WWE Council of War

[Uncle Sam]

I'm still not sure where I stand on an all cruiserweight show.

On the one hand, I don't want cruiserweights to be ghettoised. Truly good cruiserweights - i.e. Rey Mysterio, AJ Styles - are some of the best wrestlers in the world, and deserve to mix it up with the rest of the roster and compete for the world titles.

On the other hand, an all cruiserweight show wherein WWE brings in some great cruiserweight talent from all over the world sounds as tantalising as it does unrealistic. I can't imagine WWE ever breaking the fourth wall like that. Austin Aries as the figurehead would work nicely, seeing as the likes of Bryan, Jericho, and Mysterio would make guest appearances at best. There's some great talent floating out there right now, and some guys in FCW who I'm sure could get called up. In fact, get Jay Lethal on the blower.

On a third hand, which I found in a jar in the cellar, would anybody but five people watch that show on a consistent basis?

If I were Vince McMahon, I'd empty the vault to pick up AJ Styles for the show. And you think he's a crazy millionaire.

 

[Uncle Sam]

I really like the idea of a third brand with some b-tier veterans and some up-and-coming talent on it, but I never supported ECW when I had the chance. What a cunt I am.

Edit: It's called TNA - am I right?

 

[Nate DaMac]

Watching a match from around 2003-04 on Smackdown with Eddie vs. Edge in a No DQ match. Holy hell, I miss having a mid card like this.

 

[a0161613]

Watching a match from around 2003-04 on Smackdown with Eddie vs. Edge in a No DQ match. Holy hell, I miss having a mid card like this.

That wasn't just a great match; it was a great feud.

 

[Coco]

Don't worry. Ryback will save us. Like a Terminator.

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

Watching a match from around 2003-04 on Smackdown with Eddie vs. Edge in a No DQ match. Holy hell, I miss having a mid card like this.

Their SD match where they used a ladder (wasn't a ladder match), unbelievable.

 

[Steamboat Ricky]

Just possibly had my two longest posts in WZ history (and best Slyfox impersonations) in the Ultimate Warrior thread.

Some people lack general objectivity.

 

[klunderbunker]

The Mania 6 match is better. The Mania 7 match is enhanced by the post match stuff.

 

[Steamboat Ricky]

It's true. Whenever they do Mania rewind clips...they show Hogan/Warrior for Mania VI. For Mania VII? Usually Savage/Liz in the ring. Pretty universal.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

Its closer than i think you all gave it credit for. As a child, I cried BEFORE the match, and during, because I was so sure the Warrior was gonna lose and I would never get to see him again.

WM 6 is great, but I feel like we get overprotective of it because so many people shit all over it because its two muscle guys.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

I really like the idea of a third brand with some b-tier veterans and some up-and-coming talent on it, but I never supported ECW when I had
the chance. What a cunt I am.

Edit: It's called TNA - am I right?

Nxt, sam. Nxt.

 

[klunderbunker]

Nxt, sam. Nxt.

Just finished this week's show. It was awesome again.

 

[Mighty NorCal]

Hovers from "solid" to "awesome"

You are quite right about this week. Damn fine tag match. Corey graves is awesome. Its adorable how dusty rhodes gm office looks like a principal's at a middle school

 

[Steamboat Ricky]

So...does anyone remember how terrible Sunny was during the Free-For-All and/or as special ring announcer? Her enthusiasm was way too over the top. Horrid.

 

[klunderbunker]

You were actually listening to her talk?

 

[Steamboat Ricky]

How could it be ignored?

 

[klunderbunker]

Oh I can think of a few reasons.

 

[Steamboat Ricky]

I'm listening. To you...not to Sunny anymore.

 

[The Dragon Saga]

Sunny was on commentary when Rocky Maivia debuted. She added nothing, and because you couldn't look at her, she was useless.

 

[Steamboat Ricky]

WWE was SO lazy with the Wrestlemania boxed set. For Wrestlemania X-8, instead of Limp Bizkit, they have Taker rolling down to the ring to his "Phenom" theme music that he used in late 1998. That seems to fit the biker gimmick well. And the Howard Finkle voice-overs are terrible.


This is old news, but I have to comment on these things regularly.

 

[The Crock]

I really don't like Biker 'Taker. Like, I never did.

 

[Steamboat Ricky]

I really don't like Biker 'Taker. Like, I never did.

You're telling me you didn't totally mark out when he returned at Judgment Day? Even that one time?

 

[The Crock]

You're telling me you didn't totally mark out when he returned at Judgment Day? Even that one time?

Oh, I totally did. I just thought the character was kinda boring for the most part.

 

[Steamboat Ricky]

Oh, I totally did. I just thought the character was kinda boring for the most part.

It was. But Taker has never been a REALLY good talker...I'll say with the exception of 97-99. He's been mediocre at best aside from that. The gimmick and how he plays in the gimmick are what made him. But I don't think he would have had this streak of success over the past 9-10 years without the short-lived biker flavor to make us appreciate it more.

 

[The Crock]

It was. But Taker has never been a REALLY good talker...I'll say with the exception of 97-99. He's been mediocre at best aside from that. The gimmick and how he plays in the gimmick are what made him. But I don't think he would have had this streak of success over the past 9-10 years without the short-lived biker flavor to make us appreciate it more.

I totally agree. Case in point: WrestleMania XX. The way the crowd popped for him that night proved that they'd missed the gimmick.

The evolution from "Deadman" to "American Bad Ass" is what extended his career for ten years past what it could have run -- but it was a necessary evolution. I don't think he would have made it through the entire attitude era with that original character; early feuds with Austin aside, there's no way he could have made it through that era full of real characters (at least not all the way through) with what he had been doing, it was too over-the-top. So, he did what he needed to do to keep himself relevant and made sure that when he reverted back to his original gimmick, he'd be appreciated by all the fans -- in the end though, he was largely just another face in the crowd as Biker 'Taker. It served a purpose, but more as a transition than anything else.

My favorite memory of that gimmick (other than Judgement Day) was when Jeff Hardy almost beat him. It worked beautifully for that specific match. Otherwise, it never sparked with me. Although, to be completely honest, I've never been much of an Undertaker fan, period.

EDIT: That could be a moot point though, especially when you consider that Kane thrived in the attitude era. Still, I think he had to evolve his character.