fakeplastictrees

This Paige/Reid/Charlotte is the type of shit I am talking about when I mention WWE's irregular tightrope walk between reality/metaness/entertainment. Honestly, the 'Reality Era' needs to end. This era's 'highlights' include: The Summer of Punk, Daniel Bryan's journey to WM, and what else? Any other time WWE has incorporated reality into its programming, everyone comes off looking bad as the reality is handled with 'Attitude' gloves and molded from there.

The women that are really over on the main roster (outside of Sasha) are over in part due to male affliation. Natalie gets pops because she rubs the Hart stuff in people's face 24/7. Brie Bella is more over than she should be due to being Bryan's wife (and yes I am not going to ignore Total Divas- but that's not the majority of the crowd). And then of course you have Ric Flair's daughter. Paige Charlotte Nikki Natalie Brie Out of the top 6 babyfaces ( this is dicey as Brie/Nikki flip every week), only one of them is 100% over without being associated/jacking a male superworker/legend(s)' shit. Nikki is a curious case as I firmly believe her overness comes down to her looks, Total Divas, and general apathy to anyhing she does as in the grand scheme of things Nikki's gimmick, matches, promos, etc. haven't meant anything in WWE cannon. Longest title reign in Diva history? Didn't she go like 3 months without defending the belt?

I meant 'face' as in 'poster boy' and not as in 'babyface'. I should have used a different word as one a wrestling board the word 'face' can easily be viwed another way.

The problem with the heat Eva is getting is that its 'Go Away' heat and not 'Money' heat. Trolling the fan-base is all fine and well if there are some dollar signs at the end, but WWE should learn from TNA. TNA trolled its fans for a long time and now look where they are...back at The Impact Zone and heading to Pop TV with little-to-no fanfare and not making a dime. Eva Marie getting boo'd is not causing people to INVEST themselves like they were when they were booing Sasha, etc. The multiple fans drowning out her promo and turning their backs should be a big heads up to whomever things being boo'd means people are interested and that the person being boo'd is drawing 'good' heat.

Tall, white, and blonde. That's its. That is what Vince likes. Sable, Sunny, and Trish were all huge faces for the company and all had the attributes Vince likes. They just didn't have the height. Charlotte's last name helps her more than she is willing to admit, but yes, you are correct. Bad promo, decent in the ring, and being a bad actress has made her a focal point of the Divas division? I think in a year of two she will go a good heel run and actually start becoming something interesting, but at this time she is McCool territory of not being over with the live crowds to the point WWE has to pipe in noise for her entrance, etc. Its not as bad with Charlotte as it was with McCool in that regard (as McCool was flat out not over at all), but its scarily close for a feature Diva who also happens to be a champion.

What is your web presence like? Its 2015, if you want to be known you have to (unfortunately) be apart of social media and interacting with people. As mentioned above, make sure you have a Twitter, etc. Identity is big as well. I recommend changing the intro to something a big more signature and unique. People like to Dylan, Will, and others because they are familiar with their posts. So what does that mean for you? Get your name out there and be sure to post some quality stuff while (casually) pimping your podcast at times (and even in your signature). Reading Will's 2 paragraph rant on something makes me want to then tune in (as its easier to talk than write), so I would like to see the same from you. I just finished listening to GITR 10/30/15. Nothing I write here is suppose to be 'mean' or 'personal', so please don't take it as such. This is all coming from a good place and coming from a person who has listened to your podcast for the first time. First off, it sounds as though you and your buddy can easily communicate with each other which is a good thing. I recommend slowly down (the both of you) and really let your words sink in. I know its hard at times, but try not to talk over each other. Someone needs to be the host and the other the co-host. The first 4 minutes or so of the podcast talks about Hogan's contract and it was a HUGE missed opportunity. You and your buddy went over it as casually as me and my buddy did. You offered no insight and again- this could have been a 30 minute conservation or even an entire episode. Did Hogan live up to his WCW contract? How Hogan's 1998 WCW contract impacted WCW's business decisions (main event run and title run of Hogan despite the fans growing tired of his act, the blandness of the NWO, etc.). If Hogan's contract was modified would that have improved business at all? And if so, what areas could/should have been modified? Again, a VERY good opportunity to spur some discussion and get people talking and thinking, and yet it was totally passed by to go into a discussion about Raw ratings. I listen to Joe vs. The World, Justin Shapiroshow, Squared Circle Gazette, PTBN Reaction Shows, and some others and I do it because these guys bring up a topic and go into an indepth and intresting discussion and all of them have good personalities that make me want to listen. At the end of the day if I want to hear some guys talk about wrestling- I can get that anywhere...its about the insight offered and the personality. Have your gimmick down. Raw was a bad show. Okay. WHY? What didn't you like? What worked? Why did it work? Ratings are in the toliet? Why do you think that is? What can WWE do to turn it around? Again, this gets into a bigger discussion (another missed opportunity) of What can WWE do in the fall as ratings are always down this time of year. WWE Q3 call was a reading of the bullet points captured by another blog. This is fine for your PERSONAL notes, but you (as a host) should listen to the call and have your own notes and talking points. What did YOU pull from the Q3? WHY SHOULD I LISTEN TO YOU? Again, people aren't listening to podcasts just for the news, but for the insight. I want to know your thoughts and opinions on everything. The HIAC review was-what-it-was, but could have been better by talking about the stories of the matches. Smackdown was trash? Why? Should WWE get rid of Smackdown? Should WWE turn the annual Halloween Smackdown into Halloween Havoc? What do you think about WWE holiday shows in general? Again, you don't have to get on a long rant about it, but just saying it was TRASH leads me into more questions. Also there was a lot of 'this is cool' type of talk which is fine again if its just you and your buddy having a conversation, but as a podcast- it doesn't work. There needs to be substance. BE PREPARED. All talking points, videos, links, things you want to reference- have them written down/pulled up on the screen. There was about nearly a minute or more of downtime as you were searching for PWG information. These are just random thoughts and things that stood out to me. I hope this information helps guide you to the gold you are looking for mate.

I am looking to start my own podcast soon, so I am happy to help. Let me take a listen and see if there are any suggestions I can make. Full Disclosure, this will happen sometime later this evening (in about 6 hours or so) once I am all settled down.

WWE's Reality Era really sticks out for me as far as recent JJTS moments are concerned, in large fact due to WWE's willingness to maintain a huge amount of kayfabe in one hand while reality, shoots, and legitimate behavior rests soundly in the other. This has lead to several weird situations like the Ziggler/Lana/Rusev post-engagement angle as well as WWE personnel cutting promos about the stupid internet fans and then bragging about NXT Brooklyn selling-out, Youtube views, and Trending Topics. It all comes off like an old crazy man telling his family he will step out into the sun all the while refusing to leave his recliner while kicking and screaming as his family carries him outside for the first time in a decade. (more on this later)...

Another issue with Becky is that she falls within the WWE narrative of 'Then, Now, and Forever' in the terms of self-awareness. Her being on Raw was more of a 'I had a MOTYC in NXT' instead of a true readiness to move to the main roster. Becky was still finding her footing in NXT before getting her call up. Becky's gimmick (aside from the bad comedy and 'funny antics' ) is "I am a good worker and had a MOTYC" and that's why she has fallen flat on the main roster. Again, I think she is talented and I hope she finds something, but the self-awareness of WWE killed the revolution from the start. So sad.

MITB grants the holder a title match anytime for up to one year. If the title is vacant, there is no 'match' to have. Even if Sheamus wanted to have a match against a lower tiered guy, what if that guy wins. Imagine Zack Ryder as WHC or Curtis Axel? It would be interesting, but very foolish for Sheamus to do it. Also, WWE just handing the belt to Sheamus as a default would setup an interesting/stupid precedent. Imagine WWE allowing Sandow to win MITB again and the champion Brock Lesnar goes down with an injury, due to the Sheamus Precedent- Sandow would become champion simply by 'cashing in' on the vacant title. WWE needs to get rid of MITB. I would like MITB a bit more if there rules were more defined (what can't and can be done with the cash in opportunity). I would also like for the match (not matches) to include people who have never been champion or had a WHC within the last year.

Yep! Always a fun listen.

WWE is going to go the most boring route with this. In all honesty, I would do what Loss suggested if I was booking. The person walking out of SS would be Cesaro or Owens. The mainevent picture needs a shake up and giving the belt to either of those two will do it. Hell giving it to Bray Wyatt would shake things up, but hopefully its not Kane, Reigns (who I do not dislike), or Sheamus.

I think the biggest problem with Becky is that she tries too hard to be funny. Trish tried pretty hard and all her "jokes" always fell flat. Some people have the comedy chops and others do not. If Becky wants to continue to be 'funny', the best for her would be her continued use of vines and promos from 'earlier today'. Becky, at this point, should not be allowed to talk in the ring as it erases any goodwill she had based off her ring work. The difference between Trish's bad stuff and Becky's is that Trish would interwine the lame with convincing promo points and substance. A main roster Becky promo pretty much follows: pun, weird, quarky, pun, etc. and it all falls flater than a John Morrison promo. She needs to find substance and work the jokes into it vs. the other way around. 10/90 instead of 90/10.

Tamina would fit that role nicely.

I am not going to re-write history and pretend Swagger was entertaining at any point during his career. However, he has always been a good hand in the ring and if he character was tweaked (more of what we saw on Raw) and the hokiness removed...he could be a stand out. I am not saying the man should be headlining WM or fighting for a WHC soon, but a legit showdown against Reigns, Rollins, and Brock would be good. Swagger can definitely go in the ring and has busted out stuff that legit made me say 'WOW!'. There are some people who need the corny stuff and others who should play it a bit more straight forward. Jack Swagger "The Bad Ass", I can buy into that.

Lesnar also doesn't have to deal with Stephanie cutting his balls off and trying to steal his heat. There are so many jobbers in WWE right now that really don't matter to the point that keeping guys like Ryback, Wyatt, Ziggler, Cesaro, Owens, and Rusev strong should be no problem. Its still amazing that WWE wants guys to get over, but not TOO OVER.

In the lead up to WM 32, I hope WWE does some of the most random ass Texas Table For 3s: Stan Hansen, Goldust, Mark Henry Booker T, Kevin Von Erich, Tito Santana Nidia, Vickie Guerrero, Athena Miss Jackie, Stevie Ray, Jake Roberts

Nikki being the best? Slapping her thigh after missing the top rope kick? Reversing the figure four and yet STILL grabbing for the ropes? There were some other things off in that match as well. Nikki works hard but surely she can't be placed withing the top five workers at HIAC.

Hogan playing the John Cena circa 2015 role in WCW 99 would have been really good. No one is saying that Hogan should have gone opening matches on Thunder, but WCW could have still built important and fresh stuff around him outside of the WHC, Nash, Goldberg, Sting, Flair, etc.

I haven't watched Main Event since WWE removed it from The Network and its a shame as it had some really good matches. I know there is still Superstars, but its hard for me to sit through that knowing WWE is using the same format for that show they used for over 20 years (surprise! ).

What made the JBL reign so bad to me at the time was the fact that RVD, Cena, Booker T, Angle, Rey, and The Undertaker WERE ALL RIGHT THERE. I wasn't opposed to a JBL U.S. title run against the likes of Dupree, Jindrak, London, Kidman, etc, but the main event scene should have been Eddie and the previous 6 I mentioned.

Brock being a legit UFC champion means absolutely dick if he is being booked like shit. Look at Mark Henry. Mark Henry is legit one of the world's strongest men and has a legit powerlifting resume, however there are some points in his career (i.e. Sexual Chocolate) where his legit accomplishment meant NOTHING because they were presented as nothing/not mentioned at all. I believe its a combination but more so leaning toward the booking aspect and if the guy is legit IRL then that's the cherry on the sundae. Michael Cole mentioning Lesnar being a former NCAA champion and former UFC champion is brings out an "Oh that's cool!" from the inner me, but the me who is watching Raw/Smackdown wants to see Brock Lesnar tossing car doors, F5 Michael Cole, and get into a big brawl with Undertaker. Having a nice resume is all well and good,however, its about what you do on the job that counts.

I am watching all the 2002 Smackdowns and they are all pretty good. I am starting to have a new appreciation for Test. We shall see how this viewing goes...a more detailed summary of 2002 Smackdown will be done later.

When I watched a Lita match I felt like the kid standing in the parade watching a nude Emperor walk down the street in his new finest garmet. Lita is a prime example of when WWE wants to make someone look REALLY good, they can do it with flying colors. Lita was a poor worker, average (and sometimes below average) promo, not much in the looks department, and was a danger in the ring to herself and her co-workers and yet despite all of this she is a WWE HOF. She was popular and WWE kept the gravy train running despite the deminishing returns. I do not think history will be too kind to the workrate of Lita or Trish. Trish was OKAY for the time, but fuck. I don't feel like going on a Lita rant now, but I will say that if WWE wasn't so interesting in breaking kayfabe left-and-right and patting itself on the back a Sasha/Bayley GREATEST FEUDS (NXT Edition) would be pretty fantasic.

Yeah, I have never been a fan of the football talking points. WWE had great ratings 98-2000 and football was still a thing at that point. It really comes down to interest.