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Stone Cold's Status for Raw's 20th Anniversary Revealed
For several weeks now, the WWE has been promoting the 20th anniversary of Raw.
As of Monday night, they were promoting the event as "star-studded," which to me meant they were pulling out all of the stops to ensure some big names were in attendance.
As of last week, several stars were rumored for the event, including one "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
Now, according to SLWT analysts , he may be confirmed for the event: "There was some doubt regarding Steve Austin's status for next week's RAW 20th Anniversary show but word now is that something happened over the weekend and Austin will most likely be appearing now. WWE is looking to go very big with next week's show."
Ultimately, I feel that this return needs to happen. Let's face it, the WWE and Austin haven't joined forces in quite some time, so it would be huge to see "The Texas Rattlesnake" back in a WWE ring. Granted, he wouldn't be wrestling, but it would still be nice to see the Hall of Famer cutting a promo and stunning some random star in the middle of the ring.
Personally, I feel he is the one man whose presence has been missing during these celebration—especially considering Austin was a huge factor in the Monday Night Wars of the 90s. In fact, for several years, he was the face of the "Attitude Era" and made Raw must-see TV.
Unfortunately, the last opportunity he had to make an appearance was at Raw 1000. Sadly, he was unable to appear because he was recovering from surgery. Hopefully, he will not have any scheduling conflicts and will indeed be in attendance.
In the end, we will have to wait and see if he will be there or not. Either way, the WWE will be doing their best to ensure that this show goes off without a hitch.
As of Monday night, they were promoting the event as "star-studded," which to me meant they were pulling out all of the stops to ensure some big names were in attendance.
As of last week, several stars were rumored for the event, including one "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
Now, according to SLWT analysts , he may be confirmed for the event: "There was some doubt regarding Steve Austin's status for next week's RAW 20th Anniversary show but word now is that something happened over the weekend and Austin will most likely be appearing now. WWE is looking to go very big with next week's show."
Ultimately, I feel that this return needs to happen. Let's face it, the WWE and Austin haven't joined forces in quite some time, so it would be huge to see "The Texas Rattlesnake" back in a WWE ring. Granted, he wouldn't be wrestling, but it would still be nice to see the Hall of Famer cutting a promo and stunning some random star in the middle of the ring.
Personally, I feel he is the one man whose presence has been missing during these celebration—especially considering Austin was a huge factor in the Monday Night Wars of the 90s. In fact, for several years, he was the face of the "Attitude Era" and made Raw must-see TV.
Unfortunately, the last opportunity he had to make an appearance was at Raw 1000. Sadly, he was unable to appear because he was recovering from surgery. Hopefully, he will not have any scheduling conflicts and will indeed be in attendance.
In the end, we will have to wait and see if he will be there or not. Either way, the WWE will be doing their best to ensure that this show goes off without a hitch.
WWE.COM Gives Away Big Championship Surprise
WWE sucked a ton of excitement out of the upcoming episode of Friday Night SmackDown when they spoiled the ending of the show's main event via their official website.
The show was taped on Tuesday and featured a Last Man Standing match for a major title. Fans who enjoy not knowing the outcomes of wrestling matches before they air will need to turn off the Internet for a few days and stick their fingers in their ears.
WWE.com prematurely posted a story about SmackDown's main event.
A photo of Alberto Del Rio hugging the World Heavyweight Championship is about as big a giveaway as one could conjure up. Consider the suspense of that match evaporated.
As you may have deduced, Del Rio defeated Big Show for the title.
Sure, sites like PWInsider.com and Bleacher Report announce the results of taped wrestling events before they air, but for WWE.com to do it is almost asking fans not to watch SmackDown.
In October of last year, WWE did the same thing when it spoiled the surprise about Kofi Kingston beating Miz for his Intercontinental title with a photo of Kofi, championship in hand.
As good as Del Rio and Big Show's match might be, it's just not half the fun knowing how it turns out.
WWE devalues its own show by exposing it this way.
In this age of instant information, it's almost impossible to keep anything secret. Perhaps this is WWE's way of dealing with the inevitability of spoilers. Maybe the company feels better controlling how the cat is let out of the bag.
Big Show fans hoping for him to continue his title reign aren't likely to tune in to SmackDown's main event. Fans not particularly behind Del Rio may skip the show, at least the last chunk of it, because they already know the results.
The Sixth Sense is still an enjoyable movie knowing that Bruce Willis' character is a ghost the whole time, but it's not the same rich experience.
WWE has only one path to avoid spoilers, of their own device or otherwise, and that is to air all their programming live.
A live SmackDown where fans watch Del Rio in the tearful moment as it unfolds is infinitely better than everyone knowing the climax beforehand.
Just how does Del Rio topple the giant? That is as of yet, unspoiled. The question is, will that be enough of an incentive to watch SmackDown's championship match come Friday?
The show was taped on Tuesday and featured a Last Man Standing match for a major title. Fans who enjoy not knowing the outcomes of wrestling matches before they air will need to turn off the Internet for a few days and stick their fingers in their ears.
WWE.com prematurely posted a story about SmackDown's main event.
A photo of Alberto Del Rio hugging the World Heavyweight Championship is about as big a giveaway as one could conjure up. Consider the suspense of that match evaporated.
As you may have deduced, Del Rio defeated Big Show for the title.
Sure, sites like PWInsider.com and Bleacher Report announce the results of taped wrestling events before they air, but for WWE.com to do it is almost asking fans not to watch SmackDown.
In October of last year, WWE did the same thing when it spoiled the surprise about Kofi Kingston beating Miz for his Intercontinental title with a photo of Kofi, championship in hand.
As good as Del Rio and Big Show's match might be, it's just not half the fun knowing how it turns out.
WWE devalues its own show by exposing it this way.
In this age of instant information, it's almost impossible to keep anything secret. Perhaps this is WWE's way of dealing with the inevitability of spoilers. Maybe the company feels better controlling how the cat is let out of the bag.
Big Show fans hoping for him to continue his title reign aren't likely to tune in to SmackDown's main event. Fans not particularly behind Del Rio may skip the show, at least the last chunk of it, because they already know the results.
The Sixth Sense is still an enjoyable movie knowing that Bruce Willis' character is a ghost the whole time, but it's not the same rich experience.
WWE has only one path to avoid spoilers, of their own device or otherwise, and that is to air all their programming live.
A live SmackDown where fans watch Del Rio in the tearful moment as it unfolds is infinitely better than everyone knowing the climax beforehand.
Just how does Del Rio topple the giant? That is as of yet, unspoiled. The question is, will that be enough of an incentive to watch SmackDown's championship match come Friday?
Why Cena will win the Rumble
Here is a hunch that would lead to the continuation of a Dolph Ziggler/John Cena feud leading up to WrestleMania 29 in New Jersey.
I believe Ziggler will cash in his Money in the Bank contract and claim the world heavyweight title at the Royal Rumble. If that happens, could it lead to John Cena taking on Ziggler for said title at wrestling's Super Bowl in April?
The WWE is set up for more of the same feuds to continue toward the end of the first quarter of the year. And with AJ Lee still in the mix and Big E Langston, there is no telling what will happen with Ziggler's character if he does not cash in soon.
Also add the fact that if Cena is not feuding with Ziggler he is truly on an island, and well, there is nothing really left to be said about what has to happen. Cena and Ziggler seem to be the logical choices to become joined at the hip. The great things about that seem to be the two work well in the ring together.
AJ Lee is the bonus in this triangle.
Cena was the whipping boy in the WWE over the course of 2012, which bodes well for him to come out firing on all cylinders in 2013. He showed he was determined to make it in 2013 last week with his "toast" and "surprise" for everyone's favorite couple.
If Cena is one of the first entrants into the Rumble, then I don't see him taking the Rumble. If he is one of the last in the mix, then expect him to be right there at the end. Question is, will he be able to bring home the goods once he is given the opportunity?
I think there is a lot of potential there should Cena win. Does he face CM Punk again? Does he face The Rock, should he beat Punk for the title? Does Ziggler cash in and challenge Cena?
And don't forget, what happens to Ryback in all this? Could he beat Punk and then face Cena at WrestleMania 29, which I also think could be epic?
So many questions, but just like everything else with the WWE, there are no concrete answers and everything in and out of the ring is subject to change.
I believe Ziggler will cash in his Money in the Bank contract and claim the world heavyweight title at the Royal Rumble. If that happens, could it lead to John Cena taking on Ziggler for said title at wrestling's Super Bowl in April?
The WWE is set up for more of the same feuds to continue toward the end of the first quarter of the year. And with AJ Lee still in the mix and Big E Langston, there is no telling what will happen with Ziggler's character if he does not cash in soon.
Also add the fact that if Cena is not feuding with Ziggler he is truly on an island, and well, there is nothing really left to be said about what has to happen. Cena and Ziggler seem to be the logical choices to become joined at the hip. The great things about that seem to be the two work well in the ring together.
AJ Lee is the bonus in this triangle.
Cena was the whipping boy in the WWE over the course of 2012, which bodes well for him to come out firing on all cylinders in 2013. He showed he was determined to make it in 2013 last week with his "toast" and "surprise" for everyone's favorite couple.
If Cena is one of the first entrants into the Rumble, then I don't see him taking the Rumble. If he is one of the last in the mix, then expect him to be right there at the end. Question is, will he be able to bring home the goods once he is given the opportunity?
I think there is a lot of potential there should Cena win. Does he face CM Punk again? Does he face The Rock, should he beat Punk for the title? Does Ziggler cash in and challenge Cena?
And don't forget, what happens to Ryback in all this? Could he beat Punk and then face Cena at WrestleMania 29, which I also think could be epic?
So many questions, but just like everything else with the WWE, there are no concrete answers and everything in and out of the ring is subject to change.
Sheamus Will Have a Bigger Year in 2013
"This my friends, is a pint!"
A typical Sheamus line when at the local Irish pub probably—with many, many pints to follow the first for sure.
The Celtic Warrior has been one of the most amazing WWE Superstars since his "face" turn a few years back.
He has truly won the hearts of fans worldwide and already has many great accomplishments on his resume.
What's not to like about this man? He is big, tall, strong and unique with his white skin and red hair. He is a two-time former WWE Champion, World Heavyweight Champion, King of the Ring, Rumble winner and US Champ.
There is no telling how far he can still go because he is young and talented.
Winning the World Heavyweight Championship from Daniel Bryan at last year's WrestleMania was but the tip of the iceberg. The Great White Sheamus had an incredible year defeating all of his opponents with his patented and devastating "Brogue Kick."
2013 should not be anything different.
Sheamus is one of those new guys that will take over once the Hunters and Takers are gone. He was a mean, green fighting machine as a villain but this character he plays appeals to most fans.
John Cena-like comedy can be a little over the top, but Sheamus' is quite different because he is actually funny. It's all in the accent really.
No one says "arse" like Sheamus does and as much as he can be hilarious, no one should mess with this guy when he gets angry. Just ask David Otunga.
There are some who desire him to turn back to his savage ways but when something is this good, you don't touch just yet. It is time for someone else to take up the mantle of "face" of the company soon.
Sheamus is that guy for good reasons.
His merchandise is nice looking and he is easy to follow, meaning his character appeals to more people than John Cena's does. I am not an eight-year-old child. I will never buy any Cena merchandise, ever!
These kids will grow up someday and they needs someone cool and savage to follow.
Comedy can only go so far. In the ring, you cannot joke your way out of a "Tombstone" or a "GTS" and Sheamus would look a shark in the eye and pound the crap out of it as best he could before letting one tooth take a bite out of that flesh.
In imagining where this man can go this year, all one has to do is pick a few good opponents for him.
Randy Orton (heel) and Dolph Ziggler would be a good start. They are great performers, real threats and surely a world title would be involved given the status of those characters.
Then there are those other guys who are on their way: Wade Barrett, Ryback and Antonio Cesaro.
Any of these awesome superstars could have a quality program with the Great White.
I personally still hope one day WWE will pair Sheamus with Drew McIntyre, or at least help the sinister Scotsman get out of that horrible "3MB" gimmick he is stuck in.
2013 can definitely be that year.
The most important time of the year is happening right now. WrestleMania season has already begun.
Who can face Sheamus at the show of shows?
This man is the future, a real star. It is right to assume he is going to have his best year yet.
A World Championship reign in the near future is rather unlikely but never count the red menace out. The elimination chamber match always ends in controversy or surprises, so if WWE thinks highly of Sheamus by then as they do now, perhaps assuming he will defend the gold at Mania is not entirely wrong.
No matter what, this beast is here to stay and will have an intense year coming up.
It is unavoidable, it is his destiny. The luck of the Irish never fails.
A typical Sheamus line when at the local Irish pub probably—with many, many pints to follow the first for sure.
The Celtic Warrior has been one of the most amazing WWE Superstars since his "face" turn a few years back.
He has truly won the hearts of fans worldwide and already has many great accomplishments on his resume.
What's not to like about this man? He is big, tall, strong and unique with his white skin and red hair. He is a two-time former WWE Champion, World Heavyweight Champion, King of the Ring, Rumble winner and US Champ.
There is no telling how far he can still go because he is young and talented.
Winning the World Heavyweight Championship from Daniel Bryan at last year's WrestleMania was but the tip of the iceberg. The Great White Sheamus had an incredible year defeating all of his opponents with his patented and devastating "Brogue Kick."
2013 should not be anything different.
Sheamus is one of those new guys that will take over once the Hunters and Takers are gone. He was a mean, green fighting machine as a villain but this character he plays appeals to most fans.
John Cena-like comedy can be a little over the top, but Sheamus' is quite different because he is actually funny. It's all in the accent really.
No one says "arse" like Sheamus does and as much as he can be hilarious, no one should mess with this guy when he gets angry. Just ask David Otunga.
There are some who desire him to turn back to his savage ways but when something is this good, you don't touch just yet. It is time for someone else to take up the mantle of "face" of the company soon.
Sheamus is that guy for good reasons.
His merchandise is nice looking and he is easy to follow, meaning his character appeals to more people than John Cena's does. I am not an eight-year-old child. I will never buy any Cena merchandise, ever!
These kids will grow up someday and they needs someone cool and savage to follow.
Comedy can only go so far. In the ring, you cannot joke your way out of a "Tombstone" or a "GTS" and Sheamus would look a shark in the eye and pound the crap out of it as best he could before letting one tooth take a bite out of that flesh.
In imagining where this man can go this year, all one has to do is pick a few good opponents for him.
Randy Orton (heel) and Dolph Ziggler would be a good start. They are great performers, real threats and surely a world title would be involved given the status of those characters.
Then there are those other guys who are on their way: Wade Barrett, Ryback and Antonio Cesaro.
Any of these awesome superstars could have a quality program with the Great White.
I personally still hope one day WWE will pair Sheamus with Drew McIntyre, or at least help the sinister Scotsman get out of that horrible "3MB" gimmick he is stuck in.
2013 can definitely be that year.
The most important time of the year is happening right now. WrestleMania season has already begun.
Who can face Sheamus at the show of shows?
This man is the future, a real star. It is right to assume he is going to have his best year yet.
A World Championship reign in the near future is rather unlikely but never count the red menace out. The elimination chamber match always ends in controversy or surprises, so if WWE thinks highly of Sheamus by then as they do now, perhaps assuming he will defend the gold at Mania is not entirely wrong.
No matter what, this beast is here to stay and will have an intense year coming up.
It is unavoidable, it is his destiny. The luck of the Irish never fails.
The Rock Proved That Not Every Great Promo Hast to Be a Pipe Bomb
I, like many of you, thought the promo battle last night between the Rock and CM Punk was epic. I thought that both men delivered on the microphone and both men played to their strengths. I actually thought that one interaction between the two of them was better than all of the Rock/Cena promos combined. However, this morning, I woke up to a firestorm of Internet wrestling fans that are either brain dead or have their heads up their butts. The sad thing is that it's not even most Internet fans. Just a very small, but vocal minority.
If you are familiar with my articles, you know that I am a vocal supporter of the Internet Wrestling Community (IWC). I always look at the IWC as comic book fans. If a big studio is gonna make a big budget movie about Thor, then fans of the Thor comics must like it for it to truly make waves. Take the Green Lantern movie, for instance. Yes, it was a modest hit for Warner Bros. But the fans of Green Lantern comics hated it. As a result, the movie was not able to live up to its full potential.
I have always said that WWE is wrong for overlooking us Internet fans and treating us like we don't matter. After all, I feel that we are the ones who get stuff over. CM Punk would not be the star he is today if it weren't for the IWC. Hell, even John Cena got over with the IWC before he got over mainstream with all his “Doctor of Thuganomics” stuff.
With that said, however, I have no clue what some of you expect from WWE. After Rock and Punk had what I thought was one of the most compelling segments in recent memory, I see many of the fans degrade the Rock and say he did not hold up his end. Again, this is a very small minority but a minority that is extremely vocal.
What you fans who criticize the Rock do not seem to understand is that the Rock and CM Punk are two very different animals. It is not Rock's job to go out there and drop pipe bombs; that is Punk's shtick. The Rock went out there and cut a very serious promo on Punk. Did he have a few catchphrases in there? Of course he did! HE IS THE ROCK! Expecting the Rock to not use his catchphrases is like going to a Rolling Stones concert and expecting them not to play “Angie” or “Sympathy for the Devil.” People want classic Rock lines!
The Rock did not rely on catchphrases, though. He used them to emphasize his point and that point is that he is going to beat Punk up at the Royal Rumble. The Rock would be out of place if he goes out there and tries to cut work-shoot promos like Punk does. HHH tried doing that and it really didn't work for him.
I personally like what the Rock did. He was able to be funny, while at the same time being very serious. Unlike Cena, who never takes his opponents seriously, Rock let it be known that he takes Punk seriously as an opponent. He even recognized his toughness and talent. Simply put, he was great.
Punk was great, as well. While he might be smaller than the Rock, when he opens his mouth, they are the same size. Punk was smart in that he wasn't trying to be funny and one up the Rock. Punk was just simply trying to get across the fact that Rock will not just come back and take the title from him.
What is my point? Well, my point is that SOME (not all) Internet fans do not know what it means to make a compelling program. If you think a couple of guys going out there shooting and cutting insider references at each other is what people want to see, then you are seriously mistaken. I think that the WWE looks at this small portion of Internet fans that have this backwards thinking and stereotype all of us in the IWC in this manner.
Bottom line; Rock and Punk's promo war was great television. It was not about one-upmanship with words. It was about two guys conveying the point that they are going to kick each other's asses at the Royal Rumble. I, for one, am looking forward to an epic feud...oh, and don't be surprised if the WWE gets an ice cream deal with Carvel after Rock used that Cookie Puss line on Cena.
If you are familiar with my articles, you know that I am a vocal supporter of the Internet Wrestling Community (IWC). I always look at the IWC as comic book fans. If a big studio is gonna make a big budget movie about Thor, then fans of the Thor comics must like it for it to truly make waves. Take the Green Lantern movie, for instance. Yes, it was a modest hit for Warner Bros. But the fans of Green Lantern comics hated it. As a result, the movie was not able to live up to its full potential.
I have always said that WWE is wrong for overlooking us Internet fans and treating us like we don't matter. After all, I feel that we are the ones who get stuff over. CM Punk would not be the star he is today if it weren't for the IWC. Hell, even John Cena got over with the IWC before he got over mainstream with all his “Doctor of Thuganomics” stuff.
With that said, however, I have no clue what some of you expect from WWE. After Rock and Punk had what I thought was one of the most compelling segments in recent memory, I see many of the fans degrade the Rock and say he did not hold up his end. Again, this is a very small minority but a minority that is extremely vocal.
What you fans who criticize the Rock do not seem to understand is that the Rock and CM Punk are two very different animals. It is not Rock's job to go out there and drop pipe bombs; that is Punk's shtick. The Rock went out there and cut a very serious promo on Punk. Did he have a few catchphrases in there? Of course he did! HE IS THE ROCK! Expecting the Rock to not use his catchphrases is like going to a Rolling Stones concert and expecting them not to play “Angie” or “Sympathy for the Devil.” People want classic Rock lines!
The Rock did not rely on catchphrases, though. He used them to emphasize his point and that point is that he is going to beat Punk up at the Royal Rumble. The Rock would be out of place if he goes out there and tries to cut work-shoot promos like Punk does. HHH tried doing that and it really didn't work for him.
I personally like what the Rock did. He was able to be funny, while at the same time being very serious. Unlike Cena, who never takes his opponents seriously, Rock let it be known that he takes Punk seriously as an opponent. He even recognized his toughness and talent. Simply put, he was great.
Punk was great, as well. While he might be smaller than the Rock, when he opens his mouth, they are the same size. Punk was smart in that he wasn't trying to be funny and one up the Rock. Punk was just simply trying to get across the fact that Rock will not just come back and take the title from him.
What is my point? Well, my point is that SOME (not all) Internet fans do not know what it means to make a compelling program. If you think a couple of guys going out there shooting and cutting insider references at each other is what people want to see, then you are seriously mistaken. I think that the WWE looks at this small portion of Internet fans that have this backwards thinking and stereotype all of us in the IWC in this manner.
Bottom line; Rock and Punk's promo war was great television. It was not about one-upmanship with words. It was about two guys conveying the point that they are going to kick each other's asses at the Royal Rumble. I, for one, am looking forward to an epic feud...oh, and don't be surprised if the WWE gets an ice cream deal with Carvel after Rock used that Cookie Puss line on Cena.
AJ Lee's success mean fans should expect more relations
There is no doubt that AJ Lee must be under consideration for most influential Superstar of the year in 2012, and is arguably the most important WWE diva on television for a decade.
This is remarkable as she started the year as valet to then-World Heavyweight champion Daniel Bryan, which—at the time—was considered a major push for her.
How highly AJ is being considered is all the more inconceivable considering the success others have had in 2012.
CM Punk has held the WWE title for every moment of the year, while Sheamus started 2012 with a Royal Rumble victory, took the World Heavyweight title in 18 seconds at WrestleMania and then proceeded to take part in every match involving that belt during the rest of the year.
Yet AJ—through her many relationships with top-named Superstars and how those trysts have impacted championships and championship contenders—can be seen as a force of nature that has had a greater overall effect than any one man in the company has by himself.
More important than AJ’s rise to prominence are the lessons learned—or at least remembered— by WWE’s creative team regarding how women can be utilized as more than eye candy or in-ring competitors.
Women can seduce, anger and infuriate men into actions that he would be unlikely to do otherwise. Using this ability opens up new and interesting situations for the WWE to explore, and innovation is one of the keys to compelling television.
WWE applied this thinking in the run up to SummerSlam, when Stephanie McMahon was able to get Paul Heyman to agree to a match between her husband Triple H and Brock Lesnar when other methods had failed.
The love of a good woman—or a Superstar protecting the reputation of one—has also been shown to be a great motivation for friends to come into conflict. The classic feud between Chris Jericho and Christian over Trish Stratus shows how good such a rivalry can be, and the WWE has rediscovered that potency with AJ multiple times this year.
Of course it was Eve—not AJ—who was the first to show how a woman can affect a feud by seemingly courting then-U.S. champion Zack Ryder in January, when she was actually using him to get closer to John Cena.
For a short time, this successfully put Cena into a position where he could have been in conflict with other faces while not being at fault. Finding ways to pit good guys or bad guys against one another is so important to the WWE, as this opens up fresh feuds for them to have and new dynamics to work with.
One woman who has been showing the effectiveness of a female character for several years is Vickie Guerrero. From her run as Smackdown general manager and her support of husband Edge, to managing Dolph Ziggler into a position where he has the opportunity to be a star, Vickie has shown what a strong female role can do for others.
Perhaps it ought to be Vickie who should really get the plaudits for reintroducing such ideas to the minds of WWE’s creative team rather than AJ, who has benefited from it.
Throwing together a Superstar and a diva is not always going to lead to a successful storyline, or even a productive partnership. Ted DiBiase’s and Maryse’s run was disastrous for both individuals, with one languishing at the bottom of WWE’s undercard and the other moving on from the company completely.
Regardless, after the success of AJ and others in 2012, it has become the logical choice to connect more divas with Superstars. This has already begun to happen, as WWE fans have recently seen Alberto Del Rio flirt with Rosa Mendes while The Great Khali has been accompanied by Natalya.
This is remarkable as she started the year as valet to then-World Heavyweight champion Daniel Bryan, which—at the time—was considered a major push for her.
How highly AJ is being considered is all the more inconceivable considering the success others have had in 2012.
CM Punk has held the WWE title for every moment of the year, while Sheamus started 2012 with a Royal Rumble victory, took the World Heavyweight title in 18 seconds at WrestleMania and then proceeded to take part in every match involving that belt during the rest of the year.
Yet AJ—through her many relationships with top-named Superstars and how those trysts have impacted championships and championship contenders—can be seen as a force of nature that has had a greater overall effect than any one man in the company has by himself.
More important than AJ’s rise to prominence are the lessons learned—or at least remembered— by WWE’s creative team regarding how women can be utilized as more than eye candy or in-ring competitors.
Women can seduce, anger and infuriate men into actions that he would be unlikely to do otherwise. Using this ability opens up new and interesting situations for the WWE to explore, and innovation is one of the keys to compelling television.
WWE applied this thinking in the run up to SummerSlam, when Stephanie McMahon was able to get Paul Heyman to agree to a match between her husband Triple H and Brock Lesnar when other methods had failed.
The love of a good woman—or a Superstar protecting the reputation of one—has also been shown to be a great motivation for friends to come into conflict. The classic feud between Chris Jericho and Christian over Trish Stratus shows how good such a rivalry can be, and the WWE has rediscovered that potency with AJ multiple times this year.
Of course it was Eve—not AJ—who was the first to show how a woman can affect a feud by seemingly courting then-U.S. champion Zack Ryder in January, when she was actually using him to get closer to John Cena.
For a short time, this successfully put Cena into a position where he could have been in conflict with other faces while not being at fault. Finding ways to pit good guys or bad guys against one another is so important to the WWE, as this opens up fresh feuds for them to have and new dynamics to work with.
One woman who has been showing the effectiveness of a female character for several years is Vickie Guerrero. From her run as Smackdown general manager and her support of husband Edge, to managing Dolph Ziggler into a position where he has the opportunity to be a star, Vickie has shown what a strong female role can do for others.
Perhaps it ought to be Vickie who should really get the plaudits for reintroducing such ideas to the minds of WWE’s creative team rather than AJ, who has benefited from it.
Throwing together a Superstar and a diva is not always going to lead to a successful storyline, or even a productive partnership. Ted DiBiase’s and Maryse’s run was disastrous for both individuals, with one languishing at the bottom of WWE’s undercard and the other moving on from the company completely.
Regardless, after the success of AJ and others in 2012, it has become the logical choice to connect more divas with Superstars. This has already begun to happen, as WWE fans have recently seen Alberto Del Rio flirt with Rosa Mendes while The Great Khali has been accompanied by Natalya.
Ryback and Royal Rumble 2013
With all the big-name stars who have expressed plans to enter this month's Royal Rumble match, one has to wonder where Ryback will fit into the picture should he desire to throw his hat in the ring.
While nothing is official yet, Big Hungry is expected to be one of the 30 men beating each other’s brains out at WWE Royal Rumble 2013 on Jan. 27 in Phoenix. And if he enters, he should be a shoo-in to win it, right?
Not exactly. Ryback’s huge popularity among the WWE Universe obviously will make him one of the favorites. But as we all know, favorites in sports entertainment don’t always win.
WWE likes to throw swerves like that from time to time. Just when you think you know the direction a program has taken, WWE will change course...sometimes in the middle of a live telecast.
No, the Royal Rumble is won by someone who the WWE Creative Team decides needs some kind of big push to start or restart a career.
It can be argued that Ryback already has received his push during his recent program with WWE champ CM Punk that may or may not yet be over. Punk and Ryback are tentatively set to face off in a TLC-style match for the WWE Championship on next Monday’s Raw telecast, which, regardless of whether it goes off or not, should end that program—and Ryback’s push.
Do you think Ryback will win the Royal Rumble Match? Yes No Submit Vote vote to see results After that, it will be up to WWE to decide if Ryback will get a new push either toward a Royal Rumble victory or in a whole different direction.
There are several other factors—both storyline and real—that could affect Ryback’s outcome in the match.
Part of it depends upon where he draws. If he comes out early, the question comes up about whether he has the stamina to go in a long match. The later he comes out, the better his chances become.
It also depends upon who might be waiting for Ryback in the ring. John Cena, Randy Orton and 2012 Royal Rumble winner Sheamus all have announced plans to enter the match, and it is obvious none of them will be brought out early or eliminated quickly.
WWE also could make things interesting for Ryback by putting The Shield in the Royal Rumble match. Given their recent history, if two or even all three members of The Shield are in the ring by the time his music hits, you know where their focus will shift.
There also is the possibility that The Shield will intervene regardless of whether they participate in the match or are bystanders. The group could hit the ring at any time and go after Ryback, possibly softening him up for elimination.
Those are some of the storyline reasons. The legitimate reason for Ryback not winning could be if he sustains a true injury prior to Jan. 27 that would keep him out of action.
So don’t be so quick to hand the Royal Rumble crown (and the title shot that comes with it) to Ryback. We still have almost a whole month to see if WWE feels like he deserves it.
While nothing is official yet, Big Hungry is expected to be one of the 30 men beating each other’s brains out at WWE Royal Rumble 2013 on Jan. 27 in Phoenix. And if he enters, he should be a shoo-in to win it, right?
Not exactly. Ryback’s huge popularity among the WWE Universe obviously will make him one of the favorites. But as we all know, favorites in sports entertainment don’t always win.
WWE likes to throw swerves like that from time to time. Just when you think you know the direction a program has taken, WWE will change course...sometimes in the middle of a live telecast.
No, the Royal Rumble is won by someone who the WWE Creative Team decides needs some kind of big push to start or restart a career.
It can be argued that Ryback already has received his push during his recent program with WWE champ CM Punk that may or may not yet be over. Punk and Ryback are tentatively set to face off in a TLC-style match for the WWE Championship on next Monday’s Raw telecast, which, regardless of whether it goes off or not, should end that program—and Ryback’s push.
Do you think Ryback will win the Royal Rumble Match? Yes No Submit Vote vote to see results After that, it will be up to WWE to decide if Ryback will get a new push either toward a Royal Rumble victory or in a whole different direction.
There are several other factors—both storyline and real—that could affect Ryback’s outcome in the match.
Part of it depends upon where he draws. If he comes out early, the question comes up about whether he has the stamina to go in a long match. The later he comes out, the better his chances become.
It also depends upon who might be waiting for Ryback in the ring. John Cena, Randy Orton and 2012 Royal Rumble winner Sheamus all have announced plans to enter the match, and it is obvious none of them will be brought out early or eliminated quickly.
WWE also could make things interesting for Ryback by putting The Shield in the Royal Rumble match. Given their recent history, if two or even all three members of The Shield are in the ring by the time his music hits, you know where their focus will shift.
There also is the possibility that The Shield will intervene regardless of whether they participate in the match or are bystanders. The group could hit the ring at any time and go after Ryback, possibly softening him up for elimination.
Those are some of the storyline reasons. The legitimate reason for Ryback not winning could be if he sustains a true injury prior to Jan. 27 that would keep him out of action.
So don’t be so quick to hand the Royal Rumble crown (and the title shot that comes with it) to Ryback. We still have almost a whole month to see if WWE feels like he deserves it.
WWE Has Become Vince's Personal Playground
treats the WWE superstars like a bunch of toys. Each wrestler is just an action figure that he can pose and bend in any way he sees fit. Hall-of-Famer Sgt. Slaughter? Haul him out of retirement to lose in an unannounced match in a minute!
Mae Young? Dust her off and re-enact a horrible angle from 14 years ago!
Hornswoggle? Slap that grown man in a diaper after emerging from an 89-year-old woman's...well...you know.
The Shield? Show badly photoshopped pictures of them as babies!
Dolph Ziggler? Remind everyone that he was a cheerleader and a caddy!
Vickie Guerrero? She should fart! They haven’t had a woman fart on live TV in a while!
AJ Lee? Time to dump doo doo on her!
Seriously, what is going on with this company? More importantly, what is going on with Vince McMahon?
At 67 years old, he has been putting out a baffling, inconsistent, horrendously unfunny product.
Look at the crowd’s reaction after those sketches. They’re not doubling over in laughter. They’re not applauding. They’re sitting there in confusion and even disgust.
They didn’t pay to watch some lame backstage antics.
It’s not just the holiday season, either. It has become commonplace for the show to be filled with material that only seems to appeal to the boss.
How about those segments where Vince treated Vickie like an idiot and basically tricked her into booking matches?
That’s how a pay-per-view main event was announced! Cena vs. Ziggler with Money-in-the-Bank on the line was promoted with comedy.
Still, it made Vince look smarter than Vickie, which must have been the point of airing it.
Or how about when senior citizen Vince McMahon (complete with an action figure’s physique) booked himself to fight CM Punk and proved he could still hang with the WWE champ?
The WWE has always had quirky, corny humor, but in the past they've been funny, at least occasionally.
Lately, they are failing in every possible way at being innovative, and instead have become increasingly embarrassing to watch with family or friends.
The New Year’s Eve and Christmas Eve episodes highlighted everything that was wrong with the company.
Some fans will say that it’s no big deal, because it was just the holiday episodes.
But we’re not talking about your regular 30-minute sitcom's holiday-themed episode. This was eight hours of TV that was devoted to WWE screwing around, breaking the fourth wall and treating their product like a joke.
We were in a world where Santa actually existed and title shots were handed out by ping-pong balls.
The WWE is in some sort of weird space and time warp where the show is stuck partly in the mid-1980s, and partly in Vince McMahon’s mind.
WWE is different from other TV shows. They don’t just rely on ratings. They need to convince people to buy tickets to their events and order their pay-per-views.
The overall tone of WWE and its promotional style isn’t working. The company is failing to get fans to invest in their product.
In the 1980s, they were pretty goofy too, but they knew when it was time to get serious.
Hogan’s feuds with Andre the Giant, King Kong Bundy and The Ultimate Warrior didn’t involve him dropping feces on them. He didn’t constantly laugh in his opponent's face about “grabbing a pint,” and the top heels (or wait, is Alberto Del Rio a face?) never ran over Santa Claus.
Sure, the WWF had acts like The Bushwhackers, but they were over with the audience. Khali and Hornswoggle are not over. The only reason they have stuck around so long is that someone in power is amused by them.
It’s too bad that he, or she, is the only one.
If fans wanted to watch a pure comedy show, they would do that. But wrestling is essentially its own genre of entertainment. Fans, especially longer-tenured ones, still watch wrestling for the wrestling. The drama that airs should exist to complement and promote the in-ring action.
Somewhere along the way, Vince has forgotten that. Or he just doesn’t care anymore.
He just wants to play.
Mae Young? Dust her off and re-enact a horrible angle from 14 years ago!
Hornswoggle? Slap that grown man in a diaper after emerging from an 89-year-old woman's...well...you know.
The Shield? Show badly photoshopped pictures of them as babies!
Dolph Ziggler? Remind everyone that he was a cheerleader and a caddy!
Vickie Guerrero? She should fart! They haven’t had a woman fart on live TV in a while!
AJ Lee? Time to dump doo doo on her!
Seriously, what is going on with this company? More importantly, what is going on with Vince McMahon?
At 67 years old, he has been putting out a baffling, inconsistent, horrendously unfunny product.
Look at the crowd’s reaction after those sketches. They’re not doubling over in laughter. They’re not applauding. They’re sitting there in confusion and even disgust.
They didn’t pay to watch some lame backstage antics.
It’s not just the holiday season, either. It has become commonplace for the show to be filled with material that only seems to appeal to the boss.
How about those segments where Vince treated Vickie like an idiot and basically tricked her into booking matches?
That’s how a pay-per-view main event was announced! Cena vs. Ziggler with Money-in-the-Bank on the line was promoted with comedy.
Still, it made Vince look smarter than Vickie, which must have been the point of airing it.
Or how about when senior citizen Vince McMahon (complete with an action figure’s physique) booked himself to fight CM Punk and proved he could still hang with the WWE champ?
The WWE has always had quirky, corny humor, but in the past they've been funny, at least occasionally.
Lately, they are failing in every possible way at being innovative, and instead have become increasingly embarrassing to watch with family or friends.
The New Year’s Eve and Christmas Eve episodes highlighted everything that was wrong with the company.
Some fans will say that it’s no big deal, because it was just the holiday episodes.
But we’re not talking about your regular 30-minute sitcom's holiday-themed episode. This was eight hours of TV that was devoted to WWE screwing around, breaking the fourth wall and treating their product like a joke.
We were in a world where Santa actually existed and title shots were handed out by ping-pong balls.
The WWE is in some sort of weird space and time warp where the show is stuck partly in the mid-1980s, and partly in Vince McMahon’s mind.
WWE is different from other TV shows. They don’t just rely on ratings. They need to convince people to buy tickets to their events and order their pay-per-views.
The overall tone of WWE and its promotional style isn’t working. The company is failing to get fans to invest in their product.
In the 1980s, they were pretty goofy too, but they knew when it was time to get serious.
Hogan’s feuds with Andre the Giant, King Kong Bundy and The Ultimate Warrior didn’t involve him dropping feces on them. He didn’t constantly laugh in his opponent's face about “grabbing a pint,” and the top heels (or wait, is Alberto Del Rio a face?) never ran over Santa Claus.
Sure, the WWF had acts like The Bushwhackers, but they were over with the audience. Khali and Hornswoggle are not over. The only reason they have stuck around so long is that someone in power is amused by them.
It’s too bad that he, or she, is the only one.
If fans wanted to watch a pure comedy show, they would do that. But wrestling is essentially its own genre of entertainment. Fans, especially longer-tenured ones, still watch wrestling for the wrestling. The drama that airs should exist to complement and promote the in-ring action.
Somewhere along the way, Vince has forgotten that. Or he just doesn’t care anymore.
He just wants to play.
WWE Reportedly Offers Brock Lesnar New Contract
Interesting news coming from the Brock Lesnar front.
As it appears, "The Next Big Thing" has been offered a new deal by the company. Ultimately, it appears WWE wants Lesnar's new contract inked by WrestleMania 29.
WWE officials have offered Brock Lesnar a new contract. They want him locked in for another year before WrestleMania. It's believed the new deal is similar to the deal he signed last year - several million dollars, a few major pay-per-view events and the TV shows building up to those events.Lesnar has not signed the deal and probably won't sign any time soon because that's how he operates, likely negotiating until the end. Some within WWE are under the impression that he's in the creative plans for after WrestleMania 29.
Overall, I can't imagine Lesnar not re-signing with the company. Let's face it, Lesnar's mainstream popularity isn't what it was a few years ago. So, I cannot imagine that many companies outside of WWE are vying for his services.
All of that aside, Lesnar is a huge commodity for WWE, as he is an amazing competitor that always brings his A-game. To me, the best part about him is that he brings the company some press, without taking up a ton of TV time. Even when he is involved in a feud, his on-air segments hardly ever drone on. Not to mention his employment doesn't take up a full-time roster spot, allowing WWE to continue to push other stars.
Let's face it, Lesnar's return in 2012 was huge for the company. Even though he had limited appearances, he still peaked fans interest, often times leaving them wondering when he would return for his next feud.
Speaking of feuds, if he does re-up with the company, one has to wonder who he will go toe-to-toe with? Outside of CM Punk or John Cena, there aren't too many stars left for Lesnar to have a solid feud with. Don't get me wrong, I am not discrediting the rest of the roster, just stating that Lesnar's limited availability makes it almost impossible to build up a feud with an up-and-coming star.
In the end, the company and many fans will be awaiting Lesnar's response, leaving WWE and its fans wondering will he or won't he in the weeks to come.
As it appears, "The Next Big Thing" has been offered a new deal by the company. Ultimately, it appears WWE wants Lesnar's new contract inked by WrestleMania 29.
WWE officials have offered Brock Lesnar a new contract. They want him locked in for another year before WrestleMania. It's believed the new deal is similar to the deal he signed last year - several million dollars, a few major pay-per-view events and the TV shows building up to those events.Lesnar has not signed the deal and probably won't sign any time soon because that's how he operates, likely negotiating until the end. Some within WWE are under the impression that he's in the creative plans for after WrestleMania 29.
Overall, I can't imagine Lesnar not re-signing with the company. Let's face it, Lesnar's mainstream popularity isn't what it was a few years ago. So, I cannot imagine that many companies outside of WWE are vying for his services.
All of that aside, Lesnar is a huge commodity for WWE, as he is an amazing competitor that always brings his A-game. To me, the best part about him is that he brings the company some press, without taking up a ton of TV time. Even when he is involved in a feud, his on-air segments hardly ever drone on. Not to mention his employment doesn't take up a full-time roster spot, allowing WWE to continue to push other stars.
Let's face it, Lesnar's return in 2012 was huge for the company. Even though he had limited appearances, he still peaked fans interest, often times leaving them wondering when he would return for his next feud.
Speaking of feuds, if he does re-up with the company, one has to wonder who he will go toe-to-toe with? Outside of CM Punk or John Cena, there aren't too many stars left for Lesnar to have a solid feud with. Don't get me wrong, I am not discrediting the rest of the roster, just stating that Lesnar's limited availability makes it almost impossible to build up a feud with an up-and-coming star.
In the end, the company and many fans will be awaiting Lesnar's response, leaving WWE and its fans wondering will he or won't he in the weeks to come.
Why 3MB is One of the Most Entertaining Acts in WWE Right Now
One thing that can be safely predicted for 2013: Three Man Band--Heath Slater, Drew McIntyre and Jinder Mahal—will continue to move up the card.
The act, which sees the trio position themselves as the world’s next big rock band in spite of their non-existent musical talent, is one of the best things going in WWE day.
Indeed, Three Man Band, or 3MB, are one of 2012’s under-reported success stories.
What was essentially a lower-card rather silly comedy act for a bunch of seemingly randomly thrown together jobbers emerged as a wickedly entertaining group that has breathed new life into three stagnant careers.
So, what makes the Spinal Tap-like group such a success?
Well, a great deal of the praise has to be heaped on the ultra-talented Heath Slater, who takes on the role of 3MB’s front man.
Sure, Slater—who was used mainly in a comedy jobber role prior to teaming up with McIntyre and Mahal—may never be a serious main-eventer. But he’s still a quality wrestler with a distinctive heel personality, and it’s his great performances that are holding the group together.
In his various segments he exudes a narcissism and arrogance, playing the deluded musician to perfection.
McIntyre and Mahal, too, also deserve praise for their work.
While some wrestlers may have treated a comedy gimmick like 3MB as a big comedown and only begrudgingly went along with it, these two are obviously throwing themselves into the act with great enthusiasm.
All three of them look to be having a good time with it and, consequently, the fans enjoy watching them. Who knows? A face turn may even be in their future. Certainly it’s easy to kids getting into their act and buying their merchandise.
The Three Man Band is also a rare example of WWE humor that works. Come on; how hilarious—and wittily written—are the segments with Slater, Mahal and McIntyre? In a show filled with lame and unfunny “comedy” (Khali, Hornswoggle…we’re looking at you), Three Man Band are a breath of fresh air.
Of course, while they are on the cusp of greatness, WWE certainly aren’t booking the trio like stars. Indeed they have been on a dreadful losing streak in recent times, often losing three-to-one to guys like Sheamus and Randy Orton.
Yes: all three of them together are no match for the mighty Sheamus, who has destroyed them on recent episodes of Raw and SmackDown with relative ease.
Granted WWE need something for the aimless Irish star to do, but does he really have to completely destroy the credibility of one of their most promising up-and-coming acts? Of course not. It’s simply poor long-term thinking on the company’s part.
However, even the sloppy efforts of the creative team doesn’t change the fact the group are still highly entertaining. Maybe WWE will finally catch on and start treating them better. A run with the tag titles may not be out of the question either.
And who knows, maybe they will finally getting around to releasing that album.
The act, which sees the trio position themselves as the world’s next big rock band in spite of their non-existent musical talent, is one of the best things going in WWE day.
Indeed, Three Man Band, or 3MB, are one of 2012’s under-reported success stories.
What was essentially a lower-card rather silly comedy act for a bunch of seemingly randomly thrown together jobbers emerged as a wickedly entertaining group that has breathed new life into three stagnant careers.
So, what makes the Spinal Tap-like group such a success?
Well, a great deal of the praise has to be heaped on the ultra-talented Heath Slater, who takes on the role of 3MB’s front man.
Sure, Slater—who was used mainly in a comedy jobber role prior to teaming up with McIntyre and Mahal—may never be a serious main-eventer. But he’s still a quality wrestler with a distinctive heel personality, and it’s his great performances that are holding the group together.
In his various segments he exudes a narcissism and arrogance, playing the deluded musician to perfection.
McIntyre and Mahal, too, also deserve praise for their work.
While some wrestlers may have treated a comedy gimmick like 3MB as a big comedown and only begrudgingly went along with it, these two are obviously throwing themselves into the act with great enthusiasm.
All three of them look to be having a good time with it and, consequently, the fans enjoy watching them. Who knows? A face turn may even be in their future. Certainly it’s easy to kids getting into their act and buying their merchandise.
The Three Man Band is also a rare example of WWE humor that works. Come on; how hilarious—and wittily written—are the segments with Slater, Mahal and McIntyre? In a show filled with lame and unfunny “comedy” (Khali, Hornswoggle…we’re looking at you), Three Man Band are a breath of fresh air.
Of course, while they are on the cusp of greatness, WWE certainly aren’t booking the trio like stars. Indeed they have been on a dreadful losing streak in recent times, often losing three-to-one to guys like Sheamus and Randy Orton.
Yes: all three of them together are no match for the mighty Sheamus, who has destroyed them on recent episodes of Raw and SmackDown with relative ease.
Granted WWE need something for the aimless Irish star to do, but does he really have to completely destroy the credibility of one of their most promising up-and-coming acts? Of course not. It’s simply poor long-term thinking on the company’s part.
However, even the sloppy efforts of the creative team doesn’t change the fact the group are still highly entertaining. Maybe WWE will finally catch on and start treating them better. A run with the tag titles may not be out of the question either.
And who knows, maybe they will finally getting around to releasing that album.
Big Update on Brock Lesnar;s WWE Future, Will He Ever Face the Undertaker?
OK, so Brock Lesnar hasn't exactly turned WWE business around since he returned to the company in the spring of last year. (Having him lose his first match back clean, to John Cena at Backlash, probably wasn't the smartest thing to do, for sure.)
But he has delivered a few good buyrates; as PWInsider noted, his bout with Triple H at Summerslam drew a great number. And, he's an undisputed star, something which the company is desperately lacking these days.
In this week's (subscribers-only) Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer gives an update on the future of the former MMA star, noting he has been offered a new big-money deal, similar to the one he snagged in WWE:
Lesnar was offered a new deal and they want him locked up for another year before planning Mania. The deal he’s offered was believed to be similar terms of the first deal, which is a ton of money, as in several million dollars, for a few major PPV events and the television shows building up those events. He hasn’t signed and probably won’t sign any time soon because that’s just Lesnar and he’s going to negotiate it until the end.
As far as a future Lesnar/Undertaker match goes, Meltzer goes on to cast doubt over the possibility that the bout will ever come to fruition, noting: "It’s been expressed to me that Undertaker is really hurting bad and Lesnar works a very physical style, so they are very leery of ever doing that match."
Yes, all those fantastic MOTY candidates with Shawn Michaels and Triple H over the years look to have taken their toll on the "The Deadman."
This will undoubtedly be unwelcome news for the many fans who have been eager to see Lesnar/Undertaker ever since the two had a highly watched staredown at UFC 121 following Lesnar's loss to Cain Velasquez.
Indeed, in an industry in which there are few "must-see" matches left, a Lesnar/Undertaker WM bout remains a compelling prospect.
But he has delivered a few good buyrates; as PWInsider noted, his bout with Triple H at Summerslam drew a great number. And, he's an undisputed star, something which the company is desperately lacking these days.
In this week's (subscribers-only) Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer gives an update on the future of the former MMA star, noting he has been offered a new big-money deal, similar to the one he snagged in WWE:
Lesnar was offered a new deal and they want him locked up for another year before planning Mania. The deal he’s offered was believed to be similar terms of the first deal, which is a ton of money, as in several million dollars, for a few major PPV events and the television shows building up those events. He hasn’t signed and probably won’t sign any time soon because that’s just Lesnar and he’s going to negotiate it until the end.
As far as a future Lesnar/Undertaker match goes, Meltzer goes on to cast doubt over the possibility that the bout will ever come to fruition, noting: "It’s been expressed to me that Undertaker is really hurting bad and Lesnar works a very physical style, so they are very leery of ever doing that match."
Yes, all those fantastic MOTY candidates with Shawn Michaels and Triple H over the years look to have taken their toll on the "The Deadman."
This will undoubtedly be unwelcome news for the many fans who have been eager to see Lesnar/Undertaker ever since the two had a highly watched staredown at UFC 121 following Lesnar's loss to Cain Velasquez.
Indeed, in an industry in which there are few "must-see" matches left, a Lesnar/Undertaker WM bout remains a compelling prospect.
World Belt Change Was Caused by Big Show's Expiring Contract
When Alberto Del Rio took the World Heavyweight Championship from The Big Show at the SmackDown taping Jan. 8 in Miami, many WWE fans and followers were surprised at the outcome.
For one thing, a top title like the World belt does not change hands often on free TV. For another, Del Rio appeared to come out of nowhere into a title picture that had been focused on Big Show, Sheamus and Dolph Ziggler for so long.
According to a report on WrestleZone, the reason for the title change had to do with Big Show’s contract. Remember last year when, in storyline, Big Show was fired and then reinstated with an “iron-clad” contract and a new heel turn?
Apparently, according to WrestleZone, that contract may not have been so iron-clad after all. Big Show’s real contract was expiring, and negotiations on a new deal were not going anywhere.
So, according to the report, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon pulled the trigger on a Del Rio title run:
At the time of the taping in Miami, that was actually considered potentially to be Big Show's last match in WWE. Later in the week, the company and Big Show came to terms, and he hasn't missed any shows.
Del Rio is set to face Big Show in a WHC rematch at WWE Royal Rumble 2013 on Jan. 27 in Phoenix.
The WrestleZone report further says that WWE was not happy that the negotiations with Big Show had gone down to the wire. But now that Del Rio is the WHC titleholder, the report states, “the plans have changed, as Del Rio is the focus of the show going forward.”
That last statement appears to reinforce WWE’s faith in Del Rio as a top performer. It also sends a message that WWE plans to build up Del Rio’s future storylines to keep him at the top of SmackDown’s roster.
For one thing, a top title like the World belt does not change hands often on free TV. For another, Del Rio appeared to come out of nowhere into a title picture that had been focused on Big Show, Sheamus and Dolph Ziggler for so long.
According to a report on WrestleZone, the reason for the title change had to do with Big Show’s contract. Remember last year when, in storyline, Big Show was fired and then reinstated with an “iron-clad” contract and a new heel turn?
Apparently, according to WrestleZone, that contract may not have been so iron-clad after all. Big Show’s real contract was expiring, and negotiations on a new deal were not going anywhere.
So, according to the report, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon pulled the trigger on a Del Rio title run:
At the time of the taping in Miami, that was actually considered potentially to be Big Show's last match in WWE. Later in the week, the company and Big Show came to terms, and he hasn't missed any shows.
Del Rio is set to face Big Show in a WHC rematch at WWE Royal Rumble 2013 on Jan. 27 in Phoenix.
The WrestleZone report further says that WWE was not happy that the negotiations with Big Show had gone down to the wire. But now that Del Rio is the WHC titleholder, the report states, “the plans have changed, as Del Rio is the focus of the show going forward.”
That last statement appears to reinforce WWE’s faith in Del Rio as a top performer. It also sends a message that WWE plans to build up Del Rio’s future storylines to keep him at the top of SmackDown’s roster.
Is Alberto Del Rio a Transitional World Champion or the Real Deal?
Alberto Del Rio won the World title on SmackDown in a match with Big Show, making him a three-time WWE and world champion. For someone who has only been with the company for a couple years, this is a big accomplishment, but is Del Rio just being used as a transitional champion?
The real question is whether WWE put the title on him because they believe he can be a good babyface champion or if he is simply being used to transition the title to someone else?
Let's recap. Big Show won the belt from Sheamus after a six-month reign and then Show held it for less than three months before losing it to Del Rio.
This situation certainly changes things a bit, as most assumed we would see a Sheamus vs. Big Show rematch at Royal Rumble. Then Del Rio won the belt.
So, does Sheamus still get his rematch?
Will Big Show want his rematch first?
Will they end up in a triple threat match so both guys get their rematch?
There are several possibilities for how WWE could play with the World title picture, but one thing is for sure: Dolph Ziggler is still going to win that belt at some point.
I have no doubt that Ziggler will successfully cash in his briefcase. WWE has invested too much time building him up over the past year to ditch those plans now.
With Del Rio being a babyface right now, it also makes the odds of a Ziggler/Del Rio feud that much more likely, and oh what a feud it would be.
On one side of the ring you have Del Rio, a man who has proven that he is one of the smoothest workers in WWE.
On the other side you have Dolph Ziggler, who personifies his show-off nickname better than anyone.
The possibilities of a 5-star match seem pretty high if these two were involved, which might be one reason why it was good that WWE decided to turn Del Rio babyface and give him the title.
iggler and Sheamus have had many matches, so a feud between them would have been nothing new. Big Show is a heel, so Ziggler feuding with him as a heel is out. That leaves us with Del Rio, who as a babyface makes the perfect opponent for Ziggler.
While Del Rio is someone who will represent the World Title well, at this point it looks like this title reign is going to be quick and Ziggler will eventually walk away with the title.
The feud that would come of it would be great, so this is not actually a bad thing. Sometimes the term "transitional champion" carries a negative connotation, but it is not such a bad deal.
If the scenario laid out here is what ends up happening, then Del Rio adds another title reign to his resume and he gets a great feud with Ziggler out of it. There doesn't seem to be a downside to that.
I, for one, am looking forward to what comes of Alberto Del Rio's title reign. He is a talented worker who should be able to revitalize his career by facing off against some of WWE's heels.
The real question is whether WWE put the title on him because they believe he can be a good babyface champion or if he is simply being used to transition the title to someone else?
Let's recap. Big Show won the belt from Sheamus after a six-month reign and then Show held it for less than three months before losing it to Del Rio.
This situation certainly changes things a bit, as most assumed we would see a Sheamus vs. Big Show rematch at Royal Rumble. Then Del Rio won the belt.
So, does Sheamus still get his rematch?
Will Big Show want his rematch first?
Will they end up in a triple threat match so both guys get their rematch?
There are several possibilities for how WWE could play with the World title picture, but one thing is for sure: Dolph Ziggler is still going to win that belt at some point.
I have no doubt that Ziggler will successfully cash in his briefcase. WWE has invested too much time building him up over the past year to ditch those plans now.
With Del Rio being a babyface right now, it also makes the odds of a Ziggler/Del Rio feud that much more likely, and oh what a feud it would be.
On one side of the ring you have Del Rio, a man who has proven that he is one of the smoothest workers in WWE.
On the other side you have Dolph Ziggler, who personifies his show-off nickname better than anyone.
The possibilities of a 5-star match seem pretty high if these two were involved, which might be one reason why it was good that WWE decided to turn Del Rio babyface and give him the title.
iggler and Sheamus have had many matches, so a feud between them would have been nothing new. Big Show is a heel, so Ziggler feuding with him as a heel is out. That leaves us with Del Rio, who as a babyface makes the perfect opponent for Ziggler.
While Del Rio is someone who will represent the World Title well, at this point it looks like this title reign is going to be quick and Ziggler will eventually walk away with the title.
The feud that would come of it would be great, so this is not actually a bad thing. Sometimes the term "transitional champion" carries a negative connotation, but it is not such a bad deal.
If the scenario laid out here is what ends up happening, then Del Rio adds another title reign to his resume and he gets a great feud with Ziggler out of it. There doesn't seem to be a downside to that.
I, for one, am looking forward to what comes of Alberto Del Rio's title reign. He is a talented worker who should be able to revitalize his career by facing off against some of WWE's heels.
WWE Made a Mistake in Turning Miz Babyface
Ever since Miz turned babyface and began helping out guys like Randy Orton instead of trying to smash their faces into the mat, he has been viewed as having a re-energized career.
I don't buy it.
Miz might get a decent pop when he comes out and the fans might chant "Awesome" and "Really" with him, but that is the WWE machine flexing its muscle.
The fans mostly choose whom they cheer for and whom they boo, but WWE is extremely good at making people cheer for whom they want them to cheer for. If you don't believe me, then I have to assume you have been a Ryback fan since his debut.
The problem is that when Miz was a heel and people wanted him to turn face, they didn't want him to lose the qualities of his character that made him one of their favorites.
Miz used to be witty, but now it seems as if he is being given jokes that would make a fifth-grader call him immature.
The best part about Miz was that he was a jackass. He was in your face and didn't care if you liked him because he knew he was good.
He came out with a look of confidence that only a great heel could have and then he backed it up by defeating the biggest names in WWE while he was champion.
Now he panders to crowds by playing to the city he is in, acting like Ric Flair's best buddy and coming to the aid of people he once tried to cripple in the ring just to get a title shot.
These changes happen all the time when people shift from babyface to heel and back, but with Miz the situation is a bit different. It happened WAAAAY too fast.
He was a heel for a long time. Nearly his entire run in WWE has been as a heel, and now we are supposed to just buy him as a goody-two-shoes babyface?
No! I'm sorry, but no.
I want to like Miz as a babyface because I genuinely like Miz as a wrestler and a person. I think he is one of the greatest cases of overcoming adversity in WWE history, and I have said that many times in the past.
Watching him go from the idiot on The Real World who ran around the house with a foam WWE title to a guy who worked his ass off to win the real thing was incredible.
It was a journey I felt like I took with him as a fan over the course of the last decade, but now I find it hard to watch Miz, and that makes me sad.
In November, I wrote a piece examining the potential for a Miz babyface turn and why it was a good idea. In this piece, I said Miz would work as a babyface as long as WWE didn't really change him from his current act.
Well, WWE watered him down and now he is a poorly-traced copy of the Miz that once ruled WWE as champion.
Hopefully, Miz is just finding his groove and eventually he goes back to his witty, scathing promos and cocky attitude, but we have to wait and see.
I don't buy it.
Miz might get a decent pop when he comes out and the fans might chant "Awesome" and "Really" with him, but that is the WWE machine flexing its muscle.
The fans mostly choose whom they cheer for and whom they boo, but WWE is extremely good at making people cheer for whom they want them to cheer for. If you don't believe me, then I have to assume you have been a Ryback fan since his debut.
The problem is that when Miz was a heel and people wanted him to turn face, they didn't want him to lose the qualities of his character that made him one of their favorites.
Miz used to be witty, but now it seems as if he is being given jokes that would make a fifth-grader call him immature.
The best part about Miz was that he was a jackass. He was in your face and didn't care if you liked him because he knew he was good.
He came out with a look of confidence that only a great heel could have and then he backed it up by defeating the biggest names in WWE while he was champion.
Now he panders to crowds by playing to the city he is in, acting like Ric Flair's best buddy and coming to the aid of people he once tried to cripple in the ring just to get a title shot.
These changes happen all the time when people shift from babyface to heel and back, but with Miz the situation is a bit different. It happened WAAAAY too fast.
He was a heel for a long time. Nearly his entire run in WWE has been as a heel, and now we are supposed to just buy him as a goody-two-shoes babyface?
No! I'm sorry, but no.
I want to like Miz as a babyface because I genuinely like Miz as a wrestler and a person. I think he is one of the greatest cases of overcoming adversity in WWE history, and I have said that many times in the past.
Watching him go from the idiot on The Real World who ran around the house with a foam WWE title to a guy who worked his ass off to win the real thing was incredible.
It was a journey I felt like I took with him as a fan over the course of the last decade, but now I find it hard to watch Miz, and that makes me sad.
In November, I wrote a piece examining the potential for a Miz babyface turn and why it was a good idea. In this piece, I said Miz would work as a babyface as long as WWE didn't really change him from his current act.
Well, WWE watered him down and now he is a poorly-traced copy of the Miz that once ruled WWE as champion.
Hopefully, Miz is just finding his groove and eventually he goes back to his witty, scathing promos and cocky attitude, but we have to wait and see.
Rock Winning The Title Would Be Huge For WWE
The Rock is one of the most iconic figures in the history of wrestling, so naturally a victory over CM Punk for the WWE title at the Royal Rumble would be huge for the company. Punk is in the midst of an incredible title run, and that's evidenced by his holding the title for over 400 days, which is the longest title run in the past 25 years.
This feud began way back in July of 2012 when the Brahma Bull announced on Raw's 1,000th episode that he would be challenging whoever was the champion at the 2013 Royal Rumble. At the end of that show, Punk attacked The Rock, effectively completing the champ's heel turn.
The Rock would eventually get revenge on the WWE champion after catching Punk with a Rock Bottom after The Rock's return during the first Raw of 2013. Punk would respond, however, and did so after receiving some help from The Shield, who attacked The Rock on the last Raw before the Rumble.
It set the stage for what will be a heated showdown between two of the best the WWE has to offer from both the past and present.
A victory for The Rock at Royal Rumble would be huge for a few reasons.
Courtesy of WWE.com If The Rock were to unseat the current champion, it would be an epic ending to Punk's amazing tenure as WWE champion. Not only that, but Punk's title reign would end at the hands of one of the greatest ever to step in the ring, so there would be no shame in the loss at all, and Punk keeps his credibility.
Even if The Rock wins the title at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view, it doesn't guarantee he goes to WrestleMania as the champ. Instead, The Rock would have to remain the WWE champion through the Elimination Chamber, which is no certainty at all.
But let's say The Rock does hold onto the title at Elimination Chamber and goes to the main event at WrestleMania: His simple presence as a headliner in both of those events would attract a ton of attention from current and former die-hards of the WWE.
Since his last WWE title win in 2002, there's no doubt that some fans of that era have lost interest in wrestling.
The Rock's victory at the Royal Rumble and subsequent matches as the headliner for Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania could very well re-ignite those fans' passions, thus leading to a must-watch feeling for fans that otherwise wouldn't get involved.
Beyond that, The Rock has become more of a mainstream character thanks to his movie career, and while promoting a few upcoming movies he'll be in, The Rock would be doubling as a promotion for the WWE's upcoming events with the championship belt on his shoulder.
In the world of sports entertainment, ratings are king and The Rock would be bringing plenty of extra viewers with him into the main events to come should he be crowned champion and given a major role at WrestleMania.
With the Royal Rumble winner moving on to face the WWE champion at WrestleMania, The Rock's victory over Punk would lay the groundwork for a potentially unexpected and exciting matchup that no wrestling fan saw coming.
While wrestling fans might feel that The Rock doesn't deserve the WWE Championship because he hasn't been on the daily grind like most WWE Superstars are, they can't dispute the fact that The Rock winning the WWE title would be great for business.
This feud began way back in July of 2012 when the Brahma Bull announced on Raw's 1,000th episode that he would be challenging whoever was the champion at the 2013 Royal Rumble. At the end of that show, Punk attacked The Rock, effectively completing the champ's heel turn.
The Rock would eventually get revenge on the WWE champion after catching Punk with a Rock Bottom after The Rock's return during the first Raw of 2013. Punk would respond, however, and did so after receiving some help from The Shield, who attacked The Rock on the last Raw before the Rumble.
It set the stage for what will be a heated showdown between two of the best the WWE has to offer from both the past and present.
A victory for The Rock at Royal Rumble would be huge for a few reasons.
Courtesy of WWE.com If The Rock were to unseat the current champion, it would be an epic ending to Punk's amazing tenure as WWE champion. Not only that, but Punk's title reign would end at the hands of one of the greatest ever to step in the ring, so there would be no shame in the loss at all, and Punk keeps his credibility.
Even if The Rock wins the title at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view, it doesn't guarantee he goes to WrestleMania as the champ. Instead, The Rock would have to remain the WWE champion through the Elimination Chamber, which is no certainty at all.
But let's say The Rock does hold onto the title at Elimination Chamber and goes to the main event at WrestleMania: His simple presence as a headliner in both of those events would attract a ton of attention from current and former die-hards of the WWE.
Since his last WWE title win in 2002, there's no doubt that some fans of that era have lost interest in wrestling.
The Rock's victory at the Royal Rumble and subsequent matches as the headliner for Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania could very well re-ignite those fans' passions, thus leading to a must-watch feeling for fans that otherwise wouldn't get involved.
Beyond that, The Rock has become more of a mainstream character thanks to his movie career, and while promoting a few upcoming movies he'll be in, The Rock would be doubling as a promotion for the WWE's upcoming events with the championship belt on his shoulder.
In the world of sports entertainment, ratings are king and The Rock would be bringing plenty of extra viewers with him into the main events to come should he be crowned champion and given a major role at WrestleMania.
With the Royal Rumble winner moving on to face the WWE champion at WrestleMania, The Rock's victory over Punk would lay the groundwork for a potentially unexpected and exciting matchup that no wrestling fan saw coming.
While wrestling fans might feel that The Rock doesn't deserve the WWE Championship because he hasn't been on the daily grind like most WWE Superstars are, they can't dispute the fact that The Rock winning the WWE title would be great for business.
Paul Heyman Is the Greates WWE Manger of All Time
Paul Heyman is the greatest WWE manager of all time.
It’s a statement that is sure to go under scrutiny. Look at all the great managers in the history of the WWE who have made a lasting impact.
Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and Jimmy Hart dominated the Rock N’ Wrestling Connection, managing WWE Hall-of-Famers and former champions. Classy Freddie Blassie managed Hulk Hogan before “Hulkamania” started. You can even put Vickie Guerrero on that list due to the heat she’s drawn since she turned heel in 2007.
What makes Heyman the greatest WWE manager of all time? He employs all of his abilities and makes his “clients” better than ever.
Heyman started managing during his days at WCW and ECW. Among the talents he managed were Steve Austin (back then known as Stunning Steve Austin) and Sabu. Heyman was effective in making those two men great commodities during his time with both.
He eventually took a break from managing and ran ECW. After ECW was bought by the WWE, Heyman returned to the broadcast booth and partnered with Jim Ross for 11 months.
Everyone thought the managing days of Paul Heyman were over until April 2002.
Heyman partnered with a young Brock Lesnar and dominated the majority of 2002. Lesnar became a bona fide star not just because of his ability but also by his affiliations with Heyman.
We all know Heyman can cut promos. He was on fire with Lesnar, who in general is not known for his talking. The WWE booked Lesnar as a war machine who rarely talked, so that duty was bestowed to Paul Heyman.
Heyman was so effective in cutting promos for Lesnar that the fans associated Lesnar with Heyman. It made their split at the 2002 edition of Survivor Series even more shocking.
Heyman switched allegiances to the Big Show, and an immediate change occurred. Heyman had someone who was capable of cutting his own promos.
Due to his presence with Lesnar, he made Show more formidable in recent memory. Heyman also joined forces with Kurt Angle, Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas to form Team Angle.
Heyman held a great faction that could’ve ranked amongst the best of all time. It was cut short due to the WWE wanting Lesnar to become a strong babyface. Lesnar took out everyone, including Heyman, before his championship match against Kurt Angle at WrestleMania 19.
Heyman returned managing in 2004 in a failed attempt to make Heidenrich the same monster heel as Lesnar. Heyman did his best, but sometimes you can’t reach everyone.
Heyman took a break from managing to run Ohio Valley Wrestling, the WWE’s developmental league at the time. It was there where he met CM Punk. The two formed an alliance that would change both men.
Punk mentioned Heyman in his 2011 promo and put Heyman’s name back on the map. Heyman would return a year later to again become the mouthpiece for Lesnar.
He expertly kept the crowd invested in Lesnar’s eventual return to SummerSlam. Interestingly enough, that wasn’t the end of Heyman.
An on-screen pairing nearly six years in the making finally came true, as Heyman became Punk’s manager. Punk doesn’t need Heyman as the mouthpiece, but the two of them together developed into a match made in heaven.
Heyman can bring heel heat, just like any other manager. He has no limitations, unlike his predecessors to push the envelope. He complements Punk and vice versa. Their history only magnifies their alliance, and they both can draw heat.
What makes Paul Heyman the greatest manager of all time is his ability to maintain that heat and turn it into hate. He makes his “clients” better than ever and the heat he brings is contagious.
That’s what makes Paul Heyman the best WWE manager of all time. Whether you respect him or not, you always find a way to boo him out of the building, which is exactly what Paul Heyman wants.
It’s a statement that is sure to go under scrutiny. Look at all the great managers in the history of the WWE who have made a lasting impact.
Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and Jimmy Hart dominated the Rock N’ Wrestling Connection, managing WWE Hall-of-Famers and former champions. Classy Freddie Blassie managed Hulk Hogan before “Hulkamania” started. You can even put Vickie Guerrero on that list due to the heat she’s drawn since she turned heel in 2007.
What makes Heyman the greatest WWE manager of all time? He employs all of his abilities and makes his “clients” better than ever.
Heyman started managing during his days at WCW and ECW. Among the talents he managed were Steve Austin (back then known as Stunning Steve Austin) and Sabu. Heyman was effective in making those two men great commodities during his time with both.
He eventually took a break from managing and ran ECW. After ECW was bought by the WWE, Heyman returned to the broadcast booth and partnered with Jim Ross for 11 months.
Everyone thought the managing days of Paul Heyman were over until April 2002.
Heyman partnered with a young Brock Lesnar and dominated the majority of 2002. Lesnar became a bona fide star not just because of his ability but also by his affiliations with Heyman.
We all know Heyman can cut promos. He was on fire with Lesnar, who in general is not known for his talking. The WWE booked Lesnar as a war machine who rarely talked, so that duty was bestowed to Paul Heyman.
Heyman was so effective in cutting promos for Lesnar that the fans associated Lesnar with Heyman. It made their split at the 2002 edition of Survivor Series even more shocking.
Heyman switched allegiances to the Big Show, and an immediate change occurred. Heyman had someone who was capable of cutting his own promos.
Due to his presence with Lesnar, he made Show more formidable in recent memory. Heyman also joined forces with Kurt Angle, Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas to form Team Angle.
Heyman held a great faction that could’ve ranked amongst the best of all time. It was cut short due to the WWE wanting Lesnar to become a strong babyface. Lesnar took out everyone, including Heyman, before his championship match against Kurt Angle at WrestleMania 19.
Heyman returned managing in 2004 in a failed attempt to make Heidenrich the same monster heel as Lesnar. Heyman did his best, but sometimes you can’t reach everyone.
Heyman took a break from managing to run Ohio Valley Wrestling, the WWE’s developmental league at the time. It was there where he met CM Punk. The two formed an alliance that would change both men.
Punk mentioned Heyman in his 2011 promo and put Heyman’s name back on the map. Heyman would return a year later to again become the mouthpiece for Lesnar.
He expertly kept the crowd invested in Lesnar’s eventual return to SummerSlam. Interestingly enough, that wasn’t the end of Heyman.
An on-screen pairing nearly six years in the making finally came true, as Heyman became Punk’s manager. Punk doesn’t need Heyman as the mouthpiece, but the two of them together developed into a match made in heaven.
Heyman can bring heel heat, just like any other manager. He has no limitations, unlike his predecessors to push the envelope. He complements Punk and vice versa. Their history only magnifies their alliance, and they both can draw heat.
What makes Paul Heyman the greatest manager of all time is his ability to maintain that heat and turn it into hate. He makes his “clients” better than ever and the heat he brings is contagious.
That’s what makes Paul Heyman the best WWE manager of all time. Whether you respect him or not, you always find a way to boo him out of the building, which is exactly what Paul Heyman wants.