2010 Pro Wrestling Thread

Going by the mere fact that the skit has played out to this late date, I am recalling a theory I presented a couple months ago:

Linda McMahon as anonymous GM.

 

And the fans would absolutely shit on that.

I keep thinking it's HHH, who will come back as the GM, then lose the job in time for Wrestlemania.

 

Eh. I think that's only tenable if has no plans to run for office again in the future. She only lost by 10 points to a fairly popular candidate (at least before his Vietnam stuff came out). It wouldn't surprise me if she plans to run again at some point, and given how much money she has, it's hard for me to believe that the CT Repubs would turn her down, since it's not an area they have a ton of power in.

 

She can run again in two years, so that's a possibility, though she lost fairly handily in a year where GOP Senate candidates were running herd, and the party didn't have a lot of enthusiasm for her in the first place.

Now that the election is done ... at some point does McMahon consider transitioning to at least part-time TV-14? I'm not one of those who pegs WWE's downturn to going TV-PG (they did pretty well with kiddie-oriented fare in the 80's, and TNA isn't exactly rolling in success despite blood and sex in nearly every quarter-hour). That said, WWE ceases being a regular talking point going forward (at least until another major star dies before 45). And with ratings flat or falling and PPV revenues freefalling, maybe they're more open to gradually reintroducing edgier elements. Not necessarily a thing where you turn on Raw this coming Monday and Cena's telling Barrett to go fuck himself, but maybe the occasional intentional blood or swears or controversial angles.

 

I sure hope it's not HHH.

The longer they keep this anonymous GM storyline going, the bigger expectations will be from the fans.

 

I don't think it's possible to meet expectations at this point. I had high hopes for the GM angle, but it's gone on so long, I'm convinced they just don't have anyone to play the role.

 

The nice thing with this is that if (big if) they can make a signing, they can spring him or her as a big surprise. You know who'd make an awful lot of sense and few people would expect because he's assumed to be on the outs in Stamford? Shane McMahon.

 

It wouldn't make sense to have Shane in my opinion, and I don't think it would be a huge surprise to everyone if it ever ended up, and quite a few fans would be disappointed with the selection. And I'm pretty sure Shane has committments elsewhere.

I know it would never happen in a million years, but I would love if it was someone like Macho Man. Now that would make people tune in and it would be one of the most shocking things that has happened in the WWE in a real long time.

 

You don't think Shane would be a surprise? He left WWE almost a year ago in a very shocking move, he's been out of the wrestling eye ever since (outside a few early and very pie-in-the-sky TNA rumors) and he'd have a hybrid storyline/real reason to want to get back at Vince. The bad news there is that it'd probably lead to another Shane-Vince feud, which we can probably do without.

 

Somebody brought this up to me today. I told him probably not because advertising dollars might be involved. I haven't really noticed, but has WWE partnered with more recognizable brands since going PG?

 

I didn't have high hopes for this angle, because I, quite frankly, thought it was stupid. Having said that, Michael Cole has done an unexpectedly tremendous job as this arrogant reader of the e-mails.

I could care less if it was any of the McMahons. I think people are tired of them, although Vince still gets a reaction. Shane McMahon as GM? Meh.

Savage as GM would actually be fun, and a good surprise. But I doubt that's going to happen. Michaels has already been GM, and if he were to take the role, everyone would be expecting him back in the ring, which I don't think he wants.

Other than that, I really can't see anyone filling this role for a satisfying conclusion.

 

While Shane returning to the WWE is unlikely, especially for a potential full-time, on-air role with Vince, who hasn't been on television for an extended period of time for quite awhile now, I don't see a problem with that idea.

I mean, WWE just did rehatch Taker versus Kane v.501,034,343.

Shane's motive? Who knows. It'd likely end up being something like Coporate Ministry versus the Ministry of Darkness, part two. It'd be a good way to propel Cena as a top heel on Raw. Raw is struggling after losing C.M. Punk to injury, who they were going to build as a top heel on Raw. With Raw creative trying to devise a way to turn Cena heel, an angle that would side him with either or both of the McMahons would deliever the heat he needs to be a great heel. That'd probably end up setting up two big stables on Raw. On one side, you have Vince's group, and on the other you'd have Shane's guys. Oh, Smackdown can join, too.

This could eventually allow The Miz to turn face, and using his Money in the Bank contract to cash on whoever.

Just brain-storming.

Knowing the WWE, though. They'll just fuck it up.