A lot of the time, the "they're booking the face like a heel" shit doesn't hold a lot of water, but Roman really has been booked as a heel in his feud with Roman. Rusev has a habit of being booked as a heel in feuds where he's very obviously in the right.
Hmm, WWE always finds a way to trip themselves up.
I liked the Brock domination. That's what the guy is built to do. You have to write storylines around him being a "beast." Yeah Randy got two RKO's but in a one-on-one match what legit reason could you write/sript for Randy having anything else in his arsenal to beat Brock? Without interference, there is none.
I liked the Brock domination. That's what the guy is built to do. You have to write storylines around him being a "beast." Yeah Randy got two RKO's but in a one-on-one match what legit reason could you write/sript for Randy having anything else in his arsenal to beat Brock? Without interference, there is none.
I slept through the entire show, but I woke up to hear that Boots and DTAM got shut down, fans booed Balor and/or the belt, and Dean/Ziggler shit the bed as much as you'd expect. Is this all true?
Brock/Orton ending was great. People that complain about it must be the sort that thought the Undertaker/Brock Summerslam ending was bad
Dean/Ziggler was actually marginally better than I expected because they weirdly had Dean playing the heel in the match and mocking Ziggler's mannerisms and internet whining. It was like an okay Smackdown main event, but bad because of the milieu and the crowd not giving a fuck because of how much of a jobber Ziggler is at his core.
The belt got booed because it was ugly as sin (it's the current WHC, but with Raw-logo-red leather). Don't recall Balor getting booed, though I mostly ignored that match.
Cena/AJ was great, though just a tad bit MOVEZ-y, like a way better version of his matches with Owens.
Women's title match was damned good, but Charlotte committed one of the most horrendous botches I've seen in a while and dropped Sasha basically right on the back of her head. Sasha apparently needs some time off due to a pre-existing injury.
Heard about DTAM, but not Boots. Sad!
The belt got booed because it was ugly as sin (it's the current WHC, but with Raw-logo-red leather). Don't recall Balor getting booed, though I mostly ignored that match.
Cena/AJ was great, though just a tad bit MOVEZ-y, like a way better version of his matches with Owens.
Women's title match was damned good, but Charlotte committed one of the most horrendous botches I've seen in a while and dropped Sasha basically right on the back of her head. Sasha apparently needs some time off due to a pre-existing injury.
Heard about DTAM, but not Boots. Sad!
By data Go To PostBrock/Orton ending was great. People that complain about it must be the sort that thought the Undertaker/Brock Summerslam ending was badnah that ending was legit shit.
like a desperate plea to fix their shit ratings. "hey guys! look, blood! lots of blood! you remember that from the attitude era right? you loved the attitude era!"
It's not surprising. If indie promoters were contacting Boots to get their stuff pulled or his account shut down, why wouldn't WWE do the same? Legitshook has been contacted by WWE before, and basically, they don't give a shit about what you're doing as long as your aren't running bootleg Network streams or posting their paid content WHILE IT IS AIRING.
I'm just assuming here, but I would guess WWE had warned them both at some point in the past, and probably gave them a chance to delete the offending content (based on my experience with them). If not, well, live tweeting gifs of live, paid content is a lot different than posting gifs of 20 year old matches. Ultimately, it is their content and if they want to shut down twitter accounts or websites hosting their content, that is their right. I can't be upset if WWE shuts down the site tomorrow when I have like thousands of gifs of their content on it.
I'm just assuming here, but I would guess WWE had warned them both at some point in the past, and probably gave them a chance to delete the offending content (based on my experience with them). If not, well, live tweeting gifs of live, paid content is a lot different than posting gifs of 20 year old matches. Ultimately, it is their content and if they want to shut down twitter accounts or websites hosting their content, that is their right. I can't be upset if WWE shuts down the site tomorrow when I have like thousands of gifs of their content on it.
By DiscoJon Go To PostBrock is so boring. I'll take "indy midgets doing flips" over this shit any day.It's the same thing every match. A bunch of suplexes, no-sell any offense the opponent might be able to muster, hit an F-5 and we're done here. His first run was a lot better because he actually, you know, wrestled.
My biggest takeaway from the entire weekend was that Bobby Roode better get a WrestleMania match.
https://legitshook.squarespace.com/strobogos-wrasslin-potpourri-reviews/2016/8/22/wwe-summerslam-2016
I can't believe people are complaining about Brock/Orton. It was perfect. I also can't believe people think there was any shooting involved beyond the hard way blood instead of blading. The whole point of the match was Brock coming back and reminding everyone why he's beast after the great storytelling in the Taker feud was dropped, then slumming with Dean Ambrose, then getting popped in UFC. He hasn't looked like such a monster since he killed Cena. It was desperately needed because Brock was probably one match away from being just another guy. Just a savage beat down to remind the world he ain't to be fucked with.
Cena/AJ was great, because it was a movez match where the movez were part of the story (Cena trying to prove that AJ isn't better than him by doing what AJ can do, but still losing and then possibly retiring after the realization that he's been passed by). WWE just told the world, explicitly, both in booking and story, that AJ Styles is legitimately better than John Cena.
Everything else ranged from "WTF is this on PPV" to terrible, like all the title matches. Balor and Finn out there doing their 2K17 My Career match, Dean out there looking utterly awful, the women looking like they hadn't even been trained at times, everything with Jon Stewart.
I can't believe people are complaining about Brock/Orton. It was perfect. I also can't believe people think there was any shooting involved beyond the hard way blood instead of blading. The whole point of the match was Brock coming back and reminding everyone why he's beast after the great storytelling in the Taker feud was dropped, then slumming with Dean Ambrose, then getting popped in UFC. He hasn't looked like such a monster since he killed Cena. It was desperately needed because Brock was probably one match away from being just another guy. Just a savage beat down to remind the world he ain't to be fucked with.
Cena/AJ was great, because it was a movez match where the movez were part of the story (Cena trying to prove that AJ isn't better than him by doing what AJ can do, but still losing and then possibly retiring after the realization that he's been passed by). WWE just told the world, explicitly, both in booking and story, that AJ Styles is legitimately better than John Cena.
Everything else ranged from "WTF is this on PPV" to terrible, like all the title matches. Balor and Finn out there doing their 2K17 My Career match, Dean out there looking utterly awful, the women looking like they hadn't even been trained at times, everything with Jon Stewart.
I think for me, having Lesnar just go out there and crush Orton was part of the problem. He made Randy, the top babyface on SmackDown, straight up gush blood from his head and then beat him up some more for good measure. And still Brock is totally untouchable and I just don't care.
I had the same argument when he had the belt. People said, oh, he's a special attraction, he makes the strap matter. Man, no, he's boring and has been working the same match over and over for two years now and they can't build up a single credible threat. When he faces like Samoa Joe at WrestleMania 33, they can't possible get me to think a dude like Joe can win and it'll just be the same suplex repeat match for 15 minutes.
I had the same argument when he had the belt. People said, oh, he's a special attraction, he makes the strap matter. Man, no, he's boring and has been working the same match over and over for two years now and they can't build up a single credible threat. When he faces like Samoa Joe at WrestleMania 33, they can't possible get me to think a dude like Joe can win and it'll just be the same suplex repeat match for 15 minutes.
NXT truly is a bad developmental system. Wrestlers get a ton of hype putting on four-star+ matches that they prepare for weeks for, then flounder on the main roster when they have to put on matches that they don't have time to prepare for. Just look at that Sasha/Charlotte match last night. I'd rate it a bit higher than you, stro, as I think it got better as it went on, and I appreciated Charlotte getting the win by using her size to turn Sasha's own finisher against her, but how much of that match did they look like they didn't know what they were doing? How are Enzo and Cass barely any better today than they were 2 years ago? Why does Baron Corbin still look so unconvincing in the ring?
Funnily enough, the thing the last year has made me really want is a Big E singles push. They don't even have to break up The New Day, just have them become Big E's hype men while he challenges Rusev for the US Title or something.
Funnily enough, the thing the last year has made me really want is a Big E singles push. They don't even have to break up The New Day, just have them become Big E's hype men while he challenges Rusev for the US Title or something.
By Snowy Go To PostFunnily enough, the thing the last year has made me really want is a Big E singles push. They don't even have to break up The New Day, just have them become Big E's hype men while he challenges Rusev for the US Title or something.Kofi and Xavier could even still have the tag belts as you move Big E up the card, like Dean holding the US Title in the Shield. I've always thought E could be a real star, even though his IC Title reign years ago was largely unmemorable. He's got a good look, he's good in the ring (just stop that suicide dive, man) and he's gotten way better as a promo.
It'll always be hard for me to forget that Hunter talked Vince out of pushing him.
Brock has value because he brings something that only Brock can bring. That's the attraction. He's not a normal wrestler. You didn't bring Andre in for 3 months to work a program. You brought him in a few times a year and that was the attraction, because no one else could bring what Andre brought. His matches aren't the same. The matches with Taker last year were completely different to what he did with Orton to what he did with Cena/Seth. He has his house show match, and he brought that to WM because fuck working hard with Dean Ambrose wanting to do CZW spots when you're a few months out from a single fight with a pay day worth as much as your entire WWE contract.
Rarely was anyone a threat to Andre, but when they were, they were set for life in their territory. There is a huge difference in working styles between Joe and Orton. Mr. Tough Guy stiff striker Randy Orton? Lol.
Rarely was anyone a threat to Andre, but when they were, they were set for life in their territory. There is a huge difference in working styles between Joe and Orton. Mr. Tough Guy stiff striker Randy Orton? Lol.
I love Joe (never thought I'd say that after how embarrassingly bad he looked in his NXT debut), but I don't think he's the right guy to potentially beat Brock. That should go to a younger guy who has the potential to make money for the WWE long-term. I'm hoping that really tall Eastern European/Greek/whatever amateur wrestler they hired a few years ago turns out to be a Kurt Angle-level phenom.
There is no need for anyone to beat Brock until Brock is ready to leave and not .
come back. Regardless, he's already lost multiple times since his return, including last year.
come back. Regardless, he's already lost multiple times since his return, including last year.
Hasn't lost clean in a 1-on-1 since beating Undertaker, though, which seems to have been a reset for him, character-wise.
And I agree there's no real need for him to lose, but unless WWE are planning on renewing his contract again, I have to imagine they are looking toward the future.
And I agree there's no real need for him to lose, but unless WWE are planning on renewing his contract again, I have to imagine they are looking toward the future.
Well, if you're looking to the future, 16 year vets pushing 40 probably aren't in the running to begin with. Anyone 35 now is or should be out of the running. That includes guys like Balor, Cesaro, Nakamura, Joe, etc.
I absolutely agree with that. The problem is they have done such a poor job building anybody else up that I can't imagine ANYBODY beating Brock, unless they've got someone in developmental with the potential to have a Goldberg-like streak.
Roman was the right choice, but he's forever poisoned by bad booking and smarks being assholes.
Roman was the right choice, but he's forever poisoned by bad booking and smarks being assholes.
Ultimately, it should be a guy who you can reliably get 10 years out of. I don't see anyone on the roster right now who will be there in 10 years.
It's kind of weird that there's been this weird surge of people saying AJ's too old, Joe's too old, whoever's too old to be getting a push.
Like wrestlers get their big pushes in their mid 30s. That's how wrestling has always been with few exceptions.
Like wrestlers get their big pushes in their mid 30s. That's how wrestling has always been with few exceptions.
Joe and AJ are late 30s and have a lot of miles on them. Nak is like 35 or 36, but also clearly isn't going to be in WWE for more than a couple of years. Basically on the current roster the only people worth putting over Brock are Seth and Roman. Seth is trash and Roman is tainted. Guys could get big pushes in their mid 30s in the past because working styles were much safer and lighter. A guy at 35 today has a lot more miles on them, and are going to be expected to continue that work style into their 40s.
They're not too old to get a push. They are too old to get much career benefit of being the one to slay Brock.
They're not too old to get a push. They are too old to get much career benefit of being the one to slay Brock.
The idea behind it is that they want someone they can rely on in the long term. The 10 year plan. But how often has that worked out for them? That's an insane risk to put behind one person in a job as dangerous as pro wrestling. Cena is the only one where that has ever worked out for them. If I was WWE, I'd be looking at, 'how long and what good can t his guy do for us with 5 years?' because all sorts of injuries can happen in pro wrestling on their schedule.
Especially when people like Seth Rollins works there.
Especially when people like Seth Rollins works there.
Okay, cut to 5 and the list is still pretty small. AJ is 39. Joe is 37. Nak is 35 but won't be in WWE long term. With the bulk that Seth has put on, his knee is going to explode again within the next couple of years unless he cuts out the flippy shit (which he won't). He's also likely to destroy his elbows or shoulders because Crossfit people are stupid. So I kind of question if he'll be around in 5 years, or at least still in a top position.
If they can recover Roman, it should be him. He'll be there in 5 years. Probably 10-15, because his family wrestles forever. Really, there's no need for Brock to ever lose, though. With the way WWE is booked, whoever beats him will probably be stalled out and in the mid card within a year anyway. Just let him be this legendary cat.
If they can recover Roman, it should be him. He'll be there in 5 years. Probably 10-15, because his family wrestles forever. Really, there's no need for Brock to ever lose, though. With the way WWE is booked, whoever beats him will probably be stalled out and in the mid card within a year anyway. Just let him be this legendary cat.
WWE ain't paying him millions of dollars and putting him over every legend they have (and Dean Ambrose) to not have him pay it forward to somebody eventually. The problem is it was pretty clearly building up to Roman being the one that beat him, but A) Brock's title reign sucked, so there wasn't much heat on him losing it, B) the Roman-Brock feud was godawful, with a legendarily bad go-home segment, and C) Roman's injury prevented him from building credibility with the crowd prior to him getting his big push. If he'd had the year he had in 2015 in 2014 (and an actually competently-booked Royal Rumble match), I think he would have been fine. Granted, there still would have been that contingent of smarky assholes booing him, but even casual fans were never really behind Roman because they didn't have that many good associations with him as a singles competitor, because he hadn't really done shit.
By data Go To PostAnd Seth injures another one
Remember when everyone was freaking out about Ryback "injuring" people all the time?
Fucking Rollins. Dated a Nazi, dick pics leaked online, injures 3 major players in the company.
Ugh.
Wait what? I missed the first hour.
EDIT: Rollins didn't really injure the man, he reached out awkwardly there and kinda injured himself. Rybotch would literally hurt people intentionally according to more than one person.
EDIT: Rollins didn't really injure the man, he reached out awkwardly there and kinda injured himself. Rybotch would literally hurt people intentionally according to more than one person.
By The Frankman Go To PostWait what? I missed the first hour.
EDIT: Rollins didn't really injure the man, he reached out awkwardly there and kinda injured himself. Rybotch would literally hurt people intentionally according to more than one person.
It was Rollins' fault because he released Balor too far away from the barricade. Releasing him properly, Balor would have hit the barricade at the middle of his back or lower instead of near the shoulders to begin with.
By The Frankman Go To PostWait what? I missed the first hour.
EDIT: Rollins didn't really injure the man, he reached out awkwardly there and kinda injured himself. Rybotch would literally hurt people intentionally according to more than one person.
I'm gonna need some more sources other than Phil "Make Roman Look Stong" Brooks.
By stro Go To PostNever put it past wrestling fans to believe to run with a story when only one person is saying it
Seth Rollins: After breaking up Shield, became HHH's pet on screen and off, doing weekly 15-20 minute promos to no reactions for months and months on end. Spends the next year and a half doing weekly 20 minute monologues to no reactions. Shatter's John Cena's face. Shortly after ends Sting's career. Shortly after, blows out his knee because he felt he needed to be doing running powerbombs to 7 foot monsters on house shows. Comes back to have a boring PPV match with Roman, then a boring PPV match with Roman and Dean, then an automatic title shot for a new title in a boring match with Finn Balor, who he injures severely enough to have Balor vacate the title he just won and be out indefinitely. Gets a title shot again right after.
Yet Roman is the guy people have been crying about for 2 years.
Yet Roman is the guy people have been crying about for 2 years.
Seth must bring something to the table that nobody is aware of. Ratings totally tanked during his title reign (though they were prob gonna do that regardless), so does he draw big at house shows? Sell a lot of merch? I can't imagine Vince would stick so doggedly to him if he weren't making him a bunch of money.
I hope people realize there is a pretty big difference in calling someone a fag during a pull apart scuffle and going out committing hate crimes. Or that two 50 year old wrestlers calling something gay is not that big of a deal. Everyone knows exactly what they mean and it has nothing to do with ZSJ grabbing dicks in matches.
Also, no one should ever look up to or idolize a pro wrestler. Ever. Ever ever. Ever.
Also, no one should ever look up to or idolize a pro wrestler. Ever. Ever ever. Ever.