Slasher

Considering what we've seen of Angle's career since then, I'm not sure how fake that mental breakdown would've been. He was too fucked up to be on the road, and he probably did need to quit wrestling. Yeah...and that's a guy you just said the WWE would/should bring in...?

Vince has said Kurt Angle will never work for him again because he doesn't want an Olympic gold medalist to die on their watch. He's been saying that for years. It's never happening. It is annoying when people keep bringing up Angle being back with the WWE. People don't realize how very negatively the power players in the WWE views Angle. Triple H is more likely to put the world title on Jericho for a 10 year reign than he is bringing Angle in for a match of any kind.

Could be, also a nice reminder of that WM XX opening with Vince holding Shane's son and Shane behind them. The idea that even though the Levesque girls (also you are assuming Steph and Paul want this life for them) are McMahons, it would feel weird to have a Capitol Wrestling/WWWF/WWF/WWE without the name "McMahon" around it on top. I've been playing along with the idea of a power struggle or whatever but in reality why does it have to be one or other? I am sure if both kids wanted to work in the WWE after Vince goes, they will work together. I could very easily see Shane coming back in the fold to help run the business side of things while Stephanie did a bit of both business and creative ends and Triple H being the main guy in the creative department.

Is this difficulty to sell tickets a result of them coming up with a poor card or is it simply that Jerryworld is just too damn big for them to sell out?

I have to think he picked it himself, with input from his father, so what's the issue? The name's origins aren't only Muslim and Arabic, although you could hardly be blamed for assuming the worst about wrestling (and you may still be right to do just that). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_%28name%29 Nah. The WWE is very much a micromanaging company that values names they can market or trademark. No way are they letting a guy of that caliber to pick his name.

About Reigns moving over from being a Hunter guy to Dunn's guy, wasn't it Reigns who the office demanded to be included in the planning and formation of the Shield? That would explain how there is an investment in Reigns beyond just being a Triple H guy. About Vince being in the middle of the tug of war they got going on, well Dunn has been with Vince for like 30 years now. Their relationship is way too developed for Triple H to break apart. Also Vince has been known to disagree with Triple H on things like War Games being introduced that Vince rejected, and all the ideas that Vince either rejected or revised to be more to his comfort. Triple H is obviously not going anywhere else and that his job is his for life, but Triple H still isn't the go to guy for Vince in operations of the company. Dunn is. So it would be impossible for Triple H to manipulate Vince into thinking Dunn has run his course and it is time to move on. Also I am not sure Vince is oblivious to this struggle. He's been known to enjoy playing two sides against each other. For all we know, Vince considers it a healthy competition that can only be good for having multiple options for Vince, the ultimate decision maker, to choose from.

Well of course they have to explain why Taker would side with the Authority. I was not suggesting that Taker just shows up for the match without Taker explaining it. Keep in mind that I am only speculating in regards to all of this. I understand that Taker's character is so far removed from the ongoing storyline that it is hard for people to fathom. But how I see it is that Taker the undead zombie who feuds with monsters and elite players of varying degrees like legends and upstarts and franchise cornerstones retired when Triple H, Shawn Michaels and Undertaker celebrated the end of the HIAC match with Triple H. At that point to me it feels like he's just Mark Calloway showing up once a year to play his legendary character. He wrestled Punk because the undead zombie wanted to put Punk out for disrespecting his dead manager. Against Brock, it was just him challenging his mortality within the WWE and facing Death Incarnate and putting his streak on the line much like how Shawn put his career on the line to make his greatest challenge...ending the streak and adding to his collection of accolades and achievements. Against Bray Wyatt, I dont think he ever bothered to show up in the build to explain why he is willing to face Wyatt. So I can only assume that it was a Bray Wyatt trying to make a name for himself by replacing Taker as the in-house dark monster. And Taker simply obliged him partly because he needed to prove to himself that the loss to Lesnar was just a bad night for him as opposed to having begun to decline in skills and ability to win matches at 50 years old. With this one against Shane, it doesn't have to be about helping the evil authority group. It could just be Taker needing an opponent for the show to maintain his reputation as one of Wrestlemania's greatest performers of all time. Furthermore it doesn't have to be booked like a stooge. It could just be that Taker is obligated to do Vince a favor for all the years Vince has supported him. It works because he is Mark Calloway playing the role of Undertaker. Kayfabe is dead. It really to me isn't like the fans doesn't know that he is one of the few who really has earned his place in history. It was even acknowledged by Paul Heyman on air that Taker was sent to the hospital by a concerned Vince McMahon. Their relationship is there in the open. It's no longer like the guys can pretend that the announcer isn't the owner of WWE. Vince may be playing a heel but like WWE likes to beat us over in the head many times that Stephanie is a nice lady, that Triple H is the traditionalist's wet dream of an owner of the best brand in all of WWE, that Vince cares about his guys for the most part. The lines are blurred and so it is plausible to believe that Taker would do it. It is just my opinion. You are entitled to feeling like it makes no sense and I can't argue your perspective because it's your perspective and it is what it is.

If they can make an impressive reel out of Undertaker winning a match by DQ or countout against Giant Gonzales at Wrestlemania, they can gloss over poorly booked Flair victories.

I think it would be a mistake to do a brand split with the idea that NXT guys got one brand for themselves. They don't need to be playing against each other on the main roster when they are doing that already as it is in NXT. NXT guys need to be infused into the mix with the main roster guys. I do think if they end up doing RAW vs WWE, it will be done in a way where the Authority got to stay on Raw and Shane was handed the keys to whatever Smackdown ends up being...probably as a concession to him supported by the McMahon we have not seen in a long time and that carries a certain gravity of authority, Linda.

Are we sure he's Undead Zombie Taker anymore? seems pretty regular guy to me from his last 8 matches This. He is basically an old man doing a nostalgic character. He's not even presented anymore as an actual undead zombie. He is presented as a WWE legend who shows up once a year for one match in costume. And that's the guy who'd play Vince's stooge.

I know we are supposed to pretend the undead zombie is different than the biker American Badass, but regardless this is the same guy who forced JR's face into Vince's ass while claiming that everyone in the WWE should be doing the same witb a smile on their faces, rather than JR's reaction which is attempting to refuse and not respecting Vince in that way. But if you wanna limit to the undead guy, this is the same guy who at the height of his evil Ministry leader, recognized Vince as the "higher power". So I mean in kayfabe that attitude is also prevalent of Taker's character to respect Vince to that extent. When Vince buried Taker alive at Survivor Series 2003 he returned not even bothering to go after Vince but rather his brother Kane. I don't think it is a stretch to imagine his character being willing to be used in that manner as a pawn in Vince's game with Shane. If nothing else, Shane is much more easily beatable and almost guaranteed night off for Taker while making the big bucks to boot.

Exactly. Vince knew he wanted a guy as the face of the expansion to a national promotion and he handpicked Hogan. It wasn't like Vince lacked alternative options if Hogan wasn't in the picture but Vince did pick Hogan as his guy...while Hogan was under contract to Verne Gagne and competing in Japan. Verne never thought to push Hogan as the bonafide top player and only jerked him around with the fuck finishes in AWA. Vince saw money in Hogan and swooped in and got him with plans to make him the guy. As for the Undertaker, the gimmick and everything was in fact a WWF creation and it is why he makes absolutely good sense as Vince's weapon against Shane for Mania regardless if he was a "babyface". He owes just about all his success in his career to Vince and the WWF/E.

How was the article not dismissed immediately after the author claimed Hogan wasn't his guy? Umm didn't Vince sign Hogan away from AWA with the purpose of making him his franchise ace? He had Backlund, a longtime vet champion selected by his daddy, drop the title to Sheik knowing fully well that Hogan was his guy. Then if you want to be literal about the claim that he started looking for replacements in 1987, wasn't the biggest Wrestlemania built on Hogan facing the "undefeated" major attraction turned heel Andre? The first hint of him wanting Hogan replaced was 1990 or 1991 with the Warrior push, but by then Hogan already put in 6 or so years as the top guy so it can't be used as evidence Hogan wasn't his idea but rather that he wanted to sustain his success by transitioning to a younger name without suffering a "rebuild". Starting with Bret Hart onward, yeah he rarely had his guy succeed in favor of the crowd appointed guy. But really, Hogan has no business being included there. I mean seriously how can Hogan not have been Vince's choice?

Cena is not as loyal to Vince as Taker is though. So if you use that as a reason for Cena aligning with the Authority (which is a dumb thing to do if not leading to a heel turn) then you might as well just have Taker be Vince's guy. In fact I think it would make so much more sense if Cena aligned with Shane, as Cena cherishes the WWE and wants to see it in good hands instead of a bunch of heel authority figures.

Which would be fine if Vince was the babyface and Shane was the heel. Instead, they're asking for a stadium full of fans in Texas to boo a home town hero for siding with Vince. It's WrestleMania 17 all over again. I know the audience at Mania won't boo Taker or anything like that but I think Taker has kinda gone beyond being a babyface or heel. He acted like a heel dhring last summer vs Brock. He attacked Lesnar who was "turning" babyface and cost him a shot at Rollins's belt. Then he won at Summerslam under questionable circumstances. So Taker isn't quite a tweener but he's earned the ability to do whatever the hell he wants to do without worrying about fans turning on him. It's logical to have Undertaker serve as the Kane to Vince's Theodore Long.

Nothing about Lesnar would suggest that he wants to be the top babyface. For one thing, he knows being the top babyface means more dates he has to deal with and Brock loves his current arrangement of being a special attraction and picking his spots to appear all the while making a boatload of money per date then going home to fuck Sable and shoot gophers.

I am not denying there is a power struggle between HHH and Dunn, but I think that is being given too much credit for what's happening. Do anyone honestly believe Vince would fire Dunn? Does anyone honestly believe Vince would turn over the company while he's still alive? Dunn is safe for as long as Vince is still breathing. Then when he does die, Triple H is firing Dunn no matter what. Dunn's job is not dependant on whether he can make Triple H look bad or not. It simply boils down to him depending on Vince's very existence, that's it. So all this is rather pointless anyways. Dunn is better off making sure Vince stays alive as long as possible than to undermine Triple H's projects.

In reality and in kayfabe for the most part Taker is one of the most loyal guys to Vince. He's a guy that understands what Vince wants or needs from him and from everyone in the locker room he is a leader of. You don't need to add contrived stipulation for Taker. Vince is his boss and he actually likes and respects that boss. He isn't one to support a guy who they are presenting as a guy who quit on the WWE.

For some reason I thought it was before. My mistake.

I think the only reason why Triple H put over Bryan and the Shield so strongly was to prove Punk wrong when he did that podcast saying he couldn't really trust Triple H to put his ego aside if they went with Punk vs Triple H. He probably realized that people were going to listen to that podcast and that he couldn't get away with it at that point. Now? It's been two years since then. He just reverted back to the person Punk accused him of being. To me, it feels like they probably thought that they could artificially create the Rocky Maivia/The Rock transformation. Rocky got booed for being booked as lame a babyface as they could possibly. The Rock was organic and eventually made the superstar that he ended up being. They could look at that and think they could force the same thing with Reigns.

Shane is a guy that fans who's been watching the WWE for the past however many years that really needed to hear from. The fans know Vince has two kids, and one of them has been running around like she is the boss of all bosses. It would have been logical for the other kid to show up at some point and go "Wait a second here..." Vince McMahon is the best character of the family, but Shane is pretty much generally thought of as the next best McMahon character. Even though he has always been overpushed as a wrestling character who can stand his ground against psychotic newly unmasked Kane or an Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle, Shane has generally been willing to show ass once in a while, or more than Stephanie has. Then there's the stunt show crap he did that appeals to fans and there you have it. That is why he's "over". Like some say, it won't last...especially if they realize that Shane is just as overpushed as Stephanie is and he looks too good against guys he has no business hanging with.

Odd as it may sound but I'd rather Triple H being the one to get the record. I don't really want him to be rewarded for all the crap he's pulled over the years but that achievement is more tailor made for Triple H's character throughout his career on top. Cena strikes me as a guy who really shouldn't care about that stuff at all.

Where's that clip from, it's hilarious. TV show, "Supernatural", I'd assume.

Count me in as one who thought he has always been a tool. It's just that his current age makes it all the more noticeable and less endearing as it can no longer be chalked up as being young and stupid.

I know it goes against WWE's overall philosophy on booking main eventers and more specifically, babyface main eventers but man if there was anyone in the WWE who needs the Goldberg push (as in he was never expected to talk much if at all and did all his talking in the ring while manhandling opponents), it'd be Roman Reigns.