I must say, the pay-per-view was pretty damn good. I was looking forward to the show and it lived up to my expectations. There was a time when WWF (Yes, that WWF) was so good, you knew that every pay-per-view was a must-see. I am not trying to be a meatball, but I just wish they could put on a decent show every time around rather than every once in a while. I am not asking for the Attitude Era but there are times where I wish it was better. From everything I have read, Dean Ambrose is the real deal along with Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns being quite talented as well. I was excited to see this match between them and Kane, Bryan and Ryback. I am not a Ryback fan but that’s another discussion. Everyone performed above par and Rollins took a fall that probably earned him a lot of respect from both the fans and the people backstage. The match was back and forth with a lot of action. I expected The Shield to win but it was fun to see.
The crowd was lively and as most great crowds go, that just makes the look of matches even better. The fans mostly cheered for the heels and I loved it. I read a report that WWE was concerned because the fans were cheering for the bad guys and continued the “Goldberg” chants for Ryback very loudly. Apparently, WWE doesn’t realize that great crowds like New York, Chicago and others don’t always cheer for who’s the good guy and who’s the bad one, but rather, cheer for great wrestling and boo when it’s bad. That’s how it should be. During the show, we also noticed a face-turn for Alberto Del Rio. For some reason, I just can’t imagine this actually happening for one and two, turning out to be a good thing. We’ll find out though.
The main-event with Cena and Ziggler did not disappoint either. All I have to say is, enjoy Cena while we have him. Rumors are running that he’s nearing the end of his career as a full-time guy and I am saying right now, we’re going to miss him. I get that sometimes he can be frustrating but really, he is still the top guy and that’s what matters. He’s putting butts in the seats. Back to the match, the chants for Ziggler were loud and it was music to my ears. It looked like Cena was on his way to a victory and then A.J. pushes the ladder, knocking Cena off of it with Ziggler staring in shock. WWE struck gold again because if anybody said they saw that coming, they are lying. I am waiting for Ziggler guy to win the title and I know for a fact, that the crowd (whichever one it may be) will embrace it. Fans love this guy because he has what it takes.
Now on to Raw. First, I see Road Dogg and Billy Gunn return for a Slammy presentation. Seeing them do their mini-promo reminded me of the good old days when I was in junior high and some friends and I use to mimic them along with DX. Then, Ric Flair arrives after months of speculation. Let me just say that I love Ric Flair and I am sure many others do as well. To be completely honest, I just don’t want him wrestling anymore. I have a bad feeling that he is going to actually try to wrestle again and it’s not good. I did read that he is going through, yet another divorce (His fourth) so I am guessing he is going to need some cash. Off-topic a bit here but seriously, why get married all of those times? Did he not learn? I mean, luckily for me, I am not married nor do I have a woman breathing down my neck. It’s called not being ready or not finding someone that I am wanting to be around. Flair doesn’t seem to realize that if you aren’t ready or want to be around a person, then don’t marry them. Reports had his wife beating him up a little while ago. Wow.
Moving on to the final part of the show, Cena and Ziggler and fighting one on one and all of a sudden, A.J. brings out Big E Langston, whom I saw wrestle at a house show in Rockford back in August. As soon as I saw him, I immediately thought to myself “steroid freak”. From his Wikipedia, he was actually a professional power lifter and some of the numbers I saw of how how much he bench pressed and all that is astonishing to say the least. Regardless, I am not too confident that this is going to work out either but as I continue to say, we’ll see. I just am not a fan of Vince McMahon and his minions scouting talent and hiring people all because they have a physique to his liking. Hire wrestlers.
There seems to be a lot of changes going on in the company right now. We are seeing bad guys turn good and vice-versa. With the plethora of minor-league talents WWE is bringing up, I am not too sure if it’s a good idea just yet. There certainly is a surplus of talent on the roster as we speak, but it could pose an issue as time goes on. I remember writing an article two or three years ago about a “nucleus” of young guys that I thought would be the future of WWE. That has changed drastically. Now, it’s guys like Cesaro, Ziggler, The Shield, Damien Sandow (You’re welcome) and a few others. I am still wanting to see Wade Barrett in the main event sometime as well because I think that in the right situation, he can succeed. I also want more women’s wrestling as well and not just for eye-candy, but because I once again, miss the old days when Trish Stratus, Lita and others ruled the division. Even though wrestling is still in a bad phase, 2013 looks more promising.
December 18, 2012 at 9:23 PM
Good points Fro. well said. Let me elaborate on a few.
I do like Ambrose and Rollins. Reigns I’m not sure yet. But the booking SUCKS! This whole Shield thing just smells like the nWo warmed over. Is this all creative can think of for these guys? I will say they had one hell of a match at TLC. That hurt me!
The same can be said with Ryback. I like him, but the booking is all Bill Goldberg. Again, creative, how original of you.
The reason for Del Rios face turn is because they wanted a reliable and likable(?) Mexican. They felt it was time because of Botch Cara and Roid Mysterios injuries and suspensions. They’re keeping Rodriguez with him to make it smoother. (Facepalm bt chucky now)
I don’t understand AJs heel turn at all. The fact that the whole entire womens division is in the crapper now and with the ever useless Eve Torres as Diva’s champ the turn was just stupid. Quite frankly, Mae Young would make for a better champion at this point. Yeah, i miss Trish and Lita too. When they left, they took the division with them.
Raw was quite good, but there was waaaaay too much Ric Flair. And from what I have read, he isn’t even signed yet. He was billed as a “guest appearance”. As far as him wrestling again. he has publicly stated he’ll never wrestle in a WWE ring again. Plus he also said it’s due in large part to Jerry Lawlers heart attack. He admitted in his book that he has alcoholic cardiomyopathy, though now he denies it. But if he truly is afraid of a heart attack like Lawler, what the hell was he doing last night with CM Punk and the Shield? STOOPID!
Road Dogg and Billy Gunn can come back on my TV anytime they want. And I can’t believe I’m saying that about Billy Gunn.
Big E Langston=Roid Freak. Not impressed. Sorry. And that name sounds so ECW, vintage 1996. C,mon Vince, you can do better.
I also found out that I haven’t missed Gene Okerlund one bit. And is it just me or does Ricky Steamboat seem smug and arrogant?
I can’t stand Cesaro one bit. Maybe he was different in ROH, but his character just sucks. Same with Sandow. He looks like a fruity Bruiser Brody. The pink and purple he wears just doesn’t work. And stop with the cartwheels and dumbass intellectual stuff. That really doesn’t work.
Overall, I think WWE is getting better, but there is still a lot of work to do. The good news is that Vince is open to making the product “edgier”. Time will tell.
And TNA still sucks as much as it ever did.
December 18, 2012 at 10:35 PM
I’d have to say you posted some thoughts that I didn’t think much of but they make sense now. First, The Shield is pretty much the nWo as far as the characters are concerned. Obviously, these guys weren’t main eventers before like Hogan and all them, but I get your point. Yeah. That match at TLC was awesome. All six guys did their part.
As mentioned, I saw Big E at the house show and I just researched that he beat Jack Swagger so I am guessing he was a good guy in NXT. Wade Barrett ended up attacking him at the same show. I am not impressed with the guy either to be honest. Same for Cesaro although the internet fans are getting their hard-ons for him. His finisher looks odd too the way he holds his opponents. I actually like Sandow. I know it’s a bit goofy how he cuts a promo I must say, I bought his shirt and it is funny. Give him a bit more time.
I don’t think Steamboat is arrogant. Part of me tells me he didn’t want to be there and another part seemed like he wanted Mean Gene or Jim Ross to do the honors rather than be selfish. Oh well though. I’ve said this before about Raw being edgier, but I don’t think it matters. They just need to put good talent out there and let them be themselves. Enough with the picked characters or the changes in character. WWF succeeded in the mid-90’s because they let the wrestlers be their actual selves and it worked to perfection. Write a script all you want but if someone isn’t a jerk, then don’t make their character as one.
Last, but not least, facepalm yourself one more time for watching TNA. Geez. Let me ask you something. What’s worse? TNA or a Lovie Smith press conference?
December 19, 2012 at 10:02 AM
Fro…that’s easy. Watching Lovie Smiths press conferences is like drinking a bucket of battery acid. TNA just insults my intellegence, but isn’t really that painful. Unless Hulk Hogan is on.
I’m also not big on Wade Barrett. In some perverse way, he reminds me of Billy Robinson, minus the talent and charisma. And yes, believe it or not, Robinson had charisma. It showed in his ring work. If you can find some old AWA tapes somewhere you should see him action. He had talent and speed that was off the charts.
One more thing. The main event on Monday night had Dolph Ziggler and AJ vs. John Cena and………Vicki Guerrero. Please tell me they’re aren’t going turn Vicki face. I just couldn’t deal with that.