2012 Pro Wrestling Thread

I didn't say his 15 minutes were up. I said once his 15 minutes of YouTube-fueled fame were up, he didn't have anywhere to go. His character development? He says his catchphrases and that's about it. When has he demonstrated that he can do more than that? When you get outacted by terminal ham John Cena and wooden pre-heel turn Eve, that's not an encouraging sign. His schtick as it stands has a very short shelf life. If he can expand and deepen it, maybe. Otherwise, he's an average worker and an average character, and the main reason he's getting any interest at all is because of his YouTube show and contrarian Internet fans. There's plenty of potential upper-card faces that rate way higher than Ryder. I don't see this guy being relevant in a year unless something huge happens to enhance or change who he is today.

 

So this is a "WWE doesn't react enough to guys who've earned some pop" day? Not a "WWE is too reactionary and doesn't let storylines develop over a long period" day?

 

What story lines have they not let develop?

They had Laryngitis and Cena's going for months, and Punk/Bryan/Kane/AJ has been going strong and will be going strong -- unless something changes, FWIW -- all summer and into the fall (that's from the dirtsheets).

 

I dunno. Maybe I'm just being dickish, but it feels like the constant stream of complaints about the WWE end up contradicting themselves a lot.

 

Maybe they turn him into the bitter couldn't get ahead as a face, might as well be a heel type?

 

They'll turn him soon enough, I think.

 

Possibly. He didn't gain much traction as a heel even when he and Curt Hawkins were the Edgeheads. His heel Broski was pretty lame too before he started YouTubing it up. Hell, I'd venture to say at that point Robbie E was the better Jersey Shore ripoff character. And he's Robbie E.

 

That's cold, broski.

 

I honestly don't remember much of him -- I remember the Edgeheads thing -- before this current push. I don't know that that's a good thing, though.

 

On the topic of Flair, I do pity the guy as well. I mean, if he could just hang it up as a physical performer, he could have spent the rest of his life with the E in a TV role. Make him a manager, make him a GM. If Teddy Long can run SD for years and years without a change, maybe let Flair have a long run in the Raw GM role. That brand needs it. We get a GM change every few weeks, and it's getting old. How about some stability in the role, so storylines don't have to constantly revolve around it. Maybe the stories could revolve around the performers?

I'm not sure of Flair as a commentator. He works better as on-screen in a few good semgents. But, he couldn't be much worse than Tooker B. My God, can we not have quality commentators anymore? Cole would be fine if the E would take him out of the spotlight. King's schtick is old. Matthews is decent. Tooker B is awful. Foley was decent, but I didn't realize how harsh the gig was until he spoke out. VKM should hire talkers who have enough working knowledge to get through broadcasts without having to be fed lines.

 

One of the best things the E has done in the last couple of years was when they let Punk commentate while he was injured. I know it's been awhile, but that was hilarious.

 

I could see Punk transitioning to this role when he wants to hang up the boots. It would be glorious.