No Way Out 2012

[Loss]

Saying the heel ought to be "boring" is simplifying that theory and taking it in a different direction that I'm not sure was intended. But heels typically do less highspots. That doesn't mean they have to cut them out. Bobby Eaton worked them in - along with some other great moves - and the crowd never turned him because he knew what he was doing.

[Matt D]

Also, there are ways to work a hold that are interesting and there are ways that are not interesting. Flair, to me, was amazing at working a hold.

[Jingus]

But heels typically do less highspots. That doesn't mean they have to cut them out. Bobby Eaton worked them in - along with some other great moves - and the crowd never turned him because he knew what he was doing.

Yeah, of course. In theory, any story can be made to work in context, including the heel showing up the babyface with superior moooovez. It's just that most guys certainly ain't Bobby Eaton when it comes to combining highspots with psychology. As a general rule of thumb with many acknowledged exceptions: if you do a lot of flashy shit, you'd probably be a better fit for a heroic role than a villainous one.

[Matt D]

I thought Waltman as the Lightning kid was a staunch exception to that rule, but a lot of that was his size, look.

[NintendoLogic]

You don't need highspots to work a non-boring control segment. Watch some old Rick Rude matches for a primer.

[Loss]

As much as I liked Rude, I never liked how he made every babyface work a camel clutch and hip swivel mocking into their routine just so he could put his knees up on the third attempt. It's a good spot, but to make everyone do it?

[Mr Wrestling X]

This was another PPV where the outcome of each match was predictable, not to mention one that had a terrible main event. The steel cage match itself was fair largely due to Big Show who carried the match and performed the high spots, such as lifting Cena for a chokeslam off the turnbuckle and missing an elbow drop from the top rope. The finish was just ridiculous, no sooner had Cena escaped the cage and won the match, he was back on his feet as if nothing had happened. He sold absolutely nothing despite being dominated the entire match, whereas Big Show sold the effects of the match and limped quietly to the back.

 

This is becoming a rather annoying pattern which must piss off a lot of the guys in the back, given that Cena is apparently excused from having to put other guys over by selling the effects of their offense post-match. His superhuman comebacks are nothing new, but his complete ignorance when it comes to selling the effects of a match are ruining the suspension of disbelief element that is crucial to professional wrestling.

 

Interestingly enough, Cena's opponents have done 80% of the work in his last three PPV matches. The Laurinaitis match at OTL wasn't really a match, but Laurinaitis did all the selling whilst Cena walked around the ring smiling like a jackass and pouring water down Laurinatis' crotch. I'm thinking there is a possibility that Cena is really banged up and needs and extended leave of absence to recover (perhaps even have surgery) but both he and WWE are choosing to delay because it's bad for business - which isn't exactly the truth given that WWE will still sell Cena merchandise regardless of whether he is performing or not.

 

Then again, there is the possibility that WWE has finally realised that John Cena is incapable of working an entertaining match unless he is in the ring with someone like CM Punk, Brock Lesnar or Triple H and therefore they compensate by shortening the wrestling element of the match and filling in the gaps with interference and other distraction tactics.

[ohtani's jacket]

Rick Rude had awful control segments.

[Bix]

Rick Rude had awful control segments.

Next person who says "control segment" gets shanked.

[Kostka]

Control segment.

[Bix]

Control segment.

*Melts down the end of a toothbrush*

[Matt D]

I'm more than okay with us using terms wrestlers do not. We analyze from the outside. Obviously we're going to have different terminology.

[El-P]

Can you picture a tag-team called Control Segment ?s Masked guys.

One is called Heat and the other one Shine. Shine can never get any offense on the babyface and only sells, while Heat always dominates the babyface.

I swear Russo could have done it, with the announcers going all winky-winky.

[Bix]

I'm more than okay with us using terms wrestlers do not. We analyze from the outside. Obviously we're going to have different terminology.

It's not that, I hated "control segment" before I ever starting referring to "[getting] the heat." It's one of those things that sounds too overly analytical and smarky nowadays, like "the body of the match."

 

Can we at least agree that people who talk about "babyface heat" should stop?

[Matt D]

I will agree with that.

 

But only because "shine" has such a ring to it. It twinkles like a bunch of Ricky Steamboat armdrags.

[Bix]

I will agree with that.

 

But only because "shine" has such a ring to it. It twinkles like a bunch of Ricky Steamboat armdrags.

I was referring more to people who use it to refer to crowd reactions that way (misappropriating the other definition of "heat"), but yeah, that too.

[Loss]

Bix has the problem with "control segment". I have the problem with HHH referred to "Levesque" by third-rate hack news sites -- it reads like someone is trying to show how smart they are by proving that they know someone's real name. That's probably a byproduct of one of the first things I ever saw online being "Bollea will never job to Borden" and cringing.

 

So we all have our things.

[Matt D]

Who would call Sting "Borden."

 

He's Real Estate Steve

[NintendoLogic]

Haven't you guys heard? He's Steve "Steve" Borden.

[rainmakerrtv]

"Sports entertainment" being used seriously by anyone not actively employed by WWE.

[NintendoLogic]

You've actually heard someone not on Vince's payroll use the term in a non-derisive manner?

[Matt D]

And then there's "superstars."

[Dylan Waco]

Bix give us your thoughts on the Kings Road style

[Bix]

Bix has the problem with "control segment". I have the problem with HHH referred to "Levesque" by third-rate hack news sites -- it reads like someone is trying to show how smart they are by proving that they know someone's real name. That's probably a byproduct of one of the first things I ever saw online being "Bollea will never job to Borden" and cringing.

 

So we all have our things.

I feel like HHH is, at this point, is a justified exception (if he's an exception, I agree that smarky gratuitous real name use is annoying) . HHH is the character on WWE TV, Paul Levesque is the real WWE executive.

[Bix]

Bix give us your thoughts on the Kings Road style

I prefer Shin Nihon Pro Wres Strong Style.