Mr Rager

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Fantabulous" data-cite="Fantabulous" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>They planted the seeds immediately after Wrestlemania. On the first or second Raw after, Triple H cut a promo where he said something along the lines of whenever Undertaker comes back, he'll be waiting for him. It was rather obvious, though not enough for some, that they were going back to Undertaker/Triple H this year. I wasn't as enamored with the match as some were and it was funny to hear certain people jizz themselves over this match when they'd knock the exact same style of match elsewhere. I don't really want to see it again, either, but in the WWE mind, it's the biggest match for either guy and it really does have a decent storyline behind it.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> You're right, I'd forgotten about that.</p>

I'm pretty sure that HHH/Taker will happen. It seemed that they were planting the seeds as far back as December when HHH mentioned having killed Taker's streak during his comeback promo after his 'broken neck'. It kind of writes itself as well, with Triple H having come as close to breaking the streak and making him look mortal (with him being stretchered out of ringside) in a way that none of Taker's previous opponents have been able to. I'm not sure how Undertaker confronting Triple H first plays into that, but I'm sure that's the type of angle that they'll run - perhaps Undertaker wants to prove to himself that he is still immortal? Not that I want to see the match, because I didn't like it last year either.

I enjoyed the Rumble last night. I've seen complaints that there weren't enough 'big names', but that's pretty much a problem that WWE is dealing with as a whole right now, not just for the Rumble match. It produced quite a few memorable moments and I was happy to see Sheamus win, because after being hotshotted to a title win and struggling to get over he's been excellent since he got drafted to Smackdown. As for Orton, I don't think it's unlikely that he and Barrett will continue to feud until Wrestlemania and have a big grudge match. They'll probably both be involved in Smackdown's Elimination Chamber match so it won't happen then. It's been a great feud and I wouldn't be disappointed to see it go on until April. With Rock/Cena, then possible Y2J/Punk, Sheamus/Bryan, HHH/Taker and Orton/Barrett matches, plus the rumoured return of MITB, Wrestlemania is shaping up to be an outstanding card.

It works! Brilliant.

I really like the Undisputed demo as well. I can't stop a takedown for my life though. You're meant to rotate the right stick, correct? I think I just suck at it.

You mean... COLED!!! http://www.411mania.com/siteimages/evilcole_56654.gif

I think my favourite is probably the WWF vs Alliance match. Even though the angle as a whole didn't go as well as it should have done, that match itself was pretty badass.

I loved Michael Cole's pronunciation of 'Scousers'.

Happy that Wade Barrett seems to be getting something of a push. Not too sure about 'Barrett Barrage' though.

Haven't bought a WWE production in many years but I'll be ordering that tomorrow when I get paid. Super excited. Anyone else get the feeling we'll see a bunch of upper midcarders thrown into a 5vs5 for no real reason other than for the sake of a 5vs5 taking place at Survivor Series? Shame, because with the whole fight for power that was playing out it seemed the perfect opportunity for a 5vs5 with an actual story behind it, but at the same time it's understandable that they don't want to put all of their stars in one match. Randy Orton, Sheamus, Kofi Kingston, Evan Bourne & Zack Ryder/Mason Ryan vs. Cody Rhodes, Christian, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger & one other (Wade Barrett?) - something resembling that would be my guess.

Nope, I liked it. I can't think of a stable that has been better executed and made a bigger (long-lasting) impact in WWE in the past decade - not that that's saying a lot. I quite like Michael Cole's character, but he still needs to learn to a) not just bicker throughout entire matches at time and b) shut up when a wrestler is cutting a promo. Jerry Lawler has also become guilty of doing these things, and his character sucks.

I can't see the feud being done just because Mark Henry said so, especially after Orton being the only person to have gotten the better of Henry in an exchange for a long time. Without having read any spoilers, I'd guess that Orton will get involved either during or after Henry's altercation with Big Show on Smackdown this week.

How has that conclusion be reached? I thought the aftermath of the Orton/Henry match at HIAC made it pretty clear that there would be a third match between the two, and John Cena still has the rematch clause which has decided the last two PPV matches for the WWE Championship. In regards to Sheamus, I think that they'll build him more slowly and have him be the guy to finally topple Mark Henry. In terms of crowd reactions, he seems to be the hottest thing on Smackdown right now. His previous feud with Henry is still too fresh in the mind, though.

I really enjoyed Raw last night. It was the first time in a while that the entire show entertained me, top to bottom, not just the opening and/or closing segments.

Does Teddy Long ever do anything nowadays other than make tag team matches?

When I think back to the Punk/Cena match at MITB, the thing that made it so great for me is that I hadn't found myself so invested in a character and desperately hoping for them to win in years as I was invested in CM Punk that night. Looking back it seems obvious that he was going to stay with him being put in such a massive angle, but on the night there was still a slight part of me which thought that maybe he'd be taking a break so on that night it was much more than just who would end the night as champion - I knew that if CM Punk won the match he'd be going nowhere, so for me it was a case of whether or not my favourite wrestler would be sticking around or taking a break from the business, which made it more exciting for me. The atmosphere in Chicago that night made it even more special as well. Thinking back, I think that the last time I remember being behind a wrestler in a match might be Eddie Guerrero at No Way Out in 2004. With age those kind of moments don't seem to occur so much as a wrestling fan, which is why Punk/Cena is one of my favourite matches in a long time.

The event is called Hell In A Cell, so it has to be a Hell In A Cell match. I hate the match type specific PPVs, because - as you allude to - they pretty much take all meaning out of the gimmick match that they're named after. It totally removes the surprise element, as well. HIAC matches, Elimination Chamber matches and TLC matches have very little meaning in WWE now. The only one which makes sense is Money In The Bank, but I even preferred that on the Wrestlemania undercard.

I think the point that many are making (and I agree with it) is that Cena vs The Rock doesn't need to be The Rock's return match. It has enough going for it - it's the one of the figureheads of the last generation verses the figurehead of this generation. Probably two of the biggest merchandise sellers of all time, taking each other on for the first time ever. In The Rock's hometown. Possibly for the WWE Championship. I honestly never even thought of it as 'The Rock's comeback match', and WWE never billed it as such. I don't see the issue at all. soxfan93 mentioned that he's a lot less excited about the Wrestlemania match as he would have been if it were The Rock's comeback match, and I suppose I can understand that, but for me it almost has the opposite effect - I couldn't be much more excited about the match either way, and booking The Rock's return in another lesser match, if you like, makes me excited about Survivor Series. With The Rock returning to in-ring competition at Survivor Series, that almost certainly means that I'll be buying a PPV which I probably wouldn't have otherwise. Putting aside the issue for a second, people also haven't mentioned at all that this promises an interesting development in the Cena/Rock feud. Could there be a turn either way? I'd guess not, but you don't know at the moment. I'm looking forward to seeing how the alignment plays out - the only thing that I wish is that they'd kept it under wraps until the week or so before. Advertised The Rock's appearance, but not the circumstances of his appearance.

Spoiler regarding The Rock's role at Survivor Series (most probably know anyway, but I figured I'd highlight it in white anyway for anybody who wants to know as little as possible): The Rock and Cena will be allies in a 5 vs 5 match. I don't think it will take too much of a shine from The Rock at next year's WrestleMania. I doubt he'll even be in the ring for too long.

I think you jinxed it.

I'd say Hunico.

Is the end of the brand split in sight?

I thought that it was Mistico under the mask this week on Smackdown.

That is the greatest Twitter account.

Rereading the debate from last night on who has a legitimate claim to the championship, you all seem to be forgetting that the match should have gone to a double count out. So really, both Punk and Cena should remain recognised champions. Just saying.