sporadic

The big difference between WWE and McDonalds is that McDonald's doesn't come out and intentionally shit all over their entire menu nor will they let a product flounder (no pun intended) around on the menu if it isn't selling well (McDLT, McLean, McPizza just to name a few). They certainly don't have the best food in the world (all the sugar in their buns for example nevermind their cheese...) but they're going to pimp it and pimp it hard to get feet in the door/drive-thru. You also better bet that their CEO and horde of executives will eat their own dog food too (not all the time, mind you, but when pushed they will). I honestly can't say the same thing for WWE right now with the exception of NXT. Actually, NXT, Superstars and Main Event are worth taking time out to watch (NXT most of the time, Superstars and Main Event a good 50/50). RAW has become a giant waste and PPVs themselves aren't far behind...

Looking at the big picture, I think you could certainly argue things were a lot worse during the '93-'95 era. They have a very, very talented roster. At the moment they're booking to minimize that talent, but the assets are there. I can't remember enjoying a Raw less than last night. I was actually kind of pissed at myself for staying up that late and sitting through 3.25 hours of that. There was nothing I found fun in or out of the ring. Here's hoping Bryan is a shot in the arm and that between him, Sting and whatever they do with Cena, Mania season doesn't feel like a slap in the face. On the bright side, the bar has now been set so low that they don't exactly have to hit it out of the park. But man do they ever seem determined to kill crowds. '93-'95 was BRUTAL. Outside of both Hart brothers and Michaels from time to time, it was excruciatingly painful to watch. This era should be nothing but great matches being churned out most of the time with the talent they have. However, they seem to be hellbent and determined to keep everyone they have pinned down at a certain level because they can't decide who should get elevated (and that decision changes every five minutes). Look at their tag team division if you need more of an idea of how FUBAR'ed these guys are. The most serious contenders to the Usos are the Miz and Mizdow, an essentially straight man-funny man tag team. Outside of that? Dust Dynasty? They've been neutered. The Ascension? JBL is going to make sure they get shitcanned. Cesaro/Kidd? Talented but boxed in to running around with Adam Rose (who has been dropped since Day 1 on the main roster). Lost Matadores? Comedy team. Weak teams abound. This time last year? You had The Shield and The Wyatts. Even when they split The Shield you still had the Wyatts. Seems like the answer to everything with them is when something gets hot or the crowd seems to like it the best thing to do is fucking kill it with fire.

Here's creative: Trips comes back as a wrestler in order to make a play to regain control. RR comes, Trips looks like he's going to score a dirty win for the WM spot and start to truly solidify his power base again...Here comes Sting to eliminate him. Boom match set for WM. That can write itself. Instead we get to REDO late 2013-most of 2014 again for 2015. It's honestly sad to see how desperate they are for threatening heels they had to bring Trips and Steph back just a little over a month since SS. They've done everything possible with the exception of Rusev to ensure that everyone just not get over.

Odds are they probably would've kept Hogan off TV a bit more before bringing him back to chase the title with Savage/Flair/Giant. Sting/Luger hang around for the one off challengers but it's really a four man race. The ECW acquisitions would've continued; maybe Maybe Eric would've made a play for other talent Vince had but it's hard to say really. Eric got to Hall and Nash at the right time honestly.

I tried it way back in my middle school/high school lifting days. It was beyond gross. The again, all protein powders then tasted liked shit until EAS came along.

Well, he dominated HIAC and TLC, and came out on top at SS without winning and NoC without having a match. I just think that it's the "reason to believe" factor. I'm a huge Ambrose fan because he's the most charismatic guy in the company and at worst around #7 as a worker, by my incredibly scientific ranking system. But if I go into a match like I did last night thinking "When are The Ascension going to coming out and schmozz this?" (somehow, they did something worse), like a lot of people, you can't get around it being a bad thing and them giving people a reason to stop caring because they don't think that he'll actually win. I like Ambrose too based on personality factor. I also liked Austin based on the same scale due to his WCW/ECW work/promos. Like you, I kept thinking someone outside (Harper) was going to come in and cost Ambrose the match instead of the Monitor-Of-Doom shit they pulled. Right now the picture is this from my view: Lesnar, Cena, Reigns, Rollins, Orton, and everyone else can go get bent. Vince sure knows how to make stars....

Echoing some things said earlier from others: Mizdow and Ziggler vs Harper were the only enjoyable things to watch last night. As someone else said, this show reeked of Hogan-era Dungeon of Doom nonsense. What a way to build morale up in your main roster, especially after the NXT show on Thursday...

Off topic: Vince's history of trashing stars gives me cause for concern for Prince Devitt, Kevin Steen and KENTA.

This. This a thousand times over. I watch puro because I do tend to prefer a stiffer style of work with a bit more credibility to the offense. I come from a wrestling/judo background growing up so that's where the appeal comes from; it's why I have the hard-on for 'late '80s-90s AJPW. I also watch WWE because of guys like Cesaro, Bryan, etc who can work and it's a fresh shake-up in the bookings going on now. The transition the WWE has going on coupled with the match quality from the younger guys is exciting. The booking storylines are also getting better slowly. I just wish the women's division would get some much needed attention and be treated like it's worth a damn. I don't want to see, as Bix said, Headdrop-'O-Mania get repeated; look at the fallout from that. Do I wish WWE was a bit more physical at times? Room for improvement? Sure but that's the nature of the beast with regards to them. Once you accept that and treat it for what it is, it's really not as "horrible" as people point out considering the alternatives (not counting PWG, CHIKARA).

He should go in alone, by himself. I can't honestly think of anyone off the top of my head you send in with him. Maybe Diesel...Maybe the nWo as a group...but there just isn't any real viable options you can put with him considering he's going to pretty much be the one everyone is going to be focused on. My thought: if you're going to induct him by himself, you do it as a true send-off as well. A set number of people come up and speak about him: Foley, Jacobs, Michaels, Hemsley, Austin, The Rock, Cena. Vince does the formal introduction. He comes out, accepts, either breaks character or doesn't, wrap up and walks away.

I think the Kobashi comparison works better too. Never giving up, putting everything out there, about as close to "Fighting Spirit" as WWE is going to get (save for Zayn). My only concern is assuming Lesnar is the logical choice to take the title from Bryan. I'm more of the opinion that you build Cesaro and Reigns up so that either one of those gets the call up to be the top guy. I'm especially heavy on Cesaro being the one to get the nod based on ability and technique. That's not saying Lesnar couldn't be the one you go with but there are others I'd consider too.

I am not nor have I ever been a Warrior fan. That said, I'm glad he got to come to "peace" with others before the ironies of fate decided to make the call against him. I also agree with him - and probably one of the only times I ever will - that the WWE needs to recognize as well the backstage staff (directors, cameramen, sound guys, Network engineers, etc) who help put on the shows both from the live theatrical perspective as well as passing the 0s and 1s across the Internet for fans to view across the globe. Will that ever happen? Probably not but it doesn't mean it shouldn't be fought for. Fair winds and following seas, Warrior.

Oh wow. First post in forever.... Taker looked beat up two years ago against Bangs in their HIAC. Last year against Punk was pretty hard to watch. I think he made the decision a long time ago to take his loss and ride off into the sunset but was waiting for the moment to pull the trigger. After Punk "leaving" Vince gave him Brock and he finally decided it was time. Their first interaction you could tell the wear and tear on his body. He looked old, he looked beat up, he looked weak, and he looked like he was ready to move on. I still thought he'd go over Brock but when he didn't I wasn't shocked either. Actually this was the best way he could've gone out. He lost to a legitimate threat. It will only add to the eventual Brock/Brian match and Taker goes out "doing the right thing" like I'm sure he's been dreaming about since 28.