2009 Running Pro Wrestling Thread

I was disappointed with what they did with Legacy, too. Not just because they didn't take advantage of a perfect opportunity to further a breakup, but also because since they built DiBiase and Rhodes up with the feud against DX, they've done everything they can in the last couple of months to break them down. Last night was no exception, with Henry taking them both out with a single move. Sure, he's the World's Strongest Man, but at least make it look like he had a hard time getting them out of the ring. No way a top-caliber tag team should be eliminated by one man with a single move.

And the pair hasn't been in the tag title picture at all. Sure, a big part of that is that the straps are already on a heel team. DX probably gets the belts at the next PPV, but are they going to do DX-Legacy again after that? Or does Legacy keep getting buried and shown as just being lackeys for Orton again? Maybe they don't think DiBiase is ready for a solo run, but I would've loved to see a face turn and then see him up against the Miz for the U.S. belt.

 

I fully expected DiBiase to win the battle royal, but then they blew it by showing the movie trailer first.

 

Something has to be going on with DiBiase, and to a lesser extent, Jack Swagger. The internet gossip is that Sheamus is Triple H's workout partner, which is why he has moved up the card so quickly. If that's the case, then I think his opportunity is coming at the cost of Swagger and DiBiase, who are two "bigger" (physical size) heels that probably could have taken his role and been more believable.

I just hate the WWE's method of building up heels, which is an unstoppable winning streak followed by whoever the current face champion is - Cena, HHH, Undertaker - beating them in a couple of matches, followed by a slide down the card. The crowd is never convinced that the heel can win, and worse, the heel is normally so raw on the mic or in the ring or both because the title shot comes so quickly. The only time it has worked, IIRC, is with The Undertaker, and even he was wrestling for more than a year before he got into a program with Hogan.

However, I will say that the inverse is somewhat effective. Ultimate Warrior and Goldberg both managed to get crowd support with squash matches, as did Tatanka. Yet the WWE always does the reverse more often.

 

My fiancee has decreed that if Sheamus wins the belt, she's not watching Raw again. I don't believe her but that just about says everything you need to know about the reaction of the average fan.

For me, I don't mind giving someone new a title shot but I think they really dropped the ball on this one. I would have loved to see some Dibiase vs. Cena promos. The New Marine vs. the Old One, e.t.c.

Then again, I guess they're too focused on Orton vs. Kofi to start trying to push Dibiase right now. Sucks too. They did a great job building legacy following Breaking Point.

 

Any thoughts on Raw tonight?
Liked the continuation of the Kofi-Orton feud. Orton needed a beatdown like that to push some momentum back to his side.
Liked the Cena-Carlito exchange. I'm surprised Carlito wasn't more over with what he was saying, since fans have been thinking it for a good while now.

Did NOT like Mark Henry rapping. That was awful. Is he the U.S. champion now? I sure as hell hope not. Thought the announcers said he won it, but he didn't leave the ring with the belt.

 

Flipped between Raw and Pats/Saints. Didn't really see much that held my interest.

The Cena/Carlito thing looked pretty good, although I would think Carlito wasn't more over because the fans haven't seen him in about 6 months. He has no heat.

Santino getting tabled was OK, although it's tough to feel sorry for Santino because he's much better as a heel.

Opening segment with Jericho and Big Show started out well, then DX came out. Frankly, I've seen Jericho/HHH a bunch, so I really didn't care to see it again and didn't bother watching the main event. I'd rather see Show/Michaels, which would be intriguing, because I don't think they've ever had a program together.

Found it amusing when Troyer was standing next to Show. He was as tall as Show's knees.

 

What was said during the Carlito-Cena segment? And is that where they're going after Cena's done with Sheamus?

 

If they went to Carlito-Cena after this program, it would be the biggest elevation ever. I haven't watched tonight's Raw yet, but Carlito has been off TV for months, it feels like.

 

It wouldn't come close to what we're seeing with Sheamus, IMHO.

 

I was hoping Cena-Carlito would actually turn into a match. Carlito's not a main event type of guy by any means, but I've always been a fan. He comes back after a bunch of time off, cuts a good promo...then Cena buries him. FML.

 

Carlito basically said that he didn't like Sheamus, but that he and everyone in the locker room were rooting for him because they were all tired of having Cena as the champion. They're trying to play off some locker room tension (rumored or real), that the majority of the WWE roster is getting fed up (as well as the fans) with HHH, Michaels, Cena and Orton being kind-of their own version of a Kliq and controlling the whole show.

 

Carlito didn't bring up the fact that he stabbed Cena in a club a few years ago in an angle when both were on Smackdown in order to explain Cena's absence to film, I believe, The Marine.

As for the top TLC matches, the Cena-Sheamus tables match allows neither to be pinned; the Taker-Batista chair match prevents both from being pinned and the Christian-Shelton Benjamin ECW title ladder match, while it prevents a pin, to me, is main event worthy as both have excelled in past ladder matches. Big Show's involvement in a TLC tag team match with Jericho vs. DX is laughable and also prevents a pinfall, but I think Show's going to wind up being the one to knock Jericho off the ladder to cost them the titles and break up their tag team.