JohnnyJ Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 The Reigns criticism and muted reactions started well before Bryans return at the Royal Rumble. Was that criticism also because he wasn't Bryan Danielson? All the audience is looking for is a good story. Bryan fandom aside. The Bryan story makes all of the sense in the world. Bryan is stripped out his title due to injury. It is unknown if he will wrestle again. He comes back at the rumble and somehow wins. Now he has to face off against an unstoppable monster to get back his title and no one thinks he has a chance. That's a compelling narrative. The Reigns narrative is much less compelling. From day one, Reigns has been pushed as unstoppable. A true alpha male, with the look and the size and no flaws. Despite the audience cooling on him, he has continued to be an unstoppable force. It is his destiny to main event Mania and defeat Lesnar. There is no hook. The problem you have with the divas is there is certainly an audience but due to a variety of factors they just don't have wide audience appeal. That's not to say there isn't an audience tna would kill for that would watch a weekly divas wrestling show. Including, nxt they have a big divas roster. Why not give them their own show at full sail and see if it takes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brysynner Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 The problem with all of this is it made sense in theory. Have the monster destroy the Streak, destroy the two most popular wrestlers on the roster, new young star wins Rumble, dethrones the Beast. But when things went off the rails, Bryan got hurt, Reigns got hurt, Vince was scripting Reigns promos and they tried to turn him into "smiling Diesel". Now they're scrambling to fix what they destroyed in Reigns mystique because they only have a short time till Mania and there's only one outcome that can occur, the next young thing destroys the Beast. WWE couldn't audible to Bryan or anyone else. Once Vince made the decision for Brock to beat Taker, the end of Mania 31 was set and if the crowd shits on it...well they can redub the crowd noise for the DVD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bustronaut Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 On the one hand I find it pretty funny that everyone who yells about them not pushing new guys suddenly hate the idea of them pushing a new guy, especially when the veteran choice is coming off being out for nearly a year after nearly Orndorffing himself. For all the mocking we do about Barrett being injury prone, I can definitely see WWE's point about not wanting to put their main title on Bryan in a match that might end up seeing him injured again (through no fault of Brock's, but Bryan going all out because it's Mania and Lesnar) On the other hand, I selfishly want to see it happen. That it's not going to happen really *is* the best for business long term, and likely for Bryan too. The man loves grappling, I'm sure he could get over an almost totally mat-based style that would lengthen what's left of his career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MORELOCK Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 The problem you have with the divas is there is certainly an audience but due to a variety of factors they just don't have wide audience appeal. That's not to say there isn't an audience tna would kill for that would watch a weekly divas wrestling show. Including, nxt they have a big divas roster. Why not give them their own show at full sail and see if it takes? What factors, and according to whom? If the audience doesn't care about the divas, it's because they've been conditioned not to. They're no different than any of the male midcard acts. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstout Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Meltzer was right - the main difference here is that Bryan has more charisma than Reigns. He's got more of that "it" factor, yet they seem to be constantly keeping him down for some unknown reason. It's truly "best for business" to run with your hottest guy right now, and Bryan is it. Then if Lesnar is leaving, you segue Bryan into a feud with Rollins, easy peasy. Plus, wrestling fans hate the inevitable. It seems inevitable that Lesnar go back to the UFC. It has seemed inevitable for months that Reigns is gonna be the guy who beats him. What's the fun of watching the movie if you know how it's gonna end? That said, I still think everyone gets SWERVED~! somehow at Wrestlemania. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burgundy LaRue Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Again, all this Reigns criticism doesn't need to be complicated busllshit analysis. It just boils down to 'he isn't Bryan Danielson.' I don't care what asshole you pushed instead, it would still be that criticism of the guy. Yes, there are still losers who call him that because they are too cool for school. That's really what it boils down to. There's nothing wrong with Roman. You may not like how he's been booked and think he isn't ready, but the guy himself is fine. But he's not Bryan, and for many (I'm not saying everyone feels that way, so don't get it twisted), that makes Roman worthless. Thing is--even if Roman were to pushed down to NXT and ultimately fired, that wouldn't make Vince choose Bryan as his guy. Vince would probably choose someone else--again. All these people saying to cheer for Bryan when Roman comes out are wasting their time IMO. They think if they boo Roman enough, his career will be destroyed and Bryan will get booked into the main event. That's not how it works. I'm not saying anyone has to like Roman. Just know that even if Vince cools off with him, Vince can still go in any non-Bryan direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick B. Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Took forever, but I'll finally be attending a World League Wrestling show tomorrow night in Troy, Missouri. They had a show scheduled there last Saturday but had to postpone due to ice on their parking lot(the Troy events are held at their training facility). Should be a good time. Nothing in the immediate area on Saturday, oddly enough. March looks like this at the moment:-Saturday 3/7: Dynamo Pro Wrestling in Fenton, MO; Pro Wrestling Epic in Pontoon Beach, IL-Saturday 3/14: Pro Wrestling Championship Series in Granite City, IL; MMWA in St. Louis, MO-Saturday 3/21: Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling in East Carondelet, IL (Nikolai Volkoff appearing); World League Wrestling in Troy, MO ROH will be back in Collinsville in June...hoping for Styles or Joe to be on the card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyJ Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I'm not saying anyone has to like Roman. Just know that even if Vince cools off with him, Vince can still go in any non-Bryan direction. We should pin a thread for the inevitable Baron Corbin backlash of 2017. It's going to get ugly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig H Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Nonsense. Baron Corbin is the hero WWE needs and deserves. Just wait until Baron Corbin gets his version of a 3 wolves t-shirt. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramsey Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Nonsense. Baron Corbin is the hero WWE needs and deserves. Just wait until Baron Corbin gets his version of a 3 wolves t-shirt. Will it be three wolves AND a moon? Maybe three wolves, a skeleton Indian chief and a dream catcher? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godfrey Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I think the criticism of Reigns and the misuse of Bryan are two separate issues that happened to clash at the worst possible time. Which is the kind of thing a forward thinking company would've realized and booked around. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brysynner Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Again, all this Reigns criticism doesn't need to be complicated busllshit analysis. It just boils down to 'he isn't Bryan Danielson.' I don't care what asshole you pushed instead, it would still be that criticism of the guy. Yes, there are still losers who call him that because they are too cool for school. That's really what it boils down to. There's nothing wrong with Roman. You may not like how he's been booked and think he isn't ready, but the guy himself is fine. But he's not Bryan, and for many (I'm not saying everyone feels that way, so don't get it twisted), that makes Roman worthless. Thing is--even if Roman were to pushed down to NXT and ultimately fired, that wouldn't make Vince choose Bryan as his guy. Vince would probably choose someone else--again. All these people saying to cheer for Bryan when Roman comes out are wasting their time IMO. They think if they boo Roman enough, his career will be destroyed and Bryan will get booked into the main event. That's not how it works. I'm not saying anyone has to like Roman. Just know that even if Vince cools off with him, Vince can still go in any non-Bryan direction. He'd pick Rollins. I'd say the pecking order is Reigns, Rollins, Wyatt, Ambrose, Rusev, Bryan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCM Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Ramsey, on 26 Feb 2015 - 09:24 AM, said: The company hears two things and two things only, the cash register and the main stream media. Bryan was a part of the World series and Super Bowl winner's parades. There are sports teams from every sport doing his chant. He could've been in the Rock's seat next to Oprah at the Oscars, and the WWE still would act like he's not a big enough star. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cristobal Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I think the criticism of Reigns and the misuse of Bryan are two separate issues that happened to clash at the worst possible time. Which is the kind of thing a forward thinking company would've realized and booked around. They did...sort of. Unfortunately their idea of "booking around it" is "Ok, how can we get you all to stop caring about Bryan?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cole Miner Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Ramsey, on 26 Feb 2015 - 09:24 AM, said: The company hears two things and two things only, the cash register and the main stream media. Bryan was a part of the World series and Super Bowl winner's parades. There are sports teams from every sport doing his chant. He could've been in the Rock's seat next to Oprah at the Oscars, and the WWE still would act like he's not a big enough star. It is nothing new. Mysterio was under pushed for how over he was at the time. Stop being such a title mark. Bryan can have a great career like Mysterio bringing high level match quality to the shows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greggulator Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 "Hey, let's make the fans not care about that guy who headlined about 10 PPVs the past two years, ended more Raw segments than anyone in a decade other than John Cena, and booked to win two matches at WrestleMania, ending the show in triumph."Uh huh. I'm sure that's the thought process there. That makes a lot of sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick B. Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I see no reason to even talk about this. Each side has made up its mind and there's no changing it. Just move on. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greggulator Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Also, don't you want as many top level guys as possible? That has been a complaint for ages -- that the WWE hasn't made new stars. Well, guess what? They're trying really hard with Roman. And he's been doing a pretty great job since things got rocky for him. And, aside from one of two really bad promos, most of his stuff was just sorta there and inoffensive and updates about his health.I really don't like this revisionist history some people have about how he was essentially carrying the water for Ambrose and Rollins in The Shield. Absolutely nothing could be more false. Roman was a great -- GREAT -- tag worker. And not just in trios matches. He and Rollins were great when Ambrose was in the PS Hayes/US Title spot in the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Man Known as Dan Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 For gods sake Greg... Seriously, this is a company that never referenced someone being all over the celebration of a World Series winner and Super Bowl winner on screen. Any argument that they gave him a legitimate chance to be face of the promotion breaks there. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cristobal Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 "Hey, let's make the fans not care about that guy who headlined about 10 PPVs the past two years, ended more Raw segments than anyone in a decade other than John Cena, and booked to win two matches at WrestleMania, ending the show in triumph." Uh huh. I'm sure that's the thought process there. That makes a lot of sense. What's your explanation for Bryan going out of the Rumble when he did, then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greggulator Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 And also, the WWE's champions list since the Hogan era includes Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin, Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, Chris Benoit, Eddy Guerrero, CM Punk, Mick Foley, Edge, Jeff Hardy and Daniel Bryan. None of those guys are bodybuilders at allCan we get past the "Vince only likes muscle guys?" talking point that any shred of evidence shows is false? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greggulator Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 "Hey, let's make the fans not care about that guy who headlined about 10 PPVs the past two years, ended more Raw segments than anyone in a decade other than John Cena, and booked to win two matches at WrestleMania, ending the show in triumph." Uh huh. I'm sure that's the thought process there. That makes a lot of sense. What's your explanation for Bryan going out of the Rumble when he did, then? To get you all riled up? Because they have a plan for Roman Reigns and want Bryan to do something else for a bit? Because Bryan just came back from a year-long injury? And then after Mania season starts-up, they'll see where he's at physically and go from there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Fresh Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I see no reason to even talk about this. Each side has made up its mind and there's no changing it. Just move on. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig H Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Nonsense. Baron Corbin is the hero WWE needs and deserves. Just wait until Baron Corbin gets his version of a 3 wolves t-shirt. Will it be three wolves AND a moon? Maybe three wolves, a skeleton Indian chief and a dream catcher? The Rad Wolf is going to be around for awhile. I don't see why future iterations of his shirt couldn't feature those things. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cristobal Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 "Hey, let's make the fans not care about that guy who headlined about 10 PPVs the past two years, ended more Raw segments than anyone in a decade other than John Cena, and booked to win two matches at WrestleMania, ending the show in triumph." Uh huh. I'm sure that's the thought process there. That makes a lot of sense. What's your explanation for Bryan going out of the Rumble when he did, then? To get you all riled up? You are a treasure. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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