Matt D Posted March 2, 2012 Report Share Posted March 2, 2012 I think Meltzer or someone said that WWE was going to pay a lot for limited return in order to hype Mania around the launch of the WWE Network and when that was "delayed" it no longer was worth it to them. But don't quote me on any of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artDDP Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 It looks like Orton v. Kane is going to happen Orton has had a strange year by his standards. Probably the most over guy in the company this time last year, moved to SD to be the ace of the brand at the same time the show moves to SciFi and gets downgraded even more than it was, ends up putting over long time vets Christian and Mark Henry for the world title, now he's stuck in a throwaway last minute program with Kane, the lowest profile Mania spot he's had in years. I actually think he's had a great year as a performer and has been really well booked. It's a refreshing change from the Cena/HHH sort of superman babyface ace booking. I think I've liked it because it's been different from the way they portray their lead faces, and they haven't tried to fit Orton into that mold. It's been refreshing, and it's the kind of booking that would never happen with Vince's micromanaging of RAW I'm really curious to know what their plans were for him a year ago though, and what the other ideas for him and Mania were. The Barrett program had already been blown off on TV, a title chase and rematch with Henry which seemed possible at one point never materialized and they went in a different direction with Bryan I don't think WWE looks at things like we do. To them, Kane still gets a decent crowd reaction and sells merchandise so to them a match with Orton is a pretty big deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russellmania Posted March 5, 2012 Report Share Posted March 5, 2012 It looks like Orton v. Kane is going to happen Orton has had a strange year by his standards. Probably the most over guy in the company this time last year, moved to SD to be the ace of the brand at the same time the show moves to SciFi and gets downgraded even more than it was, ends up putting over long time vets Christian and Mark Henry for the world title, now he's stuck in a throwaway last minute program with Kane, the lowest profile Mania spot he's had in years. I actually think he's had a great year as a performer and has been really well booked. It's a refreshing change from the Cena/HHH sort of superman babyface ace booking. I think I've liked it because it's been different from the way they portray their lead faces, and they haven't tried to fit Orton into that mold. It's been refreshing, and it's the kind of booking that would never happen with Vince's micromanaging of RAW I'm really curious to know what their plans were for him a year ago though, and what the other ideas for him and Mania were. The Barrett program had already been blown off on TV, a title chase and rematch with Henry which seemed possible at one point never materialized and they went in a different direction with Bryan I think Orton is at the point now where he's over not matter what and is such a good worker that he can really help elevate other guys, or at least get good matches out of them. I can't wait for them to eventually run with an Orton/Bryan feud because i really enjoyed Orton as the house-of-fire babyface extracting his revenge on the stooging Bryan from Smackdown last week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Posted March 13, 2012 Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 I don't know how much of this is designed, but Rock's character right now feels like a middle-aged guy trying desperately to be as edgy as he once was, but forgetting what really worked for him back in the day (with respect to his promos). Due to that, his watered-down stuff is looking worse since we're in a different era than his prime was. I don't know if that's a wise route to take as part of the build to "The Biggest Matchup In History" but it certainly feels that way to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted March 13, 2012 Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 Dave has the school of thought that instead of elevating Cena to Rock's level, they're bringing Rock down to Cena's level. Is this accurate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Posted March 13, 2012 Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 Dave has the school of thought that instead of elevating Cena to Rock's level, they're bringing Rock down to Cena's level. Is this accurate? I'd say that's half 100% accurate and half really being kind. (I'd say Rock being called out for having notes written on his wrists is worse than Cena being called out for wearing different sorts of colours all the time.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Waco Posted March 13, 2012 Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 The Rock is working the exact same act from the Attitude Era, and it is getting over with the live crowds for the most part, but it is evident that smart fans and even some non-hardcores find a lot of it lame. Times have changed and the Rock's schtick hasn't Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrisZ Posted March 13, 2012 Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 The Rock feeds off making fun of guys who are too serious about themselves and when you have someone like Cena who makes fun of himself all the time it really takes the steam off of Rock's schtick. I think Hollywood Rock needs to come back to battle this Cena. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Liska Posted March 13, 2012 Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 The Rock is working the exact same act from the Attitude Era, and it is getting over with the live crowds for the most part, but it is evident that smart fans and even some non-hardcores find a lot of it lame. Times have changed and the Rock's schtick hasn't He's a lot different, though. He smiles all the time, which the old Rock never did. He's referring to himself in the 1st person a lot. He doesn't really have any of the edge that he had at his peak, or even for his first promo back in Anaheim last year. The old Rock was about berating and bullying people mostly. His first night back was like the old Rock, but the last few weeks have been more like Hollywood guest star Rock, which is still entertaining but not the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strummer Posted March 13, 2012 Report Share Posted March 13, 2012 smart fans have always been iffy about the Rock. Even In his prime a large portion of the smart fan base couldn't stand him. I used to frequent a lot of boards where he was hated with a passion. Austin was much more popular in that sub group. It's not a deal like Flair where he's universally loved as an aside to that I see that CRZ is still doing his Rock hating schtick. It's been 14 years man. Yikes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cross Face Chicken Wing Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 Yeah, everything I read online is shitting all over the Rock. I'm enjoying his return, even if the feud has turned into some sort of slam poetry battle or sequel to 8 Mile. It's probably because I don't really watch the modern product and am feeling nostalgic about having the Rock back on my TV. Edit: Is part of the hate because the Rock's segments are so damn long? Back in the day, his promos might've had more bite because they were just that, promos. They were to the point and got across what needed getting across. Now when the Rock comes on TV it's for an entire segment, usually the longest segment of the show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodhelmet Posted March 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 I think over-exposure is part of it CFC. Also when a 30 year old guy is cutting promos about pie, tang and asses... acceptable. 40 year old man cutting the same promo? Lame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankensteiner Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 I think over-exposure is part of it CFC. Also when a 30 year old guy is cutting promos about pie, tang and asses... acceptable. 40 year old man cutting the same promo? Lame. I don't think Flair was lame in 1989. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodhelmet Posted March 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 Christ, huge difference. If Flair in 1998 was cutting the same promo from 1986, it would have sucked. He didn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueminister Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 I think over-exposure is part of it CFC. Also when a 30 year old guy is cutting promos about pie, tang and asses... acceptable. 40 year old man cutting the same promo? Lame. Yeah, while this may be true of how people talk/are percieved irl I don't think most people care about how old Rock is or are overly concerned with him not referring to himself in the third person enough or whatever. I think the online perception of Rock as outclassed or evenly matched on the stick has very little to do with him having lost a step and everything to do with Cena being an internet cause celebre whose exposure at being terrible at a fundamental part of the game like cutting promos is causing brains to short circuit given how badly it gels with the wrestling geek narrative of the past eight years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cross Face Chicken Wing Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 Christ, huge difference. If Flair in 1998 was cutting the same promo from 1986, it would have sucked. He didn't. If Flair was cutting weekly promos that lasted over 20 minutes in 1986 (or '89, or '98, or whenever) it probably would've sucked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodhelmet Posted March 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 In 1986, Flair was pretty fucking great at everything. I am going to say it would not have sucked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rovert Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 In 1986, Flair was pretty fucking great at everything. I am going to say it would not have sucked. Just wonder how red faced and naked he would be at the end! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cross Face Chicken Wing Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 In 1986, Flair was pretty fucking great at everything. I am going to say it would not have sucked. Just wonder how red faced and naked he would be at the end! The strain on his face would've caused all the blade wounds on his forehead to start gushing at about the 10-minute mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankensteiner Posted March 14, 2012 Report Share Posted March 14, 2012 Christ, huge difference. If Flair in 1998 was cutting the same promo from 1986, it would have sucked. He didn't. Well, what's the difference? They're both older guys talking about getting ass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingus Posted March 15, 2012 Report Share Posted March 15, 2012 Flair had a much more conversational style in lots of his older promos. I showed the segment where Lawler challenged him for the belt in Memphis to some younger fans, and they were shocked at how different Ric sounded there. He'd often go all "wild crazy Wooo-ing Flair" in his fired-up postmatch interviews, but prematch and studio stuff had him in a much lower key. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strummer Posted March 16, 2012 Report Share Posted March 16, 2012 Beth/Eve v Kelly Kelly/Maria Menounos has been added i was wondering how they would fit these angles on the card with no one really feuding over the title. So they just put this together. Menounos is a huge fan so i really don't have a problem with her taking someone's spot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NintendoLogic Posted March 16, 2012 Report Share Posted March 16, 2012 I don't like celebrities being involved in Diva matches. The Divas are largely worthless in the ring, but they're still on the road all year busting their asses for relative peanuts. I don't begrudge them the opportunity for a Wrestlemania payday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingus Posted March 17, 2012 Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 Beth/Eve v Kelly Kelly/Maria Menounos has been addedWho? I'd never heard of her. Looked her up, and still have essentially no idea who she is. Not exactly a fair substitution for Shaq. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyonthewall2983 Posted March 17, 2012 Report Share Posted March 17, 2012 Essentially this generation's Mary Hart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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