A Not So Shocking Revelation

[Jack-Hammer]

I know that I'm certainly not the first one to say this, but it's painfully obvious that nothing the WWE is ever going to do will please the general IWC. Yeah, as I said, it's not exactly a shocking revelation or grand epiphany that struck me out of the blue. It's just that recent goings on and happenings in the WWE have truly and thoroughly driven home that simple truth.

Over the course of the past 2.5 months, maybe slightly longer, the WWE has taken a certain small number of very talented wrestlers, who also happen to be internet favorites coincidentally, and have done a lot for them. Specifically, I'm talking about three wrestlers: Christian, Daniel Bryan & CM Punk.

Christian - Christian may well have been, for a long time, the most underrated guy on the WWE roster. Christian has always been over with fans and has participated in some innovative and downright classic matches in his time. He's seen huge success in the WWE tag team picture back when tag team wrestling was a relevant force in not only WWE but wrestling as a whole, he's been a solid force in the mid-card scene with 3 Intercontinental Championship runs and his 2 runs as ECW Champion were not only quality but actually gave someone a reason to watch ECW. Christian has always had talent both in the ring and on the mic to be a main eventer. Like most people, I figure that Christian's time to ascend to the next level was over and done with. But, I was pleasantly surprised to see Christian finally get a main event spot after all these years. His win over Alberto Del Rio at Extreme Rules to win the World Heavyweight Champion was a great moment. I can understand people being miffed about him dropping the title a few days later to Randy Orton, extremely short runs have always been a pet peeve of mine, but it was all part of a larger and better plan. Christian's matches with Randy Orton have been some of the best of the year. However, despite the huge push he's gotten, despite the fact that Christian is finally at a level he should have already been at years ago, people are still complaining. Most of the complaints are centered around the type of heel Christian is. For some incomprehensible reason, the IWC has a near obsession with super tough, near unstoppable badass heels. I can't count the number of threads I've read over the past few years in which people want someone to go heel and to go to that very specific type of heel character. It's not enough that Christian does a great job on the mic, it's not enough that continues to put out very high quality matches, it's not enough that he keeps you interested in the World Heavyweight Championship scene on SmackDown! On top of that, the IWC wants him to plow through his competitors like he's a 50 ton tank.

Daniel Bryan - Daniel Bryan is someone I've become a fan of since he came to the WWE. His technical abilities inside the ring really are top notch and he also constantly puts out high quality matches. Generally speaking, he was the centerpiece of the first season of NXT. Even though he didn't "win" the show, he still got more attention and was more over than any of the others by the time the show was over. We all know what happened with Nexus and his firing. It generated buzz on this site unlike anything I'd seen up until recently with CM Punk. Bryan makes his return and feuds with The Miz for the United States Championship. Bryan has a decent run with the title, it lasted well over 170 days but the WWE did lose focus on him. Bryan did get lost in the shuffle for WrestleMania and it seemed that he'd gotten back on track since being drafted to SmackDown!. Bryan has made steady progress on the blue brand but he literally came out of nowhere at the MITB ppv and won the SmackDown! MITB ladder match. As a result, Daniel Bryan now has a guaranteed World Heavyweight Championship match at anytime. It was a great surprise and a genuinely shocking moment. Last week on SD!, Bryan announced that he would cash it in against the champ at WrestleMania XXVIII, whomever that might be. That gives WWE a lot of time to build Bryan up as a character on the mic and all should be right with the world. Yet, of course, here come the complaints, the criticism and the downright hate. Bryan hasn't gotten nearly as much as I would have expected, but it's still there. Some are already saying he'll be the first to cash in and lose. They started saying that the moment he won the thing. Some are complaining that he announced when he'd cash it in despite the fact that's what a face would do and that it's going to be at a huge money ppv. I've even read a few posts bitching about how Sheamus should have won MITB despite the fact that he's already been involved in the main event situation with Orton & Christian, and therefore doesn't need MITB.

CM Punk - We all know Punk's history in WWE and it's really only been within the past couple of years that he's really stepped things up. His feud with Jeff Hardy truly allowed him an opportunity to shine both inside the ring and on the mic. CM Punk has been widely hailed as the best overall wrestler in the world by the internet. It's debatable of course, as is everything else, but Punk is one of the legitimately few wreslters that can be said of and can be said with a straight face. Over the course of the past six weeks or so, CM Punk has generated an insane level of buzz. His worked shoot promo on Raw got people talking like few things can or have and kicked off what has quickly become the most talked about and most intriguing wrestling storyline that's been seen in a very long time. Everyone was wondering exactly what was going to happen with CM Punk? Was he actually going to leave WWE with the WWE Championship like he proclaimed? Was he just going to leave the company whether he won or not? His match with Cena at MITB will be regarded by most as a classic, quite possibly the best match of 2011, and the level of intrigue created by Punk's win over John Cena remained fully in place over the next few weeks as it was interlocked with an angle in which Vince McMahon is "relieved" of his duties by the WWE Board of Directors. This past Monday on Raw, in the closing minutes of the show, CM Punk returned wearing the WWE Championship and had a face off with John Cena in the ring. Most of the complaints I've seen regarding this tend to be around WWE bringing Punk back "too soon" for their tastes. Some have even already declared that the entire angle is now a bust because CM Punk showed up on Raw this past Monday. Some have said that they no longer care what happens just because Punk showed up earlier than they believe was necessary.

It really just seems to show that no matter what WWE does, you can't please the internet wrestling community and it's little wonder that they usually don't even try. Christian is involved in a high profile feud that has elevated him to the main event, where many feel he should have been years ago, is the reigning World Heavyweight Champion and is doing some of the best overall work of his entire career. Daniel Bryan wins a match that all but guarantees that he'll be a World Champion in the WWE eventually in what was genuinely shocking. CM Punk is the biggest star in the world at this point, he's also finally been elevated to that next level and is the central figure in the most talked about wrestling storyline, maybe, in years.

There's been excitement, intrigue, genuine surprise, a sense of unpredictability and downright fantastic wrestling action revolving around these three men. What more can anyone even remotely dream of asking for?

 

[ratedrdestiny]

Yeah I agree with you 100% people on here complain complain and complain. Now there are the few that actually have sense. I just learned to read what i see laugh, sometimes comment, and enjoy what's going on in wrestling right now. Mainly WWE

 

[Wonder]

I totally understand what you're saying. For the past 6 or 7 months, i've wondered how good would this year be for WWE and to the fans. To me, it's being great. Raw is delivering nicely, and Smackdown is a very interesting show. Almost every PPV has delivered with the exception of Over The Limit.

I also agree with what you said about those three man.

Since his return in February, Christian is having the push of his life, and by now, i can see, not only as an established main eventer, but also a credible World Heavyweight Championship. His match with Del rio was awesome, and the feud with Orton is being one of the best that Smackdown has seen since CM Punk and Hardy. I also have no complaints about his gimmick, and i actually like it. He's a smart calculating heel that does whatever he needs to do to be successful.

Daniel Bryan was kind of lost in Raw since January, but now, he's proving to be one of the top stars on Smackdown. Every match he wrestlers is entertaining, and he just needs to work a little bit on the mic, to be huge. I was hoping him to be Intercontinental Champion, but something even better happened, and he's now the Mr.Money In The Bank, with a guaranteed World Title match.

And CM Punk... what can i say, that hasn't been said before? He's the fuckin biggest star of the WWE right now.

All this, combined with Morrison being in the main event of two PPV's this year, the establishment of Sheamus on Smackdown's main event, an epic heel turn of R-Truth, the return of Jim Ross, and even Zack Ryder on TV, seems to been planned to not only please the general wrestling fans, but also the IWC. But, as always, there's something wrong... hey, i'm not saying that there are somethings that aren't perfect and could be perfect, but enjoy the most you can out of it. We had the best PPV in years and also a brutal storyline, and people are already bitching about it because "Punk returned to soon"...

Calm the fuck down and enjoy the ride. Well, that's what i am doing, anyway.

 

[yoshi_doce2006]

Agree 100%. People cry about Punk not getting his time then complain it isnt being done right and that he isn't a draw. Austin, Rock, Michaels, Nash, Hogan, Triple H, and yes, John Cena all took YEARS to break through. Punk is doing it in 5 years. ENJOY IT!

I was happy when Bryan Danielson won the Money in The Bank, hell Rey Mysterio is like a 3 time Champ and he is smaller, Shawn Michaels was all of 210 Pounds when he beat Bret Hart for his first reign. Let the guy build himself up and enjoy the build.

I have been pushing for Christian to get to this point for years. Not all heels are Kevin Nash and Goldberg. Do people forget Tully Blanchard, Bobby Heenan, Curt Hennig, William Regal. Gee wiz people, the thinking mans heel is just as good if you pay attention.

 

[Stuntz]

For the frist time that I can remember, I completely 100% agree with you Hammer. Whether Vince is doing it on purpose or not, he is giving the little guy the chance to prove themselves and letting them prove who can lead the E into the new decade. Hogan had the 80's, Hart the early 90's, Rock and Austin shared the reigns of the late 90s. And of coarse Cena has had the majority of the new millenia so far. All in all I am finally excited to tune in on Mondays and Fridays, and alot of it has to do with these guys.

 

[Cigarette]

I was surprised to see CM Punk return so soon, but I knew it was coming and I was happy with his return. Aswell with the return of JR and John Morrison. It was a great RAW and with the tv time that Zack Ryder got, hehe. And what's going to happen at Smackdown you won't see me bitching about it. I think there will be an angle for Survivor Series between HHH and VKM.

Even though, CM PUNK IS BAAAACK and I'm happy.

 

[TUFFY54]

It just has to do with the part of the IWC that LOVES to bitch about shit. When they can't bitch abut the same things anymore, they seem to get even madder.

 

[gunnascott]

We live in an ADHD society these days. The moment we see them and like them we automatically think that they should be Main Eventers not realizing that IWC and mainstream watchers are looking at 2 diff things. IWC is looking at overall talent and drive. Mainstream is looking at personalities overall

 

[Vega]

No, the way I see it, most people are more than pleased with the current direction of WWE, me included. I don't see a lot of people criticizing right now. Of course there will always be people who don't like what they see, but that's because the IWC is heterogeneous. When a band releases the best rock album ever, the rap fans are still not pleased, but the general music audience certainly is. Saying that "the IWC" is not happy right now is wrong in my opinion, because all in all it clearly seems to be.

Sure, some people love to critize every bit, but there are also people who love to criticize every criticism.

 

[blkshp]

Gotta agree with everyone on here, too many in the IWC are only interested in bitching and complaining, even when they get what they want. Its not just here though, its become an unfortunate part of American society: to complain about what can't be controlled (for example, the NFL lockout. Fans endlessly complained abt spoiled owners and players but fail to realize nobody put a gun to their head and made them buy tickets, jerseys or watch it on TV). Its great that the internet gives everyone a say, but smarks, haters and backseat writers/bookers are just going from mildly amusing to flat out annoying. Personally the WWE hasn't been this interesting in years.

 

[CaptainZaltan]

You can't please everyone. I think one of the problems with the mythical "IWC" is that there's a tendency to attribute individual opinions to the entire IWC, rather than the individual. And individually, it's impossible that any of us is ever going to be completely happy with the state of pro-wrestling, as it's meant to appeal to multiple demographics simoultaenously. I think most of the griping stems from that fact, and is largely harmless debate/posturing between people with varying minor annoyances. Sure, you're going to get some idiots that will bitch and complain about everything, but their opinions are just that; their own. Individually, they are to be expected. When you group all of the negatives together though, it creates an image of a loud, spoiled IWC that does nothing but bitch.

However, that's nothing exclusive to Wrestlezone. Mobs/groups are often defined by their loudest and most obnoxious members. Overall though, I think the vast majority of posters here are pleased with what the WWE has been doing lately; I know personally that many of my old wrestling-watching buddies have tuned back in for the first time in years, and are loving what they are seeing. It's best just to ignore the nitpicking and enjoy the ride.

 

[Magma101]

I'm liking this current direction aswell. I've been a big fan of both Bryan Danielson and Christian in the WWE. With Christian as World Champ, and Danielson Mr. Money in the Bank, I'm lovin it.

 

[WWEIsLife2]

The WWE has once again been on FIRE and I love freaking love it. Ive have always liked Christian since he Debuted in September 1998 and have liked CM Punk since he Debuted in August 2006,im glad they both are getting a chance to show what they can do in the Main Event scene now. Daniel Bryan getting a MITB and the chance of becoming a World Heavyweight Champion a year ago I would have said no way but is pretty awesome. I am enjoying the ride with HHH in charge of things and its going to be fun.

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

BUT ITZ NOT EXAKTLY HOW I WULD BOOK IT!!!! ITZ NOT HOW IT WUZ WHEN I WUZ A KID!!!! THERE AREN'T ENUFF MOOOOOVEZZ!!!!

Yea I totally agree here. The IWC (we really need to find ways to divide it, I'm gonna say bitchers and non-bitchers), the bitchers will always complain. They think it's cool to complain. In all actuality they probably like the show until they realize "o wait, it's not cool to like the WWE or Cena" and then they do the same recycled shit and parrot one another.

I think I should make my sig a few of my "bitchers logic trees" and so instead of saying "CM Punk isn't getting pushed right" or "fuckin John Cena and his 5 moves of doom" they can just copy and paste my logic trees because that's all they ever say.

 

[punkrules]

i love most of the current direction, christian as champ,punk at the top,bryan with the mitb are all great but i can't stand that mr. sellout the crock is in the main event at wrestlemania

 

[CJschad22]

Haha its about time somebody said this. I completely agree with you and honestly, I normally agree with just about everything you have to say. It seems that whenever somebody the IWC wants to be pushed, gets pushed, they immediately find something to hate about it and either despise the company more or actually turn on the wrestler and no longer sing their praises. This has happened with Christian, Bryan, Punk, and will probably happen with Zack Ryder if he actually ever does receive a push. People will probably say that he's too annoying now that we're actually seeing him more often or something along those lines. The IWC just needs to sit back and enjoy the great things the WWE is doing right now. I know, personally, that I'm more into wrestling right now than I've ever been and I applaud the WWE for that!

 

[madrox]

I have to agree Jack-Hammer although honestly, that's why whenever I make a comment on any wrestling related forum the past few years I do it hit and run style because whether it's the smarks who think they know everything about the business or the marks who cheer for the most stupid reasons, there's too much stupidity and complaining going on.

On Batista's board, me and my friends used to devote spare time we didn't have to make the place run smoothly and we used to think the majority of members were idiots because they'd cheer Cena for being the good guy and no specific reasons why they liked him. They'd actually cry and want to hurt Orton for "injuring" Batista. We'd post about indy guys like Danielson and others and Punk's older indy matches to let people know there's more to wrestling than the crap WWE feeds people but they'd go ignored.

Guess what?

Soon as those people debuted or turned face in WWE, those fans loved them, again, no reasoning, just did because they were "the good guys". These were members ranging from 14 years old to 45 years old in some cases.

Then on the other hand there was a major forum based on wrestling and the video games where smarks would literally wish death on people for being major stars. I said there in 2005 and repeated it in conversations with friends now and then since but they're the kind of fan that would demand Shelton Benjamin becomes WWE champ and get behind him as some kind of smark movement to look incredibly intelligent but the moment Shelton would've gotten the WWE title, those same fans would turn on him and despise him for being the top star.

I saw it more recently with everyone on the net hating Edge for taking the World title from Kane, hating that he was "holding back" Ziggler from breaking out as new World champ but then as soon as Edge retired, an influx of "Thank You Edge" signatures all over every wrestling forum as if they hadn't hated the guy's guts for months before.

 

[Skairipa Matrix]

YES! finally someone brings it up! most people on here bitch non stop! im prolly 1 of the few on here whos not a daniel bryan mark,zack ryder mark (or even a fan of the guy) but it seems like everyday theres a new thread about them! its like TAKE YOUR BITCHING SOMEWHERE ELSE! now im a huge morrison mark i admit tht and im a big cm punk fan but do any of yall see me bitching about either of them? nope on the impact wrestling side im a big fan of anderson and fortune do u see me bitching about them not being used right? nope its because nobody wants to read a post with someone bitching (ironic eh?)

 

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

I totally agree! While I'm really enjoying this year in WWE's brand of professional wrestling/ sport's entertainment, I know plenty of people that are still complaining about a lot of things.

Many people are complaining STILL about Christian getting screwed, even though it lead to him being a much more fierce chaser, which eventually lead to him getting the title back anyways! People are still whining about John Cena being WWE Champion and stepping over Rey Mysterio to get there, among others. He's the biggest thing in wrestling, and they are trying hard to get this CM Punk thing over. Mysterio was a transitional champ, because at this point he makes no sense to be in the title picture. Punk/Cena is where the immediate money is. The biggest, most common mistake is that there is still no WRESTLING in the WWE. I hear it every single day, and it drives me crazy. There was 50 minutes of wrestling on a 90 minute show this week, with two great title matches, and two decent mid-card matches. Last week was ALL wrestling, and Money in the Bank had ZERO promos. There has been almost a 30% increase in actual match times and in-ring fighting since WrestleMania. There is WAY more wrestling in the product than there was 6 months ago, and there is way more than there has been in a very long time. The roster is finally adapting and learning to work with each other very well, and we're getting solid matches almost every single week. All the PPV's have had at least 1 or 2 matches that were worth the buy...or torrent...or stream...or at least the time it took you to look it up on YouTube.

There is more wrestling, CM Punk is in the main event and might still be WWE CHampion, Triple H is back on television, Daniel Bryan is Mr. Money in the Bank, Christian got the belt back, Dolph Ziggler has kickin new theme music and is the current midcard champion of Raw, and the Usos are getting a title match this Friday... AND Ryder had a match on Raw... Why are people still complaining!?!

Wrestling is great people! John Cena's not even that bad if you just embrace who he is and go with the program!

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I came across this link a few minutes ago. It's the highlights of a recent interview Punk did with ESPN's Bill Simmons via podcast. http://www.prowrestling.net/artman/publish/WWE/article10019815.shtml

There's one part that really stuck out in which Punk definitely sounds like he's addressing the internet whining...umm..wrestling community:

"I think there's a lot of people out there who are very jaded and think the product hasn't been as good as it should be for a very long time," Punk said. "No matter what you give them, no matter how good it is, they're always going to be like, 'Well, they'll just ruin it next week or they're pushing this guy and he'll be in the doghouse next week.' I really just want to mess with everybody.

"I wish everybody would just sit back, shut up, and watch it unfold. I'm telling stories, and since about 2005, that's all I've said, I'm a storyteller. I think we're doing a great job so far. You can pick it apart and be an armchair booker and say what would be better and this and that, but until the tell-all book comes out, trust me, I'm dodging bullets and doing a very good job."

I think that pretty much says it all.

 

[RicoLen]

I can go back much earlier than just the last 2.5 months. I stopped watching, pretty much all together after 2004, I'd come back the night after wrestlemania to watch MNR and see if any big shakeups had happened that were interesting enough to keep me tuning in week after week and inevitably I'd stop watching again. And then I caught wind that Hulk Hogan was going to TNA and his first night was going to be on Monday night, and that WWE was going to have either Bret Hart or The Rock on that same night to combat this. Ever since then I've been watching more and more, and since The Rock's return this past February I've been watching loyally every Monday night (I'd watch smackdown too if I had Syfy). This CM Punk incident, and the things he's been saying and getting so over with the fans for, is nothing new to WWE heels, Jericho said them, The Miz said them, The Rock said them, but now Punk says them and suddenly he's a legend bound for the HoF. So many "fans" are just fickle little whiny haters. WWE has been steadily improving since Jan 4 2010, probably even before that, and I'll go even so far as to say that we have the PG-Era everyone hates so much to thank for it.