The Official WWE / NXT Discussion Thread *May Contain Spoilers*

[Stennick]

<p>SPOILER:</p><p> </p><p>

<span style="color:#FFFFFF;">I don't even know if I'd call this the next step. I think it was more or less them telling the NXT2 guys that their not going to allow them to run over them and to not get any ideas. Next week it'll be mentioned but I don't see this as anything more than that. </span></p>

[alden]

<p>I do agree somewhat Stennick but also think it is part of the bigger story. </p><p> </p><p>

SPOILER</p><p> </p><p>

<span style="color:#FFFFFF;">They have to dominate the next crew to show them that they better not try the same thing. But they also have to build up the wwe guys so they don't look weak compared to first season guys. That was a big mistake wcw made was having the wcw guys look weak compared to the nwo. This is a great way of building the wwe guys while not putting the nxt guys down. I see this leading to both nxt groups joining together and i hope they don't. that will kill it</span></p>

[alden]

<p>just watched it again some more thoughts again spoiler proof lol</p><p> </p><p>

spoilers</p><p> </p><p>

<span style="color:#FFFFFF;">Alot of points in the show i thought ok....why is stryker being such a d***? He gets mad when the rookies touch him.....he has additude to the rookies almost the entire show. Now the beat down makes alot more sense.......stryer orders it.....So i really don't think he is going to lead it......but the comentators also said something like its about to get real for the kids.....so i don't think cole will be doing it either. THey hinted the entire show that it was going to happen ...........wwe is starting to get a little more subtle. we are going to have to start watching the shows more closly now....because barret did the same thing last night. he hinted that he was going to make an impact on the show. The pros treatment of the rookies is tense all night. Good job wwe....this is why i say it was part of teh storyline.</span></p>

[BHK1978]

Okay so they give all of these wrestlers stupid names, and then they acknowledge that they are the sons of Mike Rotunda and Curt Hennig! What the hell? I just do not see the points of changing the names if they are going to acknowledge who their parents and grandparents are.

[Eisen-verse]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="BHK1978" data-cite="BHK1978" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Okay so they give all of these wrestlers stupid names, and then they acknowledge that they are the sons of Mike Rotunda and Curt Hennig! What the hell? I just do not see the points of changing the names if they are going to acknowledge who their parents and grandparents are.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family:Tahoma;">I thought the exact same thing when they previewed the new cast. Honestly, If you're going to change the name then just leave his family pedigree out of it; or else, book him under the Hennig name?</span></p>

[BHK1978]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Eisen-verse" data-cite="Eisen-verse" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><span style="font-family:Tahoma;">I thought the exact same thing when they previewed the new cast. Honestly, If you're going to change the name then just leave his family pedigree out of it; or else, book him under the Hennig name?</span></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I guess one could make the arguement that Husky Harris' (which is probably the worst of the names) uncles Barry and Kendall Windham didn't keep their father's ring name of Mulligan. That being said it still annoys me.</p>

[LoganRodzen]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="BHK1978" data-cite="BHK1978" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Okay so they give all of these wrestlers stupid names, and then they acknowledge that they are the sons of Mike Rotunda and Curt Hennig! What the hell? I just do not see the points of changing the names if they are going to acknowledge who their parents and grandparents are.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I read on a news site that Joe Hennig posted on Twitter (I don't have Twitter, so it was referenced on their site) that he was going to make a legacy with his own name and that he didn't need it. I think he's going to be an awesome heel. The 20 seconds I heard him on the microphone at the end of NXT tonight (I only saw the last 15 minutes) was good. Directly making fun of two other competitors and it made me laugh when he made fun of the dude who talked before him, "a win is a win? what are you talking about?", because I was thinking the same thing. Making fun of the guy who sneezed into the mic was scripted, but what he said about the other guy seemed like Joe thought on his heels. Natural charisma like his daddy. <img alt=":cool:" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/cool.png.f00d2562b2c1d873a09323753efdb041.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

[Stennick]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="BHK1978" data-cite="BHK1978" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I guess one could make the arguement that Husky Harris' (which is probably the worst of the names) uncles Barry and Kendall Windham didn't keep their father's ring name of Mulligan. That being said it still annoys me.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> So is Windham the "real" name then? Or is Mulligan the real name?</p>

[BHK1978]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Stennick" data-cite="Stennick" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>So is Windham the "real" name then? Or is Mulligan the real name?</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I just looked it up and it would seem that Windham is the actual real name.</p>

[Self]

Ugh. NXT.

 

The show is clearly a hazing ritual on the rookies, putting them in uncomfortable situations to see how they react, which is the exact opposite of what I find entertaining. I like it clean. I like it scripted. I like it rehearsed. Or at the very least edited to get rid of the screw ups.

 

I'm only watching to see what the new guys are like. Titus looks kinda poor. Cottonwood is a awkward as I'd expect. I dig Percy Watson. I want to like Husky Harris, but the jury is still out.

 

Again, the standout bits were the phenomenal video packages. I'm crazy-excited about Alex Riley. The gimmick is a goofier version of Swagger's, but I like it better on him. Mr Perfect's kid still does nothing for me, but it was a very well produced video.

 

Is The Miz supposed to be Simon Cowell now?

[Gabbo]

I think Riley, McGullicutty, Kaval and Watson are the only decent ones in this series.

 

O'Neill is horribly bland and basically looks like Big Zeke. Why are the WWE just allowing this sort of repetitive blandness to keep cropping up?

 

Also, this may have been discussed a while back I barely watch the WWE anymore and only recently noticed. Is the ring smaller than it was... say 3 months ago?

[fullMETAL]

They're using the stupid names because WWE gets to OWN those stupid names and market them. It would take incredibly short-sighted stupidity on the part of Hennig and Rotunda to let WWE merchandise the family names without a great benefit to them.

 

Think about it this way--WWE can't make any money from "Rey Mysterio Jr.", but they can make BOATLOADS from "Rey Mysterio" (taking the "Jr." away), because they OWN the merchandising rights to "Rey Mysterio" (sans Jr.) but not to "Rey Mysterio Jr.".

 

Similarly, CM Punk, Rob Van Dam, Booker T (BEFORE "King Booker") and the myriad of other known stars who came to WWE and kept their names were likely benefitting from a partnership agreement in terms of merchandising.

 

Remember, it's why we change people's names when we contract them in TEW (well SOME of us do, anyway), and why TNA marketed Low-Ki as "Senshi" (and why WWE is marketing him as "Kaval"). It's why Undertaker is "Undertaker" and not "Mean Mark Callous" or "The Punisher". People can recognize the person, but if they get to keep their name, that means the COMPANY is missing out on money. And we all know "It's all about the mon-ey..." (/Vince)

 

(and of course, there are certain to be exceptions, like Matt and Jeff Hardy)

[fullMETAL]

And also, the ring isn't smaller, it's just that the ropes are being moved further in. Probably.

[Self]

Remember, it's why we change people's names when we contract them in TEW (well SOME of us do, anyway), and why TNA marketed Low-Ki as "Senshi" (and why WWE is marketing him as "Kaval"). It's why Undertaker is "Undertaker" and not "Mean Mark Callous" or "The Punisher". People can recognize the person, but if they get to keep their name, that means the COMPANY is missing out on money. And we all know "It's all about the mon-ey..." (/Vince)

 

I'm pretty sure the 'name change for merchandising rights' doesn't stretch back that far. The Undertaker, for example, seems to me more likely to have been because they wanted that gimmick, and Mean Mark looked like he could play the role. I expect they dropped the Jr from Rey Rey for simplicity sake. That or they thought 'Junior' sounded inferior. Bautista likely became Batista, again, for simplicity.

 

... but yes, the name change is a necessary evil nowadays. Doesn't excuse some of the dumber ones (although I'm partial to Husky Harris) but it excuses the need to change.

 

On the subject of the ring, I think everything's the same size as usual, but the 'roving hardcamera' makes things look smaller.

[Gabbo]

Undertaker was the gimmick, they scouted for the right man. The name change for company ownership sake I'd say is only a ten year old trait in the pro wrestling business. Wrestlers were doing it themselves for years before to protect their personas in the territories. As an example, Davey Boy copyrighted the name British Bulldog years before promotions took control of it. In fact Davey Boy (by law) stole the name from Dynamite Kid, being one of the reasons they majorly fell out.

 

Jr was dropped for simplicity's sake but the name was changed for ownership sakes from Rey Misterio to Rey Mysterio. As with the Rhino/Rhyno squabble.

 

Doesn't explain why they chose Michael McGullicutty and not Mike Hennig though, or even Brian Danielson not Bryan Danielson. The Hennig thing is such drivel, he claims in the introduction videos he's changed his name to make a name off his own back, then they mention he's Mr. Perfect's son x amount of times and that he's changed his name to be his own man. Just don't mention his father at all.

 

 

I'm sure the ring is genuinely smaller, I'll try to find comparison images.

[juggaloninjalee]

Do you guys think this NXT Stable is going to succeed or be a flop?

[-laz-]

Do you guys think this NXT Stable is going to succeed or be a flop?

i think it all depends on who the mastermind behind it all is

[lazorbeak]

Think about it this way--WWE can't make any money from "Rey Mysterio Jr.", but they can make BOATLOADS from "Rey Mysterio" (taking the "Jr." away), because they OWN the merchandising rights to "Rey Mysterio" (sans Jr.) but not to "Rey Mysterio Jr.".

 

Yes they can. It's just that Rey Mysterio gets to keep the name and gets to contract for some of the rights. It's not like WWE never made any money on products with a wrestler's real name on it when they had to.

 

 

Jr was dropped for simplicity's sake but the name was changed for ownership sakes from Rey Misterio to Rey Mysterio. As with the Rhino/Rhyno squabble.

 

Actually the Rhino/Rhyno name change wasn't about simplicity, it was about avoiding paying Marvel Comics. The same reason Hogan dropped the "Hulk" part of his name for so long.

[BHK1978]

There is a funny story about the Undertaker name (well maybe funny is not the best word). Now the details might not be 100% correct but the gist of the story was:

 

When the WWF decided to give Mean Mark the Undertaker an indy tag team who called themselves the Undertakers (I belive that was the name) threatened to sue the WWF for copyright infringment.

 

Anyway, in order to use the Undertaker gimmick and name the WWF had to agree to higher this indy tag team. Which they did and they used them as jobbers on Superstars and what not.

[TheEdgeOfReason]

The Hennig thing is such drivel, he claims in the introduction videos he's changed his name to make a name off his own back, then they mention he's Mr. Perfect's son x amount of times and that he's changed his name to be his own man. Just don't mention his father at all.

 

Thats the poinmt, he is trying to get away from his father yet they keep mentioning it. It's part of the character.

[LoganRodzen]

I was watching the NXT invasion on RAW on YouTube (again) in its entirety because it's just that damn cool. And someone commented on the video what is beyond the truth and very funny.

 

Dude we're lucky he didn't pop right up like it was nothing, stack all 8 of them on his shoulders and FU them all.

 

Hahahaha

[BurningHamster]

i think it all depends on who the mastermind behind it all is

 

Haha mastermind. That's a good one.

 

NXT was weird with the ridiculously long recap from RAW. I like that they are doing something a little different though but since NXT started almost nothing has made sense, things have teased making sense, then a week or two later stuff is somehow different and nobody mentions why.

 

Percy Watson is perhaps the funniest thing I have seen lately. I don't think the Urkel reference was purely accidental and that along with the Carlton Banks from Fresh Prince of Bel Air type dance on his way to the ring makes me think they have been scouting out my favourite black sitcom nerds, which makes a nice change from generic black angry dude and generic black cool dude. I'm just waiting for them to go old skool on him and bring in some JJ from Good Times.

 

I hate the names these guys are using but I think Husky Harris is exactly what the world needs right now, just a big fat dude dropping crazy sentons on people.

 

Riley I am not sure about, I liked part of his schtick but the whole "you're dismissed" thing kind of blew it for me. I thought with the whole reservations thing he mentioned they might have been going for a typical rich jock meets Patrick Bateman from American Psycho vibe but I guess not.

 

Kaval is dressed like a motocross rider or something. I haven't watched any of his stuff since back when he was still Low Ki. I wonder if he has learnt how to sell yet.

 

The WWE Pros are a pretty drab bunch.

[Self]

i think it all depends on who the mastermind behind it all is

 

If it's not Barrett, I'll say Flop.

 

Why does there need to be a 'mastermind' anyway? How much planning does it take to gather together 8 pissed off dudes and go attack John Cena?

 

Riley I am not sure about, I liked part of his schtick but the whole "you're dismissed" thing kind of blew it for me. I thought with the whole reservations thing he mentioned they might have been going for a typical rich jock meets Patrick Bateman from American Psycho vibe but I guess not.

 

I LOVED his promo right up until that "You're dismissed" line. That killed it for me too. Just felt so "wrasslin' catchphrasey" when he was doing so well just talking.

 

The WWE Pros are a pretty drab bunch.

 

Yes.

[TheEdgeOfReason]

Just watched the full viedo for the first time. Danielsons kick to Cena was just plain awesome. I loved how Gabriel just stared a hole through Cena after the 450.

[GDE71]

Riley, Cottonwood, Watson, Kaval for sure and maybe Harris.

 

I liked the whole Riley promo even the You're Dismissed line.

 

Cottonwood needs to continue to play up the I'm slightly "wrong in the head" vibe he has going.

 

Watson can be gold if it doesn't get old....

 

Kaval cuz he's Low Ki

 

Harris for his in-ring work, surely not his mic work....