2012 Pro Wrestling Thread

Remember, it wasn't absolute creative control (a la Hogan). It was "reasonable" creative control, which wasn't strictly defined. There's no history of guys who get to determine the precise circumstances of their departure unless a) they're leaving on good terms and not to join a competitor, or b) they're Hogan and there's no other legal option.

Bret's idea -- schmozz finish to Survivor Series, speech and forfeiture of the title on Raw -- was a non-starter, and McMahon never should have even given it lip service. A non-decisive finish to a major PPV would have further hurt a WWF already at its nadir during the Monday Night Wars, and they were rightly pilloried for going with Shawn Michaels' "I lost my smile" speech before. Plus they were already committed to having Michaels be the centerpiece of the organization (the next PPV was In Your House: Degeneration X). Having the title switch/forfeited before the PPV does major damage to that show (Great American Bash '91?). Removing Michaels from the match at the last minute turns the SS main into a mess. Removing Hart turns it into a wildly-hated mess.

McMahon did not cover himself in glory with his actions on and leading up to show day, for sure. Hindsight being what it is, he should have stuck to his guns and told Hart he was jobbing to Michaels at the PPV or he was being sued for breach of contract. That would invite a countersuit, of course, but I suspect the circumstances and wrestling's history of how departing stars are booked would have led to McMahon winning, or at least both suits being thrown out. I find it hard to believe that demanding a major PPV's main event to accommodate someone on his way to working for their direct competition would be considered "reasonable" creative control.

 

Bret gave several scenarios he was willing to do, including the forfeiture (which I wouldn't have accepted either. Titles should be won and lost in the ring for credibility's sake).

He also said he would lose it to anyone, anywhere outside of Canada. They had several shows around the northern loop where Vince could have taken the belt off.

There really are no excuses for what Vince did. Bret's scenarios (most of them) would easily fall under "creative control".

 

You're leaving the promotion? You stare at the lights when the Man says to. Plain and simple.

rb

 

I know we're almost nine months in to the year, but who would say are the MVP's of the WWE thus far this year?

Would you put Sheamus over Ziggler?

Thoughts?

 

Not so simple. Creative control, even reasonable, is a contractual obligation that would hold up in any court of law.

It was a breach of contract. Period. I don't understand why this is so difficult to comprehend.

 

I'd put Daniel Bryan over both of them. He was a guy people were afraid would have a Swagger-like championship reign, then turned an 18-second Wrestlemania championship match (which he lost!) and a simple catchphrase into a main event push. Now he's probably the No. 2 or 3 star in the WWE, at this moment, behind Cena and Punk.

 

I think you gotta go with CM Punk, although I'd put Sheamus and Ziggler at 2A and 2B. Below them, I'd put Cena - I think he works just as hard and always strikes me as credible in the ring, he just doesn't get anything real compelling to work with from the creative team.

EDIT after Gehrig's post - Man, how'd I forget about Daniel Bryan? I'd put him at the Sheamus and Ziggler level as well.

 

Daniel Bryan in the main event after being in the opening segment. Clearly being buried again!

 

Tensai loses clean to Sin Cara in a match to settle the debate of "who is the biggest disappointment of 2012?"

 

This Raw has been the most predictable of the last few shows, methinks.

Boss and I are watching it, and as soon as Daniel Bryan came out to the ring earlier, I told him one of two things would happen: a tag match for the main event or Bryan would be inserted in Sunday's match, making it a four-way for the title.

It's bad when fans can see what's coming from miles away ...

 

An hour to go still and they're hitting the ring. There's time for both scenarios.

 

Wow, a contract signing in which nobody gets hit with the chairs and nobody goes through the table.

CM Punk was wrong for once.