DMJ

If no one backstage is calling him out on that shit, then their producers are sleeping on the job. If someone in the back is telling him to keep up the good work, the longterm plan must be for him to be a babyface. Nothing else makes sense.

But to defend Ross's comments a little, let's look at the ending of the Barrett/Big E IC title match. Barrett wins clean and LEADS THE AUDIENCE in a clap, hands over heads like its a Tesla concert. That's the type of stuff Santino and Emma do. Barrett is a fine worker and I get that the fans want to cheer him, but unless I missed the memo, he's still a heel that should be trying to get heat, not trying to lead the live crowds in cheers like an NBA mascot. What irks me is that some will point to Barrett as this incredible worker when an incredible worker used to mean someone who can get heat as a heel and pops as a baby face. I think it still does.

Did anyone else lose 2-3 minutes in the middle when the feed faded out and played an Evolution video promo? Anyway, this was a fun match, but would be cringe-inducing if I cared at all about the longterm potential of any member of 3MB. For example, watching Jinder Mahal take a needlessly risky bump during a comedy midget match or even selling for Torito like he was Mighty Mouse would bother me if I thought he were worthy of better. So, in terms of psychology and pacing a show (I mean, they kind of set the bar sorta high in terms of high spots for an opening comedy match), this was absolutely awful...but I'm not going to say it wasn't entertaining and, as these two teams essentially exist in their own bizarre universe, it's not like someone should be watching that and saying, "Well, if Kane doesn't put Bryan through a flaming table, this show peaked" or "Cena and Wyatt should be a bloodbath based on how hardcore Torito/Swoggle was." Maybe that's just how I view it, though.

I won't go into too much needless detail, but I'm excited for this show and think, if they can call this the "average" Major Event we can expect via the Network, there'll be no problem securing more and more buyers via XBox, expansion into Canada, and other means. To me, this feels about right for what is essentially the "real" "first" Network PPV (Mania being Mania, this show seems more like the "blueprint" for future Network special events). I would've never paid $50 for this card - but $10 for an intriguing Shield/Evolution 6-man, Cena vs. Wyatt in a cage, and Daniel Bryan defending the title against Kane, and I think this is well worth the price of admission. Throw in two more solid midcard matches (the IC match and the triple threat) and there's just nothing to complain about it at that price point.

I will add this - the middle school kids in my school think Bray Wyatt is creepy as all hell and tell me their younger siblings leave the room when he's on. To me, the gimmick is over with the audience it was intended to get over with. As for us older fans, I think we're supposed to enjoy his in-ring work and, while I'm still not his biggest fan or anything, I thought his Mania match was pretty cool. I don't think anyone over the age of 12 should be afraid of any PG-rated TV character, so that specific criticism is a little silly to me. I liken it to how I hated and feared the Undertaker in 91' when he was going after my hero Hulk Hogan. My dad watched with us and probably thought it was idiotic and anything but scary. Today, at age 30, its easy for me to say "Well, Taker WAS scary and dark and Wyatt isn't as good," but that's typical "Back in my day..." stuff.

I believe in the stockholder's meeting they announced they will be adding all the Clashes soon. Can't wait. I think there's a 2-outta-3 falls match between Flair and Eaton in the early 90s that I remember absolutely loving as a kid that I can't wait to see again and also one show where Sting gets taken out early by Cactus Jack or Abdullah the Butcher, then wrestles Rick Rude later in the night, and, again, as a kid, I thought it was the best wrestling storyline ever done. Man, I miss being 8 years old, but god bless the time machine that is the Network.

Yeah, I don't think anything after 95' or so really touches what he did prior to that year, but I think there were a few matches/feuds I enjoyed a great deal. I thought the match against HBK at WM24 was awesome and that he had some good matches against Edge and HHH in 05'. I think one missed opportunity during that final run in WWE was to have somehow had him work heel (or at least heelish) against Cena.

SummerSlam 95' on the Network Surprisingly not as terrible as I would've thought by just looking at the card. Decent opener, a surprisingly decent Taker/Kama Casket match, and I'm right now watching Bret Hart wrestle Ka - err, Isaac Yankem. Still to come is the ladder match which I haven't seen in at least 2 years and Diesel vs. Mabel, which I'm expecting to be god awful, but haven't seen before.

23 is a top five Mania of all time in my opinion. It has the best Mania MITB match, the Battle of the Billionaires, Taker-Batista, and Cena-HBK. All of those matches are either extremely entertaining or really great. Agreed, 23 is the best of that bunch. 24 is worth seeing for Flair-HBK, Big Show-Mayweather and Undertaker-Edge. It's also an outdoor stadium show with a cool setup, which always adds to the shows for me I actually like WM22 just a tad more, though, my feelings on 23 are admittedly tainted from having attended it, but, as I was stuck in the nosebleeds, it was actually a pretty lame experience to be honest. Plus, as I drove home the same night, I think I had maybe one adult beverage. Not exactly the recipe for a thrilling night of watching 4 hours of ants wrestling. But 22, to me, is a really good show. Edge and Foley deliver a great hardcore spotfest. Stratus vs. James is one of the best Diva matches I've seen (save for a botched finish, but compared to 4-5 botches per match for most Diva contests, that's actually exceptional). Shawn Michaels and Vince McMahon have a really fun, emotional brawl, and Cena vs. Triple H wrestle (I think) their first match and it has a "big match" feel. I don't remember loving Angle/Mysterio/Orton too much, but it definitely is a "moment." There's a MITB too and, if you're a fan of the genre (as JR might say), it's good for what it is. Plus, as it was at the Allstate Arena, the crowd seems a little hotter for the bigger spots which I think is something that is sometimes lost when you wrestle in front of a crowd three times as big. There are a few duds, for sure, but I could see myself rewatching WM22 before wanting to see WM23. (Another nitpick - HBK and Cena have a better match on RAW a few weeks *after* WM23, which left me with a bad taste only because I'd paid good money to attend Mania. Again, that's more of a personal, completely bias opinion based on being a scrooge)

Also, and again this is one of those really trivial things that is funny to think about 13 years later, but in the SmackDown episode that I'm referring to, the main event is HHH/Rock/Angle for Angle's title. The finish is Austin "screwing" Triple H by taking an incapacitated Earl Hebner's arm and doing the count with it. It gets a huge pop and adds even more heat to the Austin/Triple H rivalry... But, if the Austin story is that he'd do anything to win the title, surely he should've HELPED Hunter win the strap so that he could win it off him at No Way Out because, according to the logic of WM17, he *needed* Vince's help to beat The Rock (and was confident he could beat Triple H). Anyway, completely purposeless post here, sorry for the distraction. It's not like doing any one of these things would've helped this angle, but that's a conversation for another thread. Watching episode of 2 of Legends House now...

RIght now, they're airing a SmackDown episode from February 2001 that came right before the launch of the XFL and it brought me back to a question that I'm sure has been asked and answered a million times - WTF with Austin's heel turn at WM17? Was there ever an adequate explanation as to why the Two-Man Power Trip would form when, 2 months earlier, Austin and Triple H were in a very personal, bitter feud? On a side note, this is actually a really fun episode. It's obvious they were trying to spike this rating to get as much XFL "xposure" as possible (and it did work...until people saw the XFL and tuned out in droves as weeks passed). There was a Hardys/Dudleys hardcore match, Jericho vs. Tazz for the IC title, Miss Kitty doing a striptease, a 3-way divas bout that isn't half bad, and, here's the biggest shocker, all of the company's main event talent were in attendance and involved in at least backstage segments (HHH, Austin, The Rock, and Angle) which is more that can be said for SD episodes today. But I do ask again - WTF with the Austin heel turn? Was it ever adequately explained?

To me, Sheamus joining the Authority/Evolution makes sense and could be a hot angle for the spring. Basically, have Evolution take out The Shield early in the night, leaving Daniel Bryan prone to a numbers game. The main event is Bryan & Sheamus vs. Orton & Batista and just when you think Sheamus is going to come in for the hot tag, have him turn heel. The next week, Sheamus cuts a heel promo about how he has come to his senses and joined Triple H because Triple H is the man who led Batista and Orton to superstardom and now Triple H will lead him there too. Sheamus in that spot also works because, with Batista taking time off, you can really stick him where Batista was - as a tag partner to Orton and immediate World Championship contender. Plus, like Batista, Sheamus is one of those guys that gets a heel reaction from "smart" crowds (see his match against Orton the night after WM29) sometimes, so, actually letting him work heel will probably lead to bigger reactions for him as well as the kind of "internet backlash" that a lot of this storyline has been based off of anyway.

With rumours of a possible War Games match down the line, I'd actually be willing to see him come back and be involved in that one match. It's more spotlight than just having him in a Rumble, but its not so demanding that he's going to be exposed as unable to compete. Plus, I think the only part of Sting that fans really want to see is the "mysterious" part, the guy that stands in the rafters for a few weeks, the guy that starts out by not saying anything but eventually joins the side of good with a gesture as small as handing the babyface a baseball bat. The Shield, Bryan, and Sting vs. The Authority (HHH, Kane, Lesnar, Orton, and whoever else) sounds like a big time match to me. Will it be a great match? Personally, for all the flak that WWE gets for its watered down, "no blood" Elimination Chamber and HIAC matches, I think they've also booked a few good ones and believe that, with this cast of characters, a War Games match could be executed well even with Sting in there.

I'd be more impressed with Rusev if he used some more impressive power moves. Nothing he did to Sin Cara last night looked like something we haven't seen Cesaro do before and more smoothly (does that make sense?). Maybe his PPV match will reveal more of his "game," but I'm heavily doubting the notion that he's going to be put in the ring with Cena in a major feud in 2014. He seems like a guy who even his backstage supporters will lose interest in quickly.

Just saw this entire PPV for the first time via the Network and really enjoyed this opener. As others have said, it's basically the Morton/Eaton show, which ain't a bad thing and the crowd obviously eats it up. What struck me about the show overall was that the first four matches are tag bouts and three of them (this one, Steiners/Nasty Boys, and Doom/Flair & Double A) are really entertaining and different enough to keep the audience engaged (both the live crowd and I'd expect modern viewers).

Pretty funny feud brewing between Kevin Nash and Roddy Piper over some comments Piper made about Nash in his podcast... I'm not sure I even understand the full story, but was curious what people here thought...if anything.

I wrote about this on another (much lamer) board, but Warrior was definitely the "quintessential" wrestler of the late 80s/early 90s, especially to kids. On mainstream, network shows like "Married...With Children" or "Tiny Toons" or "Family Matters," whenever there was a "wrestler" character, they typically were massive muscular dudes who acted like maniacs and wore tassles and face paint. Granted, the Road Warriors had this same look, but my point is, the Warrior was an archetype of what a professional wrestler looked like and acted like - way more than Hogan, Piper, Flair, etc.

Obviously it may be "too soon," but boy did Daniel Bryan have a year in 2013. Here's what I'm referring to, chronologically: * The tag team run with Kane * Good-to-great singles TV matches against Ziggler and members of the Shield * Early summer series with Orton * July 22nd's gauntlet against Swagger, Cesaro, and Ryback * SummerSlam against Cena * August's gauntlet against the Shield * End of the year matches with the Wyatt Family Personally, I think the Orton/Bryan matches that happened on PPV after SummerSlam will be remembered better in time, it's just that, at the time, the fact that Bryan wasn't going to be winning hurt my enthusiasm/enjoyment when I watched them. Still, in terms of WWE, I don't think anyone had a 2013 even close to that if you look at consistency and "show stealing." One could argue Cesaro, but I think it'd be tough. What do people think of HBK's 96?

I know I'm late to the party and just got the Network last night on my Roku. It is working great. Here's my question: I downloaded the WWE app on my iPad and get the "Live" Network - in fact, it automatically goes there when I click on the App. But how do I get to the video vault and get off the live feed? Answer me here or PM me if you know what I can do/click to get to the Search on the vault with an iPad.

I don't see the issue with a Kane/Bryan program. Is it red hot? No...but I don't think anyone, WWE included, are expecting it to be and Bryan won't "take the hit" if the PPV numbers aren't great. The next "PPV" (and remember, those don't really exist anymore in the Network age) is being sold with Evolution vs. Shield from what I can tell. It reminds me of Bret Hart's feud with the Patriot in the fall of 97'. Nobody ordered Ground Zero or Badd Blood for their matches - those shows were sold pretty much entirely on the HBK/Taker feud (*especially* Badd Blood 97'). If you ask me, the right gimmick would add something to the match and I like the idea of Brie getting involved. Plus, at least with Bryan/Kane there is a real deep back story, which other feuds that've been put in this "second fiddle" position rarely have. Plus, a dominant win over Kane is still a dominant win over a monster, even if he's done it 5 times before on TV...kinda like how Cena hitting the AA on Mark Henry and Big Show is never going to *not* help him look strong, even if fans should no longer be shocked by it whatsoever.

I might go with pretty much every Orton/Cena match. I'm not saying their matches are horrendous or that they weren't "Match of the Night" winners and, for a time, they probably were "Match of the Month" winners...but none of them were MOTY to me and I think both guys have had better matches with different opponents.

I don't see confessionals even being done. Who on the main roster/staff was even around during Warrior's run that is going to be able to tell a really heartfelt, positive story about him as a person? I don't see the point in Linda or Vince eulogizing him and I don't think the 'E is going to bring out non-TV personalities like Pat Patterson, Bruno Lauer, Steve "Skinner" Kiern, or the Brooklyn Brawler just to talk about how popular he was. Hogan and Lawler are the only two I could see giving "confessionals," but I see them being less emotional and more just about how popular was (a.k. a - nothing that hasn't been said before or needs to be said again). I do expect some face paint and tassles tonight and, hopefully, Rob Van Dam wearing some custom airbrushed gear with his own face and Warrior's on the kneepads and the words "Means Much More Than This" on the back under the image of a huge joint.

I don't know if any one will agree (or if I really have any evidence to support this thought), but I think part of it stems from the late 20s/mid30s crowd who seem to be the target audience for a lot of sport talk shows, sports websites (deadspin, grantland), and even the less hip social networks (I'm on facebook and this is a source of ridicule to my students, who are younger and waaay more into Instagram and Twitter and a half dozen other apps that I don't even know about). I turned 30 in February. I don't remember WrestleManias 1-6 aside from renting them from a video store when I was 7. I ordered WrestleMania 7 & 8, SummerSlam 91', Survivor Series 90' and 91', and Royal Rumble 91' and 92'. I remained a fan of WWE and WCW for years ownward. I was really NOT around for the peak of Hulkamania, so, to me, while Hulk was obviously the top dog, my memories of early WWE really begin with Warrior's title reign, his feud with Randy Savage, his return at WrestleMania 8 and main event spot at SummerSlam 91'. It continued at WrestleMania 12, where his return was the second biggest story of the night. In 98', he showed up in WCW and it was must see TV to fans my age. So, while older fans don't see Warrior as an equal to Hogan or Andre or Savage or Flair, to people my age, Hogan, Savage, and Warrior were almost on equal footing. Andre was someone you watched on video, not live TV. Roddy Piper and Ric Flair were stars, but Warrior had face paint and muscles and crazy promos. He was a superhero...and if you're between the ages of 8 and 10, that is going to connect with you way more than the psychology of Jake Roberts or "no frills" intensity of Arn Anderson. Warrior may have only been a top guy for a few years, but they were key years for "the Millenials"/"Generation Y" who were too young to really know Rock n' Wrestling, but old enough to know Hulk Hogan's patriotism was a huge factor in the US's victory in the Gulf War. Throw in how much this generation loves irony and kitsch and it's no surprise Warrior is still a mainstream figure.

The day after Mania, the art teacher at my school (I'm also a teacher) mentioned that he thought Bryan was a modern day Backlund and I'm not sure he's watched a single Bryan match in his life. I think he made the comparison based entirely on look and what I've told him about Bryan - that he's basically the top babyface based on wrestling merit alone and not because he's roided up or an anti-hero or "cool" in the Rock/Flair sense. I definitely see Cena/Bryan and Lesnar/Bryan as major matches...but I think one could argue that we'll see HHH/Bryan on PPV again in 2014 first and possibly another triple threat or some sort of 4-way too.

That is a really good point I hadn't read anywhere, John. I know the build for this match wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but in hindsight, it really was underwhelming and, most surprisingly maybe, not promoted AT ALL like it could've/should've been considering that it was most likely the last match of the Undertaker's career. For example, Flair's retirement at WM24 made a ton of sense and was basically 100% guaranteed going into the event. The match was basically a formality (and one I enjoyed thoroughly) as it really was promoted as the last time you'll ever see Ric Flair wrestle. Had they promoted Taker's last match in a similar fashion, you would have had a HUGE selling point for the casual/Attitude Era fans and it really is surprising that they decided to keep it a secret. Kudos to them, though, because I honestly don't think I've ever been so shocked as a fan and I've been watching WWE & WCW for 20+ years.