Current WWE

[Timbo Slice]

Considering he just joined The Wyatt Family, Bryan taking down Taker makes at least a little bit of sense. I don't think there's anyway in hell that Bryan would job in the situation, but who knows at this point.

[Matt D]

I want Bryan/Lesnar. My fantasy booking bullshit was Bryan beating Triple H to earn his way in the Rumble, winning the rumble from number 1, Trips realising that Orton isn't going to be able to stop Bryan becoming champ at 'Mania so making a deal with the devil (Heyman) and having Brock take out Orton for the belt so Bryan has to beat Brock to win the title.

My fantasy booking is basically along the same lines. I think I put it in one of the Armchair Booking threads.

 

I'm desperate for Bryan/Lesnar, but I realise it's a long shot and I'm not unhappy with most of the other options.

 

I really wanted the December PPV vs Hunter leading to the Rumble berth yeah. Granted, I also wanted them not to run Orton vs Bryan at all after Summerslam.

[Slasher]

Considering he just joined The Wyatt Family, Bryan taking down Taker makes at least a little bit of sense. I don't think there's anyway in hell that Bryan would job in the situation, but who knows at this point.

Wait, you really think Undertaker would put over Bryan at the expense of the Streak?

[goc]

Man I had not even thought of Lesnar/Bryan. There are really so many more interesting Lesnar matches than just about anyone in the company. I guess that's kind of unfair since he doesn't work anything close to a full schedule but I would be interested in seeing Lesnar vs Taker, Batista, Bryan, hell I wouldn't even mind a rematch with Punk. Last year you could have swapped Batista and Bryan with Ryback & Sheamus but Ryback DEFINITELY wouldn't work now and I don't think Sheamus would either.

 

As far as Taker/Cena goes, has there ever been a report for why they seem to have no interest in running that match at Mania? I can't imagine they really are worried about having Cena lose, so does one of them not want to do the match? Or is WWE worried about the crowd being completely anti-Cena?

[Timbo Slice]

Considering he just joined The Wyatt Family, Bryan taking down Taker makes at least a little bit of sense. I don't think there's anyway in hell that Bryan would job in the situation, but who knows at this point.

Wait, you really think Undertaker would put over Bryan at the expense of the Streak?

 

Taker likes Bryan and while I think that the Streak should never be broken, Bryan would be a fucking made man if Taker put him over.

[goodhelmet]

Considering he just joined The Wyatt Family, Bryan taking down Taker makes at least a little bit of sense. I don't think there's anyway in hell that Bryan would job in the situation, but who knows at this point.

Wait, you really think Undertaker would put over Bryan at the expense of the Streak?

 

I think Undertaker would. I think the WWE wouldn't.

[Jesse Ewiak]

As far as Taker/Cena goes, has there ever been a report for why they seem to have no interest in running that match at Mania? I can't imagine they really are worried about having Cena lose, so does one of them not want to do the match? Or is WWE worried about the crowd being completely anti-Cena?

I think they're honestly waiting for the last possible WM to do 'Taker/Cena because it'll like be 'Taker's real last ride and they want one of two things to happen -

 

1. Cena to beat 'Taker and end the streak - basically, his 'beating Andre for the first time' moment.

2. Or 'Taker wins and retires, but basically endorses Cena, passing the real torch of the WWE over to Cena.

[Timbo Slice]

The idea that Cena/Taker is a passing of the torch is hilarious. Cena's the face of the WWE. Not even close. There's no real passing of the torch necessary. Cena beating Taker helps nobody.

[Jesse Ewiak]

The idea that Cena/Taker is a passing of the torch is hilarious. Cena's the face of the WWE. Not even close. There's no real passing of the torch necessary. Cena beating Taker helps nobody.

I never said it makes sense to me, but I can totally see Vince thinking, "if Cena beats 'Taker, then 'Taker raises his arm, then all those fans who boo him will have no choice but to cheer him!"

[Dylan Waco]

I actually think Cena is the only guy who can beat Taker and it not have negative consequences, but only if he beats him and turns heel in the process.

[Slasher]

Considering he just joined The Wyatt Family, Bryan taking down Taker makes at least a little bit of sense. I don't think there's anyway in hell that Bryan would job in the situation, but who knows at this point.

Wait, you really think Undertaker would put over Bryan at the expense of the Streak?

 

I think Undertaker would. I think the WWE wouldn't.

 

That is what I was thinking. Even though Taker has full control over who he might hand over the honor of ending the Streak to, if ever, it also comes down to the WWE being willing to book the match. I don't think the WWE would agree to booking Bryan against Taker if it is known he wants to end the Streak for him. I think Taker could be talked into alternate ideas in which he might just end up extending the Streak against guys like Lesnar or Sheamus or Reigns or whatever OR Taker probably wouldn't mind sitting out the show. He can't be hurting for cash too much if he is only wrestling once a year and I don't think he really cares about wrestling as much as he used to. He probably settled happily into retired living.

[Slasher]

The idea that Cena/Taker is a passing of the torch is hilarious. Cena's the face of the WWE. Not even close. There's no real passing of the torch necessary. Cena beating Taker helps nobody.

I never said it makes sense to me, but I can totally see Vince thinking, "if Cena beats 'Taker, then 'Taker raises his arm, then all those fans who boo him will have no choice but to cheer him!"

 

Not really. Vince doesn't care about the specifics of Cena's reactions as long as he's getting them one way or other. Have you even watched the show the past few years? The WWE have long accepted that Cena is going to get split reactions and have already embraced incorporating that aspect in Cena's character and/or storylines.

 

The only way Vince cares enough to run the match is for the reason Dylan mentioned... it is a vehicle to springboard Cena onto an epic heel run. In fact, I think that is what they want to do eventually but I think they are waiting for a guy to get hot enough to carry Cena's typical role as ambassador (and by that I mean a guy THEY got over by design and fits their narrow vision of an A+ main event performer).

[Strummer]

The more I read about the Bryan stuff the more depressed I get. Like I said right before HIAC I can't believe I'm 34 and letting a god damn wrestling angle affect me like this. It just sucks so much

[Moonsault Marvin]

I don't see any positives to ending the streak. If they want to turn Cena heel, which I don't think we will see anytime soon, they could have him lose to the Undertaker, and then be a poor sport after the match and viciously attack him.

[Slasher]

I don't see any positives to ending the streak. If they wanted to turn Cena heel, which I don't think we will see anytime soon, they could have him lose to the Undertaker, and then be a poor sport after the match and viciously attack him.

The Undertaker is an old school guy. He believes his last match should be a loss. It might not be the Streak at Wrestlemania, but he wants value in using up his credibility to putting someone over on his way out. Then you have to consider he isn't going to do it for any random guy. He's only going to put over someone he can trust will 1. be there long term, 2. will be pushed correctly and well by WWE creative (basically the same reason why the Rock was reluctant to put over the Hurricane with Triple H salivating at the thought of squashing it), 3. has the utmost respect for the WWE and more importantly, the "business". He has said it himself many times in the past, he is putting someone over eventually.

[Mini Bennett]

Do you have a quote/reference for that last sentence, Slasher?

[Slasher]

I saw it in an interview (I THINK OTR or something like that, it was brought up years after the whole thing with Taker and HBK at Mania 14) but I admit that it isn't a reliable account, so feel free to take my statement with a grain of salt.

[Kevin Ridge]

The more I read about the Bryan stuff the more depressed I get. Like I said right before HIAC I can't believe I'm 34 and letting a god damn wrestling angle affect me like this. It just sucks so much

But shouldn't you be affected by a wrestling angle? Maybe the reading the behind the scenes stuff is too much but if you are watching TV/PPV you want to care. Beats being indifferent about the product which is where I find myself too much.

[tigerpride]

I saw it in an interview (I THINK OTR or something like that, it was brought up years after the whole thing with Taker and HBK at Mania 14) but I admit that it isn't a reliable account, so feel free to take my statement with a grain of salt.

Since he's said it many times, that's the first I've heard of it. Any other sources besides OTR?

[Slasher]

I saw it in an interview (I THINK OTR or something like that, it was brought up years after the whole thing with Taker and HBK at Mania 14) but I admit that it isn't a reliable account, so feel free to take my statement with a grain of salt.

Since he's said it many times, that's the first I've heard of it. Any other sources besides OTR?

 

I saw it on a TV interview but also read that in a couple of magazines a few years ago when he was winding down his full time career. Obviously "many" is embellishing but considering he isn't an easy guy or a frequent interviewee, it comes across that way. I will definitely dig around and try to find solid sources.

[Steven]

(basically the same reason why the Rock was reluctant to put over the Hurricane with Triple H salivating at the thought of squashing it)

Hasn't this been "debunked" already? If anyone besides the Rock had the match with Hurricane that he did, the bitching and crying of burial would still be going on today.

 

Here's the match with the Rock: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHGnhyJSVeU . Rock controls 90% of the match, treats him like a joke thoughout the match and is about to finish him off before Austin distracts him. Hell, they don't even play his music after he wins and JR more or less says he doesn't have a chance, but is just going to put up a decent fight.

 

Here's the match Triple H has with Hurricane a few weeks later:

. It's a shorter match, but Triple H gives him a ton more offence and a visible fall. The near falls Helms got on the Rock were based on Rock goofing off too much while the HHH match had him looking more competitive. He lost, but at least looked like he could hang with the world champ. Not like a lower card goof who annoyed one of the top dogs too much and got his ass kicked for it.

[Slasher]

(basically the same reason why the Rock was reluctant to put over the Hurricane with Triple H salivating at the thought of squashing it)

Hasn't this been "debunked" already? If anyone besides the Rock had the match with Hurricane that he did, the bitching and crying of burial would still be going on today.

 

Here's the match with the Rock: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHGnhyJSVeU . Rock controls 90% of the match, treats him like a joke thoughout the match and is about to finish him off before Austin distracts him. Hell, they don't even play his music after he wins and JR more or less says he doesn't have a chance, but is just going to put up a decent fight.

 

Here's the match Triple H has with Hurricane a few weeks later:

. It's a shorter match, but Triple H gives him a ton more offence and a visible fall. The near falls Helms got on the Rock were based on Rock goofing off too much while the HHH match had him looking more competitive. He lost, but at least looked like he could hang with the world champ. Not like a lower card goof who annoyed one of the top dogs too much and got his ass kicked for it.

 

Umm.. that only proves my point that the Rock did not want to put over Hurricane, still pissed off how the whole Booker T thing went down. He felt Triple H would undo anything he tries. So he didn't for Hurricane and Triple H puts him over better to prove some false point to people that the Rock has him pegged all wrong.

[Steven]

Umm.. that only proves my point that the Rock did not want to put over Hurricane, still pissed off how the whole Booker T thing went down. He felt Triple H would undo anything he tries. So he didn't for Hurricane and Triple H puts him over better to prove some false point to people that the Rock has him pegged all wrong.

...what? That's some impressive reverse psychology H has going there. I'm guessing Flair and Jericho were in on this scheme too?

[Slasher]

Umm.. that only proves my point that the Rock did not want to put over Hurricane, still pissed off how the whole Booker T thing went down. He felt Triple H would undo anything he tries. So he didn't for Hurricane and Triple H puts him over better to prove some false point to people that the Rock has him pegged all wrong.

...what? That's some impressive reverse psychology H has going there. I'm guessing Flair and Jericho were in on this scheme too?

 

What reverse psychology? They approach Rock with the Hurricane program idea, Rock balks at it, people stand backstage watching the Rock notput over Hurricane. It comes out in the sheets that the Rock is upset for the Booker T deal and he isn't as interested in putting over the Hurricane for this reason. Triple H sees the opportunity to stick it to Rock by working a better match with Hurricane so he can point to it and say, "See, Rock is full of shit. I am awesome and a team player!" Then of course he goes on to take a dump on everyone else since then. Ric Flair and Jericho? What? Jericho is a buddy of Hurricane. He would work hard for him. He is also great friends with the Rock (kinda because the Rock made him a personal pet project with their 2001 feud...that Triple H quashed. Hey look at that!) I don't know why you are being so obtuse about it. It is all right there in the open.

[goc]

Have not seen any reports on this, or anyone else really mention it but I have been wondering for a while: with only 1 title now, what happens this year at Elimination Chamber? They are building up a Brock title match, which I kind of assumed would be at EC and not WrestleMania. But if Brock is going to face the Champion one on one, and the Royal Rumble winner gets the title shot at Mania, what exactly is going to be contested inside the Elimination Chamber?