So the Firing Angle was for.. no reason?

[JDHale]

Am I right?

I was trying to figure out what exactly the Firing Angle did and what the benefits were that came with it and I struggled. Now before you say that the ending to Raw was the best thing since (enter random date or sliced bread here), it didn't need the firing angle to come off. It could have been Cena vs Rollins, Big Show and Kane and if Cena didn't win they were fired, and if anyone attempted to interfere they were fired on the spot. That still allows for Sting to come out for the distraction and the same large reaction as the trio didn't lose their jobs. It seems pointless to me. The only reason I see it being useful being a deluded Ziggler fan was that it was to take the IC Championship off of him, make the heart grow fonder of him due to the absence and then him to return and win the Rumble match with a ton of momentum behind him, but even I know there's more of a chance of me learning to levitate before such a scenario takes place. Anyone got any suggestions as to the purpose of the Firing Angle? Obviously there are more things I haven't wrote about, but that's because the list of reasons they chose to do the angle all have a much more easier way to go around it in terms of what I thought of. Any thoughts please let me know! Do you think the Firing Angle was pointless or not?

 

[Zycho32]

As much as I hate to tell a deluded Ziggler fan this, Zig's little more than a MacGauffin as far as the firing angle went. He and Ryback and Rowan.

For some reason they had to hotshot the Authority back into power before the Road to Wrestlemania, and for evil douchebag regimes, that sort of comeback is immediately followed by smearing everyone that EVER crossed them into the proverbial mud. Hence their ceremonial 'firing' of the three guys who actively OPPOSED them, and pining all that on the remaining guy who they won't fire without getting that Royal Rumble match out of him first. Basically it's a John Cena vs. the Authority angle and your boy was a mere footnote. That's what these tired assholes do now, dontchaknow?

Could it have been written differently? Well shoot, I wanted a WAR, but that's neither here nor there. I DO think the least Ziggler could have gotten was the Main Event of that Raw, where he gets blown out and destroyed, and maybe have everyone else on his side turn the whole mess into a donnybrook, and THEN have everybody be fired as a result.

 

[George Steele's Barber]

It was used to further Sting and to try to entertain. Kind of a shame but apparently WWE feels they need to continue to build Sting and his tension with HHH. Short of some on air Tweets the, three guys that were victims of the firing were no more than pawns who really didn't get anything out of it.

However if anyone suffered for it, it was Cena. He came off looking like a fool. Winning by distraction/roll up despite the odds is still winning by distraction/roll up.

Oh, and did you see the pics of that kid at ringside getting his face crewed off by HHH? That was crazy.

 

[L@RISANO]

I said in an earlier thread I created that the Survivor Series stuff was just filler and nothing that has happened since then has made me believe otherwise.


The firing angle was done to get Ryback, Rowan and Ziggler off of TV and add some sort of continuity for that SS angle and close that chapter off...the only meaningful aspect of Survivor Series actually is Sting and nothing more, lMO, in terms of meaningful storyline build, even John Cena has been treated as somewhat of an afterthought towards 'defeating' the Authority again...


I am as excited for Sting's debut as much as anyone on here, however, I would have rather had a Full-Time talent be the one to knock Triple H and the Authority out of power... someone like Reigns, Ambrose would have benefitted big time from doing something like that.


However, I understand that Sting needs a Big Name to go up against and with Taker unlikely after last year, and practically no one else besides Lesnar... Triple H is the only guy left for Sting to go against in his debut match.

 

[Kamala316]

When has a firing angle ever heard up? Cena got fired a few years ago, only to be brought back the next week or two (I don't recall the exact timing). It just sucks that they ran a "big" angle like this at one of their "big 4" PPV's, only to pretty much erase it 2-3 weeks later. But storylines get erased/ditched in WWE all the time. Anonymous GM? Vince's paternity suit? What annoys me is that the only program currently being given any amount of planning is the Authority storyline. And at the end of it all last Monday, whose storyline gets pushed out of all of this? HHH. In the meantime, Creative has nothing for the other members of the roster, the rest of the show was thrown together. So to answer the question, the firing angle was essentially done to add to the allure of a Sting-HHH match at WrestleMania. This is the exact reason why I am happy that Vince continues to stay in charge: because HHH can't put his ego aside.

 

[JoeFromTomsRiver]

As has been pointed out, the entire angle was for the purpose of having Sting once again screw up the Authority's plans.

The "firing" didn't hurt any of the guys. In reality, I'm sure they appreciated being off the road for a little bit. Ziggler certainly deserves some paid time off. It didn't really do anything for their characters, but I also don't see a negative.

 

[MERPER]

The firing angle is for no reason at all times. A way to create "drama" for anyone who doesn't know it's not real while letting certain wrestlers have some time off.

Ryback and Ziggler, in particular, had been working a ton to make up for others being absent and were in for a few weeks or R&R before the build up to WrestleMania.

 

[ColeMc]

I am 100% sure that this firing angle was to give Ziggler some time off before the WM season kicks in. We know with his injury record that pushing him week-in, week-out might have seen a longer layoff, and he had been keeping up a grueling schedule prior to the angle.

Like giving HHH and Steph some time off over Xmas, the angle is to just to cover a nice holiday.

 

[blueskyy]

I do agree with the OP. I actually have thought about that myself too, and here's how I reasoned:

1. They already had plans for Sting when they did the firing angle.
2. They wanted to give those guys (as MERPER mentioned, Ziggler and Ryback, especially) some time off which they so richly deserved (though whether it's the smart thing to do is another thing).
3. They are drawing a blank in the creative department and that was the easiest thing to do.

 

[bioshock]

All I know is they made the whole thing revolve around Cena like usual. Heck they could of at least turned the 3 guys into a stable, maybe even throw out their real names when they come in thru the crowd, do their thing like they aren't employed like NWO did upon joining WCW. Instead it was all about Cena and Triple H.

Lets not forget this follows up another useless storyline of the Authority being "fired" for a whole month. Storylines that could of been long played out great storylines instead are forgotten after another week.

 

[Navi]

It was the lessar of two evils, and got the job done relatively quickly and without a lot of fuss and bother.

We knew the Authority would punish them, and the word suspension's were thrown around, but when someone is suspended, kind of hard to un-suspend them. So firing them for a week or so and making Cena suffer too, was the best and quickest way to solve the whole drama.

Now we can get onto another round of bullshit with HHH and Stephanie hogging the spotlight for another few months.

 

[MartialHorror]

It was about as pointless as the 'End of the Authority' angle. WWE has no patience these days. This is why continuity is so fucked up, like having Big Show 'fired' so shortly after having that iron clad contract. Or having Triple H being okay with Rollins diva behavior, despite taking issue with Orton for displaying a similar attitude- and Randy won more than Rollins has.

They only think in terms of short term concept, meaning most stories feel unsatisfying. Isn't this the kind of shit Russo was notorious for?

 

[Mustang Sally]

We can debate the purpose of the angle and which performer suffered or benefited most from it, but the most ironic aspect is that the ones not affected at all were the three guys who were fired. That's funny; in most pro wrestling angles of the past, the ones who would draw the most discussion and possible sympathy would be the guys who lost their jobs, right?

Not today. I guess the Internet has taken a lot of the mystery out of these storylines.....and there isn't anyone who actually believed these guys weren't going to work for WWE anymore, was there?

I was halfway expecting the three of them to come to the ring after Cena won the match, as illogical as it would be that they were in the arena at all. That would give the fans an immediate cause to cheer like hell for their triumphant return. Instead, we'll probably watch them come back in individual matches on the next Smackdown and Raw. We'll cheer their return.....and that'll be the end of it.

The purpose of the whole angle might have been to kick-start some interest in Sting, presuming they want to build something for him at WM31. It also might have been a vehicle for Cena to make right what went wrong, especially after having lost to Rollins the week before, an event which surprised me.

But let's not forget the inclusion of Brock Lesnar in the angle. The indecency of five guys going against Cena might (or might not) stir fan interest, but the sight of Brock inserting himself in the action.....with the intention of running down Seth Rollins.....not John Cena.... could have been accomplished in any number of ways, but the firing angle might have been designed strictly with Brock's surprising actions in mind, thereby explaining and justifying it.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I don't get what's to complain about here. The firing angle builds sympathy for the babyfaces who were unjustly fired, it ties in some continuity with Survivor Series and it was a means of getting Sting to debut on Raw in order to screw up the plans of The Authority. People've wanted Sting to debut on Raw, it happened. They want a reason for why he & Triple H will go at it at WrestleMania, they're getting it. Fans sometimes want a memorable and unforeseen moment, and they got it with Sting's surprise appearance. Plus, it was all done really without any big, overly complicated ballyhoo, which is a nice change of pace for the WWE's main roster. It was simple, quick, easy, didn't drag on for forever and was executed in a memorable way. Yay, simple storytelling.

I will agree that, again, Vince have to have John Cena play the hero and it's a bit that's getting old with some viewers. However, on the bright side, at least Vince didn't have Cena go all Superman and essentially blow through The Authority's current golden boy and its two heavies as though they were nothing.

 

[JDHale]

I don't get what's to complain about here. Plus, it was all done really without any big, overly complicated ballyhoo, which is a nice change of pace for the WWE's main roster. It was simple, quick, easy, didn't drag on for forever and was executed in a memorable way. Yay, simple storytelling.

Your parts here proves that I wasn't clear at all with what I was trying to say, and that's my bad! Where you see it as a simple, quick and easy story is what I was meaning to question, because to me everything that's resulted from the Firing Angle was possible without the angle actually taking place and just seems to me that they actually did over-complicate it. I feel that all that's come from the angle was the ending of Raw, which albeit memorable, could have just as easily been done without the three being fired in the first place. I don't want it to seem like I'm complaining though, I just find it funny that they went through all the effort that they did for no reason in the end (that I can see). but then again they might have started off with a different direction with this angle then changed it which would explain why it had no purpose in the end (again, that I can see)

We knew the Authority would punish them, and the word suspension's were thrown around, but when someone is suspended, kind of hard to un-suspend them. So firing them for a week or so and making Cena suffer too, was the best and quickest way to solve the whole drama.

Now we can get onto another round of bullshit with HHH and Stephanie hogging the spotlight for another few months.

Suspensions weren't the way to go for sure. In terms of HHH and Stephanie hogging the spotlight again, at least this time around we know it's going to be leading to at least one positive thing being Sting vs Trips (unless you don't want to see that match then I'm very sorry aha)

We can debate the purpose of the angle and which performer suffered or benefited most from it, but the most ironic aspect is that the ones not affected at all were the three guys who were fired. That's funny; in most pro wrestling angles of the past, the ones who would draw the most discussion and possible sympathy would be the guys who lost their jobs, right? Not today. I guess the Internet has taken a lot of the mystery out of these storylines.....and there isn't anyone who actually believed these guys weren't going to work for WWE anymore, was there?
The purpose of the whole angle might have been to kick-start some interest in Sting, presuming they want to build something for him at WM31. It also might have been a vehicle for Cena to make right what went wrong, especially after having lost to Rollins the week before, an event which surprised me.
But let's not forget the inclusion of Brock Lesnar in the angle. The indecency of five guys going against Cena might (or might not) stir fan interest, but the sight of Brock inserting himself in the action.....with the intention of running down Seth Rollins.....not John Cena.... could have been accomplished in any number of ways, but the firing angle might have been designed strictly with Brock's surprising actions in mind, thereby explaining and justifying it.

You had some pretty amazing points! In terms of the three getting nothing from it is something I guess we'll have to wait and see, but at the moment it does seem like they were unaffected. Whether the Internet was the factor I'm not sure, as I still think the firing angle works for people who aren't in the know, although that's mostly children I guess so we don't get much from it. In terms of Sting and Cena, I still feel that could have been done with their jobs on the line instead of for their jobs if that makes sense? Regardless, your point on Lesnar is one I hadn't thought much about. You're entirely right, and to add to your point I guess having the three off of tv meant no one else really could go after Rollins on Raw with Reigns distracted by Big Show and Ambrose mulling about. Thanks a bunch!

 

[kadroan]

Am I right?

I was trying to figure out what exactly the Firing Angle did and what the benefits were that came with it and I struggled. Now before you say that the ending to Raw was the best thing since (enter random date or sliced bread here), it didn't need the firing angle to come off. It could have been Cena vs Rollins, Big Show and Kane and if Cena didn't win they were fired, and if anyone attempted to interfere they were fired on the spot. That still allows for Sting to come out for the distraction and the same large reaction as the trio didn't lose their jobs. It seems pointless to me. The only reason I see it being useful being a deluded Ziggler fan was that it was to take the IC Championship off of him, make the heart grow fonder of him due to the absence and then him to return and win the Rumble match with a ton of momentum behind him, but even I know there's more of a chance of me learning to levitate before such a scenario takes place. Anyone got any suggestions as to the purpose of the Firing Angle? Obviously there are more things I haven't wrote about, but that's because the list of reasons they chose to do the angle all have a much more easier way to go around it in terms of what I thought of. Any thoughts please let me know! Do you think the Firing Angle was pointless or not?

I don't think it was pointless. It was different than last year's major storyline going into WrestleMania, The Authority vs. Bryan. I think the Firing storyline is a long-term plan by the writers to make WrestleMania special.

Ziggler: Similar to what Bryan went through in late 2013/early 2014 chasing the WWE WHC, Ziggler is experiencing the same. Facing adversity in keeping the IC title, first losing to Harper due to The Authority, now BNB. When Ziggler gets another opportunity to win the title back, i'm sure it'll be on a bigger stage than his home town at TLC, what's bigger than WrestleMania which will make his win even more special.

Ryback: He was on a roll going into Survivor Series, however, he wasn't the last man standing at Survivor Series but he managed to get vengeance against Kane and go after Rusev, the guy who eliminated him. If they choose to resume the feud between the two, he could be the guy who beats Rusev at WrestleMania if they don't go with the rumored Cena/Rusev match.

Rowan: He's screwed regardless. They don't seem to trust him to ever win.

 

[ColeMc]

Well the firing angle got Ryback a huge pop and he was great on the mic tonight. That whole "Everything I've been fighting for since I was 12" line went over really well.

I think this guy is really coming along. Not sure where he'll settle, if he can main event a PPV, but certainly he hasn't peaked yet.