The WWE Thread

[GardenStateSaint]

John Cena has been stealing the show going into 'Mania.

You really think so? I think people have been responding to both sides to the war of words pretty strongly.

[TelkEvolon]

John Cena has been stealing the show going into 'Mania.

You really think so? I think people have been responding to both sides to the war of words pretty strongly.

Cena has been killing The Rock for like a year. Almost every single time he comes out looks great and The Rock looks like someone who is just out of touch.

[RoaringElbow]

Honestly, the ratings arent good enough to dump the load completely on the young guys. I relate so much of what were seeing today to the "Federation Years/New Generation" of 1993-1998. The guys people watched for have left, and they guys they have to put it on are really really good, but no one is watching because they arent established names yet. Matches from WM's X(Ladder), XII(Ironman), & 13(Submission) were used to get these guys over, because they couldnt sell on Star power alone, but werent truly appreciated until these guys matured. No one watched those Manias live. Shit, WM13 had less buys than WCW Uncensored that same month! So Im ok w/ HHH/Taker being on the show to generate buys, the problem, your Ziggler's, Rhodes', Bryan's, etc need to steal the show to generate new fans. And that is not going to happen in a 12 man tag, against the Big Show, or in a 10 minute squash

[WrestlingMatters]

Raw wasn't exactly the ideal build-up to Mania but at least Cena and Rock got exciting for a couple of minutes.

[GardenStateSaint]

Honestly, the ratings arent good enough to dump the load completely on the young guys. I relate so much of what were seeing today to the "Federation Years/New Generation" of 1993-1998. The guys people watched for have left, and they guys they have to put it on are really really good, but no one is watching because they arent established names yet. Matches from WM's X(Ladder), XII(Ironman), & 13(Submission) were used to get these guys over, because they couldnt sell on Star power alone, but werent truly appreciated until these guys matured. No one watched those Manias live. Shit, WM13 had less buys than WCW Uncensored that same month! So Im ok w/ HHH/Taker being on the show to generate buys, the problem, your Ziggler's, Rhodes', Bryan's, etc need to steal the show to generate new fans. And that is not going to happen in a 12 man tag, against the Big Show, or in a 10 minute squash

I agree with some of this but the main reason for rating/buyrate dips and stagnancy is that wrestling just isn't perceived as cool by a demographic of people that will spawn a ton of new fans.

[RoaringElbow]

Honestly, the ratings arent good enough to dump the load completely on the young guys. I relate so much of what were seeing today to the "Federation Years/New Generation" of 1993-1998. The guys people watched for have left, and they guys they have to put it on are really really good, but no one is watching because they arent established names yet. Matches from WM's X(Ladder), XII(Ironman), & 13(Submission) were used to get these guys over, because they couldnt sell on Star power alone, but werent truly appreciated until these guys matured. No one watched those Manias live. Shit, WM13 had less buys than WCW Uncensored that same month! So Im ok w/ HHH/Taker being on the show to generate buys, the problem, your Ziggler's, Rhodes', Bryan's, etc need to steal the show to generate new fans. And that is not going to happen in a 12 man tag, against the Big Show, or in a 10 minute squash

I agree with some of this but the main reason for rating/buyrate dips and stagnancy is that wrestling just isn't perceived as cool by a demographic of people that will spawn a ton of new fans.

youre right about that, but its not that wrestling becomes cool and then someone gets over. You have to make a star, or angle that makes it cool again. the nWo started before wrestling was cool again. Austin was getting pushed before wrestling was cool again. So you have to make a star(directed at 18-35ers w/ some disposable income, not kids who have to beg their parents for $45 a month for a PPV or $28 for a shirt whenever Cena debuts a new color) to start a buzz before it becomes cool. They almost had it last summer, actually Id say they did for a month, before they shit the bed

[fm20000]

Is anyone watching Raw right now? YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

[fm20000]

BROCK FUCKING LESNAR CAME BACK!!!!!!

[cviens]

Tensai AND Lesnar in one night? FUCK YEAH! Tensai (formerly Albert/A-Train in WWE and Giant Bernard in NJPW for those unaware of his identity) has really improved during his time overseas btw.

[fm20000]

Tensai AND Lesnar in one night? FUCK YEAH! Tensai (formerly Albert/A-Train in WWE and Giant Bernard in NJPW for those unaware of his identity) has really improved during his time overseas btw.

Even though Tensai just had a squash match he looked great in the ring and his gimmick seems pretty cool. And I liked how Cole actually recognized his past accomplishments. I don't really expect his gimmick to go to farther than a....
John Laurinitis: "CM Punk! Tonight you face Lord Tensai!"
kinda guy though.

And just holy shit at Brock actually coming back. Amazing moment. And this crowd made this whole show a classic. The YES chants that turned into NO chants that turned into SI chants were all hilarious and added to the show. And their pop and holy shit chants for when Brock came back really helped the moment as well. Best Raw I can remember in years.

[DanielBryanson]

So, another guy from ten years ago returned? I am not impressed at all. He looked out of shape, by the way.

I am however very impressed by this:

Kevin Steen tweeted a link to the complete (dark) match that happened after RAW went off the air, and the crowd goes absolutely BANANAS everytime D-Bryan is in the ring. And if he isn't, they chant "We want Bryan!". It's unreal! Watch it!

“@KILLSTEENKILL: http://t.co/dUjaWQca Best crowd ever? Maybe!”

[fm20000]

So, another guy from ten years ago returned? I am not impressed at all. He looked out of shape, by the way.

I am however very impressed by this:

Kevin Steen tweeted a link to the complete (dark) match that happened after RAW went off the air, and the crowd goes absolutely BANANAS everytime D-Bryan is in the ring. And if he isn't, they chant "We want Bryan!". It's unreal! Watch it!

“@KILLSTEENKILL: http://t.co/dUjaWQca Best crowd ever? Maybe!”

You seriously are the most jaded fan ever. If you didn't get excited by Lesnar coming back last night you need to start watching something else. Even if you don't like him as a wrestler you're not interested by the spotlight he's bringing in on wrestling again?

[DanielBryanson]

What? Just because I'm not into Musclefreak2002 I need to watch something else than wrestling? And you're telling me that on an ROH forum of all places? Yeah, maybe I need to watch some more ROH instead of RAW.

[fm20000]

What? Just because I'm not into Musclefreak2002 I need to watch something else than wrestling? And you're telling me that on an ROH forum of all places? Yeah, maybe I need to watch some more ROH instead of RAW.

The difference between Lesnar and Musclefreak2002 is a pretty big one. He was never Batista or someone shitty like that. Lesnar put on GREAT matches and played the big man role perfectly in all of his matches. In the short time he was in the WWE he put on some classic matches and had a great character. And he also put on some really great matches in New Japan as well. If you can't get excited for someone who had as much talent as he had I really don't get it. And you can't use the whole face from the past and taking spotlight from young guys argument here either. Lesnar is in the same age group as Cena, Punk and most of the main eventers. This is just a comeback. You're acting like I'm telling you about Goldberg or DDP coming back.

[RoaringElbow]

Hilarious that they kept mentioning that Tensai had been in the E before but then talked like they had no idea who he was.

[Nice Guy Eddie]

Hilarious that they kept mentioning that Tensai had been in the E before but then talked like they had no idea who he was.

That struck me as really strange that they would bring up that he was there before, but not mention that he was the former Albert/A-Train. It was made even funnier that the crowd was chanting A-Train.

[Mr. Small Package]

Lesnar being back gives me a little incentive to keep watching WWE. I'm not vastly impressed with the product as of late, but certain people are worth tuning in to see. Those people being Daniel Bryan, CM Punk, Evan Bourne (when he's not injured or suspended), Lord Tensai, and Cody Rhodes.

[ROHFanAnthony]

Is WWE planning on building Sheamus vs Bryan Danielson or are they just going to have a pointless match?

I predict their match won't go over 10 minutes. Which is a shame, since those two old guys fighting in the cell will likely get at least 30.

So was I right or was I right when I predicted the above? It's a sin that the world title match lasted 18 seconds. The old men got 31 minutes.

[RoaringElbow]

word is they drained out the YES! chants on SmackDown?

[fm20000]

word is they drained out the YES! chants on SmackDown?

Yeah. It was obvious 70% of the crowd was cheering it yet they piped in TNA crowd sound and made it just sound like a normal chant or even lower than that.