The Wrestling Thread

[Runefaust]

The entire product doesn't rest solely on the shoulders of one man. He may be the face of the WWE but there's a lot of talent still on the roster. That's all I'll say on that because there is no reasoning with Gamer when it comes to Cena.

What I found most interesting is that they're finally putting Cena in the predicament I saw coming ages ago. Cena's going to war with his boss. FFS, he's even feeding off the what chants and the crowd was responding to it. The angle I'm seeing thus far is they're trying to win over the crowd the way Stone Cold did. Granted Cena will not be able to pull it off like Stone Cold, the principle is the same and still relates to the common, everyday average man. Most people hate their jobs and hate their bosses. Cena vs. Laurinaitis might just be able to bank on that principle if it's done correctly.

On another note, I still think Matt Bloom looks ridiculous in that Lord Tensai costume... the combination of Bloom and the Tensai gimmick is even more ridiculous than, dare I say it, Brodus Clay. Though it was pretty awesome how he got the kids in there dancing, just like JYD did back in the day!

[Razzmatazz]

I think I need to find a wrestling equivalent of racketboy, and just start enjoying retro wrestling because the current WWE product is complete and utter refuse.

Duuuuuuuuude, if you ever wanna write about the good stuff (1996-2006) then I would love contributors for my website : http://www.wrestlingwonderyears.com

I have mostly been adding wrestler profiles (with all their entrance music) using wikipedia, but there is some game profiles and a couple of pay-per-view reviews I've done. Thing is, I have a 2 month old daughter and it's hard to find time to write reviews let alone watch an event. PM me (and anyone else!) if you want to help!

[Breetai]

Duuuuuuuuude, if you ever wanna write about the good stuff (1996-2006) then I would love contributors for my website : http://www.wrestlingwonderyears.com

I have mostly been adding wrestler profiles (with all their entrance music) using wikipedia, but there is some game profiles and a couple of pay-per-view reviews I've done. Thing is, I have a 2 month old daughter and it's hard to find time to write reviews let alone watch an event. PM me (and anyone else!) if you want to help!

What's wrong with pre-1996? In my opinion, the best years are 1985-1995.

[Razzmatazz]

Duuuuuuuuude, if you ever wanna write about the good stuff (1996-2006) then I would love contributors for my website : http://www.wrestlingwonderyears.com

I have mostly been adding wrestler profiles (with all their entrance music) using wikipedia, but there is some game profiles and a couple of pay-per-view reviews I've done. Thing is, I have a 2 month old daughter and it's hard to find time to write reviews let alone watch an event. PM me (and anyone else!) if you want to help!

What's wrong with pre-1996? In my opinion, the best years are 1985-1995.

Nothing! It's just most of my DVD collection is Attitude Era. I wish WWE would release the WCW events like Bash at the Beach and Halloween Havoc on DVD.

[retrosportsgamer]

According to the Torch, Lesnar destroyed his locker room and flipped out after Cena's speech at the end of the PPV. The show was supposed to end with Cena winning but needing to be carried out due to the injuries. This is probably where Cena's "i'm probably going to get in trouble for this" stuff was coming from.

[Runefaust]

Sweet sweet drama, lol.

Eve fired the Bellas after RAW. Looks like they won't be renewing those contracts after all.

[BurningDoom]

According to the Torch, Lesnar destroyed his locker room and flipped out after Cena's speech at the end of the PPV. The show was supposed to end with Cena winning but needing to be carried out due to the injuries. This is probably where Cena's "i'm probably going to get in trouble for this" stuff was coming from.

Whether it's true or not, it makes for good T.V. We're all talking about it.

I've heard that Lesnar has pulled stuff like this before. I read somewhere that after leaving the WWE the 1st time, and before he was in UFC, he wrestled in Japan. Apparently he won a title belt over there, but failed to return it to the company when leaving claiming that "he was never beat for it"...it's wrestling, it's not for real. Obviously the guy is unstable in real life, so it's not that far fetched of a story. It could be true, then again, it could be a work because they've been selling him as this uncontrollable monster.

Duuuuuuuuude, if you ever wanna write about the good stuff (1996-2006) then I would love contributors for my website : http://www.wrestlingwonderyears.com

I have mostly been adding wrestler profiles (with all their entrance music) using wikipedia, but there is some game profiles and a couple of pay-per-view reviews I've done. Thing is, I have a 2 month old daughter and it's hard to find time to write reviews let alone watch an event. PM me (and anyone else!) if you want to help!

What's wrong with pre-1996? In my opinion, the best years are 1985-1995.

Nothing! It's just most of my DVD collection is Attitude Era. I wish WWE would release the WCW events like Bash at the Beach and Halloween Havoc on DVD.

+1

[Gamerforlife]

The entire product doesn't rest solely on the shoulders of one man. He may be the face of the WWE but there's a lot of talent still on the roster. That's all I'll say on that because there is no reasoning with Gamer when it comes to Cena.

I could say the same about you. My anti-Cena arguments are based entirely on reason and logic and backed up be a LOT of wrestling fans. Check out a few websites and podcasts and see how people CONSTANTLY complain about Cena and how the WWE uses him.

It doesn't matter how many talents they have, the way they use their top guy is indicative of their creative approach towards the entire roster. Hence my statement that as long as he is the top guy, the product will suck. How many talented guys have been buried just to elevate Cena? How many promising storylines involving other talents have been cut short just to elevate Cena? Oh no, Punk is leaving the company with the title. Oh well, who cares? We'll just make a new belt and put it on Cena so people still know he is our top guy, in the process taking all the drama and meaning away from Punk leaving the company with the title

WWE creative sucks, and Cena is just the purist and most obvious embodiment of that. What they do with him is always indicative of their creative approach to the entire product, especially since so many guys and storylines usually get sacrificed at the alter of Cena and his never ending monster push.

Cena represents everything wrong with the WWE, and that's all there is too it. I'm not even going to get all politically correct and say that it's my opinion, because I don't really believe that. It's a fact

[Razzmatazz]

The entire product doesn't rest solely on the shoulders of one man. He may be the face of the WWE but there's a lot of talent still on the roster. That's all I'll say on that because there is no reasoning with Gamer when it comes to Cena.

I could say the same about you. My anti-Cena arguments are based entirely on reason and logic and backed up be a LOT of wrestling fans. Check out a few websites and podcasts and see how people CONSTANTLY complain about Cena and how the WWE uses him.

It doesn't matter how many talents they have, the way they use their top guy is indicative of their creative approach towards the entire roster. Hence my statement that as long as he is the top guy, the product will suck. How many talented guys have been buried just to elevate Cena? How many promising storylines involving other talents have been cut short just to elevate Cena? Oh no, Punk is leaving the company with the title. Oh well, who cares? We'll just make a new belt and put it on Cena so people still know he is our top guy, in the process taking all the drama and meaning away from Punk leaving the company with the title

WWE creative sucks, and Cena is just the purist and most obvious embodiment of that. What they do with him is always indicative of their creative approach to the entire product, especially since so many guys and storylines usually get sacrificed at the alter of Cena and his never ending monster push.

Cena represents everything wrong with the WWE, and that's all there is too it. I'm not even going to get all politically correct and say that it's my opinion, because I don't really believe that. It's a fact

I'm inclined to agree with the Cena hate, but it's not entirely his fault. The WWE was toning itself down just as Cena became that main guy. You had the Guerrero death, then the Benoit incidents, the complaints from schools and parents, the rise of UFC, Linda Mcmahon running for senator etc etc. It was inevitable that to survive and even prosper during that period the WWE had to change direction. There was the occasional ECW pay per view but it's interesting to note (and I've seen this with the dvd releases) that the age rating was consistently 18+ (in the UK) on pay per views with everything else being 15 up until about 2007. Cena is not at fault for the content, but he IS at fault for not working with creative to stop his character from getting stale, being TOO dominant and his lack of creativity with regards to matches. I mean, I HATE the fact he rarely sells moves, he always looks in pain but he doesn't bounce after a move or spaz out like Michaels or Rock did.

His character is devoid of emotion at times, his attempts at humour are often forced, the fact his 5 moves of death involve the opponent ALWAYS swinging for him when 100% of the time he always ducks it. It's the details that irritate me about Cena, but things that can be fixed. It's a shame the WWE are too lazy and set in their ways to rectify it.

The good thing about WWE over the last two years is that the return of The Rock along with CM Punk's outburst last year, have made us hardcore fans feel like WWE will reach the high standards set 10 years ago. The difference I find when watching that era (even today) is that there was always an air of uncertainty to events, the fans were more involved, fans weren't treated like idiots, and the fact there was two major forces with a varied talent pool, ensured there was consistently great entertainment.

I'm not sure what my point is, I'll probably watch Extreme Rules later and love it. It's just even the "Cena sucks" chant is beginning to do my head in.

[Gamerforlife]

I'm inclined to agree with the Cena hate, but it's not entirely his fault. The WWE was toning itself down just as Cena became that main guy. You had the Guerrero death, then the Benoit incidents, the complaints from schools and parents, the rise of UFC, Linda Mcmahon running for senator etc etc. It was inevitable that to survive and even prosper during that period the WWE had to change direction. There was the occasional ECW pay per view but it's interesting to note (and I've seen this with the dvd releases) that the age rating was consistently 18+ (in the UK) on pay per views with everything else being 15 up until about 2007.

It's interesting to note that as WWE toned everything down, UFC gave people something a bit more extreme. If I'm not mistaken, they developed a larger fanbase over the past few years than what the WWE has. I wonder if WWE's watered down product has done more harm than good. As for Linda Mcmahon, she can take her political career, shine that sumbitch sideways and shove it straight up her candy ass! Nobody cares about her political aspirations and I doubt anyone takes them seriously. I'm pretty sure she lost her bid for senator and she'll lose again.

Cena is not at fault for the content, but he IS at fault for not working with creative to stop his character from getting stale, being TOO dominant and his lack of creativity with regards to matches. I mean, I HATE the fact he rarely sells moves, he always looks in pain but he doesn't bounce after a move or spaz out like Michaels or Rock did.

His character is devoid of emotion at times, his attempts at humour are often forced, the fact his 5 moves of death involve the opponent ALWAYS swinging for him when 100% of the time he always ducks it. It's the details that irritate me about Cena, but things that can be fixed. It's a shame the WWE are too lazy and set in their ways to rectify it.

To me, Cena represents the laziness of the WWE in general so I guess in a sense he is a fitting face of the company. He makes no effort to freshen up his character, or fix any of the other things you've mentioned, and I think that is in large part to his stubborn refusal to actually acknowledge that there is anything wrong with his character or the way he does things, which is a large part of the reason that I hate him so much. He is one of the most stubborn people in the history of the business. About as stubborn and thick headed as Hulk Hogan...and Vince. Again, no surprise he's the face of the company. I'd be fully on board to love Cena, as would a lot of people, if the idiot would ever actually give us a reason to, but Cena is static, stale and unchanging and so is the WWE.

My biggest issue with him though is how unprofessional he is. The stupid talk to the camera crap that NO ONE ELSE DOES or the promo at the end of Extreme Rules that completely undersold the entire match he just had with Brock Lesnar. The guy just doesn't "get" basic, common sense things. He's a veteran now and he still acts like a rookie. It's either that or my other theory, which is that he just views himself as above the business and believes he can do what he wants when he wants, which is what I personally believe. I think Cena makes decisions on the fly, without consulting anyone else beforehand, because he's John Cena, and that means that he can.

The good thing about WWE over the last two years is that the return of The Rock along with CM Punk's outburst last year, have made us hardcore fans feel like WWE will reach the high standards set 10 years ago.

This is what has me so angry lately, the constant teases. Every time they have their finger on something hot, they screw it up or rush it. Every time they tease us into thinking change is coming, it doesn't. At this point, I have zero faith in them and refuse to give them the benefit of the doubt on anything anymore. What's even more frustrating is seeing how time and time again my predictions come true. No body likes Brodus Clay anymore. Everybody is already bored with Lord Tensai. Nobody is buzzing about Brock anymore because they stupidly had him lose his first match. And Triple H is once again going to try and put himself over everyone else as it looks like they've set up a feud between him and Lesnar, which I'm sure will be every bit as wonderful as his feuds with Kevin Nash and CM Punk were

He already damn near buried Lesnar in his in ring promo with him two weeks ago.

Business as usual in the WWE. Triple H is another guy, like Cena, who just doesn't "get it."

Anyway, Raw was crap IMO. I only took two good things from it. Jericho beating the boring as hell Sheamus clean (holy crap, Jericho actually beat someone) and a surprise appearance by Paul Heyman. I'm not excited about Paul Heyman being back though, because, you know, it's the WWE. I'm sure however they use him will be stupid and wasted like every other golden opportunity they get these days.