Rant Time: Team Priceless Got SCREWED.

[Frank the Frowner]

Last night on Raw, John Cena and Dave Batista ended the reign on Cody Rhodes and Ted Dibiase.

Once again, WWE creative screws over their young talent and their tag team division in order to get over a tired angle. Rhodes and Dibiase's reign was actually a month in the making to begin with, where they ran a very entertaining angle that had Ted Dibiase put himself in the tag title picture. The mystery of whoever his partner would be was entertaining, and although a lot of people saw the payoff coming where Rhodes would turn on Holly to team with Dibiase, it was still very well done. Especially when it looked like some legitimacy would be brought back to the the tag division. Here were two young stars. Cody had been a tag champ for quite a few months, and Dibiase was the son of the Million Dollar Man, and he had looked like he was growing into a good wrestler. They were also getting great heel heat. Both could cut a great promo, and they both had the personality of being the young, brash arrogant asshole. It worked, and they were getting the chance to shine in some pretty high profile matches. They were working out great in those spots.

When Batista and Cena vs. Team Priceless was announced, doom and gloom immediately came over me, but I had a feeling that somehow they'd pull it off, whether by DQ shenanigans, or an opponent miscommunication. I didn't think there would be any way that they'd go back to the tired "partners who don't like each other who wind up being tag champs" angle. Well, they did. It's bad enough that they're blowing Cena vs. Batista on a Summerslam, because they realized that neither Cena or Batista had a match booked. Now they're not only blowing the angle, but they're using the most tired idea to move the storyline. Meanwhile, in the process, two future main eventers who had incredible heel heat and were getting over get squashed.

Batista and Cena didn't need to win last night in order to move the storyline. If anything, a loss in that match, whether by DQ or a miscommunication would have brought even more heat between the two. They also wouldn't have to bury two young stars who had a major angle for the tag titles to begin with.

I hate WWE booking so much sometimes.

 

[I_Like_All_Wrestling]

I completely agree with this. I was like uh oh two main event guys who aren't getting along and are fighting at the next PPV, clearly they'll have to win the tag titles. How many times has this happened?

So now we'll have them defend it on the next 2 RAWs leading up to to Summerslam where they'll be reluctant to work with each other which will either end in them keeping the belts because "they're phenomenal competitors" or dropping the belts only because one left the other or turned on them.

Complete waste in my opinion.

 

[tap-out]

I'm still going to hold my oppinion on this. It did seemed really bizarre to start to build up Rhodes and DiBiase and then really just hault them. So because of this i expect to see them winning the straps back sometime after SS and some storyline coming out of this.

 

[Vintage Nick]

In a night of title matches galore, only one title switched hands: And that was the World Tag Team Championships. I can't believe that WWE did that, giving Cena and Batista the tag team belts because come on, it's just going to be HBK/Cena as World Tag Champs all over again. I was actually looking forward to Cryme Tyme getting their title shot or at least having Hardcore Holly get a revenge thing going on against Cody. Sadly, WWE sometimes just puts in big wastes. I somehow knew that Cena and Batista were going to win, but we have to look at logic: In real life, Cody and Ted would have been owned in a few mere minutes. We have two hulks that could probably pick up one of these guys with one hand versues new talent that probably doesn't have the strength to lift up guys like Cena or Batista. Anyways, I hope WWE knows where they're going with this..

 

[HellBoundPower]

I was pretty pissed off when I saw Batista hit the Batista Bomb on Dibiase for the win. I was hoping the whole match that Batista would turn on Cena and go heel, but it obviously never happened. This is a tired angle, and I'm sick of seeing it. Opponents at the next PPV winning the Tag Team Titles together has been used at least 4 times in the last 2 years. I don't see the point of it. All it does is stop the momentum of WWE's most promising rising team, just to give Batista and Cena another notch on their belts. Why they need the Tag Team Titles to feud with each other is beyond me. I just hope they drop them back to Rhodes and Dibiase in the next two weeks, with one of them turning on the other to bring heat to the feud. If not, I have lost all faith in the WWE Creative Team.

 

[Jappa121]

The WWE really needs to get there shit straight, they dont know how to push anyone but Cena, Batista, or HHH,

like what are they trying to do with Paul Burchill? seriously he hasnt won a match but they have him fight like he is a threat to anyone.

they just keep screwing cody and ted,

Kanes storyline isnt getting anytime at all,

At least they are trying to get different stuff going but they just cant resist ruining something by having batista and cena winning.

And on another note, what tag team can beat Cena and Batista? how are they going to lose the title without it being stripped from them or some rediculous handicap match...will they even defend it?

 

[Y 2 Jake]

It served no purpose what so ever. Batista vs. Cena didn't need building up anymore. It's one of those matches that would get people talking even if both pulled a Taker and didn't show up for weeks. Getting the titles off them and putting it on an odd couple team who won't defend them is pointless. They now have to find a way to get the titles off them without harming either Cena or Batista.

Cena is aligned with Cryme Tyme so having them win would have made slightly more sence. But still not much at all. It's not like Rhodes & Dibiase had become stale or used up all their options as champs.

 

[Davi323]

They lost the belts, so what? Its not as if Cena and Batista are gonna be hanging on to the belts for very long anyway...We have seen what happens when the co-holders of a tag team title are feuding with each other before...They will have a tag team title match, either before or after Summerslam, it really doesn't matter, one of them will walk out on the other, leaving him stranded, and their opponents will take advantage of the 2 on 1 situation to win the belts. This has been done a few times before, its fairly standard operating procedure. Maybe Rhodes and DiBiase win the titles back, (most likely) maybe its Cryme Time, (heel turn?) maybe its Santino and Beth Phoenix (that would be interesting)...point is, Batista and Cena aren't keeping the belts for very long at all. Neither Rhodes or DiBiase are being "screwed over". Titles in wrestling are just PROPS. Part of the scenery, part of the storyline, not a real indication of talent level.

 

[MisterRob]

I didn't watch the RAW main event for this very reason. I started watching the show, I was looking forward to watching the show, but I quickly realized that the WWE was going to do the same tired, weak thing they ALWAYS do and put the tag team championships on Batista and Cena. That's bullshit. Dibiase/Rhodes have yet to really get any real, credible push at all.. their reign never allowed them to shine or to be made to look like champions at all and then they get buried only a month or so into their reign and the titles are given to two people who don't need them in any way, for an angle that doesn't need the titles in any way, and something we've seen time after time after time. I was so annoyed I didn't watch the main event and turned RAW off before the end of the show, which is saying something. If Punk loses at Summerslam and gets buried too, and JBL (who has no right to be anywhere near the main event, especially a champion right now) any praise I gave the WWE about their new direction and them giving their young talent the opportunities I take back fully. The way Punk and Dibiase/Rhodes have been booked the past month has made them both look weak. I'm really disappointed with the Tag Team title switch and the only way the WWE could redeem themselves in any way would be to have Batista/Cena lose them right back to them before Summerslam or after.

 

[Beeyond_Good_and_Evil]

I love how the IWC always finds a way to complain especially when John Cena and Batista are involved. Right after the Main Event last night I said I can't wait to hear how many people complain about this. Admit it when you went to turn Raw on last night did you think that at the end of the night John Cena and Batista would walk out World Tag Team Champions it was very surprising and a great twist to the angle. I agree that this match should've been saved for mania but summerslam needs help. The card looks weak except for Hell in a Cell. They need at least one more money match. Cena and Batista will probably lose the titles right before Summerslam anyway so its irrelevant. I was a Big Rhodes/DiBiase fan myself. In a way they actually looked better last night then they have in awhile. What's bigger squashing two announcers. Or competing against Raw's best week after week. Last night they got a rub and in a couple weeks. They'll have their tag team titles back.

 

[AnthonyMango/NoFate007]

They lost the belts, so what? Its not as if Cena and Batista are gonna be hanging on to the belts for very long anyway...We have seen what happens when the co-holders of a tag team title are feuding with each other before...They will have a tag team title match, either before or after Summerslam, it really doesn't matter, one of them will walk out on the other, leaving him stranded, and their opponents will take advantage of the 2 on 1 situation to win the belts. This has been done a few times before, its fairly standard operating procedure. Maybe Rhodes and DiBiase win the titles back, (most likely) maybe its Cryme Time, (heel turn?) maybe its Santino and Beth Phoenix (that would be interesting)...point is, Batista and Cena aren't keeping the belts for very long at all. Neither Rhodes or DiBiase are being "screwed over". Titles in wrestling are just PROPS. Part of the scenery, part of the storyline, not a real indication of talent level.

I said the same thing in another thread (so naturally, I agree with this post lol). Batista may be turning heel now instead of Kane, so he walks out on Cena, who gets double-teamed by Rhodes/DiBiase, and they become two-time champions (Rhodes a third).

Was it necessary for Cena/Batista to win the titles? No. Does it help? A little. I think Batista will be turning heel soon and feuding with Cena primarily, while Punk deals with JBL and then Jericho. Batista loses at SummerSlam, gets angry, turns on Cena during a title match, Cena gets pissed, they have another match at another ppv (Unforgiven maybe).

In a way, I'm almost glad it happened. Losing to Cena and Batista isn't something that will bury Rhodes and DiBiase. If they were to lose to Santino/Beth, then they would look horrible. They weren't really set up for many challengers, either, except for Cryme Tyme, who would be suited to take the titles from them, ending it quickly anyway. I'd rather them stall it and make them lose the titles a few months from now than to just have Cryme Tyme win it at Summerslam and that's it, you know? They need some time to add more tag teams that can compete with these two. Maybe this little hiatus will be able to open up some flexibility. Nonetheless, I can't see Cena/Batista lasting long before they drop the titles back to Priceless.

 

[D.I.S 202]

Putting the titles on Batista and John Cena was an unnecessary move on wwe's part because its basically a repeat of the Cena/Shawn Micheals storyline last year and the match at Summerslam didn't need any help drawing buys. But Rhodes and Dibiase losing the titles isn't the end of the world for them since they once again got main event Raw again and they will most likely get the titles back once summerslam is over. If anything them feuding with Cena and Batista for the tag belts will help them in the long run.

 

[Frank the Frowner]

I love how the IWC always finds a way to complain especially when John Cena and Batista are involved.

It just so happens that I'm a Cena fan... not at all of Batista. The brilliant thing about this place is that we can, you know, give our opinion why the booking sucked.

Right after the Main Event last night I said I can't wait to hear how many people complain about this. Admit it when you went to turn Raw on last night did you think that at the end of the night John Cena and Batista would walk out World Tag Team Champions it was very surprising and a great twist to the angle.

The only reason I was surprised was because I didn't think that they'd actually do the same tired angle that they're doing again, this time with Batista and Cena. I guarantee you that in some way, shape, or form, you're going to see partners who have animosity against each other booked to be tag champions at least one more time in the next couple of years. Taking it at face value, how could you not be surprised that they won?

I agree that this match should've been saved for mania but summerslam needs help. The card looks weak except for Hell in a Cell. They need at least one more money match.

There are a few different ways that they could have gone, but we're not here to play fantasy booker. They decided to do the exact same thing TNA did with Joe vs. Angle that fucked over their feud so badly. They blew their load early instead of doing a slow build. People stopped caring about Joe vs. Angle a couple of months in, and the same thing is going to happen with Batista/Cena. Wrestlemania buyrates would have been astronomical if the first encounter between the two, booked with plenty of time to build it up, had taken place there.

Cena and Batista will probably lose the titles right before Summerslam anyway so its irrelevant. I was a Big Rhodes/DiBiase fan myself. In a way they actually looked better last night then they have in awhile. What's bigger squashing two announcers. Or competing against Raw's best week after week. Last night they got a rub and in a couple weeks. They'll have their tag team titles back.

It depends on what happens with how they book things from here on out... it wouldn't make too much sense to drop the titles next week. They're going to get the Summerslam match and most likely one more at Unforgiven. Maybe they'll lose them by then, but in order for Rhodes/Dibiase to win, it has to be under circumstances that won't be too credible of a win for them, which is a shame.

 

[Dark Blaze]

Normally, I'd have been right there with you ranting and raving, but though this tag-title was COMPLETELY unnecessary, the good thing is that WWE actually made Di-rhodes look credible, they had a great outing against two of the best right now, if that isn't getting a rub, then what is.

And though it came at a wrong time, with them barely being a month into their reign and not having had any feud against any tag team. It allows them to win their titles back from Cena-'Tista, giving them another substantial rub which could actually make the tag-team division look credible. Imagine that.

 

[klunderbunker]

This to me is just proof that WWE knows they messed up with Batista and Cena by hotshotting it. There's no need to put the tag belts on them for an added angle. This match should be the Main event of Wrestlemania. Summerslam is s show worthy of this match, but not with 3 weeks buildup. The only good thign I saw last night was that there wasn't a squash match to change the titles. Priceless controlled the match for the most part until the end. There was no clean way for them to win, plain and simple, so this was the best case scenario for them. I'm not crazy about it, but it could be far worse.

 

[MattJay177]

I know this probably won't happen but I would enjoy it if it actually did lol...let's say WWE wants to save Cena vs. Tista for WM sooo they get Rhodes and Dibiase to get their rematch at SS. Keep the storyline going with Cena and Batista so they can fight at WM

 

[Suneeboy]

I am with the OP on this one. They shouldn't have dropped the titles IMO. I was really looking forward to a Cryme Tyme vs. Priceless match as SS, but I guess it will have to wait. Why do they have the titles though? This shit just pisses me off the more I think about it.

They do this stupid enemies having to co-exist as tag champs angle EVERY year...they just did it on Smackdown with MVP and Hardy! They didn't even wait a full year to do it again. This shit is just tired, tired, tired, tired. I'm sick of Batista vs. Cena already and they haven't even fought yet! I'm just sick of them both when they are in the same angle and cutting promos together. Batista has to turn heel because both of them as faces cutting face promos is annoying as hell!!!!

I'm just pissed off thoroughly because the only thing I have to look forward to at summerslam is hell in a cell and personally punk vs. jbl. I personally like JBL's work and I think he works well with Punk IMO.

 

[Big Fella]

I know this probably won't happen but I would enjoy it if it actually did lol...let's say WWE wants to save Cena vs. Tista for WM sooo they get Rhodes and Dibiase to get their rematch at SS. Keep the storyline going with Cena and Batista so they can fight at WM

I don't really think it is possible to hold off Cena/Batista for 7 more months at this point.

The only way it could work would be to slowly fizzle out this current feud, take the tag belts seriously and hold onto them for 5 or 6 months. Have them drop them in controversial fashion re-starting the feud. But that won't happen.

 

[bladews]

Dibiase & Rhodes will probably end up winning them back, I would say its just a set up to get them more over as a tag team, batista & cena can lose them without it affecting them purely because they don't get on etc, & it wouldnt hurt Dibiase & Rhodes picking up the win whatever the circumstances, having said that I'm pretty sick of the tag team division at the moment though (or lack of), I miss the days of the dudleys, Hardyz, Edge & Christian etc. why can't they make the tag division great again? they have tons of underused talent but would rather do their same tedious promos on the same characters, all the time! come on.....lol get the tag division going properly guys!

 

[atomikenrtia]

Why do you guys keep saying the Batista vs Cena match needs to happen at WrestleMania? Is it solely because of the massive buy-rate that would occur for the PPV?

If so, I agree.

If it's for any other reason - then in my opinion, these are the 2 men that I would keep 500 miles from a main event at WrestleMania. No matter what the circumstances are.

Unless I am the only person who feels that neither Cena nor Batista can wrestle, and that this match could easily be outdone by Mae Young vs a bottle of geritol.

just my opinion

 

[Crimson Bonez]

Was it really that serious that we get "Screw WWE", "What the hell this is why I hate WWE", and blah blah blah. Did Cena and Batista need the tag titles, no. Did they squash Dibiase and Rhodes, uuhhh no. Who saw a squash match? I surley didnt. I saw two of the younger generation of up-and-coming stars, stand-up and do pretty good agaisnt two of the MainEventers on Raw. Just cause they don't win, does that mean they didn't put them over? I surley don't think so.
This could actually lead to some good storylines. Team Priceless are obviously getting the titles back, and they have to beat Cena and Batista to do it. Is that bad booking to have the two youngsters beat two ME?? I don't think so. Priceless, would indeed build up some heat fueding with these two, is that bad bookings? I dont think so. During the rematch, it would be a great way to bring back Orton. I'm not saying this will bring back Evolution (as I explained in the Evolution thread why), but Orotn and Cena have a common enemy, and goal, Take out Cena, is that bad booking leading to so good classic fueds AWAY FROM THE TITLE, is that bad booking? I don't think so. Cryme Tyme backs up Cena's lost and they go after Team Priceless leading to some good tag-team fueds, is that bad bookings? I don't think so.

Do Cena and Batitsta need the titles to progress their fued? Not at the moment no, but this could lead up to some good classic times in WWE.

 

[Frank the Frowner]

Why do you guys keep saying the Batista vs Cena match needs to happen at WrestleMania? Is it solely because of the massive buy-rate that would occur for the PPV?

Well to be honest, it's the only real marquee match that hasn't taken place yet. Wrestlemania is the Super Bowl of the WWE.

Both guys have been the flagship of Raw and Smackdown, respectively, over the last couple of years. Both are majorly over huge with the crowds, and they're both former multiple time World Champions.

It doesn't matter that Cena may not be the greatest wrestler in the world, or that Batista is one of the worst all-around wrestlers on the roster, they're majorly over. And that's why I feel that having Team Priceless drop the tag titles to them was such a big mistake. They didn't need a tag title reign, where they're both over so much with the crowd. A miscommunication or even a DQ would have gotten Dibiase and Rhodes over.

Rhodes and Dibiase had major buildup for this reign, and it was sunk in an instant. They didn't even get to have a real actual feud for the titles, and that's what makes me upset the most.

 

[The Dungeon]

I'm so friggin tired of the "Wacky Mismatched Partners Who Hate Each Other" storyline, winning the Tag Belts! This is one of the many reasons, the Tag Division is in such disarray as it is! Do you realize, what a WIN in that long TV match would've done for Rhodes & Dibiase, it would've gotten them over HUGE! Getting a win on "Raw" over two of the biggest strars in the company! That's no small feat. But no, we have to give the two babyfaces who hate each other the belts! Sorry, but this just doesen't fly with me. Mainly because, THEY DON'T NEED TO DO IT! This is another reason why they're struggling to build new, young, and affective talent, and when they start too, they NEVER do anything with them! Do Batista & Cena need to win the Tag Belts to further there feud?? NO! Did Warrior & Hogan need to win them to further there feud? NO! Hart & Bulldog? NO! Bret & Diesel? NO! Shawn & Bret? NO! Shawn & Sid? NO!

This whole thing started with Shawn & Austin, but that was a feud thrown together because Bret & Shawn's match at KOTR didn't happen. And back then, I'll admit, it was a novel concept, and it's not as if Owen & The Bulldog (whom they beat), weren't already established. Then the next year we get it with Austin & 'Taker, some feel that was uneccesarry, but again, it's not as if Kane & Mankind weren't established, and it fit in with the storyline. Since then, the storyline, be it main eventers or not....has just become dry! They've used the storyline in many mid-card situations, and it just does nothing for me in that aspect as well. But when they use it there, it's tolerable, but when it's two main eventers who don't need it (neither did Cena or Michaels IMO), it's just uneccesarry.

Here's what I mean by young talent getting buried....In the span of a month Kenny Dykstra (still part of the Spirit Squad at the time), in the span of a month, main evented Raw's against, John Cena, Shawn Michaels & Triple H.....and Spirit Squad in general main evented Raw's from the end of April until the beginning of June. Sure, while they may have been annoying, the young guys were getting there chance, and Kenny was being pushed as a big star. It was going far, and even got a win out of Ric Flair out of it, only to be buried shortly after for reasons I don't understand still to this day.

As for the rest of "Raw", Punk continues to be killed, and we get the match that the world ISN'T clamouring to see as a result! I think Punk/Jericho would be LIGHTYEARS better, in terms of buildup, and a match! I think Punk should've at LEAST survived the 10 minutes, and make a 3-way dance. What the hell is Jericho supposed to do now at Summerslam? He's the hottest heel on "Raw" (IMO), and he has no match?

I quite enjoyed the concept of the Mickie/Kofi vs. Santino/Beth feud being built up!

For a second I thought Shawn was about to lose his smile again......

The Kane thing is becoming increasingly un-interesting....and the fact that they've killed Punk to make Kane look scary for the last few weeks...and not even have him in the main event picture....is rediculous, and even hurts Punk more!

 

[bunnyman1985]

is it me or am i seeing de ja vu again.
coz im sure if my memory is correct but im sure ive seen this scenario done just 18 months ago. with cena an hbk 2 faces headlining wm23 a couple weeks b4 wm23 they were put in a tag title match an what happened they won the tag titles.
then they went in2 wm23 as tag champs an cena won.
then the next nite they ran a tag gauntlet an hbk turned on cena an they lost the tag titles.
Are we gonna see history repeat itself 18 months later but this time with the animal batista being the heel in the tag team.

other then that.
my dream tag team in the attitude era was to off seen stone cold an the rock as tag champs
an now 9/10 years later
we have batista an cena as a so called "dream tag team"

 

[My$terio_Fan]

Hopefully this will only help team "priceless" in the end. If they can win the titles back from Batista & Cena it could make them and the whole tag team division(cryme time, highlanders, ?) somewhat credible. But in the end they could pin Cena clean and it still wont help the tag team division if the whole division "sucks".