The format is going to take some getting used to. A worked "reality" show just seems weird to me. I was a huge fan of Tough Enough (when it was on MTV) so I was hoping for something along those lines.
This was my first real exposure to Bryan Danielson, and the dude bored the hell out of me. The Miz completely overshadowed him every time the two were on screen together. His smiling babyface, shake-your-hand, good sport routine is so Bob Backlund. His look is bland. He had a pretty okay match with Jericho, filled with botches. That bump into the table was rough and I wondered if Jericho did that purposefully after Danielson nearly tore his leg off. Jericho was pretty stiff with Danielson, enough to make it seem like he was trying to put him in his place. This match actually made me question how much of this show was a work, which, I'm sure, is exactly what WWE wants.
That David Utunga/Darren Young match was god awful.
I really dig the low camera angle. It gives the show a completely unique look.
Seeing these "rookies" perform, you realize just how good the WWE crop is, both in the ring and on the mic. It'll be interesting to see how this progresses.
Overall I think I liked it. It was different. Totally agree with you on Danielson; he had so much hype coming in I expected him to be insanely good, but the match was barely above average. That bump into the table was sick though, you could see a huge bruise forming after it happened......wonder if he broke ribs.
The Utunga/Young match was a freaking joke. A botched half powerslam ends the match? Really? The only good part about this whole thing was the hilarious disgusted look on CM Punk and SES's faces the whole time. Kudos to creative for making that pairing.
I'm surprised by what you said about the camera angle.......I hated that. The whole time I was just begging for them to cut to the normal camera.
The other hilarious thing to me about the show was Michael Cole. Him flipping out about the internet wrestling fans and all that during Danielson/Jericho was classic. Solid show, definitely enough for me to tune in next week.
Michael Cole is apparently playing the role of the heel commentator, at least to internet fans. He's requested that WWE take his profile off the WWE Universe page. It's an interesting idea but I wonder how smart it is to play to a portion of the fanbase that is actually quite a small percentage. Also, won't these fans be the first to realize that the whole thing is a work?
I do like how they elevated Danielson above the rest of the crop and referred to him as the internet darling. The dynamic between Miz and Danielson will be really fun.
Also, re: the camera angle, I'll probably get sick of it soon but I like that NXT is immediately distinguishable as different from the other shows just from a visual aspect.
i saw on my friend's facebook today that the wwe released maria.
Wow if that's true I'm surprised. Not that I really care considering the Divas don't really do anything and are a dime a dozen (except Maryse ), but with Maria being on the Celebrity Apprentice that's normally something they'd be all over for publicity.
HBK/Taker II (Streak vs. Career)
Cena/Batista (WWE Title)
Jericho/Edge (WHC)
Hart/McMahon (the leg injury angle.....why?)
MITB (so far Christian, Ziggler, Kane, Swagger, Benjamin, MVP)
So the rest of the card seems to be shaping up to be Punk/Mysterio, Something with Legacy (I'm thinking triple threat), HHH/Sheamus (going to be the worst match on the card, guaranteed). I'm assuming they'll do Miz/Show vs. someone for the tag titles, and I'm also assuming we're going to get McIntyre vs. Morrison vs. R-Truth for the IC Title (if they're not.......why the heck aren't they in MITB???). By my count that's 10 matches (not even including the probable mandatory Divas match). I know it's a 4 hour show, but that's a lot of wrestling to cram in, especially considering HBK/Taker, Jericho/Edge and MITB should hopefully all be 30+ minute matches. Thoughts? Other potential matches I'm not thinking of or am getting wrong?
I've heard this theory floating around.........I just can't see them doing it. I know that I as a fan would crap all over that ending, it's such a cop-out. Plus you know both of them will be taking off until summertime again anyways. I think there's too much emotionally invested in this angle for the fans for it to end like that.
HBK/Taker II (Streak vs. Career)
Cena/Batista (WWE Title)
Jericho/Edge (WHC)
Hart/McMahon (the leg injury angle.....why?)
MITB (so far Christian, Ziggler, Kane, Swagger, Benjamin, MVP)
So the rest of the card seems to be shaping up to be Punk/Mysterio, Something with Legacy (I'm thinking triple threat), HHH/Sheamus (going to be the worst match on the card, guaranteed). I'm assuming they'll do Miz/Show vs. someone for the tag titles, and I'm also assuming we're going to get McIntyre vs. Morrison vs. R-Truth for the IC Title (if they're not.......why the heck aren't they in MITB???). By my count that's 10 matches (not even including the probable mandatory Divas match). I know it's a 4 hour show, but that's a lot of wrestling to cram in, especially considering HBK/Taker, Jericho/Edge and MITB should hopefully all be 30+ minute matches. Thoughts? Other potential matches I'm not thinking of or am getting wrong?
This is going to be the strongest Mania in a long time. Word on the street is Punk/Mysterio is going to be Hair vs. Mask, which would mean Mysterio almost certainly winning. I seem to recall him not being too happy about taking his mask off in WCW. Mysterio without a mask is like Jake "the Snake" Roberts with Damien.
I'm hoping Miz gets put in the MITB match but that would mean nothing for Big Show to do. Unless he would interfere in the match and help Miz get the win. Miz is the single most entertaining guy on the mic right now, and his wrestling skills are improving rapidly. He deserves everything he's got so far, he'd be a worthy winner of MITB. Plus, can you imagine him walking around with three titles AND a briefcase?
What do you think will close the show? Has to be HBK/Taker, right? There's no way that ends in a double count out. My guess is HBK will "retire" for a while.
I'm hoping Miz gets put in the MITB match but that would mean nothing for Big Show to do. Unless he would interfere in the match and help Miz get the win. Miz is the single most entertaining guy on the mic right now, and his wrestling skills are improving rapidly. He deserves everything he's got so far, he'd be a worthy winner of MITB. Plus, can you imagine him walking around with three titles AND a briefcase?
What do you think will close the show? Has to be HBK/Taker, right? There's no way that ends in a double count out. My guess is HBK will "retire" for a while.
I would also love to see Miz win MITB. If not Miz then there's what, 3 spots left for the match? Kingston has to be one of them, there's nothing else for him to do and he'll be awesome as usual, plus he could actually win. One more from Raw and one from Smackdown needs filled then......not sure who they'll be. Maybe Matt Hardy (only one I can think of on Smackdown), and as for Raw take your pick from Bourne, Tatsu, Carlito or someone else who has no shot of winning.
But yeah, HBK/Taker HAS to close the show, they should've learned their lesson after last year. I have no idea what's going to happen in that match though, I could see them going either way.
I would also love to see Miz win MITB. If not Miz then there's what, 3 spots left for the match? Kingston has to be one of them, there's nothing else for him to do and he'll be awesome as usual, plus he could actually win. One more from Raw and one from Smackdown needs filled then......not sure who they'll be. Maybe Matt Hardy (only one I can think of on Smackdown), and as for Raw take your pick from Bourne, Tatsu, Carlito or someone else who has no shot of winning.
But yeah, HBK/Taker HAS to close the show, they should've learned their lesson after last year. I have no idea what's going to happen in that match though, I could see them going either way.
I'd love to see a spot left open for a surprise entry, all the contestants waiting around to see who it is, and have RVD's music hit. I know he doesn't want to work a heavy schedule, though, so that likely won't happen.
I can't see them having the undefeated streak ended by HBK. I've always been of the mind that either the streak should last forever, or for Taker to lose to a relative newcomer, giving that wrestler an unbelievable rub with the victory. There aren't many newcomers now who would be at that point, though. I thought Orton could have won at WM 21 especially with his "Legend Killer" gimmick, but he no longer needs it.
Isn't this around the time that HBK normally takes time off anyways.. after wrestlemania? Michaels winning makes no sense, to have 'Takers streak end to Michaels would just be silly. Michaels gains nothing from it.
I think it's basically set up like this just because Michaels wants to take some time off after WM, and the whole "career vs streak" angle is just a way to write it in.
Isn't this around the time that HBK normally takes time off anyways.. after wrestlemania? Michaels winning makes no sense, to have 'Takers streak end to Michaels would just be silly. Michaels gains nothing from it.
I think it's basically set up like this just because Michaels wants to take some time off after WM, and the whole "career vs streak" angle is just a way to write it in.
Yeah, but 'Taker takes that time off too typically.....IIRC after 'Mania last year he didn't show up again until SummerSlam. Don't ask me why, but my gut feeling is HBK is winning this match.
have they began announcing inductees to the hall of fame? and if so, is honky tonk man gonna be one of them?
So far this year I think it's Ted Dibiase, Mad Dog Vachon, Antonio Inoki, and some women's wrestler. If I'm not mistaken I'm pretty sure HTM is already in the HOF.
have they began announcing inductees to the hall of fame? and if so, is honky tonk man gonna be one of them?
So far this year I think it's Ted Dibiase, Mad Dog Vachon, Antonio Inoki, and some women's wrestler. If I'm not mistaken I'm pretty sure HTM is already in the HOF.
That would be Wendi Richter. She was huge during the wrestling boom of the 80s, ended the Fabulous Moolah's 20-some year reign as Woman's Champion, was managed by Cyndi Lauper at the first Wrestlemania (The Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection), and was a victim of the original screw-job. A masked wrestler named The Spider-Lady broke kayfabe and forced Richter's shoulders to the mat. The ref counted, the bell rang, Richter was confused and kept trying to wrestle. When she left the ring, The Spider-Lady removed her mask and revealed herself as Fabulous Moolah. Apparently Vince was mad because she wouldn't sign a new contract so he had to get the belt off of her. She says she was already in a 5 year contract. Who knows who is telling the truth.
Anyway, she had a very short (I think she was only in the WWF for a year or two) but she made a huge impact and was very much a part of the reason why WWF went mainstream.
A masked wrestler named The Spider-Lady broke kayfabe and forced Richter's shoulders to the mat. The ref counted, the bell rang, Richter was confused and kept trying to wrestle. When she left the ring, The Spider-Lady removed her mask and revealed herself as Fabulous Moolah. Apparently Vince was mad because she wouldn't sign a new contract so he had to get the belt off of her. She says she was already in a 5 year contract. Who knows who is telling the truth.
Hah, that's interesting, I have never heard that one before.
RVD has appeared to have signed with TNA and will debut on the live impact this mon.
I love RVD, but I'm not giving TNA a chance this time. I tried it for a couple weeks.......it's just late WCW all over again. Hurting their chances even more is the DVR issue. 24 is on Mondays at 9, as is Raw. I watch 24 live, and Raw gets DVR'd and watched starting at 10. Since TNA decided to go 9-11 right up against Raw, I can't even DVR it.
The main events for each show have been announced. WWE is going with Cena vs. Vince while TNA has Hogan & Abyss vs. Flair & A.J. Of course, RVD will also show up on Impact at some point.
I couldn't care less about either main event. I watched the last TNA Monday night and it was horrible. I don't care what an older, much fatter version of the nWo has to say. Watching old men go against the "man" is depressing.
The main events for each show have been announced. WWE is going with Cena vs. Vince while TNA has Hogan & Abyss vs. Flair & A.J. Of course, RVD will also show up on Impact at some point.
I couldn't care less about either main event. I watched the last TNA Monday night and it was horrible. I don't care what an older, much fatter version of the nWo has to say. Watching old men go against the "man" is depressing.
Yeah it's sad. At least with McMahon/Cena you know there's a booking purpose to it, with some sort of Batista or Hart run-in likely to happen within 5 minutes..........as for the other match......ughhhhh.
Did Shemus die or was he replaced by the other sterioid-ridden, pale skined Irish boy who is on Smackdown?
Shemus is still on Raw, feuding with HHH. They clearly have no idea what to do with him.
I want to see them go at it at 'Mania, then Hornswoggle runs in and turns on Triple H, becoming Sheamus's new evil leprechaun manager. Seriously, how awesome would that be?
), but with Maria being on the Celebrity Apprentice that's normally something they'd be all over for publicity.
