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

[Dawn]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Blackman" data-cite="Blackman" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Does it matter? If you know that user posts spoilers, don't look at them if you don't want to be spoiled. If you don't know, than it's just a prediction like any other.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> What? <img alt=":confused:" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/confused.png.d4a8e6b6eab0c67698b911fb041c0ed1.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png"></p>

[OctoberRaven]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Smasher1311" data-cite="Smasher1311" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div> And my money wasn't on Rowan and Harper before the debut, but it looks like they can be solid workers too. The first feud for them should be huge.<p> </p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Luke Harper/Brodie Lee is and always has been awesome. He's one of the best wildman-style brawlers today and has the look of a legit murderous psycho.</p>

[Rone Rivendale]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="OctoberRaven" data-cite="OctoberRaven" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Luke Harper/Brodie Lee is and always has been awesome. He's one of the best wildman-style brawlers today and has the look of a legit murderous psycho.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> And I've seen him do huracanranas on CHIKARA before.</p>

[Teh_Showtime]

Best Big Boot in the business imo

 

It's murderous

[Rickymex]

Rowan was the one I was worried about but his character works great for him. He doesn't need a large or impressive moveset and being the tag team partner of Luke Harper who can control the pacing of the match with his better skills.

 

I had previously seen Brodie's matches from Chikara and I saw him in the same vein as Antonio Cesaro. Both of them are too good to fail.

[milamber]

Yeah, Harper and Rowan are effective with Wyatt as their mouthpiece.

 

I've read some concern about Christian going over Sandow which is a total overreaction. Sure, Christian isn't getting the pop WWE would like him to get (but neither is Sheamus) but they should persist with him before he's too past his prime. As for Sandow, I could care less if he loses matches right now. He has 12 months to cash-in and doesn't need to go on a winning streak so soon. Plus he'll probably go over Cody in their feud. Bryan's MITB was handled brilliantly as part of a heel turn. Ziggler not as well but it paid off when he did cash in with the smark crowd. So long as Sandow wins some feuds before he cashes in I don't see a problem.

[Stennick]

<p>Christian is a jobber to the stars with no storyline on the horizon of any note. Damian Sandow just won the Money in the Bank. You don't deem a guy number 1 contender to a championship and then have him lose because "he doesn't have to challenge for the title right now" or because "he's going to win his next feud anyway". Its not like he was winning a ton of matches before his MITB win so this was a chance for them to show the fans he's something more than a jobber now and they immediately went back to him losing to a guy thats not in any spotlight of any kind and likely won't be for quite a time. So no its not ok that he lost to Christian and honestly the guy is past his prime. He's there to wrestle on Main Event, help the guys in NXT and use as a mid card name for guys getting pushed to beat. I'm not saying the guy is worthless but this is his clear role in the company now. The argument of "maybe they will do something with Christian now so this win means something for him" isn't an argument at all because its very apparent they won't but by the time you give it an obligatory three months the comments about Christian winning over Sandow being ok will have already been forgotten. </p><p> </p><p>

The Shield just kind of quietly fell into the mid card facing the Uso's is quite the step down from pinning Orton, Big Show and Sheamus who have a combined EIGHTEEN world titles between the three of them. Also I find it strange that they got this push and everyone raved about Ambrose's mic skills yet these guys don't ever do any talking whats so ever atleast on RAW.</p>

[shawn michaels]

To me...a heel cheating or beating up another heel doesn't make a face turn. But they keep going with it. So...Rhodes has been a full heel for years, doing...heel stuff..and just because he was screwed by sandow...he is now a great guy? I do not like this type of booking.

[crownsy]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="shawn michaels 82" data-cite="shawn michaels 82" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>To me...a heel cheating or beating up another heel doesn't make a face turn. But they keep going with it. So...Rhodes has been a full heel for years, doing...heel stuff..and just because he was screwed by sandow...he is now a great guy? I do not like this type of booking.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> With you here. And I'll take it a step further, Cody's turn also makes no sense because it was an every man for himself brawl.</p><p> </p><p> What was sandow supposed to do? Clap and wave at him? Not sure why it's a face maneuver to get outworked by another guy in a winner take all match, regardless of the fact he's your tag team partner.</p><p> </p><p> If they had both been faces going in, sure, then you have the whole betrayal stichik.</p><p> </p><p> Interested to hear Cody on a mic trying to be a face. To me he has great heel mannirisms and talking skills. not sure how it's going to translate to being a good guy.</p>

[crownsy]

<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>Christian is a jobber to the stars with no storyline on the horizon of any note. Damian Sandow just won the Money in the Bank. You don't deem a guy number 1 contender to a championship and then have him lose because "he doesn't have to challenge for the title right now" or because "he's going to win his next feud anyway". Its not like he was winning a ton of matches before his MITB win so this was a chance for them to show the fans he's something more than a jobber now and they immediately went back to him losing to a guy thats not in any spotlight of any kind and likely won't be for quite a time. So no its not ok that he lost to Christian and honestly the guy is past his prime. He's there to wrestle on Main Event, help the guys in NXT and use as a mid card name for guys getting pushed to beat. I'm not saying the guy is worthless but this is his clear role in the company now. The argument of "maybe they will do something with Christian now so this win means something for him" isn't an argument at all because its very apparent they won't but by the time you give it an obligatory three months the comments about Christian winning over Sandow being ok will have already been forgotten. <p> </p><p> The Shield just kind of quietly fell into the mid card facing the Uso's is quite the step down from pinning Orton, Big Show and Sheamus who have a combined EIGHTEEN world titles between the three of them. Also I find it strange that they got this push and everyone raved about Ambrose's mic skills yet these guys don't ever do any talking whats so ever atleast on RAW.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Christan's win is just to set him up to be a bigger win for Ambrose, that's clearly the next feud for the shield. Christian is hot with the crowd coming back from injury, so the WWE wanted that win so they can pump him up as a legit threat to ambrose. </p><p> </p><p> Sandow and Cody essentially made the result moot in 5 seconds anyway, all everyone remembers is the brawl after the match. </p><p> </p><p> And I don't think the Shield "fell into the midcard" there's only so many main eventers. They can't keep taking on 3 M/E or UMC guys every week and winning, they need those guys strong for other stories.</p><p> </p><p> So as a group, they have to transition to being ambrose's backup. That means dean has to be the focus (which he is as the US title holder) and Reigns and rollins get to be body guards. </p><p> </p><p> The shield is stuck where bryan was until about 2 months ago. An UMC act waiting it's turn to fued with a star. Hopefully they can be as entertaining as bryan was until that opens up after the Orton-Cena-Bryan Storyline or Del Rio- Dolph storyline.</p>

[shawn michaels]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="crownsy" data-cite="crownsy" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>With you here. And I'll take it a step further, Cody's turn also makes no sense because it was an every man for himself brawl.<p> </p><p> What was sandow supposed to do? Clap and wave at him? Not sure why it's a face maneuver to get outworked by another guy in a winner take all match, regardless of the fact he's your tag team partner.</p><p> </p><p> If they had both been faces going in, sure, then you have the whole betrayal stichik.</p><p> </p><p> Interested to hear Cody on a mic trying to be a face. To me he has great heel mannirisms and talking skills. not sure how it's going to translate to being a good guy.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Amen to all of that. I mean, the moment itself was great, but it is not a turn by itself. If they had worked on it, built that in the weeks before the mach, with subtlety, than that moment could have been the climax of a good turn. Instead...it makes no sense to me. When it comes to logic, I mean.</p>

[Rickymex]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="shawn michaels 82" data-cite="shawn michaels 82" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Amen to all of that. I mean, the moment itself was great, but it is not a turn by itself. If they had worked on it, built that in the weeks before the mach, with subtlety, than that moment could have been the climax of a good turn. Instead...it makes no sense to me. When it comes to logic, I mean.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I don't think this was a logical face turn but more in line to the feelings of the crowd. At MITB Cody was a beast taking everyone out and having the crowd completely behind him. He was bleeding he had just fought off most of the shield and was just on fire. Then his best friend Damien Sandow who for most of the match had been hiding by the timekeepers area just grabs him, throws him, and steals the victory. This is the same Daien Sandow that spoke of fighting honestly and fairly if it ever came down to him and Cody Rhodes. Relationships are not logical things and sometimes you just have to go with emotions over logic.</p>

[shawn michaels]

<p>And Sandow winning his MITB match does not make him a guaranteed star, unfortunately. It's like Dolph Ziggler all over again. And I'm not really surprised tbh. Let's look at how they book their world titles.</p><p> </p><p>

"Winning John Cena" Championship: This is the main title in WWE right now. If you actually manage to win Cena at a main event of a PPV, you have won the most coveted title in WWE. Heck..winning? You're even lucky to wrestle him at the ME of a PPV.</p><p> </p><p>

WWE Title: This one is treated like a post-Jordan Chicago Bulls. Which means: Congatulations, you're on NBA, but you suck. No one even cares.</p><p> </p><p>

WHC: This one is the B-leage. Enough said. </p><p> </p><p>

If this is how they book the world titles...im not surprised at how they book MITB winners, especially Smackdown's.</p>

[lazorbeak]

<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>Christian is a jobber to the stars with no storyline on the horizon of any note. Damian Sandow just won the Money in the Bank. You don't deem a guy number 1 contender to a championship and then have him lose because "he doesn't have to challenge for the title right now" or because "he's going to win his next feud anyway". Its not like he was winning a ton of matches before his MITB win so this was a chance for them to show the fans he's something more than a jobber now and they immediately went back to him losing to a guy thats not in any spotlight of any kind and likely won't be for quite a time. So no its not ok that he lost to Christian and honestly the guy is past his prime. He's there to wrestle on Main Event, help the guys in NXT and use as a mid card name for guys getting pushed to beat. I'm not saying the guy is worthless but this is his clear role in the company now. The argument of "maybe they will do something with Christian now so this win means something for him" isn't an argument at all because its very apparent they won't but by the time you give it an obligatory three months the comments about Christian winning over Sandow being ok will have already been forgotten. <p> </p><p> The Shield just kind of quietly fell into the mid card facing the Uso's is quite the step down from pinning Orton, Big Show and Sheamus who have a combined EIGHTEEN world titles between the three of them. Also I find it strange that they got this push and everyone raved about Ambrose's mic skills yet these guys don't ever do any talking whats so ever atleast on RAW.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I really don't see Sandow winning even the big gold belt, which is basically the IC title in this post-brand split WWE, so I don't really mind him losing here. Cody's the guy that needs to be focused on. </p><p> </p><p> Agree that Christian is now just looking old and not great, he really shouldn't be a focus. I mean, neither should Jericho, but Christian is the <em>other</em> "old, small Canadian babyface" right now. Not exactly a recipe for success.</p><p> </p><p> The issue with the Shield seems to be that WWE has gotten them pretty over, but don't seem to have much for them to do. I mean, at least they're not losing every week like every other midcard champ, but defending their belts feels like kind of a waste of time considering where they are right now. I'd love to see them destroy Jericho and Christian for a month or so (call them the Canadian Cool Dads) rather than try to make anyone care about a tag division that WWE forgot about for about six months.</p><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="shawn michaels 82" data-cite="shawn michaels 82" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>To me...a heel cheating or beating up another heel doesn't make a face turn. But they keep going with it. So...Rhodes has been a full heel for years, doing...heel stuff..and just because he was screwed by sandow...he is now a great guy? I do not like this type of booking.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Disagree 1000%. I hate it when a heel starts getting cheers and immediately starts smiling and high fiving people coming down the entrance ramp. The fans are cheering for Cody and Ziggler because of circumstances that made them sympathetic. I'd much rather they gradually kind of come around to more of a babyface role while still doing the things they always did. I hate when a heel turns face and suddenly Kofi Kingston is totally cool with teaming with Ziggler, a guy he wrestled roughly 16,000 times without a word backstage of "hey I don't like you, but let's work together."</p><p> </p><p> And if your issue is that you just don't understand why the crowd was sympathetic... it was already explained. Cody showed fighting spirit, and Sandow was a liar who took advantage of the situation. The "every man for himself" rule ignores that the whole point was to get the crowd to want Cody to win, just to have Sandow snatch it away.</p>

[shawn michaels]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="lazorbeak" data-cite="lazorbeak" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I really don't see Sandow winning even the big gold belt, which is basically the IC title in this post-brand split WWE, so I don't really mind him losing here. Cody's the guy that needs to be focused on. <p> </p><p> Agree that Christian is now just looking old and not great, he really shouldn't be a focus. I mean, neither should Jericho, but Christian is the <em>other</em> "old, small Canadian babyface" right now. Not exactly a recipe for success.</p><p> </p><p> The issue with the Shield seems to be that WWE has gotten them pretty over, but don't seem to have much for them to do. I mean, at least they're not losing every week like every other midcard champ, but defending their belts feels like kind of a waste of time considering where they are right now. I'd love to see them destroy Jericho and Christian for a month or so (call them the Canadian Cool Dads) rather than try to make anyone care about a tag division that WWE forgot about for about six months.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> Disagree 1000%. I hate it when a heel starts getting cheers and immediately starts smiling and high fiving people coming down the entrance ramp. The fans are cheering for Cody and Ziggler because of circumstances that made them sympathetic. I'd much rather they gradually kind of come around to more of a babyface role while still doing the things they always did. I hate when a heel turns face and suddenly Kofi Kingston is totally cool with teaming with Ziggler, a guy he wrestled roughly 16,000 times without a word backstage of "hey I don't like you, but let's work together."</p><p> </p><p> And if your issue is that you just don't understand why the crowd was sympathetic... it was already explained. Cody showed fighting spirit, and Sandow was a liar who took advantage of the situation. The "every man for himself" rule ignores that the whole point was to get the crowd to want Cody to win, just to have Sandow snatch it away.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I'm not saying a face turn has to be acting like bland super cena and i even agreed the situation at the PPV was good, but i don't see Sandow as the bad guy here. Sue me. <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

[Rickymex]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="shawn michaels 82" data-cite="shawn michaels 82" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I'm not saying a face turn has to be acting like bland super cena and i even agreed the situation at the PPV was good, but i don't see Sandow as the bad guy here. Sue me. <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I will thanks to this man!</p><p> </p><p> <span>http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/ep_trending/public/video/thumb/2012/03/20120312_raw_otunga_legal.jpg</span></p>

[bigtplaystew]

<p>I've been saying for awhile I want more complex babyfaces. WWE has a very captive audience at this point they shouldn't be afraid to take risks with some of these faces, and they haven been! I think DB and Punk are great examples of edgy faces that are new and different and not just Stone Cold rip offs. </p><p> </p><p>

I can definitely see Rhodes and Ziggler being huge as darker babyfaces to Cena's white knight. They can even wrestle each other from time to time. It's different and exciting and the kind of thing they should take a chance on rather than "this is the guy that mus be bood and this is the guy that must be cheered."</p><p> </p><p>

That's why I loved Cena/Rock so much. They weren't afraid to do something different and speaking business wise it's paid off.</p>

[shawn michaels]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Rickymex" data-cite="Rickymex" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I will thanks to this man!<p> </p><p> <span>http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/ep_trending/public/video/thumb/2012/03/20120312_raw_otunga_legal.jpg</span></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Oh noooooo..... <img alt=":eek:" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/eek.png.0e09df00fa222c85760b9bc1700b5405.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

[Stennick]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="bigtplaystew" data-cite="bigtplaystew" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I've been saying for awhile I want more complex babyfaces. WWE has a very captive audience at this point they shouldn't be afraid to take risks with some of these faces, and they haven been! I think DB and Punk are great examples of edgy faces that are new and different and not just Stone Cold rip offs. <p> </p><p> I can definitely see Rhodes and Ziggler being huge as darker babyfaces to Cena's white knight. They can even wrestle each other from time to time. It's different and exciting and the kind of thing they should take a chance on rather than "this is the guy that mus be bood and this is the guy that must be cheered."</p><p> </p><p> That's why I loved Cena/Rock so much. They weren't afraid to do something different and speaking business wise it's paid off.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> What do you mean by "darker" babyfaces? What exactly is Cody Rhodes character? Or heck Dolph Ziggler's for that matter. I'm still a bit confused if he's officially a babyface or not or when his turn might have been other than dumping AJ the other night. </p><p> </p><p> Also isn't CM Punk the "anti" Cena or heck even Daniel Bryan at this point? Punk is the anti Cena in the sense that he doesn't tow the company line, he says whatever he wants, whenever he wants. As opposed to Cena kissing babies and smiling while tapping out. (I slighted Cena cue SM82 coming in here to agree that he's the worst thing in the world and petitioning us to tie him up and burn his house down with him in it). </p><p> </p><p> I would say Punk is for sure the dark, anti Cena but I haven't seen ANYTHING ever from Cody Rhodes or Dolph Ziggler from a character stand point that made me say "take my money I want to see this guy fight". Ziggler is a good worker, I wouldn't say great but he's a good worker better than most on the roster but I've never seen him cut a single promo like Punk, like Cena, like even Daniel Bryan that made me say "yes take my money I need to see him do what he just said he was going to do". </p><p> </p><p> I also don't think anyone but Ziggler can be blamed for that. He's been pushed rather heavily despite recent complaints the guy has been a focal point of one show or another for years now and has been fairly well promoted and protected outside of his losing streak before winning the WHC. I've just never seen him cut that promo that made me say "oh man this guy is going to do something awesome at the ppv and I don't wanna miss it".</p>

[panix04]

<p>I must admit RAW is becoming must watch TV for me lately. When Bray Wyatt cut his promo I thought, that dude has to be just about the best stick man in the business at the moment - completely chilling, even managed to halt "what" chants, because, well I think its because of how captivating he is. </p><p> </p><p>

But then when Heyman had finished his diatribe against punk and Punk formed his rebuttal it was a bit like punk was saying "Bray Wyatt better on the mic than me? Bitch please!" just an amazing promo with great depth and emotion. Forget putting the Miz and Orton in movies CM Punk is arguably the best actor on the roster. And then the brawl between Punk and Lesnar... Epic! </p><p> </p><p>

Just my thoughts.</p><p> </p><p>

Oh and one more thing - Jericho washed up Canadian? To quote the Miz - Really? Really? Really? He may not be getting any younger but Y2J just put on a match that could proudly sit atop any PPV. <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/cool.png.f00d2562b2c1d873a09323753efdb041.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

[Stennick]

<p>The thing is I don't think CM Punk is that great of an actor. CM Punk gets to be Phil Brooks every night. Thats not an insult Steve Austin got to be Steve Williams every night, Hollywood Hogan got to be Terry Bollea every night. The Rock get to be Dwayne Johnson, Randy Savage got to be Randy Poffo and so on and so on. </p><p> </p><p>

What I mean though its its like Eminem getting praise for his acting in 8 mile. Is it really acting when you're essentially just playing an ever so slightly tweaked version of yourself? </p><p> </p><p>

CM Punk is a fantastic promo guys, he's a pretty good worker (his kicks look sloppy and times and I think the GTS is the ugliest, sloppiest finisher in history and wish he would use the Anaconda Vice or something else). </p><p> </p><p>

Anyway though Bray Wyatt I would think that he's not really a cult leader in real life or really preaching to the masses about being sheep or what not. Maybe these are some of his thoughts but I would venture to say that Bray Wyatt's character is a farther stretch from who he really is than CM Punk's from who he really is. </p><p> </p><p>

Not saying Punk's not awesome he is, and I'm not saying he CAN'T act I'm just saying cutting an old school pro wrestling promo and acting are not the same thing. That being said The Miz can't even cut a pro wrestling promo let alone act so if we're only comparing him to The Miz and others of that ilk then I would think Punk would be DiNero on film compared to those guys.</p>

[bigtplaystew]

<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>Also isn't CM Punk the "anti" Cena or heck even Daniel Bryan at this point? Punk is the anti Cena in the sense that he doesn't tow the company line, he says whatever he wants, whenever he wants. As opposed to Cena kissing babies and smiling while tapping out.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Yes... this is precisely my point? LOL was that not clear enough?</p><p> </p><p> And I'm not sitting here saying Cody or Ziggler are at Cena's level. I'm saying going forward they should push them as darker face characters like Punk and Bryan.</p>

[Rickymex]

<p>I think the most important factor for a character is for them to actually have a goal. That what should determine their actions and who their opponents are.</p><p> </p><p>

John Cena - Defend the WWE championship and regain the glory he "lost" in 2012.</p><p> </p><p>

CM Punk - Battle Brock Lesnar and destroy his ex-bff Paul Heyman and all his allies.</p><p> </p><p>

Daniel Bryan - Prove he's not the weak link and show that he is capable of being #1.</p><p> </p><p>

AJ Lee - Destroy the man who dumped her even through she only interfered in the match out of worry for Dolph Ziggler and only after being witness to the dangerous killer instincts of ADR. <em>(I'm a complete AJ mark and proud of it. Dolph is the douche in my eyes)</em></p><p> </p><p>

Big E - Protect his best friend? AJ Lee. That was the reason he came on the show in the first place and he was only Dolph's bodyguard because AJ was his girlfriend. Very nice consistency. <em>(Sidenote: I really hope they keep the relationship between AJ and Big E platonic as their twitter exchanges are too hilarious to turn romantic.)</em></p><p> </p><p>

There are some other wrestlers with goals but a majority of them haven't had any for and this is probably the first step in establishing a midcard. This should be quite simple considering how much online content they have. I know they can't waste time on RAW for midcarders but considering they also have Main Event, Superstars?, Smackdown, their youtube account and various other ways to create a more active backstage enviroment and bring more life into the characters in order for guys like Cody Rhodes and Dolph Ziggler to develop goals as well as for guys like The PTP and Tons of Funk to have a reason for existing apart from show up and disappear.</p>

[shawn michaels]

The thing is I don't think CM Punk is that great of an actor. CM Punk gets to be Phil Brooks every night. Thats not an insult Steve Austin got to be Steve Williams every night, Hollywood Hogan got to be Terry Bollea every night. The Rock get to be Dwayne Johnson, Randy Savage got to be Randy Poffo and so on and so on.

 

What I mean though its its like Eminem getting praise for his acting in 8 mile. Is it really acting when you're essentially just playing an ever so slightly tweaked version of yourself?

 

CM Punk is a fantastic promo guys, he's a pretty good worker (his kicks look sloppy and times and I think the GTS is the ugliest, sloppiest finisher in history and wish he would use the Anaconda Vice or something else).

 

Anyway though Bray Wyatt I would think that he's not really a cult leader in real life or really preaching to the masses about being sheep or what not. Maybe these are some of his thoughts but I would venture to say that Bray Wyatt's character is a farther stretch from who he really is than CM Punk's from who he really is.

 

Not saying Punk's not awesome he is, and I'm not saying he CAN'T act I'm just saying cutting an old school pro wrestling promo and acting are not the same thing. That being said The Miz can't even cut a pro wrestling promo let alone act so if we're only comparing him to The Miz and others of that ilk then I would think Punk would be DiNero on film compared to those guys.

 

Dude, playing yourself is the most difficult type of part to play.

 

Also: I am here to agree that he's (Cena) the worst thing in the world and i want to petition you guys to tie him up and burn his house down with him in it. You're Wellcome.

[milamber]

With you here. And I'll take it a step further, Cody's turn also makes no sense because it was an every man for himself brawl.

 

What was sandow supposed to do? Clap and wave at him? Not sure why it's a face maneuver to get outworked by another guy in a winner take all match, regardless of the fact he's your tag team partner.

 

If they had both been faces going in, sure, then you have the whole betrayal stichik.

 

Interested to hear Cody on a mic trying to be a face. To me he has great heel mannirisms and talking skills. not sure how it's going to translate to being a good guy.

 

It works because of the Rhodes/Sandow bromance that's been happening for months, the face announcers putting it over as a betrayal (with JBL the heel announcer siding with Sandow), the way the MITB match was scripted and the smark crowd getting behind Rhodes. I think it's off to a good start and is almost on par with Ziggler's turn (which had the advantage of Del Rio being a former heel and Dolph's real life concussion). I'm not saying it's going to be a successful face turn but they've done everything they can so far to make it work. Remember when A-Ry turned on Miz? They put less effort into that and A-Ry got a huge pop when he turned face (and then failed to put any effort into pushing A-Ry).

 

I'm not saying a face turn has to be acting like bland super cena and i even agreed the situation at the PPV was good, but i don't see Sandow as the bad guy here. Sue me.

 

I agree with you here. And that's how it should be for wrestling fans -- supporting who you want to not who the company tries to shove down your throat. But this is WWE not ROH or Chikara. Despite a recent effort to use smark crowds to their advantage instead of ignoring them, WWE is still going to do what they always have.