Team Bring It at Survivor Series?

[THTRobtaylor]

Most have now seen The Rock's shock return to interrupt Rusev and Lana last night.

It was important for a number of reasons, partially cos it could be seen as a "make up" to the Russian fans for the slight last week... As silly as these things always sound, if it's your flag, you're gonna be annoyed.

But it raises an interesting question, and that Lana now seems to be continuing the feud via Twitter makes it more pressing.

Could we see Rock vs Rusev at Survivor Series?

Traditionally, Survivor Series is a PPV Dwayne loves to work, at one point it was considered "his PPV" and a lot of his major successes have come there. He debuted there. More recently, he has been able to work tag matches there as part of his "change up" for Mania.

Whilst a one on one one match is highly unlikely, I do think this year we may see a big 5 on 5 Survivor match and after last night the logical way to present it is, Team Rusev vs Team Bring It.

The benefits for WWE is they can get Rock in a match with some of their up and comers, in fact up to another 9 of them. It's a great way to build credibility for a good number of younger talents all at once, those teaming with and those facing him. From Rock's point of view, he can wrestle a shorter segment of the match, minimising risk but still claim a full pay day. Indeed this could even deflect if Brock isn't on the show.

I think it could break down something like this...

Rock proposes the match after interfering on Rusev at HIAC, either getting Rusev the win via DQ/saving Big Show from the Accolade.

The teams then break down something like:-

Rusev, Cesaro, The Dusts and a mystery partner
Rock, Big Show, The Usos and Adrian Neville (would be a big "coup" for NXT) except Neville actually ends up on Team Rusev as part of his heel turn.

That then leaves the mystery partner for Team Rock on the night... it's a perfect way to either debut Sting or for a Kurt Angle return.

For Rusev, it means he gets to be "last man" against the Rock and perhaps Sting or Angle... Say Rusev makes the Rock just about tap or pass out to the Accolade when not the legal man only for Kurt to put him straight in the Angle Lock and make him tap..

A loss to Rock or Angle or both in a Survivor setting wouldn't hurt Rusev... particularly if it shouldn't "stand" in their eyes... they can talk about the great "injustice" etc... and take it all the way to Mania where you either get a one on one Angle or one on one Rock match vs Rusev...

What do you think? Would this be "best for business?" I think it'd sell a shit load of buys/subs, more than what is potentially out there at the moment.

 

[WBL]

Once again, there's really no way this could be best for business. Once again, like with the Austin rumors, like with Brock being the WWE champ, like with Batista coming back, etc, it's another case of, instead of trying to cultivate and help put over new talent to try to break the bottleneck on the company currently, it's just dragging back old stars from the past. Anyone who's really a fan of The Rock and wants to see this knows there's no way he's going to job clean to Rusev... and if he was, that would be an epic rub. Why waste it on a one-trick pony like Rusev when there are so many other upper-mid carders who could use that rub?

If Rock goes over Rusev, it's just another ego boost and movie promotion for The Rock.

If it's Rusev over Rock, it's a massive epic push given to a guy who doesn't deserve it.

There's no way this could be a good thing.

 

[THTRobtaylor]

I admit, Batista never crossed my mind but makes a good deal of sense if Angle isn't ready or Sting is set on one match... the "Hollywood Dream Team" might well work as a tag team main event against Rusev and Miz as well as a mystery opponent.

 

[Michael J. Fox]

No. The Rock didn't "return", he "made a special appearance". If you return you're staying for a while; Rock was coincidentally in town the same night as RAW so they capitalized. It was awesome, however I doubt it'll progress to a future match.

 

[sMark]

Rock vs Rusev sure can work, but booking team need to think twice before doing it and where they will go from there. Waste Rusev right now is stupid.
They don't need teams, these 8 guys can be used on making undercard better.

Angle & Sting being on Rock's team is a waste. Rock can sell this match on his own. Sting should sell WM tickets and Angle should help with Royal Rumble if Bryan is not ready yet.

 

[MC_Live]

You lost me at Neville heel turn. I think it's doubtful we see Rock wrestle before Mania. I think it's doubtful we see Rock wrestle at or after Mania. But if he were to wrestle at Survivor Series, it would be cool to see Team Rock vs. Team Rusev. Up until the Neville thing you had me. Adrian Neville should never, ever, EVER turn heel. His moves are baby face moves, and they're the only reason to watch him. He's not a great mic guy, so his draw is his crazy flips. And crazy flips are 110% baby face.

Next... how does one book a double mystery partner? If it happened as you say, and Neville, or anyone else who actually could turn heel, like a Sheamus, switched sides, when? If it isn't before the PPV, it would be mid match. And if it was mid match you can't just replace the guy on the other team. It wouldn't be legal. If Sting or Angle came down mid match, they wouldn't just be able to tag in and join Rock's team. That would be outside interference, as they weren't officially added to the match at any point. Unless an Authority figure did it, which would't make sense given all the authority figures on screen now are heels.

Also, I don't like Sting in this scenario. Having Rock's return match, and it would likely be Sting's debut match, just seems like overkill. If Sting ever wrestles for WWE, he only has a limited number of matches left. He should always be the focus of his matches. Sting vs. whoever. Not an additional thought, like The Rock with Sting vs. blah blah blah. However, if it were Kurt Angle, I would buy it, only if Angle returned beforehand. Kurt Angle's return to WWE PPV is something you promote, not spring on the fans as a surprise. But, if Angle were in this hypothetical match, that would't be a bad idea to set up an Angle Rusev feud.

Nice fantasy booking. Sadly, I don't think it'll happen. But hey, maybe we will see Rock vs. Rusev at Mania, one never knows.

 

[THTRobtaylor]

I use Neville as a placeholder example... it could easily be a Sheamus or Luke Harper in there... but the idea they could use it to pop a debut is sound - Rock himself debuted that way, so it would make sense he might pick a "new star".

Neville will end up a heel and with a manager, either Christian, Heyman or the like... or teaming with Barrett. The idea itself isn't terrible, just needs the right person to make it work.

WWE can do surprise returns and a double mystery/shock turn would work fine. Indeed one idea for Survivor Series if all the matches were 5 on 5 is the wildcard concept, where each team gets a "random" person.

If Angle or Sting did take someones place it wasn't "legal" who cares? All they do is say to Rock "if you can find another partner at this short notice..." and then "no one in the WWE wants the job cos it might damage your career", and it's done... and if it leads to Rusev's first loss it's just more fuel for the fued as "it wasn't fair...perfect heel fodder".

A shock substitution for a BIG name has been done before... indeed Savage's "return" from commentary was like this - replacing Mr. Perfect in 1993...

 

[George Steele's Barber]

Most have now seen The Rock's shock return to interrupt Rusev and Lana last night.

It was important for a number of reasons, partially cos it could be seen as a "make up" to the Russian fans for the slight last week... As silly as these things always sound, if it's your flag, you're gonna be annoyed.

Are you saying that the WWE paid The Rock to make an appearance to appease Russians? That sounds like quite a reach.

But it raises an interesting question, and that Lana now seems to be continuing the feud via Twitter makes it more pressing.

Could we see Rock vs Rusev at Survivor Series?

Hey WBL, you see that part of the topic was whether or not we would see the The Rock in the future and The guy with Parkinson's was basically saying "no".

To answer the question, I would also say "no". The Rock is very busy and just happened to be in the same town on the same night. Putting him in a match with Rusev in November probably won't meet The Rock's schedule and his cost.

Traditionally, Survivor Series is a PPV Dwayne loves to work, at one point it was considered "his PPV" and a lot of his major successes have come there. He debuted there. More recently, he has been able to work tag matches there as part of his "change up" for Mania.

Whilst a one on one one match is highly unlikely, I do think this year we may see a big 5 on 5 Survivor match and after last night the logical way to present it is, Team Rusev vs Team Bring It.

The benefits for WWE is they can get Rock in a match with some of their up and comers, in fact up to another 9 of them. It's a great way to build credibility for a good number of younger talents all at once, those teaming with and those facing him. From Rock's point of view, he can wrestle a shorter segment of the match, minimising risk but still claim a full pay day. Indeed this could even deflect if Brock isn't on the show.

I think it could break down something like this...

Rock proposes the match after interfering on Rusev at HIAC, either getting Rusev the win via DQ/saving Big Show from the Accolade.

The teams then break down something like:-

Rusev, Cesaro, The Dusts and a mystery partner
Rock, Big Show, The Usos and Adrian Neville (would be a big "coup" for NXT) except Neville actually ends up on Team Rusev as part of his heel turn.

That then leaves the mystery partner for Team Rock on the night... it's a perfect way to either debut Sting or for a Kurt Angle return.

For Rusev, it means he gets to be "last man" against the Rock and perhaps Sting or Angle... Say Rusev makes the Rock just about tap or pass out to the Accolade when not the legal man only for Kurt to put him straight in the Angle Lock and make him tap..

A loss to Rock or Angle or both in a Survivor setting wouldn't hurt Rusev... particularly if it shouldn't "stand" in their eyes... they can talk about the great "injustice" etc... and take it all the way to Mania where you either get a one on one Angle or one on one Rock match vs Rusev...

What do you think? Would this be "best for business?" I think it'd sell a shit load of buys/subs, more than what is potentially out there at the moment.

This would be awesome but it is so unlikely. Beyond getting The Rock to perform, you are wasting a Sting debut or Angle return on a surprise. Those returns are draws and you leave money on the table by surprising people who already gave you their money. Look at the viewetship from last night. By not telling people The Rock was going to be on the show, WWE sacrificed a lot of viewers who didn't pay attention figuring it would be the same old shit.

Even if you surprise with a Sting or Angle announcement ahead of time you are still bringing in two draws for the same event and are therefore getting people to pay money who are probably already paying to see the show.

 

[kadroan]

Interesting idea but I doubt it'll happen. The Rock is a busy man filming movies. We're lucky to even have him considered for WrestleMania.

It seems like The Rock is all about the money and the right storyline and I don't think him facing Rusev is going to bring any money.