El-P Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 With the Brock Lesnar face turn (?), right now I want a Brock vs Rusev match at Mania, with a "beast vs beast" dynamic (and no jingoist bullshit). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fantastic Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 With the Brock Lesnar face turn (?), right now I want a Brock vs Rusev match at Mania, with a "beast vs beast" dynamic (and no jingoist bullshit). If Brock loses the title on Sunday, they might just go with the face turn. At least that's the thought I'm getting. Brock without the title going into Wrestlemania kinda doesn't really serve any purpose where the "rub" (somebody going over him.. FINALLY!) is concerned. I'd be happy to see Brock take on Rusev, provided Brock loses without getting pinned. An undefeated vs. undefeated match would be rather intriguing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hollinger. Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 Baby Brock would make sense with everyone else that's on the cover of that Wrestlemania program. Giving the rub to Rusev at Mania on the way out would be lovely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goc Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 That would get me interested in Mania I don't even care how obvious the outcome would be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fantastic Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 Baby Brock would make sense with everyone else that's on the cover of that Wrestlemania program. Giving the rub to Rusev at Mania on the way out would be lovely. If WWE has Rusev go over Lesnar, and continue undefeated and booked strongly over other big names throughout 2015, before winning the WWE World Heavyweight title, I will physically stand up and applaud them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sek69 Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 On Austin's podcast today, DDP mentioned that Scott Hall wants to train for Kevin Dunn's position. I can't see them taking him in a million years, but it's interesting to think about since he is a HHH guy. On one hand I could see him doing that since he's like Jake in the sense that when he's sober he has a good business mind. On the other, I could see working a never-ending gig like that being the thing that sets him back down the path again. Who knows, maybe he's one of those guys who needs to keep busy to avoid trouble, I'd like to see him get rewarded for the turnaround he's been able to pull off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 Scott Hall strikes me as the type who is not aware of how much wrestling has changed. He'd probably be stunned by how micromanaged everything is now and get frustrated with them not doing obvious things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fantastic Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 When Vince dies (which won't be for decades, given how invulnerable the man seems to be) and Hunter and Steph take over, I can't see Dunn lasting very long. I would speculate on a "JR retirement". Doubt Hall will succeed him though. Adding to my last post about Rusev (and a way to quietly retire the US title). How about this? Post-Rumble, RVD (on his way out again) somehow gets a US title shot against Rusev, Rusev destroys him and because RVD was the last recognised European Champion, Rusev claims he is now also the European Champion and brings back the belt. Rusev is now going around with both the US and Euro titles. At some point following Wrestlemania, Rusev also wins the IC title and declares that he's "unified the three titles representing all the world's continents (yeah, I know, butwho cares about the original intent of the IC title, let's just say it fills in the spaces outside of the US and Europe) into one and is now the true champion of the world and that the actual WWE World Heavyweight champion is illegitimate". So Rusev is now officially the IC champion (Euro title never actually re-activated, and US title quietly retired), but continues to carry all three belts around, because he's playing the hole "I'm really the champion of the world" card. So he gets a shot at the WWE champion after making his case about being the "true world champion" and wins the belt. At this point you have a multi person match for the IC title where Rusev loses his belt without being pinned or submitted (great opportunity for a new guy like Zayn or Neville who will be on the main roster, surely, at this point). This is how you get the secondary title of Rusev, with that gone, Rusev discards the Euro and US belts and states that "it doesn't matter, I am still the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, and still undefeated". Then you have the big rub match where somebody finally defeats Rusev and wins the title. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 I'm starting to think there will never be an official transition to HHH. It's just that we'll look up one day and realize he has his own crew, production team, announcers and talent roster who are loyal to him and wow, when did he start running WWE? NXT comes across as a shadow promotion sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse Ewiak Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 I think people are overestimating and underestimate the change that's going to happen at the same time. I think people are highly overrating what will actually happen on-screen because unfortunately, with a 3 hour RAW, you're going to have lots of dead time, because it's filling three hours. It's not suddenly going to be the greatest combo of 2014 NXT, 1985 NWA, and 2000 WWF that some people (not people here) believe it's going to be. OTOH, I actually do believe we're going to see a lot of people retire or move on very quickly after Triple H & Steph take control, and that frankly, I wouldn't be surprised to see people like Cole, JBL, and the like gone as quickly as folks like various Vince Sr. soldiers were gone after Sr. died. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sek69 Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 A lot of the Vince/KD quirks will hopefully go away when they leave, so while 3 hour Raws would just be as boring with HHH in charge at least we wouldn't have banned words/overly wordy promos/shaky cam nonsense anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WashingtonFB Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 Was there any indication that Brock was turning? Did not get that notion at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamthedoctor Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 I think people are overestimating and underestimate the change that's going to happen at the same time. I think people are highly overrating what will actually happen on-screen because unfortunately, with a 3 hour RAW, you're going to have lots of dead time, because it's filling three hours. It's not suddenly going to be the greatest combo of 2014 NXT, 1985 NWA, and 2000 WWF that some people (not people here) believe it's going to be. OTOH, I actually do believe we're going to see a lot of people retire or move on very quickly after Triple H & Steph take control, and that frankly, I wouldn't be surprised to see people like Cole, JBL, and the like gone as quickly as folks like various Vince Sr. soldiers were gone after Sr. died. I gave up on the 3 hour Raws a long time ago. If im going to watch a current Raw I will check out a edited form ie the 2hr show because there seems to be a lot of dribble and replaying stuff that isnt needed. At first I would have welcomed 3 hours but they arent giving extra matches its just more backstage stuff. Its a shame really as back when WCW did their first 3 hour show I remember being royally entertained I got a extra hour and had wished Raw would have followed back then with a 3rd hour. How is it in 2015 WWE got it so wrong with 3 hours? It wouldnt be a big loss if Raw went back to a 2 hour show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimmas Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 Brock losing the title before Mania seems like such a mistake. You end The Streak for that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 Retrospectively, the end of the Streak really looks like a complete nothing, if you except the live reaction (which was shock over a total anticlimatic finish after a shitty and boring match). Especially if Taker comes back this year for yet another probably terrible match against Bray (that would make quite a bunch of awful Mania Taker matches if we're realistic). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimmas Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 Retrospectively, the end of the Streak really looks like a complete nothing, if you except the live reaction (which was shock over a total anticlimatic finish after a shitty and boring match). Especially if Taker comes back this year for yet another probably terrible match against Bray (that would make quite a bunch of awful Mania Taker matches if we're realistic). What a waste. If Taker wrestles again, what a waste. If Brock loses the title before Mania, what a waste. 2014 from the day after WrestleMania going forward was been wasted opportunity after wasted opportunity. The only person who could had booked this worse was Vince Russo. At least we get good matches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Chief Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 Bray vs Undertaker is a match where nobody wins. I have no clue why it's even being rumored other than "they're both dark characters." If Taker wins, then Bray loses another high profile match when they should be building him for the future. I don't buy that whole "he gets a rub just being in there with Taker" nonsense. If Bray wins, then he's the second guy to beat Taker at Mania, which seems ridiculous. And they've never position ed him as a guy at that level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.S. Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 I agree with the three posts above mine. Taker vs. Bray would be a terrible creative decision and a bad match. Even when Bray was booked well, he was an overrated character with a definite ceiling. But now? It's even more of a lopsided mismatch, story-wise. Honestly, I don't see it happening. It sounds like internet fanboy bullshit and not anything credible or logical, but who knows. I could see Taker skipping this year's WM entirely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fantastic Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 I agree with the three posts above mine. Taker vs. Bray would be a terrible creative decision and a bad match. Even when Bray was booked well, he was an overrated character with a definite ceiling. But now? It's even more of a lopsided mismatch, story-wise. Honestly, I don't see it happening. It sounds like internet fanboy bullshit and not anything credible or logical, but who knows. I could see Taker skipping this year's WM entirely. The only reason this match seems to be pencilled in is because of how much Taker's contract is costing WWE. They know physically, that he can only wrestle a couple of times a year at most, however, his contract downside is pretty large and has probably been in play since he was last a full time member of the roster. They aren't exactly going to release him from his contract, given who he is and his loyalty to WWE... Hypothetically, it makes the most sense for Taker to appear at Mania (or the post-Mania Raw) in a non-wrestling capacity to start a year long build to his official retirement at next year's Mania where he'll undoubtedly go into the HOF. A year gives them time to assemble a big time match with someone who can work and for Taker to get into the best shape he possibly can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sporadic Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 I agree with the three posts above mine. Taker vs. Bray would be a terrible creative decision and a bad match. Even when Bray was booked well, he was an overrated character with a definite ceiling. But now? It's even more of a lopsided mismatch, story-wise. Honestly, I don't see it happening. It sounds like internet fanboy bullshit and not anything credible or logical, but who knows. I could see Taker skipping this year's WM entirely. Last I heard (and I want to say Meltzer was talking about it on WOL) Undertaker has such a huge downside guarantee in his contract that that the feeling is they've got to put him in a program with someone (Bray) to justify paying that out given the current state of affairs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sporadic Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 Hypothetically, it makes the most sense for Taker to appear at Mania (or the post-Mania Raw) in a non-wrestling capacity to start a year long build to his official retirement at next year's Mania where he'll undoubtedly go into the HOF. A year gives them time to assemble a big time match with someone who can work and for Taker to get into the best shape he possibly can. The only matches anyone could really hope he does that would have huge payoffs is him and Sting (given) or him and Cena. That's all dependent on how healthy he is (and he looked really beat down and broken last year). Given that neither is going to happen this year I have no issue with Taker appearing at WM but putting him a match with Bray just to justify his contract downside is asinine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.S. Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 My ideal scenario is for Sting to beat Trips (I'm not wild about that match, but it'll do for these purposes) and then for Taker to come out post-match and point at Sting. Honestly, Taker vs. Sting isn't even something I want to see, but enough other people are clamoring for it that it would make no sense for the WWE to ignore one of the few guaranteed money matches it has left. With Sting winning this year, he can safely lose next year to Taker, with the match also serving as Taker's retirement. If they have to use Taker this year, am I the only one who thinks Taker/Brock II makes the most sense? (Assuming Brock loses the title before then. If not, then no, obviously.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fantastic Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 If they have to use Taker this year, am I the only one who thinks Taker/Brock II makes the most sense? (Assuming Brock loses the title before then. If not, then no, obviously.) It makes sense yeah, from a storyline perspective - Taker coming back to avenge the biggest defeat of his career, and the result being less-than-predictable. But, realistically, Taker cannot safely contend with Lesnar's in-ring style, he just isn't in the kind of shape that he once was. Brock isn't blatantly stiff, but he's incredibly physical, his big moves are all intense and require a lot of physicality and endurance from his opponents, mainly so they don't injure themselves (the Germans, the overhead belly to belly suplexes, etc), those things Taker just doesn't have that kind of endurance or fortitude anymore. He really fucked himself up last year with that concussion, to the point he had to be lead through the match and hospitalized at it's conclusion. To compare, At Summerslam, John Cena took nearly two dozen Germans from Brock, threw himself around the ring for over 20 minutes, took a number of stiff shots (probably on his own accord, like at the ER match) and was for all intents and purposes, fine to wrestle throughout the next week and suffered no injuries. But even then, I doubt even Cena could have absorbed all that and have wrestled competitively (had that been the intention) in the same match. Brock is on another planet, he can do mega bumps, not get gassed, perform insane feats of strength, and survive botches that may have killed or severely injured other wrestlers (see Mania XIX, and the dive at ER) and just keep going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fando Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 Taker and Brock should under no circumstances have another match after how terrible the last one was. Best thing would've been for Brock to face someone else at Mania and during that match the lights go out, bell tolls, Taker interferes and costs him the match. Everyone's happy to see Taker one more time. Brock goes on to do whatever. But since they're turning him face... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fantastic Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 Revised Mania Predictions: WWE WHC: Seth Rollins (MITB cash in) vs. Daniel Bryan © WWE WHC: Daniel Bryan (Royal Rumble winner) vs. Brock Lesnar © Sting, John Cena, and Roman Reigns vs. Triple H, Seth Rollins, and Big Show Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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