When people are asked to name smaller guys they always say Edge and Christian, Christian I get his 6ft, which is actually medium to me but that's for another time, Edge is 6ft5 and you can obviously tell, it's obviously not like Curt Axel who is 6ft3 and looks 5ft10 or Dean Ambrose who is 6ft4( taller than Roman Reigns) who looks small too cause of his stature and for years we saw him stand face to face with 6ft5 Randy Orton. Do people not really pay attention that much?
vendredi 1 août 2014
Punk didn't quit, Batista a hit and Bryan stays fit!!!
3 huge situations have completely changed the landscape of WWE television and PPV this year. These are CM Punk quitting, Batista getting booed and Daniel Bryan getting injured.
Here we are, 2 weeks away from Summerslam where WWE Champion John Cena is about to defend against Brock Lesnar. I have absolutely no issues with this at all, a great main event but had the three things I mentioned earlier not have happened, then we all know things would be different.
I have a few theories of my own on my how things would have panned out...and also taken a knock on effect to other superstars.
CM Punk
He was involved in a feud with Kane and The Authority. Kane cost him the Rumble so it was pretty much nailed on that Elimination Chamber would have seen Punk get screwed again. Onto Wrestlemania, it looked like Punk and Triple H would lock horns and I still maintain that EVENTUALLY the stipulation which featured in the Bryan vs Triple H match would have being installed. Contract negotiations were on the horizon and we all know Punk wanted to wrestle the Main Event at Wrestlemania so I think he would have gotten his wish as a sweetener. Orton vs Batista vs Punk. I think Punk was being very short sighted and impatient like a lot of the IWC! I very much doubt Punk would have won the match - not until he signed a contract anyway. I think Triple H would have continued to screw Punk out of the Title and this would have continued the feud with the Authority before Punk left WWE - probably in a haanicap quit match.
Batista
So the crowd by in large is happy with what WWE are doing and don't turn on Batista. Batista is a fans favorite - still wins the Rumble, still wins against Del Rio and he wins the Title at Wrestlemania 30. Evolution never reform and Batista defends his title in a rematch against Orton and Punk at Extreme Rules. Payback would be Batistas next PPV and last PPV - and this is where WWE would have pulled the trigger on the white hot Daniel Bryan.
Daniel Bryan
I think this one is the most complicated to predict because the storyline that Bryan went in to against the Authority was destined for Punk. I still think his feud with Bray Wyatt would have continued and probably teamed with fan favourites Sheamus and Cena. There was very strong rumours of a match between Bryan and Sheamus at Wrestlemania 30 so Sheamus could have turned on Bryan (Wyatts continued the assault on Cena starting their feud). Extreme Rules would have seen the rematch between Bryan and Sheamus and then finally Bryan would have gotten his shot at Payback against Batista before winning the Title. Bryan would have probably had a tune up match Kane or maybe even Triple H at MITB and Battleground. This would have still called for 'plan c' and taken him all the way to Summerslam where Brock Lesnar awaited.
Sheamus
This guy was destined to turn heel and join the Authority instead of Batista. They kept him face because of Punks departure and Batistas heel turn.
John Cena
Cena was also primed to face Wyatt. After that feud I do not know because if Bryan was Champion, I doubt that MITB would have had the ladder match for the title. After his feud with Wyatt was over I think that a feud with Rusev would have taken place. Fresh meat for Cena, American vs Russian still works, Swagger probably still a heel. Maybe even joining forces with Rusev for extra heat.
The Shield
This is the big one here - a huge knock on effect regarding The Shield. The group was disbanded, Reigns turned heel and seemingly pushed to the moon to make up from the face roster losses to Punk, Bryan and Batista. I think that The Shield would have imploded after Elimination Chamber and that a triple threat match would have being made for Wrestlemania 30. I believe that Reigns would have won and then Ambrose and Rollins would have turned heel on him and stuck together as a tag. Probably seeing a handicap match at Extreme Rules where they could revenge the Mania loss. I possibly think that The Shield would have gotten a new member.
So recap.....
Elimination Chamber
WWE Title - Orton (c) vs Punk vs Kane vs Cesaro vs Christian vs Shield Member
Bryan/Sheamus/Cena vs The Wyatt Family
Batista vs Del Rio
Wrestlemania 30
WWE Title - Orton (c) vs Batista vs Punk
Punk vs Triple H
Cena vs Wyatt
Bryan vs Sheamus
Reigns vs Ambrose vs Rollins
Extreme Rules
WWE Title - Batista (c) vs Orton vs Punk
Cena vs Wyatt
Bryan vs Sheamus
Reigns vs Ambrose/Rollins
Payback
WWE Title - Batista (c) vs Bryan
Punk vs Orton
Cena vs Wyatt
MITB
WWE Title - Bryan (c) vs Kane
Quit Match - Punk vs Orton/Sheamus/Triple H
MITB Match - Reigns vs Rollins vs Ambrose vs Cena vs Wyatt
Battleground
WWE Title - Bryan (c) vs Triple H
Cena vs Rusev
Summerslam
WWE Title Bryan (c) vs Lesnar
So what are your thoughts? I have probably used 66% head for this and 34% heart!
Here we are, 2 weeks away from Summerslam where WWE Champion John Cena is about to defend against Brock Lesnar. I have absolutely no issues with this at all, a great main event but had the three things I mentioned earlier not have happened, then we all know things would be different.
I have a few theories of my own on my how things would have panned out...and also taken a knock on effect to other superstars.
CM Punk
He was involved in a feud with Kane and The Authority. Kane cost him the Rumble so it was pretty much nailed on that Elimination Chamber would have seen Punk get screwed again. Onto Wrestlemania, it looked like Punk and Triple H would lock horns and I still maintain that EVENTUALLY the stipulation which featured in the Bryan vs Triple H match would have being installed. Contract negotiations were on the horizon and we all know Punk wanted to wrestle the Main Event at Wrestlemania so I think he would have gotten his wish as a sweetener. Orton vs Batista vs Punk. I think Punk was being very short sighted and impatient like a lot of the IWC! I very much doubt Punk would have won the match - not until he signed a contract anyway. I think Triple H would have continued to screw Punk out of the Title and this would have continued the feud with the Authority before Punk left WWE - probably in a haanicap quit match.
Batista
So the crowd by in large is happy with what WWE are doing and don't turn on Batista. Batista is a fans favorite - still wins the Rumble, still wins against Del Rio and he wins the Title at Wrestlemania 30. Evolution never reform and Batista defends his title in a rematch against Orton and Punk at Extreme Rules. Payback would be Batistas next PPV and last PPV - and this is where WWE would have pulled the trigger on the white hot Daniel Bryan.
Daniel Bryan
I think this one is the most complicated to predict because the storyline that Bryan went in to against the Authority was destined for Punk. I still think his feud with Bray Wyatt would have continued and probably teamed with fan favourites Sheamus and Cena. There was very strong rumours of a match between Bryan and Sheamus at Wrestlemania 30 so Sheamus could have turned on Bryan (Wyatts continued the assault on Cena starting their feud). Extreme Rules would have seen the rematch between Bryan and Sheamus and then finally Bryan would have gotten his shot at Payback against Batista before winning the Title. Bryan would have probably had a tune up match Kane or maybe even Triple H at MITB and Battleground. This would have still called for 'plan c' and taken him all the way to Summerslam where Brock Lesnar awaited.
Sheamus
This guy was destined to turn heel and join the Authority instead of Batista. They kept him face because of Punks departure and Batistas heel turn.
John Cena
Cena was also primed to face Wyatt. After that feud I do not know because if Bryan was Champion, I doubt that MITB would have had the ladder match for the title. After his feud with Wyatt was over I think that a feud with Rusev would have taken place. Fresh meat for Cena, American vs Russian still works, Swagger probably still a heel. Maybe even joining forces with Rusev for extra heat.
The Shield
This is the big one here - a huge knock on effect regarding The Shield. The group was disbanded, Reigns turned heel and seemingly pushed to the moon to make up from the face roster losses to Punk, Bryan and Batista. I think that The Shield would have imploded after Elimination Chamber and that a triple threat match would have being made for Wrestlemania 30. I believe that Reigns would have won and then Ambrose and Rollins would have turned heel on him and stuck together as a tag. Probably seeing a handicap match at Extreme Rules where they could revenge the Mania loss. I possibly think that The Shield would have gotten a new member.
So recap.....
Elimination Chamber
WWE Title - Orton (c) vs Punk vs Kane vs Cesaro vs Christian vs Shield Member
Bryan/Sheamus/Cena vs The Wyatt Family
Batista vs Del Rio
Wrestlemania 30
WWE Title - Orton (c) vs Batista vs Punk
Punk vs Triple H
Cena vs Wyatt
Bryan vs Sheamus
Reigns vs Ambrose vs Rollins
Extreme Rules
WWE Title - Batista (c) vs Orton vs Punk
Cena vs Wyatt
Bryan vs Sheamus
Reigns vs Ambrose/Rollins
Payback
WWE Title - Batista (c) vs Bryan
Punk vs Orton
Cena vs Wyatt
MITB
WWE Title - Bryan (c) vs Kane
Quit Match - Punk vs Orton/Sheamus/Triple H
MITB Match - Reigns vs Rollins vs Ambrose vs Cena vs Wyatt
Battleground
WWE Title - Bryan (c) vs Triple H
Cena vs Rusev
Summerslam
WWE Title Bryan (c) vs Lesnar
So what are your thoughts? I have probably used 66% head for this and 34% heart!
wwe network in canada
now i'm from canada and earlier 2day wwe announced that the wwe network will be available in canada on august 12 (13 days b4 my birthday on rogers cable as a premium channel in a preview for $11.99 and that the preview will have a watered down version of wwe network with the internet version of wwe network arriving some time in 2015. Now i have a question 4 u guys do u think i should get the premium channel watered down version or w8 4 the internet full version
The Good and Bad of the TNA Roster
Abyss
Good: He is THE big guy in TNA, he has been around for nearly the entire history of the organization and is willing to put his body on the line for the good of the product
Bad: He was better off as Joseph Parks, the reinvention of Abyss has done nothing to restore what has been a horribly damaged character, and the Mankind/Kane ripoff association has never been overcome
Austin Aries
Good: Consistent top level worker, can cut a solid promo, has been treated like he matters for a long time in TNA and is one of their most solidly engrained stars at this point
Bad: I can't think of a feud he had since his career defining one with Robert Roode that was anything other than filler, as much credibility as he has, it is hurt by the endless 'second banana' treatment, and no matter how much they want him to be, he is no CM Punk, his promo skills alone will not carry him
Bobby Roode
Good: The best thing going in TNA right now and, quite frankly, for a long time, he is another longterm TNA mainstay and one that has deservedly engrained himself in the main event, with the right opponent he could single handedly make TNA relevant again
Bad: A lack of people to work with that can keep making him a bigger deal, he may hold the record for longest reigning TNA champion but a lot of his wins during that period were tainted by bad booking (ex. Joker Sting...just, why?)
Bram
Good: A new face without the stink of being a WWE castoff as far as casual viewers are concerned, TNA seem to want to keep him relevant
Bad: I realize I'm supposed to take him seriously but he comes off like generic bearded guy #27 rather than some new, revolutionary character within the TNA world, he is already being lost in the shuffle even as he is churning out some good work
Bully Ray
Good: His reinvention has produced some of the best content on TNA television for years, he is a legit selfish jerk who is big enough to back it up and with a laundry list of credentials for why he deserves everything he has gotten, he is the best natural heel in the business and has never been better
Bad: He is not the guy to carry TNA as a good guy, that is his biggest weakness, as a good guy he is midcard quality at best which hurts the overall show, he is one of their best acts but is rarely used in a way that maximizes his worth
DJ Z
Good: When he was on the independents he was a big deal, his risk taking and zany style stood out from the crowd
Bad: Since coming to TNA he has potentially been the absolute worst void of personality on the roster and I say this because he actually stands out and still can't get people behind him, I get it when the generic looking guys get nothing, but when you were the best guy in the X-Division for a while and people still didn't care, that is a tough problem
Eric Young
Good: He is a 'solid hand', now that he is a former World Champion he has inherent credibility when putting over other guys, and he has an appeal that goes beyond wrestling
Bad: We all know how badly he has been booked for most of his career, a brief jump to the top can distract from that but will never fully overcome it, he is a great worker who was dealt bad cards from the get go
Ethan Carter III
Good: Currently the top heel in TNA, has a good mind for the business at a young age, he understands how to work a character and is improving every time he steps into the ring
Bad: There isn't a lot, he has overcome any stigma that may have come from his bad WWE run and is making the most of his opportunities, it is unfortunate that he is running into the same problem Bully Ray had as a heel, there isn't a face big enough on the roster to make an impact on a larger scale
Gunner
Good: He worked with James Storm, right?
Bad: He can be on my television screen as I'm watching the show and I still forget he is on the roster, despite his in-ring intensity there is absolutely nothing else that makes him stand out which is a shame because he definitely has untapped potential
James Storm
Good: Another good heel who makes a surprisingly good 'tweener face', another of the old guard in TNA that can make a lot out of a little
Bad: In a company desperately in need of a face, he is wasting away as the number two heel, the build to his face run was so good that he could have started to become a real commodity in the wrestling world but the storyline ended up dying out before it even got off the ground, Storm is the ultimate victim of other people's failures
Jeff Hardy
Good: Still one of the most marketable wrestlers in the world, when he cares he can be a legitimate main event player bigger than anyone else on the roster, and he is one of the few natural faces in the business
Bad: His weaknesses are obvious and easy to get around but TNA insists on making them apparent every week, while Hardy has been the subject of a few newsworthy events in his TNA tenure (including one that should have seen him banished from the roster), the complete lack of direction for his character has been obvious for his entire tenure
Kenny King
Good: He is above adequate in nearly every area
Bad: He doesn't stand out in any area
Bobby Lashley
Good: The look, the presence, even his wrestling ability has improved significantly since we last saw him, he is easily the best champion TNA has had in a while
Bad: Worst promo in the business, Brock Lesnar may not be eloquent but at least he is still scary when he talks, Lashley gets out one word and there may as well be a laugh track accompanying it, he is a great overall talent but is poison on the microphone
Low Ki
Good: He won the same season of NXT that Bray Wyatt was on, he was one of the best X-Division champions ever, he has been a part of some of the most impressive matches in the past ten years, he lives his gimmick and continues to thrive despite bad situations
Bad: TNA quietly redebuted him in a "oh hey, and this guy is back!" kind of way then wonder why the segment drew the lowest rating of the show (to be fair, he was facing DJ Z), if the company doesn't care enough to get behind one of their veteran talents, why should the viewers care?
Magnus
Good: When he was with Doug Williams he seemed like the future of TNA, he had the look, the swagger, and a natural suaveness that stood out from the rest of the roster
Bad: He still seems green despite being in TNA for a while now, his championship run was more forgettable than Eric Young's, and it seems tag team wrestling may be the best fit for him yet his singles push continues on
Manik
Good: Under the costume is a solid worker
Bad: Suicide went nowhere and Manik is his cheap knockoff, why are they so certain this gimmick is a good gimmick? It really, really isn't
Matt Hardy
Good: The other half of the top tag team of the last twenty years, he has made a name for himself on the independents and seems to have some new momentum because of it
Bad: As hard as he works, his physical limitations are visible and hinder his high impact style, he has never been a great mic worker so there aren't high hopes that he will manage a Bully Ray-esque career turn around
Mr. Anderson
Good: He is a recognizable face with a recognizable gimmick
Bad: The train went a long time ago and there is no attempt to change the course
MVP
Good: World wide credibility as a top midcard talent who never seemed to reach his full potential in the WWE
Bad: If this is the peak of his potential then perhaps the WWE was right not to push him any further, he is a very solid overall worker but lacks that "IT" factor when it comes to the delivery, perhaps he is merely another victim of TNA's "everyone is equally irrelevant" problem
Rhino
Good: For TNA World Champ, well known in the industry, is keeping in good shape and plays his character incredibly well
Bad: When he is intense he is a player, when he isn't intense he is a horribly watered down version of himself, Rhino has been the later for too long but, if he returns to the former, then he can be a good addition to the roster, just stop trying to give him more character, he is the kind of type casting that works
Samoa Joe
Good: The most marketable guy on the roster that was never marketed, ROH Legend, well respected veteran, and a rare genetic freak that has been responsible for some of the best television TNA has ever produced
Bad: Sadly that good television was long ago and while his spark seems to have returned, TNA are at such a loss for what to do with him that he continues to aimlessly wander rather than becoming the definitive face of the organization
Samuel Shaw
Good: This guy is so good that he has made some of the least bearable people on the roster seems relevant, his gimmick is far from PG and he is the perfect kind of guy to start building up in the background while other top heels have their day
Bad: He may need to sharpen up a bit more in the ring but, so long as he keeps playing his character, weaknesses can be covered up with performance
Sanada
Good: While TNA isn't exactly on the level WCW was, Sanada is clearly being made into the modern day Muta, right down to Muta being the one to put him over, so here is a guy destined to be a huge star in Japan that can offer some big match-ups while he remains in TNA
Bad: He is a short term player, certainly won't be cutting any major promos, and American companies are terrible at explaining to the audience why Japanese stars matter at all
Tigre Uno
Good: The former Extreme Tiger has always had a good look and it seems he has stepped up his in-ring abilities significantly
Bad: While he is marketable, TNA has a history of killing off masked gimmicks rather than exploiting them for all they're worth
TEAMS
The Menagerie
Good: At face value, this is a perfect collection of talent, harkening back to the early days of wrestling when it was nothing more than a sideshow at a carnival while giving a guy like Mike Knox a needed personality upgrade
Bad: They just...aren't really working. Knox is trying hard, Terry is still a beast, Rebel is hot, but Crazy Steve is a mess, a bad kind of mess, and he is the one that really needed to carry the in-ring load for this group. They stand out as unique but they don't stand out like they will ever be a credible threat in the main event and that is ultimately what hurts them the most.
The American Wolves
Good: ROH Legends, one of the few straight up tag teams in the world, and as a team they have made a good name for themselves prior to entering TNA
Bad: They just seem like a couple of guys you could meet in any bar across America, not an elite level tag team. The ROH style just does NOT make for compelling story telling, the most important part of being a great tag team. As it is, Richards and Edwards are two talented guys that no one gives a damn about because no one can get invested in them.
The Bro Mans
Good: It is disturbing that they are legitimately the best team in TNA, they work their gimmick, they can wrestle, they can cut promos, they are a complete package which is baffling considering...
Bad: Neither one of these guys matters at all yet somehow, as a team, through one of the rare times TNA was persistent in trying to get a team over, they are one of the most credible teams in the business. Robbie E, despite wallowing at the bottom of TNA forever, is actually a surprisingly talented guy. And who in the hell is Jessie Godderz? Oh, the guy from Big Brother? WHY ARE THESE TWO ONE OF THE TOP TEAMS IN WRESTLING TODAY? I am legitimately so lost and, yet, I can't deny that what they're doing works. It really, genuinely, works. And while it's good that they are a good team, it is bad for tag team wrestling as a whole that there are no teams outside of the Wyatts that really eclipse them.
----------------------------
So, in my opinion, if TNA wanted to maximize the quality of the roster they are working with RIGHT NOW, the top of their roster would look like this:
Top Faces:
01. Robert Roode (working hard, 'earned it', still fighting to be at the top, inspiring kind of gimmick)
02. Jeff Hardy (self explanatory)
03. Austin Aries (continue his solid upper midcard work with up-coming talent)
04. Eric Young (work that underdog gimmick for all it is worth)
Top Tweeners:
01. Samoa Joe (should be the top guy in the company, just being himself)
02. James Storm (he has that kind of Stone Cold demeanor that makes it tough for him to be a full on face and he is good enough to make it work)
03. MVP/Bobby Lashley (they are a good anchor point so long as they are only out for themselves)
04. Abyss (Joseph Parks is a face, Abyss is a heel, so much can be done with that)
Top Heels:
01. EC3 (he isn't ready for the belt yet but he is definitely ready to be given the ball as a main eventer)
02. Bully Ray (proven top heel, can work programs with the next top face that EC3 isn't working with)
03. Samuel Shaw (still a midcard staple but rising fast, give him a good angle with a guy higher up the card and better in the ring)
04. Magnus (being a former World Champ is relevant but he has a lot of development to be done still)
Low Ki, Sanada, and Tigre Uno make for a solid X-Division, maybe bring in one other top name, use the rest as jobbers.
The Knockout division is bolstered by Gail Kim, who managed to make a match with Taryn into big news in the wrestling world, and that they have their top drawing team in the Beautiful People back together.
Lashley can remain champ for a while but numerous other guys should be clearly elevated over top of him (note: NOT by him jobbing to them, by building their characters up) so that when he loses the belt there is a huge bolster to the entire product.
Good: He is THE big guy in TNA, he has been around for nearly the entire history of the organization and is willing to put his body on the line for the good of the product
Bad: He was better off as Joseph Parks, the reinvention of Abyss has done nothing to restore what has been a horribly damaged character, and the Mankind/Kane ripoff association has never been overcome
Austin Aries
Good: Consistent top level worker, can cut a solid promo, has been treated like he matters for a long time in TNA and is one of their most solidly engrained stars at this point
Bad: I can't think of a feud he had since his career defining one with Robert Roode that was anything other than filler, as much credibility as he has, it is hurt by the endless 'second banana' treatment, and no matter how much they want him to be, he is no CM Punk, his promo skills alone will not carry him
Bobby Roode
Good: The best thing going in TNA right now and, quite frankly, for a long time, he is another longterm TNA mainstay and one that has deservedly engrained himself in the main event, with the right opponent he could single handedly make TNA relevant again
Bad: A lack of people to work with that can keep making him a bigger deal, he may hold the record for longest reigning TNA champion but a lot of his wins during that period were tainted by bad booking (ex. Joker Sting...just, why?)
Bram
Good: A new face without the stink of being a WWE castoff as far as casual viewers are concerned, TNA seem to want to keep him relevant
Bad: I realize I'm supposed to take him seriously but he comes off like generic bearded guy #27 rather than some new, revolutionary character within the TNA world, he is already being lost in the shuffle even as he is churning out some good work
Bully Ray
Good: His reinvention has produced some of the best content on TNA television for years, he is a legit selfish jerk who is big enough to back it up and with a laundry list of credentials for why he deserves everything he has gotten, he is the best natural heel in the business and has never been better
Bad: He is not the guy to carry TNA as a good guy, that is his biggest weakness, as a good guy he is midcard quality at best which hurts the overall show, he is one of their best acts but is rarely used in a way that maximizes his worth
DJ Z
Good: When he was on the independents he was a big deal, his risk taking and zany style stood out from the crowd
Bad: Since coming to TNA he has potentially been the absolute worst void of personality on the roster and I say this because he actually stands out and still can't get people behind him, I get it when the generic looking guys get nothing, but when you were the best guy in the X-Division for a while and people still didn't care, that is a tough problem
Eric Young
Good: He is a 'solid hand', now that he is a former World Champion he has inherent credibility when putting over other guys, and he has an appeal that goes beyond wrestling
Bad: We all know how badly he has been booked for most of his career, a brief jump to the top can distract from that but will never fully overcome it, he is a great worker who was dealt bad cards from the get go
Ethan Carter III
Good: Currently the top heel in TNA, has a good mind for the business at a young age, he understands how to work a character and is improving every time he steps into the ring
Bad: There isn't a lot, he has overcome any stigma that may have come from his bad WWE run and is making the most of his opportunities, it is unfortunate that he is running into the same problem Bully Ray had as a heel, there isn't a face big enough on the roster to make an impact on a larger scale
Gunner
Good: He worked with James Storm, right?
Bad: He can be on my television screen as I'm watching the show and I still forget he is on the roster, despite his in-ring intensity there is absolutely nothing else that makes him stand out which is a shame because he definitely has untapped potential
James Storm
Good: Another good heel who makes a surprisingly good 'tweener face', another of the old guard in TNA that can make a lot out of a little
Bad: In a company desperately in need of a face, he is wasting away as the number two heel, the build to his face run was so good that he could have started to become a real commodity in the wrestling world but the storyline ended up dying out before it even got off the ground, Storm is the ultimate victim of other people's failures
Jeff Hardy
Good: Still one of the most marketable wrestlers in the world, when he cares he can be a legitimate main event player bigger than anyone else on the roster, and he is one of the few natural faces in the business
Bad: His weaknesses are obvious and easy to get around but TNA insists on making them apparent every week, while Hardy has been the subject of a few newsworthy events in his TNA tenure (including one that should have seen him banished from the roster), the complete lack of direction for his character has been obvious for his entire tenure
Kenny King
Good: He is above adequate in nearly every area
Bad: He doesn't stand out in any area
Bobby Lashley
Good: The look, the presence, even his wrestling ability has improved significantly since we last saw him, he is easily the best champion TNA has had in a while
Bad: Worst promo in the business, Brock Lesnar may not be eloquent but at least he is still scary when he talks, Lashley gets out one word and there may as well be a laugh track accompanying it, he is a great overall talent but is poison on the microphone
Low Ki
Good: He won the same season of NXT that Bray Wyatt was on, he was one of the best X-Division champions ever, he has been a part of some of the most impressive matches in the past ten years, he lives his gimmick and continues to thrive despite bad situations
Bad: TNA quietly redebuted him in a "oh hey, and this guy is back!" kind of way then wonder why the segment drew the lowest rating of the show (to be fair, he was facing DJ Z), if the company doesn't care enough to get behind one of their veteran talents, why should the viewers care?
Magnus
Good: When he was with Doug Williams he seemed like the future of TNA, he had the look, the swagger, and a natural suaveness that stood out from the rest of the roster
Bad: He still seems green despite being in TNA for a while now, his championship run was more forgettable than Eric Young's, and it seems tag team wrestling may be the best fit for him yet his singles push continues on
Manik
Good: Under the costume is a solid worker
Bad: Suicide went nowhere and Manik is his cheap knockoff, why are they so certain this gimmick is a good gimmick? It really, really isn't
Matt Hardy
Good: The other half of the top tag team of the last twenty years, he has made a name for himself on the independents and seems to have some new momentum because of it
Bad: As hard as he works, his physical limitations are visible and hinder his high impact style, he has never been a great mic worker so there aren't high hopes that he will manage a Bully Ray-esque career turn around
Mr. Anderson
Good: He is a recognizable face with a recognizable gimmick
Bad: The train went a long time ago and there is no attempt to change the course
MVP
Good: World wide credibility as a top midcard talent who never seemed to reach his full potential in the WWE
Bad: If this is the peak of his potential then perhaps the WWE was right not to push him any further, he is a very solid overall worker but lacks that "IT" factor when it comes to the delivery, perhaps he is merely another victim of TNA's "everyone is equally irrelevant" problem
Rhino
Good: For TNA World Champ, well known in the industry, is keeping in good shape and plays his character incredibly well
Bad: When he is intense he is a player, when he isn't intense he is a horribly watered down version of himself, Rhino has been the later for too long but, if he returns to the former, then he can be a good addition to the roster, just stop trying to give him more character, he is the kind of type casting that works
Samoa Joe
Good: The most marketable guy on the roster that was never marketed, ROH Legend, well respected veteran, and a rare genetic freak that has been responsible for some of the best television TNA has ever produced
Bad: Sadly that good television was long ago and while his spark seems to have returned, TNA are at such a loss for what to do with him that he continues to aimlessly wander rather than becoming the definitive face of the organization
Samuel Shaw
Good: This guy is so good that he has made some of the least bearable people on the roster seems relevant, his gimmick is far from PG and he is the perfect kind of guy to start building up in the background while other top heels have their day
Bad: He may need to sharpen up a bit more in the ring but, so long as he keeps playing his character, weaknesses can be covered up with performance
Sanada
Good: While TNA isn't exactly on the level WCW was, Sanada is clearly being made into the modern day Muta, right down to Muta being the one to put him over, so here is a guy destined to be a huge star in Japan that can offer some big match-ups while he remains in TNA
Bad: He is a short term player, certainly won't be cutting any major promos, and American companies are terrible at explaining to the audience why Japanese stars matter at all
Tigre Uno
Good: The former Extreme Tiger has always had a good look and it seems he has stepped up his in-ring abilities significantly
Bad: While he is marketable, TNA has a history of killing off masked gimmicks rather than exploiting them for all they're worth
TEAMS
The Menagerie
Good: At face value, this is a perfect collection of talent, harkening back to the early days of wrestling when it was nothing more than a sideshow at a carnival while giving a guy like Mike Knox a needed personality upgrade
Bad: They just...aren't really working. Knox is trying hard, Terry is still a beast, Rebel is hot, but Crazy Steve is a mess, a bad kind of mess, and he is the one that really needed to carry the in-ring load for this group. They stand out as unique but they don't stand out like they will ever be a credible threat in the main event and that is ultimately what hurts them the most.
The American Wolves
Good: ROH Legends, one of the few straight up tag teams in the world, and as a team they have made a good name for themselves prior to entering TNA
Bad: They just seem like a couple of guys you could meet in any bar across America, not an elite level tag team. The ROH style just does NOT make for compelling story telling, the most important part of being a great tag team. As it is, Richards and Edwards are two talented guys that no one gives a damn about because no one can get invested in them.
The Bro Mans
Good: It is disturbing that they are legitimately the best team in TNA, they work their gimmick, they can wrestle, they can cut promos, they are a complete package which is baffling considering...
Bad: Neither one of these guys matters at all yet somehow, as a team, through one of the rare times TNA was persistent in trying to get a team over, they are one of the most credible teams in the business. Robbie E, despite wallowing at the bottom of TNA forever, is actually a surprisingly talented guy. And who in the hell is Jessie Godderz? Oh, the guy from Big Brother? WHY ARE THESE TWO ONE OF THE TOP TEAMS IN WRESTLING TODAY? I am legitimately so lost and, yet, I can't deny that what they're doing works. It really, genuinely, works. And while it's good that they are a good team, it is bad for tag team wrestling as a whole that there are no teams outside of the Wyatts that really eclipse them.
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So, in my opinion, if TNA wanted to maximize the quality of the roster they are working with RIGHT NOW, the top of their roster would look like this:
Top Faces:
01. Robert Roode (working hard, 'earned it', still fighting to be at the top, inspiring kind of gimmick)
02. Jeff Hardy (self explanatory)
03. Austin Aries (continue his solid upper midcard work with up-coming talent)
04. Eric Young (work that underdog gimmick for all it is worth)
Top Tweeners:
01. Samoa Joe (should be the top guy in the company, just being himself)
02. James Storm (he has that kind of Stone Cold demeanor that makes it tough for him to be a full on face and he is good enough to make it work)
03. MVP/Bobby Lashley (they are a good anchor point so long as they are only out for themselves)
04. Abyss (Joseph Parks is a face, Abyss is a heel, so much can be done with that)
Top Heels:
01. EC3 (he isn't ready for the belt yet but he is definitely ready to be given the ball as a main eventer)
02. Bully Ray (proven top heel, can work programs with the next top face that EC3 isn't working with)
03. Samuel Shaw (still a midcard staple but rising fast, give him a good angle with a guy higher up the card and better in the ring)
04. Magnus (being a former World Champ is relevant but he has a lot of development to be done still)
Low Ki, Sanada, and Tigre Uno make for a solid X-Division, maybe bring in one other top name, use the rest as jobbers.
The Knockout division is bolstered by Gail Kim, who managed to make a match with Taryn into big news in the wrestling world, and that they have their top drawing team in the Beautiful People back together.
Lashley can remain champ for a while but numerous other guys should be clearly elevated over top of him (note: NOT by him jobbing to them, by building their characters up) so that when he loses the belt there is a huge bolster to the entire product.
Rumor: Viacom Says TNA -> MTV?
A news tidbit popped up on my Facebook wall saying Pro Wrestling Report is claiming that Viacom dead set on getting TNA on one of their networks should negotiations fail with Spike with the most likely place being MTV. I have yet to find this on any dirtsheet sites since the rumor stirs from a Podcast. However, should TNA land on MTV...... Wow. That just sounds like such a mixed bag to me.
MTV has been home to Sunday Night Heat, Lucha Libre USA and that abomination called Wrestling Society X. So a case can be made that the interest is there. But then again the latter two shows were ridiculous and never made it past their first season. Yeah, season. Because that's how I fear MTV thinks wrestling works. On the positive, TNA will probably get better advertising and reruns given there's MTV, MTV 2, MTV Tr3s, MTV Squared, MTV with actual music videos, well you get the point. But I fear tampering from the higher ups. Not to mention trading the plugs for Bar Rescue, Bellator and Deadliest Warrior for Teen Mom and whatever show those Jersey Shore guys do now. Ugh.
MTV has been home to Sunday Night Heat, Lucha Libre USA and that abomination called Wrestling Society X. So a case can be made that the interest is there. But then again the latter two shows were ridiculous and never made it past their first season. Yeah, season. Because that's how I fear MTV thinks wrestling works. On the positive, TNA will probably get better advertising and reruns given there's MTV, MTV 2, MTV Tr3s, MTV Squared, MTV with actual music videos, well you get the point. But I fear tampering from the higher ups. Not to mention trading the plugs for Bar Rescue, Bellator and Deadliest Warrior for Teen Mom and whatever show those Jersey Shore guys do now. Ugh.
Call me a sexist if you want....
....but I don't want to hear a woman on commentary during an entire pro wrestling show. I'm sorry.
I like Renee Young. She is the best backstage interviewer they've had in a very long time. She is great on the pre-show panels. She is great on the WWE Rewinds and Countdowns. But having her on commentary is too much.
I feel the same way about women doing commentary during legit sports, there is a woman play-by-play announcer who does college football on ESPN and I turn the game off if I hear it.
Should it "matter" if a woman or a man is doing commentary? Intellectually, no. But realistically, it does. To me. The cutesy high pitched voice coming from a petite blonde woman while two guys are "fighting" is out of place.
I like Renee Young. She is the best backstage interviewer they've had in a very long time. She is great on the pre-show panels. She is great on the WWE Rewinds and Countdowns. But having her on commentary is too much.
I feel the same way about women doing commentary during legit sports, there is a woman play-by-play announcer who does college football on ESPN and I turn the game off if I hear it.
Should it "matter" if a woman or a man is doing commentary? Intellectually, no. But realistically, it does. To me. The cutesy high pitched voice coming from a petite blonde woman while two guys are "fighting" is out of place.
Who's your favourite or least favourite gimmick/character in the WWE?
Here's hoping I got it in the right forum.
So, who is your favourite or least favourite gimmick/character in the WWE past or present? Why? My personal pick for my favourite from the past is King Booker. His character got a total overhaul and it resulted in some of the funniest moments in WWE. Example: Cyber Sunday 2006. King Booker was looking for help from John Cena to take out the Big Show, and was even willing to let Cena have one night with his Queen, Sharmell. That led to one of the funniest lines I ever heard: "So Booker, it's gonna be Queen Sharmell, Finlay's midget, Hacksaw Duggan's two by four, a case of Jager(or however you spell it) aaannnndd... I get to watch." His and Sharmell's reaction to that was priceless. It also didn't hurt that we got to see Ron Simmons' reaction. :lmao: Plus the way he talked as a King was kind of ridiculous but funny.
I don't really have a least favourite character, except for maybe Alberto Del Rio. He's just boring and every time he's on my TV I tend to play my 3DS or doze off or just find some way to pass the time. As a heel, it seems all he ever does is insult his opponent by calling them a dog. OK, maybe that wouldn't be so bad if he didn't do it EVERY SINGLE TIME he cuts a promo about his opponent.
So, those are examples of what I'm talking about. You don't have to have a favourite AND a least favourite. Either one is fine. So who is it for you guys?
So, who is your favourite or least favourite gimmick/character in the WWE past or present? Why? My personal pick for my favourite from the past is King Booker. His character got a total overhaul and it resulted in some of the funniest moments in WWE. Example: Cyber Sunday 2006. King Booker was looking for help from John Cena to take out the Big Show, and was even willing to let Cena have one night with his Queen, Sharmell. That led to one of the funniest lines I ever heard: "So Booker, it's gonna be Queen Sharmell, Finlay's midget, Hacksaw Duggan's two by four, a case of Jager(or however you spell it) aaannnndd... I get to watch." His and Sharmell's reaction to that was priceless. It also didn't hurt that we got to see Ron Simmons' reaction. :lmao: Plus the way he talked as a King was kind of ridiculous but funny.
I don't really have a least favourite character, except for maybe Alberto Del Rio. He's just boring and every time he's on my TV I tend to play my 3DS or doze off or just find some way to pass the time. As a heel, it seems all he ever does is insult his opponent by calling them a dog. OK, maybe that wouldn't be so bad if he didn't do it EVERY SINGLE TIME he cuts a promo about his opponent.
So, those are examples of what I'm talking about. You don't have to have a favourite AND a least favourite. Either one is fine. So who is it for you guys?
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