2008 Running Pro Wrestling Thread

I don't get the appeal of Kozlov.

Can someone explain it to me?

 

You have to like that he doesn't have intro music for starters. His unorthodox style of offense is unique and -- unlike the bulk of the WWE's big men -- the man can move. What will hurt his push up the ladder will be a lack of mic skills (again, a manager would really help). This is someone they could push and make into --at the very least -- a solid mid-carder, but to me, this guy's got main event upside.

The best matches I've seen in recent weeks have come from TNA's X-Division. WWE should take notes and see one of the few things Russo has done right over there.

 

I can agree with one thing...I think MVP definitely needs pushed past mid-card status and soon.

I'm hoping a move to Raw is in order and perhaps Smackdown last night hinted at that...

 

Honestly, MVP is main-event ready right now. He can really work and talk (one of the best feuds of '07 was vs. Matt Hardy) and he has a gimmick that would work. He deserves to be a headlining heel. A run on Raw would be ideal, feuding against fresh faces like Cena, Triple H, HBK, Jeff Hardy, Mr. Kennedy, etc. (depending on who moves during the draft)

If I could pick the three young guys to push it's obvious: Kennedy, MVP, and Jeff Hardy, particularly the first two. Hardy's not going to get a sniff at the title for awhile because of his personal issues...and I don't blame Vince for that, but he was getting larger pops than anyone in the company earlier in the year and is probably the most exciting guy on the roster. CM Punk doesn't do anything for me. He's sloppy and relatively predictable/boring in the ring and his promos are a snooze. I wish the bookers would give better material to wrestlers like Carlito, Matt Hardy, Vladamir Kozlov, John Morrison, Elijah Burke, Shelton Benjamin, Charlie Haas. Talented guys who have nothing to do now, but could be something with the right storyline or gimmick.

And Lance Cade is nowhere near main event ready obviously, but it's definitely a good start to insert him as a strong, young midcard heel. I'm curious to see his lengthy PPV matches and how he holds up. I think slowly grooming guys like Cade, DiBiase Jr., and Cody Rhodes/DH Smith/Reid Flair is what's in the cards in order to develop new superstars.

If I was Vince, I'd dump some of the weight on the dead roster and grab a few talented, established guys from outside the company (namely TNA/ROH) such as Bryan Danielson (which is the latest rumor), Petey Williams, A.J. Styles, Robert Roode, Jay Lethal, Nigel McGuinness, Roderick Strong, or Erick Stevens. Remember, WWE in the late 90s/early 00s stole away The Dudleyz, The Radicalz, Taz, Jericho, etc. from other companies and it worked very, very well for them.

 

The problem with WWE stealing these guys is that they'll be limited in upside as long as there's only room for growth with the same seven guys (HHH, Cena, Orton, Edge, Batista, 'Taker). Why would someone like Petey Williams or A.J. Styles -- who have solid angles at TNA -- jump over only to get a brief push and get squash matches with the Big Seven? Remember that while they did steal talent (and some found success, obviously), other talents like Lance Storm were underused and were made into jokes.

Just started reading Ring of Hell. In a word, jawdropping. Even if you're not a wrestling fan, this book will floor you within 30 pages.

 

Oh of course there'd have to be compelling storylines, angles, and gimmicks. WWE screwed so many wrestlers up during the terrible inVasion angle after WCW/ECW folded. But I think that was mainly because they took on such a large number of wrestlers that they threw shit against the wall. But the majority of well-known talent brought in before the inVasion (99-00ish) were successes, some even huge stars (Jericho, Benoit, Guerrero, Big Show, Dudleyz). The Big Seven eventually have to make room for other wrestlers to become stars. The main event scene right now is as complacent as WCW's dying days. Although WWE's top PPV matches are always much better than WCW's ever were, the superstars are getting stale and there needs to be fresh competition and feuds.

I really want to read Ring of Hell. I've heard it's quite a meticulously sourced book as well.

 

According to wrestlingattitude.com

"One reader works at a metal etching factory based our of Ohio. He said WWE belt maker Joe Marshall brought in what appeared to be a copy of SmackDown's World Heavyweight Championship belt 'main plate' earlier in the week. Later, one of his co-workers informed him that the job would be a little tricky, as the wrestlers on the sides, and the crown/globe were cut out on seperate pieces, with the intent of having spinning capabilities.

Going by that, it looks like the World Heavyweight Championship is going to become a spinner belt, which would indicate that John Cena is jumping to SmackDown. Vince McMahon and WWE have been promising some major changes to the WWE roster with this Draft and Cena could fall into that "major shake-up" category."

Now they are going to ruin the World Heavyweight Championship belt. Great. Why can't we have the old championship belt that Hogan, Flair and the Ultimate Warrior wore.

 

I honestly could give a shit what a title looks like, but the more I think about Cena to Smackdown, the more it makes sense.

 

Vince already guaranteed that Umaga was switching shows. If Cena goes too, I hope they'd keep them away from each other for a bit.

 

I think there is an intention of Batista feuding with Umaga for awhile. The plan, from what I've heard, is for 'Taker to crash the Edge/Vickie G. wedding and them two to feud for the summer. I don't know where that puts Cena, though.

 

Oh good God.

Get rid of the fucking spinner shit already. Just go back to a simple design, much like the belt from the 80s-90s.

 

Tuned in about 30 minutes ago, at which point Jeff Hardy was drafted to Smackdown, joined Matt Hardy against Miz/Morrison, and then Matt Hardy was drafted to ECW (and they said he takes the belt), and then Jim Ross and Michael Cole swapped after a women's match that was dreadful.

I wish they actually drafted instead of making it "random." I want to see Stern up there calling the shots.