Wrestling...thats right, Wrestling!

[Hammy]

Nah, most WCW ones are much worse than that.

[Izzy]

Bischoff's blog was pretty much on the money - but so much of what he says is hypocritcal and contradicts his WCW work

Triple H is dull, he used to be my fav wrestler - now he seems tired of himself. New entrance is a must - he's had that one for 8 years!!!!

[Hammy]

Credit: PWInsider.com

-- WWE issued a survey to fans on their mailing list about a PPV where the Hell In The Cell would be used in all the matches, similar to the potential all-submission match PPV, and requested feedback on potential PPV names for the event:

*WWE Hell In A Cell
*WWE No Escape
*WWE Lock Up
*WWE Rage In A Cage

With no blood?  Bah!  Even in the X-Rated times, its overkill.  If you are going to rip off TNA at least nab their good ideas, like a quality Tag and Cruiserweight Division.

Edit: Anytime I think about stopping watching wrestling its the little things that keep me going.

[AtariLegend]

Credit: PWInsider.com

-- WWE issued a survey to fans on their mailing list about a PPV where the Hell In The Cell would be used in all the matches, similar to the potential all-submission match PPV, and requested feedback on potential PPV names for the event:

*WWE Hell In A Cell
*WWE No Escape
*WWE Lock Up
*WWE Rage In A Cage

I wonder if anyone on the creative team has come up with "No Way Out" yet  ?

Anyway, speaking of ripping off other promotions, they should have replaced "Breaking Point/Unforgiven" with "War Games".

[Hammy]

Credit: PWInsider.com

-- WWE issued a survey to fans on their mailing list about a PPV where the Hell In The Cell would be used in all the matches, similar to the potential all-submission match PPV, and requested feedback on potential PPV names for the event:

*WWE Hell In A Cell
*WWE No Escape
*WWE Lock Up
*WWE Rage In A Cage

I wonder if anyone on the creative team has come up with "No Way Out" yet  ?

Anyway, speaking of ripping off other promotions, they should have replaced "Breaking Point/Unforgiven" with "War Games".

Well thats WCW, so thats a no.  Word is thats why we have The Bash now, because the previous name reminded Vince of WCW too much.

[BlowUpYourVideo]

IMO, an all Hell In A Cell PPV is an awful idea. That's the one match which in 2009, still seems like the ultimate feud-ender. Things like Cage Matches and Last Man Standing Matches are overused nowadays but at least the WWE have been smart enough to use HIAC sparingly. An all HIAC PPV will just take away its importance and overall badassery (that is a recognised word in the Oxford English Dictionary...). The ECW Title being defended in HIAC??

[AxlsMainMan]

I'd rather see an all 3 Stages of Hell PPV.

[Hammy]

The following announcements are from WWE.com:

-- ?World Wrestling Entertainment has come to terms on the release of SmackDown Superstar Candice Michelle as of today, June 19, 2009. WWE wishes Candice the best in all future endeavors. ?

-- ?World Wrestling Entertainment has come to terms on the release of Raw Superstar Sim Snuka as of today, June 19, 2009. WWE wishes Sim the best in all future endeavors. ?

  (The tears are for Sim obviously... )

[Izzy]

Well thats WCW, so thats a no.  Word is thats why we have The Bash now, because the previous name reminded Vince of WCW too much.

strangely changing 'Fully Loaded' to 'The Great American Bash' didnt seem to remind Vince of WCW....

What an odd man that Vince is...

An all HIAC PPV is absurd - HIAC are pretty dull these days anyway and no blood means no point

WWE has made it clear they wont do the insane stunts - so a HIAC is a inherantly disapointing. An Elimination Chamber match is much better because your expectations are set lower

[Izzy]

The following announcements are from WWE.com:

-- ?World Wrestling Entertainment has come to terms on the release of SmackDown Superstar Candice Michelle as of today, June 19, 2009. WWE wishes Candice the best in all future endeavors. ?

-- ?World Wrestling Entertainment has come to terms on the release of Raw Superstar Sim Snuka as of today, June 19, 2009. WWE wishes Sim the best in all future endeavors. ?

 

Shocker

How Sim had a job for so long was the surprise - should have left him in Legacy

[Hammy]

The following announcements are from WWE.com:

-- ?World Wrestling Entertainment has come to terms on the release of SmackDown Superstar Candice Michelle as of today, June 19, 2009. WWE wishes Candice the best in all future endeavors. ?

-- ?World Wrestling Entertainment has come to terms on the release of Raw Superstar Sim Snuka as of today, June 19, 2009. WWE wishes Sim the best in all future endeavors. ?

 

Shocker

How Sim had a job for so long was the surprise - should have left him in Legacy

His dad would be the reason.  We seem to be having a big period of, oh his dad is famous lets push him.  Snuka and Manu bombed.  Jesse isn't far behind them.  Priceless look to finally be on the right path though although I'm curious as to why the big praise for David Hart Smith.  I heard much praise of his in-ring skills and all I see is a chubby guy who is a bit blah while Tyson Kidd is superb. (Except for the stupid hair)

Zack Diggler?
Don Zimmer?
Dick Ziggler?

 

New theme music...."I am perfection....".  Very boy band much like Zach Ryder's  Its either because A) Heels should have annoying yet cheesy boyband music to get heat or B) Rock entrance music entrance themes are being phased out because they aren't PG.

Dolph Ziggler vs. The Great Khali V in a Punjabi Prison Match at The Bash...Book It!

Incidently, having him channel the spirit of the late Eddie Guerrero to win, might be repeat stuff but it shows they have faith in him.

New entrance music, mucho victories and by methods reserved for "Deserving" people.  Give the man a belt!

Yes I am just making comments as I watch Smackdown, and I am a slight Dolph Ziggler fan! 

[AtariLegend]

Breaking Point

The contract of a certain Kurt Angle might expire by then... 

[Hammy]

Crazy, I slate things and then Edge and John Morrison have the best match on tv in WWE this year.  Smackdown really is much better...

...the only bad thing on the show is they have recapped Donald Trump...twice! 

I tell a lie, R-Truth's finisher is crap.

[D]

I pray Kurt doesn't come back to WWE.


Tyson Kidd is amazing........ of course that hair is ridiculous.

[Gnrfan]

Crazy, I slate things and then Edge and John Morrison have the best match on tv in WWE this year.  Smackdown really is much better...

Brilliant. Probally my 2nd favourite match of the year, behind Taker/HBK at Mania.

[Izzy]

Angle would be a fool to return to WWE

...and he wont, his comments about WWE are classic contract wrangling

[Hammy]

Hey, someone needs to get Vince Russo's e-mail address and send him this:



You know he wouldn't be able to resist a gimmick based on the popular game, 90 days time Russo....just 90 days, then you can unleash the comedy 

[Izzy]

Another weak ep of Impact....now its been a good few weeks since I could say otherwise

Rushed matches - they seem more like promos than matches

The complete absence of the X Division

Cody Deaner - wtf?

Mick Foley is taking the company down with it - he's been dreadful, his promos are all over the place, he obviously cant wrestle - its time for him to go to commentary

Get it together guys!

[Hammy]

I WANT to publicly offer my most sincere compliments to World Wrestling Entertainment on the character development the audience is witnessing revolving around Smackdown's world heavyweight champion CM Punk.

There are many reasons the proverbial glass ceiling in WWE is being shattered, at least for the moment, by the Straight Edge performer from Chicago, Illinois, but here's one thing that can be stated as an "absolute"...

The CM Punk character is "in play", and WWE is offering its audience the opportunity to come along for the ride and have an emotional investment in a genuinely interesting character.

When Punk first signed a WWE contract in 2005, he was thought of by the Internet fan base as a "can't miss" prospect.

Punk was sent to the OVW Developmental System in Louisville, Kentucky to be groomed for the main roster. This was during the time I was assigned to write and produce the OVW Developmental television show.

Gabe Sapolsky, an assistant of mine from the original ECW who scripted Punk in Ring of Honor told me: "He will be a smash hit no matter how long it takes for them to realise it."

Punk became the focal point of the OVW television show, and was the subject of the scouting reports I would send every other week to WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, Talent Relations Exec John Laurinaitis, Stephanie McMahon-LeVesque and the entire writing team.

Yet, of the 30-plus talents called up to the main roster during my seven months developing characters in OVW, Punk was never drafted to Raw or Smackdown.

While I understand that everyone views talents differently, I was always shocked at the lack of any vision whatsoever for such a hard worker and intriguing storyteller like Punk.

His subtle heel mannerisms in OVW were that of a seasoned professional and when he was presented as a babyface, his ability to connect with the crowd could not be denied.

So when I had to build a roster for the resurrected ECW brand, Punk was my first draft choice from the developmental system. That was a no-brainer.

Punk has had his growing pains in WWE, some of which can and should be directly attributable to the fact he was painted to Vince as a "Heyman guy".

I always hated it when wrestlers were labelled as someone's project. Punk was a WWE project, for WWE to profit on and from.

His progression should not have been derailed because others lacked the belief in him that I had nor because I was willing to fight to creatively protect a character that obviously connected with the audience and the audience with him.

But a while after my departure from WWE, when the need for a youth movement was evident, the focus started swaying back towards this uniquely charismatic individual.

Much in the way Rob Van Dam and Jeff Hardy are the antitheses of Vince McMahon's vision of a true WWE superstar, Punk doesn't talk like anyone else, wrestle like anyone else or present himself like anyone else on WWE's roster.

That's why his character works. It stands out.

When Punk won the Money In The Bank match for the second straight WrestleMania, no one in WWE could see the direction in which the product was headed.

Undertaker needed some time off. Shawn Michaels decided to take a much-deserved rest. Then came the whammy. Jeff Hardy wanted to go home, at least for a while.

The panic button was pushed.

The creative mandate was obvious. The youth movement was in full swing.

Randy Orton was the centre of the WWE Universe. Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase would be the ones to help him get his heat and the first line of defence when it came time for the babyfaces to shine like heroes.

Then there's Chris Jericho. Despite banging on the "40 and over" club door, the presentation of Jericho makes him a new character and, since he has been injury-free his entire career, WWE could count on him.

But then there's a lot of attempts to create new main event players, but nothing that's catching on or taking hold.

The Colon Brothers are designed to appeal to the Latino audience, but the lack of emphasis on tag teams in WWE keeps them "luke warm" instead of "hot", despite them being the unified champs.

MVP is now a babyface but there's no reason yet for the audience to get behind him, besides that he might just be bedding one of the panellists from The View. Perhaps if WWE told the real life story of this reformed thug who spent almost a decade in US Federal Prison, only to rehabilitate himself and become a global superstar, fans would have a compelling reason to cheer on MVP for his riveting life story.

John Morrison is another character who has been presented as a babyface with nothing to entice the crowd to have a vested interest in his success. Morrison has everything it takes to become this generation's Heartbreak Kid, but that ascent up the ladder will only commence when the audience is given a genuine reason to latch on to his rising star.

So with all eyes on Orton but HBK, Taker and Batista on the shelf and HHH needing time off too, the pushes of The Colons, Morrison and MVP needing time and TLC (Tender Loving Care from creative, not "Tables Ladders and Chairs") and Kennedy and Umaga fired, WWE was reeling.

Add in the uncertain future of the popular Jeff Hardy, and what do you do?

WWE came up with a most interesting solution.

Put CM Punk in play.

When Jeff Hardy defeated the awesome Adam 'Edge' Copeland for the Smackdown version of the world title in a Ladder Match at Extreme Rules, the audience rejoiced

Then came the best moment in WWE since Orton punted Stephanie.

CM Punk came out, cashed in Money In The Bank and defeated Hardy for the championship.

He didn't do it in heel fashion. He played by the rules.

All world champions must "defend themselves at all times" from the Sword of Damocles of the Money In The Bank winner cashing in that title contract.

The debate was on.

Was Punk a heel, making what could be at best described as an un-sportsmanlike decision by taking advantage of Hardy's exhaustion, having just defeated The Rated R Superstar in such a gruelling battle?

Or was Punk a babyface, a ruthless man in a ruthless world, doing something no doubt The Rock or Stone Cold Steve Austin would have done if given half the chance?

In the coming weeks, I am sure Punk will display personality traits of both hero and villain. Fan favorite and subtle rulebreaker. B abyface and heel.

His character, based on his real life discipline of abstaining from drugs and alcohol, can be presented as both a man of principles, and a champion who, with the exception of the drugs and alcohol he is above, will do anything to remain the World Heavyweight Title holder.

As Smackdown looks to hold onto its audience in the post-Jeff Hardy Fall Season 2009, the audience has a lot to be interested in.

What will Hardy's send-off be like?

He surely has to be given time off. A man with two strikes in the Wellness Policy who speaks up publicly of his desire to go home for a while should not be pushed to stay on the road. That's a recipe for disaster.

Where does Edge's character go? Are there enough heroes to stand up in the face of adversity personified by heels Edge, Jericho, and Punk?

Is it time for the Vickie Guerrero-less Edge to become Smackdown's Last Hope?

And what becomes of CM Punk?

Each week, as a new clue emerges for both sides of the heel v babyface debate, an uber-talented performer gets the chance to tease the audience, get them to care, make you wonder what's next for a champion you absolutely know is "the character in play" on Smackdown.

When the audience knows the WWE Universe revolves around a pivotal superstar, it gives fans a reason to discuss the latest twists and turns with their friends, to watch the television shows and to purchase tickets to the live events as well as the monthly PPVs.

Every show featuring Punk becomes a "must-see" because his star is emerging, and you might just miss the event that kicks off the big push to WrestleMania season.

Or even just the next big clue as to where WWE is headed with his character and the world title picture.

With WWE sending out ill-advised press releases treating Donald Trump's "purchase of Raw" as "real", and a top tier that has unfortunately grown stale because of the lack of new matchups, World Wrestling Entertainment has found a reason for you to watch, care, and spend.

And that reason is CM Punk.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/wrestling/heyman/2491439/Paul-Heyman-reveals-why-the-WWE-put-CM-Punk-in-play.html

The man speaks sense.  It really is a crime that Heyman doesn't have a job with one of the big two.

[D]

I am gonna show my support for TNA by ordering the Slammiversary PPV which I just did.

I think its worth 30 bucks.