tim Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 YES. I love Big Dave. If he makes a surprise return during the Rumble I will mark my ass off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slasher Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 Won't happen but I'd love if he showed up as a guest of the Authority and played both Triple H and Randy Orton for fools before doing the thumbs down and bombing them both to hell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzombie1988 Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 Â That may be the single most entertaining thing that Randy Orton has ever done...... This is probably one of the most entertaining things they've done in ages. Â It's entertaining but does absolutely nothing to make you want to see the show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodhelmet Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 Meltzer wrote in this week's Observer....  It’s no great revelation that Reigns is being groomed down the line for one of the top spots on the babyface side with a big push at the Rumble. That said, if anything, the plans right now are even bigger than one would have thought. So... Rumble win and Mania title win? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rovert Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 Meltzer wrote in this week's Observer....  It’s no great revelation that Reigns is being groomed down the line for one of the top spots on the babyface side with a big push at the Rumble. That said, if anything, the plans right now are even bigger than one would have thought. So... Rumble win and Mania title win?  Or a Streak match with the Undertaker.  WWE put over Reigns particularly strongly on both Raw and Smackdown this week. He gave Punk his first TV loss since like February or something like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 Sounds like it, though putting the title on him now seems too early. I think he'll need more time to establish himself as a babyface and a singles wrestler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slasher Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 It's a mistake. The fans are smart enough to notice when a push gets ramped up too much too quickly. It becomes less organic and I'm thinking if Reigns doesn't put up the necessary work to justify it, they might resist the push. Right now they are dying to see Daniel Bryan and CM Punk get rewarded for their work with main event pushes. If they see Reigns put over them in a top spot, well... we'll see how that turns out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rovert Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 It's a mistake. The fans are smart enough to notice when a push gets ramped up too much too quickly. It becomes less organic and I'm thinking if Reigns doesn't put up the necessary work to justify it, they might resist the push. Right now they are dying to see Daniel Bryan and CM Punk get rewarded for their work with main event pushes. If they see Reigns put over them in a top spot, well... we'll see how that turns out. All completely valid but The Shield as a collective at very least have a cool factor/serious street cred with the hardcore Bryan and Punk audience. They aren't perceived as a Corporate factory creation. Â Although that could change if the Cena or 1995 Diesel him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidebottom Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 It's a mistake. The fans are smart enough to notice when a push gets ramped up too much too quickly. It becomes less organic and I'm thinking if Reigns doesn't put up the necessary work to justify it, they might resist the push. Right now they are dying to see Daniel Bryan and CM Punk get rewarded for their work with main event pushes. If they see Reigns put over them in a top spot, well... we'll see how that turns out. I agree with what you're saying, but you can't include Punk in that, the guy is made now. He is like Bret Hart in 1995, he can afford to be feuding with dentists and Japanese men with marker pen down their body. the works remaining consistent, the fan base is hot and you know sooner or later he will be holding the title again and producing quality, top line work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 They should treat him like Cena at Mania XX. Put him over Ambrose for the mid level title and groom him to win at Mania the next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mini Bennett Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 Anyone see a Shield triple threat for Mania XXX? A match with the Wyatt's seems obvious at some point... Maybe at Royal Rumble if not Mania. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slasher Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 It's a mistake. The fans are smart enough to notice when a push gets ramped up too much too quickly. It becomes less organic and I'm thinking if Reigns doesn't put up the necessary work to justify it, they might resist the push. Right now they are dying to see Daniel Bryan and CM Punk get rewarded for their work with main event pushes. If they see Reigns put over them in a top spot, well... we'll see how that turns out. I agree with what you're saying, but you can't include Punk in that, the guy is made now. He is like Bret Hart in 1995, he can afford to be feuding with dentists and Japanese men with marker pen down their body. the works remaining consistent, the fan base is hot and you know sooner or later he will be holding the title again and producing quality, top line work. Â Essentially yes but the crowd still wants to see Punk in the main event mix. One of the reasons why Bret Hart isn't regarded higher as a draw is because of this shit with Yankem and Hakushi and Lafitte. I know Bret wasn't that popular as a champion but you still hurt his value long term if you book him like a guy you value but always have an eye on the door for someone better to walk through. It is an interesting comparison because I see Reigns as a guy they definitely pushed Bret to the side for only to see he bombs so Bret/Punk gets another go round with the belt til the next guy up materializes. I like Reigns but his is a character that benefits from a slow burn. Look at Batista. He came in as a demonic associate of Reverend D'von Dudley then he got a bigger but subdued push as the monster of Evolution. He was in a position to be dominant within the confines of the stable. The fans finally received him as a smart badass in a suit who knew what his evil and hated mentor Triple H was up to and he called him out on it in a hot segment where he powerbombed Triple H through a table. At this point is when Reigns should be established as a viable singles threat without the obvious spectre of title matches hanging over him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slasher Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 I do like the idea of him ending the Streak though if they are sure they are committed to him lomg term. He can't end the streak if in three years the WWE tired of him and made him a Mark Henry type. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowboy hats Posted December 21, 2013 Report Share Posted December 21, 2013 ending da streak is crazy talk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimmas Posted December 22, 2013 Report Share Posted December 22, 2013 Meltzer wrote in this week's Observer....  It’s no great revelation that Reigns is being groomed down the line for one of the top spots on the babyface side with a big push at the Rumble. That said, if anything, the plans right now are even bigger than one would have thought. So... Rumble win and Mania title win?  Or a Streak match with the Undertaker.  WWE put over Reigns particularly strongly on both Raw and Smackdown this week. He gave Punk his first TV loss since like February or something like that.  I really think a Roman Reigns vs. The Undertaker match where The Shield are in the corner of Reigns is going to happen. You have Taker win and Reigns shakes his hand or something at the end of the match and then the Shield attack him turning him face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mando Posted December 22, 2013 Report Share Posted December 22, 2013 I read today Batista is announced on some Feb. dates so will probably be returning at Rumble for a Mania run. Thoughts? Anybody you'd be interested/curious to see him work with? Â EDIT: I see Kris got to this topic ahead of me on the last page. I'm for it. Dave was really rough early in his first run. We got a chance here locally to see him for Les Thatcher's HWA while he was training under WWE contract and he was dangerously bad. But he improved a ton and seemed adept to learn. His matches with Undertaker are among my favorite UT stuff and that has to be Dave's best opponent. I'd like to see him get some in-ring time with a mixture of guys inc. Punk, Bryan, Del Rio, Goldust, etc. but he'll probably be kept with either Orton or Cena. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blehschmidt Posted December 22, 2013 Report Share Posted December 22, 2013 Usually by this point in the year, there is a pretty solid consensus on who is going to be the Royal Rumble winner. But I have to say, it seems exceptionally hard to pick this year. Â A Cena repeat seems likely, but cases for Daniel Bryan, CM Punk and Roman Reigns are definitely out there. If Batista is really coming back, a huge surprise return win wouldn't be totally out of the realm of possibility. There is also potential for a Sheamus return from injury win. Â If you guys had to make a pick right now, who you got? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slasher Posted December 22, 2013 Report Share Posted December 22, 2013 Usually by this point in the year, there is a pretty solid consensus on who is going to be the Royal Rumble winner. But I have to say, it seems exceptionally hard to pick this year. Â A Cena repeat seems likely, but cases for Daniel Bryan, CM Punk and Roman Reigns are definitely out there. If Batista is really coming back, a huge surprise return win wouldn't be totally out of the realm of possibility. There is also potential for a Sheamus return from injury win. Â If you guys had to make a pick right now, who you got? Can't see Cena repeating. I think in fact he will be in the title match anyways, either one on one or in a triple threat with Bryan involved. My pick to win the Rumble would have to be Reigns. I think he wins but is somehow not in the title match at Mania. If they are dead set on making him a babyface, having the other two members (or hell, just Ambrose) costing him the Mania shot probably would be a strong way to do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Redman Posted December 22, 2013 Report Share Posted December 22, 2013 I would say Punk personally. Not having won it yet, and I guess being the biggest guy around who hasn't yet works in his favour. Â I see Reigns as an outside shot if they really want to go with him, but it feels ridiculously soon. I also don't see the hook for him vs Orton or whoever, they'd have to blow through his breakup with the Shield way too fast. I'd say Bryan but I feel like his Mania match is going to be far more about a personal victory over Hunter/Shawn/The Authority than winning the title. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Waco Posted December 22, 2013 Report Share Posted December 22, 2013 I think Punk, Bryan and Reigns in that order are most likely to win the Rumble. With only one title now, it can't be someone who is going to turn around and work for a secondary belt, which means I can't see it being Sheamus even IF he returned on schedule which is looking less likely. Brock wouldn't stun me either to be honest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strummer Posted December 22, 2013 Report Share Posted December 22, 2013 with Batista coming back, only having one title and Reigns about to have the rockets attached, poor Bryan has no chance. This is like the first time ever I've legitimately felt sorry for a wrestler. Still beyond pissed off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slasher Posted December 22, 2013 Report Share Posted December 22, 2013 with Batista coming back, only having one title and Reigns about to have the rockets attached, poor Bryan has no chance. This is like the first time ever I've legitimately felt sorry for a wrestler. Still beyond pissed off I don't think Big Dave is getting involved in the title mix. I think he will most likely have a showcase angle and match designed to elevate whoever they put across the ring from him. I do think Daniel Bryan is locked into a match against HBK and Punk against Triple H. I don't see Punk and Bryan factoring much in title storylines going forward past the Royal Rumble other than the obligatory Elimination Chamber appearances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawmic Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 Dave said on WOR today pretty confidently that he believes Batista is winning the Rumble and challenging Orton at WM. Can not think of a less interesting match for those two than that. If Brock/Undertaker is also as definite as he says it is, that makes Cena vs HHH pretty likely I would think unless there's another outside act working the show. He doesn't think Hogan is wrestling on the show because he won't pass a physical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 Harper is really good at knowing when to give and when not to and when to sell while being dominant. If you sell a gut punch for a second, acknowledge that it has impact, and then fight back despite the fact that the fans obviously realize that it hurts you, that means a hell of a lot more than if you no-sell it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 Sounds like Punk and Bryan face each other then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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