Saturday Morning Slam:
Sheamus vs. Titus was fine, I guess. I just kind of shudder a bit when a talent I think has potential loses clean.
Booker's segment was kind of silly.
Cena winning wasn't exactly a shock. Hopefully next week the show is back to featuring young talent who can use the exposure.
Everything else from yesterday is after the break.
Alex Riley returned to the ring in a dark match at the NXT tapings, losing to Wade Barrett. Talented guy who I hope WWE gives some attention to in the future.
C.M. Punk is advertised for the December 26 Raw live event, and every upcoming Raw so that's the latest timetable for him to return to the ring.
Here's a story on Tribute to the Troops.
Edge talked about retirement and more.
Mickie James talked about why she's been away from the ring, Final Resolution and more.
WWE will no longer be working with Scorpio Sky after he used an anti-gay slur on Twitter.
WWE is looking to bring back a number of released talents who had worked in the midcard, at the suggestion of several top talents. The idea is that they'll help along some of the younger talent. I'm all for it IF they stick to that statement and use people who can still go in the ring. WWE has a lot of talented performers as it is, but it couldn't hurt for them to add more and have those names help the current crop become bigger stars. Some people I'd like to see (though they'll probably just hire a few): Gunner Scott, MVP, Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin (currently under ROH contract), Paul Burchill, Colt Cabana, Kenny Dykstra, Kevin Thorn, Funaki, Shad, John Morrison, Mike Knox, Chris Masters, Chuck Palumbo, Kaval, David Hart Smith, and Tomko.
For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. Indeed they did a feature on Jewish wrestlers in which they interviewed Cabana under that name and even plugged his podcast! Let's not get our hopes up on a return just yet, but presumably they're on good terms.
2. I wouldn't rule it out. They want to make movies and own part of Tout, so video games could end up part of the deal down the line, too.
Nothing to add to 3.
4. I imagine it's cheaper just to use real glass. Crazy, but cheaper.
More wrestling tomorrow.
It's interesting to see that you're getting closer to warming up to the stance that Otunga is being buried a bit. I won't delve too much into my opinion on that (at the risk of sounding redundant), but it's a shame. He's main evented shows and pay-per-views, yet cannot win a singles match on a main roster. Big Brodus has been a little of an afterthought after that 24-match winning streak and ditto with Santino after losing his title. However, Otunga still gets booked to lose (rather convincingly) to both twice in a row.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested to hear your predictions on next week's pay-per-view card. I know you like Ziggler to beat Cena. Where do you stand on the other matches? I know you may not like my stance, but I personally wouldn't mind if Cena took the money in the bank briefcase from Ziggler. I just haven't put much stock in Dolph. Cena is in a position where he's the face of the company, face of merchandise, and face of virtually every marketing aspect the company has. Despite him getting a little stale, it wouldn't make too much sense for him to lose to Ziggler at the next pay-per-view clean.
I'm also curious to see what type of match result you're predicting for The Shield vs. Ryback and Hell No and where you think the storyline may end up. I definitely see Punk getting involved in some way and maybe aligning with The Shield in a victory for them and in the process admitting his past alliances with the group. I could also see The Shield reeking havoc and losing by DQ, but sending a message.
It's POSSIBLE that he's getting buried, but there's no indication that he's ticked anyone off that I've seen. To me, buried means management hates you so much that they'll sabotage your career just to keep you in line with what they want.
ReplyDeleteBrodus and Santino have been in a similar boat as Otunga I think: they're playing second fiddle to talents that management wants to push more. I don't think there's much shame in losing to Cesaro or Sandow considering they're both kind of on a roll, but they could use some more momentum if they're going to be credible anytime soon. Maybe beating Otunga was WWE's way of making up for them being on the outs lately. Note that that would mean they're higher on Brodus or Santino, not necessarily anti-Otunga.
I think Cesaro, Kofi, and Show retain, The Shield at least will make an impact even if they lose (maybe they have help from someone to get the win), and it wouldn't shock me if Cena won. If they add Miz vs. Sandow, I'd guess Sandow would cheat to win.
All of those reasons are exactly why Cena doesn't need to win the briefcase. He could be put in the World Title picture at the next PPV no problem and be a credible champion. A loss, especially one with shenanigans, isn't going to hurt him as much as it would hurt Ziggler. Ziggler's still coming along (since he's been booked on shaky ground for a lot of his career) and the briefcase makes him more credible. WWE needs as many credible stars as possible. The briefcase, like winning the Rumble, is a tool to make someone more of a believable star. It took years to make Cena a main eventer, and they did it by having him beat credible opponents. Elevating the hard-working Ziggler should be a priority. Plus, putting too many eggs in one basket (Cena) isn't wise.
There aren't any DQs in a TLC match, so no worries there. I see 2013 being big for everyone in that match. Specifically, I think Rollins could turn face one day since he spent a lot of his time in developmental as a face (and was pretty successful). The Shield might end up actually not working for Punk or Heyman, which would be a nice surprise. I've seen rumors (none I would necessarily put faith in) of more members being added down the line. They definitely have a number of options, and I hope it's not as simple as Ryback destroying all of them, as Rollins and Ambrose in particular have gotten pretty high marks.
When it comes down to it, we just have different stances on Ziggler and Cena. I don't mind Ziggler as a mid card guy. My problem with him is that he isn't John Cena. I think Ziggler lacks the larger than life persona, entertainer-value, charisma, size, and marketability that Cena brings to the table. I just am not sold on Ziggler. To me, a loss to Ziggler would be horrible for Cena because of those things.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of others entering the main event picture besides Sheamus, Punk, and Cena, but just not Dolph Ziggler.
With Otunga, I wouldn't mind him losing to a Sheamus or Orton (which he has multiple times). My "beef" with the WWE is that he's got too much going for him to be so far down the card now. I don't think the WWE is very high on Clay or Santino right now, so repeated losses to them definitely signal some sense of dissatisfaction with Otunga.
I'm also predicting Kofi, Big Show, and Cesaro to retain. I'm not sure why Barrett was so hyped up in his return with multiple victories against Randy Orton to lose a midcard title match. The Shield against Ryback/Hell No is the toughest one to call in my opinion. The only outcome I'd be surprised with would be is if The Shield won clean, where a team who has their first match takes down a team who has rarely lost together and a singles competitor who has lost all but once. What do you think?
Ziggler doesn't need to be John Cena by any stretch. If he's too similar to Cena, why wouldn't they just stick with Cena? I think Ziggler has all of those things except for size. I'd even argue that he has a better persona than Cena at this point. Cena's relatively bland in his current persona. And I'm not saying Ziggler should win clean, since that would be a stretch given how hot and cold they've been with him. I definitely think a Ziggler win does more for the company than a Cena win, and that now is the time to elevate a hard worker like Ziggler.
ReplyDeleteI think Otunga has a lot going for him as a character, but as a wrestler I don't really blame them for not pushing him. Even though he's better than he was in 2010, I think he'll need to improve even more to warrant being pushed more. Clay and Santino are reliable acts for getting the WWE Universe warmed up, and Otunga can get booed even in losing. Without an overt report that WWE doesn't like Otunga, I'm not going to just assume that because he's losing they don't like him. They liked Funaki but they booked him to lose all the time.
I wouldn't mind Barrett or Sheamus winning if they have long-term plans for Kofi and both titles. I just think we might be in for Show holding the title until Mania.
The Shield winning clean would establish them as a force to be reckoned with. I think they could get a clean win with all the chaos of 6 people in a weapons match and their opponents still be protected (though I don't think Ryback or Bryan should take the fall - both should be seen as future names to bank on in the title picture).
In those attributes I mentioned about Cena, it was more about how those attributes are what it takes to stay at the top of the mountain, which guys like Sheamus and Cena have, and Ziggler has not. Since I don't see Ziggler having many of those attributes, it wouldn't surprise or upset me if he lost his briefcase. I just do not see Ziggler being a main eventer and I guess that's just where the two of us differ in terms of who should win and who will win at the pay-per-view matchup between the two. I don't have many problems with Ziggler as a midcard guy and I don't have any issues with someone new being a top guy, I just don't think it should be Ziggler.
ReplyDeleteEven if Ziggler had the opportunities Cena has had, I really don't think he can fit the bill as being a top guy or even a World Champion at this level. Everywhere you go, you hear about a Cena or a Punk representing the company because they have so many of those attributes that Ziggler doesn't have. I just can't picture Ziggler being the main feature of the company.
I mean, could Ziggler really have the charisma to pull this type of memorable segment off? Lol.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2uholUD1Lg
If I had to go with a few others who are at the mid level right now that would fit the bill at the top better than Ziggler, I could go with a Sandow or a Rhodes to name a couple. Both of them have more of those attributes on top of Sandow's unique hateable gimmick and Rhodes' hateability that Ziggler lacks.
It's pure opinion on whether Ziggler has things like charisma, a larger-than-life persona, etc.. It doesn't make me "right", but I've seen a lot of fans and even some "experts" praise Ziggler for all those things you mentioned that he "doesn't have". I will say that it sometimes takes time and opportunity for someone to shine as a main eventer (see Daniel Bryan), so maybe if WWE finally gets behind him you'll see what I'm seeing.
ReplyDeleteZiggler doesn't need to be the main feature of the company to be in things like interviews or on talk shows. I definitely think he has the ability to represent the company like Cena and Punk do. In fact, they do put him in things to promote the company (just not as many as Cena or Punk, obviously). I don't think WWE would give him his own web show if they didn't think he had charisma. There's a reason he hosts Download instead of, say, Tensai.
Of course I think Ziggler has the charisma to pull off something like that. He proves it to me pretty much every time he has a mic. Cena might be smoother on the mic and sound less like he's cutting a "wrestling promo", but I'd much rather listen to Ziggler talk about stealing the show and being World Champ than Cena's sophomoric put-downs. Of course there's no such thing as an objectively better promo cutter or entertainer. I can just point to people being very tired of Cena vs. wanting to hear/see more of Ziggler.
I'm high on Sandow and Rhodes, too. I think it might be a little too soon to push Sandow at Ziggler's level, though. They could have done a lot better with Rhodes when he was Intercontinental Champion. I hope Ziggler, Sandow, and Rhodes are future headliners.