fakeplastictrees

Wow! I mentioned this before when The Freebirds were inducted during Black History month, but SURELY this is a rib on fucking Michael Hayes. People talk about a political hit on Roman Reigns? Fuck that. Something is going on with WWE and P.S. Hayes. What's the story on this?

The LON is not only terrible and boring, but they are not over at all. LON vs. New Day has been fine once the bell rings as all of the guys can go, but the fucking build has me tapping out. These 7 men could really surprise everyone and steal the show at Mania if allowed to, but yeah...fuck this build! The Death March to Mania continues!

Watching Hogan switch between blaming certain words on Terry Bolea and others on Hulk Hogan was both interesting and sad. I can't believe pro wrestling kayfabe was used while Hogan was under oath and no one called bullshit. I understand the whole privacy issue and that sucks for anyone, but its hard to feel bad for a serial racist and huge homophobe.

This is simple, but the resolution involves WWE changing up everything. WWE would have to go to a true ranking system for both brands. WWE can flat out steal UFC's model. Top ten rankings with the number one guys getting title shots at the WHC. If the number one contender loses, he drops in rank. Its pretty straight forward and WWE can mix it up to keep it interesting. Maybe one month its the Smackdown number one contender vs. the WHC, next month its the Raw number one contender, the following month its a triple threat, the month after its the top two on both Raw and Smackdown making it a 5 way dance for the title. Maybe a number one contender doesn't want the WHC and instead wants to go with "Option C" and go after the secondary title (U.S./I.C.) on his brand. This would make all of these meaningless matches on Raw and Smackdown mean something if it means getting closer to the title or "Option C". WWE can, at times, do a traditonal 'feud' by having one of the number one contender's essentially doing anything and everything to stay at the top and even at times interfering in the other number one contender and the WHC's match just to be a stick in the side of the champion. A brand split will also force WWE to not have Smackdown be so Raw replay heavy. Main Event and Superstars honestly can go either way, but I would love for WWE to update the format of both shows and not have them as clip shows with opening graphics featuring guys who will never work an episode (don't show me Cena, Taker, Reigns, etc. unless they are going to actually appear as those spots can be used for guys/gals who actually will appear on the show).

I don't want to see either in WWE. If WWE were to pick up one of them, Young would be the best pick. Young has shown over the years that he can be a comedy babyface, sympathetic babyface, Jericho-lite heel, chickenshit heel, and everything within the pro wrestling spectrum. The guy can promo and work and has proven to be pretty damn consistent over the years as far as in-ring performances are concerned. Roode is no slouch, but if I was WWE and I wanted a veteran talent to work with the younger guys, it would be Eric Young.

I am not sure why anyone in WWE would be surprised. Punk, Low Ki, and Bryan were all over once since day one on the main roster and none of those guys had the type of exposure Styles had. I guess its that WWE bubble thing. As for Young and Roode, I don't want to see them in WWE.

The cake is a lie! My two favorite old man carny talking points over the last twenty years or so involve both the internet and the brass ring and all of its modifiers. The fact that men in their 50's, 60's, and 70's,in 2016, are conning people in their 20's and 30's into believing that the 'brass ring' talking point and the 'internet is a bad place' double-speaking is legit, is just completely fascinating.

One of my favorite wrestling promos from a non-wrestling personality of all time goes to Little Richard and his 1980 something induction of Otis Redding into the R&R HOF. I believe its from the same ceremony that FlyOnTheWall posted. Its worth checking out. What makes it a heel promo is the fact that Little Richard is shamelessly self-promoting himself like there is no tomorrow, singing his own songs, calling people out for not laughing at his jokes, and getting annoyed with the audience at times all while trying to INDUCT SOMEONE ELSE INTO THE HALL OF FAME. Its fucking classic.

The Ziggler/HHH match is still a head-scratcher for me and I am not sure what it was suppose to accomplish for Ziggler if anything at all. I guess the end-goal is to have the NXT fans not worship HHH going into Mania and by default side with Reigns at the biggest PPV event of the year? So instead of booking Reigns strong to get fan support, HHH is booked strong against the guys who have fan support in order to get said guys less over and get Roman Reigns more over? This is backwards thinking to me. This is HHH losing the war to win a battle.

Johnny, I know its 2016, but as Sek said, there are still portions of this country that are running on dial up. Hell, AOL has between 2.1-2.3 million people still using it as of March 2015 (the last time I looked at the numbers).

- Reigns made his return in an arena full ghosts - Neville is potentially hurt - Jackie has officially been announced as being in the Hall Of Fame - HHH and Ziggler had a match that had so many meta-IWC elements to it, that I believe this match was done to purely get Ziggler less over. We are less than 20 days from WM and WWE has done everything in its power to make this even so underwhelming. We have covered the top four matches, so I won't discuss that at this time, but let's take a look at the rest of the Mania card that includes the big announcement tonight of Usos vs. Duds. WM 32 under-card: The Dudley Boys vs. The Usos The League of Nations vs. The New Day The Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royale Lana (with Naomi and Tamina?) vs. Brie Bella (with Alicia Fox and Paige?)* *This could be one-on-one or a 6 person tag. The Zayn/Owens/Styles/Jericho stuff could go a number of ways. 4 way dance? Tag team match? Two separate single matches? Ladder match for the belt with those 4 and possibly two others (Ziggler and Big Show)? What is listed above is the card the number one wrestling promotion of all time is putting together in front of the largest pro wrestling audience in North America in the last 100 years. THIS IS THE CARD. WWE plans to pack that stadium with over 100,000 people with a card that features: a Lana who has been completely un-over post first split with Rusev, a barely over and barely motivated Brie Bella, a former two champion who the crowd really doesn't care for, an angle that has booked WWE in a corner where the company MUST deliver (and if the last 5 years is anything to go by, this is not going to turn out well for anyone), Brock Lesnar, and JBL on commentary. I would really like to shake the hand of the person who is going to spend 60 dollars on an episode of Raw happening in a few Sundays from now.

WWE also has a history of people getting fired and then showing up the following night. I am sure I am on an island onto myself, but I think once someone is 'fired', the person or persons make an exit and there is no follow up. No 20 minute promo the next night, no constant pop-ins, none of it. Just one and done.

Will the crowd buy it? I don't think so. I think the best thing that can be done is Taker beats Shane to a bloody pulp and Linda McMahon comes down and throws in the towel. Taker wins, Shane TECHNICALLY was never pinned, submitted, etc., neither guy has to turn heel, the crowd doesn't shit on the finish as bad (as Shane I am sure will sell a really good babyface beatdown) and we are left with some intrigue going forward. After thinking about it for some time, I honestly believe this will be the best approach as then WWE can do what you mentioned with Linda coming in, telling everyone to cut the shit, and cut another 'Are You Scared of Competition' promo on Vince the next night. Shane getting The B Show wouldn't be so bad if WWE decides to put the 'part-time' guys on that show as smoke and mirrors. Lesnar, Taker, and Jericho all going to Smackdown with The Shield guys (keep Reigns/Cena away from each other for two years and then count the money at Mania 35). Shane Mcmahon not being on TV everyday with the super over Daniel Bryan as the on-air authority figure( I hate this role, but its going no where) acting as Teddy Long would definitely make Smackdown not appear as The B Show.

I know we are only 3 weeks into this angle, but I feel WWE has already backed itself into a corner with the booking.

If WWE is really going to do a brand split, I would love if they used Smackdown to get rid of the tropes that have been associated with both shows. Smackdown is taped so why not have Renallo and whomever just do it from CT? No announce table at ringside and just an old school 'from the studio' much like TNA *shudders* does currently. The shaky camera of course will have to do and adding two female refs would be nice and progressive for the company. Its 2016, what is the reason there are no Kim Winslows running around WWE?

Mark Henry deciding to have a slice (slices?) of pizza received a pop that was in the top ten for tonight. Mark Henry vs. Chicago Deep Dish. Book It! Chris Jericho reminds me of The first Godfather movie and more specifically the first 40 minutes or so where nothing happens and its just all talking and boring, until the talking ends and the story gets rolling. Jericho has been like that for years and I have hated him for it (among other reasons), but the stuff he did tonight is what it has all been building toward. The mid-life crisis "cool dad" who lost a millions steps in the ring finally having to look into the mirror and see what is really going on. Jericho is a multi-time world champion and has been a champion in all 3 major 90's promotions. Is he in the HOF? Nope. Is he brought back to headline Mania like Batista, HHH, and Rock? Nope. Is he even in the main title picture and being treated like the big deal his resume makes him out to be? Nope. Jericho is trying to stay relevant and cool by latching onto the hottest free agent in WWE Proper and its fucking eating him alive. Just good stuff all around.

I think there is something wrong with people thinking Shane, who has a completely separate life outside of wrestling, would be willing to do something so stupid. I could understand if he had been living in WWE land the past 7 years and was a complete mark, but he is pushing 50, has 3 kids, and a wife at home. Aside from that, I personally don't want to see it. There are some performers who had a good run, but have other things in life playing against them that don't make me want to personally stand up and cheer when I see them go through a table. Father Of Three Shane McMahon is in the same league as Scrambled Eggs and Swiss Cheese Mick Foley and Cocaine With A Side of Crack Jeff Hardy as far as I am concerned.

This. Reigns needs to stand alone. If WWE wants him to get over then the worse thing the company can do is have Reigns being all buddy-buddy with Rock, Bryan, whomever is cool at the time. Reigns has rubbed elbows with The Rock before and it didn't work. Reigns and Bryan shook hands at Fastlane last year and it didn't work. Hell, Reigns is still paling around with Dean Ambrose and he is STILL not completely over. Peanut butter doesn't need Jelly and Roman Reigns needs to be peanut butter. Right now he is the fucking mayo being paired with chocolate pudding, Sangaria, and chocolate chip cookies. And people wonder why Roman Reigns is still leaving a bad taste in the fans mouths.

It's amazing that Kevin Dunn is getting paid that much for the work he puts out. I guess no one in WWE actually watches the product. Forget the pushes, the angles, the scripts, etc. The production is fucking awful and needs a revamp. Kevin Dunn should not have received a pink slip instead of a bonus.

This is confusing. The crowds are 110% behind Dean Ambrose, so he is pushed accordingly as the second top babyface and as a never back down character. The crowds are split on Roman Reigns, and so he is pushed as the top babyface and has a questionable character when it comes to dealing with hard times ( resting outside the ring in RR 2015, limping to the back during RR 2016 while the heel KO limps to the ring to fight, etc.). Just really weird...

So WWE inducts Michael Hayes in its HOF during Black History Month? Surely this is a rib on everyone involved right?

I loved the brand split when it happened, but began to call for the end of it once it became essentially non-existent with people floating between rosters very freely to the point that everyone was 'allowed' to be on Raw while Smackdown still had (but not really) 'exclusive' talent and treated like the B brand. Smackdown became WWE's version of Thunder where nothing of importance happened and if anyone became a star or actually important he or she was moved over to Raw. The increase in the number of titles also didn't help things. Both Raw and Smackdown had its own Women's title, Tag Team title, and World Heavyweight title. Hopefully this go around, if its done, WWE keeps it simple by pairing the U.S. title and Tag Team titles on one show and the I.C. Title and the Divas title on another show. One Heavyweight title.

Am I bad person for wanting to see The League of Nations squaring off against The Wyatt Family at Mania? I know its a pipe dream, but I am still holding out for The Usos & The Rock vs. The New Day. Those two matches right there would solve a ton of problems heading into Mania.

I'll check it out tomorrow and post some feedback! Always looking for good pro wres podcasts. Thanks!

TNA will never end. It will always be around in some form. Even if its just some mark buying the name and all the rights just to give cred to his/her new promotion to give the upstart some quasi history. Its bullshit, but its going to happen. This reminds me of when StrikeForce was making deals until The Sharks decided to get out of The StrikeForce business. I hope JJ stays as far away from the full out purchase of TNA as possible, because in all honesty there is nothing that any promotion can do with the TNA name that it can't do for itself with good marketing and common sense. I'm surprised Corgan has sat down with Rick Rubin and gone on Tidal on pro wrestling. Can you imagine that shit? Corgan, Rubin, ICP, Wale, etc. all banding together to purchase TNA as a way to push their music and other ventures.