2009 Running Pro Wrestling Thread

Was thinking about Misawa today. I think that could be the biggest wrestler death ever, even surpassing Owen. It is more newsworthy, at least, than the sad death of Bruiser Brody.

But if there is any evidence that commissions in the US are totally necessary, especially with styles getting crazier by the year, this is it. Vince may one day reap what he sowed.

 

It's sad that almost nobody in the States knows who Misawa is, or has seen his wrestling.

 

Not to mention, there's enough guys on the roster that you don't need an offseason.
There's basically 8-10 guys who are in the title/main event picture right now. There's a few others, like Punk, MVP, Mysterio, and Kofi who are a half-step below. It wouldn't take much of a push to get them to the next level. So you have the big blow-off match at a PPV, like HBK and Undertaker had, or Orton-HHH, and you have one of them disappear for a month or two. They can renew their feud after some time off (like Orton and HHH seem ready to do) and barely skip a beat.
In the meantime, everybody gets enough airtime in the void that they either elevate to the next level or you find they can't hack it. It's basically a way to create the next generation of stars.
I'm really surprised they haven't tried something like this yet.

 

It's because it's a good idea. That's why.

 

It's not a new idea actually. The problem is the boys have no bargaining power. They are independent contractors and as much as Edge and Hardy may say they want time off, the truth is, they would rather keep their spot. Look at what happened to Kennedy. Gone afer being hurt too often. In WWE, and most wrestling comps, you ride your position hard for as long as you can. Then, when you are over and can demand better compensation, you suddenly have the "power" to take extended time off, though most guys have egos that tell them to stay on the road. But I agree that it's a good thing, even a great business model for Vince, to let everyone have time off annually. He's just too greedy. Because in the end he doesn't care if your name is Hogan, Micheals or Cena. Name any of them. There is always going to be the next star. He knows the boys know that and basically has them over a barrel. Or until a union - with power - could be formed.

 

BTW, just got done watching Smackdown. Like where they're going with Punk. I think the Punk vs. Edge vs. Hardy angle is one Rated R Superstar too many, but I like that Punk is slowly turning heel and it's for reasons "beyond" his control.

Also, the Shelton Benjamin vs. John Morrison thing is really getting my attention. I think these two work well together. Hopefully the powers that be keep this thing rolling and put the two in MITB at Mania...if not in their own singles match.

 

One of the problems with giving guys time off is that, with very few exceptions, WWE bends over backwards to write guys out of storylines when they're going to be out for a while. (Example: Batista doing the whole arm injury angle last Monday despite having already injured the arm the week prior.)

And in cases where guys can't work an injury angle, they'll retroactively write something in (like when Cena tore his pec against Kennedy a couple years ago and they somehow managed to rewrite history and give Orton credit for putting Cena on the shelf).

In the modern era with so much information available online, the lengths they go to on some of these things is silly. Especially considering the rare occasion when somebody takes time off and they DON'T do that (think Michaels going MIA after WM this year). Nobody is wondering where Michaels is. People are willing to accept that when he's ready, he'll be back.

I don't see why they couldn't just have guys take a month or two off when a program wraps up, but as long as WWE finds it necessary to write almost every guy out, I don't see them ever buying into this plan.

 

Plus, wrestlers have to work in order to get paid. The WWE won't just give them a month or two off with pay for no reason at all, even if it makes sense from a long term standpoint.

Vince would fire any wrestler who tried to form a union. He did that with Jesse Ventura and the Killer Bees in the 80s.

The closest the wrestlers ever came to a unified front was after the Montreal Screwjob.

 

So tonight's Raw is basically the equivalent of a PPV. I hope they put some time into these championship matches especially considering it's a three-hour show.

 

Yeah, good luck with that.

My guess is the whole Batista injury leads to Orton getting the belt again, setting up a feud between him and HHH just in time for the main event at Summerslam (Eh). As for the other two straps, we know Dreamer's dropping his and chances are Punk is keeping his no problems.

 

Saw in the USA Today TV listings that they're having a fatal four-way between HHH, Orton, Cena and Big Show. I'll assume it's for the WWE title.

 

Correct.

It'll be Cena vs. Big Show vs. Triple H vs. Orton for the WWE Championship

Tommy Dreamer vs. Christian for the ECW Championship

And...

Edge vs. Jeff Hardy vs. CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship