Category: Wrestling Musings

All posts related to pro rasslin’ that isn’t covering specific shows or events.

Random Thoughts On… The New WWE Brand Split

So WWE recently announced that starting July 19th, Smackdown will be going live on Tuesdays. Not only that, but they are re-introducing the brand split so that each show – RAW and Smackdown – will have their own rosters, their own creative teams, their own storylines, and that sort of thing. I’m skeptical that they’ll be able to pull this off. It’s no secret that Smackdown has been relegated to a fourth-fiddle show that occasionally has stuff worth watching, but is generally skippable fare. Even with the talented Mauro Ranallo and a refreshed Jerry Lawler providing commentary, it feels like Smackdown is just something to fill time rather than anything worthwhile.

With the new brand split, maybe things will be shaken up and more folks will be showcased. It’s no secret that the brand split of 2002 set the stage for some folks to showcase their skills and even become big stars in their own right. Guys like Brock Lesnar, John Cena, Randy Orton, Batista, Edge, and others were able to make a name for themselves during this era and for a time, both shows felt like different properties. If you were more into sports entertainment, you’d watch RAW. If you prefered a purer wrestling product, you’d watch Smackdown. And I’ll tell you what; during those initial years, Smackdown was the better show as it had great talent, great matches, and generally better stories while RAW, on the other hand, had HHH as world champion and nobody gave a shit.

Now how the split will unfold, when will the draft take place, how will the titles be distributed, will they split the World title into two (god, I hope not – I like having one World title as it makes it feel special) – the details haven’t been leaked, but I’m more concerned on whether they’ll actually make a genuine effort in trying to make Smackdown its own thing with its own feel rather than just second-rate RAW with another bunch of people. Ideally, I’d like for them give Smackdown a far different dynamic from RAW, similar to how NXT has a far different dynamic to the main WWE product… but that’s just speculation. Right now, there’s a split, Smackdown goes live in July, airing on Tuesdays on USA… that’s all we know. So as more gets revealed, if I feel like talking about it, it’ll be on the blog… or maybe wait till next episode; either way works for me.

No More Milhouse in WWE

WWE has reportedly come to terms on the release of former NXT announcer Rich “Milhouse” Brennan. We wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors. On the bright side, Kevin Owens’ head will probably hurt a lot less now that Milhouse isn’t around to make it worse with his face or something.

Yes, this is the first wrestling-related post I’ve made since March. Imagine that.

Every HHH Wrestlemania Main Event Sucked

Say what you will about Triple H, but the guy is a major player in WWE. Multi-time World Champion, main eventer, sometimes charismatic guy, head of NXT and various development projects, and one of the smartest, hardest working dudes in the business. That having been said, when it comes to being the main event of Wrestlemania… this is where the multi-time WWE World Champion falls a bit short and since we’ve had another in a series of them, I’d figure this would be the best time to talk about every main event HHH has partaken in at the Showcase Of The Immortals and why they suck.

For the purposes of this write-up, the main event of Wrestlemania refers to the closing match on the card. I’m not counting so-called “main events” that take place during the middle of the card or anything of the sort. For all intents and purposes, the main event of Wrestlemania is the last match on the show.

Also, for the purposes of this write, this is NOT a history of HHH’s Wrestlemania matches; only his main events, so no mention of the farce that is his World title defense against Booker T at Mania 19 with the racist storyline. To be completely fair to Hunter, he’s had some good Mania matches when not scratching that last match – his match with Undertaker at Wrestlemania X-Seven and the one with Daniel Bryan Danielson at Mania 30 are top-notch wrestling matches worth of the Show Of Shows.

Continue reading “Every HHH Wrestlemania Main Event Sucked”

Gawker Jobs To Hoak Hogan

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35849140

The scum merchants Gawker tried their best, but in the end, much like every other heel in the 80s, they eventually succumb to the Huckster’s almighty Legdrop of Doom.

Good for Hogan that this affront to his integrity has been dealt with and putting that whole ordeal behind him. Unfortunately, all those sex tape jokes and quips about Hulkamaniac being a euphemism for racist or something similar will live on forever. But for one night, all is right in the world in Hoganland.

We now return to ignoring Hogan and pretending he doesn’t exist.

There Was A WWE Show Tonight? I Forgot…

Yeah, apparently there was a WWE show tonight and I didn’t catch it. And the funny thing was I didn’t even know about this until literally five minutes ago when a buddy called and told me about the show. I told him that I didn’t see the show, I forgot about the show, and that I was too busy playing No Mercy instead.

His reply was a solemn “You didn’t miss much.”

I guess somewhere down the line, I’ll give it a watch… but at the moment, I’m not feeling it.

Stephy Never Friendly

Trying to market Stephanie McMahon
as a friendly face is about as possible a feat to accomplish as Vincent Kennedy McMahon learning to control his sneezes.

It’s never going to happen.

Every time I see her “smile”, it always seems forced and disingenuous, as if she’s allergic to the very concept of smiling and being friendly.

Best of luck to the PR firm they hired to pull off this task, but they might have better luck keeping the sun from setting.

My comment on the news that a PR firm was hired to give Nipple H a friendly image, as mentioned here.

Thanks For The Memories, Bryan…

With word that Daniel Bryan Danielson is retiring, I offer two videos for viewing in celebration of an amazing career.

First up, my montage video of Bryan kicking John Cena’s head in. It remains my most viewed video (and almost immediately nailed for Content ID, thus assuring I wouldn’t be doing these often.

An old match from 2007, future WWE World champion Daniel Bryan Danielson takes on future NXT champion Prince Devitt a.k.a. Finn Balor in a tournament match for the then-vacant NWA World Heavyweight Championship that would eventually be won by future WWE trainer Adam Pearce.

Thanks for the memories, Bryan. Thanks for the memories and thanks for the last genuine feelgood moment in WWE.

WTFTNA

So let me see if I get this right…

Derrick Bateman loses the TNA World title to Matt Hardy in a three-way match on a major TNA Pay-Per-View event and later files an “injunction” that forces Matt Hardy to vacate said title. TNA decides to hold a “World Title Series” comprising months of taped matches with no rhyme or reason, with the whole thing eventually won by Derrick Bateman, who wins the title for the second time. Bateman then loses the title to Matt Hardy the following episode when Brodus Clay turned on him and joined Matt Hardy and that New York Giants girl to form a new heel stable.

In other words, the past few months of TNA programming was completely and utterly worthless. And then people wonder why nobody is watching TNA these days.

Speaking of which, how’s Global Force doing these days?

Mauro Ranallo The New Voice Of Smackdown

Source: http://wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2015/1214/605746/wwe-confirms-new-smackdown-lead-announcer/

The question is not whether Ranallo, a veteran commentator of various combat sports and also a voice of the New Japan All Wrestling show on that ASX TV channel, can bring the goods to WWE or even if he’ll be allowed to flourish under the harsh, restrictive commentary umbrella, because I’m sure he’ll be fine.

The question is what silly name is he going to get now.

In any event, congratulations to Quentin Stanley for making it to WWE, along with his other former Score cohorts Kyle Edwards and Renee Young. Maybe they can get together and host a panel or two. Hint, hint….