVERYBODY wants to see Bryan in the Title match at Mania, so it was a little deflating. So, when he got the match against HHH, that was where we all saw it going and it really didn't seem like that special of an angle. I didn't get any butterflies or get really excited about this supposed huge match announcement. I started to question if maybe I've gotten over those feelings when watching wrestling now; if I've become jaded to the point where these "big moments" don't affect me anymore. Then, as Steph and HHH were leaving and Bryan said "One more thing.....", I started to feel it. I wasn't sure if they were really going to do it. Then the more Bryan talked, I started to get goosebumps. Then he said he and everybody else doesn't just want him to face HHH, they want him in the Title Match. They actually finally acknowledged it, and I got that old feeling back.

 

To me the best part was the crowd. They were pretty much behind it all, especially when they started the Daniel Bryan chant, but when Bryan asked to be put in the main if he won and everyone realized what was going on before their eyes and pretty much against their expectations, that's when they really erupted. 

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So can I be cool with the potential title match change without believing "it was the plan all along"?

 

They booked themselves into a corner once Batista went heel...Bryan almost HAS to win at this point.  I could see:

 

1) Triple H kills him with the sledgehammer and gets DQed for it.

2) Triple H wins, THEN kills him with the sledgehammer and the decision gets reversed(by Hulk?).

 

Either way, he's a SUPER-DEE-DUPER underdog going into the title match.

 

Sure, Bryan could win decisively too...again, sorry if I'll have trouble believing that until I see it.  All signs pointed to Bryan beating Cena at SummerSlam and I had trouble believing THAT would happen until the pinfall happened.  Again, the problem's probably on my end.

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I find it ironic Cena was mocking someone else's gimmick considering he spent his first few years as a cheesedick suburban rapper.

Well he got mocked to hell for it too. Which is probably why I enjoy doing this stuff. He's probably the one "Top Guy" who's taken the most shit from other guys on the mic. Austin and Rock got protected to hell, but its usually open season on Cena. Everything from 'wrestling ability' to 'lol ur fans are kids' has been put on him.

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I am really curious where they found that many plants for the #OccupyRAW segment. I mean usually the extras are all local indy workers, and you can tell they are indy workers. These guys (and girls) obviously were not. While they obviously were all prepped on what to do, some of them seemed genuinely emotional/unscripted in their reactions. 

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To switch into a different gear, what kind of weirdos would vote for 2/3 falls as the stipulation in Christian vs Sheamus? As if one fall isn't bad enough.

I don't know what you're talking about they just had a great match. Whoever thought of that finish with the brogue kick through the drum is a fucking genius. It looked brutal.

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When watching it this morning I think they pulled people out of the crowd and gave them a free shirt. Almost everyone climbing into the ring does not look like a worker, very awkward like it is their first time stepping between the ropes. No way they are even models.......they are all ugly!

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All Bryan had to do was say "Shawn was better".

I totally expected the security guys to join in.

I love that the first suggestion that popped up on my new phone after I typed "Shawn" was "Michaels".

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