RandomAct Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 The topic of Roman Reigns getting shoved down the fans' throats from the Raw thread reminded me of one of the Rock's returns. I remember when the Rock came back from his movie hiatus before WrestleMania XIX and was being shoved down our throats and it got him turned on by the fans. But that also led to "Hollywood" Rock, which is my favorite version of his character. Probably the best Mic work I've seen ever and was great in the ring. I thoroughly enjoyed his mini-fued with the Hurricane. Rock kinda has a history of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebbie Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 How many times does it have to be said that the reason Punk was never THE guy or in that realm because he is a fucking unlikeable, cynical asshole. He was never going to grow his fan base because if you didn't like what he did, you thought he was an asshole. Fucking wrestling bubble. Cant see the obvious. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Fresh Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 How many times does it have to be said that the reason Punk was never THE guy or in that realm because he is a fucking unlikeable, cynical asshole. He was never going to grow his fan base because if you didn't like what he did, you thought he was an asshole. Fucking wrestling bubble. Cant see the obvious. "he is a fucking unlikeable, cynical asshole" The irony is delicious. 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Technico Support Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 It's also pretty obvious Punk simply did not have a look they wanted as a face of the company. Forget that he would never be the guy; they didn't want him representing the company anywhere, even as a third or fourth guy. The Wizard World thing, the Ink Master thing, the movie thing, the video game cover thing...every time Punk was set to represent the company, they tried to plug in someone different. Every single time. From the company's perspective, he was "skinny fat," smaller than Vince's superman ideal, greasy and grimy looking, not very pretty, all tatted up and just not what a sports entertainer is supposed to look like. He was not, nor ever would be, the guy they wanted representing them. You think Nash was the only one who said he looked like the cook at Waffle House? In WWE's eyes, Punk was always going to be a cult hero there to placate one small portion of the audience. He was a fool, and just as delusional as every other wrestler, to think things would ever be otherwise. Punk thinking that WM main event was just around the corner was no less foolish than Dennis Stamp on his trampoline anticipating that next big booking. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyJ Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 Among the tastemakers outside the wrestling bubble nobody gets as much press as Punk. It's not even close. Punk gets talked about in the cool sports press. Punk gets talked about in cool music press. Punk gets talked about in cool comic press. Punk gets talked about in cool nerd circuits. The WWE can't buy that kind of press. If you have someone who can reach those niches, the world is your oyster. And above all of that, he actually appealed to casual adult fans who stopped watching. You know, the kind of people who might actually have the money to spend on a product you're endlessly talking about. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Technico Support Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 I know that. But we're talking about Vince McMahon's tastes and what he wants put forward for his company. He's tone deaf to what's going out out there. John Cena looks like a wrestler, to him. Punk does not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goc Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 From the latest WON: The 17-year tradition of pro wrestling at the former NWA Wildside Arena in Cornelia, GA, is in jeopardy. Anarchy Wrestling owner Franklin Dove said he was moving to Orlando and unless somebody buys the promotion from him, the final show will be 12/27. It can't be that expensive can it? Can we crowd source it and hire BEN! as the booker? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MADCAP Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 How many times does it have to be said that the reason Punk was never THE guy or in that realm because he is a fucking unlikeable, cynical asshole. He was never going to grow his fan base because if you didn't like what he did, you thought he was an asshole. Fucking wrestling bubble. Cant see the obvious. "he is a fucking unlikeable, cynical asshole" The irony is delicious. Yes it is... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultimo Necro Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 The latest JBL and Cole show, not entirely sure what I just witnessed, but I'm sure it smelled of cocoa butter. It also needs to be mixed with that comedy-Vince / WBF clip as soon as possible. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beech27 Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 It appears someone here in Lawrence left a Missed Connection for Mark Henry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebbie Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 How many times does it have to be said that the reason Punk was never THE guy or in that realm because he is a fucking unlikeable, cynical asshole. He was never going to grow his fan base because if you didn't like what he did, you thought he was an asshole. Fucking wrestling bubble. Cant see the obvious. "he is a fucking unlikeable, cynical asshole"The irony is delicious. Yes it is... I'm not bitching about RIPPA giving a push or some stupid shit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MADCAP Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 I'm on your side kid.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRGoldman Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 I don't get why some people don't understand that many successful people are unhappy with the success they have and always want more. It's easy for us to say 'Punk was treated better than Zack Ryder so he should be satisfied' but I would bet that Punk is a pretty ambitious guy who is always setting higher goals for himself in everything, not just wrestling. Does he have a bit of a persecution complex? Sure. But just because he sees slights were there might not be doesn't mean he should just rest on his laurels and settle for what he thinks is a waste of his effort and talent. Those perceived slights are probably a major part of how he motivates himself to do anything. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobra Commander Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 and now an ad break: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uq7yjdN1wM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw40M8w4y8o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZE1wh87Seo 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SorceressKnight Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 Among the tastemakers outside the wrestling bubble nobody gets as much press as Punk. It's not even close. Punk gets talked about in the cool sports press. Punk gets talked about in cool music press. Punk gets talked about in cool comic press. Punk gets talked about in cool nerd circuits. The WWE can't buy that kind of press. If you have someone who can reach those niches, the world is your oyster. And above all of that, he actually appealed to casual adult fans who stopped watching. You know, the kind of people who might actually have the money to spend on a product you're endlessly talking about. That may also be the problem- For everything that HHH gets, the one difference is that he seems to get that pro wrestling is now officially "the geeks' sport" and is trying to adjust WWE as a whole to reflect that going forward, WWE is at its peak as one of many parts of geek culture. Vince McMahon, on the other hand- is an alpha male, and wants the WWE to appeal to other alpha males- so wrestlers who appeal to geeks and different subsets of it- which can make the casual adult fans get interested, will never succeed as well as someone who can presumably get those alpha males Vince WANTS to like the show back into the fold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstout Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 I am suffering through GWF on ESPN Classics, and boy, they were unafraid to be completely racist to a Mexican dude. Earlier, the Mexican in Question was talking about how nice it is to have a house, and the color commentator mentioned how dude used to have six people in a one-bedroom apartment. Now the heels are foreclosing on him somehow - didn't know General Skandor Akbar gave out house loans. Maybe he was the money behind Countrywide. Great stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bink_winkleman Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 Among the tastemakers outside the wrestling bubble nobody gets as much press as Punk. It's not even close. Punk gets talked about in the cool sports press. Punk gets talked about in cool music press. Punk gets talked about in cool comic press. Punk gets talked about in cool nerd circuits. The WWE can't buy that kind of press. If you have someone who can reach those niches, the world is your oyster. And above all of that, he actually appealed to casual adult fans who stopped watching. You know, the kind of people who might actually have the money to spend on a product you're endlessly talking about. That may also be the problem- For everything that HHH gets, the one difference is that he seems to get that pro wrestling is now officially "the geeks' sport" and is trying to adjust WWE as a whole to reflect that going forward, WWE is at its peak as one of many parts of geek culture. Vince McMahon, on the other hand- is an alpha male, and wants the WWE to appeal to other alpha males- so wrestlers who appeal to geeks and different subsets of it- which can make the casual adult fans get interested, will never succeed as well as someone who can presumably get those alpha males Vince WANTS to like the show back into the fold. I've been saying this for some time and could not agree more. That WWE is blowing this opening to feed of of geek culture - and the money and tech savvy that's there - is absurd. The sort of irony being that Punk is running off to the UFC, where most of the WWE's meathead crowd ran off to. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 Among the tastemakers outside the wrestling bubble nobody gets as much press as Punk. It's not even close. Punk gets talked about in the cool sports press. Punk gets talked about in cool music press. Punk gets talked about in cool comic press. Punk gets talked about in cool nerd circuits. The WWE can't buy that kind of press. If you have someone who can reach those niches, the world is your oyster. And above all of that, he actually appealed to casual adult fans who stopped watching. You know, the kind of people who might actually have the money to spend on a product you're endlessly talking about. I'd say Daniel Bryan does as well maybe not on the same level but he was second to Punk in those regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranesi Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 I want a $97 fat guy recliner. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thee Reverend Axl Future Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 Among the tastemakers outside the wrestling bubble nobody gets as much press as Punk. It's not even close. Punk gets talked about in the cool sports press. Punk gets talked about in cool music press. Punk gets talked about in cool comic press. Punk gets talked about in cool nerd circuits. The WWE can't buy that kind of press. If you have someone who can reach those niches, the world is your oyster. And above all of that, he actually appealed to casual adult fans who stopped watching. You know, the kind of people who might actually have the money to spend on a product you're endlessly talking about. That may also be the problem- For everything that HHH gets, the one difference is that he seems to get that pro wrestling is now officially "the geeks' sport" and is trying to adjust WWE as a whole to reflect that going forward, WWE is at its peak as one of many parts of geek culture. Vince McMahon, on the other hand- is an alpha male, and wants the WWE to appeal to other alpha males- so wrestlers who appeal to geeks and different subsets of it- which can make the casual adult fans get interested, will never succeed as well as someone who can presumably get those alpha males Vince WANTS to like the show back into the fold. I've been saying this for some time and could not agree more. That WWE is blowing this opening to feed of of geek culture - and the money and tech savvy that's there - is absurd. The sort of irony being that Punk is running off to the UFC, where most of the WWE's meathead crowd ran off to. I wanted to disagree with SorceressKnight's theory at first, but upon further reflection it seems truer and truer. Is HHH that carny/mercenary/realpolitik/capitalist/realistic/pragmatic that he can overcome his own jock roots and consciously steer WWE towards this demographic? hhmmmm, RAF 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 From the latest WON: The 17-year tradition of pro wrestling at the former NWA Wildside Arena in Cornelia, GA, is in jeopardy. Anarchy Wrestling owner Franklin Dove said he was moving to Orlando and unless somebody buys the promotion from him, the final show will be 12/27.It can't be that expensive can it? Can we crowd source it and hire BEN! as the booker? If Ben was the booker, they'd be out of business by 12/29. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobra Commander Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 Now the heels are foreclosing on him somehow - didn't know General Skandor Akbar gave out house loans. Maybe he was the money behind Countrywide. just wait until Akbar gives Brandon Baxter money to buy his first car, only to ruin Brandon Baxter's credit forever. Also, I like that the Transmission place thought nothing of having their endorser beat up someone for not going to their place sooner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramsey Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 We'll be right back after this message from Fireworks City! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4tn4pzzt1w Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_MJ_ Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 Among the tastemakers outside the wrestling bubble nobody gets as much press as Punk. It's not even close. Punk gets talked about in the cool sports press. Punk gets talked about in cool music press. Punk gets talked about in cool comic press. Punk gets talked about in cool nerd circuits. The WWE can't buy that kind of press. If you have someone who can reach those niches, the world is your oyster. And above all of that, he actually appealed to casual adult fans who stopped watching. You know, the kind of people who might actually have the money to spend on a product you're endlessly talking about. I'd say Daniel Bryan does as well maybe not on the same level but he was second to Punk in those regards, Personally, I was way more into Daniel Bryan's hot run than Punk's pipebomb run so I am happy he transition into the "IT Guy" when Punk's time died down. I'm biased and this is anecdotal, but I thought the live crowd reaction was stronger during Bryan's run too. There wasn't a pipebomb moment to get same media attention though. And if there's anyone who could whine about booking during a hot streak...well, I still wonder what match Bryan would have ended up in at Mania XXX if Punk didn't kick rocks and took the Triple-H match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobra Commander Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 watching GWF. Turns out Booker T's mother may not have had a brain tumor, since Wikipedia says both of his parents died in his teens --- Oh man... Main Street Foreclosure got the first ad of the break after a Manny Villalobos match (Manny is in a high mortgage storyline with Akbar) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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