Sadly, Micah, as long as trips is bangin steph it’s not gonna change. If the guy really cared about wrestling like he says he does, he would do what’s right for the good of the buisness. But alas, he doesn’t.
Yup…CT. My bad…I meant Angle.
I don’t even care about the RAW title anymore. Since everyone who gets it is either HHH or a placeholder to give it right back to him, it’s valueless.
Vince has the most talented young roster in history, and almost every WM headline match is between veteran guys. WWE development and storywriting right now is in the crapper.
But it has always been this way.
Bruno Sammartino held the title through most the 70s
Hulk Hogan held the title through all the 80s
Ric Flair held the NWA title through all the 80s
Then in the 90s the title changed hands more but there were still dominant champions - Bret Hart and then Shawn Michaels and then Steve Austin and then The Rock. Now it is Triple H.
The World Title has always been dominated by someone until the next HUGE name steps in to take their place. I don’t see Triple H any different than Ric Flair in the 80s.
I hate when the World Title changes hands so many times that it seems to be a worthless title to hold. It should mean something to get the chance to be the champion.
BUT
I think Triple H should make his opponants look a lot better than he does. The big guys (Shawn, Benoit, Booker, etc…) should all look like super stars when he fights them so they retain their heat when the feud is over with. They should not end the feud getting beaten soundly. He is a bad guy, he should lose by cheating and breaking the rules or by putting his body through hell just to retain the belt (ala, Shawn, Foley, etc…)
Quote:
| I don’t see Triple H any different than Ric Flair in the 80s. |
I think the difference is that for Triple H, especially since around 2000 or so, has never been the heat generator that you’d think someone who held the belt as much as he had would be. Fans HATED or LOVED Flair, and wanted to see him wrestle, no matter who he was wrestling. Unless HHH is fighting HBK (and even that has lost its luster), the fans don’t give a fuck. He gets a reaction, but really only a “oh, he’s a heel and he made a heel comment, let’s boo him,” or a “his a face now, he beat up a heel, lets cheer.” Flair STILL gets those pops, even while being a lackey for Batista and Flair.
Quote:
| Originally posted by BaldRayo I think the difference is that for Triple H, especially since around 2000 or so, has never been the heat generator that you’d think someone who held the belt as much as he had would be. Fans HATED or LOVED Flair, and wanted to see him wrestle, no matter who he was wrestling. Unless HHH is fighting HBK (and even that has lost its luster), the fans don’t give a fuck. He gets a reaction, but really only a “oh, he’s a heel and he made a heel comment, let’s boo him,” or a “his a face now, he beat up a heel, lets cheer.” Flair STILL gets those pops, even while being a lackey for Batista and Flair. |
Whoo!
Quote:
| Whoo! |
Words of approval or because Flair is god?
(either answer will suffice…)
Both, actually.
Flair commonly uses that (whoo!) during the “interview” (at least that’s what they used to be called in the '80s) segments to give people shit.
In fact, the crowd at most RAW events have taken to doing that themselves whenever someone (especially HBK) whips somebody across the chest with their forearm. (I forget what the actual name of that move is)
To me, that is really telling, regarding how popular Ric Flair still is. Hell, he just had a “best of” Pay Per View special a few weeks ago, with only segments from his matches.
Quote:
| Originally posted by Agent Back Smith In fact, the crowd at most RAW events have taken to doing that themselves whenever someone (especially HBK) whips somebody across the chest with their forearm. (I forget what the actual name of that move is) To me, that is really telling, regarding how popular Ric Flair still is. Hell, he just had a “best of” Pay Per View special a few weeks ago, with only segments from his matches. [/B] |
That move is now commonly referred to as the ‘Ric Flair chop.’
Quote:
| Originally posted by Agent Back Smith To me, that is really telling, regarding how popular Ric Flair still is. Hell, he just had a “best of” Pay Per View special a few weeks ago, with only segments from his matches. |
And I bought his new 3 disk DVD set last week - AMAZING!
Flair vs Ricky Steamboat
Flair vs Sting
Flair vs Harley Race
Flair vs Dusty Rhodes
The Royal Rumble where Flair lasted over an hour to win.
The Flair vs Triple H match with the footage of the aftermath where all the wrestlers came out and paid tribute to the man.
All this plus interviews (from the 80s to present time), clips that lead to the matches and more.
This is a GREAT DVD set, the best ever for wrestling, and worth every penny.
Flair is a legend, there’s no doubt about it. I’m just a little weary of watching him wrestle these days. He’s not as fit as the rest of Evolution, and it seems like his mike skills have dropped off since his WCW days. When he tries to come off as energetic and manic, he just comes off sounding like a tool. But that’s just my take on it. He’ll always be the best Nature Boy to me.
And as far as The Rock and Sock connection being back? It just cements me buying WMXX. Can’t wait for the show to start!
Quote:
| Originally posted by Micah Robinson Don’t care about any of the other matches, Lesnar/Austin/Goldberg included. |
Micah, sorry to ask but is there a reason your not
looking forward to that? I thought that would be the
BIG match for the card.
But Ric Flair…I never saw him in his heyday. Not a fan of anything other than WWE , never have been and admittedly, he was decent when he came into the WWE for the first time in 1990 , and a great heel. But these days, I don’t get why he has the following he does. He almost unintelligable on the mic, his charisma is questionable these days and he has nothing going for him.
Quote:
| Originally posted by Starving Dog But it has always been this way. Bruno Sammartino held the title through most the 70s Hulk Hogan held the title through all the 80s Ric Flair held the NWA title through all the 80s Then in the 90s the title changed hands more but there were still dominant champions - Bret Hart and then Shawn Michaels and then Steve Austin and then The Rock. Now it is Triple H. The World Title has always been dominated by someone until the next HUGE name steps in to take their place. I don’t see Triple H any different than Ric Flair in the 80s. |
Triple H, frankly, isn’t the wrestler any of those guys are. You’re talking about icons who revolutionized the business versus a common heel with bad work rate who’s banging the boss’s daughter.
He does win by cheating, and I accept that, but a heel shouldn’t dominate the belt all year only to go to Wrestlemania and win as he has always won throughout the year. That’s stupid. Who want’s to go to the grandest wrestling event to see heels retain the world title?
Also, the belt should be put upon people who need it AND can elevate the title. If you have it on a heel who’s already over as much as he’s going to be, you’re wasting it. Undertaker doesn’t need a belt. Rock doesn’t need a belt. Austin doesn’t need a belt. Kurt Angle doesn’t need a belt. And yes…Triple H doesn’t need a belt.
As you noted, what makes it worse is the way the WWE is building up opponents for him to take down. Scott Steiner was his opponent in two consecutive PPVs…he lost and was demoted to jobber shortly afterward. Anyone even seen him on TV lately? Booker T was his Wrestlemania opponent last year after the storyline where HHH was racist against him? No payoff, and he won as Booker sunk back to the tag team division after a brief jobbing run. Goldberg vs. HHH? Jericho vs. HHH? 'Nuff said. These guys are all damaged goods after their feuds with Hunter, and Chris Benoit may fall into that trap too.
Quote:
| Originally posted by Fireflyfan Micah, sorry to ask but is there a reason your not looking forward to that? I thought that would be the BIG match for the card. |
Lengthy Goldberg matches suck. He’s not a great seller, and seeing him in the ring for more than 5 minutes reminds you of how limited his moveset is. And I’m almost certain this is the match where Austin turns semi-heel by causing him to lose. Vince will NEVER allow the WCW monster to beat his WWE monster.
NEVER.
Quote:
| Originally posted by Starving Dog And I bought his new 3 disk DVD set last week - AMAZING! Flair vs Ricky Steamboat Flair vs Sting Flair vs Harley Race Flair vs Dusty Rhodes The Royal Rumble where Flair lasted over an hour to win. The Flair vs Triple H match with the footage of the aftermath where all the wrestlers came out and paid tribute to the man. All this plus interviews (from the 80s to present time), clips that lead to the matches and more. This is a GREAT DVD set, the best ever for wrestling, and worth every penny. |
Yes, it is. I also bought the new Foley DVD, which has matches from WCW, SMW, ECW and WWE/F. I’m actually in it for about 10 seconds, at the Bash at the Beach PPV where he wrestled Sting.
I’ve got “Monday Night Wars” on back-order. It’s a documentary on the Raw vs. Nitro years. I heard they’ve already sold out of the initial pressing of the DVD.
And I’d love to get WM XX, but I already bought the Rumble, and for $40, it ain’t worth it. I may try to hit a sports bar to catch it. Hey Micah…are you getting the show? Or are you planning on going anywhere to watch it?
Some people need the belt to get over as a main eventer. Some people don’t because they are already over. Sometimes, though, you have to put the belt on one of the guys who doesn’t need it to get the belt over. The way they first put the World Title on HHH by default was bad for the prestige of that title. The way the belt changed hands every month or two during the Vince Russo hotshot era was bad for the prestige of the title. The wins didn’t mean as much because the title wasn’t treated like it was that important. If there is one thing HHH has done well, it’s getting the World Title over with long title reigns and by constantly refering to it as “his life.” He makes it easy for a viewer to believe that he cares more about the title than his own life and it would kill him to lose it. His best promos are when he is talking about his love for the title.
That being said, he has absolutely buried all of his World Title opponents, with the exception of HBK. Chris Benoit deserves better.
Problem is, HHH gets a lukewarm reception these days, at best.
And he deserves less than that.
Goldberg defeated HHH in two consecutive one on one ppv, remaining the only face on Raw to be dominant against HHH in…well years now.
I do agree Austin will turn heel and betray Goldberg.
I’ll be at MSG when it all goes down, my friends. Road trip starts this Friday, and to kick off the weekend I’ll be catching Fozzy (Jericho’s band) at some nightclub in Jersey. If Bret Hart shows up, I’ll pee my pants, and I’ll be happy. Predictions/Opinions:
–Chick matches: Pee, Poo, Beer, Food, Merchandise. Whatever. It’ll be a break or two in this 5 hour card.
–Cruiserweight Battle Royal- Should be fun. It’ll probably come down to Mysterio and Chavo. But hey, seeing Kidman and Paul London won’t be so bad! Put them on TV. Please.
–RAW tag title match: Blah. If RVD and Booker retain, cool. They got the belts because they’re both being shat upon and Vince doesn’t want them to bail. If Jindrak and Cade win, also okay with me. If anyone else wins this match, especially the stale as fuck Dudleys, I’ll be pissed.
–Smackdown tag title match: If Haas and Benjamin do not leave MSG as the champs, something is wrong with creative. Oh wait, there’s ALOT wrong with the “creative” team.
–Jericho v Christian. Well, I dunno. In my opinion, Jericho deserves the RAW Heavyweight title, not a lower card match, hell, it could be the curtain jerker. Jericho should go over, you know, since he jobbed at the last two Wrestlemanias.
–Show v Cena, US Title. Give the belt to Cena but I like both these guys. Show may not be the best wrestler but he’s a nice guy and his work has gotten better. Amazing that Cena can FU Show. That always gets a pop out of me.
–Orton/Batista/Flair v Rock n Sock. Yeah, Rock will facial hair isn’t doin’ it for me. Anyway, if anything other than Orton pinning Foley happens, this match is pointless. Side notes: Flair may retire due to his neck? Sadness. Rock working only one date this year? Fuck you. Get your Wrestlemania payoff and promote “Walking Tall” ya’…ah shit, when you did the Flair strut spit-on-the-hand shot, I was entertained. I can’t possibly stay mad at you, Rock! Batista-LEARN TO WRESTLE.
–Kane v Taker. Although I will mark out pathetically when the gong strikes, if Kane doesn’t win, he will officially be worthless and lost.
–Eddie v Kurt, Smackdown Heavyweight Title. Match. Of. The. Night. Easily. Not going to be easy to pick a winner but I’ll go with heel Angle since he worked last year’s Mania “with a broken freakin’ neck.”
–Triple Fucktard v Criplah v HBK. Well, unless HBK lays down for Benoit, good ol’ Hunter’ll be leaving New York with his wedding present. I hate you HHH. Everyone hates you. Tear your quad again.
–Lesnar v Goldberg w/ Austin as SGR. If you wanna’ see Stone Cold give Bill Goldberg a stunner and as he pops up from it land himself in a Lesnar F 5, give me a “Hell yeah!” If you don’t, then you’re fucked because that’s how it’s going down. Whether he turns on G-berg or whether Lesnar pulls something to make Austin think G-berg hit him, the stunner will hit Duh Man, and then one F 5 later, no more Hypeberg. I for one will not miss the waste of money and time.
When i heard the undertaker’s ORIGINAL gong, I marked out like it was 1995. God I loved that undertaker, and oh God did I hate the biker incarnation of the “undertaker”. Its about damn time they bring back the original dead man. He used to be my favorite wrestler as a kid, granted all that mystical stuff with the urn and yadda yadda seemed a little hokey, but the undertaker mystique was what i loved.
Oh and note to the WWE, do not FUCK UP his entrance THEME EVER AGAIN. I don’t need to hear some hard rock/metal band of the week fucking up what is a classic tune.
Bringing back Paul Bearer would be the only way for me to fork up the $75 for this.
Holy crap, if Paul Bearer came out with 'Taker I would die of happiness.