Great promos and angles from the last 15 years

[Mr. Lacelle]

Every Jay Briscoe promo in 2015 was currency.

[JimArg]

Nobody mentioned the Ambrose promos in his feud against William Regal in FCW. Brillant stuff.

[Johnny Sorrow]

Even better were the Regal promos about being an old villian.

[Slasher]

What are their promos and angles? I can't recall any, just matches.

Wasn't paying that closely of attention to the specific thread topic. However it is just how they were booked in general. They got to look as dominant as they did for over a year in a landscape where the WWE can't help but rush to make sure 50-50 parity booking is involved. Then there are a few good storylines that involved them. Maybe not so directly in your face as most great angles often do when unfolding. They were interesting when they debuted and it seemed like they were the hounds in the shadows doing the evil champion CM Punk's bidding despite his denying it. They were interesting when they became the go to weapon of the Authority and being their tool to try to take down the Rhodes and leading to that pairing becoming so popular. Their stuff with the Wyatts and the teased breakups before reaffirming their union in a babyface turn that went over so well. So yeah there isn't the big moments where the Shield directly created something in a promo or angle but if you took a step back and looked at the whole picture, The Shield was awesome and definitely one of the WWE's best creative efforts in this century.

[MikeCampbell]

I thought Ryback's promo explaining why he turned heel and attacked Cena was very well done.

James Storm's victory speech when he won the TNA Title.

[joeg]

The angle on the first NOAH show to set up the whole Burning vs Sterness fued was very good.

 

I also liked the angle with Rhino and Sandman on ECW's last PPV. Its a shame the company folded a month later, that could have been a great set up to an exciting fued.

 

Also this-

I WANT BATISTA!!!

[SomethingSavage]

The 7 Levels of Hate program between Colt Cabana and Adam Pearce over the NWA World Heavyweight Championship was tremendous. The interviews, the vignettes, the twists & turns in the saga itself - everything was just executed extremely well. I've written more extensively about it here in other threads, but yeah.

 

It would have felt right at home in any territory back in the day, with each guy getting a run as champ - dropping in for a few dates to ignite a new angle and move the story arc forward. Overall, from beginning to finish, it's a really compelling rivalry. Even when they hit political roadblocks along the way, they manage to get things back on track up until the final match in the series.

 

In terms of the in-ring performances, both guys bring the goods. I'm far from the biggest Colt fan, but these are the matches I'd point to as a prime example of Cabana functioning at his best as a complete package. He seems to know when, why, and how to bust out the comedy shtick - or when to absolutely ABANDON it altogether. His fiery comebacks are great. His moonsault is one of the most spectacular "fat guy flattens bad guy" spots. On the other end, Pearce isn't shy about busting out some surprisingly daring dives. He dishes out jumping piledrivers. It's just good stuff - presented with a sense of struggle and urgency with both guys fighting like it counts.

 

The feud really opens itself up & embraces all the old-school tricks of the trade. It is a total tribute to a different era of wrestling, yet it never comes across like a couple of guys playing the parts - which is a line we see crossed with similar stuff, in my opinion.

 

Instead, almost everything is used to maximum effect. You'll see a stretcher job. Fireballs are thrown. A babyface's trust is broken. There's betrayal and a slow march towards the payback. It's A LOT happening, but it's all given time to resonate & really breathe.

 

And, to be absolutely honest, the premise of the 7 Levels of Hate - a different gimmick match in a different part of the country for a different promotion - is just a cool freaking concept in my view.

[GOTNW]

Has "Zandig is crazy" been mentioned yet? That's the best promo.

 

Haven't rewatched it but the Bryan-Cena slap promo would be a strong candidate for the best modern promo.

[Hegs]

Unfortunately I only have some seconds in the Flair retirement jeopardy angle, Jericho Shawn Michaels feud, Punks run with the title and the Daniel Bryan arc from heel to champ.

[Jimmy Redman]

Kofi's short feud with Orton was cool and super over for a while before it went south.

 

Randomly, Orton cut a really strong promo at Bad Blood 2004. He was also cutting good promos in that late 2008 period where he was out injured, but would show up on Raw and berate everyone alive, which is also when he began to recruit Legacy. He came off like he was on a different level to everyone else. And then he returned and began his punting phase which also took him over the top.

 

The Batista/Cena feud for WM26 was good, with strong promos.

 

I know he's not a popular choice now, but Mr Kennedy's early promo work, those first couple years before he lost the MITB shot, was awesome.

[Memphis Mark]

Jimmy loves Lacey . Great promos from Jacobs. The wars Jacobs fought with BJ Whitmer and Colt Cabana to protect Lacey's " honor " were classics. Also the later angle were Jacobs tried to recruit Austin Aries to the Age Of The Fall , only to have AA double steal Lacey way from him.Jacobs really developed in a great performer during this program

 

The Nigel McGuiness vs, Colt Cabana feud from 2005 has always been overlooked . The blow off was the Soccer Riot Match . Great series of matches between two pros.

 

Cabana feud with Homicide in 2005/ 06 was just great. Colt faced his fear of the NYC street thug and fought tooth and nail with Homicide in a great series of brawls.

 

Homicide road to the ROH title. After the Cabana feud Homicide cut a bloody path thur the CZW outlaws . Great matches with Chris Hero , Claudio Castagnoli and the Necro Butcher led to the Cage of Death . Homicide led the ROH team to victory , only to have Jim Cornette turn heel on Homicide after the war was won.

 

The next chapter saw Homicide battle the Briscoes , Steve Corino and Adam Pearce to get his shot at Bryan Danielson , where he won the title. A great program and just a great story . Homicide beat the system and became champion.

 

The Briscoe Brothers vs. Kevin Steen and El Generico feud was another gem. Gabe gave Steen and Generico a tryout in 2005 . He decided against using them , so they name their names in PWG . They were bought back for one match with the Briscoes . Of course they were great and the war between the two raged on in 2007 . Steen was the abusive heel bullying the baby face Generico . This is were Steen really came into his own playing abusive heel who was really an insecure mama's boy. The ladder match at MAN UP was just insane. I still believe that Steen and Generico should have won the belts . However this program really put Steen and Generico on the map.

 

On the TNA side , there are several programs I really enjoyed during the Nashville years. The Jerry Lynn vs. AJ Styles vs. Low Ki program for the X division title was very good. The veteran Lynn battling two upstarts to hold on to his spot . Lynn anger toward the arrogant and disrespectful Styles really worked during this feud. The business like Low KI was the man in the middle willing to destroy both men to get to the top. Very underrated series.

 

The Triple X vs. AMW feud was a great one. The two cages matches between Christopher Daniels / Elix Skipper vs. James Storm / Chris Harris were great . . The blow off cage match in Orlando free up Daniels to start his X division program with Styles and Samoa Joe , which is the highlight of TNA entire run. .

[Laz]

Everything involving Jimmy Havoc in Progress from heel turn to title loss is fantastic. Parts border on hilarity, but not once is Havoc's threat ever in question.