Current WWE

[rovert]

Apparently Sami Callihan has been given his new WWE name......Solomon Crowe

 

 

Still processing how I feel about this one.

I really like it. Angst-y as it needs to be, retains his Indy initials and you can muster up cool names for moves & finishes based on his first or second name.

 

He is pushing "The Song of Solomon" on Twitter as a catchphrase or move name I guess.

[subatomic_elbow]

Apparently Sami Callihan has been given his new WWE name......Solomon Crowe

 

 

Still processing how I feel about this one.

 

What I wouldn't give for him to have a Solomon Grundy gimmick and join the Wyatts as a latter day Onryo.

[rovert]

The Torch this week ended on an interesting note so I decided to share. After years of Vince paying varying degrees of lip service to it Wade Keller on 2013 being a tipping point:

 

The Tipping Point: Vince McMahon, as soon as he took over the WWF from his father, began a marketing the WWF as something other than pro wrestling. He shunned comparisons to Jim Crockett Promotions on TBS, saying they were ‘rasslin and he was sports entertainment. He compared himself to Walt Disney and said the WWF’s real competition were other touring entertainment shows, but certainly not Southern ‘rasslin.

 

It took a long time to become the Last Territory Standing, and he was brought to his knees by the government in 1994 and by WCW in the late 1990s, but he survived. Since then, being a publicly held company opened him up to new competition - constant comparisons by Wall Street investors to the revenue and profit growth of other public companies.

 

To grow, they went PG after the Attitude Era, opting to take some of the edge off their product in order to appeal to a wider range of sponsors and licensing partners. They’re attempted diversification and spinoffs, be it the XFL or The World Nightclub or Tough Enough or WWF Films, with mostly lousy results. Through all of this, the goal has been to break away from being seen as a pro wrestling company that is part of a larger genre and stand on their own as a major successful corporation that just happens to sell something with a lineage to “what was once called pro wrestling.”

 

Switching the name of “agents” to “producers.” Hiring writers from Hollywood to “script” the shows, a break from the tradition of utilizing ex-wrestlers (George Scott, Pat Patterson) to “book” the shows. They hired announcers who had no wrestling background, rather than some wrestling background. The hired a V.P. of Talent Relations, held previously exclusively by ex-wrestlers and wrestling executives (J.J. Dillon, Jim Ross, John Laurinaitis), who game from the women’s golf industry.

 

More and more, WWE is run by people who had no prior experience in any form of pro wrestling. It’s executive staff could just as easily be working for Disney on Ice, a pro soccer league, a TV studio, or an office supply store chain. It is a Corporate first and foremost, and it just happens to utilize what is widely labeled pro wrestling as its product.

 

There seems to have been a tipping point this year where that happened, where something Vince McMahon has been chipping away at for almost 20 years finally came to fruition. I’m not going so far as to say there are any fourth graders telling their friends their favorite TV show is “sports entertainment.” WWE will lose that battle, and being stuck with the name WrestleMania for their largest annual event doesn’t help; that may be one of Vince McMahon bigger regrets.

 

Watching “Total Divas” pull the curtain away from aspects that even in the Internet and post-Tough Enough era were still hidden has been fascinating to watch. As orchestrated and fictionalized as some aspects of that E! “reality series” are, the openness of the cast to how different they are from their on-air characters, and how openly they talk about how plan out their matches is unprecedented for WWE. The show is produced first and foremost like a “reality show,” without much of a sense that anyone is guarding any facade left for the once clandestine genre of pro wrestling. WWE doesn’t care. More than anything, besides wanting to have a new revenue source for a spinoff show, WWE wants to project an image of being a company run by strong women in power positions. The central on-camera role of V.P. of Talent Relations Jane Geddes (as a firm decisive executive), the presence of Stephanie McMahon (as a hard-ass boss), and the main castmembers all being women is, in part, WWE crafting an image of what they stand for as a corporation.

 

WrestleMania 29, in person, felt to many in attendance as much a corporate rally for their license partners and advertisers as it was a pro wrestling show for fans. All of the videos between matches weren’t done to enhance the fan experience. They were shown to project a corporate identity, friendly and positive to mainstream business partners in attendance.

 

Triple H’s declaration that he soon wants all WWE talent to have gone through their developmental system is the final slice of the umbilical cord with the old territorial ‘rasslin industry. They would become entirely self-sufficient, unaffected by the entire existence (or lack thereof) of any other wrestling companies.

 

It’s a remarkable year as Vince McMahon in many ways sees his vision finally come to fruition.

[Mini Bennett]

So apparently Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards are getting top reviews at the latest WWE tryout. Not really a fan but I suppose they have enough appeal to be a modern day British Bulldogs.

[Sidebottom]

So apparently Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards are getting top reviews at the latest WWE tryout. Not really a fan but I suppose they have enough appeal to be a modern day British Bulldogs.

No they don't. The British Bulldogs were a great team because you had a power house and the best technical wrestler on the planet teaming up with British accents and a pet bulldog (and sometimes a drunk manager). They were fantastic. If anything, Edwards and and Richards will be a modern day London and Kendrick - some throw away tag team used in throw away matches on free TV, with the occasional PPV offering to kill time.

[Loss]

Ok. I think the bigger issue is that Davey Richards is a legit lunatic.

[tim]

I'm actually somewhat interested in Richards in WWE. When he is left to indulge his natural tendencies he is a pile of shit but I remember quite enjoying some of his heel work around mid 2007; I remember him working largely low-key mid card style matches (well in ROH terms) and being a total dick to the crowd, teasing going for a top rope dive and then just stepping down and flipping off the crowd etc and I thought he was pretty good when I despised him previously. Maybe he can be good filtered through the WWE style.

 

But yeah he is off his ass nuts, I'm at least looking forward to reports of his erratic behavior.

[Kevin Ridge]

The Torch this week ended on an interesting note so I decided to share. After years of Vince paying varying degrees of lip service to it Wade Keller on 2013 being a tipping point:

 

 

Switching the name of “agents” to “producers.” Hiring writers from Hollywood to “script” the shows, a break from the tradition of utilizing ex-wrestlers (George Scott, Pat Patterson) to “book” the shows. They hired announcers who had no wrestling background, rather than some wrestling background. The hired a V.P. of Talent Relations, held previously exclusively by ex-wrestlers and wrestling executives (J.J. Dillon, Jim Ross, John Laurinaitis), who game from the women’s golf industry.

 

More and more, WWE is run by people who had no prior experience in any form of pro wrestling. It’s executive staff could just as easily be working for Disney on Ice, a pro soccer league, a TV studio, or an office supply store chain. It is a Corporate first and foremost, and it just happens to utilize what is widely labeled pro wrestling as its product.

 

There seems to have been a tipping point this year where that happened, where something Vince McMahon has been chipping away at for almost 20 years finally came to fruition. I’m not going so far as to say there are any fourth graders telling their friends their favorite TV show is “sports entertainment.” WWE will lose that battle, and being stuck with the name WrestleMania for their largest annual event doesn’t help; that may be one of Vince McMahon bigger regrets.

I'm trying to think of a job where having a strong knowledge of the product you're trying to sell is a detriment.

[Dylan Waco]

Trying to think of someone I'd rather see in WWE less than those two. Maybe Chuck Taylor. Maybe

[sek69]

Wasn't there something on how either Richards or Edwards (I forget which one) might have problems passing the WWE concussion test if they were offered a job?

[Mini Bennett]

The Bulldogs comparison wasn't really meant as a compliment. Davey's best performances were usually carry jobs and Dynamite is largely responsible for why guys like Davey Richards are in the Indy limelight today.

 

The term "technical wrestler" doesn't mean anything to me. Ted Dibiase had like 5 moves and received the tag. What the fuck even is a technical wrestler?

[Jimmy Redman]

So apparently Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards are getting top reviews at the latest WWE tryout. Not really a fan but I suppose they have enough appeal to be a modern day British Bulldogs.

No they don't. The British Bulldogs were a great team because you had a power house and the best technical wrestler on the planet teaming up with British accents and a pet bulldog (and sometimes a drunk manager). They were fantastic. If anything, Edwards and and Richards will be a modern day London and Kendrick - some throw away tag team used in throw away matches on free TV, with the occasional PPV offering to kill time.

 

I am taking this as a pretty big insult to Londrick, who had a really nice, long tag title reign on Smackdown and were treated like reasonable deals for a WWE tag team in the 00s.

 

They also beat the crap out of the Wolves, but that's neither here nor there.

 

A throwaway tag team used for fodder is like 3MB.

[cm funk]

Davey, from what I've seen, seems like a guy who'd be better "filtered through the WWE system" if he could handle the lifestyle and politics involved. He probably couldn't handle it based on some of the weird stories about him....the guy seems psychotic.....but by the same token maybe he needs the type of structure the WWE offers and would adapt like a champ

 

I'd like to see him go to WWE just to avoid the bi-annual "Davey Richards is totally retiring to be a firefighter!" story

[Blehschmidt]

So according to Stephanie McMahon on tonight's Raw, she grew up backstage at the arena's, and Big Show was her best friend when she was a 12 year old girl......

 

So....

 

A) Stephanie is trying to push that she is only 26

 

B ) Big Show was hanging out backstage at WWF shows in 1988, 7 years before his WCW debut, and 11 years before his WWF debut.

 

C) Someone probably should have done 20 seconds of research before cutting a promo.

 

 

Edit:

 

Oh wait...I got it now. Remember when he came into WCW they strongly implied that he was Andre's kid.....that could explain why he was backstage giving life advice to Stephanie in '88

[cm funk]

Yeah, that was really strange. I assume Steph is scripting her own promos/winging it, but even so, that was just so completely not true that anyone who knows the slightest thing would pick up on it. It was probably just a mental slip up in the moment, but it's a little bothersome that the head of creative and an on screen talent with her experience would make a mistake like that

 

She had a party girl rep back in the day, maybe the 90's are just a total blur to her

 

Also, that closing angle on the show hit every wrong note possible, made both Bryan and Show look like crap, made the rest of the roster look like crap, and did nothing for the heel faction. I got what they were going for....but man did it not play out on screen the way they were envisioning it. Show had a pretty hot crowd for most of the night too, and that angle just killed them. I'd love to be privy to the backstage fallout from all that, Vince was probably losing his mind

[flyonthewall2983]

Oh wait...I got it now. Remember when he came into WCW they strongly implied that he was Andre's kid.....that could explain why he was backstage giving life advice to Stephanie in '88

So it was Andre's casket being pulled out of the ground by the Big Boss Man?

[Strummer]

that Stephanie promo. Yeesh that was cringe worthy. And I don't mean it was bad. Just, yeesh

[Johnny Sorrow]

Steph didn't say she knew Show since she was 12 years old, she said "my 12 year old friend" as in, they've been friends for 12 years.

[Strummer]

this angle has broke DVDVR's brain. Seriously what the hell is going on over there? As someone there pointed out it's like reading the comments on Scott Keith's blog

[Dylan Waco]

The problem is what is often the case with WWE angles, in that the extremes dominate the discussion with one side claiming every aspect of this has been brilliant and that those critical of it on any level or stupid assholes and the otherside claiming Bryan has been buried and will never recover and if you disagree you are just a blind WWE mark.

 

I thought Raw sucked shit tonight aside from Randy/Cody, Cody's promo and Bully Ryback. I fucking hated the closing angle for a variety of reasons but especially because it had the "same old shit feel" AND the execution seemed really, really off. But that doesn't mean the whole thing is shit, Bryan has been buried, et.

[Wolfman]

Oh wait...I got it now. Remember when he came into WCW they strongly implied that he was Andre's kid.....that could explain why he was backstage giving life advice to Stephanie in '88

So it was Andre's casket being pulled out of the ground by the Big Boss Man?

 

[goc]

12 year old friend meant "your friend of 12 years."

[cm funk]

There's been people thinking Bryan was getting buried from the moment HHH pedigreed him and Orton cashed in. WWE seriously can't win with some people

 

I thought the angle tonight was utter shit and bad enough to make me start having doubts about their ability to deliver on this whole story.....but the big picture stuff is still fine, and the idea that Bryan is being buried is ridiculous. They have a lot of people involved in this angle and they're doing a balancing act trying to get a lot of different stuff over. They misfired on one segment, it happens. An important segment, but still just one segment. On RAW next week Bryan will still be super over, and Big Show will have lots of heat, nothing unfixably bad happened. If missteps start happening on a regular basis, or Bryan starts to be less over, then I'll start to worry about the creative direction. But this overarching angle has barely just started, and it isn't just about Bryan, which some people don't seem to understand. They're still trying to get fans to break their pavlovian habit of cheering HHH and Orton....they both still get huge face pops despite being complete heels, and despite the crowd loving the guy they're fucking with

[Johnny Sorrow]

Dylan's point about DVDVR is pretty dead on. However, I fucking loved this show, myself. I now copy and paste what I wrote over there.

 

-Bryan's opening deal responding to the Doink thing and burying HHH and Orton was great, great stuff. Especially HHH shitting on the "ironclad contract". (And them pointing out that a

n ironclad contract written by Johnny Ace must be flawed and able to be torn apart by good lawyers.)

HHH and Orton backstage with Cody was great, as HHH and Orton are such awesome dicks.

 

-Miz/ Fandango was fine. Summer Rae rules. I liked Bray Wyatt's tweet, "When the men of power wage war, only the innocent suffer. come with me.........#DownWithTheMachine, (I'm not sure I dig the idea that Bray Wyatt tweets, but whatever. )

 

-Booker with Bryan was good, and I like the idea that Booker just walks around backstage with nothing to do but dispense advice.

 

-I loved Ziggler getting screwed by the Corporation. Not only does Maddox put him against Ryback, but Ambrose takes him out before the bell, to continue the reign of terror in the mid card. Ziggler's rally popped the crowd and especially the guy dressed in the Dusty polka dots. I also liked Ryback's Frank Gorshin on Star Trek tights. And Ziggler is now done with the AJ/ Big E fued and part of the forming squad of good guys.

 

-I love that Stephanie and HHH are playing the roles written for them by the internet. I mean, her fucking graphic says "Executive VP Creative" And I'm sure someone has pointed it out, but Steph didn't say she knew Show since she was 12 years old, she said "my 12 year old friend" as in, they've been friends for 12 years. And she was such a bitch, I loved it. I'd like to see the Strip Mall Show bought.

 

- Edge next week will probably be the guy telling folks to step up.

 

-I'm loving the PTP's face push. It's a nice bit of restraint that they aren't making it all about Young coming out, and they're focusing on the fact that they've been over and entertaining in a face way anyway. Titus is a fucking star, and Young is really good. And Heath Slater takes a beating like no one else in WWE.

 

-Maddox/ Heyman/ HHH was great. Loved the "meeting of the scumbags, who despite both being heels, still hate each other...based on more "known to the internet" heat, than "Brock and I feuded".

 

-Wyatt promo was cool shit.

 

-JBL being a guy who goes on about how workers should be happy they have jobs is just perfect given that he's been one of those talking heads shitting on the whole "fast food workers are demanding raises" stuff in the news. And JBL being more of a heel has led to him and Cole being really good together again, (I'd imagine them also doing the net show helps) and alot of the time Lawler is really left with nothing to do, as Cole and JBL have always been a great two man act.

 

 

 

-Cody/ Orton kicked fucking ass. I loved Dusty Fan cheering on his son with Piper Fan. I love that the locker room all were watching on one TV, with the short chick in the back.. Great visual, though, and this totally helped make Cody after the short tag team breakup feud. And if it wasn't against Corporate Orton backed by dickface corporate HHH, no one would have cared, instead of a crowd going nuts for him. And the whole "days before his wedding, his career is over" stuff was just perfect. Shit, there was a "Thak you, Cody" chant as if some fans actually think he's leaving. Here's hoping Dusty confronts HHH. Especially after Cody's fucking AWESOME "The McMahon's have always hated the Rhodes!" promo.

 

-CM Punk's promo was aces, and I love that he doesn't reference the Regime of Terror, as some feuds, especially blood feuds with a wrestler vs a manager, should stay separate with minimal connection, if any to the big angle. Like they did with HHH talking to Heyman. And I liked Punk basically finally doing the promo that makes him a total good guy, ie: thanking his fans. And him wielding the same kendo stick that he was beaten with last week was cool.

 

-Show/ Bryan backstage? Eh, I liked Bryan pointing out that he beat Show for his first World Title.

 

-Naomi had a tad too much eyeshade under her eyes. AJ getting gang beat up by the Total Divas is more "AJ is the voice of the internet/ real fans vs the reality show fans" deal. AJ came out on top to start last week, this week they get her, etc. She bloodied the Bella's lip. I have no idea what they're doing here, besides filming shit for the next season of Divas on E that we are seeing now. I'd guess from the wrestling perspective, she and Kaitlyn make up and have an uneasy alliance against the Total Divas.

 

 

 

- I'm liking Ricardo as RVD's hype man. He's 100% less annoying than Bill Alfonso.Although I think he'll turn on RVD to"prove himself" to Del Rio, as he's such a swarmy dude that he'd take that beating and still want to impress his old boss to get his gig back. RVD/ Sandow was ok. Anyone bitching that the MIB holder is losing all the time hasn't paid attention for the last few years.

 

-Steph with Total Divas was made good by the pic of Jake Roberts looking on.

 

-Again, Edge will confront the Regime of Terror.

 

-I love that they still did the "Roster on the ramp" deal. And Bryan is so god damned over. If you think beat downs and screw jobs over the course of THREE WEEKS is a burial, you're high. No, if you were high you'd probably not be so uptight and hyper for instant payoff. I love that the recession has ruined Show's finances. Bryan continues to be the fighting-est guy alive. Show/ Bryan more great story than great match, and the crying IS a bit much, unless it's still all an act and Show is pretending. Still, if it IS leading to Show finally snapping and knocking out the Shield or HHH, in no way does that "bury" Bryan and make Show the main guy here. It establishes Show as another part of the Face Squad. Again, the crying is too much, but the McMahon's as the 1% while playing the roles that every former creative guy to ever be on an Alverez podcast have cast is great shit.

 

 

 

 

- They're so obviously building up the Squadron of good guys to take on the bad guy Alliance.

 

And "OMG, this is going on too long, buried, blah, blah" is silly. Three WHOLE weeks is too long? Lotsa short attention span, instant gratification junkies. Your heads would have exploded if you were watching in the 80's Or shit, the NWO. "It's been THREE WEEKS, how come Sting hasn't beaten up the NWO yet?"

[Strummer]

as an aside Brie and AJ stiffed the hell out of each other during their brawl. It was quite awesome